THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME$8.95 THEME THEME THEME THEME Dairy Sheds/ THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME Automation/ THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME Robotics THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME
May 2019
Diversity in Northland Irrigation a lifeline Research centre fizzles
Day and Night An Auckland farmer’s robots milk the herd round the clock DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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Milking Robots they work for us.
B&DEL0297
delaval.com | Michael Fredrickson 021 704 691
Brian, Cathy and David Yates, Karaka, 170 cows
Our farm had been in the family for six generations, but when my kids decided on careers in the city, it was nearly ‘6 and out’. Having seen the reality of modern dairy farming after we put the robots to work, the kids and grandkids now see dairy farming as an exciting career opportunity. It’s an approach that works for me, it works for my family, and there’s no reason it wouldn’t work for you. Visit DeLaval.co.nz/robot to find out how robots brought my son back to work on the family farm.
May 2019 Editor
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COVER Auckland farmers David and Brian Yates have the latest in robotic milking technology installed on their farm.
May 2019
THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME$8.95 THEME THEME THEME THEME Dairy Sheds/ THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME Automation/ THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME Robotics THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME THEME
NEWS
17 18 28
Market outlook
Some things we can’t control
Lincoln research
New Ag research and educational facility canned
At the Grassroots
Firearm Owners United NZ speak out
ON FARM STORY Diversity in Northland Irrigation a lifeline Research centre fizzles
Day and Night An Auckland farmer’s robots milk the herd round the clock DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
www.farmersweekly.co.nz ISSN 2624-0939 (Print) ISSN 2624-0947 (Online)
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Inside
1
8 20
Robots take over
South Auckland farmer Brian Yates leaves milking to the robots
A diverse operation
Northland farmers Shane and Dot Dromgool run three businesses
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
8 20 THEME
42 54
Dairy Sheds, automation and robotics
FEATURE Better Bulls Better Calves
REGULAR FEATURES
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FARMING CHAMPIONS
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Fast Five
Simon Kermode
Guest column – Miles Anderson Industry Good International news Research
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DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
GUEST COLUMN
Farmers win gun fight
F
Federated Farmers rural security spokesman Miles Anderson says the organisation went into battle for farmers over gun laws.
EDERATED Farmers is counting the changes made to stricter firearms control legislation as a win for the organisation’s pragmatic advocacy. We didn’t quite achieve everything that farmers sought but we weren’t far short of the mark. There was immense pressure on the Government to respond promptly to the horrendous attacks on the mosques in Christchurch on March 15 by tightening up firearms laws. Like MPs from all sides of the House farmers wanted to see legislative changes deliver the safety outcomes sought by all New Zealanders but in a way that did not unnecessarily compromise the ability of those who need firearms for legitimate uses to access them. From the outset Federated Farmers said there was no need for military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles for general farm use and supported limitations on the magazine capacity of other semiautomatic rifles and shotguns. Some others submitted to the Select Committee considering the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment Bill that semiautomatics of any sort were not needed for pest control. Comments were made along the lines of “If you need more than one or two shots to do the job, you should go and get some firearms training.” That just displayed an ignorance of pest control realities. A Federated Farmers member survey left open for barely a week drew some 3400 responses, with half indicating they own and use semi-automatic rimfire rifles such as the .22 long rifle and/or semi-automatic shotguns. These firearms are essential for the control of small, mobile pest species often found in groups, such as rabbits, hares, possums and Canada geese where quick follow-up shots are important for their efficient and humane destruction before they scatter over the ridges or down burrows.
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
Federated Farmers rural security spokesman Miles Anderson says the group came close to achieving to everything it wanted.
The rural sector’s advice was accepted and the new legislation makes provision for continued general use of these firearms, though the rimfire semiautomatics are restricted to a 10-shot magazine and shotguns to a five-shot, permanently fixed, tubular magazine. Two issues remained for Federated Farmers. One was the need for a clearer and slightly wider definition of wild animals and animal pests to include Canada geese, four of which can eat as much pasture as a sheep. The select committee accepted that change. The second sought an exemption for use of centre fire semi-automatic rifles for farmers who could demonstrate a genuine need to use them as part of their business, the same exemption the legislation provides for professional pest control staff at the Conservation Department, regional councils and pest control contractors. The select committee did not accept
that argument but said farmers can use staff from authorised pest control companies to shoot pests on private land. Federated Farmers was very disappointed by this latter decision, which we described as illogical and unfair. We consider the number of farmers who can demonstrate the genuine need for access to prohibited centre fire semiautomatics and large capacity magazines numbers in the hundreds. We had in mind farmers on high and hill country properties who have to deal with significant populations of large animal pests such as feral goats, feral pigs, wallabies, deer and tahr and farmers in areas badly affected by large Canada geese populations. No-one was able to explain to us why a junior DOC field staffer on freely accessible public land is somehow safer with these firearms that a landowner on thousands of hectares of a backcountry station with strictly controlled access. Nor, indeed, how it is safer for pest control contractors to travel up and down the country with these firearms in their vehicles than farmers locking them away in a secure firearms safe on their private land each night. Farmers are very concerned there will not be enough pest control contractors available or willing to go to remote locations on private land and the result will be an explosion in the numbers of large animal pests. Our native biodiversity will pay the price. We take some small heart from the words of Police Minister Stuart Nash who suggested there is nothing to stop groups of farmers forming their own pest control businesses and applying for access to now prohibited rifles. We are about to enter the Government’s proposed second tranche of changes to firearms legislation, which has been signalled to take place in May. Federated Farmers will certainly have more to say then. n
7
ON FARM STORY
Brian Yates is the lower-order sharemilker on the family farm at Karaka, Auckland. He returned to farming in 2010 after they installed milking robots. 8
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
Robots take charge Auckland farmers David Yates and son Brian enjoy reaping the benefits of a robotic milking system. Sonita Chandar reports.
I
T IS 2am and though it is pitchblack a small mob of cows is strolling toward the cowshed – it is their third visit in one day. They are the cows that somehow just know a new paddock is available and the only way to get there is through the shed. They are what Auckland farmer Brian Yates refers to as hoons. “Some girls hoon around the three-way grazing system like three-year-olds on red fizzy, arriving at each new break as it becomes available and getting up to three milkings per day. “These midnight movers or hoons are heifers that have adapted to the robotic system really well and come blasting through at 2am for a midnight snack from the in-shed feeding system.” Fortunately, he does not need to be there to milk them – he can leave that to the milking robots. When David and Cathy Yates’ children
moved off the farm they thought that they would be the last of the family to work on the 106-year-old family farm. But installing a robotic milking system proved to be a lure for son Brian who told his parents he wasn’t keen to let the farm go. He and wife Natasha are now lowerorder sharemilkers on Heritage Farm at Karaka south of Auckland where they peak-milk 160 cows. He is the fifth generation farmer on the property. The innovative family are pioneers in the dairy industry – not that they set out to be. The farm was the original Yates seed farm in New Zealand before switching to sheep and beef. In 1978 the farm was converted to dairy and David built a 28bail rotary shed considered to be ahead of its time. By 2009 that rotary had passed its useby date. David and Cathy weighed up their
Cow 156 enjoys a scratch from the roller brush, which grooms and stimulates them to let their milk down. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
FARM FACTS n Owner: David and Cathy Yates, Heritage Farm n Sharemilkers: Brian and Natasha Yates n Location: Karaka, Auckland n Farm size: 135ha, 95ha milking platform n Cows: 165 Holstein-Friesian, Jerseycross n Production: 2017-18 63,500kg MS n Target: 2018-19 65,000kg MS
options, one of which was to sell the farm, by now a certified organic operation. “When our children decided on careers in the city Cathy and I thought we would be the last of the Yates family farm,” David says. At the time Brian was working in Auckland City as the operations manager for an audio visual company. Though he grew up on the farm and enjoyed dairying Brian was interested in the arts and left to work in television as a cameraman and sound technician, which developed an interest in technology that would later prove useful. “When mum and dad told me they were thinking of perhaps selling up, I wasn’t a fan of the idea.” Brian says. “You don’t just flick 100 years of family history down the road. “They mentioned that one of the options they had looked at was robotics. It piqued my interest and after we did our own due diligence I said if they installed them I would come home and work on the farm.”
