CowManagement UK dec 2011

V O LU M E 9 N O 8 DE CE MBE R 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

M A S TI T IS VA CC IN E

Is there a place for it on your unit?

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BREEDING

COMPETITION

Paramount ‘persists’ and makes Choose your favourite cover good on his promises and you could be a winner 29-11-2011 16:39:18

Avoncroft Navarro Gunfire Ad Nov 11.ai

22/11/2011

14:47:39

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• Very easy calving • Top for Feet & Legs • Excellent Hoof Health and Locomotion • Great production and positive %s Navarro daughter, Gerrie 29 Alex Arkink

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Avoncroft Freephone 0800 7831880 CM0_p02ENG.indd 2

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C ONTENT

F E A T U R E S

4 Cow Talk 11 Supporting roles: pantomime dame 33 NMR Dairy Management News 35 Business update: Interest rates 37 Veterinary practice: Hardware disease 43 Christmas ‘cover’ competition 45 Avoncroft Breeding Information/ Thompsons Nutritional News 50 Shows, events and contacts R e p o rts 12 The secrets behind the NMR Silversalver-winning herd’s success M A N A G E M E N T 38 Practical advice on improving rumen efficiency 46 Heat detection technology with added intelligence c o l umn 29 Roger Evans B reeding

30 Paramount offers persistence and staying power

Paul Miller “It’s about good nutrition and cow comfort” 12

Editor Rachael Porter Good health

H

ealth is the focus of our festive issue. Topics including lameness and mastitis are under the spot light. And we also hear from a producer about how the health codes – developed and implemented on his unit in conjunction with his milk buyer – are improving margins, as well as cow health and welfare. See our feature on page 20 to find out more.

With winter feeding in full swing, we take a look at how one Northern Ireland-based unit has worked hard to improve rumen efficiency on page 38.

The herd manager shares some pointers and advice on how you too could see more milk from your herd’s ration.

Pectins are the subject of our main feature on page 6. US-based producers and nutritionists give them plenty of thought when formulating rations, but why are they largely ignored in the UK and why this is set to change?

Our Overalls off column has a festive theme. We tracked down a producer who spends most of December tottering about on stage in high heels.

Take a peek at page 11 to find out why.

And, staying with footwear, why not take some time to look at our competition on page 43 and see if you can select the most popular cover and be in with a chance of winning a new pair Bekina boots.

Simply e-mail your entry to us by January 16 and, you never know, you could be sporting some warm, slip-resistant Wellingtons in the new year.

Good luck and merry Christmas to you all!

Main article Pectins

Special Cow health

Fertility Heat detection

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46

Why you should be considering pectins when formulating rations

The new mastitis vaccine, dairy health code benefits, and the latest on lameness

The latest NMR technology can help to significantly reduce calving intervals

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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TA L K

Maize analysis reveals rationing challenges

The results of the first 1,300 maize silage samples, analysed by Frank Wright Trouw Nutrition International, suggest that while, on average, feed values are good and provide a welcome boost to forage stocks, there will still be some rationing challenges.

“The average results are among the best recorded since 2000/2001,” says the company’s Sara Pickering. “The average dry matter is 33.1%, energy is good with an ME content of 11.4MJ/kgDM, while starch levels at 28.5% are above the 10year average.

“NDF is 4% higher than the past few years, reflecting a trend towards more mature crops at harvest. But the increased maturity has not resulted in high lignin levels, which would suppress fibre digestibility.”

Ms Pickering believes there will be challenges in getting the best from the silage. She says the rumen microbes can find it difficult to digest the complex starch structure in mature, high dry matter maize crops. And this can result in a reduced supply of rumen energy which in turn can suppress fibre digestion and dry matter intakes.

Switch and save Thanks to its higher energy content, replacing 2kg/cow/day of rapemeal with Scottish barley distillers’ feed could increase daily milk production by 0.5 litres/cow, but cost as little as £9/t extra.

“Most dairy rations typically contain an excess of rumen degradable protein (RDP), so the extra 1.2MJ ME/kg DM supplied by Scottish barley distillers’ feed can often lift yields despite its lower protein content,” explains Trident’s Neil Woolf.

“At 25ppl of milk, that extra output could be worth 12.5p/cow/day, equivalent to £62.50/t.

“And if the ration is short of RDP, simply adding up to 70g/cow/day of urea to make up any shortfall will cost just 3p/cow/day and still leave a healthy extra margin.”

“Rumen energy supply can be corrected by feeding rolled or ground wheat.

Caustic treated and other by-pass cereals are not suitable for this because they supply slow release energy. Where low sugar grass silages are being fed, the rumen may need an even faster release of energy such as the sugar in molasses,” she explains.

Adding rapidly fermentable ingredients brings an increased risk of acidosis so she stresses that maintaining fibre intakes is essential to stimulate salivation and buffering to reduce acid loading. “If grass silage has a high lactic acid content then buffers and yeast may be essential to control acidosis.”

Table 1: Maize silage averages

dry matter (%) crude protein (%) D value (%) ME (MJ/kgDM) starch (%) NDF (%) lactic acid (g/kg)

20102011

20112012

32.0 7.8 70.1 11.1 27.7 45.1 43.

33.1 8.3 71.7 11.4 28.5 49.4 50.2

Regular silage checks are essential Failure to get silage analysed regularly could lead to poor performance, higher than necessary feed costs or both, according to the Forage Analysis Assurance Group’s Jonathan Blake.

“Dairy performance is very variable this winter and a big contributory factor on many units is silage quality,” says Dr Blake.

“Forages are variable with a wide range of nutrient analysis. Data shows ME levels ranging between 8.8 and 12.7MJ/kgDM. “That difference of almost 4MJ is enough to produce almost an extra litre of milk for every kilogramme of dry matter fed and really shows the importance of getting a reliable assessment of silage feed value.”

Silage typically forms 50% of the dry matter intake of a dairy cow and an accurate analysis is the only secure foundation of a cost effective diet.

“Under-estimating silage values can lead to more purchased feed being used than is necessary, which drives down margins,” he adds.

Calf milk replacer range launched Provimi has developed a new range of calf milk replacers with improved feeding and mixing characteristics. Under the new brand, ProviMilk, this range has been shown to contribute to better calf performance in dairy and beef systems.

“The replacers benefit from improved ingredient formulations and digestibility,”

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says Philip Ingram. “The precise aminoacid profile that is included in our calf milks and the gut conditioning package, NuStart, with its unique combination of essential oils, pre-biotics and natural antioxidants, remains unchanged. The range includes five products to suit different management systems.”

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MAIN

AR T I C L E

Digestible fibre is not the whole sto

Don’t forget a The term ‘digestible fibre’ will be familiar to many producers, as will its importance in helping to optimise rumen function and its role as a buffer against the risks of acidosis.

But when it comes to achieving the positive effects on rumen fermentation that we traditionally associate with digestible fibre, it’s not as straightforward as it seems. text Rachael Porter

I

t’s not all about digestible fibre, according to Trident technical manager Michael Marsden: “Put simply, there are other less-well-known feed components called pectins that can have further beneficial effects and must be considered when formulating rations,” he explains.

“And from what we know, it appears that these pectins may be another reason why digestible fibrebased feeds often give different responses when fed to livestock.”

Pectins are complex carbohydrates found in plant cell walls, with most concentrate feeds typically containing less than 3% in the dry matter.

However, digestible fibre feeds tend to contain much higher levels, and although the analysis is somewhat inconsistent, best estimates put the pectin content of sugar beet feed at 35%, soya hulls at between 24% and 26% and citrus pulp pellets at 15%.

The fraction used to estimate rumen digestible fibre in a feed is known as neutral detergent fibre (NDF).

But this fails to measure the very useful and beneficial pectin content of the feed.

“The challenge for producers and nutritionist is that pectins are hard to measure, are rarely listed in the literature, and so end up being ignored during

Table 1: Impact of digestible fibre source on milk production

dry matter intake (kg/cow/day) milk yield (kg/cow/day) butterfat (%)

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maize (starch)

sugar beet feed (digestible fibre)

21.6 32.3 3.64

20.4 32.0 3.82

maize citrus pulp (starch) (digestible fibre) 21.0 35.6 3.33

20.4 34.7 3.38

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ole story when formulating rations

et about pectins Packed with pectin: sugar beet feed has a relatively high pectin content

ration formulation,” says Dr Marsden. In the feeding and ration formulation systems used in the US, for example, pectins are measured as part of a fraction called neutral detergent soluble carbohydrates (NDSC), which is added to the NDF fraction when calculating overall digestible fibre content (see Figure 1).

“Certain feeds used to supply digestible fibre perform better – in terms of rumen fermentation and animal performance – than their basic UK proximate analysis would suggest. It’s the pectins, along with differences between the digestible fibres themselves, that appear to be responsible,” he adds.

Adding value Table 1 shows the results of a pair of trials from the US where a proportion of maize grain (starch) was replaced by digestible fibre energy in the form of either sugar beet feed or citrus pulp.

The trial was set up to demonstrate the value of switching some starchy concentrates to those based on digestible fibre, and as would be expected, butterfat percentage increased in both trials.

More interestingly, not only did the sugar beet feed produce a much greater milk fat response (+0.18% versus +0.05%), but it was also able to maintain milk yield despite having a lower energy content than the maize. In terms of value, the sugar beet feed is clearly adding more to the ration than the citrus pulp.

What’s becoming clear is that a large part of this response appears to be due to the pectins, which may be linked to the increased production of acetate (a building block for butterfat production in the udder).

This occurs when sugar beet feed is fermented in the rumen, rather than citrus pulp.

“Pectins play a crucial role in both energy supply and rumen fermentation buffering, yet are very poorly understood,” stresses Dr Marsden. “They’re part of the carbohydrates available for rumen fermentation – along with sugars, starches and digestible fibre – yet aren’t included in any of the measurements we use to determine feed value in this country.

