Plan 365 July 2014 by Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited

JULY 2014

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

NUTRITION

FORAGE AND ARABLE

HORTICULTURE

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Plan 365 is a technical guide aimed at helping shareholders learn about best practice and the latest advancements in rural technology.

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Raise superior calves for less than $5 per head* A new season of calving is just around the corner for dairy farmers. Donaghys ProCalf® is a premium calf probiotic extract with rennet, which includes microbes licensed from AgResearch to promote growth, development and health in calves raised on milk or calf milk replacer. ProCalf® is designed to support the early development of a calf’s rumen and establish beneficial microbe populations for digestion of hard feed, pasture and calf milk. An initial 5ml dose followed by a daily 2ml dose will promote faster growth, weight gain and increased uptake of feed in your calves. ProCalf® has been scientifically trialled and proven. A South Canterbury farm field trial showed an average daily gain of 696g per

day (29kg after 42 days) for ProCalf® treated calves, versus an average daily gain of 571g per day (24kg after 42 days) for untreated calves. This equalled to a 22 percent weight increase for calves on ProCalf® over the untreated calves. The treated calves were also weaned one week earlier than untreated.

PROCALF 5L • Liquid form is easy to mix and use. • Faster growth and earlier maturity. • Rennet promotes casein clotting to reduce dietary scouring. • Nil withholding period.

Already available in 1, 10 and 20 litres, a new feature for the upcoming season is the more convenient 5 litre backpack of ProCalf®. A Donaghys drench gun is also available. Find Donaghys ProCalf® in your local Farmlands store to make sure your calves get the best start this season. *Cost per calf based on label rates for Donaghys ProCalf® added to calf milk and used over 42 days at Donaghys RRP incl. GST.

DanCalf Plus ®

Giving your calves a great start in life has its rewards – healthy animals mean better returns. The primary aim when rearing calves is to grow out strong healthy animals and get them out of the shed and onto grass as fast as possible. These calves are your next generation of milkers, so getting them up to weight as R2s, into calf and optimising their genetic potential to produce large amounts of milk solids should be the goal. Calves are born with a sterile gut, which becomes colonised as calves pick up bacteria from their environment. Some of these bacteria are highly beneficial for improved digestion of colostrum and milk, but some are harmful bacteria, which can cause scours.

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Providing the ideal environment for the beneficial bacteria and suppressing the harmful bacteria and viruses is critical for the development of the calf. Using a quality probiotic, with high levels of live beneficial bacteria and a broad spectrum disinfectant, in combination with a coccidiostat will provide the best environment for calves to flourish. A calf needs to be consuming 1kg of quality meal or pellets containing a coccidiostat to be protected from coccidiosis.

DANCALF® PLUS 6KG • DanCalf® Plus is a premium all-in-one product containing: vitamins, minerals, prebiotic, probiotic (ImmuBoost®) and coccidiostat (Bovatec®). DanCalf® Plus is the only powdered formulation of calf milk supplement to contain Bovatec®. • Flexibility - DanCalf® Plus can be added to milk, colostrum, water, antibiotic milk or CMR. • Makes sense – your future generations of milkers getting the best start possible from the most complete calf supplement on the market for only $6.70 incl. GST for 28 days.

Bovatec® is registered under the ACVM Act 1997 No. A4395. Caution: Do not allow dogs, horses or other equids access to feeds containing Bovatec®, as ingestion by these species may be fatal.

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Preparation key to peace of mind at calving Despite the best plans, difficult calvings, poor weather conditions and feed constraints are typical of the season and can set cows up for metabolic imbalances that lead to Milk Fever, Grass Staggers and Ketosis, arising either individually or simultaneously. Being sufficiently prepared for occurrences of metabolic disease on your farm is likely to not only improve the chances of a successful outcome but give you one less thing to worry about during the busy calving period. Sufficient preparation means having essential product on hand and revising treatment protocol in terms of diagnosis, initial treatment and follow-on treatment.

to treat cows with combinations of

Follow-on treatment

minerals. See Fig. 1 for symptom table.

Cows will often relapse if initial treatment

Initial treatment

is not followed up by the correct

Diagnosis – identifying

range of metabolic solutions offers a

Trusted and time-tested formulations, as

metabolic disease

formulation for treating one and all of the

well as usability features, means having a

Milk Fever – the most common metabolic

three main metabolic conditions.

supply of Bayer Metabolics, oral calciums

supportive

Milk Fever treatment is very effective if

treatment.

initiated early. In simple cases of calcium

To prevent

imbalance, the animal is often up and

relapse,

eating within an hour or two. Initial

administer

treatment relies on the administering of

1 bottle of

calcium (or a combination of calcium

oral calcium

with magnesium or dextrose if a

(Oral-Cal,

complicated case is suspected) via

Oral-max)

the slow intravenous route (into the

as soon as the cow is standing and

vein) with secondary treatment via the

swallowing normally. Repeat with

subcutaneous route (under the skin).

the same dose 10 - 12 hours later.

Resolution of the metabolic imbalance is

Finally, administer propylene glycol

often a matter of real urgency. It therefore

(Ketol) for that essential energy boost

pays to have the right treatments at

for a quicker recovery.

hand coming into the season. The Bayer

condition – usually occurs around 3

and Ketol on hand during calving offers

days either side of calving as the onset

the assurance you need. Ask in-store for

of lactation results in a sudden loss of

best advice on how to reduce the risk

calcium into the milk. Early in lactation,

of these metabolic conditions and treat

a high-producing cow’s calcium

them promptly.

requirements exceed the ability to

Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health.

mobilise calcium reserves (bones) and absorb enough calcium from the diet. When a cow goes down with Milk Fever (low calcium), there are often several factors at play. Imbalances in other minerals may occur in conjunction with

Fig 1.

Condition

Ketosis (low energy), making it necessary

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Grass Staggers

Ketosis

Deficiency

Low calcium

Low magnesium

Low energy

Symptoms

Weakness, wobbliness, depression, lying down with head turned, glassy eyed and constipation.

Excitability, nervousness, staggery on feet, sitting on knees, unable to get up or cast.