Continued page 10 9
A mob of cows waits patiently for a turn to be milked through the robotic plant.
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ON FARM STORY
The improvements really are next level. So they did their homework looking at various systems and weighed up the pros and cons of each. Brian says they settled on the DeLaval Voluntary Milking System (VMS) because they liked the engineering of the hydraulic arm and the option of putting cups on manually. “When you are training heifers they can be jumpy, especially when you are moving the camera head around under her udder to get the teat placement programmed. “Sometimes it is easier to put the cups on her for the first few times by hand then when she settles we let the VMS take over.” In 2010 Heritage Farm became the first pasture-based, certified, organic farm in the world to go robotic. They built a new shed and installed two robots, allowing room for a third should
David Yates fills up the in-shed feeder with maize. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
they increase cow numbers. Theirs was also the first milking robot installed in the North Island. Initially, David and Cathy were worried about losing contact with the cows but after implementing the cutting-edge VMS milking shed they noticed it gave them more flexibility and freedom while delivering amazing results. “The individual quarters get milked to exactly their requirements, not too much, not too little, and that’s something that robots can do that nothing else can do,” David says. “We have had top vets in our district say the teat orifices on our girls are the best they have seen.” They spent a lot of time in the shed tweaking the system with the aim of getting maximum performance from the plant. “We made small adjustments such as reducing the box-time by 5-10 seconds, which doesn’t sound like a lot but adds up, leading to cost savings,” David says. “We milk 82 cows per machine, which is very high comparatively speaking, so speeding up the milking time means less standing in the yard for the girls.” But in recent weeks the system has been upgraded again and the latest in robotic technology from DeLaval, the VMS V300, has replaced what they call the Classic Model. The install is the first in Oceania. “I had been reading about the new technology and thought it looked great,” Brian says. “When our DeLaval reps came for a visit I mentioned it to them that the new robot looked really neat and it went from there.” The biggest upgrade is the Time of Flight camera, which creates a sonar picture similar to a fish finder, of the distance between the teats. “The camera improves the accuracy and speed of putting the cups on the cow, which means fewer incomplete milkings and the cow spends less time in the stall.” A week after the install none of cows had incomplete milkings two days in a row. “In any shed, whether it be robotic or traditional, there will always be a level of incomplete milking for whatever reason. A cow can stand on the hose or the camera is dirty. “With the Classic robots we would find there was about a 4% incomplete rate
Continued page 12 11
ON FARM STORY
Training the cows and heifers to go through the robotic system took no time as they know there is food and water at the shed as well as a fresh paddock waiting for them after milking.
on average during our quiet times and during calving season it could get as high as 10%. So obtaining 0% is an unheard of result.” They are in the middle of autumn calving. The highest the average has been is 2.5%, which is outstanding considering it is a period of transition for the fresh cows. The camera technology is also used for teat spraying directly under the udder so only the optimal amount is used. It has a 99% hit rate. “That has made a big difference, especially in our shed where it is open at
both ends. All it took was for the wind to be blowing in and teat spray wouldn’t hit the mark,” Brian says. Brian and David agree while the older model VMS was good, the new model is better. “The improvements really are next level,” they say. “The arm is gruntier and more robust. The streamlining of the machine’s inner workings makes it easier and quicker for the technicians to service them so the cost saving there could be as much as 50% so there will be ongoing savings.” Leaving the robots to milk gives them
Old technology meets new. The wheel is the old way they kept track of the herd but Brian still uses it in conjunction with the computer. 12
more time to concentrate on other things including fine-tuning their farm system to get more milk in the vat, looking at how the cows are moving around the free-flow system, monitoring pasture quality and residuals closely, looking at the milking frequencies and adjusting milking permissions accordingly. Brian says the data from the system is invaluable and allows them to get on top of health issues quickly. “There are screeds of reports with KPIs to help streamline the operation – investing time in these can yield dividends big time. “The time we are saving is huge. “In a conventional system, farmers can spend 40-60% of their day harvesting milk and 5-15% managing their business. In a robotic system this is reversed.” Other reports can be for anything from mastitis cell counts to the yield per quarter to blood in the milk or overall health. “If the system picks up any irregularities in the cow’s milk it automatically diverts it away from the vat and sends an alert. “We can programme it so colostrum or milk from any cow is diverted away. Unless we slip-up when programming her number in we should never have any issues with that.” The beauty of the system is it can be monitored or checked from anywhere in the world through an internet connection. Alerts are sent to his phone but he can control which alerts he receives or the frequency.
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
The Yates family recently installed the latest in technology from DeLaval and upgraded their robotic milking system to the VRS V3000. Brian in the shed with the new plant.
I can choose what I want to do and when – there are no limitations. Brian Yates
Another benefit is the improvement in the herd. Training the herd to go through the robots took a bit of time when they started in 2010 but now they flow through easily and younger cows learn from them. They do run the heifers through the shed several times before calving. “I am constantly amazed at how quickly
heifers adapt to a robotic system. They are all a bit different but on average they are coming in and getting themselves milked within a day or two.” Brian says the new model looks exactly the same but his cows noticed that something was slightly different and carefully inspected the plant as nosy cows do. “It is a voluntary system so the cows come and go as they please. The girls are sorted prior to the milking yard through two automated three-way drafting smart gates. If she has been milked recently the computer recognises that and lets her go to a fresh break instead. “There is no-one chasing the cows on a motorbike and no dogs so the herd is completely stress-free. There are less health problems. We noticed that our
production increased by 15% per cow in the first year.” Pasture management is more efficient as the herd is leaving better residuals that are easier to look after. Then they have their hoons, which are first into a paddock, and the couch potatoes that don’t move so well and are pretty much once-a-day. “About 12% of our herd are milking 1-1.2 times per day but the reality is that by staying back in the paddock they are chewing the pasture down to our target residual. That 12% are every bit as important as the red fizzy hoons.” They run a System 1 and because they are organic their stocking rate is lower than most.
Continued page 14
ON FARM STORY
Since the robots took over the cows come in voluntarily and are more relaxed. Brian gives one a scratch.