“As soluble carbohydrates, pectins are rapidly fermentable in the rumen, much like starch and sugars,” he adds.

“But unlike starch and sugars, which break down to produce mainly propionate (starch) or butyrate (sugars), the fermentation of pectins in the rumen produces acetate.

“It’s the same acetate that’s produced from the

cc o ow wm m aa n n aa g g ee m m ee n n tt sDeEpCtEMBER e m b e r 22001019

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M A I N

A RT I C L E

plant carbohydrates

cell walls

organic acids

sugars: glucose fructose galctose ß-glucans

cell walls

starches

neutral detergent carbohydrates (NDSC)

pectins

hemi-cellulose

cellulose

neutral detergent fibre (NDF)

Figure 1: Carbohydrate fractions in plant feed material (source: Varga, 2003)

fermentation of digestible fibre, but is produced from pectins much more quickly in the rumen.”

However, the most important characteristic of pectin fermentation is that it’s self-regulating. Oversupply of starch, in contrast, will rapidly overload the rumen as production of propionate exceeds the ability of the cow to absorb it, with the excess being converted to lactic acid. The rumen pH drops, producing the classic symptoms of acidosis – poor rumen fermentation, low intakes, falling milk production.

Highly sensitive In comparison, not only is acetate a much weaker acid than lactic acid (and so has a much less detrimental impact on rumen pH), the microbes that ferment pectins are also highly sensitive to acidity.

As a result, if acid levels in the rumen begin to increase and pH falls, pectin fermentation slows, only rising again when a proportion of the excess has been absorbed through the rumen wall and pH begins to return to normal.

“It’s the perfect feedback loop, naturally buffering the pH of the rumen, and is very different to the situation for starch fermentation where the microbes involved are more than happy to keep going as the pH drops,” says Dr Marsden.

“It’s why feeds that are high in pectins, like sugar beet, perform better than simple proximate analysis would suggest, with the lower energy content in the trial mentioned earlier (Table 1) outweighed by the improvement in rumen fermentation efficiency.

“But we also know from the scientific literature that the digestible fibre from different feeds ferments differently in the rumen. Citrus pulp, for example,

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predominantly ferments to produce both acetate and lactate or lactic acid, whereas sugar beet feed ferments mainly to acetate.”

And although US nutritionists are starting to recognise the importance of the NDSC fraction that includes pectins, particularly as milk yields increase, it’s the difficulty in measuring an exact content of the various pectinlike compounds that currently prevents their inclusion in ration formulation in the UK. However, the sheer amount that appears to be in some of these digestible fibre feeds (particularly when compared to the amount in most other concentrate feeds), plus the important role they plan in maintaining a healthy rumen, means that pectins shouldn’t be ignored.

“It’s why the experience and knowledge of your nutritionist is still so important, regardless of which particular ration formulation program is on their laptop,” says Dr Marsden.

Better value “Knowing how the cow responds to different feeds is the key as this allows identification of those feeds that tend to perform better than expected, work particularly well in certain situations, or offer better value than the price per tonne might suggest.

“And it’s clear from examining the data relating to pectins that when it comes to buffering the rumen against acidosis and maximising the efficient conversion of feed into growth or milk, there’s more to these digestible fibre feeds than many realise,” he adds.

So, when looking to balance high levels of starch-based concentrates and maintain a healthy rumen fermentation, don’t forget to think about the pectins. l

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01-12-2011 15:32:40

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O V E R A L L s

Name: Location: Herd size: Hobby:

O F F

Peter Dakin Bolton-By-Bowland, Lancashire 150 Pantomime dame

Peter Dakin: “I don’t mind making a bit of a fool of myself”

She’s behind you! text Louise Hartley

T

here’s no shortage of drama on the busy Lancashire-based family farm where the Dakin brothers milk 150 cows. But it’s on stage, as a pantomime star, where one of them spends his winter months.

Peter Dakin’s run up to Christmas is a far cry from snowy Wellington boots and a woolly hat – he’s on stage, script in hand, practising his loudest “she’s behind you!”.

Pete has been starring in pantomimes for he past 12 years and loves getting up on stage, having a joke with his friends and, hopefully, making the audience laugh too.

“My life in panto most definitely stems from the Young Farmers’ Club, where my brother Michael and I would take part in the variety performances.

“When we grew out of the Club we were asked to put on village productions and it’s really grown from there. We now have a cast of around 60 people of all ages and it’s something of a local tradition now.”

This year Pete is transforming into an ugly step sister, otherwise knows as ‘Gusty’, and he says it’s an apt name for her.

“My first big break was playing Tweedle Dee. I then progressed to Buttons and have been the Pantomime dame four times.

“I don’t mind making a bit of a fool of myself and having some fun while I’m dressed in a dress, wig and bright red lipstick.

“Each year we perform four nights over two weekends, with around 180 people in the audience each night. It’s a real thrill to be involved in the production and be one of the main characters.”

Rehearsals start at the beginning of September, learning songs and dance routines and, in Pete’s case, perfecting his walk on stage in high heels. Dress rehearsals begin in mid November.

“The cast member’s wives and mums do the make-up. As you can imagine, mine takes a while, and my sister-in-law designs and makes the costumes. So it’s a real family and community production – everyone gets involved.”

Because Pete’s brother Michael directs the annual pantomine, so for the Dakin family it really is something of a family tradition.

The funds raised stay close to home too. All monies are for the local village and, in the past, have helped to fund the upkeep on the village hall and church.

And does Pete ever mix work with leisure? “I’ve never been a pantomine cow – front end or back – but I have played a threelegged monster, if that counts?”

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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H E R D

Miller family A fantastic dairy herd, run by a dedicated and committed family team.

Attention to detail in nutrition, breeding and fertility are all key to the business’ success.

Number of cows: Milk sold per cow: Farm size: Feed efficiency:

R E P O RT

Evesham

280 11,350kg 330 hectares 1.64

Shanael Bolton Golden: a total of 40 embryos have been sold across Europe and North America

Worcestershire-based family’s dedication earns silver salver award

Family fortunes We spoke to the runners up in this year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition to find out how they wowed the judges and how their determination could well see them in future line ups of finalists for the award, vying for gold. text Ann Hardy & Rachael Porter

W

hen the Miller family moved to Worcestershire from Somerset, with 46 milking cows and around 300,000 litres of quota in 1996, they could scarcely have imagined where their journey would end.

Today they are not only heading rapidly upwards from the 280 cows they currently milk, but the family has also been identified as one of the leading dairy farming businesses in the country, taking the much-coveted NMR Silver Salver awarded to runners up in the 2011 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition.

Father Mike says that they are thrilled with their achievement: “It’s praise indeed to come runner up to Tom King’s herd and it’s been a huge lift for us all.

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It’ll inspire us to go on and enter the competition again in the future, to see if we can win it.”

Behind the Miller’s success – and the expansion to what has now become 330 hectares of tenanted land at Greville Hall Farm near Evesham – is total dedication and commitment from the whole family.

Overseen by father Mike, with mother Shan controlling calves and accounts and brothers, Steve and Paul, taking on cropping and cows respectively, the whole business ticks over with a sense of unity and purpose.

At its core is the Shanael herd of Holsteins, whose NMR annual average production of 12,014kg at 3.68% fat and 3.17% protein, on three-times-a-day milking.

This reflects carefully considered breeding and attention to detail in management. “It’s got a lot to do with nutrition and cow comfort,” says Paul, who ensures that the cows consume high quantities of forage.

“We’re aiming for a dry matter intake of 26kg for the high yielders, 22kg for the lows and 21kg for the heifers, and our actual dry matter intake averages 23.33kg across the three groups,” adds Steve, who is specifically responsible for feeding.

The TMR for the high yielders comprises 22.3kg maize silage, 8kg grass silage, 5.5kg caustic wheat, 1kg hay, 1kg alfalfa, 0.25kg wheat straw, 7kg blend, 2kg moist mix, 2kg hi-pro soya, 0.5kg protected fat, 0.27kg sodium bicarbonate, 0.3kg minerals and 0.03kg urea.

Scratch factor “The hay and alfalfa is just to give extra palatability and some ‘scratch factor’ and we may grow 16 hectares of the latter for the first time next year,” he says.

Designed to provide maintenance plus 45 litres for the high yielding group (and maintenance plus 35 litres for the lows and heifers), he says the efficiency with which the TMR is converted into milk is an increasingly important measure.

This currently stands at 1.64 (feed efficiency is the yield of energy corrected milk per kg of DMI) and milk is sold to Cotteswold Dairy in Tewkesbury.

“Feed costs per litre keep increasing,” says Steve. “They currently stand at

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12.93p, of which 8.68p is the purchased feed cost, so we are aiming to grow more high quality forage on the farm.”

Fertility is another area which is being attended to closely and is underpinned by fortnightly visits from the vet to pregnancy test and investigate ‘nonbullers’.

“We aim to start serving after 42 days, as soon as they are clean and ready to go, and we have no aids to heat detection except for a white-board,” says Paul.

With a calving index of 430 days, the aim is to reduce this to 400. “But we do a lot of embryo transfer work, so this isn’t going to be easy,” he adds.

That the Shanael cattle are worth the effort to produce embryos is unequivocal, with several having commanded high sale prices and performed well in the show ring.

At the top of the game is Shanael Bolton Golden VG88, who has given one of the highest two-year-old yields on record in Europe and has a PLI of £284.

Flushing programme Having produced 16,160kg in 305 days, she went on to produce 33,225kg in the total 678 days of her first lactation.

She then entered a long-term flushing programme.

Some 40 of her embryos are dispersed across Europe and North America, including bulls to AI and the 9,500gns heifer by Palermo, which sold this summer at the Genetics Elite sale in Carlisle.

