Getting the Basics Right 2026

2026

Innovation for Future Profit PUBLISHED BY RURAL NEWS GROUP

ISSN: 1176-2012

ADVERTORIAL

PACIFICA - NZ’S EMERGING LEPTOSPIROSIS STRAIN 7 simple strategies you can use to form a leptospirosis action plan for your farm.

1. VACCINATION A robust vaccination plan will provide the most advanced protection. Your vet can advise on how to implement this on your farm.

2. HYGIENE AND PERSONAL CARE Avoiding contact with urine is vital. Always wear PPE and avoid eating and drinking, smoking or vaping in the milking shed. PPE should be worn when hosing down and assisting with calvings, as well as when handling afterbirth, aborted foetuses, kidneys and bladders.

3. STAFF AND VISITOR TRAINING Ensure all staff and visitors (including family) are given a robust induction on lepto risk factors and how to minimise them. Visible signage around the milking shed and property can act as a reminder and ensure preventative steps are consistently implemented.

4. EFFLUENT AND WATERWAY Lepto bacteria from infected urine can last for up to 6 months in wet conditions. Fencing off effluent ponds and waterways as well as strict control surrounding effluent spreading is paramount.

5. RODENT CONTROL Rodent urine can be a source of lepto, so control is vital and its ongoing implementation is key.

Keep records of bait stations and maintain them regularly. It is also important to ensure potential food sources such as calf meal and silage are rodent proof.

6. INTRODUCING NEW STOCK It is essential to ensure all new stock are fully vaccinated prior to entry on to the farm.

7. OTHER STOCK If there are sheep, pigs or deer on farm, it is important they are fully vaccinated to prevent them becoming infected with lepto, which could spread to your herd. Your vet can best advise on how to implement vaccination programmes for other species and different classes of stock.

1. Nisa S, Wilkinson DA, Angelin-Bonnet O, Paine S, Cullen K, Wight J, Baker MG, Benschop J. Diverse epidemiology of Leptospira serovars notified in New Zealand. 1999-2017 Pathogens.

2020 Oct 14;9(10):841. doi: 10.3390/pathogens9100841. PMID: 33066613; PMCID: PMC7602385. 2. Yupiana Y. Leptospirosis in dairy herds: a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 3. Yupiana Y, Vallee E, Wilson P, Collins-Emerson J, Weston J, Benschop J, Heuer C. Emerging Leptospira strain poses public health risk for dairy farmers in New Zealand. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Volume 170, 2019, 104727, ISSN 0167-5877, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104727.

PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOST Leptospirosis is a devastating disease.

And a newly discovered strain, called Pacifica, has now further increased the risk.

Lepto 4-Way® is a new vaccine for cattle that offers Advanced Protection for your family and farm.

Ask your vet for Lepto 4-Way® | Lepto.co.nz Restricted Veterinary Medicine. Available only under Veterinary Authorisation.

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A012030. Lepto 4-Way® is a registered trademark of Virbac New Zealand Limited. Copyright © 2025 Virbac New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. Virbac New Zealand Limited, 26-30 Maui Street, Pukete, Hamilton, 3200. 03/25

FOREWORD

EDITOR Sudesh Kissun sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz PUBLISHER Brian Hight bh@ruralnews.co.nz MANAGING EDITOR Adam Fricker adamf@ruralnews.co.nz ADVERTISING Upper North Island: Stephen Pollard stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz Ph: 021 963 166 Central and Lower North Island: Lisa Wise lisaw@ruralnews.co.nz Ph: 027 369 9218 South Island: Kaye Sutherland kayes@ruralnews.co.nz Ph: 021 221 1994 PRODUCTION Becky Williams beckyw@ruralnews.co.nz PUBLISHING & PRE-PRESS Rural News Group PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Ph: 09 307 0399 Location: Lower Ground Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622

Published by Rural News Group Ltd. Unless directly attributed, opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Rural News Group and/or its directors or management.

Getting the Basics Right is published annually.

Building better herds ■ David Chin AS OUR DAIRY sector continues to evolve, one principle remains unchanged, the future of every farming business is built on the strength of its herd.

Whether you milk 100 cows or a thousand, the quality of the animals walking into the shed each morning has more impact on performance, efficiency, and profitability than almost any other factor on farm.

New Zealand dairy farmers have a long history of lifting herd quality, adapting to change, and finding better ways of doing things. But to stay ahead, we all need to keep sharpening our approach, by breeding cows that are highly efficient, lower emitting and aligned with the needs of processers and global markets.

Today’s farming landscape is more dynamic than ever. Farmers are managing fluctuating milk prices, tighter margins, increased scrutiny from regulators and customers, and weather that’s becoming harder to predict and work around.

These pressures are real, and they shape the way we think about herd improvement. At the same time, there is genuine momentum and optimism across the industry.

Technology is advancing fast, herd data is now more integrated and accessible, and banks, processors, and industry partners are increasingly focused on performance, resilience, and sustainability. These forces combined, are reshaping what a high-performing herd needs to look like and in turn reinforcing the value of genetics as one of the most effective long-term levers you can pull.

For farmers new to breeding decisions, it’s useful to remember that genetic improvement is both powerful and controllable. Small, consistent steps made today build into meaningful gains over time. By breeding from the best cows and choosing not to breed replacements from the bottom 10%, you set your herd on a stronger path for years to come.

Last season, 8% of all replacements came from the bottom 10% of cows. That tells us there is still real opportunity to be more deliberate about where our next generation comes from. Avoiding

David Chin, LIC

breeding from those bottom performers is one of the simplest and most effective steps farmers can take. It doesn’t require major system changes or complex new tools, just a clear decision about which cows earn the right to contribute to the future of the herd.

Many farmers become more strategic with their breeding programmes. The combination of conventional and sexed semen, dairy-beef genetics, and short-gestation length options are giving farmers more control than ever over the quality and direction of their replacements. These tools allow for better planning, higher certainty, and improved returns, without adding unnecessary complexity.

Innovation is accelerating this progress. The integration of herd data through platforms like MINDA, alongside wearable technology and automated monitoring, means farmers can make decisions faster and with more accuracy.

The cows we breed today are the foundation of tomorrow’s performance. They carry forward improvements in milk quality, reproductive success, efficiency, and environmental footprint.

Every step you take now, no matter how small helps shape a herd that is better equipped for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

As you read through this magazine, I encourage you to think about the choices you can make this season that will influence your future herd.

Avoiding replacements from the bottom 10% is an easy, effective place to start. From there, lean on the tools, data, and expertise available to you.

Genetics is not about dramatic overnight change, rather it’s about steady, meaningful progress that builds across generations.

Our co-operative is here to support you every step of the way, just as we have for the last 115 years.

Together, we can continue building better herds, stronger businesses, and a more resilient dairy sector, today and for the generations that follow.

• David Chin is the chief executive of LIC

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

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51 CONTENTS

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PASTURE Setting up for long-term persistence SOIL Back to basics- back to soil MAIZE Control, consistency and confidence MATING MANAGEMENT Changing data builds stronger herds

28

CALVING/CALF REARING Keep the right calves, build the right herds MILK QUALITY Probiotics help reduce SCC ANIMAL HEALTH Getting ahead on animal care EFFLUENT/WATER Making the most of slurry

34

41

AGRIBUSINESS Turning surplus calves into a revenue stream DAIRY AUTOMATION Making robotic milking work on your farm DAIRY GOATS Are your dairy goats getting enough minerals?

PEOPLE/STAFF Wage theft, exploitation and law changes MACHINERY Tractors of the future

63

PROPERTY Do the due diligence before you sign GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

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PASTURE

Setting up pasture for long-term persistence AUTUMN IS THE main re-grassing window for New Zealand dairy farms, and the financial investment in pasture renewal goes far beyond the price of seed.

Once you factor in cultivation, spraying, fertiliser, labour and lost production, every new paddock needs to last. The first 12 months of a pasture - from sowing through winter, spring and its first summer - determine whether that paddock becomes a reliable performer for years, or whether it thins out and needs to be renovated again far too soon.

The good news is that persistence isn’t down to luck. It comes down to management in the establishment year. A few simple decisions in the early months make the difference between a thick, resilient pasture and one that thins out long before its time.

FIRST GRAZING GET THE TIMING RIGHT

The first grazing is one of the most important moments in the life of a new pasture. It is not about feeding cows; it is about stimulating tillering and building a dense base before winter. Use the pluck test as your guide - if seedlings can be pulled out easily by hand, they are not ready for grazing. Wait until the plants are firmly anchored, then graze lightly. Use young stock if possible or limit the time the milking herd spends in the paddock so the plants are only lightly tipped. Avoid grazing when soils are waterlogged or frosted, and never graze hard at this stage.

Done well, the first grazing encourages new tillers and sets the pasture up for good density heading into winter.

NUTRITION - BUILD ROOTS EARLY

Autumn-sown pastures often have slower early growth than spring sowings due to declining temperatures, so nutrition plays an even bigger role in helping plants develop strong roots and enough tillers before winter.

Small, well-timed nitrogen applications once the pasture is properly established

8

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Pasture persistence isn’t down to luck, it comes down to management in the establishment year.

support the growth needed to secure density. Good base fertility, especially phosphate, is also important to drive root development and recovery between grazings. It can be tempting to push the new paddock to grow bulk to fill early feed gaps, but forcing it too hard, too soon comes at the expense of longevity. A soil test prior to planting can be a helpful indication of previous poor pasture performance, if soil nutrients are lacking.

WEED AND PEST CONTROL - EARLY ACTION PAYS

Young pastures cannot afford competition. Weeds that shade seedlings or crowd out clovers and herbs can reduce tiller numbers within weeks. Treat weeds early rather than “waiting to see what happens”. Keep an eye out for pests and slug pressure as well. Damage at ground level is often not obvious until pasture density has already been compromised.

A clean sward heading into spring has a much higher chance of becoming a long-term performer.

SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER GRAZE FOR DENSITY, NOT YIELD

The way a new pasture is managed through spring is one of the biggest drivers of persistence. When growth rates lift, it is

essential to graze at the right stage. For ryegrass, the ideal timing is when there are about two and a half to three leaves per tiller. Grazing too early weakens the plant by removing energy reserves. Grazing too late shades the base of the pasture and suppresses tillering. After grazing, aim to leave around a five-centimetre residual.

This protects the energy reserves needed for recovery.

Avoid taking heavy silage or hay cuts from a new pasture in its first spring.

Removing too much bulk too early takes energy away from root development and reduces tiller numbers. If there is surplus in the rotation, take only light cuts and return to grazing as soon as practical.

Spring is the time to build a strong, dense base - not to push maximum production out of a young pasture.

THE FIRST SUMMER - THE REAL TEST

An autumn-sown pasture is not considered fully established until it has survived its first summer with good density.

Heat and moisture stress can be unforgiving. Avoid grazing too hard during dry periods, because the lowest three to four centimetres of the plant hold the energy reserves required for recovery.

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PASTURE

paddock, feeding supplements, or shifting pressure onto crops can all help protect young pasture when conditions get tough. What matters most is that the pasture is not driven too low at the exact time it needs leaf to survive stress.

Pastures that go into summer with good cover and strong root reserves are far more likely to come out the other side healthy. Pastures that enter summer already weak or thin are difficult to recover.

AFTER YEAR ONE - STICK WITH THE BASICS

Once the establishment year is complete, the pasture should move into normal rotation, but the principles that protect persistence still apply. Maintain soil fertility.

Keep grazing residuals where they need to be. Control weeds and pests before they become an issue.

Aim for high utilisation without stressing the pasture. It doesn’t

require perfection - only consistency.

THE PAYOFF

A new pasture that is managed well through its establishment year will reward the farm for seasons to come. It lasts longer, delivers more home-grown feed, holds its quality through the year, and supports strong animal performance. Persistence isn’t just about longevity, it’s about having a reliable, productive pasture you can count on.

Pasture longevity isn’t something you “hope for”, it’s something you set up from day one.

We are focused not just on breeding high-performing varieties, but on helping New Zealand farmers get the most out of every paddock.

Giving a new autumn sowing the right start ensures it goes on to work harder and last longer.

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PASTURE

Making every bite count this season IMAGINE HAVING TO eat a quarter of your body weight in leafy greens every day to maintain top physical performance.

That’s what grass-fed cows must do at peak lactation – chomp through about 120-130kg of fresh pasture per day. What a workout!

Your cows are elite athletes, and just like their human equivalent, they rely on a support crew (us) to help them succeed. So how do we get behind them?

The maths is well documented – to produce two kg of milksolids per day, a typical crossbred cow needs to eat 210-220 megajoules of metabolisable energy, which equals about 18-19kg dry matter with an average ME of 12.

At around 15% dry matter, that becomes a massive pile of fresh pasture for them to harvest. We’re talking approximately 25,000 bites a day!

They can’t speed up those bites to cram more in, so it’s our job as pasture managers to make sure they maximise every bite.

THE COW IS OUR CUSTOMER

It’s easy to think about pasture management in terms of grazing rotations, average covers, feed wedges and growth rates.

But from the cow’s point of view, it’s all about bite size.

Everything we do to manage pasture is ultimately centred on making every bite as big as it can be.

That is our number one objective to make life easy and comfortable for our cows. It means less effort for them, and more time to rest and ruminate. Big bites improve farm profitability, and emissions intensity too.

Wouldn’t it be great if 2026 is the year you and your team turn pasture management from a chore to a shared crusade, so that exceptional results become embedded into your farm culture as something you all take pride in?

GLASS HALF EMPTY?

We like to regard ourselves as great pasture managers here in NZ. The truth is, we could

12 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Barenbrug pasture specialist Graham Kerr says eating this much grass is a big daily workout for cows.

be better.

It’s estimated that only about 50% of dairy farmers do a formal weekly monitor of pasture growth, yet it’s essential for effective management.

Data from the Emissions and Profitability study1 shows why better pasture management is worth striving for.

Described as game-changing by industry leaders, this project proves high profitability and lower emissions intensity go together.

Best performing farms in the study grew more feed, of higher feed quality, with more efficient use of nitrogen.

The key words here are ‘feed quality’, because (going back to the cow) quality drives bite size.

BREAK IT DOWN

On a daily basis, three fundamental rules drive exceptional pasture management.

• Rule 1 – graze to a consistent residual.

• Rule 2 – graze at the right length.

• Rule 3 – repeat rules 1 and 2.

Rule 1 is the most important of all, because how cows leave a paddock after grazing determines the feed quality and thus bite size of that pasture when they next graze it.

Consistent post-grazing residuals are

key, with 1500-1600 kg DM/ha widely accepted as ideal.

The only time to ignore Rule 1 is during wet weather, when protecting soils and pasture comes first. But when conditions improve, focus back on Rule 1.

Rule 2 recognises the physiology of ryegrass growth. There is a sweet spot between too short and too long where you capture maximum yield and quality, which is 2.5 to 3 leaves per tiller.

The one exception occurs when high soil nitrogen levels cause canopy closure.

Pasture falls over and starts dying at the base. Then you need to graze earlier.

Rule 3 reminds us this process is continual, and applies to every grazing, day after day, weather permitting.

• Top tip: If you aren’t already, use 24 hour grazing vs 12 hour. This does not affect milk production, but makes pasture management far easier, as you only have half as many decisions on paddock choice, and residuals.

Tools like mowing pre or post grazing and taking paddocks out of rotation to harvest supplement are always there to help if needed. But cows have repeatedly proved very capable of doing the job most of the time, once these rules become a mantra for your whole team.

