Cowmanagement May 2020

M AY 2020

Calf-rearing focus improves heifer health and performance

COVID-19 lockdown: tips on mitigating its impact on dairy businesses

Bull-proof run

highlights and the latest index changes

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CONTENT FEATURE S

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From the editor Cow talk Value added: yoghurt processing Roger Evans CRV Avoncroft Breeding Information ForFarmers Nutritional News/ Thompsons Nutritional News NMR Dairy Management News Veterinary practice: amorphous globus Boehringer Ingelheim Health News Events and contacts

main article alternative forages

MAIN A RT IC L E

8 Rotate and add ration options with break crops REPORT

12 Innovative Dutch dairy steps up during COVID-19 crisis DA IRY MA N AG E M E N T

16 Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 FEEDIN G

20 Putting calf care top of the agenda/Take steps to guarantee silage making success

8 management COVID-19

special calf rearing

SPECIAL CA L F RE A RIN G

25 Top calf rearer and tips for success BREEDI N G

32 April bull proofs 42 Testing takes breeding to the next level 46 Breeding robust cows for grazing system HEA LTH

36 Manage pasture to optimise parasite control

MAY 2020

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25

Peter van Wingerden:

Karen Halton:

“We’re producing milk and dairy products close to where they’re needed”

“We now have strict but easy-to-follow calving protocols in place”

us Calf-rearing foclth hea improves heifer e and performanc

wn: COVID-19 lockdo impact its tips on mitigating ses on dairy busines

Bull-proof run

latest highlights and the index changes

.COW MAN ST NEWS AT WWW GET THE LATE

AGE MEN T.CO

.UK

ON THE C OV E R

Next generation: excellent calf care is key to maximising heifers’ health and growth, and their productivity in the milking herd

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28 cowmanagement MAY 2020

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FROM THE EDITOR

Tough times,

but cut costs with care There’s hardship for some producers, hopefully just for the short term, as CowManagement goes to press and the COVID-19 lockdown continues.

Once we get back to some new form of normality, demand by the food service sector should pick up again and producers – and their herds – need to be poised and ready to meet their milk buyers’ contracts.

Our timely article, on page 16, reiterates what many producers know – cut costs and production with care and with an eye on how it will affect the business six months, or more, down the line. Safeguarding cow health and fertility should be a priority – whether you’re reducing yields marginally or significantly to ride the current crisis – if productivity is to be picked up again later this year.

We have an interesting herd report from the world’s first floating dairy, which has really come into its own during the COVID-19 crisis. See page 12 to find out more.

Our calf rearing special, which begins on page 25, includes low- and no-cost tips and pointers for success.

Karen Halton gives us an insight into how she improved and developed the calf rearing system and protocols at her Cheshire-based unit.

We also have highlights from the latest bull-proof run and an article on the important role that brassicas can play on dairy units, particularly for producers looking to keep feed costs under control and produce more home-grown forages. Find out more about the added benefits that a break crop can bring to grass and arable rotations on page eight.

Our vet column is both gruesome and fascinating this time around, with a look at foetal abnormalities. See page 41, but perhaps not while you’re eating breakfast.

Yoghurt is a great breakfast staple and read about one producer, on page 11, who is processing it on farm and selling it through a dispenser at a local food hall.

And to cheer us all up Roger Evans counts his blessings and reminds us all that, whatever is going on in the world, nature finds a way. Read his regular column on page 19 for some light relief. And stay safe.

RACHAEL PORTER

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COWTALK

Invest in fresh cows and cut costs in later lactation Injudicious cost-cutting may cause more harm than good to dairy herds in the long term, according to Mike Chown from UFAC-UK. “In the current situation, every producer must review each item of expenditure,” he says.

“There are times when cutting costs will pay off, but equally there are times when you will be reducing return on investment.

“The skill lies in making the correct calls and investing in the correct cows at the correct time.”

Mr Chown says that, in simple terms, producers should invest in cows until they are confirmed in calf and then look to scale back on costs of production.

“This means providing fresh cows with

sufficient energy to minimise body weight loss and promote better fertility.

“The transition and early-lactation period are crucial for the profitability of the current lactation, and also for the following lactation.

If producers don’t get cows in calf quickly the result is extended lactations, with each extra day open costing £4.50 and contributing to reduced profits.

“Producers need to feed these cows to settle into lactation, to maintain body condition and rebreed quickly,” he adds.

“A balanced fat supplement can help these crucial cows, increasing dietary energy density to reduce body condition loss and improve overall health and fertility.”

UK producers urged to submit daily account of losses The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) is asking producers affected by the COVID-19 milk crisis to submit an online daily account of their losses after Government calls for data on the severity of the issue in the UK. During a round-table industry meeting on April 15, Defra requested ‘accurate and credible supportive data’ to back up industry’s claims for support.

By completing this survey, the RABDF, working with the farming unions and other industry organisations, will be able to produce a daily report for the industry and Government. This will highlight the severity of the situation and the speed at which it is changing. “The

situation in the dairy industry is constantly evolving, with different processors and farmers affected each day,” said RABDF chairman Peter Alvis.

“It is important, as an industry, that we have a firm understanding of the situation, how many producers are affected, and the level at which they are affected.

“Friday’s announcement by Government that the competition rules are being relaxed is a step in helping the industry work together and identifying how surplus milk in the supply chain can be rerouted. This survey will help that effort by building a clear picture of how many farmers are affected and the best

options for dealing with oversupply. “If there is still an issue the industry is unable to solve then as a sector, we must be able to demonstrate clearly to Government how big the problem is and where the issues lie.”

Dairy UK and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) are also working on identifying spare processing capacity, looking at how to stimulate demand and how production can be temporarily reduced.

The RABDF is urging every producer who has been affected to fill out the short two-minute survey each day.

The survey can be accessed at https://www.rabdf.co.uk/survey

Close attention to maize crop nutrition reaps rewards Recent weather conditions mean that most producers should be on track for late April drilling. But growers are being urged to ensure crops receive adequate nutrition throughout the growing season, to ensure they reach their full potential.

“Ideally the nutrient inputs for sowing and establishment should already have been decided, and plans should be made regarding

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the nutrition of the crop throughout the rest of the season,” says Wynnstay’s Simon Pope.

“The extremely high winter rainfall has led to increased nutrient leaching from soils across the UK, and growers must take this into consideration when planning nutrient inputs throughout the maize growing season to compensate for these loses,” he adds.

“For many, the results from soil analysis, in conjunction with records of FYM and slurry applications, will have been used to decide the amount of additional seed-bed nitrogen and potash required. And starter fertiliser, such as DAP, or micro-granular fertilisers, like Primary-P, will be placed at drilling.”

In maize crops, 30% of the plant’s total nitrogen requirements occurs after tasseling, which is why additional nitrogen applications

in July can pay dividends. “By the time the plant begins to tassel in July, there is little remaining of the nitrogen applied at drilling in April or early May. “An application of protected urea from a product such as N-Durance 28, sprayed onto the crop just before tasselling using a high clearance self-propelled machine, will supply the nitrogen required to fuel the crop through the critical cob-fill period,” he explains.

Careful planning now gives growers the opportunity to review the total amount of nitrogen applied and when it is applied to maximise crop performance and yield.

Dr Pope adds that growers should consider applying a liquid foliar nitrogen later in the season, to ensure the crop is receiving the right nutrition at the right growth stage.

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Grass varieties raise the bar for yield and feed value Two Italian ryegrass varieties bred by ILVO, the Belgium government’s plant breeding institute, are now available in the UK. Ranking top for key yield and feed value parameters on the Recommended Lists, these two varieties are available exclusively from Limagrain as straights or in high performance grass seed mixtures.

Melprimo is a diploid Italian ryegrass and is recommended on both the RGCL (England and Wales) and the SRUC (Scotland) lists. It exhibits by far the best early spring growth on the list, achieving 107% of the mean, as well as very high digestibility in both first and second year harvests.

The second new variety is Messina; a tetraploid Italian ryegrass with the highest yields in the year of sowing and the first year harvest among other varieties on the

recommended UK lists. Messina also has one of the highest ME yield on the list, reflecting its potential feed value in livestock diets.

“Both new varieties are winter hardy,” says Limagrain grass seed manager Ian Misselbrook. “Melprimo has good ground cover and trial results show that Messina has good resistance to all the major diseases. We are using both in our Sinclair McGill Colossal Silage mixture and including Messina in the Monarch Quality Silage mixture this year.”

Limagrain is also introducing the new late tetraploid perennial ryegrass Weldone to a limited number of grass seed mixtures this year. “This variety has just gone on the Recommended List and we are including it in Sinclair McGill Castlehill, which is a dualpurpose, long-term mixture,” he adds. “Trial results show that Weldone has excellent

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grazing yields of high quality forage and will promote mid-season and autumn yields, with good resistance to all the major grass diseases.”

Free remote monitoring service open to all producers Alltech and KEENAN have announced the launch of an InTouch service that offers dairy producers independent nutritional advice and support, free of charge, for the next three months.

Recognising the impact that COVID-19 is having on producers and their businesses, the companies hope that this free service will help producers to navigate their way through this challenging time.

“Producers without the InTouch hardware already installed can now benefit from our free, remote, over-the-phone support service until June 1, 2020,” says Alltech

UK’s Fergal McAdam. “This service has been designed to support producers by helping measure, monitor and manage the biggest variable cost on-farm, feed,” he explains.

“Every farm business experiences its own unique set of challenges, and by giving producers remote access to our independent feed specialists they can continue to work towards achieving their business goals, whether that’s improving feed efficiency and herd health, or increasing yields.”

InTouch, in its entirety, combines the latest

in feed-management software, mixer wagon controller technology and skilled feeding specialists to work proactively with producers to optimise feeding accuracy and ultimately drive animal performance.

“Those who wish to access this service, but do not currently have InTouch technology installed, can confidentially provide basic input and output information over the phone,” adds Mr McAdam.

“We can then analyse the information provided and give diet performance data and recommendations based on available feeds.”

First sulphate-free mineral premix launched Cheshire based Massey Feeds are the first compounder in the UK to remove Inorganic sulphate-free dairy mineral premixes have been launched by Cheshire-based feed compounder Massey Feeds. And it claims that these premixes will improve rumen performance and the efficiency of trace element nutrition.

“Cow require trace elements in the most bioavailable form and in a way that allows the rumen to function as effectively as possible,” explains the company’s Dai Lewis. “Inorganic mineral sources, particularly sulphates, have formed the basis of mineral premixes for many years. But, while cheap, they fall down in terms of performance.”

He explains that sulphates are reactive in the rumen, which reduces their bioavailability.

And, at the same time, the free metal that is released harms rumen microbes.

“The impact of sulphates in the rumen is significant. They have been shown to reduce the efficiency of fibre digestion and, therefore, compromise the use of forage.”

Many mineral premixes combine organic chelated minerals alongside inorganic sources to progressively reduce the use of inorganic trace minerals. But Massey premixes now contain chelated organic sources and Intellibond hydroxy minerals from Trouw Nutrition GB – sulphates have been removed completely.

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MAIN ARTICLE ALTERNATIVE FORAGE

Take a break with b ra Brassicas can help to plug the ‘fallow’ gap, eke out forage stocks, and take the pressure off grazing in a difficult season. Could they be your next flexible friend?

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

K Brassica benefits: cattle can graze fast-growing hybrid crops from late summer through to the following spring

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ale, forage rape or brassica hybrids not only provide a break crop, or an alternative to an autumn reseed, but they also provide a welcome fresh bite of forage to ease the pressure on summer grazing. And it’s also an invaluable crop for outwintering cattle – particularly if forage stocks are tight. It is this flexibility that makes this easy-to-grow, palatable and nutritious crop increasingly attractive to UK producers.

“It offers producers choice and widens their options,” says Shropshire-based Spunhill’s agronomist Bryn Thomas. “It serves as a good break crop, for those wanting to ‘rotate’ rather than reseed in the autumn. And, because these brassica crops are fast growing, they can also be added to a rotation relatively quickly, in the grazing season or for outwintering stock, to extend forage supplies.”

He adds that alternative forage crops, including hybrid brassicas or stubble turnips, are also a great way to tackle pests and diseases, particularly for producers with frit fly and leatherjacket problems.

“These crops are also deep rooted, which helps in dry conditions and aerates the soil. And, because they’re grazed by cows, nutrients are returned to the soil, this can help to add organic matter and boost soil fertility, particularly on light land.”

Perfect fit One of his Shropshire-based customers has added a hybrid brassica to the rotation – and ration – on his dairy unit. “This producer has grown a kale hybrid as a break crop for the past two years, typically following maize or a short-term grass ley reseed, to outwinter dry cows and young stock,” says Mr Thomas. “Not only does this save on forage stocks and bedding, but it also helps to reduce his labour requirement and takes pressure off farm buildings during the winter months.”

The break crop used was Limagrain UK’s rape kale hybrid Unicorn. “It fit perfectly into the farm’s rotation. Instead of reseeding or replacing some worn-out grass leys with one-year autumn-sown grass ley, the brassica crop was sown in summer as a break in the grass rotation and can then be followed with maize in the spring.

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b rassicas “It plugs the winter gap and provides a fresh forage for the out-wintered stock.”