“She’s a real once-in-a-lifetime cow, and the AI companies are very interested in her progeny,” says Paul.

With a breeding policy that focuses first on type – ‘at least two points Type Merit and generally three’ – as well as production, health and fertility, Paul hopes to retain the competitive edge seen in a high demand for Shanael stock, including Holstein bull sales of around 30 head a year.

“We also enjoy showing at the Dairy Event and the South West Dairy Show, but it’s not the be all and end all,” he adds.

“The most important thing for us is milk production and efficiency, but pedigree produces an important income and brings an extra dimension and makes everyone more interested in the cows.”

Further interest comes through wildlife schemes, including Entry Level Stewardship, which was embarked upon for its financial incentives but now makes the farm a ‘nicer place to be’ for everyone involved.

Looking forward, the family plans to continue moving the business forward – both in term of productivity and efficiency. The milking herd will have reached 350 head by the end of the year.

“And we hope to sell in excess of 12,000 litres of milk per cow next year.”

Beyond that, the family will continue to focus on running the business as

well as they can. “We’re very optimistic,” says Paul.

“Steve and I have been written into the tenancy for 25 years and we are expanding as a family and increasing our acreage.

“We hope that one day – maybe in 10 years – we’ll be farming 600 hectares and milking 500 cows.” l

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S P E C I A L

Mastitis vaccine: should you be using it to help protect your herd? Page 18 Health incentives: codes designed to benefit cows and producers, as well as retailers. Page 20 Lameness update: a close look at the latest technology and training available. Page 22

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C O W

H E A LT H

S P E C I A L

Vaccination may be the key to helping to control your herd’s mastitis problem

The next step in mastitis control?

A vaccine that offers a degree of protection against some of the key mastitis-causing bacteria is proving that it was well worth the wait. But could it make a useful and cost-effective addition to your mastitis control and prevention programme?

Read on and decide if it’s something to discuss with your vet. text Rachael Porter

I

t sounds like a dairy producer’s dream – a vaccine against mastitis.

And, indeed, for some herds it’s proving to be a welcome addition to the weaponry used to prevent and control the costly disease.

But it’s not a panacea and it’s certainly no substitute for good husbandry, hygiene management and a thorough milking parlour routine. The animal health company behind Startvac, HIPRA, is keen to point that out from the off. But after 10 years of development and European licence approvals it was well worth the wait if results from independent trials carried out so far are anything to go by.

Studies with the vaccine, which was developed to offer protection against mastitis caused by E. coli, some coliforms, Staph. aureus and CNS (Coagulase Negative Staphylococci), have so far yielded some impressive and exciting results. Many more trials are still ongoing and showing promise and several herds across the UK are using the vaccine to good effect and will have some meaningful data to report by mid 2012.

The majority of environmental mastitis cases develop, or are picked up, during the dry period. And so it’s during this period that the vaccine seeks to help prevent and control infection.

“It’s licensed to reduce and control mastitis in early lactation – a time when

cows and heifers can be more vulnerable to udder infections due to the stress of calving and the transition period as a whole,” says HIPRA’s vet advisor Rennie Gresham.

“Three shots are required and these must be given according to the label.”

That’s 45 days prior to calving, in other words at drying off. And again 10 days before calving, followed by a third shot 52 days post calving. “Thirteen days after the first shot, the cow will have increased resistance to the families of bacteria covered in the vaccine. And the second shot, 10 days before calving, acts as a booster. As does the third shot.

In all, the cow will have additional protection from the three types of mastitis causing organisms for the first 130 days of lactation,” says Mr Gresham.

Prescription only “The ‘dead’ vaccine was developed during an eight-year period and it took a further two years to gain European Medicine Agency registration. It’s been commercially available, on prescription only, for just 12 months. And research to demonstrate its uses and efficacy on farm is on-going.

A useful addition to mastitis-control toolkit Dairy vet and mastitis specialist Andrew Biggs says that many users of Startvac, initially at least, may well be former users of a vaccine, which is no longer on the market, against E. coli mastitis. “They’re used to the protocols involved in administering such a vaccine and have had a serious enough E. coli problem that warranted its use. So they’ve been looking for something to fill that gap,” he says.

He agrees with Mr Gresham that it’s a useful addition to producers’ mastitis prevention plans. “It’s another tool in the toolbox of control measures. But you still need to do all the other

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things, such as good dry cow and transition cow management, that we know help to control mastitis that’s picked up during the dry period. E. coli mastitis, remember, can become toxic and even kill a cow – it can be a serious health, welfare and productivity issue.

And mastitis caused by Staph. aureus is notoriously difficult to treat with antibiotics because the bacteria produce a protective bio-film around themselves when they colonise in the udder. This vaccine produces antibodies that can adhere to that ‘slime’.

“So where these mastitis-causing organisms are known to be a serious

problem, producers should ask for advice from their vet and discuss the vaccine option.”

But he too stresses that it’s not a ‘brick wall’ defence against mastitis. “It has been shown to prevent some cases and like previous ones will also reduce the severity of others.

“However it’s by no means a cast-iron guarantee that you won’t see E. coli, Staph. aureus or CNS mastitis in your herd again, but you would expect to see fewer and less severe cases. Cases that are seen should also be quicker and easier to cure, which could have the potential to reduce antibiotic use.”

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Watch this space Startvac is currently in use on several UK units, but it’s too early to collect any meaningful data and to determine if it’s been successful in reducing the number of mastitis infections and/or their severity in these herds. So CowManagement will visit some units that are using the vaccine in mid 2012 to find out, first hand, what improvements, if any, it has made to cow and udder health.

Staph. aureus is the major contagious pathogen that Startvac was licensed for, but one trial that evaluated the vaccine in field conditions against CNS mastitis causing bacteria concluded that it reduced the incidence of infection – both clinical and sub-clinical cases.

It also found that it improved the spontaneous cure rate of CNS infections and reduced the number of mastitis treatments required, while at the same time diminishing the percentage of cows with significant milk yield losses.

It all makes good reading. But for many commercial herds it’s all about the cost.

The figures certainly stack up, according to Mr Gresham. “It’s an investment of between £15 and £20 a year to vaccinate a cow. So far trial work has a shown up to a 10-fold return on investment, in terms of cost savings on mastitis treatments, fewer milk production and cull losses.”

Economic sense For a 100-cow herd it would cost approximately £1,500 to vaccinate every cow and with the cost of replacements at around £2,000 per head, preventing just one death from toxic E. coli mastitis makes economic sense.

The reality is that many herds see more than one death from toxic mastitis or cull other cows due to chronic mastitis and/or high somatic cells counts.

“But it’s not just about saving money and reducing culling and replacement rate,” says Mr Gresham. “There’s the bigger picture to consider. Using such a vaccine will improve udder health and cow welfare and it will also reduce antibiotic use – something that producers and vets are increasingly coming under pressure to do.

“And it’s another step to add to your armoury if the five-point plan just isn’t bringing infection down to acceptable and manageable levels. For many it’s an end to some of the frustration that mastitis can cause in an otherwise well-managed, healthy and productive dairy herd.” l

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C O W

H E A LT H

S P E C I A L

New health codes look set to benefit cows, producers, retailers and consumers

New health code ‘no bad thing’ Dairy farming codes of practice have come a long way since the early box-ticking exercises. Many are now evolving, with more proactive protocols that encourage action. Tesco has just ‘gone live’ with its livestock code of practice for its 700-plus dairy suppliers, and there are reasons to be optimistic that it will benefit the cows, the producer and the industry’s image.

Will Hosford: “Data from code of practice will show producers where they ‘sit’ compared with others”

suppliers can be targeted to specific areas where there’s most scope for improvement. It’s easy to have a bandwagon for action but it might not be what’s needed. With hard evidence from herd monitoring it will be easier to see where most benefit can be gained.”

Will is also keen that as a group – and as

text Karen Wright

D

orset-based dairy producer and chairman of Tesco’s producer supplier group Will Hosford has been involved with rolling out the retailer’s new code of practice during the past few months. Now in operation, the code is not prescriptive or system specific. It is results driven and encourages producers to measure their performance and develop their own methods for making improvements where required.

Meeting consumer concerns was the initial reasoning behind the new code. Already proactive in areas of herd performance, Tesco identified a number of issues from a recent consumer survey on the ethics of their milk purchases.

Through concentrating on the key areas, the code will highlight any issues and encourage necessary improvements.

“Tesco has tried to keep the code simple, but inevitably it is requiring more recording on farm but nothing too onerous,” says Will.

“We are being asked for additional information, such as the number of thin cows with a condition score of 1 or less and the number of dirty cows.

Industry guidelines have been provided for producers to follow.”

Antibiotic use of first, second and third generation products is also on

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the recording list. All information can be completed on line through a dedicated website or manually.

Back in 2007, Tesco highlighted the need to address lameness issues in the dairy herd and, to some extent, it led the industry in developing a monitoring system. Since that time all Tesco producers have been mobility scoring and now recognise the benefits of carrying this out routinely. “This is good for the cow and the producer, as well as consumers who, from research findings, do care that the cows that produce their milk are sound and fit. If we have the records we can stand by any claims.”

More scope The data, collected bimonthly through the code of practice, is managed on a bespoke database that also pulls in records from the herd’s milk recording organisation. Trends and benchmarks will emerge from this data and these will be shared with the group.

This means that the group – and individual herds identified through their own number – can monitor performance. “Producers can see where they ‘sit’ compared with others and where they could make improvements.”

Leading on from this, Will can see that the database information will help steer Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) activities. “Workshops and meetings for

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an industry – more is done to promote home-produced milk and dairy products and that claims can be supported. “For a long time I have wanted to see more done on promoting our milk and its first-class production systems but you need the evidence to back this up. The sort of data that this code will collect, and that the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group database will hold, should support any claims. I believe this will really strengthen our position.”

