The myCOW Podcast

myCOW
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myCOW: Dairy nutrition, cow health & practical NZ farming advice Want to get more milk from your feed? The myCOW Podcast, hosted by Shaun Balemi M.Sc NZARN, is your go-to podcast for practical, science-backed insights that help improve dairy herd performance. Tune in for expert episodes on mineral supplementation, early lactation, heat stress, cow fertility, transition feeding, and milk production. Whether you're in the shed or out on the farm, myCOW helps you make smarter decisions for healthier cows and better results. Supported by Agvance Nutrition and other industry leaders.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep 23: Driving dairy reproduction with data & energy management - with Ryan Luckman

    How much more could you get from your herd's reproductive performance by making better use of the data you already have? In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi sits down with veterinarian and agricultural data specialist Ryan Luckman to discuss how farmers can use wearable technology, herd data and practical management decisions to improve reproductive outcomes. Drawing on nearly 20 years of veterinary experience, Ryan shares what the data is revealing about pre-mating heats, conception rates, nutrition and the factors influencing six-week in-calf rates. They cover: How to use cow collar data to identify reproductive issues before mating startsWhy good pre-mating cycling rates don't always translate into strong conception ratesThe relationship between energy balance, milk protein percentages and reproductive successWhat phantom cows are and how technology can help identify and manage themWhy second calvers deserve particular attentionHow emerging technology, including milk sensors and body condition scoring, could help farmers make more informed decisions Ryan also shares practical examples from New Zealand dairy farms, including what works, what doesn't and why technology alone won't improve reproductive results. Whether you're already using wearables or considering how data could support your mating programme, this episode offers plenty of practical insights to take back to the farm.

  2. Sep 1

    Ep 22 - NEW SERIES Ep 4 - What our springers are telling us in the paddock

    In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi looks at the visual cues springer cows, colostrum cows, and fresh cows can give farmers about stress, feed balance, metabolic health and recovery after calving. Shaun explains what to look for in the paddock, from rumen fill, appetite and manure consistency to unusual posture, jumpiness, isolation from the herd, dehydration and changes in feeding behaviour. He covers how hunger, feed access, weather, competition and mineral balance can affect cow behaviour and what these signs may suggest about what is happening before and after calving. He also discusses how visual observations can be used alongside blood results, milk data and cow wearable information to build a clearer picture of cow performance. Shaun explains what good recovery can look like in the colostrum mob, including strong appetite, good rumen fill, rumination, consistent manure and cows actively eating, drinking or resting comfortably. Takeaways: What visual signs can indicate stress in springer and colostrum cowsHow rumen fill and appetite can help assess feed intakeWhat jumpiness, unusual posture and isolation from the herd may indicateHow feed competition and water access can affect cow intakeWhat condition loss and inconsistent manure can suggest about diet balanceHow tremors, pica and low energy may relate to mineral or metabolic imbalanceWhat sunken eyes can tell you about dehydrationWhat to look for in cows recovering well after calvingHow visual observations can be considered alongside blood, milk and wearable data Keywords: Springer cows, transition cow management, colostrum cows, rumen fill, dairy cow behaviour, feed intake, metabolic health, cow recovery, dairy cow nutrition, visual cow assessment.

  3. Aug 18

    Ep 21 - NEW SERIES Ep 3 - Using blood test data to measure springer cow success

    In this episode of the myCOW podcast, Shaun Balemi looks at how blood testing can help farmers understand what is happening in springer cows, colostrum cows and milkers through transition and early lactation. Shaun explains when to collect blood samples, which cows to test and what different blood markers can tell you about mineral balance, liver function, condition loss, oxidative capacity and inflammation. The episode covers calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA and BHB, along with other measures such as haptoglobin, albumin, cholesterol, GPX and vitamin E. He also discusses how blood results can be used to assess DCAD balance, mineral supplementation, condition loss and cow recovery after calving. Shaun explains why blood data is most useful when considered alongside cow numbers, rumination, body condition, wearable data and other information from the herd. Takeaways: When to blood test springer cows, colostrum cows and milkersHow to select cows for representative blood testingWhat calcium, magnesium and phosphorus results can tell youHow NEFA can indicate the amount of body condition cows are mobilisingHow BHB can help assess how the liver is handling mobilised fatWhat blood results can show about transition and early lactation nutritionHow oxidative capacity and inflammation can be assessed through blood testingWhy cow data should be considered alongside blood test resultsHow blood testing can support discussions with vets, nutritionists and rural advisers Keywords: Dairy cow blood testing, springer cows, transition cow nutrition, early lactation, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA, BHB, dairy cow performance.

  4. Aug 3

    Ep 20 - NEW SERIES Ep 2: Using springer feed data to unlock performance

    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 testingWhen to sample springer paddocks, silage and supplementary feedsHow to collect and handle representative samplesHow energy, protein and fibre affect transition cow dietsWhy DCAD and mineral balance matter before calvingHow potassium levels can guide springer paddock selectionWhy feed data should be assessed alongside what cows are showingHow feed testing can support discussions with vets, nutritionists and rural advisersKeywords: Springer cows, feed testing, herbage testing, transition cow nutrition, feed data, DCAD, mineral balance, pasture testing, metabolic disease, dairy cow performance.

  5. Jul 27

    Ep 19 - NEW SERIES Ep 1 - Unlocking your farm's potential with data

    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 conditionLiver and rumen healthMetabolic diseaseImmune functionEarly peak milk Reproductive performanceShaun 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 dataBlood testing and liver functionVisual observation in the paddockRumination dataSensor and camera technologyPost-calving measures of transition successFeed 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!

  6. Jun 15

    Ep 18: How livestock wearables are changing herd visibility - with Baden Parr of ProTag

    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 dataHow smart ear tags can help track grazing, rumination, movement and restingWhat cow location can tell farmers about pasture use and mob behaviourHow wearable data may support heat detection, lameness monitoring and draftingWhy New Zealand-built farm technology matters for pasture-based systemsHow future data could help farmers better understand cow efficiency and feed intakeListen 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

  7. Jun 1

    Ep 17: My journey to buying a farm - with Tangaroa Walker

    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.

  8. May 18

    Ep 16: Using data and tech to transform dairy farming - with Alastair Neville

    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

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About

myCOW: Dairy nutrition, cow health & practical NZ farming advice Want to get more milk from your feed? The myCOW Podcast, hosted by Shaun Balemi M.Sc NZARN, is your go-to podcast for practical, science-backed insights that help improve dairy herd performance. Tune in for expert episodes on mineral supplementation, early lactation, heat stress, cow fertility, transition feeding, and milk production. Whether you're in the shed or out on the farm, myCOW helps you make smarter decisions for healthier cows and better results. Supported by Agvance Nutrition and other industry leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    myCOW
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © myCOW
  • Show Website
    The myCOW Podcast

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