“If we have a dry spell we cannot just go and buy in feed so we rely on our stocking rate to help get us through the difficult times. “We make grass silage, balage and hay all on farm. More recently we started growing maize grain to be fed through the robots.” They have grown maize for three years and find it grows well and is the best option for feed. “Two years ago, the yield was 7.8tonnes/ha and that was done without any sprays, insecticides, chemical fertiliser or coated seed. “Last year we grew 12t/ha and ended up with a surplus so were able to sell quite a bit. This year we have just harvested 9t/ ha.” “It is an aspect of our organic system that is so gratifying, being able to achieve those yields without the harmful inputs.” Brian says feed is a bit tight at the moment because of a four-month drierthan-average spell. “We probably won’t get to our target as a result but not far off. “And now the nights are cooling down so growth rates are making things a bit tight. The maize will help keep the girls going.” Last season the herd produced 63,500kg MS and they are targeting 65,000kg MS. The cows are producing 405kg MS. The autumn calvers begin calving on March 15 and the spring calvers begin on August 20. They bring both mum and calf into the shed so the mum can feed from the in-shed feeding system and be 14
Heritage Farm is split calving and milks year-round. New autumn calves born in March. milked. They rear 40 replacements and surplus calves go to the Tuakau sale. In 2017 they installed a DeLaval Herd Navigator system, which was also the first in Oceania. It monitors progesterone levels in the cows and delivers up-to-the-minute information and advice on what action to take to improve cow reproduction and health. “It basically pinpoints what stage the cow is in her reproductive cycle,” Brian says.
“If she is having a silent or blind heat the system will pick it up and let us know that she will be ready for mating in, say, 48 hours’ time, which gives us the ability to not only keep an eye on her but inseminate her at the optimum time.” The system has reduced calving spread and improved the six-week in-calf rate. “Our rate was not that flash – about 54%. “Through the use of the Herd Navigator this increased to 65% in just our first season, which is the same as the district
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
average. We eventually hope to get up to 78-80%.” Five weeks into autumn calving and they had 81% of cows and calves in and all going well by weeks six, they will have 94% in. Mating begins on June 11 for the autumn herd and November 6 for the spring herd. “I do the AI myself, too, which fits well with the nature of cows coming to the shed at all times. “We put a lot of interest into getting bulls with the right traits for our system. We use CRV primarily but have also dealt with Semex. Both companies have bull teams marketed as having robot desirable traits. The Herd Navigator has cut the number of weeks mating from 12 to nine. They might put the bull out for a week or two but didn’t use the bull at all last spring. If a cow slips the system will pick up the change in progesterone levels and send an alert. “We had this happen a few seasons back and were able to go back and find out which paddock she was in and go and check.
“We found a macrocarpa branch hanging over the fence that she must have had a chew on, causing her to abort so it is proving to be an invaluable tool for overall management.” Herd Navigator alsi gives early warnings for mastitis and ketosis. “In an organic system prevention is easier than trying to cure so the more tools in our bag the better equipped we will be.” David and Cathy help feed calves and keep an eye on things when Brian has time off. Apart from the usual jobs on the farm, he can schedule or prioritise jobs without having to allow for milking time.
The data from the system helps streamline the operation and keeps on top of animal health.
“I can choose what I want to do and when – there are no limitations. “I can go play with my kids or look at the figures on the cows or find areas where we can tweak the system further to get the best out of our capital investment.” Brian and Natasha plan to eventually buy the herd and go 50-50. n
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SEE US ON SITE F86-F92 AT FIELDAYS®
MARKET OUTLOOK
Bank makes money moves
O STEPHEN BELL
N THE surface things look pretty good in the dairy sector but it’s what’s going on in the background that’s likely to have bigger, longerterm effects on farming. We have seen a continuation of the steady rally in prices on the Global Dairy Trade platform and milk prices, even this late in the season still have some room for improvement if the financial experts are right. The consensus seems to be for a farmgate milk price of at least $6.60 to $6.65/kg MS with better to come next year. Rabobank has reset next season’s opening price at $7.15/kg MS. Some commentators are wary of the international situation but despite American utterances, a lack of progress on Brexit and a slowdown in the Chinese economy prices are holding up and not experiencing much volatility. In March our exports hit an all time high for any month, up 19% from March last year to $5.7 billion, led by dairy products and followed by meat and forestry. Dairy exports were up $264 million or 22% to $1.4 billion. That rise was led by milk powder, up $226m on a year earlier. There were contrasting movements in other dairy commodities. Cheese exports rose $42m while butter exports fell also by $42m. The rise was quantity-led but unit values also rose, up 6.5% on March 2018. And despite fears about Chinese consumption it soaked up the lion’s share of the rises. It’s imports from New Zealand were up 52% to $1.5b for the month. However, the international waters are still murky with United States president Donald Trump threatening anyone buying Iranian oil. China and Japan both buy oil there. That’s likely to have a domino effect if the US does act. It could disrupt trade between sellers and the oilbuying countries. It could also force up oil prices, meaning some of our customers have less to spend on dairy products. But the elephant in the room, now capital gains, water and fertiliser taxes have been scotched, is the Reserve Bank’s plan to force banks to double the amount
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
DON’T TOUCH: Getting your hands on this stuff might be a bit harder as a result of Reserve Bank policies.
of cash they hold in reserve to see them through tough times. That’s likely to make banks think twice about lending to the rural sector and push up the interest they charge. It’s ironic the Reserve Bank is deliberately pushing interest rates down to encourage business investment. However, it has long fretted about the size of the debt on dairy farms, which hold $42b of the rural sector’s $63b debt so it’s unlikely to encourage banks to lend more to farmers, especially dairy farmers. And the cash reserve plan will help it there. Banks see farmers as riskier propositions than other borrowers like house owners so will put the interest rates up to reflect that. And they will be under pressure from their Australian investors who are likely to have little sympathy for Kiwi farmers. The requirement for banks to hold more cash will cut into their returns so they will also want interest rates to go up. Just how much it will cost farmers depends on which experts are best at doing their sums but it could be anything from $120m to $800m a year. And according to Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard that could be enough to force some farmers off the land. It’s not a done deal yet and this is an instance were all the trading banks will push back against the Reserve Banks plans and the move could be abandoned or softened depending how much clout is brought to bear. But that’s not all. There’s another elephant, maybe not in the room yet but pushing through the door.
