Dairy Farmer May 2022

DAIRY

Vet’s View

Advice on managing twin pregnancies

FARMER

Pages 16-17

May 2022

Volume 69 Issue 5

Now Paul’s milking system performs pregnancy checks and heat detection

DAIRY-TECH REPORT A round-up of highlights from this year’s event Pages 66-70

How do you make the best milking robot we’ve ever produced better? You add the ability to automate pregnancy checks and heat detection during milking. It’s called the DeLaval VMS™ V310 – and it is a total game changer.

ANIMAL HEALTH A closer look at potential health issues at grazing

Talk to your local DeLaval dealer to find out more!

Pages 54-64

DeLaval VMS V310 ™

GRASSLAND FOCUS

Advice to help maximise milk from forage Pages 38-52

www.delaval.com

MILK PRICES Pages 72-74

TIP OF THE MONTH: Get your automatic calf feeder set up correctly – p80-81

DF May p1 Cover KJ MB.indd 1

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Contacts Editor Katie Jones 07786 856 439 katie.jones@agriconnect.com Content Editor/Designer Mike Begley 01772 799 405 mike.begley@agriconnect.com Picture Editor Marcello Garbagnoli 01772 799 445 marcello.garbagnoli@agriconnect.com Head of Commercial Solutions Mike Hartley 01772 799 532 mike.hartley@agriconnect.com Account Manager Mark Jackson 01322 449 624, mark.jackson@agriconnect.com Classified Advertisements 01772 799 400 fgclassified@agriconnect.com Advertising Production Justine Sumner 01772 799 437 Fax: 01772 796 747 justine.sumner@agriconnect.com Circulation and subscriptions 0330 333 0056 help@subscribe.farmers-guardian.com Subscription rates: UK £65 a year Europe: £85 World: £95 ISSN 1475-6994 © Farmers Guardian 2022 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of Dairy Farmer are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems.

Dairy Farmer, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9NZ Origination by Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9NZ. Printed by Precision Colour Printing, Halesfield 1, Stirchley, Telford TF7 4QQ. No responsibility can be accepted by Dairy Farmer for the opinions expressed by contributors.

a word from the

O

editor

ver the last month, most processors have continued to announce price rises, with several non-aligned contracts now paying more than 40ppl. However, it has been widely discussed that this price needs to be closer to 50ppl if farmers are going to be able to cover costs and make some profit.

Rumblings And while milk prices do continue to increase for now, there is some rumblings that as we approach the ‘spring flush’, in the short-term at least, prices are unlikely to hit the heady heights of 50ppl as targeted by some within the industry (see our Milk Analysis on page 76-77 for more on this).

Undoubtedly, the announcement by Arla at the end of March that it would be boosting its milk supply through a combination of increased

production from existing farmers and new recruits, will have prompted other processors to look at their own pricing in order to try and protect their own milk fields in the future.

However, with milk volumes tracking below 2021 figures for the last couple of months, I firmly believe that if all processors want to ensure security of supply going forward, these price rise announcements must not stall too much in the coming weeks and months.

With spiralling input costs, dairy farmers will be hoping 2022 will be a good year for both grass and maize crops to help try and maximise milk from forage.

Weather Let’s hope for some settled weather to keep good amounts of grass in front of the cows, and to ensure the maize drilling and first cut silage can be done in the right conditions.

MAY 2022 DF May p3 Leader KJ MB.indd 1

3 14/04/2022 16:16

What’s inside?

MAY 2022 VOLUME 69 8

DAIRY TALK

Updates from Wallace Gregg and Claire Eastham

ISSUE 5

34 FOOT HEALTH

How data recording can improve foot health

10 ON FARM

38 GRASSLAND

14 DAIRY MATTERS

54 ANIMAL HEALTH

Production success for Mearfield Holsteins Crisis of confidence across agriculture, says Michael Oakes

16 VET’S VIEW

Managing twin pregnancies

18 BREEDING

Captain regains position with top enviro-credentials

24 NET ZERO

‘One-size-fits-all approach will not work for UK dairy’

26 WORLD DAIRYING

Using social media to raise awareness of farming in NZ

30 MAIZE

Maximising maize yields with effective weed control

32 EFFICIENCIES Concentrate closer to home

Advice to help maximise milk from forage A closer look at potential health issues at grazing

66 DAIRY-TECH REPORT

A round-up of discussions and new products

72 MILK PRICES 76 MILK ANALYSIS 78 NEW PRODUCTS 80 MACHINERY 82 LAMMA PREVIEW A brief look at some of the kit being showcased

86 GOOD EVANS ‘Using boiler suits to our advantage’

88 BUSINESS CLINIC 90 RESEARCH

NEWS

Retail prices must rise

C

onsumers have been warned retail milk prices may rise by 50% on the back of soaring production costs for processors and farmers, but industry leaders have questioned Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) decision to drop its retail price as other supermarkets raise theirs.

Stable Milk prices at retail have remained relatively stable over the past decade even when farmgate prices have been more volatile.

But major retailers pushed the price of a four-pint bottle up to £1.25 in April, on the back of inflationary pressures.

Bucking the trend, M&S dropped the price of a four-pint

semi-skimmed bottle of milk by 10p as part of a drive to deliver value to customers.

The retailer emphasised the drop would have no impact on producer prices.

An M&S spokesperson said: “At M&S, we are committed to supporting dairy farmers through our M&S Milk Pledge.

Since 1999, we have guaranteed our Select Farmers a fair and sustainable price as we provide customers with the highest quality RSPCA Assured milk, of which we are extremely proud. As we support our customers, this will not be to the detriment of our farmers.”

While he acknowledged M&S was currently paying one of the leading milk prices, NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes said

Milk production to plummet 24-25

Net Zero

78-79

New Products

4 DF May p4 5 6 News KJ MB.indd 2

JMilk production could fall by more than half a billion litres during the 2022/23 season, according to AHDB. It suggested GB production could drop by up to 605 million litres or 5.3% after looking at five scenarios of how uncertainty about price and changes to inputs and cashflows could impact milk production.

Patty Clayton, AHDB lead dairy analyst, said: “Access to key agricultural inputs and feed ingredients have been severely affected by the war in Ukraine, which is forcing decisions to limit production.”

AHDB’s analysis showed the potential range of the drop to be between 0.8% and 5.3%.

“The current uncertainty makes forecasting milk production for the upcoming season an even trickier task than normal, but we know it is going to be a tough year for farmers.

“Reviewing input costs, feed strategies and making the most of home-grown forage can all help,” Ms Clayton said, highlighting AHDB’s cost benefit calculator which could help farmers make decisions on when to apply fertiliser.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:18

NEWS Freshways Medina merger given green light

M&S has dropped the price of a four-pint semi-skimmed bottle of milk by 10p as part of a drive to deliver value to customers.

it seemed a ‘strange decision’ when the industry was facing unprecedented input cost increases.

“Each retailer looks at what the others are doing.

Once one had gone ahead with an increase, virtually all the others went too,” he said, highlighting there was a danger the price drop held back the pace

of upward movement for farmers.

He added there had been a lot of attention on their call for higher prices, but so far he had received no negative feedback from consumers, despite the squeeze on incomes.

It comes after analysis by Kite Consulting showed 50ppl might be necessary to turn around a decline in milk volumes.

Kite’s managing partner John Allen said fertiliser pricing and availability would also be a key factor, with farmers likely to cut back on use, potentially impacting forage quantity and quality this winter.

This would then mean farmers were likely to reduce cow numbers ‘especially as cull cow prices are generally high’.

JFrehsways and Medina Dairy were looking to become the leading liquid milk dairy supplying the middle ground and foodservice businesses after being given the green light from the Competition and Markets Authority for their merger.

The combined operation will produce in excess of 450 million litres of milk per year from its sites at Acton, in London, and Buckley’s, Huddersfield.

Further capacity will be added by the reopening of the Watson’s dairy site at Southampton.

Bali Nijjar, managing director of Freshways, said he was delighted the merger could finally be concluded after a difficult process and they looked forward to ‘integrating the two businesses fully’.

The companies expected the merger would be completed by early summer.

Dairy analyst Chris Walkland said it was a positive move and there was little doubt the merged company would become ‘king of the middle ground’.

He added while they would not be directly competing with Arla and Muller in that market, they would need to compete on milk price and customers who would not pay enough for them to pay the ‘going rate’ would not get milk.

MAY 2022 DF May p4 5 6 News KJ MB.indd 3

5 14/04/2022 16:18

NEWS

‘Agflation’ nears 30%

A

general inflation rate of 10% per annum now looks all but certain but it is dwarfed by ‘agflation’ which surged to nearly 30% in March 2022.

Farm business consultants Andersons made the estimate by basing it on Defra price indices for agricultural inputs, weighted for their overall value.

Michael Haverty, partner at the Andersons Centre, said: “While agflation surged to nearly 30% in March 2022 versus March 2021, it had been at 10% even before the invasion of Ukraine. Given recent developments, it is likely to remain high for the rest of 2022 at least.”

He added that rising costs will put severe pressure on working capital on farms as the level of cash needed to operate increases.

Fuel and fertiliser prices tend to grab the headlines, but animal feed makes up almost 25% of the index and is the largest input used by UK agriculture in terms of its value.

One of the most obvious effects of this massive dose of agflation is on the capital required to run farm businesses.

Andersons northern director

In the past, the cost of fertiliser has been recovered several times over by the additional yield generated, but at current prices, businesses will be forced to challenge these previous norms.

David Siddle said: “Price volatility and the risks of trading have gone up significantly, meaning accessing this extra funding, whether from additional bank lending or merchant credit, may not be straightforward.

“Merchants’ credit terms are being squeezed, meaning they in turn may be much more cautious in what they are willing to lend to farmers and under what terms.

“The phrase ‘cash is king’ should perhaps be at the forefront of minds at this time.

“In the ruminant livestock sector, feeding concentrates to compensate for poor management looks significantly more difficult to justify.”

In the dairy sector, high-input high-output systems, typically involving year-round calving, are seen as the being the most exposed to agflation. Forage-based, typically block-calving systems, are less exposed.

In the intensive livestock sector, efficiency of feed use is even more important, being the major cost

in these systems. If UK production levels are to be maintained, increasing levels of vertical integration appears essential.

The UK currently uses about 1.5m tonnes of chemical fertiliser per year, about 1m of which is nitrogen.

Mr Siddle said: “For decades, the cost of such fertilisers has been recovered several times over by the additional yield generated but at current prices, businesses will be forced to challenge these previous norms.”

solution, when farmers are feeling the pinch now.

In fact, a member survey carried out by the Tenant Farmers Association found about half of producers were ‘significantly short’ of the fertiliser they need for the current season and were concerned about being able to secure enough for the next.

The group’s chief executive George Dunn has said he is particularly concerned about the impact this could have on the dairy sector and is predicting future

supplies will tighten without any further intervention.

That’s why it is good news Defra has agreed to set up a fertiliser roundtable to identify solutions to the problem.

There is no easy fix, but this group needs to identify new ways to support the industry quickly before it is too late.

This month’s political round-up JHow much are you paying for fertiliser? And do you have enough?

These are just two of the questions which are keeping many dairy farmers awake at night right now, writes Abi Kay, with prices going up by almost 200% in a year.

Steps are being taken across the country to mitigate the worst impacts, and the UK Government recently announced a package of measures to help farmers battling high costs.

But this move by Ministers

6 DF May p4 5 6 News KJ MB.indd 4

has been criticised by some as inadequate.

The reversal of a planned ban on urea, with ammonia inhibitors now allowed within an accreditation scheme audited by Red Tractor, has been controversial in some quarters, though has softened the blow of losing the product altogether.

New slurry storage grants will also be offered this year to allow farmers to store more organic nutrients and reduce dependence on artificial fertilisers.

But this is a longer term

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:19

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12/04/2022 08/02/2022 15:55 15:16

Wallace Gregg

DAIRY Talk

Wallace Gregg runs the family farm in mid-Antrim, near Ballymena, Northern Ireland, where he milks 180 pedigree Holsteins under the Frocess prefix and sells his milk to Dale Farm Co-op. Wallace is actively involved with Holstein UK, representing Northern Ireland at local and national level.

“

On our farm, we are going to try and batten down the hatches by not buying anything unless it is essential

8

A

fter a very wet February we have had a nice dry March, which allowed us to get all our slurry out onto our silage ground and also a lot of grazing land.

We have sown 60 units of 40% nitrogen and 12% sulphur urea to the silage and the plan is to graze the first round and sow fertiliser after the cows.

Turnout for the cows by day was on March 29 and, depending on the weather, they would usually go out at night by the third week of April.

At this time of year, you never seem to have enough hours in the day as the full winter routine of feeding, bedding and milking is still going on, as well as trying to start tasks such as spring fieldwork and fencing.

For the past couple of years, we have hired a contractor to spread our fertiliser for our silage and bought it in a bulk trailer from the merchant.

In a normal year, the savings from buying it bulk paid for the sowing, not to mention the improved accuracy from his sat nav, weigh cells and auto band width adjustment.

However, as all farmers know, we are not in a normal year and I was happy just to get enough fertiliser when I needed it, but more on this later.

Our herd is all pedigree Holsteins apart from two Jerseys (a milking heifer and her calf) which are owned by my 10-year-old son, Simon, and

he was very excited as the heifer was expecting her second calf.

I had warned him that although nine months ago I had served her with sexed Jersey semen, I did see her acting suspiciously with the Holstein bull a couple of days later and yes, you guessed it, we got a lovely cross-bred bull calf. Needless to say I did not win the best dad award that day.

The three Fs of feed, fuel and fertiliser are all at the forefront of farmers minds at the moment as we are looking at huge increases in all our variable costs, coupled with labour availability, Brexit, Covid-19 and supply chain issues.

On our farm, we are going to try and batten down the hatches by not buying anything unless it is essential, trying to make good forage and enough of it and monitoring feed rates carefully over summer. To try and lower our fertiliser bill, we will probably run less stock than last year.

Front up One thing I am certain of is the milk buyers, processors and retailers have to realise that if they want British milk to keep flowing, they are going to have to front up and pay a price which reflects the true costs of producing a litre of milk.

Gone are the times when dairy farmers will produce milk cheaply and, unless there is a massive increase to the mid-40s and beyond, there are no positive drivers for dairy farmers to increase production.

MAY 2022

DF May p8 Dairy Talk Wallace Gregg KJ MB.indd 2

14/04/2022 10:03

DAIRY TALK

Claire Eastham Claire Eastham farms with her husband Martyn in Dorset, where they milk 120-spring calving cows. After gaining knowledge and experience working for other businesses, the couple started their own dairy farming journey in 2015 by taking on a share farming agreement before progressing to their current county council farm.

“

We are entering a new agricultural revolution and I think we can all be positive about what this will bring

C

alving is going well and at the time of writing we are currently in a very slow (and boring) week eight of our block.

We managed to calve 66% in the first three weeks, so 99 cows and 78% by week six. We are really pleased with these results and they give us a great basis to work forward from this year.

The vet hasn’t been out once and only one milk fever so far.

After starting with a February 7 calving date this year, we would like to move to February 12 for next year and so should be able to tighten to a nine-week block.

Calf income is back, with prices about 50% of those achieved last year as calf rearers weigh up the costs of rearing with dramatic increases in milk powder. Beef could be short in 18-20 months’ time.

Once again pre-service we have done our quarterly milk recording in time for serving and the Johne’s disease results are back. We have two ‘orange’ cows [following the traffic light system] and these will not be served this year and will be culled out of the herd after this season’s milking.

Culling regime We have been very rigorous with our culling regime and I hope within the next two years we could be Johne’s free and go back to feeding our heifer calves whole milk. This should also aid our somatic cell count, lameness and fertility rates as Johne’s has been shown to have a negative effect upon all.

Pre-service we will also test the semen that is in our tank and the two Hereford sweeper bulls to make sure all bases are covered.

After what seemed like such a long winter following a wet October, the cows finally went out on the March 15 and we are 70% through our first round at the time of writing.

Two days ago, we had the umbilical system in to cover this grazed off ground and we hope to make the most of the slurry by operating a small and often system this year, working with a local contractor.

We are just in the process of applying again to

renew our Countryside Stewardship scheme on the home acres to start a new agreement in January 2023. We are hoping to utilise many more options as well as some further capital works, focused on hedge regeneration this time around.

I would really encourage all farmers to look into some of this funding for the next five years to buffer the loss of the Basic Payment Scheme which may start to be felt this December when cheques are reduced by 20% and then 50% by 2024.

We also hope to shortly undertake our carbon footprint assessment and look to lower this year-on-year.

Agricultural inflation With the current agricultural inflation, I do think this is an opportunity for farmers to be innovative, adaptable and change their systems to be as self-sufficient and resilient as possible.

It has been shown that those systems with a lower carbon footprint are more profitable as it all feeds back to simple efficiency.

We are entering a new agricultural revolution and I think we can all be positive about what this will bring both for our industry and the environment; land sharing, not land sparing.

MAY 2022 DF May p9 Dairy Talk Eastham KJ MB.indd 2

9 14/04/2022 10:04

ON FARM

Production success for Mearfield Holsteins

M

earfield Holsteins is the only herd in the country to achieve a top five position in NMR’s 2021 national herd performance for both genetic and production performance.

In fact, Peter and Sheila Cox’s herd of 150 milking cows and 95 followers scored the second highest rating in the genetic order with a profitable lifetime index (PLI) of £343 for cows and £370 heifers.

And the herd’s national production performance improved by 14 placings to level at fifth – the highest in Cornwall – with cows averaging

12,333 litres/year at 4.2% butterfat and 3.45% protein.

Peter, who is the fourth generation to milk at Mearfield, just outside Stoke Climsland, near Callington, Cornwall, credits genomic testing for the herd’s continuing impressive performance.

Peter says: “Dad was always very focused on breeding, which has given us a head start. We have been a closed herd for years now, with the herd comprising six family names, of which Botercura is predominant.

“Twenty years ago we were early adopters of genomic sires. But we have seen significant improvement

Peter and Sheila Cox

10 DF May p10 11 12 On Farm KJ MB.indd 2

PICTURES: FARLAP

The Cox family’s focus on genomics and genomic testing has resulted in an ‘impressive performance’ in NMR’s latest annual production report. Rebecca Jordan reports.

in herd production, health and fertility since we started genomically testing cows.

“We started testing eight years ago, then decided to do a whole-herd genetic profile. There has certainly been a return on the £30/head investment.

“When calves are tagged, DNA tissue is collected and sent off.

“Genomic analysis allows us to understand the future potential specific to each calf; how successful and profitable she will be.

“There is a proven 67% accuracy, which means we select the best at a very early age and only breed from them. It has been proven that those

with an index in the top 25% produce 9,000 litres more milk in their lifetime as compared with those in the bottom 25%.”

There have been increasingly significant improvements in the herd’s associated dairy wellness profit (DWP) selection index. Just 3% of dairy herds utilise this tool to average £200/cow/lifetime.

Mearfield recorded £505/cow in 2020, £587/cow in 2021 and a November 2020-born heifer is rated at £968/cow this year.

Weightings within the DWP index are based on 36% production, 23% cow wellness traits, 13% longevity, milk quality and calving, 12% fertility, 10% functional type and 6% calf wellness.

These cover susceptibility to traits such as haplotypes, mastitis, ketosis, calf scour, twins and ovary cysts.

Sexed semen is used on 60% of the herd and the remainder to a British Blue, with calves sold at market when two weeks old.

Holstein sires currently favoured include Genosource Captain, Delicious Charl Hardball, STgen Betterment and Nortonhill R2D2.

“These are all PLI bulls high in fat and protein, which also lend themselves to robotic milking in terms of teat length and position,” explains Peter, who introduced

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:05

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First Cut Silage

- time to evaluate

JOHN SPENCE Limagrain UK Forage Crops Manager

Heifers will be served at 14 to 15 months old.

two robots 11 years ago when cows were averaging 10,000 litres. A third has now been added to the system.

Peter equally credits the robots for the herd’s improvement in health and performance.

He says: “If you drive a racing car, you must treat it as such. It is the same with these high performance cows. Cows genetically bred to give so much milk should not be expected to carry around that weight in their udder and be milked just twice a day.

“She needs to have that milk taken off regularly if she is to retain a healthy udder and good feet and legs. Only then can she achieve longevity.”

Peter’s Delaval robots use an on-farm lab called Herd Navigator to take milk samples automatically to monitor herd fertility through progesterone testing, as well as health issues, such as ketosis, mastitis and feed efficiency linking into Uniform Agri software.

Progesterone levels are monitored to show all heats and pregnancy detection, which has allowed the calving index to extend to between 385 and 390 days to maximise yield.

These high yielding cows still give between 35 and 40 litres/day towards the end of their lactation, but by serving them 65 days post-calving – rather than on that first heat – yield can be maximised at the expense (in a

lifetime’s production) of just half a calf.

Heifers are brought in for service at 14-15 months old so they calve down at 23-24 months old. The service to conception ratio is 1.8. They mix with dry cows about five weeks prior to calving to settle them within the herd.

Straw is used for bedding in the calving pens and for youngstock.

In cubicles, however, cows are bedded on recycled paper.

Alkaline Peter says: “It is great because it absorbs the wet really well, goes further at £95/tonne and is alkaline.

That and the high absorbency helps keep mastitis in check and the pH means we never need to spread lime on the ground.

“For the past 20 years, we have also used a hydramix lime in the cubicles to avoid problems with E.coli, mastitis and digital dermatitis.”

All calvings (year round) are managed through temperature-regulated inter-vaginal calving detectors, which cost £85 each. There are also cameras in the calving boxes.

Every 12 hours, Peter receives a list of all cows using the sensors.

A warning highlights raised temperature: an indication the cow is 48 hours from calving.

She then moves to an individual calving box. A marked drop in

MAY 2022 DF May p10 11 12 On Farm KJ MB.indd 3

11

With first cut getting closer many will be looking at yields and quality to see if they’re up to scratch - and asking, if not, why not?

A good first silage cut taken in the first two weeks of May from a high yielding conservation ley should yield six tonnes of dry matter per hectare with a dry matter content of 20-22%, and a ME of 11.0. If you’re not achieving this, then it might be time to think about a reseed.

Benfits of Reseeding The benefits of reseeding are multiple;

•

Higher quality home grown forage

• •

Increased forage yields Reduced bought in feeds

• • •

Extended growing season Increased drought tolerance More efficient use of fertilisers, especially Nitrogen

New leys with a high Perennial Ryegrass content show a much greater response to applied Nitrogen. The increase in yield of weed grasses such as Yorkshire Fog, Creeping Bent and Rough Stalked Meadow Grass have been shown to be as little as 20% of that of perennial ryegrass when rates increase from 60kg N/Ha to 185kg N/Ha.

Value-added Silage Swards Limagrain UK’s recent trial results showed the added value of using a proven grass seed mixture. If high conservation yields are the aim, then short-term silage mixtures can provide the answer.

The LG Monarch Quality Silage mixture outperformed all other mixtures with a dry matter yield 10% higher than the equivalent short-term control mixture, and 27% higher than a long-term control mixture in year one.

If maximising forage quality is your aim, improving ME and digestible fibres (dNDF), then a medium-term mixture is a good option such as LG Monarch – Silage and Grazing seeds mixture.

Free Growers Guide, visit

www.lgseeds.co.uk/monarch 14/04/2022 10:07

ON FARM temperature signals the sensor has been ejected with the water bag.

Calves receive as much colostrum as they will take. Its quality is monitored using a refractometer. They stay on the cow for up to five days and are issued with a jacket if born in winter.

They then feed off a Deleval robotic calf milk machine at a rate of 1.1kg/day of milk powder. They are automatically weaned at nine weeks old, by which time they are taking 2kg/day of an 18% protein rearing nut, which is medicated against coccidiosis.

Peter says: “It is a great system which ensures calves feed little and often, which is much more natural and therefore healthier.”

Calves are vaccinated against pneumonia, BVD, leptospirosis, IBR and lungworm. At turnout they are rotated around the grazing ground in groups of 20 and offered 1/kg/ head/day of a 16% protein feed.

Between 45 and 50 are sold each year – anything from four months to 18 months old. The rest, postcalving, join the herd and are fed a 17% protein nut to yield when milked by the robot.

The ration is based on maintenance plus 31 litres, topped up to yield to 10.5kg/day. The ration comprises grass silage, maize silage, rumen protected protein, sugar beet, lucerne, molasses, yeast and bespoke minerals.

During summer, mid- to late lactation cows are grazed. Post-milking, an automatic shedding gate allows them access to pasture.

Peter says: “Early-lactation cows remain inside until about 100 days. Up until that point, we want to maximise feed intake and therefore yield.”

High forage quality is a very

Calves are genomic tested to establish their individual future potential.

Maize silage To maximise milk from forage, maize silage is essential to the ration.

Up to 18ha (45 acres) are therefore tilled every year. And for nine years, 6ha (15 acres) of lucerne has also been included in the diet to improve rumen functionality.

“Soil health is essential for quality forage,” says Peter, who regularly soil tests, uses an aerator and analyses slurry.

At the end of April, 49ha (120 acres) yield 17t/ha (7t/acre) for the silage clamp. The same acreage is cut again at the end of May for 22t/ha (9t/acre) with a further

32ha (80 acres) harvested early July for between 17t/ha and 20t/ha (7t/acre and 8t/acre). Fourth cut is generally baled for youngstock.

Normally, Peter would buy-in 40t of artificial each year. Last autumn he heeded his supplier’s suggestion to buy early and managed to secure all his needs at £360/t.

In previous years, the same product has traded at £280/t. Today, if available, it is £890/t.

