In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi looks at how blood testing can help farmers understand what is happening in springer cows, colostrum cows and milkers through transition and early lactation.

Shaun explains when to collect blood samples, which cows to test and what different blood markers can tell you about mineral balance, liver function, condition loss, oxidative capacity and inflammation. The episode covers calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA and BHB, along with other measures such as haptoglobin, albumin, cholesterol, GPX and vitamin E.

He also discusses how blood results can be used to assess DCAD balance, mineral supplementation, condition loss and cow recovery after calving. Shaun explains why blood data is most useful when considered alongside cow numbers, rumination, body condition, wearable data and other information from the herd.

Takeaways:

• When to blood test springer cows, colostrum cows and milkers
• How to select cows for representative blood testing
• What calcium, magnesium and phosphorus results can tell you
• How NEFA can indicate the amount of body condition cows are mobilising
• How BHB can help assess how the liver is handling mobilised fat
• What blood results can show about transition and early lactation nutrition
• How oxidative capacity and inflammation can be assessed through blood testing
• Why cow data should be considered alongside blood test results
• How blood testing can support discussions with vets, nutritionists and rural advisers

Keywords: Dairy cow blood testing, springer cows, transition cow nutrition, early lactation, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA, BHB, dairy cow performance.

In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi looks at how feed and herbage testing can help farmers plan springer cow diets and improve transition outcomes.

Shaun explains what to test, when to collect samples and how to interpret results across energy, protein, fibre, DCAD, major minerals and trace minerals. The episode covers practical sampling methods, how weather and feed wastage affect actual intake and why test results need to be considered alongside cow appetite, rumination, behaviour and body condition.

He also discusses using feed data to select springer paddocks, balance pasture and supplementary feeds, manage potassium and calcium levels and plan mineral supplementation before calving.

Takeaways:

• What information farmers can gain from feed and herbage testing
• When to sample springer paddocks, silage and supplementary feeds
• How to collect and handle representative samples
• How energy, protein and fibre affect transition cow diets
• Why DCAD and mineral balance matter before calving
• How potassium levels can guide springer paddock selection
• Why feed data should be assessed alongside what cows are showing
• How feed testing can support discussions with vets, nutritionists and rural advisers

Keywords: Springer cows, feed testing, herbage testing, transition cow nutrition, feed data, DCAD, mineral balance, pasture testing, metabolic disease, dairy cow performance.

What does a successful transition look like, and how can farm data help you see whether cows are on track?

In the first episode of our new series about using springer and transition cow data, Shaun Balemi outlines six measures of transition success:

1. Body condition
2. Liver and rumen health
3. Metabolic disease
4. Immune function
5. Early peak milk
6. Reproductive performance

Shaun also looks at the growing amount of information available from cow wearables, milk records, blood testing, pasture data, body condition scoring and walk-over weighing. He explains why individual figures rarely tell the full story, and how combining data can help farmers better understand changes in appetite, rumination, milk production, feed quality and cow recovery.

The episode also sets up the coming series, covering:

• Herbage and feed data
• Blood testing and liver function
• Visual observation in the paddock
• Rumination data
• Sensor and camera technology
• Post-calving measures of transition success
• Feed conversion efficiency

The aim is simple: help farmers use the information they already collect to make better decisions during transition and early lactation.

Listen now to hear how farm data can help farmers assess transition performance and make more informed decisions for springer and freshly calved cows.

Visit mycow.nz to register for episode updates and news about the myCOW app.Keywords:

New Zealand dairy farming, dairy podcast, myCOW podcast, transition cow management, springer cows, cow wearables, rumination data, liver health, metabolic disease, feed conversion efficiency

Thanks to Agvance Nutrition for sponsoring this episode!

In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi and Ben Matthews talk with Baden from ProTag about how smart livestock wearables could change the way New Zealand dairy farmers understand their cows.

ProTag is developing a lightweight smart ear tag that combines cow behaviour data with GPS location, giving farmers a clearer view of what is happening across the herd. The conversation covers rumination, grazing behaviour, heat detection, lameness signals, pasture use, cow movement, social behaviour and how location data can make wearable technology more useful on pasture-based farms.

Baden shares how ProTag was developed, why the ear was chosen as the best place to collect data and how wearable technology could help farmers make better decisions around herd health, reproduction, feed use and farm management.

Takeaways:

• Why GPS adds important context to cow behaviour data
• How smart ear tags can help track grazing, rumination, movement and resting
• What cow location can tell farmers about pasture use and mob behaviour
• How wearable data may support heat detection, lameness monitoring and drafting
• Why New Zealand-built farm technology matters for pasture-based systems
• How future data could help farmers better understand cow efficiency and feed intake

Listen now to hear how livestock wearables are moving beyond activity tracking and opening up new possibilities for dairy farm management.