Lack of appetite, grinding of teeth, apparent blindness for circling, sweet, sickly odour to breath and milk.

low calcium and sometimes Milk Fever is complicated by low magnesium or

Milk Fever

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NUTRITION

Milk powders may provide the ideal solution Economy, safety and performance – milk powders offer some real benefits for calf rearers. Although it seems logical that cows’ milk is the perfect feed for young calves, this is not always the case. This is particularly true when the goal of calf rearing is to develop well grown heifers that are set up for a productive life in the dairy herd, or when rearing beef calves to 100kg at minimum cost. Feeding a calf milk replacer reduces the risk of disease transmission associated with feeding raw milk. Carefully formulated, milk powder avoids the inconsistency of raw milk, which can have rising fat levels and lower protein levels during a poor spring. Calf milk replacers also contain less appetite satisfying fat, which can reduce hard feed intake when a calf drinks too much, slowing rumen development. Calf milk replacers are typically fed warm, which can boost growth rates compared to feeding cold milk and can reduce costs, compared to taking good milk out of the vat. Reliance Feeds has three options to choose from when looking for calf milk. Reliance Calf Milk Replacer is a nutritionally balanced premium milk replacer, blended from natural food sources of milk fat, milk proteins and sugar. This product is a user-friendly, dependable option and is well suited to feeding to young calves. It includes micronutrients that are not adequate to meet calves’ requirements in fresh milk, such as iron and copper, along

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with vitamins A, D, E and the B vitamins, which play essential roles in the growth and development of calves. This product is also easy to mix, very appetising to calves and also contains Bovatec – a coccidiostat that helps to prevent coccidiosis, a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract that can severely hamper calf growth. It is a good option for fortifying whole milk to extend stocks. Reliance Calf Milk Finisher is a popular choice that promotes calf growth, made with quality milk powder and benefitting from the economy of vegetable fats and soy protein. The parasite that causes coccidiosis has a 21 day life cycle and populations can increase as the season progresses. Calf Milk Finisher with Bovatec is a good choice for calf rearers that require a calf milk replacer to finish

off calves, once other sources of milk have run out. This product also includes a micronutrient pack designed to meet the needs of growing calves. The Reliance Whey is a full replacement of cow’s milk made with whey powder, a by-product of the cheese manufacturing industry. This product does not curd in the abomasum like traditional milk replacer and is rapidly digested, which sharpens calves’ appetite for hard feed and may reduce the risk of nutritional scours. The Reliance Whey is a great economical choice for experienced calf rearers with good management systems and housing. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett Technical Product Manager, Farmlands Nutrition

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NUTRITION

Fibre in the calf shed Getting calves onto high quality fibre early is absolutely critical for rumen development – but it has to be the ‘right’ fibre, says Fiber Fresh Feeds science advisor and nutrition consultant, Dr Simone Hoskin. “Introducing a nutrient rich fibre in the calves’ diets within their first weeks encourages faster and healthier rumen and digestive development, so that calves are able to transition and thrive on grass much faster. They will also better utilise other solid feed. “That means cost-savings for the farmer but just as importantly, it leads to better long-term results, especially in pasturebased systems,” she says. Fiber Fresh’s premium calf product, FiberStart® has been developed to enhance full stomach development in the calf. The easily-digested fibre and rumenavailable protein promotes advanced rumen and papillae growth, while at the same time improving enzyme activity and the establishment of correct microflora (bacteria) populations. At seven weeks old, calves reared on FiberStart® have a big, well-muscled rumen with superior papillae growth, giving a large surface area for nutrient absorption. This superior full stomach development enables greater efficiency and absorption of nutrients and allows the calf to transition from a totally milk reliant animal, to one that can quickly thrive and develop to its full potential on pasture alone. “Fiber Fresh products are, quite simply, superior fibre products – there is no comparison with straw, hay or silage,

| THE FARMLANDER

which do not provide such nutritional value and just fill up the rumen, taking away valuable space for energy and protein-rich feeds essential for maximum calf growth.” Calves should be introduced to FiberStart® as early as possible, while they are still on milk and alongside any concentrate or cereal-based meal. The calves will initially only consume small quantities of FiberStart® but early adaptation to the taste and texture allows them to gear up for higher intakes as weaning approaches.

cereal-based, concentrate calf feeds, giving optimal essential nutrition for sustained growth.” “Our goal is to help farmers maximise the potential of their animals – and as a result, their future farm profits.” Fiber Fresh feeds are research-based and are a culmination of 25 years of trials to develop the advanced processes that result in superior fibre products. Article supplied by Fiber Fresh.

“Maximum rumen development occurs between 4 and 10 weeks and this is where FiberStart® brings the maximum benefit. By feeding FiberStart®, the calf is following a natural path of development with an easily digested fibre. “Every calf needs fibre and FiberStart® offers the best fibre possible. It provides the perfect balance for traditional,

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NUTRITION

Spring molasses MAKE THE MOST OF SPRING! Does molasses improve feed conversion during calving? Most cows will have calved and are eating to peak appetite for maximum milk production. The focus for spring will be on maintaining body condition for improved feed conversion efficiency, reproduction and health. In early spring, pasture quantity and quality can vary greatly. Cows fed molasses during this time will have increased energy and more efficient utilisation of feed. How molasses helps during early lactation: • Drives up appetite for maximum milk production

What to feed to get the best results:

Metabolic issues:

• Feedgrade Molasses Liquid energy

• Maximises rumen function to minimise condition loss

• Rumol300 Molasses + Rumensin®

Blend with Rumensin® to aid in the prevention of metabolic issues (e.g. Ketosis) and bloat.

• Improves energy levels before and during mating • Dilutes excess protein in spring pastures

• Rumag300 Molasses + Magnesium + Rumensin® Recommended molasses feeding

APPETITE + BALANCED DIET = MORE MILK!

1kg per cow per day, or as directed.

Article supplied by 4Seasons Feeds Limited.

• Balances low pasture sugar and DM percentage levels, if low Fact files

1. Feed choices influence conception rates. Poor conception rates are one of the greatest areas of waste in dairy farming in New Zealand. Empty rates between 12-30 percent are not uncommon. Investments in better feeding practices are essential to minimise the economic loss incurred through excess empty rates.