Peter says: “But the real trouble is going to be next season. Trading up to April 2022 will look fairly good because the milk price has been rising, but already over the last six months, feed, fuel and fertiliser costs are sky high, with many forecasting cost of production heading north of 40ppl.”

Peter continues to look at ways to improve and limit the impact of rising costs. With feed the largest variable cost of production, Peter is exploring the potential of improving

index increased from £505/cow/lifetime in 2020 to £587/cow/lifetime in 2021 then £968/cow/lifetime in 2022 rFirst place NMR 2021 county production order herd performance rSecond place NMR 2021

national genetic order herd performance rFifth place NMR 2021 national production order herd performance (19th in 2020) rProfitable lifetime index of £343 for cows and £370 for heifers

important foundation to the ration.

Silage ground is two- to six-year-old high sugar leys, with an inclusion of festuloliums. Silage generally analyses at 12MJ/kg dry matter, a D-value of 72 and dry matter between 28% and 32%.

Farm facts r75 hectares (185 acres) owned and 32ha (80 acres) rented r150 milking cows plus 95 followers rYield averages 12,300 litres/ year with 967kg fat and protein rDairy wellness profit selection

12 DF May p10 11 12 On Farm KJ MB.indd 4

feed efficiency and the farm’s carbon footprint.

He says: “Self-sufficiency is an area of increasing concern. We have our own water supply and some solar panels. I would like to put up some more, but we are limited by the size of the incoming electrical infrastructure, so would like to see a huge improvement in battery storage.”

Mearfield is a very early dry farm on medium loam. Peter is keen to maximise efficiency of analysed slurry and has recently adopted a dribble bar onto his tanker.

Concerned He is highly concerned, like many, about proposed new environmental regulations. The main concern is restrictions on spreading during early spring which currently enables very early grass growth allowing for first cut to be taken at the end of April.

Peter says: “Stoke Climsland is Cornwall’s second biggest parish which now has five dairy farmers, which is half of what it had 30 years ago.

“Dairy farming, like many sectors of agriculture, is in unchartered territory with massive cost pressures caused by everything going on in the world. Prices paid to farmers need to be realistic to allow them to remain in business and avoid potential food shortages in the future.”

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:07

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DF_05_P13.indd 1

12/04/2022 15:59

DAIRY Matters ‘It is clear we risk a crisis of confidence across agriculture, not just in dairy’ Michael Oakes is the NFU dairy board chair, a position he has held since 2016.

He is a tenant dairy farmer based just outside Birmingham, milking a herd of 180 pedigree Holstein cows with milk sold to Arla.

A

ll the conversations I had at the recent Dairy-Tech event were about how the farming industry continues to face uncertain times and unprecedented inflationary pressure, with the price of energy and feed costs through the roof, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this dreadful conflict – it is devastating to see a country which helps to feed so many people across the globe affected like it is.

For us in the UK dairy sector, rapid inflation of input costs, with fertiliser prices rising four-fold, animal feed rising by 70% and fuel costs continuing to soar, means that for most dairy producers, the cost of production is much higher than the price they are currently receiving for their milk.

I was asked to explain the current situation

Michael Oakes

14

on Radio 4’s Today programme and told presenter Martha Kearney that retailers are stepping up because volumes are dropping and farmers are having to make tough decisions in the way they feed their cows.

Decisions For myself on my farm near Birmingham, I am having to make tough decisions over whether I buy fertiliser, now that the price has gone up more than 200%, by borrowing money or I get out of dairy. I know that many dairy farmers are in the difficult situation I find myself in.

We have seen Muller and Arla making public statements saying unless retailers step up there is going to be a shortage of milk. None of us want to see that.

If you’re a processor supplying a retailer in the UK and you have an option to actually get a fairer return back to your supplier in order to keep them in business, you may have to send the milk elsewhere.

As we know, we’re all price takers in this industry and it’s absolutely essential that farmers are not the ones left to bear the brunt of this significant inflationary pressure.

While I recognise that there are challenges for all businesses in the food supply chain, there needs to be fairness across the chain in managing these inflationary pressures and ensuring farmers are supported through this difficult time.

In the short-term, it’s good news that the Government has set up a market monitoring core group to analyse market trends and better understand farmers intentions. This is something the NFU asked for, with the intention of identifying problems and implementing solutions before there is market failure.

Let’s hope this group will allow the Government to understand the pressure farmers are facing

MAY 2022

DF May p14 15 Dairy Matters KJ MB.indd 2

14/04/2022 16:20

In the long-term, food security needs to be prioritised by the Government and there needs to be a real focus on domestic food production, says Michael Oakes.

“

We need Ministers and industry to stand shoulder to shoulder in ensuring sustainability for the future

and put in place solutions which give farmers the confidence to invest in production. The recent announcement on Farming Rules for Water and urea fertiliser will go some way to help that.

In the long-term, food security needs to be prioritised by the Government and we need to see a real focus on domestic food production.

In the dairy sector, we know there is a lot of untapped potential out there and we can grow even more, supplying the public who we know hugely value the high-quality, sustainable dairy products farmers produce.

As we continue to face volatility in our businesses, we need to build resilience and one way of doing that is opening up new markets abroad, in addition to supplying the home market. We want to grow our exports by continuing to drive forward our Dairy Export Strategy and fly the flag for British dairy across the world. Investment will be absolutely crucial to achieve this by driving innovation and resilience in the sector.

If we are going to achieve this future, ultimately

dairy farmers need to make it through this extremely challenging period. We all expect that costs will continue to rise and it is clear we risk a crisis of confidence across agriculture, not just in dairy.

We need the Government and the supply chain to properly understand the inflationary pressures farmers are facing so they can put in place measures which inspire confidence among farmers and ensure production continues to flow.

Bright future The intertwined nature of our sector means no policy can be developed in isolation, so we will continue to work with farmers, processors and retailers to achieve a bright future for the industry.

We need Ministers and industry to stand shoulder to shoulder in ensuring sustainability for the future, enabling us to achieve our goals and continue to provide nutritious and high-quality dairy products for all.

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MAY 2022 DF May p14 15 Dairy Matters KJ MB.indd 3

15 14/04/2022 16:20

VET’S VIEW Higher milk yields have led to a gradual increase in twin pregnancies among UK dairy herds. Andy Hayton, of Sandstone Vets Group, explains the associated risks and how twin pregnancies can be managed for better results post-calving. Katie Fallon reports.

Managing twin pregnancies

I

ncreased milk production and double ovulation rates have led to a significant increase in twin pregnancies over the last 40 years, says vet Andy Hayton, of Sandstone Vets Group.

There are several risk factors involved, explains Mr Hayton, including genetics, season and parity, but ovulation rate and milk production are proven to be the most influential.

He says: “Generally, twinning rates in high yielding cows were between 1% and 2% in the 1980s, whereas they will average 4-6% now. Increased milk yields are having the biggest influence.”

Higher milk yields require higher feed intakes and, as cows are eating more, their metabolism increases, meaning they will also metabolise hormones quicker. As a result,

progesterone levels are reduced, which presents a higher risk of double ovulation causing twin pregnancies, says Mr Hayton.

He explains 95% of twin pregnancies in dairy cows are dizygotic, meaning they are produced through double ovulation. Therefore, only 5% of twin pregnancies are a result of one egg splitting into two.

Mr Hayton says: “Twin pregnancies can lead to increased risk of dystocia, retained fetal membranes, calf mortality, reduced birth weight and metabolic disorders, particularly ketosis.”

Many of these have a knock-on effect on the cow’s lactation, increasing the calving to conception interval and resulting in an increased culling rate, he adds.

He says: “The most significant risk with twin pregnancies

Most cows carrying twins will probably calve one to two weeks early ANDY HAYTON

16 DF May p16 17 Vet's View KJ MB.indd 2

which clients mention the most is retained cleansings, with subsequent metritis.”

This can also lead to reduced dry matter intakes increasing the risk of displaced abomasums.

“Cows with twins will definitely be more difficult to get back in-calf, largely due to the retained foetal membrane and metritis,” he adds.

Mr Hayton believes identifying twin pregnancies is becoming more important as the rates increase and recommends identifying twins to successfully manage cows throughout the dry period.

Ultrasound He explains ultrasound scanning at 35 to 60 days is the optimum time to identify twin pregnancies.

He says: “If farms are getting a twinning rate above 2-3%, with the associated problems, looking for twins when scanning is likely to be worthwhile.”

When identifying twins, there is an option to terminate the pregnancy to avoid the associated risks, however, Mr Hayton generally advises against termination as twinning can be repeatable and the cost of increasing the calving interval would often be higher than the cost of twins.

He says: “If a cow has twins once, she is more likely to have twins again, and therefore we could lose a lot of days on a

Identifying twin pregnancies is becoming more important as the rates increase.

cow which is very costly in itself and she could conceive twins again a few weeks later.”

Unilateral twins (both foetuses in one horn) pose a much higher risk of complications than bilateral, says Mr Hayton.

Therefore, cows identified with bilateral twins could be allowed to continue gestation, whereas manual reduction could be attempted for cows identified as carrying unilateral twins.

A practice which is commonly used to manage twin pregnancies in horses, manual reduction could potentially be attempted on dairy cows, explains Mr Hayton.

The practice would ideally eliminate one embryo, while allowing the pregnancy of the remaining embryo to continue.

While it is currently rarely practiced in the dairy industry, Mr Hayton says as twinning rates increase, manual reduction may become more significant and widely practiced in the future.

Twins have generally been regarded as an unfortunate occurrence and accepted as a cost of having dairy cows, says Mr Hayton. But as the rate increases, he believes farms are

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:09

VET’S VIEW

going to have to pay more attention to identifying twin cows and consider how they are going to manage them.

Cows carrying twins will need to be supported better nutritionally throughout late gestation, says Mr Hayton, as

their energy demands will increase.

He says: “Most cows carrying twins will probably calve one to two weeks early, therefore they

should be dried off two to three weeks earlier to ensure a long enough dry period and good nutritional status.”

He also advises moving these cows onto a transition diet earlier than their calving date would suggest.

When looking to manage the associated risks with twin pregnancies, Mr Hayton recommends using intraruminal boluses to reduce ketosis as an effective way of reducing the risk of some associated problems.

He says: “They improve the energy status of cows in late gestation and the early stages of lactation to reduce the risk of ketosis and are recommended for targeted use on cows with twins.”

Mr Hayton also advises increased attention at calving and suggests intervening earlier than usual if required to make sure calves are presented properly.

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17 14/04/2022 10:09

BREEDING BULL PROOFS April’s bull proofs see familiar names in both the genomic and proven rankings. Katie Jones reports.

Captain regains position with top enviro-credentials

Y

oung sire Genosource Captain regains its leading position in the Holstein breed’s genomic rankings, published

by AHDB Dairy.

Reclaiming the position it held through 2020 and for most of 2021, it now has a Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) of £950 and outstanding environmental credentials, including the highest Feed Advantage (FAdv) of the top 20 sires.

Its FAdv of 264 means its daughters are predicted to consume 264kg less dry matter in each lactation than those giving comparable production, but sired by an average FAdv bull.

Feed efficiency As the dairy industry steps up its drive for feed efficiency, this score takes on an added importance and is now, for the first time, included in the calculation of £PLI. Other attributes Captain passes to its daughters include high milk production, good fertility and a degree

Today, some 70% of dairy semen sold in the UK is from young genomic sires MARCO WINTERS

of resistance to digital dermatitis. A score of 0.7% for this trait means they will, on average, have a 0.7% lower incidence of digital dermatitis than those by an average (0%) digital dermatitis index sire.

This health trait has also been added to £PLI for the first time this month, as understanding of its inheritance improves and the drive for better animal health and welfare also steps up a gear.

Climbing into second position is Denovo 3709 Charter, with a £PLI of £928. An early son of Denovo 15953 Chalet, Charter transmits high fat and

Holstein bulls with genomic indexes ranked on £PLI

1 2 3 4 5

Genosource Captain £950 Denovo 3709 Charter £928 Progenesis Raptors £916 Winstar Greycup £903 Peak Breaking News £902

18 DF May p18 20 Breeding KJ MB.indd 2

6 7 8 9 10

Denovo 17626 Benefit £901 Peak AltaAlanzo £899 Cogent Koepon Rocky £894 Winstar Graziano £888 Siemers Brave £886

Genosource Captain is the top genomic Holstein bull by £PLI ranking.

has a good prediction for calf survival at +2.5.

A new entrant since the December genetic evaluations is Progenesis Raptors, whose £PLI of £916 earns it third position.

A son of AltaPlinko, it stands out for a favourable Maintenance Index of -22.

Winstar Greycup retains its place in the top five, now with a £PLI of £903, and is closely followed by the former number one sire, Peak Breaking News. This bull has the best udder health credentials in the top 20.

Methodology Marco Winters, AHDB head of animal genetics, says: “Genomic indexes have been calculated in the UK

by AHDB for 10 years now, so the methodology is truly tried and tested.

“The fact these young

bulls go on to do consistently well once they have daughters milking is testament to the genomic technology in which farmers have put their faith.

Sales “Today, some 70% of dairy semen sold in the UK is from young genomic sires.

“These are sires which, as a group, offer the highest genetic potential and have the scope to generate significant genetic improvement within any herd.

“However, young sires should always be used with an understanding of their risk and reward.

“This means, ideally, using them as a team, checking bloodlines for their relationship to cows in your herd and selecting them for the strengths they will transmit to meet your particular needs.”

Continues over the page...

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:22

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DF_05_P19.indd 1

12/04/2022 15:56

BREEDING BULL PROOFS

Daughter-proven sire follows genomic breeding pattern

A

former number one genomic sire has become the leading daughter-proven sire in the AHDB Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) rankings.

With a £PLI of £777, Denovo 14566 Crosby takes pole position with an exceptional Calf Survival Index of +6%, great udder health indexes and solid Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for production.

In second position is a former number one proven sire, Westcoast Yamaska, whose outstanding protein PTAs (35.1kg, +0.18%), high fat (+0.23%) and good daughter Fertility Index (+9.1) help earn it a £PLI of £761. Yamaska now has 887 UK milking daughters contributing to its figures.

A new entry in third position

JThere is a little more movement than usual in the AHDB ranking for Spring Calving Index (£SCI) bulls, in part because of a slightly increased penalty against heavy cows in grazing-based systems in the newly adjusted £SCI. This has helped bring Danish

Daughter-proven Holstein bulls ranked on £PLI

Rubicon Bubblebath is the dam of Denovo 14566 Crosby.

is Bomaz Montreal (£PLI £747), the highest fat transmitter in the ranking at 54.7kg and +0.36%.

Climbing into fourth position is S-S-I PR Renegade (£PLI £729), with a high daughter Fertility Index of +11.1, and 32.8kg PTA fat.

Jersey bull VJ Ravninggaard Huus Hamlet to the fore as the new number one sire, with an £SCI of £537. This move reflects its daughters’ predicted milk quality, fertility

Top five bulls ranked on £ACI

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5

VJ Ravninggaard Huus Hamlet (Jersey) £537 Progenesis Unicorn (Holstein) £534 VH Balisto Brixton (Holstein) £528 Westcoast Yamaska (Holstein) £526 Danish VJ Zummit (Jersey) £525

DF May p18 20 Breeding KJ MB.indd 4

Denovo 14566 Crosby £777 Westcoast Yamaska £761 Bomaz Montreal £747 S-S-I PR Renegade £729 Pine-Tree-I Pursuit £711 ABS Zebedee £709 Denovo 8084 Entity £709 ABS Crimson £705 Stowey Magician £705 Melarry Frazz Arrowhead £693

New Jersey tops SCI ranking

Top five bulls ranked on £SCI

20

Pine-Tree-I Pursuit moves up to fifth position, featuring high daughter lifespan (LS +162 days), a good HealthyCow Index of 247 and the highest Type Merit in the top 20 at +2.06.

1 2 3 4 5 6= 6= 8 8 10

Westcoast Yamaska (Holstein) £635 Progenesis Unicorn (Holstein) £627 Melarry Frazz Arrowhead (Holstein) £626 Stowey Magician (Holstein) £610 De-Su 14118 Reginald (Holstein) £604

and lifespan, as well as their smaller size and lower maintenance costs.

Hamlet has risen through the rankings from 14th place in the last proof run and now stands ahead of the former number one sire, Progenesis Unicorn.

It is little surprise to see some similar names in the Autumn Calving Index (£ACI) ranking, although the Holsteins take over the running.

Ranked on a genetic index designed to breed the most profitable daughters for block

calving in a largely winter milk production system, the number one place goes to high production sire Westcoast Yamaska.

Standing ahead With an £ACI of £635, it stands ahead of cell count improvers Progenesis Unicorn (£ACI £627) and Melarry Frazz Arrowhead (£ACI £626) and daughter fertility improvers, Stowey Magician (£ACI £610) and De-Su 14118 Reginald (£ACI £604).

For indexes for Jersey, Ayrshire, Friesian, Montbeliarde, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Shorthorn and Fleckvieh, visit ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/dairy-breeding-and-genetics

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:22

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12/04/2022 10:19 15:58 02/03/2022

NET ZERO A report published by the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock is believed to be the first of

its k

‘One-size-fits-all plan will not w

G

reenhouse gas emissions could be reduced from the main livestock types by 23% and ammonia emissions by 15% if widescale and highly effective adaptions are implemented across UK farms, according to a report published by the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL).

Phil Bicknell, of CIEL, says the report, ‘Net zero and livestock: How farmers can reduce emissions’, covers a range of scenarios in real-life case studies across dairy, beef, sheep, pig and poultry farms.

He says: “It offers realistic options which focus on real-life challenges for both farmers and the supply chain.

“UK farmers are businesses working with different systems and challenges all on different geographies. A one-size-fits-all plan will not work for the UK dairy industry, as every farm is different.”

Dr Mark Young, head of innovation at CIEL, says the report is a follow-on from CIEL’s report published in 2020, entitled ‘Net zero carbon and UK livestock’.

Dr Young says: “The 2020 report established benchmarks for a range of farming systems across the main livestock types in the UK. It also assumed agriculture’s target of a 64% reduction in emissions by 2050 applies to livestock agriculture.”

The newly released report goes a step further to look at a wide range of mitigation options which can help reduce emissions at farm level.

The report aims to provide farmers, advisers, supply chain partners and policymakers with the information to support evidence-based decision-making when it comes to farming in a net zero world.

Dr Young says there are many positives to take from the findings.

However, the report reiterates the significant change required if the UK’s livestock industry is to achieve its net zero target for 2050.

Improvement He says: “The need for improvement in herd or flock production efficiency should be the focus for most farmers in the drive to reduce their carbon footprint and this report highlights that need.

“Increasing productivity per animal while reducing input costs and maintaining overall productivity at the same level is something we can do right now.

“Farmers can focus on aspects such as age at which females first breed and their longevity and rate of milk production.

Dr Young adds the report highlights the importance of new technologies and wide-scale adoption to reduce emissions further.

He says: “The use of rumen

methane inhibitors was one mitigation strategy modelled on farms and detailed in the report.

The assumed efficacy of this technology could be considered high and therefore work is ongoing to help bring these technologies to market and develop delivery mechanisms which are better suited to grazing systems and less dependent on concentrate feeding.”

Although the report delivers positive, practical solutions for the industry, Lyndsay Chapman, chief executive of CIEL, says it also highlights that change on-farm requires collective effort.

She says: “All those within the supply chains must work together to reduce emissions while still producing the nutritious, safe food the UK needs.

“Farmers cannot and should not be expected to deliver this on their own. This report reconfirms that we could deliver a large reduction in greenhouse gases to significantly contribute to the goal of net zero carbon by 2050, but even that requires universal adoption of the various known mitigations across all livestock farms in the UK; something we are not currently achieving.”

The report includes on-farm models of the impact of mitigations on UK farms, all assessing feed, forage, animals, manure and fertiliser.

Mitigations identified within

dairy systems as having the highest potential impact included use of methane inhibitors to reduce the methane produced from the digestion process, improved sward productivity, improved herd efficiency resulting in fewer animals needed to produce a similar output and slurry and fertiliser management.

Mr Bicknell adds there is also a ‘large opportunity’ for carbon sequestration.

However, he says: “There is a gap of knowledge and verification is needed to ensure reliability.”

CIEL’s findings for the ‘way forward’ rFocus on efficiency: Adopt mitigations which also increase profit rNew technologies: Exploit as they become available rFarm carbon calculators: These are essential rCollaboration across sector: Delivering change requires a collective effort Phil Bicknell

24 DF May p24 25 Net Zero KJ MB.indd 2

Dr Mark Young

Lyndsay Chapman

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:11

st of

NET ZERO its kind to model and collate data at scale on how net zero can be achieved. Ellie Layton reports.

ot work for the UK dairy industry’

The report reiterates the significant change required if the UK’s livestock industry is to achieve its net zero target for 2050.

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25 14/04/2022 10:12

WORLD DAIRYING NEW ZEALAND

Using social media to ra public awareness of fa rm For share farming couple Vanessa and Bart van de Ven, public perception of dairy farming in New Zealand is cause for concern. Chris McCullough finds out what they are doing to counter the negativity.

A

couple milking cows in New Zealand share aspects of their daily lives on social media to engage the public and increase awareness of how milk is produced.

Vanessa and Bart van de Ven, both in their mid-30s, milk a herd of Jersey cows in Waikato District, North Island, and have two daughters Taylor, six and Britta, nine.

After meeting at a young farmers club, the duo gained experience milking cows on both islands before getting married and settling down.

Today, Vanessa and Bart milk just over 200 cows on a sharemilker basis with the farm owners and are very keen to raise the profile on where milk comes from.

The couple also aim to share their farming journey via social media.

Vanessa says: “I found that the public’s perception of the dairy industry is a huge issue. So we share our farming lives via social media to try and show the good, the bad, the happy and the sad times, to give the public a real feel for what it is like to live, work and be on a dairy farm.

“Twitter has been a great tool for this and it has also meant we have met a lot of great people from all walks of life.”

Spring calving Vanessa explains the farm is located in Springdale, just 10 minutes from Te Aroha in the province Waikato.

It is a 65-hectare (160-acre) spring calving system farm and they took over the running of the farm from owners Richard and Lynda Lovelock who milked cows at the unit for the past 25 years.

Vanessa says: “The New Zea-

Vanessa and Bart milk more than 200 Jersey cows in a share farming agreement.

26

Vanessa van de Ven

land dairy season runs from June 1 until May 31 and this is our first season here. We are 50:50 sharemilkers and run the dayto-day tasks receiving half of the milk cheque.

“We run 215 cows in two herds; first calvers on once-a-day milking and the rest on twice a day milking until Christmas when summer starts. Then the

two herds join and are milked once a day until the season ends.”

The herd averages 3,340 litres per cow with a 5.71% butterfat and 4.27% protein, doing 333kg of milk solids per cow or 1,044kg milk solids per hectare.

The cows are outside 365 days of the year grazing pasture.

The system implements a 9.5 week mating plan consisting of four weeks of AI breeding, followed by four weeks of natural mating when Jersey bulls go into the herd, finishing up with 10 days of short gestation AI equating. This results in an 8.5 week calving period.

The farm grows 6ha (15 acres) of summer crops planted at the end of October and strip-graze from January for around 80-90 days, yielding around 60-70 tonnes dry matter per hectare.

Vanessa says: “We do fortnightly pasture walks to keep track of our pasture growth levels. When we have surplus

MAY 2022

DF May p26 27 World Dairying KJ MB.indd 2

14/04/2022 10:13

WORLD DAIRYING

o raise a rming pasture we cut it and put it in a stack yielding around 60 tonnes dry matter per hectare, which we later feed out to the cows in the paddock with our John Deere 6430 tractor and forage wagon.

“Grass silage is fed during the summer period when there is very little growth due to high temperatures and low rainfall. In a normal season, we apply 80100kg nitrogen per hectare over four applications during spring and autumn.”

Under the 50:50 contract, Vanessa and Bart supply the cows and machinery and pay all the animal health costs, maintenance and running costs of their

The spring calving herd averages 3,340 litres.

Farm facts rHerd replacement rate is 20% rCalves are indoors for up to eight weeks from birth before going out to grass r Vanessa and Bart are the only labour on the farm rMilk is supplied to

own equipment, plus the daily running cost of the cowshed.

The other production costs, such as nitrogen, silage and offfarm grazing costs for calves, are halved with the owners.

The farm owners pay all of the fertiliser and structural costs and

Fonterra which pays about $8.70 (£4.59) per kg of milk solids rCows are milked in a basic 16 cows per side swing-over DeLaval herringbone parlour

then the milk cheque is divided equally between the two.

Impact Vanessa says Covid-19 had a limited impact on their farming life.

“It was easy enough to shut the

gate and close our bubble tight during lockdowns. We are used to isolation as we do it sub-consciously during calving time when we do not tend to leave the farm unless we really need to.

“However, for myself the personal impact was a lot to handle and it was hard at times, being a farmer, a wife, a mother and school teacher to our girls, all at the same time.

“In the end we incorporated the farm into their learning, and we relished the extra time we got to spend with our kids on-farm.”

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27 14/04/2022 10:14

Venue: The Vox Venue, Birmingham | Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022

Celebrating 10 years of the BFAs The British Farming Awards reaches a milestone this year following its launch 10 years ago. The much-loved event has continued to go from strength to strength and now boasts a new move to The Vox Venue, Birmingham’s state-of-the-art events venue.

R

eaching a pivotal milestone, the British Farming Awards is back – bigger, better and ready to take 2022 by storm, 10 years since its launch.

With a new venue and a refreshed selection of awards up for grabs, farming’s much respected event, supported

by Morrisons, reaches its 10th year, and today marks its official return.

Alongside our core farming sectors – arable, beef, dairy, sheep and beef – we also recognise the importance of digital and agritech innovations, the welcome

presence of new entrants, family farms and agricultural students.

