Ep 10: Pasture gains with Halter - Virtual fencing, better breaks, real results - With Nick Hand

Nick Hand, senior account manager at Halter, joins myCOW to talk practical pasture management and the tech that actually moves the needle. We cover virtual fencing, accurate allocation, and why the best results come from doing the basics well and doing them consistently. Nick shares on-farm numbers too, including flat, irrigated herds lifting pasture harvested by 6% in year one and a further 7% the next, with flow-on gains in repro, plus what a realistic “minimum” looks like for most farms.

We dig into behaviour data beyond rumination — eating, moving and resting — and how changes in the four days post-calving link with conception rate. You’ll hear simple ways farmers use these trends for earlier calls on residuals, health, and heat detection.

Nick also covers onboarding and support, discussion groups where farmers swap what’s working, and handy in-paddock tactics like easing competition at break start, adding small extensions from your phone, and running multiple shifts without reels. If you want steadier residuals, higher ME, and better use of your day, this one’s for you.

Key takeaways

• 6% increase in pasture harvested in the first year.
• Contract milkers improve efficiency by checking cows regularly.
• Great farmers can achieve even greater results with the right practices.
• Technology plays a crucial role in modern farming.
• Sustainable practices are essential for future farming success.
• Regular monitoring enables better resource management.
• Farmers are adapting to new methods for better yields.
• Efficiency in farming can lead to significant economic gains.
• Collaboration among farmers enhances knowledge sharing.
• Challenges in agriculture require innovative solutions.

Keywords

Pasture management, technology in farming, sustainable agriculture, farming efficiency, agricultural challenges