Keywords:
New Zealand dairy farming, dairy podcast, myCOW podcast, livestock wearables, smart ear tags, ProTag, cow GPS tracking, dairy cow technology, pasture management, herd health

In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi sits down with Tangaroa Walker for an honest conversation about resilience, farming, family and the long road to farm ownership.

For the first time, Tangaroa shares the story behind his recent farm purchase, including the highs, setbacks and big decisions that shaped the process. From growing up across 16 different homes and finding stability through farming, to building Farm4Life and using his platform to pursue farm ownership, Tangaroa’s story shows what persistence can look like when it is backed by purpose, trusted people and a clear reason to keep going.

Shaun and Tangaroa talk about the value of good support systems, the role of equity partners, why trust matters in business and how Tangaroa is thinking about the next stage of his farming future. They also discuss his plans to focus on the farm over the next two years, test new technology on-farm and continue helping more people understand what good farming can look like.

Key takeaways:

• Strong support systems can make hard decisions easier to carry.
• Farm ownership often takes persistence, flexibility and a willingness to rethink the plan.
• The right equity partners bring shared values, not only capital.
• Tangaroa’s new farm will give him a place to test technology, systems and products in a practical setting.
• Farm4Life continues to create new pathways for people to learn about farming and build industry skills.

Listen now to hear Tangaroa’s full story, from the hard moments to the new chapter ahead.

Keywords: Tangaroa Walker, myCOW podcast, New Zealand dairy farming, farm ownership, Farm4Life, equity partnerships, dairy farm management, farming resilience, agri education, dairy industry NZ.

In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi and Ben Matthews talk with Baden Parr from ProTag about how smart livestock wearables could change the way New Zealand dairy farmers understand their cows.

ProTag is developing a lightweight smart ear tag that combines cow behaviour data with GPS location, giving farmers a clearer view of what is happening across the herd. The conversation covers rumination, grazing behaviour, heat detection, lameness signals, pasture use, cow movement, social behaviour and how location data can make wearable technology more useful on pasture-based farms.

Baden shares how ProTag was developed, why the ear was chosen as the best place to collect data and how wearable technology could help farmers make better decisions around herd health, reproduction, feed use and farm management.

Takeaways:

• Why GPS adds important context to cow behaviour data
• How smart ear tags can help track grazing, rumination, movement and resting
• What cow location can tell farmers about pasture use and mob behaviour
• How wearable data may support heat detection, lameness monitoring and drafting
• Why New Zealand-built farm technology matters for pasture-based systems
• How future data could help farmers better understand cow efficiency and feed intake

Listen now to hear how livestock wearables are moving beyond activity tracking and opening up new possibilities for dairy farm management.

Keywords:
New Zealand dairy farming, dairy podcast, myCOW podcast, livestock wearables, smart ear tags, ProTag, cow GPS tracking, dairy cow technology, pasture management, herd health

In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi sits down with Reporoa dairy farmer Alastair Neville to talk through his family farming story, the move to autumn calving and how better information is changing day-to-day management.

Alastair shares how a more consistent diet through mating has helped improve in-calf results, why rumen consistency matters and how collar data, milk test results, vets and nutrition support are helping him make better decisions on farm.

The conversation also covers covered feed pad systems, homegrown feed, proactive management, cow efficiency, community involvement and the value of getting outside your own farm gate.

Listen now for a practical farmer conversation on consistency, data, autumn calving and feeding cows well.

Key takeaways

• Autumn calving has helped create more consistency through mating and improved in-calf results.
• A consistent diet supports rumen performance, milk production and reproduction.
• Collar data can help farmers connect changes in diet, milk test results and mating outcomes.
• Proactive management means making feeding decisions earlier, rather than waiting for production to drop.
• Vets, nutritionists and data tools can help farmers get more value from wearable technology.
• Covered feed pads, homegrown feed and flexible systems give farmers more control through variable seasons.
• Small feeding adjustments can help improve cow efficiency and overall performance.

Keywords

Dairy farming, myCOW podcast, autumn calving, in-calf rates, rumen health, dairy cow nutrition, collar data, proactive management, feed efficiency

Late lactation is one of the most important windows for setting cows up for calving, early lactation, peak milk and reproductive performance.

In this episode of the myCOW podcast, dairy nutritionist Shaun Balemi explains why building cow condition before dry-off matters, and why the type of condition gained can affect cow health after calving. Shaun breaks down the difference between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat, how rapid condition gain can affect liver function, ketosis risk, inflammation, appetite, milk production and days to first cycle.