New for this year is the introduction of the Grassland Farmer of the Year Award, as we highlight the increasing efforts of dairy, sheep and beef farmers pushing the boundaries within their grazing systems and maximising their potential.

The awards also welcome nominations of businesses which have introduced positive changes, streamlined production and efficiency and adapted structures to tackle the gargantuan impact of Covid-19.

2022 award categories XAgricultural Student of the Year (sponsored by Kubota)

XDiversification Farmer of the Year (sponsored by CLA)

XAgritech Innovator of the Year

XFamily Farming Business of the Year (sponsored by Morrisons)

XArable Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Oxbury Bank)

XFarm Worker of the Year (sponsored by Isuzu)

XBeef Farmer of the Year (sponsored by ABP)

XGrassland Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Germinal)

XContractor Innovator of the Year (sponsored by Kuhn)

XNew Entrant: Against the Odds (sponsored by Massey Ferguson)

XDairy Farmer of the Year (sponsored by KW Feeds)

XSheep Farmer of the Year (sponsored by SAI Global)

XDigital Innovator of the Year (sponsored by Lely)

XSustainability Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Alltech)

Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture

Farmers Guardian Farming Hero

(sponsored by NSF International) OUR Farming Hero award is chosen by the Farmers Guardian team to recognise an individual or group of people who strive to make a positive difference to the lives of others or who are raising awareness to the wider industry about a specific issue or cause.

28 DF May p28 29 BFAs KJ MB.indd 2

THIS award recognises one individual’s dedication to the farming industry, who has worked tirelessly for UK agriculture either through delivering innovation, championing the needs of fellow farmers, spearheading change or promoting to the wider public.

Sophie Throup, head of agriculture, fisheries and sustainable sourcing, says: “As long-term supporters of British farming, we want to thank farmers across the country for the work they continue to do in these challenging times.

“We are pleased to once again be supporting the British Farming Awards, recognising the effort, care, innovation and skills British farmers put into making and providing food we are all proud of.”

British Farming Awards marks a seminal 10 years The British Farming Awards (BFAs) turns 10 years old and what a decade it has been for the event and British agriculture.

It has been a seismic decade for the industry and the country as a whole, with events such as Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and, latterly, political tensions and conflict in Europe bringing about unforeseen change.

Throughout it all, however, British farming has kept going, day in and day out, and farmers have worked tirelessly to keep the nation fed.

Farmers have also sought to innovate and change their farming practices in the face of changing policy ideals. Whether it has been connecting with consumers via farm shops or vending machines or reaping the benefits of the staycation boom of recent years, many farms have sought to harness new opportunities.

Underneath it all, however, farming has been about food production and Farmers Guardian and its sister titles and events in the Agriconnect stable have sought to shine a light on the innovation at play within sectors such as livestock, arable and machinery.

That is where the BFAs has become a key part of the brand mix for our business and has allowed farmers to come together in person and celebrate the achievements of their industry peers.

The BFAs award night is firmly established as the best party in British agriculture, but behind the celebrations lies a deep pride in

Ben Briggs, FG editor and group content director, Agriconnect. the achievements of British farmers and farm workers. For any industry, it is key that it celebrates its achievements.

For farming this is not always naturally done, given the humble nature of many farmers.

However, by unearthing inspirational stories of success against the odds or people who have simply gone above and beyond, the BFAs has provided a vital boost to the industry’s own self-image.

And as farming has changed over the past decade, so too has the BFAs, from its fledgling steps to this year’s event, which will see almost 1,000 celebrate together in Birmingham.

It has been a fabulous journey for the awards and wider industry over the past 10 years and one I, and the wider Agriconnect team, have been proud to be involved in.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:15

We want to thank farmers across the country for the work they continue to do in these challenging times SOPHIE THROUP

Key dates for your diary

March 18

Entries/nominations open

June 24

Entries/nominations close

August 12 Shortlist announced

August 22-31 Judging takes place

October 20

Awards evening at The Vox, Birmingham

For more information on how to enter, visit

BRITISHFARMINGAWARDS.CO.UK or scan the QR code on the right

Sponsored by

MAY 2022 DF May p28 29 BFAs KJ MB.indd 3

29 14/04/2022 10:16

MAIZE Be flexible and tailor pre and post-emergence sprays to specific weed burdens on fields advises independent agronomist Richard Cromie. Dairy Farmer reports.

Maximising maize yields with effective weed control

T

he arrival of spring and rising temperatures mean soil is now suitable for maize drilling and thoughts will inevitably start to turn towards establishment and pre- and post-emergence weed control. With rising input costs – specifically around fertiliser – and reduced herbicide options, this may lead to strategy changes when establishing new maize crops.

For Hampshire-based independent agronomist Richard Cromie, of Crop Management Partners, a huge variation in soil types - often on a field to field basis - among many of his customers combined with catchy wet weather, linked partly to being in the rain shadow of the Isle of Wight, are key challenges across the 500 hectares (1,236 acres) of maize he annually advises on across Hampshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire.

Strategy He says: “Within my territory I see everything from light sands to chalk and clay cap, so strategy advice on maize establishment and weed control can vary enormously, often from field to field with some growers.

“The losses of key actives have limited choice on tank mix advice and recent changes to UK weather, with short bursts of very heavy rain often followed by prolonged dry spells, have made the traditional strategy of early planning and early commitment to a pre-em spray far more difficult than was the case five years ago.”

30 DF May p30 Maize KJ MB.indd 2

Clean maize crop following Diva application.

Beyond making sure that you know the weed identity and field history, Mr Cromie says it is now about weather vigilance and being more reactive when timing the pre-em spray to coincide with correct levels of soil moisture.

He adds: “Good product to soil contact is essential in getting weed control off to the right start and the chosen establishment method, whether it is drilling, light cultivation or plough, is also often a critical factor. I still recommend ploughing as one of the best ways to establish maize and start with a clean seedbed. However, over-wintered cover crops and establishing maize with a strip tillage drill has also proved very effective

and helped my clients reduce establishment costs while also improving soil health.

Choice “On product choice for preems – pendimethalin, partnered with either S-metolachlor or dimethenamid-P, are both effective in easing initial weed pressure before the main post-emergence spray is applied.

“Never leave a big time gap between the pre-em and post-em sprays, especially if the initial weed burden in the field is significant.”

On post-emergence sprays, Mr Cromie says strategies can vary a lot, depending on whether you were able to get a

pre-em spray onto the crop.

He says: “If you are dealing with heavy weed burdens and you did not get the pre-em on due to dry soil conditions, then you may have to apply two post-emergence sprays. However, for most growers, a well timed single spray is still the aim.

“On product advice for post-em tank mixes, Diva [pyridate] is an excellent choice.

It will improve the broad-leaved weed spectrum of its tank mix partners and it is particularly effective on stubborn weeds such as Crane’s bill.

“The Belchim three-way tank mix approach of Fornet 6OD [nicosulfuron], Temsa SC [mesotrione] and Diva, all applied at rates of 0.75 litres/ ha, works well in late spray situations when weeds are at two to four true leaves.”

He adds that as with all post-emergence applications in maize, the key advice is spray timing, targeting the weeds at the two to three leaf stage and keeping the maize crop as clean as possible until the young maize plants reach the six to eight leaf stage when they can out-compete most weeds.

Richard Cromie

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:18

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14/04/2022 11:30

EFFICIENCIES Keeping focused on events closer to home will help farmers and nutritionists achieve the best results in the current difficult environment. Dairy Farmer reports.

Concentrate closer to home

F

aced with unprecedented increases in fertiliser, feed and energy prices, coupled with difficulties in actually sourcing necessary inputs, it is inevitable that time will be spent trying to decide what to do about these issues.

Dr Liz Homer, of Trouw Nutrition GB, believes it will be more productive to think closer to home.

She says: “While higher prices are an area of great concern, can you actually do much about them? You cannot influence them, so they do not deserve a great deal of energy.

Instead it will be better to focus on those things under your control.

“Ask yourself what can you do to make a difference on your farm as this is under your control? How can you improve the return on investment on all inputs by thinking value rather than price? It will be possible on most dairy farm to improve efficiencies, quite often through small changes that can help to make the most of the positive movement in milk prices.”

She suggests there are many places where an increased management focus and small changes could have significant benefits.

Grazed grass remains the cheapest feed for dairy cows so the aim must be to achieve high levels of utilisation, says Dr Liz Homer.

Pre-cut testing

Manage grazing more closely JEven at today’s fertiliser prices, grazed grass remains the cheapest feed for dairy cows so the aim must be to achieve high levels of utilisation.

Dr Homer says: “Manage the grass wedge effectively to know how much grass you have

ahead of the cows and what the quality is. By knowing your predicted milk yield from grazing and quality you can ensure that cows are being supplemented correctly and that buffer feeds and concentrates are not restricting production from forage and increasing costs.”

Send grazing samples away for analysis regularly and finetune the diet accordingly and reduce grazing wastage.

Dr Homer adds: “With grass a more valuable commodity this year, small changes to grazing management, such as back fencing, will be well worth while.”

JDr Homer says grass testing will help determine cutting dates for silage more precisely.

“Monitoring grass quantity and quality in terms of development will help make informed decisions on when to cut. Information on sugar and nitrate levels in particular can help advise on best management for optimal fermentation and therefore feed value of the silage.”

Analyse clamps regularly JDr Homer says: “In any clamp there will be variation both through and across the clamp, yet all too often samples sent for analysis are just a handful taken from one place on the

face, usually in the middle of the clamp.”

Taking samples this way can lead to a false picture of the silage being fed as it takes no account of the

variation. This can lead to overestimating the feed value of the silage potentially leading to under-feeding and cows underperforming. Alternatively if the analysis under-predicts the

feed value, feed costs could be increased unnecessarily.

She advises increasing the frequency of silage sampling with a representative sample and reviewing the diet regularly.

rumen health and efficiency and this will give the best return.

The cows are your guide to how well the diet is performing so pay close attention to milk yield, milk quality and fertility rDo not forget mineral nutrition: Review supplements to ensure you are not over or

undersupplying key macro and trace elements rConsider appropriate additives: Additives such as buffers, yeast and supplements to promote gut health could still generate a good return on investment by looking after the rumen and the hind gut

Other areas to focus on rReduce feed waste: Keep silage faces clean, store straights and blends in good facilities, regularly clean out feed troughs, calibrate the feed wagon and ensure diets are properly mixed. Push up feed regularly and ensure cows can reach feed to maximise intakes

32 DF May p32 Efficiencies KJ MB.indd 2

rBalance compounds and straights: With a volatile market, the best value will not necessarily be the cheapest.

Cheapening the diet may reduce costs but will it also reduce output? It could be a false economy. Formulate the diet with ingredients to maximise

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:19

DF_05_P33.indd 1 to asset AW.indd 1 T-T; farm slurry liability

14/04/2022 10:06 11:31 05/11/2021

FOOT HEALTH At a recent AHDB webinar, Sara Pedersen, cattle health and production specialist at Farm Dynamics, said how recording data on farms can improve foot health within the dairy herd. Katie Fallon reports.

How data recording can improve foot health

L

ame cows are a significant welfare issue with significant costs, while also putting the consumer image at risk explained Sara Pedersen, cattle health and production specialist of Farm Dynamics.

“Feet are a hot topic at the moment and it is not going to go away,” said Ms Pedersen.

She added lameness in dairy herds was a worldwide problem and data has shown one in three cows will be lame at any one time.

There are three main lesions which cause lameness, explained Ms Pedersen, including digital dermatitis, sole ulcer and white line disease. These lesions are not caused by the same thing, therefore it is important to understand farm data to identify the main causes. Digital dermatitis is caused by bacterial infection, whereas sole ulcers and white line disease are mechanically caused, said Ms Pedersen.

The costs of lameness can be seen in milk yield, fertility, culling, treatment time and welfare, added Ms Pedersen.

She said: “Fertility is a cost which is really underestimated in terms of lameness.”

The staff are much happier when there are fewer lame cows SARA PEDERSEN

34 DF May p34 Foot Health KJ MB.indd 2

She advised farms to look at whether infertile cows being culled were also lame.

Another associated cost is staff morale, said Ms Pedersen.

“One of the biggest things I notice on farms is the cows and the staff are much happier when there are fewer lame cows.”

When looking at the economic costs associated with lameness, Ms Pedersen explained the cost per case for the three main lesions over the course of a 305-day lactation.

Typically, a cow suffering from a sole ulcer lesion will see a production drop of 570 litres per lactation, with an extra 40 days added onto the calving interval, equating to a cost between £1,000 to £1,200 per case of sole ulcer.

Milk production A white line lesion will cause a drop in milk production of 370 litres per lactation, with an additional 30 days on the calving interval. This results in a total cost of £900 to £1,100 per lesion. Whereas digital dermatitis will cause a maximum production drop of 57 litres during a lactation, while adding 20 days onto the calving interval, creating an overall cost of £100 to £125 per case.

Ms Pedersen said: “Digital dermatitis has a lower cost.

However, we tend to see much higher levels of dermatitis across a herd, with up to 60% of animals affected, which increases the overall costs.”

Recording digital dermatitis, sole ulcer and white line disease is important and Ms Pedersen

One in three cows will be lame at any one time, said Sara Pedersen.

advised starting with a simple tally chart to record the number of each lesion identified.

Following this, Ms Pedersen advised recording the cow number, the date the cow was treated and the type of lesion to track the cows treatment and highlight problem cows.

This data can then be analysed to understand the number of cases of each lesion and the associated costs, said Ms Pedersen.

Hidden costs Data recorded on an AHDB strategic dairy farm found 121 lesions recorded over the course of one year cost the farm £75,000, with 59 cases of white line disease accounting for £53,100 of the overall cost.

“This is not an uncommon figure, because of all the hidden costs we do not see such as loss of fertility and culling,” said Ms Pedersen.

“Lesion data tells us a huge amount, including where to focus on prevention and whether we are picking up lame cows soon enough.”

Farms need to look at how advanced the lesions are. If they

are constantly seeing sole ulcers, then the lameness is being identified too late, as sole ulcers will take months to develop. Data also gives an indication of whether lameness is improving, as data from previous years can be compared.

Ms Pedersen added there were a number of main success factors required to tackle lameness and if all were achieved there should be low levels of lameness on the farm.

These include low infection pressure, good hoof shape, horn quality, and digital cushion, early detection and prompt, effective treatment and low forces on the feet. All the different lesions relate to these success factors, said Ms Pedersen, therefore if data can be used to address these areas, foot health should improve.

Monitoring She added that ‘all data was valuable’ and advised farms to use data to help focus decision making, decide on a plan of action and to keep reviewing it.

“Things change which is why we need to keep on monitoring, managing and reviewing.”

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:20

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A competition organised by LEAF has inspired secondary schools to promote farming as a rewarding career to their pupils. Caroline Stocks finds out more about how a slow and steady approach is paying dividends.

Urban school changes curriculum to promote farming as a rewarding career

T

eenagers from across the UK are being helped to see the potential in agricultural careers, thanks to an educational competition designed to showcase the high-tech, innovative and rewarding jobs available in the sector.

Linking Environment and Farming’s (Leaf’s) annual Food, Farming and Natural Environment competition aims to work with students and teachers to dispel myths about food production, while opening their eyes to the array of highskilled career opportunities on offer.

Launched in 2018, the contest was created in response to a Leaf survey which found only 4 per cent

Education in numbers

5,400

Children who have benefited from a change in curriculum following involvement in the competition

of 12- to 19-year-olds had been given information about how to get a job in agriculture, despite more than 60 per cent saying they were interested in the industry.

The annual competition involves up to 10 schools being selected as semi-finalists, with each school receiving an on-farm visit to learn about how farmers are guardians of the natural environment.

From those 10, five finalist schools are chosen to win an activity weekend at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi, North Wales, where pupils take part in hands-on activities, such as milking, tractor driving, habitat management and soil analysis.

Carl Edwards, Leaf Education director, says the competition aims to open young people’s minds to modern agriculture and highlight ways they can join the industry, as well as to connect with teachers to find ways they can bring agriculture into the curriculum.

Carl says: “I used to be a teacher and I know that traditional careers events don’t work. We wanted to provide young people with an experience

I used to be a teacher and I know that traditional careers events don’t work.

We wanted to provide young people with an experience they remember

CARL EDWARDS they remember. We also know how busy teachers are, so instead of asking them to do more, we want to show how agriculture can support the curriculum, whether that is through food technology, science or geography.”

Misconceptions

Teachers nominate their schools themselves by explaining why their students deserve a place in the com-

petition, as well as the benefits it will bring to their school.

Up to 50 secondary schools across the country enter each year – a number Leaf hopes it can increase even further this year.

Carl says: “We want to target the high-achieving students aged 14-16, because that is when they are starting to make decisions about what GCSEs they want to take or what careers they might like. Working with children when they are aged five or six is great, but what impact are those farm visits going to have when the children are making career decisions at 16?

“We want to increase their perceptions of the industry and change misconceptions.”

Carl believes the weekends have shown there is still misunderstanding among young people about what food production entails, making the competition as important than ever.

He says: “We took one group into a milking parlour and one girl asked where the milking stool was. She had

2021 winning school: Laurus Ryecroft, Manchester WINNING Leaf’s National Food, Farming and Environment Competition in 2021 gave pupils at Laurus Ryecroft, Droylsden, Manchester, the chance to broaden their experiences and opened their eyes to careers they might never have considered, says food technology teacher Ciaran Ellis.

He says: “Many young people from towns and cities do not have access to rural life experiences or know about the variety of careers and opportunities available within the farming industry.

“Having entered in other years, I know how valuable an experience the competition could be and while it was an amazing achievement to win, the experiences the students got will allow them to have a better understanding of

4%

Percentage of 12to 19-year-olds who have been given information about agriculture as a career

60%

Percentage of children who said they were interested in the farming industry

36

farming and food production and the struggles producers are under.”

Ciaran says the weekend at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi was an incredible experience, teaching students about careers in environmental science, as well as helping him learn more about food production.

“When we learned about the science of soils and how important these were going to be to future crop growth and carbon sequestration, the students and I were amazed.

“I hadn’t realised the very current, technological innovation going on within the industry and was perhaps guilty of believing many of the ill-informed things I had read about farming in the past.

“As a teacher, I have learned loads.

Leaf Education has improved my subject knowledge, so I am better informed and more up to date when discussing topics around farming with the students.

Opportunities

“I have also been working closely with our Leaf Education regional consultant to build in opportunities for more students to meet different farmers on visits. In 2021, it enabled us to undertake school trips to learn about environmental stewardship and the raising of heritage breeds within our area.

“Most importantly though, Leaf Education has become a link and a sounding board if I ever have a question, and that is incredibly valuable.”

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14/04/2022 10:21

Students and teachers from 2021’s winning school, Laurus Ryecroft in Droylsden, Manchester. never considered there was technology involved in milk production.

“By the end of the weekend, that same group were using the term ‘professional’ when they talked about farmers.

“They recognised the industry has chemists and biologists and countless other skilled people, and that agriculture is more than mud and wellies.”

Changing mindset

As well as changing mindsets of finalists, Leaf has discovered the competition has had wider, positive impacts on schools.

Carl says: “We do follow-ups six and 12 months later with the finalist schools and we’ve found that more than one-third of students involved in

About #ThisIsAgriculture

the weekends have gone on to study at land-based colleges. But we’ve also heard from teachers who have told us they have changed the way they teach GCSE science because of what they have learned on these weekends.

“That means 5,400 other children – not just ones who attended the weekends – have benefited. If we can continue to have that impact and inspire the next generation of skilled workers to the industry, that is a great thing.”

#ThisIsAgriculture is a campaign to raise awareness of the diverse career opportunities available in agriculture and encourage people to pursue a rewarding and progressive career.

Organised by Farmers Guardian, Dairy Farmer’s sister publication, the initiative is working with key industry stakeholders from across the farming sector and non-farming audiences to identify the work the agricultural industry is doing to help upskill the industry and showcase how we can all unite to make a positive difference to raise the profile of the industry.

FOLLOW #THISISAGRICULTURE:

MORE INFORMATION The 2022 National Food, Farming and Environment Competition launched last month. For more information, visit leaf. eco/education/the-national-food-farming-and-environment-competition

On Instagram @this.is.ag; Twitter @This_Is_Ag; and search on Facebook and LinkedIn.

‘Farming is completely different from what I expected’ STUDENTS from last year’s winning school, Laurus Ryecroft in Droylsden, Manchester, share what they learned about agriculture through Leaf’s contest: WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT FOOD AND FARMING BY TAKING PART IN THE COMPETITION? ● “We learned lots about how funding of farmers is changing and how they are having to be more environmentally sustainable to achieve grants.” ● “We learned about agroforestry and

how different farming methods can be combined to produce food at a more sustainable level.” ● “During the weekend I learned about the variety of careers in agriculture, which seems to be growing with all the new technology opportunities coming through.”

WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT AGRICULTURE? ● “I was surprised with how little I knew.

I now realise I knew nothing. It is completely different from what I expected.”

● “I was surprised with how technology had become so valuable to farmers.

Everything from anaerobic digesters to intelligent eyes using artificial intelligence.”

HAS TAKING PART IN THE COMPETITION MADE YOU THINK ABOUT A CAREER IN AGRICULTURE? ● “I am still considering my options, but would like to work with machines in the future.” ● “I have wanted to work in marine conservation for a long time, but I am

considering how similar this is to water management within the environment.”

HOW DO YOU THINK AGRICULTURE CAN BE PROMOTED TO YOUNG PEOPLE? ● “I wish we were able to have more experiences like this. It’s different when you’re actually doing it and hearing from real people than learning about something in school.” *The names of the children have been withheld at the school’s request.

For more information, visit FGINSIGHT.COM/THISISAGRICULTURE

MAY 2022 DF May p36 37 This Is Ag DO KJ MB.indd 3

37 14/04/2022 10:21

GRASSLAND As well as grassland event previews, we focus on correct silage clamping techniques and the practicalities of clover establishment.

42 CLAMP SILAGE

Five ways to make sure your silage clamp stays airtight

44 SCOTGRASS AND WELSH GRASSLAND Previews of the events

50 INCREASING CLOVER

Alternative, less expensive nitrogen sources, such as clover

Autumn-calving cows and grazed grass: a perfect mix

P

re-mowing paddocks hours before cows enter them is a technique which is used very successfully by Co Antrim dairy farmer Harry Johnston to ensure optimal grass utilisation across his entire grazing platform.

It is an approach to grassland management which ensures all the forage in front of the cows is fully utilised, he says.

Harry, who farms with his wife Helen and two of his three sons Jack and Mark, close to the village of Ahoghill, in mid Co Antrim, says the technique also ensures a very high quality regrowth, time after time.

“The use of a plate meter to allow us assess grass availability

A growing number of farmers in Northern Ireland are moving towards autumn- and winter-calving as a way pf maximising milk from grazed grass, particularly at the end of the cow’s lactation. Richard Halleron reports. throughout the season is the other key game-changer in terms of our approach to grazing management,” says Harry, who was a runner-up in the 2021 British Grassland Society Grassland Farmer of the Year.

“It is allowing us to ensure the cows are entering paddocks at those times when grass quality is at its optimal level.

“Grazed grass is the cheapest feed available on every dairy farm. So it is vitally important to ensure that best use is made of this vitally important resource.”

But perhaps the most inter-

Left to right: Mark, Harry and Jack Johnston.

38

esting facet of Harry’s approach to milk production is the fact that the 276 cows are exclusively calved during autumn and winter.

In doing so, Harry can avail of the winter bonuses that are offered by his processer, Dale Farm, while also pushing to get the most milk possible from grazed grass later in the cows’ lactations.

Normally, the herd is put out into the grazing paddocks at the beginning of April. The cows will remain outside until drying off later in summer.

Harry says: “Once cows are out in the paddocks, that is where they will stay. Putting them out for a few hours and feeding them a total mixed ration [TMR] for the rest of the day is the worst of all worlds.

Weather “Unless the weather turns really bad, cows will be kept out in the paddocks day and night, once they have transitioned on to a fresh grass diet.

At that stage, feeding silage becomes a distraction for them.”

And Harry is not alone in committing to producing milk in this way. A growing number of dairy farmers in Northern Ireland are now recognising that it is possible to get very significant quantities of milk from grazed grass with autumn/ winter-calving Holstein cows.

But as is the case on those farms where spring calving is practised, the commitment to securing the highest levels of fertility from cows and implementing the highest possible grassland management standards are just as rigorous.

As Harry points out, breeding the right type of cow is a very important driver for the business.

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14/04/2022 10:24

GRASSLAND

Low yielding cows grazing.

He says: “We start calving at the beginning of September and we finish calving in February. So we want to breed cows which will stay in this system.

“When it comes to picking bulls, the first priority is to select sires with double-digit fertility.

Boosting fat and protein levels are also important.

“And because of our focus on grazing, we do not want cows which are too big. Selecting artificial

insemination [AI] bulls with a decent profitable lifetime index [PLI] figure is also important.”

All the stock in the herd has been genomically assessed over the past three years.

Harry says he is about to push ahead with the fourth year of assessments: “By taking this approach, we have been able to identify our top PLI heifers.

These are then bred to sexed AI sires. From now on, there

will be no black and white bull calves born on-farm.

“Once the required number of replacement heifer pregnancies have been secured, we will switch to beef semen. All the insemination work is carried out by Jack, Mark and myself.”

Weather obviously dictates when cows can be put out to grass, but Harry admits he starts to get ‘edgy’ around St Patrick’s Day.

He says: “Weather apart, the other key factor in this decision-making progress is the information we are getting back from the plate meter. If it is telling us we have a large enough grass wedge available, cows will be put out.