Back home So has the introduction of the code made a difference in the 340-cow herd at Bramblecombe, situated on chalky grassland between Blanford and Dorchester.

“Fit healthy cows have always been a priority here,” says Will, who runs the herd with his wife Carol, and herd manager Gary. “We dabbled with the big

Holstein cows but they don’t suit our grass-based system and our wish to extend the grazing season.

“Instead we have turned to New Zealand Friesian genetics from LIC. These cows are strong, have plenty of capacity for forage and are easier to manage.”

The current average yield is 8,000 litres off a TMR in winter, with grazed grass from late February to early November.

“We milk record with NMR, use InterHerd and have joined their Johne’s scheme. But the new code of practice has meant more detailed recording of antibiotics for us and it is making me question their use, particularly the thirdgeneration products.”

And looking ahead, Will hopes that he’ll have some useful benchmarks from the collective data in 2012. “There will be reasons why we’re better in some areas and not so good in others, but at least it will raise questions and identify where

there is scope for improvement – and I’m sure there will be. I can only see the efficiency of our business improving alongside our cow health and welfare.”

Thanks to the payment structure, the cost of data gathering and any additional ‘third party’ monitoring, like Johne’s testing, is paid for through the Tesco price tracker.

“I think the Tesco livestock code of practice is fairly similar to other schemes,” adds Will. “Producers, advisers and vets have been involved to make sure the schemes are manageable and effective in improving animal health and welfare.

“There’s often less time to spend on individual cow management so there’s got to be a system in place that encourages routine checking of the key aspects of herd health, provides results and generate the right actions to improve performance.” l

Cows at Bramblecombe: new code of practice means more health recording but all for a good cause and nothing too onerous

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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C O W

H E A LT H

S P E C I A L

Detecting lameness automatically – before it can be seen by the human eye – could be answer to reducing hoof problems on your unit

We have the technology Technology and better training could really help time-strapped producers, struggling to tackle lameness. An automated system may be a significant investment, but it could pay for itself sooner than you think. And brushing up on your hoof trimming skills could go a long way to improving lameness treatment and prevention. text Rachael Porter

Chris and Michael King

E

xpanding herds and increased pressure on labour can only exacerbate the problem of lameness on some dairy units. But an automated system that will flag up potentially lame cows, sometimes before the lameness becomes detectable by the human eye, could be one of the cow welfare developments of the new millennium.

So says BouMatic about its patented StepMetrix technology. It’s

a completely unique, automated lameness detection system that incorporates the latest technology, enables an on-board computer to detect the early signs of lameness and alerts the producer to take pro-active action before milk production, body condition and reproduction are seriously affected.

The system works via a simple ‘walk through’ system, linked directly to a standard PC. Each cow is uniquely identified as she

walks over the runway and her steps are analysed and converted to an SMX score.

Continuous comparison SMX is a lameness measuring software analysing tool developed by BouMatic that is then sent to the computer for continuous comparison for each animal.

The reports generated for the producer highlight cows with anomalies in their walk patterns, most commonly caused by the onset of lameness.

Preventative platform: StepMetrix detects the early signs of lameness

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Multi-functional devise also aids lameness detection Following the success of the Wetit Wave cow positioning device for new rotary platforms, Dairy Spares has launched another retro-fit Wetit Wave. These are screwed onto the platform, rather than bonded, allowing installation into existing milking parlours.

And the design of the product does so much more than just positioning the cow centrally in the bail, with feet either side of the wave, and ensuring that the

cluster hangs more squarely on the udder so promoting a faster and more even milking out. It can also aid the early detection of lameness in the back legs and reduce a cow’s ability to kick off its cluster.

Teat spraying efficiency and coverage is also improved as the udder is presented in a consistent position.

The retro-fit Waves are longer than the original design – 580mm compared

to 460mm – and are black in colour to aid mastitis detection in stripped out foremilk.

The device will bolt onto both concrete and steel platforms, and even through rubber matting.

The cost per unit is £89 plus VAT and installation can be done by professional dairy engineers or by farm staff using a jig to ensure correct placement.

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C O W

H E A LT H

S P E C I A L

Tune up your hoof trimming skills with some hands-on training With the spotlight firmly focused on tackling lameness on many UK units, it’s little wonder that demand for hoof trimming courses is high. And spotting that – and the need for a more hands-on approach to training – Rob Doran has launched a range of practical cow-focused courses.

Mr Doran is a Dutch-trained foot trimmer and so knows just how vital hoof trimming – and doing it correctly – really is to both preventing and treating lameness.

So his company is offering courses for both professional hoof trimmers and producers who want to trim their own cows’ feet.

“For the past two years I have been helping the Royal Vet College’s hoof-health specialist Nick Bell in the courses he’s been running for producers and vets and I saw that there was a strong demand for physical and ‘hands on’ courses,” says Rob. “In my view there are far too many ‘demonstration’ type courses, where the producer is more of an observer, but not enough real one-to-one training out there. So we set out to address that and fill that gap. ”CowCoursesUK is using

One of the first to install the system, back in 2007, was Bristol-based NMR/ RABDF Gold Cup winning herd in 2010, Kingspool Holsteins, which is run by Michael and Chris King.

In the year prior to delivery, the pair had lost eight cows due to lameness during a 184-day period between August 2006 and January 2007.

They also had an additional 170 reported cases of lameness during the same 184-day period.

Based on average UK costs per incidence (this includes milk loss and all costs associated with one lame event) this equated to £37,000 expenditure to treat affected animals.

So the introduction of the system at Two Pools Farm was seen as essential for the future stability and commercial productivity of the herd.

“Our approach to lameness and its prevention was done as part of a regular trimming and treatment cycle at drying off,” explains Michael

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King. “If any of the herd were visually lame then, of course, they would be treated separately and quite often the vet would be called.

“But the overriding issue we faced was the fact that we were seeing too many cases of lameness and by the time we had identified the problem we were almost certainly facing significant costs to get the cow back to full health.

Strict protocol “We immediately saw the system’s potential as a solution to our lameness problems.”

The automatic detection system demanded that the old method of trimming and checking was scrapped and a new order of operation, centring on the results displayed by the computer readouts, was adopted.

And strict protocol was introduced to ensure that alerts from the StepMetrix were actioned in a structured way.

Michael and Chris worked with BouMatic to evaluate the system on a commercial

Dutch instructor Jan de Jong and he has appointed and approved all the other instructors – mainly ‘Category 1’ trimmers – who are taking courses. “And because I am a qualified NPTC assessor, we can award City and Guilds Qualifications for trimming, which as you know is the UK equivalent to a Dutch diploma,” adds Mr Doran. The company also offers dairy nutrition courses, delivered by a nutritionist with more than 20 years of experience. And Mr Doran and Mr De Jong are also qualified Cow Signals instructors, so courses to help you learn new skills and brush up on old ones in this area are also on offer.

Courses cost between £500 and £850, depending on their duration and length and the qualifiaciotn gained.

“They are available nationwide and we have a fully equipped mobile workshop, including crushes and all the necessary equipment. So providing we have a group of four or more people who want to do the course, we will go anywhere,” adds Mr Doran.

To find out more visit: www.cowcoursesuk.co.uk

UK-based dairy herd and a six-month trial period was agreed, which ran from August of 2007 to January 2008.

The system began the process of recording and measuring the 280-cow herd’s rear hooves for soundness after each milking.

And in just six months a saving of around £19,000 was made, based on the previous six months’ records.

“We were impressed – obviously – and the system has continued to be an invaluable asset to our herd management.

We’ve been able to reduce costs and improve efficiency,” says Michael.

“It has reduced our incidence of lameness by more than 50% and paid for itself in just 15 months.

“We have always strived to adopt best practice and improve animal welfare.

And I think that because we can demonstrate these improvements to our customers, we can also help to promote a positive image of modern dairy farming.” l

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01-06-2011 13:41:02

A

F E W

W O R D S

F R O M

RO G E R

E VA N S

Award winning columnist and Shropshire-based producer Roger Evans shares his ‘inward eloquence’ and his views on waste and sustainability. And his views on waste, sustainability and next summer’s cow-house refurbishment project.

Expletives and efficiency S

ome of life’s ‘stuff’ leaves me frustrated, like the neighbour who suggested that leaving the light on all night in the winter in the cow yard constituted light pollution.

There is an appropriate two word answer – the two most eloquent words in our language – but mostly I say those words inwardly and explain that I have to light the yards for the cows for animal welfare and farm assurance reasons.

When the farm assurance person asks if I leave lights on for the cows at night I say ‘yes’ and then (in all innocence) ask if I will have to put lights in the fields when they are out in the summer at night.

I have developed an inward groan to go with the two eloquent words.

I groan when I hear about ‘carbon footprints’. But it’s a title that can be ignored because what it really means is being more efficient and eliminating waste and we all strive to do that, I hope.

Just how wasteful is the present TB problem? I bet the Government, which wants us to assess our own carbon footprint, know exactly what the carbon footprint of the TB issue is, because when it comes to big and wasteful it doesn’t get much worse.

Hot on the heels of carbon footprint comes ‘sustainability’. So what’s that all about? It’s about common sense.

How sustainable is it to feed lots of imported protein when it has to be carted half way across the world?

How sustainable is it to continue to shoot unwanted black-and- white calves?

Closer to home our bottle neck is having all the cows milking at the same time. We are tight for cubicles and the loose house yard we have is not easy to manage, but perfect for calving cows.

I’d love a great big new cubicle shed but how sustainable is it to burden the farm with even more borrowing after what we’ve been through in recent years and given the state of the world financially. We’ve got 76 cubicles in old sheds with old fashioned Newton Rigg cubicles in them.

The cows were perfectly happy in them 30 years ago, so why not now?

We’re refurbishing them and if the cows are a bit big for them then we’ll breed smaller cows.

