The myCOW Podcast

What happens when you drop cow numbers and focus on feeding them better? In this episode, Shaun Balemi sits down with Ben Croft, a seasoned Canterbury dairy farmer, to unpack how reducing stocking rate improved cow condition, simplifiedmanagement, and increased farm profit. They talk body condition scoring, feed strategies, and how fewer, better-fed cows delivered more milk and less stress.Real data. Real decisions. Real farmer talk.

The three weeks before calving can make or break how well your cows perform in the season ahead. In this episode, Shaun Balemi shares simple, practical ways to set cows up for a smooth transition, including:

• What’s happening inside the cow leading up to calving

• Feeding tips to keep cows full and reduce stress

• How to get minerals right for better health and fewer downer cows

• Setting cows up for good milk production and faster recovery post-calving

Real-world advice you can put to work straight away to help your herd calve down in better shape.

Get more from every cow, every litre and every paddock. In this first episode, dairy nutritionist Shaun Balemi introduces the myCOW Podcast – a practical, science-led series created for New Zealand dairy farmers and ag professionals.

Shaun shares his background in dairy farming and nutrition, why he’s launching myCOW, and how the podcast (and upcoming app) will deliver clear insights from milk, cow, feed and farm data to lift efficiency and profitability.

Follow for short, farm-smart episodes that break down the science, feature farmer and expert interviews, and spark real conversations about improving cow health and building stronger farm businesses.