Cowmanagement januari-february 2016

V O LU M E 14 N O 1 JA NU A RY /FE BR UARY 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

B R E E D IN G

C A LF SIG N A LS

FO RA GE MAI ZE

New index has a role in battle against bovine TB

Tips and pointers to get your ‘babies’ off to the best start

Variety selection is key to growing and feeding success

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CO NTENT

FEATURES

Cow Talk Overalls off: clay pigeon shooting Roger Evans Business basics NMR Dairy Management News CRV Avoncroft Breeding Information ForFarmers Nutritional News/ Thompsons Nutritional News 42 Events and contacts 4 8 14 28 33 37 41

REPORTS

10 Team work is crucial to productivity of top-ranking herd 38 Move to New Zealand pays off for British dairying family H E A LT H

12 Antibiotic use at drying off FEEDING

16 Managing maize silage across the season/Beat the ticking colostrum clock BREEDING

26 Better fertility for greater efficiency 34 Index to help tackle bovine TB

Austin Knowles “Our success is down to team work” 10

Editor Rachael Porter Positive approach

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anuary can be a tough month for many reasons. Short days, cold and dark mornings, and frozen pipework – not to mention a touch of the postChristmas blues. And then this year, to top it all off, there’s quite a lot of what I think is nothing short of scaremongering about the dairy market.

I’ve spoken to several producers this month who are tired of the ‘milk price’ doom and gloom. They know things are ‘bad’ in terms of over supply and prices, and that we may not be at the bottom of the current downward spiral, but they really don’t want to read about it every time they look at the farming press or, indeed, social media.

With that in mind, our team of journalists and specialists will continue to do what we’ve always done – provide you with a wealth of interesting and practical and, above all, positive information on how to improve the efficiency of your business.

In this issue we do have an update on milk price, but with interesting news

about a ‘bonus’ scheme that’s been introduced by a Dutch co-operative to manage supply and push up the price it pays its members.

We also have timely articles on calf rearing that look at how to maximise the health and welfare of tomorrow’s milkers – right from day one. And tips and pointers on low, or no-cost, fixes that really can make a difference further down the line and reduce disease risk.

Managing risk is something that can be applied to all areas of the dairy business.

And it’s something that most of you are becoming pretty good at.

All businesses carry risk – our industry just seems to be faced with more challenges than most others at the moment.

But by continuing to strive to fine-tune management – trimming down those costs and improving health, fertility and efficiency – just think about what a good position you’ll be in when prices do start to improve. And they will. I just wish we could tell you when!

Main article Calf signals

Special Maize

Health Dipping vs spraying

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Brush up on ‘best practice’ when feeding colostrum to new-born calves

Selecting the ‘right’ variety to grow on your unit is key to maize success

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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What’s the best way to control digital dermatitis in your dairy herd?

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C O W

TA L K

Viable renewable opportunities

AD plant at Wyke Farms in Somerset

There are still viable renewable opportunities for producers, even in the light of recent government cuts. There are lucrative schemes available and an increasing number of producers are looking into renewable options to provide a stable, steady income, to reduce overheads, and to maximise sustainability credentials. And they’re looking to their peers for best practice guidance.

Whether you’re interested in biogas,

solar, becoming more energy efficient, or even energy storage, there are plenty of options for dairy units in this growing sector.

One of the most viable areas to benefit from is biogas, due to the abundant supply of slurry and manure. And there are many producers benefitting from anaerobic digestion (AD).

One of the UK’s largest independent cheese producers and milk processors has commissioned the second phase of

Maintaining rumen balance is key Increased use of low-cost cereals, plus maize silages with increased starch degradability, mean that efficiency is under threat, according to AB Vista’s Derek McIlmoyle.

“Rations containing higher than usual levels of rapidly fermented starch risk triggering sub-acute ruminal acidosis, unless that starch is properly balanced in the rumen,” he explained, adding that good rumen function and maximising the production of microbial protein (MP) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is critical to overall feed conversion efficiency.

However, MP and VFA production is only optimised when rumen energy supply (from carbohydrate fermentation) is balanced with enough nitrogen (from protein) to fully support the potential microbial growth.

“In most rations containing maize or wholecrop cereal silage, the challenge is to provide enough rumen degradable protein – and therefore nitrogen – to match the relatively rapid release of energy from starch,” said Dr McIlmoyle.

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“Only by getting this right can the starch be fully utilised by the microbes and efficiently converted into VFAs.” If insufficient nitrogen is available, or it’s too slowly released in the rumen, microbial growth is restricted. Excess starch ends up converted to lactic acid rather than beneficial VFAs, and a buildup of lactic acid means a risk of SARA. One option is to swap some of the cereal for feeds containing digestible fibre, such as sugar beet pulp or soya hulls.

Another is to improve the supply of nitrogen to the rumen. “In the past this has often meant adding urea to the ration, but its rate of breakdown in the rumen is considerably faster than starch and results in much of the extra nitrogen being wasted,” said Dr McIlmoyle.

“In contrast the latest controlled-release nitrogen sources, like NitroShure, deliver nitrogen at a rate that balances starch degradability in the rumen. In fact, it’s possible to increase ration starch levels to 25% without inducing SARA.”

JANUARY/FEB R U ARY

its biogas project. This plant now sends up to seven million cubic metres of its upgraded biogas back to the UK grid, adding to the annual supply of certified green gas.

The plant, at Wyke Farms in Somerset, has been producing biogas for a year and is expected to save up to 15 million kilogrammes of CO2 per year, providing 70 million units of certified green gas annually.

One unit equals one kilowatt-hour (1kWh), which roughly translates to be enough for the heating and cooking for more than 4,000 homes.

The AD plant converts 75,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste from the farm and neighbours into energy each year.

To find out more about the benefits of renewable energy initiatives, and hear from producers sharing best practice techniques, visit the Energy Now Expo on February 10 and 11, at the Telford International Centre in Shropshire. It’s free to attend if you pre-register online at: www.energynowexpo.co.uk or telephone 01293 854405.

Maize analysis Analysis of more than 3,000 maize silage samples has revealed how maize silages are feeding out this winter. “Compared to 2014/2015, we are seeing 2% lower dry matter on average and 1.7% lower starch. NDF and ME levels are similar to the 2014 crop, but the intake is lower,” said Trouw Nutrition UK’s John Allen.

He warned that there may be specific problems with later-harvested crops.

“The problem crops will be those that have a lower dry matter. To date, 15% of crops analysed have a dry matter below 23%, which is a far higher proportion than in a ‘normal’ year,” he said, adding that these wetter crops also have an increased fibre content and lower starch, indicative of the growing season.

“While the ME is reasonable, the intake potential is only 87% of the season’s average, so it will be challenging to get cows to eat target quantities. On a simple energy basis, 5kgDM intake of the average maize silage will require 17.2kg fresh matter and provide 57.5MJ/ day – equivalent to 11.5 litres,” he adds.

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M A I N

A RT I C L E

Timing, as well as quality and quan tity,

Pamper pens an With spring calving just around the corner, what better time to brush up on ‘calf signals’ and review rearing protocols to make sure your girls – and boys – get off to the very best start. We spoke to three calf specialists to find out more. text Rachael Porter

encourage her to eat at the same time as licking the calf.

Getting the cow eating as soon as possible after calving is also important.”

Critical window Mrs Smithyman likes to see producers adopting this method of feeding colostrum, not least because they can be sure that the new-born calf has had adequate colostrum in those first two critical hours.

“Some producers will still just leave the calf to get on with suckling the cow for colostrum but, even if you see the calf suckling, how do you know that it’s had enough? If you wait

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s far as calf rearing goes, there’s room for improvement on most units and it’s the small things – typically tweaks and changes that cost very little other than time – that can make the greatest difference. So says Mole Valley Farmers’ calf specialist Rachel Smithyman, adding that colostrum feeding is an area where many producers could up their game.

“Producers are well aware of the importance of colostrum, but many could do with injecting a little speed into the process. Time is of the essence, both in terms of taking the colostrum from the cow and feeding it to the calf.

Producers should be aiming to milk the cow within two hours of calving, because that’s when the colostrum is at its best quality with the highest concentration of immunoglobulins (IgGs). Aim to get between six and seven litres of good quality colostrum off her – provided, of course, she’s tested to be Johne’s free – and give between two and three litres to the calf straight away,” she says “And then store the rest in the fridge to be used for the next feeding.”

Minimise stress She admits that this is not always easy in practice, particularly if the cow calves at 2am. “But if the first thing to enter the calf is anything other than colostrum, calf health has been compromised from the word go.”

The solution here is what she calls a ‘pamper pen’ or a ‘cuddle box’ – a calving area design that gives easy access to the cow so she can be milked where she is, straight after calving. The pen may have a gate that can be drawn across, which acts as a ‘crush’, or it could be situated next to a feed barrier with a head yoke. “Remove the calf from the pen while you milk her and put it directly in front of her so she can see it. This will minimise stress and will actually facilitate milk let down. Placing some fresh milkers’ feed mix on top of the calf will

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quan tity, are critical to colostrum feeding

ns and protocols and then, maybe, top up with colostrum later on as an insurance policy, you’ve missed the opportunity to get the very best colostrum that the cow will produce and the chance to get it into the calf at the optimal time.”

After two hours, the amount of IgGs that the calf can absorb through its gut wall are greatly reduced.

