Sue Macky discussed the challenges she has come across and highlights areas to focus on during transition feeding in an interactive session. She bounces from nutritional aspects to animal behaviour and cow comfort, to the animal health challenges. Sharing the key components, she looks at and emphasises the importance of going back to basics and reviewing cow behaviour.
Arguably New Zealand’s most experienced practical dairy cow nutritionist, Sue has worked for most of her life with dairy cows and dairy farmers throughout the world, both as a clinical veterinarian and as a consultant in the areas of dairy cow feeding, management and welfare. She has worked with farmers and presented at conferences and seminars in most parts of the world.
Moving from clinical practice to consultancy in the late 1980s, Sue was an early leader in developing transition cow programmes, and the application of ‘cow comfort’ principles to dairy cow facilities and management, being awarded the Alan Leslie Medal for services to NZ livestock production in the 1980s. In the 1990s, she returned to the US and Europe to further her studies in the management and feeding of high production cows, and to work for a major international nutritional group.
Sue has a profound understanding of the cow and passion for her work; she maintains a practical interest in dairy farming and genetics, owning dairy cows and grazing dairy replacements on her dry-stock farm. She has particular expertise in adapting the principles of Total Mixed Rations (TMR) to pasture-based systems, and is committed to helping her clients increase their farm’s profitability by getting the basics right – heifer growth, cow condition and cow health. Sue believes in optimising cow performance without compromising cow welfare.
NZARN members a copy of the audio presentation is available below if you are logged in. Part 1 and Part 2.
Non-members looking for more information are encouraged to use our ‘contact a nutritionist’ form and ‘member directory’ to find a member who can help them answer their questions.
If you are a Rural Professional interested in joining the NZARN please see our ‘membership’ section.
