NEWS 3-6, 16-19
INTERNATIONAL DAIRY WEEK 8–14
AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES 20–22
DAIRY AUSTRALIA AGM 24–26 ANIMAL HEALTH 29 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 30
Comparing the pair
BY ELIZA REDFERN
THE AUSTRALIAN dairy industry is in many ways sitting in a vastly different position compared to last season.
The December 2024 Situation and Outlook report highlights that on-farm profitability remained strong in the 2023-24 season.
Since then, farm gate milk prices have lowered, while increasing margin pressure for dairy farming businesses, the price competitiveness of Australian dairy products has improved.
This has coincided with export conditions strengthening, domestic retail sales recovering, and increased milk production finding homes in both markets.
Data from the Dairy Farm Monitor Project (DFMP) indicates that operating costs were high during the 2023-24 season, while farm gate milk prices were slightly lower than the previous season in most regions.
Weather played a significant role, benefiting some farmers while impacting others.
Drier regions saw feed inventories heavily utilised, contributing to rising fodder prices.
With the 2024-25 season under way, many farming businesses are expecting lower returns due to lower farm gate milk prices and rising interest and lease costs.
Cost pressures have eased for some farm inputs, although higher prices persist for others, particularly due to weather-related impacts in Australia.
Milk production in Australia has grown compared to last season, although ongoing dry conditions in several regions may limit further growth, in addition to existing challenges.
National milk production increased by 1.3 per cent year-on-year in October.
Considering the mounting weather and financial constraints this season, longer-term challenges around labour and farm exits, and modest milk production recovery during the 2023-24 season, further growth may be muted this season.
As such, Dairy Australia continues to forecast a slight drop in the national milk pool (relative to the previous season, to 8.3 billion litres) in 2024-25, with potential to steady on account of better-than-expected rainfall.
The price competitiveness of Australian dairy products has improved, coinciding with more favourable export opportunities.
The availability of Australian exportable product tightened this season, as uncertainty around dairy export returns and past seasons of import pressure readjusted the focus of many Australian manufacturers towards higher specification product, and the domestic market.
However, shipping challenges along key trade routes have steadily increased demand towards Oceania dairy, in addition to tighter milk supplies and elevated export prices in the Northern Hemisphere.
Additional inquiries have been surfacing from buyers across South-East Asia and the Middle East, and purchasing activity from Chinese importers has increased over recent months as local milk production slows and product stockpiles lessen.
Accordingly, prices of product sold on the GlobalDairyTrade platform and in Australia have risen, particularly for butter, where indicative prices are sitting just shy of 2022 peaks.
Nonetheless, the export market maintains its underlying challenges; buyers in most key importing countries remain price sensitive and economic constraints in China are persistent.
Furthermore, developing geopolitical conflicts and trade dynamics (such as those proposed by the incoming US administration)
will continue to influence global markets.
Local market conditions have improved for Australian dairy products as well, with the volume sold of cheese, dairy spreads and yoghurt in retail all increasing, while milk holds steady.
However, value growth in key dairy categories is under pressure from renewed discounting of retail prices for private label dairy.
The comparatively high international prices are considered likely to deter Australianbased importers, suggesting Australian dairy should remain competitive in domestic markets.
The Australian dairy industry has been well placed to capitalise on export opportunities thus far this season, while focusing on regaining domestic market share.
However, challenges remain; geopolitical and trade flow uncertainty looms overhead, while pressure on retail prices signal a potential shift in domestic market conditions.
Although aiding Australia’s realignment to global markets, lower farm gate prices will create financial pressure for some farming businesses this season.
Eliza Redfern is Dairy Australia’s analysis and insights manager.
“We
Fonterra lifts milk price. PG.19
Indexes meet farmers’ needs. PG.22
Dry tactics for tight times
BY JEANETTE SEVERS
THE ONGOING dry seasonal conditions leading into hot summer months saw workshops hosted by regional dairy groups attended by farmers keen to hear strategies they can implement on farm.
In Gippsland, low rainfall has affected many dairy farmers across the region.
To compound the problem, decision making on 25 per cent of Gippsland dairy farms is affected by the business status — these farms produce milk under share or lease farm arrangements.
In the Macalister Irrigation District, low rainfall has been coupled with a lack of forecast about irrigation water out of the Southern Rural Water (SRW) system.
Dryland and irrigation farmers attended workshops at Riverslea and Hedley in early December.
Matt Harms, from On Farm Consulting, presented a range of strategies that farmers can implement.
Matt said for irrigators, a lot of decision making was hedged around how much of their irrigation entitlement was guaranteed by SRW beyond December 15.
For dryland dairy farmers, decision making was already being severely affected by lack of rain, or low rainfall.
Managing pastures by continuing to apply nitrogen and making the most of dew, rainfall when it falls or irrigation when it is available, included looking after good paddocks and dropping poor paddocks out of the rotation.
“Keep pastures managed as best as possible,” Matt said.
“If you normally top them, keep topping them.
“Keep putting nitrogen on at that 1-1.5 kg/ha, but I wouldn’t be going over 1.5 and I wouldn’t be going under 1.0.
“If you’re limited on irrigation water, drop areas that are going to have the least response to moisture. That is, poor pasture species or areas with soil that uses a lot of water.” Matt also recommended dropping paddocks out of the rotation if they are a distance from the dairy.
This means the cows don’t walk long distances, and consequently will not want as much feed.
It also means, less labour is needed to move the herd over that distance and to feed the herd.
WAITING ON WATER
Benn Thexton, a dairy farmer at Gormandale, has experience on dryland and irrigation farms.
He is chair of Southern Rural Water’s Macalister Customer Consultative Committee.
Inflows were lower than expected into the catchment, which was affecting decision making about whether low-reliability water shares would be available to SRW customers.
“A 24-hour rain event will make a spill, and take away all our headaches about irrigating,” Benn said.
“Glenmaggie Weir is maintaining 2150 megalitre inflows daily. But that’s without anyone irrigating.”
Benn said assumptions were being made that as people concentrate on grazing their best pasture and consequently reduce their irrigation areas, this will reduce the amount of water used.
“We’re hoping Southern Rural Water will confirm low-reliability water shares,” he said.
A decision by Southern Rural Water about the availability of irrigation water in Gippsland was pending for December 15.
James Clyne recently purchased temporary water at an SRW auction for customers. He said it would be enough to see him through the season.
“I bought 200 megalitres, investing $30,000, as an insurance policy for irrigating after March 1, 2025,” James said.
While James bought early, bids rose to $350/Ml before settling downwards.
There are a few more auctions of temporary water to be held between December and February, by Southern Rural Water.
in them, that should enable them to be cut for silage.”
Matt recommended comparing how much it costs to harvest your own surplus pasture as silage, or using a contractor, or buying fodder.
“Demand for fodder will peak in February,” he said.
“Act as early as possible rather than delay decision making.
“If you know the farm is going to run out of water, compare the cost of buying more irrigation water — if that’s available — to buying fodder.
“Usually, it’s cheaper to buy temporary water.
“But it needs to go onto well watered good grass that’s going to keep those paddocks going along, and keep them watered. To me that’s a pretty good investment.
“When it rains, those are the paddocks that will respond fastest.”
meteorologists’ predictions cost a lot of people a lot of money.”
Culling the herd
Matt Harms asked workshop attendees to classify their cull cows as passenger cows, and quantify the cost of keeping them against the opportunity cost of selling them.
He recommended knowing the herd well enough to be able to pick cows to sell.
That might include the lowest producers in the herd, and definitely included the empty cows.
“Empty cows are true passengers,” Matt said. “So are low volume producing long lactation empty cows.”
Matt recommended the next level to consider selling were those cows early in calf, and those that showed up in the herd records as repeat event cows.
“They might be a high cc or another issue,” he said.
Matt recommended comparing the cost of buying and feeding fodder and growing grass against the opportunity cost of selling a cow.
“The longer the tough season lasts, the more likely you’ll need to buy fodder.
“If you can get some silage off a true surplus now, that will reduce the amount of fodder you need to buy later.
“With recent rain, there’s probably two or three paddocks that are surplus to requirements right now and if pasture is getting away
“And if you have water to put on paddocks, put it on your best pasture and grow a surplus, then harvest silage off it before you send the cows in to graze,” Matt said.
Efficient watering was also important. That included ensuring the nozzles on sprinklers were clean and clear, to optimise watering efficiently.
“And you can short-water paddocks, making efficient use of water, rather than over-watering them until they get boggy,” Matt said.
He said individual planning could factor in sowing late autumn and winter feed, with the option of grazing it in autumn, or cropping it for winter.
But Matt’s advice came with a warning.
“Remember this time last year when the
“Is it worth feeding her through January and February when she’s only producing 16 or so litres of milk?” he said.
He also recommended feed tests to identify moisture levels in feed.
“Grain is usually 10 per cent moisture, but silage bales can be 50 per cent moisture.”
For more from the workshops, including photos of participants, go to: www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au
Consultant Matt Harms recommends looking after the pasture in good paddocks in dry seasons.
SA farmers lose millions
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN dairy farmers have lost more than $10 million in unpaid milk payments when administrators failed to find a buyer for Beston Global Food Company, after it was placed into voluntary administration in September.
Administrator KPMG tried to sell the business as an ongoing concern, but instead, will auction off infrastructure from the Jervois and Murray Bridge sites.
South Australian Dairyfarmers' Association president Rob Brokenshire said he was extremely disappointed in the result.
“I believe we were close to pulling a walkin-walk-out package together as a solution to move forward, but that’s now gone,” Rob said. He said SADA was now focusing on supporting the farmers.
“I am pleased all impacted farmers have now found new processors to pick up their milk and even though it is going to take some time to
recover, we are hopeful it won’t push too many out of the industry,” Rob said.
He said SADA was now working alongside the South Australian government to put together a proposal to help farmers in the short term.
“Every single dairy farmer is feeling for those impacted, along with all the factory workers who have lost their jobs,” he said.
“While we are glad those workers have been guaranteed their wages and holiday payments, there is a definite weakness in the system when farmers are not secured and not entitled to receive any of the payments they are owed.”
Rob said the closure had come on the back of a particularly tough time for the South Australian dairy industry after farmers experienced one of the worst autumns in living memory.
“Our farmers are resilient and our industry is resilient, and I believe there is a strong future, I just hope these farmers can make it through,” Rob said.
“We will continue to work with all parts of
the industry as part of the South Australian Dairy Industry Action Plan 2024-29 and we will find ways to step away from these events and become stronger and better into the future.”
