Getting ready for International Dairy Week. Page 12 GREEN LIGHT FOR SAPUTO SALE PAGE 5
WA GENETICS MAKE ABV HISTORY
PAGE 27
JANUARY, 2024 ISSUE 159 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au
MIXING IT UP
Cath Lescun (left) and Helen Suter inspect some of the multispecies pastures that researchers hope will ease feed pressures during tough times. PAGE 6
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
NEWS // 3
Changing dynamics of diversification Beef cattle (EYCI) and cull cow prices
BY ISABEL DANDO
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STRONG OUTLOOK The December 2023 Situation and Outlook Report from Dairy Australia forecasts milk production to remain steady over the 2023-24 season despite the anticipated impacts of the El Niño weather event. The report said record profits were recorded in some regions last season, and high farm gate milk prices this season bode well for farmers. 2 For the full story, see page 4.
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Farm business diversification has also been encouraged by high beef prices in recent seasons. Over this time, many farmers opted to rear beef cattle and milk less cows, or in some cases, convert their businesses entirely to beef. This began to change over the course of the past 12 months, however, as beef prices began to fall. Driving this fall since last season is the continual post-drought rebuild of the national beef herd, alongside a reduced processing capacity within the sector. In November 2023, the Eastern young cattle indicator (EYCI) was 456¢/kg carcase weight (cwt), a 56 per cent decline from 1041¢/kg cwt in October 2022. Cull cow values have fallen in response, down 44 per cent on a year-to-date basis, resulting in a 24 per cent drop in the number of head passing through the saleyards. Increased diversification within dairying businesses has resulted to a contraction in the portion of income from milk production. Ultimately for farmers, this has cultivated a level of flexibility in adapting to changes in
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time as a means of spreading risk and diversifying farm income throughout periods of market volatility. The competition of other agricultural commodities and income streams — such as sheep, beef and live export trade — has become attractive to many dairy farmers. Live dairy cattle exports have grown to become a significant revenue stream, not only on-farm, but also for the dairy industry more generally. As such, over the past decade, the live export market has provided a robust market/opportunity for business diversification for many dairy farmers. Over the past five seasons, live exports of Australian dairy cattle grew 136 per cent. The sharp increase seen over this period was also somewhat accelerated by the announcement of New Zealand’s live exports being phased out in 2021, resulting in key importers such as China and Japan seeking to establish alternative supply. The major markets for Australian live dairy cattle exports are China and Japan. The share of dairy cattle going to China has increased significantly over time, growing from around 68 per cent in 2012-13 to 91 per cent in 2022-23. The total number of cows being exported to China also increased 69 per cent over the same period. In today’s market, however, exports to China have significantly decreased over the past 12 months — the number of live heifers sent to China from July to September declined 75 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. Australian dairy cattle have played an important role in the build-up of China’s national dairy herd over the past decade. However, this dynamic has shifted due to significant challenges developing post-pandemic, including a large surplus of milk, stockpiled product, and a slow economic recovery. This has resulted in increased rates of culling and some smaller farms exiting the industry, therefore suppressing demand for Australian dairy cattle, at least while herd reduction is a priority.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
4 // NEWS
Dairy still in strong shape THE DECEMBER 2023 Situation and Outlook Report from Dairy Australia forecasts milk production to remain steady over the 2023-24 season despite the anticipated impacts of the El Niño weather event. The report said record profits were recorded in some regions last season, and high farm gate milk prices this season bode well for farmers. Meanwhile there are some challenges such as high production costs, Australia’s competitiveness with dairy products and economic constraints on consumers. The good news for Australian dairy is that the impacts of El Niño may not be as severe on milk production at the national level as past events, the report said. While several northern regions have already dried out, some moisture has been retained in areas across southern Australia. Weather conditions are significantly different to this time last year, and it shows through the moderate production growth recorded in every month of this season. Australian dairy farmers in several regions made record profits during the 2022-23 season, strengthening progress towards Dairy
Australia’s target of at least half of farming businesses achieving $1.50/kg of milk solids EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) over a five-year average. The latest Dairy Farm Monitor Project results indicate that last season’s significant weather challenges contributed to a substantial rise in total farm costs. Supplementary feed was brought in at high rates to combat weather damage and many farmers reported increased labour costs, in efforts not only to attract employees but also retain them. “The Australian dairy industry enjoyed record profitability last season and is still benefiting from high farm gate milk prices this season, as well as strong retail revenues,” Dairy Australia’s industry analyst Eliza Redfern said. “High production costs, Australia’s price competitiveness of dairy products and economic constraints on consumers are emerging risks,” she said. “These challenges will be a focus over the rest of the season, in anticipation of Australian and global markets moving towards equilibrium.”
The cost of producing milk remains high this season, the Situation and Outlook Report found. Feed prices remain under pressure due to average yields this harvest and strong demand for supplementary feed, while temporary water prices have risen. Recent developments relating to the MurrayDarling Basin Plan have also raised the prospect of reduced water availability for dairy in the longer term. Geopolitical tensions also continue to weigh on farm input markets, with both grain and fertiliser markets still influenced by the Ukrainian conflict, despite the increased fertiliser supply which has seen global indicative prices drop between 20 and 40 per cent below October 2022. The report said dairy export commodity prices had seen some recovery in recent months, led by a contraction in exportable product globally. Global demand remains quiet, however, and will likely limit further price increases. Local demand across both Europe and the United States has increased in the lead up to the end of year holidays, diverting tighter milk supplies to respective domestic markets.
Additionally, lower farm gate milk prices in all key exporting regions (apart from Australia) have weighed on milk flows. Global demand, however, remains quiet and will likely limit significant export price recovery. The report also confirms Australia is becoming a much more prominent dairy importer, shipping in the largest volume of overseas dairy in a single season during 2022-23. In 1999-2000, imported products accounted for 11 per cent of Australia’s dairy consumption, whereas last season, 27 per cent of dairy consumed was from overseas. With Australian farm gate prices keeping prices of the local product high, imported dairy has proven increasingly attractive to businesses and consumers looking to limit cost pressure. This growing pressure from overseas dairy products is a sign that deviation from global markets is a temporary phenomenon and will likely have implications for next season’s farm gate milk prices, the report said. ɋ For more information and to view the latest Situation and Outlook Report visit: https://www. dairyaustralia.com.au/sando
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST NEW BASIN PLAN Dairy leaders are urging the establishment of an agricultural industry advisory group for the implementation of the MurrayDarling Basin Plan to ensure the livelihood of dairy farmers, processors and communities are protected. The basin produces 20 per cent of Australia’s milk and dairy leaders are concerned there will be a continued decline in milk production if water buybacks reduce irrigation availability. New basin legislation has been adopted by the Federal Parliament, despite the opposition by the Coalition and protests in rural communities late last year, including Deniliquin and Shepparton. Australian Dairy Industry Council chair Rick Gladigau and deputy chair John Williams met with Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek in Canberra on the same day the Federal Government got the Senate support it needed to pass the Restoring our Rivers Bill. The ADIC proposed to the minister
establishing an agricultural industry advisory group so that government genuinely engages with industry in the implementation and roll-out of the new legislation. “The group would endeavour to minimise negative impacts of buybacks by ensuring ongoing government accountability including the consideration and reporting of socio-economic impacts,” Mr Gladigau said. “Further, the group would provide input into the inevitable community assistance packages that will be required from structural change as a result of buybacks.” The basin is home to 912 dairy farms and 42 dairy processing facilities, creating almost 7000 jobs and generating about $2 billion of value to the region and local communities. Mr Gladigau said since the introduction of the basin plan in 2012, dairy farm numbers in the region had fallen by 47 per cent and raw milk production dropped by 35 per cent. The passage of the bill, supported by
A water protest convoy in Shepparton on November 27.
Queensland politician Bob Katter and Victorian independent Helen Haines, has
been roundly condemned by rural communities and farming lobby groups.
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NEWS // 5 Farmers in Victoria’s Gippsland region and the Bega Valley in NSW grappled with high rainfall and flooding late last year. Pictured are cows walking to the dairy above the lake that formed over 110ha of prime grazing land on Peter Jennings’ farm at Bruthen. See page 22 for the story. Photo: Adam Hasler
Farms flooded
ACCC approves dairy sales BY GEOFF ADAMS
A DECISION by the corporate regula-
tor, the ACCC, has opened the way for Bega Cheese to buy the Betta Milk business in Tasmania. And the ACCC also says it will not oppose Saputo’s plans to sell two milk processing factories to Coles. Bega has one milk processing plant in Tasmania at Lenah Valley, which produces fresh drinking milk, milk-based beverages and packaged cream. TasFoods acquires raw milk from a third party processor and some raw milk from farmers in Tasmania. Bega proposes to acquire the Betta Milk brand, Meander Valley Dairy brand, and a licence of the Pyengana Dairy brand, as well as the plant and equipment used to process and pack the products of these brands (except for those used for the Pyengana cheese branded products). The ACCC examined the proposed purchase to decide whether there were market competition issues. The ACCC found that Ashgrove and TasFoods are the primary competitors in the wholesaling of branded and premium fresh white drinking milk. “Although Bega does supply branded fresh white drinking milk in Tasmania, it has significantly lower market share than both Ashgrove and TasFoods,” the ACCC found
SAPUTO WELCOMES DECISION Saputo Dairy Australia has welcomed the ACCC’s decision not to oppose the sale of its two fresh milk manufacturing sites at Laverton North and Erskine Park to Coles. SDA said fresh milk products remained an important part of its business, and as part of the sale agreement with Coles, SDA will continue to have fresh milk products processed at the two manufacturing facilities. There will also be no changes to SDA’s valued farmer relationships, the company said. SDA will retains its direct Milk Supply Agreements with farmers, and suppliers’ milk will continue to be collected and processed throughout Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania.
“The continued presence of Ashgrove and its strong brands will continue to constrain the merged entity post-acquisition. “In relation to private label or ‘economy’ fresh white drinking milk, the ACCC found that Bega and TasFoods were the only suppliers of these products in Tasmania. “However, the ACCC considered that the limited capacity of TasFoods compared to Bega reduced its importance in the ongoing competitive dynamic of this market segment.
About 48 roles across the two sites will transfer to Coles upon completion of the sale process, which is expected to occur towards the middle of 2024. SDA said it would continue to work closely with Coles to finalise the transaction and “ensure the transition has minimal impact on operations and all stakeholders involved”. “With a long-term vision for success in Australia, SDA remains committed to the Australian dairy industry,” SDA said. “The company will continue to make investment and strategic decisions to maximise its return for every litre of milk and further strengthen its position as a high-quality, low-cost processor.”
