Animal Health
Body Condition Scoring Drives Ewe Productivity and Profitability
Body condition scoring is a powerful tool to help sheep farmers increase ewe productivity and profitability through determining the most effective and efficient use of feed resources. Words Sandra Taylor.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand works to tackle facial eczema
Facial eczema remains a major challenge for New Zealand’s livestock farmers, severely affecting animal health and productivity to the tune of $332 million annually. Words Sandra Taylor.
How to save on your vet bill
A bit of money spent on a conversation with your vet can save you more than you might think - don’t look at what free giveaways you get and forget about the free ham for Christmas, look at how you can use necessary products most effectively. Words Sara Sutherland
Tool aids decisions at prelamb
A free tool which aids decision making on animal health based on each farm’s unique needs is continuing to prove popular with sheep farmers in the lead up to the critical prelamb period.
Balancing seasonal variations in nutrient requirements
Melinda Turner explains why we need to keep an eye on mineral deficiencies in cattle this winter.
FeedSmart ensures effective use of feed resources
The feed planning tool for sheep and beef farmers. Words Sandra Taylor, Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Energy requirements of cattle at different stages
Every 100kg increase in liveweight requires an additional 11 megajoules of metabolisable energy a day. Words Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Episode 12 – Top tips for tupping in the dry from two farmers & a vet
Are you having to balance a lack of feed and holding ewe condition in a dry Autumn? This episode is jam-packed with technical knowledge from two farmers and a veterinarian. Mark Zino shares how to juggle feeding grain and silage to not overdo it, Alistair Bird shares why he’s not mating his ewe hoggets this season, and vet Peter Anderson of Marlborough gives key tips for tupping, teaser rams, timing and triplets.
BONUS – Connecting soil nutrients, feed quality and animal performance with Melinda Turner
In a special bonus episode, independent nutrient advisor Melinda Turner helps balance animal health with the soil nutrients we are applying to ensure we aren’t curbing the animal’s performance in the meantime.
Episode 9 – Integrated farm plans – compliance or positioning your farm for potential opportunities?
Country-Wide editor, Rebecca Greaves is taking their farm through integrated farm plan workshops in 2024. In this episode she speaks with Rachel Joblin of BakerAg, Sara Clarke from the Ministry for the Environment, and Annie Cates, Wairarapa sheep & beef farmer, about what integrated farm plans are, how they work, how the Ministry for the Environment plans to align with MPI to achieve them.