On April 18 the Reserve Bank said it had in December joined the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System to focus on climate and environment risk and transition to a low-carbon economy. “The Reserve Bank is strongly committed to the work of the NGFS,” the bank’s financial system policy and analysis head Toby Fiennes said. It might sound like a bit of idealism but it has major implications that will be realised in measurable monetary terms. For instance, the latest NGFS report says there is a strong risk that climate related financial risks are not fully reflected in asset valuations. That could affect land prices and interest rates. That and other measures will be reflected in policy and could also affect who banks are likely to lend to. It could also see the imposition of conditions or setting of criteria borrowers must meet to show they are mitigating the adverse climatic and environmental costs of the activities the borrowed money will be spent on. And it’s not to be dismissed lightly. Big hitters like Chinese, European and Australian central banks and the likes of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank have signed up. The notable absentees are the Americans. Get those farm environment plans ready. n
MORE:
Report and video banque-france.fr/en/financial-stability/ international-role/network-greening-financialsystem/first-ngfs-progress-report
17
NEWS
Risk calculations kill Lincoln share plan
T TIM FULTON
HE hoopla of a $206m building project meant to energise New Zealand science and primary industries has fizzled over fears of a financial
blowout. The proposed shared facility at Lincoln was meant to house up to 900 scientists and students including Crown research institutes and dairy industry heavyweights. Scientists from around the country uprooted family and careers expressly to be based at Lincoln as part of a long-planned academic and primary industry hub announced by the National government in 2013. The hub’s shareholders, Lincoln University, AgResearch, DairyNZ, Landcare, and Plant and Food Research, maintain the hub plan has always been more than shared bricks and mortar. But they have also maintained a shared Lincoln building would embody the hub’s spirit. The backers often spoke of the likely synergies of having so many people from different backgrounds being housed in the same area. Parts of the ill-fated facility were meant to be built this year with the project finished by the end of 2020. DairyNZ, which already has premises in the Lincoln area, built a re-location plan around it and would have been among those paying rent for floor space. A DairyNZ spokeswoman said “If Lincoln University, AgResearch or any partners of the hub complete a new building in the future DairyNZ could be interested in looking at any suitable tenancy options.” AgResearch chief executive Tom Richardson indicated last year it would share rent from the building with Lincoln on a pro-rata basis. The calculation would be based on the partners’ relative financial contribution to building. Richardson led talks with the Government on final budget sign-off for
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Lincoln’s design masterplan released in 2018, which was meant to include the joint AgResearch Lincoln building. the 27,000 square metres building. Given the commercial risks it was always vital for the Government and its partners to nail down the cost of the project before more sods were turned. Treasury’s recommendation against the build appears to have been decisive in persuading the Government not to back it. Publicly, Richardson maintained hope until the last that the academic, teaching and property rental partnership would go ahead. Privately, he and his AgResearch and Lincoln University counterparts were exasperated by continued delays, under both the National government, which proposed the partnership, then the Labour-led coalition that killed it off. A source familiar with the Lincoln building plans said his colleagues believe the venture was doomed as soon as the Labour-New Zealand First coalition announced $200m for the new Dunedin hospital. That amount of money was never going to be shared between the two ventures. A second observer said it appears Treasury did not think the proposal stacked up financially. “I believe that would have strongly influenced the new minister.” The source said not everyone was
convinced bringing two struggling organisations together would actually make one strong organisation. The culture of a Crown research institute like AgResearch or Plant and Food is different to that of a university and DairyNZ is different again. It was questionable what the new working culture should be, the source said. “Nobody ever wrestled properly to resolve that issue.” In December Education Minister Chris Hipkins rejected a third business case to Government seeking $85m in funding for the joint facility. Hipkins said money could still be made available if Lincoln could provide a complete business case detailing the project’s price, main contractor and construction plan that fitted Treasury guidelines. AgResearch now plans to build its own facility, potentially on Lincoln’s campus. Richardson said its early plans are for a 7000 square metres centre costing up to $100m. It hopes to attract tenants now uncertainty about the future of the previous venture had been removed. Lincoln, meanwhile, has indicated it might build a separate new centre for itself. n
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
DAIRY FARMER
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ON FARM STORY
Northland couple Shane and Dot Dromgool have diversified their business to include a vineyard as well as their dairy and beef farms.
Harvesting the benefits of diversity A Northland couple run a diverse operation consisting of three business units. Jenny Ling reports.
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ORTHLAND farmers Shane and Dot Dromgool already run a successful dairy and beef operation but recently branched out into the world of viticulture in a bold bid to diversify their business. The couple operates a robust operation, Longview Shorthorns, farming pedigree beef Shorthorn cattle on the outskirts of Kerikeri. It consists of a 300ha beef unit and a 200ha dairy operation. They run 250 Shorthorn breeding cows on the beef unit along with dairy-beef cattle born on the dairy unit where they milk 500 dairy cows including 100 Milking Shorthorns. Though the beef breeding herd is strong and thriving – it’s the largest registered beef Shorthorn herd in New Zealand – low returns on the dairy front have prompted the couple to rethink their farming strategy and land use.
When their eldest son Jake finished his international business and marketing degree at Auckland University of Technology several years ago they decided to capitalise on his love of viticulture and try their luck growing grapes. “Since the conception of Fonterra we seem to be working harder for less,” Shane says. “Due to the inconsistency of dairy returns over the last 10-12 years we’ve been looking at ways to branch out and spread the risk. Jake has always had a passion for viticulture and after graduating he decided to return home to pursue that. “He was fortunate enough to land a job in Northland’s largest vineyard The Landing,” Shane says. “He gave us the inspiration to start planting our own vineyard.” In 2015 they planted 0.75ha with several grape varieties to find those most suitable for their area and climate.
They have planted 1ha a year ever since and now have 5ha of grapes. Grape varieties include sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, semillon, syrah, pinot gris and albarino, which are processed at
Continued page 22
FARM FACTS n Owners: Shane and Dot Dromgoo n Location: Kerikeri, Northland n Farm size: 500ha including 300ha of Crown lease, 20ha runoff n Cows: 400 Friesian and 100 crossbred and Milking Shorthorn n Production: 2017-18: 150,000kg MS n Target: 2018-19: 150,000kg MS
The lack of suitable beef Shorthorn bulls led to the couple to begin the stud and breed their own. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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ON FARM STORY
The genetic line of the Shorthorn cattle can be traced back 65 years.
Marsden Estate, which also makes wine for up to 30 other growers in the area. “It’s all a big learning curve at the moment but the outlook is very promising,” Shane says. “We plan to carry on and increase it to an 8ha vineyard. At that size, it will create full-time employment for Jake and other staff at certain times of the year.” Although growing grapes and making wine is a relatively new business for them and something for them to learn, they have been farming for a while now. For Shane, who grew up on a farm, it is in the blood. Shane’s dad Jim bred Shorthorns since the 1950s so going farming and owning his own farm was a natural step. He has never wanted to do anything other than farming. Dot grew up in Kaitaia and was working at the Kaitaia Post Office when she met Shane. At the time Shane was herd manager on a property at Waiharara on the Aupouri Peninsula where he also leased a 70ha farm on which he employed a contract milker. They kept the lease on the farm for a couple of years even after moving to Kerikeri. They married in 1986 and now have three children, Jake, 27, Emma-Lee, 24, and Charlotte, 22, and two grandchildren 22
Remi and Ratu-James, both 18 months. After they married they progressed to a sharemilking position. It was Dot’s promotion to a manager’s position at the Kerikeri branch of the newly formed PostBank that prompted the couple to step up to farm ownership and move to the farm they live on today at Kerikeri.
Since the conception of Fonterra we seem to be working harder for less. Shane Dromgool
Having no real experience in farming Dot learnt how to drive the tractor and milk. In the early days she used to do the odd stint in the cowshed and often helped with the milking before heading off to do a full day’s work at the bank. “I can’t say I really enjoyed it,” Dot says. “I found milking and then working all day at the bank, the hours were just too long.”
Dot now takes care of the accounts, bookkeeping and stock records. She also does relief milking when needed. “I love it,” Dot says of life on the farm. “I always wanted to marry a farmer and here we are 30 years later farming.” They bought the 94ha farm at Kerikeri and in 2003 Shane bought 20 beef Shorthorn cows from his dad to start their beef herd with. Through DNA testing their ancestry was identified, which enabled them to register the animals through the APX grading system, a register to bring grade animals up to pedigree status. When Jim sold his property to downsize about 12 years ago Shane bought another 10 cows and 20 yearling heifers from him, which also went through the APX system. “That’s been the foundation of the Longview Beef Shorthorn Stud.” Today, their line of Shorthorn animals can be traced back 65 years. Over the last 25 years as neighbouring properties have come on the market Shane and Dot have gradually added more land to their property. Today the farm is a total of 250ha of which 230ha is effective. They also lease 300ha of Crown land along with a 20ha run-off at Okaihau. The Crown land is where the beef cattle are farmed.
DAIRY FARMER
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Shane grew up on a farm where his dad bred Shorthorns. He has continued in his father’s footsteps.
