News
A toxo disaster – despite vaccination
When you go to the trouble of vaccinating your two-tooths against toxoplasmosis you expect these animals will be protected. Trudi Baird tells of the dreadful lambing that resulted when this was not the case.
Best practice to be recognised by Fonterra
Fonterra farmers were told today of the Co-op’s plans to provide them with more meaningful recognition and rewards in season 2019/2020 for producing high quality, safe, sustainable dairy. Farm Source and Global Operations Chief Operating Officer Robert Spurway said Fonterra farmers have long led the way when it comes to milk quality, animal welfare and […]
Time to be weighing lambs…
The scales have been dragged out of the dusty corner, the lambs are lined up, their mothers are roaring and it’s about now that the debate starts: “What did we do last year? 32kg. No, I’m sure that’s not right.” The table below is the same one we first printed in the on-paper version of […]
Environment
You can’t trust the Trust, farmers say
25 November 2018 By Mary-Jo Tohill – www.stuff.co.nz The trust that looks after the Waituna catchment and lagoon in Southland has been told that it must keep the community better informed after accusations that it cannot be trusted. Farmers in the Waituna catchment turned out in force to a public meeting last week to challenge the Whakamana Te Waituna Trust’s plans to […]
.. and what about Santa Claus
6 January 2012: By Darrin CrackIt’s peaceful, only a few fishermen about. There’s not been a white double-cab Toyota in sight for at least a fortnight despite lake levels dropping daily and the increasing risk of Lake Waituna flipping to “an algal dominated state.” In the past six weeks we’ve had little rain, it’s dry, […]
Views on establishing wetlands sought
Farmers with an interest in the establishment of wetlands on their properties are being invited to take part in a survey.
Animal Health
Parasite resistant genes will boost profits
Breeding for parasite resistant genetics will strengthen flocks and save time and money on-farm, according to a group of leading sheep breeders. Growing concerns from farmers around increasing levels of drench resistance, rising farming input costs, and issues getting farm labour have prompted the ten breeder so form WormFEC. The breeders’ group brings together more than […]
Polio-type disease often undiagnosed
Both calves and lambs can suffer from polioencephalomalacia and easily go undiagnosed and die as a result. The disease effects the brain and is basically a thiamin (B1) deficiency. Often an older lamb or calf will be found lying flat, head flung back, flinging its legs about but more-or-less stuck on its side. Sometimes they will […]
Befriending calves works well
Calves that are stroked by people early in their life gain weight more quickly than animals that are not stroked.
Feed & Fert
Forget the ear tags … buy the animals …
For sale: Five ear tags – animals attached and thrown in…. Yeah Right!! Farmers sick of the hassle of avoiding social media rules need look no further than the newest online nationwide “free classified website.” Dungpile.co.nz gives farmers the opportunity to list their livestock and other associated farming paraphernalia at no cost and either through […]
Candy for cows has potential
It’s a free-choice type of supplement in a block form — sort of like a big, 250-pound piece of candy for livestock
Who says plants can’t talk
Australian researchers have found that there’s a lot to be said for having a friendly neighbour… we in New Zealand have known this for some time.
Focus & Features
NZ Yarn & Hemp P/ship formed
Hemp New Zealand has acquired a 15% interest in NZ Yarn in an effort to develop new blends and exciting consumer products. The partnership will innovate hemp fibre processing as well as boost the development of new consumer products made from hemp yarn, wool & hemp yarn blends and non-woven wool and hemp products Craig […]
Rural receiverships likely to keep pace with rural bank debt
The country’s only rural insolvency specialist believes more rural businesses will face going to the wall in the next 12 months.
Scottish farmers also look at lamb marketing
A group of sheep farmers from the Scottish/English border has recently opened a debate on the marketing of prime lamb. A debate is long overdue given the competition that lamb faces on the retail shelf from other meats.
In Brief
Strong demand for wool today
… saw strong demand largely due to the lack of wool coming forward onto the market as a result of recent drought and in particular in the South Island wet weather.
Discussion on reform planned
…We had a highly constructive conversation around meat industry issues and many areas of alignment emerged..
60% more wheat needed by 2050
Wheat is a major staple crop worldwide but its production has not reached demand in 10 of the 15 past years
More
A toxo disaster – despite vaccination
When you go to the trouble of vaccinating your two-tooths against toxoplasmosis you expect these animals will be protected. Trudi Baird tells of the dreadful lambing that resulted when this was not the case.
NZ Yarn & Hemp P/ship formed
Hemp New Zealand has acquired a 15% interest in NZ Yarn in an effort to develop new blends and exciting consumer products. The partnership will innovate hemp fibre processing as well as boost the development of new consumer products made from hemp yarn, wool & hemp yarn blends and non-woven wool and hemp products Craig […]
Parasite resistant genes will boost profits
Breeding for parasite resistant genetics will strengthen flocks and save time and money on-farm, according to a group of leading sheep breeders. Growing concerns from farmers around increasing levels of drench resistance, rising farming input costs, and issues getting farm labour have prompted the ten breeder so form WormFEC. The breeders’ group brings together more than […]