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A tighter calving spread means more recovery time between calving and the planned start of mating. This reduces late-season challenges, minimises interventions, and simplifies workload.

SGL semen is a cost-effective alternative to using natural mate bulls during the tail-end of mating. SGL straws are usually a more cost-effective option compared to leasing, purchasing, and feeding run bulls.

And the sooner the cow calves, the sooner she’ll be back in the shed making milk.

Increasing days in milk is one of the most effective ways to improve productivity, increasing kilograms of milksolids (kgMS) per cow.

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PASTURE

Quality drives bite size.

TAKE A WALK

Implementing Rules 1, 2 and 3 each day is much easier if you know whether you have more pasture than last week, the same or less.

So, if it’s been a while since you regularly walked the farm to measure pasture growth, it’s time to get back in the habit.

Use it as thinking and planning time.

Make an appointment with yourself on the same day every week and recognise the farm walk for what it is – a critical element of great pasture management.

Why? Because it’s the only way to get the information you need to make prompt, strategic decisions which support

14 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

exceptional pasture management.

The farm walk alerts you to what’s coming. Typically, for example, farmers who regularly monitor pastures see a pending pasture surplus about two weeks’ earlier – a huge advantage in acting promptly to retain feed quality and cow bite size.

Without monitoring, pasture management becomes reactive, not proactive.

SEIZE THE MOMENT

Autumn is a great time for you and your team to review current pasture management practices, identify what could

be improved, and set things up for better results in the year ahead.

It’s easier than you might think!

Start with the basics. For example, does everyone on the farm agree on what a good, consistent post grazing residual looks like?

Get those phones out and take photos of grazed paddocks to compare notes and remind yourselves of the goal.

It’s never too late to start making positive changes. Your cows will appreciate it and thank you; you’ll finish this lactation well and be ready to start the next one on the front foot. We are always here to help – just contact us for more advice.

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PASTURE

Nitrogen quick, cost-effective option to boost grass production AS MANY PARTS of New Zealand appear to be in for another dry summer, there’s a good chance that there won’t be enough rain in drier areas to alleviate the effects.

For those areas the climate may move from a hot dry summer to autumnal conditions reasonably rapidly.

Dr Ants Roberts, Ravensdown’s chief scientific officer, says after the first significant rain, a relatively quick and cost-effective option to increase pasture production is to apply nitrogen (N) fertiliser. This N fertiliser should be coated with a urease inhibitor e.g. N-Protect, unless you can guarantee that at least 10mm of rain will fall within eight hours of application. One pass of a pivot irrigator is unlikely to deliver that amount of moisture and by applying less than 10mm within eight hours, volatilisation losses can be as bad as having no moisture at all.

“It is preferable to wait for some regrowth but in post-drought conditions with days getting shorter and cooling temperatures this is unlikely to be practical.

Act early - farmers should apply N fertiliser as soon as possible after significant rain has fallen, while soil temperatures remain above 7-8oC. Sufficient rain means that there is enough moisture to keep pastures growing for at least 4-8 weeks after N application,” Roberts says.

“This will allow you to get the maximum benefit from the N application in terms of pasture or crop response.”

Top autumn drought recovery tips

• Use N-Protect if you can’t guarantee

16 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Dr Ants Roberts, Ravensdown’s chief scientific officer.

10mm rain within 8 hours • Act early with cooling temperatures • Renewed pastures, high fertility soils and modern cultivars will recover fastest

• Spell paddocks for 3-4 weeks before grazing • Use lower rates of N over larger areas • Target biopesticide application to low pasture yield areas for grass

NUISANCE FLIES?

NOT ON MY FARM

­

PASTURE

Farmers should apply N fertiliser as soon as possible after significant rain has fallen.

grub mitigation.

Professor Cory Matthew from Massey University also demonstrated a further benefit to autumn applied N. Autumn N allowed the grass plants to produce new tillers, which are severely depleted during drought, and this sets the pasture up for the coming spring.

Renewed pastures as well as paddocks with high fertility soils and modern cultivars, will have the capacity to recover fastest from drought conditions, producing the greatest dry matter responses. With older pastures, research indicates that they will still give costeffective responses to N fertiliser. Ideally, it is best to apply N to those paddocks with some cover (i.e. 1,500kg DM/ha or better).

Roberts says it’s preferable to spell paddocks for as long as possible (3-4

18 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

weeks) before grazing as this gives the pasture time to express the maximum response possible, although set-stocked paddocks will also give N responses.

“As the rate of N applied increases, the efficiency of response (the kg DM grown per kg N applied) decreases and individual applications of fertiliser N should ideally not exceed 60kg N/ha in high potential growth rate conditions and 40kg N/ha under poorer conditions. Remember that N fertiliser is a growth multiplier and so the faster the pasture is growing, both during and following N application, the better the response.”

In general, it is best to use lower rates on larger areas rather than the reverse.

Farmers should budget on a 6-8kg DM/kg response to N applied in late autumn and 8-10kg DM/kg N applied in late winter/

early spring for dairy farms at these rates.

Nitrogen responses should be larger on hill country sheep and beef farms 10-12 kg DM/kg N in autumn and 10-15 kg DM/kg N in later winter/early spring.

Another way to ensure your pasture recovery has its best shot is to ensure grass grub/porina infestations in late autumn are kept to a minimum by targeting application of biopesticides to low pasture yield areas.

“Some recent research we conducted with AgResearch showed that this approach on a typical 225ha Canterbury dairy farm (system 4) could gain you an extra 10 tonne of dry matter in autumn,” Roberts says.

“For those dry parts of the country over summer, every little bit will help to set ourselves up for winter.”

SOIL

Back to basics, back to soil

Soil is the world’s largest terrestrial pool of carbon and about 33% of global soils are moderately or highly degraded due to unsustainable management prac7ces. In New Zealand, the following contaminant pathway matrix indicates how the four important contaminants, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and pathogens, travel in the soil and impact on water quality.

■ Bala Tikkisetty HEALTHY, WELL-MANAGED soil plays a crucial role in supporting a nation’s economy and environmental sustainability.

With a wide variety of soil types across New Zealand, it’s essential to manage them wisely, as different soils are suited to different land uses. Soils are assessed based on their characteristics, quality, and versatility.

A key factor in soil productivity is its physical condition, commonly referred to as soil structure. This determines how air and water move through the soil and how easily plant roots can penetrate it. Even in nutrient-rich soils, poor physical structure can limit plant growth and compromise land productivity.

Soil structure governs three critical physical properties: porosity, strength, and stability. These influence:

• Water movement and storage within the soil • Root growth and development • Uptake of water and nutrients by plants • Soil resistance to erosion A well-structured soil contains many stable aggregates of varying sizes. These aggregates create a network of pores, both within and between them, that balances air and water content, supports seedling emergence, and allows roots to grow freely.

Conversely, poor soil structure may lack diverse aggregates or have them packed too tightly, reducing pore space. In lighttextured soils, poor structure often results in fine, powdery particles and unstable aggregates, significantly increasing the risk of wind erosion.

SOIL POROSITY AND WATER HOLDING CAPACITY In a well-structured soil, over 50% of the volume consists of pores. These pores vary in size and function:

• Very small pores (micropores): Make up about 40% of total pores and are usually

20 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

!

filled with water that is held too tightly for AGGREGATE BREAKDOWN Soil aggregates can deteriorate due to both plant roots to absorb. natural and human-induced processes.

• Medium-sized pores: Hold water that can Damage to Soil Natural causes include wetting and drying be accessed byStructure roots, contributing to a cycles or freeze and events. that soil’s water holding capacity and resilience New Zealand possesses a diverse range of soils, including some of thethaw most fertileSoils and productive are predominantly silt and sand with low to drought. in the world. However, even high-quality soils are vulnerable to degradation through certain landclay content areare particularly • Large pores (macropores): use practices.

The two primaryServe typesasof soil structural damage aggregate vulnerable, breakdown and soil as they lack strong particle binding and channels for water infiltration, drainage, compaction. structure. root growth, and air exchange in the Organic matter plays a crucial role in root zone. binding soil particles together, improving The balance between sand, silt, clay, and Aggregate Breakdown organic matter in the soil largely determines aggregate strength and stability. It increases internal friction among particles, enhancing the distribution and function of these pore Soil aggregates can deteriorate due to both natural and human-induced processes. Natural the soil’s ability to resist external pressures, sizes. causes we]ng and drying pool cycles such or freeze and treading. thaw events. Soils that are as livestock Soil isinclude the world’s largest terrestrial predominantly silt and sand with low clay content are par7cularly as they lack Low levels of organicvulnerable, matter significantly of carbon and about 33% of global soils strong par7cle binding and structure. increase a soil’s susceptibility to aggregate are moderately or highly degraded due to breakdown. Cultivation often reduces soil unsustainable management practices. In Organic maZer a crucial role in bindingorganic soil par7cles together, improving aggregate matter, weakening soil structure New Zealand, theplays following contaminant strength stability.

It increases internal fric7on par7cles, enhancing the soil’s ability andamong increasing risks such as erosion, surface pathway and matrix indicates how the four crusting, and reduced infiltration of rain or important contaminants, namely to resist external pressures, such nitrogen, as livestock treading. irrigation water. phosphorus, sediment and pathogens, travel in the soil and impact on water quality.

SOIL COMPACTION Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are compressed, reducing the volume and DAMAGE TO SOIL STRUCTURE number of macro-pores, the large pores New Zealand possesses a diverse range of responsible for air and water movement. soils, including some of the most fertile As a result, soil density increases, water and productive in the world. However, drainage declines, gas exchange is restricted, even high-quality soils are vulnerable to and plant root growth is hindered. This degradation through certain land-use leads to reduced water and nutrient uptake practices. The two primary types of soil structural damage are aggregate breakdown by plants, negatively impacting the growth and productivity. and soil compaction.

SOIL

Organic matter plays a crucial role in binding soil particles together, says Bala Tikkisetty.

Illustra<on of soil damage with increasing soil compac7on (adapted from BeZeridge et al).

Few roots below 5 cm. Reddish stains Compacted soils often have an excess of • Vegetative cover, which helps protect soil along root channels. Soil often greyish in fine pores, which retain water but limit air surface and improve structure. and mayinto have ansmall, unpleasantgranular smell flow root penetration.

• andFirst graphicA well-structured profile – Topsoil is loose and crumblescolour easily when wet. Few worms present. soil typically has a macro-porosity of The inherent properties of a soil (such Abundant roots throughout.

Topsoil Worms are common Maintaining good soil structure is 15-20%,aggregates. which is vital for healthy plant as texture, mineralogy, and drainage) also essential for sustainable agricultural development. influence its resistance to compaction.

•Compaction Second graphic profile – Upper part of topsoil is loose. production.

Some larger, firmer aggregates Understanding and managing is primarily caused by heavy Fine-textured soils like clay loams tend to factors thataggregates. contribute to aggregate machinery and livestock, underRoots have smaller, more uniform particles, which the firmer between 10particularly to15 cm. do not commonly penetrate breakdown and compaction (particularly wet soil conditions. Pugging, the churning compact more easily due to limited pore • deformation Third ofgraphic – Larger firmerwell-drained aggregates Some7mes have a soilcommon. moisture, organic matter, and grazing and wet soil by profile hooves, space. In contrast, soils richmore intensity) can help preserve New Zealand’s can result in an immediate drop in pasture in minerals like allophane exhibit higher horizontal platy appearance.

Roots grown around rather than through aggregates. valuable soil resources. productivity by reducing plant populations, structural resilience. tiller numbers, and nitrogen Thissome root channels.

Reddish stainsfixation. along limits nitrogen availability, pasture growth, Illustration of soil damage with SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT: • ultimately Fourth graphic profile – Lumpy, surface.

Aggregates areIMPERATIVE coarse or absent. Few and animal production. increasingirregular soil compaction is shown above.

A CRITICAL • First graphic profile – Topsoil is loose is increasingly roots below 5 cm. Reddish stains along root channels. Soil Soilsustainability oOen greyish in colour and under threat due to a range of harmful Several factors affect the extent of and crumbles easily into small, granular soil damage livestock grazing: management practices. These include aggregates.

Abundant roots throughout. mayfrom have an unpleasant smell when wet.

Few worms present. over-cultivation, inappropriate fertiliser Topsoil worms are common • Soil’s inherent susceptibility to use (whether excessive or insufficient), damage, influenced by its strength and • Second graphic profile – Upper part Maintaining is isessen7al forfirmer sustainable produc7on. improper agricultural water abstraction, and the composition. good soil structure of topsoil loose. Some larger, indiscriminate application of pesticides aggregates between 10 to15 cm.

Roots • Soil moisture levels, with wetter soils Understanding and managing the factors that contribute to aggregate breakdownandand other agricultural chemicals. Additional do not commonly penetrate firmer being more vulnerable due to reduced compac7on (par7cularly grazing can help pressures such as intensity) the clearing of natural aggregates. organic maZer, and cohesion and increased lubrication soil moisture, vegetation, intensive farming methods, and between particles.

• Third graphic profile – Larger firmer preserve soil resources. failure to maintain adequate levels of soil • LivestockNew loading,Zealand’s which refers tovaluable the aggregates more common. Sometimes organic matter further degrade soil health. have a horizontal platy appearance. weight of animals and the surface area of A key indicator of soil health is grownImpera<ve around rather than through hoof contact. Soil Management: A Roots Sustainable Cri<cal biologically active carbon, the most aggregates. Reddish stains along some • Grazing management, including stocking important fraction of soil carbon. Its root channels. grazing duration, and livestock Soil rate, sustainability is increasingly under threat due to a range of harmful management distribution throughout the soil profile movement (whether animals are • Fourth graphic profile – Lumpy, irregular plays a use vital role in maintainingexcessive soil stationary These or walking).include over-cul7va7on, surface. Aggregates are coarse or absent. prac7ces. inappropriate fer7liser (whether or

insufficient), improper water abstrac7on, and the indiscriminate applica7on of pes7cides and THE BASICS RIGHT 2026 21 other agricultural chemicals. Addi7onal pressures such as theGETTING clearing of natural vegeta7on, intensive farming methods, and failure to maintain adequate levels of soil organic maZer further degrade soil health.

SOIL

structure, fertility, and microbial activity. While soil carbon is often found in decomposed plant and animal residues as well as in microorganisms, it is important to distinguish it from soil organic matter. Although closely linked, soil carbon comprises approximately 40–50% of soil organic matter by weight.

Increasing soil carbon and adopting sustainable soil management practices are essential, not only to safeguard current agricultural productivity, but also to secure soil resources for future generations.

As we work toward innovative, long-term solutions, initiatives like the global “Save Soil” campaign continue to raise awareness and drive action to protect one of our most vital natural resources.

• Bala Tikkisetty is a former principal sustainable agriculture advisor.

Maintaining good soil structure is essential for sustainable agricultural production.

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22 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

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SOIL

A complex world ■ Will Talbot IT’S A CRISP morning on a New Zealand farm. The soil underfoot looks typical – dark, crumbly, alive with promise. But beneath that surface lies a world so complex, so mysterious, that even the most seasoned scientists admit we’ve still got a lot to learn.

For years, whispers have circulated that industry and science have ignored this hidden universe. That microbes - the silent workers beneath our feet - have been sidelined. But is this really true, or is the story more complicated?