The episode also covers practical late lactation management strategies, including body condition scoring, milking frequency, feed allocation, protein supply, mineral balance and fibre levels. Farmers will learn why the goal is not simply to put condition on cows, but to build the right type of condition over the right timeframe.

Key takeaways

• Building cow condition in late lactation can reduce excessive condition loss after calving.
• Dry-off body condition score should ideally sit close to calving target, around 4.7 to 4.9 BCS.
• Subcutaneous fat is generally slower to build and slower to mobilise, making it more useful for early lactation performance.

• Visceral fat is more likely to mobilise quickly, increasing pressure on the liver and contributing to inflammation.
• Poor liver capacity can increase the risk of ketosis, lower appetite and reduce glucose availability.
• Stored protein and amino acids support liver function, fat utilisation, appetite and peak milk.
• Excessive negative energy balance can affect mastitis risk, metritis, endometritis, lameness and hypocalcaemia.
• Cow condition, liver health and inflammation can influence days to first cycle, egg quality and reproductive outcomes.
• Once-a-day milking or adjusted milking frequency can help cows gain condition when feed allocation is maintained.
• Diet balance matters: energy, protein, fibre and minerals all influence how efficiently cows gain condition.
• Manure scoring, rumination data, milk indicators and body condition scoring can help monitor whether the diet is working.
• Starting condition gain earlier gives cows more time to build condition steadily before dry-off.

Keywords

Late lactation cow condition, body condition score dairy cows, dry-off management, transition cow management, early lactation performance, dairy cow nutrition, ketosis prevention, negative energy balance, peak milk production, reproductive performance dairy cows.

Maximise Production with Smart Calf Rearing: ShaunBalemi sits down with lactation physiologist Dr Adam Geiger to break down the calf rearing decisions that drive future milk production, first lactation performance and lifetime cow productivity.

They cover colostrum management for passive transfer, how to reduce bacterial contamination in calf feeding gear, and why the first 60–90 days are important for mammary gland development and genetic potential.

You’ll also hear practical guidance on milk feeding rates(including higher volumes), a slower weaning plan (7–14 days), calf starter and calf meal formulation (starch, protein, fibre targets), and why water quality testing can make or break solid feed intake. Dr Geiger explains trace mineral reducing gaps when feeding whole milk, with a focus on manganese, zinc, copper and iodine, plus vitamins like D and E, and how iron in water can interfere with mineral availability.

Key takeaways:

• Colostrum management is crucial for calf health and future milk production.
• The first 60 to 90 days of a calf's life are critical for udder development.
• Higher feeding rates of milk lead to better growth and health in calves.
• Water quality significantly impacts calf health and feed intake.
• Manganese is essential for hormone production and mammary growth.
• Calf meal formulation should balance starch, protein, and fibre for optimal growth.
• Testing water quality can reveal issues that affect calf nutrition.
• Whole milk lacks essential trace minerals and vitamins needed for calf growth.
• Establishing a routine in feeding helps calves adapt better to solid feed.
• Investing in calf nutrition can lead to better lifetime productivity in dairy cows.

Key terms:

• Calf rearing for milk production
• Colostrum management dairy calves
• Passive transfer colostrum
• Mammary development first 60 days
• High milk feeding rates calves
• Calf weaning programme 7–14 days
• Calf starter meal starch protein fibre
• Dairy calf water quality testing
• Trace minerals for calves zinc copper iodine manganese
• Iron in water blocks mineral absorption calves

Matt McDonald farms his family’s 74ha Waikato dairy unit at Gordonton, milking about 255 cows at peak, with an 8ha maize block that’s part of the system for wintering and keeping cows on track.

In this myCOW farmer interview, Matt shares the early setbacks that shaped him (including a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis at school), and how DairyNZ support and study helped build his approach to pasture and performance.

You’ll hear the practical tech and management tools he’s using as a one-man operation: Datamars collars for heat detection and day-to-day herd signals (rumination and feeding minutes), plus how he uses those numbers to keep diet consistency through spring and mating. Matt also talks AIMER for pasture planning when time is tight, and the agronomy changes (including lime and trace elements in fert mixes) that helped increase grass growth.

Mating results, data habits, and the simple recording systems he uses day to day are covered, too.

Key takeaways

• Build a system that works when you’re time-poor, not just when you’ve got help on hand

• Use wearables as an early warning system: watch rumination and feeding trends, then adjust before performance drops

• Keep rumination higher than feeding minutes as a simple gut check on ration consistency

• Separate heifers early enough before mating to reduce competition and settle the hierarchy

• Fix pasture growth at the cause: soil tests, lime, and trace elements can move the dial more than “just add urea”

• Better heat data can sharpen mating decisions and lift results, including identifying cows that haven’t cycled