2. Increase blood glucose levels to improve conception rates.

3. Feeding advice. The best feeds to raise blood glucose levels are molasses and starch. Feeding

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Increasing sugar levels in the dairy diet post-calving to levels of 10-16 percent can increase blood glucose levels. Based on field brix sugar testing, total sugar in the pasture post-calving can vary considerably. Creating diets to increase sugar and energy levels will improve both blood glucose content and conception rates.

1-2kg of molasses per cow per day post-calving will raise cow energy levels and also dilute and reduce total diet protein by 2-4 percent. Tapioca fed at 2kg and maize silage at 3kg per day will also help reduce protein by 2 percent and 4 percent respectively.

4. More milk produced by molasses fed cows. An independent study at Massey University has shown that feeding molasses improved milk solids production.

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NUTRITION

Pre-calving nutrition Calving is the most dangerous period in a dairy cow’s life and can be stressful for the people taking care of them. Investment in nutrition in the precalving period is worthwhile, not just for cow performance and profitability but also to help reduce problems during one of the busiest and physically challenging periods of the year. Hopefully as calving approaches, cows will be in their optimum condition for calving. As demands for the unborn calf increases, it gets increasingly difficult for cows to gain condition, especially as wind and rain can increase maintenance requirements by up to 25 percent if they lack shelter. Calving represents a time of huge metabolic changes and stress for cows – ideally not all occurring on the day of calving or they might be overwhelming. A checklist of the pre-calving diet should include consideration of the energy content – is enough being fed and does it contain the same elements as the post calving diet? Offering springer cows lower quality forages like baleage and straw can help maintain rumen volume and support rumination. But too much can limit energy and protein intakes, increase the risk of ketosis and may compromise colostrum quality and quantity. Rumen microflora take time to adapt to changes in the diet so if starchy feeds like grains and maize silage are going to be fed after calving, they should be introduced at a lower level before calving. If cows have been wintered on crops that will not be fed after calving

| THE FARMLANDER

they should be transitioned onto the post-calving forage. Magnesium and vitamin D play a key role in helping cows mobilise calcium from their bones post-calving. If supplements are being used to help reduce Milk Fever, it’s worth checking what sources of magnesium they contain. Magnesium is best provided in the chloride and sulphate forms before calving because they can help to counter the effects of high potassium levels in the diet, which predisposes cows to Milk Fever – especially older ones. Try to limit intake of high potassium feeds such as pasture regularly treated with slurry if attempts to reduce Milk Fever are failing. Ironically, at a time when the cow’s immune system needs to be at an alltime high, it is suppressed to prevent an immune response to the calf during calving. Giving birth and coming into

milk present huge infection and disease challenges, which cows can fight more effectively when their dietary levels of key trace minerals and vitamins are boosted prior to the challenge. Stock are sometimes moved long distances and have to adjust to new social groups before calving, so it is important that supplementary feeds taste and smell as attractive as possible to encourage intakes. Many farmers who originally turned to specialist pellets containing anionic salts to reduce the risk of Milk Fever - such as Reliance Pre-Calving Pellets - report wider benefits in terms of cow and calf health and vitality, which has implications for the animals and stock people long after calving. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition

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HORTICULTURE

Managing diseases of onions Onions generally suffer from three prominent diseases: onion white rot, downy mildew and onion neck rot. Each alone will dramatically reduce yield, so spending money controlling is an invaluable investment. Onion white rot is the most common disease of onions and it affects the crop through all growth stages. The pathogen first invades the roots and causes them to rot. Bulbs may become loose in the soil and foliage may begin to wilt. This soil borne disease may persist for up to 15 years in the soil. As a consequence, crop hygiene is of paramount importance, such that soils known to be contaminated should not be planted in onions. To err on the side of caution, growers should wash soil off machinery when moving into noncontaminated paddocks. Onion white rot can be managed using such products as Cereous, Luna Devotion, or Pristine. Under conditions of prolonged leaf wetness and high humidity, downy mildew may appear as a furry growth on leaves. Infected leaves become pale, turn brown, collapse and die. The result

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is reduced bulb size. The key to control is to have a preventative spray programme using such products as Manzate Evo. Systemic fungicides such as Acrobat, Ridomil and Reason will also provide effective control. Onion neck rot only really becomes apparent in bulbs after harvest. The disease presents as a rot originating in the neck of the onion, which spreads into the bulb. Infection generally occurs when the onion plants are “topped”. Avoiding activities that will create growth spurges late in the crops growth cycle will help reduce losses from this disease. Reducing late nitrogen applications and irrigating following a period of moisture stress in the crop will help. Allowing the tops to mature before “topping” is also important. Essentially anything that minimises damage to soft tissues is key. Fungicide applications during the season, especially prior to harvest, may reduce the incidence of neck rot. Carbendazim and Amistar will help reduce disease when applied at certain growth stages of the plant.

A final consideration for managing onion diseases is to ensure effective weed control. Weeds can create an environment that will favour such diseases as downy mildew. They will reduce air movement through the crop, which will prolong the length of time leaves remain wet or humidity levels are elevated. Herbicides commonly used in onions include Stomp Xtra as a pre emerge and using a combination of Totril Super and Tribunil, Twinstar and Bladex or Gesaguard as post emerge. Lastly, use Gallant Ultra to control grass weeds. Managing both weeds and diseases in onions requires experience coupled with sound technical knowledge. Your local Farmlands Horticulture Technical Advisor is equipped to provide recommendations to achieve optimal results. Article supplied by Steven Dass, Farmlands Technical Advisor, Pukekohe.

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HORTICULTURE

Future proof your vineyard with a revolutionary new trellising system Since 2009, NZ Tube Mills product development engineers have worked closely with the New Zealand wine industry to develop ECO TRELLIS® steel posts and wire clips. Their research involved intensive testing of steel posts used in New Zealand vineyards, to analyse success and failure rates in extreme weather conditions and thus determine a safety range for the post design. ECO TRELLIS® offers a complete vineyard trellising solution using posts, clips and strainers as relevant to site location. It’s the perfect system for both new vineyard developments and the replacement of damaged wooden posts.