LOOKING BACK BEFORE WE LOOK FORWARD

Some argue that predicting future responses starts with understanding past ones. So, how have science and industry treated microbes over time? Were they always the forgotten heroes? Not quite.

In fact, some of agriculture’s big wins have come from embracing microbes. Take endophytes, for example – microscopic partners that live inside grasses and help protect them from pasture pests. Farmers have been using them for years, and there are plenty of commercially available strains on the market, each with unique strengths and trade-offs. They’re not new or experimental – science and industry have been researching and selling them for decades.

A MARKET FULL OF PROMISES

New microbial products seem to be everywhere these days - big promises, bold claims, and plenty of hype about miracle fixes. In my role, we come across them almost daily. Our science team spend a lot of time reviewing what’s on offer, and sometimes take the next step and run independent field trials to see how they stack up.

The microbes backers range from tiny start-ups to global giants. Some arrive with nothing more than a paddock comparison and case study, or a few highly theoretical lab results. Others do provide impressive overseas data packs, showing results in soils and environments thousands of kilometres away. But when many of these products are tested in New Zealand’s unique environment? Often, the magic disappears.

Why? Our soils are already rich in microbial life. Introduced microbes face fierce competition from native species.

24 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

New Zealand soils are a microbial paradise.

That’s good news for farmers, but tough for introduced bio-inoculants. They’re stepping into a crowded room, competing with billions of native organisms already adapted to local conditions.

On top of that, these products only work if there’s a real gap to fill – like specific pest/ disease problems or a nutrient limitation.

For example, endophytes help protect against pest pressure, and rhizobia fix nitrogen – the most commonly limiting nutrient in our pastoral systems. There must be an opportunity or a gap to fill. In some situations, they may work well; in others, where there’s no gap, they simply will not be of benefit. Add in environmental variability rainfall, temperature, soil type, plant species, microbe species - every farm is a unique environment. All these factors influence how microbes establish and function. Put it all together, and you’ve got a recipe for variable results, but that variability may be acceptable if science can tease out when it delivers a positive benefit and when it does not.

This isn’t to say there’s no promise or opportunity in this area. But the reality is that the microbe or bio-inoculant market can feel like the wild west. The market is largely unregulated, with claims often full of promise but short on proof.

That doesn’t mean we ignore it.

Ravensdown has invested significant time and resources into microbial research and continues to test areas that show promise.

But when reviewing these products, we must acknowledge the limitations, understand the science, and spend a lot of time separating fact from fiction.

THE FUTURE: UNLOCKING HIDDEN WORLDS

Despite the challenges, more and more work is being done in the soil biology field.

Advances in DNA sequencing have opened doors never thought possible. Yet even with these tools, the complexity is staggering - a single handful of soil holds more biodiversity than all the plants and animals in an entire rainforest. And to make things even trickier, every farm is different, which makes solving the puzzle harder.

We’re learning more but our understanding of how soil biology responds

Will Talbot

to farming practices is still limited. It’s like piecing together a puzzle with a million tiny pieces - and half of them are still missing.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FARMERS?

Farmers are pragmatic, not chasing trends for the sake of it - they adopt new practices when the science is robust, the benefits are measurable, and the risks are understood.

Microbial solutions will be no different. If research proves they work or where they will work under New Zealand conditions, they’ll become part of mainstream farming.

Until then, caution is wise. Ask for evidence. Look for trials completed in local soils and conditions. And remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Of course, everyone is free to experiment on their own land - set up trials, try new things - but it’s worth doing it with eyes wide open.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Industry and science aren’t overlooking soil biology - they’re taking a measured approach to understand how beneficial microbes can be harnessed to improve productivity and soil health. Microbial solutions face big hurdles: fierce competition from native microbes, environmental variability, and benefits that only show up when there’s a real opportunity or problem to solve. But as research deepens and technology improves, the opportunities should grow.

Behind the scenes, scientists and industry are working hard to unlock the potential of microbes. It’s not flashy work - it takes time, money, and patience. Will there be breakthroughs? Maybe, maybe not. Before we start promoting microbial solutions, we need confidence and solid science to know when they work - and when they don’t.

So, is soil biology the great unknown?

Perhaps. But it’s an unknown we’re steadily exploring - one handful of soil at a time.

• Dr Will Talbot is scientific officer, Ravensdown

MAIZE

Control, consistency and confidence in a changing landscape ■ Wade Bell NEW ZEALAND DAIRY farmers are used to adapting. In the last decade, we’ve navigated climate volatility, shifting regulations, rising input costs, and global disruptions that have highlighted how vulnerable farming becomes when it relies heavily on overseas imported feed or on favourable seasons.

Despite the change, some fundamentals remain constant:

• Home grown feed is still the backbone of our farm systems • Efficiency still matters • And growing high-quality home-grown feed remains one of the strongest drivers of profitability As we head into another season, one message remains clear: while we can’t control the weather, payout or policy pace, we can control how prepared we are. The most successful farming systems aren’t the highest or lowest-input systems; they are the most resilient. They grow and harvest more feed, protect pastures, meet environmental expectations and can respond when conditions shift.

strategically by many farmers to boost total feed supply and system resilience.

For example, a 100-ha farm growing 14 tDM/ha of pasture and cropping 10% of the platform into a maize silage and annual ryegrass rotation can lift total drymatter production by around 1.2 tDM/ha across the farm – a meaningful boost in feed supply.

in the stack.

Farmers who proactively use maize as a pasture management tool, rather than a last-resort feed, consistently report improved pasture performance, better utilisation, and greater control.

SO, WHAT ARE THE KEY BASICS TO GET RIGHT THIS SEASON?

USE MAIZE TO PROTECT AND OPTIMISE PASTURE

Grow and harvest as much home-grown feed as possible The link between home-grown feed and profitability is well-established and unchanged. DairyNZ analysis confirms that increasing home-grown feed supply consistently lifts operating profit, regardless of season or payout conditions.

With pasture yields plateauing on many farms and declining in some, cropping is becoming increasingly important. Maize silage remains one of the most reliable and consistent crop options. Once used mainly for regrassing, maize is now grown

Pasture management remains a core driver of system performance. Managing residuals, protecting plant density and maintaining optimum rotation length are critical and increasingly challenging as weather patterns become more variable.

Stored feed, particularly maize silage, gives farmers control. When pasture supply declines, maize can be used to protect grazing residuals, and maintain rotations.

During wet periods, it allows cows to be stood off paddocks to prevent pugging and long-term damage. And when pasture supply improves, maize silage can stay

Environmental expectations are shaping future farm systems. Many farmers are seeking feed solutions that improve resilience while supporting compliance.

Maize can play a key role here.

Maize is a deep-rooted crop that extracts water and nutrients from depths two to three times greater than pasture species.

Removing 12 kg N and 10 kg K per tonne of drymatter, it is an effective tool for capturing surplus nutrients on effluent blocks.

A two-year on-farm study showed that maize grown on high-fertility effluent paddocks, with no additional fertiliser, yielded an average of 26.1 tDM/ha, delivering

Stored feed, particularly maize silage, gives farmers control.

GROW MAIZE WHERE IT DELIVERS THE GREATEST SYSTEM BENEFIT

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

25

MAIZE

Feeding maize also improves environmental efficiency.

cost-effective feed and reducing reliance on imported supplements.

Feeding maize also improves environmental efficiency. With a crude protein level of 7–8%, maize dilutes high-protein spring pasture, reducing urinary nitrogen loss.

MAKE SURE COWS REACH BODY CONDITION TARGETS

Cows calving at BCS 5.0 (5.5 for first and second calvers) produce more milk and get in calf sooner. Achieving those targets with pasture alone can be difficult, particularly in challenging seasons.

Maize silage is one of the most efficient feeds for lifting condition. Feeding around 180 kgDM/cow over autumn and winter will increase a cow’s BCS by one full unit, and the return in milk and earlier calving more

26 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

than pays for the extra feed.

USE MAIZE TO FILL FEED GAPS AND STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE

Early New Zealand research, such as the Waimate West Demonstration Farm work, showed strong response rates when maize was used to fill feed deficits, including 157 gMS/kgDM (spring) and 179 gMS/kgDM (autumn).

While the data is decades old, the principle remains unchanged: having feed on hand gives farmers certainty. Recent droughts, tightening winter grazing rules and global feed volatility have reinforced the value of stored feed as system insurance – not just a supplement.

• Wade Bell is Genetic Technologies farm systems manager. Contact him at wbell@genetic.co.nz

SUMMARY The most resilient dairy businesses today are those intentionally designing systems that are: • Resilient • Environmentally efficient • Pasture-focused • Cost-effective • Prepared for disruption Maize silage continues to play an important role in achieving this balance. Used alongside pasture, it helps farmers grow more feed, protect the feed they already grow, and provide consistent nutrition, whatever the season brings.

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MATING MANAGEMENT

Why changing data builds stronger herds ■ Richard Spelman THE DAIRY INDUSTRY has entered an era where data is not just useful, it is essential.

To ensure LIC supports farmers to make the best herd improvement decisions, it’s important our co-op supplies timely and accurate information to underpin every breeding decision.

You may notice that breeding values and evaluations change more frequently today than they once did. These changes can sometimes appear confusing, but in fact, they reflect the strength of New Zealand’s evaluation system.

At its core, animal evaluation (AE) is the process of estimating how good an animal’s genes are. For cows, this is largely based on their own performance data, such as lactation results. For bulls, estimates are drawn from their progeny and ancestry.

These evaluations allow both farmers and LIC to identify the animals most suited for breeding, ensuring continuous improvement of both your herd and the national herd.

In the early 1990s, only one or two official AE runs were possible each year.

Today, technological advances and reduced processing costs allow for approximately a dozen evaluations per year. This allows farmers to make breeding and selection decisions at key times of the season. For example, as herd testing results become available from September onwards, evaluations ensure that the most promising bulls can be identified quickly and added to LIC’s Premier Sires® team. Similarly, farmers can use updated data to make timely decisions on which cows to target with sexed semen or select for replacements.

MORE DATA, BETTER PREDICTIONS

The introduction of genomics in 2008 marked a fundamental shift in animal evaluation.

Herd testing and performance records are

28 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Richard Spelman, LIC chief scientist

useful, but a genomic profile shows a snapshot of an animal’s actual DNA. As more animals are genotyped and connected to performance data, the way we interpret those DNA profiles continues to evolve.

Currently, more than 400,000 animals have been both genotyped and herd tested.

This year, that number is expected to double to around 800,000. Adding more data improves the accuracy of genomic evaluations and can change an animal’s breeding value even if its performance hasn’t changed, because the estimate becomes more certain.

At the same time, animal rankings are

influenced by the annual recalculation of economic values, carried out by DairyNZ and NZAEL each December. This update considers milk price, feed costs, and the relative value of fat and protein, adjusting the weighting of traits like fat, protein, milk volume, liveweight, and fertility to reflect current economic conditions. Farmers may notice significant shifts in rankings from year to year, but these shifts are necessary to ensure that the evaluation system remains aligned with industry economics.

More data and updated economic values together mean better predictions and more relevant evaluations for farmers.

MATING MANAGEMENT

WHY CONTINUOUS CHANGE IS BENEFICIAL

While stability can appear better, in genetics, apparent stability can mask lost opportunities. If AE results were released only once per year, farmers could be basing their breeding decisions on outdated information. This could mean selecting animals that no longer represent the best genetic potential, particularly as new herd test results, progeny data, or genomic information becomes available.

Frequent updates mitigate this risk.

Change in breeding values should be seen as evidence of progress: new data improves the accuracy of breeding values and helps farmers choose the top animals for their herd.

RIGOROUS QUALITY ASSURANCE

Accuracy is paramount. Each AE run is subjected to multiple layers of quality control before being released into systems such as LIC’s MINDA® herd improvement platform. Outputs are checked extensively in the days leading up to release, and staff work through the night to verify that data has

Change in breeding values should be seen as evidence of progress.

uploaded correctly.

New scientific models are typically tested alongside existing ones for several evaluation runs before being introduced.

In some cases, promising developments have been deliberately delayed until the science reached the required standard. This conservative approach ensures farmers can have confidence that the change they see reflects genuine improvement in accuracy.

THE ROLE OF THE CO-OPERATIVE

As a co-operative, LIC carries a unique responsibility. Our farmers are both the

owners of the organisation and the primary contributors of data. That creates a dual obligation: to safeguard the integrity of the information and to ensure that it is shared as transparently and as promptly as possible.

The long-term commitment of LIC’s research and development team, many of whom have dedicated decades to advancing genetic evaluation, reinforces this approach.

There is no benefit in implementing changes prematurely. Genetic progress is a long-term endeavour, and data ultimately reveals whether a system works or not.

• Richard Spelman is LIC chief scientist

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CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Auckland Stephen Pollard ........ Ph 021-963 166 Waikato & Wellington Lisa Wise .... Ph 027-369 9218 Christchurch Kaye Sutherland .... Ph 021-221 1994 ■ BREAKING NEWS ■ MACHINERY REVIEWS ■ MANAGEMENT STORIES

www.dairynews.co.nz ■ AND MUCH MORE...

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

29

MATING MANAGEMENT

The evolution of mating plans ■ Izzy Willison OVER THE PAST two decades, New Zealand dairy farmers have seen a dramatic shift in how mating plans are executed.

What was once quite dominated by natural matings has now evolved into a strategic process, driven by a focus on herd improvement and efficiency.

The introduction of Short Gestation Length (SGL) semen has given farmers more control over their calving spreads, better herd productivity, efficiency and profitability.

In the early 2000s, mating plans were simpler. Farmers would artificially breed (AB) their cows for replacements during the first four weeks of mating.

After that, natural mating bulls would take over for the majority of the mating period. This approach worked, but it came with challenges: a wide calving spread, late-calving cows, and limited flexibility in herd improvement. Bulls were essential, but they also brought added expense and health and safety concerns.

Fast forward to 2010, when many farmers shifted their focus to achieving a six-week in-calf rate, leading them to extend the AB period to six weeks. This change resulted in more replacement heifers being reared and less reliance on natural mating bulls. Extending AB meant farmers could incorporate more genetic progress into their herds while reducing some of the cost and risks associated with a natural mating bull. Still, the tail end of mating was largely dominated by natural service and calving spreads remained relatively wide.

Now, mating plans have evolved entirely.

The introduction of Short Gestation Length (SGL) semen, alongside sexed semen and synchrony programmes has given farmers more flexibility than ever before and allows them to tailor their mating plans to suit their herd improvement goals.

Generically speaking, the first six weeks of mating are focused on AB for replacements using sexed semen and top genetic sires and teams. With more purposeful breeding and bottom 20%

30 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

The introduction of Short Gestation Length (SGL) semen has given farmers more control over their calving spreads.

cows going to beef. The tail end, once reserved for natural bulls, now incorporates SGL Dairy®, tightening calving spreads, increasing days in milk and offering other revenue streams.

This shift is significant. By reducing gestation by up to 12 days, SGL semen brings late-calving cows forward, ensuring they fit into the replacement AB window next season. This tactical use helps maintain herd age structure and saves late calving, high-merit cows that might otherwise be culled. It’s a cost-effective alternative to leasing or feeding bulls, and eliminates the risks associated with natural mating, such as bull fertility failures, injuries and farm damage.

WHY SGL IS A GAME-CHANGER? 1. Tighter calving spread

A tighter calving spread means more recovery time between calving and the planned start of mating. Earlier-calving cows have more time to start cycling and regain body condition, improving conception rates and six-week in-calf rates.