“In addition, the ACCC found that the ongoing threat of other processors starting to supply private label or ‘economy’ fresh white milk would continue to constrain the merged entity post-acquisition. “Therefore the ACCC found that, given the constraints present in the wholesaling of both branded and “economy” fresh white milk, the proposed acquisition would be unlikely to lead to a substantial lessening of competition in this market.“
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COLES ACQUISITION OF SAPUTO FACTORIES The ACCC has approved Saputo’s sale of two factories in Laverton North, Victoria, and Erskine Park, NSW, to Coles. The ACCC considered the effect of the proposed acquisition on markets for the acquisition of raw milk in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, and the impact on markets for the processing and wholesale supply of dairy products. The ACCC found that the acquisition was unlikely to change the number and strength of acquirers of raw milk. “Therefore the ACCC found that there was unlikely to be a substantial lessening of competition in these markets,” the ACCC said. In relation to the market/s for the acquisition of raw milk in NSW, the ACCC found that Saputo has a commercial incentive to continue selling Devondale-branded milk in NSW and has recently entered into a five year toll-processing agreement with Coles. “Taking these factors into consideration, the ACCC considers that the transaction is unlikely to change Saputo’s incentives to continue acquiring raw milk in NSW for at least the next five years. ”The ACCC also found that Bega and Lactalis would continue to operate as strong competitors in NSW post acquisition, with Norco continuing to provide some constraint in the northern dairy regions of NSW.“ Australian Dairy Farmers and the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals have both expressed their misgivings about the ACCC decision.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
6 // NEWS
Mixing it up to beat drought BY RICK BAYNE
MULTISPECIES TRIAL sites on nine dairy
farms around Victoria are showing early promise that they could help to ease feed issues in tough times. The project — Scaling out of successful multispecies pasture management in rain-fed dairy systems of southern Australia to increase drought resilience at landscape and catchment levels — has delivered preliminary results and the outlook looks hopeful. The program was established to test if the same amount of feed, or even more, could be provided by using multispecies pastures compared to rye-grass dominant pastures. The 10 comparison sites are at Barongarook West and Crossley in south-west Victoria; Nilma North, Lilico, Newmerella, Goon Nure and Waratah Bay in Gippsland; and Tallandoon, Corryong and Bruarong in northeast Victoria. The project is using paired paddocks with similar soils and management conditions to compare multispecies pastures from multi-functional groups (plant forms) — grasses, legumes and herbs — to conventional rye-grass. Each multispecies pasture paddock has at least one species from each of the three plant forms and most have a perennial ryegrass, a chicory, different types of clovers and plantain. Each location has different mixes related to where they farm, their farming philosophy and their soil types. The project started in April 2022 and will finish in June 2024. It is jointly funded through the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund and Dairy Australia. This project builds on an earlier Dairy Australia research engagement project with the University of Melbourne. Preliminary results from Barongarook West based on data from April to October 2023 were presented by University of Melbourne Associate Professor of soil science Helen Suter, Associate Professor in pasture ecology Brendan Cullen, and other members of the University of Melbourne team along with Dairy Australia national soils and irrigation lead Cath Lescun, at a WestVic Dairy field day at Simon and Linda Scott’s farm at Barongarook West in south-west Victoria on November 22. Prof Suter said the research was looking at different drought-resilient methodologies or land management practices in agricultural systems. “We’re looking at strategies that could be upscaled to catchment scale to make systems more drought resilient,” she said. While the current project doesn’t yet have a full year of results at all sites, the field sites have been using multispecies pastures for multiple years. Three of the participating farms were in the earlier project.
Prof Suter said while results were only preliminary, some positive early trends were emerging. “In terms of pasture production, it seems they are performing equally well,” she said. “We haven’t had the opportunity yet to push the multispecies because the climate over the past two years has been a bit unusual. “However, we’ve noticed there are some differences in the pasture quality metrics with better pasture quality from the multispecies at some times of the year. “This could be at times when the ryegrass isn’t traditionally able to provide that quality. “The preliminary data shows there is a possibility that on the shoulders of seasons you can get a benefit from multispecies.” However, Prof Suter said none of the sites had been able to provide a good indication of the possibility of increased production over the past summer. “There are some indications that it could, but it will be interesting to see what happens after this summer which is going to be a tough one. “The benefits of summer feed were probably undervalued due to the climate in 2022-23 summer.” Some of the measures will be assessed over the long-term, with a follow-up project planned to continue research after June 2024. “We haven’t noticed any differences in soil carbon and nitrogen levels at this stage, but that’s not unexpected, because they take a long time to change,” Prof Suter said. “We’ve also looked at soil health but haven’t picked up any consistent trends.” Prof Suter said there had been no negative implications from using multispecies pastures in terms of production and quality and there were potential quality benefits. The project has emerged from a growing farmer focus on soils, improving soil health, regenerative agriculture, pasture persistence and reducing nitrogen inputs. Many farmers asking about using multispecies crops as a solution to feed problems in dry years, to improve animal production and health, and to address any potential climate-related government regulations. Some of the challenges being addressed include maintaining species diversity, and the need to balance cost and grazing management. Prof Suter said the research was creating real-farm scenarios. “It’s a project running on commercial farms and providing opportunities for farmers to come along and see and ask a lot of questions,” she said. “There is a lot of uncertainty about multispecies pastures. There are a lot of reported benefits, but not much science to support those claims. This project is about trying to find that science.”
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The WestVic Dairy field day was held at Simon and Linda Scott’s farm at Barongarook West in south-west Victoria.
Agronomist Graeme Ward shows some of the varieties in the mix at the multispecies trial field day.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
8 // NEWS
New directors for DA board DAIRY AUSTRALIA members elected four directors at the 2023 Annual General Meeting, and the board reappointed James Mann as chair for a fourth year. There were four vacancies for the Dairy Australia Board. Two of the four vacant positions were for directors with milk producer skills, one for a director with agribusiness, innovation and adoption skills, and another for a director with dairy supply chain and product promotion skills. The directors elected at the AGM are Paul Bennett (agribusiness, innovation and adoption skills), Paul van Heerwaarden (dairy supply chain and product promotion skills), Karen Moroney (milk producer skills) and Paul Roderick (milk producer skills). Mr Mann addressed the hybrid meeting (in person and online) from Moama in sourthern NSW on November 28, and congratulated the new directors on their appointments. “Congratulations to our new directors Paul Bennett and Karen Moroney and welcome back to Paul Roderick and Paul van Heerwaarden,” he said. “Also, a sincere thanks to retiring directors Roseanne Healy and Tania Luckin — you both contributed a great deal to the strategic direction of our industry over many years. “I’m also very grateful to Tania for her dedication while deputy chair.”
James Mann is the Dairy Australia chair for a fourth year.
Mr Bennett is from Tasmania and is chair of family-owned and award-winning Ashgrove Cheese. He was previously the chair of DairyTas, is a dairy and beef farmer and is involved in many community and youth organisations. Mr van Heerwaarden’s family farming background led him to a career path in agribusiness including six years as CEO of Bega Cheese Ltd. He has served on a number of company and joint venture boards including for several years as a member director of Dairy Innovation Australia Ltd. Ms Moroney is a farmer from Eskdale in north-east Victoria and is a former chair of Murray Dairy. She is also a director of AgBiz Assist, a rural financial counselling service, and president of the Mitta Valley Landcare Group.
Dairy Australia board members Paul van Heerwaarden, Paul Roderick, Karen Moroney and Paul Bennett.
First appointed to the Dairy Australia Board in November 2020, Mr Roderick has operated his family dairy farm at Harrisville, south-east Queensland, for the past 30 years. He was previously chair of Subtropical Dairy and had a role in setting up the Young Dairy Network
in Queensland. A recording of the event, including the results of the AGM and the presentations by the chair and managing director, are available on the Dairy Australia website: https://www. dairyaustralia.com.au/agm
FARMERS EMBRACE CLIMATE CHALLENGES By SOPHIE BALDWIN A three-person farmer panel talking about adaptation and resilience in a changing climate was one of the highlights of Dairy Australia’s recent Farmer Forum. Facilitated by Murray Dairy’s Bec Wyper and featuring dairy farmers Deanne Hore from Leitchville and Jacob Gardiner and Dustin Kemp from Lockington, the panel shared details of how they were moving their businesses forward. The Hore family transitioned its management to a housed barn system in 2019 and has moved its calving pattern to every day. While the move hasn’t been without its teething problems, the family is comfortable with where it is and the direction it is heading, which has included one of the family’s children returning home to the farm. They currently milk 500 cows and have a working staff of eight. “We love our cows and we love farming, so we decided to invest in the barn system and we see a great future ahead,” Mrs Hore said. The Gardiner family milks 900 cows on a hybrid partial mixed ration system. Initially they ran a grazing system until the 2019 drought which saw them pivot to a total mixed ration — moving forward they have met somewhere in the middle which includes the use of a rock based, concrete trough feed pad used over the summer months and grazing over the winter months. “Rather than invest in concrete I see our future in expanding land and water,” Mr Gardiner said. Mr Kemp milks 180 to 200 cows as a sharefarmer. He said while he was limited by the size of the dairy he was focusing on growing in other areas.
Farmer panel facilitator Bec Wyper from Murray Dairy, with dairy farmers Deanne Hore (Leitchville), Jacob Gardiner (Lockington) and Dustin Kemp (Lockington).
Mick Acocks, Rochester dairy farmer; Mick Fuller, Dairy Australia national people lead; and Nathan Whipp, farmer with N. & R. Whipp.
Feeding a mix of lucerne, annual rye-grass and summer fescue, Mr Kemp operates a flexible system which allows him to take advantage of cheaper water prices. “I am focused on water efficiency and storing away as much fodder as possible,” Mr Kemp said. “If water costs get too high, I can turn off the lucerne over summer and lean into my stored fodder.” He also has a couple of shady paddocks to help mitigate heat stress over the summer months. The forum — held in Moama in southern NSW on November 28 — also included Dairy Australia’s AGM and a Young Dairy Network presentation: Investing in the NextGeneration. YDN farmer Ebony Mull from Kiewa spoke about her participation in the 12-month Murray Dairy YDN Development Program, which included a 14-day United States study tour. The program focused on succession and career planning. Ms Mull milks 250 cross-breed cows with her parents and she said participating in the program was an amazing opportunity.
“I learnt a lot about succession and the benefits from setting goals which is helping me on my own dairy journey,” she said. “Travelling to the US was also great, particularly looking at the way things are done in different systems.” Since returning home she has changed the way they manage teat hygiene and she is also looking into fluid therapy. As a qualified vet, Ms Mull said fluid therapy helped support pain relief while reducing anti bacterial resistance. “We are also looking at diversification opportunities as well,” she said. Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said it was great to get out and into the regions after COVID-19 and online meetings. “The AGM was well attended and there was great local support from farmers,” Mr Nation said. He said Dairy Australia saw a positive future for dairy in the Murray region contingent to access to water. “The panel was a great example of how business has evolved and how dairy farmers are farming with confidence and embracing opportunity,” he said.
James Mann, farmer and Dairy Australia chair; Greg Jarman, Dairy Australia general manager research and innovation; and Will McDonald, farmer and WestVic Dairy deputy chair.
Margo Henty, farmer, Henty Dairy Company; and Deanne Hore, farmer, Elmar Farms.
Some of the audience at the Dairy Australia Farmer Forum in Moama on November 28.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
10 // NEWS
Veterinarian and dairy farmer, Dr Andrew Perry, teaching students how to capture milk samples, to test for mastitis and other infections.
Leongatha Secondary College students Scott Mackie, Charlotte Pors, Brayden Sellings and Corrina Quinland – with GippsDairy’s Veronica McLeod – listening to dairy farmer, Grant Williams, as he explains the workings of a robotic milking system and dairy farm.
Students milking it for real BY JEANETTE SEVERS
A UNIQUE approach to attract young people into the dairy industry has just concluded its pilot year in Gippsland. Four schools from the across the region — Leongatha Secondary College, Korumburra Secondary College, Gippsland Grammar and Foster Secondary College — participated in the trial. The idea for the course came out of the Workforce Attraction Project, to promote dairy farming careers within the tertiary sector. “We decided to extend the project into secondary schools,” GippsDairy extension team lead Veronica McLeod said. “An expression of interest application was sent to all Gippsland secondary schools. “Four schools opted to participate, and they asked for an expression of interest process from their students, to determine who wanted to participate.” There were 30 students chosen, ranging from Years 9 to 12, with one supervising teacher attending from each school. Project funding was provided by the Department of Education Victoria. The learning was a mix of practical and theory, with on site visits to dairy farms, the Ellinbank Research Farm and other businesses.
Andrew Perry talking to students about dairy farming as a career option.
“At the research farm, the students learned about technology and trials,” Veronica said. “Everyone learned about the value of having a research farm to trial new technology and pastures and feeding systems, something the individual dairy farm can’t afford to do.” The students completed the full Cups On Cups Off training course, under the supervision of dairy farmer and veterinarian Dr Andrew Perry. They visited HiCo to learn about genetics and herd testing.
