Dairy News Australia - October 2017 - With Murray Region

MURRAY REGION

Grain is the last piece in the fodder puzzle

Andrew and Christine Sebire have been growing crops on their Echuca dairy farm for the past eight years. They have had to learn on their feet but as the years have progressed they have been able to improve their management and, dependent on the season, they can grow up to 50 per cent of the grain needed for their 500-cow dairy herd.

ANDREW AND Christine Sebire are the first to admit they have still got a lot to learn when it comes to growing crops on their Echuca dairy farm.

The dairy farmers turned to growing grain as a natural progression for their business when they acquired some additional land eight years ago.

Already self-sufficient in hay and silage, growing grain is the last piece in the fodder puzzle for the couple, but it hasn’t come without its share of trials and tribulations.

The couple grows 30 to 50 per cent of the grain requirements for the 500-cow split-calving herd.

Yields are currently sitting about 4tonne/ha and, while this is a bit lower than the average of 6tonne/ha, the couple said being an end user of

the product did compensate for some of this.

“We are willing to take on board and learn new things but the major focus of our business is still the dairy side. Cropping does come last and our management at times has affected our yields,” Mr Sebire said.

The ability to irrigate some of the cropping area is the block’s biggest downfall.

“The infrastructure is not great and it does limit our ability to deliver water properly – our permanent pasture and shaftal for the milking herd is always our priority, but we are working on that part of our business to make it better,” Mr Sebire said.

He said while they were used to growing pasture, cropping had been a whole new ball game.

“The best piece of advice I can give to some-

one is to surround yourself with a good mix of agronomists, contractors and farmers. We don’t have any of the gear so we rely heavily on contractors do all the work.

“We both enjoy getting off-farm and seeing what other farmers are doing.

It is a great way to pick up ideas and you can always learn something new.”

“We have done a lot of things wrong over the years but having a good relationship with our agronomist is the most important thing.

“When they are telling you to do something it can be difficult if cash flow is tight and you are not confident of the outcome. It’s a bit like laying a bet really, especially when you are outlaying a lot of capital for spray, seed and fertiliser.”

Perhaps the biggest lesson the Sebires have learned to date is storing the grain on-farm in a grain bag.

Initially they sent their grain off to the feed mill and it came back with a pro mix, but they had to pay double freight – there and back.

They tried a feed company but their grain came back with rocks in it, which wrecked their roller mill.

Continued page 3 >

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

2 // MURRAY REGION

Chairman’s message Time for dairy leaders to stand up DAIRY IS a dynamic industry; there is always plenty going on and 2017 will be no different.

There are two major events occurring now that will impact our industry. The first is further industry rationalisation and the second is the Murray-Darling Basin Authority water policy actions.

I won’t elaborate specifically on these, but if there was ever a time for our dairy leaders to stand up, then now is the time.

Leadership roles vary greatly within our industry and within our organisation. We have leaders within our Regional Network Groups (RNG) and Regional Extension and Education Committee (REEC), at board level and within our staff, at a regional level, at state level or

nationally. The Murray Dairy region has developed its fair share of national leaders, and they all started their trade within our Regional Development Programs (RDP).

Acknowledging this, Murray Dairy will hold an information day later in the year to highlight the roles, responsibilities and pathways to becoming the next leaders for our industry.

Murray Dairy has been glad to assist the Gardiner Foundation in selecting individuals, via an interview process, who have successfully gained a scholarship to attend a selection of management programs. Our Code of Conduct will also be highlighted on the day; this outlines the behavioural and leadership expectations of the board, staff, farmers or service providers

who are part of or engage in activities associated with Murray Dairy.

Murray Dairy is currently working with the UDV, Victorian Government and other stakeholders to develop a regional strategy, which will be developed over the coming six months.

This strategy will help to set a vision for our industry going forward and comes at an important point in time, on the back of a significantly challenging period within our industry.

The annual Murray Dairy Business Forum will be held this year on Thursday, October 19, in Shepparton. This event ties many aspects of our industry together, with the aim of something for every person involved at every level across our industry. Why not come along, see

just where we are at, catch a glimpse of the future and perhaps decide on a path to try for yourself or your business.

Guest speakers include Australian Farm Institute executive director Mick Keogh; author, facilitator and businesswoman Mandy Johnson; and senior consultant Mike Stephens. Peter Davidson, a rescue paramedic with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, will be the evening’s storyteller and will round off the forum, no doubt, with us feeling grateful that we are all somewhat landlocked.

I hope to see you there.

• Rick Cross Murray Dairy chairman

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MURRAY REGION // 3

Working out the fodder puzzle < Continued from page 1

And storing grain with their neighbours was less than ideal.

Then they got onto storing their grain in a grain bag on-farm.

“The contractor puts the grain straight into the bag and it’s done. We have 200tonne of grain storage at the dairy which is enough to hold one grain bag so we just empty the bags and fill up the silos at the dairy which is a quick and easy process,” Mr Sebire said.

This season the farm is sown down to 90ha of wheat, 70ha of vetch, 50ha of oats, 180ha of shaftal and 90ha of perennial pasture.

“Our preference is to grow wheat because the cows seem to milk better off it,” Mr Sebire said.

“We have changed things up a bit this year.

Last year our vetch was a failure so we have sown cereal with it to give it a bit of bulk and we think it will make pretty good silage. The wheat is looking good too.”

Mr Sebire said keeping the system flexible was the key to success.

“If grain isn’t achievable we can always cut the crop for hay and silage. Experience and knowledge is helping us get better at making the right decision for the particular season.”

The Sebires are always keen to participate in events and field days because they believe they are a great way to learn from other farmers and see how new ideas are implemented.

“We both enjoy getting off-farm and seeing what other farmers are doing. It is a great way to pick up ideas that have been tested by others and you can always learn something new,” Mr Sebire said.

The 2017-18 season has got off to a much better start than the previous year’s wet and muddy one.

“It has been a fabulous winter compared to last year. The cows are milking well, the crops are looking good and we have swapped milk companies which has taken a fair bit of stress and worry away for us.”

The Sebires believe there is a great future in the industry and they are looking forward to their years ahead. They are at peak herd number for their dairy at the moment but are considering a dairy renovation in the future.