Alternatively, the brassica crop can be followed with a grass reseed – the break in the grass rotation offers some control of frit fly and weeds. And this is also why another Shropshire-based producer has added a hybrid brassica to his crop rotation.

Patrick Gilman’s family has grown stubble turnips for the past 20 years to boost forage supplies and provide a high feed value crop for outwintering dry cow and bulling heifers.

Five years ago they switched to growing a hybrid stubble turnip x kale variety. “We felt that this reduced the risk of growing a break crop. Stubble turnips can be at risk from frost and the hybrid stubble turnip and kale stands up better to harsh weather conditions.”

Rotational system Patrick runs a 160-cow herd, plus 200 followers, near Ellesmere, on an all-year-round calving system. It’s different in that the 50 highest yielders are milked through a robot and the remaining 100-strong mid-tolow group is milked, twice a day, through a tradition 12-aside swing-over parlour.

“We made the change two years ago and it means that the higher yielders are milked at least three times – if not more – a day,” explains Patrick. Average milk stands at 8,500 litres, at 4.4% butterfat and 3.4% protein. That’s up from around 7,800 litres in 2019 with no additional inputs, just more frequent milking.

The robotically milked cows are housed and fed a TMR comprising grass and maize silage, which provides maintenance plus 25 litres. Individual cows are then topped up to yield, through the robots, with an 18% protein concentrate.

The rest of the herd is grazed, day and night, during the summer on the 153-hectare unit. Patrick operates a rotational system for the 121-hectares of grassland at turnout and by early May switches to strip grazing to maximise forage utilisation. He also grows 16 hectares of maize and 16 hectares of barley, which is followed by the stubble turnip hybrid.

“The rotation is barley, brassica, maize and then back to barley,” he says. “The hybrid brassica is an excellent break crop in the rotation, helping us to tackle problematic pests and weeds. And it also means that the land isn’t fallow after barley and through the winter before we drill maize.”

Most importantly, it also provides a useful outwintering forage crop for his cattle. “Sown in early August, it’s ready for strip grazing by beef cattle and bulling heifers by early December. This helps to take the pressure off winter housing but it’s also a relatively low-cost homegrown winter feed. And the cattle love it – it’s very palatable and they do well on it.”

He’s grown Limagrain stubble turnip and forage rape

Martin Titley: “Modern varieties can certainly offer the feed value required by dairy herds” hybrids in the past and this year Bryn is encouraging Patrick to use the new variety called Unicorn, due to its high dry matter and energy content. Patrick adds that growing a hybrid brassica is also good for applying slurry on his light land. The crop benefits from farmyard manure or a slurry application pre sowing.

“It is the best cover crop for our unit. We can spread slurry, establish a crop, and quickly stabilise the soil before the winter.”

Brassica popularity “There are high performing brassicas to suit different systems,” says Limagrain UK’s Martin Titley. “Two were introduced to the UK in 2019 and are proving very popular.

“Unicorn is a fast-growing rape kale hybrid with outstanding results from UK trials, making it ideal to sow in the summer or autumn.” Energy values of 11.2 MJ/kg DM, producing 49,500MJ/ha, and a dry matter content of 12.4% were recorded in trials with Unicorn carried out at Limagrain UK’s Lincolnshire site in 2018.

The second newcomer, Skyfall Hybrid summer brassica (HSB), produced between 30 and 35 tonnes/ha of palatable soft-leaved forage in crops sown in July in UK trials. “Skyfall is unique,” adds Mr Titley. “If it’s sown early, by early May, it can be grazed and closed up for regrowth before a second grazing period later in the season. And its deep narrow roots allow it to thrive in drier soil. It can ‘bounce back’ and provide a second grazing crop.”

Brassicas can come into their own in dairy systems.

“Modern varieties can now certainly offer the feed value and their growing and feeding flexibility makes them worth considering – either as a break crop or to increase grazing availability and bolster forage stocks in difficult growing seasons.” l

Brassica benefits • Fast-growing leafy catch crops • Ready to graze in 12 to 14 weeks • Flexible sowing dates – May until late August • Flexible use – summer grazing or over-winter fresh forage • Rotation benefits – break in crop cycles with pest, disease and, potential, soil fertility benefits • Improved feed value from modern varieties and hybrids

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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cowmanagement MAY 2020

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VALUE ADDED ON-FARM PROCESSING

Name David Guy Herd size 100 cows Adding value yoghurt making

Elham

Processing ‘self service’ yoghurt Milk from David Guy’s parents’ herd, based in Kent’s Elham Valley, is processed into yoghurt and some is now being sold through a self-service dispenser at a local food hall.

David’s step father Jerry Wilson and his mother Judy began making a Swiss-style cheese using milk from their 100-cow herd of Holstein Friesians and Danish Reds 10 years ago, in a bid to mitigate fluctuating milk prices. This is sold through the farm shop at their Kent-based unit, which they set up at the same time.

The ‘stirred’ Swiss-style yoghurt was developed as an aside to the cheese, five years ago. Branded Otties, this ‘thick and creamy yoghurt with a rich taste’, is made with pasteurised milk ‘straight from the cows’ and a little added skimmed milk powder. David makes seven different flavours, including a plain version, and black cherry is the most popular.

David started selling the yoghurt just two years ago and, today, he produces 200 litres of yoghurt each week, in a bespoke yoghurtmaking facility on the farm. It’s taken on a life – and popularity – of its own and is now sold through local retail outlets, which include Macknade Food Hall, based near Faversham. Just 10-miles from the farm, this store now also has a yoghurt dispenser.

“I believe that this is the first dispenser of its kind,” says David.

“It took a while to develop it – dispensing yoghurt is very different

to dispensing milk because it’s much thicker in consistency.”

The dispenser takes 10-litre bags and, therefore, uses at least 70% less plastic than individual plastic pots. “This is a big improvement.

We’re currently offering just natural yoghurt through the dispenser, but we could fill a bag with any flavour for the machine.”

Customers can opt to buy the yoghurt in 200ml pots, or bring their own containers for the delicatessen team to fill up and price according to weight.

Packaging – or the practicality and the issues that it creates – were the driver for developing the yoghurt dispenser, according to David. “Plastic pots are not always easy to recycle, and glass jars are bulky to store and expensive. A yoghurt dispenser means that consumers can use their own re-useable container to purchase the yoghurt.”

Yoghurt is sold through other farm shops and outlets in the local area in plastic pots and provenance is important to David.

And there are plans for a second dispenser at another Kentbased Macknade store. “But it’s not about selling nationwide or developing a huge UK brand – this is a local product,” adds David.

“It’s about adding value to some of the milk from our dairy herd and mitigating milk price volatility, as well as producing a local, simple, fresh and healthy product.”

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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HERD REPORT FLOATING DAIRY

Innovative dairy steps

up during COVID-19 crisis Rotterdam’s floating dairy has come into its own – fewer than 12 months after milk production began – by providing city residents under COVID-19 restrictions with much-needed dairy produce. We spoke to the Dutch engineer and producer behind the business to find out more.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

T

he idea of producing food close to where it’s actually bought and consumed has certainly come into its own during the past few weeks. And it’s an idea that Dutch engineer and dairy entrepreneur Peter van Wingerden came up with after working in hurricane-torn New York, back in 2011, and that’s keeping Rotterdam, another large major city, supplied with milk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hurricane Sandy highlighted just how vulnerable New York – indeed any large city that’s far from where food is produced – is when there’s an event that means that the ‘normal’ infrastructure breaks down. The hurricane left

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roads damaged and flooded and the 1,500 or so trucks that enter the city each day were unable to deliver food.

“It got me thinking about what could help to reduce, or even remove, that vulnerability, particularly as more extreme weather events like flooding, storms and drought are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change,” says Mr van Wingerden.

“I hit on the idea of producing food – fresh, nutritious and healthy food – close to where it’s actually required.

And somewhere where it would be more immune to the consequences of climate change.”

So the idea of the ‘floating’ farm was born and the first

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Design concept: a computer generated image of the first floating dairy in the world

COMPANY PROFILE Company name Owner Location Herd size Average yield Processing Unit size

one has been built in Rotterdam where Mr van Wingerden lives and works.

Designed to offer food security in the event of climatic change that could affect infrastructure, this floating dairy it now proving its worth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

That said, the virus has hit the unit, in the sense that all the city’s coffee shops and cafes and restaurants and school that took milk from the dairy have closed down.

“In mid-March sales had dropped back to levels we saw during the first few months of production, with just a few local deliveries on a small round. So we had to think on our feet,” says Mr van Wingerden.

Milk delivery The small farm shop at the dairy, where customers could buy milk, butter, buttermilk and yoghurt direct has also been closed during the lockdown. “But Rotterdam’s residents still wanted and needed dairy produce. So we decided to take it to them.

“We expanded our small delivery round, literally overnight. We now deliver dairy produce six days a week, rather than just two. And, three weeks after lockdown began, our sales volumes are virtually back

Floating Dairy Peter van Wingerden Rotterdam, The Netherlands 40 cows 8,000 litres milk, yoghurt and butter three 900m2 tiers

Rotterdam

The Netherlands

where they were prior to the closure of all food service outlets,” he explains.

Mr van Wingerden is also proud that what they’re selling is fresh, healthy and nutritious. “With many now surviving on store-cupboard staples and frozen produce, dairy is an essential ‘fresh’ staple. And it’s all produced here, on their doorstep. Fresh dairy produce no longer needs to travel a long distance to reach their table.”

When the lockdown ends and people get back to their ‘normal’ shopping and eating-out routines and habits, he believes that some customers may continue with home delivery and the business will, without a doubt, have gained some additional loyal customers.

“But whether we’ll be in a position to expand milk production to meet an increased demand remains to be seen. For now we’re just happy that we still have an outlet for our milk and that the dairy is doing exactly what it was designed and developed to do. People in the city have a supply of fresh, local dairy produce, despite the lockdown.”

Floating barge He began working on the floating dairy concept in 2012, when he returned to Rotterdam, which is co-incidentally where he’s based. The city is the largest port in Europe and is a delta area of The Netherlands – at the end of a river and next to the sea. The tide can rise and fall by as much as two metres, twice a day. The structure of the three-tiered floating barge, which houses the dairy, had to be stable in high rainfall and storm conditions, as well as tolerating the daily ebb and flow of the tide.

“We have designed a climate-adaptive building, which meets the strict clauses in the permit. It must be 100% stable in heavy rain, storms, high tides and strong winds.”

Also key was the floating structure’s modular design.

This lends itself to being stable, because it’s all contained. But it also means that it can be extended

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HERD REPORT FLOATING DAIRY

Grazing ‘holiday’: dry cows and heifers enjoy some fresh grass away from the floating dairy unit

easily, simply by adding another module. Each tier has 900m² of floor space. The top tier or level is where the cows are housed, the second tier is where the processing dairy, as well as the small shop, are cited. The bottom tier is the floating section – it’s what keeps the farm up and out of the water and stable. It also houses the waste management plant.

The 40-cow dual-purpose Dutch MRI herd – 34 are in milk at any one time – are milked through the floating farm’s Lely AMS and they are fed ‘cut and carry’ grass from the city’s football and other sports and amenity facilities, as well as other feed waste from the surrounding food factories and distilleries. “By products from the city are fed to the cows, who then turn it onto fresh, wholesome milk that feeds people in the city.”

No waste Waste from the dairy is also processed – slurry is separated with the solid fraction given back to the parks, gardens and other surrounding farms. And the University of Delft is developing a system that then takes the liquid fraction, which is 90% water, and separates out the salts (urinary waste). This salt fraction is reused as fertiliser and the clean water flows into the dock and out to sea.

“Everything is recycled and there is no waste,” adds Mr van Wingerden. “It had to be fully sustainable for it to work. We have the technology to treat everything and have worked closely with Dutch universities to find innovative solutions.”

He says that his complete cycle – this compactness – is another one of the system’s strengths. “It’s not about economies of scale – it’s about finding a scale to suit a city.

A larger city than Rotterdam, for example, may require three times as many cows – so three floating modules – to meet its dairy product requirements. And this should be balanced with by products or ‘feed’ coming from the city and the recycled waste that it can take back and reuse.”

14

The cows’ ration, which can contain anything from bread waste to football pitch grass, through to proteinrich distillers’ grains and potato peelings, varies. “So we closely monitor and check that it’s well balanced and we add vitamins and minerals are required.”

Alongside this food supply, some grass silage is grown on a unit just outside the city where dry cows and young stock are kept. The TMR provides maintenance plus 20 litres and individuals cows are then topped up through the robots with a 8% protein concentrate.

“We’re not pushing for high yields, so we don’t feed a lot of concentrate,” says Mr van Wingerden, adding that the herd average is around 8,000 litres per cow.

Food security He says that even though he designed the dairy and it’s been up and running for almost a year, he still looks at it every day in awe. “I’m amazed at what we’ve achieved and I’m also proud that it’s come into its own for the city – and its people – so soon after we began milk production.

“The idea was borne out of watching people struggle in a crisis. I like to think that this has helped to alleviate some of the pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has put one plan on hold. A floating egg and vegetable farm was scheduled to begin production, on a similar module next to the dairy, in late 2020. “But we still don’t have a permit. With everything on lockdown, I’m not expecting that to come through on time now.”