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They undertook their practical training and assessment at Bushlea Farms, under the supervision of dairy farmer Wayne Kuhne. They also visited Grant and Leesa Williams’ robot dairy to learn other practical skills and discuss the differences with managing a herd of voluntary milkers. The students also undertook mentoring and discussion sessions, focusing on careers in the agriculture industry in general and dairy specifically with Belinda Griffin and James Freemantle. Leongatha Secondary College supervising teacher Lyn Grabham, has already seen the difference the short course created for her students. “Six Leongatha Secondary College students participated in the month-long project,” she said. “After participating in the Cups On Cups Off program, where each student received a certificate, one of our students secured a part-time milking position.” So far, two students from across the program have secured part-time milking positions, on weekend and school holiday rosters. Lyn said the program had demonstrated for students the diversity of career paths available in the dairy industry. “This has been a great opportunity for our students, some who are eager to work on a
dairy farm and for others who love the idea of dairy farming, but don’t necessarily want to milk cows,” she said. “One student has decided that genetics is the field of study and career he would like to pursue. “As teachers, it has opened our eyes to the many possibilities within the dairy industry. “A huge thank you to Veronica McLeod from GippsDairy who was instrumental in getting this wonderful opportunity off the ground in our local area. “I feel the students have gained a lot of knowledge and experience by participating in this program.” Veronica said the four schools had already indicated they wanted to participate again in 2024, and the Department of Education Victoria funding will enable a second program to be completed before June 30. Ongoing rollout of the program will depend on securing ongoing funding beyond June 30. “We’re asking for more expressions of interest from Gippsland schools to participate in the course in the first half of 2024,” Veronica said. “The four schools who participated in 2023 have already indicated they will participate again. “We’ll need to find ongoing funding to extend the course beyond the middle of next year.”
WITH IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
NEWS // 11
The green, green grasses of home.
The only thing that remains the same at the Barongarook West farm is the Kiwi cross herd.
Regeneration breeds success BY RICK BAYNE
THEY SAY that nothing stays the same for-
ever, and Simon Scott’s farm at Barongarook West near Colac in south-west Victoria is living proof of that. During the past four years, Simon has shifted from conventional to regenerative and organic farming, from split to seasonal calving, from twice-a-day milking to 3-in-2 and then back to twice a day for part of the year, introduced a beef herd, and dedicated much of the farm to multispecies cropping. The results have left Simon and his wife Linda with a highly profitable business with a gross margin well above the regional average, and a farm that is producing more feed for less environmental impact. Simon recently hosted a Dairy Australia and University of Melbourne field day to look at the success of his multispecies cropping and to compare the farm’s performance today to when it was a Focus Farm in 2014-16. The farm, which has been in the family since 1939 and has grown to 275 hectares over the years, has been totally transformed since its stint as a Focus Farm. Back then they were milking nearly 400 cows and were basically conventional, with a rye-grass-based system, plenty of urea and split calving. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the herd of mostly Kiwi cross cows. Today they milk about 210 and will peak up to 240 this year, but expect to return to closer to 300 with 90 heifers to calve in the next 12 months. They have been running about 140 beef cattle for a few years, but are reducing that to about 50. Simon admits he hated split calving on the traditionally wet farm, and is pleased with that change. In fact, he’s totally embraced his new farming regime and despite a few tweaks, isn’t planning to return to conventional operations. The farm has been accredited organic since 2020 but first went down the regenerative path. “We’re organic, but our number one focus is regenerative farming,” Simon said. “They are complementary, but organic comes second.” Last year they went to three-in-two milking, at 7am and 4pm and the next day about 8am, but this year they are only using the 3-in-2 system for a 20-week block at the end and start of lactation, returning to twice daily for the rest of the year. “We did 3-in-2 for the whole year and in that time, we transitioned the spring calving cows
Simon Scott is enjoying his new farming system, which is proving to be profitable and easy to manage.
to April, so we had a big dip in production to about 75,000 kg/MS from about 105,000, but this year we’re on track to do 120,000,” Simon said. “We knew that was going to be a cost to restructure the calving system, but we went back to twice a day because the milk price is good and the company wanted more milk.” At the moment production is 62 per cent up on last year. “I’d milk 3-in-2 for the whole year if we could get similar production, but there was a hit during the peak period,” Simon said. One of the big changes following the switch to regenerative farming has been the fat and protein content of the milk — up from 3.63 per cent for fat in 2015 to 5.03 in 2023 and the 2015 level of 3.35 protein has grown to 4.0 today. The cows are producing about 21 litres per day, lower than 2015, but recently increasing with the shift in the milking routine. He has also achieved a 93 per cent in-calf
rate, higher than previous mid-80s. In 2015, the milk price was at a worrying low, but today income per cow is $17.53 compared to $8.12 eight years ago, while supplementary feed costs are lower at $1.80/cow compared to $2.33. The proportion of home-grown feed has increased from 55 to 82 per cent, and the grazed feed per hectare from 4.5 to 5.6. In 2015, Simon was using 108.2 kilograms of nitrogen per milking hectare, this year it’s just 3kg, dropping the fertiliser bill from more than $100,000 to about $5000 a year for bio stimulators, not conventional fertiliser. Last year they herd tested every month and the cell count was low, between 120 and 140. The rare cases of mastitis are treated with apple cider vinegar mixed in the grain. Vet visits to the farm are rare. As part of the conversion, Simon has adopted a new pasture mix, and has opened his farm to University of Melbourne and Dairy Australia multispecies trials.
He sold his hay making equipment and no longer cuts hay or silage, instead buying organic hay and he has enough feed from summer crops. The introduction of multispecies crops is designed to flatten out production across the year. About 40ha are dedicated to multispecies. He uses about 14 different varieties, including chicory, plantain, lucerne, rape, fescue, prairie grass, clovers, but generally no ryegrass apart from what persists from before the changes. There are also four different summer crop mixes. “The idea is if we plant a big variety, we cover all bases,” Simon said. “We can grow a lot more crop biomass with no fertiliser. “When we were conventional, we couldn’t get over three BRIX levels in the plants, now we’re up to 15. “There has been a lot of trial and error, but now I think we’ve got pretty good mixes. “We’re getting the biology on the roots when we plant. We get more grazings on the multispecies and we want these pastures to be there for years — there’s less disc work required on the multispecies pastures.” The farm’s grazed feed per milking hectare is now 5.6 — above the regional average of 4.6 and up from 5.0 before the shift to regenerative and organic farming. The total home-grown feed per hectare is slightly lower than average due to not cutting hay and silage, but the proportion of homegrown feed is higher. It all adds up to a successful venture. Earnings before interest and tax sits at 4.97 in 2022-23, compared 3.24 across south-west Victoria and 2.87 across the state. Simon attributes the high in-calf rate, low cell count, high fat and protein tests to the changes. The nutritive density of their milk is higher than most and Simon again thanks his system. “We grow vegetables, grow our own meat, and have a separator to make some of our own butter; we are trying to get more nutrient-dense food,” he said. “I’m dead against the use of urea for what it does to the environment. Australia is probably 10 years behind everywhere else — we need to shift away from nitrates. “The more research that goes into the biology of the soil and how it works, it’s pretty convincing that regenerative farming works, even though conventional systems are still the foundation of what we do.”
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
12 // NEWS
IDW will be ‘big and buoyant’ BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
IT IS that time of the year where dairy farmers
across the country are busy preparing their cattle for the premier dairy show in the country, International Dairy Week. IDW director Declan Patten said with the dairy industry currently in such a great position, numbers for 2024 were looking positive. “We are expecting a big and buoyant show and we have been well supported with entries,” Declan said. “This is our third year running the event and I think we have ironed out most of the problems now.” With six world renowned international judges and two incredible domestic judges, IDW kicks off January 13 and will run through to January 18. The judging panel is: Brown Swiss, Niel van Rensberg from Gippsland; Guernsey,
Brian Leslie from northern Victoria; Holstein, Barclay Pheonix from Ontario; Jersey, Nathan Thomas; Red and White, Nico Boris from the Netherlands; Ayrshire, Kurt Wolf from Iowa; Illawarra, Brian Parker from NSW; Showmanship, Jessica Gavenlock from Victoria; and Youth Show, Brian Carscadden from Ontario. Sunday, January 14 will see the youth events get under way, while Monday is all about the red and whites and Illawarras. Tuesday is Ayrshire, Guernsey, Brown Swiss and the Jersey heifer show. The Jersey feature continues into Wednesday along with the national heifer show in the afternoon. Thursday is Holstein day followed by the crowning of the interbreed champions in the afternoon. Aside from all the regular showing and handling events across all breeds of dairy cattle, this year will see an exciting new initiative — Cows Create Careers.
About 34 secondary school students from eight schools across Victoria, NSW and South Australia will battle it out for $3000 in prize money — participating in a series of events including the making a 60-second commercial, practical challenges and a treasure hunt. “This is something I have been very passionate about and we all know what a great career path dairy is, there are so many opportunities and we want to showcase that to the next generation who are the future of the industry,” Declan said. Following on from the success last year, the food truck event will return with a focus on local produce. “This was well supported last year with well over a thousand people and we are looking to extend it to include market stalls,” Declan said. The ST Australia Create the Future Cattle Sale will kick off Wednesday at 7pm. “We have record numbers for the auction across all breeds which will showcase the best of the best,” Declan said.
The Power of Women in Dairy will also be held on Tuesday from 7.30pm. This year’s guest speaker is Georgie Herbert — donor and partner director at the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Georgie joined the OCRF in 2020, but was well known to the staff after passionately fundraising for early detection after her mum Mandy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The night will also include the Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Excellence Award presentation and World Dairy Expo 2024-25 scholarship information. “The women in dairy event is a great feature of IDW and a staple event celebrating the many great women in the industry,” Declan said. “We are really starting to get the atmosphere back around IDW after COVID. “There is so much positivity and people are networking and connecting and we are always looking at ways to add initiatives to the event and promote the industry.”
SHARING GENETIC EXCELLENCE They have shaken up the dairy industry. They don’t milk cows every day, but they do breed them. Callum Moscript and Lyndsey and Mitchell Flemming are the principals of First Class Genetics and have become familiar faces at International Dairy Week. Located in Gippsland, in south-eastern Victoria, collectively and individually their passion is to breed the best dairy genetics and make them available to others in the dairy industry. In 2017, Callum — with Declan and Ellie Patten — submitted a two-month-old Holstein heifer calf into the World Wide Sires Evolution Sale at IDW. The calf, Lightning Ridge-CMD Jedi Gigi Imp-ET, was considered in genetic terms to be the fourth best ever bred in the world, and sold at $251,000. Last year, the principals of First Class Genetics gathered embryos and semen from across the world to sell through an online auction at IDW. The sale included 22 generations of cow families of EX classification. They did this alongside showing a team of cattle. In 2024, Mitchell, Lyndsey and Callum return to IDW with their show team, comprising their own and other breeders’ cattle. “We generally show a big group of our own cattle and on behalf of other breeders,” Mitchell said. “We’ll take between 20 and 30 head of cattle to IDW. “We show the best we have and the best that other people have for us to show also. “We collect cattle along the route we’re
travelling from Tinamba to the show, and people also deliver their cattle to us at IDW.” Mitchell’s involvement in showing cattle was entrenched as a professional cattle fitter. “It allows me to work closely with each cow on an individual basis, which is really special,” he said. On their farm at Tinamba, he and Lyndsey focus on preparing and managing cattle year-round to show at IDW. “We’re all driven by passion for the dairy industry and the people at IDW,” Mitchell said. “We love being involved in the registered breeding side of the industry. “IDW brings international visitors to Australia and raises their awareness of our dairy industry. “IDW ensures the Australian dairy industry is seen on the global stage. “When we get to the show, Lyns and I have an intense passion to show our cattle and be as competitive as possible.” But their involvement is about more than competition. “We work together with Justin Johnston from Glomar Holsteins,” Mitchell said. “He helps us by loading our cattle into his truck, alongside the cows he’s showing too. “When we get to the show, we all enjoy the camaraderie. My best friends are all in the dairy industry.” There are also opportunities to build their business by attending IDW. “We’ve actively imported a lot of embryos from several international cow families that we’re interested in,” Mitchell said. “We’ve built those linkages by being at IDW.”
Callum Moscript and Lyndsey and Mitchell Flemming are First Class Genetics and have a passion to breed the best dairy genetics. That passion will take them to IDW again in 2024.