Lower empty rates give farmers greater flexibility for discretionary culling and reduce late-season challenges.

2. Increased days in milk

Every extra day in milk adds value.

By bringing calving forward, SGL semen increases the number of productive days in the season, boosting kilograms of milksolids (kgMS) per cow. Nationally, the impact is huge. LIC’s short gestation semen delivered nearly 2 million extra days in milk in the 2023–24 season, equating to around $37 million in additional farmer income.

3. No bull - fewer hassles

Artificial breeding with SGL semen reduces the need for natural mating bulls.

Farmers avoid expenses related to leasing or purchasing bulls, feeding them, and managing health and safety concerns. It’s a simpler, safer, and more efficient approach.

Modern mating plans are no longer one-size-fits-all. Farmers can now combine replacement and non-replacement straws strategically to achieve herd improvement goals while maximising profitability.

Whether it’s using sexed semen for replacements early in the season or deploying SGL beef and dairy semen at the tail end, today’s tools allow farmers to design mating plans that fit their unique objectives. By understanding how these options fit together, farmers can design mating plans that not only lift performance today but also build stronger, more productive herds for the seasons ahead.

• Izzy Willison is LIC’s head of genetics

MATING MANAGEMENT

Five strategies to lift the herd’s BW GENETIC MERIT SETS the foundation for the profitability of your dairy herd. The info below guides you through five ways to enhance your herd’s breeding worth. Each action contributes to building a stronger herd, and the more strategies you combine, the better the results.

The national herd improves every year, and the value of this compounds over time.

However, the underlying foundation is herd reproductive performance. Getting more of the right cows in-calf to high genetic merit bulls will enable options to select the best replacements and accelerate genetic gain.

Use high Breeding Worth sires If you can do only one thing, choose high BW sires. Select the bull team that aligns with your goals for the animals you want to be milking. The higher the BW of the bulls you use, the faster your herd’s genetic gain.

TARGET REPLACEMENTS FROM YOUR TOP BW COWS AND HEIFERS

Keeping replacements from top BW cows and using artificial insemination over your heifers gives you more options when selecting heifer calves to rear. It also means calves from those top heifers will be in the herd one year sooner – a boost to genetic gain.

KEEP ACCURATE AND

Select the bull team that aligns with your goals for the animals you want to be milking.

DETAILED RECORDS

From pregnancy scanning through to accurate calving records, data is key to your herd BW and reproductive performance.

Detailed calving and mating records support better mating and culling decisions, including tracking cases of calving difficulties.

USE DNA PARENTAGE VERIFICATION

Around 25% of calves are mismothered at birth or when completing data entry.

DNA parentage verification helps avoid

accidentally keeping replacements from low-performing cows, preventing a loss in genetic gain.

MEASURE COW PERFORMANCE

Regular herd testing helps you accurately identify which cows are productive and which cows are costing you. Liveweight is a key component of BW. Consider weighing the herd to gain insights into overall efficiency, and to identify individual cow performance.

• Article - DairyNZ

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

31

CALVING / CALF REARING

Every rearing decision is an investment into your future herd.

Keep the right calves, build the right herd ■ Alaska Mikkelsen ONE OF THE most important decisions for herd improvement is choosing which calves to keep.

Genomic testing offers a simple, practical way to make those choices with confidence at one of the busiest times of year. By analysing a DNA sample, genomic testing provides valuable insights that support smarter, more informed on-farm decisions.

The real advantage of genomic testing is how early it gives you reliable information.

By understanding an animal’s genetic potential from the start, you can make more strategic decisions about which ones to keep, saving time, effort and resources later on.

32 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

This is where LIC’s GeneMark Genomics service comes in. Using a small tissue sample from an animal’s ear it generates a genetic profile - think of it like a fingerprint for that animal. From this profile, we can verify parentage (who’s mum, who’s dad) and predict the future performance of your young stock.

KEY BENEFITS OF GENOMICS Every rearing decision is an investment into your future herd.

Genomics helps you:

• Keep the right calves: Confirm parentage and avoid mismothering errors, no more stressful guesswork at calving.

• Make informed breeding decisions: by

identifying superior genetics in your herd at a younger age. Get improved reliability of your animals’ breeding values with a complete assessment of their genomic profile.

• Save time and money: Avoid rearing calves from the bottom end of your herd.

Put your feed, labour and space into the animals that will pay your bills in the future.

ACCELERATING GENETIC GAIN

Genomics also shortens the generational interval by two years, giving you insights about an animal’s potential long before it joins the herd. What used to require waiting until a heifer was in milk is now available

CALVING / CALF REARING

Put your feed, labour and space into the animals that will pay your bills in the future.

while it’s still a calf. The result? Faster genetic gain, fewer resources spent rearing the wrong animals, and greater confidence in deciding who joins the milking herd.

Genomic testing solutions are continually evolving because breeding goals evolve. Ten years ago, farms prioritised breeding more cows. Now the focus has shifted to breeding better cows. The strength of genomics is that it adapts with industry needs, tracking genetic gain and keeping your decisions in step with what delivers performance in New Zealand herds.

If you’re considering purchasing stock, look for herds that have been DNA profiled

or genomically evaluated. You gain reliability, accurate ancestry and confidence in what you’re bringing home - advantages you won’t get from non-profiled herds.

GENOMICS IS THE FOUNDATION, NOT THE FINISH LINE

While genomic testing predicts genetic potential, it doesn’t replace environmental factors such as health, nutrition, colostrum management, lameness prevention and disease control which all influence herd improvement outcomes. Think of genomics as the foundation to ensure you’re investing

Maximise your milk quality

Bottom line.

Agmax-GTBR Bottom Line-v1.indd 1

in the right animals, and then the day-to-day management lifts the herd to its genetic potential.

REAR WITH CONFIDENCE

Building a herd that can sustain your business starts with making the right choices early. With the added assurance that mismothering is corrected during the busiest season, you can rear with confidence, knowing every calf has the potential to strengthen the future of your herd.

• Alaska Mikkelsen is GeneMark product manager at LIC.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

33

CALVING / CALF REARING

Plan ahead for safer calving ■ Penny Timmer-Arends FROM PADDOCK CHOICE to late pregnancy and lactation, proactive management makes all the difference to winter calving.

New Zealand’s pasture-based systems generally support good animal welfare, but bad weather can create wet and muddy paddocks, making management more challenging. Public concern is growing over calves being born on mud, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been actively monitoring animal welfare during winter, particularly in the South Island, for several years.

Calving is stressful for a cow’s body and can put her health at risk. Sick cows require substantial extra care. This highlights the importance of planning, which minimises problems for you and your team.

Encouragingly, the 2023-24 Animal Care Consult data shows that 95% of farmers check their springing cows at least three times a day, with many inspecting them even more often. During poor weather most farmers increase calf pickups – proactive steps that help reduce some of the risks associated with winter calving.

CALVING PADDOCKS

Providing the best calving conditions starts with careful paddock selection and proactive management. Keeping good records (for example, a wintering plan or spring rotation planner with expected calving dates) also helps demonstrate your efforts if needed.

MPI Animal Welfare Inspectors will require farmers to move cows close to calving if surface conditions are unsuitable.

Calving is stressful for a cow’s body and can put her health at risk.

for all cows to calve in clean conditions and identify a back-up paddock if conditions are too wet.

PLANNING THE TRANSITION

The transition period (three weeks before and after calving) is critical as cows adjust from late pregnancy to lactation, navigating various physiological challenges. Providing flat, sheltered paddocks with clean surfaces and plenty of pasture can help support a smooth transition. Ideally, these paddocks are also away from effluent areas and within easy walking distance of the shed.

Regularly draft cows into the springer mob and check springers often to help identify cows having trouble.

PLAN AHEAD

AT-RISK CALVES

Use paddocks that aren’t in the grazing rotation and lock them up for an extended period before calving begins to prevent manure contamination and pugging. If possible, avoid areas close to the dairy to reduce the risk of effluent run-off – choose higher ground instead. Ensure enough space

Calves that had a difficult birth or are born in poor weather are more likely to have trouble standing and suckling. Identify high-risk calves as soon as possible, record their numbers and bring them to the calf shed to get warm and have a good feed of colostrum.

34 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

• Find more information at dairynz.co.nz/calving • Penny Timmer-Arends is DairyNZ senior animal care specialist

CHECKLIST Calving management checklist • Split the herd by expected calving dates.

• If wintering on crop, transition back to grass 10–14 days before calving.

• Check springers regularly, especially in wet weather, and collect calves as needed.

• Ensure the farm team understands the plan and their roles.

• Use a spring rotation planner to manage grazing and allow for wet weather.

MILK QUALITY

Probiotics help reduce somatic cell counts ■ CHRIS COLLIER MANY DAIRY FARMERS are successfully using probiotics to lower somatic cell counts (SCC), and I believe this approach should be adopted by most dairy operations.

While treatments like dry cow therapy, teat sealants, and intra-mammary or injectable mastitis treatments are usually evaluated on cure rates and subsequent cell counts, there’s consistently strong outcomes with probiotics, supported by compelling scientific evidence.

We now use our most potent five-day bacterial treatment to achieve up to 90% apparent cure rates for clinical mastitis.

Research shows that administering three strains of probiotics 21 days before calving and continuing for 70 days post-calving is more effective than starting only after calving. This strategy helps reduce sub-clinical ketosis, which is closely linked to health issues such as calving mastitis, difficult calving, early milk production, and resumption of cycling. In high-producing cows, ketosis often peaks around six weeks after calving.

Farmers often use probiotics to reduce calving mastitis or improve calving ease, though other management factors may also contribute.

However, there’s clear evidence that probiotics make a substantial difference.

Halter data from a farm near Milton showed an interval from calving to first heats of just 24 days, compared with the national average of 42, indicating improved feed conversion and reduced sub-clinical ketosis.

With new sources of bacteria and yeasts blended in New Zealand, treating springers for 12–16 days now costs between $3.50 and $4.20/cow. Adding this to a transition diet or administering via water troughs makes it an

36 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Chris Collier, Probiotic Revolution, says there’s clear evidence that probiotics make a substantial difference.

affordable option, and this is often the first step for farmers to see measurable probiotic benefits.

REDUCING CLINICAL MASTITIS AND SCC

The strongest evidence for probiotics reducing somatic cell counts comes from a 2022 Japanese university trial. Cows with a history of mastitis, as well as maiden heifers, were treated daily with probiotics 21 days pre-calving and for 10 months of lactation.

Untreated cows all had mastitis in the second year, whereas only 25% of treated cows did. Between days 51–75 of lactation, untreated cows had cell counts of 1 million, while treated cows averaged just 10,000.

This level of improvement is remarkable, and as there was also a significant reduction in cell counts in maiden heifers, it suggests probiotics boost immunity and prevent clinical mastitis occurring.

Monthly blood sampling indicated significant reductions in stress, inflammation, and fat mobilisation at the onset of production. I attribute this lower fat mobilisation during an expected negative energy balance to reduced ketosis, improved digestion, and higher intakes. Many farmers using our standard lactation product have reported minimal weight loss in the first six

weeks post-calving.

We knew that higher bacterial doses were needed for maximum effect.

We now use our most potent five-day bacterial treatment to achieve up to 90% apparent cure rates for clinical mastitis.

This approach also lowers cell counts in high-count cows, sometimes by treating water troughs, and in one instance, quadrupling the Rumicell dose reduced cell counts from 60,000 to 30,000 in just a few days.

STRONGER PROBIOTICS, LOWER SCC

Inspired by the Japanese trial, we increased the bacterial content in our product by over 50% in 2024 while maintaining the cost at just 12 cents per cow. Dose rate is critical.

Previously, we had good feed conversion, but the lower bacterial dose didn’t achieve the expected impact on cell counts.

On one Wellsford farm, switching to the stronger bacterial dose reduced cell counts by 39% (see graph next page) compared with the previous year, even when July cell counts at the start of the second season were only 8% lower. In late lactation, higher doses have effectively prevented cell counts rising towards drying-off.

Optimising mineral supplementation is also essential. Since probiotics often

MILK QUALITY

reduce mastitis and cell counts by boosting immunity, minerals like selenium and zinc must be at optimal levels to achieve the best results.

Hermanus farms

2023

2024

2025

250

Rumicell added Rumicell plus extra bacteria added

IMPROVED FEED CONVERSION TRIALS

By enhancing feed conversion and reducing acidosis and ketosis, probiotics improve multiple health outcomes. We have therefore developed products that focus on both feed conversion and health. In a 2022 Lincoln University trial, our product increased acetate levels by 22% across three standard New Zealand cow rations, reflecting improved fibre digestion and higher milk fat production.

It’s not just yeast activity, but specific bacteria producing digestive enzymes. New bacterial strains have since been added to improve digestion and nitrogen utilisation.

Through sourcing yeast components from Aleris in Brazil, we identified that a higher rate of yeast extract - Cultron delivered superior performance in both in vitro fermentation and production trials,

SCC

200

39% reduction in SCC

150

100

50

0

Jul

Aug Sept Oct

achieving better results with just a 7g dose compared to a competitor’s 14g dose. It preserves yeast activity and metabolites, providing a high-quality nutritional source.

Combined with lysed yeast, it improves amino acid, vitamin, and organic acid availability, along with glucomannans that support gut health and overall animal development.

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Although not tested on the same diets as our probiotic, Cultron showed superior increases in volatile fatty acids. Therefore, we are now introducing it to New Zealand to enhance herd health and feed conversion, building on the success of our probiotic products.

• Chris Collier is managing director of Probiotic Revolution.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

37

MILK QUALITY

Fly through milking cows without the nuisance fly COWS KICKING? TAILS flicking? Being bitten yourself? Nuisance fly can easily upset a milking.

Also known as the Stable fly or scientifically as Stomoxys calcitrans, the nuisance fly looks similar to your average house fly but take a closer look and you will find a long piercing mouthpart that allows them to pierce skin and feed on blood.

As they are most active in the early mornings and late afternoons they can cause havoc at milking time. Each fly only feeds on a small amount of blood but the irritation they cause is far more significant.

In the milking shed cows become restless, kicking and flicking their tails, making milking a frustrating and inefficient process.

And what’s worse is these flies will bite humans too – making it just as unpleasant for the milkers.

In the paddock, cows being bitten by nuisance fly spend more time flicking tails, stomping feet and trying to get away than what they do grazing, and less time grazing means less milk production. Cows will often mob together to avoid the flies, damaging pasture and reducing grazing efficiency as well as increasing the risk of heat stress. On top of the irritation and disturbance the fly

38 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Nuisance fly can upset a milking.

bites can also increase the spread of diseases such as ringworm, rain scald and even pink eye and mastitis.

Nuisance flies go through three larval stages before reaching adulthood, with their full life cycle taking anywhere from 22 to 58 days depending on temperature and the availability of food. In cooler climates flies will hibernate or delay their growth until conditions become more favourable. A single female can lay up to 3000 eggs so under ideal conditions, there can be rampant population growth, with just one female potentially giving rise to over a million flies within five generations. Early intervention is therefore the key to limiting these pests.

Eliminating breeding grounds by cleaning up manure, waste feed, sileage stacks, offal holes and other organic matter in which they lay eggs helps to reduce egg and larval survival. Insecticide pour-ons can be used on cattle to not only protect cattle from being bitten but also reduce adult flies’ food source and therefore their ability to lay eggs and increase the population. To be most effective in limiting the population this needs to be done early in the season, which is now! Check out your local animal health supplier for products that help prevent nuisance fly this summer.