To remove the ‘faff’ and make sure that protocols can be easily followed, whatever time of day or night the cow calves, she urges producers to look at their calving pens and facilities.

“It’s quite simple and inexpensive to set up practical and flexible facilities in an existing shed, using a few extra gates.

And the extra time spent doing this – and following the

colostrum feeding protocol – will pay dividends in terms of improved calf health and vigour.”

Carmarthenshire-based vet and certified CalfSignals trainer Rob Davies says that colostrum feeding is just one on a list of five ‘C’s’ that producers should pay closer attention to, when it comes to best practice calf rearing. “But it is at the top of the list.

It’s the best place to start as it lays the foundations for a healthy and productive life.”

Next on his check list are: ‘calories’, making sure they’re fed enough milk to support health as well as growth; ‘comfort’, which means a deep, soft and dry straw bed to burying into and good ventilation; ‘consistency’, because feeding calves at the same times each day reduces stress; and ‘cleanliness’, because it really is next to godliness, as far as calf rearing is concern. “I still go onto units where milk buckets and utensils are not thoroughly washed after every feeding. They really do need to be spotless. Bugs thrive in milk and I fear that too many calves are being fed a ‘soup of bacteria’ simply because ‘housekeeping’ isn’t as good as it should be.”

Fresh water Northumberland-based calf specialist Tom Spears highlights another issue, which can be easily fixed with minimal cost. “Many producers – at least 50% of those I visit – only introduce calves to water at weaning. But I like to see water – and concentrate – made available to the calf from birth,” he says.

Not only does this familiarise the calf with water and concentrates from an early age, even if they don’t show any interest in consuming it, but it also helps to avoid a check in growth at weaning.

So give all calves access to water, in particular, from day one. Some calves will drink as much as four litres a day by the time they’re a couple of days old.

While others won’t drink any for three or four weeks. But it’s there, if they want it.”

Another tip he shares when bucket feeding milk to calves housed in individual pens with two rings for water and creep feed buckets is to place the milk bucket inside the concentrate bucket at feeding.

“When the calf has finished drinking the milk and you remove the bucket, she’ll then dip her head back down into the concentrate bucket looking for more milk. She may well get a mouthful of concentrate and, again, this will help her to get used to solid feed and aid weaning.” l If you want to learn more about CalfSignals, or pick up more tips and pointers for successful calf rearing, visit cowsignals.com

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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O V E R A L L S

Name: Location: Herd size: Hobby:

O F F

Ivan Williamson Co Armagh, Northern Ireland 80 cows Clay pigeon shooting

Ivan Williamson: “It’s a great way to release any pent-up frustration”

Sharp shooter text Rachael Porter

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atience and timing – not lightening reflexes – are key to success when it comes to shooting clays, according to Co Amargh-based producer Ivan Williamson. And, as one of Northern Ireland’s ‘competitive shooters’, he should know.

“Lightening reactions less important – there’s more time to shoot a clay, once it’s in the air, than you’d think. Good eyesight is essential, of course,” he says, adding that the ability to completely focus are also vital. “You have just three seconds to hit the clay, so you have to concentrate hard on what you’re doing. If any other thoughts pop into your head as the clay leaves the trap, then you’ll miss your target.”

The fact that there’s a lot of ‘head work’, as he calls it, is one of the attractions of the sport for Ivan. He says that it really does help him to switch off and clear his mind. There’s no room for thinking about his 80-cow pedigree herd and dairy business when he’s competing, which is usually every Saturday. “I really look forward to it. I finish the morning milking and then my son Lewis, who also enjoys clay pigeon shooting, and I head off for the day. There’s usually a local shoot going on in the county most weekends.”

Ivan got into shooting clays in the mid-1980s. “But then my wife Elaine and I started to build a house and we had young children and I just couldn’t find the time,” he explains.

He picked up his shotgun again in 2013 and now it’s a hobby that both he and his 16-year-old son enjoy. “It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you hit a clay and it turns into dust. It’s a great way to release any pent-up frustration and it’s extremely satisfying. And it’s good to have a fatherand-son activity to share that we’re both really passionate about.”

The British Open and the International Clay Pigeon Shooting championships are being held in Northern Ireland this year and Ivan is keen to make the national team. “I almost made it in 2015 – there were 20 people selected and I was the twenty first on the list. My six best scores, during the past 12 months, will be added together and to qualify I need to average between 290 and 300 points.”

Not only can Ivan easily fit his passion for clay shooting into the busy day-to-day routine of running his family’s dairy herd, but it’s also relatively easy on his pocket. “Once you’ve bought a shotgun, a pair of protective glasses, and ear defenders, you’re only looking at buying cartridges every time you compete. Taking part in events costs around £25 a time and travel expenses are minimal, if you stick to local shoots.

“If you’ve not tried it, I really would recommend giving it a go.

It helps me to relax and unwind – no matter what’s on my mind. We could all do with some of that at the moment.”

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H E R D

R E P O RT

Skilled and dedicated team is key to herd’s success

Andrew Knowles Increasing yields are the result of good health, fertility and nutritional management by this progressive producer and his five-strong team of dedicated staff.

Herd size: Average yield: Calving interval: Employees:

If a job’s worth doing...

Malvern

One Worcestershire-based herd is going from strength to strength, steadily moving up NMR’s Annual Production Report

430 cows 12,160kg 408 days five (full time)

rankings. But management is geared up to maximise health, fertility and efficiency – high yields are a ‘happy’ side effect. text Rachael Porter

Beef calves: Belgian Blue semen is used on the flying herd to produce saleable offspring

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Top team (from left to right): Austin Knowles, Andrew Owczarek, Shaun Jones, NMR milk recorder Clare Colton, Chris Gowen and Freddie Coleman

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umping from 15th to eighth place in the latest NMR Annual Production Report rankings is no mean feat. But Austin Knowles, who runs the 430-cow herd with help from wife Faye and father Lawrence, says that pushing for yield is not something he sets out to do. “It’s not a driver for us and we’re not ‘reinventing the wheel’. Our aim is to manage every aspect of the herd to the best of our ability and to pay close attention to detail.

Good yields will always follow if we get everything else right.”

And that efficiency is something that Austin says he couldn’t achieve on his own. He’s extremely keen to stress that much of the herd’s success is down to the hard work, dedication and skill of his five-strong team, headed up by herd manager Chris Gowen.

“The ideas are ours, but it’s the team that carries them through and helps us to manage the herd to the high standards that we’re aiming for. They are extremely dedicated. This is vital and the key ingredient to making the whole set up work.”

The set up, or system, is a flying herd, based at Hollings Hill Farm near Malvern, which is milked three times a day and calves all year round.

Impressive yield The herd’s average yield, to September 2015, was 12,160kg of milk, with a combined fat and protein yield of 864kg, at 3.81% fat and 3.29% protein. Milk is sold to Muller.

The herd is fed a TMR during the winter, formulated with help from nutritionist David Balls. This comprises grass and maize silage, caustic wheat, chopped fodder beet, a 28% protein blend, golden flake and minerals, which supplies

Tasty treat: chopped fodder beet forms part of the milking herd’s TMR ration

maintenance plus 38 litres. “The ration really makes the difference on this unit.

We do have some good genetics in the herd, and the quality of the ration allows us to tap into that potential without compromising health, fertility and longevity.

“But we’re not breeding for yield or anything else for that matter – it’s a flying herd. We buy our replacements, predominantly, from Denmark through Livestock Solutions.”

Beef sires And there are no plans to rear his own replacements. “We used to breed and rear heifers, but eight years ago we had a serious outbreak of TB and lost a large batch of freshly calved heifers that we’d reared from calves. During a 12-month period we had a significant number of reactors and it was heart breaking to lose all that potential after the hard work and investment of rearing them.

“That’s when we decided that we’d buy in replacements instead and, so far, it’s working well for us. I’d go as far as to say that rearing young stock is a distraction from the main dairy business. I like looking at young stock, but I’m glad that I don’t have any.”

Instead Belgian Blue semen is used across the entire herd, which has a calving interval of 408 days. “That’s a figure that’s improved since we began using Genus’ RMS, in October 2013. We need 35 pregnancies a month to maintain a level milk supply for our buyer. And, again, handing the responsibility of reproduction over to a skilled contractor frees up more time to focus on other aspects of dairy management,” says Austin.

All calves are sold privately, at between two and six weeks old. “And I get

good prices for them – they’re top quality calves.”

Grazing is also key to the herd’s productive and profitable success. Come mid-May, all in-calf cows and heifers are turned out and rotationally grazed on a paddock system until the end of October.

Fresh-calved high yielders remain in the unit’s sand-bedded cow house and are fed a TMR until, they too, are back in calf.

“Sand beds are the gold standard as far as cow comfort and welfare are concerned.

We can’t turn them out at that point in their lactation because grazing simply wouldn’t provide enough energy and other vital nutrients to support early lactation milk production and facilitate them getting back in calf,” explains Austin.

Ultimate goal Close to 90% of cows are served at 60 days post calving. “We could push the cows harder but I’m not sure it would be economical – managing cows on a knifeedge can bring higher vet bills and replacement costs.”

A job well done not only makes for a productive and profitable business – vital if Austin is going to achieve his ultimate goal of expanding the business sufficiently to accommodate his children, should they choose to join when they’re older – it’s also great for staff morale.

“My team is integral to the success of the herd – without them we wouldn’t be where we are today and still improving.