Lyndsey and Mitchell Flemming of First Class Genetics with some of the dairy cattle they showed at Sydney Royal Show in 2023.
By JEANETTE SEVERS
Scott Robinson in the show preparation barn at his northern Victorian property.
ELITE CATTLE PREPPED FOR SHOWING By SOPHIE BALDWIN Christmas was just another day for Pip and Scott Robinson from Eastview Holsteins as they ready themselves and their team of cattle for International Dairy Week 2024. With preparations well under way, Scott laughs as he says the couple doesn’t get to celebrate Christmas in July either because that’s Winter Fair time and they are busy with cattle then too. Scott comes from a dairying background and used to work alongside the Blue Chip Genetics team. “I have been involved with cows ever since I could walk,” Scott said. “I came to northern Victoria from NSW 17 years ago and I get a real thrill out of managing good cows and setting them up for the show ring. The couple purchased a 32ha farm at Tallygaroopna four years ago, which has allowed them to manage their own stock and elite cattle for their clients. “We were on the lookout for a specialised stud stock farm and we now have a facility which includes a show barn and plenty of shedding,” Scott said. At this time of the year the days are long starting with an early alarm at 3.30am and finishing at 10pm (the couple also manages a 600-cow herd at Invergordon). They are back and forth as they tend to
the show cows and the commercial herd. The show cows come to Eastview Holsteins eight to 10 weeks prior to IDW to give them plenty of time to settle in and get on with the business of being appropriately fed and groomed. They are housed in a show barn, in a set up similar to the sheds at IDW, with a milk line running through the centre and cows milked off a bucket. It is a system that works well. “The cows are in show mode from the moment they get here,” Scott said. Every animal is treated individually and fed according to their own diet. This year the show team consists of 40 head — 20 in-milk cows and 20 heifers, from stud farms across northern Victoria and the Western District. The couple is also preparing 10 of its own cows within the 2024 team. “We have Jersey, Brown Swiss, Illawarra, Red and Whites and Holsteins in our elite team this year, which means we will have a busy program showing cattle every single day of the event.” Scott has been attending IDW for years and he said he loved it for the camaraderie, networking, catching up and, of course, the showing. “I get such a huge thrill out of managing and preparing good cattle — there is nothing quite like it.”
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
NEWS // 15
Big issues at ADC FROM THE Ukrainian war front to inter-
national mandates, perceptions of farming and dairy technologies making an impact — a strong international focus will headline ADC 2024. Global dairy influencers are back centre stage at the Australian Dairy Conference in Melbourne from February 12 to 14, as the return of international keynote speakers drives a new realm of opportunity and possibilities for Australian dairy farmers. ADC 2024 programming chair Michael Rood said the focus of the program for this year was about ‘The Power of Purpose’ and challenging every Australian dairy farmer to find their purpose and inspiration for what they do. “There is an underlying tone for ADC 2024 of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable and how we can make true change and impact by challenging ourselves and defining what we really want to achieve,” he said. “Dairy farmers are a resilient lot and there has been a lot thrown at us over the years from fire, flood, disease and market fluctuations. “Dairying in today’s climate we need to be able to dairy beyond the comfort zone for businesses to grow and prosper and importantly also for our mindset and belief.” Michael said there was a lot of excitement about the strong international flavour to ADC 2024, with everything from dairy farming in the Ukrainian war zone to government regulation in the European Union, and climate mandates in New Zealand through to exploring AI
ADC 2024 programming chair and Hunter Valley farmer Michael Rood.
implications in the dairy industry. “In 2024 we have scaled the globe to find trailblazers that have overcome adversity and can demonstrate to Australian farmers the true meaning of purpose and resilience,” he said. “We are privileged to have one of our strongest international representations ever with eight keynotes joining us from across the globe. “Dairy farming can be a tough gig at the best of times and no more so than when you are confronted daily by air raids, abductions and daily milking shifts within a war zone — such is the case for Ukrainian dairy farmer Andrii Pastushenko. “We are very fortunate and privileged to bring Andrii to our shores for a first-hand account of the struggles, resilience and acts of bravery as he and his 75-strong workforce
maintained farm operations amongst a volatile and escalating situation around them. “I think it will be a reality check for many of us in respect to our own set of challenges and hopefully will trigger a renewed mindset in how we tackle and embrace adversity into the future. “Furthermore, hearing from Andrii I think will poignantly provide greater understanding and empathy for international counterparts and what the situation they are currently facing.” Key international highlights at ADC 2024 Melbourne are: ɋ Andrii Pastushenko, Ukrainian dairy farmer: ‘Farming on the front line’. ɋ Mike Brady, Irish dairy farm consultant. ɋ Dr Amy Jackson, UK specialist crisis communications consultant. ɋ Chris Falconer, New Zealand dairy farmer. ɋ Mark Ferguson, Nextgen Agri, NZ. ɋ Craig Piggott, Founder Halter, NZ. ɋ Juan Moreno, Sexing Technologies, Colombia. ɋ Ben Loewith, Summit Station Dairy & Creamery, Canada. ɋ Tom Rawson, UK dairy farmer and ARLA shareholder. For further information and to register, go to: https://www.australiandairyconference. com.au/ To see the full ADC 2024 program, go to: https://www.australiandairyconference. com.au/event/program/ To learn more about the ADC 2024 speaker line-up, go to: https://www.australiandairyconference.com.au/event/speakers/
NEW ADF PRESIDENT Victorian dairy farmer Ben Bennett has been appointed president of Australian Dairy Farmers and chair of the ADF Board. Mr Bennett has been a director of the ADF Board for the past two years. He farms in south-west Victoria and has 13 years’ experience in management roles in the meat industry in Australia, New Zealand and India. “As president, I fully realise there are challenges ahead for the dairy industry,” Mr Bennett said. He paid tribute to outgoing president Rick Gladigau, who withdrew his nomination. Mr Gladigau will remain on the board as a business director after serving as president for the past two years. “The past 12 months has been very busy for ADF with lots of change and big issues to tackle. Rick’s stoic leadership with Trade Minister Don Farrell around the free trade agreement with the European Union helped Australian dairy double down on its long-held position on the deal,” Mr Bennett said. He welcomed the new directors to the ADF Board, Queensland dairy farmer and past president of eastAUSmilk, Matt Trace, who was elected at the ADF AGM, and independent director David Beca, who was appointed to fill the casual vacancy.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
NEWS // 17
Strategic move in dry times BY JEANETTE SEVERS
THE RECENT herd dispersal sale by Antvale
Cattle Co is part of its standard practice when facing drought or dry conditions. Vendor Anthony Coombes said he and Caitlin Coombes learned from the last drought — when they sold their entire milking herd — it was better to make decisions early and they can always buy back into the dairy industry. The sale was organised through Dairy Livestock Services and held on November 23, interfaced online with Elite Livestock Auctions. Anthony and Caitlin farm at Long Flat, NSW, inland from Port Macquarie. They comfortably milk 400 cows in a 60-stand rotary dairy, twice a day, supplying Norco. “Our sweet spot is 350 to 400 cows,” Anthony said. “To milk more, we’d need to lease land for making silage and to raise our young stock.” The herd calves 10 months of the year, but Anthony said that had changed recently. “We’re currently changing to three, nineweek circuits, with breaks between,” he said. “That should give us more flexibility around calving and weaning, and improve calf welfare.” During the last drought, the couple sold its milking herd and bought back in when the drought broke. They took the learnings from that into their management process and decided, going forward, to regularly disperse some of their herd
Antvale Cattle Co principals Anthony and Caitlin Coombes, with their children Samuel, Isabella and Matthew, recently scooped the pool in the dairy section of the Wauchope Show.
through spring and autumn sales. When the dry weather bit hard this season, they decided to bring their autumn sale forward and sell the full complement in November. “We decided to have a spring sale of fresh cows this year and again in autumn 2024,” Anthony said. “A lot of the cows we were selling were bought in fresh-in-milk, and that’s how we like to sell them too. “We always sell good cattle and this time we
put in some of my better cows and heifers that we used sexed semen in the months leading up to the sale. “In the remaining herd, we’re not losing those genetics. “We’ve had to shut down the dairy once before because of water insecurity. “When the dry weather set in, we decided we were not going to do that again, and decided to sell everything in the one sale now.” Even though the recent rain has boosted pasture growth, Anthony said it was too late for the rye-grass and the remaining herd was grazing native grasses. “It’s drying off again now, and we’re by no means out of the woods,” he said. “There’s not been enough rain to fill water courses. It’s green now, but it’s hot and drying weather.” Anthony said he was pleased overall with the dispersal sale. Nearly 300 cows sold, to a top of $4000. The average price across the sale was $2185. Buyers were from far north Queensland, throughout NSW and south-west Victoria. Sale top was Araluen Park Harris Wendy, a six-year-old Jersey cow EX91, PTIC to Roulette and milking 25 litres, that sold for $4000. She was bought by Peter Latham of Moorland, NSW. Antvale Chromed Sallie, a three-year-old, joined to Lottery for her second calf, sold at $3900, while Antvale Chief Star, a four-yearold, milking 32 litres and fresh-in-milk, sold after 15 bids at $3600.
Plateau Vale Megapower Connie dropped her first calf earlier in 2023 and PTIC to Roulette, milking 21 litres, sold after 11 bids at $3400.
We always sell good cattle and this time we put in some of my better cows and heifers that we used sexed semen in the months leading up to the sale. Auctioneer Brian Leslie said the sale of registered Jerseys, Holsteins and Ayrshires, along with commercial Jersey, Holstein, Illawarra, Swiss Red and crossbred cows, was well supported by return and new buyers. “The top-priced cow was bought by Peter Latham of Moorland, NSW, and the next top cow was purchased by G. Tiedman of Johns Island, NSW,” Brian said. “The same buyer also selected Yandavale Winnter V Daisy 849, classified VG88 [for $3400]. P. Barnett of Bellingen, NSW, selected several lots, including Eurarie Daisy Design 2nd, EX90 [for $3500]. “The top-selling Holstein was Antvale Chief Star, a three-year-old by the noted Stantons Chief, purchased by P. Latham. The same buyer purchased Antvale Chief Ding, by the same sire, at $3400. “C. and D. Morris of Killawarra, NSW, purchased Vala Moet Maxie, also at $3400.”
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
18 // NEWS
Norco recovery tastes sweet
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty, NSW State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Norco CEO Michael Hampson, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg tuck into Norco ice-cream at the Lismore factory’s reopening. Photos: Elise Derwin
Norco CEO Michael Hampson surveys the newly reopened factory.
Norco’s new ice-cream production line.
FOLLOWING AN 18-month recovery process that cost more than $100 million, the Norco Lismore ice-cream factory is officially back in business. The reopening in November meant 130 employees were back on the job and Australia’s “best tasting ice-cream” was back on supermarket shelves. With a heritage that spans 128 years in the region, the factory was left decimated by the devastating 2022 Lismore floods. Signalling a major step forward in Lismore’s post-flood recovery, the Norco ice-cream factory — which produces about 42 million litres of ice-cream each year — has become synonymous with the town getting back on its feet. Made possible with more than $40 million in Federal and NSW government funding, the milestone follows a year-long rebuild and commissioning process which has seen the 100 per cent farmer-owned co-operative build a more modern and flood-resilient facility. It now has a flood-proof design and technologies that have equipped the site to defend a 15-metre flood — higher than the 2022 levels. Norco CEO Michael Hampson said he was proud to celebrate with team members, the community and many of the people who helped make the rebuild a reality. “Today is indeed a rewarding day for our co-operative and I’d first like to thank our incredible Norco workforce who have worked
tirelessly on all facets of this rebuild over the past 12 months, from commercial to construction and manufacturing, as well as the dedicated team members we’re delighted to have welcomed back to work over the past couple of months,” he said. “It’s been a challenging period for our co-operative, but we certainly wouldn’t be standing here today without all of their hard work and commitment, and belief in the vision for Norco..” Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt congratulated the Norco team and said the reopening was a significant milestone on the road to recovery in the Northern Rivers. “Norco is one of the region’s biggest employers, and seeing the doors reopen will be a big boost for the community,” Senator Watt said. The reopening is also welcome news for Norco’s 273 farmer members, many of whom are still working to rebuild following the floods. Mr Hampson said the reopening of the ice-cream factory offers a signal of hope for Norco’s dairy farmers, giving them confidence in the future farm gate milk price. “Anytime someone chooses to buy Norco, every cent goes back to supporting our farmer members — so seeing Norco-branded icecream back on supermarket shelves offers a strong sign of positivity for those farmers who have been doing it tough in recent times.”
