Herd testing information for the 25/26 season

Welcome to Herd Testing Booklet

For more information have a look at our herd test information booklet.

Notify us of any milking regime and herd changes

Please ensure all herd test details on the date confirmation letter included with this booklet are correct and up to date.

If we aren’t notified of herd or regime changes, you may require an extra delivery of equipment, which incurs an additional charge of $195+GST.

Two weeks prior to each herd test, we’ll send an email reminder. Please check the test details and confirm they are correct. If we don’t hear from you within three days, our team will arrange a follow up call to confirm the test details with you.

You can notify us of any changes by emailing [email protected] or calling our Herd Test team on 0800 837 843.

Variable milking – flexibility around milking times

If your herd is moving to a variable milking schedule (such as 3-in-2 or 10-in-7), please let us know in advance. We’ll work with you to support your new routine, but we may need your help to ensure milking times fit within our setup and delivery windows.

Setup and pickup windows:

• AM Testing: Samples and equipment must be ready for pickup by 12pm.
• PM Testing: LIC setup must be completed by 2pm.

Late changes or required rescheduling may result in additional fees.

Closure of Herd Test Report in Shareholder Services

From 31 May next year, several reports will no longer be available via LIC’s print and postage or viewed in Shareholder Services, this includes the Herd Test report. This information is still available to you through a number of MINDA® herd management reports anytime you need.

You will still continue to receive your Lab Strip via Shareholder Services.

Contact your Agri Manager for more information or reach out to our helpful Customer Experience Centre for assistance 0800 264 632

Herd Test information in MINDA

Last year we surveyed over 300 farmers to understand what information was important for decision making when it came to herd test data. From that collaboration, we have designed some new ways for you to view key pieces of information you get from your herd tests within MINDA, with the aim to help you get to key insights faster.

We’re starting with herd lactation averages, with a focus on milk solids, broken down by top and bottom quartiles. This new insight will make it easier to see how the animals in your herd stack up against each other and you’ll be able to spot the variation between your top and bottom performers, helping with your decision making for breeding. This will be the first insight available in late September, with more to follow.

When you can easily see key insights, you can make smarter, more confident decisions for your herd – and that’s the power of good data in your hands.