The myCOW Podcast

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:
Body condition
Liver and rumen health
Metabolic disease
Immune function
Early peak milk
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 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