A Decade of Determination: The Inspirational Journey of Bill and Michelle Burgess to Dairy Farm

Meeting at Massey University, the Burgesses shared a dream: owning and operating their own dairy farming operation. Their path to success involved ten years of relentless problem-solving and hard work, culminating in the achievement of their dream. […]

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Managing facial eczema, it’s not just about Zinc

When spore numbers are really high, zinc is often not enough to prevent damage. What’s more, like many strong medicines, zinc comes with side effects. For example, it can be antagonistic to other minerals, especially calcium, increasing the likelihood of milk fever. With planning these side effects can be offset. There are other means in the tool kit of bolstering immunity and decreasing exposure to spores. […]

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New approach for a successful transition program

For each lactation, a cow can lose around 500 gm of calcium from her natural storage, namely her bones.
This process means that she is mining her skeleton to put calcium and phosphorus into milk. This situation can explain why higher producing older cows are more susceptible to milk fever. This means, like capital fertilizer, we have to put back what we take out. […]

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Matching Feeds to Maintain Peak

New Zealand dairy is unique when it comes to nutrition. Not just because it is largely grass based. We see similar industries in Australia, Chile, Ireland and even parts of Europe and Japan in the summer. The uniqueness stems more from having grass as the most cost effective energy source; plus the fact that the industry tries to maintain a seasonal calving program. […]

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New approach delivers on herd health and production

Testimonial – Mike Tilleman, South Waikato
In a country where dairy farmers are bought up to make the most of growing and using low-cost ryegrass and clover, it can seem counter intuitive when grass intake is recommended to be reduced, and supplements increased, often at a time of year when grass supply is good. Mike Tilleman would be the first to admit he was like most farmers in that respect when he first kicked off with Tranzsol and Lactisol in his herd’s diet. […]

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Sollus a solution on tough milking country

Testimonial – Craig Vanner, Mangakino
Farming on the tough volcanic country around Mangakino means Craig Vanner has learned to tailor his expectations to the limitations of the land. This includes dealing with some tough winters with low growth days and a tendency for the lighter soils to turn dry easily from early summertime.
But for Craig his two biggest issues that had added to the farm’s challenges have been high incidence of milk fever in his 500 head herd over spring-time, and problems getting them back in calf. […]

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