Mr van Wingerden adds that other cities all over the world have shown an interest in the dairy. “We’ve had visitors from as far as Singapore, China, the Middle East and the US. I think COVID-19 will certainly focus minds on the issue of food security and provenance. It wasn’t a climatic event this time, but the unit has shown that it can do what it was designed to do – to ensure that consumers have access to fresh, healthy produce when world events get in the way of ‘normal’ day-to-day life.” l

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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23-04-20 15:58

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CM03_p15.indd 2

22-04-2020 11:54

DAIRY MANAGEMENT COVID-19 IMPACT

Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 A recent webinar, organised by AHDB Dairy, featured three leading dairy consultants who offered timely and reassuring advice to producers who are faced with cutting costs, managing cash flows and reducing milk production, or even throwing milk away, as the COVID-19 lockdown impacts the UK dairy market.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

S

everal processors have announced some drastic changes to contract terms and a significant number of producers will be faced with making some changes to feeding and management to reduce output and costs. Spot markets had firmed somewhat, as CowManagement went to press, which offers a slightly more positive outlook for the coming weeks. But some producers still facing a difficult spring.

To help mitigate this, SAB Advisory’s Neil Wilson says

Hefin Richards: “Maintain the potential to rebuild the herd and milk production levels post COVID-19” 16

that early implementation of a cost reduction strategy is vital – particularly for producers who have contracts with buyers servicing the food service sector, which has, effectively, disappeared during the lockdown.

“Top of the list is to target non-essential expenditure – the things it’s nice to have but are not necessary – both inside and outside the business. Limit personal drawings and stop things like membership fees,” he says.

Generate cash Target unprofitable animals in the herd and also think about drying off low yielders, depending on where you are in your particular system. “And also sell any surplus stock or equipment that you don’t use on a regular basis. It can help to generate some extra cash.”

Mr Wilson adds that furloughing staff may also be an option: “Maybe you can take on the extra work yourself in the short term or use a relief milker.

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“Just be really tough on your costs – leave no stone unturned and question every expenditure – if you don’t absolutely need it then don’t have it. Be aware of what may cause any long-term damage to your business. But this is an emergency situation for some business, so hammering down on costs is vital.

He did warn producers against making radical changes without interrogation the options and taking advice.

“Make sure you consider any impacts down the line.”

Rumenation Nutrition Consultancy’s Hefin Richards says that nutrition is a key area in terms of managing what we’re being asked to achieve by milk buyers, and that UK producers are currently facing three scenarios.

Some producers have no requirement from processor or buyers to drop production.

“But quite a significant number of producers are taking action to ‘pull back’ milk production on a voluntary basis ‘for the greater good’. And this will, undoubtedly, help to flatten the UK industry’s milk production curve,” he says.

Secondly, there are producers whose buyers have asked for a moderate reduction, such as Muller. It asked for a 3% reduction in milk supplied in mid-April. “A fairly moderate reduction that can be made without making too many drastic changes,” says Mr Richards.

He’s most concerned about scenario three, where producers are facing more severe amendments to processor contract terms and are, therefore, being forced to adopt ‘higher risk’ strategies to significantly reduce milk production. “Freshways and Yewtree, for example, have significantly cut back on their ‘A’ litres – down to between 55% or 60% of the original allocation – which will be paid for at a reduced ‘A’ litre price.

“Production above that allocation will be at a ‘B’ litre price, which is not looking very healthy at all. These producers are going to have to make some significant changes in order to pull production back.”

Here the aim has to be to minimise the production of ‘B’ litres. “They’re of unknown value and likely to be well below the cost of production. I’d say we’re possibly looking at below 10ppl. Just producing ‘B’ litre milk and hoping for the best is not a good strategy, in my view.”

Mitigating losses He adds that producers need to maintain cashflow, so selling surplus stock or culls can help here – or even selling some forage, if that’s an option.

Reducing purchase feed costs significantly is also key to mitigating lost milk income. And Mr Richards says that producers also need to have an eye on what will happen beyond this crisis. “It’s important to maintain the potential to rebuild the herd and milk production levels post COVID-19 and the ‘spring flush’. “It’s not a particularly positive scenario, but it’s about damage limitation.”

This ‘damage limitation’ means culling any target or prospective culls – or at least removing them from the milking herd. “Perhaps look to sell some fresh calvers?

Flying herds are still buying replacements. There is a market there, if you’re no restricted by bTB. It will bring some cash into the business and take some milk out of your system.”

Producers should also maximise their use of grazing, possible grazing a larger proportion of the herd than usual

Owen Atkinson: “Don’t stop routine vaccination or disease testing programmes” – or all cows. “I think this can make a huge difference. It’s a double edge sword because we’re just heading into the spring flush, So at least producers have the option of turning cows out onto grazing, rather than having to feed more expensive winter rations. It’s not for everyone, but there is an opportunity there.”

Producers can also cut concentrate levels – particularly high protein feed – if they’re looking to reduce yields down to 60%. “Supplements and fats should be removed now. But maintain the basic mineral requirement and make sure you’re feeding magnesium if cows are grazing.”

Avoid short-termism He adds that it’s important to ‘protect’ early-lactation cows’ production and fertility. “Where grazing isn’t an option, particularly for higher yielding herds, we have taken various steps for early lactation groups including cutting concentrates to 80% of the usual rate. You can take a tougher approach with mid- and late-lactation cows and drop to 40% or less. But keep health, feet and fertility in mind.”

Vet Owen Atkinson says that producers should cut costs with care during the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s important to avoid short-termism. So don’t stop routine vaccination, or disease testing and management programmes. Herd health is fundamental to dairy business strength.

“You could end up in a lot of trouble when we come out the other side and you need to make some decent profit in six month’s, or more, time.”

And he also stresses that producers should only turn high yielders out to grass if they have the correct cow type and grassland management set up already in place.

“It’s vital to protect early lactation cows, particularly if they’re on a high input-high output system. Reducing feed and making more use of spring grazing can be possible, but it must be done with great care.

Mr Atkinson agrees that now is not the time to be carrying any ‘passenger’ cows: “So cull chronic mastitis and lame cows, and take a ‘first loss is best loss’ approach to sick cows.”

He adds that producers should stop serving cows that are more than 200 days in milk. And cull or dry off stale cows.

“Producers should protect their ‘pipeline’ – in other words what you do now will effect profitability in the next six to 12 months. So don’t skimp on young stock feeding and management, don’t neglect disease control and feet. Keep a focus on fertility too and, for heifers, age at first calving.” l For more pointers, listen to the AHDB webinar ‘Managing through current challenges’ at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=sMQmK34x61Y&feature=youtu.be Or visit https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus for regular updates on advice, support and further webinars

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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Farm Support In case you are struggling with time or staff - we hope these simple hygiene routines will help you keep on top of hygiene in the coming weeks.

Preparing cows for milking Correct pre milking routine

• Check the product is approved for pre milking routines.

End of milking

Washing of milking plant Manual operation

• Apply the product directly to teats.

• Rinse the plant until returning water is clear of milk.

• Ensure the teat skin is completely covered with the product.

• If washing hot, check the water temperature in the boiler is correct before starting the wash.

• Leave the product on the skin for 60 seconds.

• Check wash products are within their expiry dates

• Using a single piece of paper towel or individual cloth for each cow, wipe the solution from the skin.

• Dilute chemical and circulate.

After milking treatment

Applying post milking disinfectant

• Check that the teats are clean and dry before attaching the teat cups.

• Keep application equipment clean.

• Check the product is approved for post milking treatment • Apply the product immediately after the cow has been milked

Wear protective gloves during milking where supplied.

• Ensure the teats are completely covered in product

Washing of milking plant Automatic washer

• Rinse out the wash solution using 15 litres of clean cold water per milking point.

• Drain and check the parlour is clean.

• Check chemical is available in all the drums, before starting the wash.

To ensure chemicals are used in the correct way, consult product information sheets for instructions use. If not available, request • Ifforwashing hot, check the information from your supplier or product manufacturer.

water temperature in the boiler is correct before starting the wash.

Wear protective safety gloves and goggles when handling chemicals.

• Walk through the parlour to check that wash solution is reaching all parts.

• Do not remove the product from the skin once applied For more information, visit www.diversey.com/deosan © 2020 Diversey, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 00000 en 03/20

or follow us on social media.

• Keep application equipment clean

Wear protective gloves during milking where supplied.

End of milking

• Walk through the parlour to check that wash solution is reaching all parts.

© 2020 Diversey, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 00000 en 03/20

For more information, visit www.diversey.com/deosan or follow us on social media.

• At the end, drain and check the parlour is clean.

To ensure chemicals are used in the correct way, consult product information sheets for instructions for use. If not available, request information from your supplier or product manufacturer.

Wear protective safety gloves and goggles when handling chemicals.

© 2020 Diversey, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 00000 en 03/20

For more information, visit www.diversey.com/deosan or follow us on social media.

© 2020 Diversey, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 00000 en 03/20

For more information, visit www.diversey.com/deosan or follow us on social media.

Download these wash routines free of charge from diversey.com/deosan

We are here to support you If you have specific questions about maintaining hygiene during these uncertain times - please don’t hesitate to contact us. deosan@diversey.com © 2020 Diversey, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 00000 en 03/20

CM03_p18.indd 2

22-04-2020 11:58

A FEW WORDS FROM ROGER EVANS

Shropshire-based producer and award-winning columnist Roger Evans thanks his lucky stars he’s a farmer and braces himself for a haircut.

Nature finds a way We are living in extraordinary times and that, in itself, calls for extraordinary measures. It is getting desperate. I’ve asked my eldest grandson to cut my hair and you can’t get more desperate than that.

The present lock down is as close as most of us will get to wearing an electronic tag. But there are two ways of looking at it – there often are. On the one hand we have the downside of restrictions and some producers are taking the call that we all dread – that the milk tanker won’t be coming. But other things will go on as normal. The highs and lows of farming are linked to nature, and nature will follow its own agenda – regardless of the present COVID-19 crisis.

The seasons will progress. It will be too wet or too dry. Who knows, the sight of so many empty shelves may actually stop some people taking us for granted, although the closure of all those coffee shops, which are big users of milk, is a worry.

Never have I felt luckier to be a farmer. I know things are tight, but at least we have an interesting life. Compare our lives with the life that a lot of people live. Many are crammed on crowded commuter trains or take their chances on congested roads as they battle to get to work. And chances are that they have a boring, repetitive job. I have long thought that people espouse causes with such passion because they live boring, mundane lives. They need a purpose. It’s probably why some people oppose badger culling, although they know little about badgers and have probably never seen one. It’s probably why Extinction Rebellion gets so much support. That’ll be a lost cause this year – they won’t be able to ‘block’ anything, but the virus will.

We had some heifers calve to sexed semen 12 months ago. I go to see their calves every day. They are at grass and lying in the sun and look a picture. How do you put a value on that? The cows are contented, lying out at grass. It’s been cold but it’s getting warmer and the grass is turning from a sort of grey colour to bright green. Today is my birthday (could be jelly for tea) and we usually go out for a meal as a family, but I always end up paying for it. This year we can’t go, so that’s a big saving.

My horoscope for the year is quite complicated, I read it three times but still couldn’t understand it, which was probably the intention. But I couldn’t find any bad in it, so if I have an OK year, perhaps we all will.

My favourite day has always been the day we turn the cows out. There will be an end to all this, there always is. What will society do when the restrictions come off. They will be just like a herd of cows turned out in the spring. They will cavort and frisk about and enjoy the freedom. And so will I. I’ll kick up a couple of heels and prance about with them. Even with my bad knees.

“Extinction Rebellion won’t be able to ‘block’ anything, but the virus will”

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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23-04-20 16:53

FEEDING CALF REARING

Putting calf care top

of the agenda With 280 dairy calves born on their unit each year, meticulous calf care is key to the long-term success of one Cornish dairying family’s high-performance herd.

TEXT EMILY BALL

A

s their dairy enterprise has grown, maintaining high calf rearing standards has been a major focus for the Bradley family. Graham and Kate Bradley run a herd of 1,000 Holstein cows, based at Tregray Villa Farm in Camelford, in partnership with Graham’s mother Ann. “When I left school, I was milking around 70 cows

20

and now we have more than 1,000,” says Graham.

“But no matter the size of the herd, we know how important young stock rearing is to the success of the business, and it is no coincidence that the core family unit plays a primary role in overseeing calf care.”

Graham and Kate’s three sons – Sam, Harry and Luke – also work full-time on the unit, as well as five other full-time members of staff and two relief milkers.

Colostrum management The herd is milked three times a day and produces an annual average yield of 10,800 litres.

“We are meticulous when it comes to hygiene, colostrum management and calf feeding, and have extremely high standards,” says Graham. “Everyone on the farm is focused on the calves and, even now, my 75-year-old mother will pop across to the calf

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shed regularly and keep an eye on how calves are getting on.”

The milking herd is housed all year round and fed a simple diet, based on grass silage and fodder beet.

“We feed fodder beet all year round, to act as our second source of forage alongside the grass silage,” says Graham. “We feed high rates of fodder beet – 12kg in the winter and around 8kg during the summer. The ration, which supplies maintenance plus 28 litres, is then mixed with some straights and a blend, and individual cows are then topped up to yield with an 18% protein concentrate that’s fed through parlour.”