Most of the stock on the beef unit come from the dairy unit in the form of Friesian bulls and beef Shorthorn-Friesian steers and heifers. The couple have used beef Shorthorn bulls to tail off the Friesian herd right from the very start. As the dairy herd expanded in size, acquiring suitable beef Shorthorn bulls became a problem, which was the catalyst for the couple to start breeding their own bulls. “That’s what prompted us to start our own stud,” Shane says. HFS LacTuberc ad 210mmWx86mmH.pdf 1 18/04/19 “As our herd grew we found it harder
to source the bulls we needed. “Then we leased the beef farm and started a number of our own Shorthorn beef cows for our own purposes. It’s grown from there. “We now have up to 60 bulls sold into the dairy industry and 20 into the beef industry.” The dairy unit is run on a once-a-day, low-input System 2-3. Last season the herd averaged 300kg MS/cow to produce 150,00kg MS. They have set the same target this season though Shane says they are 3:26 PM unlikely to reach it because of dry
conditions in Northland from January to the end of March. “At this stage we’re running 7% behind for the season.” Cows are mainly grass-fed with a bit of maize silage and sorghum. They grow 12ha of maize off-farm and another 5ha on-farm with varying success rates. Shane says maize suits their system better than other crops and over the last few years crops have generally ranged from 18 to 30 tonnes depending on the season.
Continued page 24
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ON FARM STORY
Shane, with his pedigree Milking Shorthorn herd, has always wanted to be a farmer and today has three diverse farming businesses.
Shane changes the milk filter before afternoon milking.
“Maize is probably the most preferred crop in Northland,” he says. “One of the advantages of using maize is, if it is not required, then it can be left in storage as maize silage. At the moment we’re drilling annuals and Italian ryegrasses to boost winter, spring and early summer pasture production. Any surplus created is made into balage.” The sorghum is grown in paddocks irrigated with effluent and cut and baled rather than break-fed. “In the past we have grown turnips but found that in the years they grew well we did not need them because everything grew well so we stopped growing turnips. We found it easier to grow maize and put it in silage or green feed it to the cows.” Calving at Longview Shorthorns is split into two distinct groups – for the dairy farm and on the beef farm. On the dairy farm the dairy heifers are mated to Shorthorn bulls and the dairy herd is mated to start calving around July 20 to be finished by September 10. They use three or four weeks of AI followed by five weeks of tailing off with beef Shorthorn bulls. “One problem with this relatively short mating spread is that we have ended up with a slightly higher than desired empty rate of 8-10%,” Shane says. “With only a nine-week mating spread it does lead to having a handful of extra empties than we’d normally get. Obviously, we’d like it to be as low as you can possibly get.” The number of heifers reared as replacements on the dairy farm is 20-25%
and a large number of dairy-beef heifer calves are sold at four days. There are two full-time staff on the dairy farm and one full-time general hand who takes care of calf rearing, spraying and fencing. The dairy-beef bull calves are steered when they are three to four months old then sold to be fattened at 12 to 15 months. The Friesian bull calves are kept and sold to the works between 24 and 28 months. “The calf rearer who buys the Shorthorn dairy-cross heifer calves from us says she would love to be able to have all Shorthorn-cross calves as they are always in high demand from finishers,” Shane says. On the beef unit pedigree beef cows start calving around September 1 when the main calving pressure is off the dairy farm. The later calving start allows Shane to be 100% focused on the beef herd as all calves have to be identified to mother and sire, weighed, tagged, sexed and colour recorded in the first 24 hours. They use the CIDR programme for
mating their pedigree herd, which they say is a good way to synchronise large groups of cows. Once synchronised they are mated to AI over 10 days with beef Shorthorn semen from Australia.
It’s all a big learning curve at the moment but the outlook is very promising. Shane Dromgool
Because of that calving is condensed, which is why it is important for Shane to give it his 100% focus. The number of cows in the beef herd mated to AI has been steadily increased over the years and is now 85%. In the last year 210 of the 250-herd were mated to AI. After the first round of AI all cows have scratchies attached and any returns are re-inseminated as they return.
Dot Dromgool loves farming and is often out on the farm with her grandchildren. Ratu-James, Dot and Remi in the vineyard during harvest time. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
“This system has worked very successfully for us with insemination incalf rates ranging this year from 76-94%,” Shane says. “The biggest determining factor between the percentages was the number of days the cows had calves prior to being inseminated. Apart from that there was no difference in the way the cows were treated, each and every cow was treated exactly the same.” The beef Shorthorn heifers are mated at 15 months to home-bred beef Shorthorn bulls and just run with the bull. “The overall empty rate will determine how many heifers we need to retain for replacements,” Shane says. “Then a second selection will be made where we look for traits such as soundness of their feet, jaw, body confirmation and growth rates and birth weight and eye appeal. “Any empty heifers in the beef herd after that are culled.” Lower birthweight bulls are separated after weaning and sold to farmers to use over their heifers.
Continued page 26
waikatomilking.com
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ON FARM STORY
The top 30 bulls are taken to the dairy unit at the end of May at the age of nine months. They are looked after and prepared for the bull sale at the end of the following May. By the time they go on the market at 20
months they range from 750kg to 850kg live weight and are usually sold to beef farmers. The remaining bulls are sold to dairy farms in September or October to tail off dairy herds.
Son Jake’s passion for viticulture inspired his parents to take the plunge and venture into wine making. Jake and Shane with wine bottled under their 144 Islands label. 26
In the past the Dromgools have had their bull sales off-farm but this year the sale will be held on farm because of the biosecurity risk associated with Mycoplasma bovis. About 20-25 bulls and up to 30 in-calf heifers will be on sale on May 31. Shane likes farming Shorthorns because of their temperament and point of difference. “Shorthorns are typically a very placid animal with the ability to walk long distances, a trait which comes from their Australian genetics,” he says. Other traits Shane appreciates are their exceptionally good marbling and very good growth rates with the ability to have a killable carcase by the time they reach 18 months. They hold a respectable weight and have good fat cover and having polled heads means there are only a small portion of crossbreds that need dehorning. “Everyone that uses them comments that the calves are very easy to teach to feed and rear,” he says. “White Shorthorn bulls crossed with Friesian cows produce high percentage blue roan calves which always fetch a premium. “Depending on the day they can fetch anything up to $120 to $140 on four-dayold calves.” The couple are always looking to improve their farming systems and went
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
to Canada in 2009 to check out Shorthorn cattle there. “That’s where the first AI bulls came from that were used in our herd,” Shane says. “Since then we secured semen for the AI programme from Australia, which is a lot closer to our farming system and how we do things in New Zealand.” They now cross the Tasman every two years to secure the NZ rights to top genetics. Though there are only two or three other significant Shorthorn pedigree herds in Northland it’s a breed that is steadily gaining momentum, Shane says. It is being rediscovered after holding an important place in history for NZ cattle, being the first breed introduced to the country by Samuel Marsden in the Bay of Islands in 1814. Coincidentally, on that same voyage NZ’s first grapes arrived with The Landing being the arrival site of Marsden’s ship and where Jake works as vineyard manager. If it works out and the returns are worth it, the couple might expand the vineyard even further and reduce the dairy operation. They are also looking at other crops that could suit the climate including tamarillo, a crop with high demand for its fruit, which also gets high returns. So far they’ve had two vintages under the 144 Islands label, a name that reflects the number of islands in the Bay. This year the weather has been great for growers all over Northland with very little rain from December to March. “It’s been a fantastic year for the grapes,” Shane says. “The quality of the juice pressed this year would have to be right up with the very best that the area has produced.
The Dromgools have a 5ha vineyard with several grape varieties planted, which are processed at Marsden Estate.