The young stock are doing well this year; the dry conditions have made rearing the calves a lot easier than the wet winter of last year.

“We have a few things to improve infrastructure wise before we get around to a dairy but I wouldn’t rule out milking more cows if we get the dairy done,” Mr Sebire said.

The farm is self-sufficient for silage.

There is enough storage at the dairy to hold all the grain from one grain bag, which cuts down on transport and management.

Fresh start for dairy brand THE KIEWA Country brand has a new owner after Murray Goulburn sold it to Kyabram dairy company Kyvalley Dairy Group.

The agreement will see the Kiewa Country brand re-launched, after it was closed down in July as part of Murray Goulburn’s staged closure of its Kiewa factory.

But the negotiations were not without a hiccup; Kyvalley Dairy was forced to say ‘yes’ twice after Murray Goulburn received a superior offer.

“What happened was they (Murray Goulburn) announced they were closing down three plants and not long after that, a week or so, Murray Goulburn called offering the brand for sale,” Kyvalley Dairy director Wayne Mulcahy said.

“We thought about it for a day or so in June and submitted an offer and we were told we

were successful which was really good.

“The other party couldn’t proceed and we were asked ‘were we still interested?’ and yes we were. On the original timeline the deal would have been done while they were still producing in mid-July.”

Mr Mulcahy said the next step was to talk to Kiewa locals to see if there was enough interest to make the brand profitable.

“Our plan now is we are sending people up to Kiewa to meet all Murray Goulburn distributors in the next few weeks and introduce ourselves,” he said.

“Our view is to meet and discuss with potential customers and explain who we are and find the support for re-launching the brand. If there’s enough interest we’d send it up to that region.”

Despite Murray Goulburn struggling, this did not put off the Kyabram company from

purchasing a brand that produced low fat, full cream and skim milks, a flavoured milk range and thickened cream.

“There are a couple of reasons (why we bought it),” Mr Mulcahy said.

“One is because we live and work in northern Victoria. It’s a northern region brand and the opportunity to purchase was a once-only opportunity, so it made sense to buy it. The second part is we are rapidly growing and this will lead to more staff and work in the region.

“We thought we could do something positive in the dairy industry in the face of Murray Goulburn. It will be good for the farming community and good for northern Victoria.”

The Kyabram business is set to get most of its extra milk intake from the local area but has had suppliers from the Kiewa Valley express interest.

Kyvalley Dairy Group’s Peter and Wayne Mulcahy. The group is taking over the Kiewa Country brand from Murray Goulburn.

Picture: Charmayne Allison, Kyabram Free Press.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

4 // MURRAY REGION

Getting harder to shake off winter Doing Dairy

with SOPHIE BALDWIN

SPRING IS springing — well, I am sure it will be once this cold weather finally leaves us.

I heard on the radio the other day that this has been the coldest start to spring in 13 years and I must say I have to agree.

Mistake number one this spring was turning the floor heating off early and mistake number two was not ordering that extra load of wood.

Like most farmers and former farmers I remain eternally optimistic that the weather will do the right thing and all of a sudden it will be spring, the sun will shine and the frosts will leave.

Instead I have shivered through these past few weeks and the only place I have found any relief is snuggled under my doona with the electric blanket permanently stuck on three.

There are many things I miss about dairying and always will.

I love the smell of the cows grazing a paddock, especially during spring.

I love watching the calves frolic in the sun and I used to love driving around the farm on a beautiful spring day.

There was nothing better than rearing a calf and two years later watch her walk into the dairy.

The one thing I will never ever miss is the cold mornings, the frozen fingers and frozen snot hanging out my nose. I used to do anything to get out of getting the cows up on those cold frosty mornings and as the years tick by I am finding it harder and harder to deal with the cold.

Maybe once you are in your 40s something happens to your temperature — mine seems to be stuck on freezing.

Bring on spring, although my trusty friend Facebook (who never lies) also told me we are in for a long hot summer so maybe spring is only

going to make a token appearance this year.

As usual I have been out and about around the countryside and met some awesome farmers doing great things for their business and the industry. Many have their heads down and bums up trying to make the most of a better milk price year and, fingers crossed, a profitable spring.

Gunbower dairy farmer Clare Modra was fortunate enough to win the Power of Women in Dairy Bette Hall Scholarship, which will see her head to World Dairy Expo in the United States in 2018.

What a wonderful initiative the POW group is and what a great opportunity it is to be exposed to such a motivating and inspirational group of women. We all know many women involved in the industry juggle family life along with farm-

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ing and Clare is a deserved winner.

Berrigan dairy farmer Graeme Spunner has been milking cows all his life.

What a treat it was to spend a few hours looking around his farm. His passion and dedication for his cows is amazing and in his mid-70s he has no plans to slow down either — he is what you would call a true stalwart of the industry.

On the other side of the coin it was great to meet Carl and Rachelle Moon who are just starting their dairy journey with a young family. After a difficult start, they hope the worst is behind them as they begin to carve out a future in the industry they love.

The industry needs both types of farmers to survive — the old and experienced head and the young and keen.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

MURRAY REGION // 5

Taking her passion to the world CLARE MODRA has spent her life involved

with cows.

From the moment she could walk her parents would find her out among the cows and they have remained her love ever since.

She is passionate about the industry and is well known among the showing fraternity. She is a wife, a mum, a farm owner and a business operator — and juggles everything in between whatever life throws at her.

Now she is the second winner of the Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Scholarship.

The Power of Women in Dairy provides an opportunity for females in the industry, regardless of age, to win a $4500 scholarship to travel to World Dairy Expo. It is also a relaxed and informal group created to allow women to network and inspire each other. It celebrates strong, powerful and passionate dairy females.

Mrs Modra was touched to be awarded the Bette Hall POW Scholarship.

“I can’t believe I won. It is an honour and I am thrilled,” the Gunbower farmer said.

“I can’t wait to head to the dairy expo. It has been a dream of mine for many years and we have decided that we will use it as an opportunity to take the whole family away.

“It will give me a fantastic opportunity to source new genetics for our herd and network with like-minded individuals, learn different farming practices and identify new ideas and judges for the Winter Fair. I am always looking for ways to improve my own business and become more efficient and financially viable and this will be a great opportunity for that as well.”