Mount Gambier dairy farmers John and Karen Hunt, and their son Daniel and wife Sam, are one of the 40-odd suppliers impacted by the demise.
They have been left $700,000 out of pocket.
John said Bestons had basically used the unpaid sale of their milk, along with other impacted farmers, to draw down debt for its own creditors.
“The CEO sat around our table, looked us in the eye, and continually assured us we would get paid — it’s the lies and deceit that has been so hard to take,” John said.
John said the non-payment of the milk cheque had effectively cost his business $1.4 million because now he must borrow money to repay his own creditors.
John said more was needed to be done to
DROUGHT FUNDING OFFERS SUPPORT
Dairy farmers battling drought in South Australia have secured a win, with $18 million in government funding to assist those experiencing their driest season on record.
Direct farmer representation by the South Australian Dairyfarmers Association helped inform the package, which comprises grants for on-farm drought resilience infrastructure, mental health and community support, and funding to enable donated fodder to reach more communities.
Australian Dairy Farmers welcomed the package and said it was a clear win for SADA and South Australian dairy farmers more broadly.
“Dairy farmers across South Australia and south-west Victoria have been doing it tough this year, so this will be welcome news for primary producers,” ADF president Ben Bennett said.
“These prolonged dry conditions are causing significant challenges for dairy farmers.
“The drought has cut their ability to grow feed and access water for
their livestock — essential ingredients in producing the world-class dairy products these regions are known for.
“These challenges place significant stress on the farmers affected, so news SA is willing to help relieve the load with these initiatives is certainly something to celebrate.”
Mr Bennett said while these initiatives were warmly welcomed, more work needed to be done to address long-term solutions for drought preparedness and response.
“Droughts have lasting effects on farming communities, and we need a comprehensive strategy to support our farmers beyond the immediate crisis,” he said.
“We will continue to advocate for policies that provide stability and sustainability for dairy farmers in the face of ongoing climate challenges.”
Charities transporting donated fodder to drought-affected SA farmers will receive funding in a government support package.
protect farmers to stop this from happening in the future.
A second meeting of creditors is expected to be convened in late January or early February 2025, which will decide if the company is to be placed into liquidation or whether a Deed of Company Arrangement can be accepted should one be proposed.
Bestons was well-known for producing high-quality, value-added products from its Jervois facility including cream cheese, hard cheese, whey and lactoferrin — a high value dairy protein used in diet supplements.
It recently won several gold medals at the dairy gala awards.
In a statement, Beston chief executive Fabrizio Jorge said while the lactoferrin and cream cheese business had earned strong profits, the cheese and whey powder business had incurred losses due to on-going cost and price pressures.
Milk production at the factory ended December 6.
Collapse takes its toll, page 6.
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Beston collapse takes its toll
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
MOUNT GAMBIER dairy farmer John Hunt has been left with more than a bitter taste in his mouth after the collapse of milk processor Beston Global Food Company has left him $700,000 out of pocket in unpaid milk.
John who farms with his wife Karen, and son Daniel and wife Sam, at Mount Gambier, is disgusted by the company’s behaviour.
“Basically, Beston has used the sale of our product to draw down debt for their own creditors and left us unpaid for two months milk supply.
“The CEO sat around our table, looked us in the eye and continually assured us we would get paid — it’s the lies and deceit that has been so hard to take,” John said.
He said the non-payment of the milk cheque is a double whammy.
“We don’t get paid, but we still have creditors to pay, so we have to borrow the money to replace our stolen milk cheques — effectively, this has cost our business $1.4 million.
“It won’t be easy, and it sets us back five years, but there are farmers out there under severe financial and mental stress and this will be the end of them,” John said.
John said there needed to be some sort of law to make farmers secured creditors and banks should have a responsibility to contact ASIC if a company can’t pay its creditors.
“A romalpa clause should be implemented so any product remains the property of the farmer until sold, and currently, if a processor breaks a contract, a farmer is without two months payment.”
Industry needs to protect dairy farmers in the future so no other farmer has to go through what these former Beston suppliers are experiencing.
“We need to make sure processors are held accountable — continuing to trade while insolvent is illegal and hiding behind safe harbour clauses immoral.
“We were receiving emails saying we were going to get paid on these particular dates, but they came and went and it never happened, and we now understand the bank stopped their credit so they never had the ability to pay us anyway.”
John said once Bestons broke the contract, it asked the business to stay another 19 days as the sale of the company was imminent.
“If we left we would not receive any outstanding money, nor would any other farmers who were owed money also — they said the sale depended on milk that was currently supplied and we wanted to do the right thing, but this ended up costing us another $140,000.
“There was no sorry, no nothing.
“They didn’t pay and now they are gone.
“The board and CEO received all their entitlements and we just have to try and pick
ourselves up and move forward somehow.”
John said while he didn’t begrudge Beston’s workforce receiving their entitlements, he said there had to be some sort of security and protection for farmers.
“It’s a pretty tough to take when the supplier of the raw product remains unpaid and is last in line for payment,” he said.
The demise of Bestons is a blow for the whole South Australian dairy industry.
“We need another player in the market and Beston’s had a state-of-the-art plant and quality, award winning products, but the board just couldn’t manage it properly.”
At one stage while in administration, there was a potential offer on the table from a group of investors to purchase the company.
“That idea ran out of time to get off the
NEW PRESIDENT FOR JERSEY AUSTRALIA
Geoff Akers has been named Jersey Australia’s new president.
He replaces Jersey Australia’s first female president Lisa Broad, who has resigned from the board for personal reasons but remains committed to the future of the breed.
Mr Akers runs the Loxleigh Jersey stud with his wife Natalie and family, at Tallygaroopna in northern Victoria.
He was recently elected to Greater Shepparton City Council and is a former Dairy Australia chair, among many other leadership and governance roles in the industry.
Mr Akers joined the Jersey Australia board in 2021 and says he’s excited about the breed’s potential and the role Jersey Australia can play in promoting it.
“We will continue to move the Jersey cow forward and look for strategic opportunities that arise for the organisation and for any opportunities to work with others in the registered herd sector,” he said.
Jersey Australia will host the World Jersey Conference in April next year, which Mr Akers described as an exciting opportunity to show Australian Jerseys to the world.
“We already have registrations coming in and look forward to this being a major event in advancing our local breed.
“The Australian Jersey cow stacks up very well compared to any other country, which is being shown in the positive stories we hear about the Australian cow from overseas.
“We’ve got a number of Australian Jersey bulls being used around the world and their
Editor Sandy Lloyd (03) 5820 3252 editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au
Regional editor news@dairynewsaustralia.com.au
daughters are making a very positive mark.”
Mr Akers paid tribute to Mrs Broad.
“Lisa has shown exceptional leadership over the past three-and-a-half years,” he said.
“She has brought many new strategic ideas to the organisation and put in place a number of governance principles to make sure the organisation is in a good place.
“Lisa was always on the lookout for new opportunities and recently oversaw the successful revamping of the classification system, which has been well received.”
Mr Akers has been elected until the 2025 annual general meeting. Tasmanian farmer Jane Sykes has been elected vice-president.
Geoff and Natalie Akers have been
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ground, but it would have meant those of us who remained unpaid could have been compensated via some sort of share arrangement — the total closure of the processor and sale of the plant now means we are really left with nothing.”
John and Karen have been farming on their Mount Gambier property for 14 years and milk 450 cows, while Daniel and Sam milk 280 cows and only went out on their own 12 months ago. He said the financial blow had been worsened by the fact the family experienced their worst autumn on record.
“We have had to buy in a lot of feed, which put pressure on the bottom line, and then any hay we did manage to cut has gone mouldy in all this rain, so the last few months have really been quite the journey.
“To be honest, I was so angry at the start when this all happened, but now I just feel gutted and flat,” John said.
On a positive note, John said his bank had been fantastic and he had received a lot of support from the wider community.
“We have had many people ring up and check in to see if we are okay, which has been nice.”
farming at Tallygaroopna since 1993 and currently milk about 770 Jerseys and 80 crossbreds. They were among the first Jersey Australia Master Breeder inductees in 2023.
Dairy News Australia welcomes contributions from stakeholders in the dairy industry, and particularly from organisations wishing to advance the industry.
Contributions and photos can be sent to: editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au
Letters to the editor on topical issues are also welcome.
Letters should be concise and carry the name and town address of the author, as well as a contact phone number, not for publication.
John and Karen Hunt have been collateral damage in the Beston collapse, with the company owing the family $700,000 in unpaid milk.
New Jersey Australia president Geoff Akers on his Tallygaroopna dairy farm.
Daniel and Sam Hunt purchased their own farm 12 months ago and have had to deal with the impact of Beston’s demise on their business.
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INTERNATIONAL DAIRY WEEK
IDW hits 35-year milestone
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
FROM HUMBLE beginnings when cows were led up and around a gum tree, International Dairy Week will celebrate its 35-year milestone from January 18 to 23.
Hard work and vision has built IDW into the largest international dairy cattle sale and show in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is recognised internationally as one of the best shows in the world and draws cattle from across the country and premier judges from around the globe.
Declan Patten and the IDW team are celebrating the occasion with a dinner on the Tuesday night (January 21) which will see around 250 guests come together in the main arena.
The night will be held in conjunction with the Power of Women in Dairy and Lex Bunn presentations.
Event founder Brian Leslie will also give a historical presentation with some amazing memories and insights.
Declan said to reach 35 years was an amazing achievement.
“I remember coming to IDW as a youngster and it is has so many great memories for me,” Declan said.
Declan and his team took over the event in 2021 and have instigated small changes as they go, including an earlier start time for cattle comfort.
The introduction of Around the Barn led by Seven News’ Casey Treloar has been a game changer, bringing results and unique insights of the event to the world, via social media.
Declan said entries were starting to flood in.
“Last year was the best IDW we have had. The atmosphere was electric and was so well supported and we are hoping to top that again this year,” Declan said.
As a bit of fun, and to celebrate the 35-year milestone, people have had the opportunity to vote via social media for the Peoples Choice Award – a celebration of the many legendary cows that have graced the ring over the years.
The event will include all the usual classes across Jersey, Holstein, Illawarra, Ayrshire, Red and Whites and Guernsey breeds, along with the popular youth events which kick off proceedings.
There will be a food truck festival and sem-
United States. The Ducketts (wife Julie and kids Logan and Chloe) operate Duckett Holsteins and have had great success exhibiting three Supreme Champions at World Dairy Expo.
Mike has judged many shows internationally and also operates Genetic Futures and Showbox Sires.
Jersey show: Matthew Templeton along with his wife Nicola, daughters Geri and Harlie,
cows including World Dairy Expo Supreme Champions.