“The plate meter is also telling us where the grass is. There is a good paddock and roadway system across the grazing platform.

This allows up to match up the cows with the best grass available at any particular time.

Availability “We have had 60 cows out this year since the middle of March.

As the plate meter tells us more grass is available, we will increase stocking density across the grazing area accordingly.

“Mark works with an app to determine the stocking density at any particular time.

This is based on the information coming through from the plate

MAY 2022 DF May p38 39 40 Perfect Mix KJ MB.indd 3

39 14/04/2022 10:24

GRASSLAND meter. So, for example, if the app is telling us that 60 cows/ hectare is the optimal stocking density to achieve at any specific time, we have the grazing infrastructure on the farm to allow us meet this requirement.”

Once the grazing season progresses, cows are fed a diet comprising grazed grass, which is topped up to yield in parlour. There is no TMR fed to cows during spring and summer. This will only change if the weather goes downhill badly.

The grazing block around the farmstead extends to 53ha (130 acres).

Harry says: “As a family we have always been committed to grazing cows. Both Jack and Mark have spent time out in New Zealand. While there they got firsthand experience of what it means to secure large quantities of milk from grazed grass alone.

“So when they returned, we took the opportunity of honing the grazing and grassland management practices which we employ here on the home farm.

Cows are currently producing 8,500 litres across the board with 3,500 litres of milk secured from grazed grass and forage. Butterfats are currently averaging 4.05%, with proteins coming in at 3.35%.

Reseeding, both the grazing and

silage ground, underpins all of the commitment made by the Johnston family to securing enhanced levels of milk output from forage.

Harry says: “Again, the plate meter is flagging up the worstperforming paddocks. These are prioritised from a reseeding point of view. We normally reseed about 25 acres every year including both grazing paddocks and silage ground.”

Recent soil analysis of the predominantly heavy soils have signalled that 11% of the soils have a lower than required pH value, while 80% of the fields are adequate for potash and phosphate.

Liming policy Harry says: “Soil pH values determine liming policy on-farm. We also sow diammonium phosphate every second year to help maintain our soil phosphorous levels.”

Over recent years, the Johnstons have sown autumn wholecrop rye on land which has been selected for reseeding.

Harry says: “Grass is sown as soon as silage is in the pit. This approach is helping to maximise the forage output of the farm on a continuing basis.”

Looking to the future, the family believe they can push the herd average up to 9,000 litres of milk with

Mark Johnston does a grass sample with a plate meter.

3,500 litres of this coming from forage. The target will be achieved by a combination of factors.

Harry says: “Pushing calving dates back means we can get more milk from grass at the tail end of their lactations. We used to start calving at the beginning of August. We are now looking at a date towards the middle of September.

“Improving our grassland management practices is also a necessity. Up to now we have been going out with the plate meter once a week. This season, we will One of the farm tracks on the Johnstons’ farm

40

be walking the paddocks on a more regular basis.

“As everyone knows, fertiliser prices have rocketed skywards over recent weeks. However, we have taken the decision to push on with our normal spreading policy. This is the most important time of the year for us, where fertiliser usage is concerned. But we will certainly take stock of the situation later in summer.”

British Grassland Society Grassland Farmer of the Year JHarry Johnston was one of the runners-up in the 2021 British Grassland Society Grassland Farmer of the Year competition.

The winner of the 2021 title was Marc Jones, a member of Powys Grassland Society, who farms at Trefnant Hall, near Welshpool, where the aim is to maximise output from grass and forage, while keeping a low-cost base.

Mr Jones runs a 500-ewe sheep flock and a 350-head beef finishing system on 202 hectares (500 acres).

The other runner-up was Chris Blake, a dairy farmer from Devon.

MAY 2022

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GRASSLAND

H

ow silage clamps are sealed is seen as such a critical part of US dairy production that teams of professional ‘clamp sealers’ now move from farm to farm at forage harvest time to ensure the process is carried out as effectively as possible.

However, Lucy Johnson, of Silostop, says the situation in the UK is very different.

She says: “The number of people still using a range of variously sized black plastic sheets plus a few worn-

How you seal your clamp can have a huge effect on speed and efficiency of the clamp-filling process, the quality of forage produced and the labour hours needed to maintain it once it is opened for feed-out. Dairy Farmer reports.

Ensure your silage clamp stays airtight out tyres with rusty wires thrown on top is still worryingly high, especially

when there is such a downside to not sealing a clamp properly.

“Not only will fermentation be adversely affected, clamp losses will be high and much of the money spent on nitrogen and other inputs will be wasted, not to mention you will be forced to rely more

on bought-in feeds. We would not tolerate 15% storage loss for any other agricultural product, yet that is often the case with forage.”

But such losses can be kept within 5% if some simple steps are followed, forage specialists believe.

2 Use a genuine oxygen barrier Lucy Johnson

Will Wilson

1 Plan sealing priorities carefully JThe starting point is to talk to a specialist and work out exactly how are you are going to seal the clamp and what you will need to do this, says Will Wilson, of silage clamp experts ARK Agriculture.

He says: “You will need to know the exact dimensions of your clamp to do this.

“The most effective method is a single sheet system, but these are available in a range of sizes and the best

fit will depend on individual circumstances.

“In some cases, going from side to side across the clamp is the best option, while for others it will be going from front to back. You will also need to be sure you can handle the weight and size of rolls involved.

“The intention is to keep the number of joins to a minimum to avoid potential air ingress, so a purpose-made side sheet is essential, too.”

3 Minimise your use of plastic JA modern single-sheet system will not only minimise forage wastage, it will also help ensure you are using as little plastic as possible on-farm, says Ms Johnson.

“Nobody wants to use more plastic than they need to. On a typical 16-metre wide by 50m long clamp, conventional black

42 DF May p42 43 Silage clamp KJ MB.indd 2

plastic with cling film will weigh about 110kg, while with our most popular single-sheet film, this would be only 66kg.

“If you were to use an antiUV cover over a thinner film, the weight could be reduced to 38kg, which is a reduction in plastic use of 65% compared to the traditional approach.”

JMs Johnson says it is important to understand not all plastic sheets are created equally.

She says: “A proper oxygen barrier will have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 5cu.cm/sq.m of film, which means almost no air can get into the clamp in use, but with typical black silage plastic, this is more like 300cu.cm/sq.m.

“When this is stretched out to make an imitation oxygen barrier cling film, it

can reach 1,000cu.cm/sq.m, so quite a lot of air is able to pass through the film, resulting in considerable spoilage and dry matter shrinkage in the top layers.

“Again, you need to talk to somebody who understands this and be prepared to ask the questions about oxygen transmission rates. A good film will virtually eradicate air from the clamp, whereas a cheaper one could cost you dearly in terms of lost forage.”

4 Manage films correctly JType of forage will also play a key role in choosing the optimum film, says Mr Wilson.

He says: “If you are using a multi-cut system, where you will be repeatedly opening the clamp up to add material, a stronger film is advisable. This can then be used with a secure cover.

“If you are clamping maize or wholecrop silage where the clamp is filled and then left until it is opened, the lighter sheets with an anti-UV cover are the best option.”

Whichever approach you take, bags and purpose-made mats are the best materials for keeping covers in place and minimising damage, he adds.

“The other advantage is that sheeting time can be cut in half and that is important in making sure clamps are sealed every evening when you are filling them and also whenever you remove material from it over winter. The easier this is to do, the more likely it is to happen and this can help minimise silage loss.”

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:27

GRASSLAND

Nobody wants to use more plastic than they need to, says Lucy Johnson.

5 Constantly review performance JKeep an open mind about the future, including the silage clamp itself and how it can develop to improve the efficiency of your silage making in the future, Mr Wilson says.

“We are learning more about

M I L K I N G

the best way to make silage all the time and when the cost of inputs and bought-in feeds is rising so quickly, it is essential to make full use of every kg of forage you produce.

“Ensiling losses can be

avoided in the short-term with the right sealing system, but longer term you need to make sure your clamp remains fit for purpose, has the right capacity for your future needs and will keep the Environment Agency happy.

“With home-grown forage increasingly critical to the economics of dairy production, such investments are seldom wasted and, in many cases, significant returns on investment can be achieved very quickly.”

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MAY 2022 DF May p42 43 Silage clamp KJ MB.indd 3

43 20/04/2022 08:19

GRASSLAND

S

ome of the latest harvesting equipment and best practice advice will be on offer at this year’s ScotGrass showcase.

Visitors heading to the event, which is to be held at SRUC Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries, and hosted by the Agricultural Engineers Association, can expect to see updates to baler, tedder and tractor ranges on May 18.

Included is Kubota, which will be showing models from its recently introduced M-series tractor ranges, as well as the new Kubota BF3500 fixed chamber baler.

Vicon will be demonstrating the FastBale non-stop fixed chamber round baler-wrapper combination and Kverneland will also be introducing its widest trailed tedder.

Kubota will be showcasing its Kubota BF3500. This high-capacity fixed chamber baler has been developed for use in heavy silage conditions.

It gets an 18-roller bale chamber, with two rollers located in the base of the chamber to give additional support with heavy, wet silage bales.

A new 2.3-metre-wide pick-up, designated XL+, has also been introduced and incorporates an extensive series of upgrades.

An extra tine has been added on either side, increasing the working width by 10cm; a new five-bar tine reel incorporates a cam track located at both ends; while each tine bar is supported on four bearings.

Tine length has been increased

With the ScotGrass event taking place on May 18, we round-up some of what visitors can expect to see. Hannah Park reports.

Grassland kit on display Kubota will be showcasing its Kubota BF3500.

by 10mm and the gap between the stripper plates has been reduced for improved performance in wet crops.

Capacity has been increased with the introduction of a new larger diameter intake rotor, along with a revised drop floor system.

The drop floor package uses a rounded profile under the rotor and operates with a parallelogram action – extending clearance under the front and rear of the chamber when lowered.

Bales are tied using PowerBind net injection system, which accurately places the tail of net directly into the bale chamber, without relying on traditional feed rollers or using gravity.

Vicon will be demonstrating the FastBale non-stop fixed chamber round baler-wrapper combination.

44 DF May p44 Grassland kit KJ MB.indd 2

The BF3500 incorporates heavy-duty bale chamber rollers and driveline components. This includes a split driveline, with the bale chamber and feed rotor featuring 1.25-inch pitch drive chains.

Chamber rollers all run on 50mm diameter bearings, with double-row roller bearings used on all main load points.

Kubota’s BF3500 is also equipped with a 15-knife SuperCut pre-chopping system, plus automatic chain lubrication and auto-greasing.

Scotgrass will also be the first public showing of the Kubota BV Plus-series variable chamber baler, all of which can be found working on plot number 14.

Elsewhere, Vicon will be demonstrating the FastBale non-stop fixed chamber round baler-wrapper combination, which is now available with film-on-film capability for 2022.

In addition, the Vicon RV5216 Plus-series variable chamber round baler will also be making its working event debut.

Kverneland will also be introducing its widest trailed tedder, a high capacity, 14-rotor machine, badged the 85156C, and providing a 15.6m working width.

In addition, the Kverneland Scotgrass demonstration will include a selection of front/rear and triple mowers, plus rakes, tedders and bale wrappers.

These will include the flagship 53100MT Vario triple mo-co and the 95130C four-rotor rake, which is adjustable in width from 10-13m, producing a swath from 1.2-2.2m wide.

Visitor information rWhere: SRUC Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries, DG1 4TX rWhen: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 rTime: From 9am-4pm

Kverneland 95130C four-rotor rake.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:23

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GRASSLAND Coleg Cambria will host the Royal Welsh Grassland event at Llysfasi campus, Ruthin, North Wales. Ellie Layton visited the college farm ahead of the event to find out more.

L

College farm aims to play crucial role in future of Welsh ag

lysfasi College celebrated its centenary in 2021 after opening at the end of the first world war. The campus is spread over 404 hectares (1,000 acres), which includes 80ha (200 acres) of woodland and supports beef, dairy and sheep units on-farm.

The college is set to play a pivotal role in helping Welsh farmers hit the industry’s net zero targets.

To help achieve this aim, Dr George Fisher, who joined the college last year as net zero farm project manager, has been working on a project to increase funding and plan for the future of the college and the wider Welsh farming industry.

He says: “The mission to become carbon neutral can not only be taught in the classroom, but carbon literacy must be taught practically to all ages.”

He explains that Llysfasi intends to become a ‘future farming hub’ across the six counties which make

“The sister farms will also give a chance to try and test different methods to see what works, especially across varied landscapes.”

Dr Fisher says he is excited to look at the developments planned, focusing on food production and security.

He says: “We should appreciate that farming and food production is a national core carbon expenditure. We have to reduce our footprint while keeping food production at the centre of our thinking.”

The college currently works with many partners, including AHDB, Farming Connect, Hybu Cig Cymru and farming unions, and intends to carry on doing so while creating a ‘future farming hub’.

Dr Fisher says: “We want to use our site to host and help experts lead our industry. Addressing the needs

up North Wales. In the future, it is hoped Llysfasi will become a demonstration farm, with a number of sister farms across the region.

This will also enable the project to include a full range of livestock production systems, including pigs and poultry. This will also aid in showcasing other systems which Llysfasi does not have, such as pigs, poultry and fisheries. Dr Fisher believes this will make a big difference.

He says: “We think Llysfasi will prove pivotal in helping to educate, demonstrate and innovate for future generations.

Replacement heifers are home-bred with calves reared in group pens.

of the current and next generation must happen, waiting 30 years for the next generation to take charge of the industry will be too late.”

The new hub will focus on food production and the roles net zero, clean air, clean water and biodiversity have to play in shaping the future. It will also look at the environmental, economical and social sustainability aspects, both immediately and over longer periods of time.

Carbon neutral Dr Fisher says: “Being carbon neutral has relevance to agriculture, but is not yet relevant for many farmers. I hope the future farming hub will bring net zero closer to home with these facilities.”

The college’s dairy unit has doubled numbers since the early 2000s. It now runs 250 mainly

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rThe lowland pasture is at 305 metres (1,000ft) rising to 427m (1,400ft) on Fronheulog hill, the farm’s highest ground rFarm manager Dewi Jones, who has been at the college for 10 years now, works alongside George Fisher, the net zero farm project manager,

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MAY 2022

DF May p46 47 48 College farm KJ MB.indd 2

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GRASSLAND

Maintaining Calf Health Dr George Fisher (left) and farm manager Dewi Jones.

Holstein Friesian cows, but includes some Montbeliarde Friesian crosses with a Norwegian Red also introduced this year as a three-way cross.

In 2011, Coleg Cambria invested £1 million in the dairy unit to house the growing herd numbers. The parlour has been upgraded to a 20:40 herringbone from a 12:24 and it now takes about two hours to milk the herd.

Dewi Jones, farm manager, says despite looking at a rotary parlour a herringbone system deemed more effective for educational purposes.

Cows selected for Holstein sexed semen are given two opportunities to conceive before they are bred to British Blue AI alongside their herdmates. There is also the option of running with a Limousin sweeper bull.

Replacements Replacement heifers are homebred and will generally be bred pure to sexed Holstein bulls, with the Limousin bull again providing a sweeper service. The calving interval is currently 372 days.

The herd averages 8,400 litres annually, but Mr Jones says it is not all about yield.

He says: “We have a balanced view on cow type and production.

We believe we would not be better off financially by pushing cows too hard, as this could compromise their longevity.”

Being carbon neutral has relevance to agriculture, but is not yet relevant for many farmers DR GEORGE FISHER

A carbon audit shows the herd is averaging 0.91kg carbon for every litre of milk produced, which Dr Fisher explains is better than the industry average of 1.25kg/litre.

He says: “We are pleased we are performing better than average, but we are always looking for ways to improve.”

Mr Jones says that the aim is to produce high quality milk while hitting targets for carbon footprint and yield.

Llysfasi rears and finishes 170 heifers in group pens.

Mr Jones says: “We have tightened the selection process to keep more heifers which will do well when going back into the herd or as a beef cross.”

When using beef genetics, they select British Blue fertility

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MAY 2022 DF May p46 47 48 College farm KJ MB.indd 3

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GRASSLAND plus AI. They have moved from using sex semen only on the heifers, to using it on a selection of mature cows as well.

They have found the conception rate for sexed semen is now as good and, in some cases better, on selected cows than on cows served with conventional beef semen, exceeding 50% conception.

The college also supports a varied flock of 750 sheep on both lowland and hill ground which is made up of Lleyn, Welsh Mule and Welsh Mountain ewes.

Mr Jones says: “In Wales, 96% of agriculture is livestock production and we attract students from many different systems, so it is important for us to not only enhance the understanding of their own system, but demonstrate the other systems there are.”

The Lleyns and Mules are lambed indoors from early March, followed by the Welsh ewes outdoors in late April.

Terminal sires are used on most of the flock. However, the Lleyns are kept pure. The rest of the ewes run with Texel rams supplied with assistance from the Texel Society for flock recording.

Mr Jones says: “Data is a powerful tool and there is a big lesson to be learned in genotyping. Rams are

Maize and wholecrop provide the foundation of the milking herd’s ration.

50% of a flock when it comes to keeping home-bred replacements or the finished lambs we produce, so we want to enhance our knowledge of our flock and its output.”

The upland ground is used predominantly for the sheep.

However, the college also uses it for silage-making to support all the enterprises, including the dairy.

Mr Jones says: “We want to keep the upland ground in tune

with nature while getting the optimum level of production, all while reducing the pressure on our lowland pasture.”

The college grows forage to use in the feeding ration with 24ha (60 acres) of maize and 12ha (30 acres) of wholecrop grown, which along with grass, forms the foundation of the herd’s ration.

From this year, the maize will also be under sown with a Westerwold

This smaller plant gives a faster incubation period of under 20 days against the current month for bigger plants.

It is thought the plant will heat water for the circulation cleaning of the dairy at the college and the water in troughs for the cow sheds, which is hoped to improve milk yield.

hope the power could be used to cool the milk or run tractors and will help the farm become more resilient.”

Dr Fisher adds: “The AD plant is a development for future farming to see how gas can be handled as a resource, not just as waste.”

“This kind of trial is all part of understanding how they can be transferred to practical use on-farm. The approach should have positive impacts on our carbon footprint and emissions to air and water.”

The AD plant will be on show at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Grassland event.

AD plant trial JFunded by the Welsh Government, the college is fitting a small and scalable demonstrator anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.

It will be remotely managed

by Bio Factory, Bath, and is one way the college is trialling net zero waste control which could be affordable for all scale farms.

Dr Fisher says: “The AD plant is very much a trial.”

He explains the plant is made from two converted shipping containers which can process the slurry to collect the methane from 80-100 cows each.

48

Energy Mr Jones says: “We will know more in May when the plant will have been installed for over a month. At the moment the energy will be used to heat or cool water.

“However, in the future, we

short-term ley to help retain nutrients over winter.

In efforts to maximise grass usage, the college paddock grazes, regularly measures grass growth and minimises machinery use on pasture where possible.

Mr Jones says that arable crops are currently not grown, but adds that the farm is always looking at ways it can become more self-sufficient.

He says: “When the price of corn and straw was significantly lower, it made sense for us to buy them in.

However, it is not adding up in the current climate. Carbon is now also considered when making decisions.”

RWAS Grassland event rWhen: Thursday May 12, 2022 rWhere: Llysfasi College, Ruthin Road, Llysfasi, Ruthin, LL15 2LB rAbout: The event will cover 48 hectares (120 acres) and will showcase grassland machinery and associated technologies, along with live equipment demonstration opportunities in the field and clamp and a farm tour

MAY 2022

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GRASSLAND Organic farmers typically put 2-3kg of clover into a grass sward mix, while conventional farmers include 1kg.

Nitrogen prices have been on the rise, with no sign of slowing down. So could it be worth looking at alternative, less expensive nitrogen sources like clover? Ruth Wills finds out.

Increasing clover in swards

W

hen it comes to alternatives to artificial nitrogen fertiliser, there is a lot to be learned from organic farmers.

Simon Montgomery, seed specialist at Nickerson, says: “They seem to produce grass well without artificial nitrogen fertiliser.”

Typically, organic farmers put 2-3kg per acre of clover into a grass sward mix, compared with conventional farmers who include just 1kg per acre, he says.

“Through doing this, over a 12- month period, organic farmers are getting as much, if not more dry matter per hectare of grass as conventional farmers.”

There are two options when it comes to getting clover into a sward, explains Mr Montgomery.

“When overseeding in the spring, sheep can be very useful for grazing the grass down initially, then go in

50 DF May p50 52 Clover KJ MB.indd 2

with an overseeder in a one pass operation,” he says.

“It scarifies the top, drops the seed in and lightly rolls over the top.”

When soil temperatures start to rise in April and the grass starts to grow away, the clover – although small – will not be damaged when it comes to mowing, he says.

Process “The same process could be carried out after first cut silage and slurry could be spread at the same time, providing a nutrient base to help the clover get going,” he says.

The second and best option is to get white clover into swards in the autumn, says Mr Montgomery.

“Select fields and take any stock out of them, then overseed – not a lot of grass grows over the winter, allowing the clover to get settled and established,” he says.

Inoculating the seed with Rhizobium will help the clover to fix

nitrogen, particularly in high nitrogen use soils where it has burned off.

It is better to sow red clover in spring than autumn, he explains.

“This is because of the way it establishes,” he says.

“It grows from a crown, like lucerne, whereas white clover grows from stolons.

“If the crown is damaged then the plant is lost – with stolons this is not an issue.”

If red clover is planted in the spring, it is well established by autumn with a strong crown and root system, ready to survive the winter.

But it is important not to put seeds in too deep, says Mr Montgomery.

“The main problem with using a drill instead of an overseeder is that clover seeds are small and if put in too deeply they do not come to anything,” he says.

“They should be covered with just a few millimetres of soil – pretty much on the surface.”

To get the most from a grass sward it is important to manage it well, says Mr Montgomery.

“If we applied the same methodology to growing grasses as arable farmers apply to growing crops, we would manage our grasses and pastures a lot better and yields would improve,” he says.

However, it is important to ensure clover does not become too dominant, both in terms of out-competing grass and protecting livestock health.

Using grass harrows to scarify out the clover, and sowing grass seed on patches of excessive clover can help rebalance the sward.

“Be careful if you have a rich clover sward and are planning to graze livestock,” he says.

“Manage the stock carefully as bloat can be an issue in high clover swards.

Providing fibre in the form of a straw bale can be a way around this.”

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MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:24

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14/04/2022 11:49

GRASSLAND

Stock is introduced to clover from a young age at Marshalls Dairy Farm, which helps to ensure there are few problems at grazing.

In the field Kate and Jeremy Way, West Sussex JOne couple dedicated to getting the most out of clover is Kate Lywood and Jeremy Way at Marshalls Dairy Farm, near Billingshurst, West Sussex.

Having finished converting their dairy farm to organic in June 2021, clover has become a vital source of nitrogen.

They aim to reseed 10% of their 300-hectare (741-acre) farm to a clover-based ley every year, and are committed to a future without artificial nitrogen and chemical sprays.

“The farm was very close to being organic anyway. We were only using a small amount of nitrogen,” says Mr Way. “When Arla went on a recruitment drive, looking for some of their members to convert to fulfil new organic contracts, that was the clincher for us.

“Some people thought we were mad, particularly in the South East where we have had some really hot, dry summers.

“The big question is can we, as a spring calving dairy herd, grow enough forage ourselves of high enough quality? We are confident we can.”

But so far so good, and they

52 DF May p50 52 Clover KJ MB.indd 4

have found some great benefits to using clover, like an increase in milk production.

“From rotationally grazing the clover-heavy leys we have seen milk production increase by one litre per cow,” says Mr Way. They have also seen an increase in heifer growth rates.

“We fed red clover silage to our dairy heifer calves last autumn when they were housed and we were seeing growth rates of 1kg per animal per day just on silage,” he says.

“In the past we have always had to supplement with concentrates to get anything near that.”

They have found other benefits too.

“With its root mass, clover does carry on growing much longer than

grass during a drought,” he says.

Mr Way adds that there are big cost savings as well.

“Our aim is to reduce concentrates by a quarter,” he says.

“We are feeding 1.2 tonnes of organic concentrate per cow per year, so that is 396t approaching £500/t, so about £200,000 a year.

“If we can get that down to 0.9t of concentrate per cow per year then we would save £52,000.

“Particularly with prices at the moment, anything we can do to grow more forage of higher quality has to be the way to go.”

In terms of management, they have found the clover to dominate the grass.

Challenging

Farm facts r330 British Friesian, Norwegian Red and Jersey crossbred milking cows 180 youngstock rArla organic contract r4% butterfat and 3.3% protein rFour full-time employees and one apprentice

“It can take over the grass, which is not necessarily a problem – the grass thrives really well, so you get the best of both worlds,” he adds.

However, it has been challenging at times.

“We lost a cow to bloat last September,” he says.

“For some reason the clover exploded and became vastly dominant in a lot of fields. It was

a shame, but it taught us a valuable lesson.

“We had kept the cows in after milking as we had to cross a bridleway all in one go, so they went out a bit hungry and I think they just binged on it, and for one cow it was too much.”

Now, the couple make sure the cows do not get too hungry before going out, and if they must be held after milking, they are offered silage to take the edge off.

“If we are moving them on to fresh clover, it is better to move them later in the day once the dew has gone,” explains Mr Way. “Our cows and calves have very good grazing genetics and they are introduced to clover from a young age so I think that is why we do not get too many problems.”

Once established, the clover looks after itself without much input, he says.

“We really like it. It is definitely the answer to growing a lot of high-quality forage and with the price of artificial nitrogen, I am sure there will be a lot of conventional farmers looking at clover too,” he says.