POW spokesperson Jade Sieben said Mrs Modra was a standout among the applicants.

“Clare is a very worthy recipient of the $4500 scholarship and we certainly look forward to having her represent our group at expo and we also look forward to her input back into POW,” she said.

Mrs Sieben thanked everyone who had contributed to fundraising and POW events over the past two years.

“Particularly I wish to acknowledge the amazing contribution of Bette Hall. Bette is so supportive of women in dairy and without her this scholarship would not have come to fruition as quickly as it has.”

Mrs Modra has spent countless hours over the years preparing and showing cattle, but breeding

is where her passion firmly remains.

“There is no greater satisfaction then watching your cattle develop and improve over the generations, especially when you have been involved from conception,” she said.

“There is no greater satisfaction then watching your cattle develop and improve over the generations, especially when you have been involved from conception.”

“We have had the pleasure of developing a few Excellent cows over the years and there is nothing more rewarding from a breeding perspective.”

Mrs Modra and her husband Stuart began their dairy journey sharefarming at Tongala in 2002.

Drought and tough times saw them move to Mount Gambier where they remained for six

years. When that farm sold they moved to Simpson to a lease farm with their herd of 200 cattle.

In 2012 the opportunity to purchase a dairy farm on Gunbower Island came up and just 52 days short of their goal, they owned their own farm.

Mrs Modra has also been instrumental in developing the Victorian Winter Fair. The Winter Fair is a Holstein dairy show held annually at Bendigo designed to showcase both spring and autumn-calved cows. It has been running for four years, is gaining popularity and is known as one of the two top dairy shows in the country.

“The Winter Fair has been a tremendous success and as a fairly quiet person who likes to stay home on the farm, it has been a great way for me to improve my communication and networking skills. It has also created many new contacts for me within the industry,” she said.

Mrs Modra has had many influential and inspirational women to look up to over the years, but there are two who stand out.

“It’s not until you have children do you truly learn how to appreciate your mother,” she said.

Clare Modra is a familiar face in dairy circles. The Gunbower dairy farmer has won the Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Scholarship to attend World Dairy Expo in 2018.

Prevent grass tetany losses DR JEFF CAVE District veterinary officer, Agriculture Victoria

AT THIS time of year in Victoria, grass tetany is

potentially a major problem in cattle.

Since cattle with grass tetany often die suddenly, the first sign of grass tetany on your property may be a dead cow.

To establish the likelihood of grass tetany occurring on your property it is worth considering some of the main risk factors.

Cattle contracting grass tetany are associated with immature, rapidly growing, grass-dominant pastures.

It is also linked with soils high in potassium,

“My mum Cheryl Dee worked extremely hard on the farm and had five children at the time. She reared the calves for over 40 years and managed all the finances up until she was no longer able.

I miss my mum.

“Growing up under the guidance and support of Sherri Martin inspired me to never give up.

I had the pleasure to know her outside of the industry and she was an outstanding individual who was never afraid to speak her mind and was always there to listen and give advice.”

(Cheryl Dee died at the start of the year.

Sherri Martin died after battling cancer. A fund was set up by the North West Sub-Branch of Holstein Australia in her honour to encourage young people in the dairy industry.)

Despite the tough times and the ups and downs of the industry, Mrs Modra remains determined to continue farming.

“Dairy farmers have to be the bravest, most optimistic people in the world to endure year after year all that nature throws at us and what the world economy does to our income; it takes a special kind of person”.

or with the heavy use of nitrogen or potash fertilisers.

Older, fatter cows soon after calving are most likely to be affected, and grass tetany is most likely to occur during cool and cloudy weather.

After considering the risk factors, it is worth planning how you would prevent, and if necessary treat, an outbreak of grass tetany on your property.

Grass tetany occurs when blood magnesium levels are low, therefore is also known as hypomagnesaemia.

Cattle are unable to store magnesium, therefore as protection, magnesium supplements need to be given daily to cattle at greatest risk during periods of potential grass tetany.

Consider how you would supplement your

herd, and whether it is by giving magnesium oxide treated hay, mineral licks, magnesium capsules or by some other means.

When cattle are affected clinically with grass tetany they display initial excitement, bellowing, muscle spasms, tetany and finally convulsions before dying.

Since grass tetany leads to the rapid death of cattle, the treatment of clinical cases is an emergency situation and veterinary assistance should be sought immediately.

A veterinarian will give a calcium and magnesium solution intravenously. If a veterinarian is not available the calcium and magnesium solution should at least be given under the skin.

For more information, go to: http://go.vic.gov.au/bmp8MD

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

6 // MURRAY REGION

Herd bulls the secret to better genetics GRAEME AND Heather Spunner certainly

know how to breed a good cow. Their 300-cow herd at Berrigan is testament to that.

The couple has spent more than 50 years improving the herd’s genetics, which has largely been done through continuous use of quality herd bulls.

Their breeding program began with the purchase of some heifers and Tara Glen bulls from Colin Gardner (progeny from his Lucy family remain some of the best cows in the herd).

They don’t use a lot of AI (only on the heifers they synchronise) but the results they are achieving certainly speak for themselves — and their passion and dedication has been rewarded with three of their cows sitting in the top 100 performers in the Australia Balanced Performance Index.

It takes a pretty special cow to make the list let alone have one ranked in the top three.

The Spunners’ cow Natalia Lulu’s incredible production statistics speak for themselves — in just 294 days she produced a staggering 15 646 litres and 915 kg of milk solids in only her second lactation.

She is one of only three cows in the country who has a BPI over 400, hers sits at 410. She was classified VG88 and is sired by the Spunners’ herd bull, Ladino Park Nash, a Shottle son out of Ladino Park Goldwyn Natalia.

Natalia Lulu’s dam, Jammer Lulu, produced 17 000 litres and more than 1000 kg of milk solids in three of her last four 305-day lactations — her best was 17 022 litres and 1227 kg of solids. Jammer has an elite production award and her daughter has a production achievement award. She is classified 90 2E and has a BPI of 314.

Jammer’s sister Eclipse Lulu is ranked 13th in Australia and has a BPI of 366 — her 305-day lactation was 15 292 litres and 1121 kg of solids.