Early action means fewer flies, happier cows and more milk!

MILK QUALITY

Managing mastitis ■ Katherine McNamara

MASTITIS REMAINS ONE of the most persistent and costly challenges on New Zealand dairy farms, affecting milk quality, animal wellbeing, and overall farm performance.

While clinical mastitis is usually straightforward to identify, subclinical mastitis continues to be the quiet disruptor in many herds - harder to spot, more widespread, and responsible for driving somatic cell counts (SCC) and undermining production long before symptoms appear.

The real opportunity lies in improving visibility. Better information about the bacteria circulating within the herd can support more targeted interventions, more efficient antibiotic use, and ultimately, healthier cows.

The Mastitis Multiplex PCR test provides a convenient and cost-effective way to do this through using milk samples collected from a routine herd test to detect the most common mastitis-causing bacteria: • Staphylococcus aureus • Streptococcus uberis • Streptococcus dysgalactiae By using existing herd test milk samples, the test gives you a clearer picture of your herd’s udder health. The results can be used in several ways: 1. Monitoring high SCC animals

When a cow shows high SCC mid-season, the test confirms if any of the listed bacteria are present. This is especially useful for detecting sub-clinical infections - the ones you can’t physically see. The information you receive helps you and your vet identify the best treatment for the

cow, supports early intervention and minimises the risk of ongoing production loss.

2. Identifying antibiotic (penicillin) resistance

By detecting penicillin resistance within the bacteria, test results can help guide treatment decisions. Knowing which antibiotics are most likely to be effective reduces the chances of unsuccessful treatment and ensures your cows are given the best chance of a quick recovery.

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3. Planning for dry-off

Dry-off provides an opportunity to manage existing infections and reduce the risk of new ones.

Knowing which bacteria are present helps you and your vet: • Target treatments – choose the right dry cow therapy for the bacteria detected • Reduce antibiotic use – avoid blanket treatments and focus only where needed • Improve herd health – start next season with fewer infections and better milk quality These insights can also help to guide culling decisions for chronic infections, providing information for dry-off strategies well before the end of lactation.

By strengthening visibility of the bacteria driving infections, farmers can make more confident, evidence-based decisions that support both herd health and milk quality.

Tools like the Mastitis Multiplex test don’t replace on-farm experience or veterinary advice, but they do provide the clarity needed to intervene earlier, treat more precisely, and set herds up for healthier seasons ahead.

• Katherine McNamara is LIC’s product manager – animal health

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

39

ANIMAL HEALTH

Getting ahead on animal care

■ Jenny Jago

FARMING LIVESTOCK COMES with the responsibility of ensuring the animals’ needs are met. As science advances, we’re gaining a better understanding of animal sentience – their ability to experience stress, comfort and social connection.

This shift moves beyond simply preventing harm, to creating environments where animals can live comfortably. A well-cared-for animal is a productive animal; ultimately, that’s what everyone wants.

Regarding animal care, competitiveness is measured by how we stack up against customer expectations, other dairyproducing countries, and national and global standards. How well our farming systems perform in these areas will determine whether we’re ahead of the game or falling behind.

At DairyNZ, we’re working to identify which aspects of New Zealand’s dairy system are already well-equipped to meet these needs, as this could give us a competitive advantage and show us where we can improve.

DairyNZ’s Animal Care programme focuses on identifying those areas of opportunity. Two key risks to our competitiveness include keeping cows comfortable in climate extremes and managing non-replacement calves.

While keeping cows outdoors provides a competitive advantage, as customers and cows prefer outdoor environments, we must ensure their comfort during weather extremes, especially managing heat load. In some regions, at certain times, the weather conditions can become stressful for cows.

We use technology and animal sensors in our research to better understand the cow experience through data. At the same time we work closely with farmers to learn from their observations and identify higher-risk regions. Our goal is to understand the conditions that can lead to stress and develop predictive tools to support farmers.

40 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Jenny Jago

The work is also exploring practical mitigation options for farmers. Since trees take time to grow and provide effective shade, we’re identifying alternative solutions that can offer more immediate relief for cows at risk of heat stress.

A study is underway to explore how cows value the option to manage heat load by accessing shade outside their paddock.

The goal is to develop practical, on-farm strategies that support positive welfare experiences and help farmers enhance cow wellbeing.

Another area of focus is non-replacement dairy calves, which remain an underutilised resource with significant potential for the dairy and beef sectors. We’re collaborating closely with

partners across the entire supply chain to explore opportunities in this space.

Other aspects of the programme involve mapping sector progress and understanding current practices to help inform policy development. We also ensure that the technical information supporting industry programmes, like SmartSAMM and HealthyHoof, remains up to date by collaborating with industry experts and reviewing the latest science.

Much of our work is forward-thinking.

We are preparing to address challenges that will become more pressing in the future, potentially sooner than we expect.

• Find out more about heat stress at dairynz. co.nz/heat-stress • Jenny Jago is DairyNZ principal scientist

ANIMAL HEALTH

Selenium deficiency widespread, holding back production ■ Steve Judd DESPITE SELENIUM DEFICIENCY and its effects being widely described in dairy and cattle in New Zealand, selenium deficiency is still a disease that limits productivity on New Zealand farms.

The effects of selenium deficiency are wide and varied ranging from reduced growth rates, milk production, and fertility right through to deaths in severe cases.

Selenium has antioxidant functions, maintaining cell membranes, proteins and DNA, is involved in the regulation of thyroid metabolism, and influences the immune response in animals. With this broad range of important functions, it is easy to see how adequate selenium levels are important for maintaining optimum levels of production on farm.

New Zealand soils are formed from rock low in trace elements that also weather slowly, giving rise to soils low in selenium.

Dairy farmers in areas with soil selenium levels below 0.9 mg/kg should be considering working with heir veterinarian to blood test stock to understand their selenium supplementation needs.

The dairy productivity benefits of selenium supplementation are well known.

In 1960, studies by Rotorua veterinarian Bob Jolly (who was since been made an emeritus professor at Massey University) demonstrated a 52% increase in growth rate in Jersey and Jersey-cross heifer calves treated twice orally with selenium on the pumice lands of Rotorua. A range of studies since then have shown increased milk production and fertility following treatment for selenium deficiency in adult cows grazing deficient pastures.

In dairy milking cattle, you should consider testing stock prior to calving because selenium deficiency is known to depress milk production and may affect

Selenium pour-on has come back on the market due to farmer and veterinarian demand.

parturition, retention of foetal membranes and conception.

Your veterinarian will likely recommend that 4-6 blood samples are adequate for

assessing the selenium status of a herd.

It is important farmers get veterinarian advice on what samples to take and most importantly the interpretation of

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

41

ANIMAL HEALTH

these results considering your current supplementation program and the class of stock tested.

New Zealand soils are formed from rock low in trace elements that also weather slowly, giving rise to soils low in selenium.

Farmers are spoilt for choice in the forms of selenium supplementation that they can use to treat and prevent selenium deficiency – but it is hard to compare apples with apples across all the different forms of supplementation.

Selenium supplementation can come with and without other trace elements, in varying dose forms including oral, injectable and topical pour-on formulations and also in short and long-acting formulations, all at different price points.

Selenium pour-on has come back on the market due to farmer and veterinarian demand for an easy to apply single-mineral treatment. Selenium pour-on is especially convenient and effective for situations where young growing stock or the milking herd are being wintered on run-off blocks where there may not be options to dose via water supply but can be easily supplemented in yards without the hassle of injectable treatment.

Questions to ask your vet:

• Ask about dose rates. Do the products contain a recommended dose rate of 0.1 mg per kilogram liveweight of selenium?

• If you are supplementing calves and young

Regions impacted by low selenium levels.

stock ask about the benefits of longversus short (6-week) acting treatments as you want to maintain selenium levels as stock grow.

Critical times for selenium supplementation to support dairy cattle health:

• Lactating dairy cows: • At dry off (May) before going to a grazing block where selenium cannot be dispensed through the water supply.

• Pre-calving (July) and leading into mating (September). Ensure selenium levels

are optimum through this critical time of the year for reproductive health and maximum milk production.

• Dairy and beef heifers being mated for the first time: • Pre-mating (October). Boost selenium for the best reproductive performance.

• Dairy calves: • Ensure optimum selenium levels to prevent issues of ill-thrift impacting growth rates and future animal productivity.

• Steve Judd is the general manager growth & development for Inovata

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Risk factors for herds ■ Chris Balemi MOST PROBLEMS DAIRY herds face do not appear out of nowhere.

Mineral deficiencies build up gradually and then exhibit in sometimes subtle ways, like more lameness, more metabolic issues, and/or poorer reproductive performance.

The same three pressures often sit in the background – limited energy supply, minerals out of balance, and increased toxin load.

The following is a seasonal walkthrough, looking at the simple red flags with common problems, to give you the best chance to correct potential issues before they take hold.

DRY OFF THROUGH TO EARLY LACTATION

Pressure ramps up well before calving. This is the stage where mineral demands rise, the calf keeps growing, and feed quality can slide. Small gaps here show up later as down cows, poor milk, sick animals and fertility problems. Sound body condition, quality feed, adequate minerals, and good transition management will give you some room when the pressure comes on.

DRY COW MANAGEMENT AND MINERAL BALANCE

Dry cows set up the next season. If they calve in poor condition and with less than optimal mineral status, you are chasing problems from day one. A planned dry period that focuses on steady condition gain, enough trace elements to meet demand, and a full transition mineral programme that starts 21 days before calving will ensure maximum

dairy

The same three pressures often sit in the background – limited energy supply, minerals out of balance, and increased toxin load

rumen function is achieved from day one of lactation.

METABOLIC AND DOWN COWS

Most farmers know the cost of milk fever and other metabolic problems around calving.

What is easy to miss are the cows that may be subclinical. Sound DCAD management, the right calcium and magnesium before and after calving, and a plan around the higher risk cows will help reduce the number you are treating in the paddock.

KETOSIS AND POOR ENERGY SUPPLY

Early lactation presents a fine line between output and intake. When energy is in deficit, cows can mobilise too much fat, the liver cannot keep up, and ketosis can become an issue. You may spot poor appetite, loss of condition, and dull cows. Adequate mineral status will support better rumen function, which feeds into energy metabolism, generating a higher appetite that helps plug

The liver sits in the middle of energy supply, hormone balance, and toxin clearance. Once the liver comes under pressure, cows can look flat all year. Cows fail to fully recover after calving, and reproductive performance drops off. Grass toxins, poor-quality silage, and imbalanced minerals can all add to the burden on the liver. Trace elements that support liver function and proven toxin binders, used strategically, will ensure maximum liver function is maintained.

PEAK MILK AND MATING: HOLDING PRODUCTION AND GETTING COWS IN CALF

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problems can fail to fire, at a time when you need strong heats, tight mating, and good conception rates. Any background issue with energy, minerals, or toxins tends to show up in the mating results. Watching for rumen upsets, mastitis and ill thrift at this stage, and correcting them early, pays back in both milk and next season’s calving spread.

FERTILITY AND CYCLING PROBLEMS

Non-cyclers and long returns are often the first sign that cows have not coped with the load so far. Energy balance, body condition, and trace minerals such as copper, selenium, iodine, and phosphorus all play a part in how well cows cycle and hold. Blood tests and liver biopsies will give a clearer picture of the cow’s status.

SARA AND RUMEN UPSET

Sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) tends to show up when rations are high or when the grasses are high in natural sugars.

Manure consistency changes, and laminitis risk rises. You might also see milk fat dip, and cows becoming unsettled after a feed

change. Consistent fibre in the diet, careful shifts in concentrates, and the use of rumen buffers when risk is high all help keep rumen pH steadier and support better use of the minerals in the diet.

MASTITIS, HIGH SCC AND IMMUNE GAPS

Mastitis and high somatic cell counts cost money through lost production and treatment costs.

High milk somatic cell counts usually indicate mastitis issues, which, if left untreated, seriously impact production.

Milking hygiene, dry cow therapy, and teat care carry most of the load, but minerals still matter. Zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamin E are part of the cow’s defence system; a deficiency in any of these will make it harder for cows to fight off infections.

SUMMER AND AUTUMN: MANAGING HEAT, TOXINS AND WEAR AND TEAR

As temperatures climb and pasture quality shifts, cows face a different sort of pressure.

Heat, toxins, and tired legs all take their toll.

Water, shade, and paddock set-up are the first tools to reach for. Minerals, electrolytes, and toxin binders then sit around that base to help cows cope with the season without losing too much milk or body condition.

LAMENESS AND HOOF STRENGTH

Wet seasons, rough races, and long hours on concrete all lift lameness rates. You see more cows short-stepping and slowing the herd on the lane.

PULLING IT TOGETHER

Across the above issues, the same pattern keeps showing up. Cows handle the season better when energy supply matches demand, minerals are in balance, and toxin load stays under control. Testing bloods, liver tissue, pasture, and feeds gives better guidance than guessing or chasing specials. Working with your vet, nutritionist, or farm adviser on a simple season plan means you are less often on the back foot and more often ahead of the problems.

• Chris Balemi is founder and director of Agvance Nutrition Ltd.

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ANIMAL HEALTH

Kicking lameness into touch LAMENESS IS A cow health issue that requires timely detection and treatment.

It affects the wellbeing of cows and people, taking time, energy and skill to treat.

Lameness can pose a significant financial cost as lame cows produce less milk, lose weight, and take longer to get back in calf.

Treatment of lameness is crucial for quick recovery. This involves reshaping hooves, reducing pressure on lesions, removing damaged horn, and providing pain relief. If a cow doesn’t improve within a week after treating her, seek professional help. Your veterinarian or hoof trimmer can assist with treatment and staff training.

Effective lameness treatment is critical and ensures a faster recovery for the cow.

Those treating cows need proper training and experience. Contact your local vet or hoof trimmer to enrol in a treatment course.

In a published study which surveyed 100 New Zealand farms, farmers reported lack of time and skilled staff as a key barrier to managing lameness. Working with a hoof trimmer can help overcome these issues, as they have the skills and equipment to handle cows quickly and safely.

The DairyNZ lameness scoring system rates cows on a scale of 0 (no lameness) to 3 (very lame) and provides recommended actions based on the score. When observing cows, choose a flat area where cows can walk freely. This will ensure better accuracy when using the scoring system. Record every lame cow so you know what you are dealing with.

Technology such as cameras and wearables can also be used to detect lame cows. Depending on the technology you’re using, it might identify a cow as lame using AI video analysis and score her from 0-3 or simply create a generic health alert that requires further investigation. Gait scoring cows with abnormal activity data can be a more efficient way of finding lame cows compared to whole-herd manual scoring.

TREATMENT PRINCIPLES Early detection

Regular herd lameness scoring is essential.

Cows often hide pain until it’s severe, so formal scoring helps catch issues early. Aim

46 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Treatment of lameness is crucial for quick recovery.

for fortnightly scoring using the lameness scoring guide, but checking half the herd at cups-off every two months is a great start.

Do what works for your system, which may include the use of technology like cameras and wearables to save staff time.

Examine claw and trim

Once identified, trim and treat cows promptly for the best outcome. Good facilities and training are vital for safe trimming and applying hoof blocks. Record all cases in your herd management software.