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and his two children, with Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Norco CEO Michael Hampson having a taste test straight off the production line.
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Norco farmer Andrew Wilson, Norco farmer and director Ken Bryant, Norco chair Mike Jeffery, Norco CEO Michael Hampson and Norco farmer and director Paul Weir.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
20 // NEWS
Heifer calf breaks record BY JEANETTE SEVERS
A TOP of $23,000 was paid for a 10-month-old
Jersey heifer calf, creating a new sales record, at the Cultivate First Class Genetics sale on Thursday, December 7. And an unborn Jersey heifer calf sold at $10,500. The 10-month-old Jersey heifer, born on February 1, 2023, and bred by Roger and Amanda Heath, Mitchell and Lyndsey Flemming and Callum Moscript, is Wanstead FCG Vanahlem Fernleaf ET, and has potential embryo contracts to North America. “She’s a standout calf. Her dam is the first EX96 classified Jersey in Australia for nearly 50 years,” Mitchell Flemming said. “The Fernleaf family is so pertinent globally in the Jersey breed.” Mitchell said part of the purpose of First Class Genetics — owned by himself, Lyndsey and Callum — was to value add to Australia’s dairy industry. This was why Wanstead FCG Vanahlem Fernleaf ET was sold with overseas interest. “We pinpoint international buyers to invest in Australian genetics,” he said. “We wanted to be able to sell a heifer like this with international interest. Araluen Park’s principals have purchased her with the choice to sell embryos from this heifer to North American interests.” The purchasers were Anthea Day and Trevor Saunders, of Araluen Park, Shady Creek, Victoria.
The 10-month-old Jersey heifer that sold for $23,000. Photo: Andrew Cullen
“This price set a new record for an unjoined Jersey heifer,” auctioneer Brian Leslie said. “The top-priced heifer is a daughter of the Jersey breed’s only EX96 cow, Wanstead Valentino Fernleaf.” The sale was hosted at Tinamba Hotel, in Gippsland’s Macalister Irrigation District, and interfaced between Dairy Livestock Services and Elite Livestock Auctions. The second top lot sold was the young cow, Brookbora Love Lies 812, EX90, who was classified EX86 as a two-year-old and won her class at the NSW State Fair. The four-year-old calved in July 2023 and was joined by sexed semen to Victory Rhondas Big Red ET in late October. Brookbora Love Lies 812 sold at $16,000 and was purchased by C. Davis of Longwarry North. Two Jersey heifers sold at $12,000 each — Lightning Ridge MB Bontino Rose Imported ET and Impression FCG Metalic Rosegold. Rose was born in May 2022 and is PTIC to
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Dairy Livestock Services auctioneer Brian Leslie (back), with Callum Moscript, Lyndsey and Mitchell Flemming, and Roger and Amanda Heath, the breeders of Lot 1, a 10-month-old Jersey heifer whose sale price created a new record.
sexed semen from Victorious. Rosegold, born in July 2022, was Supreme Junior Champion at the Sale Show 2023. The Jersey heifer calf, Lightning Ridge MB Roll the Dice Fern Imp ET, born July 2023, sold at $11,000. A Holstein heifer calf of the same age, Impression Diamondblack Dahlia, also sold at $11,000. She was joined with sexed semen in October to Alpha RC/Have it all. Dahlia was First Winter Calf at IDW 2023 and First Winter Calf and Junior Champion at the Sydney Royal Show. A Jersey heifer calf to be born in July 2024 was sold at $10,500. The buyer selects the calf at 100 days after hitting the ground, from three sexed heifer embryos that join Avonlea Chocochip ET sexed semen and Victory Rhondas Big Red ET sexed semen with Hazel Vale Valentino, the champion cow in the on farm challenge in East Gippsland. The Hazel cow family has a long history in the Macalister Irrigation District, being bred by the Clyne family and sold into dairy herds across Australia. “We have been wanting to buy Hazel Vale Valentino for years, and bring her back to this district,” Mitchell said. “She’s from a great cow family and her pedigree has been in the area of a long time, and is spread across Australia. We were able to buy her in 2021. “Avonlea Chocochip and Victory Rhondas Big Red are two bulls we use a lot on IVF transfer in our own breeding. We wanted to make those genetics available to others in the industry.” The unborn heifer calf was bought by Brad and Jess Gavenlock, of Cherrylock Cattle Co, Tallygaroopna. The Brown Swiss heifer offered by Tandara — Tandara Omalley Heidi 323, born September 2022 — sold at $12,500. The Ayrshire calf, Munden Farms Reynolds Klassy, born August 1, 2023, sold at $11,000.
“The Ayrshire heifer is from an EX dam from the same line as the current International Dairy Week Supreme All Breeds Champion,” Brian said. “The top selling Holstein was Impression Diamondback Dahlia, the Junior Champion at Sydney Royal and the Victorian Winter Fair — she sold at $11,000.” A half share in Rockstar Victorious Ghanda ET, born in February 2022, sold at $7500. The overall average across 37 lots was $8600. The 24 Jersey females sold for an average $8958. The nine Holstein females sold for an average $7833. Buyers were from Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. The sale was viewed online by more than 500 people. “Sale organisers Mitchell and Lyndsey Flemming and Callum Moscript assembled a wonderful offering of Jerseys, Holsteins and a Brown Swiss and an Ayrshire, with world class pedigrees,” Brian Leslie said. “This — the Cultivate First Class Genetics sale — was something that Lyns, Callum and I have aspired to do for a long time,” Mitchell said. “Collectively, between us, we believed it was time. We’d done some online sales and elite embryo sales, and this was the next step for us. “We endeavoured to put together as good a group of genetics as we could, and we chased particular breeders and cattle to do that. The sale 100 per cent exceeded our expectations.” The Cultivate First Class Genetics sale rounded off a day of discussion panels with some of the dairy industry’s leading breeders and farmers. “We wanted to do something different, instead of just having a sale,” Mitchell said. “We wanted to create a forum that creates conversation and connects people. “We all love the dairy industry and felt if we combine the discussion panels with a sale, we’d reach a broader group of people and connect people who also love the industry.”
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Potential buyers inspecting some of the heifers for sale prior to the Cultivate First Class Genetics auction. Photo: Luke Gardiner
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
NEWS // 21
Support for injured farmer BY JEANETTE SEVERS
SEVERAL LOTS at the Cultivate First Class
Genetics sale were donated to help a wellknown breeder in the dairy industry, who recently experienced a serious and severe farm accident. Glen Gordon, of Gorbro Holsteins at Cohuna, was in the Alfred Hospital until Wednesday, December 6 being treated for burns after a pump accident. He was airlifted from the local hospital to Bendigo, then moved to Melbourne. “It was a farm accident with the effluent pump and Glen received burns to 30 per cent of his body,” his brother and business partner Drew Gordon said. His hands were burned the worst and Glen has undergone four procedures under general anaesthetic to clean the wounds. “His left hand is probably the worst,” Drew said. “The worst thing about the accident is, it’s effluent water. They have to put him under general anaesthetic each time so they can scrub the wounds. “He came home Wednesday and he’s healing really well. The dressings are being changed twice a day. “But in our job, on a dairy farm, his recovery will be prolonged.” Neighbour Emmalea Wishart has been helping on the Gordon farm, and her father, Rick,
is backing her by working extra hours on the Wishart farm. Drew said he would have to employ two backpackers in addition to one he recently employed, to cover for Glen’s absence from the day-to-day roster. “Glen is project managing some development on the farm,” he said. “And, of course, the show team is his passion, so he’s managing the preparation of the team and he’ll go with them to IDW [International Dairy Week]. “He won’t be able to lead and show the cattle at IDW, but he’ll be able to oversee everyone in the team.” Drew said the family appreciated the commitment of people to donate to raise funds to help them in this period. “You can’t expect everyone to donate if someone gets hurt,” he said. “The people who donated are close associates of ours, we’re partners with them in cows, we’re good mates, and we really appreciate their confidence in and commitment to us. “We help them, they help us. “And we can’t thank the Wishart family enough; Emmalea has been helping on our farm for the past couple of weeks.” Five donated lots were auctioned at the Cultivate First Class Genetics sale on December 7, and sold for a cumulative $18,850. A half share in Rockstar Victorious Ghanda ET sold for $7500. The heifer was born in February 2023, and was first summer calf in the
Glen Gordon with the Supreme Senior Champion at the 2022 Winter Fair in Bendigo.
Berry All Breeds Heifer Show 2023. She is bred from a world class family of show winners, with her dam, Summer Breeze Tequila Gayle, EX94 as a four-year-old, named reserve
champion at the World Dairy Expo 2021. The half share was donated by Rockstarcows. The Jones family donated Cypress Grove Y89 Arrow Tiffany, born April 2022, and PTIC sexed to Kirlea Sugarush and due to calve in February 2024. She sold at $4500. Brookbora, Tandara, Parabel and Rockstar donated three embryos from the joining of Victory Rhondas Big Red to Brookbora TBone Bonita, EX94. The embryos sold at $1400 each. There were several semen lots donated for sale. Tandara donated two straws of Braedale Goldwyn semen, that sold at $700 each. Impression donated 10 straws of Audibel Jordan sexed semen, that sold at $125 each. “The dairy industry is full of great people and they were really happy to donate to this fundraiser for Glen,” one of the fundraising auction organisers Kaitlyn Wishart said. “I knew a lot of people in the dairy industry think really well of the entire Gordon family, and especially Glen and Jenna. “The money raised with help pay any additional costs the family are experiencing.” The Gordon family’s Gorbro Holsteins donated a heifer to the Cultivate First Class Genetics sale. Gorbro Jagger Mayeth, born August 2022 and AI with sexed semen from Siemens Wolf Hulu, is pick of the Gorbro heifer show string, and was first All Australian calf at the Victorian Winter Fair 2023. She sold at $7000.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
22 // NEWS
Rain brings mixed blessings BY JEANETTE SEVERS
DAIRY FARMERS in south-east Australia
were preparing for a forecast El Niño, when it began to rain. Then it continued to rain — a lot. In early October, floods peaked over six metres throughout Wellington and East Gippsland shires, in south-east Victoria. Now, dams and creeks and soil profiles are full. But farmers had to deal with two floods in late spring, some had to dump milk, milk production in the peak seasonal period dropped off, silage harvest is on hold, and they are trying to manage their grazing rotations knowing they will be undertaking unexpected and large scale pasture renovation in readiness for autumn. Moderate (3m) to major (7m) flooding occurred across Victoria’s Wellington and East Gippsland shires and into the Bega Valley, NSW, in October and November, in two major rain events. The floods in November were compounded by occurring in already sodden catchments. Dairy farmers and others are facing summer with full soil profiles, but the need to resow paddocks and repair laneways in the wake of floods that lay for extended periods on their country. After rain for a week, on December 1 a major flood warning of 7m was issued for along the Avon River, upstream and downstream at Stratford. Raelene Hanratty, at Upper Maffra West, said the major problem in the second flood in the Macalister Irrigation District was the ground was already sodden. “Water has travelled into different places than any previous flood because the ground is sodden,” she said. Because of pipeline construction work, Raelene and Dennis didn’t irrigate as they normally would on August 15, when the irrigation season opened. “We weren’t able to irrigate until the end of August,” Raelene said. “Things were very dry around here. We were down 100mm of rainfall for the season. So the first lot of rain, 150mm, was very welcome. The second event will get us through December and into next year [2024] without irrigating. “And on December 15, Southern Rural Water made their readjustment. The weir is full. So we’ll get our high-reliability irrigation entitlement for the rest of the season.” Dennis had made some hay, but their plans for harvesting silage at Newry have been shelved.
