The myCOW Podcast

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

If you’ve ever wished your cows could tell you they’re crook before they crash with milk fever or mastitis, this one’s for you. Shaun sits down with SmaXtec NZ country manager Jeff Hill and Canterbury sharemilker Sara to unpack how in-rumen boluses measure internal temperature, rumen motility, water intake and pH, and what that data actually changes on farm.
Sara shares how she’s used SmaXtec for more than four years across 930 Jersey cows, cutting antibiotic use, cleaning staph out of the herd and tightening reproduction by treating problems earlier and more precisely. Jeff adds real-world examples of farms dropping milk fever by 80–90 percent and pulling bulk cell counts down by around 100,000 through better alert triage and year-round monitoring.
They also talk through water intake and pH data, how to avoid alert fatigue with smart triage, and why the farmers who lean into the data get the biggest gains in cow health, fertility and staff time.
Main takeaways:
Boluses track internal temp, activity, water, and pH from inside.
Early temp alerts catch sick cows days before symptoms.
Used well, systems cut milk fever, cell counts, and antibiotics.
Water intake trends highlight trough access, welfare and appetite issues.
pH boluses show how herds cope with diet changes.
Best results come when farmers actively use and review data.
Smart triage tools cut alert noise during busy periods.
Keywords
SmaXtec bolus, dairy cow health monitoring, in-rumen sensors, internal temperature monitoring, rumen pH bolus, water intake monitoring, mastitis detection, milk fever prevention, ketosis alerts, dairy reproduction performance, New Zealand dairy farming, farm technology, animal welfare dairy, myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi

Shaun looks at why feeding the rumen microbes first is the smartest way to lift appetite, digestion and cow health as cows head through peak milk into mating. He discusses how better quality and balance of energy and protein build the microbial “workforce”, how that flows through to liver function, hormones, milk protein, fat, lactose and urea, and how using milk and collar data on farm can help you spot appetite issues early and keep cows eating, milking and holding condition.

Takeaways
We need to think about how we're feeding the rumen.
Better feeding translates into increased microbial numbers.
Once the cow is full, digestion begins.
Microbe numbers drop and are digested as protein.
Feeding the cow well improves energy and proteinmetabolites.
Microbial protein is crucial for cow digestion.
Energy levels impact microbial population.
Appetite in cows is driven by nutrition.
Feeding strategies are vital for cow health.
Rumen health is essential for productivity.

Keywords
Rumen, microbial population, cow digestion, energy levels, microbial protein, appetite, nutrition

Nick Hand, senior account manager at Halter, joins myCOW to talk practical pasture management and the tech that actually moves the needle. We cover virtual fencing, accurate allocation, and why the best results come from doing the basics well and doing them consistently. Nick shares on-farm numbers too, including flat, irrigated herds lifting pasture harvested by 6% in year one and a further 7% the next, with flow-on gains in repro, plus what a realistic “minimum” looks like for most farms.
We dig into behaviour data beyond rumination — eating, moving and resting — and how changes in the four days post-calving link with conception rate. You’ll hear simple ways farmers use these trends for earlier calls on residuals, health, and heat detection.
Nick also covers onboarding and support, discussion groups where farmers swap what’s working, and handy in-paddock tactics like easing competition at break start, adding small extensions from your phone, and running multiple shifts without reels. If you want steadier residuals, higher ME, and better use of your day, this one’s for you.

Key takeaways
6% increase in pasture harvested in the first year.
Contract milkers improve efficiency by checking cows regularly.
Great farmers can achieve even greater results with the right practices.
Technology plays a crucial role in modern farming.
Sustainable practices are essential for future farming success.
Regular monitoring enables better resource management.
Farmers are adapting to new methods for better yields.
Efficiency in farming can lead to significant economic gains.
Collaboration among farmers enhances knowledge sharing.
Challenges in agriculture require innovative solutions.

Keywords
Pasture management, technology in farming, sustainable agriculture, farming efficiency, agricultural challenges