In this episode, Anne Lee talks with North Canterbury sharemilkers Holly and Aaron Jackson about their dramatic reduction in mastitis early in their career and how they’ve managed to maintain award winning milk quality year after year ever since. They also share a very personal motivation for doing all they can to minimise antibiotic resistance. 

Holly and Aaron explain their use of innovative diagnostics so they can manage milk quality at a quarter level not just at an udder level. They share the practical systems they now use, from incubating their own samples to managing the herd pre and post-calving and at dry-off.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country

Guest:
Holly and Aaron Jackson, Sharemilkers, North Canterbury

 

Holly and Aaron Jackson talk to Anne Lee about the tough lessons they learned when mastitis hit their herd early in their sharemilking career in North Canterbury. They describe how rising cell counts and constant pressure to treat cows created huge stress and financial strain, forcing them to rethink the way they approached herd management. They looked to an innovative solution for identifying pathogens at a quarter level that meant connecting directly with microbiologists. That enabled them to gain a much clearer picture of what was happening in their herd and gave them the confidence to make faster, more targeted decisions and begin regaining control of milk quality.

They explain the practical systems they’ve developed since, including incubating their own samples, refining calving management, and implementing on farm protocols that support both prevention and treatment. These changes have not only reduced mastitis dramatically but have also led to consistently low somatic cell counts and recognition through multiple awards.

The conversation also delves into the resilience it took to keep going during difficult times, the mindset shift that allowed them to see challenges as opportunities, and how sharing their experiences has encouraged other farmers to take a more proactive approach. Holly and Aaron highlight that improving herd health is not about one big change, but a series of deliberate, practical steps that build towards long-term success, profitability, and pride in producing high-quality milk.

In this episode, Anne Lee talks with North Canterbury sharemilkers Holly and Aaron Jackson about their dramatic reduction in mastitis early in their career and how they&rsquo;ve managed to maintain award winning milk quality year after year ever since. They also share a very personal motivation for doing all they can to minimise antibiotic resistance.&nbsp;
Holly and Aaron explain their use of innovative diagnostics so they can manage milk quality at a quarter level not just at an udder level. They share the practical systems they now use, from incubating their own samples to managing the herd pre and post-calving and at dry-off.
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country</li>
</ul>
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Holly and Aaron Jackson, Sharemilkers, North Canterbury</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Holly and Aaron Jackson talk to Anne Lee about the tough lessons they learned when mastitis hit their herd early in their sharemilking career in North Canterbury. They describe how rising cell counts and constant pressure to treat cows created huge stress and financial strain, forcing them to rethink the way they approached herd management. They looked to an innovative solution for identifying pathogens at a quarter level that meant connecting directly with microbiologists. That enabled them to gain a much clearer picture of what was happening in their herd and gave them the confidence to make faster, more targeted decisions and begin regaining control of milk quality.
They explain the practical systems they&rsquo;ve developed since, including incubating their own samples, refining calving management, and implementing on farm protocols that support both prevention and treatment. These changes have not only reduced mastitis dramatically but have also led to consistently low somatic cell counts and recognition through multiple awards.
The conversation also delves into the resilience it took to keep going during difficult times, the mindset shift that allowed them to see challenges as opportunities, and how sharing their experiences has encouraged other farmers to take a more proactive approach. Holly and Aaron highlight that improving herd health is not about one big change, but a series of deliberate, practical steps that build towards long-term success, profitability, and pride in producing high-quality milk.

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.

Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our
thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world.

Don’t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the subscribe button now and join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter to get the latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in the
business of dairy farming into the future.

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.
Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world.
Don&rsquo;t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the&nbsp;subscribe button now and <a href="https://dairyexporter.co.nz/sign-up/">join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter</a> to get the&nbsp;latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in the business of dairy farming into the future.