Waikato Dairy Farming Videos
Each day of the field trip, a series of video clips are taken which record the experiences that the LEARNZ Teacher is having on your behalf.
The videos are in wmv format and are playable on most computers. We suggest if your connection to the internet is slow, or if you intend playing any video more than once, that you download the file to your local machine or network (The option to save can be obtained by PC users right-clicking a link and Mac users clicking down but not releasing). Once downloaded, double-click the file to play it or open your media player first, click File...Open and navigate to the file.
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Wednesday 26 August 2009
1. Welcome to Morlands (3.42Mb wmv file). High quality version (6.43Mb wmv file).
Get your gumboots on and join Shelley and Pete Morgan down on the farm. Before you take a look around Pete gives you the rundown on Morlands Farm.
1. How big is this farm?
2. How many cows are on the farm?
3. The cows on this farm are crossbreed cows. What are they a cross between?
Next step learning: How does the size of this dairy farm compare to your nearest dairy farms? If there is a big difference why is this?
2. Cow Cuisine (5.52Mb wmv file). High quality version (10.46Mb wmv file).
Come out of the wind and into the hay shed. Pete explains what cows need to eat so that they can stay in top condition.
1. What is the main food for cows in New Zealand?
2. Pete talks about feed in terms of dry matter. What does this mean?
3. What elements do cows need, especially at this time of year?
Next step learning: How does the diet of New Zealand cows compare to that of other parts of the world e.g. Europe or the USA?
3. Common Cow Complaints (4.75Mb wmv file). High quality version (9.00Mb wmv file).
Join Shelley and Ann in the middle of a mob of cows. While you are there Ann takes you through some of the health problems that dairy cows in the Waikato can face.
1. What are some of the problems dairy cows can face at this time of year?
2. Why is facial eczema a problem in the Waikato in the summer?
3. What organ in the cow is damaged by facial eczema?
Next step learning: What other health problems can dairy cows face in New Zealand?
4. Calf Rearing (4.00Mb wmv file). High quality version (7.56Mb wmv file).
Get up close to a lively group of calves while Ann chats about colostrum and calf rearing.
1. What is colostrum?
2. How much milk do these calves drink?
3. How old are the calves when they are put out in the paddock?
Next step learning: How do antibodies protect a calf from diseases?
5. Protecting Waterways (4.50Mb wmv file). High quality version (8.52Mb wmv file).
This farm is not all pasture. You’ve come across an area of native bush with Shelley and Alex. It’s there for a reason and Alex tells you why.
1. How does fencing off this area prevent erosion?
2. What lives in the habitat created by this bush?
3. How does planting trees help the cows?
Next step learning: What is meant by “biodiversity”?
6. Effluent (5.52Mb wmv file). High quality version (10.49Mb wmv file).
What goes in must come out! Dairy cows eat huge volumes of food but also produce huge volumes of effluent. Properly managed this is a valuable resource for dairy farmers. Alex explains everything about effluent.
1. Where on the farm must effluent be collected from?
2. What is the effluent collected in?
3. What nutrients are in the effluent?
Next step learning: How do the nutrients in effluent help plants grow?
Thursday 27 August 2009
1. Morning Milking (8.91Mb wmv file). High quality version (16.95Mb wmv file).
When the alarm went off this morning it was so early it was almost yesterday! Join Pete, Shelley and over 300 cows in the milking shed and watch the sun rise while you work.
1. What did Pete do this morning before he arrived at the milking shed?
2. How far did the cows have to walk to the milking shed?
3. Other than giving supplements what does Pete say is an advantage of drenching?
Next step learning: Make a flow diagram to show all the steps involved in the milking process.
2. Teat to Tanker (4.99Mb wmv file). High quality version (9.46Mb wmv file).
From leaving the cow to being picked up by the tanker, milk goes through a number of processes. Pete takes you through these.
1. Why does the milk have to be filtered?
2. At what temperature is the milk when it leaves the cow?
3. What is the final temperature of the milk?
Next step learning: Why does the milk have to be cooled?
3. Perfect Pasture (4.07Mb wmv file). High quality version (7.71Mb wmv file).
Meet up with Shelley and agricultural consultant James to find out how dairy farmers can manage their pasture to ensure high quality feed for their cows.
1. How is the quality of pasture measured?
2. What is the most common tool used to measure pasture growth on dairy farms?
3. How often is the pasture growth recorded in each paddock?
Next step learning: What are the % dry matter values for different food sources e.g. grass, maize, hay, silage etc.