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ANIMAL HEALTH With a change in temperature comes a change in challenges, so we look at heat stress and potential health issues at grazing.

58 HEAT STRESS

The impact on performance

L

ike many dairy farmers, Mat Golledge had experienced ‘the odd abortion’ among his 180-cow herd of Meuse Rhine Issels (MRIs) at Laneside Farm, near Shepton Mallet.

However, five years ago, fertility started to slide, with the 385-day calving interval rising to more than 400 days. Soon afterwards, 10 cows aborted within a six-week period. The herd has been closed for the past 15 years and BVD is thought to have been introduced following a biosecurity lapse at grazing.

Mr Golledge, who farms in partnership with his wife Shelley and father Graham, says: “I had passed off the occasional occurrence of abortion as just one of those things which happen every now then in dairy herds.

“The fertility decline was at first put down to nutrition and the diet was re-examined, but

The six pasture freedoms

64 PRE-WEANING

Meeting performance targets

A Somerset milk producer believed his herd was protected from BVD, until abortions prompted him to call his vet to investigate. Wendy Short reports.

Fertility decline and abortion storm prompt investigation no issues were uncovered. I also thought a change in the weather might be responsible and I even questioned my own DIY artificial insemination technique.

“The abortion storm was very alarming and a test conducted on the aborted foetal material found BVD virus present. Bulk tank sampling revealed BVD antibodies and blood testing highlighted one PI animal of

Sarah and Mat Golledge

54

62 COWSIGNALS

six months old, which was culled from the herd.

“A further dozen infected young calves were identified using the BVD tag and test method and they were also removed. Fortunately, none of the mature cattle were carrying the disease.”

The family has farmed at Laneside for more than a century and MRIs have been milked

there since 1986, although a few British Friesians were purchased before the herd closure and have since been graded up.

Yield The all-year-round calving herd averages 6,500kg at 4.6% butterfat and 3.6% protein, with milk sold to a local cheesemaker.

Mr Golledge says the culling of infected animals, the vaccination programme and the implementation of BVD tag and testing for young calves has eradicated BVD and there have been no further abortion storms.

Meanwhile, the calving interval is back on track at about 385 days. He now has a heightened awareness of contagious diseases in dairy cattle.

He says: “I thought that having a closed herd meant the cows would be protected from contracting BVD and it was simply not on my radar.

“Having experienced the outbreak in my own herd, I consider it a very serious disease which has an impact on financial performance and animal welfare.

“The one positive aspect is

MAY 2022

LAL

www

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Dairy Fa

ANIMAL HEALTH The fertility decline was at first put down to nutrition and the diet was re-examined

PICTURES: Nigel Goldsmith

MAT GOLLEDGE

Once free of BVD, it makes financial sense to continue to protect valuable animals from its return.

that, unlike Johne’s disease, for example, BVD is relatively straightforward to tackle.

“The vaccine is not cheap, but leaving the herd unprotected is not an option for the future.”

Farm vet Dr Laura Swetnam reports that BVD was one of the considerations when she

was asked to investigate the abortion cluster. She immediately took bulk milk samples for testing and requested the laboratory examination of an aborted calf.

The affected cattle were mostly five to six months into their pregnancies.

Dr Swetnam, of Delaware Veterinary Group, says: “The herd was unvaccinated for BVD and had previously been naive to the disease. The bulk tank milk test results showed

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ANIMAL HEALTH high levels of BVD antibodies, indicating disease exposure, but antigen testing found no PI animals within the milking herd.

A BVD vaccination programme was initiated at Laneside, along with a tag and testing programme to monitor for additional PIs being born. Tag and testing involves taking a tissue sample from an animal for BVD virus testing and tagging it to show a sample has been taken, she says.

It can be conducted at any age from newborn onwards and, in this case, resulted in a further handful of PI calves being identified and culled in the following months.

“A BVD PI calf is produced in the first 120 days of pregnancy when a BVD naive cow contracts BVD,” says Dr Swetnam. “The dam’s immune system overcomes transient BVD infection, but the virus will also have been passed to its foetus, which does not clear the virus.

“This calf may either be aborted or born as a live PI animal. PIs remain permanently infected, cannot be cured and will continue to shed large quantities of the virus throughout their lifetimes. Although its lifespan may be shortened by the infection, a PI can appear normal,

reach the breeding herd and will produce more PI calves.”

The tag and test system was continued on newborn calves at Laneside, as it was possible that more PI calves were being carried by pregnant cows.

Cycle Once BVD had entered the herd, the presence of the PI replacement heifer would perpetuate the disease by infecting more pregnant cows, producing more PIs and continuing the cycle.

Dr Swetnam says: “The timeline of the progress of BVD through this herd strongly indicated that a BVDnaive cow in the first 120 days of her pregnancy had encountered the virus at grass; transmission is generally through nose-to-nose contact.

“This cow would have tested positive for BVD antibodies after infection, but there would be no way of knowing that the calf carried the virus as a PI until after it was born and tested.”

After consultation with Mr Golledge, the modified live Bovela vaccination was chosen out of the range of products available, as it offered simple administration and fast-acting protection.

A tag and test programme to monitor for additional PIs being born, along with BVD vaccination was initiated at Laneside.

Abortion storms are most commonly seen in naive herds. Herds with endemic BVD may not suffer abortions DR LAURA SWETNAM

This would halt the production of PI calves in any non-pregnant females. The vaccine requires an initial injection from three months old, followed by a booster every 12 months, with replacements vaccinated at least three weeks prior to insemination.

BVD vaccination protects against the production of PI calves, although it will not kill the virus in PI animals, including calves in utero. These cattle will continue to test positive, she adds.

Despite being a significant health

risk, BVD does not necessarily lead to a high level of abortion in the herd, she says.

“Abortion storms are most commonly seen in naive herds.

Herds with endemic BVD may not suffer abortions, but their fertility will be affected and cattle are unlikely to thrive.

Overwhelmed “While some PIs may be overwhelmed by BVD before the end of their natural lifespan, they shed large quantities of the virus which will continually challenge their herd mates. This challenge, when faced by groups of calves, leads to increased incidence of scour and pneumonia.

“An increasing number of dairy farmers are eradicating BVD from their herds through a combination of testing, culling and vaccination.

“Once free of the disease, it makes financial sense to continue to protect valuable animals from its return. The case at Laneside Farm demonstrates the vulnerability of herds, even when they are closed.”

56

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ANIMAL HEALTH

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ANIMAL HEALTH Cows start to feel uncomfortable and can experience heat stress at lower temperatures than some might realise. Hannah Park reports.

Extreme temperatures not needed for heat stress to occur

C

ows can start to experience heat stress from a temperature humidity index (THI) of 68 or about 22degC, as opposed to humans who experience it from a THI of 80 or 31degC, according to Mark Scott of Cargill.

Mr Scott, speaking in a Cargillorganised webinar on heat stress, explained that in a bid to help dairy farmers monitor the risk of heat stress in their herds and identify the real-time impact of temperature and humidity in UK sheds on cow performance, Cargill installed cloudbased data loggers on 30 dairy units in different regions in the UK in May 2021.

These loggers feed live readings to a dedicated web page on its website, showing the THI index by region, alongside the actual temperature in sheds on the selected farms.

Top line results from last year showed a maximum daily shed THI

of 80, or 32degC, in summer 2021.

Discussing the findings and effect of summer temperatures on milking cows in the UK last year, Mr Scott said that as expected, heat stress was exhibited via increased water intake, as well as changes to lying, standing and respiration behaviour.

Air flow However, heat stress-inducing conditions could be occurring for more prolonged periods than some might think, meaning sub-standard air flow and sustained high temperatures in sheds could be extending beyond what was thought to be the typically warmer months and holding cows back.

Mr Scott said: “On one farm’s ‘heat map’, produced for all those which took part, THI levels from the start of June until the end of September showed that between nine and 10 hours were spent above 28degC in a particular shed and 16-plus hours spent above 25degC

Cows might display this panting and rocking motion as they try to get rid of heat MARK SCOTT

58

during the heatwave in July last summer, plus the uplift we saw in early September.”

He also stressed that temperatures were often a few degrees hotter in sheds than outside.

“When comparing the average THI at a weather station to THI in a shed, there is an average difference of +3 THI in the shed versus the weather station, which converts to a difference of about 2.5degC.” Outlining the impact heat stress could have on herd performance, Mr Scott said temperatures above 20degC or THI reading of above 64 was when problems could start to seriously take hold.

Fertility was often the first causality, while behaviour changes around lying and standing times could have a knock-on impact on things such as feed intake and foot health.

“Heat stress will impact oestrus behaviour, with cows exhibiting fewer signs of bulling behaviour and shorter heat windows, as well as the potential for it to impact egg implantation and development of the foetus, all of which will have a knock-on impact on conception rates.

“Our results showed that at a THI of more than 67, or about 21degC, lying times decreased. This does not necessarily mean that there will be a reduction in rumination time and milk yield, although this is likely in extreme hot conditions, but other things, such as sole bruising and ulcers, might be noticed.

“Knock-on effects can also occur, like if cows gathered at a water trough are blocking a walkway to a feed trough.”

Heat stress can exhibited via increased water intake, as well as changes to lying, standing and respiration behaviour.

Respiration rate was also impacted in warmer conditions.

“Cows should be respiring at about 40 breaths per minute [bpm], but above THI 68, when temperature are about 21-22degC, this will increase to 60bpm and above 80 THI, at 30-35degC, you would expect cows to be breathing at 85bpm.

“Cows might display this panting and rocking motion as they try to get rid of heat.”

To check if cows are heat stressed, Mr Scott advised taking a cow’s temperature between 7am and 8am.

He said: “If [the cow’s temperature] is high, it did not get the chance to cool down.”

And while milk yield was an indicator of heat stress, Mr Scott said this would be one of the last impacts to take hold.

“According to our data recorded last summer, milk yield was only affected on 10% of days.

“Yield does not go down immediately, there is a two- or three-day lag as there needs to be elevated average THIs for at least three days.

“Do not wait for a milk yield drop to believe that you have got heat stress in your herd, because it is the last thing to happen and it is not that frequent.”

He also emphasised that heat stress was not confined to stereotypically warmer parts of the UK.

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“Although it was hotter in the south [of the country] in June, that equalled out from mid-June onwards. The sheds in Scotland were actually warmer in early July; while

the heatwave was later and shorter, temperatures still hit the same numbers and were sustained throughout August.

“Let’s not pretend it is not hap-

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Improving the building environment with ventilation and fans, as well as feeding specifically designed

temperature cooling buffer feeds, were highlighted as ways to help to reduce the impact of elevated temperatures and potential heat stress in cows.

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With input costs continuing to soar, vaccinating pregnant cows and heifers with an anti-scour vaccine is helping one Cornwall farm reduce its medicine bills, while giving newborn calves the best possible start.

Prevention is key for Laram Holsteins

W

ill Mitchell, who runs a Cornwall-based dairy business in partnership with his parents, Tony and Lindsey, says their ethos of prevention rather than cure, is more important than ever.

The Mitchells are Duchy of Cornwall tenants, farming 162 hectares (400 acres) at St Kew Barton, North Cornwall.

There, they grow grass and maize forage, as well as cereals, while the Laram pedigree herd comprises 100 milking Holsteins, plus 130 followers, with an average yield of 10,500 litres.

Will says: “We supply Saputo Dairy UK, which makes Cathedral City cheese, so we need to be hitting 4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein as standard.

“Since I finished my studies at

Harper Adams and came home to join the family business, the focus has been on producing a high-quality product as efficiently as possible, so we have made a number of changes in recent years to achieve that.”

Sticking to traditional turnout times and being reliant on grazing through summer was putting pressure on the business and the Mitchells were finding it difficult to meet their milk contract constituents.

Grass

Grass is sparse through summer and the farm’s location, close to the North Cornish coast, results in regular burnouts at that time of year.

Will says: “We now house the high yielders all year round, while those PD’d for the second time [100 days in-calf] will graze the summer months.

“This has reduced the number of

Tony (left) and Will Mitchell. grazers through summer and taken the pressure off.”

To execute this change effectively, the family has invested in a new cubicle shed, with controlled LED lighting and excellent ventilation, ensuring a high welfare space for the high yielders.

Using sexed semen and carrying

out embryo transfer (ET) work with the herd’s best families, the Mitchells have moved away from rearing store calves and now sell breeding females.

Will says: “We have moved the business to the next step and focused on increasing the value of the herd.”

For this to be successful, attention to detail is paramount and Will says they

calves fed colostrum from vaccinated cows had reducing severity of disease; reduced duration of diarrhoea; reduced shedding of pathogens; and reduced duration of shedding.

“Vaccination helps maximise the immunity of the calf to these infectious pathogens while also reducing the shedding of these pathogens into the environment, therefore helping to reduce the challenge to other calves

in the group. Effectiveness is reliant on calves absorbing adequate antibodies from the colostrum, so ensuring good colostrum management to ensure successful passive transfer is paramount.”

A word from the sponsor NBovigen Scour is a single-dose vaccine which should be given to cows between 12 and three weeks before they calve. It stimulates the production of antibodies to three of the most common infectious causes of calf scour: rotavirus; coronavirus; and E.coli F5 [K99].

These antibodies are passed into the colostrum of the cow and then passively absorbed by the

calf when it drinks the colostrum in the first hours after birth.

Kate Ingram, veterinary adviser for Virbac UK, says: “Studies have shown that feeding calves colostrum from vaccinated cows helps control, and reduces the impact of, calf scour caused by rotavirus, coronavirus and E.coli F5 (K99).

“Compared to those calves fed colostrum from non-vaccinated cows,

For more information, visit FGinsight.com/virbac 60

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SPONSORED CONTENT

The Mitchell family has invested in a new cubicle shed.

depend heavily on vaccination to prevent future problems.

Will says: “Everything you can think of really, we vaccinate for it. We’ve found that works far better than trying to treat a problem once it has arisen.”

Three years ago, the Mitchells found they were getting multiple cases of scour in the calves.

Will says: “We pride ourselves on rearing calves, so this was very frustrating. We lost a couple of calves and others were not getting off to a great start because of it. When a calf is born, its immunity is low, so any challenge it faces can be detrimental.

“We tested and discussed with our vet, who suggested vaccinating the in-calf cows and heifers with an anti-scour vaccine, Bovigen.”

Pregnant females are now vaccinated pre-calving, anywhere between 12 and three weeks before they are due, and Will says it has eradicated the scour problem.

He says: “The difference has been huge. We recently adapted our calf rearing facilities, moving them into twin hutches, and we have never had calves as healthy.

“We test the colostrum and freeze high quality batches so all newborn calves are receiving that imm-

unity, passed on through the colostrum at birth.

“It is so important that they get the best possible start, as it makes a difference through their whole lives.

“The ET work and artificial inseminating we do are expensive too, so losing even two or three calves in a year is devastating. But it is not just the ones you might lose, it’s the long-term consequences of the ones which don’t get off to a good start that have to be taken into consideration. The cost of

prevention is far less in the long run.”

In addition, with the Mitchells now having been vaccinating for this purpose for two to three years, the farm’s vet, Phil Dawber, of Cornwall Dairy Vets, says he is witnessing other notable improvements through the herd.

Phil says: “I have seen improved growth rates in the calves and they are able to be weaned sooner. Fertility-wise, the heifers are also calving down at a younger age.

“If the calves are healthier when

young, this carries right through and it has highlighted the need on the farm to improve colostrum use by testing it and freezing any left-over good quality colostrum.

“I don’t think there’s been any clinical cases of scouring on the farm since vaccination started and I know that we certainly sell a lot less medicines to them as a result. There has been a huge reduction in antibiotic usage.”

The Mitchells are currently building up herd numbers, aiming for 180 milking cows and, by focusing on health of the cattle and the efficiency of their system, they hope to achieve this in a manageable way, relying on father and son, Tony and Will, as the main workforce.

Will says: “Input costs are phenomenal at the moment, but cutting essential costs is not the answer in the long run. We are hoping that being as efficient as possible and concentrating on preventing issues which may be costly in the future will help us maintain a profitable business.”

Studies have shown that feeding calves colostrum from vaccinated cows helps to control calf scour, says Virbac UK’s Kate Ingram.

For more information, visit FGinsight.com/virbac Bovigen Scour emulsion for injection for cattle contains inactivated antigens: Bovine rotavirus strain TM-91, serotype G6P1, Bovine coronavirus strain C-19, Escherichia coli strain EC/17 (F5/K99 antigens).POM-VPS Advice on the use of this medicine should be sought from your prescriber. Further information available from the SPC or from Virbac Ltd, Woolpit Business Park, Windmill Avenue, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9UP, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1359 243243. Use medicines responsibly. Visit noah.co.uk/responsible

MAY 2022 DF May p60 61 Bitesize KJ MB (Signed off).indd 3

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ANIMAL HEALTH At a recent AHDB event, Owen Atkinson, of Dairy Veterinary Consultancy, discussed the CowSignals concept and how the six freedoms of pasture aid cow health and yield. Katie Fallon reports.

P

revention rather than cure was the key message at the CowSignals workshop, delivered by Owen Atkinson, at Crathorne Farms, North Yorkshire.

He explained how CowSignals is centred around preventing disease, while training farmers to look at their herds with a critical outsider’s eye, to spot the issues not always seen day to day.

He said: “CowSignals is about giving the cows what they want, to give us what we want. It is about looking at the body language of the herd and the cow.”

Key principles of CowSignals are the six freedoms of pasture, also known as the CowSignals diamond. These are focused on ensuring housed cows can express the same natural behaviour they would at pasture while inside, and include access to feed, water, light, air, rest and space.

1 Feed Mr Atkinson explained the importance of rumen health.

He said: “The rumen needs to be kept in optimum health condition and operates best at a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5.”

He advised that to maintain a stable rumen pH and efficient fermentation, cows need to be eating little and often with eight hours of feeding per cow per day the optimum.

The feeding frequency of grazed and housed cows will differ, with grazing cows generally eating for between nine and 12 hours per day.

Six pasture freedoms to ensure cow health Mr Atkinson said cows grazing will feed little and often as they cannot eat a large amount at once due to the water content in the grass.

Whereas housed cows will only eat five to six times a day, because they will eat bigger feeds at once as the diet is not as watery.

Sick or lame cows will eat less frequently and are therefore in danger of their pH dropping and the rumen not operating correctly.

Mr Atkinson said: “It is not always about the amount of food they eat, but the pattern in which they eat it.”

He explained the governing factors of ensuring rumen pH is maintained include sufficient feed space and easy access to feed, regular push-ups of feed and twice-a-day fresh feeding.

He advised at least 66cm of space at the feed barrier per cow.

2 Water If water is restricted, food intake will also be restricted. At least 10cm of water space per cow should be available to ensure all cows are getting the water access they need.

If cows do not get enough darkness, bulling activity can reduce as a block of darkness is required to produce the melatonin hormone OWEN ATKINSON

62

Key principles of CowSignals are the six freedoms of pasture.

3 Light

5 Rest

The amount of light which cows are subject to influences their feed intakes so longer days mean more feeding time. However, light can have a significant influence on fertility.

Mr Atkinson said: “If cows do not get enough darkness, bulling activity can reduce as a block of darkness is required to produce the melatonin hormone, essential for reproduction.”

The optimum for fertility and feed intake is 16 hours of light and eight hours of darkness. Lighting needs to be at 200 lux to be counted as daylight, whereas darkness needs to be below 50 lux.”

Lying down is critical to cows as reduced lying time will reduce the efficiency of milk production.

They should spend 12 hours a day lying down.

Otherwise, there may be an increase in lameness, such as digital dermatitis from standing in slurry and sole ulcers caused by sole bruising.

4 Air The biggest challenge for cows is keeping themselves cool and therefore fresh air is important.

Mr Atkinson said: “Due to the metabolic rate at which cows work, they generate a huge amount of heat.

The ideal temperature for cows is between 5degC and 15degC and they can cope with temperatures up to 20degC by increasing their respiratory rate and breathing faster.

“However, if the temperature rises above 22degC, cows will experience heat stress, which can be a real challenge.”

6 Space Mr Atkinson explained how space and rest work together. Empty passage ways mean cows are either lying down or feeding.

If passage ways are congested, cows will not have the space to move naturally, which could lead to ‘waiting cows’.

These are cows which are standing but not eating and no more than 15% of the herd should be ‘waiting cows’.

Mr Atkinson advised farmers to look at successful areas of the farm and areas which could be improved in relation to the six freedoms.

He told farmers to start by looking at the herd’s behaviour, then focus on individual cows, and said: “Cows will pay you back in health and litres of milk.”

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ANIMAL HEALTH At a recent Women in Dairy event, elements of calf management were discussed. Katie Fallon reports.

Managing pre-weaned calves

T

here are several factors which affect a calf’s performance, all of which are important in ensuring calves get off to the best start.

From nutrition to ventilation Julia Wadeson, calf and youngstock manager at Carrs Billington, shared her advice with members of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Women in Dairy group.

Milk powder JDeciding between whey and skim milk powder can often be cause for confusion.

Miss Wadeson said: “If both are of a high quality and the same specification, they will get similar daily liveweight gains [DLWG] and perform very similarly, so long as environment and calf management is ideal. The difference between the two is that whey is digested very quickly, compared to skim.”

She explained that whey passes straight through the abomasum and will be digested within two hours at the top of

the small intestine, whereas skim clots in the abomasum, which means it takes longer to digest but calves are full for longer. Miss Wadeson advised feeding skim milk powder to calves with a more challenging environment.

“Five years ago, four litres of milk a day would have been acceptable, however six litres are now advised as a minimum,” said Miss Wadeson.

“Data has shown that for every 100g of extra average DLWG in the first two months, could mean an extra 250kg of milk in the first lactation.”

Using clean equipment when feeding calves was crucial, said Julia Wadeson.

Forage

Weaning

JStraw should be the only forage available to calves prior to weaning, as they are unable digest high quality forage, said Miss Wadeson.

“We do not want them to get full of the forage, as they will not eat enough starter feed.”

She said straw provided a ‘scratch factor’, which prevented a keratin build up on the papillae lining the rumen and improves overall nutrient absorption.

rAge: Calves should be weaned between eight and 10 weeks old, as weaning after 10 weeks will increase economic loss and labour costs rConsumption: Calves should be consuming between 1.5kg and 2kg a day for three consecutive days before weaning rWeight: Calves should be double their birth weight, as a minimum, at weaning

Feed and water J“Starter feed, water and straw should all be provided from birth and be available adlib,” said Miss Wadeson. “A lot of people do not provide water until a week or ten days after the calf is born, but calves need water for metabolic processes and to provide an ideal environment for bacteria in the rumen.”

Miss Wadeson said starter

feed should be palatable to encourage the calf to eat and develop the rumen, whether that be in the form of a nut, pellet, or coarse mix. She also advised using feed which contained a minimum of 18% protein to develop stature and lean muscle and stressed the importance of starch contents for rumen development.

Ventilation J Miss Wadeson explained how good ventilation reduced airborne bacteria and therefore reduced the risk of disease such as pneumonia.

She also said ventilation helped to reduce moisture in housing as a lot of moisture in a shed would pull the temperature down.

“Drafts of 5mph can reduce

a shed temperature by 8degC,” said Miss Wadeson.

Miss Wadeson added, the humidity level in sheds should be less than 75% and air speed should be 2mph. She advised testing the air speed at the entrance and the middle of the shed, as well as at calf height to get a measurement which reflects the whole shed.

Top tips to give calves the best start rFeed good quality milk replacer and starter feed rAverage DLWG of 0.85kg, for larger dairy breeds rHave a suitable vaccination programme in place

64 DF May p64 KJ MB.indd 2

rHave a separate pen ready to isolate sick calves rHave management protocols which all staff are aware of rMonitor the calves at least twice a day

Hygiene JMiss Wadeson said staff were one of the most common passages of bacterial problems.

She advised staff to wear clean

clothing and footwear to reduce bacterial transfer. Using clean equipment when feeding calves was crucial, she added.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:29

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MAY 2022 DF_05_P65.indd 3

65 12/04/2022 16:04

DAIRY-TECH There was a buzz around Stoneleigh Park last month with dairy farmers descending for DairyTech. Talk focused on market conditions and visitors saw first-hand the products and technology new to the market. Katie Jones, Ellie Layton, Toby Whatley and Jonathan Wheeler report.

Sustainability and security key to future

S

ustainability has been a much used word in the dairy sector for a while now, but John Allen, of Kite Consulting, said he believed going forward there would be a longer term focus on food security coupled with sustainability.

Speaking during a ‘state of the nation’ panel discussion, Mr Allen said the crisis in Ukraine had shifted this focus, with one of the many outcomes of the war being that consumers had started to recognise the value of food security.

He said: “We have got to get retailers to buy into the fact they need to pay more. It has got to be in their interest to pay more

now to secure supply for the future.”

But he said sustainability would also play a part in this, with processors and retailers all keen to engage in the message that sustainable production was key in the long-term.

Ukraine He added that even if the crisis in Ukraine ended soon it was going to have a ‘major influence’ on the UK market for at least two years whether the outcome was ‘peace or ceasefire’.

“The talk of 45-55ppl for milk is taking us into territories we have never seen before, but with input costs also rising, budgets will also look very different than before.”

Mr Allen said that for those who had fixed their feed costs there was a possibility of making ‘some serious money’, but he gave a word of caution for those who had not.

He said: “For those farmers who have come to the end of their feed contract, they are not going to want to pay £400 a tonne for feed, so they might decide to turn their cows out and see what will happen.”

He added he predicted the ‘wheels will fall off’ in these situations and said while this might lead to a short-term solution it could have a damaging impact in the longer term.