“Though, for the dairy side of things, it was challenging. Which is one of the advantages of having a vineyard in combination with the dairy farm. “Once the processes are aligned and level out it really could work quite nicely.” n
Jake Dromgool works as vineyard manager at The Landing.
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DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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AT THE GRASSROOTS
Gun law won’t work The events of March 15 shook the nation and led to tougher gun control. Dylan Williams and the Firearm Owners United NZ group respond to the new gun laws. A .22 lever action that is capable of holding more than 10 rounds is now prohibited.
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O, HERE we are, more than a month on from the most horrific terror attack New Zealand has ever seen. The alleged perpetrator has not even had his day in court yet and the inquiry into how he managed to hide among us and be given the privilege of a firearms licence has barely even begun. Yet, the Government has already delivered the answer even though it doesn’t quite seem sure what the question was. We could go on about how unjust it is that the hard-earned privileges of the fit and proper seem to depend not on our own conduct but on those whose only goal is to watch the world burn. But the real tragedy of the whole law change process is the way the Government and media boiled the entire debate down to a series of false dichotomies: An illusion of binary choices that are either black or white. You’re either with us or against us. You must either support the law change or oppose it. The gun owners versus the public. People’s
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lives versus your sport. You’re not the victims, they are. This divide-and-conquer rhetoric does more harm than good. The reality is that none of these seemingly black and white choices needs to exist. You can support the general intent of a law change but also think some parts of it have missed the mark. You can accept gun control is necessary but also accept fit and proper people can participate in well-controlled sport shooting. You can be anti-firearm ownership and still be disgusted at the despotic manner in which democracy was all but dispensed with. You can support initiatives to stop undesirables getting hold of guns but also demand taxpayer money and police resources are not wasted on schemes unlikely to achieve anything. You can have concern for public safety but also believe firearm ownership can be managed in a way that minimises risk to the community. You can be heartbroken for the victims of a terror attack but also feel disillusioned at how your Government has treated you. You can also recognise your own shooting-related activities are
not necessarily the yard stick against which the legitimacy of all others must be measured. Just saying ... The most gut-wrenching dichotomy being perpetrated is the idea firearms owners are somehow separate to the community. Apparently, we are not part of society but an evil gun lobby who should be neither trusted nor listened to. NZ does not have a gun lobby that pours money into supporting political candidates to protect the gun industry. There is no big gun industry in NZ like big tobacco or big oil. What we are is a collection of interested private individuals who choose to participate in the democratic process as is our right as NZ citizens. That’s kind of the point of living in a democracy, a point worryingly lost on the Government. Our message to the rest of NZ is this. It is not you versus us. We are not some weird fringe group. We are your friends, your family, your neighbours and your colleagues. We are the farmers who grow your food, the doctors who care for you when you’re sick, the teachers who teach your kids, the police officers who keep you safe,
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May 2019
the builders who made your house, the military personnel who serve our country, the IT guys who created your website, the students who will lead the nation tomorrow and the retirees who want to keep their minds and bodies active even though their rugby days are long since passed. We have families, jobs, homes and pets. You see us every day. We don’t want bad people getting hold of guns any more than you do. We are not a threat to you. We also happen to know a bit about guns. Soon the Arms Act amendment that was so perfect and so necessary and so urgent that no time could be made for debate will be up for review. Even though the media and Jacinda Ardern’s PR team would have you believe it was the most well-written piece of legislation in the world, soon they will be screaming that it’s full of loopholes that need to be fixed and it will be the evil gun lobby’s fault. We will yet again be cast as the enemy who must be controlled with swift legal action to fix the problems we tried to point out in the first place. That is what happens when shooters, hunters, dealers and even the police arms
officers are excluded from the legislative process. When those with no knowledge on the topic try to create laws without the input of those who have even the foggiest of ideas of what they are talking about, the results are predictably terrible.
We don’t want bad people getting hold of guns any more than you do. We are not a threat to you. Bad ideas do not become good ideas because of the strength of the emotional drive behind them. Conversely, if an idea is good then robust debate and scrutiny will confirm its validity, not compromise it. The Government should not be afraid to consult the shooting community and
involve us in the process from start to finish. It is the only way it will achieve buy-in among the shooting community and getting buy-in is the only way to build a system that works. In turn, a robust system is what gives people the confidence that firearms licence holders are not a threat to their safety because, let’s face it, the licence holders didn’t let a terrorist slip through the cracks. Meaningful consultation will go a long way towards restoring trust and mutual respect between shooters and police that has steadily and systematically been destroyed over the last few years. Besides, between the Government, police, licence holders and the rest of the population, aren’t we were all supposed to be on the same team? n
MORE:
For further information on the gun laws and which guns will now be illegal, go to https:// www.police.govt.nz/advice/firearms-andsafety/changes-firearms-law-prohibitedfirearms To register a gun to be surrendered, go to https://forms.police.govt.nz/forms/firearmnotification
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FAST FIVE The Dairy Farmer team is always out and about looking for dairy industry workers going about their business. Keep an eye out, you just never know when one of our team might tap you on the shoulder. This month we catch up with Simon Kermode who manages a 1000-cow farm at Dunsandel. 1. What philosophy do you live by? It’s the effort you put into people that will pay you back more than you can imagine. No amount of technology or innovation can replace the person. It’s the person who makes great decisions and belongs to the team. It will all add to success, however, people first then productivity and results will follow. 2. Why did you go farming? What attracted you to the industry? I went farming because of the scope to grow and learn through training and experiences and working outside with animals and machinery. I have stayed farming because employers have invested in my potential and I developed a passion and enthusiasm for dairy farming and all it has to offer. Besides, there were no hot birds working at the local dairy farm at the time so it must have been the money. Nah, actually, it was the potential to continue increasing everything I had. 3. How do you see the state of the industry and future of dairying? Very good question as I am part of a DairyNZ core design team researching what the 2030 Dairy Farm Workplace will look like and why. In my opinion the state of the here and now is heavily affected by how others view the dairy industry. To go into the future in a positive framework it needs to be designed as a preferred and favourable industry where people are key and want to stay and be involved in. 4. Future goals A very wise, I won’t say old,. employer once told us to always avoid being on the open market when looking at roles in the industry, meaning reputation, relationships and effort are key to my career progression. This will hopefully serve us well when these times come. 5. If you weren’t farming what would you be doing?
Simon Kermode
Simon Kermode grew up on his family’s sheep, beef and cropping farm in Ashburton District. His first experience dairy farming at the age of 17 when a friend invited him to help one afternoon. He says dairying was then a fairly new industry and that year alone there were 120 conversions in Canterbury. Over the past 20 years he has risen through the ranks and has worked for some excellent employers, one an arable farmer who gave him an understanding of the soil and cropping practices in dairying during his five years there.
A helicopter pilot except my wife won’t let me so I suggested becoming a professional bull rider – she said no to that too.
He is a firm believer in providing his team with opportunities for self-development and gets a real kick out of seeing younger members succeed. He and wife Emma work as a team and they are driven by their children James and Louise and to show them what can be achieved and provide a platform for them to choose their own path in life.
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Thank you to all our farmers who took the time to enter our hunting v fishing debate. Congratulations to farm managers Bevan Rowe from Tirau in Waikato and Cheyanne Wilson from Culverden in North Canterbury who have each won a 12-month subscription to a livestock report from AgriHQ.