4. Wonderful Waikato (3.29Mb wmv file). High quality version (6.18Mb wmv file).
Dairy farming has long history in the Waikato. Join Shelley and James to find out why the Waikato is the perfect place for dairying.
1. What are the four main reasons why Waikato is so good for dairy farming?
2. What is the biggest challenge for dairy farmers in the Waikato?
3. How much have land values increased in the last three years?
Next step learning: Take a look at the Canterbury Dairy Farming field trip from Term 1 and compare that environment with the Waikato.
5. Soil Sampling (3.80Mb wmv file). High quality version (7.17Mb wmv file).
Zoe is an expert on soils. Listen while she tells you how soils can be sampled and tested to check for nutrients.
1. How often should soil be tested?
2. What key soil nutrients can be tested for?
3. What equipment is needed to take soil samples?
Next step learning: Why are particular nutrients important for pasture growth?
6. Farming Finances (3.36Mb wmv file). High quality version (6.36Mb wmv file).
Dairy farming is big business. Rural banker Wade explains about the expenses and returns of dairy farming.
1. What are some of the key expenses of dairy farming?
2. What was the cost per kg of milksolids in 2007 and 2008?
3. What was the main reason for the increased cost of producing milk in 2008?
Next step learning: Dairy farmers can make money from other sources than milk. What could some sources of these be?
Friday 28 August 2009
1. Dairy Farming Research (5.33Mb wmv file). High quality version (10.12Mb wmv file).
Welcome to DairyNZ’s Scott Farm, where the future is being discovered today. Scientist Cameron Clark tells you about some of the research that is going on here.
1. What kind of scientist is Cameron?
2. How are the individual cows identified?
3. How is the milk yield of each cow recorded?
Next step learning: Take a look at last year’s Waikato Dairy Farming field trip and visit a special research farm called Greenfield Farm. What amazing thing was happening there?
2. Pasture, Present and Future (8.14Mb wmv file). High quality version (15.48Mb wmv file).
Step into the herb garden and find out more about a range of plants being trialled as pasture plants for dairy cows. They’re good enough to eat!
1. For what time of year in the Waikato are some of these crops being investigated as a feed source?
2. What are the nodules on the roots of leguminous plants able to do?
3. How is plantain adapted to a dry environment?
Next step learning: Make a list of all the different plants that can be used as feed for dairy cows.
3. Effluent Treatment (3.59Mb wmv file). High quality version (6.76Mb wmv file).
Join Cameron and Shelley next to the effluent treatment ponds. Learn how effluent can be treated so it can be safely released back into the environment. Also, as you are standing next to a stand-off pad, listen as Cameron tells you what it is for.
1. What can the clean water produced at the end of the treatment be used for?
2. What is the water wheel doing?
3. What chemical element in effluent can cause problems in waterways if the effluent is not managed appropriately?
Next step learning: Draw a flow diagram to show how the effluent treatment ponds work.
4. More Milking? (2.91Mb wmv file). High quality version (5.49Mb wmv file).
Once, twice, three times a day. How often should cows be milked? Cameron gives you an outline of a research project examining this very question.
1. What kind of milking system are you standing on?
2. What is the potential benefit of milking three times a day?
Next step learning: Twice a day milking is common in New Zealand. How often do dairy farmers in other countries milk their herds?
5. Artificial Breeding (6.02Mb wmv file). High quality version (11.42Mb wmv file).
In order to get the best quality offspring from their cows many farmers leave nothing to chance. Cow reproduction expert, Chris, explains the how and why of artificial breeding.
1. Over what time period during the year is artificial insemination carried out?
2. How is inbreeding avoided?
3. What is the small machine used by the AB Technician called?
Next step learning: What are some of the other advantages of artificial breeding?
6. Artificial Insemination (5.46Mb wmv file). High quality version (10.36Mb wmv file).
Chris takes you through the mechanics of artificial insemination.
1. What term is used to describe the tube containing the semen?
2. Why is a protective sleeve placed over the inseminating gun?
3. How far into the uterus is the semen placed?
Next step learning: Why do you think the semen samples from different breeds are dyed with different colours?
7. Waikato Dairy Farming Summary (5.28Mb wmv file). High quality version (10.02Mb wmv file).
Spend a few minutes with Shelley while she goes over all that you’ve experienced this week.
Next step learning: Take a look at a previous Dairy Farming field trip to Canterbury (2009) or the Wairarapa (2007) and compare and contrast that farm with Morlands Farm.
Note:
If the videos don't play using your current software, we recommend you download and install the appropriate Windows Media Player for Windows or Macintosh computers from:
www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/players.aspx (Clicking this link opens a new window in your browser).