But we are still tight for space and I’ve started to run my eye over our old milking parlour shed, which has stood idle for nearly four years.

It’s about 10 metres square, is in quite a good place and could provide another 20 or 30 cubicles.

That may be a project for next summer. We could do it ourselves on wet days so it wouldn’t cost a fortune. It sounds like quite a sustainable idea.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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s i r e

r e p o rt

High-spirited Jocko son is CRV’s most exported bull for two years in a row

Popular Paramount D e l t a P a r a m o u nt

Delta Paramount recently produced his millionth straw of semen.

( J o c k o x Fa ta l ) Production proof: 19,231 daughters in 6,189 herds (source: Interbull/DairyCo breeding+ August 2011) Kg M % fat % prot. Kg fat Kg prot. PIN PLI +838 –0.17 +0.00 +18.3 +26.9 £38 £142 Longevity SCC: Fertility: Calving ease: Temperament: Milking speed:

+454 days 4 (average) 95 96 106 103

88

102

dairy strength

105

udder

109

feet and legs

109

total score

110

stature

100

body depth

101

angularity

104

condition score

99

rump width

102

rear legs rear view

104

rear legs side view

112

95

foot angle

104

locomotion

108

fore udder attachment

104

front teat placement

109

teat length

100

99

rump angle

92

udder depth

101

rear udder height

111

central ligament

109

rear teat placement

110

Longevity above average The breeding value of Delta Paramount – he offers more than 800 kg of milk – is meanwhile based on a good 19,000 daughters on almost 6,200 farms in the Netherlands (109 daughters in 66 UK herds).

The conformation score of Paramount is based on more than 10,000 daughters on a good 3,500 farms in the Netherlands.

Paramount scores 109 for udder and feet and legs. His longevity is above average at 454 days. His breeding value for fertility (95) is less strong.

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continues to be high, both in his native Netherlands and abroad.

H

98

chest width

udders and feet and legs, the popularity of this Jocko Besne son

text Inge van Drie

Conformation: 10,063 daughters in 3,589 herds frame

Thanks to a combination of large quantities of milk, and strong

D E C EM B E R

e’s 10 years old and just a short time ago he was given the title ‘millionaire’.

CRV celebrated the production of the millionth straw from Delta Paramount at the CRV Cow-Expo in Den Bosch in the Netherlands.

“That feels very special for us. Just compare it with how a dairy producer feels when he owns a 100-tonne cow,” says Wouter Steenhuis, unit manager for CRV in Giekerk. The production of the millionth dose is even more unusual, because a lot of sexed semen is sold from Paramount. More semen cells are needed for that than for ’conventional’ semen.

Despite his age, Paramount shows no signs of deterioration or slowing down.

“We’d like a barn full of bulls just like him. He is not an extremely large bull, but he is just well put together. There is still nothing wrong with his libido. He delivers twice a week and never ever fails, whether it’s a morning, noon or night collection,” says Wouter. “That is very unusual at that age and he is perhaps like his father Jocko. He was pensioned off at the age of 17.”

Although the staff in Giekerk have been looking after Paramount for six years, they still have to be careful, according to Wouter. “Paramount is a high-spirited bull, a bull that you’ve always got to keep an eye on.”

SiryX straws Now the daughters from the breeding period have calved in considerable numbers, many producers have used Paramount again. This year Paramount held fifth place in the list of CRV’s mostused bulls in the Netherlands. For sexed semen he even scores a top three position.

“Since his debut, Paramount has always been in the top 10 of the bulls most in demand,” says Gert-Jan van de Bosch, marketing coordinator of CRV. “For a while he has been the bull most in demand. In any case Paramount is the bull from which we have sold the most SiryX sexed semen straws.”

Gert Jan doesn’t have to think for long about the reasons for his popularity.

“Paramount is an old bull with modern figures. Just like Kian, he has also delivered the goods. With 99% reliability he continues to score highly for NVI and longevity. He produces cows with rockhard feet & legs, perfect udders and a lot of milk.”

Pop star Paramount is also used a great deal outside the Netherlands. “For two years in a row he has undisputedly been the bull most sold abroad. In 2010 we sold a good 100,000 straws from Paramount,” says marketing assistant Eric Elbers. “We have exported his semen to 50 countries.

Brazil and Germany are the biggest customers, followed by the US and Japan.”

He is particularly popular in Brazil, according to Eric. “After the Netherlands the most Paramount daughters are milked in Brazil. Manager of CRV Lagoa William Tabchoury says that Paramount is a pop star in Brazil. To begin with semen from Paramount was hardly available in Brazil. That scarcity created hype – everyone wanted to use it.”

There is also a lot of demand in the South American country for SiryX sexed semen from Paramount. Eric attributes the popularity of the Jocko son to the type of cow that Paramount sires. “Paramount

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Alger Meekma

Delta Paramount recently produced his millionth straw of semen

gives a cow with an average height, with a good udder, strong feet and legs and a lot of milk. That is precisely the type of cow that Brazilian producers are looking for.”

Pieter van Goor, head of CRV’s breeding programme, looked after him, as former Delta co-ordinator. “He was a fairly late Jocko son, but the best that there’s been.

So he’s proof that a bull that you use later as a sire of sons can still provide good sons.”

Pieter sees characteristics of his mother’s as well as his father’s side. His mother Delta Heart (sire Fatal) is descended via Delta Priscilla (sire Jabot) and Mascot daughter Etazon Vienna from Art-Acres Art-Acres Cleitus Tex B (Cleitus) Etazon Vienna (Mascot) Delta Priscilla (Jabot) Delta Heart (Fatal) Delta Paramount (Jocko)

Cleitus Tex B. From the same family also come bulls Delta Sparta, Art-Acres Patron Spock and Art-Acres Win 395. “This family provided sturdy cows with strong bones and udders. You see that coming back clearly with Paramount. It was not such a milk-rich family, while Paramount passes on the capacity to produce a lot of milk. The contribution of Jocko in that respect has clearly been great.”

At the CRV Cow-Expo in Den Bosch, CRV presented two Paramount daughter groups. Producers Bastiaan Vernooy and Arjan van Erp put the groups together.

What characterises the Paramount daughters according to Bastiaan? “They are sound cows. They stay trim in spite of their high productivity. What is striking is that they are very uniform. In the frame you occasionally come across a rather lighter or heavier cow, but the Paramount daughters always have good udders and good feet and legs. They are cows that, in spite of their enormous production, don’t attract attention in the barn.”

CRV showed a group of Paramount maiden heifers and a group of secondand third-calved daughters. “As maiden heifers, Paramount daughters are sometimes still a little hard,” Bastiaan says. “As they get older, they become

rounded off, softer. The udders and feet and legs remain good, even into later life.” Bastiaan himself also milks a number of Paramount daughters. “They are perhaps not at all fancy, but in productivity they stand out. When you speak to other producers, you will never hear that they are lacking in production.”

Bull father How his daughters perform is already known, but what about Paramount’s sons? CRV is testing 35 sons and meanwhile uses Paramount daughters as bull dams. In June 2008 CRV used his first son, in April 2010 the final one. It is expected that the oldest sons will get their first breeding values based on their daughters in 2012.

“Whether Paramount is successful as a bull father remains to be seen,” says Pieter. “It is certain in any case that he is an extremely valuable bull in our breeding programme. You don’t have many bulls like him. If as a producer you go for certainty, than Paramount is a good choice. You know precisely what you are getting.” l Look for a Delta Paramount film at www. veeteelt.nl

c o w ma n a g e m e n t

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT NEWS

Winners jet to sun Philip and Christine Kelsall from Wyreside Farm, St Michaels near Garstang, will be taking some time off for a European trip early next year, courtesy of NMR. As winners of the company’s awareness campaign, Philip and Christine received vouchers towards a holiday of their choice. The Kelsalls are planning to turn this into a family affair and take their three children too.

Philip, who with Christine runs the 300-cow Wrightington Holstein herd, entered the NMR awareness campaign at the Dairy Event in September.

He got all six questions connected with Johne’s disease and its control

measures correct and was the first name drawn from all correct entries placed through the show season.

Philip and Christine operate strict biosecurity measures on their unit.

“Many years ago I read an article about Johne’s disease and knew that it was something to keep well under control.

This was before Johne’s became more high profile,” said Christine.

NMR is continuing its Johne’s awareness campaign and a second European break is now up for grabs.

Producers can enter at www.nmr. co.uk/nmr-awareness-campaign-2011--win-a-european-city-break/.

Philip and Christine Kelsall receive their holiday vouchers – worth £800 – from NMR area manager Janet Simpson (left)

Latest 100 tonners The three top cows in the combined September and October lists of cows reaching 100 tonnes and ranked on their lifetime daily yields (LDY) are: 1. Wilderley Sman Bluebell, who produced 109,305kg of milk and is in her sixth lactation. She has a LDY of 33.49kg/day and belongs to the Higgins family, Pulverbatch, Shrewsbury.

2. Mansfield Sterling Kelly, who produced 108,505kg of milk and is also in her sixth lactation.

Her LDY is 29.90kg/day and she belongs to DRR & ME Stranger and sons Ltd, Westor, Shaftesbury.

3. Chalclyffe Lily Carnation GP84, who produced 107,480kg of milk and has a LDY of 29.55kg/day.

She is in her eighth lactation and belongs to J F Cobb and Sons, West Chaldon, Dorchester A full list of 100 tonne cows is published on the NMR web site.

Vets take InterHerd Forty vets got first-hand training in the new InterHerd+ system at the British Cattle Veterinary Conference in November. This brings the number of practices using the software to 150.

Improved analysis of performance data and new functions such as the direct download of disease test results, including Johne’s, is part of the new InterHerd+.

Chemist takes manager role Sam Fewings has been appointed as NML’s account manager. Part of NML’s business development team, she is responsible for managing the milk testing services for a number of NML’s processing customers.

