The myCOW Podcast

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

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