In this episode, Rebecca Furzeland shares how she and her husband Andrew have built one of New Zealand’s standout large-scale calf rearing operations, combining smart infrastructure, tight systems and strong supplier relationships to rear 3,500 calves a year. She outlines the design decisions that drive efficiency, the early life nutrition that underpins animal health, and why clear communication with dairy farmers is the critical lever for lifting performance.

Guest:
Rebecca Furzeland, Calf Rearer, Canterbury

Host:
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

Rebecca explores the strategies that optimise calf growth and long-term performance, including careful planning of feeding regimes, managing multiple breeds, and tracking weight gains to guide decision-making. She highlights how attention to detail at every stage, from housing design to weaning protocols, supports healthier, more resilient animals and stronger outcomes across the dairy beef supply chain.

 

Read the article featuring the Furzelands here.

 

Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL

In this episode, Rebecca Furzeland shares how she and her husband Andrew have built one of New Zealand&rsquo;s standout large-scale calf rearing operations, combining smart infrastructure, tight systems and strong supplier relationships to rear 3,500 calves a year. She outlines the design decisions that drive efficiency, the early life nutrition that underpins animal health, and why clear communication with dairy farmers is the critical lever for lifting performance.
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rebecca Furzeland, Calf Rearer, Canterbury</li>
</ul>
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide</li>
</ul>
Rebecca explores the strategies that optimise calf growth and long-term performance, including careful planning of feeding regimes, managing multiple breeds, and tracking weight gains to guide decision-making. She highlights how attention to detail at every stage, from housing design to weaning protocols, supports healthier, more resilient animals and stronger outcomes across the dairy beef supply chain.
&nbsp;
Read the article featuring the Furzelands <a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/rearing-at-scale/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually:<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/"> https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/sign-up/">SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL</a>

Bringing' you the best of rural New Zealand for nearly 50 years via your mailboxes, now it’s time for our seasonal stories from the magazine to weekly updates straight to your ears.

Proud to celebrate the grit and the smarts it takes to farm as well as good ol' fashioned country culture with The CountryWide Podcast.

Hosts: Sarah Perriam-Lampp - CEO & Editor-in-Chief at CountryWide Media

For more information & to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz

Bringing' you the best of rural New Zealand for nearly 50 years via your mailboxes, now it&rsquo;s time for our seasonal stories from the magazine to weekly updates straight to your ears.
Proud to celebrate the grit and the smarts it takes to farm as well as good ol' fashioned country culture with The CountryWide Podcast.
Hosts: Sarah Perriam-Lampp - CEO &amp; Editor-in-Chief at CountryWide Media
For more information &amp; to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz

The CountryWide Podcast

Bringing' you the best of rural New Zealand for nearly 50 years via your mailboxes, now it’s time for' our seasonal stories from the magazine to weekly updates straight to your ears.

Proud to celebrate the grit and the smarts it takes to farm as well as good ol' fashioned country culture with the CountryWide Podcast with Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

To subscribe to Country-Wide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz 

Bringing' you the best of rural New Zealand for nearly 50 years via your mailboxes, now it&rsquo;s time for' our seasonal stories from the magazine to weekly updates straight to your ears.
Proud to celebrate the grit and the smarts it takes to farm as well as good ol' fashioned country culture with the CountryWide Podcast with Editor-in-Chief,&nbsp;Sarah Perriam-Lampp.
To subscribe to Country-Wide, visit <a href="http://www.country-wide.co.nz">www.country-wide.co.nz</a>&nbsp;

Country-Wide Podcast

Episode 93 - Rearing at scale

This special episode of CountryWide explores the first independent evaluation of Halter’s virtual fencing and herding technology, now used on more than 600,000 dairy and beef cows across New Zealand, the United States and Australia. An AgFirst and Transform Agri study of ten high-performing dairy farms shows clear gains in pasture utilisation, labour efficiency, animal performance and environmental outcomes. 

Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with James Allen from AgFirst, Julian Gaffney from Transform Agri and Halter’s Head of Corporate Farming, Steve Crowhurst, to unpack the findings, including an average 13 percent lift in farm profit before tax and how top operators are using the system.