The herd calves all year round and the Bradleys produce 280 dairy calves each year. All animals are served using sexed dairy or beef semen, with a target age at first calving of between 23 and 24 months.

“We use sexed dairy semen on all our heifers, and they will be served up to four times before we switch to a beef sire,” says Graham. “And around 95% of the milking herd will be served to British Blue and the remaining 5% will be served using sexed dairy semen, to make up the number of replacement heifers that we need to produce. We produce 700 dairy-cross beef calves a year and they are sold at around 14 weeks old.”

All dairy heifer calves reared by the Bradleys go to a local young stock contract rearer, who is based eight miles away. “By 14 weeks, we know that we have done everything possible to get the calf off to the best start,” explains Graham. “Good colostrum management is vital and we ensure that all new-born calves receive two litres of colostrum within two hours of birth, and then another two litres during the following four hours.

Close eye “All colostrum is pasteurised and calves will stay on 1.5 litres of colostrum, fed twice a day for four days, before they move onto milk replacer.”

Calves are fed ForFarmers’ Omega Gold milk replacer, beginning on 1.5 litres – at 180g of replacer per litre of water – twice a day, before increasing to three litres, twice a day until eight weeks old. The calves are then fed three litres once a day until 10 weeks old. “All calves are bottle fed, so we can keep a close eye on feed intakes and quickly spot any calves that aren’t feeding as well as they should.”

All calves are weaned at 10 weeks of age and are fed ForFarmers’ VITASTART concentrate ad-lib, from birth. Intakes are around 2kg per day at weaning.

“The calves will stay on ad-lib concentrate until they are 14 weeks old and they then go to the contract rearer,” explains ForFarmers’ Matthew Jenkin. “The rearer is then responsible for providing the forage and care for the animals, but the Bradleys provide a 21% protein VITA Heifer concentrate, which is fed with straw to young stock until they are 12 months old. They’re then fed an 18% protein concentrate, as well as grass silage, to take them up to when they return to the home unit to calve.”

The whole dairy team pays a huge amount of detail to calf care, with set management procedures and protocols in place to ensure optimum calf

performance. “Calves are housed in individual pens until eight weeks old, so that we can accurately assess how each animal is performing,” says Graham.

“We have a diary in the calf housing where any member of staff can note concerns about a calf – enabling us to spot potential problems as early as possible and take appropriate action.

“All calf pens have a coloured band attached to them and this signals how much a calf should be fed: yellow bands for calves on colostrum; blue for those on 1.5 litres of milk, two times a day; and green bands for those on three litres, twice a day.

“There are also two boards in the calf housing that detail how many calves are in each category, so that whoever is working can easily see which animal needs to be fed what.”

Graham and Kate Bradley: “We take pride in our calf rearing system and give the calves the attention to detail that they deserve”

Cleaning protocols All feeding protocols are clearing displayed in the feed preparation area and every member is trained in preparing calf feed. “Hygiene is the other key concern when it comes to rearing calves. We want to avoid diseases that have the potential to damage calf health and performance,” concludes Graham. “As such, we have strict cleaning protocols in place and these include washing calf feeding bottles and disinfecting teats after every feed.

“When a calf is moved out of its pen, everyone knows that the pen must be disassembled, mucked out, steam cleaned and disinfected, before another calf can go into that pen.

“The young stock are the future herd and providing them with the best possible start in life is crucial to our business. During the past 18 months we have worked hard to reduce age at first calving. Average age at first calving is now 24 months and we have set a new target of 23 months old,” concludes Graham. l

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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22 32

20/02/2020 09:13:25

cowmanagement 2020 cowmanagementMAY MARCH/APRIL 2020

CM03_p22.indd 2

23-04-2020 10:29

BREEDING INFORMATION

Diverse range of pedigrees CRV Avoncroft’s portfolio of bulls presents a wide diversity of pedigrees. Delta Podcast (Simba x Laurent) is a newcomer to CRV Avoncroft’s stud. Podcast is a production improver with positive bonuses for fat and protein and an excellent score for longevity (+626 days). In other words, he’s a real star in efficient production (Better Life Efficiency +11%).

His all-round profile with good health traits (Better Life Health +8%) perfectly matches current market demands.

Red-and-white Delta Mauro Red (Goal x Bram) is another addition to CRV’s portfolio with skyhigh components (0.12% fat and 0.15% protein).

Mauro daughters will be medium sized with excellent feet and legs and good body condition. Thanks to a pedigree that carries black-and-white genes, he is ideal for all-round use in the red-and-white population.

One of the most popular new bulls is Delta Abundant P (Ranger x Fun P), who offers the red factor. Half of his offspring is polled.

Abundant P (by Ranger) transmits a lot of milk and combines this with a flat fat percentage and a slight plus for protein. His DNA predicts well-developed daughters with a lot of chest width and capacity. Rump width is also above average. With a body condition score of 104,

his daughters can handle production easily and maintain it (persistence 104). Abundant’s red-and-white mother Delta Abby (by Fun P) is a powerful cow and produces content-rich milk in persistent lactations.

Abundant daughters are easily born and combine excellent conformation (111) with above averages scores for udder health (107) and fertility (104).

Half-brother Delta Wirdum (Ranger x Jorben) will breed cows that dairy producers like to work with. The new bull combines a plus of 0.14% protein with a sizeable milk yield, resulting in 21.3kg of protein. His daughters will easily handle this production. They are open, wide and strongly built cows with an average height. They have good legs that are perfectly parallel in rear view and are used excellently.

Thanks in part to excellent persistence, Wirdum daughters will remain in good condition and have little sensitivity to ketosis. In addition, Wirdum scores positive indexes for all health and management characteristics, with a breeding value of 109 for udder health. Wirdum daughter are suitable for robotic milking and have a high longevity.

Semen of the four bulls mentioned here is available both conventional and sexed.

Delta Mauro Red

Delta Podcast

New Fleckvieh bulls CRV Avoncroft has also introduced a number of Fleckvieh sires. One of them is Icebreaker (Imperativ x Vollwert), a health and efficiency

bull with high fat and protein. He will breed daughters that will have the will to milk.

The cow family behind Icebreaker is known for high lifetime production. His great-greatgrandmother produced 107,100kg, his great granddam reached a total lifetime production of 105,000kg, and his granddam realised a production of 90,000kg in seven lactations.

Manaus (Miami x Polaroid) also makes his debut. His high milk production and good feet and legs make him a bull that delivers efficient daughters who milk easily.

Colouring competition Feeling glum due to the on-going lockdown? Brighten your day and keep any youngsters busy with our colouring competition. Download a colouring page from our Facebook page and tag us when you post an image of your masterpiece for the chance to win a prize.

Download a colouring page from www.facebook.com/crvavoncroft

ADVISEUR

VEEHOUDER

High conception rates SiryX semen On calling into Fernhill Farm just after New Year, one of CRV breeding’s advisors was greeted by an extremely cheerful David Lewis. “We’ve been pregnancy checking and out of 30 sexed straws we have 24 in calf, including one carrying twins, to Delta Jacuzzi,” he said.

David is focused on heat detection, which is carried out visually. AI is carried out by a technician.

“Thanks to a number of factors working together and attention to detail, the results of this year’s sexed straws are a lot higher,” says George Farm Vets’ Chris Warren.

“Jacuzzi’s conception rate for SiryX is close to 80%, whereas the usual rate for sexed semen in 50%.”

For more information on products and services of CRV Avoncroft: phone: 01562 861582 www.crvavoncroft.com www.facebook.com/CRVAvoncroft/

Icebreaker

cowmanagement MAY 2020

cm03-CRV news.indd 23

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24-04-20 11:35

4 ways activity monitors can pay for themselves

1

Improved labor efficiency Activity monitoring systems can detect heats

24/7. Nedap CowControl can even help you find cows quickly by telling exactly where they are in the pen. A few extra minutes here and there quickly add up, and saved time can be spent doing more productive farm tasks. Or even help you get the kids to sports on time.

2

3

Improved conception rates Don’t guess the optimal breeding time.

Activity monitoring systems accurately pinpoint it.

This improves conception rates, reduces breeding costs and shortens open periods.

4

Improved cow comfort and longevity Comfortable cows produce more milk.

Nedap CowControl offers insights to help you improve housing, handling, nutrition and employee performance. For example, if you see chewing time

Reduced health issues

drop in a whole group of cows, it could indicate

Illnesses don’t wait. Neither should you.

their ration is imbalanced. Improvements based

Nedap CowControl continuously monitors eating

on these insights pay off in terms of cow

activity, rumination patterns and inactive behavior.

production, health and longevity.

You can quickly detect diseases days before a cow shows symptoms. Finding and addressing potentially sick cows saves you time and money

Where to start saving on labor and resources?

because the cows can bounce back quickly and

Contact your A.I. or milking equipment supplier.

return to peak milk sooner.

Leading suppliers partner with Nedap to include its activity monitoring system in their solutions.

nedap.com/CowControl

CM03_p24.indd 2

22-04-2020 14:36

CALF REARING 26 Tips for success Pointers from calf rearing experts and vets.

28 Top calf rearer Halton Farms’ system is second to none.

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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CALF REARING SPECIAL TIPS AND POINTERS

Tips from the top Calf-rearing experts share some low- and no-cost pointers and advice to help producers improve their systems and protect and enhance calf health and growth rates.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

P

roducers are paying more attention to rearing young stock and more are recognising the importance of following calf-rearing protocols to maximise health and optimise growth rates.

But there’s still more to do to bring down the UK’s average age at first calving. So what are the common pitfalls still being picked up by vets and calf-rearing experts on farm?

Barnard Castle-based vet Debby Brown, who works for Dugdale Nutrition, says that she sees crytosporidia and coccidiosis problems on many units because producers leave the calf with the cow for too long after calving. “It’s what they’ve always done – particularly if the cow calves overnight. But it’s a health hazard. The dam can be the biggest source of infection for that young calf.”

She says that most producers will leave the calf with the cow for around six hours – some for as long as 48 hours. “And they think that it’s how to ensure that the calf gets plenty of good quality colostrum – and that it’s good for the cow. But it’s too long.”

Prevent infection She urges producers, particularly those who may have an issue with scouring in their calves, to check how long calves are left with their dam. “Two hours is the absolute maximum time that cow and calf should stay together if calf health is a priority.”

That way, the new-born calf’s exposure to pathogens – from both the cow and the calving pen environment – is kept to a minimum. “Many producers and calf rearers have a mental block against separating cow from calf earlier – except in Johne’s infected cows. But on many units this simple step can prevent coccidiosis and other infections.”

Mrs Brown says that the message re the importance of

Bill May: “Move calf hutches and ‘rest’ calf housing after cleaning and disinfecting” 26

colostrum feeding – in terms of volume, quality and timing – is getting through; that calves get what they need typically in two hours.

Lambert Leonard & May’s vet Bill May says that another common calf disease Cryptosporidium can also be avoided through good hygiene. Control here could be better on many units through more thorough and regular cleaning of calf housing – and moving calf hutches to a different site.

“Moving hutches is essential, to ‘rest’ the ground they’re on,” he says. “Simply mucking out, cleaning and disinfecting isn’t enough. Resting is key as any missed oocysts will die off without a host. And it’s the same for calf buildings. Muck them out, clean and disinfect, and then let them dry and ‘rest’ – ideally for at least a week – before restocking. A rest period can really help to tackle a cryptosporidiosis problem.”

Colostrum quality Mr May also says that, although the message re colostrum in terms of quantities and timing are hitting home, the issue of quality still needs addressing on some units. “I’d like to see less guesswork and more producers actually using a refractometer to measure colostrum quality, rather than assessing by eye. Some will still carry out a visual check – how thick the consistency is or how yellow the colostrum is – or assess quality in terms of whether it’s from a cow or a heifer. But, to be sure that it’s good enough quality, they should be using a refractometer. They’re inexpensive – between £15 and £20 – and they’re easy to use. So this is another ‘good habit’ that I’d like to see more producers adopt.”

Red Tractor’s Kate Cross says that ad-lib access to clean, fresh water is another area where producers ‘could do better’. “It’s a simple low- or no-cost tweak that can make a considerable difference to calf health and growth rates.”

Red Tractor standards stipulate that calves should have access to ad-lib clean, mains drinking water from birth. “But our assessors often visit units where this isn’t happening until the calves are two or three weeks old or, in some cases, until the calves are actually weaned. On other units, calves are just offered a little water in the bucket straight after milk feeding. There’s clearly some room for improvement.”

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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23-04-20 09:52

‘Chilly’ calves: crowding against a wall can indicate that draughts are a problem in young stock housing

This ‘non-compliance’ may be due to producers still thinking, as they were told in the 1980s, that young calves don’t need drinking water because they’re drinking milk. “The advice has changed following extensive trials and experiences. Calves do need water from birth and it won’t limit or reduce their milk consumption.”

Others don’t offer water because they think it makes the calves’ bedding wet or makes the calves ‘too loose’. “Again, not true. It’s important to offer fresh and clean water at all times as this will actually benefit calf health and welfare. Offering fresh water at all times will also encourage the calf to take an interest in dry feed.”