Growers are no longer allowed to use wooden posts in organic vineyard developments in Australia or New Zealand. Many sustainable vineyards are also switching to the new ECO TRELLIS® system, as it is more environmentally friendly than the wooden posts. Felton Road, Pegasus Bay and Villa Maria are all using ECO TRELLIS® for the development of their new organic vineyards. Pernod Ricard has been using the system in Marlborough for some time for its organic plantings. Major new vineyard developments using ECO TRELLIS® are also underway with Ara Wines in Marlborough and NZ Vineyard Estates in Central Otago. ECO TRELLIS® is also popular in Australia, with new plantings last spring using the product, including Henschke Wines and Nova Vita Wines (in South Australia), Frogmore Creek and Jansz (Tasmania) and Griffiths Vineyard (Victoria). The ECO TRELLIS® advantage • Meticulous research and testing, followed by a comprehensive productdevelopment process in the vineyard. • Environmentally friendly, free of contaminants (thereby eliminating potential ground leaching). • Made from high-strength galvanised carbon steel coated with a thick layer of zinc, ensuring high durability against corrosion.

| Felton Road, Central Otago, New Zealand.

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• Cost-competitive with wooden posts, especially given the lack of replacement costs.

| Felton Road, Central Otago, New Zealand.

• Fully recyclable, with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years, after which posts can be replaced and the discards returned for recycling. • Simple installation with the flexibility of variable clip height round profiles, allowing easy post orientation and manual attachment of wire clips. • Lightweight and safe through use of posts with rolled ends, making end caps unnecessary. • The ground retention flange (if necessary) nestles on one side of the post bulge to provide a 0.2m direct surface area. • Choice of three different strainer systems. • Guarantee against any material or manufacturing fault.

ECO TRELLIS® provides the opportunity to future proof your vineyard using an environmentally friendly trellising system. For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store today. Article supplied by ECO TRELLIS®.

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The tale of the tape HOW TORO AQUA-TRAXX™ SEAMLESS DRIP TAPE IS BOOSTING YIELDS Seamless Drip Tape offers many benefits and is becoming the preferred option for irrigating row crops and other high value crops. Installing an ordinary drip tape will only deliver ordinary results, with their reputation for plugging and splitting, which impacts yields. With seamless construction, TORO Aqua-Traxx™ is a cost effective solution to these issues. Growers have a choice of flow rates, wall thicknesses and emitter spacing from 10cm to 60cm, letting them select the ideal solution for their crop, soil type and installation needs. Aqua-Traxx™ offers other practical benefits – including stretch and snap resistance, making installation faster. Being seamless, it seals better with fittings and doesn't come un-glued or split. Clogging resistance is important. Aqua-Traxx™ has laser cut emitter slits, making it resistant to root intrusion, along with internal filters and a turbulent internal water flow path that reduces clogging and ensures accurate delivery to each emitter. This means Aqua-Traxx™ can be installed sub-surface, under mulch, or above ground, without fear of blockages. Pressure Compensation is a feature that provides better uniformity across undulating terrain. The PC range of AquaTraxx™ is the only pressure compensating drip tape on the market and offers the same durability as normal Aqua-Traxx™. In summary, TORO Aqua-Traxx™ is the most complete range of drip tapes for all requirements. With its durable seamless construction, wide range of sizes, easy installation and a Pressure Compensating range, growers are increasingly making the change. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or your local Farmlands store.

The quietest, most efficient wind machine for frost protection, drying, cooling and ventilating is not only a New Zealand first - it’s a world first. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Engine type: 23 HP V-Twin Honda Fuel: Standard unleaded petrol is used. Impeller: • Made out of very high quality cast alloy • Performance tested to exacting world standards • Shrouded and with straightening vanes, increasing air momentum by at least 95 percent • Blows unobstructed away from tower so no loss of air momentum • Adjustable rotation speed • Oscillating ability

• Head can be angled for hills and valleys • Air velocity tested in wind tunnel at 16.8 metres per second • No loss of revenue by having to remove vines or trees to install • No neighbours’ approval needed • It uses 5 litres of fuel per hour • Protecting at least 4 hectares at a time • No installation cost and no building permit needed

Noise: 50dBA at 300m (down wind and in frost conditions), 55dBA at 200m. Portability: Tow behind tractor or vehicle to where needed, stabilise support feet to secure position and level for operation. Servicing: Boom lowers to ground level to service the engine and impeller.

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Mind the gap In the immediate post-calving period, dairy cattle typically experience an energy gap. A high-producing dairy cow can simply not eat enough to meet the energy demands required to fund expected milk production and reproductive potential (see Fig. 1). The lactation peak Lactation starts at calving and quickly builds to a peak around 4-6 weeks after calving. To a large degree, the whole season’s production is influenced by this peak (see Fig. 2) so it’s really important that cows begin the season with a top performance. If they’re under-producing at this time, they won’t make it up later.

Typical energy curves for the lactating dairy cow. Milk Energy and Maintenance

Energy Mcal/Day

Feed energy

Body Energy Stores

ks after calving

100 Days

Lactation 1 Timeline

200 Days

300 Days

| Figure 1.

A dairy cow’s lactating curve

Peak yield

Eprinomectin, as well as abamectin, are both suitable actives for treating and controlling production-limiting worms at early lactation, as they offer the essential nil milk withholding period.

While they might not be showing clinical signs of disease, worms nevertheless demand an immune response, which Typical energy curves for the lactating dairy cow. comes at additional cost in energy terms. Milk Energy and Maintenance Worms cause a diversion of energy and protein away from vital functions as well as affecting grazing behaviour, which in turn Feed energy hinders milk production potential and body condition. All this places further demands Breeding on the cow’s already stretched energy and Period Energy Stores resources, furtherBody widening the energy gap. Dairy cows therefore 200 deserve a bit300 Days 100 Days Days Lactation 1 2 3 of Timeline help during this time and that’s where parasite control comes in.

Energy Mcal/Day

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0

Weeks after calving Source: adapted from efficent milking, DeLaval

| Figure 2.