 

Guests:
James Allen, AgFirst
Julian Gaffney, Transform Agri
Steve Crowhurst, Head of Corporate Farming, Halter

Host:
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

James Allen is focused on helping dairy farmers unlock productivity and profitability through data-driven farm management. Drawing on his work with AgFirst and experience evaluating technologies like Halter, he examines how decisions around pasture, labour, and herd management influence performance on high-performing farms. 

Through research, farm benchmarking, and collaboration with farmers and advisors, James uncovers the practical strategies that lead to measurable gains in pasture utilisation, milk production, and environmental outcomes. He highlights the value of critical analysis, evidence-based decision making, and continuous learning, showing how farmers can combine technology and strong management to achieve sustainable, high-performing systems.

Julian Gaffney helps dairy farmers turn data into practical strategies that boost both productivity and sustainability. With experience at Transform Agri and working alongside high-performing farms, he examines how tools like Halter can optimise pasture use, labour efficiency, animal health, and environmental outcomes. Collaborating closely with farmers and research teams, Julian highlights the management changes and daily practices that lead to real, measurable improvements onfarm. He champions evidence-based decisions, effective staff engagement, and ongoing refinement, showing how combining technology with thoughtful management can deliver stronger performance, greater farm efficiency, and long-term resilience in New Zealand’s dairy sector.

 

Steve Crowhurst helps dairy farmers leverage technology to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability on farm. As Halter’s Head of Corporate Farming, he draws on experience with farms across New Zealand and overseas to show how virtual fencing and herding can optimise pasture use, labour, and animal performance. Working closely with farmers and research teams, Steve highlights the practical ways technology supports smarter, data-driven decisions that deliver measurable results. He champions innovation, adaptability, and strong farm management, demonstrating how combining advanced tools with thoughtful practices can unlock performance gains and build long-term resilience in New Zealand’s dairy sector.

 

Find out more about Halter here.

 

Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL

This special episode of CountryWide explores the first independent evaluation of Halter&rsquo;s virtual fencing and herding technology, now used on more than 600,000 dairy and beef cows across New Zealand, the United States and Australia. An AgFirst and Transform Agri study of ten high-performing dairy farms shows clear gains in pasture utilisation, labour efficiency, animal performance and environmental outcomes.&nbsp;
Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with James Allen from AgFirst, Julian Gaffney from Transform Agri and Halter&rsquo;s Head of Corporate Farming, Steve Crowhurst, to unpack the findings, including an average 13 percent lift in farm profit before tax and how top operators are using the system.
&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">James Allen, AgFirst</li>
<li aria-level="1">Julian Gaffney, Transform Agri</li>
<li aria-level="1">Steve Crowhurst, Head of Corporate Farming, Halter</li>
</ul>
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide</li>
</ul>
James Allen is focused on helping dairy farmers unlock productivity and profitability through data-driven farm management. Drawing on his work with AgFirst and experience evaluating technologies like Halter, he examines how decisions around pasture, labour, and herd management influence performance on high-performing farms.&nbsp;
Through research, farm benchmarking, and collaboration with farmers and advisors, James uncovers the practical strategies that lead to measurable gains in pasture utilisation, milk production, and environmental outcomes. He highlights the value of critical analysis, evidence-based decision making, and continuous learning, showing how farmers can combine technology and strong management to achieve sustainable, high-performing systems.
Julian Gaffney helps dairy farmers turn data into practical strategies that boost both productivity and sustainability. With experience at Transform Agri and working alongside high-performing farms, he examines how tools like Halter can optimise pasture use, labour efficiency, animal health, and environmental outcomes. Collaborating closely with farmers and research teams, Julian highlights the management changes and daily practices that lead to real, measurable improvements onfarm. He champions evidence-based decisions, effective staff engagement, and ongoing refinement, showing how combining technology with thoughtful management can deliver stronger performance, greater farm efficiency, and long-term resilience in New Zealand&rsquo;s dairy sector.
&nbsp;
Steve Crowhurst helps dairy farmers leverage technology to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability on farm. As Halter&rsquo;s Head of Corporate Farming, he draws on experience with farms across New Zealand and overseas to show how virtual fencing and herding can optimise pasture use, labour, and animal performance. Working closely with farmers and research teams, Steve highlights the practical ways technology supports smarter, data-driven decisions that deliver measurable results. He champions innovation, adaptability, and strong farm management, demonstrating how combining advanced tools with thoughtful practices can unlock performance gains and build long-term resilience in New Zealand&rsquo;s dairy sector.
&nbsp;
Find out more about Halter <a href="https://www.halterhq.com/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually:<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/"> https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/sign-up/">SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL</a>