Westpoint Vet’s Sussex-based vet Tim Potter says that he sees units where draughts are an issue for young calves. And, again, this is simple to identify and rectify. “It’s all about knowing the difference between good ventilation, or fresh air, and draughts.

“Producers are aware of the importance of good ventilation, to prevent pneumonia and other diseases, but what about draughts? Fresh air is no good if it’s chilling the calf.”

Crouch down Mr Potter recommends that producers, literally, get down to calf level and see what conditions are like in the pen and calf housing. “If you crouch down and you can feel a draught, so can the calves. But it’s easily sorted. Open-fronted pens, for example, may

Kate Cross: “Check that your calves have access to fresh drinking water from birth” just need some sheeting across them. Or even a few straw bales. Lots of air movement higher up, above the calf, is what’s required, to ensure good ventilation.

It’s a fine line, so climb in with the calves and check to see that they’re cosy, but have plenty of fresh air.”

Ensuring that there is enough bedding is also important as this keeps the calves warm and draught free. The calf should be able to ‘nest’ in this. “Carry out a nesting score either by getting in there yourself or observing the calves. Her legs shouldn’t be visible if the bedding is deep enough and kneel in it to check it’s dry too. Damp bedding will cause issues with humidity and potential respiratory disease problems.”

He says that producers should never underestimate their calves: “Watch them – they will tell you if something is wrong. Follow their cues.

If they’re all huddled together in a group, possibly to one side of a pen or against a wall, then they’re in a draught. Ideally, if they’re comfortable, they should all be spaced out across the pen.” l

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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23-04-20 10:22

CALF REARING SPECIAL FRESH APPROACH

Out with the old and

in with the new

Taking a fresh approach to calf rearing has seen calf mortality fall and maximised growth rates on one Cheshire-based unit. We spoke to the woman behind the changes that have been adopted by the calf rearing team and seen great results on the 530-cow unit.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

K Fresh start: mucking out more regularly was just the start of the new calf-rearing regime

28

aren Halton’s past career experience in legal recruitment, and her work with horses, has paid dividends in promoting top-class calf care at Halton Farms. When she joined husband Tom on the family farm, Karen brought her experience from a very different career and background and has applied it to many aspects of the dairy business and herd management – not least the calf rearing system at their 530-cow unit, based near Congleton in Cheshire.

Karen drew some comparisons with horse rearing, but was shocked when she saw how readily staff just ‘accepted’ calf mortality as ‘part of dairying’.

“I thought, that can’t be right. We rarely lost any foals, and horses are far less robust than cattle. So I started to take more of an interest in that aspect of dairy herd management,” she says.

One of the benefits, she says, of coming from a nonfarming background is that she began by researching on line and listening to advisers and vets. “I didn’t have any pre-conceived ideas or habits when it came to calf rearing.

So I started from scratch – and as I meant to go on – even if I did meet some resistance at first.”

One of her first ‘interventions’, which she readily admits was probably seen as ‘interference’ at the time, was to muck out the calf sheds more regularly – every other week without fail, rather than once every three months.

“I used to come home through the back porch, which had the calf housing just to the side of it, and the smell was always awful. So one weekend I decided to muck out the calves and the smell disappeared. And, since we’ve been regularly mucking out, it’s never returned.

“It’s become the norm – part of the routine. Change –

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23-04-20 10:20

however small – can be difficult to adapt to. But once people see the benefits of making those changes they soon get on board and even begin to look for ways to improve husbandry and systems themselves. I’d say it took about six months for everyone to accept that more regular mucking out was worth the effort. The calves were healthier and looked better. And that helped to change mindsets. It’s also a nice environment for us to work in.”

Golden rules Karen adds that they now actually clean out the calf shed every time a batch leaves, which is typically every 10 days.

“No calf enters a dirty pen. That’s just one of our many golden rules. As soon as a batch of calves go off to market or are picked up by the buyer, we go in with the Bobcat and get the job done. It’s automatic.”

Karen says that the previous system of calf management felt ‘out of date’ and ‘unprofessional’. “It needed a fresh start and I believed that it was key to follow the very latest information and advice on calf rearing.”

She says that Tom was supportive – even more so when he saw the results. Not only did calf mortality rates fall, but so did disease incidence and, consequently, vet and med bills. Eight years ago average age at first calving was 28 months. Today it’s down to 23 months.

“New-born calves got off to a flying start, achieving daily liveweight gains for 1kg per day. Growth rates stay on track throughout the rearing period and, five years ago, we pushed average age at first calving down to 25 months.

We were pleased with that, but then realised that it still needed to be lower. And we’ve continued to work at it and make further improvements.

“But my ideas, from more regular mucking out through to setting up a dedicated calving pen and drawing up strict calf rearing protocols, were pretty radical 10 years ago, when all this began. That was the norm in my previous work arena. Not so much on farm.”

She says she’s also instilled a great sense of pride in the calf rearing enterprise, which handles 560 calves each year from the three-way (Holstein/Scandinavian Red/ Montbeliarde) cross-bred milking herd. “Everyone can see the results that we’re achieving. The whole team, which comprises 10 staff, is proud of what we do.”

Blood tests, to check immunoglobulin levels, are carried out on week-old calves to see how well they’ve been managed and colostrum-fed at calving. “Everything is written down and recorded. We know who managed each calving and each calf. And, each month, whoever has the ‘worst’ results, has to buy the person who achieved the best blood test results a present to the value of £5.00. It’s usually a round of cream cakes on a Friday or a bottle of wine, but it’s a bit of fun and surprisingly motivating.

“We’ve changed the dynamic, we have strict but easy-tofollow calving protocols – which are all written up and on display in the calving pen. All the equipment that’s needed is at hand. The whole team has bought into it.”

She says that, all in, it takes 60 minutes to calve a cow – from moving her to the calving pen through to colostrum feeding the calf and cleaning down and bedding up the calving box – ready for the next calving cow.

“We also have a WhatsApp group among the calf rearing team, which is dedicated to discussions about colostrum

qualities and quantities. We’re sharing information, as well as supporting and motivating each other.”

Protocols are streamlined at Halton Farms and must be followed quickly, efficiently but properly – no short cuts.

Vital tools

Karen Halton: “The calves are much healthier and we’re more motivated as a team”

“Preparation is key – it’s vital the calving box is cleaned thoroughly and left ready for the next cow. And that all the vital tools and kit are also clean and in the correct place for the person calving the cow. They should be able to complete the whole job without having to leave the box.”

Calving ‘protocols’ revolve around the calving box. This has a rubber floor, bedded with wood shavings. And there’s a ‘calving trolley’ to hand with everything required for the job, including lube and gloves, hand sanitiser and calving aids, through to a refractometer, colostrum feeding equipment, and a post-calving energy drink for the cow. There’s also a calf barrow, for transporting the calf, and a list of phone numbers – particularly the vet – in case of emergency.

Writing it all down is important to Karen. “If I’m not here – or anyone else who is familiar with the routine – then someone else can step in. They’ll know exactly what to do and how to do it and, most importantly, the calves won’t notice any difference.”

And that’s vital: “Because the calves are the future of our herd and our business – they’re just as important, if not more so, than the cows currently milking in the herd.”

That’s said, beef and replacement calves are all treated the same. Beef calves are ‘money in the bank’ and replacement heifers are ‘milk in the tank’. The milkers are currently averaging 11,500 litres, at 3.80% butterfat and 3.40% protein. And the Haltons have just begun bottling some of their milk on farm, selling it direct from the farmgate and also through a local delivery round.

“My journey has evolved a long way from implementing more regular mucking out, and it’s still evolving, with input and support from the team,” says Karen.

“We recognise that things can always be done better and we’re always striving for that.” l Chance Hall Farm is a AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm. Find out more by visiting: www.ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/ Chance-Hall-Farm

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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23-04-20 10:20

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23-04-20 12:58

FORFARMERS FOCUS

Information and support helps drive Target 24 Young stock rearing is the second highest cost on dairy units and age at first calving also dramatically affects dairy profitability.

ForFarmers has launched a young stock specific initiative to support producers looking to reduce heifer age at first calving.

Target 24 focuses on providing support across all areas of young stock care, from feeding through to housing and health care, and aims to help producers achieve a first calving age of 24 months or less.

Heifers calving at 24 months old will reach their break-even point during their third lactation, at 42 months of age, while those calving at 28 months will push that breakeven point back by an additional 12 months.

Calving heifers at 24 months old not only reduces rearing costs, but also results in greater lifetime yield and better long-term health.

To achieve this goal, producers must set heifer growth targets – and hit them. Calves must achieve an average growth rate of 0.85kg per day to meet target first-service weights of around 385kg and first-calving weights of around 595kg.

To help customers achieve these targets, ForFarmers staff are now able to use the ForFarmers ToolBox data system.

This digests and analyses data from an

individual producer alongside wider industry sources. The ToolBox allows ForFarmers account managers to manipulate and interpret data quickly and easily. This enables them to highlight how to achieve specific targets with customers.

The company’s age-at-first-calving (AFC) tool has identified that reducing the average AFC from 28 to 24 months of age is worth 1.18ppl for the average dairy herd.

“The ToolBox allows bespoke farm targets to be set, which helps producers, vets and nutritionists to work together on specific goals,” explains ForFarmers’ calf and heifer specialist Ann Coombes.

“This is useful when making important business decisions regarding young stock management, such as grouping of heifers and target age at first service.

“With the data provided by ToolBox, we have helped one producer focus on working towards reducing heifer age at first service.

We identified actions required to ensure that heifers hit the correct weight, height and body condition to achieve a lower age at first service.

“The producer is now serving heifers at 14 months of age, rather than 17 months, and this reduction in age at first service will save more than £15,000 in reduced rearing costs alone.”

bovens bovens regel o

Invest in grass ley renovation With silage clamps currently better stocked than in spring 2019, now is an ideal opportunity to review reseeding policies and improve both the productivity and quality of grass leys.

Take time to assess the condition of grass leys and decide which need to be reseeded or would benefit from overseeding. More milk from forage, through improved feed efficiency, is vital to ensure profitability.

Ideally a reseeding programme should see 20% of leys reseeded each year.

This current opportunity to catch up should be maximised to gain as much productivity and quality as possible.

Grass leys are most productive in the first couple of years. Productivity and grass quality will decrease gradually, and by year five be at just 50%.

Overseeding or reseeding will pay for itself in the first year. Reviewing all leys is important because the oldest leys may not be the least productive.

Review the species and look for bare patches, along with productivity and how it is feeding out. Weed grasses will not just reduce yield but also impact quality. Fertiliser utilisation will also be less efficient.

Regular soil fertility checks, as well as sowing the correct mix according to planned use, is crucial. Using recommended varieties ensures that producers are selecting mixtures offering good yield and quality, as well as field and feed performance.

Opting for a dual-purpose mixture when the requirement is for a cutting or silage ley reduces the yield potential. Using a mixture designed for grazing ensures there is a good ‘bottom’ in the ley.

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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23-04-20 09:41

BREEDING BULL PROOFS

More options, but extreme linears The April proof run offers up wealth of good sires and a few hidden gems. Just don’t be dazzled by PLI, warns two-time NMR/RABDF Gold Cup finalist and renowned dairy breeder James Tomlinson.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

T

he five-yearly base change, which knocked £142 off each bull’s £PLI since the December 2019 index run, has seen sires drop back this time around, as expected. But that doesn’t account for James Tomlinson’s disappointment, particularly with the genomic sire list.

“It was a few days after the lists were released before I had a chance to take a proper look, but I’d already seen on social media that other breeders were saying that the genomic ranking was poor,” he says.

“I’m not swayed social media, but when I looked at the list I agreed that what they’d said was about right. The sires are all too extreme on their linear. It’s important to protect the type of the animal you’re going to breed and selecting on PLI alone, from this list, would be a risky business.”

But there are still plenty of good sires to choose from.

“You just have to make sure you choose what’s right for your herd.”

The new number-one sire on the genomic list, which was published by AHDB Dairy on April 7, is Genosource Captain with a whopping PLI of £882, as well as PTAs for production of 1,016kg milk and 49.1kg fat. He also has excellent maintenance (–14) and leg health, demonstrated through a lameness advantage +3.0 and a score of +0.6 for the newly introduced digital dermatitis index (see box).

“I’m certainly making use of the digital dermatitis index,” says James. “There are always some sires whose daughters are more prone than others, so it’s a really useful additional tool to help control the disease.”

Captain ranks more than 90 PLI points ahead of the new entry in second place, FB Kenobi Targaryen. He has a PLI of £790 and is a high protein transmitter (35.9kg, +0.09%), with excellent predicted calf survival (+3.5).

A PLI of £774 is enough to move former top 10 sire, Denovo 15158 Admiral (Torque x Yoder) into third position and he becomes the highest weight of fat transmitter in the top 20 (+50.3kg, +0.24%).

Milking speed A newcomer since the December run, although made available earlier this year, Westcoast River (Guarantee x Montana) features in fourth position with a PLI of £771.