Treatment options

During this critical time period, a cow’s valuable energy is likely to be compromised in more ways than one. Not only has it just calved and started lactation, it must also get back in calf again in time to repeat the process one year later! Maximising cow health and nutrition during this time is essential if milk production potential, as well as reproduction potential are going to be achieved. Internal parasites divert further energy and resources

Breeding Period

A good start is key

Eon Pour-on contains the active eprinomectin, which is backed by global studies showing increased milk production and reproductive performance. Baymec® Pour-on (containing the active abamectin) offers a low volume dose formulation, making it a cost effective option, as well as offering the added benefit of highly effective treatment and control of lice. Eon Pour-on, as well as Baymec Pour-on is available from Farmlands. Ask in-store for more information on these products and how they can help your herd get off to the start they need for a successful season. Article supplied by Bayer Animal Health.

Baymec is a registered trademark of Bayer Leverkusen. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A10357 and A9698.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Which drench treatment is best for my ewes pre-lamb? There are a lot of different products on the market for pre-lamb treatment, so how do you go about choosing the right product for your animals? Not one particular product is going to suit all your animals. By scanning your ewes, you can divide them into groups with different needs. Single bearing ewes that are in good condition shouldn’t need any treatment at all. All they need is a 5-in-1 vaccine. It is good not to treat some ewes on your farm, as this will give the opportunity to slow down the development of resistance to anthelmintics and create refugia. Poor condition single bearing ewes will need some help to get them over that feed pinch, so use a short acting treatment at docking, or give them a persistent acting product such as Eweguard® pre-lamb (a 6-in-1 vaccine and persistent acting wormer), to help get them through the lambing period. Multiple bearing ewes in poor condition are going to be the group on the farm that will get the maximum benefit from treating pre-lamb. These ewes have high

energy requirements due to carrying twins/triplets, so using a long acting product like Cydectin® Long Acting Injection for Sheep, to give maximum parasite protection, will give the most cost effective return.

Other factors to consider are: • how much time you’ve got, • how much labour you’ve got - and • what facilities are like.

That leaves the last group - your twin ewes in good condition. A difficult mob to treat and that decision will probably depend on other factors, for example feed availability. The product you use, whether it is very long acting (e.g. Cydectin® Long Acting Injection) or slightly shorter (e.g. Eweguard) will depend on other factors, which must also be taken into consideration when choosing a product. Good condition ewes

5-in-1 vaccine only

5-in-1 with or without a Medium/Long acting drench product

Singles

In summary, one drench product is not ideal for all your ewes. Divide the ewes into groups, into singles and twins/ multiples and then again by condition score - poor and good conditioned ewes. Use the most effective treatment to meet the requirements for each group. Medium acting drenches include Cydectin® Oral Drench for Sheep, Eweguard®, or Cydectin® Injection for Cattle and Sheep. Long Acting drenches include Cydectin® Long Acting Injection for Sheep.

Twins 5-in-1 with a Medium acting drench product

And if time and labour are limited, you’re probably better going with an injectable product like Cydectin® Long Acting Injection for Sheep, rather than a capsule.

5-in-1 with a Long acting drench product

Article supplied by Zoetis. CYDECTIN and EWEGUARD are registered trademarks of Zoetis Inc. or its subsidiaries. ACVM No’s 6204, 7302, 9122, 9659 and 9926.

Poor condition ewes

CYDECTIN LA INJECTION 500ML

EWEGUARD PLAIN 500ML

CYDECTIN INJECTION 500ML

• Long acting injection containing the most potent macrocyclic lactone (ML) available. • 112 days control of Teladorsagia. • 91 days control of Barber’s Pole worm. • 42 days control of Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

• Get the protection and persistency against parasites of Cydectin, combined with clostridial vaccine protection for ewes and lambs. • Gives 35 days control of Ostertagia circumcincta and Barber’s Pole worm and 7 days control of Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

• Long lasting, broad spectrum worm control with persistent activity for sheep against Barber’s Pole and Ostertagia for 35 days and against Trichostrongylus for 7 days. • Used pre-lambing, helps keep pastures cleaner for the newborn lamb.

| THE FARMLANDER

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Indoor starts for triplets paying dividends When Matt and Lynley Wyeth woke up to find they had lost 1,000 lambs in an overnight storm during 2011, they felt helpless but it hardened their resolve to find a way to reduce catastrophic losses like these. The couple run 7,000 Highlander ewes, 220 beef cows and 150 finishing deer on 1,000 hectares at Kaituna, 15km northwest of Masterton. Some of the land is steep and springs can be cold - lamb losses are inevitable but the Wyeths wanted to get far better results from the exceptional lamb drops and lactation their ewes can deliver. The Highlanders include a touch of Finn and with scanning percentages of 205 and 218 percent for the two-tooths and mixedage ewes respectively, it’s clear there are plenty of triplets in the mix. In fact, about 1,200 ewes each year carry three or more lambs. Last year the docking percentage over the whole flock was 154 percent. Matt Wyeth says every lamb should count and farmers who “set stock and head for the skifields” at lambing are missing out on a lot of potential profit. The flock’s fecundity is based purely on genetics and excellent nutrition, Lynley adds. The couple had a well-developed orphan raising system in place, with 250 lambs being raised in the shed last year. They are fed calf colostrum milk, either entirely or 50/50 with Agrivantage’s SprayFo milk replacer, depending on availability of colostrum. The lambs stay in the shed for four weeks before being turned out to pasture. Their diet also includes Sharpes stock feed.

In 2012 they stepped things up with a programme to house triplet-bearing ewes for the birth of their lambs and motheringon. The initial trial was under Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Farmer-Initiated Technology Transfer (FITT) programme.

is combined with levamisole to provide a boosted ewe immune response to maximise antibodies in the colostrum. This is ideal for multiples where suckling lambs share colostrum, enabling them to get the best clostridial protection on offer.

Simple pens are set up in the sheds using flat-pack plywood and straw bedding and hygiene is a high priority. The ewes are prepared for their short confinement with an Advantage creep feeder using Sharpes meal – dyed blue so that ewes that have taken to the hard feed can be identified by their blue mouths. They are in the shed for an average five or six days before they lamb. They give birth in individual pens, where they stay for a few hours before being moved to mixing pens with several other ewes with lambs, so that they can mother on properly before being turned out to nearby pasture.