A dairy producer’s daughter from Dunster, Somerset, Sam graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Bristol in July 2011.

“Many of my customers are based in the south west,” says Sam. “I am based at NMR’s Chippenham office, but travel to customers in the south west or to the NML milk testing labs at Wolverhampton and Glasgow.”

Sam has been showing cattle since

2012 diary

Sam Fewings

she was five and has won many competitions. She also won the CRC Press Prize at Bristol for her laboratory work.

The NMR herd management ring binder is as popular as ever. It’s a fail safe way to make sure everything is noted. “We have a growing number of new users every year – they always return for a copy the following year so it must work well!,” says NMR’s Kim Price.

Order copies now from NMR customer services, 0844 7255567.

Price: £23 plus vat.

For more information on NMR products and services contact customer services, 0844 7255567, NMR web address: www.nmr.co.uk, NMR email address: customerservices@nmr.co.uk COW MAN AG E ME N T

CM08_NMR news 33

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01-12-2011 15:19:38

b u s i n e s s

u p d a t e

Interest rates – there’s good and bad news

Mixed blessings What impact are the current low interest rates having on your business? And what’s the picture moving forward into 2012?

We spoke to the AMC’s Martin Waite to find out. text Rachael Porter

L

5 years

20 years

base rate

01-1

Figure 1: The Bank of England base rate and fixed rate money market interest rates since 2000

years of any qualifying loan. The organisation is increasingly finding that producers are taking advantage of the unique period of low interest rates to invest in systems that allow them to increase output and produce more efficiently. They see this as a strategy that enables them to benefit from the rising demand for their products while insuring them from rising input costs and fluctuating prices.

“Although a base rate rise is extremely unlikely in the short-term, borrowers should not assume that the base rate will stay at this exceptionally low level for the longer term,” warns Mr Waite.

“Base rates will eventually have to rise.”

He adds that short-term economic prospects might be uncertain, but for producers there is a very positive long term future. “Interest rates will not stay low indefinitely but their current levels present an unmatched opportunity for producers to build and strengthen their businesses for the future. And I cannot stress more keenly that producers should always seek professional advice from their accountant or professional advisor before making any key financial decisions.”

cow m an ag e m e n t

CM08_business update 35

10 years

7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0

0-’0 01-1 0 0-’0 1 01-1 0-’0 01-1 2 0-’0 01-1 3 0-’0 01-1 4 0-’0 01-1 5 0-’0 01-1 6 0-’0 7 01-1 0-’0 8 01-1 0-’0 01-1 9 0-’1 0 01-1 0-’1 1

interest rate

ow interest rates and a weak pound may be good news for producers, but the farming industry is not immune from the effects of a weak economy.

So says the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation’s regional manager Martin Waite. “Poor consumer demand has an effect on all parts of the economy.

Farming might be in a better position than other sectors, but it ultimately depends on the fortunes of consumers in the UK and elsewhere in the world.”

One plus for producers is that the continuation of low interest rates will benefit those looking to borrow to invest in their farms. “It is worth considering doing so sooner rather than later, while both fixed rates and variable rates are still relatively low,” he says.

As far as interest rates go: “The stuttering economy means that the Bank of England is likely to keep the rate at its historically low level of 0.5%. It wants to stimulate demand so it will be looking to keep rates on hold, focusing on injecting more money into the economy through another round of quantitative easing.”

Indeed Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets economists predict that the Bank of England bank (base) rate will remain at 0.5% until the end of 2012, with any increase expected in the first half of 2013.

“Fixed borrowing rates are not solely determined by the Bank of England bank rate,” adds Mr Waites. “The fixed rate cost of funds moves independently of the bank rate. Current predictions are that five and ten year fixed rates will increase during the next six months.”

There are some other advantages to investing at present. The AMC has secured a significant amount of funding from the European Investment Bank that enables AMC to offer a 0.8% discount on standard margins for the first 10

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F R O M

T H E

V E T E R I N A RY

S T E V E

P R A C T I C E

B O R S B E R RY

Vet Steve Borsberry, from Warwickshire-based 608 Farm Vets (a member of the XLVet Group), shares some tips on disease prevention and tackling health problems in dairy herds, drawing from his many years of on-farm experience. Here he takes a closer look at the problem of dense objects – such as wire – in the reticulum.

Tacks and nails are just some of the culprits behind ‘puncture’ problem

Hardware heartache W

ire, and heavy or dense objects that are accidentally swallowed by cows, will get caught in the reticulum – or the first stomach. Objects can include boluses and once in the reticulum they tend to stay there.

All may seem fine, until just after calving, when cows with wire in their reticulum may start to show clinical signs of a problem.

The bad news is that the reticulum is close to the heart – just 20mm away – and a cow straining to calve can sometimes exert enough pressure to push a wire through the reticulum wall and into the heart, the lungs or the liver.

Welding rods, nails, roofing tacks and bits of old tyre are just some of the objects that have been found inside the reticulum and can cause serious life-threatening injuries – sometimes sudden death. Even sharp splinters of wood can cause problems, but these tend to be less dense and pass through the cow’s digestive tract.

Typical symptoms or signs include peritonitis and weight loss.

Both can be treated with a magnet, which should be placed in the reticulum with a bolus gun. This is usually enough to pull the wire out of harms way, particularly if it’s just a partial puncture.

But it’s not easy to diagnose. Tell-tale signs include an arched back, grunting, and pain when the rumen contracts. If you think you may have a problem, try administering a magnet.

The encyclopaedia Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (Hardware disease) Cause Most typically wire in the reticulum, but can also be caused by other heavy (dense) objects, such as nails. Exertion by the cow can push the object through the reticulum wall and it can pierce vital organs.

Symptoms Most severe cases can result in sudden death. Peritonitis and weight loss are other symptoms and cows will show signs of pain and discomfort, including back arching and grunting.

Diagnosis Difficult to spot unless you’ve

seen it before. A process of elimination is required. If producers can’t see any other reason for the above symptoms, it’s a condition to consider and worth administering a magnet to see if that offers the cow some relief.

Prevention Keep silage pits and feed storage areas and passageways tidy and free of ‘dangerous’ objects. Degrading tyres on silage pits are the major culprit on UK dairy units. Magnets may also be given routinely at drying off as a precaution.

Treatment Again, magnets can help if there’s a known problem on a unit. But seek the advice and help of your vet if you think you have a cow with a wire. An operation may be required.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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F E E D I N G

At every stage of lactation rumen capabilities must be monitored

Future Herd offers lessons in rumen efficiency Northern Ireland-based Greenmount College’s dairy herd is maximising rumen efficiency and achieving forage dry matter intakes of more than 15kg, with an average yield of 8,100 litres of milk, at 4.34% butterfat and 3.41% protein. text Allison Matthews

38

W

hat rumen efficiency rules is the dairy team at Greenmount College, in Northern Ireland, following to get the most from its herd? The college’s ‘Future Herd’ is maximising rumen efficiency to achieve forage dry matter intakes of more than 15kg.

Greenmount’s dairy technologist Mark Scott explains how the emphasis is

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dry matter (%) crude protein (%) ME (MJ kg/DM) starch (%) intake value

first cut

third cut

whole crop wheat

41 15,6 12,3 — 115

39 13,3 11,7 — 108

58 8,2 10,3 33,8 —

Table 1: The Future Herd’s forage analysis

placed on maximising the potential from forage, starting with the transition cow diet before the cow calves. “Transition on to the milking cow ration begins two weeks prior to calving. When intakes are suppressed, a higher density diet is required to maintain condition and calf development. A total of 9.5kg of TMR dry matter provides sufficient

Rations must be balanced with forage to ensure optimum rumen efficiency

nutrients to meet the cow’s needs.”

Post calving, when the energy demands of the cow rise dramatically, producers may feel the need to fill the diet with an energy dense feed. Excessive concentrate feeding during this transition period can cause metabolic problems, such as displaced abomasums and acidosis.

“If good quality forage is available, forage intakes need to be maximised to enhance the profitability of dairy herds across the UK,” says Thompsons Feeds’ ruminant specialist Stephen Agnew. ”The Future Herd is achieving forage dry matter intakes of 13.5kg, 15.1kg and 15.5kg for the early-lactation, stale and high-yielding groups respectively.

This is in contrast to many units across the UK, which may be finding it hard to achieve forage dry matter intakes of more than 10kg.”

High intakes

The Future Herd is seeing dry matter intakes of 15.5kg

According to Mr Scott, the main reason for these high levels of forage dry matter intakes can be attributed to early lactation management and high quality forage. “After calving, cows in the Future Herd enter the early lactation group where they are fed 3kg of concentrate within a grass silage and whole crop wheat TMR. Concentrate is then built up through the parlour from 2kg on day one to 7kg at day 21. Cows then migrate into the high-yielding batch when they are 30 days in milk and achieving a daily yield of 30 litres.

“The cow should remain on a minimum feed rate until past peak yield and she’s either cycling regularly or back in calf. Therefore, depending on fertility performance, a minimum feed rate may be in place for anything from 60 to 100 days. At this point the ration should then be balanced to maximise yield. When the herd is fed to yield, concentrates will not be wasted

by overfeeding lower yielding cows.”

At Greenmount the milk production potential of the herd is reviewed on a monthly basis and parlour settings are adjusted accordingly to ensure that the rumen is utilised to its potential.

Key lessons For individual producers it may not be easy to achieve these targets set by the Greenmount herd but, as Mr Agnew explains, there are practical steps that all producers could take.

“The aim should be to replicate the performance achieved from forage by the Future Herd. A feed rate of 0.26kg of concentrate per litre of milk produced demonstrates what can be done with top quality forage when the ration is balanced to optimise rumen efficiency.”

“When working with poor quality low D-value forage, rumen bugs require large amounts of rapidly fermentable carbohydrate to stimulate microbial activity in the rumen.