“We haven’t been able to get on to that paddock. So that will impact the amount of fodder we have for winter,” Raelene said. “We may have to buy hay in, which is better than having an El Niño and buying in grain and fodder.” In the Macalister Irrigation District, in Wellington Shire, local flood warden and dairy farmer Neil Gannon’s Tinamba farm was impacted by water out of Glenmaggie Weir, for the second time in a month. “But I think it was released well this second time,” Neil said. “In the first flood, about 80 per cent of the dairy farm was covered. A few fences and tracks were damaged and there was rubbish along the fences.” Neil had to dump 20,000 litres of milk in the first flood, because roads were closed to tanker access. “In the second flood, the amount of country that was covered in water was reduced to 65 to 70 per cent. We lifted a few fences so we didn’t have any damage.” It is a turnaround in the season for Neil and his neighbours. Neil began irrigating on August 15, the day the irrigation season opened. “When we got the first flood, we were looking dry but the country was still in good condition,” he said. “Now we won’t be irrigating until the new year.” He had made some silage between the two floods, and is waiting for the land to recover so he can get on it with heavy machinery and make hay. Going forward, Neil needs to repair laneways and is keen to see the herd improve production and recover from sore feet. “We lost production in the second flood. It dropped from 12,500 litres/day down to 10,500 litres/day,” he said. At Bruthen, Peter Jennings described a moderate flood level that created a lake covering 111 hectares of his prime grazing land and didn’t recede until December 10. In November he received 20 centimetres from a week of rain. Also for him, that was the second event. “Thank goodness for our hill country. The rain kick-started our kikuyu and we were able to feed out hay,” he said. “All the flat was covered except for 10 acres. I would call this one a moderate flood. It was also a clean flood, because it was fine rain that fell over a week. “The paddocks are still very muddy and will have to be resown with annual rye-grass in the autumn. The lake only drained away yesterday,” he said on December 11. Prior to the October rain, Peter had taken on board the Bureau of Meteorology’s
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Dennis Reynolds can begin repairing laneways but has to wait for paddocks to clear of water before he can assess what pasture renovation and reparation works are needed. Photo: Jeanette Severs
Narira Creek in full flood, on Clinton Leahy’s farm. Photo: Clinton Leahy
At Bruthen, Peter Jennings made sure the machinery was on higher ground. Even so, this irrigator below the dairy was just out of the floodwater. Photo: Peter Jennings
forecast for an El Niño, and had renovated some swamp country, discing, rolling and sowing it to pasture. That went under water and drowned. In autumn he will have to resow that country, subject to what happens between now and then. He will have to resow annual rye-grass into a lot of his country. But after harvesting barley silage before the October flood, he resowed with millet. After being drowned in November, that is now up and growing, and shiny. The change of diet for the milking herd saw a drop of fat and protein in the vat, and lower production. “I put that down to the kikuyu and the hay,” Peter said. “We’ve also got the milk up to 500 litres on what we lost, today.” Twelve months ago, Dennis Reynolds, of Jarrahmond, and his neighbours were also dealing with floods in the Orbost district. This year is partly a repeat. “This season was a little dry,” Dennis said. “We had 220mm in total, with 140mm falling over four days. Our hill country and higher flats were dry and now they’re looking great. “The lower flats are buggered. There is a lot of country that people are not going to get cattle on until after Christmas. We’ve lost pasture, we just don’t know how many acres, yet.” He has laneway damage to repair initially, and is pleased his milking herd hasn’t shown any health issues yet. For Clinton Leahy, a number of hot and windy days had dried out his country, and three out-of-control bushfires were within 10km of his farm at Coolagolite, near Cobargo in NSW. “Towards the end of November we started to get a break in the season we desperately needed,” Clinton said. “Across the two weeks we would’ve had about 250mm of rain. Some areas in the Bega Valley got more than 400mm of rain.” Clinton said the rain had made a massive turnaround in the season for him. He had run out of dry feed and water supplies were very low. “We really hadn’t had any decent rain since April 2023,” he said.
“One of the three out-of-control fires burned over 17,000 acres of national park and forestry and was only five minutes from here. If the wind had changed direction, we would’ve been burnt out. Now we have paddocks of lush feed and full dams.” Narira Creek, which borders his property, peaked on November 29 and flooded surrounding country. “In the 10 years of owning this farm, I’ve never seen it rise so fast and as high as it did. “I’m very grateful for the turnaround in the season. I won’t have to keep buying house water for my young family, and I’ll save money now not having to keep hand feeding livestock. “Seeing the cattle bounce back, reminds me of the genetic potential in them, and that’s very satisfying.” Phil Ryan, at Toothdale, also in the Bega Valley, had experienced the lowest rainfall in more than a century, prior to the rain. “At Candelo Post Office weather station, which is about six kilometres from my farm, the rainfall was 279mm for the 12 months to November 15,” Phil said. “It’s the lowest rainfall recorded since 1900, and 481mm below our median rainfall. “The season was desperately dry. I had 10 dry dams and had been feeding my stock on silage and grain since June. I had five pits of conserved silage on my farm, and I’d fed out four of them.” Phil’s farm received just over 200mm in 36 hours at the end of November, with up to 400mm spread across the Bega Valley. “To December 10, we had 562mm, basically more rain in three weeks than the previous 12 months,” he said. There were delays in milk collections off dairy farms at Bega and Bodalla. “About 20,000 litres of milk had to be dumped and we have had an increased incidence of lameness, but it’s still below three per cent of the herd,” Phil said. “Our cell count is still under 100,000, so I’m pretty happy with that. Two days ago the milking herd started getting two green feeds a day for the first time since May.” ɋ A longer version of this story is online at: https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
24 // NEWS
Cadbury honours top farmers MONDELĒZ INTERNATIONAL has announced the winners of the inaugural Cadbury Farmer of the Year Awards, celebrating excellence in agriculture and the efforts of its dedicated dairy suppliers. Five Tasmanian farmers were recognised for their performance across the categories of milk quality, innovation and sustainability, young farmer and female farmer. Manufactured in Tasmania for more than a century, Cadbury sources more than 110 million litres of fresh milk from the state annually. Many of the (approximately) 50 dairy farming families have been supplying the company for generations. Darren O’Brien, Mondelēz International president for Australia, New Zealand and Japan, said the awards were established to honour their hard-working Tasmanian farmers and their love for dairy. “We’re incredibly proud of our unique dairy sourcing model here in Tasmania and the direct relationships we have with our farmers.” “This is an opportunity for us to say thank you to our farmers for their commitment to Cadbury, Australia’s most trusted food brand, and to recognise the hard work they put in every single day to deliver the high-quality milk that goes into our great tasting products.” Mark Griffin, a fifth-generation farmer from Mount Patrick Estate, emerged as the recipient of the Milk Quality Award, reflecting first-class practices across his dairy operations. “It’s an incredible honour for our team and
950-strong herd who work hard twice a day, 10 months of the year to produce high quality milk. “To deliver high quality milk — it’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and you’ve got to get all those one-percenters right.” The company has its sights set on a path to sustainable growth, with sustainability recently elevated as the fourth pillar of the company’s strategy. Joint winners of the Innovation and Sustainability category, Darren Fielding and Paul Lambert, exemplify this ambition with ground-breaking practices. Darren has invested in one of the state’s few robotic dairies, automating the milking process for his 330 Friesian cows. While Paul has adopted smart cow collars, providing real-time data on the health and fertility of his cows, and capabilities to control their feed allocation and movement across his 300 hectare property. Collectively, Paul and Darren’s families have been supplying Cadbury for nearly 80 years. Brodie Hill, farming in South Riana on the central coast, shines as the Young Farmer Award recipient, demonstrating a spirit of innovation and promise for the future of the industry. His passion for developing aspiring farmers gives hope to the future of the workforce in the region. Meanwhile, 23 year-old Alice Abblitt was celebrated as the winner of the Female Farmer Award, showcasing leadership and dedication
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in a male-dominated industry. Alice has taken charge of the Abblitt family 500-cow farm and maintains a positive attitude that is infectious on the farm.
Cadbury extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and expresses gratitude to all farming families for their invaluable contributions to Cadbury and Mondelēz International.
BUTTERING UP AT SCHOOL By ANDY WILSON The third term of school for the Years 5 and 6 students at Toolamba Primary was time well spent delving deep into the benefits of dairy products. Dairy Australia provided the northern Victorian students with a fibreglass cow for decorating in their most creative style about what they learnt over three weeks. The project was all part of Dairy Australia’s Picasso Cow Program and in the national competition, the school’s new mascot ‘Butter Buns’ came in the top three with an honourable mention. Teacher Carly Tuhan said the purpose of the competition was for students to learn about the dietary benefits of dairy foods and then represent them as artwork painted onto the cow. “The program ran for 10 weeks and consisted of a set curriculum taught to students about the dairy industry, either Farm to Plate or Health and Nutrition,” Carly said. “We spent three weeks learning all about how important it is — especially for kids — to get the recommended daily intake to develop strong teeth and bones and also benefit from the many vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in dairy products.” The students then spent two weeks planning the artwork which was completed in the five remaining weeks. “We are very proud to be the only Victorian school to have won a place in the competition, beaten only by two NSW colleges for Best Overall Cow and Best Cow Design.
All students in Years 5 and 6 at Toolamba Primary School contributed to decorating a fibreglass cow for their entry into Dairy Australia’s Picasso Cow Program.
“I am so proud of how enthusiastic and engaged the students were in the program, and how every idea came from them. “They were at the centre of every step in the journey, to deciding what should go on it, to designing each product, to painting every single colour.” Teagan Roberts, 12, said the vitamin content of milk was what interested her. “We learnt that dairy food has vitamins A, B2, B3, B12 and D,” Teagan said. “So it’s very good for you.” The class also submitted a learning journal that showed the journey through the program as well as six photographs which were also part of the judging process. Evie Pogue, 12, said the secret to doing so well in the competition was all about patience. “We put a lot of effort into it, and the advice I would give to younger years who might enter is to take your time, don’t rush,” Evie said.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
26 // AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES
Genomic benefits stack up ANDREW DELANEY bought a
pack of penicillin 16 months ago — he still hasn’t used it all. For the Nirranda, Victoria, dairy farmer this is just one of the examples of why breeding from his top cows — according to genomics — is providing a return on investment. This scarcely-used pack of penicillin is a cost saving, while an average bulk milk cell count of 80,000 to 90,000cells/ml ensures maximum value is achieved for milk. This is without considering the extra money earned from good protein and fat percentages — the 300-strong herd often records a protein percentage close to four — and big numbers of high Balanced Performance Index (BPI) heifer calves he chooses from as herd replacements. The Holstein herd owned by Andrew, partner Jacqui Cornelissen and children Beau, 13, Jacob, 10, and Amelia, 9, was ranked 8 on DataGene’s BPI top Holstein herds list with an average BPI of 277 in August 2023. This ranking is a result of careful breeding decisions — focusing on using high BPI bulls, using sexed semen and genomics to ensure only the best animals are kept as replacements. But for Andrew, genomics is also a practical tool that aids everyday decision-making.
“I’ve got to do it to decide which cattle to sell anyway,” he said. “Thanks to genomics I can sell them as young calves. Last year I was getting $650 for a week-old calf — why would I want to rear it? “This year the price has come back and it’s like $150, but I’d take that any day. It (the heifer) isn’t going to make my herd; I don’t want to rear it with the cost of the extra milk they would be drinking, extra pellets to feed them and then the work.” By now, most of the milking herd is genomically tested, so genomics also plays a part in determining cull cows. “If I have 350 (BPI) heifers coming in and cows under 100 BPI, someone has to go,” he said. “I sold some recently, they had a BPI of 20. They were in the herd for a long time but now I have all these young ones coming through — that are high BPI according to their genomics — when I need to, I clean out the older cows.” Andrew started genomic testing heifer calves almost eight years ago to objectively determine the genetically superior animals. His confidence in the technology grew when his first genomic samples and a recent herd test “married up”. For example, a cow with a low herd test was the mother of a calf with a low BPI — indicated by its genomics.