The promising results from 2012 were built on last year but the Wyeths know that it will take several years to identify all the risks, rewards and best practice for what is fairly uncharted territory in New Zealand. The triplet-bearing ewes produced an excellent 290 percent lambing percentage when they were turned out but losses in the paddock shaved this back to 250 percent by docking – somewhat below the target of 270 percent.

About 400 triplet-bearing ewes had their lambs in the shed in 2012 and the results were promising. The two-tooths did especially well, with a docking percentage of 255 percent. There were no deaths among the two-tooths compared with a 6.9 percent loss in the control flock, while lamb wastage was seven percent less in the shed-born flock. The mixed age triplet bearers produced 234 percent at docking, compared with 225 percent in the pasturebased controls. The FITT trial has now morphed into a four-year Beef + Lamb programme with objectives agreed by the board and support from companies including MSD Animal Health. The pre-lamb treatment, given to the entire ewe flock, is NILVAX®. With NILVAX, the 5-in-1 clostridial vaccine

Lynley Wyeth says they are considering taking one lamb off each set of triplets for raising in the orphan mob, with the ewe left to raise “twins”. This year the Wyeths are planning to turn this idea on its head and extend it, diverting the biggest of the triplets to the orphan mob and leaving the smaller two with their dam. “Lambs always do best on mum, so this way they will all get a good start,” Lynley says. The couple are highly enthused by the progress made so far and are keen to share what they’ve learned with other farmers. They know there are challenges ahead and while they can’t control the weather, they’re confident they can work smarter to protect each year’s lamb crop against unnecessary losses. Article supplied by Coopers.

Registered trademark. MSD Animal Health Phone: 0800 800 543. NIL-162-2014

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

HT™ Swedes reducing farmer stress Peter O’Brien from Glenecho Station, located in the Te Anau basin, was blown away by his HT™ swedes last year. Not only were they the easiest swedes Peter has ever grown but they performed exceptionally well. Craig Thomson, the local Farmlands Technical Field Officer, suggested incorporating the Cleancrop™ Brassica System into the Glenecho regrassing/cropping programme in 2012, to tackle a range of weeds in paddocks that historically have been a problem. Te Anau basin struggles with fathen and spurrey (yarr), compromising crop yields.

| Farmlands Technical Field Officer Craig Thomson in the HT™ swede crop.

| Peter O’Brien in his HT™ swede crop.

Peter and Craig included 9ha of HT™ swedes in the spring 2012 sowing, so they could see how the Cleancrop™ Brassica System worked at Glenecho. The crop yielded 18tDM/ha. “Considering it was an extremely dry and challenging season, this result was much better than anticipated. The germination was amazing. Every swede seed must have germinated and the real deal breaker was the palatability. We had reservations around this but these were unfounded. The deer loved them and did well and they are a fantastic indicator for palatability. I really wish we had grown more,” Peter says.

ploughed and power harrowed. Crop paddocks receive 400kg/ha of Cropzeal 15P and Boron 15 prior to drilling and 80kg/ha of Triple Super is sown with the seed. The first year Peter used the HT™ swedes they were ridged - for the 2013 sowing, some areas had been ridged and others were direct drilled. The HT™ brassicas are then sprayed with Telar® within 24 hours of sowing. In preparation for crops, lime is applied the year before.

2. Telar, a broad spectrum herbicide that provides excellent control of broadleaf weeds in crops with Cleancrop™ Brassica System technology.

Peter was so impressed by his results that in spring 2013, he sowed the maximum area he possible could into HT™ brassicas (37ha of HT™ swede and 54ha of HT™ bulb turnip).

What is the Cleancrop™ Brassica System?

How have they achieved this great result?

1. Seed of HT™ brassica cultivars that are bred to be tolerant to sulfonyl urea herbicide, Dupont Telar.

Brassica paddocks are sprayed out with Weedmaster 470 at 3.5L/ha then

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“HT™ brassicas have taken the stress out of growing crops and given me the reliability and consistency that makes it a no brainer for my farming system,” Peter says.

3. A best practice guide, to maximise the on-farm performance and responsible management of the Cleancrop™ Brassica System.

Where to use it? The Cleancrop™ Brassica System can be used where a simple weed control programme is required that controls a wide range of historically difficult to control weeds in brassica crops. For more information on the Cleancrop™ Brassica System, contact your local Farmlands Technical Field Officer. Article supplied by PGG Wrightson Seeds.

The Cleancrop Brassica System is a traditionally bred herbicide tolerant (HT) cropping system that combines: ™

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Forage cereals

- a quick, quality feed option Forage cereals are an excellent option to be sown late winter and early spring to replenish depleted feed supplies into spring and early summer. Cereals fit well with being able to be sown following the feeding off of winter brassicas and generating large amounts of feed from relatively small areas of the farm. Forage cereals are harvested at two main stages. The whole-crop stage maximises yields of high carbohydrate silage. Those on farms that dry out quickly in spring can harvest at the earlier green-chop stage. While the yield is lower with greenchop, the protein content is higher and the product is easier to store. Farmers that have ground in suitable condition to sow should plant as early

| Agricomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest forage cereal release, Monty barley, has generated a lot of interest due to its awnless nature.

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as possible and yields of 6-18 tonnes of dry matter per hectare can be achieved in a short time. Green-chop crops will typically yield at the lower end at 6-7 tonne DM/ha, while whole-crop silage will yield up to 18 tonne DM/ha due to the presence of grain in the silage. Being able to be planted in very cold soils allows for the crop to mature before it is hit by dry late spring/summer conditions. Triticale and oats can be planted anytime from late winter to early spring and barley generally during September to October, or into November if conditions are suitable. Farmlands Fairlie shareholders, Warwick and Nigel Bishell have had a good result sowing Monty silage barley following kale. It grew a good bulk of quality feed in a short time, with yields from 8.6 to 11 tonne DM/ha between their two paddocks. Warwick was happy with these yields considering the paddocks were 400m above sea level, although next time he would be keen to get the crop in earlier than his November sowing and would ensure fungicide was used to finish the crop. The high carbohydrate potential in whole crop cereal silage is an excellent source of high energy feed for the shoulders of the season, as it can boost energy intake, with animals being able to get significantly more energy than from the same amount of fresh weight of pasture. Cereal silage has good levels of starch, whereas pastures have virtually none, meaning supplementing can increase

