DAIRY Country

The Southern Dairy Hub is exploring what the future of dairy farming could look like through a side-by-side comparison of high genetic merit cows run at a 0.5 cows per hectare lower stocking rate than a more traditional herd. Anne Lee speaks with Southern Dairy Hub Acting General Manager Greg Delaney and DairyNZ Senior Scientist Dr Dawn Dalley about the latest results from the demonstration farm, including higher milk solids production per cow with significantly less supplementary feed.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
Greg Delaney, General Manager, Southern Dairy Hub
Dr Dawn Dalley, Scientist, DairyNZ

Dawn explains how the future herd produced more than 520kg of milksolids per cow compared with 470kg for the standard herd, while using close to 40% of the supplementary feed last season. In terms of total production, on a per hectare basis, production in the lower stocked, future herd is getting close to that of the standard herd. The future herd production was less than 100kg MS/ha lower than the standard herd. They also discuss grass-based wintering, body condition score changes and the wider potential benefits of running a lower-stocked, high genetic merit system. Greg and Dawn talk about the Hub’s new 1000-square-metre standoff pad, its design and how it’s being used to improve animal welfare during calving. The farm’s HubWatch weekly farm data updates are now available for the new season. Dawn and Greg also give an update on the process underway to determine the Southern Dairy Hub’s future strategic direction.

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Pain relief is becoming an increasingly important part of dairy cattle welfare, with more options available to farmers than there were a decade ago. Anne Lee speaks with Northland veterinarian Rory Dean about how cattle experience and show pain, why they can be difficult to assess as prey animals and how commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help cows recover from painful and inflammatory conditions.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
Rory Dean, Northland Veterinarian

Rory explains how drugs such as ketoprofen and meloxicam work, and their role in managing lameness, mastitis and difficult calvings. Anne and Rory also discuss pain relief for calves, including during disbudding and when treating conditions such as pneumonia, navel ill, joint ill and diarrhoea, as well as the importance of early intervention and pre-emptive analgesia. They explore the different roles of anti-inflammatory drugs, local anaesthetics and sedatives, why pain relief needs to be combined with appropriate treatment and nursing care, and the importance of following label instructions and veterinary advice to avoid overdosing and side effects.

Read the article from the latest issue of the DAIRY Country here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/the-right-pain-relief/

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Burnout can creep up on farmers when the pressure to keep going and the constant stream of decisions never lets up. Anne Lee speaks with former police crisis negotiator and wellbeing specialist Lance Burdett about what happens when the brain becomes overloaded, why overthinking can be more damaging than working hard and how farmers can recognise when stress is becoming burnout.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
Lance Burdett, Wellbeing specialist

Lance discusses why simply pushing harder is not the answer, the importance of taking regular breaks and getting away from the farm, and practical ways to calm an overactive brain, including breathing, walking, writing and talking. Anne and Lance also explore how technology can add to the mental load when it is not managed carefully, the importance of choosing the tools that are genuinely useful and why changing the way we think about stress, learning and new challenges can help protect our wellbeing.

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Farm ownership can seem out of reach for young dairy farmers, but Biddy and Braden Barnes have shown it’s still possible with hard work, careful planning and the right opportunities. Anne Lee speaks with the Canterbury couple about their journey from contract milking and share milking to buying their first farm, and how winning the Fonterra and ASB First Farm Loan in conjunction with the NZ Dairy Industry Awards helped give them the confidence and financial backing to take the next step.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
Biddy and Braden Barnes, 2026 Fonterra and ASB First Farm Loan Winners

Biddy and Braden discuss how they built equity through herd ownership, calf rearing and property, the challenges of finding a farm in a competitive market and why they chose to purchase a 200ha dry-stock property near Sheffield with plans to convert it into a 750-cow dairy farm. Anne, Biddy and Braden also explore the different pathways into farm ownership, the opportunities and risks of contract milking and share farming, the importance of understanding farm contracts and why seeking advice and support can help young farmers make informed decisions.

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Share farming and contract milking agreements are a fundamental part of New Zealand’s dairy industry, but are the contracts and legislation governing them still fit for purpose? Anne Lee speaks with The Sharefarming Consultants’ Louise Gibson and AgFirst’s Lycinda Lett about the challenges facing farm owners, contract milkers and share farmers, and why they believe the legal framework needs a refresh.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
Louise Gibson, Co-Founder, The Sharefarming Consultants
Lycinda Lett, Consultant, AgFirst

Louise and Lycinda discuss gaps in the Sharemilking Agreements Act, the growing use of contract milking and the risks of relying on contract law. Anne, Louise and Lycinda also explore the importance of clear agreements and farm policies, power imbalances, disputes and mediation, guaranteed minimum returns and withheld milk payments, as well as the changes Louise and Lycinda believe could provide greater security and support successful business partnerships.

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