Manage pain

Provide injections and hoof blocks to every lame cow unless there’s a clear reason not to. Research shows these treatments significantly improve recovery times and reproductive outcomes.

by future problems. Reduce pressure on a lesion by removing the under-run horn around the lesion. This reduces pinching and aggravation of the lesion by the hard horn. It also allows dirt and slurry to drain from around the lesion which decreases the chance of an abscess forming.

Transfer the weight to the other healthy claw by either paring down the sole of the affected claw and/ or putting a block/slip on the healthy claw. Blocks should be used by default, unless there’s an obvious reason not to (e.g. a lesion on the opposite claw). This transfer of weight helps cows to walk with less pain and aids healing.

Avoid causing bleeding and, trimming too deep. Provide pain relief as per your veterinary prescription. The vast majority of lameness in New Zealand is caused by white line disease and sole lesions and generally won’t require antibiotics.

Safe handling and effective treatment

Ensure you have adequate facilities and use the correct techniques for handling cows. Good facilities improve lame cow management by reducing stress for you and the cow and improve access to the hooves for trimming.

Return hooves to the ideal shape so that they are balanced, more able to support the cow’s weight and less likely to be affected

Manage recovery

Create a monitoring plan to track recovery.

Ensure proper nutrition to prevent excessive body condition loss. Minimise time on concrete and reduce walking distances, once-a-day milking can help. Keep lame cows on pasture with easy access to water and good-quality feed.

• Article - DairyNZ

Getting the basics Right

with early detection of Lameness and daily automated Body Condition scoring.

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EFFLUENT & WATER

Making the most of effluent and slurry ■ Mark Daniel WITH THE VOLATILE nature of global fertiliser prices, organic manure remains one of the most valuable nutrient resources available to New Zealand farmers – yet its potential is often underutilised.

Also, with environmental expectations tightening, getting the basics right with effluent and slurry management has never been more important, so it’s a good time to look at some tips to getting the most out of your effluent and slurry.

Methods of application are key to applying slurry for best results.

Slurry contains significant levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), so with the right timing, techniques, and tools, farmers can maximise nutrient recovery, reduce fertiliser costs, protect soils and boost crop yields.

Getting the best from your effluent or slurry centres on knowing its nutrient value and choosing the best application method, the latter including emerging precision technologies now used on farms across New Zealand.

STEPS TO TAKE

To get the most value from your slurry and effluent, start with testing it alongside regular ongoing testing to understand it’s nutrient content. Testing might be via samples sent to a laboratory for analysis, using a hydrometer to estimate the nutrient content or using the latest NIR technology being offered by some effluent applicator manufacturers.

In addition, it might also be beneficial to understand the nutritional needs of each paddock by sending samples to a laboratory, looking at key characteristics such as organic matter, dry matter, potash, phosphates, sulphur, total nitrogen, and potassium.

The nutrient composition of slurry and

48 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Identifying the optimum time to spread slurry or effluent should start by ensuring the soil can absorb the nutrients effectively.

effluents will depend on individual farming system, with dairy, beef, suckler and pig farming operations all differing. Along with the diet of each animal, inputs used on the farm will also affect the composition/ nutrient value of slurry, making testing vitally important to the process.

Assuming you have adequate slurry and effluent storage, it’s important to apply slurry at the optimum time to maximise its fertiliser replacement value for N, P and K. Adequate storage also offers the flexibility to match slurry application timings and best utilisation for maximum grass growth.

Identifying the optimum time to spread slurry or effluent should start by ensuring the soil can absorb the nutrients effectively.

Spreading should be done when potential N losses are low and uptake by a growing crop is high.

Spring applications of cattle slurries typically have a higher recovery of N, by up to 50%, compared to summer applications, while weather conditions in spring will also be more favourable to improving the recovery of N from the slurry. For example, during cool, damp, overcast days, with temperatures of less than 13°C, N loss through ammonia emissions is lowest.

Around 60% of slurry’s nutrient value comes from potassium and 22% from phosphorus, making it particularly important for fields with low P and K or those with high nutrient offtake.

Proper application will depend on land type and weather conditions, as it may not always be possible to travel on the land, or the weather may not be suitable, so it is important to continue testing and adjusting the plan as needed.

Achieve the best utilisation by spreading on paddocks where fertility is low and nutrient demand is highest, such as growing or harvested silage areas. It is important to direct watery slurry or effluents to grazing plots, rather than denser slurries.

An important consideration is the most suitable spreading method to maximise the efficiency and benefits, while a slurry spreading calibration tool will give you the best results.

Applying slurry correctly can improve forage yield and nutrient density, which in turn enhances the overall health of the herd.

Using LESS applicators during application, helps reduce environmental impact and ensures compliance with evolving government regulations.

THE VALUE OF EFFLUENTS

In New Zealand, the DairyNZ website suggests that the average cow on a dairy farm produces effluent that can replace around $25 worth of bought-in fertiliser, meaning the average 400-cow operation can replace $10,000 worth of fertiliser. A BNZ factsheet suggests that the effluent from one hundred cows on an all-grass

EFFLUENT & WATER

farm can generate enough nutrients to replace 1.7 tonnes of urea, one tonne of super phosphate and 1.5 tonnes of muriate of potash. In the example of an operation feeding maize at 0.6 tonnes per animal per year, these figures rise to 2.3 tonnes, 1.5 tonnes and 2.0 tonnes accordingly.

Methods of application are key to applying slurry for best results, with the application method having a major influence on nutrient recovery, especially nitrogen.

LESS systems significantly reduce nitrogen losses and improve utilisation, typically retaining an extra three units of N per 4,500 litres compared to splash plates — a 30–50% improvement. Benefits of a LESS system include greater N retention, less contamination of grass, wider application windows, ability to spread into higher covers and reduced smell and improved environmental outcomes.

As an example, Irish effluent specialists Abbey Machinery offers a full range of LESS applicators, including: Trailing Shoe, which places slurry beneath the canopy, Band Spreader, that delivers slurry in narrow bands, Flexi Shoe, for flexible placement with reduced contamination and Shallow Disc Injectors, for placing slurry below the surface.

These options are offered to help farmers match application to soil type, crop stage, and nutrient need, supporting more efficient fertiliser replacement and healthier pastures.

EMERGING PRECISION TECHNOLOGIES: THE NEXT STEP

New Zealand farmers now have access to advanced precision application technology, with manufacturers like Abbey offering slurry tankers, available in 5000 to 30,000+

Manufacturers are offering slurry tankers, available in 5000 to 30,000+ litre capacities and equipped with the latest technology.

litre capacities, that can be equipped with flow meters, nutrient sensors, and ISOBUS systems that can provide, real-time application rate control, GPS-based proof of placement and automatic recording of rate, location, and timing.

They can also deliver cloud-based reporting for farm managers, tractor drivers and contractors, alongside Geofencing, to prevent spreading near waterways or unapproved areas. This ensures nutrients are applied precisely where they are needed, improving efficiency and reducing waste.

Newer developments like NIR (near infrared) sensors take spreading technology even further. When paired with a slurry tanker’s flow meter, NIR can measure nutrient concentration in real time and adjust application rates on-the-go.

Operators simply select the target nutrient rate for the area, from a cab-mounted control system.

In summary, slurry and effluent can be sone of the most under-recognised assets on New Zealand farms. With rising fertiliser costs and increasing focus on sustainability, farmers stand to gain by treating slurry as the valuable nutrient source it is.

Understanding nutrient content, applying slurry at the right time and place, and adopting efficient spreading technologies from trailing shoes to full ISOBUS-controlled systems all contribute to higher nutrient recovery, healthier soils, and lower input costs.

• Rural News Group recognises the invaluable help of Abbey Machinery www.abbeymachinery.com - in compiling this overview on the value of farm effluent.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

49

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Wintering & feed barns that actually work.

When you’re building a wintering or feed barn, the details matter. A good flood-wash system plus quality rubber matting turns a muddy, labour-heavy winter into a tidy, efficient operation; and Jersey Girl farm near Winton proves it.

The wash system Flood-wash is simple physics: release a high volume of water from the top of the pad, wash everything down the loafing area and out to a sump. Numat’s Jersey Girl install uses a gravity-fed flood wash with roughly 60,000 litres available to clean each barn in under five minutes, routed to a 160,000L collection sump for solids separation and recycling. That kind of throughput saves real time as it takes 3 minutes to clean the surface and reduces manual scrapping.

Design matters A flood wash only works if the concrete and pipework are right.

The project team used about a 1.7% fall and evenly spaced risers to create a cleaning wave; the trick is a smooth, consistent flow so solids move, and the wash doesn’t move so fast that it rushes over the top.

Green-water recycling (reusing screened effluent plus roof water) underpins the system and cuts freshwater demand.

Rubber mats Concrete plus cows equals problems.

Put down a heavyduty mat (Numat’s Siesta/Kura range) and you cut slips, lameness and annual maintenance associated with other systems.

The mats are grippy, comfortable for cows and designed for flood wash systems. In feedpad installs Numat report matting lifespans measured in decades and clear animal welfare gains.

Sources: NumatAGRI Jersey Girl case material and Numat technical notes.

PROJECT SNAPSHOT: • Herd Size: 900 Jersey cows.

• Barn Setup: 2 barns, each 26m wide with a 1.7% slope for seamless drainage.

On-farm wins At Jersey Girl the combined package delivered daily labour savings (five hours a day), cleaner cows, easier monitoring and a payback horizon many farmers peg at 5 years depending on scale. That’s better cow health, simpler effluent management, and serious savings.

If you’re planning wintering or a feed pad, lock in the fundamentals: right fall for effective cleaning, effluent capacity for a flood wash system, and specify interlocking heavyduty mats. Do that and winter stops being a clean-up job and starts being management time spent where it counts.

• Flood Wash: 60,000 litres of greenwash water per flush, completed in under 3 minutes, one to three times daily.

• Storage System: Two interconnected 30,000-litre tanks for waterrelease, plus a 160,000 litre sump capturing effluent for reuse.

• Labour Savings: 5 hours per day • Cost Reductions: Eliminates woodchip expenses, lowers tractor fuel and maintenance, and reduced lameness.

• quare metres covered in rubber mats: 4,687.6 m2 • Investment: Circa $1,5m

AGRIBUSINESS

Turning surplus calves into opportunity NEW ZEALAND’S DAIRY sector is embracing change at a pivotal moment.

Surplus calves can now represent a valuable revenue stream rather than a cost.

For years, surplus calves, particularly non-replacement males, have posed ethical and economic challenges. Historically, these bobby calves have been processed at four days old, but evolving consumer expectations and global market standards are encouraging a shift towards alternative approaches.

THE BILLION-DOLLAR OPPORTUNITY

Rabobank’s recent report, The strategic moment for dairy-beef in New Zealand, underscores the scale of the opportunity.

With nearly two million surplus dairy calves born annually, the report estimates that rearing an additional 600,000 calves and improving genetic merit could unlock over $1.2 billion in value at current market prices. This includes recovering around $115 million in missed carcass value each year.

Strong global beef demand, tightening supply, and premium export prices create a lucrative window for New Zealand to expand its beef footprint. But realising this potential requires coordinated action across breeding, rearing, and value chain relationships. Rabobank identifies better breeding as the biggest lever for lifting productivity — through superior beef genetics, artificial insemination, and optimised calving timing.

Beyond economics, the report warns that inaction risks New Zealand’s social licence and market access. A more integrated dairy-beef system is not only profitable, but essential for protecting the country’s global brand and future-proofing its livestock sector.

Why dairy beef integration?

State-owned enterprise Pámu (Landcorp Farming Limited), as New Zealand’s largest farmer, is leading a transformation that

Synergizer calves deliver strong growth, excellent eating quality, and reduced environmental impact.

promises to reshape the dairy-beef value chain. The company’s ambitious goal is that by 2030, every non-replacement dairy calf will be reared into a productive stream such as beef, or high-quality store animals. This is not just a tweak to the system; it’s a strategic overhaul grounded in profitability, genetics, farm systems changes, sustainability, and market insight.

Chief executive Mark Leslie says they are creating a solution that delivers long-term benefits across the entire dairy-beef value chain, building resilience, productivity, and sustainability for future generations of farmers.

AgResearch modelling shows there is also further opportunity for reductions in greenhouse gas intensity when market scale and farm systems allow, thanks to improved feed efficiency and shorter finishing times.

• Market demand Consumers want lower-emission, traceable beef with strong provenance.

Dairy beef meets these expectations while supporting premium brand development.

• Animal welfare and social licence Moving away from bobby calves addresses growing ethical concerns and strengthens the sector’s licence to operate.

The rationale for dairy beef integration is compelling and multi-faceted:

At the heart of the Pámu strategy is a worldclass breeding programme developed with Pámu subsidiary Focus Genetics, and being brought to market in partnership with Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC).

The goal is to create a high genetic merit beef brand tailored for beef on dairy use.

THE GENETICS DRIVING CHANGE

• Economic opportunity Surplus calves become a greater revenue stream for dairy farmers and make a significant profitability improvement when integrated into livestock systems, particularly with wearable devices.

• Environmental gains Dairy beef systems are 22% more emissions-efficient than traditional beef.

Key traits for success

• Short gestation and calving ease – Minimises disruption to dairy operations.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

51

AGRIBUSINESS

• Robust growth and carcass quality – Ensures calves finish quickly and meet processor specifications.

• Feed efficiency and lower methane – Supports sustainability and profitability.

• Polled offspring and visible coat colour – Simplifies management and identification.

The flagship outcome of this collaboration is Synergizer, a composite brand combining Silver Stabilizer and Charolais genetics. Synergizer calves deliver strong growth, excellent eating quality, and reduced environmental impact. Backed by ongoing rigorous progeny testing and methane measurement at the Pámu St Kilda facility, these genetics are designed to work across the entire value chain, from dairy farms to beef finishers and processors. sidebar Benefits for farmers For dairy farmers, integrating beef genetics into their breeding programme offers multiple advantages: • Higher-value calves compared to traditional dairy bulls.

DRAINAGE AND SOIL AERATION PAY BIG DIVIDENDS Don’t put good fertiliser on compacted soil which can’t absorb it. If your soil can’t support 15cm root growth and good worm population check for compaction.

You could need aeration. In dollar terms, what would 20% production increase mean to your yearly turnover?

• Improved herd management through strategic use of sexed semen and beef artificial insemination.

• Access to proven genetics that reduce calving risk and enhance calf performance.

• Alignment with processor and market requirements for sustainability and welfare-forward products.

Benefits and challenges for calf rearers and finishers Calf rearers and finishers benefit from predictable supply, better growth rates, and animals suited to fast-finishing systems.

Processors gain consistent kill profiles and the ability to market premium grass-fed beef with strong provenance.

However, these advantages come with challenges. Rearers may face higher upfront costs for quality feed and animal health management, as well as the need for skilled labour to maintain welfare standards. Biosecurity risks and disease prevention require vigilance, particularly when sourcing calves from multiple farms.

For finishers, market volatility and

fluctuating input costs can impact margins, while meeting processor specifications demands careful planning around nutrition and weight targets. Both groups must also navigate compliance requirements and adapt to evolving consumer expectations for sustainability and animal welfare.

Drench resistance is an emerging concern, requiring careful parasite management and integrated strategies to maintain animal health and performance.

This adds complexity to grazing plans and may increase reliance on monitoring and alternative control methods.

Pámu has been actively working through these challenges and sharing what it is learning with the wider farming community.