“I’m really a figure head and they’re the ones that make it happen. I know I can rely on them to milk and manage the herd to my standards. They care about the cows as much as I do and they also know that they can rely on each other to do a good job.” l

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H E A LT H

Could you, and should you, cut down on antibiotic use in dry cows?

To treat, or not to treat?

The blanket treatment of cows with antibiotic at drying off is firmly under the spotlight. NMR vet Eamon Watson reassures producers that there’s no need to panic – particularly if they have access to herd level data and accurate individual cow records so that, with their vets, they can make welljudged decisions. He answers some key questions. text Karen Wright

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he rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in public health is a major concern. Although AMR is not new, the concern is that resistance is now occurring in some antibiotics that need to be preserved as the last line of therapy for treating human patients, according to NMR vet Eamon Watson. “We all have a part to play in the responsible use of antibiotics to help reduce the threat posed by AMR. This includes the use of antibiotics in livestock, pet animals and farmed fish, as well as antibiotics prescribed to people.”

“Arla suppliers now have to work with their vet to put in place a plan for SDCT and demonstrate responsible antibiotic use. Medicine use in general is high on the agenda for many milk buyers and retailers, and it can be expected that the practice of SDCT will become increasingly important during the next 12 months.

“The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) is continually active in promoting best practice for medicines use and it has recently updated guidelines on the use of antibiotics in dairy cattle.”

Why are many producers now making the move to reduce antibiotic use?

“Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) is now at the forefront for a number of herds due to the positive step to reduce antibiotic use being taken by Arla in its pan-European Arlagården standards.

So all producers are likely to have to move towards a more measured approach to antibiotic use, particularly at drying off?

“Yes, but it’s not just about cutting the usage of antibiotics – it’s about the wider picture of responsible use and being selective in treatment. For SDCT this

means no antibiotic is the norm and only treating those cows that have evidence of infection. Antibiotics have their place.

We need them to treat sick animals, but we must use them responsibly and correctly.

“The use of antibiotic dry-cow therapy was an important part of the five-point plan in the 1970s when contagious mastitis pathogens (those that pass from cow to cow) were dominant. Antibiotic dry-cow therapy has helped to reduce average bulk tank cell counts from more than 500,000cells/ml in the early 1970s down to around 180,000cells/ml now. But the situation has changed, hence the new approach to DCT.” Is the way relatively straight-forward with good records and meaningful data?

“Yes, definitely. SDCT is evidence-based decision making and the better the

All producers will move to a more measured approach to antibiotic use, particularly at drying off

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evidence you have, the more confident you can be in having a successful outcome. Gathering data at both herd and cow level is important. Regular and repeated individual cow SCCs and accurate mastitis records are essential.

Don’t forget that it is still necessary to pay attention to the environment, the milking routine and general herd health to stay on top of mastitis and milk quality management.”

How easy will it be for producers to reduce antibiotic use and, particularly, DCT? “Some producers have been doing it successfully for years and they’d tell you that it’s easy! Others will be taking cautious first steps. The key is going to be working with your vet. Look at your mastitis management and milk quality data, and assess the risk factors for your farm. Every unit and herd will be different – it’s not a case of ‘one size fits all’. There’s plenty of information out there, but work with your vet to produce a plan that’s tailored to your herd.”

Are there other on-farm benefits?

“Aside from the economic saving of not using unnecessary antibiotics, there is good evidence that using DCT in healthy cows actually increases the risk of mastitis in the next lactation.”

So what should producers do now to decide if they could opt for more selective antibiotic use on dry cows?

“Firstly, make sure they have good milk records and also work with their vet. I’ve said ‘no rule fits all’ but in general, those with a herd average SCC of 200,000 cells/ ml or less should be well placed for selective antibiotic use at drying off.

That doesn’t exclude herds with a herd average SCC above 200,000 cells/ml, but these herds need to be looking at mastitis control and milk quality improvements in the first instance.”

NML has developed a Selective Dry Cow tool that pulls all the herd level information and analyses together. What can this be used for?

“The tool has been developed to support vets and producers in mastitis management and to help with their decision making on SDCT. It brings together herd level information on bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC), individual cow somatic cell count (ICSCC) for those recording with NMR and clinical mastitis records.

“The tool is designed to present the key information for discussion between the vet and producer. This is important because it is a starting point for active mastitis management and for continuous monitoring of the herd for SDCT.

Eamon Watson: “Selective dry cow therapy must be based on good evidence”

“The tool is available to all producers through Herd Companion and it is constantly updated with the latest results.”

And on a typical farm, that takes advantage of the data and is suited to SDCT, how much would you expect them to reduce the use of DCT? “I’d advise against setting a target. The important thing is to tread carefully at first and, as your experience grows, you can review your thresholds. But with experience, many herds can reduce DCT to less than 50% of the herd, and frequently less than 25%. Those producers that are well down the path of SDCT see it as a positive step. For them it is ‘business as usual’.” l

NML’s Selective Dry Cow tool analyses the data and provides a good starting point for monitoring the herd for SDCT

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Producers must think ‘public bar’ when buying inputs, says Shropshire-based producer and awardwinning columnist Roger Evans. Loyality and ‘lounge bar’ luxury are a ‘no go’ for the time being.

Cost checking E

verything in life is relative and, compared to a lot of dairy producers, I think we get a good milk price. But compare my milk price with that received by producers on retailer contracts and then it’s not such a good price.

I don’t want to see their price come down – I want to see mine up a little more and closer to theirs. That said, there’s nothing that anyone can see in the foreseeable future that will move anyone’s milk price up in this calendar year. In fact there are quite a few signs out there that indicate that if there’s a significant spring flush of milk, prices will be under pressure to come down even more. And we all know that a big spring flush has a carryover effect on the market that can continue well into the autumn.

So, what’s to be done about it? Honest answer – nothing. There’s nothing that any of us can do, individually that is, to move the price of milk up. We have to hit all our targets on our own contracts.

We must ‘tick all the boxes’, as they say, to make sure that we see bonuses for low cell count, high butterfat and protein content and good forecasting. But if we want to remain in dairy farming, and most of us do, then we have to look at the cost of our inputs.

I know there are lots of family-run herds that produce less than one million litres, but I’ll use it as a yardstick because it makes my arithmetic easier. If you produce a million litres, then every £10,000 you save a year is equal to a penny a litre. I get fed up with commentators telling me that, so in a way I’m putting myself in the same category.

If we have a fault, as milk producers, it is that we tend to be extremely loyal buyers. Loyalty is a luxury we can no longer afford. We have to question everything we buy and where we buy it from. Sometimes a supplier will give you a good deal to entice you to become a new customer, and then try to sneak the price up. If they do that then I’m afraid you will just have to move to another supplier again. Question everything that you do.

We’ve used sand in our cubicles for several years, but this year we had plenty of straw that was of little value so we went back to using it as cubicle bedding. We had a month when our cell counts were a little bit higher than we would like, but David soon got them back down and they’re fine now.

In winter 2014/2015 we spent more than £500 each month on sand, so that means that we’ve made a considerable saving on bedding this year.

As an industry we tend to buy ‘retail’ and sell ‘wholesale’. And that brings the cost of inputs and the value of sales far too close together.

There was time when pubs had a clear division between what they called the lounge bar and the public bar – and drinks were always a bit dearer in the lounge bar.

We have to take our dairy producer buying habits into the public bar, where it’s a bit cheaper. That could be no bad thing. You rarely found anyone in a lounge bar who would help you cart bales.

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F E E D I N G

Managing maize silage across the season means better forage utilisation

Monitoring and managing Growing, ensiling and utilising maize silage on his mixed cowand-goat dairy unit is an on-going, year-round job for one Dorset-based producer. And he says that the work certainly isn’t done once the crop is off the field and in the clamp. text Emily Ball

M

onitoring the changing feed characteristics of maize silage during storage means that Dorset-based Lee Ford can manage and efficiently utilise the crop throughout its lifetime.

He milks a 280-cow, all-year-round calving herd – currently averaging 9,500 litres – as well as 1,800 dairy goats,

16

Lee Ford: “Maize silage is a key ingredient in both the dairy cow and goat rations”

at Ilsington Farm in Tincleton near Dorchester. And he has always seen high quality forage as a vital to the success of the business.

“The goats eat the same forages as the cows and, as they are incredibly susceptible to listeria and other mycotoxins in the silage, we’ve always

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had to be on the ball with every aspect of managing forages,” he explains.

“We pay close attention to harvesting techniques, clamp management and feeding out to ensure that the forages reach the animals in the best possible condition. And, of course, this means that the cows benefit too.

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Tidy face: Lee pays close attention to clamp management to protect his investment and reduce waste

“The goats’ nutritional needs are pretty similar to the cows’, although we do feed them some extra yeast and protected fat. In fact, we’ve been able to transfer some of the knowledge we have about feeding our goats for milk constituents, to help meet our cows’ milk buyer’s recent requirements.”

Dry conditions In 2015 Lee planted 73 hectares of maize in May and, although the crop got away well, it suffered from the dry conditions on farm in the spring. Much of Lee’s maize-growing area is on dry, sandy soil and, although the area was flat lifted about two weeks before planting, the crop really suffered from the lack of rainfall.