HUNTING V FISHING Bevan Rowe I GREW up on the family dairy farm in Manawatu shooting ducks, rabbits and other pests. The biggest deer I have bagged so far is a six-point Red but would love to bag a 12-point Red or an eight-point Sika. I don’t get much time to hunt up in Waikato so I travel down to Manawatu occasionally when I want to go hunting. On the farm we have wild turkeys running around and they often attack the maize stacks. They are a real pain when we feed out maize in the paddock. We can have 30-40 of them tucking in and eating before the cows get to it so they make good targets. I go hunting because I enjoy cooking and eating wild meat and inviting friends and family over to share it. My wife is South African so I cook it on the braai (barbecue) and intend to make some into biltong (dried meat) and boerewors (sausage).
Cheyenne Wilson I am definitely more a hunter than a fisher because I don’t really have the patience for fishing. I grew up with a father that was a hunter so learned from an early age. I have probably been a bit more serious about hunting in the last three years though. My biggest trophy has been a 10-point Red – it was a beautiful head so am very proud of that. I enjoy it because although farming can be isolating at times, it is still nice to get off the farm and enjoy some quiet time to myself. It is great to head out to the hills and just sit and listen and watch the hinds come out with their fawns. I was up in the hills recently listening to the stags roaring and the sound was incredible. I have never heard the stags roar like they did this season. When heading back to my car I saw pigs 10 metres away from my car – don’t see them very often.
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Dairy can protect water gain Dairy farmer and irrigation advocate Graeme Sutton has been farming for more than 40 years.
With proper irrigation and proper management, except for high rainfall events, you can actually farm with virtually no nutrients dropping out the bottom at all. Graeme Sutton
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Water carried Graeme Sutton’s forebears to a life of freedom in New Zealand and it keeps doing the same for them on land. Tim Fulton reports.
IVE generations ago, in 1842 Graeme Sutton’s English family landed in Nelson. It was the start of a family partnership that has endured and expanded into several irrigated dairy ventures. “The reason they came out, I understand, is that New Zealand gave them an opportunity for land ownership. They never had that in England. They just worked for a Lord,” Graeme says. Settling in Richmond under the Wakefield scheme the Suttons made sure they stuck together to throw off those shackles and Sutton continues to be inspired by the example of his selfsufficient forebears. “My grandfather and his brother farmed together, my father and his brother farmed together and my brother Colin and I farmed together.” The Suttons are a practical lot – a trait
that shone through when Graeme’s father and a brother dissolved their partnership to make room for the next generation. Graeme’s immediate family moved to a farm at Redwood Valley, near the property where Graeme and his wife Jan are today. He says the old Redwood Valley plot convinced him of a few important things about dairying. “It was drier land needing irrigation. “And, I have to say, I wasn’t that keen about milking cows and shifting irrigation pipes, lugging these aluminium pipes around.” The irony of later becoming a longtime chairman of Irrigation NZ does not escape him. In the early 1960s his dad Victor bought a high-country farm at Kikiwa near Murchison, in the Nelson Lakes hinterland. The move was meant to guard against drought in Redmond Valley and create a farming outlet for a new generation.
The block was carved out of native bush as a ballot farm for returning World War I servicemen. It was covered with stumps and logs when the Suttons came across it but Graeme saw more potential than his dad. “I think he bought it with a view of running drystock but I had other ideas and we soon developed it into a pretty effective sheep and beef unit.” He initially farmed Kikiwa with Victor and older brother Ross. Together they spent countless hours earthmoving – a job that appealed so much to machinery-loving Ross he decided to pursue a career in logging and contracting. Looking for a new partner Graeme turned to younger brother Colin, forming the bedrock for a 30-year agribusiness platform built on irrigated dairy farms in North Canterbury.
Continued page 34
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DAIRY CHAMPION
In February Graeme and his wife Jan were forced to move stock to safe ground and evacuate their home in Redwood Valley as the Nelson fires took hold.
They soon settled into their preferred roles: Colin managed the dairy at Redwood Valley while Graeme managed Kikiwa. It was winning a prestigious Romney breeder award in the 1980s that piqued his interest in agri-politics. At the time he was the first South Island farmer outside the Romney fortress of Southland to take the title. Well-wishers soon suggested he should use his newfound profile to advocate for other farmers. He took the hint and was elected to the Ravensdown board and the meat and wool industry’s now-defunct electoral committee. In those days the sheep and beef industry had some pretty woolly thinking, he says. “That was when Alliance took over a farmer co-op and PPCS was trying to get
a foothold to take over some of the bigger private companies. “I remember asking one of the older guys at that meeting if the industry had ever looked at the Dairy Board model for marketing. And one of these guys looked over his glasses at me and said ‘Boy, boy, you go home and wash your mouth out with soap’.” He wasn’t put off. He became sure of his view of the meat and wool industry when economist Rob Davison presented a paper to the electoral committee saying dairying was generating an average annual return of 6-7%, compared to about 3% in sheep in beef. Fortified by economic fact, Graeme and Colin decided they could do better than being cash poor for the rest of their farming lives. In the early 1990s they started looking
for an investment farm, using existing capital as leverage for lending. After looking at options on the West Coast and in Golden Bay their Nelson accountant Bronwyn Monopoli pointed them to Culverden in North Canterbury. Monopoli knew the area from horseriding and friends on a local farm, Mt Palm. The Suttons missed out on a first Culverden farm bid but Colin soon found an alternative, the 700ha Inniskillen. The only hitch was the Christchurch owners’ fear the staff would walk out as soon as they heard the property was on the market. It meant the defining moment in their agri career had to be of bit cloak-anddagger. “It was on the market but it wasn’t advertised. They wanted to sell it quietly, mainly because they had staff on the place and they didn’t want them to know it was being sold till it actually was. “They knew they didn’t have the ability to go up and farm it so we had to visit on a day when the manager was away. It was all very hush-hush.” Dairy farmers were a novelty around Culverden at the time. When the Suttons took over Inniskillen in January 1993 there were just four other dairy farms in the surrounding Amuri Basin. The new owners soon converted Inniskillen into three separate units, each with its own milking shed and borderdyking. The irrigation was considered a local wonder in its day, impressing judges enough to make the Suttons finalists in the 1997 South Island Farmer of the Year competition. But it was still an uneasy time for Culverden as the area waited for the fruits of the long-awaited Amuri Irrigation scheme to appear.
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They didn’t win the prize for the best looking cows but they certainly did when it came to measuring what went in the bucket. “I think a lot of people found that after the downturn of the 80s, with irrigation coming they had an opportunity to get out. And a lot of them did.” The Suttons missed the cut on eligibility for an irrigation subsidy when they bought Inniskillen but they were confident irrigation would pay for itself anyway. Within a few years Graeme was happy to speak at farming events about the power of water. He recalls telling a Massey University conference that where previously Inniskillen might have carried the equivalent of three halfbred Merinos to the acre, under irrigation it could carry three cows to the hectare. Looking back now, he has no doubt irrigated farming has rescued run-down communities. “Some of the land in Culverden is quite light, stony soil and it responds quite well to water. Irrigation really turned the whole dairy thing around in Canterbury.” As a champion for irrigation interests he is confident farmers can control nutrient leaching on lighter, Culverdenlike land. “With proper irrigation and proper management, except for high rainfall events, you can actually farm with virtually no nutrients dropping out the bottom at all.” Farming should be guided by science, not arbitrary rules, he says. To that end Irrigation NZ always favoured self-government, selfresponsibility and putting pressure on non-performing neighbours. “Farmers have always responded to the science that’s there and have always found a way, from those developments, to actually deal with the problem. I believe that we’ll do that.” Outside farming Graeme is a long-time electorate chairman for National MP and former Cabinet minister Nick Smith.
