Wearable technology and detailed herd data driving productivity on Wairarapa farms

Vanessa has been working in the Hawke’s Bay, Tararua, and Wairarapa regions for the past eight months. The biggest trend she has noticed is the region’s shift to wearable technology with cow collars and a focus on herd data to drive farm productivity.

“Technology has real potential to transform farm management and productivity. When used alongside regular herd testing, it can give farmers a deep understanding of their herds to drive better breeding decisions,” says Vanessa.

A 2023 survey by DairyNZ highlighted a substantial rise in the use of cow wearables nationally, with adoption jumping from 3% in 2018 to 16% of all farms in 2023.

“I’ve noticed a lot of our farmers in this region using collars and showing a desire to understand their herd data. This helps them make informed breeding decisions to better their herd and their profitability,” she adds.

Recently, Vanessa ran a herd analysis for a farm to identify where their replacement heifers were coming from within their herd.

“Farmers ideally want their replacement heifers to come from the top 25 percent performing cows in their herd. By analysing the data, we could see that 30 percent of replacements were coming from the top 25 percent of the herd, while 50 percent were coming from the second and third quartiles, which meant that 20 percent of their replacements were coming from the bottom quartile of the herd” she explains.

Vanessa also says that wearable technology is helping to better identify non-cycling cows.

“Identifying and treating non-cycling cows before mating significantly improves their reproductive performance.”

Conditions in the region have been dry, particularly in eastern areas, which may have some impact this coming season, she says.

Vanessa has worked in the dairy industry for nearly 15 years. Before joining CRV, she managed a 420-cow farm in Ohaupo in Waikato, where her interest in breeding was sparked after managing the herd’s artificial insemination.

“I was looking for a change and wanted to stay in the dairy industry. I saw the job advertised with CRV and their values aligned with mine. I love doing the best for our customers every day and working alongside them to improve their herds and their businesses.

“Farming is a lifestyle, but it is also a business, and getting the most out of that business is important. Making informed breeding decisions is a massive part of that,” says Vanessa.

She is also actively involved in the community in her region and recently put her hand up to be part of the Dairy Industry Awards committee.

“I believe giving back is important, and I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge and experiences to help other farmers succeed."

Vanessa enjoys understanding her farmers' goals and then looking at how they can reach them through breeding.

“Sometimes things have been done a certain way for many years, and it’s about showing farmers what they can achieve if they make some incremental changes. That often means finding solutions that offer a better return on investment. Sexed semen is one example of that because it can help you fast-track your genetic gain.”