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Best of 2025: Building a high BW herd - one decision at a time

Talking Dairy

Chapters
0:00
Setting The Stakes: High-BW Herds
2:20
Donovan And Sophie’s Career Path
6:45
Why Genetics Became The Focus
9:00
Fast-Track Via A Top Herd Purchase
12:00
Defining High BW And Balance
15:20
Selecting Bulls That Fit The Herd
18:30
Mating Plans: Sexed, Beef, Contracts
22:00
Replacements And Genomic Testing
24:30
Record Keeping And On-Farm Tools
27:00
DNA Parentage And Industry Integrity
29:10
KPIs, Repro Targets, And Planning
32:00
Managing Fertility And Type Trade‑offs
34:20
Practical Advice To Start Improving
35:50
Resources, Links, And Closing Notes
Talking Dairy
Best of 2025: Building a high BW herd - one decision at a time
Dec 19, 2025
DairyNZ

More farmers listened to this episode in 2025 than any other. Tune in to find out why it was so popular... 

What does it take to build a top herd? South Taranaki farmers Donovan Croot and Sophie Cookson started strong with a high Breeding Worth (BW) herd. But reaching the top 1% for BW in the country? That took smart decisions and a clear plan to drive genetic gain. 

In this episode, Donovan and Sophie share how they've achieved their results and the highlights from the joint DairyNZ and Fonterra event they hosted with DairyNZ area manager Talissa Squire. 

Did you know?
More Progressing Dairy events on improving genetic gain are coming in 2026. Find one near you.


Get the DairyNZ tools and resources mentioned in this episode: 

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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