Oliver McIntyre, of Barclays, said he believed volatility was John Allen said that for those who had fixed their feed costs there was a possibility of making ‘some serious money’.

John Allen

‘here to stay’, but added that in periods of volatility it was more important than ever to have a plan.

He said: “There are some things that are in our control, so take some control of the situation where you can, make your own decisions, and stick to them.”

Dairy Student of the Year Award JMax Mitchell, from Harper Adams University, was selected as the winner of the Dairy Student of the Year Award at Dairy-Tech 2022.

Mr Mitchell is from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and is studying agriculture with farm business management.

He received £750 and a six-month paid placement with award sponsor Mole Valley Farmers.

66 DF May p66 67 Dairy-Tech KJ MB.indd 2

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:42

DAIRY-TECH

Getting recruitment right JDairy farmers need to work hard on improving the industry’s image if they expect to solve their recruitment problems and make themselves ‘employers of choice’.

They especially need to address their current image, recruitment specialist Paul Harris, founder of recruitment consultancy Real Success, said during a seminar.

He said most of the candidates he interviewed for jobs cited personal relationships as the reason they left their previous role.

“It is not always about money,” he added, pointing out that pay tended to rate fairly low on the list of motivational factors affecting people’s approach to their work.

When attracting the right recruit first impressions count, he said, and invited farmers to do a quick test.

“Stand at the end of your farm drive and imagine you are a new em-

ployee. Does your farm look tatty?

If you look grumpy and dishevelled do not be surprised if they react. You are being interviewed too – the applicant is also interviewing you.”

And, he said recruiting ‘like for like’ may not be the best option.

“Figure out what people skills you need, because that could be different from those of the person who has just left. Draw up a job description telling them what you expect them to do.

Structured process “And the interview should not just be a chat in the Land Rover; it needs to be a structured process with proper, structured questions.”

He also said any new recruit should be ‘on-boarded’ properly.

“Tell them what will happen in the first week, who they will be working with and who they will be trained by.”

Work/life balance is crucial to employees, according to recruiter Paul Harris.

Thereafter working conditions and communication were crucial.

He added staff should always have a warm, dry room in which to eat lunch and relax and be aware of what the farm was trying to achieve.

In addition, they should receive training in the skills they need like foot trimming and AI, and have regular team meetings at least once a month.

Work/life balance was also crucial he said, which might mean amending arrangements for an employee who wanted to engage in a particular hobby that might otherwise clash with work.

“If you think staff are your biggest problem, they will be your biggest problem. If you value them and regard them as a central part of your business it will change.”

MAY 2022 DF May p66 67 Dairy-Tech KJ MB.indd 3

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DAIRY-TECH

Farmers call for an end to exclusive milk contracts

E

xclusive contracts which only allow dairy farmers to sell milk to one buyer should be broken up, a Dairy-Tech workshop

was told.

Farmers claimed this would enable them to try alternatives such as direct selling, supplying local food businesses and engaging much more with communities where they live.

In the workshop, co-ordinated by the Food Ethics Council, the participating farmers agreed that exclusive contracts between individual producers and processors were restrictive and unfair.

The Food Ethics Council is working with dairy farmers in the UK to help them drive positive change for people, planet and animals across the sector. Its three-year Dairy Project involves a series of workshops

and dialogues on ethics and fairness with UK dairy farmers.

Non-exclusive contracts would benefit producers, large and small.

One producer participating in the session was already doing direct selling and had set up their own farm store, which had proved successful to date, allowing them to employ several people locally and become a hub for the local community.

Another farmer, farming on a larger scale, said while he did not have capacity to get involved in vending machines or selling direct himself, if there was an artisan cheese producer nearby he would ‘love’ to have the freedom to be able to sell them milk and, by doing so, support others locally.

However, he was currently prevented from doing so because of the contract he was locked into.

Food Ethics Council executive director Dan Crossley said: “Giving dairy producers more control over who they are allowed to sell to and greater flexibility will benefit not just farmers, but local communities too.”

Agroecological Another key area discussed at the workshop was the question of how subsidies can support more agroecological approaches in dairy.

The discussion suggested that while some dairy farmers would like to get involved in transitioning to agroecological schemes, at the moment very few were participating because the current offering of subsidies and incentives was not attractive.

The farmers discussed that while there was an appetite among dairy farmers to do more on the net zero

Essex herd lifts 2020 NMR Gold Cup JThe winner of the 2020 National Milk Record’s Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers Gold Cup is the Torrance family from Stapleford Abbotts, near Romford, Essex.

The delayed presentation was made to John Torrance – who farms in partnership with father

Robert, mother Janet and wife Lucy.

Pedigree Holsteins The Torrance’s Curtismill pedigree Holstein herd comprises 670 cows and 430 followers and is part of their farming business run on 429

hectares (1,060 acres) of Crown Estate land, just inside the M25 corridor. Ranking among the top UK herds for Profitable Lifetime Index, the family’s focus is on efficiency and they aim to breed cows that will produce 70,000 litres of milk during an average of five lactations.

Gold Cup winners, from left: Robert, John, Lucy and Rory Torrance.

68 DF May p68 Dairy-Tech KJ MB.indd 2

and biodiversity agendas, the incentives to do that on-farm were currently lacking. For larger dairy farms, some felt that the subsidies on offer were not enough of an incentive to make it worth their while.

Mr Crossley added: “We know that many dairy farmers want to take positive steps to promote onfarm biodiversity, restore soil health and reduce climate impacts, but are not being given enough support from Government. Some are acting anyway, but there is untapped potential to do so much more with better targeted incentives.”

Organic sales growth slowing JUK sales or organic dairy products remain well below those of other countries and growth has slowed to just 1% in recent years, David Williams, of OMSCO, told the seminar.

He said that in the UK one pint in 20 was organic milk, whereas in Denmark it was one pint in three, and the UK’s spend on organic products lagged well behind countries like the USA, Germany and France.

He said: “What are we doing wrong? One problem is that in the supermarket organic milk looks exactly like other milk. The plantbased guys use all sorts of branding.”

He added that he thought the sector needed to market the benefits better – stressing how organic farmers work with nature; help combat climate change and use high standards of animal welfare.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:31

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tubes and teats should be cleaned regularly. Anything that has contact with calves, should be easy to clean.

“It should be an easy job. If it is difficult people will be less inclined to do it,” she adds.

Avoid housing calves together which have more than a two-week age gap – older calves are more likely to infect younger calves.

Snatch calving can also be a good prevention method.

“Cows are a huge source of infection for young calves, so ensure the calving pens are clean and remove the calves as soon as possible”, says Ms Stafford.

2

Boost calf immunity with vaccinations If there are specific infectious causes present on-farm, it is possible to boost the calf’s immunity through vaccinations administered to the dam.

“This will mean they have more resilience to those bugs when they are born, once they have had colostrum,” says Ms Stafford.

3

Know the symptoms Symptoms are usually visible for a week and can range from mild signs, such as loose dung, to severe, very sick aniani mals and ultimately, death.

If a calf is treated for scour it is three times more likely to go on to calve at 29 months old, compared to calves which do not have scour.

“Normally, early signs will include the calves appearing depressed or not wanting to feed and they might have a temperature before any signs of scouring. As long as they are still happy to drink, this would be a good time to offer a couple of litres of electrolytes between their milk feeds.

“More severely affected calves may not be willing to stand, have sunken eyes or might show signs of,” says Ms Stafford.

Scouring can vary from slightly loose, undigested dung to very watery dung.

4

Replacing fluid is key Rehydrating calves is critical, as they will lose several litres of fluid when they have scour.

“Fluid replacement is something that farmers can do with oral electrolyte fluids – this is the first line of treatment we would recommend,” says Ms Stafford.

While rehydrating, keep the calves on their milk feed as this

AF BB MB.indd 1

DF_05_P69.indd 1

will give them energy to heal but any severe cases should be their gut and make a speedy isolated until they recover to recovery. prevent the spread around the “Also ensure the calves have shed,” says Ms Stafford. access to water at all times.”

A treatment plan should be in Make sure nutrition is place adds Ms Stafford. correct “Working with a vet on a flow Keeping calves healthy and chart to inform decisions based growing well enough to fight on the signs you see is very scour is important. useful.”

“If the calves are underIf calves are at the stage where nourished then they will be on they are recumbent, veterinary the back foot with any disease intervention is necessary to adpressures. minister intravenous drugs.

“Nutritional scour is most If cryptosporidium is diagcommonly caused by inconnosed – usually by identifying sistent feeding but can also be cryptosporidium eggs in calf caused by milk replacers which faeces – consider using halofuare high in plant protein rather ginone. than milk proteins,” says Ms Antibiotics rarely play a role Stafford. in calf scour, however they can be useful under some circumLook at the feeding plan stances – check with the vet.

“Make sure they are being fed enough for maintenance Isolate scouring calves and growth as well as to mount Isolate infected calves, if an immune response. If calves space allows. are happy to keep drinking milk “If there are a lot of calves afwhile scouring then continue to fected this may not be possible, offer their usual milk feed.”

6

7

5

The new summer forage Skyfall is a bounce-back brassica and the first of its kind.

Sown in early summer, it can provide three or four rounds of grazing through summer and into autumn, making a ‘forage bridge’ when conditions can be dry and grass in short supply.

It will give grass some valuable recovery time, allowing more to be made of home grown forages.

It’s also an ideal crop to slot into a reseed programme and can be sown after first-cut silage or a first round of grazing.

This helps to break the grassland-bug cycle while providing a high-value forage.

These ‘wins’ will be music to farmers’ ears as we see higher feed and fertiliser prices adding to milk production costs.

Skyfall has large strap-like leaves that look like stubble turnip leaves, and roots that are deep and elongated – more like a forage rape root. It can be grazed then closed up to re-grow or ‘bounce-back’ before grazing again – a cycle that can be repeated three or four times from mid-summer onwards.

These deep roots promote drought tolerance and re-growth potential.

Crops sown in mid to late May have the best re-growth potential, although Skyfall can be sown until July. It needs a moist, fine seedbed and should be sown at a rate of 5kg/ha, ideally with slurry and FYM applications prior to drilling. A pH between 6 and 7 is ideal.

The crop is ready for grazing between five and seven weeks after sowing. It is best strip grazed and then, once eaten off, it should be closed-up for four to six weeks to allow re-growth before grazing again. To maximise its ‘bounce back’ potential, 30 to 35kg/ha of nitrogen should be applied after each grazing.

Limagrain trial results in 2020 showed fresh yields in the first grazing of 34t/ha at 10.2% dry matter. The total fresh yield was 79t/ha at 12.4% dry matter across four grazing rounds.

This equates to 9.55t DM/ha across the four grazing periods.

It also yielded an ME of 10MJ/kgDM with protein content averaging between 16% and 18%.

Skyfall’s regrowth potential means dry matter yields are on par with the best kale crops and much higher than other summer forages. It’s a value-for-money crop that’s worth considering on most dairy farms.

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DF Apr p1 Cover KJ

A summer forage that keeps bouncing back

JOHN SPENCE Limagrain Forage Crops Manager

READER SURVEY

s well as impacting “Consider how equipment on calf welfare, and calf pens are cleaned and growth and conhow often. Ideally calf pens version efficiency, should be cleaned out every scour hits the bot- four weeks – which will help to tom line too, making it imperative reduce disease pressure,” says for first-cut silages and to have a prevention plan. articles on preparing Ms Stafford.

Inside - read our LANTALK Kim Stafford, vet at Giles and n specific inoculant.

“For any new batches of using a crop and conditio Parsons Farm Vets in Cornwall, calves coming in, pens should says: “Scour is the top cause be thoroughly cleaned and of death in calves under oneScan to find out more disinfected. If there is a problem month-old.

EW with cryptosporidium check -TECH PREVI “There willDAIRY be negative imthat the disinfectant being used expect can pacts on growth What rateyou and age at kills it.” first calving which will increase year’s event Iodine, chlorine and bleachfrom this rearing costs, veterinary costs based products will not kill 68-73 and additionalPages time spent lookcryptosporidium, so hydrogen ing after the calves. Heifers are peroxide would be a better opalso nearly three times more tion, she suggests. likely to calve at over 29 months Any equipment including old if they have been treated buckets, bottles, calf jackets, for scour as a calf, compared to calves which have not had it,” she adds.

Causes can be infections or nutrition related.

“Nutritional causes tend to lead to mild signs, whereas AL HEALTH infectious causesANIM can be more severe,” she says.Change in season brings But there are steps farmers in challenges a change can take to reduce the risk of 42-66 calves contractingPages the disease.

UP TO

DISEASE FOCUS

diets

in Scourutilisa is thetion most common disease in young calves, accounting for around 36-37 50% of deaths, Pages making it an important disease for farmers to get on top of. So how can calf scour be prevented and treated?

Ruth Wills reports.

Volume 69 Issue 4

DF Apr p24 25 Disease Focus KJ MB.indd

3 22/03/2022 13:58

12/04/2022 12:43

DAIRY-TECH

For more new products from Dairy-Tech, see pages 78-79.

Modular dairy vending machine system option

I

rish pasteurising equipment manufacturer Unison has launched a modular dairy vending system which includes pasteurising, chilling, intermediate bulk tanks and a customer vending station.

Designed as a complete system where raw milk is fed into the unit from the bulk supply, it is offered as a completely separate entity and requires either a 230 or 380v power supply and a waste connection to be operational.

The process is fully automated and will carry out dedicated cleaning cycles between the pasteurised batches. The manufacturer claims the unit can be installed and set-up ready to vend in two days.

The system offers outputs from 250-1,000 litres per hour, depending on the internal specification chosen. The unit has additional space to allow for bottle or additional vending units to be added. A rolling security shutter is fitted to the retail outlet of the assembly.

Quickly access Mark Hanrahan, of Unison, said: “The Micro-Dairy is designed to allow farmers to quickly access the market for on-farm vending without the need to build specific infrastructure and the capacity of the unit can be upgraded as demand increases.”

JPrices start from £67,500.

The modular dairy vending system includes pasteurising, chilling, intermediate bulk tanks and a customer vending station.

Award eyes up new technology

Silo monitoring app JLancashire-based Collinson has expanded its FeedAlert silo monitoring app with the introduction of an entry level, retrofittable weighing system which can be used on all ages and makes of silo.

The Envision system uses externally-mounted load sensors in addition to a data connection box which can be installed on new or existing silos from any manufacturer.

The sensors detect fluctuations in the silo support legs as weight is added or removed. The system offers a claimed 95% accuracy and with viewable data through the app. Using load cells it will accurately report the mass on the contents, even if the product has bridged.

Available for Android and iOS devices, the monthlysubscribed app offers remote access to view silo levels,

70 DF May p70 Dairy-Tech KJ MB.indd 2

in addition to pop-up alerts when the bin drops below a predefined level.

JPrices start from £450 and is available factory fitted on all new Collison silos.

JCattle Eye was crowned winner of the Royal Dairy Innovation Award.

The award was given to the company for its autonomous livestock welfare and performance monitoring product, the world’s first hardware-independent autonomous livestock monitoring platform on the market.

The camera gives a body and mobility score, as well as assessing fertility for each cow. Cattle Eye does not use hardware or devices that need to be attached to the cow.

The product can be used to detect locomotion deviations, which are highly correlated to lameness in dairy cows.

The other two finalists were DigiFarm Data Tool and DeLaval Flow Responsive Milking.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:31

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Meadow Foods lead prices paying 41ppl for May JMeadow Foods increasing its producer milk price by 4.5ppl from May claims an industry record-breaking price level for now.

But probably more relevant is the fact the company has confirmed it also signals a new positive intent regarding future milk price movements.

The company claims it is committed to passing back any future increases and as soon as possible, while working closely with customers to ensure they fully recognise the cost pressure producers face and the impact this will have in the months ahead.

This latest increase, across all its milk pools, and one of the largest monthly increases to date, follows the 1.5ppl increase from April and takes the total increase to 11ppl for this year to date, as

well as its ‘A’ price for our liquid standard litre* to an industry first and record level of 41ppl.

The new price compares with 27ppl paid for May last year, as well as being 11.85ppl above the five-year May average price of 29.15ppl.

Being a flat rate increase, our manufacturing standard litre* also increases by 4.5ppl to 41.63ppl.

Crediton Crediton Dairy has confirmed it is to increase its producer milk price by 3.5ppl from May to 40.25ppl. This price includes the company’s 0.5ppl monthly Farm Metrics bonus.

The new price compares with 29.5ppl paid for the same month last year and is 9.6ppl above the company’s five-year May average price of 30.65ppl.

40ppl becomes the new benchmark this spring JSince Marks & Spencer was the first to just break the 40ppl level at the end of February, milk price increases have motored, with growing number of milk buyers having now reached the 40ppl level for our liquid standard litre.

They now match the

first non-aligned increase to reach 40ppl, which Freshways announced in the middle of March.

Running up towards the end of March, Paynes were the next to confirm the key milestone level, followed

by Yew Tree, then Muller, Braeforge and Grahams.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:36

Milk price analyst Stephen Bradley on the latest milk industry developments.

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JSuch has been the rate of rise in on-farm costs that it is forcing revsions into retail cost trackers.

Tesco, for example, has revised its cost tracker, which has led to an increase of 4.64ppl being introduced a month early from April, with a further 2.04ppl being added from May. Checking our records, this combined increase of 6.68ppl is the largest milk price increase ever announced, albeit split over two months.

Furthermore, the feed, fertiliser and fuel element of the cost tracker is to be reviewed on a monthly basis

(instead of quarterly), so subsequently the milk price will now be updated monthly from June onwards.

The combined increase for April and May takes our liquid standad litre for our Muller Milk Group Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) supplier up to 40.84ppl for May. Haulage Our Arla Direct TSDG supplier receives the same level of increase after haulage, taking the price up to 40.59ppl.

The prices have now increased by 7.48ppl for the year to date.

SDDG price increases by 0.88ppl JHaving already moved to monthly pricing and reviewed the time lags of its cost tracker, Sainsbury’s is to increase its Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group (SDDG) milk price by 0.88ppl from May. The increase follows the 4.72ppl increase from April, making an increase of 6.63ppl for

the year to date, to take our liquid standard litre to 39.5ppl.

Our Arla SDDG supplier receives the same level of increase, taking our price up to 39.38ppl after including the company’s 0.12ppl haulage charge.

Both prices include an average bonus of 0.62ppl for herd health and efficiency.

*Our liquid standard litre is 4% butterfat and 3.3% protein, for our manufacturing 4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein and, in both cases, Bactoscans of 30,000/ml and SCCs of 200,000/ml, with Thermodurics of 500/ml, 1m litres/year on EODC (max vehicle accessibility) but before B pricing, balancing, profile adjustments from level supply, seasonality, monthly profile payments, capital deductions or annual/part annual growth incentive schemes or supplements not directly linked to dairy market price movement.

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MILK PRICES Latest milk prices from

Dec’21 4.0/3.3 Before Seas’lty

Jan’22 4.0/3.3 Before Seas’lty

12mth Ave Feb’21 Jan’22

Diff Jan’22 v Dec’21

Latest Confirmed Milk Price

LIQUID PRICES (4% b/f & 3.3% prot) Müller Milk Group – M&S Müller Milk Group – Waitrose UK Arla Farmers – Tesco UK Arla Farmers – Morrisons (Grazing) UK Arla Farmers – Morrisons Müller Milk Group – Tesco Müller Milk Group – Sainsbury’s Arla Foods – Sainsbury’s Arla Foods – Tesco Dale Farm NI UK Arla Farmers Müller Milk Group – The Co-op Dairy Group Crediton Dairy Dale Farm GB (Kendal) Blackmore Vale Dairy Yew Tree Dairy Müller Milk Group – Müller Direct Meadow Foods Meadow Foods Lakes Müller Milk Group – Müller Direct (Scotland) Grahams Dairies Paynes Farms Dairies Freshways Braeforge Simple Average Simple Average (excl. retail contracts)

(i) 37.19 34.35 36.71 36.50 36.27 33.36 32.87 32.75 33.11 34.09 35.29 32.08 31.50 31.39 31.01 30.50 30.00 30.00 30.00 29.79 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 32.45 30.97

(ii) 37.19 36.85 37.56 37.35 37.12 33.36 33.10 32.98 33.11 35.09 36.14 33.91 33.50 33.39 33.25 33.50 33.00 33.00 33.00 32.79 32.00 33.00 33.00 33.00 34.17 33.40

(iii) 34.65 33.64 33.19 32.98 32.75 32.36 32.29 32.17 31.90 31.84 31.77 31.10 30.17 29.60 29.47 29.38 28.85 28.77 28.77 28.64 28.58 28.50 28.29 27.65 30.72 29.31

(i) v (ii) N/C 2.50 0.85 0.85 0.85 N/C 0.23 0.23 N/C 1.00 0.85 1.83 2.00 2.00 2.24 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 2.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 1.73 2.43

(iv) 40.03 41.10 39.62 39.41 39.18 40.84 39.50 39.38 40.59 35.09 38.20 37.97 40.25 35.39 38.70 40.00 40.00 41.00 41.00 39.79 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00

MANUFACTURING PRICES (4.2% b/f & 3.4% prot) UK Arla Farmers Parkham Farms Tesco First Milk – Haverfordwest Tesco Cheese Group The Fresh Milk Company – Level Profile ‡ Barber’s Cheesemakers Saputo Dairy UK – Davidstow The Fresh Milk Company (Lactalis) Wyke Farms First Milk South Caernarfon Wensleydale Dairy Products Belton Farm Glanbia – Llangefni (Constituent) Arla Foods – Direct Manufacturing Simple Average Simple Average (excl. retail contracts)

36.68 33.53 33.50 32.85 32.93 32.65 32.28 31.89 32.00 32.10 31.20 31.05 31.00 32.26 32.57 32.41

37.58 35.93 35.50 35.27 34.96 35.00 34.70 34.17 34.00 34.10 34.40 33.05 34.00 32.26 34.64 34.46

33.01 32.10 32.05 31.26 31.03 30.93 30.69 30.62 30.55 30.37 30.07 29.64 29.33 28.78 30.75 30.52

0.90 2.40 2.00 2.42 2.03 2.35 2.42 2.28 2.00 2.00 3.20 2.00 3.00 N/C 2.07 2.22

39.72 39.67 41.55 42.18 39.62 38.75 41.61 41.41 40.05 40.00 39.04 40.05 40.00 36.80

‘B’ Price Indicators StoneXMilkprices.com UKMFE (gross) *StoneXMilkprices.com UKMFE (net) **Delivered spot milk (net to the producer)

41.23 36.79 42.70

44.04 39.44 39.35

35.48 31.61

2.81 2.65 -3.35

Notes to table Prices for both Liquid & Manufacturing tables paid for a producer sending 1mltrs/yr on EODC (max vehicle size accessibility) with Bactoscans of 30,000/ml and SCC’s of 200,000/ml with Thermodurics of 500/ml. Prices exclude capital retentions or AHDB levies, profile adjustments from level supply, seasonality, balancing and A&B price schemes. Excludes annual / part annual growth incentive schemes or supplements not directly linked to dairy market price movement. Liquid price for milk contains 4% b/f and 3.3% protein. Manufacturing price for milk containing 4.2%/b/f and 3.4% prot. All prices for non-aligned prices are before monthly retail supplements. (i) Dec’21 prices before seasonality or B pricing (ii) Jan’22 prices before seasonality or B pricing (iii) Table ranked on simple rolling 12mth average of monthly prices (Feb’21 to Jan’22). (i) v (ii) The difference Jan’22 compared with Dec’21. UK Arla Farmers 3.03ppl increase from Dec’21 includes forecast 13th payment +1.26ppkg (+1.298ppl) based on our liquid std litre. UK Arla Farmers 3.16ppl increase from Dec’21 includes forecast 13th payment +1.31ppkg (+1.349ppl) based on our manufacturing std litre. UK Arla Farmers 0.9ppl increase from Jan’22 includes forecast 13th payment +1.26ppkg (+1.298ppl) based on our liquid std litre. UK Arla Farmers 0.85ppl increase from Jan’22 includes forecast 13th payment +1.31ppkg (+1.349ppl) based on our manufacturing std litre. First Milk price includes 0.5ppl Member Premium accrued as a 13th payment paid Apr’22. First Milk Haverfordwest Tesco Cheese Group includes 2ppl retailer premium averaged as 1.5ppl based on seasonal profile. Fresh Milk Company price before Morrisons monthly cheese supplement (no payment to date from Nov’21). MMG Direct price includes 1ppl Müller Advantage Premium paid annually in arrears to Direct/Organic farms meeting specific Müller Direct criteria. Crediton Dairy price includes FarmMetrics Scheme Bonus of 0.5ppl (paid monthly) with 0.5ppl 13th payment rolled into the monthly price from Jan’22. South Caernarfon price includes flat 0.6ppl annual member bonus. ‡ Price includes 12mth average rolling profile fixed at 0.57ppl. * UK Milk Futures Equivalent (UKMFE) net to producer includes 5% processor margin and allowing 2ppl ex-farm haulage + milk testing. ** Ave delivered spot milk net to producer allows 2.5ppl covering haulage + milk testing and margin. (iv) Latest confirmed milk price at the time of going to press. N/C in this context means no change made aware since Jan’22. UK Arla Farmers 1.74ppl increase from Mar’22 includes forecast 13th payment +1.26ppkg (+1.298ppl) based on our liquid std litre. UK Arla Farmers 1.8ppl increase from Mar’22 includes forecast 13th payment +1.31ppkg (+1.349ppl) based on our manufacturing std litre. MMG Direct Premium for Direct/Organic farms meeting specific Müller Direct criteria confirmed as 1ppl for 2022 and paid quarterly, Apr’22, Jul’22, Oct’22 & Jan’23. All prices (excluding First Milk Haverfordwest Tesco at 1.50ppl) are before monthly retail supplements. Milkprices.com cannot take any responsibility for losses arising. Copyright: Milkprices.com

74 DF May p72 73 74 Milk KJ MB.indd 4

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:37

Latest show features at #LAMMA22 4-5 May 2022 at the NEC, Birmingham

The Spring edition of LAMMA is beginning to take shape with brand new show debuts across both event days.