condition in early lactation, allow cows to hold condition later in the season, or extend lactation. Whole-crop cereal silage also has a place on beef farms, to increase weight gain in cows pre-mating and calving and to grow finishing stock. Sheep farmers can use it to boost condition in ewes pre-tup and lift ovulation rates. Whole-crop cereal silage is also a good way to build up a reserve of quality supplementary feed for droughts. Harvesting date is crucial for determining the quality of the whole-crop silage. The optimal soft cheesy-dough stage maximises grain content and produces silage with good levels of energy, sugars, soluble starch and digestibility. Triticale has the greatest yield potential, although the faster maturity of barley means it can avoid drought stress before harvest. Barley offers lower yield potential than triticale in moist climates but tends to have a higher grain ratio and therefore energy content. For more information on Monty silage barley, or the fit and use of forage cereals in your farming system, contact your local Farmlands Technical Field Officer. Article supplied by Agricom.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Farmlands Grain and Seed news Retail seed update

international grain markets. Originally

Winter feed crops have benefitted from

from a grain farm in north-west Victoria,

autumn rains and are now at the stage

Dean most recently worked as a meat

of grazing post being measured, with

trader for Murray Valley, a vertically

record yields being achieved in some

integrated protein company.

areas. In the past 9 months, we have

Dean’s experience includes more

seen a significant increase in the sale of

than 5 years working for independent

annual seeds for dairy support (fodder

commodity advisory business Market

beet, kale and forage cereals).

Check and several years in the banking

Arable shareholders now have an

sector (both soft commodity financing

opportunity to grow increased volumes

and as a senior grains analyst). Dean

of ryegrasses to supply our North Island

began his career working for the

retail business. This is another example –

Australian Wheat Board, when it was a

like arable shareholders’ supply of wheat

single desk for Australian wheat exports.

and barley to our feed mills – of the co-

Based at Christchurch’s Waterloo Rd

operative’s vertical integration.

office, Dean’s involvement includes

Despite above average rainfall during the

Farmlands Grain and Seed’s eagerly

end of the harvest, Farmlands Grain and

awaited expansion into the North Island

Seed has more than adequate supplies,

market. In addition to supplying domestic

based on past demand, of all seed

grain to Farmlands-owned NRM, forward

stocks going into spring.

contracts in the North Island for other

Grain trading update

grain buyers will be offered for the 2015 harvest. Supplying NRM is a positive

| Timaru arable TFO Dave Schrader speaking at the Waimate Arable Focus group meeting.

developed as they exchange ideas and keep up to date with the latest seed cultivars, chemicals and management practices. A group of North Island staff travel to Canterbury each November to visit seed dressing stores, seed breeders, trial sites and wholesale seed companies, to gain practical understanding of the seed multiplication and supply process. Farmlands Grain and Seed also operates regional seed variety demonstration sites, which are utilised to show shareholders and TFOs how various commercial seed cultivars perform in working farm

Prompt grain market prices are firm,

option for North Island shareholders to

with the expectation these prices

supply their own co-operative with maize,

will continue, based on current and

wheat and barley through a vertical

forecast demand and the reduced

integration platform.

and Seed staff, TFOs or store staff if we

previous years. Imported grains and

TFO training

forage or arable crop matters.

imported substitute product volumes are

Throughout the year, Grain and Seed

increasing due to lower import prices,

holds in-field seed training sessions for

the result of good overseas supply and

Technical Field Officers, exposing them

strong exchange rates.

to snapshots on the day of the various

Forward contracts for 2015 harvested

stages of forage and arable crop growth.

level of carryover stocks compared to

wheat and barley are on offer, with high prices compared to previous years.

By visiting shareholder farms, TFOs can assess how different varieties of crops are performing and discuss management

Introducing Dean Smith

techniques, including chemical and

Dean Smith is the latest addition to the

fertiliser requirements and crop usage.

Grain Trading team. Dean has more than

Arable focus groups have been ongoing

12 years of soft commodities experience

for the past three years and knowledge

in Australia, specifically in domestic and

and expertise of arable staff has

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situations in their area. Please contact me or any of our Grain can be of assistance with any of your

Mark Elliotte General Manager – Farmlands Grain and Seed 027 436 0090 mark.elliotte@farmlands.co.nz

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Planning your maize silage supply Managing farm feed supply is critical to achieving your production and financial goals. Choosing the right supplement is an important step. Now is the time to undertake a feed budget and determine how much maize silage you require for the coming season. Early planning and commitment will ensure timely planting of a maize crop on the home farm or runoff, or hassle-free sourcing from a local contract grower or contractor.

• Ask for seed treatment. If you are planting maize silage into a paddock that has just come out of pasture, Poncho® is the best treatment option because it controls all three major maize insect pests, reducing the length of the fallow period.

Growing a maize silage crop

• Apply base fertiliser. High fertility paddocks, including those that have a history of effluent application may not require any additional fertiliser. Always take a soil test and don’t apply more fertiliser than you need.

Bought in maize silage has a number of advantages, including convenience and the ability to bring in more feed than could be grown on the milking platform. The cost per unit of energy of bought in maize silage is usually lower than many other commonly available forages (including baleage, hay and straw) and concentrates (including meal and molasses).

• Prepare the seed bed. A well prepared seed bed will help ensure good plant establishment and weed control.

To secure maize silage at a cost-effective price, when you need it, talk to your local maize silage contract grower or contractor today.

If you plan to grow a maize silage crop yourself, following the steps below will help ensure you achieve a high yielding crop: • Paddock selection. Select areas for maize cropping in the autumn or winter. Choose a paddock that is flat and well drained with no major weed problems. • Soil test. When soil testing for maize, the core should be taken to a depth of 150mm on mineral soils and 300mm on peat soils. Talk to your local fertiliser company representative or Farmlands representative to determine the type and amount of fertiliser required.

• Spray out paddock using glyphosate. Good weed control is essential to ensure good crop yields and high quality maize silage.

