Talking Dairy best of 2025: Building a high BW herd - one decision at a time

More farmers listened to this episode in 2025 than any other. Tune in to find out why it was so popular... What does it take to build a top herd? South Taranaki farmers Donovan Croot and Sophie Cookson started strong with a high Breeding Worth (BW) herd. But reaching the top 1% for BW in the country? That took smart decisions and a clear plan to drive genetic gain. In this episode, Donovan and Sophie share how they've achieved their results and the highlights from the joint DairyNZ and Fonterra event they hosted with DairyNZ area manager Talissa Squire. Chapters 0:00 - Setting The Stakes: High-BW Herds 2:20 - Donovan And Sophie’s Career Path 6:45 - Why Genetics Became The Focus 9:00 - Fast-Track Via A Top Herd Purchase 12:00 - Defining High BW And Balance 15:20 - Selecting Bulls That Fit The Herd 18:30 - Mating Plans: Sexed, Beef, Contracts 22:00 - Replacements And Genomic Testing 24:30 - Record Keeping And On-Farm Tools 27:00 - DNA Parentage And Industry Integrity 29:10 - KPIs, Repro Targets, And Planning 32:00 - Managing Fertility And Type Trade‑offs 34:20 - Practical Advice To Start Improving 35:50 - Resources, Links, And Closing Notes