The Spunners purchased Natalia Lulu’s grand dam Hillcrest Lulu as a second calver from Max Hardes at Numurkah — he imported Hillcrest Lulu’s grand dam as an embryo from

Graeme Spunner among his beloved dairy cows.

the Hanoverhill stud in Canada.

“I am proud of the time and effort we have put into breeding the herd over the years and our herd is proof that you can have breeding success with natural bulls,” Mr Spunner said.

“I love the cows and I will probably stay here until the day I die.”

They always have about eight bulls on hand and they buy a couple of new ones each year.

“We calve year-round. We dry cows off every

The 29 per cent cotton seed pellets are mixed with almond hulls and fed to the heifers over summer – they love the mix and thrive on it.

four weeks and change the bull over at the same time. Every thing is recorded in the computer so it is just a matter of referring to that,” Mrs Spunner said.

The couple prefers to use bulls for many reasons.

“AI is so dependent on getting the timing right, a bull always gets it right every time,” Mr Spunner said.

Driving around the farm and looking at the young stock, the answer to the question ‘how do you go for heifer numbers?’ is pretty self-explanatory — they have heifer calves everywhere.

They rear about 150 heifer calves each year

and most of them make it into the dairy.

“We cull our older cows fairly heavily for mastitis and fertility and we stick around 300 because that is a manageable number for us to work with — we are not getting any younger,” Mrs Spunner said.

They agree that as the genetics in their herd continue to improve, it does make it harder to source quality bulls.

“As the daughters get older and come into the herd we can’t use the same bulls because of in-breeding so we have to keep rolling them over as part of our herd management.”

Mr Spunner is a firm believer in feeding his

The 50-unit rotary dairy was built to make milking easier, not to milk extra cows. It has served the family well over the past 15 years.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

MURRAY REGION // 7

Natalia Lulu, or Lulu as she is known, is one of only three cows in the country with a Balanced Performance Index over 400 – hers sits at 410.

She produced 15,646 litres and 915kg of milk solids in a 294-day lactation.

stock well from the very beginning. Calves are always fed whole milk and weaner mix, and are weaned on size not by age.

The milking herd is fed with a mixer wagon for five to six months of the year. The business purchased the mixer wagon during the second year of the millennium drought and have been using it ever since.

“The cows milked very well so from that point on we decided to move away from summer pasture, focus on growing annuals and lucerne and use the mixer wagon over summer,” Mr Spunner said.

Heifers are fed a mixture of 29 per cent cotton seed pellets and almond hulls, which they love. Mr Spunner has found this mix puts

Maximum efficiency, Maximum profit!

condition on and keeps the animals shiny and healthy.

The pasture base is predominately annuals and lucerne which is used to feed the cows and surplus is grown into hay and silage.

The herd is milked in a 50-unit rotary which was built back in 2002.

“We built the rotary to make milking easier,

There is no shortage of heifers coming through; every year about 150 hit the dairy herd.

not to milk more cows and make things harder again,” Mrs Spunner said.

The couple and their son Shane have no plans of getting out of the industry at present.

Even though Mr Spunner is into his 70s, he says with a smile: “What else would I do? I love the cows and I will probably stay here until the day I die.”

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Cheesy grins at Fonterra open day FONTERRA OPENED the doors of its newly rebuilt cheese plant to bring the Stanhope community inside as part of a Legendairy open day in September.

More than 500 people — including Fonterra farmers, staff, their families and the local community — turned out for a fun-filled family day with face painting, jumping castles, a petting zoo, live music, the art mural exhibition and a barbecue lunch. Many took the opportunity to take a peek inside the new cheese plant.

Fonterra site manager Jason Wright said it was a “fantastic” day of celebration with farmers, staff, and the entire community who supported Fonterra after a fire destroyed the previous cheese plant in 2014.

“Stanhope is known as the ‘Town of the Tastiest Cheese’, so we were delighted to bring people into the plant and show them how we make the cheese,” Mr Wright said.

Fonterra Australia managing director René Dedoncker welcomed the crowds and said that out of the devastation of the fire had come the opportunity to invest in Stanhope cheese and to grow the dairy industry in the region.

“The new cheese plant gives us a great foundation for even more growth. We’re already looking to the next stage and at ways we can reinvest in Stanhope capacity and grow our milk pool even further,” Mr Dedoncker said.

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More than 300 people were taken on exclusive tours through the factory, experiencing first-hand the processes involved in turning northern Victorian farmers’ milk into Stanhope cheese, which is now sent around Australia and to the world.

State Member for Euroa and Victorian Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan was also among those enjoying the festivities on the day.

“It was great to see so many people from the local community coming together to mark this milestone,” Ms Ryan said.

“The opening of the new cheese plant has injected over $30 million into the local economy and has created around 30 new jobs; this is definitely worth celebrating. This was truly a great day in the heart of Victoria’s dairy country.”

The event also showcased the art mural exhibition, giving crowds an opportunity to see some of the 18 000 individual photographs captured in the massive 48 m by 5 m mosaic mural displayed on the wall of Fonterra’s cheese plant.

Long-term Stanhope resident Bob Holschier is just one of the many faces featured in the mural.

“This mural will be of great benefit to the Stanhope community, as it will eventually attract visitors from far and wide,” Mr Holschier said. “(This) was a day that brought people together to celebrate Fonterra’s continued involvement in our local community, and we appreciate their commitment to our Legendairy town.”

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Harry, Charlie and Jack Newton enjoyed a day of fun at the Fonterra Stanhope cheese plant opening.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

MURRAY REGION // 9

Top genetics to go under the hammer THE DECISION to sell daughters from the

very best cow families wasn’t a hard one for Gorbro Holsteins.

Brothers Glen and Drew Gordon decided it was time to share some of the genetics they have spent the past 20 years perfecting in their first invitational sale at Cohuna on Friday, November 3.

“We will have something for everyone — for the serious breeder to the first time buyer,” Glen said.

“Quite often in Australia you have to go to a complete herd dispersal sale to buy someone’s very best. We decided it was time to put some of our finest under the hammer to give others the opportunity to continue to develop what we consider are some of our premium cow families.”

“We have a passion for breeding and some of our cows have six generations of Excellent behind them and make no mistake, we will be selling some of our very best,” Drew said.