“When these micro-organisms are working efficiently, forage fibre digestion will be improved. Feeding a concentrate high in wheat or barley is ideal for this type of forage.

“Alternatively good quality high D-value forage – more than 70 – will require slowly fermentable carbohydrate to slow down the rate of passage through the cow. This ultimately improves nutrient absorption, allowing the cow to take the most out of the forage available.”

With the rumen acting as the control room for the rest of the digestive system, it is vital that rations are balanced to improve feed rate per litre.

“With rising production costs it is vital this winter that rations deliver rumen efficiency and producers focus on forage utilisation. Feeding systems must ensure that rumen micro-organisms can operate at an efficient level,” adds Mr Agnew. l

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C O N T E S T

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE COVER – AND WIN! 1

V O L U M E 9 N O 1 J AN UA RY / F E B R UA RY 2011

2

IN THIS ISSUE

Choose your favourite cover and you could be in with a chance of winning one of three pairs of Bekina Steplite X Wellingtons, worth £40.

Our Christmas competition couldn’t be simpler. Just e-mail your entry and your postal address to: cm.office@crv4all.com by January 16, 2012. And – if the cover that you select gets the most reader votes – your name will be added to our prize draw. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you could be stepping out in a pair of warm and slip-resistant boots come the new year. So go on, see if you can spot a winner.

I N T HI S I S S UE

F E E DI NG

H E A LT H

MANAGEMENT

BREEDING

FEEDING

HEALTH

Advice on growing maize in marginal areas?

IBR – what to look for and how to control it

Tackling the ‘bottlenecks’ that hold back dairy production

First daughter proofs from genomically selected sires

Efficiency drive: more milk from the same feed

Urine test can predict – and prevent – milk fever

CM01_cover 2

28-01-2011 10:07:33

3

V O L U M E 9 N O 3 APR IL 2011

CM02_cover 2

03-03-2011 13:45:04

4

VOLUME 9 NO 4 JUNE 2011

FEED EFFICIENCY

HOUSING

Biosecurity: have you assessed Breeding to produce more milk the disease risks for your herd? from the same ration

A look at bedding options and ideas for ‘home’ improvement

CM03_cover 2

V O L U M E 9 N O 6 S E PT E M B E R 2011

MILKING

MANAGEMENT

Rotary robot: read about the first one in action

Good communication is key to successful staff management

FEEDING

7

VOLUME 9 NO 7 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011

INVESTMENT

How to ensure expansion plans pay 25-08-2011 14:15:34

07-07-2011 09:57:51

8

V OLU ME 9 N O 8 DEC EM B ER 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

GOLD CUP WINNER

CALF REARING

FEED EFFICIENCY

We profile the herd that came top in this year’s competition

Health, feeding and the impact of difficult calvings

Ration formulation is not all about chemistry

CM07_cover 2

MA S TI TI S VA C C I N E

Is there a place for it on your unit?

BRE E D I N G

C OMPETITION

Paramount ‘persists’ and makes Choose your favourite cover good on his promises and you could be a winner

11-10-2011 13:59:37

COW MAN AG E ME N T

CM08_Covercontest 43

HERD REPORT

Top ranking herd excels on simple grass-based system

CM05_cover 2

I N T HI S I S S UE

MANAGEMENT

Once is enough on one Welsh dairy unit

HEALTH

What are your forage options if Johne’s update: stocks are looking short? test helps to ID and control

03-06-2011 15:22:34

IN THIS ISSUE

F E RT I L I T Y

Better heat detection results in lower calving intervals CM06_cover 2

VOLUME 9 NO 5 JULY/AUGUST 2011

I N T HI S I S S UE

FEEDING

Liquid assets: tips on choosing the right feed Cm04-cover 2

20-04-2011 16:11:14

6

5

I N T HI S I S S UE

IN THIS ISSUE

HE A LT H

Select a winner!

VOLUME 9 NO 2 MARCH 2011

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01-12-2011 11:38:50

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BREEDING INFORMATION

Best bulls for fertility and grazing The cream of the crop from CRV AmBreed and the Grassland Alliance are available from Avoncroft.

The Manhatten legacy produces three of New Zealand’s top Jersey bulls to join the Avoncroft Grasslands line up.

Jersey bull Okura Manhatten is a sire that has had a huge impact on New Zealand Jerseys, but so far has had limited availability in the UK. In global demand for his extreme protein, super sire Manhatten provides the total package with production, type, udders and daughters that love to milk.

As a further mark of his enduring quality Manhatten is producing sons and grandsons of superior quality with new graduates Murmur, Pioneer and Dominic.

Okura Lika Murmur is a stunning new graduate who has become the undisputed breed leader on the New Zealand indexes.

His protein breeding value marks him out as a leader for the breed and with milk, low somatic cells, exceptional longevity, fertility, capacity, udders, and from the same cow family that bred super sire Manhatten, this bull is destined for great things.

His August UK Interbull figures are milk +335kg, fat +18.1kg +0.01%, protein +17.9kg +0.09%, PLI £178.

Canaan Nevvy Pioneer, who has a Manhatten as a maternal grandsire, has milk +226kg, fat +21.4kg +0.17%, protein +13.7 +0.09%, PLI £139 Crescent Man Dominic, whose sire is Manhatten, has milk +289kg, fat Murmur daughter Monahan

Kiwi classic Super protein and udders

The CRV Grassland Alliance catalogue

+19.1kg +0.07%, protein +15.6kg +0.08%. PLI £114. These three bulls are a must for producers looking for quality Jerseys.

So don’t waste this opportunity like so many did with Manhatten.

Profit is the focus of Extasy son Bagworth Kalumburu, who lifts protein, fat, and milk volume, as well as components.

Siring moderately sized cattle, Kalumburu is from a cow family of consistently highproducers over many lactations. His August UK Interbull figures are milk +77kg, fat +14.8kg +0.15%, protein +15.7 kg +0.17% PLI £128.

For your copy of the latest catalogue of all CRV AmBreed and Irish proven bulls suitable for grazing contact Avoncroft for free on 0800 7831880.

New Zealand has proven Holstein Friesian HSS Oman Megabuck who results from the perfect partnership of super sire O-Man with a world-class cow family overflowing in protein production.

Super protein and udders descending from Delta’s famous Holim Heidi cow merges with the best of O-Man’s commercial appeal. His August UK Interbull figures are mMilk +468kg, fat +11.5kg –0.08%, protein +18.8 kg +0.04% PLI £140.

HSS Oman Megabuck

Fidelity and Impuls top the list Fidelity and Impuls are the most used bulls in the Netherlands in the AI year 2010/2011 with genomically selected bulls making a big impact.

The top of the black-and-white list is dominated by O-Man sons Impuls, Cricket and Fiction until fourth-placed millionaire Jocko Besne son Paramount and fifthplace Willis son Bertil appear. For the first time genomics shout their arrival with Bertil son Ludiek Bluejay and Goldwyn son Newhouse GoFast making the top 15 places.

Delta Fidelity is again by far the most popular red-and-whitee bull with Aalshorst Pleasure and Topspeed Kodak new on the list and again for the first time a genomic bull, Camion Van de Peul, is placed at number 11.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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F E RT I L I T Y

Silent Herdsman is watching even more closely as the cows are stirring

While everyone is sleeping...

The bar is raised to new levels in heat detection devices with the introduction of Silent Herdsman version 2. As the system goes live and all current users are updated, one Scottish producer is well off the starting blocks and already reaping the benefits. text Karen Wright

E

mma Vance, from Sorbie near Newton Stewart, has already put Silent Herdsman version 2 through its paces on her family’s 150-cow pedigree Barledziew Holstein herd.

The story starts a year ago when Emma, who looks after the fertility management

46

of the herd, looked at where performance might be improved. “Our calving interval was hovering around 432 days and not really improving and we were getting more frustrated with the increasing number of cows being PD’d as negative,” she says. “We were doing all

the right things, using action lists and monitoring cows. We have all the cows and bulling heifers under one roof and we spent a lot of time checking for heats.”

Convinced that perhaps the cows, that were increasing milk production and had hit a 9,500kg average on twice-a-day milking, were not showing adequate signs of heat for long enough, Emma decided that a heat detection system was needed.

“The more continuous scrutiny of cows and heifers seemed a very good idea,” adds Emma. “We couldn’t give much more time to checking cows ourselves as we already have full workloads.”

Far-reaching In April 2011 the Vances bought 70 Silent Herdsman collars equipped with advanced movement detecting processors, the antennae and the PC processor.

“We put a collar on each cow post calving and some heifers and installed the antennae above the collecting yard – it picks up all milking cows and bulling heifers that are at the other end of the shed. It even reaches two grazing fields nearest the shed so bulling heifers could be managed outside if necessary.

The Vance’s Silent Herdsman system was updated with version 2 in October.

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02-12-2011 11:23:13

Emma Vance: “Electronic heat detection can lead to significant savings”

Improved sensitivity for monitoring movement and the ability to group cows are important new features on Silent Herdsman; the system developed by Scottish-based Embedded Technology Solutions, and sold through NMR. It uses advanced motion technology to monitor and record individual cow behaviour 24/7 and relays it to the farm computer.

“The improvement in sensitivity selection and the ability to group cows on the system means that producers can adjust the system to best suit their herd,”

says NMR’s Jonathan Davies. “It allows cows to be grouped in stages of lactation or lactation number, for example. And if one group is generally more active than another group, the sensitivity can be fine-tuned so that movement changes show up more clearly.”

“Version 2 is a big step forward,” stresses Emma Vance. “We quickly saw great advantages in customising the system to suit our herd.”

Emma has grouped cows on Silent Herdsman into ‘normal’ and ‘low activity’, and bulling heifers are in a group of their own. “With the low activity group we have set a lower, more sensitive threshold so that those tricky, quieter and silent heats are picked up without getting false alerts from normal activity cows,” she adds.

