Livestock

Farming beef cattle with the right combination of genetics and raised within a strict regimented feeding plan to the appropriate processing age will result in beef carcases with the coveted intramuscular fat (IMF) demanded by consumers around the world.

Paul Muir and staff from On-Farm Research at the Poukawa Research Farm in Hawke’s Bay have been researching calf rearing since 1996. They have put together an update of calf rearing costs for the 2023 season.

Tom Ward looks at the advantages and disadvantages of composite sheep.

The OIA to MPI is back and it lacks basic information on the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme. Dr Nicola Dennis explores the OIA process and the unanswered questions.

A West Otago couple’s farm is limited by a lack of finishing country, but they are using good sheep genetics and feed strategically. By Terry Brosnahan.

Kerry Dwyer writes about the frustration he and many other farmers experienced with the Ministry for Primary Industries as it struggled to deal with Mycoplasma bovis. He’s still wanting answers.

A standout financial performance, constant and thorough planning, a strong partnership and off-farm fun all contribute to Wairarapa farmers Tim and Binds White’s farming success.

Rural professionals often say unexplained production losses in beef cattle can sometimes be caused by unseen subclinical facial eczema.

Brothers Mack and Toby Lynn run Wakelins Station in Northland, confident in their decision making and happy to learn from their mistakes.

Otairi station in the Turakina Valley is a sheep and beef operation spanning three sites, and where most of the stock work is still done on horseback. Not so different from when the Duncan family first moved there in the 1800s. Onfarm profile by Sarah Horrocks.