The brothers have taken their breeding up a notch over the past 10 years as they have focused on developing high production, functional cows with good fertility.

“Flushing has enabled us to increase numbers from some of our best performing families and it is great to have the opportunity to offer them to other breeders who have the same passion and will continue to develop them in the future,” Glen said.

Sale lots include animals from Gorbros’

show string, International Dairy Week winners, potential bull mothers, heifers in calf to sexed semen and fresh milkers, and include: • Gorbro Atwood Shimmer: The winning junior three-year-old from the Victorian Winter Fair in Bendigo who comes from Gorbro Sanchez O Shimmer, the reserve champion at the NSW state show.

■■ Gorbro Valbisson Tiffany VG85: At two years with a Balanced Performance Index (BPI) of 275, she is a direct daughter of Gorbro Holsteins’ Australian Cow of the Year finalist, Orchard Vale Informer Tiffany.

■■ Gorbro Solomon Robin: Winner of the All Australian class at IDW 2017 and also winner of the All Australian Photo Competition.

Invitational lots include a Solomon daughter from Elmar Holsteins, Elmar Goldwyn Jessica 11, who was reserve champion at IDW. An Awesome daughter from Windy Vale Contender Rose, who was champion cow at IDW, will also go under the hammer, along with a Solomon daughter who was last year’s Semex southern region on-farm challenge champion, Sleepy Hollow Jasper Posey, owned by Oakwood Partnership.

The brothers agree that breeding quality doesn’t come cheap and, while they are in the business of making milk, the stud side has to pay its way.

“We agreed early on selling our best genetics

Glen Gordon has a passion for breeding quality dairy cattle. He is looking forward to the sale that will see some of his very best cows go under the hammer.

was always going to be part of our business plan and we are actually looking forward to seeing where our cattle go and how they develop in the future,” Glen said.

“It has been a tough few years and we are looking to the future. We have had a lot of interest in the sale and we are certainly looking forward to seeing how it goes.”

Gorbro Holsteins’ won premier breeder and premier exhibitor at Holstein Australia’s annual award dinner in August. (These awards are

based on points allocated to each finalist, honourable mention, reserve and winners in each category.)

The on-farm sale will be held at Gorbro Holsteins on Friday, November 3 at 244 Majors Rd, Cohuna. Lots will be available for viewing and the sale gets under way at noon.

Flannigan Marketing Services will be putting the cows through the ring and there will be onsite catering on the day. For more information, phone Glen Gordon on 0408 244 812.

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10 // MURRAY REGION

Good decisions make good silage FARMERS AND agronomists joined forces

recently at Echuca to discuss management strategies to optimise the quality of winter cereal silage.

Speaking at Murray Dairy’s Accelerating Change Successful Winter Cropping workshop, agronomist Luke Nagle and silage consultant David Lewis highlighted the agronomic considerations for the end of the season and the importance of good decision-making and management to maximise return on investment and the quality of the end product.

End-of-season agronomy Mr Nagle emphasised the importance of maintaining good management after the final grazing of cereals, keeping in mind the likely return in yield and quality for your investment.

It is critical to stop grazing before stem elongation and grazing after this time can reduce silage yields by up to 50 per cent.

After the final grazing is a good time to revisit your crop nutrient and water requirements and monitor the seasonal conditions and irrigate prior to stress for the best return on water.

Cereal plants are particularly prone to stress during pollination and flowering which can have a significant impact on grain yield and quality.

As you are coming to harvest, consider fungicide requirements for whole crop silage or hay, bearing in mind any withholding periods. Work with your agronomist to get management right,

ensuring that you avoid any mistakes at the last minute that could compromise the final product.

Timing of harvest Mr Lewis spoke about the importance of planning for timing of harvest right from the beginning.

Being really clear on what product you are trying to achieve and how this fits into your feeding system before you put anything in the ground is critical to ensure you get what you want at the end.

There is a compromise between feed quality and yield, and protein and starch, so knowing what you need in your feed budget will ensure you can utilise the end product most effectively.

Both Mr Lewis and Mr Nagle highlighted the importance of selecting a species and variety that is going to fit your end goal.

Think about the end goal for the crop, how much growing season you expect to have, and select early, mid or late cultivars accordingly.

actual development stage of the crop.

Worst case scenario is if both windows are missed and crops are cut somewhere in the middle. This can lead to a compromise on yield as well as quality.

Once target growth stage has been selected, each silage type must be managed accordingly.

Flag leaf-boot stage silage needs to be wilted similar to pasture silage. Dry matter targets should be around 33 to 40 per cent for a stack or pit.

This can be difficult as this growth stage is early in the season. Big, wide, fluffy windrows can assist to achieve the right level of wilting.

Silage additives are essential if the crop is not wilted enough.

Late milk-soft dough silage can be directly cut without wilting as it can, pending seasonal conditions, dry to an appropriate level standing.

Dry matter should be around 36 to 42 per cent. Direct cutting can be advantageous, particularly if it is dry, to reduce dust and if cereals have been sown into cloddy paddocks.

Responding to seasonal conditions Even if you have clearly defined goals from the start, harvest timing doesn’t always go to plan.

Particularly in northern environments, harsh

Whole crop cereal silage can be cut at two stages of growth: 1. Flag leaf-boot stage: Lower yield, generally higher metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP).

2. Late milk-soft dough stage: Higher yield, high starch, variable ME, lower CP. Timing of harvest needs to be matched to which of these silage products you are trying to achieve, what seasonal conditions are like and

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MURRAY REGION // 11

climatic conditions can mean crops run out of moisture sooner than planned.

As the season progresses, keep checking back and considering crop development. Can you still achieve your goal? If you are aiming for late milk silage, will the crop make it? Assess and manage accordingly.

Mr Lewis spoke about the need to proactively monitor the dry matter of the crop.

In the Murray Dairy environment, moisture content can change very rapidly, particularly if there is a run of hot north-westerly winds.

As cereal crops run out of soil moisture they begin to draw moisture from the bottom of the plant to fill the head. To check moisture content, break open the stems of mature crops.

They can be hollow and dry, even if the crop still looks green from above.

In particularly dry years, parched grains won’t soften and are hard to process as the soft sugars are all converted to starch. It is important to time harvest of wheat and barley to avoid this, and not go in too late.