River’s genetic predictions are high for udder health (–29 SCC, –3 mastitis), while daughter fertility index is +15.6. “But dig a little deeper and Admiral, River and another top-10 sire Rio, all have minus scores for milking speed – and short teat length. I certainly saw a lot of comments about that on social media and I’d agree that it’s a huge problem. No one wants slow milkers in their herd – they’re not profitable animals.

And their short teat length doesn’t suit robotic systems.”

What’s new for this proof run?

Five yearly-base change

Genetic indexes are expressed as a comparison to the breed average, which is set at zero. Assuming the national herd makes genetic progress, the average creeps up over time. So, every five years, the national average is recalculated in the UK and reset to zero.

This means all other genetic index figures change in their difference from the breed average – although the order in the rankings

32

remains the same. The average has been reset, for the April 2020 proof run, to reflect the average genetic merit of cows born in 2015.

Genomic evaluation upgrade

When an animal’s genotype (its genetic makeup) is assessed it is done by tracking its DNA through markers, or so-called SNPs. The number of markers under scrutiny had, until this proof run, been 43,000. In April 2020, the

density was upgraded to 80,000 markers, which will now be routinely used.

Digital dermatitis index

This is now a standalone index. The digital dermatitis index (DD) is expressed on a scale of about –2% to +2%, with positive figures being desirable. Daughters of a bull with a +2% DD are expected to have 2% fewer cases of digital dermatitis than daughters of a bull whose DD is zero.

cowmanagement MAY 2020

cm03-bull proofs.indd 32

24-04-20 09:50

Fifth ranking sire Denovo 14566 Crosby, with a PLI of £770 and the best leg health in the top 20 (+3.4 LA, +0.7 DD), is a bull that James is happy to see on the list. “I have some calves on the ground. I’m pleased to see that he’s held well in the ranking and I may use more straws.”

He skips over the rest of the top 10. “I’m hard to please, I know. But I want to use good sires to maintain the herd’s genetic progress – not go the other way in pursuit of PLI. Some breeders are just chasing PLI, and sacrificing other important elements on the linear.”

That said, he adds that there’s not a lot between the top 50 sires on the list, when you look at PLI alone – just £170. “So the top 50 are all good sires. Digging down into the detail is crucial though.”

Take the current number 16 sire Peak Alta Leap – an ideal sire for James’ herd. “I talk about him a lot, because he’s a good all-rounder. He was hard to get hold of, but I’ve used some straws and I now have some attractive calves on the ground.”

Number 14 on the list, Bomaz Fynn, is another sire that James’ has used. This Frazzled sire is extremely popular and demand back in December was so high that there was a waiting list for semen. “We managed to get some and I still have a few in the AI flask.”

Daughter-proven sires Looking to the daughter-proven sires list, everything has dropped due to the base change, which is to be expected.

But the list is stable. Bomaz AltaTopshot retains his number one position with a PLI of £708. Topshot transmits high weights of milk and protein of 985kg and 33.4kg, respectively, as well as a lameness advantage score of +3 and good udder health, with a SCC score of –21 and –3 for mastitis. “He’s a good sire,” says James.

“He’s certainly strong on milk and fat, but I always

James Tomlinson: “Digging down into the detail is crucial to avoid extreme linears” prefer a sire to score +1 for type. There are others on the list with higher type.”

New in second place is Westcoast Guarantee (Boastful) whose PLI of £694 is a reflection of his transmission of superb udder health (SCC –22, mastitis –4) and fertility (fertility index +13.4).

“But, again, he’s minus for type, so he’s not for me,” says James. Sixth place sire, with a PLI of £650, is next to catch James’ eye. He’s already used a lot of this superhigh production bull, AOT Silver Helix, during the past six months. “So it’s good to see him hold his spot. He’s decent for milk, fat and protein, but his SCC score has dropped with this run’s base change. There’s nothing I can do about that – it is what it is.” Again, it’s sires further down the list – at number 18 and 20 – that have James’ attention. “I’ve already used a lot of Melarry Josuper Frazzled and Westenrade Alta Spring.

“Frazzled is a Rubicon son and is also a good sire of sons, and I am a little disappointed to see a slight minus appear for fertility index due to the base change. But I’m sure his daughters will still make the grade.

“And I have bulling-age Alta Spring heifers on the ground.

He’s the highest for type on the list – scoring +2.34. His SCC has dropped down to –1, but I’m not too worried – it’s across the board and the daughters I’ve seen so far look impressive and should do well in the herd.” l

feet & legs

TM

708 5 –21 694 0 –22 677 –19 –14 674 –6 –6 673 5 –19 650 11 –2 641 4 –22 639 1 –8 637 8 –8

udder

+0.01 +0.06 +0.02 +0.04 +0.06 +0.02 +0.04 +0.06 +0.17

milkin g spee d

78 +985 +37.1 +33.4 –0.03 72 +649 +29.9 +26.9 +0.04 92 +722 +28.2 +25.8 –0.01 73 +665 +34.6 +25.9 +0.09 94 +584 +27.5 +24.6 +0.05 88 +1,070 +53.7 +36.7 +0.12 90 +666 +46.4 +25.7 +0.22 81 +625 +39.8 +25.9 +0.17 92 +463 +36.1 +29.8 +0.20

calf su rvival

Alta/AIS Semex Semex Genus Semex WWS UK Genus Genus Genus

conformation

9.8 0.5 8.3 –0.3 4.0 1.1 15.6 0.2 3.8 –0.3 0.0 0.3 12.4 0.6 14.3 0.7 8.5 1.1 12.2 0.1

1.8 3.5 0.4 2.4 2.2 3.8 1.8 1.4 0.7 1.2

0.79 1.25 1.07 –0.72 0.03 1.43 –0.62 1.90 0.82 0.47 –0.34 1.19 –0.09 1.58 0.47 –0.25 1.09 2.50 0.43 0.83 1.32 0.94 1.93 1.61 –0.86 0.81 1.16 0.19 –0.16 0.97

1.59 1.06 1.89 0.57 1.35 2.27 1.18 1.76 1.31 0.70

79 5.4 0.0 106 13.4 –0.3 176 8.8 0.9 73 11.1 –0.3 106 15.2 0.0 0 0.3 –0.7 73 0.7 –0.3 64 7.0 –1.8 64 2.6 0.1

1.2 2.3 1.9 2.8 3.2 0.4 1.4 2.5 0.7

-0.65 0.45 0.52 0.87 -0.26 –0.42 0.09 –0.37 1.57 0.24 1.02 0.85 –0.31 1.32 0.92 1.33 –0.98 –1.03 –0.42 –0.73 1.09 1.34 1.67 1.53 2.10 0.73 0.67 1.25 0.12 1.10 1.22 1.58 0.54 1.15 1.14 1.47

158 128 140 161 143 106 161 210 149 158

dCE

Supershot x Embassy Boastful x Tango Cashcoin x Robust Spring x Jacey Armitage x Bowser Silver x Supersire Josuper x Headliner Spring x Supersire Balisto x Epic

fertility ind.

proven sires Bomaz Alta Topshot Westcoast Guarantee View-Home Littlerock Seagull-Bay Sr Stardust Hoanster Zanzibar AOT Silver Helix Seagull-Bay Jo Dancer Pine-Tree Verona Cookiecutter Harper

SCC

63 +1,016 +49.1 +35.9 +0.09 +0.03 882 –14 –12 64 +844 +36.7 +35.9 +0.03 +0.09 790 5 –19 64 +714 +50.3 +26.7 +0.24 +0.04 774 –9 –18 63 +793 +33.6 +27.8 +0.02 +0.02 771 2 –29 65 +907 +38.9 +31.9 +0.03 +0.02 770 –4 –26 63 +1,053 +34.8 +41.7 –0.08 +0.08 767 3 –13 63 +756 +35.2 +28.6 +0.05 +0.04 763 –3 –18 63 +196 +31.5 +18.3 +0.28 +0.14 763 –1 –22 63 +904 +38.2 +28.2 +0.02 –0.02 761 –19 –23 63 +833 +25.7 +32.3 –0.08 +0.05 761 –8 –21

£PLI

Cogent Genus Genus Semex Genus Genus Semex Genus Genus Genus

% prote in

Charl x Sabre Kenobi x Jedi Torque x Yoder Guarantee x Montana Charley x Rubicon Kenobi x Hotline Guarantee x Commander Lawson x Topshot Rio x Kerrigan Perseus x Supershot

% fat

supplier

genomic sires Genosource Captain FB Kenobi Targaryen Denovo 15158 Admiral Westcoast River Denovo 14566 Crosby Cal-Roy-Al Darbee Aardema Pistolero Koepon Raptor Prismagen Grande Rio Boghill Glamour Persuade

kg fat

sire x mat. grandsire

kg mil k

name

lifespa n

functional traits

reliabil ity

kg pro tein

production

mainte nance

Table 1: Top 10 genomic and top 10 daughter-proven sires available in the UK ranked on PLI (source: AHDB Dairy and Holstein UK)

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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cowmanagement MAY MARCH/APRIL 2020 cowmanagement 2020

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT NEWS

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Thursday training day

Milk records keep cows on course Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, NMR reports that dairy producers and recorders are meeting the challenges of milk recording, while respecting social distancing, to ensure that herd records and action lists remain current.

“We introduced provisions for those where social distancing was not possible during a recording at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says NMR managing director Andy Warne. “And we have also introduced strict protocols at our laboratories, in terms of social distancing and additional work-station cleaning, to protect our staff.

“The safety of our staff and customers is our priority, but we’re pleased to report that we are now receiving 80% of the expected number of recording milk samples. All bulk

milk samples for payment purposes and disease testing have been processed on time throughout the lockdown period.”

Some producers are being asked to reduce supplies and manage production more closely. “We’re helping producers here as much as possible in keeping their records right up to date. And we’re offering online training on Herd Companion so they can get the most recent information as quickly as possible. This is important when it comes to making decisions on cows to dry off or cull, for example. We’re also offering free sample submission on our milk pregnancy testing kits to help keep fertility on track.”

NMR customers requiring further information can contact their area field manager through Customer services on 03330 043043.

Pregnancy milk test offer In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NMR is waiving the post and packaging costs on its Pregnancy Associated Glycoprotein (PAG) milk sample pregnancy test kits until July 30, 2020.

This saving of £8.24 for a 10-sample kit, £10.00 for 30 samples, or £12.36 for 50 samples, is being applied to the PAG service for testing between routine NMR recording dates.

Around one in five cows may lose a pregnancy from 28 days after breeding. The PAG test can accurately detect pregnancy loss and is recommended for re-confirming pregnancy in cows from 70 days after service.

It can be used to complement the routine

fertility programme in conjunction with the herd vet.

The PAG test can reliably confirm pregnancy in at least 95% of cows between 70 and 100 days post service.

Applying NMR’s offer reduces the PAG milk test to £3.60 per result – positive or negative.

An inconclusive result will be re-tested free of charge using the following milk sample collected for routine recording.

Results are available between two and five days of arriving at the laboratory on NMR’s Herd Companion.

Kits can be ordered from NMR customer services on 03330 043 043.

Brucellosis contract The Scottish Government has renewed its contract with NML to carry out quarterly brucellosis bulk milk testing for all Scottish

dairy herds. The three-year contract started on April 1, 2020, and testing is carried out at the NML laboratory at Hillington, Glasgow.

TOTS, or Training Online Thursdays, offers producers and advisers free online webinar sessions. Hosted by dairy software systems trainer Cath Smith, topics are currently focussing on using current data on Herd Companion.

This management software system is free to all milk producers and is automatically updated with their NMR records and test results.

“We’re now attracting upwards of 70 producers and advisers,” she says. “It’s a great way of looking at the records in detail and learning where to access key information, which will help with management and in making key decisions. We keep the sessions topical and invite feedback. Weekly TOT sessions run for half an hour.

Attendees can register through the NMR website.”

Weekly sessions are recorded and for those wishing to ‘catch up’ the link can be accessed on www.nmr.co.uk/ software/training-webinars

GeneTracker dates The next genomic sample submission and results, on inGENEious in Herd Companion, or on Search Point (date), are: • May 21, published July 7 (July 8) • June 18, published August 11 (Aug 12) • July 23, published Sept 1 (Sept 2)

Herd rankings NMR has published its Annual Production Report for the year ending September 2019, which includes the top 1% of herds and animals for production and genetic merit. These lists, and the county rankings can be viewed by NMR customers through the Herd Companion web site.

For more information about NMR products and services contact customer services: 03330 043 043, email: customerservices@nmrp.com www.nmr.co.uk

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HEALTH PARASITE CONTROL

Manage pasture

to optimise parasite control Practicing good pasture management, alongside targeted worm treatments, can reduce the parasite load, both in cattle and on pasture, and optimise productivity.

TEXT REBECCA DAWSON

I

t is almost impossible to completely eliminate parasites from a grazing system and grazed cattle will inevitably be exposed to production-limiting parasites at some point in their life.

“Parasites are present on pastures nearly all year round and their life cycles are dependent on their hosts, including cattle and other species, being present on that pasture,” says Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s Sioned Timothy. “But it is not the presence of parasites that is the main cause for concern. Not all cattle exposed to parasites will suffer from clinical disease, but a parasite burden can significantly reduce an animal’s productivity and profitability throughout her lifetime.”

Gutworm species, particularly Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia, are a major cause of production loss, with many studies demonstrating their broad impact on productivity.