He worked with ForFarmers’ Jim Abbott to select the most suitable maize varieties for the different soil types he has. “We do have mixed soil conditions, from relatively wet clay areas to the dry sandy ones, but in 2015 spring was exceptionally dry,” explains Lee. “The crop did pick up towards the end of the season, but it wasn’t an easy year for maize here. Combine this with the challenging milk price and it’s even more crucial to maximise maize utilisation to drive milk yields.”

Lee harvested 20 hectares of maize early, at the end of September, in order to meet his Basic Payment Scheme requirements, but knew the crop would have a chance to ferment well in the clamp, as he still

had about a month’s worth of the previous year’s crop available to him.

The rest of the maize was harvested at the end of November.

“The early crop was a bit green and wet, but I knew we could balance that with a higher dry matter grass silage or the straw we put in the diet,” he says.

“We harvested quickly and efficiently, sheeted the clamp up well and didn’t touch it until late October.”

Maize silage is analysed every six weeks or so across the winter, to give a full understanding of its nutritional content.

By comparing key feeding characteristics of samples taken from the early maize clamp in early November 2015 and early January 2016 – using SilageManager Dry NIR analysis, which gives more consistent and accurate results – the changes in the feeding characteristics are easy to see (see Table 1).

Increased degradability The sample from mid-November shows 26.7% dry matter, an ME of 11.6MJ/kg DM and starch at 29.5%. The pH is 3.9 and lactic acid is 6.3%. By the time the sample was retested six weeks later, dry matter had increased to 30.5%, ME had risen to 11.7MJ/kg DM and starch levels had risen to 29.8%.

The second sample also showed pH levels had fallen to 3.7 and lactic acid levels had risen to 7.2%.

“The starch degradability of the maize silage has increased during that

Table 1: Dry NIR analysis of silage samples taken at Islington Farm

dry matter (%) ME (MJ/kg DM) starch (%DM) pH lactic acid (%)

sample taken mid-November 2015

sample taken early January 2016

26.7 11.6 29.5 3.9 6.3

30.5 11.7 29.8 3.7 7.2

period, with resulting benefits to milk production,” explains ForFarmers’ Dominic Paterson. “But these changes also increase the risk of acidosis and rumen health issues.”

Lee manages this changing degradability and pH by adding straw as additional long fibre. He uses a straw chopper with two sets of blades, to chop straw to the optimal length to avoid sorting, and includes straw in the diet of both cows and goats.

Nutrient utilisation “When the maize is first fed, straw is included at a rate of about 0.5kg per cow per day and this rises to about 1kg as the maize silage spends more time in the clamp.”

The introduction of additional long fibre is a good way of managing highly digestible and high acid feeds. Put in its simplest terms, it slows the passage of feed to the rumen, allowing for greater nutrient utilisation.

Straw also provides a ‘scratch factor’, which increase cudding and saliva production. Both help to increase rumen pH. Lee also adds about 1.5kg per cow of soya bean hulls to further improve rumen health and milk quality.

Although grass silage is playing an increasing role in the dairy ration, Lee believes that the high energy and starch content of maize silage, and the push for high milk constituents, means it is irreplaceable in the diet.

“This year I’ll be planting the same area of maize and looking at earlier maturing varieties. You do need to manage the crop well to make sure you utilise its full potential, and I’m looking at some precision farming techniques to help me manage our dry conditions here better, but for high yielding dairy cows it can be an excellent performing feed.” l

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M A I Z E

S P E C I A L

Managing risk: why it’s vital to match maize variety to your unit’s conditions. Page 20 More maize: increased hectarage is key to feeding a block-calved herd. Page 22

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M A I Z E

S P E C I A L

Pointers on minimising risk and maximising starch and energy yield

Calculate your heat units The variable 2015 maize crop highlights that risk management should be built into to more maize growers’ strategies and underlines that selecting varieties that are suited to growing conditions is vital. We spoke to two leading forage experts to find out more. text Phil Hainey

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ariable quality maize silage resulting from 2015’s difficult growing season is proving a challenge for many UK producers, particularly with the on-going wet winter weather now adding another layer of complexity.

“The previous year, 2014, was really good for growing maize but the cold spring and summer, as well as a late harvest in 2015, caught many growers

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C OWMANAGEMENT

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out and this resulted in a wide range of feeding values now sitting in clamps up and down the country,” says dairy nutritionist Martin Attwell.

“Maize was generally late to mature leading to crops lower in dry matter than producers would have liked. Most crops were between 25% and 30% dry matter, rather than the required 30%.

“This has resulted in acidic fermentation with some of the lowest values at around

JANUARY/FEB R U ARY

pH 3.5 requiring considerable buffering to prevent acidosis and low butterfats.”

He adds that, on many units, maize cobs were ripe but diluted by ‘big green plant’ yield: “So overall contribution of starch to the diet is much lower this year compared to the 2014 crop.

“Trouw Nutrition’s average starch content for 2015 maize forage at the start of winter feeding was 30.8%, but this hides a wide range of values with the

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“This means digestibility is higher than 2014, with crops showing an average D-value of 73.2 compared to 71.5. One unit of D value is worth 5% of animal production, so this year’s crops are really good.”

That said, he stresses that producers must be aware of exactly what they have in the clamp as winter feeding continues and be prepared to make changes to rations to avoid problems.

“With an extended harvesting period you’re always going to get variability and not only from clamp to clamp but also within the same clamp, depending on when it was filled and the quality of the crop that was ensiled.”

Regular analysis

Ripe cobs: many forage maize crops were diluted by ‘big green plant’ yield

lowest at just 7.3% and highest at 48%.”

Grainseed’s technical director Neil Groom agrees and adds that a wide variety of energy values exist on-farm with producers growing earlier maturing varieties, such as Remington, Bodyguard and Ballade, having the best quality maize silage.

Heat units “Across the UK as a whole, heat units were around 7% short of where they needed to be. By contrast they were 8% higher than the 30 year average in 2014.

Some of the more marginal areas for maize production got nowhere near the required 1,200 heat units for the crop,” he explains.

Those that had a crop that ‘finished’ properly have actually ended up with pretty good feeding material. “And although, across the board, actual starch contents are down, the quality of starch is better. The previous year’s crop was characterised by hard glassy starch whereas this year the grains are not as hard and the starch more accessible in the rumen.

Martin Atwell says it’s important for producers to carry out regular forage analyses because starch degradability will increase. “Producers must monitor changes in their forage and adjust rations accordingly during the next few weeks to account for the extra starch availability to the rumen and small intestine.

“If different varieties have been clamped separately, make sure an analysis is done before feeding and allow a 10-day changeover period, from old to new, when changing clamps.”

Where producers are struggling with wet maize, the winter’s persistent rain on open clamp faces hasn’t helped.

“In many cases, the high water content of forages has created intake issues and this means that troughs need to be regularly cleaned out to prevent a build up of ‘spoilage’.

“Keeping the sheet tight to the edge of the clamp with gravel bags is important in wet weather, as is making sure no air can get underneath the sheet. It’s also a good idea to check for vermin damage on the clamp because holes will create further spoilage.”

Looking forward, Mr Atwell says that the main priority is to carry out a monthly stock take and budget the remaining maize tonnage accordingly. “Maize is a very useful buffer for spring grass and provision should also be made for maize in the autumn for dry cow feeding.”

Neil Groom says producers must strive to make full use of farm forages in the future but this will require a change of mindset to include managing risk as well as simply maximising yield.

“The past 12 months have been a learning curve for many maize growing producers, with some valuable lessons learned – particularly with regard to the ideal

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Neil Groom: “Digestibility for the 2015 crop is higher than in 2014”

maturity group for units, in light of the more variable growing conditions that we seem to be experiencing now.”

The objective for every maize grower has got to be the harvesting of a crop at 30% dry matter with full maturity being achieved. “Overall yield is actually secondary – you have to get optimum starch lay-down and maximum energy to drive milk production. And the only way you can achieve that is by selecting a variety that you know will finish on your individual unit’s growing conditions.

Risk management “The best early or very high yielding varieties, such as Bodyguard, now deliver yields to rival the best high yielders. So gambling on a later variety to finish properly and lay down that all-important starch in a difficult year is really a false economy.”

He adds that the next step is to make management decisions that add more consistent production into the equation.

“The starting point is being realistic about heat units. Work out what you think you have and then reduce it by between 5% and 10%. That way you’ll be choosing varieties that in all, but the very worst, years will finish and produce the all-important energy you need for your cows.

“If you’re in a marginal area, consider starting the crop under plastic next year – the extra costs are usually worth it. And always invest in the crop up-front, in terms of nutrition, removal of weed competition and quality of seedbed.

“While 2015 wasn’t the best of years for maize production, it was far from the worst. The contrast between the past two years is an opportunity for producers to learn from experience and build risk management into their long-term maizegrowing strategy.” l

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M A I Z E

S P E C I A L

Clamp management: face width has been reduced to 10 metres

Variety selection is crucial to maize crop – and winter feeding – success

Pointers for maize success Switching from all-year-round calving to an autumn-block system has been made easier by growing and feeding more maize silage, according to one Cornwall-based producer. He told us more about how he manages his increased crop. text Phil Eades

A

greater dependence on maize silage means that close attention to variety choice is even more important to produce sufficient and high quality forage for producer Kevin Bloomfield.

He runs the 89-hectare Choon Farm, on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, and has grown maize for several years.

But now the crop is taking on a greater significance since he switched to block calving his 130-cow herd.