In August 2024, Matt became the first Australian to judge the Wisconsin Championship Show for both the Holstein and Jersey breeds.
He recently completed a three-year term as an All-Australian judge for the National Photographic Competition and is on the AllAustralian judging panel.
Simon Tognola’s exposure to the dairy industry as a youngster has led to a lifelong passion. In 2012, he was part of the team that prepared Willowdell Astound Fancy 512, the first Jersey to win Supreme Champion
at International Dairy Week.
His career has taken him around the world and he has judged cattle across Australia. He currently farms with his fiancé Hannah and twin girls at Tatura.
Ayrshire show: Kurt Wolf is a talented breeder, developer and marketer of Ayrshire genetics all over the world.
He has played a role in breeding, owning or selling 200 All-American Nominees, 10 All Canadian Nominees, two World Dairy Expo Grand Champions and three World Dairy Expo Junior Champions.
He lives in Guttenberg, Iowa, with his wife Michelle and son Cooper, where he works alongside his two brothers milking 250 Holsteins, Ayrshires and Illawarras for OldBankstown Ayrshires and Wolf Dairy.
Red and White show: Roger Turner was raised at Railhaven Holsteins, a registered Holstein farm in Ontario, Canada.
Roger was a self-employed, professional dairy cattle fitter for 12 years before joining the AI industry.
His judging career has included assignments to more than 22 countries, and he was recently awarded a 20-year service award for outstanding service and commitment to the livestock industry.
Guernsey show: Michael Gray’s involvement began during his childhood, showing calves alongside his parents at country shows across Victoria.
Over the years, Michael has exhibited at numerous shows, including many appearances at IDW. Farming on the mid-north coast with wife Paula, the couple milk a mixed herd of Guernseys, Holsteins and Brown Swiss.
Brown Swiss show: Brad Gavenlock, alongside wife Jessica and their three girls, run and operate Cherrylock Cattle Co boarding and manage elite cattle for clients based all over the world.
Brad has judged throughout Australia and New Zealand and worked as a fitter across Australia, NZ and North America.
Together, the couple has owned or managed 25 Sydney Royal Champions, 28 IDW Champions and has also shown at World Dairy Expo.
All Breeds Youth Show: John Gardiner has an extensive judging career across all breeds. In 1998 he became the first Australian in 45 years to judge Holsteins at the Sydney Royal.
His family’s Avonlea herd has achieved exceptional success and has twice achieved master breeder status. John is married to Cherie, and they have two children, Luke and Amy.
Event founder Brian Leslie will share his memories at a dinner celebrating 35 years of International Dairy Week. He is pictured officiating at an IDW auction in 2014
Brad Gavenlock from Tallygaroopna is no stranger to the winner’s circle at IDW (pictured in 2023). This year he will also be in the judging ring for the Brown Swiss show.
A passion for show cattle
BY JEANETTE SEVERS
CALLUM MOSCRIPT combines his passion for milking a commercial herd and showing dairy cows.
He milks 500 commercial cows off 170 hectares, with 160ha of support area in Gippsland in southern Victoria.
His milking herd is a mix of Holstein, Jersey and crossbreds.
“They’re all commercial cows,” Callum said.
“I’m in the milk business but I’ve always had a passion for show cattle.
“I don’t have the skills for showing cattle, so I partner with people who do, and that allows me to invest and play in that area.
“For most of the rest of the year, I’m concentrating on our core business on the farm.”
Every January, Callum attends International Dairy Week to show cattle he owns in partnership with several other people.
For that week, IDW is the centre of the universe for him.
“Life is about relationships and IDW is a great place to have conversations to build the blueprint for our business,” Callum said.
“We’ve built relationships with the suppliers we use — feed companies, genetics companies,
and when we were planning our new dairy I spoke to a few companies at IDW about sheds and infrastructure.
“I’ve been able to get information about flushing and new technologies.
“Dairy professionals are very time poor, and IDW is a week where we can very quickly see many people with the same interests in the industry.”
In partnership with Mitchell and Lyndsey Flemming, of Impression Jerseys and Holsteins, Callum has purchased five Jersey cattle.
“Partnerships enable you to buy more cows and split the risk and share the reward,” he said.
“We’re able to enjoy showcasing our cattle in front of our peers and the world.
“My partners and I try and invest in great cattle and buy cows we see at shows, or cows we feel have potential to impact the industry.
“We want to create a culture in this country of people not being afraid to ask the value of cattle, and being able to sell them at that price.”
The partnership’s joint ownership includes a share in Valentino Fernleaf, Australia’s first 96 point Jersey cow, and Valentino Benita.
Callum, with Declan Patten and Brad
SOLUTIONS TO SUMMER’S STRESS
During the summer months, dairy cows are highly susceptible to heat stress, resulting in significant reduction in performance, an increased incidence of diseases, and, in severe cases, mortality — ultimately reducing farm profitability.
To address this challenge, dairy farmers and nutritionists are encouraged to plan and implement heat abatement strategies that minimise the negative impact of heat stress on dairy cows’ health and performance.
While this article does not aim to provide a comprehensive discussion on heat stress, it will highlight practical strategies that can be implemented on-farm to minimise its effects, with an emphasis on nutritional tools such as the supplementation of B vitamins.
The negative effects of heat stress on dairy cows are well-documented in journals and industry publications, and include a reduction in feed intake, milk yield and milk composition; lower reproductive performance and immune response; and increased risk of diseases such as mastitis, acidosis and ketosis.
Milk production can quickly decline following exposure of dairy cows to heat
Salmon, purchased View Fort Jagger Satin as a junior two-year-old Holstein in January 2024, after seeing her at IDW.
“She won her class and to me she’s one of the most merchandisable cows in Australia,” Callum said.
stress, with about a 10 per cent drop within two to three days, and about a 25 per cent drop after six days of exposure.
Several practical strategies can be implemented on-farm to mitigate the effects of heat stress, including:
ɋ Providing shelter or shade to reduce radiant heat.
ɋ Installing sprinkler and fan systems to help the cows with evaporative cooling.
ɋ Increasing fermentable fibre in the diet.
ɋ Increasing the energy density of the diet using slowly fermenting starch sources, such as maize, and considering bypass fat.
ɋ Ensuring an adequate provision of cool, clean drinking water.
ɋ Feeding cows during the cooler times of the day.
ɋ Using additives such as rumen-protected B vitamins to reduce stress and improve metabolic efficiency.
B vitamin supplements
Vitamins of the B complex are co-factors/co-enzymes that facilitate various metabolic processes in the animal, including glucose synthesis, fat and protein
“She has it all. We saw her at IDW and fell in love with her before she entered the show ring.
“Nicola and Matt Templeton put in a lot of hard work developing the cow and they were able to realise the value of her.
“That is what the industry is about, isn’t it.”
GIPPSLAND COWS HIT THE ROAD
Some outstanding young Jersey cows from Gippsland will be on show at International Dairy Week.
Reece and Toni Attenborough, from Attaview Jerseys, are sending their fouryear-old cow that recently was awarded the Leading Edge Genetics champion cow status against 395 other cattle.
The runner-up, Wallacedale Polled Gold Melanie P EX90, will also be shown at IDW.
Dairy newcomers — Jack, Peter and Fran Langley, from Stormview Jerseys — are sending their two-year-old heifer in milk that recently won the Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders on-farm challenge junior two-year-old class: Stormview Jetfighter Favour.
Stormview Jerseys at Labertouche is a first-time exhibitor at IDW.
Jack is herd manager, responsible for breeding decisions, and has taken Stormview Jetfighter Favour to Roger Heath, who is keen to show her at IDW.
Stormview Jetfighter Favour is out of a Majestic Jersey heifer, one of a line of heifers bought by the Langley family when they started milking. Jetfighter is a Cainbrae bull that they bought semen from.
“Favour is twice as wide as any heifer we’ve ever had, she just stands out with her size, and the way she milks, and her width in the rear end,” Jack said.
“Roger Heath heard about her and asked if he could take her to dairy week for us.”
The second-placed cow in the Leading Edge Genetics on-farm competition,
synthesis, and immune function.
Research has shown that supplementation of rumen-protected B-vitamin blend may improve the energetic efficiency of dairy cows, thereby reducing the negative effects of heat stress (Sacadura et al., 2008)
A study conducted during the summer in northern Mexico also showed improved reproductive performance when the ration of dairy cows was supplemented with a
Wallacedale Polled Gold Melanie P EX90, will also be shown at IDW.
Owned by Luke and Mel Wallace, from Wallacedale Jerseys, she also placed third in the three-year-old class of the CGJBC on-farm challenge.
She is bred from the Australian homozygous bull, Polled Gold, and her mother was sired by a Wallacedale-bred bull, CSC Melvara.
Melanie will go to IDW in the string of show cattle led by Mitchell and Lyndsey Flemming.
ɋ For the full story, results and more pictures from the Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club’s 35th on-farm challenge, go to: www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au
blend of protected B vitamins during the lactation period compared to cows that were not supplemented.
Also, research has shown that any nutrient or compound that improves metabolic efficiency will help to reduce the negative impact of stress-related inflammatory responses.
Heat stress is detrimental to dairy cows’ health and performance.
Implementing proactive actions to mitigate its effects is essential to maintain cow performance and farm profitability.
Management and nutritional strategies, such as supplementing rumen-protected B vitamins, can improve metabolic efficiency and reduce the negative impact of heat stress.
Jefo Nutrition manufactures rumen-protected B-vitamin blends designed to support dairy cows during both the transition and lactation periods.
ɋ The Jefo Ruminant Technical Team will be at International Dairy Week, and can provide more information on how Jefo’s solutions can help mitigate the effects of heat stress.
ɋ By
Dr Razaq Balogun, Jefo Australia’s ruminant technical sales manager.
Callum Moscript partners with Lindsey and Mitchell Flemming, and other people, to fulfil his passion for showing cows at IDW.
Jefo Australia says heat stress is detrimental to dairy cows’ health and performance.
Photo: Rene Martens
After her success in an on-farm challenge, Stormview Jetfighter Favour will be shown at IDW.
Photo: Jack Langley.
Breeders up to the challenge
BY JEANETTE SEVERS
ARALUEN PARK principals Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day who won many of the classes, including champion cow, in the recent Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club’s on-farm challenge, will attend International Dairy Week to network with their embryo and semen suppliers and feed companies.
Anthea will also be attending in her recently elected role as president of the Ayrshire breed.
Seven per cent of the Araluen Park herd are Ayrshires.
Araluen Park, at Shady Creek in south-eastern Victoria, is classified the top BPI and Sustainability Index Ayrshire herd in Australia.