Cattle with a gutworm burden have been shown to spend less time grazing and consume less forage than those that have been treated with anthelmintics.

“Gutworms have also been shown to slow growth in heifers and reduce milk yield and fertility performance in adult cows. And one of the most effective methods to reduce parasite load in cattle is to practice good pasture management,” she says.

Refugia can also be preserved within cattle. “For example, if a targeted selective approach to worm treatment is implemented and a proportion of the group are left untreated. This allows them to return the eggs or larvae of untreated parasites back to the pasture and maintain the mix of genetics.

“One of the most effective methods to preserve refugia is to keep cattle on the same grazing for a period after treatment. ‘Dose and move’ strategy is highly likely to result in a loss of refugia on the pasture.”

Another method is to leave a proportion of the best performing animals untreated. “Growth monitoring of individual animals can be a useful indicator of potential parasite burden and the need for treatment. Where young stock are failing to meet their growth targets during the grazing season, despite adequate nutrition, a worm burden is the likely cause.”

Preserve refugia Refugia is a term used to describe a sub-population of worms that are not exposed to an anthelmintic when a treatment takes place. Refugia can be present on pasture as eggs and larvae, but also in untreated cattle.

“Refugia is a vital part of anthelmintic-resistance management because it helps to maintain a diverse worm population and ensures that anthelminticsusceptible worms are present on the farm, to re-infect cattle after treatment, and dilute any resistant worms that have survived. Ultimately, this helps to ensure the prevalence of resistant genes is maintained at a low level, and treatments remain effective,” explains Ms Timothy.

She adds that pasture is an important source of refugia, because parasites can exist here without being affected by worm treatments given to cattle.

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Assessing growth rates on a regular basis will allow producers to identify the animals that are achieving growth targets and may not require treatment.

Paddock management Thinking ahead and planning paddock use across the grazing period can reduce the risk of productivity loss, particularly in young stock that are at the highest risk of parasitic disease. “Map grazing use by paddock and cattle group, grazing history and parasite risk, when aftermaths will become available, and when groups of cattle can be moved there,” says Ms Timothy.

“Low-risk pasture, such as paddocks not grazed by cattle the previous season, or current season silage aftermath, is a good option for first- and second-season grazing heifers. These animals are, generally, naïve to parasite infection and more likely to suffer from clinical disease when faced with a high parasite burden.”

Ms Timothy says that preventing over-grazing is also important to reduce parasite infection, since 80% of parasites are concentrated in the first 5cm of grass.

“Moving cattle from pasture before it is eaten down to an extreme by strip grazing, as well as rotating pastures, will help to reduce the parasite burden in grazing cattle.

And timing of pasture use plays a role in parasite infectivity.

“The mid-summer rise in gutworms can generate significant burdens in susceptible cattle from June onwards. The risk of infection can be lessened by

moving these cattle to cleaner pasture, such as silage aftermaths, at this time.”

Parasite load in individual animals can be reduced by lowering the stocking density, where sufficient grazing allows. Fewer animals per hectare reduces the need for cattle to graze close to dung pats, where there will be a higher proportion of infective parasite larvae.

Climate control Gutworm development is influenced by climatic conditions, with warm and wet weather typically increasing the risk to cattle. Lungworm is also more prevalent later in the summer, from July onwards, where heavy rain can increase the likelihood of larvae dispersal from dung pats.

“Liver fluke is found in higher numbers near to slowmoving and standing water, such as that around water troughs, gateways, and in fields with low-lying areas. Its intermediate host, the mud snail, requires these conditions,” explains Ms Timothy.

“Preventing cattle from accessing rivers or streams, restricting access to high-risk pasture during the winter, and improving the surfaces around water troughs and gateways can help to disrupt the life cycle of liver fluke and reduce potential infection at grass,” she says.

“Producers should speak to their vet or animal health advisor for more information about integrating grazing management techniques with appropriate anthelmintic treatments, to reduce productivity losses from parasites.” l

Pasture management: carefully rotating grazing paddocks is key to a successful cattle parasite control plan

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VETERINARY PRACTICE ROB DRYSDALE Sussex-based cattle vet Rob Drysdale has seen just a handful of amorphous globus in 25 years – but remembers them all. Here he tells us more about his experiences of foetal ‘monsters’ and what signs and problems that producers should look out for when calving cows.

What are foetal

‘monsters’?

Amorphous globus are as fascinating as they are repulsive – and most vets and producers see a handful during their career. I’ve seen a dozen in 25 years as a cattle vet and, when I worked in a larger practice, eight vets saw one or two a year between us. So they are rare. But they’re memorable – because they’re shocking.

I’ve seen small amorphous globus (AG) – a structureless fur body, the size of a tennis ball, attached to the placenta. But I’ve also seen one that was the size of a basketball and required a caesarean section to remove it. Due to its shape and size there was no way of cutting it up inside the cow, as you would with a dead calf.

Sometimes, as in that instance, the cow is only carrying a foetal ‘monster’. But more often she delivers a healthy calf and the AG is delivered, second, with the placenta.

I recall carrying out a C-section and safely delivering a healthy, if large, heifer. It was only the next day, when the cow’s cleansing came away, that the producer noticed a small AG attached to it and called me back to see it. These smaller ‘secondary’ AGs present a problem as any heifer carried at the same time can potentially be a freemartin.

I remember that case, not only because of the disappointment about that heifer, but also because the AG was particularly gruesome – it had an eye, some eye lashes and teeth. It was in the pre-digital camera phone days, so I didn’t get a photo.

Perhaps that was a blessing.

Occasionally cows that scan as carrying twins will have a healthy calf and an AG, so it’s worth marking any heifers from what were thought to be twin pregnancies as potential freemartins.

Despite their ghoulish appearance, the potential impact of small AGs on the fertility of any healthy heifer calves born at the same time is the worst damage inflicted by this condition. AGs rarely reoccur in future pregnancies.

Encyclopaedia: Amorphous globus Cause A freak of nature. Either an egg splits and one half develops into a normal healthy foetus and the other becomes an AG, or there are two eggs fertilised at conception and, again, one fails to develop.

Such abnormalities usually result in miscarriage or the pregnancy is reabsorbed.

Where AGs occur and continue to full term, it’s usually because another healthy and normal calf is developing and they share a placenta.

stage of labour, saying that the calf is coming ‘bottom first’ or that they can’t feel a head or a foot. The calf could be presenting backwards or twisted, but a large AG has to be ruled out.

Diagnosis Pregnancy scanning, which is routinely carried out in New Zealand, tends to pick up abnormalities at around 55 days, once the foetus limb buds begin to develop. But most AGs go undetected and are only discovered at and around calving.

Symptoms

Treatment

It can be problematic at calving, if the AG is large and obstructive.

Producers often call the vet, when the cow reaches the second

Assistance may be required during calving, particularly if AG is large and there is no live calf ‘twin’.

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BREEDING GENOMIC TESTING

Genomics plays role in top NMR herds’ success Genomic testing heifers is, for a growing number of producers, the missing piece in the breeding programme puzzle. We spoke to two producers to find out more.

TEXT KAREN WRIGHT

G

enomic testing heifers is helping two top UK producers make more informed decisions when it comes to breeding and rearing the next generation of milkers. Both herds, which top NMR’s recently published annual genetic rankings, have proven the technology’s role – and value – in their herd management.

Heading the latest NMR Annual Production Report national genetic rankings for the year ending September

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2019 is Keith Davis’ 120-cow pedigree Holstein herd. He’s been genomically testing all heifers on his 51-hectare unit since 2013 and says that this has facilitated a significant change – for the better – in his breeding programme. It has allowed him to fine-tune, select and breed from only his very best replacement heifers. “I made breeding decisions based on parent averages before I began genomic testing. These genomic results show that we’ve never been too far off the mark, but we are now picking up some outliers – and that’s very much what using this technology is about for me.”

PLI obsession Pedigree breeding and PLIs became Keith’s passion back in 2001, when he restocked after losing his herd to footand-mouth disease. “I wanted stock with high scores because I decided that I wanted to have a herd in the UK top 1%. It became a bit of an obsession.”

Selecting home-bred replacement heifers to breed from,

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originally based on parent averages but now superseded by full genomic evaluations, has worked for Keith. Today the herd’s average PLI stands at £371 and £422 for heifers.

He believes in PLI and says it ensures that he breeds good functional animals that perform well.

Average milk yield on his Gloucestershire-based unit stands at 10,500 litres at 4.5% butterfat and 3.5% protein.

Keith is frustrated that the industry, on the whole, has not adopted PLI and that producers still tend to buy pretty cows, rather than ones with good figures.

“A case in point was when I found out that the US’ top PLI heifer, based on genomic data, recently sold for $500,000.

I was at a Rosy Lane Holsteins presentation, in Worcester, and I told the speaker that I’d sold the third-highest ranking heifer in the UK for a typical heifer price. He was shocked and said that UK producers and breeders needed to ‘wake up’ to the true value of PLI.” But using genomic technology is not about commanding a better price for heifers. Keith says that it’s predominantly to check that he’s not missed anything and it has certainly revealed some surprises. “There have been a few heifers during the past six years that I’d overlooked – they didn’t look much in the flesh or on paper. But their genomic data showed that they are exceptional cattle.”

As far as genetic progress goes, he believes that it’s allowed him to maintain the same pace that he’d achieved by being extremely selective with PLI. “We’d already made a lot of progress by using genomic sires and sexed semen. This was just the next ‘fine tuning’ step.”

Prior to genomically testing heifers – 35 are contract reared each year on a nearby unit – all heifers were served with sexed semen and all cows were served with high PLI conventional semen.

Now he serves only the best 26 or 27 heifers, out of the 35, each year with sexed semen. The rest are served with Belgian Blue. And the top-10 cows, based on genomic ranking, from the milking herd are also served with sexed semen. “We use the highest ranking PLI sires we can get our hands on,” says Keith. “We are only breeding and rearing the number of replacements that we need from the very best cows and heifers. There’s no waste and we’re maximising our rate of genetic gain.”

Easy testing Third on the 2019 genetic report list is Peter Cox’s 120-cow herd. He’s been using NMR’s GeneTracker for the past 18 months, testing all heifer calves born at his 77-hectare Cornwall-based unit. “We did some female genomic testing four years ago but, when milk price dropped, we cut back. We started again 18 months ago and it’s now an integral part of herd management.”

Peter DIY milk records through NMR every eight weeks, using Uniform Pro Silver that’s linked to his automatic milking system. The herd is milked through two DeLaval robots. He takes the tissue samples for GeneTracker when he fits heifer calves with DEFRA-approved tags. “So testing them is easy – it’s almost automatic. We’ve always been a high yielding and PLI herd, and have been using genomically tested sires and sexed semen on the top end of our herd for a while, making breeding decisions based on parent performance. Genomic testing heifers has taken our breeding programme to the next level and taken some of the ‘risk’ out of it.”

The value of the technology can be seen in his cows and

Keith Davis: “Genomic testing ensures I don’t miss anything and has revealed some surprises” the herd’s improved – and still improving – gPLI ranking.

But Peter says that twin Supershot heifers really brought the value of genomic testing into sharp focus for him.

“Both were profiled and, when the results came back, there was a 60-point difference in their PLIs – one was £341PLI and the other was £405 PLI. It was surprising because they looked very similar as calves and even as first-calved heifers. But now they’re in their third lactation I can see the difference in their qualities, which is backed up by their genomic test,” he says.

Safe investment “The top one is currently producing 70 litres a day and we got her back in calf easily – her fertility is excellent.

The twin sister’s yield isn’t quite as good and we have struggled to get her back in calf. They both look physically similar from the front, but you see a difference in their udders. And, of course, on paper.

“With GeneTracker results I know that I’m breeding replacements from my top cows and heifers. I’m not just basing decisions on parent PLIs and performance.”

Peter serves the top 30 of his herd, based on PLI, and all replacement heifers with sexed Holstein semen from the top-end PLI and best-matched sires available. “I know I’m investing in genetics that will produce a replacement heifer from my best cattle. It’s money well spent.”

The remainder of the herd, which is currently averaging 11,800 litres at 4.40% butterfat and 3.49% protein, is served with Belgian Blue to produce high-value beef calves.

“It’s a win-win. Genomics has enabled us to accelerate our genetic gain and add value to our beef cross calves.”

Milking herd PLI is now high at £386PLI, up from £320PLI two years ago, and current heifer average is £486 with top heifers reaching £670PLI. In 2017 his heifer average was £283, in 2018 it was £367, and in 2019 it was £407. “The herd average should be close to £500 in just two years.

That’s an exciting prospect. Beef calf value is being maximised too, selling at 10 days old for between £160 and £220 per head.”

