The myCOW Podcast

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

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