Not Just a Number will bring you face to face with a commercial dairy herd where every cow has a name and is not just her tag number.

As producers of a health food exported beyond our shores, New Zealand dairy farmers must farm with an emphasis on optimum cow health and wellbeing. The public need to see that producing finest quality milk begins with giving the dairy cow everything she needs to thrive – both physically and emotionally.

My favourite time of the year in the farming calendar is calving, the miracle of birth is beautiful whatever the species.  All cattle deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and it is our responsibility to care for our stock from birth to beyond the farm gate.

Every case of abuse or neglect is one too many and is intolerable. All New Zealand dairy farmers need to provide for their cow’s physical, health and behavioural needs.

My aim is to give the New Zealand dairy cow a voice, encouraging all farmers to not just tend to them as a herd, but with awareness of their needs, social structures and dynamics.  It is more than just adequate feed and water, she deserves to be able to express her natural tendencies.

Join me as I document life unfolding, capturing moments and emotion on a Waikato dairy farm under Mount Te Aroha.

New Zealand dairy farms vary widely but they all have one thing in common – the cows.