Farm Source guide - Managing environmental stress

Farm Source guide - Managing environmental stress

NZ Farm Source

This guide from NZ Farm Source's On-Farm Efficiency Hub sets out the signs of heat, cold and adverse weather stress in cows, and what to do about each one, from water and shade provision to adjusting milking times.

It links to DairyNZ resources on flooding, snow and heat stress, and explains how reducing stress on the herd protects production and helps the farm prepare for more extreme weather over time.

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Have you thought about

Livestock

  • Owl Farm case study - Heat stress management

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    Livestock
    Water
    Wellbeing

    Read how Owl Farm cools its herd through hot Waikato summers with shade and sprinklers.

  • Farm Source guide - Maximise herd health

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    Dairy
    Livestock
    Wellbeing

    Check out ways to manage herd health, breeding and biosecurity to lift farm performance.

  • Dairy heat stress under climate change

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    Livestock
    Risk
    Sustainability

    See how many hot days dairy cows in your rohe could face as the climate warms.

On-farm actions

  • Farm Source guide - Optimise pasture and crop

    Enterprise
    On-farm actions
    Productivity
    Profitability

    Discover ways to grow, manage and use pasture and crop for healthier, more efficient cows.

  • Farm Source guide - Optimise nitrogen fertiliser

    Climate
    Fertiliser
    On-farm actions
    Sustainability

    Learn how to plan, time and target nitrogen fertiliser so more of it ends up as pasture growth.

  • Farm Source guide - Manage effluent

    Climate
    Methane
    On-farm actions
    Water

    Compare ways to manage effluent ponds and spreading that protect waterways and cut methane.

Resilience

  • Climate change scenarios for New Zealand

    Climate
    Adaptation
    Emissions reduction
    Greenhouse gas
    Planning
    Resilience
    Risk
    Sustainability

    See different climate change scenarios for New Zealand and their potential impacts.

  • Adverse Events

    Climate
    Flooding
    Horticulture
    Resilience
    Viticulture

    Find flood response guidance and support resources for growers affected by adverse events.

An alternative perspective

  • Farm Source guide - Optimise milk quality

    Enterprise
    Dairy
    Livestock
    On-farm actions

    See how preventing mastitis and lifting milk quality reduces treatment costs and lost production.

  • Owl Farm case study - Animal well-being plan

    Enterprise
    Farm planning
    Livestock
    Wellbeing

    See how Owl Farm builds a seasonal well-being plan for its dairy herd with local vets.

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Explore how Owl Farm scores body condition through the season to guide feeding.

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Check how often heat stress could hit wheat in your rohe as the climate changes.

Reduce methane emissions

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Learn about reducing methane emissions on your farm.