The move from all-year-round calving was designed to simplify the overall system and to improve the use of grazing, as well as increase milk from forage. The farm is prone to drying out and grass can be in short supply in the late summer.

“By calving from August onwards we

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can bring cows straight onto winter rations and move them out to grass in the spring when they are safely in calf,” Kevin explains. “They will be drying off as grass runs short.

“Our aim is to feed a consistent diet at peak lactation and while cows are being served because this is easier than having to manage variable quality grazing, as was often the case when we calved all year round.”

maize production to allow feeding all year round.

In 2015 Kevin grew 13 hectares of maize, an increase on 2014’s cropping area, and in 2016 he plans to grow around 16 hectares.

“This year we harvested 600 tonnes of maize silage and this means that we will have some for buffer feeding, as well as silage available to feed to fresh calvers in August and September, before we can add the 2016 crop to rations.

“Because we are growing a greater proportion of maize, we must be sure to maximise the tonnage of quality feed available and that it can be harvested in time. This makes variety choice a crucial management decision.”

Kevin adds that it is also important to get maize planted early, so he is looking for good early vigour. He also needs an early maturing variety to ensure that the crop dries down quickly. He says that, being close to the coast in Cornwall, he sees very little ‘drying down’ of maize after midOctober.

“We won’t consider anything later than maturity class 10, but we also want a variety that will deliver good yields of high quality silage with a high energy Kevin Bloomfield (left) and Alan Moore: “Variety selection is key to success”

Winter ration A TMR, comprising maize and grass silage, fodder beet, barley and a 40% protein blend, is fed in winter. In previous years maize was not available when the cows were housed, so the diet would initially contain higher proportions of grass and fodder beet. The aim now is to increase

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dry matter (%) D value (%) ME (MJ/kg DM) starch (%) starch degradability (%) intake potential (G/kg ML)

28.5 73.3 11.6 31.4 74.7 102.4

More-ish maize: increased hectarage allows Kevin to feed this forage to his herd all year round

Table 1: Choon Farm LG Glory analysis 2015

content and good starch levels. We used to grow three or four different varieties at the same time, but I think that the fields being used have far more influence on how the crop will perform and from now on we will grow a single variety each year.”

Top-ranked variety Variety selection is discussed with ACT’s Alan Moore and he explains that, after trialling the variety in 2014, Kevin now grows an LG variety called Glory exclusively.

“Two years ago a proportion of the crop we grew was Glory, as it meets all our criteria. It offers maturity class 10 and scores 7.5 for early vigour, combined with high starch content and excellent fibre digestibility,” says Alan. “It is the topranked variety for starch yield and produces high dry matter yields. And it’s fourth highest on the BSPB/NIAB List for ME yield.”

The variety was drilled on May 15, which is typical for the farm, and harvested on October 11 before being added to the herd’s TMR from early November.

“The crop looked good for the year and was all ready to cut. The plant was a little green, but the cobs were a good size and had ripened evenly,” he says, adding that, most importantly, it analysed well (see Table 1).

Kevin focuses on making the best quality forage and minimising waste. The maize clamp has concrete side walls and the forage is covered with an oxygen barrier and plastic sheeting.

To reduce aerobic spoilage the crop is treated with Ecocorn. “I don’t think you need an additive to encourage more rapid maize fermentation but we want to keep the face cool, particularly in the summer.

There is no point investing in feed and then wasting it. We have also reduced the face width to 10 metres to help reduce spoilage,” he adds.

“By focusing on variety selection we can ensure that we produce a high quality feed to act as the foundation of our feeding system and not only right through the year but also, particularly, in the crucial early lactation period.” l

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B R E E D I N G

No plans for expansion – just consolidation b

Theo van Zuijlen Dutch producer Theo van Zuijlen manages his unit, in Abcoude, with help from his wife Tineke and his father Ab. The family carries out all the work on the farm.

Theo van Zuijlen has no plans to increase cow numbers. He sees Abcoude

The Netherlands

Herd size: 200 cows Young stock: 110 head Rolling herd average: 8,300kg of milk, at 4.37% butterfat and 3.47% protein Land use: 91 hectares of grassland

I

Fertility and efficiency

t is a traditional Dutch scene and idyllic, with red-and-white and blackand-white cows, a green meadow and the church towers of Abcoude. Even

plenty of opportunities to improve efficiency within the existing scale of his Dutch enterprise. Keeping fewer young stock and producing more milk per cow are focus of his plan. And good fertility is key to the successful implementation of this strategy. text Wichert Koopman

producer Theo van Zuijlen takes time to enjoy the sight of his grazing herd.

But, that said, he still looks at his grazing herd primarily from a business point of

view. “Perhaps keeping cows inside all year round is easier, but I can make more money by turning them out onto pasture,” he says, with sober certainty.

Good nutrition: balanced feeding allows Theo van Zuijlen to tap into his herd’s genetic potential

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Building investment: cow housing has been expanded to accommodate the growing herd

“I am convinced that using as much fresh grass as possible through grazing is the cheapest way to produce milk.”

By preference, Theo lets the cows graze, but he also has machinery at hand for ‘cut and carry’ if it’s needed. “It is sometimes pretty difficult to put 180cow herd out to graze. If it is too wet, I simply keep them in for a few days and bring the grass to the cows. I have a front mounted mower and a forage trailer with eight wide wheels.” In very early spring and late autumn, Theo also uses his machinery to extend the grazing season for as long as possible.

Scale accomplished He says that efficiency improvement is an important focal point when making management choices and he wants to use his labour and capital as effectively as possible. He strives for efficient conversion of forage into milk. With modern equipment on his unit, he can implement tasks quickly, and he has made a conscious choice to grow only grass. His land is best suited to it and it means that he can utilise his machinery to the maximum. He has arranged agreements for buying in grain, as well as manure disposal.

The cubicle shed layout reveals that it has been extended during the past few years, in stages. The most recent (and largest) expansion was in 2008, when the old herringbone milking parlour was also replaced with a 24-unit rotary.

As a result of strategic considerations – the number of cows in the past could simply determine the unit’s future scale – Theo chose to expand his herd as quickly as possible with home-bred

replacements. To avoid leasing milk quota, or paying a super levy, he stopped expansion during recent years.

Theo believes that his herd size, of about 200 milking and in-calf cows, is the optimum for his unit for the time being.

Business developments during the next few years will be concentrated on buying land, to make the farm less intensive once again.

More milk Theo sees plenty of opportunities to improve efficiency within the current farm scale. He is striving to increase average yields up to 9,500kg per year.

“The cows certainly have the genetic potential for that,” he says. “By working in a more production focused way, it should be possible to push up yields.”

Theo also thinks that he can realise a significant production increase through fine tuning herd management.

An important step that he wants to take in the short term is to reduce the number of young stock he is rearing.

“Until now, I have always kept plenty of young stock, to allow room for expansion,” he says. He always kept at least 130 young stock on his unit, but now that number is already down to 110 and he wants to reduce it further to a maximum of 100.

“Then, with a replacement percentage of 25% and calving age at 24 months, I will have enough livestock to maintain my herd and stick closely to my culling policy,” he says.

To force himself to keep fewer heifer calves, Theo has drastically overhauled his AI policy. All the yearlings are inseminated with sexed semen, as are

the cows that according to SireMatch – CRV’s mating program – are best suited for the breeding goals on a grass-based unit.

“The remaining cows – up to 80% of the herd – are crossed with semen from a Belgian Blue. The higher price for the resulting calves earns us more than enough to cover the higher cost of the sexed semen,” he adds. “And in this way we achieve quicker genetic improvement, because we only use our best animals for breeding.”

Fertility figures Good fertility is an important precondition for realising his goal of higher production per cow. “Until recently, I had to cull a lot of cows because they failed to get back in calf. If I can reduce that loss, the average age of the herd will increase along with average milk production. And shortening the calving interval will lead directly to increased production per cow per day.”

Theo uses the Ovalert activity measurements system. As well as detecting heat expression, the system is able to automatically pick up signals that tells him about each animal’s health and welfare. With the Ovalert SireMatch integration, the system can give mating advice when a cow has to be inseminated.

The fertility figures have improved significantly during recent months. The expected calving interval has shortened from 450 to 425. “I am striving to achieve a calving interval of fewer than 400 days, within a year,” says Theo. “If we continue like this, we will certainly succeed.” l

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B U S I N E S S C H A R L E S

B A S I C S H O LT

Charles Holt, an independent consultant with the Farm Consultancy Group, looks for some good news on the thorny issue of milk price. While there are no signs of an imminent increase, a ‘bonus scheme’ introduced by one Dutch co-operative has caught his eye and he says that it may offer some relief to despondent milk producers and their beleaguered bottom lines.

No sign of milk price increase, but one co-operative is ‘managing’ supply

‘Price incentive’ measures T

here’s no sign of an imminent, or even a distant, milk price increase on the horizon. In fact there may even be further tightening before prices start to ease. But a move, by Dutch co-operative FrieslandCampina, to pay member producers a temporary allowance for continuous milk supply in February could help to ease the relentless pressure on their dairy businesses.

The ‘bonus’ should be an incentive for producers to keep their milk supply at the same level for a period and the cooperative has introduced this temporary measure – which came into force on January 1 and will run until February 11, 2016. This is because the milk supplied by its members is expected to increase faster than expected during the next few weeks.