This window can close very rapidly, within

seven days for barley. In dry years you may need to strike a balance between whole plant moisture and grain filling.

Pack and seal immediately Mr Lewis highlighted the need to pack and seal immediately to ensure silage quality. Whole crop silage expands very quickly, much more so than pasture. This is because it has drier, hollower stems than pasture.

It needs to be rolled and sealed as the pit is being filled so that it doesn’t expand and take on air. Also be aware that cereals can be overrolled. If this has occurred cereals will slip out the bottom of stacks and it is extremely difficult to get them back in.

Silage density has a big impact on fermentation, so getting it right is critical to optimising quality. As well as packing it right, density is also related back to dry matter percentage at cutting time.

A lot of dry, hollow stems will make the silage spongy and difficult to compact. A sign that the silage may have been too dry at packing time is if it feels wetter than it should

in the stack at feed-out.

This is a possible sign of yeast activity in the stack, as water is a by-product of their action.

The silage will also have a sickly sweet smell to it.

Harvesting at the best dry matter possible for the season, and packing and covering it quickly, will give the crop the best quality when it comes out of the pit.

■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

adding more packing tractors; increasing tractor weight; reducing layer thickness; or slowing the rate of harvest.

When it comes to ensiling, monitoring and measurement is the only way to accurately know if you are on track to achieving the product you want, and can help you fine tune your management decisions in-season or for next season.

Mr Lewis provided techniques for measuring dry matter and stack density and emphasised the value of checking crops during growth and at harvest.

Checking stack density as you build will allow you adjust processing as required to achieve a better result.

Keep records of what is going into the stack.

A diagram will assist you to know exactly what is coming out of the stack when feeding out, and what rations may have to be adjusted to compensate for differences in quality.

For the optimal result when it comes to winter cereal silage, plan ahead, manage for your feedbase needs and get out into the paddock to check your crop regularly.

Measure your crop performance and silage quality rather than guessing it. Work with an agronomist and maintain good relationships with your contractors to ensure that you end up with the best feed for your herd.

More information and resources from the workshop are available at: www.acceleratingchangeproject.com

If packing density needs to be increased, try: ■■ a shorter length of cut;

• By Amy Fay and Harriet Bawden, Accelerating Change, Murray Dairy

Monitor and measure to get it right

Baptism of fire for first-timers CARL AND Rachelle Moon couldn’t have picked a more challenging time to enter the dairy industry.

They bought their first dairy farm near Numurkah in March 2016, just before the milk price crashed and the winter rains started.

Their first year was trying to say the least, as they faced the challenges of taking over a new farm, slogging through mud and dealing with an extremely wet winter, combined with a poor milk price and a hard year financially.

The tough introduction has given them pretty good coping skills and while they are hoping that they won’t see another season like that again for some time, they are now firmly looking to the future and working out what best suits their business.

“We have definitely done it hard early on and we have learnt how to manage on a very tight budget. Those first six months were so wet and it was such a hard slog,” Mrs Moon said.

The 105 ha farm the couple purchased hadn’t been used as a dairy farm for 10 years, but it was well laid-out with paddocks either side of a central laneway.

“I fell in love with it the minute I drove down the driveway and I could see it had a lot of potential. Things are slowly starting to take shape for

us now,” Mr Moon said.

When it came to setting up the herd, the Moons chose to spend a bit extra, purchasing 100 big-framed Holsteins and topping up numbers with 40 crossbred heifers.

“By the second calving we have found out who-is-who when it comes to the crossbreeds and some of them are going really well. I love my Holsteins, though, and I love getting as much milk as I possibly can out of them,” Mr Moon said.

The herd averaged 7500 litres as a whole, while some of the Holsteins produced more than 10 000 litres.

The Moons exported some of their heifer calves to purchase in-milk animals, but they are looking forward to next autumn when their first lot of heifers will hit the dairy.

They want to peak at 150 cows but herd numbers are limited by the size of the dairy, which is a 10-double-up with cup removers.

They plan to calve at least 70 per cent of their herd during autumn for ease of management.

“We are planning on being more autumnfocused because we think it is the best time to calve cows for us. We also we want our workload to slow down over the summer months because we have three young kids which makes it easier to spend time with them,” Mrs Moon said.

The dairy may only be small but it works well as a one-man operation. The addition of cup removers helps make the job of milking easier.

The first lot of home-bred heifers will hit the shed next autumn and the Moons are focused on improving genetics and getting as much milk as they can from each and every animal.

Carl and Rachelle Moon are looking to the future for their farming operation after surviving a tough first 18 months.

The farm is sown down to annuals, although the couple is considering sowing some lucerne over summer.

“We grew some millet last year but I think that was a waste of time. It seemed to suck a lot of nutrients out of the soil and negatively affected the paddocks,” Mr Moon said.

“A lot of people grow lucerne and it is a good feed over summer and it takes advantage of any summer thunderstorms.”

The Moons recently invested in some herd monitoring gear and have installed the smaXtec bolus system in 40 of their young cows.

“We were looking for better management when it came to reproduction and I like the idea that smaXtec is an internal system,” Mr Moon said.

“The program sends alerts and allows for 24-hour-a-day monitoring of cows when it comes to heats, calving, sickness, etc. I saw it at dairy week and I think it will really help us with our herd management, take a lot of the guess work out and ultimately improve herd fertility.”

The smaXtec system relays information to a base unit at the dairy which then send alerts to the phone.

The Moons agree that while moving has been challenging, it has also been very rewarding.

“We have been involved in getting a young farmers group up and going and we currently have 23 people in the group. We have had one official night which was a success and it has been a great way to meet other people and share knowledge,” Mrs Moon said.

“The community has really struggled over the last 12 months and the flow-on effect has been pretty significant so it has been good to be involved in something positive for our local farmers.”

When it comes to their own business, the Moons are focusing on keeping things simple and doing the best job they can with what they have got.

“I want to focus on milking quality cows over quantity. I have no aspirations to milk hundreds of cows and if I can run a profitable business milking 150 cows with a bit of help from a relief milker than I will be happy,” Mr Moon said.

“Rachelle has got the calf rearing sorted and she does a good job of that. We lease 34 ha to run our heifers and things are slowly taking shape day-by-day. I don’t have any regrets at all.”