Genomics and the use of sexed semen from high BPI bulls have helped Andrew Delaney and Jacqui Cornelissen improve the genetics of their herd, which ranked 8 for BPI in August 2023.
Years later, Andrew’s motivation for taking ear notch DNA samples from calves has remained the same, but thanks to a business decision to breed exclusively with sexed genetics, it’s become increasingly important. Andrew and Jacqui have two customers for their week-old dairy heifer calves that don’t make the cut as replacements to rear on-farm. Genomics ensures they retain the
highest BPI heifers and those that fit the farm’s breeding objective. In recent years, Andrew has been concentrating on breeding for chest and body width, teat length and milk. He’s also continued with his longterm breeding goals of improving fat and protein. These traits and the herd’s BPI are tracked using the DataGene Herd Data app. Jacqui joked about carrying two
phones down the paddock — the older of the pair runs the farm apps — but the practicality of having data on-hand overrides any inconvenience. She said they’d often check the BPI of cows as they calve, in anticipation of what’s to come. It’s this eye on the future — and a desire to continually progress — that drives Andrew and Jacqui. They are reaping the benefits now of using data and anticipate breeding — and especially BPI — to play a factor in the herd’s value and future marketing opportunities. “In the future it will be a good way to sell your cattle,” Andrew said. “And also, sooner or later I’ll be selling milking cattle — high genomic cattle — to other farmers. “They are not going to be in our herd, but they will be good cows for someone else, good cows wherever they go. “As genomics gets more and more popular, and more people test their cows, they will see the differences between a high genomic herd and a low genomic herd and what that looks like. “If they are going to invest, why not invest in a higher genomic herd, with a higher BPI behind them?” ɋ For more information, go to www.datavat.com.au or email: abv@datagene.com.au
TOP COWS AND HERDS DataGene released the latest Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) in December. Here are some of the key results.
HOLSTEIN COWS Balanced Performance Index (BPI) ɋ Carenda Jeronimo Vida is again the number 1 BPI Holstein cow. Vida is classified VG87 as a three-year old and is a polled daughter of the high-ranking bull ABS Jeronimo (29HO18698). Vida has a BPI of 646 and was bred by the Kitchen family, Boyanup, WA. ɋ The number 2 cow comes from the number 1 Holstein herd owned by Bryan and Jo Dickson, Emu Banks Holsteins. Emu Banks Perseus Tiffany 11777 GP82 is a daughter of the Semex sire Westcoast Perseus (0200HO10777). The Dicksons also bred the number 3 BPI cow Emu Banks Jeronimo Sonia 1246 VG86. ɋ For the second consecutive ABV run, the number 1 genomic heifer in the Holstein breed is a daughter of the Genetics Australia bull KARAT. With a BPI of 583, ‘16916’ has fantastic ratings for Daughter Fertility (121) and Mastitis Resistance (113). She was bred and owned by Jelbart Dairies of Leongatha South, Victoria. These very high breeding values for health and fertility traits contribute to ‘16916’ also being the highest Heath Weighted Index (HWI) female in the Holstein breed.
Sustainability Index (SI) ɋ A Carenda Pemberton daughter with an extreme protein ABV is the number 1 Sustainability Index Holstein cow. ‘16229’ owned by Jelbart Dairies of Leongatha South, Victoria has a SI of 1223.
ɋ The number 2 SI cow is Emu Banks Jeronimo Sonia 1246 VG86 with an SI of 1164. She is also the number 3 BPI cow. Emu Banks also has the number 3 SI cow Perseus Tiffany 11777 GP82 with a SI of 1151. She is also the number 2 BPI cow. Both are owned by Bryan and Jo Dickson, Emu Banks Holsteins, Terang, Victoria,
JERSEY COWS Balanced Performance Index (BPI) ɋ There is some change at the top of the Jersey breed. Craigielea Vicky 6151 is the new number 1 BPI cow with a BPI of 496. She is owned by the Cochrane family of Bamawm, Victoria. She is classified VG87 and is a daughter of Ahlem Whistler (0200JE01140). ɋ The highly regarded Cairnbrae Valentino Daisy 11 EX-94, bred by Alan and Janine Carson and now owned by the Singh family of Kyogle, NSW, comes in at number 2 with a BPI of 474. Daisy 11 is the dam of the high-ranking bull ROULETTE available through Agri-Gene. ɋ For the fourth run in a row, the top Jersey genomic heifer is Beulah Doug T2 Fairy bred by Daryl and Lani Hoey of Wonthaggi, Victoria. She has a BPI of 415 with solid ratings for most of the health traits. Doug T2 Fairy is also the top Sustainability Index and Health Weighted Index (HWI) genomic heifer.
Sustainability Index (SI) ɋ Broadlin Ilagay 3791 EX-91 is the number 1 Sustainability Jersey with an SI of 1023. Bred and owned by Linton and Lisa Broad, Wonthaggi, Victoria, Iligay 3791 is a daughter of the WWS bull Matt (7JE01344).
OTHER BREEDS
Other breeds
ɋ Aussie Red: Blackwood Park 1416 with a BPI of 436 is the top Aussie Red cow. Owned by R. & V. Clarke, Mt Gambier and bred by Jan Raleigh of Timboon, Blackwood Park 1416 is also the top Sustainability Index cow and the number 2 HWI cow. She is sired by VR Faber (VIKRFABER). ɋ Ayrshire: Hartwood Pistacio Karen owned by J. & K. Sykes of Ringarooma, Tasmania. ɋ Illawarra: ‘3309’ a daughter of KGPRISONER owned by J. & W. Hann of Lockington, Victoria.
ɋ Aussie Red: Ron and Sam Graham of Numbaa, NSW, again have the number one herd for all three key indices. They are also the breeders of the top BPI Australian Proven bull Beaulands Swannies (ARBCYGNET). ɋ Illawarra: The Williams family’s Treeton herd of Meningie is the top herd for BPI (107) and HWI (100) while the top SI herd is Michael Tuhan’s Riversleigh herd of Murchison, Victoria with an average of 192. ɋ Ayrshire: D. & V. Penfold, Willow Grove, Victoria, hold down top spot for BPI in the Ayrshire breed. ɋ Brown Swiss: P. & S. Balfour of Kanoona, NSW have the top Brown Swiss herd for BPI, HWI and SI. ɋ Guernsey: The Cleggett family of Glencoe, South Australia are the leading Guernsey herd for BPI and SI. For a longer story, including information on the top bulls, go to: www.dairynews. com.au For more information about the Balanced Performance Index (BPI), Health Weighted Index (HWI) and Sustainability Index, go to the ABV Pocket Guide at: https://www.datagene.com. au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ ABVs-Pocket-Guide-2022-WEBVersion.pdf Go to DataVat for the latest ABV tables at: https://www.datavat.com.au/ abv-list-reports ɋ Source: DataGene, an initiative of Dairy Australia and the herd improvement industry.
TOP HERDS Holstein ɋ The Emu Banks herd of Bryan and Jo Dickson has retained top spot with an average BPI of 359. It is also the highest herd for the Sustainability Index at 642 and number 1 for the Health Weighted Index (HWI) at 338. ɋ In second position on BPI is Rohan and Graeme Sprunt’s Kaarmona herd, Kaarimba, Victoria. ɋ Third position is occupied by Brendon Winter, Warragul, Victoria. ɋ All three of these herds have numerous high-ranked cows in the ABV lists and bulls in the upper echelon of the Good Bulls Guide.
Jersey ɋ Con and Michelle Glennen’s White Star Jersey herd from Noorat, Victoria, is the top BPI, HWI and SI herd in the Jersey breed with a BPI of 255 and a HWI of 190 and a SI of 546.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES // 27
WA genetics make history ONE WESTERN Australian Holstein herd
The Kitchen family’s Carenda Holsteins has dominated the December release of Australian Breeding Values, including the top BPI Holstein, Carneda Jeronimo Vida.
BREEDING FOR CALF VITALITY Calf health records from more than 50 Australian dairy farms are helping researchers better understand the genetics that contribute to healthy young stock. And this information could be used to build the nation’s first Australian Breeding Value (ABV) for Calf Health — to provide dairy farmers with an opportunity to select genetics to increase the chances of breeding an alive calf that thrives. La Trobe University PhD student and DataGene team member, Michelle Axford, has led this work for the past two years and continues to work alongside farmers and researchers to validate the early-stage or ‘research’ ABVs to ensure they add value to farmers’ breeding programs. “First thing is first, we are still testing to make sure the ABVs are effective and if the research ABVs pass the test then farmers could expect to see calf ABVs in the usual places that they find ABVs,” Michelle said. “But part of the research work is asking for dairy farmer feedback to determine how the ABV could be expressed — for example a single calf health trait or many individual traits? What’s the economic value of each trait? The value of a healthy calf?” An ABV is an estimate of a heifer, cow, bull — or in this case — a calf’s’ genetic merit for a particular trait. Terang, Victoria, dairy farmer Tori Tuckett collected information on each calf born on her 750-cow dairy farm to assist the project. She already recorded extensive calving and calf health information, such as individual’s colostrum intake and if the cow had any calving issues but added a measure of ‘vitality’ to her spreadsheet to aid the project. Vitality was scored based on the calf’s willingness to drink, energy, temperament, and attitude. Most calf information was added to the dairy farm’s management software to ensure it remained with the animal throughout its life and assist with management decisions. Tori said the project was good news for farmers as it would build the understanding the role genetics plays in breeding an alive and healthy calf, as well as the possibility of breeding for this trait.
has dominated DataGene’s latest release of Australian Breeding Values — a first since the industry introduced genetic predictions 40 years ago. Carenda Holsteins, owned by the Kitchen family from Boyanup, Western Australia, has bred the industry’s top Holstein cow, six of the top 30 cows, four of the top 12 genomic Holstein bulls — including the top-ranked AUSTRALIND — and three of the top 10 proven bulls, according to Balanced Performance Index (BPI). This influence in the Holstein breed, through the Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) is a historical first, according to DataGene extension officer Peter Williams. “I have never in my 42 years in our Australian dairy industry and 40 years of those with ABVs, seen a single stud dominate every level of ABV ranking as Carenda has this December,” he said. “The significance on the ABV bull rankings is that CARENDA is now competing against
the thousands of overseas Holstein sires that have been selected, imported and used here in Australia.” The Kitchen family have bred Holsteins for more than 60 years and are known for their productive, all-round cows. This ABV release proves this breeding philosophy not only works, but it also contributes value to Australian dairy farmers. DataGene chief executive Matthew Shaffer said by using Australian science and data, ABVs reflect the breeding objectives of Australian farmers to ensure they get cows that suit their needs. “Australian farmers want healthy, productive and sustainable cows,” Dr Shaffer said. “Australian Breeding Values and indices like the Balanced Performance Index are tools for farmers to independently verify the genetic merit of bulls and cows and apply this information to their own herds.” 2 To see the December ABV tables, go to: https://www.datavat.com.au/abv-list-reports
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Tori Tuckett collected information on each calf born on her 750-cow dairy farm to assist the project developing a breeding value for calf vitality.