The remaining Araluen Park herd are Jersey cows.
“The Ayrshire committee holds a function at IDW, where we have presentations to winners of competitions held throughout the year,” Anthea said.
“These include our on-farm challenges, our cow of the year and champion of champion presentations.”
With IDW bringing overseas companies to Australia, Anthea and Trevor use the week as an opportunity to plan for their business.
They have a number of United States cow families and bull genetics in their herd.
“Being a part of the Jersey stud sector fraternity, you have a lot of mates around the world,” Anthea said.
“We’re really pleased with the classification of Niklaus when the American proofs came out recently.
“We have 51 Niklaus calves on the ground, and a lot of cows short-bred to him.
“And Kamikaze is standing again in service. We’re really pleased by that.”
Anthea and Trevor have used IDW to identify sires and families of cows from overseas that they want to breed into their herd.
They have the number one BPI Jersey cow in two-year-old Araluen Jiggy Sandra 86, and their herd is classified number eight in Australia.
“We had 100 daughters of Jeronimo here before he went number one,” Anthea said.
“We’re pretty excited about Niklaus and what he’s bringing into our herd.
“A fair proportion of our herd is genetically recovering cow families.”
“We have Mary Sue’s here and a lot of American families that are generational,” Trevor said.
“We wanted animals in our herd that were very good producers.
“The idea to invest in the Molly’s came from Anthea because she had studied the mother. She was 95 points.
“The Mollys are becoming a dominant family in the herd, because they’re a highly fertile family.”
Anthea and Trevor are using sexed semen to accelerate their genetic progress and gain daughters for their herd.
“It’s also given us extra animals to sell, and the opportunity to sell lines of heifers into other Australian states and Pakistan,” Trevor said.
Araluen Park Vanahlem Olive, bred and owned by Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day, of Araluen Park, took out champion cow at the recent Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club’s on-farm challenge.
Vanahlem Olive was in the winning highest pointed team class, dam and daughter class and pen of five class, and won the nine-years-andover class.
She’s standing in December in the Great Southern Challenge, competing against one of her daughters, now owned by Roger Heath.
“Her dam is still in the herd, and she’s 14, and we’ve flushed her again to Vanahlem,” Anthea said.
“We’re hopeful of getting another Vanahlem Olive string of calves.
“We have 16 cows in our herd directly related to Olive, and one has bred a 94 points daughter.
“Olive is classified 95 points – she’s the first EX95 cow we’ve bred.
“She’s like a tank, she has a beautiful udder. She’s one of a few once-in-a-life-time cows we’ve bred.
“We’re also proud of how she has bred on. She has a Niklaus granddaughter, classified number 13 on the Australian genomic heifer list.”
Araluen Park Jeronimo Molly won the fiveyear-old class, among 23 entries, in the CGJBC on-farm challenge.
“She has the most amazing udder,” Anthea said.
“If you were thinking the perfect udder, that’s what she has.
“She’s a favourite cow in our herd. She went 93 max last year as a four-year-old.
“The Molly family are also very fertile in our herd and seem to get in-calf to sexed semen very easily.”
Araluen Park were on the podium with first and second in the three-year-old class in the CGJBC on-farm challenge – with Araluen Park Jeronimo Carmel first, and Araluen Park Valentino Posh 3 second.
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Anthea Day is the new president of the Ayrshire breed and is attending International Dairy Week in that role.
Loafing barns hit the mark
LOAFING BARNS are set to be the next big thing in 2025. But what size should you build?
Loafing barns play an important role in grazing dairy farms, providing a comfortable environment for cows, which improves milk production and general herd management. There are other benefits, too, which make them popular projects such as being able to be repurposed as calving sheds, retrofitted for a compost barn or simply providing you with peace of mind.
Thorough project planning is essential to take full advantage of these benefits, and the size of your barn is an important consideration.
The building consultants at Action Steel recommend considering these questions in the initial planning stages:
ɋ W hat are the industry size requirements and recommendations?
ɋ I s there existing infrastructure that we need to work in with?
ɋ How many cows will be accessing the barn?
ɋ W hat are our plans for future? Will we expand the herd or repurpose the barn for contained housing?
ɋ W hat loafing barn sizes are most cost-effective? What sizes are most functional?
ɋ W hat machinery access will be required?
Thinking long-term is a smart idea when building a loafing barn.
If you are considering increasing your cow numbers or converting your loafing barn to contained housing, make sure to factor in
any size requirements for this now.
For example, when converting your loafing barn to a compost barn or freestall barn you will need to consider what width and bay spacings are required for the internal layout of these types of systems.
Additional details such as machinery access and bedding management will also need to be addressed.
Action – The Big Shed People specialise in
dairy infrastructure projects and can work with you to ensure a seamless barn conversion in the future.
Other recommendations include cantilevered canopies as a cost-effective way to gain extra coverage without upsizing the loafing barn. Canopies are commonly used over feed bunks to reduce wastage and prevent inconvenient column placement.
For more loafing barn size
recommendations visit: www.actionsteel. com.au
Action – The Big Shed People are silver sponsors of International Dairy Week. Visit Site 7 to discuss your barn project and book a consultation.
– From Action Steel.
This 140m long loafing barn by Action Steel uses a canopy as a cost-effective way to gain extra coverage and weather protection.
The building consultants at Action Steel address machinery clearance heights and access requirements in the planning stage to create a functional and future-proof design.
A cautious outlook
COMPARATIVELY HIGH farm gate milk prices and favourable weather in some regions ensured the 2023-24 season finished strong for Australian dairy farmers, however the outlook is more cautious for the remainder of the current season, according to Dairy Australia’s latest Situation and Outlook report.
The December 2024 report shows that since the start of the 2024-25 season, lower farm gate milk prices have increased margin pressure for dairy farm businesses.
This has also improved the competitiveness of Australian dairy products, coinciding with export conditions strengthening and volume growth in domestic retail sales.
Milk production has continued to grow relative to last season, however Dairy Australia analysis and insights manager Eliza Redfern said while profitability last season was strong overall, persistently high operating costs and ongoing climatic challenges were likely to impact milk production this season.
“The profitability of Australian dairy farming businesses was high over the 2023-24 season, as revealed by Dairy Farm Monitor Project data,” Ms Redfern said.
“However, while conditions were relatively favourable in some regions, others across southern Australia began to dry.
“In the drier regions, feed inventories were drawn down heavily, contributing to the higher fodder prices seen this season.”
Dairy farms in western Victoria, South Australia and areas of Western Australia in
particular have been affected by drier conditions, an issue starting to impact parts of other regions after lower-than-average rainfall in October.
National milk production has continued to grow relative to last season, but without rain, the drier conditions, lower incomes and longer-term challenges around labour and farm exits are likely to hinder further increases.
“National milk production increased 1.3 per cent year-on-year in October, tracking +1.7 per cent on a season-to-date basis,” Ms Redfern said.
“However, given the climatic conditions, Dairy Australia continues to forecast a slight drop in the national milk pool relative to the previous season, to 8.3 billion litres in 202425, with the potential to steady should drier regions receive better-than-expected rainfall.”
The report also confirmed that Australian dairy products have seen their price competitiveness improve this season, coinciding with more favourable export opportunities.
Global demand has risen for Australian and New Zealand dairy, with higher commodity prices for fats and lower Northern Hemisphere production supporting higher farm gate milk prices in key export competitors including NZ, the United States and European Unon, with farm gate prices sitting higher than Australia.
However, buyers in most key importing countries remain price sensitive and economic constraints in China are persistent, while ongoing geopolitical uncertainty is also influencing global markets.
Local market conditions have improved for Australian dairy products as well, with the volume sold of cheese, dairy spreads and yoghurt in retail all increasing (3.2 per cent, 3.4 per cent and 7.0 per cent, respectively), while milk holds steady.
However, value growth in key dairy categories is under pressure from renewed discounting of retail prices for private label dairy.
The comparatively high international prices are considered likely to deter Australian-based importers, suggesting Australian dairy should remain competitive in domestic markets.
ɋ For more information and to view the latest Situation and Outlook Report, visit: https://dairyaustralia.com.au/sando
STAYING IN THE TOP JOB
Australian Dairy Farmers held its annual general meeting on November 28, with David Beca, Heath Cook and Ben Bennett returned to the board.
Mr Bennett was re-elected president for a period of two years unopposed at a National Council meeting immediately following the AGM.
ADF chief executive officer Stephen Sheridan congratulated the three returning directors.
“David Beca returns once more as an independent director and Heath Cook and Ben Bennett as business directors,” Mr Sheridan said.
“I thank Andrew Aldridge for contesting the board vacancies at today’s AGM, as well as for his time and commitment as a Policy Advisory Group chair and a national councillor.
“On behalf of ADF, I look forward to a constructive year ahead with some significant priorities already on the cards, including a review of the Dairy Code of Conduct and a Federal Government election.”
ADF is a national dairy farmer industry representative body working to improve the productivity and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia.
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Dairy Australia has released its latest Situation and Outlook report.
Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett speaking at the Dairy Australia AGM the day before the ADF AGM, where he was re-elected unopposed to the top job.
Mycotoxin
news from
Deactivate Mycotoxins Activate Performance
Powered by science to actively defend against multiple mycotoxins*
Why is my herd’s milk production so variable?
Variability in milk production is a constant irritation for dairy producers. The problem can manifest itself as less milk in the vat and /or suboptimal milk composition. Reduced feed intake as influenced by obvious factors such as weather (heat, cold and humidity), health issues or feed availability is the most common driver for reduced milk production and quality. However, even when everything is ‘normal’ or accounted for, variation still exists. Extensive research in understanding of the mode of action of mycotoxins is shedding more light on the role mycotoxins can be playing in the variability of animal performance across all livestock, not just dairy cows.
Mycotoxins consists of a wide range of chemically distinct compounds which affect different aspects of an animal’s metabolism. The main mycotoxins routinely identified to be a concern in feedstuffs for cattle over the many years the dsm-firmenich mycotoxin survey are shown below.
Aflatoxins (AFL; commonly found in silage) affect liver function and can be metabolised into another form which is excreted in the milk causing a human health concern. The liver is the primary detoxification organ of the cow and is already under an enormous workload coping with the high feed intake and milk production of the modern dairy cow along with a developing foetus.
Deoxynivalenol (DON; commonly found in grains, hay and by-products), in simple terms, affects how proteins in the body are synthesised. Proteins in the gut wall lining and the array of immunoglobulins and other proteins involved in immunity and health are targeted by DON. The effects of DON are typically seen as reducing feed intake and nutrient absorption and depressed immunity, the latter most often seen in the short term as mastitis and high milk somatic cell counts.