“And it’s a real advantage having the bulling heifers grouped on their own as Silent Herdsman now recognises when the overall behaviour of a group has changed. As a result, false alerts will not be generated if, for example, we’re foot bathing the bulling heifers.”

Another advantage that Emma cites is where one group of cows is housed and another is at grass. “If the grazed group has been moved to a field that’s further away (or broken through the electric fence) and the housed group’s behaviour has stayed the same then the system may think that the grazing cows are in season. However, with cows in groups, the system can recognise that this is not the case.”

Strong evidence Cows can now be grouped on Silent Herdsman according to their level of activity

There’s no way that Silent Herdsman is a substitute for good stockmanship though – in Emma’s book it’s an additional tool not a replacement. But

results during the past five months and the latest fine-tuning have convinced the Vances that this system works for them as an aid to fertility management, particularly in its accuracy and ability to pick up short or quiet heats.

And there’s tangible evidence – since using the collars 82% of cows presented to the vet were confirmed in calf and Emma is expecting this figure to be even better once the improvements in version 2, implemented in October 2011, kick in.

Prior to Silent Herdsman, only 50% of cows presented to the vet were scanned in calf.

Their vet David Campion, of the Priory Vet Centre, is actively involved in herd health and fertility at Low Barledziew.

“He immediately witnessed a significant increase in the number of cows PD’d positive back in summer,” adds Emma.

“He could see that the system would pay for itself in no time through improved heat detection and in its ability, combined with our records and observations, to pick up problems.”

Calving interval has already improved.

“I’ve compared the projected calving interval of a group of cows that has been served and checked for pregnancy in the past five months since we installed Silent Herdsman with its performance in 2010.

The calving interval has dropped by 20 days to an average of 412 days and I would hope that by next April it will have dropped further.”

Big savings Using a cost of £5 per day open, the improvement in calving interval so far would amount to a saving of £15,000 for the Barledziew herd. “While other factors will have contributed to our improved calving interval, based on these initial figures we will have paid for our Silent Herdsman system in six months,” Emma says.

“And the reduction in costly days open is not the only saving. We have been able to reduce our vet fertility visits from monthly to every six weeks as we can be more confident that the cows are in-calf.

“Our reliance on fertility drugs, such as prostaglandin, has also significantly reduced. Our target is a 390-day calving interval and we’re certainly heading in the right direction. This means that cows will calve more regularly, annual milk production should increase and we will have more surplus heifers to sell, above those we need for our own replacements.

So it’s a good news story all round.” l

CC O OW WM M AA N N AA G G EE M M EE N N TT SDEEPCTEEM MBBEERR 22001019

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02-12-2011 11:24:25

JANUARY 30, 2012 SPECIAL MAIZE Book your advertisement now! Deadline for reservation: January 23 Call: Julia Hughes, 01249 467224

Kraiburg Rubber for Passages & Parlours

Softbed Mattress and Cubicles

• Improves cow flow • Anti-slip • Improves claw health • Proven product over years of use

• 10mm seamless, reinforced rubber top cover • Outstanding comfort • Ease of cleaning minimises bacteria • Excellent durability in use for over 12 years

www.batchelorenterprises.co.uk info@batchelorenterprises.co.uk

48

Batchelor Enterprises Ltd Bulbarrow Farm, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0HQ

WM MAANNAAGGEEM MEENNTT OD E EM CCOOW SC EE P TC T O BM EBR BE /ERN R 2 O20V01E01M 9 B E R

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Tel: (0)1258 817801 Fax: (0)1258 817004 Mobile: 07831 454805

2 0 0 9

01-12-2011 15:25:06

RED GENETICS IN THE LIMELIGHT

“The red and whites are defitively more placid, have a better temperament and their feet and legs are better. They can also hold their own compared to the black-and-white Holsteins in terms of milk production, often offering a plus on milk, fat and protein.”

Mr. Weaver, dairy farmer at Villa Farm near Whitchurch in Shropsire

Three ‘red’ generations (from left to right): Beautiful-daughter Fatima, national Dutch champion Tulip daughter Flora and Andries daughter Florina

“Farmers can get outcross that boosts protein yield and some hybrid vigour by using red-and-white Holstein genetics.

Moreover, they’re more robust, muscular cattle than their black-and-white counterparts.”

Mr. van Goor, Head of Breeding Programmes of CRV

THE BEST IN REDS BY CRV: � OUTCROSS PEDIGREES � HIGH COMPONENTS* � GREAT BODY CONDITION � OUTSTANDING FEET AND LEGS � WORLDS LARGEST RED & WHITE PROGRAM * Red and white herd book cows in The Netherlands produce on average more than 28.000 kg in their lifetime with 4,55% fat and 3,58% protein!

www.avoncroft.com

Visit our global website www.global.crv4all.com to check if your herd needs some ‘red factor’.

ALL SALES INQUIRIES: FREEPHONE 0800 – 783 1880

BETTER COWS | BETTER LIFE

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30-11-2011 15:27:13 09:33:31 01-12-2011

C O N TA C T S

SHOWS AND EVENTS December 8: December 9:

Northern Ireland Winter Fair, Balmoral Showground, Belfast (N. Ireland) HHH-show, Zwolle (The Netherlands)

2012 January 3-5: January 12-15: January 23-25: February 25March 4: March 7: March 24-25: June 29-30: September 4-5:

Breath vapour hangs in the air – a sure sign that winter is here Picture: Harrie van Leeuwen

The Oxford Farming Conference, The Examinations Schools, Oxford Swiss Expo, Lausanne (Switzerland) 67th British Cattle Breeders Conference, Telford Golf and Spa Hotel, Shropshire SIA, Paris (France) Agro Nord Show, Års (Denmark) Expo Bulle, Bulle (Switzerland) All Holland Dairy Show, Zwolle (The Netherlands) Livestock 2012 (formerly the Dairy Event), NEC, Birmingham

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX C O N TA C T S CowManagement is published eight times per year by CRV Holding BV

Editorial team Chief Editor Jaap van der Knaap Editor Rachael Porter Phone 01394 270587 E-mail rachael.porter@virgin.net Editing, design and production Veeteelt Contributing writers Inge van Drie, Roger Evans, Ann Hardy, Louise Hartley, Allison Matthews, David 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. Fax 0031 26 38 98 839 E-mail cm.office@crv4all.com internet www.cowmanagement.net

Subscriptions CowManagement is available free of charge to customers of NMR, Avoncroft and Thompsons.

If you think you are eligible, please contact: National Milk Records, Customer Services, Skipton Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 4LG. Phone 0870 1622547 E-mail customerservices@NMR.co.uk www.isubscribe.co.uk

ADF..............................................................5 Alta............................................................10 Ambic.........................................................40 Avoncroft/Thompsons..................................2 Batchelor Enterprises...................................48 Bekina........................................................42 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica................52 Boer Housing Systems Ltd, De..............14, 40 Bolshaw......................................................42 Boumatic....................................................28 CBC............................................................14 Cogent.......................................................15 Cow Comfort.............................................44 Cowcare Systems........................................40 CRV............................................................49 Ecosyl.........................................................27 Enviro Systems............................................44

Farmplus.....................................................14 Fullwood....................................................25 Kraiburg.....................................................26 Lallemand...................................................41 Micron Bio Systems....................................34 NMR..........................................................51 Pfizer Animal Health...............................9, 36 Pfizer............................................................9 RE Buildings................................................44 Regent........................................................14 Semex........................................................32 Spermex.....................................................26 Spinder.......................................................14 Vervaeke....................................................34 Vétoquinol..................................................16 Wilson Agriculture......................................34

COMING UP

Advertisements Julia Hughes, NMR. Phone 01249 467224 Willem Gemmink, Froukje Visser P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands, Fax 0031 26 38 98 824 E-mail willem.gemmink@crv4all.com

Illustrations/pictures Photographs by Veeteelt Photography and Helen Shaw (page 11).

M a i z e sp ecial January/February (January 30, 2012) – It’s time to take a close look at cross breeding, a potential hot topic in 2012. Our special will focus on maize and we will feature a timely article about acidosis.

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 Holding BV for the opinions expressed by contributors. Whilst 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.

Printer Classic Printing Phone 01452 731539 ISSN 1570-5641

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DECEMBER

20 1 1

01-12-2011 10:03:32

Confirming Johne’s status in your herd should be this easy!

NMR’s Herdwise Screening program has been set up to provide you and your vet with a risk-based tool to control the spread of Johne’s disease on the farm.

For more information on NMR’s disease testing services call

NMR customer services 08447 255567 www.nmr.co.uk

information partnerships

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27/6/11 12:16:22 01-12-2011 15:28:55

UBRO YELLOW®

IS BACK. And there’s still work to do.

With bovine mastitis making a resurgence in recent years,1 and the disease now costing the UK dairy industry millions, the return of Ubro Yellow will be helpful to many dairy farmers working with their vets.

Given its broad spectrum of activity and considerable history of on-farm success, Ubro Yellow still has a contribution to make. When you’re next discussing mastitis diagnosis, treatment options and whole-herd management strategies, your vet may recommend incorporating Ubro Yellow into a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Reference: 1. www.dairyco.net/farming-info-centre/health-welfare/mastitis.aspx Advice on the use of Ubro Yellow or other therapies should be sought from your veterinary surgeon. Ubro Yellow contains penethamate hydriodide, dihydrostreptomycin sulphate, framycetin sulphate and prednisolone. Prescription only medicine. Withdraw milk from supply for human consumption for 132 hours after the last Ubro Yellow treatment. Further information available from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YS, UK. Email: vetmedica.uk@boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Date of preparation: Jul 2011. AHD6809. The advertisement is brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim, manufacturers of Ubro Yellow.

Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible)

www.mastitis.co.uk/ubroyellow

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