These herds are good examples of the role that genomics can play in progressive herd management,” says NMR’s genomics manager Richard Miller. “Rearing a heifer costs the same, regardless of her potential. Genomic testing heifers, and breeding replacements from those meeting bespoke breeding goals, can add value by boosting herd efficiency and, ultimately, the bottom line.” l

Peter Cox: “Genomic testing has taken our breeding programme to the next level” cowmanagement MAY 2020

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07-04-2020 13:45 22-04-2020 16:14

HEALTH NEWS

Boost colostrum quality for calf rearing success

Colostrum guidelines Halton Farm’s guidelines on colostrum quality tested with a refractometer: • A reading of less than 22% – use stock from the freezer or add Locatim if no stock • Between 22% and 23% – add one measure of Locatim • More than 24% – no Locatim required • Four litres, or the equivalent of 10% of the calf’s body weight, to be fed within one hour of birth

Cheshire-based producer and calf-rearing specialist Karen Halton, from Halton Farms near Congleton, shared specific details of the business’ calf rearing protocols with other producers at the #Calfmatters workshops, during Dairy-Tech 2020.

Rearing 600 crossbred calves a year in an all-yearround calving system, Karen finds that clear and visible protocols help everyone involved with the calves to understand what has to be done – and exactly how and when.

“Calf rearing is one of the most important jobs on the farm,” she says. “It takes only a few minutes at each end of the day to watch and observe the calves’ behaviour, but doing so can make an enormous difference. Early identification of any issues saves time, stress and money in the long run.

“We started testing colostrum quality eight years ago and we have clear targets on the amount of colostrum that should be fed – and when,” she explains. “We only stomach tube calves as a last resort because we like them to develop their sucking instinct.”

Locatim is manufactured from the colostrum of highhealth-status cows that are hyper-immunised against E coli, rotavirus and coronavirus. This can be used to enhance the protection of individual calves against scours associated with E coli that are at high risk of disease due to factors such as the dam’s poor quality colostrum, dystocia or weakness.

To find out more about Halton Farm’s calf rearing management system, see the indepth article in this issue, on page 28 and 29.

For more information, please go to: www.calfmatters.com

Campaign aims to control cattle parasites Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has launched an online resource for producers, to help them detect, monitor, prevent and treat parasitic disease in cattle. The new website offers resources on best practice for parasite control, information about major parasite species affecting livestock, and regular seasonal updates about the parasite risks facing cattle that producers can act on.

The Beat The Parasites campaign will focus initially on cattle, highlighting sustainable ways to prevent and control parasites, tackle the threat of wormer resistance, and safeguard animal health and productivity.

Innovation has always led the battle in combating parasites in livestock, and for 40 years Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

has been pioneering the development of anti-parasitic treatments that revolutionise worm control. “Alongside our continued investment in research and the development of new treatments to control parasites, we are dedicated to equipping producers, animal health advisors and vets with the information that they need to keep cattle healthy and productive,” says the company’s Victoria Hudson. “We encourage producers to use the free resources to help them improve the health and productivity of their herds. They can sign up for monthly parasite alerts through the website to keep on top of parasite risks throughout the year.”

For more information, visit: www.beattheparasites.com

bovens bovens regel o

Behaviour-change project launched Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has run an annual Farm Animal Wellbeing forum, for more than 12 years, to increase the industry’s focus on cattle well-being. Now, in partnership with global innovation consultancy Innovia Technology, the company has begun a cattle wellbeing project that aims to develop a deeper understanding of the human behaviours that impact farm animal well-being. The project involves vets and producers from around the world, gathering information on what is happening on-farm with regard to many routine interventions.

Behavioural science – the understanding of how and why people behave in certain ways – is being utilised in the project in, what is believed to be, a world first in this sector.

“The theories that underpin behavioural science can help with many stages of this project,” says Boehringer Ingelheim vet Sioned Timothy, who sits on the well-being team. “In the context of farm animal well-being, behavioural science can help to get to the root causes of what people do and why.

“The project is aiming to better understand producers’ behaviour and motivations, and to analyse how their decisions and actions can affect cattle well-being. This should enable us to design interventions, which are both acceptable and feasible for vets and producers, that target the reasons behind these behaviours,” explains Ms Timothy.

To find out more about the project, visit: www.farmanimalwellbeing.com

For more information about Boehringer Ingelheim’s products: www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk www.calfmatters.com Telephone: 01344 74 69 60 Email address: ukcustomersupport @boehringer-ingelheim.com

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BREEDING THREE-WAY CROSS

Breeding robust cows for grazing system Breeding cows that are suited to not only the topography of his unit but also his organic management system is key to the success of Gloucestershire-based producer Rob Richmond’s herd.

TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

R Next generation: young stock from the Chedworth-based herd

46

un on a true Kiwi-style system – with cows outside all year round and fed on grazed grass and conserved forage – milk quality is also important to the business of Rob Richmond because a proportion of it is processed into two local handmade cheeses. Rob manages a herd of 250 milkers at Chedworth, on a split calving system. Around 180 cows calve in spring block and the remaining 80 in an autumn block. “This makes for easier management of the herd and the grazing platform, and ensures a year round supply of milk,” says Rob. “This suits us and our set up – and our milk buyer,” he says, adding that cheese is made, on farm, by David Jowett, who owns and runs King Stone Dairy.

OMSCo buys the rest.

“Back in 2011, we were milking 200 cows that calved in one autumn block. But our facilities were well past their sell-by date and we decided to invest in a new milking parlour – as well as move to a spring calving block,” explains Rob.

Challenging conditions The switch to spring calving was made in 2013, the new parlour was built in the centre of the unit in 2016, to help improve access to grazing, and cow numbers increased to 300 head in 2018.

A combination of two difficult years – milk and feed price ratios were unfavourable – saw Rob focus on maximising milk production from grass. And he reduced milking numbers back down to 250 in

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Sires recently used • Fleckvieh: Mungo, Walk and Varta • NZ CRV Ambreed: Deluca, Philosopher, Maelstrom, Stravaganza • Red-and-white Holstein: Anreli

autumn 2019. “We want to produce milk from grazed grass and forage – that’s where the margins are.”

Situated 240 metres above sea level, on limestone land, Rob says that the farm’s soil was pretty poor when he took on the management of the tenancy 16 years ago. “It’s free draining and can still be pretty challenging when conditions are dry. But we’ve worked really hard to improve soil organic matter.

“It was at around 3% and it’s above 10% now – that’s between 150mm and 200mm of good top soil, compared to between 50mm and 75mm back in 2004. That’s certainly helped to ensure that we have plenty of grazing to support the herd throughout the year.”

Rob is a Nuffield scholar and studied methods of improving soil organic matter levels, so he was and is well-placed to make improvements at his unit.

Grazing cows Breeding cows that can graze and eat plenty of forage is key to the success of the business as cows are outside all year round and concentrate feeding is kept to a minimum. Most, if not all, the herd’s current 4,000-litre average, at 4.0% butterfat and 3.3% protein, is produced from forage. He says it should be closer to 4,500 litres and that average will increase this year – he’s optimised the stocking rate and should be in a better place to exploit grass growth this coming season.

The herd was predominantly Friesian when he first came to the farm, but had been bred to Holstein sires for five years prior to Rob’s arrival. “But I quickly realised that the resulting daughters were not best suited to the farm or our management system. We had issues with somatic cell counts and we also decided to make the switch to a purely grass-based system. A cross-bred cow offered improved health and fertility traits – and plenty of capacity and good feet and legs for grazing.”

Three-way cross “Initially I began using British Friesian and Shorthorn sires on the Holsteins. And then six years ago we began using the CRV Ambreed bulls,” says Rob, who’s been using New Zealand CRV Ambreed sires for the past six years and only began using Fleckvieh sires on his herd three years ago.

Red-and-white Holstein sire Anreli scores high for efficiency and he’s also good on health traits.

“That’s why I’ve also used so much of him on the herd,” says Rob. “Using a mixture of Holstein, Friesian and Fleckvieh bloodlines on top has resulted

in the robust and productive cows that we’re milking today.”

Rob first ‘dabbled’ with Fleckvieh sires in 2017 and now has cross-bred heifers that are about to calve this spring and join the milking herd. He says he’ll put these Fleckvieh crosses to an Ambreed Friesian sire and then cross again with a red-and-white Holstein, to produce a three-way cross.

The red-and-white Holsteins offer medium stature, as well as milk yield and efficiency. “I’ve used a lot of Anreli on the herd because he’s produced the goods. His daughters are what I’m looking for and I’ll be using him as a cross for a good while yet.”

The New Zealand CRV Ambreed sires he uses also give Rob’s herd stature and the square-set shape he’s looking for, with efficiency and health. “They give balance – good all-round, medium-sized cows. A mower with plenty of capacity – they can eat a lot of grass and forage.

“I’ve used Anreli on Shorthorn crosses, Fleckvieh on the bigger black-and-white, and Ambreed sires on the ‘middle-sized’ cows. The plan, now, is to put the Fleckvieh crosses to Ambreed Friesians to keep the size of the cows where we want it to be,” he adds.

Kiwi-style system: cows are bred for grazing and producing milk from forage

Sire selection When selecting sires, he looks at CRV’s health and efficiency scores: “And then I whittle them down from there, by looking at type, fertility and milk. Milk is on the list, but it’s never at the top. Breeding robust cows that thrive in our system is a priority. That means a medium-sized cow with plenty of capacity, good fertility and health and a low somatic cell count.

“These will be more robust cows and produce milk easily on our forage-based system. And the milk they produce will also have the constituents that our cheese-making milk buyer needs.”

His grassland platform, of 100 hectares, comprises herbal leys and these are rotationally grazed. “As we dry off the autumn calvers and they leave the grazing platform, there’s typically enough grass cover for good milk production from the spring calvers before they’re dried off.” l

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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SHOWS AND EVENTS Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and subsequent lockdown, many of 2020’s technical dairy events and shows have been cancelled. We’ll resume publishing event information as and when show organisers make plans to reschedule and dates are confirmed.

Keep an eye on the CowManagement website for the most up-to-date news.

COMING UP

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JUNE HOUSING AND EQUIPMENT June 5 – Our next issue will focus on housing and equipment, with a close look at the latest products and research to aid dairy herd management.

CONTACTS CowManagement is published eight times per year by CRV BV, Publishing Department Editorial team Chief Editor Jaap van der Knaap Editor Rachael Porter Phone: 01394 270587 E-mail: rachael@reporterjournalism.co.uk Editing, design and production CRV Publishing Contributing writers Emily Ball, Rebecca Dawson, Roger Evans, Charlotte Grime, Allison Matthews, and Karen Wright Publisher Rochus Kingmans Chief editor’s address P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands Phone: 0031 26 38 98 821 E-mail: cm.office@crv4all.com CowManagement online Facebook: www.facebook.com/CowManagementUK/ Twitter: @cowmanagement Website: www.cowmanagement.co.uk

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Subscriptions CowManagement is available free of charge to: NMR, CRV Avoncroft, Thompsons, ForFarmers and Boehringer Ingelheim customers.

If you think you are eligible, or if you wish to no longer receive CowManagement, then please contact: National Milk Records plc, Fox Talbot House, Greenways Business Park, Bellinger Close, Chippenham SN15 1BN Phone 03330 043043 E-mail: customerservices@nmrp.com www.isubscribe.co.uk Advertisements Jannet Fokkert, Froukje Visser, Hilda van der Wal P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands, E-mail: hilda.van.der.wal@crv4all.com Phone: 0031 26 38 98 698

Disclaimer CowManagement does not necessarily share the views expressed by contributors. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made by advertisers. No responsibility can be accepted by CRV BV for the opinions expressed by contributors. While every effort is made to obtain reliable and accurate information, liability cannot be accepted for errors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher.

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Illustrations/pictures Photographs by Veeteelt Photography, David Guy (11), Floating Dairy (12-14), Ruth Downing (20-21 NI), and Baden Richmond (46-47).

cowmanagement MAY 2020

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During the dry period udders are at considerable risk – new infections occur at up to 10 times the rate during lactation1, increasing the risk of mastitis in early lactation. Such mastitis cases were recently estimated to cost your farm an average of £322.2 It’s not surprising that a panel of bovine mastitis experts recently released a consensus statement recommending an internal teat sealant (ITS) for ALL dry cows, on ALL farms.3 Boehringer Ingelheim – a global leader in udder health - now introduces Ubroseal®.

The sealant has a flexible tip length to reduce the risk of teat damage. This prevents full insertion which may increase the risk of infection with major pathogens.4 There is also an ergonomic plunger for ease of application and it comes with the exceptional technical support you would expect. So you can feel confident using Ubroseal® ITS protection for your whole herd.

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References: 1. Crispie et al., 2004. Ir. Vet. J. 57, 412-418. 2. Rollins et al ., 2015. Prev.Vet. Med.122, 257-264. 3. Andrew Bradley, QMM Sand University of Nottingham, UK; Sarne De Vliegher Ghent University, Belgium; Michael Farre SEGES, Denmark; Luis Miguel Jimenez Servet, Spain; Thomas Peters, MBFG Wunstorf, Germany; Ellen Schmitt-van de Leemput, Vetformance, Villaines la Juhel, France; Tine van Werven, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. 4. Bradley et al ., (218) Proc.NMC.

Ubroseal® Dry Cow 2.6 g Intramammary Suspension for Cattle contains Bismuth Subnitrate. UK: POM-V IE: POM. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Limited, RG12 8YS, UK. UK Tel: 01344 746960 (sales) or 01344 746957 (technical), IE Tel:01 291 3985 (all queries). Ubroseal is a registered trademark of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group. ©2019 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Jul 2019. AHD 12600. Use Medicines Responsibly.

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