Adsorption
The mineral adsorbent selectively binds adsorbable mycotoxins and endotoxins
Zearalenone (ZEN; commonly found in grains and protein meals) is primarily a problem in dairy herds as ZEN interferes with oestrogen activity and therefore can cause delays in ovulation and heat and successful maintenance of pregnancy. The reproductive performance of bulls can also be affected by ZEN.
Fumonisins (FUM; found in almost all feedstuffs surveyed) can have wide ranging effects on gut function and organs such as the liver, lungs and kidneys. Fumonisins work by interfering with the lipid component of cell membranes (especially the brain) and so all cells are potential targets.
When you consider the above brief summary of which feedstuffs mycotoxins contaminate and the diverse nature of their actions, it is not surprising that even low levels of different mycotoxins can add up to becoming a factor in the variability of dairy performance, even without gross mycotoxicosis symptoms or ‘mouldy’ feedstuffs being seen.
For more information on the Mycotoxin Survey results and how you can mitigate the effects of mycotoxins in your herd please contact Jacques Jansen van Vuuren at dsm-firmenich, details below.
BiotransformationBioprotection
The combination of patented enzymes and biological components converts mycotoxins into non-toxic metabolites
The plant and algal extracts support the liver, immune system and gut integrity
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Cutting-edge genomic tools have been used to breed the
Science boosts grass
DAIRYBIO — a leading bioscience initiative by the Victorian Government, Dairy Australia and the Gardiner Foundation — continues to reshape agriculture with innovative solutions for Australian farmers.
One of its most groundbreaking contributions is the NEA12 endophyte, introduced through the Samurye NEA12 hybrid ryegrass.
By partnering DairyBio’s world-class research with Barenbrug’s commercial expertise, Samurye NEA12 combines cutting-edge genomic tools and hybrid ryegrass breeding techniques to increase genetic gains in commercial ryegrass.
The end result Is a ryegrass variety with the yield potential of a top-performing hybrid ryegrass, boosted by the resilience of NEA12 endophyte.
Samurye NEA12’s strength lies in its symbiotic pairing with the NEA12 endophyte.
This janthitrem-producing endophyte offers exceptional pasture pest tolerance, effectively managing black beetle, Argentine stem weevil and root aphid.
This ensures improved performance and persistence under pasture pest pressure, making it ideal for dairy and beef systems requiring consistent, high-quality pasture performance.
“Innovation and delivering real-value to farmers is a core focus of Barenbrug,” managing director Thomas Dickson said.
“We are pleased to have collaborated with DairyBio to bring Samurye NEA12 to market and we are looking forward to farmer success with this new cultivar.”
Mr Dickson says Samurye NEA12 isn’t just a breakthrough in ryegrass breeding; it’s a practical solution for farmers looking to optimise their operations.
“With an ability to withstand pest challenges and deliver superior yields, this hybrid ryegrass enables Australian dairy farmers to achieve higher pasture productivity and sustainable growth.
“By combining scientific rigour, innovative technology, and a commitment to the dairy industry, DairyBio is setting a new standard for agricultural advancements.”
For more information, go to: https://www.barenbrug.com.au
Samurye NEA12 hybrid ryegrass.
Fonterra lifts its milk price
BY GEOFF ADAMS
FONTERRA HAS lifted its Australian milk price, becoming the first major milk processor to do so this season.
Fonterra Oceania farm source director Matt Watt said suppliers were advised on December 3 of an increase of 15 cents/kg of milk solids, taking their weighted average milk price to
FONTERRA AND BEGA IN COURT
Fonterra is taking Bega to court to clarify the status of its Australian licensing arrangements preliminary to a sale of Fonterra Oceania assets.
Fonterra announced in May it was selling its Australian businesses.
Fonterra packs Bega-branded products, including a new range of snacking products, which pairs Bega cheese with crackers.
Bega announced the court proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW, by saying that Fonterra was seeking declarations from the court that transactions proposed did not affect the operation of the trademark licence arrangements between Bega and Fonterra.
“Fonterra is not seeking damages,” Bega said.
“Fonterra is not seeking to alter the current contractual or operational arrangements between the parties.”
Fonterra said as part of its preparatory work for the sale of Fonterra Oceania assets and following some speculation regarding the operation of certain provisions in Fonterra’s arrangements with Bega, Fonterra was seeking a court determination to confirm the co-operative’s clear understanding that the provisions of its licenscing agreement with Bega are not impacted by a sale process.
“Fonterra is confident in its legal position and does not expect this matter to disrupt its timeline for any divestment,” a statement from the company said.
Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell said in November, the co-op had decided to proceed with a sale process for the Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.
“Since our announcement in May 2024, we have been working with our team of advisors to assess potential divestment options, the assets and businesses in scope, and the best pathway to maximise value for our co-op,” Mr Hurrell said.
“This work, coupled with the confidence we have in our revised strategic direction, has confirmed a divestment of our global consumer and associated businesses is in the best interests of the co-op.
“Our revised strategy will see us prioritise our ingredients and foodservice businesses, creating a more focused and higher performing co-op.
“We have received meaningful buyer interest in the businesses in scope for divestment, which is testament to their strength and potential.
“A final decision on which divestment pathway to pursue will be based on several factors, including which option will result in optimal long-term value for the co-op.”
$8.15kg/MS.
“It’s been positive to see Global Dairy Trade prices increase since August, particularly after a flat period for cheese, butter and skim,” Mr Watt said.
“As we earn price in the market, it’s always been our commitment to farmers that we will pass it on, and we’ve been able to do that following some improvement in cheese values which we have translated into contract
prices.
“We continue our bi-monthly review process, and the next one will be in February.
“We will continue to keep our farmers informed on market conditions which impact the Australian milk price throughout the season.”
Fonterra has lifted its farm gate milk price.
AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES
Following after his father?
THE SON of one of Australia’s most successful Holstein bulls is the nation’s top genomic polled sire, according to the latest Australian Breeding Values release.
And this comes as half of the country’s Good Bulls Guide Holstein polled offering is available from ABS Australia — more than 500 per cent more than the semen company with the second highest polled offering.
VALA JERONIMO CHAD-ET-PP is a bull bred from ABS JERONIMO-P-ET — an outstanding health-trait sire that has sat within the top five ABV proven Holsteins for the past three years.
A mainstay of many herds throughout the country, ABS JERONIMO-P-ET continues to improve his Balanced Performance Index (BPI) and has 1778 milking daughters.
The Northern Victoria-bred VALA JERONIMO CHAD-ET-PP is 554 BPI, homozygous polled — which delivers a 100 per cent guarantee that his offspring won’t have horns — and has impressive milk, components and daughter fertility.
ABS Australia business operations manager Bruce Ronalds said there had been a lot of interest in CHAD PP.
“He’s adding early daughters to his bull proof and they are really impressing farmers — he excels in all the areas that are important for profit on a dairy farm,” Bruce said.
“Not to mention he’s 115 on Daughter Fertility, it’s crucial to get cows back in calf — and to know their calves won’t have horns — that’s a cost saving, a win for animal welfare and one less job on-farm that no one likes.”
Homozygous, or PP, bulls have dominated ABS Australia’s Holstein offering in recent years.
Long-standing performers like DENOVO 4798 ESTATE-PP-ET continue to sit at the pointy-end of the ABV tables, but there are new, genomic bulls nipping at their heels such as US-bred BOMAZ KNOXVILLE-PP-ET and some exciting genetics in the pipeline.
“ABS Global has had a strong focus on breeding for high-ranking, PP bulls and I’m pleased to say they are coming our way in April,” Bruce said.
“These are bulls that are well over 500 BPI, created with the global product development team, and locally we are privileged to work with Australian breeders who will be delivering similar sires for the market.”
Stability and consistency are at the core of the recent ABV release, with four of the top 10 proven Holsteins marketed by ABS Australia. Holstein phenomenon HOOGERHORST DG OH RUBELS-RED is at number four, with the equal number two proven type bull in the country meeting all the requirements for red and black and white breeders.
“Those breeding black and whites don’t care that he’s red, especially now export orders are closed, they just want the best Holstein bull,” Bruce said.
“RUBELS added 56 daughters, and now has 297 milking daughters, and his BPI rose — it’s proof he’s delivering profit and type.”
ABS JERONIMO-P-ET remains at five on the ABV proven list, while KINGS RANSOM S DREAMBIG — ranked equal number one in Australia for udders — is at eight on the ABV tables and number two proven for type.
“DREAMBIG is becoming increasingly popular with breeders focusing on high type as well as commercial dairy farmers,” Bruce said.
“He’s priced at a commercial rate, which was what initially encouraged farmers to delve in and try him, but now he’s popular because of his performance in the vat.”
Bruce said Holstein breeders now also had peace-of-mind in knowing that every bull on the market with the ABS label is free of the
recognised genetic condition called muscle weakness syndrome. It’s a similar story with Jerseys, with ABS removing all bulls with the fertility-damaging JH1 haplotype.
“Knowledge is power, once ABS understood what JH1 and muscle weakness syndrome meant for the health of calves and the fertility of adult females — we had to remove all bulls from our offering with traces of either,” he said.
“It’s the responsibility of ABS to ensure our products give farmers the best chance at breeding healthy and productive animals.”
sitting at 437 BPI, equal number one for Type in Australia as well as good production and high components — his popularity isn’t going to change anytime soon.
He is also the highest genomic bull (without daughters) above 110 for Type and udders.
CSCBRADY has been on the Australian market for a year now, and Bruce said he was delivering what Jersey breeders want.
“Firstly, he enables them to breed for strength, capacity and stature and secondly, he’s stayed constant — on the ABV rankings — other bulls have moved up and down.
“Thirdly, he’s out of a fantastic cow family. His dam was recently scored 93 — a maximum for her age — and this is not the first time she’s received the maximum score. She is one of a kind.”
An ABS-bred bull, from the US, ABS MARINE-ET is 390 BPI with 63 daughters milking across 10 herds. A high component, high milk and teat lengthening sire, MARINE is available sexed as part of the Sexcel range.
MURRAY BROOK JAMIEO (CSCJAMIEO) remains at number four on the Jersey ABV proven list with 104 Temperament, 106 Likeability and 113 daughters milking in Australia.
Single P-heterozygous polled-bull BALNAGEITH JANGO P (CSCJANGO), 359 BPI, is the number one polled Jersey in Australia. CSCJANGO also has high survival (113) and is a high milk bull, delivering 768 litres a lactation more than the population average.