And if it did so, it would mean that the organisation’s processing capacity would be insufficient, from January until midFebruary 2016, which could leave the cooperative with a glut of milk.

Additional payment So, instead, it has said that for a milk supply that is equal to or lower than the milk production in the reference period between 13 December and 27 December inclusive, producers will receive an additional payment for the supplied milk of 2.00 euro per 100kg of milk – that’s an extra 1.5ppl.

It will be interesting to see how producers react to this and it’s certainly something to keep a close eye on. Most producers remember milk quotas and this will work in a similar way. They understand that the pressure on milk price is the result of market forces – supply and demand – and that this move will go some way to reducing the downward pressure on their own milk price.

I’m sure that most members will welcome the stability – and the additional 1.5ppl – that this measure brings. The co-

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operative is actually paying them more for producing the same amount of milk – who wouldn’t be happy about that?

If it’s a success, that similar ‘price incentive’ measures could be introduced by other milk buyers and possibly by UK processors. I suspect that they’re watching and waiting to see what happens at FrieslandCampina.

A precedent may have been set, particularly if producers embrace it and it works for this co-operative. No processor wants to be flooded with milk that they then have to sell on an equally flooded spot market. And tightening supply in this way will have positive repercussions as far as the wider milk supply and milk price are concerned. It could contribute to improving prices in the longer term.

New Zealand producers have reacted to the low milk price by culling unproductive cows, reducing feed intakes and drying off low yielders. They’re used to dealing with volatility and they know what to do to survive in a tough economic climate.

And they’re already seeing the benefits of taking a step back in terms of milk supply. The result is that milk price is beginning to increase a little there. So that’s another glimmer of hope for all producers. l

Average price The UK average farmgate milk price in November – the latest figure available as CowManagement went to press – was 24.2ppl. December’s average farmgate milk price will be a little down on the November figure, as will January. And there’s still a huge range of milk prices being paid, with some producers receiving as little as 16ppl and others, such as those with premium supermarket contracts, seeing more than 30ppl.

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H E A LT H

Foot dipping vs spraying – why not both?

Two-pronged approach Digital dermatitis is stubborn. Once a herd is infected, even if a level of control is achieved, it’s still there, in the environment and under the skin of the cow’s foot. So what’s best when it comes to tackling this costly and insidious disease? We spoke to two hoof care specialists to find out. text Rachael Porter

M

ild weather saw digital dermatitis rear its ugly head on many units in December – highlighting for many producers that it’s not a disease that ‘goes away’.

Warm, wet and dirty conditions are all it needs to re-emerge in cows’ feet and wreak havoc with mobility – and all the production and fertility consequences that come with that. So, what’s the best way to tackle an outbreak and, once a level of control has been achieved, keep it in check?

Well-managed programme It’s not a case of dipping or spraying, according to Dorset-based vet Nick Bell, from the Royal Veterinary College.

Both, used together as part of a regular and well-managed programme, can really yield good results as far as digital dermatitis (DD) is concerned.

“As with mastitis, the aim is to treat existing DD cases and to prevent new ones from occurring. And spraying has a key role when it comes to the former and dipping in the case of the latter.

Dirt pockets “Also like mastitis, early detection of DD and prompt and effective treatment is one of the cornerstones of control. This is why spraying, usually with an antibiotic spray, comes into its own.

“Foot bathing or ‘foot disinfection’ has a role to play in preventing new cases.

Many producers are foot bathing regularly – but they’re not necessarily doing it well. And that’s often why new cases develop.”

Dr Bell says that spraying is perfect for targeted treatment of infected feet.

But dipping has a vital role to play in cleaning hooves on a ‘whole herd’ basis

Dipping routine: regular and ‘correct’ foot disinfection can keep DD under control

– particularly the hard to reach places, like between the claws. “There’s one particular area, a pocket between the claws at the end of the heel, which I often show to students and producers in workshops. It’s the size of a finger and, more often than not, is filled with dirt.

“Bacteria, particularly those that cause DD, can sit in here and wait for an opportunity to infect the hoof.”

He believes that foot bathing – immersing the hoof in a footbath solution – is the only way to clean cows’ feet and remove dirt pockets like this.

“When I lift feet infected with digital dermatitis, the lesion often extends into this heel pocket, which points to it as the source of infection.”

Foot bathing in a 4% formalin solution is most common on UK units and Dr Bell says that, as a rule of thumb, one litre of solution is enough for one cow passage through the footbath.

“So a 200-litre bath will footbath 200 cows once, or a 100-cow herd twice, before the solution needs to be changed.

“The majority of producers that I work with are following this, but it depends on the farm set up and the herd. It’s essential to know how large your footbath is and how much solution it can hold.

“Producers who do guess are, more often than not, quite a bit out with their estimate.” Many producers footbath at least once a day, some put their herd through a solution after every milking, and others footbath three times a week.

“The ideal frequency – and effort required – depends on the individual herd and its DD history. And how virulent the strain of DD on a particular unit.”

Spraying benefits Dr Bell says that he likes foot spraying, particularly with Quill Productions’ product, for two reasons.

“It’s a non-antibiotic alternative – it contains chelated copper and chelated zinc that penetrate the foot and helps to get to the root of the problem. But it’s also something that producers can use, on the spot in the parlour, when they see a cow with a case of DD. And they can repeat the treatment a week later too.”

It is from the same family as the Hoof-Fit Gel, recognised and approved by the VMD

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Fast acting: solution is absorbed by skin

as an antibiotic-free cure for DD, with no withdrawal time for milk.

Quill Production’s director Graham Crocker, a former dairy producer, knows only too well the devastating impact that DD can have on a herd’s health, welfare and productivity.

He says that the spray is an alternative to what he sees as ‘painful’ and somewhat ineffective foot bathing routines with formalin solution.

“In an environment where the foot is constantly in contact with faeces and slurry, antibiotic sprays and foot bathing solutions can be quickly rendered ineffective. And, since the DD bacteria hides under the skin, what better than a product that can also get under the skin and tackle the source of the problem.”

Money-back guarantee

Spray solution: weekly application in the parlour can significantly reduce DD levels

Mr Crocker advocates that cows’ feet are not washed before application and that all cows’ feet are sprayed once a week, in the parlour, with a 50% solution. “That’s frequent enough to ensure that DD is no longer an issue in the whole herd. And I’m so confident of that I offer a moneyback guarantee.”

His company, in conjunction with Ambic, has developed an in-parlour system to make application easy to slot into the milking routine. “It takes just seconds to spray a cows’ feet and offers protection for up to one week.”

A ‘distraught’ producer recently telephoned Mr Crocker in desperation because their milk buyer was going to stop collecting their herd’s milk because DD was creating a serious welfare issue.

“I called the milk buyer, on their behalf, and asked for four or five days grace for the producer, who had just bought a system, to sort the problem out.

“The buyer came back to the unit a fortnight later and he couldn’t believe that he was looking at the same herd.

And that producer is still using the spray to keep DD at bay.” l

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT NEWS

Top cows Shanael Shottle Reba has the top lifetime daily yield (LDY) at 32.08kg per day among NMR’s 100-tonne cows for November 2015. Owned by the Miller family, from Evesham in Worcestershire, she has yielded 100,309kg of milk in six lactations.

In second place, with an LDY of 30.9kg per day, is cow 84 from Messrs Chedzoy and Gothard’s herd from Taunton Somerset.

After seven lactations, she has given 103,998kg of milk.

In third place is Powers Tock Tulip 45 with an LDY of 30.61kg per day. From Crutchley Farms in Bridport, Dorset, she has given 100,800kg of milk in six lactations.

Report reveals a 14-year low There is encouraging news in NMR’s latest Annual Production Report, published in January for the year ending September 2015. It reveals that somatic cell counts and calving interval in NMR-recorded UK dairy herds are at their lowest for 14 years.

For the Holstein breed, that represents 73.4% of all NMR recordings, the average calving interval is now 414 days – down from a peak of 428 days in 2009/10. SCC is now at 185,000cells/ ml, its lowest level since 2000/01.

Average yield for the Holstein continues its upward trend to a current average of 8,871kg of milk and 630kg of fat and protein.

Of the breeds representing 1% or more of NMR recordings, the Jersey,

with 2.4% of recorded lactations, has maintained fat and protein production at 549kg despite a slight fall of 11kg of milk to a new average of 5,962kg.

The Jersey average calving interval is well below that of the Holstein at 401 days and SCC has fallen by 2,000cells/ml to 193,000cells/ml.

Calving interval and SCC averages have dropped in the Ayrshire breed to 408 days, down four days, and to 175,000cells/ml, down 6,000cells/ml, respectively from the 2013/14 level.

The British Friesian has the lowest SCC and calving interval of all the main dairy breeds at 167,000calls/ml and 392 days respectively.

Yields in both the Ayrshire and British Friesian breeds have fallen marginally.

NMR report The latest Annual Production Report, for the year ending September 2015, is now published and on the NMR web site.

Three producers take new year prizes Welcome prizes, from NMR’s 2015 prize draw competition, arrived at the doorstep of three producers at the start of the New Year.

NMR ran its prize draw competition at shows from July to December. The three lucky winners, drawn from 650 entries, shared £2,250 worth of vouchers towards

recording and disease-testing services.

Philip Kelsall and his wife Chris, from Wyreside Farm near Preston, run a 350cow Holstein herd. Philip says he’s looking at two of the new NMR options – GeneTracker for genomic testing and the Energy Balance tool.