Through open farm days, field days and detailed case studies, Pámu demonstrates practical solutions, such as streamlined calf sourcing, robust health protocols, and feeding strategies that optimise growth while maintaining animal welfare. These initiatives provide transparency and foster collaboration, helping other farmers gain confidence in adopting systems that meet

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AGRIBUSINESS

For dairy farmers, integrating beef genetics into their breeding programme offers multiple advantages.

market demands without compromising profitability or standards.

PRACTICAL STEPS FOR FARMERS Thinking about integrating dairy beef genetics? Here’s where to start:

1. Review breeding strategy – Use sexed semen for replacements and beef AI for lowerproducing cows. Wearable technologies further support breeding options.

2. Plan calf-rearing capacity – Ensure facilities meet welfare standards and biosecurity protocols.

3. Engage with genetics providers – Explore options like Synergizer (available from LIC spring 2027) for optimal performance.

4. Connect with finishers and processors – Build relationships for secure market pathways.

5. Monitor performance – Track growth rates, health, and environmental metrics.

LOOKING AHEAD

Dairy beef integration is more than a business decision – it represents the

future of pastoral farming. While the scale and end-to-end systems are unique to Pámu, their approach combining genetic innovation, smart system design, and market insight is a blueprint for farmers to unlock significant value, while meeting the expectations of consumers and regulators.

The journey is ambitious, but the rewards are compelling: enhanced animal welfare, stronger farm economics, and a more sustainable footprint for New Zealand agriculture.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

53

DAIRY AUTOMATION

Would robotic milking work on your farm?

AN AUTOMATIC MILKING System (AMS) is a generic term used to refer to automated systems that complete the whole milking process without the direct assistance of milking staff.

Automatic Milking Systems are often referred to as ‘robotic’ or ‘voluntary’ milking systems.

‘Robotic’ refers to the robotic arm that performs key functions of the system (e.g. cup attachment). The term ‘voluntary’ is used because cows can choose when they want to be milked.

They typically consist of a milking stall or crate with a robotic arm that attaches the teat cups to each cow without human intervention, an electronic identification system, and a milking machine.

WOULD A ROBOTIC MILKING SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR FARM?

Farm Location and Topography Is there reliable mobile phone coverage and broadband available?

The AMS requires broadband for remote servicing and phone coverage is essential so you are alerted to technical problems at the dairy.

How far away do you live from the dairy?

You will need to attend to alarms that can occur anytime in 24 hours.

Is the farm hilly, long and narrow or does it comprise fragments of land with roads in between?

Experience to date suggests that walking distances of up to 1km present few issues for cows. It is not necessary for cows to be able to sight the dairy from all paddocks however the farms currently in operation in New Zealand are generally flat to rolling. As the land becomes steeper it is likely that more intervention will be required.

54 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Cows can choose when they want to be milked.

Is there a service provider within 2hr of your farm and will they guarantee support within this time frame?

Don’t forget that AMS operate 24 hours a day and require 24-hour support.

FARM DAIRY

Is your shed due for renewal?

A conversion to AMS is capital intensive; have you got the most from your existing dairy?

Is the current site relatively central within the farm?

The ideal location for an AMS dairy is near the middle of the farm so that walking distances are minimised, however the cost of installing services such as power will be higher the further from the road or current dairy.

FARM SYSTEM

What farm system is best suited to automatic milking?

Dairy farms are classified as system 1 to 5 based on the level of bought feed (including grazing off) used and fertiliser applied. There are farms from every system operating AMS in New Zealand. In general, the higher the level of imported feed the easier it should be to implement and get the full benefit of automatic milking and individual cow feeding, particularly if supplementary feed is offered at the dairy. All systems require good grazing management to encourage good cow flow and optimise pasture production and utilisation.

A small level of concentrate is generally required to maintain cow flow through the

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DAIRY AUTOMATION

milking stations, although there is one farm in New Zealand operating successfully with only grass and no feed in the AMS. How many milking stations do I need?

The most common automated milking systems milk one cow at a time but operate 24hr/day. The number needed to milk a herd will depend on how often you want the cows to be milked, the peak yield of the herd and what level of utilisation of the milking stations can be achieved. Typical numbers of cows per AMS are 60 to 90.

Each milking has a fixed set-up time, so the aim is to increase the yield per milking by increasing the milking interval but not to the extent that per cow production is compromised.

Is a seasonal or split calving pattern more suited to AMS? Both can work well in an AMS farm.

While split calving better utilises the AMS through the year the decision should be based on economics and the profitability of winter milking needs to be carefully evaluated. Seasonal calving places additional pressure on the AMS about four

weeks into calving.

This is because of the washing time required between colostrum and mastitis cows. Plan the dairy layout so that colostrum cows can be drafted to a particular robot which avoids taking up time on the other machines.

FARM BUSINESS

Will AMS maintain your system productivity?

The association between pasture utilisation and milk yield are important in both conventional and automatic milking, however the emphasis on the two within automatic milking has additional benefits to the system (i.e. cow flow). This means that an effective AM farm is a highly effective conventional farm. DairyNZ research has produced results from a low input system (2.5% of feed imported) that are equivalent to a ‘best practice’ conventional system.

HOW DOES AN AMS WORK?

An AMS still requires all the same basic farm management as a conventional system.

The processes are just different in order to achieve the final product.

THE AMS PROCESS

The cow enters the crate and is identified via a tag strapped to her leg, around her neck or in her ear. The software determines if the cow has milking permission. If she is not due for milking the front gates open and the cow is released.

If she is due for milking, the teats are cleaned (optional) and the teat cups attached, one at a time. Teat cups are removed based on flow from individual quarters.

While milking, the cow may be offered a concentrate (meal, grain, molasses).

Milk is diverted to separate tanks if requested by the operator using the software settings, otherwise it enters the bulk or temporarily a buffer tank. Various data is collected on both the cow and milk quality. These can include live weight, quarter yield, quarter conductivity, colour, fat, protein and SCC. • Article - DairyNZ

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56 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

DAIRY GOATS

Are your dairy goats getting enough minerals?

■ Chris Balemi MINERALS OFTEN SIT low on the priority list because problems don’t appear overnight, but even subtle gaps can lead to big losses. Goats burn nutrients fast, so mild deficiencies can reduce milk yield, affect fertility, or leave the immune system under pressure. Signs are often subtle, creeping in gradually over the seasons until the herd isn’t performing as it should.

The good news is that getting minerals right is an easy, cost-effective win. Ask yourself: Is your mineral programme actively supporting peak performance, or just keeping the wheels turning?

GOATS, THE HIGH PERFORMERS

Many premixes on the market are formulated around cow nutrition, but goats are very different. Their metabolism is faster, and they are designed for constant intake rather than large, infrequent meals. Dairygoat-specific research shows they have unique trace mineral needs – specifically copper, zinc, selenium, and cobalt – because goats store less in their livers than cows do.

High metabolic demand combined with constant grazing and tight mineral storage means goats require a mineral programme built just for them. Even small imbalances can affect milk, fertility, and overall herd health.

SMALL SIGNS THAT THINGS MIGHT BE OFF Deficiencies rarely show up as a dramatic illness. Usually, you’ll notice little hints over time, such as:

• Goats that never quite reach peak milk: They look healthy, but production doesn’t reach expectations.

• Too many high SCC retests: Subtle immune weakness allows more mastitis cases to slip through.

Even small imbalances can affect milk, fertility, and overall herd health.

• Fertility that’s “fine” but not “good”: Conception rates hover, but you don’t see real improvement.

• Lameness or hoof issues: Zinc and copper deficiencies show in slower hoof growth or weaker hoof quality.

• Patchy body condition: Some goats hold condition while others drop off unexpectedly.

• Kids that are slow to thrive: Selenium, cobalt, and iodine deficiencies show early in kid vigour and growth.

• Slower recovery after kidding: Minerals like magnesium and calcium influence energy balance in early lactation.

• More variation than expected: Wide differences in milk, body condition, or kid growth point to uneven mineral intake.

Noticing these early can prevent them from becoming herd-wide production losses.

WHICH MINERALS MATTER MOST? Macrominerals

Calcium & phosphorus: Vital for milk,

bones, and energy balance. An imbalance reduces production and increases metabolic stress.

Magnesium: Often low in lush spring pasture. Magnesium is needed for milk let-down and preventing grass tetany.

Sodium: Essential for appetite. Low sodium means lower feed intake and reduced milk.

Trace minerals

Copper: Goats need the right balance for their system, and absorption can be blocked by iron, sulphur, and molybdenum. Copper is needed for good immunity, hair coat, and fertility.

Zinc: Supports hooves, immune function, and udder health.

Selenium: New Zealand soils are naturally low, and selenium supports good liver function, fertility, kid vigour, and immune response.

Iodine: Needed for thyroid function, cycling, and strong kid growth.

Cobalt: Enables vitamin B12 production for energy and overall health.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

57

DAIRY GOATS

HOW DIFFERENT KIWI SYSTEMS CREATE DIFFERENT MINERAL CHALLENGES

Goat farms in New Zealand aren’t one-sizefits-all. Your system affects both what minerals are needed and how reliably goats get them. Each setup comes with its own strengths and challenges.

BARNS OR FULLY HOUSED SYSTEMS

The vast majority of commercial dairy goats in New Zealand are kept in barns and fed cut-and-carry pasture, crops, and compound feeds. Housed goats give you more control over feed, but the environment brings its own complications.

Water or supplemental feeds may contain high iron or sulphur, which block copper, zinc, and selenium. Dust and bedding can increase immune pressure, so goats may need stronger trace mineral support to stay on top of SCC, fertility, and hoof health. If these factors aren’t built into the mineral plan – including the mineral specification in any purchased pellets – even well-fed goats may struggle.

PASTURE + SHED FEEDING

A minority of herds still spend more time on pasture and receive most of their mineral mix in the dairy, often through pellets or blends fed once or twice a day at milking. Uneven intake is the main challenge here: confident goats clean up more while shier goats miss out. Weather, pasture growth, and shifting feed quality add another layer of variability.

Where production or kid growth looks patchy in this type of system, inconsistent mineral intake is often part of the story.

MIXED-SPECIES FARMS

Cow mineral mixes will not meet a goat’s needs. Levels, ratios, and mineral forms differ vastly from those needed in cows.

Mineral blends designed for cattle will leave goats short in copper, cobalt, or selenium, often without the farmer realising.

ORGANIC OR LOW-INPUT SYSTEMS

Organic and low-input systems rely heavily on soil to deliver mineral nutrition to the animal via pasture and crops. Unfortunately, New Zealand soils are often low in selenium, cobalt, and sometimes iodine. Deficiencies accumulate slowly, even when goats appear healthy, and can impact fertility, kid vigour, and milk quality over time.

TIMING AND MINERAL FORMS MATTER

Not all minerals are absorbed equally. Some,

58 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Dairy goats in NZ are mostly kept in barns and fed cut-and-carry pasture.

like selenium and cobalt, are more effective in organic forms, while copper is highly sensitive to antagonists in the diet. Minerals also need to match the goat’s stage of production. Demand spikes around kidding, early lactation, mating, and diet changes.

A seasonal plan ensures goats get the right nutrients at the right time, rather than a one-size-fits-none.

The real question isn’t, “Are the goats getting minerals?” It’s, “Are they getting the minerals they actually need?” For many herds, the answer is: Mostly, but it could be better. And that’s good news, because improving minerals is one of the easiest wins on the farm.

• Chris Balemi is founder and director of Agvance Nutrition Ltd.

A SIMPLE MINERAL REVIEW PLAN You can check your mineral programme without turning it into a science project. Work with your vet or nutritionist to:

REMEMBER THESE KEY THINGS:

• Map out how minerals are delivered, how often, and to which groups • Test forages and water, especially for iron and sulphur • Check that your premix is goat-specific, not just “ruminant” or cow-based • Observe intake – is everyone getting their share?

• Build a seasonal plan – demand spikes around kidding, early lactation, mating, and diet changes • Monitor the herd – bloods, liver tests, SCC trends, hooves, and kid health tell the actual story • Re-check annually – herds, feeds, and systems change, so minerals should too MINERALS ARE FUNDAMENTAL FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE

Dairy goats work hard, so they need strong basics to stay productive and healthy. A well-balanced mineral programme is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to improve milk, fertility, kid survival, and overall herd resilience.

Goats have their own needs: Their metabolism, eating patterns, and mineral storage are unique.

Even subtle mineral gaps can reduce milk, fertility, and immunity over time.

Focus on balance, not just quantity: Goats need more of some minerals and less of others.

Your farm system matters: Pasture, housed, mixed-species, and organic setups all present different challenges.

Monitor the herd: Body condition, milk yield, kid vigour, and hoof health tell the true story.

Simple, goat-specific mineral programmes are cost-effective and deliver visible improvements.

Review minerals at least annually and adjust for changes in feed, season, and production stage.

PEOPLE / STAFF

Wage theft, exploitation and law changes Lou Baines

■ Lou Baines THE EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE in New Zealand is undergoing significant change, and for farmers and rural employers, staying abreast of evolving regulations is now more critical than ever.

Recent legislative amendments have brought wage theft into the criminal sphere, while reforms to the personal grievance process and the Holidays Act are reshaping how employment relationships are managed. These changes underscore the importance of proactive compliance and robust HR practices in protecting both businesses and employees.

CRIMINALISATION OF WAGE THEFT

One of the most substantial shifts for employers is the criminalisation of wage theft. Previously treated solely as a civil matter, wage theft is now an offence under the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill, recently passed into law. By making intentional underpayment of staff a form of theft under the Crimes Act, the Government has signalled that exploitation will no longer be tolerated.

The law change is not expected to affect the majority of farmers and rural business owners, who reward their staff in accordance with both the letter and spirit of all employment laws. However, isolated cases of exploitation do occur, and harsher penalties and more serious consequences are intended to stamp out inappropriate practices.

The rural sector often relies on migrant labour for demanding work with long hours, which has historically made workers vulnerable to exploitation. A 2024 Employment Relations Authority case in Southland saw a dairy farm ordered to pay $215,000 in penalties for breaches against three Indonesian workers. Under

Recent legislative changes highlight the importance of proactive compliance and careful HR management on farms.

the new criminal provisions, similar cases could trigger prosecution, highlighting the importance of proactive payroll reviews to safeguard both businesses and employees.

The amendment introduces potential penalties of up to one year’s imprisonment and a $5,000 fine for individuals, with businesses facing fines of up to $30,000.

Wage theft is defined as the intentional withholding of wages, requiring proof beyond reasonable doubt that non-payment was deliberate. While administrative errors and honest mistakes are excluded, unintentional underpayments remain a financial risk, as employees can claim unpaid wages from the last six years regardless of cause.

The amendment addresses a previous gap in the law, where intentional underpayment carried no criminal repercussions. Workers previously had to seek remedies solely through employment dispute resolution, a process that can

be lengthy. Criminalisation may help accelerate the process, which is crucial for under-resourced complainants.

No prosecutions have yet occurred under the new rules, but the focus is clearly on deliberate short-changing. Complications often arise from payroll intricacies and the previously difficult-to-understand Holidays Act. Migrant workers remain a key at-risk group due to limited understanding of employment rights. MBIE statistics show approximately 176,000 work visas were issued in New Zealand during 2024, with many recipients employed in agriculture, a sector historically associated with exploitation.

To maintain compliance and mitigate risks, farmers and rural employers should:

• Keep up to date with the current minimum wage and maintain written,

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

59

PEOPLE / STAFF

clear employment agreements outlining staff entitlements.

• Ensure payments for availability provisions and overtime are correctly made, seeking advice before withholding or deducting wages.