Another US bull, ABS AVJ JUICED-ET still stands strong, adds teat length to daughters, is positive for Daughter Fertility and scores well for both type and udders.
Can’t go wrong with a quality red
Six of the top 10 genomic ABV red bulls sit within the ABS Australia stable — including one of the highest in Daughter Fertility, homozygous-PP-sire SAUSVATN PP.
SAUSVATN PP has 33 daughters in five herds and is 303 BPI. With high-ranking milk production and protein, ABS Australia is confident this genomic sire could move across and become a top proven sire by April 2025.
This bull has consistently been at the top of the breed for homozygous polled, again helping farmers to remove the job of dehorning.
The highest ranking genomic sire is Haaland P (252NR12344) at 348BPI, delivering 700 litres of milk more than the breed average per lactation, 42kg of protein, 33kg of butterfat and 102 Daughter Fertility.
“Genomic red bulls are popular in Australia,” Bruce said.
“It’s a chance for breeders and commercial farmers to get a hold of the best genetics coming down the pipeline — get ahead of the game.”
Milking DREAMBIG (from right) Mitch Dreambig Laura VG-86, Mitch Dreambig Annie GP-84 and Mitch Dreambig Sweet GP-83.
Kaarmona Invincible Babe 323 EX-93 MAX, dam of CSCBRADY, now classified 93MAX.
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AUSTRALIAN BREEDING VALUES
Indexes meet farmers’ needs
AUSTRALIAN DAIRY farmers with pasture-based, seasonal calving systems are interested in a breeding index customised for the specific needs of their production system.
In addition, those farming in hotter climates also have an interest in a specific breeding tool to provide the best return on investment for their genetics.
These were some of the early findings from DataGene’s National Breeding Objective Review, a two-year project designed to ensure the industry continues to deliver the herd improvement resources dairy farmers want and need to breed their future herds.
This insight into dairy farmers’ breeding objectives comes as DataGene’s latest Australian Breeding Values release reveals a rise of about 75 per cent in the number of Holstein bulls in the Good Bulls Guide with a Balanced Performance Index of more than 500.
DataGene CEO Matt Shaffer said dairy farmers now had more and better bulls available that were proven to perform well under Australian conditions.
The most recent ABVs are an efficient way to understand how each sire performs and would work on farm.
“It’s easier than ever to compare bulls and find genetics to suit individual breeding objectives, so it’s not surprising that 90 per cent of farmer and herd improvement industry representatives told the National Breeding Objective Review they use DataGene tools,” Matt said.
“The most popular tool for survey respondents was the BPI, but they also used DataGene’s Health Weighted Index, Australian Selection Index and other ABVS to inform breeding decisions.
“Although there was interest in seasonal/ pasture index and possibly a hot regions index, we also received the strong message to ‘keep it simple’ and avoid unnecessary complexity to the many decisions dairy farmers make in their businesses,” he said.
Other findings from the review indicated there wasn’t strong demand for a Jersey
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
ɋ For more information, contact: DataGene on 1800 841 848 or at abv@datagene.com.au or at https:// www.datagene.com.au
ɋ To see the December ABV tables, go to: https://www.datavat.com.au/ abv-list-reports
ɋ To read about the top cows, herds and bulls in the December ABVs, go to: https://www.dairynewsaustralia. com.au/news/december-abvs-thetop-cows-bulls-and-herds/
ɋ For more information about the Balanced Performance Index (BPI), Health Weighted Index (HWI) and Sustainability Index, go to the ABV Pocket Guide: https://www. datagene.com.au/wp-content/ uploads/2023/10/ABVs-PocketGuide-2022-WEB-Version.pdf
ɋ Find the Good Bulls app at: https://www.datagene.com.au/ software-apps/good-bulls-app/
breed-specific index as current indices met Jersey respondents’ needs.
In parallel, Ever.Ag consultancy has completed an analysis of trends and forecasts of milk pricing and input costs.
Findings from this first stage of the review is informing the analysis and modelling by independent genetics consultancy AbacusBio working in consultation with DataGene.
Currently in progress, the results from the modelling and analysis will inform an options paper which will be discussed with industry next year.
DataGene’s review is on schedule for any changes to be implemented in December 2025.
SET UP FOR BREEDING SUCCESS
Neil Jolliffe has two files on his mobile phone.
One is where he stores all the bull names and details of the semen he has in his artificial insemination tank.
The other is for prospective bulls — those he’s liked the look of and will investigate further next time he needs to purchase semen.
This latter list is updated by the NSW Riverina dairy farmer when DataGene’s latest Australian Breeding Values are released.
Both these files — and the app that makes it possible to create these lists, DataGene’s Good Bulls App — set Neil up for breeding success.
“It saves me a lot of time sorting through catalogues,” he said about the app.
“I used the filter on the app and put in four or five main criteria — traits I don’t want to compromise on — then apply those filters and it narrows down the available bulls.
“Instead of going through a catalogue, looking at 50 to 60 bulls, I’m able to just look at the ones I’m interested in because they fit what I’m looking for.”
Neil and Simone Jolliffe milk 320 cows year-round in a housed-cow, total mixed ration system, near Wagga Wagga in NSW.
They are pleased with the genetic merit of their Holstein herd, but want to continually push some areas of their operation to maximise production in their new farming system.
These breeding priorities are set in the Good Bulls App as filters.
Neil said he applied a filter for a minimum 102 calving ease, 107 mastitis resistance, 110 daughter fertility and ensures he only searches for bulls that are more than -300 for milk.
This fertility focus comes after years of concentration on this part of their business; while breeding for calving ease means less labour pulling calves and the cows also recover better from calving.
Producing an average 4.5 per cent fat and 3.7 per cent protein, the Jolliffes are now looking to add extra milk to their higher-than-average components.
Breeding for mastitis resistance makes sense from an animal health and economic perspective and it’s also important now they are milking in a housed system.
“Mastitis resistance is one we are pushing a bit harder now, if we can keep the mastitis out of cows, it is better than treating them,” Neil said.
“Also, with the compost barn, we are looking a lot at breeding for mastitis
resistance to complement the work we do keeping the bedding pack dry.”
Using these filters with the Good Bulls App, Neil said the bulls presented also generally had high Balanced Performance Index.
“I used to print a list off of all the bulls I had in the tank (when I was doing AI) and then have the catalogue in the AI box to refer to if needed, to double check,” he said.
Now Neil also uses the Good Bulls App to “double check” bull details prior to inseminating his cows or when he is critiquing industry information.
“I find, having the app on my phone, is easier. The other thing I use it for, is when I go to bed and I’m reading a journal, if I come across a bull from somewhere around the world — in Holstein International or whatever — I use the app to search that bull and see how he suits the Australian system.”
Thanks to the app, Neil said it was easier to compare bulls and he’s making better breeding decisions because he’s confident the bulls he is choosing fit his breeding criteria.
In addition, he’s also finding bulls that meet his breeding criteria that he may not have otherwise come across — a bonus considering he no longer needs to do the time-consuming research himself.
“I used to spend most nights reading bull catalogues,” he said.
“Reducing that time has allowed me to spend more time with my family.”
Riverina dairy farmer Neil Jolliffe uses DataGene’s Good Bulls App to save time sorting through bull catalogues.
DataGene’s five-yearly review of the National Breeding Objective ensures the industry continues to deliver the herd improvement resources dairy farmers want and need on-farm.
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A good year for farmers
BY RICK BAYNE
DESPITE ERRATIC seasonal conditions, outgoing Dairy Australia chair James Mann says it has been a good year to be a dairy farmer. In his annual report presented at the Dairy
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Australia annual general meeting on November 27, Mr Mann said the good year for farmers was reflected in the growth of the milk pool and most farmers having a positive outlook for their business.
Although climatic conditions, including a green drought, had been difficult to navigate, Mr Mann said farmers achieved record levels of profitability.
“Despite the erratic season, overall last year was a good year to be a dairy farmer,” he said at the meeting in Warrnambool.
“This was reflected in the growth in the milk pool, with milk volumes growing at a faster rate than forecast, up 3.1 per cent on the previous year, with full-year volumes increasing in all states.”
Farmer confidence was stable, with 83 per cent having a positive outlook.
Dairy Australia recorded a surplus of $3.9 million for the financial year.
Mr Mann said the growth in the milk pool underpinned the stronger than expected position, providing opportunities for further investments in the coming year.
“Although the current year isn’t expected to be quite as strong in light of the sporadic conditions, current milk volumes indicate we are holding steady on the same time last year.”
Mr Mann said setting up the industry for climate adaptability continues to be important, so that farmers are prepared for both the environmental and regulatory future.
“As dairy farmers, we are part of the global methane challenge, and we need to be part of the solution,” he said.
“Investing in managing climate and the environment equips farmers with the information and tools to support decision-making that will improve productivity, so that we’re producing more milk for less input, and reduce our exposure to climate-related events and regulation, whilst also demonstrating our industry’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.”
Mr Mann said Dairy Australia was in the final year of its five-year strategic plan, with consultation and development under way with famers and key stakeholders for the next plan.
“We’ve identified several opportunities for improvement. Every farmer will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation for the next five-year plan.”
He added that he continued to believe in the power of dairy farmers working together to advance the industry.
Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said in 2022-23, farmers achieved the industry’s profitability target for the first time since it was set in 2019, with 90 per cent achieving the profit target of $1.50/kg of milk solids — an increase of 27 per cent on the previous season.
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Mr Nation said attracting people to the industry and retaining them had been a core challenge for many farmers, but there has been progress on this front with almost half a million jobseekers visiting dairyjobsmatter.com.au, with more than 58,000 going on to access the Dairy Jobs Board.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of adults in regional Australia agreeing that dairy offers a range of rewarding career options, from 69 per cent in 2023 to 76 per cent this year,” he said.
Consumer trust in the dairy industry continues to climb with the most recent results showing that 83 per cent of consumers trust Australian dairy, and 70 per cent of consumers agree that cow’s milk is more nutritious than dairy alternatives.
Another priority remains growing and maintaining demand for Australian dairy products in global markets, with more than 30 per cent of the milk pool exported each year.
Attendees at the Dairy Australia annual general meeting in Warrnambool.
Push to dump ADPF fails
BY RICK BAYNE
A push to remove the Australia Dairy Products Federation (ADPF) as a Class B shareholder of Dairy Australia has failed — but might be revisited next year.
The other Group B member, Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), acting at the request of United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (VFF UDV), submitted a special resolution to the Dairy Australia annual general meeting in Warrnambool on November 27 to remove ADPF as a Group B member.
