
Owl Farm case study - Breeding programme
Track how Owl Farm's sexed semen and dairy beef mating plan lifted herd genetics.
Owl Farm is a 160 hectare demonstration dairy farm at St Peter's School in Cambridge, Waikato. It has run since 2015 as a joint venture between the school and Lincoln University, with funding partners Ravensdown, DairyNZ, Fonterra, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Westpac.
The farm trades as a commercial business and reports its real results in public. It publishes its own figures on greenhouse gases, soil, water, nutrients, pasture, herd performance, animal well-being and farm finances, and opens the gate for focus days, farm walks and school visits.


Track how Owl Farm's sexed semen and dairy beef mating plan lifted herd genetics.

Follow how Owl Farm cut bobby calf numbers through colostrum care and dairy beef.

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

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

Find out how Owl Farm tracks tail damage in its herd to protect cow welfare.

Discover how Owl Farm keeps mastitis cases and cell counts down in its herd.

Learn how Owl Farm halved its lameness rate by changing yard flow and race care.

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

Read how genetic selection keeps Owl Farm's herd among the nation's best.

See what keeps Owl Farm's alert, grade and demerit counts falling.

Review how fertiliser and grazing rotations are matched to feed demand.

Check how imported feed is used strategically to lift milk from pasture.