News

Deciding whether ewes, two tooths and hoggets require a pre-lamb drench is not a black and white exercise. There are strong opinions for all options, and in the end you need to make the decision that is best for your farm. Factors including worm resilience or resistant genetics of your flock, grass...

Clostridial bacteria can be a significant cause of death in farmed livestock, and modern multivalent vaccines are effective at preventing stock losses when given correctly. Here are several factors that can influence the effectiveness of a vaccine: Not all animals will respond to the vaccine...

Are you tired of dagging ewes? Do you feel that no sooner than you have cleaned them up, they start getting dirty again? Or have you got a constant tail end appearing in the flock, even when you think you are feeding them well? If the answer is yes, then it may be time to take corrective action...

Spring is just around the corner as lambs start to appear around the South Island and calving commences in the North Island. South Island Sheep & Beef As the days draw out it’s nice to think spring isn’t too far away with a few early lambs starting to appear. There has been reasonable yardings of...

Monitoring and using ewe Body Condition Score (BCS) should be your most valuable tool to maximise the profitability of your sheep flock. A beneficial approach is to set a minimum BCS or a range that you want all of your ewes to fall within and score all ewes within the flock. Although this is a time...

PGW’s GM of Real Estate, Peter Newbold talks to Jamie McKay whether farms are worth less now than they were this time a year ago, a question without a 'simple yes or no answer' whereby certain factors have to be considered. Peter also discusses the current sheep/beef and horticulture prices from...

Metarex Inov all-weather slug and snail bait has proven itself to be a critical part of an overall slug management programme to protect a wide range of spring sown crops. Slug populations can devastate spring sown crops. Maize and brassica seedlings in particular are extremely vulnerable in their...

Since using fodder beet in his system this year Farmer, Harold O’Connor is well on the way to significantly improving his farming operation. Fodder beet has enabled him to slow down his grass rotation and finish his bull beef earlier than he has traditionally achieved with swedes. As well as running...

When preparing to plant maize, ensuring you have selected the right hybrid is crucial. There are a number of factors to consider when selecting a hybrid best suited to your growing region and specifically for your farm. The first question you need to ask is ‘when can I plant and when can I harvest...

Gaining and maintaining Body Condition Score (BCS) pre-winter is a primary focus for dairy farmer, Mike Sales. Fodder beet on the platform has proved a valuable tool as a late lactation feed, which has enabled the farm to improve BCS whilst increasing milk production toward the end of the season...

Applying nitrogen fertiliser in a liquid form is a convenient way of applying nitrogen to crops or pastures. Liquid N Liquid N is suitable for a wide range of farm types, including pastoral, arable and horticultural systems. Liquid N is a solution, not a suspension, which means that the nitrogen...

Canterbury Dairy Farmer, Alan Davie-Martin was an early adopter of ProGibb® SG because it seemed like a cost-effective option and complementary to nitrogen application. Eight years later, Alan says ProGibb SG is not only instrumental to maintaining a pasture-based feed system on his farm, but he has...

Calf rearing done well can be both rewarding and profitable, however when sickness occurs problems can escalate quickly. Prevention is the proven way to minimise this risk. Here are some considerations for spring: The calf shed should be dry and draft free with warm, dry bedding. Fresh, clean water...

By managing Body Condition Score (BCS) post-calving, cows can cycle early with high conception rates. Herd reproductive success requires a multi-factorial approach. It has been shown that BCS is a key factor that contributes to good fertility1. The foundation for achieving good mating results is a...

A Certified Handler Compliance Certificate is required if buying, storing or using class 6.1A and 6.1B agrichemicals. The new Health and Safety at Work Act (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 came into force on 1 December 2017 meaning that the Certified Handler Certificate replaces the old...

Clostridial vaccination of sheep and cattle is common on New Zealand farms to protect from diseases such as pulpy kidney, tetanus and black leg. Lambs are born without antibodies. They depend entirely on the amount and quality of colostrum they drink to obtain disease protection. In the case of...

Lambs are born without antibodies, and rely on antibodies in the ewe’s colostrum for protection against clostridial diseases including pulpy kidney and tetanus. This is why pre-lamb vaccination is important. Clostridial vaccination of the ewe just prior to lambing is utilised on most New Zealand...

The wool season has concluded on a positive note. Recent sales results have been underpinned by a softening US dollar and Euro and renewed interest in wool from several of our trading partners. All wool types have enjoyed a lift in prices as China and India have returned to the market buying...