Herd Management After reading the special report we have dished up for the December issue on herd management, it seems to me that those who are really successful are constantly measuring, monitoring and tweaking their system as things change on their farm. They are committed to spending the extra time cutting up a paddock with a fence to make sure pasture allocation is correct or pre-grazing mowing or drafting the light cows out of the herd to feed them better. It’s that attention to detail and pro-active management that make the difference. We have stories about different milking regimes, split herds for light cows, stockmanship and being cow-centric, herds split based on age and how technology is used to manage various aspects of the herd. We also shine a light on retirement and succession – with a series of useful articles on how to keep mum and dad, the farming sibling and non-farming siblings happy throughout the process. If you think a mate would enjoy the read, gift them a sub for Christmas and score them a free pair of Red Bandals to enjoy summer in. (We take no responsibility for sunburned feet – remember the slip slop and slap!) Keeping it in the family Rather than divide one dairy farm between four boys, the Hickey family is looking at ways to diversify and grow the business together, while having a structure to allow equity for the parents to enjoy now and flexibility for the sons in the future. Persistent grazers invaluable in voluntary system Andrew Swallow visited two South Canterbury robotic milking dairy farms on the NZ Grassland Association conference and talked forages and pasture quality and quantity. F