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

14 // MURRAY REGION

Power prices hit farms DAIRY FARMERS are being crushed under the weight of power prices, with climbing power bills impacting their ability to stay competitive.

The rising cost of electricity has hit farmers hard, with Australian Dairy Council figures claiming that dairy farmers spend between $35 and $75/day on electricity to power their dairies, compared to between $20 and $45/day seven years ago.

The power price spike has also hit Katandra West farmers Gayle and Laurie Clark, despite the couple installing a 30 kW solar system on the dairy shed roof a number of years ago.

While the system has resulted in significant savings, it hasn’t been enough to avoid climbing power prices.

“The solar system cut our dairy bill by about a third when we first installed them … unfortunately there has been increases in our power bills lately. No-one gets away without an increase unfortunately,” Mr Clark said.

“Looking at it now just sort of cements that what you did was a good decision. At the time is was a tough financial decision to justify.”

The Clarks have used power generated by the solar system to power their roller mill and drive their irrigation pump in the recycle dam, with the savings seeing the solar system paid off within a couple of years.

Yet while the Clarks have been able to ease their power price pain, Katunga dairy farmer and Australian Dairy Farmers natural resources and management group chair, Daryl Hoey, said he has heard instances of farmers’ bills doubling in

recent months and has called on the federal and State Governments to do more.

“Significant solutions have to come from government input and it appears at the moment the government is on a complete freeze on thinking on this and don’t know how to react,” Mr Hoey said.

“Prices will continue to go up until they start to come up with some real solutions rather than just token gestures.

“We’ve got an embedded high cost in our system. Until governments completely rethink their distribution network and start to provide real alternatives to bring down the prices, there’s no real light at the end of the tunnel.”

Katamatite East dairy farmer Iwan Van Den Berg, who operates an 800 ha farm with his wife Melissa, and his brother Erwin and partner Julie, milking about 1250 cows, echoed Mr Hoey’s claims and said his electricity bills had been climbing for some time.

“They’re not quite double but they are certainly a lot higher (than they have been in the past),” he said.

“We’re trying to research all sorts of new ideas however there’s nothing getting done about it from higher up. We won’t be the only ones that would suffer as a result of the prices.

Gas is already a significant input cost for dairy processors in Australia. Based on reports, gas prices are forecast to rise between 50–100 per cent by 2019, according to the Australian Dairy Industry Council.

This will impact the processing of dairy and increase the manufacturing costs of milk products.

PERFECT ENDING TO A DAIRY LIFE Recognition as Holstein Australia Master Breeders has been the perfect end to Athol and Birute Hyland’s time in the dairy industry.

The Hylands, who ran Amelia Park Holsteins at Stanhope for 17 years, recently began to sell off their herd and have retired to Kelvin View.

“It was just touching and very enjoyable to be able to win that just before we got out,” Mr Hyland said.

When working on their 70 ha farm, the Hylands were milking 140 cows themselves and conceded they were simply “worn out” and were now looking forward to enjoying life and travelling, without worrying about the farm each day.

The past 17 years have seen the couple face a number of challenges, with the millennium drought, the Global Financial Crisis and the milk price crisis all hitting the industry hard. “(During the drought) we really didn’t find it hard, there was a lot of help out there and if you were sensible it wasn’t hard,” Mrs Hyland said.

“But after the drought, and after all the help stopped, it was hard.”

“Especially the first 12 months after the end of the drought, because the price went down, that’s when it was hard,” Mr Hyland said.

“I’d take a guess that about 40 per cent of people milking cows, they’re only milking them because they can’t get out.”

Having already hosted a number of sales, the Hylands will completely sell off their herd by autumn 2019, when their remaining 100 heifers will find a new home.

They have been pleasantly surprised

with the sale results.

“The first sale was really good, there was only 13 sold but they sold very well,” Mr Hyland said.

“They were all registered and we had some good cattle. We made $10 000 for one heifer, which was just great,” Mrs Hyland said.

With another two to three sales remaining, the Hylands said they were adjusting to their change of scenery and were looking forward to what the future holds outside of the dairy industry.

Athol and Birute Hyland, who have recently left the dairy industry, have been recognised as Master Breeders by Holstein Australia.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

16 // MURRAY REGION

Dairy sisters love their cows KATIE AND Renee Anderson have milk running through their veins.

The sisters love cows — whether it be breeding them, rearing them or showing them — and they spend a large part of their life helping run their family dairy farm Sun Vale at Yarroweyah, with their parents Greg and Michelle.

The family milks 400 Holsteins (black and whites and reds) and one Jersey (the Jersey is only a recent purchase).

The Andersons are familiar faces at local shows, International Dairy Week and the Victorian Winter Fair, and they spend a large part of their time preparing cattle for the show ring.

That dedication paid off when their cow Sun Vale Real Sally was crowned champion twoyear-old in old milk (30 months and under) at Holstein Australia’s awards night in August. The award topped off a great year for Sun Vale Real Sally after she won the two-year-old in milk section at IDW and went on to receive an honorable mention.

Katie said the win was made even more special because they bred Sally themselves.

“She was bred out of a cow that we bought from Betty Hall from Plana Holsteins in Pinola, South Australia,” Katie said.

“We never showed her as a heifer but when she calved down she had a beautiful udder and we thought we would be mad not to give her a go. We had never won a Holstein class before, let alone a win at IDW or Holstein Australia, so it’s been a great year and it is really special.”

Katie said the family was very excited about Sally and was looking forward to her future.

Renee, 17, and Katie, 19, are no strangers to putting the hard work into their cows, especially when they are young.

“We both love breeding and growing animals and we love watching their development from calf through to heifer to cow. Every single calf born on our farm is given the opportunity to grow and make a cow and feeding them is just so important,” Katie said.

Friendliness is also a trait that runs strongly though the Sun Vale herd. Katie laughed as she said if you walked into the heifer paddock, every single animal would come up for a pat.

“It doesn’t matter whether they are a show cow or not, they still get lots of love and attention from us.”

The Andersons moved to their 310 ha dairy farm at Yarroweyah five years ago. They moved from Queensland chasing a better milk price and future for their business.

“We are really happy we made the move and it is great to be so close to events like IDW and the Winter Fair,” Katie said.