• Maintain accurate records of all payments, including wages, hours, holidays, and leave, for six years, even after employees depart.

• Regularly review salaries against actual hours worked, as salaried staff can easily exceed minimum wage thresholds due to long hours inherent in agricultural work.

Proactive HR practices help rural employers avoid criminal liability while fostering fairer workplaces that support New Zealand’s vital agricultural workforce.

UPCOMING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE REFORMS

The Government is also advancing reforms to the personal grievance process, a core component of employment law. These changes could substantially affect the risk profile for both employers and employees.

Key features include the introduction of a $180,000 annual base salary threshold,

above which employees are automatically excluded from raising personal grievances for unjustified dismissal or related disadvantages, unless their employment agreement explicitly opts in.

Employees who commit serious misconduct may also be ineligible for remedy, and courts or the Employment Relations Authority will have discretion to reduce remedies by up to 100% based on employee behaviour. These changes require employers to carefully consider termination provisions in employment agreements for staff close to or above the salary threshold.

Negotiations around notice, severance, and whether unjustified dismissal protections are opted in may increase.

Employers should clearly define serious misconduct and maintain thorough documentation of disciplinary processes to rely on employee behaviour in reducing or denying remedies.

While the reforms could make matters harder for employees, there may be a positive effect in improving accountability and professionalism in performance and conduct, potentially reducing the need for disciplinary processes. However, a

reduction in claims does not automatically lead to improved workplace culture, and issues may remain suppressed, potentially fostering disengagement and conflict.

The second and third readings of the bill are anticipated in late 2025, with transitional periods expected for existing agreements.

Employers are advised to proactively review their employment practices to prepare for these changes.

Simplifying the Holidays Act The proposed overhaul of the Holidays Act 2003 represents a long-overdue simplification of a complex piece of legislation. For employers and employees alike, these changes aim to provide clarity, reduce compliance risk, and streamline leave management.

The simplification addresses years of payroll complexity, where errors have led to costly remediation and penalties.

Key changes include:

• Immediate access from day one for sick leave and family violence leave.

• Expanded bereavement leave definitions to include diverse family circumstances.

• Updated leave calculation methods,

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PEOPLE / STAFF

Photo courtesy of Riversun Nursery

When Reliability When Reliability Matters.

Matters.

The rural sector often relies on migrant labour for demanding work.

clarifying public holiday entitlements.

• Mandatory payroll transparency, including pay statements and leave records.

• Required updates to employment agreements to align with the new rules.

• Greater compliance pressure, particularly for SMEs and businesses using legacy payroll systems.

For the agricultural sector, where part-time, casual, and variable-hour work is common, these reforms provide fairer leave accrual proportional to hours worked and greater transparency around entitlements. Simplified payroll and compliance processes free up resources, allowing farmers to focus on running sustainable operations without constant worry about regulatory pitfalls.

The transition will require small employers to update payroll systems, leave records, and employment agreements, which requires time and financial investment. Legacy systems may require upgrades, and businesses should plan accordingly. Early preparation will help avoid disruption and ensure compliance.

MOVING FORWARD

Recent legislative reforms in New Zealand signal a clear message: exploitation, poor payroll practices, and unclear employment processes will no longer be tolerated. For farmers and rural employers, these changes highlight the importance of proactive compliance and careful HR management.

From the criminalisation of wage theft to personal grievance reforms and the simplification of the Holidays Act, understanding and adapting to these new regulations is essential.

Maintaining accurate records, reviewing payroll practices, and keeping employment agreements up to date will help employers mitigate risks, foster fairer workplaces, and meet legal obligations.

Employment law can feel complex, but the steps required to comply are clear. With careful planning, rural employers can protect themselves, their staff, and the integrity of New Zealand’s agricultural sector.

• Lou Baines is a HR consultant at Findex

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Helping farmers build great workplaces Jane Muir.

■ Jane Muir CREATING GREAT WORKPLACES is essential to the long-term success of New Zealand’s dairy sector - and it’s something I’m passionate about.

At DairyNZ, we know that when people enjoy coming to work, it’s good for business, good for wellbeing, and good for the future of our farms. That’s why in 2025 we relaunched our Workplace 360 tool, which is a practical, easy-to-use self-assessment that helps farmers take a fresh look at how things are going on-farm.

We’ve listened to farmer feedback and streamlined the design and content to make Workplace 360 more intuitive and user-friendly. The tool supports farmers to reflect on how they’re managing their team, meeting health and safety responsibilities, and creating a positive work environment.

Whether you’re leading a team or working solo, Workplace 360 helps you identify what’s working well and where there’s room to grow.

Importantly, the updated version is focused on learning - not compliance. It’s designed to build confidence and capability, not tick boxes. The tool takes about 25–30 minutes to complete and is split into two

62 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

parts: a checklist of essential workplace practices, and a deeper dive into the areas that matter most to each individual farmer.

Once completed, farmers receive a personalised report with feedback and links to practical resources that can support improvements. It’s about giving farmers clarity and control to make changes that are meaningful and sustainable.

Why is this work so important? Because like every business in New Zealand, dairy farming is being shaped by some big social shifts - from an ageing workforce and increasing urbanisation, to lower birth rates and rapid tech advancement. To attract and keep great people, we need to think differently about how we lead, how we communicate, and what today’s employees are looking for.

The good news is we have a great story to tell. Dairy farming offers purpose-driven mahi, the opportunity to be outdoors and work with animals, and the increasing use of technology means a wider range of people can see themselves in the sector. We just need to keep showing we’re committed to being great employers.

Workplace 360 is one part of DairyNZ’s

Drive Productivity programme, which focuses on research and tools that support great people in great jobs, in great workplaces. It’s designed to be practical, forward-thinking, and above all else, useful.

We’ve tested this tool with farmers to make sure it adds real value. It’s more than a checklist, it’s a resource for reflection, growth and action. It helps farmers build workplaces they’re proud of, for themselves, their teams, and for the future of our sector.

For Fonterra suppliers, completing Workplace 360 also contributes to meeting the requirements of the Co-operative Difference programme. The tool can be completed online at any time, but we recommend getting it done at least a week before your Co-operative Difference audit.

If we want a successful future for dairying, we need to invest in our people today. That means creating farm workplaces where people can grow, feel valued, and enjoy what they do. Workplace 360 is here to help make that happen.

• Workplace 360 is free to use and available at dairynz.co.nz/workplace360 • Jane Muir is DairyNZ senior people specialist.

MACHINERY

A glimpse into tractors of the future ■ Mark Daniel AS WOULD BE expected, the bi-annual Agritechnica gave a great insight into where the tractor industry was likely to head over the coming years.

In the case of internal combustion engines, we have seen Stage 5 emissions standards for several years, but the focus on nitrous oxides and particulate in the future seems to have stalled, with a move towards reducing CO2 emissions and consequently, on the use of alternative fuels. This has resulted in several manufacturers approving the use of RME (rapeseed methyl ester) and HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) for their current models. Typically, these so-called “drop-in fuels” can replace fossil diesel without any adjustments to engine or tank specifications.

In the background, work is also being done on the use of other alternative fuels, such as ethanol or hydrogen. Like RME and HVO, ethanol is a liquid fuel, which can be used in internal combustion engines that operate using the Otto cycle with external ignition. Ethanol is likely to be of interest to countries that can produce the fuel from sugar cane or maize, such as Brazil.

Electrification appears to “dabbling” around the peripheries, with batterypowered tractors available in the lower power sectors, but the general breakthrough will be some time in coming. The high cost of batteries, almost doubles the price of a comparable diesel model, and although likely to offer lower variable costs, means users are still cautious as there is no empirical data to suggest whether the higher investment costs can be offset in a lower total cost of ownership study.

John Deere exhibited a battery-powered tractor with 96kW (130hp), based on a model platform that was also designed from the ground up for electric drive technology and autonomous driving. The E-Power models can be equipped with up to five NCM battery packs of 39kWh each, resulting in a gross total capacity of 195kWh. The system operates at 800 volts, with the

Claas unveiled an ‘adaptive drivetrain management system’ for its new Axion tractors.

e-axle being a new design with one electric motor for the drive and another for the rear PTO shaft. Being a single-stage format means that no driving range switching with clutches is required. Another electric motor is provided to drive the working hydraulic pump, in addition to four more for on-demand driving of peripheral components: cooling fan, heating/ ventilation/air conditioning, gearbox lubricating oil pump and battery thermal management.

In the case of traditional diesel engines, manufacturers appear to be focusing on “peripherals”, with several new series equipped with automatic reversing cooling fans, alongside devices that can increase the drag torque of engines when driving downhill in order to protect the service brakes. This technology, which uses an additional valve per cylinder, originates from the truck industry.

Looking at cabins and controls, most

manufacturers appear to be increasing their activity in electronics and assistance systems. Claas was showing an “adaptive drivetrain management system” for its new Axion tractors, based on various efficiency curves for the engine, gearbox, hydraulics and auxiliary units, as well as an adaptive algorithm.

Deutz-Fahr introduced the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in its new Series 8, offering a standard package including the familiar functions found in cars and trucks, such as lane departure warning, turn assist and object/ person detection. An “Advanced” add-on package includes adaptive cruise control with collision warning and traffic sign recognition. Additionally, tractor-specific features include monitoring the presence of front and rear implements on the tractor itself, driving on side roads without markings, or following forage harvesters closely when mowing maize fields.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

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28/11/2025 4:00:38 pm

PROPERTY

Do the due diligence before you sign ■ Keri Johnson & Nicky Watt THE NEW YEAR marks a fresh start and for many dairy farmers, it also signals a new year of opportunity. Summer open days, on-farm visits, and renewed listings mean plenty of dairy units will be changing hands on 1 June.

But while it’s an exciting time to take the next step in farm ownership, it’s also when mistakes are most easily made. Properties can look tidy from the laneway, the numbers can seem sound, and conversations can feel reassuring.

Yet, without thorough due diligence, assumptions can quickly turn into expensive surprises once the papers are signed.

Due diligence is about one thing above all: confidence.

Good due diligence is about doing your homework properly. That means understanding the land, the consents, the infrastructure, and the numbers. It’s about making sure there are no surprises down the track.

Whether you’re moving up, downsizing, or taking on your first dairy farm, Keri says the process is the same.

Buying a farm is a big investment. If you skip due diligence, you’re flying blind.

You might end up with compliance issues, unexpected costs, or land that can’t be used the way you thought. Getting it right protects both your wallet and your future.

WHERE BUYERS GET CAUGHT OUT

In Irricon’s experience, the biggest headaches aren’t caused by what’s visible, they come from what isn’t.

We’ve seen buyers get caught out by expired consents, missing nutrient data, or infrastructure that’s not up to scratch.

Sellers sometimes assume everything’s fine because it’s always worked for them, but that doesn’t mean it’ll pass muster with council or a new owner. Rushing it can lead to deals falling over, or worse, legal headaches later.

Nicky Watt

Even when due diligence is done, it’s often not done deeply enough.

Most properties go through a DD process, but the process often misses some key things to look for. For example, close proximity of a bore to an effluent pond; actual effluent or irrigated areas not what was consented; cow numbers not on effluent consent but there will still be a number on the council’s files.

Those details can make or break compliance. A consent that doesn’t match what’s happening on the ground becomes the buyer’s problem the moment the ink dries.

MATCH THE STORY TO THE PAPERWORK Start by checking that what you see and what you’re told aligns with what’s on paper. Ask for the documentation and verify it:

• Consents – Are they current and

Keri Johnson

accurate? Do they reflect how the dairy platform actually operates?

• Effluent and irrigation – Do mapped areas and systems match consent conditions?

• Water – Check abstraction limits, meter records, and maintenance.

• Infrastructure – Inspect ponds, pipes, and pumps for integrity and functionality.

• Compliance history – Look for past warnings or enforcement action.

Check that consents are current and match the farm’s actual operations. Review compliance history. Has the farm had any warnings or enforcement action? You want to know what you’re walking into.

And if records are incomplete? Expired or missing consents, poor audit history or non-compliance notices, infrastructure that’s not in a good state, lack of documentation – if it’s all ‘in someone’s head,’ that’s a risk.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

65

PROPERTY

LOOK BEYOND THE CONSENT DOCUMENT

A consent tells you what’s allowed and the council file tells you why those conditions exist.

The planning officer’s assessment, known as a s42A report, often outlines the assumptions used when the consent was granted, such as cow numbers, effluent areas, or nutrient baselines. If current practice no longer matches those assumptions, you may inherit compliance issues you didn’t create.

That’s why early expert input pays off.

As soon as you are looking to purchase a property, make sure you seek expert advice and support to identify potential issues or risks. The right person will also suggest solutions and make recommendations to give the buyer the best outcome.

WALK THE FARM LIKE YOU’LL OWN IT

A structured walk-through with a map, an environmental consultant, and a critical eye will quickly test whether the paperwork reflects reality on a working dairy farm.

Check the effluent pond’s separation from bores. Confirm irrigated and effluent areas. Follow stormwater flows.

Look at storage capacity, fencing, and infrastructure. Ask for meter data, not just verbal assurance. The more you see for yourself, the fewer surprises later.

PLAN YOUR TIMELINE

Spring is often when a lot of farms go on the market. So hopefully the buyer has been proactive and already done the DD. Leaving this process to the last minute is more than likely to result in something important being missed.

Aim for six to eight weeks for a full due diligence process. That allows enough time to request council files, review infrastructure, obtain professional advice, and make sure every part of the operation is covered. Compressing it into two or three weeks almost always means cutting corners.

BUILD YOUR DUE DILIGENCE TEAM

Even the most experienced dairy farmers benefit from having fresh eyes on the process. Bringing in the right people early can save a lot of stress, and money, later.

An environmental consultant can review your resource consents, nutrient budgets, and effluent infrastructure, checking that everything lines up with current regulations and what’s actually happening on farm. A lawyer can make sure

66 GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2026

Good due diligence is about protecting your investment

the property title is clean and free from surprises, and check easements, covenants, and any obligations that could restrict how the dairy platform operates.

Your accountant or banker should test the farm’s financial resilience under different payout scenarios and input costs, because even the best property won’t perform if the numbers don’t stack up.

Finally, a rural valuer can help confirm that the price reflects the farm’s production potential and any compliance risks you may be taking on.

Good due diligence is about protecting your investment and setting your new dairy business up for long-term success.

THE MINDSET THAT KEEPS BUYERS SAFE

Buyers should see due diligence as a safeguard, not a box-ticking exercise.

Good due diligence is knowing you have done all you can to ensure you get the best possible outcome. And when something doesn’t feel right? Don’t wing it. Get the right people around you, ask the hard questions, and don’t be afraid to walk away if something doesn’t feel right.

Do your homework, don’t leave it until the last minute. Give yourself time to investigate and involve the right people in the process. There is a lot of money at stake.

• Keri Johnson is a director and Nicky Watt, principal environment consultant with Irricon Resource Solutions.

DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLIST Documents to obtain • Current resource consents (water, discharge, land use) and council background files • Nutrient budgets and baseline data • Water-use and meter records • Compliance and audit history • Farm maps and infrastructure details • Production records and system overview On-farm checks • Effluent ponds, separation distances, and storage capacity • Irrigation method and application uniformity • Dairy plant, pumps, and stormwater management • Evidence that daily operations match consents People and process • Bring in experts early • Allow 6–8 weeks for full due diligence • Quantify and negotiate any issues before going unconditional

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