Nicola Lockyer, from Curscombe near Honiton in Devon, is also looking to

spend her vouchers on GeneTracker for her 120-pedigree Holstein cows.

Meanwhile John Kerr, from Westborough near Newark, is more focussed on developing his cross-bred herd. Already using NMR’s HerdTracker service, he says he’s going to increase his Johne’s surveillance and use the vouchers for individual cow Johne’s screening.

Philip and Chris Kelsall from Lancashire and NMR’s Janet Simpson

Nicola Lockyer from Devon and NMR’s Richard Miller

John Kerr from Nottinghamshire and NMR’s Sarah Rippin-Dow

For more information on NMR products and services contact customer services, 03330 043 043, NMR web address: www.nmr.co.uk, NMR email address: customerservices@nmr.co.uk COW MAN AG E ME N T

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B R E E D I N G

World first for UK as breeding tool to help tackle bovine TB is launched

Breed for better resistance UK producers will be able to breed replacement that have greater resistance to bTB as of April’s bull proof run, with the launch of a genetic index called TB Advantage. We spoke to a leading geneticist to find out more about its potential text Ann Hardy

A

genetic index has been launched to help UK producers to breed dairy replacements with better resistance to bovine tuberculosis.

The first index of its kind in the world, TB Advantage has been developed by the University of Edinburgh, Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). It gives an indication of an animal’s genetic susceptibility to bTB, highlighting those that may be more prone to infection or – at the other extreme – those that have a higher degree of resistance to the disease.

Future benefits It will be expressed on a scale that typically runs from –3 to +3, similar to many genetic indexes that producers are familiar with. If bulls are selected with a high score for TB Advantage, producers will breed better bovine tuberculosis (bTB) resistance into their herds and accumulate those benefits in future

generations. Almost all Holstein bulls – both daughter-proven and young genomic sires – will have an index, and female Holsteins that have been genotyped will also be scored for TB Advantage.

“Tackling any problem through breeding is a long-term approach and can yield worthwhile rewards,” says AHDB Dairy’s head of genetics Marco Winters.

The organisation will publish the TB Advantage index as part of the routine genetic evaluations three times a year.

“But the index is not a silver bullet and it should be used alongside all the existing bTB control measures – such as biosecurity and routine testing – that are already in place,” he adds.

“Whether producers should choose to add the TB Advantage to their breeding criteria is a matter for each individual and will depend on whether they’re in or close to a TB-affected area, or whether they feel that having progeny

How reliable is the TB Advantage index?

The TB Advantage index is calculated by using data from animals that react to the official bTB skin test and are sent to slaughter, as recorded by the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency).

Because there are close to 650,000 animal records used in the analysis, breeding patterns can be established and more resistant bloodlines identified.

Genetic indexes are published with a reliability figure which gives an indication of how likely the index is to change as more information is added.

The reliability for the TB Advantage ranges between 20% and 99%, with an average reliability of 65% for bulls with UK daughters, and 45% for those

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with a genomic index only. Although the reliability of genomic predictions for the TB Advantage is currently less than for some other indexes, it can still be used a part of a herd’s breeding strategy and has shown to be valuable in predicting future performance.

The index was developed with support from Defra, the Welsh Government and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Further information on bTB control measures, TB Advantage and other aspects of bTB can be found at The TB Hub at www.tbhub.co.uk.

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Marco Winters: “Index highlights animals that are more resistant to bTB infection”

by a bull with a better TB Advantage will give them some commercial benefit,” he says.

Breeding strategy Mr Winters also emphasises the importance of using the index as just a small part of a broader breeding strategy.

“As with any single-trait index, it should be used in the context of a much bigger picture because too much emphasis on any one trait is likely to be to the detriment of others,” he says. “Bulls should be initially filtered on PLI and then short-listed on the range of traits that are important to the business.”

The impact of the index across the national herd is difficult to predict. “It depends on the uptake of the index by producers, as well as epidemiological factors that are outside our control,” says Mr Winters.

“But we can say that for every point of a bull’s TB Advantage, 1% fewer daughters are predicted to become infected during a TB breakdown.”

The difference between daughters of the best (+3) and the worst (–3) bulls is around 6%. And this means that, on average, six fewer cases of bTB could be expected per 100 cows in one generation if the best bulls are chosen instead of the worst.” l

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For more information or details of where to buy, call Tel: 01948 667676 Email: sales@dairyspares.co.uk

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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BREEDING INFORMATION

Top US genetics from CRV

EDG Clown

Several new InSire (genomic) bulls shine for CRV’s efficiency and health indices, Better Life Efficiency and Better Life Health, and score more than £ 600 for PLI. Topping the list with £ 659 PLI is EDG Clown (Mogul x Lavaman), who has both efficient production (+7%) and easy herd management (health +6%).

Clown combines 560kg of milk and 60kg of fat and protein with great components and is easy calving.

Peak Jerod Abel (Jerod x Mogul) boasts £ 626 PLI and is a real efficiency (+9%) and health (+8%) specialist, with extremely fertile daughters and great udder health.

Peak Tango Paisley (Tango x Numero Uno, £ 619 PLI) has production, sires fertile daughters with great udder health, and is easy calving. He passes on efficiency (+9%) and he will support an easy-to-manage herd (health +4%).

Outstanding production Peak Jerod Abel

Peak Tango Paisley

A firm favourite since August 2014, Apina Norman (Numero Uno x Ramos, £ 624 PLI) continues to impress with outstanding production, fertile daughters, easy calving and efficiency +8% and health +5%.

August 2015-release sire, Delta WiFi (Fanatic x Fidelity, £ 602 PLI), has high components and +9% efficiency and +6% health with very fertile daughters.

New Peak Bojangles (Camaro x Numero Uno, £ 537 PLI) will produce daughters with awesome udders and great feet and legs.

Bojangles is easy calving with scores of 7% health and 6% efficiency.

New Peak Amplify (Skyline x Mogul, £ 525 PLI) will improve your herd through

CRV Avoncroft dairy guides Want to get your hands on the latest information from CRV Avoncroft?

Take a look at the CRV Avoncroft Dairy Guide, which contains details on Holstein genetics; CRV Ambreed New Zealand genetics, a UK directory for 2016; and booklets on CRV MRI, CRV Fleckvieh, and German Brown Swiss.

Copies are available now. Call CRV Avoncroft for free on 0800 7831880.

efficiency (+13%) and health (+3%) in combination with his easy calving status.

Daughters of Amplify will be functional cows in a moderately sized package with excellent udders and moderate stature.

Red-and-white sire Delta Norbert (Bookmark x Stellando, £ 598 PLI) will significantly improve the efficiency of your herd (+15%), by passing on excellent production combined with very high longevity (+734 days).

Norbert daughters are expected to be able to achieve this production with ease, in view of his high score for Better Life Health (+7%).

The grand dam of Norbert, Apina Nadja, is the dam of Apina Norman and Apina Health, among others.

OCD Mogul Abracadabra, dam of Abel and Amplify

Peak Bojangles Delta Norbert

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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H E R D

R E P O RT

Bold move and expansion is paying dividends for family-run business

John Mawle A move to New Zealand has allowed growth – and prospects – beyond anything the family business could have hoped for in the UK. Herd size: Unit size: Annual milk sales: Milk price:

Living the ‘Kiwi’ dairy dream The grass is certainly greener in New Zealand, according to one

Canterbury Plains

British producer who sold up and emigrated 10 years ago and, New Zealand

2,000 cows 405ha plus 285ha rented 937,000kg of milk solids £1.89/kg of milk solids

T

he Mawle family is a long way from home, 12,000 miles in fact, if they still think of England as home that is. Because for the past decade John Mawle, his wife Jean, their daughter Ellie and twin sons Rob and Tom have been building a new life in New Zealand’s Canterbury Plains.

Initially they didn’t plan to fly to the other side of the world to milk cows, but now they find themselves running a 2,000-strong herd of ‘Kiwi-cross’ JerseyFriesian crosses.

“Financially it was one of the best decisions we have ever made but, emotionally, leaving behind a lifetime of friends and family in the UK has been the hardest thing we have ever done,” says John.

It was not a decision taken lightly; the family weighed up the pros and cons of selling their 122-hectare set up, which

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with help from his family, is now milking 2,000 cows. And there are still plenty of opportunities to further grow the business. text Ben Pike

incorporated 5,200 square metres of industrial units in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

“It was about succession really,” he explains. “Two of our three children were about to graduate from Harper Adams University and our share cropping business and the units were not enough to support everyone. So we had a family meeting and we all voted on moving to New Zealand.”

Swift progress It took two years and 45 farm viewings before the Mawles shook hands on a deal to buy their new home – a 405-hectare former deer unit, plus a further 285 hectares of leased land – in 2008. They started with beef and sheep before buying a milking herd to supply dairy processing giant Fonterra. Since then progress has been relatively swift and the herd is about

JANUARY/FEB R U ARY

seven times larger than the country’s average. Cows are grazed all year round across five-hectare paddocks in the shadow of Mount Hutt.

And it truly is a family affair. The Blackford Farming operation effectively splits the unit in two, with Rob and Tom taking responsibility for 1,000 cows each, while Ellie manages the farm office and a 102-hectare seed potato business. The brothers each have three herdsmen, a calf rearer and a 60-bale Waikato rotary milking platform for twice-a-day milking at 4 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The New Zealand system pays per kilogramme of milk solids (kg/ms) produced. In 2015 the herd produced 937,000kg/ms. “We’d like to get that up to one million by the end of 2017,” John says.