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In association with BAGMA, this zone showcases the country’s most influential and market-leading dealers. Visitors now have the opportunity to see a wide range of new and used machinery.

Topics being discussed include Red diesel, Farm security, Second-hand machinery, New product developments, Legislative updates, Farmer health and Careers in the ag machinery sector.

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12/04/2022 16:06 12/04/2022 12:00:10

MILK ANALYSIS

Milk prices will not hit 50p anytime soon

UFU index (inc. costs and margin) vs. UK non-aligned price and Northern Irish milk price (ppl) 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5

Non-aligned

76 DF May p76 77 Milk Analysis KJ MB.indd 2

UFU MPI

Apr

Jan 2022

Jul

NI price

Oct

Apr

Jan 2021

Jul

Oct

Apr

Jan 2020

Jul

Oct

Apr

Jan 2019

Jul

Oct

Apr

Jan 2018

0

GDT average of all commodity prices last eight auctions ($) 5,500

Average of last eight auctions Average rolling 52 weeks

5,000

4,500

4,000

3,500

Apr

Mar

Mar

3,000 Feb

Price Index (MPI) is now at just more than 49p before costs and a margin.

Even with a generous deduction for those, it equates to a farmgate price of 43.5p, and again is 10p ahead of current Northern Irish average prices.

The MPI (with costs applied) has commendably and closely tracked both the UK non-aligned price and the Northern Irish milk price until this year, with the gap now widening very markedly indeed.

JAHDB’s AMPE figure for March is 54.48p, before costs and a processor margin.

It is up 5.62p on February.

After an allowance for a margin and additional supply chain costs, a reasonable farmgate equivalent would be 48.85p and thus 10p above current milk prices.

MCVE is at 49.95p, before costs and a margin, up 4.14p.

After a margin and costs, the farmgate equivalent is 42.61p.

In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Farmers’ Union Milk

to increase milk volumes needs to be in the high 40p-50p zone,

Feb

AMPE 10p higher than farmgate

Jan

Upping their game Several processors have significantly upped their game since Arla stated it would be recruiting again, with price increases as high as 4.5p.

The moves take the average non-aligned price to more than 38p, with the aligned average

being at 39.5p after extremely strong ‘catch-up’ increases from the previously lagging milk pools, and again triggered

by Arla’s move.

The latest official Defra milk price for February is 35.89ppl at 4.26% fat and 3.34% protein, equating to about 34p when corrected back to a standard 4% fat, 3.3% protein standard litre.

Although Kite Consulting is stating that the incentive level

Jan 2022

Most processors have moved every month since January now and there are nine non-aligned processors paying more than 40p.

Dec 2021

M

ilk prices continue to increase, but 50p prices, which some farmers are predicting, currently look like an impossible level to reach in the short-term, especially as the UK and Europe is entering the flush period.

New Zealand GDT prices are also falling, albeit not by much, and futures prices have dropped.

GDT drops for consecutive auctions JThe GDT auction fell in the first April auction for the second time running. There has not been a back-to-back drop like this for eight months now.

The index fell just 1% though, on the back of a 0.9% decline the auction before.

In their own rights they are neutral moves, but two drops sets a trend and three will reinforce it, so all eyes will be on the April 19 event.

The average commodity price dropped below $5,000 (£3,838) again. But SMP increased while WMP fell,

so SMP is actually higher than WMP now for the first time since 2015.

But Arla’s SMP also fell for the first time this year on an auction versus auction basis. On a monthly average basis though, it has increased every month since last July.

Decrease Despite the two drops, the GDT commodities convert into an approximate UK milk price equivalent of 45p, which is down 2.6p on the previous auction.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:39

MILK ANALYSIS Milk volumes old milk year (from April 1, 2021) we will have produced about 14,895m litres, which would be 111.9m and 0.75% down on last year.

JOver the last month, UK milk volumes have averaged 42.08 million litres per day, which is down 2.9% on last year.

March volumes look as if they will come in at 1301.6m litres, which would be down 38.40m litres and 2.8% on last year.

Cumulatively for the Milk volumes are already starting to increase in Europe and the UK, which is taking the edge off rampant markets.

First since 2016 It is the first time volumes have fallen since 2016.

UK milk production (in million litres) 15,000 14,500 Average since 2000 14,000 13,500 13,000 12,500

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2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

12,000 2001

Traders say that what will be critical is what happens after the flush.

But currently there are too many unknowns and unpredictable factors, not least in how much fertiliser will be applied this spring.

2000

there is little chance of that threshold being reached, at least in the short-term.

Milk volumes are already starting to increase in Europe and the UK, and that is already taking the edge off rampant markets.

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MAY 2022

14/02/2020 09:40

77 14/04/2022 16:40

NEW Products This month’s new products include changes to Keenan’s diet feeder range, a new footwrap bandage and a portable semen testing machine.

Bedding environment JA once-weekly multi-strain bacterial additive, Cobiotex, which forms protective biofilms over animal bedding and cubicle surfaces, can help reduce the risk of the bacteria linked with mastitis and digital dermatitis spreading.

The product, available from Envirosystems, helps to control the bedding environment, which the company says means there is no need to use other bedding additives, such as lime. rDetails on envirosystems. co.uk

Training platform JA training hub, which aims to equip farmers with the skills and knowledge they require to optimise herd health and business performance, is now available. rTo see a full list of available courses, visit farmiq.co.uk

A

portable ‘black box’, which can be used by farmers, vets and semen processing laboratories to determine the quality of semen within minutes, has been developed.

Dynescan can be used during bull soundness examinations for research and to ensure motile semen is used for artificial insemination.

Vincent Martinez, of Dyneval, the company which has developed the product, says the product provides a ‘gold standard’ for semen quality assessment.

He says: “Current methods for semen assessment used on-farm generate errors greater than 10% for standard semen concentrations and are unable to cater for fresh and sex-sorted semen concentrations. Our product can measure the quality of fresh, frozen and sexed semen samples.”

He adds that as well as checking semen as part of a bull soundness check, Dynescan can also be used to check frozen semen has retained its quality through transport and storage.

This, Mr Martinez says, would be particularly useful for farmers operating a block calving system.

And to suit block calvers,

Rapid semen assessment ‘black box’

the product can be rented for £560 plus VAT per week.

Monthly rental would be £1,350 plus VAT. Dynescan can be used anywhere mains power is available and comes in a robust,

water-resistant case. It measures 25.4cm by 13cm by 30cm, with a total weight less than 5kg.

Mr Martinez says no prior training is needed to use the machine. rMore details on dyneval.com

Got a new product?

New app to investigate salmonella risk

JNew products are featured in each issue of Dairy Farmer.

Please send details and pictures to Hannah Park at hannah.park@agriconnect.com, or call 01772 799 450.

JA salmonella risk assessment app is available for dairy farmers to use alongside their vets.

The interactive checklist tool can help highlight areas

78

of high risk and guide where improvements can be made to help prevent salmonella infection on-farm.

Working with the vet, results can inform effective use of

biosecurity measures and vaccination practices to help prevent salmonella entering or spreading within a herd. rFor more details, speak to your vet.

MAY 2022

DF May p78 79 New Products KJ MB.indd 2

14/04/2022 10:39

NEW PRODUCTS Keenan MechFiber range updates JKeenan has launched a new diet feeder range, MechFiber+, and made a number of changes to its existing MechFiber paddle feeder.

Updates include re-engineering the paddle castellations which have been reshaped to give a rounded top section and the rake angle increased to allow for greater material movement in the chamber.

Externally, lights have been added to the feed-out door and farmers can also opt for a wider

feed-out door to increase speed.

A new style of optional mudguards can also be fitted to reduce the risk of corrosion.

Models in the MechFiber+ range can be further enhanced by the addition of the new fourth generation Keenan Controller, feed management app and InTouch dashboard.

All models will be included in the new MechFiber+ range, which will replace the original MechFiber range by summer. rMore details on alltech.com/en-gb/keenan

Biodegradable footwrap available JA new multipolymer and biodegradable footwrap bandage, Adaptarap, has been developed by Zinpro.

The footwrap, which is distributed by Progiene, naturally dissolves between two hours and five days after application, depending on the environment and situation.

Moisture determines the rate at which the bandage dissolves.

In high moisture environments,

the bandage will dissolve at a faster rate, preventing water and dirt accumulation.

It also helps reduce the risk of skin damage resulting from footbath chemical accumulation.

It is completely biodegradable, which means there will be no blocking and wrapping concerns with manure handling equipment. rMore details on progiene-dairy.com

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MAY 2022 DF May p78 79 New Products KJ MB.indd 3

79 14/04/2022 10:39

MACHINERY HEATSTRESS? The climate in the barn is the key!

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Automated calf feeders offer improvements in calf feeding consistency, but they should be monitored and maintained to maximise their benefit to the business and the welfare of the calves using them. Toby Whatley reports.

Tips for automated calf feeders

W

ith challenges from commodity cost increases, labour recruitment and a focus to improve youngstock performance, using an automatic calf feeder can offer some significant benefits.

Stacey Bruna, south west business manager of Volac, advises that the installation and operation of an automated feeder should be carefully considered to maximise the benefits it can offer.

Ms Bruna says: “Computerised feeders offer consistency in milk replacer feeding by ensuring each feed is mixed at the required temperature

and mix ratio to ensure each calf is getting the allocated meal amount, alongside allowing for the reporting of any animals with issues.”

However, she warns that while they can assist with a labour shortage, they are not a substitute for good calf management.

She says: “Close monitoring of the machine for any alerts with particular calves or any unit errors are important for both successful calf rearing and machine function, as well as a regular cleaning schedule, though the machine does have an automatic rinse cycle.”

There are several key areas which should be addressed when installing and operating a unit, from

the installation of the feeder and position of the stations to the hygiene and maintenance of the unit.

1 Stocking density

Typically, one feeder can operate up to four stations, which can, in turn, feed up to 30 calves each.

Keeping stock quantities within the limits of the feeding station ensures each calf has enough time for their allocated meals.

Ms Bruna says: “Young calves will visit the feeder as many times as they require up to the volume of their meal allowance, so even a small increase above the stocking limit can have negative consequences for calf performance.”

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MAY 2022

DF May p80 81 Machinery KJ TW MB.indd 2

14/04/2022 16:45

MACHINERY Young calves will visit the feeder as many times as they require up to the volume of their meal allowance STACEY BURNA Waste water from washing must be directed to a drain or bucket.

4 Hygiene

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ING P & LAMB SHEE – pages 73-91 ahead to key time

means for farming

PAGE 72

Fertiliser costs could hit applications

PAGE 14

PAGE 24

By Abi Kay

production and the increase in urbanisation, which requires 300,000 houses a year.

“I am hopeful this land use committee might produce a meaningful report. It will take time to do that, but it needs to be done.”

DEFRA’S new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme puts domestic food production at risk and increases the likelihood of a rise in low-standard imports, a parliamentary committee has warned.

In a damning new report on ELM, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it was not convinced the department understands how its environmental and productivity ambitions will affect the food and farming sector over the next decade.

“Farmers will be required to free up land currently used for food pro-

THE HEART OF AGRICULTURE

Support The PAC also hit out at Ministers for failing to provide any evidence to support their assertion that the loss of direct support would be offset by productivity improvements.

More generally, the committee was critical of Defra’s failure to

establish any metrics or objectives which will enable it to demonstrate that the £2.4 billion-a-year schemes will provide value for money or contribute to the Government’s wider environmental goals, including the net zero by 2050 commitment.

And the MPs went on to urge Defra to ‘review its entire communications strategy’, warning it had not done enough to gain farmers’ trust, and pointing out there was still very little information in the public domain about plans for 2023 and 2024.

Concerns were raised that young farmers were less able to enter the

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Comparing high-spec mounted sprayers

PAGE 26

Bigger not always better, says sheep chief

PAGE 68

By Hannah Binns and Abi Kay

alongside food production and we need to support changes across the entire farmed landscape to deliver our ambitions.”

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THE HEART OF AGRICULTURE SALES

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rules

PAGE 32

THE HEART OF AGRICULTURE MACHINERY

By Abi Kay and Hannah Binns

PAGE 19

PAGE 72

SALES

ITY

Yomper

Native breed beef records tumble

offers different take on mini 4x4

Princess Anne weighs in on ELM scheme PAGE 8

● Policy doubts as sector squeezed

NFU president Minette Batters pushed Defra

LIVESTOCK

Fodder beet a key alternative feedstock PAGE 84

PAGE 76

GREEN GAINS GONE

‘unlikely’

PAGE 32

● ELM payments ‘not high

enough’

● Scotland diverges on support

DAIRY IN FOCUS

Cow comfort and diet advice

PLEMENT ads EP SUP SHE advice and classified pages of features,

– p91

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THE HEART OF

p1 Feb18 GG BB AK.indd

Nigel Owens opens Carmarthen mart

2

OCCUPATION

THE HEART

LTURE OF AGRICU

CEREAL DISEASE

occupied by soldiers

Reduced septoria resistance in wheat

CONTROL

food supplies

● Ukraine farms

MORE FROM THE CONFERENCE See pages 4-5.

23/02/2022 14:51

FARM PROFILE

Passion for environment changes farm practices

SHORTAGE FEARS PAGE 26

● Concerns over UK food security ● Nitrogen fertiliser

hits £1,000/t

PAGE 22

The war in Ukraine focus on food security has put the

once again.

By Hannah Binns number of times he had been asked FOOD security was to show problems were occurring, increasing scrutiny coming under rather than mitigate as risks. continued to escalate the situation “We cannot go on in Ukraine, with relying upon concerns of global parts of the world food shortages. which are at best unfriendly towards The war has prompted us and at worse and Ewan Pate look again at its flagship the EU to hostile for our food and energy secusustainability policies, with the rity,” he added. stories of Ukrainian European ComSHOCKING occupied by Rusmission set to discuss NFU Scotland has farmland being emerging as the allow cultivation on proposals to Scottish Governmentwritten to the urging it to sian forces arethe two countries Despite this, Defra set aside land. allow farmers and said its policy on crofters to play war between food production their part by allowing focus on the rocketing the future for and costs and rages on, making uncertain. ment would remain the environon fallowing land to a derogation availability of inputs.

It added they were unchanged. meet global food supplies Focus Area obligations. Ecological Farming industry contact with industry in regular But farmers in the Peter Thomson, Fife farmer miles south of Don Curry said the crisisstalwart Lord how any policy move UK questioned the impact on supply to understand 25 regarding emerchains.

President the ‘laissez-faire’ attitudehad shattered who now lives farming business gency crop planting “At the moment supermarkets a would towards food are security, especially The Irish Government Kyiv but runs Government’s rewilding fit with the reporting high levels oilseed rape, as nitrogen fertilhas already of product iser has hit £1,000/tonne. reportedly come growing sunflowers,and soyabeans availability,” it said.

Defra and the Welsh agenda. out in favour of corn Government such a move, but winter wheat, hectares in the both declined to comment “This should challenge A Welsh Government Irish Farmers’ our selfwhether sufficiency for food Association president they would follow across 21,000 son added food supply spokesperregion, told and fuel and what suit border. was tightly has, however, deniedTim Cullinan farmers to plant cereal and ask UK Odessa and Kherson integrated with the on the Ukrainian he had already of our priorities should be,” he added.

UK there had checkpoint to biggest farm been discussions on approached by Farmers crops when Farmers Guardian tional supply chains and internato the Perekop Mr Thomson’s is under threat Tenant Farmers Association chief of his land bank the subject. to ensure a of executive George ride on a truck balanced supply.

He said Irish farmers lost 10 per cent was expecting A Defra spokesperson Guardian. near the city Dunn said UK and almost 4,000ha time with his Government Russian troops would do their bit, but food import dependencysaid the UK’s Another farm been occupied. the invaders spends It added tackling seemed to ‘wait for climate change too. He now also cocktailscar crash on Eastern the light vehicles starof from certain’ askingit was ‘far Europe was very low was vital for future more to go.

Kherson has to happen’ before reacting. making Molotov soldiers in occupations of turned up and right terrabout food so daughter farmers they the security.

Russian local did Russians far, farms, not to the plant crops was So for expect any significant He added he had lost “The of his the best use of incurred losses count of the (petrol bombs)team and does not direct impact weapons systems peoentered one of the border with resources and government on UK supplies but MORE ON THIS his land have million (£750,353) ted setting up he said. “Our and STORY acknowledged any itorial defence 25 miles north should The fields were disruption could cause up For more on the impacts at least US$1 next to our yard,” believes the price rises. told ‘if you shut of annexed Crimea.tanks. the Ukraine invasion, ON PAGE 2 and Mr Thomson get worse as ple there were you will not get hurt’. see p4. only CONTINUED too wet to carry said: “They just problem will do not interfere,that one as well.”

Vladimir Mr Thomsonfarm at about 4am Russian president So we have lost the invasion to ‘conwalked into our night watchman.”

BRITAIN Mar11 BB GG AB.indd OF p1 Putin uses the food chain’.

2 BACKBONE and kicked out trol the world of February 24, FARMING: THE On the night

● Russians threaten

what people here today are discussing. They are not marrying up, so something is wrong somewhere.”

However, Sarah Bell, a mixed farmer from Rutland, said farmers had to do more than just complain.

“He does have some understanding of agriculture, and for that I am grateful, because we could be in a much worse place with a different Minister who does not have that understanding,” she added.

AGRICULTURE

16/02/2022 16:00

PAGES 40 & 44

PICTURE: ALAMY

By Abi Kay

LIVESTOCK

MACHINERY

Compact loader proving its capabilities PAGE 86

p1 Mar4 AK

BB RM.indd

Upland farm managing environmental footprint

Female

09/03/2022 16:15

farmers’ club marks 40 years

• FG App access

NEWS

Major

at Stirling

● Eustice defends his Defra record

Minister George DEFRA Secretary George Eustice Eustice harder than ever. rejected claims the Government was lurching from crisis to crisis with no plan for farming during a heated NFU Conference this week.

Mr Eustice faced tough questions from the audience on a range of issues, including the ongoing difficulties in the pig sector, high fertiliser prices and access to labour, with union president Minette Batters pushing him harder than ever before.

The grilling left some asking

By Abi Kay whether the relationship between Jeremy Moody, secretary the NFU and Government was at INDUSTRY leaders at the Central Association and adviser a low ebb, but Ms Batters and Mr have fra’s long-awaited plan warned Detural Valuers, told Farmersfor AgriculEustice insisted they were working Guardian retire is not a powerful to help farmers the scheme would together as closely as ever. not its own to restructure enough tool on suade people to leave’. ‘suddenly perThe Minister also claimed he had the Under the terms of sector. a cooler reception at the conference Discussion Exit Scheme (LSES), the Lump Sum in 2020, when anger over heavy week, farmers will published this “It can prompt a family discussion be entitled to a flooding was palpable. payment of up to The Lump Sum around the kitchen want to be Exit Scheme £100,000 to help table, it can Defending the Government’s colnshire, who did not them exit the industry. prompt a landlord-tenant is being watched “But when it comes to our agricrop ‘every closely. record over the past two years, Mr more pressure from within the Cabidiscusnamed, is planning to schemes sion and then people Defra hopes these culture policy, we have had a clear which has plans will create Gains made by environmental Eustice said: “There have been a series net, I do not know. have got square inch’ of his land opportunities for new the larger assets in for people who are as direct and consistent direction of travel

By Abi Kay 31 years the business to could be squandered looking hard at of supply chain issues which have fol“I am not sure he is quite the powbeen in stewardship for comes er businesses looking entrants or othbargain with,” he exit, it is a chance Others took a more close. since 2016.” said. to expand, but made to support comes to a lowed the coronavirus pandemic, but erful representative he was when he dim view when the current agreement now which otherwisehave money of the scheme, with “This is not life-changing, ENVIRONMENTAL gains risk Cambridgeshire 2023. in they I do first started.” not schemes end accept an would to but this caricature that we Expectations have to hang around Scheme details under stewardship discusfor.” are going from one crisis to another. the coming Matthew Rollason, a livestock “I am in a 40-strong farmer CONTINUED ON being squandered over Some conference attendees, howarea of PAGE 2 to plough “Was the pandemic a crisis? Yes, farmer from Lancashire, agreed. sion group with a total land none of years, as farmers begin the upApplications to the ever, believed the Defra Secretary and scheme it was a global crisis. Have there “He will be under incredible pres32,000 acres between us gift, or entering into up land in a bid to recoup can be made from had not lived up to industry expeche said. a Farm Business April support in been supply chain issues globally as sure, perhaps from Number 10 and us are going into ELM,” Tenancy for a minimum March 11withSeptember 30, 2022 until coming loss of direct A partnership or limited tations since he took the top job.

2022 | £3.90 | Subscribe of five years a result of that? the Cabinet Office, and has moved “I know it is only a small area Yes. Is there ■ Applicants must ■ Transfer or surrender amount of BPS paid a global for £3.08 company can claim England.

Speaking to Farmers Guardian, | FGInsight.com be alone.” have in 2019, 2020 the any the lump spike in gas prices which away from the core principles of food in England, but we will not Basic Payment Scheme claimed tenancies or grazing and 2021. The average is affecting Low payment rates under sum, provided partners NFU livestock board chair Richard rights (BPS) in 2018 BPS paid in Manageindustry right around the globe? production,” he said. or have inherited ■ Surrender your entitled to more than these three years new Environmental Land Findlay said: “I do not think he is land since 2018 is multiplied by BPS entitlements 50 per cent of Disadvantage CountryYes. Are we immune from that? No, “I have come round to some more ■ A claimant must do ■ The deadline for 2.35, but is capped profits, or shareholders ment (ELM) scheme and already as strong as he initially was, but Rural meeting the at £100,000 all of the following holding 50 are of course we are not. of his thinking, but many of the things The news came as the Scottish before receiving the above conditions ■ The lump sum will per cent or more of side Stewardship (CS) whether that is because he is under is May 31, 2024 Gougeon the shares, leave lump be treated as to intensify he is outlining are still in conflict with Affairs Secretary Mairi ■ Transfer agricultural sum: capital for tax purposes, the business. The Participants in the forcing farm businesses business must element of with the rate of scheme the fears pledged to maintain an disposal in May 2001, land at your capital gains tax either surrender all its BPS can continue living their operations, realising a move entitlements 10 or 20 per cent either by sale, in the ■ Careful planning and cannot claim BPS direct support in Scotland, farmhouse if you can. of industry chiefs. is essential to in the future would ‘put who and earn more money ■ The lump sum is ensure a claim of which Mr Fletcher said to go on to a lot of Mixed farmer Rob Fletcher, Business Asset based on the rate for that area of land he said.

That is the situation quite Downham Disposal Relief is English farmers at a disadvantage’. rents 170 hectares near still available some the stewardship payment,” p1 Feb25 AK BB MB.indd 2 others are in.”

The funding may include payhe had Market on the Norfolk-Cambridge“If an option gave you £500/ha, Mr Fletcher went on to say of a Guardi£230 sort of BPS, as well as coupled shire border, told Farmers most of calf scheme we would really want another we been ‘excited’ about the prospect for ments, such as the beef saying farmers an he had already cropped payments, on top of that. I am not p1 Feb11 AK BB scheme which rewarded | FGInsight.com MB.indd 2 and Less Favoured Area had in stewardship more by he has he already the £3.08 for11ha are definitely going to earn to comprise up to 50 environmental work, as 18 years. | £3.90 | Subscribeagreements for the past payments going to combinable crops and has grass leys and winter cover and is likely support per cent of the overall give it a go, March 4 2022 The increased CS what he had grass, but we have got to crops, but claimed from not make a package for farmers. intenis the point in signing more recently announced do for what expected 09/02/2022 15:15 because he far, approached so seen the arable Defra was break benefit. significant difference to up for five years to barelyfarm. sive arable operations to in. comment.

Linoptions he participated even on part of your rented crop it Another mixed farmer from needed “For us to stay in, we really “You have got to try and MART’S THE HEART (BPS) the Basic Payment Scheme

PAGE 80

EXIT SCHEME CLAR

● Retiring farmers could ● Sector restructure get £100,000

Benefits

8

19/01/2022 16:20

TOUGH GRILLING

2

BUSINESS

Why communication is key to succession

CONTINUED ON PAGE

threat

suggestion in implement the blunt will definitely the consultation, then it farmers.” to cause a financial burden spokesA Welsh Government welcomed person said Ministers all views on the consultation. proposals “We are confident our we are and will make a difference farmers,” the of course listening to spokesperson said.