However, the Dairy Australia board opposed the resolution and it failed to garner enough votes. The resolution required at least 75 per cent of votes in favour.
Outgoing Dairy Australia chair James Mann said the outcome of the vote was “very comprehensive”, with 87 per cent of farmers voting against removing ADPF as a Group B member of Dairy Australia, demonstrating a strong desire across the industry for farmers and processors to work together.
Mr Mann said the board had a strong preference that farmers and processors work together, but recognised that there was insufficient investment from processors.
He gave notice that if the resolution failed this year, it could be revisited in 2025 if investment wasn’t formalised.
“The board believes that an important demonstration of working together is for processors to invest in Dairy Australia services that benefit the whole supply chain,” Mr Mann told the AGM.
“At present, we recognise that there is insufficient investment from processors.”
Mr Mann said the board would welcome progress towards formalised processor co-investments within a year.
“Should this not be achieved, the board is likely to support a resolution to replace Australia Dairy Products Federation as a Group B member at the 2025 AGM.”
ADF president Ben Bennett told the meeting that the organisation needed to act on its members’ concerns.
He said the structure of the dairy industry had changed significantly and was no longer dominated by farmer-owned cooperatives but by multinationals.
“Farmers consider that there are a range of marketing activities that Dairy Australia invest in, that are of benefit to the processors, including generic milk advertising,” the ADF claimed.
“Farmers believe that processors should contribute to the funding of these programs.
“As a Group B member of Dairy Australia, Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF)
has the power to influence and provide input into the programs and activities contained in Dairy Australia’s Strategic Plan and Annual Operating Plans.
“Dairy Australia should consult with all stakeholders including ADPF — but consultation should not extend to having the power to impact how farmers levy funds are expended.”
ADPF president John Williams said he was
SHARING A BIGGER FEE POOL
Dairy Australia’s eight non-executive directors will share up to $100,000 more in fees over the next five years.
The Dairy Australia AGM in Warrnambool on November 27 approved increasing the maximum aggregate pool for fees from $490,000 to $590,000.
Outgoing chair James Mann said the bigger pool was needed to cover costs incurred by directors and to attract good quality candidates to the positions.
But James added that the increase didn’t mean the directors would immediately be spending the bigger pool.
The last increase in the directors’ pool was in 2020 and contributed to increases of between zero and four per cent over the past four years.
The most recent increase in directors’
fees was 2.5 per cent for 2024-25.
“This proposal would equate to 3.5 per cent annual increases for the next five years,” James said.
“Any increase in fees enables Dairy Australia to attract high-quality directors, covers time commitments expected of directors, and other factors such as increases in compulsory super contributions in July 2025.”
While the increase is expected to accommodate any changes in fees for the next five years, James said this could be as short as three years or as long as eight years depending on industry conditions.
He said the increased pool was in line with industry benchmarking and would maintain the “real level” of directors’ fees.
extremely disappointed to see the resolution notice.
“ADPF’s goal is for a thriving and profitable dairy industry that keeps manufacturing local and attracts people and investment,” he told the meeting.
“For decades ADPF has worked side-byside with dairy farmers and every dairy farmer organisation at every level to ensure our dairy industry thrives.”
Mr Williams said removing the ADPF was not just a matter of funding but a challenge to the unity and strength of the sector.
“The Australian dairy industry is strongest when farmers and processors work together to tackle challenges and maximise opportunities.
“The commitment of ADPF to the industry’s success has been steadfast over the decades and has not wavered, regardless of ownership structures of individual member companies.”
The ADPF says it and its members provide direct investment to Dairy Australia through initiatives such as the Australian Milk Pool
Trajectory Research to 2030, water security, plant-based labelling, waste management, animal welfare and sustainability, and also contribute invaluable in-kind technical resources.
Mr Mann said the Dairy Australia board did not want to see a weakening of farmers and processors working together at this time.
“It is the expectation of the Dairy Australia board that farmers and processors will work together with Dairy Australia to create a suitable shared funding model in the current financial year.”
He said Dairy Australia received about $170,000 plus in-kind contributions from processors but believed the industry should be contributing between $3 million and $5 million. He added that this should come from profits and not impact on the prices paid to farmers.
In response to questions about why processor contributions hadn’t been formalised over the past five years of the Dairy Industry Plan, Mr Mann said there had been ongoing discussions “but we’re now setting a transparent line in the sand that we need to have action on this”.
CEO OPTION ON THE TABLE
Dairy Australia’s next corporate leader could be a chief executive officer rather than a managing director.
The Dairy Australia AGM at Warrnambool on November 27 endorsed a resolution developed in conjunction with Australian Dairy Farmers to amend its constitution to provide an option for the board to appoint either a managing director or a CEO.
Dairy Australia’s constitution currently stipulates the board must appoint a managing director.
Outgoing chair James Mann said the change would give DA greater flexibility to get the best person for the position.
Responding to questions about the potential higher cost of a CEO, James said
DA needed to be competitive in the market place.
“The proposal will modernise the constitution in line with contemporary practice,” he said.
“We thank Australian Dairy Farmers for raising this item.”
James said DA did not propose to change its current arrangement with managing director David Nation.
He said that by virtue of their appointment, a managing director became a member of the board, while a chief executive officer may or may not be a member of the board at the board’s discretion.
The resolution was passed after receiving support from more than 75 per cent of votes cast.
The Dairy Australia AGM voted against removing the Australia Dairy Products Federation as a Group B member of Dairy Australia.
ADPF president John Williams said he was extremely disappointed to see the resolution notice.
DAIRY AUSTRALIA AGM
Stepping up for all farmers
BY RICK BAYNE
SOUTH-EAST
QUEENSLAND
farmer Paul Roderick might be a proud Queenslander and the first from his state to become chair of Dairy Australia in 20 years, but he’s not being parochial.
Paul is the first Queenslander to take on the role since inaugural chair Pat Rowley who served from 2003-06.
“I’m a proud Queenslander, but it’s about the Australian dairy industry and that will always be the focus,” he said after his election following this week’s annual general meeting.
As the new chair, Paul will be striving for stability, a united voice and ensuring every farmer feels they are getting value for their levy.
He also wants to protect every dairying region.
“Every state and every region where we have dairy now is vitally important in the jigsaw,” he said.
“We need all the regions to be thriving; we don’t want to have less dairy. From northern Queensland down to Hobart, we need all the dairy that we’ve got. Stability is our aim.
“The markets are near where we’ve got the milk now, and we want that to remain.”
Paul said the industry was enjoying a relatively stable period, locally in Queensland and more broadly across the nation.
“Young people are coming into dairy, which is encouraging,” he said.
“We lost a generation around my age in my 40s because of deregulation, the millennium drought, water issues and some of the supermarket tactics.
“But a better work-life balance attracts young people, and we’re now seeing some stability and small growth.
“I’m really hopeful that the industry across Australia can be stable.
“It’s not easy, but a stable industry can work towards a little bit of growth, if the settings are right and the seasons are right.”
Paul said Dairy Australia had a limited influence over the milk pool, but tried to provide the settings for the individual farm businesses to “be the best they can be”.
“That’s the priority for Dairy Australia, and if that leads to stability or growth, fantastic,” he said.
“We think with a bit of positivity, that can happen.”
While suggesting corporates could continue expanding their investment in the Australian
industry, Paul said the engine room of Australian dairy remained the family farm.
It was on his family farm at Harrisville in south-east Queensland where Paul was first exposed to R&D.
“Our farm was next to a research station so we were involved in a lot of research projects, and I saw where new technologies and ideas can get you as a farmer,” he said.
“We had a group of farmers who fed off each other when it came to innovation and there was a lot of support from DPI and I wanted to be involved in it.
“Once you get involved with local groups, you see it’s bigger than your own little patch. I’m always a believer in getting involved and thought I could offer something at a national level.”
Paul encourages all farmers to take an active interest in how their levy is spent.
“If you’re involved, you can make a difference in how the levy is spent,” he said.
“I reckon I’ve got a reasonable handle after 30 years about what makes farmers tick and,
hopefully, we can invest that money wisely.
“I would love to see that every farmer feels they get the best value out of the levy that they can.
“That’s a challenge because we have vastly different farm systems, but we want to help the profitability and sustainability of Australian dairy farmers and implement practical ways to bring science and innovation to dairy farms.”
Paul said DA was trying to get closer to farmers and offer a more tailored service.
“We want to meet farmers where they are at in their business. Hopefully, farmers then feel they receive good value from their levy.”
He also hopes to see a more unified industry.
“You get better outcomes in all parts of the world by working together and trying to have your issues resolved before going to your stakeholders,” he said.
“It’s an amazing power to talk as an industry with one voice.
“Think back to 2000 when Pat Rowley led the industry and he and a united board negotiated a restructure package around deregulation
CALL FOR INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION
Dairy Australia’s departing chair James Mann has left with a call for more investment in innovation and telling the industry’s story.
He’s also warned that collaboration is better than confrontation and dairy farmers should work together for better outcomes.
Speaking at the DA AGM in Warrnambool on November 27, James said it had been a privilege to serve the industry for more than 20 years.
“We’ve experienced plenty of tough times with challenges of climate, trade, market conditions heavily influencing our on-farm profitability,” he said.
“Since 2020, the challenges have turned around and the scales have tipped more in our favour.
“We’ve seen four or five years of improved conditions across most regions, notwithstanding those businesses whacked by climate.”
He said Dairy Australia had a role to play in providing tools so farmers could
capitalise on the good times and be shielded from the tougher times.
James said investing in research and innovation was a leap of faith that might take time to pay off, but was worth the effort.
“Because of innovation in genetics, our herd is more efficient, our cows get sick less, they produce more milk, get in calf easier and more often, and over the last 20 years, we get an extra lactation out of them,” he said.
“We continue to see improvements as we get more data and as the technology evolves. We need to invest today so that we might see results years from now.
“Traits that were ground-breaking 10 years ago, are commonplace today, particularly around health and transition management. Technology in its infancy today will be conventional in 10 years.”
James said he believed genetics would play a significant role in reducing methane emissions over the next decade.
“Genetics is one of the tools helping us to maximise profitability and sustainability and produce more milk with less environmental impact.
“We must continue to invest in these areas, not just because it makes sense for our bottom line, but because it’s the right thing to do and because the way we are perceived as an industry can have a huge impact on our ability to farm.”
James also called for more promotion of Australian dairy.
The Dairy Matters campaign has seen consumer trust in the industry increase from 68 per cent in 2018 to 83 per cent this year.
“Building community trust influences policy at government level and telling our story will impact on all policy decisions,” James said.