• Plant. Choose a reputable contractor with well maintained equipment. Research has shown that keeping the plant population up to the recommended levels will maximise maize silage yield. Buying in maize silage

Article supplied by Pioneer.

• Book your contractor. Contact your local contractor to book in base fertiliser application as well as spraying out pasture, cultivation and planting. • Order your maize seed. Talk to your local Farmlands TFO or store for a specific hybrid recommendation for your area.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Soil tests - what, when and why Now that winter is upon us it is time to organise your soil testing. A soil test is the first step in ensuring your fertiliser dollar is well spent.

you are supplying them with the right types and amounts of nutrients to meet yield targets.

Why should you soil test?

To monitor pasture nutrient levels, soil test every one to two years, taking samples from the same transects each time. Always soil sample at the same time each year, as this will reduce the variation in results and will allow you to monitor fertility trends over time. If you are cropping, make sure you carry out a test at least a month before crops go in the ground.

Regular soil testing should be included in all fertiliser programmes, as it brings a number of benefits. It helps to determine how much fertiliser you need to apply, so that you can achieve your production targets cost effectively. It will reveal nutrient deficiencies, excesses or imbalances and it helps you monitor the effectiveness of previous fertiliser use. It is a particularly important step before you put crops in the ground, to ensure

What should you test for and when?

Ideally testing should happen in late autumn or winter, as the results can then be used to develop your spring fertiliser programme. When soil sampling, avoid very wet, dry or frozen conditions and paddocks where fertiliser has recently been applied or have been grazed in the past week. Make sure you get samples that are representative of your farm (e.g. separate samples for cropping land, grazing land, different soil types and topography). Your Farmlands or Ballance representative will be able to advise you what tests are most appropriate for your system but some common tests you might have done are: • pH – this measures how acidic or alkaline the soil is

• Sulphate S – measures readily available sulphur • Organic S and Total S – show slowly available sulphur • Mineral N – measures nitrogen that will become available during the growing season • ASC – reflects the soil’s ability to hold negatively charged nutrients (anions) like phosphate and sulphate • CEC – shows the soil’s ability to hold positively charged nutrients (cations) like calcium and magnesium The fertility levels in paddocks where crops are planted can vary widely and soil testing pre-planting is particularly important to measure nutrient levels. If you are cropping you may need to carry out additional tests, such as: • Available N – measures readily available nitrogen • Extractable boron – particularly important to know if you are growing crops like brassicas, which are susceptible to disease if boron levels are low Your local Farmlands or Ballance representative will be able to help you to analyse your soil test results and use the information to put together a fertiliser plan that is ideally suited to your situation. Article supplied by Ballance.

• Olsen P - measures plant-available phosphate • Quick Test K, Mg, Na and Ca – measure plant-available cations • TBK – tells you the pool of potentially available potassium in the soil

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Hang ‘em high BRIDGING PIPELINES

Running a stock water reticulation line around the farm isn’t always an easy job. Recently Pohangina Valley farmers, David and Clare Leamy had the opportunity to purchase a 120 hectare block of land, to expand their farming operation. Traditionally David and Clare would sell the majority of their annual lamb drop on the store market in Feilding. With the purchase of this new block of land, they would now have the ability to finish their lambs and sell on the higher schedule works market.

| David Leamy and leading hand Bob Hobbs surveying gorge.

David could see some logistical challenges, however. One of these was that access to the new property was a couple of kilometres away from their existing 400 hectare farm and was separated from it by a deep gorge. The new block had a poor stock water reticulation scheme, so David

see if they could provide a solution”. The

A 32mm OD polyethylene Blackline 16-bar

Farmlands Palmerston North Business

was the pipe selected for the job. The pipe

Manager, Robert Larsen, contacted Iplex

diameter was determined by the peak

Pipelines and asked for assistance. Peter

water demand of the stock on the new

Carswell and Lenny Waldron from Iplex

farm. The pressure rating was chosen

visited the property, met up with David and

to be above that of operating pressure

carried out a detailed survey of a possible

of the scheme for that section of the

gravity system pipeline route, from the

pipeline, to compensate for temperature

water source on the existing farm. Running

de-rating of the pipe. This was necessary

a pipeline down through the gorge

because above ground pipeline sections,

presented a number of problems: access

as opposed to buried pipes, heat up in

was difficult, with potential installation

response to the ambient temperature

safety issues and the gorge was prone to

and direct sunlight. This elevation in

seasonal flooding. To ensure the long term

temperature softens the polyethylene pipe,

viability of the scheme, clearly the only

lessening the pipe’s effective maximum

option was to suspend a section of the

working pressure.

pipeline across the gorge.

It is important to calculate the weight of

Pipe bridges can take many forms, from

the suspended portion of the pipeline, to

a purpose built bridge that carries the

determine the strength of the anchors and

pipe, to a suspended line from an existing

cable and the horizontal support distances

access bridge or a suspended cable to

along the suspended pipeline. In this case,

which the pipe can be attached. The latter

100 metres of 32mm Blackline weighed

option was selected as being the most

28kg and carried 60 litres of water, weighing

cost effective, with a large tree either side

60kg, totalling 88kg for the suspended

of the gorge being chosen as anchors and

section of pipe. Knowing this, it was

a wire stretched across between them.

decided to connect the pipe to the cable

The crossing was slightly under 100

every 300mm, using metal tie wires.

metres, so a single 100 metre coil of pipe

Selecting the most effective pipeline

could be used, without the need for a

route can create some interesting design

coupling. Pipe couplings should be avoided

challenges. In the main, these can be

where possible on suspended pipelines.

overcome utilising experience and sound engineering principles. David is more than

was keen to utilise the water from the home

happy with his new stock water system and

farm to completely upgrade the system on

no doubt will reap the production returns as

the new block. Having good quality water

an outcome of this capital development.

available when required is a critical factor in

For more information on suspended

taking lambs through to the finishing stage,

pipelines or other rural pipeline matters,

so getting water to the new block was a

see the experienced team at your local

high priority. The gorge however presented

Farmlands store.

a major challenge.

Article supplied by Iplex.

David decided to approach Farmlands to, in his words, to “tap their knowledge and

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| Pipe anchor point.

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