“If we can help provide some data to help make the decision-making process easier and more accurate, as well as make the job of a calf rearer a lot easier — why not do it,” she said. “The investment of time, in the whole scheme of things, is not huge to help by providing some data for a project that’s got huge potential.” Dairy farmers can get involved and share their thoughts on this work by completing a 10-to-15-minute online survey at: https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/calf2023 Information collected from the survey will be used on conjunction with historical genetic records analysis and the on-farm calf records to further develop a Calf Health ABV. Then the industry’s Genetic Evaluation Standing Committee — including dairy farmers, researchers and industry representatives — provides advice and recommendations about this research to help guide DataGene with the implementation of the ABV. This research contributes to DairyBio, which is an initiative of Agriculture Victoria, Dairy Australia and the Gardiner Foundation. DairyBio provides the research pipeline to develop and maintain Australian Breeding Values which are delivered by DataGene.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
28 // ANIMAL HEALTH
Tagged for healthy success BY COBY BOSCHMA
DAIRY FARMING these days is all about the numbers game. Just like any good business, nailing those numbers is key to building a sustainable operation. For many Australian dairy farmers, CowManager has been a game-changer. This has been the case for David Cook, Rob Mortlock and Jason Burleigh. The ear sensors keep tabs on their herd’s health, their nutrition, reproduction and how they fair during the transition period. It’s like having their own digital farming assistant, making work on-farm more efficient, and life that much easier. CowManager is all about working smarter, not harder. The cow monitoring system monitors a cow’s behaviour, (in)activity, rumination time and eating time, as well as ear temperature. Based on this, CowManager users receive proactive alerts on their phones and computers, staying up-to-date on the health, nutrition and fertility of their cattle in real-time. A rich collection of 24/7 cow data is always at your fingertips, made clear through easy-to-understand graphs. David Cook, a dairy farmer in south-west Victoria, says: “With CowManager we can step away. Observations are more intermittent. We can grab the phone and trace her history, see if she’s been eating in the past 24 hours; see if it drops off. We can follow the coloured graph
Jason Burleigh with WWS Australia representative Paul Quinlan.
and watch. You don’t panic and call the vet. It gives us 24/7 monitoring.” Rob Mortlock, dairy farming in South Gippsland in Victoria, agrees that CowManager’s cow data is easy to interpret. “It’s a simple system. With 180 heifers coming into the milking herd this year, it puts pressure on the current milking herd for fertility,
mastitis, bad feet and udder conformation.” CowManager’s Health Module is dedicated to monitoring herd health to catch diseases early as well as tracking recovery. The module not only helps farmers, but veterinarians too. Users have the option of sharing data with additional staff and remote specialists through the always-included MultiView function. This
enables vets to access the entire data history of the cow, from present day all the way back to the date of the ear tag installation. Rob explains: “Getting a quick, early diagnosis allows us to get straight on to the therapy. When the vets come out to see our sick cows, they can easily check the selected cow’s rumen activity and temperature. The speedy overview of the cow’s health helps to see what could be wrong more accurately and quickly than before we had the CowManager program installed.” The Health Module allows a sick cow to be detected at an early stage. The animal can then be drafted for treatment one or two days before she shows any clinical signs of illness. The early warning system reduces sick cows, speeds up recovery and overall means less time out of the vat. Dairy farmer Jason Burleigh from southwest Victoria says the attention and care for his cows hasn’t changed since using ear sensor technology. Why? “Because it’s integral to any herd that operators are still constantly keeping a visual eye on their animals. However, monitoring his cows 24/7 with the system has been a great help in catching sick or at-risk cows early,” Jason says. “We are now able to quickly pick up on any health issues, therefore treating cows before they become gravely ill or sometimes before they even show signs of illness.” 2 CowManager is distributed by WWS Australia, including local support. For more information, visit: www.cowmanager.com/ australia
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Livestock must be inspected prior to being loaded and they must not be suffering from conditions that could cause, or would be likely to cause, increased pain or distress during transport. Agriculture Victoria senior veterinary officer Jeff Cave said if you are in doubt about an animal’s suitability for transport, you can always ask your private veterinarian or any Agriculture Victoria animal health officer or veterinary officer if livestock are fit to load. A guideline titled Is the animal fit to load? has been produced by Meat & Livestock Australia, which can be viewed electronically on MLA’s website. In summary, an animal is not fit to load if it: 2 Is not able to walk normally or bear weight on all its legs. This may be due to a recent or old fracture, an injury, a deformity or an infection. 2 Is not strong enough to make the journey. 2 Is suffering from severe distress or injury. 2 Is in a condition that could cause it increased pain or distress during transport.
2 Is blind in both eyes. 2 Is in late pregnancy. Dr Cave said if you identify an animal that is unfit to load you have a few options. “You could treat the animal and transport it when it has recovered and is fit to load. Naturally, this is not an option in cases that are not readily treatable,” he said. “Alternatively, you could humanely destroy the animal. A knackery service is available in many areas to help with this option. “Finally, you could consult a veterinarian and only transport the animal under veterinary advice.” Dr Cave said it was important to remember the person in charge of the animal is responsible for its welfare. “Community values and expectations will not accept anything less. If it is unfit to load it is unfit to be presented at a saleyards.” For further information on animal welfare, contact your local animal health staff. 2 Find the Land transport of livestock standards and guidelines and more information at: https://go.vic.gov. au/45RZ6uQ
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• On-farm visit by a ProDairy veterinarian. • Review of the current biosecurity principles, the major risks and actions taken to reduce those risks.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 29
Megalac is industry leader FORTY YEARS after it first rolled off the
manufacturing line, Volac Wilmar‘s flagship rumen-protected fat supplement, Megalac, continues to be a global leader in feed fat nutrition and one of the biggest brands in global agriculture. According to Dr Richard Kirkland, global technical manager for Volac Wilmar (VW), the long-standing success has been a result of the company remaining at the forefront of feed fat research and the development of proven feeding solutions for dairy farmers. “Fat is one of the key macro-nutrients in dairy production, and considerable research on animal requirements has been conducted over several decades,” Dr Kirkland said. “However, it was clear that adding higher levels of oils, or higher fat ingredients, to rations had detrimental effects on fibre digestibility and milk fat.” The calcium salt technology developed by Professor Don Palmquist’s lab at Ohio State University in the United States, combined fatty acids with calcium, producing a rumen-insoluble supplement. Using this technology, Megalac was commercialised by Volac as the first calcium salt rumen-protected feed fat supplement, enabling dairy farmers to take advantage of the energy density benefits of fat without disrupting rumen function and fibre digestibility. Megalac has become a household name in global dairy production, being fed on dairy
farms on every continent and all the major dairy countries globally. Growth in the marketplace has been driven by extensive independent research at universities and by VW and its partners, Dr Kirkland said. “A groundbreaking area of research has been the discovery that specific fatty acids influence multiple areas of cow production such as nutrient partitioning, body condition, fertility, milk fat and milk yield,” he said. Oleic acid (C18:1) helps partition nutrients toward body fat stores, reducing body condition loss in the critical early lactation period. This fatty acid also improves total fat digestibility and can enhance fertility through improved egg and embryo development. For improving milk fat production and yield, palmitic acid (C16:0) is particularly beneficial, however, research shows increased production in early lactation through C16:0 supplementation can come at the expense of additional body condition and weight loss, so care must be taken if supplementing with higher levels of C16:0 through early lactation. According to Dr Kirkland, VW continues to invest in fat nutrition research, with new areas exploring the benefits of rumen-protected fats on reducing methane production underway. “VW will continue to invest in understanding the influence of fatty acids in ruminant diets to help farmers optimise on-farm production while overcoming new challenges,” he said.
Dr Richard Kirkland, global technical manager for Volac Wilmar, with Prof Don Palmquist at the 2023 American Dairy Science Association conference in Ottawa, Canada. Prof Palmquist’s lab at Ohio State University developed the calcium salt technology which resulted in a rumen-insoluble supplement. This technology was commercialised by Volac for the first production of Megalac in the early 1980s.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
30 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
The feedbase of the future PERENNIAL RYE-GRASS forms the backbone of most temperate dairy pastures. Nothing can match rye-grass for forage quality, production and versatility, making it a popular choice amongst farmers. In recent decades, enormous leaps have been made in breeding new ryegrass cultivars to help dairy farmers grow more pasture, and profit from its low-cost source of energy for milk production. According to the 2023 Forage Value Index developed by Dairy Australia, top-performing cultivars — through their improved seasonal growth — deliver more than $250/ ha/year of additional value, over and above, outdated cultivars such as Victorian perennial rye-grass (South West Victoria: Forage Value Index 2023 – Perennial Ryegrass, October 2023, Dairy Australia) without considering other improvements like forage quality. While forage yield (and the seasonal timing of yield) continues to be a core focus of Barenbrug’s rye-grass breeding efforts, other traits are being co-developed to help improve farmers’ profitability. Recently, through partnerships with DairyBio, new novel endophytes
Array NEA2 perennial rye-grass demonstrating improved forage growth under low-nitrogen soil conditions at Barenbrug’s Research Farm.
like NEA12 have been released to improve pestilence resistance without impeding livestock performance.
However in the near future, again through Barenbrug’s internal breeding efforts and collaborations,
farmers will be benefit from the next leap in breeding technologies. These technologies, like genomic
selection, not only target yield but also novel traits. These traits include: higher-energy cultivars, plants with water use efficiency and enhanced persistence, nitrogen use efficiency and increased digestibility, all of which will deliver improved farmer profitability. Recently, Barenbrug’s breeding team developed a cultivar of perennial rye-grass (Array NEA2) that Barenbrug says will not only deliver class-leading forage yield, quality and persistence, but also exhibits improved growth under low soil nitrogen concentrations. Improved nutrient utilisation in low N soils, through a comparative ability to scavenge soil N, could help to reduce nitrate leaching while producing additional yield in these N limiting conditions. Given most systems experience N limiting periods during the year, both farmers and the environment benefit from this trait. Array NEA2 perennial rye-grass will be available for the 2024 sowing season through your local Barenbrug reseller. Barenbrug is committed to develop an ever-improving feedbase for Australian farmers of both today and the future.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JANUARY 2024
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 31
Find your dream ag career WILL THOMAS says an apprenticeship with
leading machinery dealer O’Connors is the key to lifelong career opportunities in agriculture and is urging others to jump at the chance to do the same. The Tullamore local is living the dream after successfully applying for a spot in the O’Connors RedStart Apprenticeship Program. In January 2023, he started on the tools as an apprentice agriculture service technician at the O’Connors dealership in Forbes, central-west NSW. Will says the program is giving him the skills and self-belief that he’ll be the best technician he can be. “Every day I’m provided support and mentorship from experienced O’Connors staff through on-the-job training, on top of that I’m given valuable independence to grow my craft — it’s the best of both worlds really,” he said. Will says he loves his job, is motivated by working closely with customers, enjoys the camaraderie with like-minded colleagues and relishes working in the O’Connors Forbes workshop, which he says is world-class. And there are many other benefits for RedStart apprentices, according to Will. “When you start, you’re given a new Kincrome toolbox worth $5000, there are program social functions and the opportunity to move across the O’Connors network to experience a variety of workshops and work on diverse agricultural equipment,” he said. “Earlier this year I was lucky enough to
Will Thomas is living the dream after successfully applying for a spot in the O’Connors RedStart Apprenticeship Program.
spend a week in the O’Connors Ouyen branch in the Mallee region of Victoria, to work on a SeedMaster Air Seeder. “I had always wanted to travel and what better way to do it while working and getting paid.”
Over the four-year program, all RedStart apprentices are enrolled in the Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology course through the dedicated Case IH training centre at NSW TAFE, based in Wagga Wagga. Applications for the 2024 RedStart
Apprenticeship Program are now open, and Will Thomas says it’s a no brainer for anyone with a passion for agriculture, machinery, problem-solving and a willingness to learn, to apply. He is reminding aspiring apprentices that in the long-term there are countless career paths with O’Connors. “If you don’t want to be a service or truck technician, engineer or parts interpreter for the rest of your life, that’s fine. “You can work your way throughout the business into other roles in sales, marketing, human resources, logistics or administration.” With 390 staff, O’Connors is the largest Case IH dealer in the country — with 16 dealerships across South Australia, Victoria and NSW. O’Connors’ HR manager Lisa Day said at the heart of every great business are great employees. “The RedStart Apprenticeship Program helps us identify quality and passionate individuals starting out in the agricultural machinery sector with the potential to be the best in the business,” Lisa said. “It’s a valuable long-term investment by O’Connors to grow its own talent, for now and into the future. The depth and scale of our talent base is what gives us the edge in the industry”. Applications for the RedStart Apprenticeship Program are open until December 31, 2023. ɋ For more information, go to: https://www. oconnorscareers.com.au/apprenticeshipprogram/
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