Special Episode - Halter: Driving Profit, Efficiency and Sustainability

In this episode, Louise Cook, Fonterra’s Environment Programme Lead for On-Farm Excellence, unpacks how farmers boost efficiency while cutting emissions in a major industry project showing farmers can cut greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen surplus without sacrificing profitability. She explains the practices that lift efficiency with homegrown feed utilisation is the standout lever, and how top farms turn the same inputs into far stronger outputs.

Guest:
Louise Cook, Environment Programme Lead, Fonterra

Host:
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

When farmers make the most of homegrown feed it lifts cow productivity and therefore overall efficiency which creates a triple bottom line benefit for farms. Louise delves into the specific practices that top-performing farms use to extract more output from the same inputs by optimising feed quality, managing herd health, and aligning fertiliser and nitrogen use with production goals. 

 

Read the article featuring Louise here.

 

Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL

In this episode, Louise Cook, Fonterra&rsquo;s Environment Programme Lead for On-Farm Excellence, unpacks how farmers boost efficiency while cutting emissions in a major industry project showing farmers can cut greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen surplus without sacrificing profitability. She explains the practices that lift efficiency with homegrown feed utilisation is the standout lever, and how top farms turn the same inputs into far stronger outputs.
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Louise Cook, Environment Programme Lead, Fonterra</li>
</ul>
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide</li>
</ul>
When farmers make the most of homegrown feed it lifts cow productivity and therefore overall efficiency which creates a triple bottom line benefit for farms. Louise delves into the specific practices that top-performing farms use to extract more output from the same inputs by optimising feed quality, managing herd health, and aligning fertiliser and nitrogen use with production goals.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Read the article featuring Louise <a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/insights-from-farm-data-show-emission-cutting-opportunities/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually:<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/"> https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/sign-up/">SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL</a>

Reducing emissions without sacrificing profit

What’s driving smarter, more strategic weaning decisions?

In this episode, Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert - Animal Production at PGG Wrightson, breaks down how to avoid costly weaning checks, and the practical steps farmers can take to keep lambs tracking forward while protecting ewe condition for their next tupping.

Guest:
Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert - Animal Production, PGG Wrightson

Host:
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert - Animal Production at PGG Wrightson highlights how to keep lambs on a rising plane of nutrition, protect ewe condition and adapt to tightening finishing capacity. 

From staggering weaning to prioritising smaller lambs on top-quality feed and planning disciplined store lamb sales, he shows how thoughtful decisions at weaning can lift performance and support long-term farm profitability.

He explores the spectrum of approaches from traditional fixed weaning dates to more strategic, market-driven decisions and explains how understanding lamb growth patterns, feed quality, heat stress and shifting buying behaviours can significantly reduce the risk of a weaning check.

Read the article featuring Andrew here.

 

Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL

What&rsquo;s driving smarter, more strategic weaning decisions?
In this episode, Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert - Animal Production at PGG Wrightson, breaks down how to avoid costly weaning checks, and the practical steps farmers can take to keep lambs tracking forward while protecting ewe condition for their next tupping.
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert - Animal Production, PGG Wrightson</li>
</ul>
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide</li>
</ul>
Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert - Animal Production at PGG Wrightson highlights how to keep lambs on a rising plane of nutrition, protect ewe condition and adapt to tightening finishing capacity.&nbsp;
From staggering weaning to prioritising smaller lambs on top-quality feed and planning disciplined store lamb sales, he shows how thoughtful decisions at weaning can lift performance and support long-term farm profitability.
He explores the spectrum of approaches from traditional fixed weaning dates to more strategic, market-driven decisions and explains how understanding lamb growth patterns, feed quality, heat stress and shifting buying behaviours can significantly reduce the risk of a weaning check.
Read the article featuring Andrew <a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/weaning-check-impacts-lamb-cheque/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
Become a CountryWide Club member for $89/year for six seasonal magazines including free postage (New Zealand only) annually:<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/"> https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://country-wide.co.nz/sign-up/">SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE INSIDER WEEKLY EMAIL</a>

Episode 93 - Rearing at scale

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