To achieve this, the family is focusing on

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Dairy unit: home to 2,000 cows and young stock

productivity and efficiency using the natural environment, good stockmanship and technology to maintain herd health.

Annual rainfall The rich, Canterbury grass paddocks are 460m above sea level with an average rainfall of 1,250mm in a season. Peak growth sees the land produce as much as 150kg DM/ha/day of high sugar grass and clover varieties. The milking herd is over wintered away from the unit, on 200 hectares of neighbouring land.

The cows are grazed on fodder beet, kale and oats and a further 1,000t of silage is purchased to feed in during periods of drought and slow pasture growth.

About 700 heifer calves are reared, partly on contract, each year, leaving the home unit at 100kg LW and returning to calve at two years of age. And the Mawles keep 35 home-bred bull calves, which are kept for two years to use on the dairy herd. “Calves from these matings are not retained – we only use AI-bred replacement heifers,” says John.

The unit’s grazing platform needs to grow at about 65kg DM/ha/day to fully feed the cows, and during the early season they are given 0.35kg of grain and 0.5kg of molasses for magnesium. Grain

Young stock: at peak times, as many as 120 calves can be born each day

intake increases to 3kg/cow/day of grain later in the year and the cattle are also supplemented with minerals and selenium.

A strict breeding policy, which centres on a block-calving system and uses genetics from New Zealand’s Livestock Improvement Centre, sees the cows synchronised to produce milk from July until May when the cows are dried off.

The result is an average herd performance of 466kg/ms/cow, putting the herd in the top 5% of New Zealand herds, according to John.

Significant investment “We employ a newly-qualified vet from England during calving and AI and we have had great results because both can be very stressful times. We can have as many as 120 calves born a day.”

Welfare issues are kept to a minimum – all the unit’s staff are trained in foot trimming and use a SmartD-tect system, which measures each quarter of the cow’s udder to flag up the early onset of mastitis.

Since moving to the unit, the family has invested in installing two milking sheds, increasing herd size and building 10 houses for staff and family. But, like most

of Fonterra’s 13,000 suppliers, herd production and future investment will be driven by the farm-gate price. The $ 8.45 NZD (£ 3.80) payout for each kg/ms in February 2014 is now down to just $ 4.70 NZD (£ 1.89), but is expected to strengthen this season.

“We used to employ four men per 1,000cow shed, but with the low payout that’s been cut to just three and all family members agreed to take a 20% pay cut.

We also increased home-grown feed production to reduce our costs.”

Looking to the future, John says that he would like to buy another 100-hectare unit to strengthen the succession plan.

“Our aim is for all three children to each have a third of the business.”

He adds that the main thing that he’s enjoyed about making the move to New Zealand is that he has been able to grow the business from ‘zero’ to ‘very big’ relatively easily, which isn’t simple to do in the UK. “We have been welcomed into New Zealand with open arms. And, in terms of lifestyle, it’s fantastic – the rugby is quite good and the beer’s not bad. You could say that we’re ‘living the dream’ by being able to come here and earn a living from dairying in such a beautiful country.” l

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Experts, at your service!

George Collins Program Support Manager VAS UK

Meet the VAS UK team!

As Valley Agriculture Software (VAS), we have delivered the world’s leading herd management software to a growing and loyal customer base in the UK. DairyComp 305 is a proven tool that will do its job faster, easier and with more sophistication than any other method.

The increasing demand for our DC305 program results in a rapidly expanding group of enthusiastic customers. To deliver the same quality of services and attention to all current and new clients, we have chosen to fully support all VAS programs through our VAS UK team.

This VAS UK team will be headed by George Collins, Program Support Manager VAS UK and by Rick Rocha, Support Specialist VAS.

Please feel free to contact George Collins: Office: 01727 88 46 47 Mobile: 07831-682410 Email: george.collins@vas.com

One of George’s earliest memories was watching milking. Born and raised on a farm, he has been around cows all his life. He built his career in the dairy industry and specialises in herd fertility and herd management. In his 20 years with Alta Genetics, he became an expert in the development and implementation of software for the dairy industry. Amongst many others he trained our UK team to correctly interpret data and act on the results.

With his knowledge and experience he understands how to interpret data and to define the right tactics. Because of his UK dairy background and experience in the industry, he services our clients with passion.

Rick Rocha Support Specialist VAS Rick Rocha was born and raised on a family dairy farm. With a degree in dairy science and leading experience in dairy research projects there was no question he was fit for the VAS core team. Since 1998 he has worked as a support specialist with VAS to grow his expertise on the full lineup of VAS products. After becoming the top specialist on DairyComp 305 he has provided expert guidance and support to over 1500 farmers in the Americas, Asia and Europe. He continuously offers his extensive knowledge to train and coach other consultants to service our ever growing market.

With his expertise, experience and strong ties to the development group of VAS itself, we are proud to have Rick on our UK team.

www.vas.com | info@vas.com | Call 01727 88 46 47

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NUTRITIONAL NEWS

Customers visit the Netherlands Customers and members of the ForFarmers sales team in Wales have recently completed a series of visits to the Netherlands to gain an insight into Dutch dairy production.

“Dutch producers are renowned for their high levels of efficiency,” explains Carmarthen-based sales manager Aneurin Miles. “Given current low milk prices in the UK, we wanted to give some of our customers the opportunity to visit The Netherlands and examine how improvements in farm efficiency can be achieved.”

During the course of three trips, more than 30 customers visited various Dutch dairy units, a milk powder factory, a feed mill (pictured) and a young stock research facility.

“We had the opportunity to see a variety of feeding methods,” continues Mr Miles. “These included different types of robotic feeders, self-loading feed wagons and grazing systems.

Some units used contractors with mixer wagons to do their feeding; improving quality and helping to reduce costs.”

The key area of interest for many of the visitors, though, was how Dutch units are able to produce forages of higher quality compared to the UK. “Even in late October, we saw producers cutting their sixth and seventh cuts of silage. Dutch producers cut grass more frequently and at a higher cutting height compared to the UK. The grass harvested is mainly leaf and not stem, which encourages quicker re-growth and larger yields,” says Mr Miles.

“The level of attention to growing forage was similar to what you would expect when growing arable crops and Dutch producers are reaping the rewards. The key message from the trip was the importance of attention to detail, particularly when it comes to forage and silage production.

“There are efficiency improvements that all customers can apply to their businesses.”

South Wales Dairy Conference ‘Optimising efficiency during a challenging time’ is the title of this year’s South Wales Dairy Conference, organised by ForFarmers, HSBC and CARA. The event, which takes place on Tuesday February 9, at the Nant-Y-Ffinn Hotel in Pembrokeshire, will follow the theme of developing tools to provide maximum efficiency across the dairy business.

After an introduction and ‘scene setting’ from HSBC’s Euryn Jones, CARA’s Iwan Price will talk about the practicalities and benefits of benchmarking a modern dairy business. The research professor and director of the department of ruminant production at Catalonia’s IRTA, Alex Bach, will then speak about managing and feeding dairy herds to maximise efficiency.

After lunch, Cheshire-based producer, Cream Awards 2015 ‘Forage Manager of the Year’ winner, Adrian Smith will talk about achieving the maximum efficiency and milk from forage.

Producer and director of Norbreck Genetics Philip Halhead will end the conference by speaking about managing people effectively and efficiently.

“These speakers bring together some of the most innovative thinking on business progression and efficiency,” says ForFarmers’ Nick Berni. “As we face these challenging times, the conference will provide a great opportunity to assess and develop business performance for the coming year.”

For more information, or to reserve a place, contact ForFarmers on 01275 378374.

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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Straights market – where next?

January 13 saw the release of the United States Department of Agriculture World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.

Looking at proteins, South American soya figures are unchanged from the previous month, but the ending stocks have been reduced for the US. South American crops are close to harvest, so there should be little risk to the bumper crops expected.

There is, however, still risk associated with the upcoming US planting and the potential for the La Nina weather phenomenon to create a drier than normal growing season. In 1999 this added around £100 per tonne to the soya price, according to ForFarmers’ Phil Watkins.

Overall, forward values are around £10 per tonne up off the bottom but the majority of this is down to Sterling’s recent 6% loss against the US dollar.

For proteins, ForFarmers’ current suggestion is to increase cover for the rest of this winter and keep having a nibble at the forward market as and when there are any dips.

Looking at cereals, global grain stocks have increased by two million tonnes (MT) to 567MT. On the whole, global stocks of all commodities are looking healthy but current market values reflect this, so where next?

As global demand has slowed, more emphasis is being put on the supply side. This will make markets more susceptible to weather reports and is likely to increase market volatility, particularly during the next two or three months.

Buying forward is always a decision based on a business’s view of managing risk, but taking some forward cover is probably prudent at these values.

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C O N TA C T S

SHOWS AND EVENTS February 9: February 25: March 12: May 11-13: May 25: June 1-4: June 9-11: July 6-7: July 12-14: July 18-21: September 14:

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COMING UP

G r a s slan d sp ecial March (March 10) – Our next issue contains our annual grassland special, which will focus on how you can make the most of your grazing this coming summer. And, of course, we’ll have our usual columns, including Overalls Off and Roger Evans.

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