“We have seen policy impact the right to farm in other countries, and we don’t want to go there. We want our voices listened to
that softened the blow of what could have been a huge crisis in our industry.
“I’m not sure that would happen today if we don’t speak to governments with one voice.”
Paul, who replaces James Mann who retired after four years as chair, was first appointed to the Dairy Australia Board in November 2020.
He has operated his family dairy farm with wife Linda and parents David and Gwen 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 Queensland, a director on Premium Milk Ltd for 11 years, is a Australian Dairy Conference Board member and a current EastAUSmilk district councillor.
At the AGM, two vacancies for the Dairy Australia Board of directors with milk producer skills were filled by Euberta dairy farmer Simone Jolliffe and Taree dairy farmer James Neal. Both directors were elected unopposed.
and respected by people with the power to influence change.”
James said Australian dairy had a bright future and was well-placed to continue capitalising on the good times so it can better weather the more challenging times.
However, he said he was concerned we have become tribal to some extent, working against each other instead of working with each other.
“Industry organisations are at their strongest when farmers with diverse experience unite towards a common goal,” James said.
“We need to support farmers to step up, instead of tearing each other down.
“When we work together, we get better outcomes. Collaboration gets us further than confrontation.”
James and his family own Donovan's Dairying Pty Ltd at Wye, South Australia. He retires from the DA Board following nine years as a director and four-and-a-half years as chair.
New Dairy Australia chair Paul Roderick and outgoing chair David Mann at the organisation’s AGM in Warrnambool.
Take the stress out of heat
BY DR ROBERT BONANNO
JANUARY IS the time of year when long hot days merge into one another and heat stress can be a problem for man and beast.
Dairy cattle have a narrow ‘thermoneutral zone’ of between -0.5°C to about +20°C with relative humidity of between 60 and 80 per cent, which is the range of temperature and humidity where the cow is comfortable and does not expend much energy either trying to stay warm or keep cool.
Many people think that it is only a high temperature that causes heat stress but it is actually the combined effect of temperature and humidity that contributes to heat stress. This is known as the Temperature Humidity Index or THI
Heat stress occurs when a cow cannot adequately dissipate heat, leading to an increase in her core body temperature.
Dairy cows are especially vulnerable due to their high metabolic rate. Metabolic heat is generated during digestion contributing to heat stress in high producing cows.
Australian summers can have long periods where the cow is exposed to extreme temperatures and THIs that can have significant impacts on their health and welfare as well as their production and fertility.
It is especially significant during heatwave conditions when there is no overnight reprieve.
Cows have this incredible ability to heat load during the day and offload the heat during the
cooler conditions overnight, but if they are unable to dissipate all the excess heat overnight and carry it forward into the next day, heat stress will accumulate and cause quite significant losses.
This ability to heat load also gives us several great opportunities to manage heat stress in the milking herd by providing active cooling at milking time, even on farms with little other heat management infrastructure.
Cooling the concrete in the cow yard prior to bringing the cows in and running sprinklers off and on using a timer during milking time is an excellent way of cooling cows.
The aim is to cool, not saturate the cows, and because most heat is lost during evaporation adding fans to increase evaporation is ideal.
Bigger picture, mitigating heat stress requires a multi-pronged approach and is best tailored to the farm’s environment, infrastructure and resources.
Provide adequate shade
Natural shade from trees or constructed shelters can significantly reduce heat exposure.
If possible, provide shade in the dairy holding yard.
Ensure shade structures are large enough to accommodate all cows without overcrowding.
Improve ventilation and airflow
Increase airflow in sheds or shade structures
SAPUTO HELPS KEEP SCORE
Saputo Dairy Australia (SDA) has contributed $10,000 towards a new electronic scoreboard at Purnim Recreation Reserve in south-west Victoria.
SDA regional operations manager (west) Grant Hutcheson said Purnim was an ideal location for support through Saputo’s Legacy Program, which has contributed to 12 regional projects since 2018.
“Located just north of Warrnambool, approximately 15 minutes from our Allansford dairy processing facility and in the heart of SDA’s milk supply region, Purnim Recreation Reserve is widely utilised for sport, recreation and local events by the surrounding community,” Grant said.
“We are delighted to contribute to Purnim’s new modern electronic scoreboard that integrates with laptops and can display images, movies, animations, live feeds and more.
and milking areas using fans or natural ventilation.
Open-sided shelters and ridge vents can help maintain a cooler environment.
Active cooling systems
Sprinklers or misters: Regularly spraying cows with water reduces body temperature effectively. Use alongside fans for maximum impact.
Evaporative cooling: Systems combining water mist and air movement can lower temperatures in covered areas.
Optimise
feeding and milking
Adjust feeding times: Offer feed during cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or evening.
High-quality forage: Provide easily digestible feeds to reduce metabolic heat production. Increase water availability: Ensure cows have constant access to clean, cool water.
Position water troughs near shaded areas and ensure troughs have been cleaned of sediment and silt and water supply lines are adequate.
Adjust milking time: Milk earlier in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest time of day
Breeding and genetics
Selecting heat-tolerant breeds or crossbreeds can improve herd resilience. Breeding programs can focus on traits that enhance heat tolerance.
Monitor and adapt
Use technology like temperature monitors and weather forecasts to anticipate heat stress events. Subscribe to services that provide warnings if the Temperature and Humidity Index is expected to be high.
Develop a heat stress management plan and train staff to respond promptly.
In recent years, the effects of heat stress on dry cows has become more widely understood.
Heat stress in pregnant dry animals will not only affect the health and wellbeing of the cow and her future production but also has a very significant effect on the unborn calf that can reduce the health outcomes of the calf and reduce their lifetime production for years to come.
For this reason, providing adequate shade and shelter and actively managing heat stress in dry cow groups is highly recommended.
Dairy Australia has some excellent resources on managing heat stress in dairy cows and I would strongly recommend all dairy farmers review their knowledge of heat stress management and their preparedness for heat stress events.
Lastly, I cannot emphasise enough my belief that having back-up plans for your back-up plans to provide drinking and cooling water for the herd in the face of extreme events like prolonged power failures, fires, etc is an essential part of your animal health plan.
Rob Bonanno is a ProDairy herd health veterinarian based in Gippsland.
“This initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to improve sport and health facilities that deliver broader community benefits across SDA’s operating and milk supply regions.”
Purnim Recreation Reserve president Mick McKinnon said the reserve was run by passionate volunteers and he was thankful for the support from Saputo and other businesses to ensure the facility’s ongoing success.
“The new scoreboard will be used on game days and weeknight training sessions by sports clubs and local schools,” Mick said.
“Trainings will be enhanced, with the new scoreboard able to demonstrate coaching tips and game simulations. Being transportable, it can be used at both reserve ovals and hired out for wider community needs.”
•
•
•
Pictured are (from left) Mick McKinnon, Purnim Recreation Reserve president; Peter McDonald, Purnim Recreation Reserve secretary; Grant Hutcheson, Saputo regional operations manager (west); Rowan Ault, Saputo field services manager (south-west Victoria and South Australia); Jeshua Ross, Northern Raiders Cricket Club treasurer; and Jo Noonan, Northern Raiders Cricket Club vice-president.
Seek help on 3G impacts
THE NATIONAL Farmers’ Federation has urged farmers experiencing mobile connectivity issues in the wake of the 3G network shutdown to reach out to providers for help.
The 3G network was progressively turned off across Australia from October 28.
NFF Telecommunications Committee chair Peter Thompson urged farmers to be vocal about issues they’ve encountered since the change.
provider after experiencing connectivity issues a few weeks ago.
He was informed the problem was separate to the 3G shutdown and was instead a local tower issue.
“Telstra and Optus committed to 4G equivalence to their mapped coverage and tested and signed off on this commitment prior to closing their networks,” Mr Thompson said.
“We have to let the providers know where the issues are and have patience around the fact that the 4G technology is technology that we’ve had for a long-time, it’s just a matter of fine-tuning; it’s more than likely something that needs to be fine-tuned rather than a total disaster,” he said.
“Now the reality is that we are living in a world without 3G and farmers are finding unexpected glitches with the new system.”
“We know waiting on hold is the last thing any farmer wants to do, but contacting your provider or the Regional Tech Hub is the best way to get the problem fixed.
Mr Thompson, who is a farmer near Roma, in Queensland, said he had experienced mixed results on the new 4G network.
“Areas that were marginal-to-no-signal now have signal, but there’s been a few issues with phone calls staying connected, which may also be device related rather than network related so best to check in to be sure.”
Mr Thompson urged anyone experiencing issues to contact their provider, such as Telstra or Optus.
“If your provider doesn’t know your issue, they can’t help you,” Mr Thompson said.
Mr Thompson said he got in touch with his
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“The Regional Tech Hub is totally independent and is geared up to help.
“They can escalate any issues with providers and can also give independent advice on product purchases.
“Make sure that you contact the Regional Tech Hub with details on the issues you are having, like the timing and location of the problem.
“They can tell you if a simple solution would help, like changing an antenna from a 3G to a 4G capable device.”
For free independent connectivity advice, call the Regional Tech Hub on 1300 081 029 or book an appointment online at: https:// www.regionaltechhub.org.au
Optimise lifetime feed conversion efficiency.
IMPROVE HEALTH
What if you could proactively improve calf and cow health sothey can better withstandchallenges, including those caused by mycotoxins?
REDUCE PATHOGENIC BACTERIAL LOAD
What if you could control calf diarrhea before an outbreak, and reduce the incidence, severity and duration of other common diseases that affectthe feedconversion efficiency of lactating cows and your bottom line?
ONLY CELMANAX
PROMOTE PRODUCTIVTY
What if you could add nutritional insurance to every stage of your cattle’s lives resulting in healthier heifer calves that join the milkingherd ready to contribute at a high level, and lactating cows that spend less time off feed.
Research demonstrates: CELMANAX
Has been shown to:
•Agglutinates and binds E. coli and Salmonella enterica.
• Agglutinate and bind E. coli and Salmonella enterica
•Reduces the incidence, severity and duration of mastitis and cryptosporidiosis infection.
• Reduce the incidence, severity and duration of mastitis and cryptosporidiosis infection
• Reduce blood stress markers during and after transport and temperature stress.
•Reduces blood stress markers during and after transport and temperature stress.
• Minimise cytotoxic damage caused by a variety of mycotoxins and carryover of aflatoxins in milk
• Improve weight gains and performance in calves and milk yields in lactating cows
•Minimises cytotoxic damage caused by a variety of mycotoxins and carryover of aflatoxins in milk.
•Improves weight gains and performance in calves and milk yields in lactating cows.
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