DIRECT ROUTESimmentals

p1 Feb4 AK BB RM.indd

LIVESTOCK

Metal fencing gets green light

with the Commission, approval from the EU they thought we had Ministers saying it seemed this was a good idea and Defra were behind it. frustrated “So I have been really had no deciby the fact that we have this issue.” sions or movement on had Mr Stocker said the industry set of robust also come up with a to be protocols to allow smokies farmers to legalised and enable market for cash in on a lucrative the West African delicacy. burnProduction, which involves with carcases ing unskinned sheep to achieve a blowtorches in order under unique flavour, was banned the meat EU law due to fears that such as can carry harmful bacteria, e.coli or salmonella. provided Mr Stocker said Brexit out the UK’s an opportunity to carve own rules. on this “We have been working

RM.indd 2

Associathe Livestock Auctioneers Governtion, was hopeful the Welsh before ment would listen to industry it made any decisions. healthy He said: “What is never place market for industry is a tiered created by regulation. to sell “It is important for farmersmarket fair their stock in a true and Government place and if the Welsh

02/02/2022 15:03

AGRICULTURE

to move to a

Phil Stocker NSA chief executive two years said: “We got to a point had got we ago where we really felt had got the this over the line. We

sell toconsumers Pages 24-27 changes to with New entrants connect30,000gns red diesel

26/01/2022 16:26

PAGE 32

PICTURE: JOHN EVESON

p1 Jan21 OM AK BB

● English disease management

at risk

giving buyers from high areas of bTB, per head an angle to reduce the price on those cattle. could be disrupts WELSH farms and marts He said: “Anything which impact a proposal to will put out of business by the various cattle markets ‘risky’ bovine as well penalise the purchase of the profitability of enterprises, leaders have who will TB (bTB) cattle, industry as auctioneers and hauliers the warned. not be trading and transporting be used to.”

An ongoing Welsh Government volume of cattle they may there secretary of consultation asked whether cattle Chris Dodds, executive for should be implications notice of bTB keepers who fail to take regardless information and buy stock of highlighted risks.

Farmers’ But Dr Hazel Wright, adviser, policy Union of Wales senior due to warned penalising purchases inevitably their health status would unsaleable. make some Welsh cattle the Welsh She said: “Effectively, a situation Government could endorse unwhere some farms are completely their stock. viable as they cannot trade a wider of “This proposal is part to chase bTB policy which continues it.” control than rather the disease, concern Dr Wright also raised disease manabout the impact on if farmers agement in England to sell stock travelled over the border be pennot where buyers would Defra is alised – a possible impact on. eye’ keeping a ‘close were Many farmers in Wales were they angered by the inference in their herds content to accept bTB both ‘disand felt the proposal was criminatory’ and ‘divisive’.

Wyn Pembrokeshire cattle farmer stock devalue Jones claimed it would

By Hannah Binns

IAL SPEC DAIRY and classifieds pages of features

for £3.08 | FGInsight.com

p1 Jan28 BB AK MB.indd 2

Blelack Dean Martin on-song at 38,000gns

be happy for the UK new system.

PAGE 22

PAGE 83

● Welsh plan will put farms

● Cash siphoned away from farms

and we said we would keep it under review. We have been clear all along

Battling against unseen health issues

‘TWO-TIER’ TB TRADE PAGE 31

PAGE 8

crops chair, was among those who slammed the funding allocation for

British Cattle Breeders Conference report

Special focus on spring spraying

‘CASHING IN’

MB.indd 2

WEALTHY landowners will have

THE HEART OF

PAGE S

THE HEART OF AGRICULTURE LIVESTOCK

● ELM boon for wealthy landowners

STIRLING BULLS

risk aversion’ A CULTURE of ‘total Agency in the Food Standards in Defra (FSA) and ‘foot-dragging’ in the ads is holding back progressleaders of classified farming sector, industry starts after have warned. p41 burden on Easing the regulatory a key Brexit farming businesses was out by the manifesto pledge set but the Conservative Government, (NSA) National Sheep Association through on said it had failed to follow sheep key issues such as splitting the induscarcases which would save a year. around Other concerns centre regulatory delays to plans to lift the and legalin burden on small abattoirs food safety measure introduced trade, ise the black market ‘smokie’ response to the BSE crisis. millions of Government later estimated to be worth FARM SAFETY But the UKon the plans, saying pounds to the sheep industry.agreed backtracked the UK’s In 2018, the department to age a change could affect EU, desdate the to use a fixed cut-off post-Brexit trade with teeth – European lambs instead of checkingneeding pite the fact that the it would months 12 over lambs with Commission had indicated removed as a to have the spinal cord

12/01/2022 16:15 try about £24 million

THE HEART OF AGRICULTURE

on key farming issues on board ‘risk averse’ ● No progress Chief Veterinary Officer we had proposals, we felt

36

of dragging its feet Defra has been accused sheep carcases. on the issue of splitting

By Abi Kay | FGInsight.com

p1 Jan 14 OM BB GG.indd 2

05/01/2022 16:26

p1 Jan7 AK BB OM

PAGE 24

● FSA culture branded

| Subscribe for £3.08 | February 4 2022 £3.90

BLACK GOLD Welsh Blacks to 15,500gns, plus sales round-up P30-33

for £3.08 | FGInsight.com

By Abi Kay

Making money from people’s love of pets

‘PARALYSED’

MACHINERY

PAGE 62

INCLUDING OF 29 PAGES MACHINERY DEALS

industry with lack of clarity on what the future holds.

A Rural Payments Agency (RPA) survey carried out from January to March last year which showed only 4 per cent of respondents were ‘very prepared’ for the upcoming YOUR FIELD IN changes and 37 per cent were ‘not at all prepared’ was cited as eviNew writer dence of the department’s poor tells of life communication.

The research also found a mas- on the sive 41 per cent of those surveyed did not even know what theGreat Orme Sustainable Farming Incentive, PAGE 98 the first component of ELM, was.

Razorback

proves itself level best for hedgecutting

32 pages of features and classifieds RTUNITY CO2 OPPO to benefit FARMERS will stand land-based from the burgeoning worth £1.7 carbon credit market businesses billion annually, but ‘costly millcould end up with a neck if deals stone’ around their sufficient are rushed into without understanding. was sounThe note of caution of the Game ded by Joe Stanley, Trust’s and Wildlife Conservation a two-part Allerton Project, as value of report on the potential credits was UK land-based carbon Oxford launched at this week’s Farming Conference. of the Together, the two parts governreport called for proper market to ance of the carbon credit and urged make it a credible reality cutting their farmers to focus on offsetting own emissions before pollution in other sectors. Green James Elliott of the of the one Alliance, who authored

| FGInsight.com

● Farmers’ trust in schemes waning ● Lack of provision for new entrants

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£1.7bn ● Ag carbon market worth deals ● Caution urged over offset

MACHINERY & TRACTOR MAGAZINE

| Subscribe for £3.08 | January 21 2022 £3.80

PICTURE: MARTIN APPS

January 7 2022 | £3.80

ARABLE

What Asda’s beef U-turn

PICTURE: SIMON HADLEY

Look

BUSINESS

JD unveils autonomous tractor technology

PICTURE: WAYNE HUTCHINSON

The most important factor in ensuring the feeder performance is cleanliness and hygiene of the unit.

The warm, damp environment, combined with milk replacer powder, can be an ideal bacteria breeding site.

Ms Bruna advises the feeder should be set to perform the automatic clean cycle up to four times a day and any waste water from this must be directed into a bucket or drain, not onto the building floor.

Ms Bruna says: “Poor hygiene

PICTURE: RUTH REES PHOTOGRAPHY

As the feeder mixes up individual feeds of milk replacer, it is important to regularly calibrate the machine, as any variations in the bulk density will change the quantity delivered into the mixing system.

Changes in the replacer powder can result in calves being under or overfed due to an incorrect mixing ratio. Feeders can be programmed with individual feed curves for different rearing needs.

Calibration should be carried out whenever a new pallet of milk replacer is used and should make up part of your weekly routine.

Calibration is carried out using the controller on the feeder itself.

is the biggest cause of issues with the performance of the calf units.

Regular cleaning and inspection is essential to keep the feeder working and calves healthy.”

Feeding teats should be exchanged daily, with the previous day’s sterilised before using again.

PICTURE: TIM SCRIVENER

3 Calibration

However, different models have variation procedures for this, so it is worth spending time learning the process to carry it out correctly.

Similar to many on-farm machines, the feeders require an annual service to allow software updates and replacement of wearing parts or adjustments.

PICTURE: GETTY

When installing a machine, the overall design of the building and pen design must be taken into consideration. There is no default layout to follow for best practice.

Fundamentals, such as an insulated water feed, safe and reliable electric connection and drainage, are key.

However, advice should be sought from manufacturers or dedicated installers.

Ms Bruna says: “The correct machine location is dependant on multiple factors, but carrying out a site survey with a manufacturer is essential to identify the correct position for the feeder and stations.”

The teats should be replaced when worn or damaged, as milk flow can be affected and damaged teats can harbour bacteria.

The milk replacer dispenser area can suffer from bearding in less than ideal conditions. This is when a build-up of powder covers the dispenser, reducing the mixed quantity.

Regular cleaning around this area and ensuring the environment remain dry will prevent this.

PICTURE: ALAMY

2 Feeder position

Automated feeders offer consistency in milk delivery, but they must be operated and maintained correctly.

PAGE 108

• Weekly magazine • Website access 24/7 • FG Rewards scheme • Digital access to Arable Farming and Dairy Farmer magazine

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02/03/2022

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Terms & Conditions apply, new subscribers only - offer expires 1st April 2023

MAY 2022 DF May p80 81 Machinery KJ TW MB.indd 3

81 14/04/2022 16:45

LAMMA PREVIEW The Profiline range has now been fitted with a stronger lifting cylinder to increase capacity.

UK Stoll importer Lynx Engineering is using LAMMA to unveil the next generation of Profiline loaders.

Stoll loader to be launched

A

vailable for new and used tractors from 50-300+ hp, the new look Profiline loaders come with an integrated technology platform, which will allow an increasing number of loader functions in the future.

This includes work area restrictions, where a system of sensors can restrict loader working height in barns with low clearance.

Payload sensing Payload sensing will also be available, alongside electronic self-levelling, which will support the Profiline functions, including drive-in attachment, return to dig, comfort drive and rapid implement attachment using Euro-frame or combi headstocks.

Boom lights and cameras can now also be specified.

82 DF May p82 Stoll KJ TW MB.indd 2

Aimed at increasing durability, Stoll has reduced the need to regularly replace hose lines by using steel hydraulic pipes instead of rubber. The lines are fully protected but easily accessible from under the beam.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:47

PREVIEW LAMMA JMaterials handling manufacturer Bobcat, will be using LAMMA to display two new R Series telehandlers.

The two new telehandlers on show will be the top of the range TL43.80HF, with a maximum lift capacity of 4.3 tonnes, maximum lift height of 7.5 metres and a maximum forward reach of 4m.

Alongside this will be the compact TL30.60, with a maximum lift capacity of 3t, maximum lift height of 5.9m and a maximum forward reach of 3m.

Bobcat to showcase new telehandler models Bobcat TL43.80HF R series.

Cab design Bobcat’s new R series cab design comes with many new features, including a Grammar Maximo Dynamic air suspension seat with heating, a suspended arm rest with new Bobcat multifunctional joystick which now has a forward, neutral and reverse button located on the rear.

There are also new smart functions available, such as an Auto Grab bucket shaking feature,

boom float and speed shifting system. In addition, all Bobcat telehandlers now come with a

standard three-year or 3,000-hour warranty which can be extended up to five years or 5,000 hours.

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S. England Mike - 07989894301

N. Ireland/R.O.I Adrian - 07803124235

Head Office - 028 2766 9000 Email - info@cowcaresystems.com

MAY 2022 DF May p83 Bobcat KJ TW MB.indd 3

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84 DF Classified.indd 2

FLECKVIEH TRIP TO AUSTRIA WORLD CONGRESS

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MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:07

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85 14/04/2022 16:08

GOOD Evans

‘My son and I often use the boiler suits to our advantage’ This month, Roger Evans delves into the world of politics, talking specifically about trade deals with countries around the world and the impact these could have on our industry. He also discusses the changes in farmers’ work clothing preferences.

86 DF May p86 87 Evans KJ MB.indd 2

I

t is not really within my remit to talk about politics, but I will. I have seemed to develop an interest in politics over recent years.

I have got most of my predictions wrong; I was wrong about the Trump election, I was wrong about Brexit and I was wrong about the last General Election. No matter, here’s one thing I think I’m right about: when a political party is in power for three consecutive terms of office they get so arrogant and so sure of themselves they make a mess of things and head for a period of opposition.

History proves that to be true. It happened to the Labour party and it is happening now to the Conservatives.

Trade deals I just can’t do with Government Ministers telling me these trade deals around the world are a good thing. When they say that this food is produced to the same standards as our food, I just don’t believe them and neither should you.

No-one seems to know when this cheap food will start turning up. I was talking to an auctioneer recently and he didn’t know.

There are a lot of sheep around here and the auctions have surely had a good time with record prices and record commissions. Auctions are good employers; they have lots of part-time support staff. All those jobs could disappear if there is a slump in sheep prices and I predict there will be a slump.

I believe the Government has let farming down and that we will pay the price for this sacrifice.

It will probably take 10 years to see the

damage to the environment and a decent part of the population will probably disappear, but will it be too late then? I suspect it will be for some.

I predict there will be more money to be made in ‘green’ projects than proper food production, but I’m doubtful if that money will be enough to keep small livestock family farms going.

A friend sent me a chatty email, a postChristmas catch up. He tells me that the only Christmas present he wanted was what he called a ‘brown slop’, like his father used to wear. Around here we used to call them smocks. You don’t see them very often these days; they are the sort of overall Ronnie Barker wears in Open All Hours.

My father-in-law used to wear one, but his men never did. It was a sort of badge of office which told the world you were the farmer.

Farmers’ sons never wore one as long as their father was alive or unless he was incapacitated by old age and confined to the house.

Way back when Some 50 years ago, most of the farms around here would employ five or six men.

There would be a shepherd, a cattle man and a tractor driver, then two or three others who could turn their hands to anything. But the farmer would prowl about all day making sure they were all busy.

The boiler suit soon superseded the smock.

It was warmer, kept you cleaner and the biggest change of all is that farmers, as a rule, get down and dirty with their men. So wandering about in a brown smock is rarely appropriate.

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 10:41

“

If it is officialdom come a-calling, he soon finds himself talking to just one Mr Evans

My son and I often use the boiler suits to our advantage. Should a stranger arrive on the yard, he no longer knows who the farmer is. There is no brown smock to guide him, instead there might be four or five men all wearing boiler suits.

The only difference is that those who work here have better boiler suits than those who employ them. They seem to get an endless supply from the local tractor dealers, but that’s another story.

So the stranger says ‘good morning’, then remarks on the weather and asks ‘is Mr Evans about?’

Both my son and I automatically point at the other. ‘So which is it’, asks the visitor.

‘Depends on what you want’, I usually say.

The visitor is on the back foot and he knows it.

If he’s selling something, there’s a visible relaxing of the whole group, but if it is officialdom come a-calling, he soon finds himself talking to just one Mr Evans.

Grey smock But here’s the strange thing: people who trade sheep and cattle mostly wear a grey smock. If you should see a smock which isn’t brown or grey, it’s probably worn by someone with an identity crisis or a free spirit. Mostly men want to dress the same as all the other men. Ladies all want to be different.

Browse, list and apply for hundreds of the latest roles at

jobsinagriculture.com MAY 2022 DF May p86 87 Evans KJ MB.indd 3

87 14/04/2022 10:41

BUSINESS CLINIC High costs continue to drive the global market, keeping supplies tight. Cedric Porter reports.

Milk market driven by tight supplies pressure on bank balances and further discouraged milk production over spring.”

She adds that current AHDB production estimates are a best-case scenario and that if fertiliser, fuel and feed prices continue to remain high throughout the rest of the season, dairy farmers may cut output even more. Yields have been falling since November and there is little appetite to increase herd sizes.

to increase further, with many dairies paying more than 40ppl in May. As a major trader of dairy products, the UK operates in a global market. What is happening in the UK is mirrored elsewhere.

According to the European Commission, Dutch milk output in February was 1.5% less than the same month last year, while German farmers produced 1.9% less milk in 2021 than they did the year before.

French annual output was 1.5% less, with Danish production down 0.4%. Importantly for the UK, one of the few countries to increase its milk output was Ireland – up 5.5% and two-thirds more than in 2012.

UK milk prices lag a little behind those in the EU. The average EU milk price in February was €42.59/100kg, or the equivalent of 36.75ppl, according to the European Commission. Prices were 21.8% higher than the year before in euro terms.

Further afield, there have been even larger decreases in milk production recently. Analysis by AHDB

Tight market Milk prices have responded to the tight market, but not fast enough for most producers. The average Defra February price of 35.9ppl was 20% higher than the year before, but in that time the cost of ammonium nitrate fertiliser has increased by nearly four-fold, feed wheat is selling for almost £300/tonne and red diesel prices have doubled.

It is also worth noting that when previous record prices – at about 35ppl – were set in late 2013, ammonium nitrate was at £300/t and feed wheat at £160/t. Milk prices are set

Percentage increases in prices

Wholesale increases The rise in global farmgate milk prices has not been as fast as the increase in wholesale dairy product prices.

US butter prices were almost double what they were the year before in February, according to the US Department of Agriculture, with a 50% increase in EU prices, although the rise in New Zealand and Australia prices was only 24%.

US and EU skimmed milk prices have risen by 55% and 43%, respectively, in the last year, while the rise in cheese prices has been smaller – 19.5% for Oceania and 35% for the US.

Monthly UK milk production and prices

Note: * = February

600

15

400

10

200

5

0

0

20% 0%

Milk*

Fuel*

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Mild Bulk Cheddar Cream

Butter

SMP

Feed AN wheat fertiliser*

SOURCE: Defra

40%

2022

20

2021

800

60%

2020

25

2019

1,000

80%

2018

30

2017

1,200

2016

35

2015

1,400

2014

120%

2013

40

2012

1,600

Production (millions of litres)

140%

100%

SOURCE: AHDB and Defra

shows average daily milk production in New Zealand was 4.7% lower than the same month last year, with a 4.5% reduction in US output during the month and reductions in Australia and Argentina too.

Major New Zealand dairy co-op Fonterra has increased its farmgate price by one-third in the last year to an average of NZ$9.60/kg of milk solids (£5.05/kg).

Price (pence per litre)

P

roducers may be seeing some of the highest prices on record, but that has not persuaded them to produce more milk.

Output in March and April is looking to be at about 3% less than it was a year ago, according to AHDB estimates.

February UK output was higher than February 2021 production, according to Defra figures, but that was the first month in six where more milk had been delivered to dairies than the corresponding month the year before.

AHDB predicts that GB production (excluding Northern Ireland) will be 0.8% lower in the 2022/23 milk year than in 2021/22 at 12.25 billion litres. Currently, British producers are producing about one million litres less a day than they were two years ago.

Dairy analyst Katherine Jack says: “As we entered peak production this year, seasonality adjustments reduced milk prices on many contracts. This added even more

MAY 2022 14/04/2022 16:50

If fertiliser, fuel and feed prices continue to remain high throughout the rest of the season, dairy farmers may cut output even more.

The increase in British wholesale prices has been more dramatic – values of bulk cream, butter and skimmed milk powder were almost 60% higher in March than the same month last year, with a 45% increase in mild Cheddar prices.

Freya Shuttleworth, dairy analyst at AHDB, says: “Wholesale prices have been rising steadily this year and that is expected to continue throughout spring and into early summer. Higher energy costs have impacted on net returns

for processors, particularly on the cost of drying milk powders.”

The increase in retailer-aligned contract prices had lagged behind the market, but increases in April and May should bring values more in line with market-based prices, according to Ms Shuttleworth.

Volatility strategy Devising a production strategy in such a volatile market is difficult but essential, says Paul Robinson, dairy consultant with Kingshay.

He says: “With milk production down and farmgate prices up, it should be a time for farmers to be investing, building bank reserves and getting some reward after years of average returns.

“Unfortunately, extra margin is being eroded by higher input costs. In such a volatile market it is important to focus on areas where you can have an influence, including making and storing the best quality forage you can.

“You also need to be ready to change plans at short notice and

Organised by

be prepared to seek advice from your network of consultants, vets, bankers and financial advisers.

“There is little to suggest milk production will increase significantly any time soon, which should support farmgate milk prices, but input costs also do look high for the foreseeable future.

“If you have a strategy where you maximise production as cost effectively as possible, there are margins to be made. Meanwhile, the long-term prospects for dairy farming still look good.”

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• Full working demonstrations of grass harvesting techniques • Clamp zone with live working • Knowledge trail with stations showing best practice • Static trade village

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RESEARCH

Financial gains Prof Garnsworthy says: “Targeted and precision feeding of the new palm-free fat supplement offers producers significant financial gains through improved quantity and quality of milk produced and reduced cost of concentrate feeding.”

The carbon footprint of the supplement, Enviro-lac which has been developed by UFAC-UK, was about one-third of the footprint of the

PICTURE: Marcello Garbagnoli

R

esults from a trial comparing a palm-free fat supplement against a palm-oil based control diet show there would be a financial benefit to feeding the palm-free fat supplement.

The trial was carried out at the Centre for Dairy Science Innovation at the University of Nottingham and the aim was to determine the effect of the supplement on milk production, cow health, fertility, feed conversion and potential benefits for healthier milk for human consumption.

Phil Garnsworthy, professor of dairy science at the University of Nottingham, says the initial results point towards a financial benefit to the entire UK dairy herd in excess of £85 million based on current market prices for products under trial and liquid milk.

The trial revealed the cows were more efficient when fed on the supplement with increasing milk yields and protein concentrations and no difference in dry matter intake.

The dairy sector’s performance and sustainability could be transformed via the feeding of a new palm -free fat supplement, according to trial results.

Palm-free fat research results control palm-based supplement, reducing the feed carbon footprint per kg of milk by 11%. The reduction in carbon footprint could also help to reduce land use change associated with growing palm trees.

JAnnual trial data from N2 Applied has shown that the dairy slurry material produced by its N2 Unit outperformed the yield characteristics of ammonium nitrate-based fertilisers.

Using a scientific technique that applies air and electricity to slurry,

SLAT GROOVES DIAMOND CUT

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He adds: “Substitution of calcium soap with the new supplement would contribute positively towards mitigating climate change by helping reduce deforestation for the planting of palm plantations.”

Annual N2 Applied trial data revealed

DEEP GROOVES FOR SOLID FLOORS

90

Prof Garnsworthy also believes the lower carbon footprint and zero reliance upon palm oil and palm oil derivatives would stimulate local crop production, reducing dependency on imports.

the technology within the N2 Unit performs a plasma conversion that ‘locks in’ both methane and ammonia to the liquid waste material, producing a sustainable fertiliser.

Data from several trials shows strong yields when used as a fertiliser and practical elimination of methane and ammonia emissions from the material.

In one assessment by Oxford Agricultural Trials in Goole, East Yorkshire, the volume of crop-available nitrogen applied to fields was 85% for N2 Applied’s nitrogen-enriched organic fertiliser material, compared to 58% for an ammonium nitrate chemical fertiliser and 53% for untreated dairy slurry.

N2 Applied worked with independent test sites in Denmark, Norway and the UK in an annual exercise to assess methane and ammonia emissions from treated slurry

and this year looked more closely at grassland yields. N2 Units are powered by electricity, with most of that energy being consumed by the plasma torch that is central to the conversion process.

Dramatic breakthrough Carl Hansson, of N2 Applied, says: “These yield results are a dramatic breakthrough for food production, with the potential to vastly diminish farmers’ reliance on chemical fertilisers, at a time when the cost of them has become crippling for some and the war in Ukraine has restricted supply.”

To assess the potential of N2 Unit’s technology effectively, N2 Applied annual field trials are carried out by independent, established research partners in diverse locations with a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. The trials have been ongoing for five years.

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Overall it’s a much simpler and effective feeding strategy.

TRIAL

A recent field trial was conducted by Kansas State University (KSU), on a 5000-cow commercial dairy herd comparing a negative DCAD and a X-Zelit close dry cow feeding strategy, in a side-by-side study. Second lactation and older cows were randomly assigned to be supplemented with either BioChlor (DCAD -106 meq/kg) or X-Zelit (500 grams per head daily) in the 21-day close up period. In a subgroup of cows, blood samples were collected at 0, 48 and 72 hours relative to calving to determine calcium, phosphorus and magnesium status.

Both treatment diets contained the same prefresh ingredients except for the inclusion of either BioChlor or X-Zelit and there was a difference in dietary calcium concentration (2.53%: DCAD versus .57%: X-Zelit). Cows in both treatments were similarly managed and KSU research staff were present daily to assist the farm crew in mixing the prefresh diets.

RESULTS

Blood calcium levels were significantly higher for the X-Zelit fed cows at both calving and 48 hours post-calving. Not only did the X-Zelit treatment have much higher blood calcium levels, but there was less variability for the X-Zelit cows compared to the negative DCAD cows (figure 1). Higher and tighter blood calcium levels are critically important to maintain optimal health and production during the first 48-72 hours post-calving.

Figure 1

Figure 2

As expected, blood phosphorus was lower at calving for the X-Zelit group, these levels were short lived and nothing to be concerned about as demonstrated by the result, (Figure 2). At 48-72 hours, the blood phosphorus levels were equal and/or higher in the X-Zelit cows compared to the negative DCAD cows. This field trial data strongly agrees with a number of research trials including that of Cornell University proving that the X-Zelit strategy provides the best opportunity for minimizing chronic subclinical hypocalcaemia at the farm level.

BOTTOM LINE

Achieving transition cow success is challenging for both the cows and the producers. A seamless transition into lactation is essential to maintain health and achieve expected production and financial goals. In contrast to the negative DCAD approach, the X-Zelit strategy allows producers to achieve optimal fresh cow blood calcium status with the convenience of feeding more home-grown forages instead of sourcing low potassium forages and routinely monitoring urine pH. Furthermore, higher blood calcium levels will reduce the need for supplemental calcium boluses, minimizing fresh cow touches. Overall, the X-Zelit strategy will simplify the implementation and management of your prefresh feeding program while achieving transition success.

Where to buy X-Zelit: Call 01263 586 666 or visitwww.x-zelit.co.uk/where-to-buy.html

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