Katie last year won the Royal Melbourne Show’s coveted Dairy Youth Travel Scholarship, which has a bursary of $10 000 to visit dairy regions in Asia, New Zealand or the United States. She is heading to the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin (US) in October and is looking forward to all the experiences the trip will bring.

“I am very excited to attend the show, look at the show cows and catch up with people that I have met through the industry over the years.

It’s going to be great,” she said.

While both Katie and Renee are hoping to have a future in the dairy industry, their parents are encouraging them to have a career off-farm.

“I am studying nursing because I think it is important to have an off-farm qualification.

Renee Anderson with Sun Vale Real Sally, who was awarded champion two-year-old in milk (30 months and under) at Holstein Australia’s recent awards night.

Katie Anderson in action at IDW. She is off to the World Dairy Expo in the US after winning the Royal Melbourne Show’s coveted Dairy Youth Travel Scholarship.

“Dairying is a hard industry to be involved in and mum and dad have been very supportive, but ideally I would love to be dairy farmer,” Katie said.

The Dairy Youth Travel Scholarship application process includes pre-show elements of an essay and panel interview, as well as competing in either the All Breeds Elite Dairy Heifer Show or the Dairy Youth Handlers Classic at the Royal Melbourne Show.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

18 // MURRAY REGION

Mastering the art of breeding DAIRY FARMERS Charles and Carolyn Smith

from Andes Holsteins have brought together more than 20 years of hard work to secure recognition as Master Breeders at the Holstein Australia awards in August.

The Smiths, who have been on their 369 ha St Germains farm since 1998, milk 500 cows at their peak and pride themselves on producing quality cows.

The couple has had eight cows classified as Excellent and a further 21 cows averaging 85 points.

Mr Smith said they focused on making decisions that would produce quality cows physically and ultimately ensure high production.

“Obviously, if she’s better physically she’s more able to walk and she’s better able to produce and produce for a long period of time in a commercial environment,” he said.

With the growing genomics market, Mr Smith said they tried to ensure they were doing what was best for their own farm, even if it took them in a different direction.

“I probably have a bit of a different philosophy to some others, I believe tried and tested is better than maybes,” he said.

“I’m a big believer in seeing is believing.”

Although Holsteins have gained a reputation of having issues with fertility, Mr Smith said he had not had any issues in recent times, some-

St Germains dairy farmers Carolyn and Charles Smith at Holstein Australia’s Annual Awards Dinner, where they were recognised as Master Breeders.

thing he puts down to the weather.

“Last year was an extreme year, it was very wet and we were unable to get the quality in our silage and hay, along with everyone else in the Goulburn Valley, that we normally get and as a result our protein in our hay and silage was

Charles Smith at the couple’s St Germains property.

lower,” he said.

“And they were the best two years we’ve had, ever, to calf.”

The Smiths have had what Mr Smith describes as a “good run” and will now shift their focus to producing beef at their Holbrook

and Wagga Wagga properties, with an October 17 sale at their property the first step. “(The change is) mainly relating to being able to retain staff and find staff that are good enough to do what needs to be done,” he said.

“I think 20-odd years is a fair innings.”

Invitation

Murray Dairy Business Forum 2017 Thursday 19 October – Shepparton “Celebrating the 21st year of operations of Murray Dairy” Featuring a strong line-up of topics and quality speakers on farm business frameworks, latest research and people development for farming in the modern era.

Guest Speakers Include

Mick Keogh – Executive Director of Australian Farm Institute – “the changing face of Australian Agriculture” Mandy Johnson – Author, facilitator and business woman – “inspiring people skills” Mike Stephens – Senior Consultant – “becoming the CEO for your farm business”

Peter Davidson – Rescue paramedic – “Inspiring stories from Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race” Industry Breakfast & Forum

When/Where: McIntosh Centre (Shepparton Showgrounds) Gate 3, Thompson Street, Shepparton 7:30am Industry Breakfast 9:15am Business Forum – Registrations Open

Industry Dinner

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Registrations:

Online via Trybookings on: https://www.trybooking.com/RWHW

For more information contact Murray Dairy (03) 5833 5312 | admin@murraydairy.com.au | murraydairy.com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2017

MURRAY REGION // 19

Dairy dates October

November

Develop Livestock Feeding Plans (Day 1 & 2)

Develop Livestock Feeding Plans (Day 1 & 2)

Tuesday, October 10 and 17 Rochester Murray Dairy Murray Dairy Business Forum

Tuesday, October 19 Shepparton Murray Dairy

Accelerating Change Agronomy Network Meeting

Friday, October 20 Echuca Murray Dairy

Thursday, November 2 and 16 Kyabram Murray Dairy

Want quality ? d e e f k c o t s

Develop Livestock Feeding Plans (Day 1 & 2)

Wednesday, November 8 and 15 Cobram Murray Dairy Accelerating Change Lucerne Master class

Date TBC Murray Dairy Event dates and venues will be advertised via Murray Dairy website, local media and the fortnightly eNews.

For information on the events above please contact Murray Dairy on:(03) 5833 5312, admin@murraydairy.com.au or visit www.murraydairy.com.au

Your local NAB Agribusiness Bankers supporting communities.

Rex James has got it in the bag!

Providing all your nutritional requirements Calf, Weaner, Heifer, Leed Feed, Dairy mixes Beef and sheep mixes Custom mixes Bulk, Bulka Bag, 25 kg bags available

Ask about our delivery service

Call us today to talk to the locals with the know how With more local Agribusiness Managers on the ground, living in our farming communities, there’s always someone to help you navigate the daily business challenges and realise the opportunites.

Call your local NAB Agribusiness Banker, to see how we can help you.

Dave Davies – North Vic 0429 001 885 Nick Davison – South East Vic 0475 836 165 Liz Duncan – South West Vic 0427 175 797

www.jamesstockfeed.com.au info@jamesstockfeed.com.au 1 Murray Valley Hwy, Nathalia Ph: 03 5866 2771 Vic 3638

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VikingGenetics, Australia • 53 Towong Street • Tallangatta, Victoria 3700 T: 02 6071 3007 • F: 02 6071 3006 info@vikinggenetics.com.au • www.vikinggenetics.com.au

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