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
In partnership with others Graeme farms three dairy units milking 4500 cows. He has been involved in several agribusiness organisations including serving as the long-time chairman of IrrigationNZ.
A busy man GRAEME Sutton has been a farmer for more than 40 years in the Nelson and North Canterbury areas, farming a mixture of sheep, beef, deer and dairy. As an equity partner in several dairy farms over the past 25 years Graeme is a strong believer in the power of individual farmers to pool their financial and mental resources. “Colin and I did far more doing it collectively than we could have ever done on our own.” In partnership with others Graeme farms three dairy units milking 4500 cows. He has been involved in several agribusiness organisations as a director, including fertiliser, meat, wool, dairy and irrigation and spent 15 years in electricity industry governance.
Philosophically, he’s no great fan of red tape. “At the end of the day I guess you have to have regulations as a backstop but it wants to be that rather than some of the policies I see, looking like this Government are going to do, it will actually build a wall between farmers and government regulators.” It is unlikely influential regional councils like Environment Canterbury (ECan) would want to drive that wedge either, he says. “They’ve really led the whole field and there’s been a real good relationship between ECan, Irrigation NZ and Dairy NZ to work together to get the solution.” He credits his father and uncle for
Graeme has also played an active role in Federated Farmers and the Deer Farmers Association. He is also a director of Crown Irrigation; chairman of Provelco and immediate past chairman of Irrigation NZ and was chairman of the Industry Training Organisation before a merger with Primary ITO. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors, Justice of the Peace and a Rotarian. In February Graeme and his wife Jan had a close shave at Redwood Valley. On the first day of the Nelson fires they were evacuated and forced to move cattle and deer to a less vulnerable part of the property. The farm and family escaped disaster but it was a heck of a shock, Graeme says.
giving him a solid start in farming through Jersey breeding. The key period for the older folks was the early 1960s, before artificial insemination, when the West Coast was establishing itself in dairying. “People had to have bulls so they had an annual sale and they used to sell as many bulls as they did heifers. They did well out of that.” A jewel in the breeding operation was a bull that ranked highly on a production score but failed to impress the show judges with female progeny. “They didn’t win the prize for the best looking cows but they certainly did when it came to measuring what went in the bucket.” n 35
INDUSTRY GOOD
Staff retention
– first impressions matter Kirsty Dickens
Waikato farmers Marc and Nia Jones believe creating the right culture goes a long way in retaining staff.
Consulting officer
T
HERE’S no denying it can be a challenge at times to find the right people to work on farms. But finding skilled people who are passionate about dairy is only half the battle. Once we find them we need to do our best to keep them. Retention rates for first-year dairy staff are about 40%. That means six out of every 10 people choose to leave their job in the first year. Most people decide if a job is right for them in the first week and about half decide it isn’t. No employer wants to be in a position where a new recruit is already thinking about leaving. That first week is your chance to show new staff why they should stay with you and your team long-term. It is where simple things like a good introduction (induction), orientation and ongoing support can go a long way in helping retain your new employee. According to the Harvard Business Review giving a good induction can increase the odds of your employee staying from 54% to 66%. Adding ongoing support increases the likelihood of them staying to 75%. Not only will this help them fit in with their new team and, if they’re new to the area, get to know the community, but benefit you by helping them hit the ground running. I believe we need to do more, to not only retain staff but attract talented and passionate people to dairy farming. This is one of our six commitments in the sector strategy Dairy Tomorrow. We are
36
focusing on building great workplaces to inspire people to want to work in dairy. Waikato farmers Marc and Nia Jones believe creating the right culture goes a long way in retaining staff and is the foundation of any great workplace. The couple recently won Waikato Share Farmer of the Year and merit awards for human resources, leadership and health and biosecurity. It’s clear they have a passion for people and their team is the heart of their business. Their mission statement is Growth to Enrich Life. Marc says this principle guides everything they do, including their approach to managing their team. The couple have a strong set of values that help create a team culture and positive environment and has contributed to high staff retention rates. One of their core values is that no one is too big to do the small stuff. And that’s why they choose to have a flat organisation structure. The only exception is responsibility and accountability levels, which determine staff remuneration. The couple also place great importance on developing their staff by providing ongoing training and learning opportunities.
with DairyNZ “Let’s create leaders – that’s one of our other values,” says Marc. The couple ask staff what their goals are, both personally and professionally, and look at how they can support them. They build in these discussions during their staff appraisals, which they call role goal meetings. While they haven’t had to recruit any full-time staff for some time, they help seasonal staff at calving settle into their role through a buddy system. New staff are supported in familiarising themselves with the farm and their role by running through key tasks with Marc or a senior staff member. “We essentially show them the ropes.” Marc believes training new staff is extremely important in helping set them up for success and all these small things add up to making a great workplace and inspire people to want to work in the dairy sector. n
MORE:
Visit dairynz.co.nz/people. Kirsty Dickins is a DairyNZ consulting officer based in Te Awamutu DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
INTERNATIONAL
Cheese stockpiles build up
D
AIRY imports and exports to and from Britain have risen sharply since the start of the year with stockpiling as an insurance against a no-deal Brexit thought to be the key driver. Customs figures show United Kingdom cheese exports in February were 18,033 tonnes, an increase of 4094t or 29% from the same month last year. Cumulative exports of cheese in January and February were 15% higher than last year at 35,878t. Cheddar exports to the European Union grew by 16% while exports to nonEU countries fell by 3%. UK butter exports in January and February were up 70% on a year earlier. Meanwhile, imports of cheddar into the UK in January and February totalled 19,977t, a 77% increase on the same period in 2018. The increase was largely due to higher imports from Ireland with a total of 18,667t imported so far, double the amount from last year. Michael Masters, milk supply manager at cheesemaker Barber’s, said a major driver in the increased levels of exports would have been a bid by UK processors to get product into the EU ahead of potential deadlines for the introduction of costly tariffs. “This is much the same as the Irish have been doing in getting product into the UK to mature,” he said. In the event of a no-deal Brexit,
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
British exporters have been hoarding cheese outside the country while those who export to the United Kingdom have been stockpiling it there.
imports of Irish cheddar to the UK will face a tariff of about £200/t. Ornua, the owner of the Irish brand Kerrygold, is understood to have stockpiled nearly 40,000t of cheese in the UK, enough to supply its UK customer base for six months in the event of trade disruption. However, in the event of no-deal, tariffs on UK cheddar exports to the EU will be more than seven times higher than those paid by EU countries, at about £1450/t. Organic dairy co-operative OSMCo managing director Richard Hampton agreed the import/export increases must
reflect stockpiling between the different countries. But he was surprised exports to non-EU countries had fallen, given OMSCo has moved significant quantities of branded cheese and butter to the United States since the start of the year. “All of our stockpiling has been to nonEU countries,” he said. “We moved getting on for nine or 10 months of stock to the US in January and February. “Without our intervention that amount would have fallen even more.” n UK Farmers Weekly
37
RESEARCH
Powered by canola TONY BENNY
R
ESEARCHERS at John Deere in Germany have shown straight canola oil can perform as well as diesel to power big machines, burning cleaner and with lower environmental risk. John Deere showed off a canolapowered forestry harvester at the recent Green Week agricultural display in Berlin and says once some modifications were made the plant-based fuel produced the same power as conventional diesel. The German state of Bavaria initiated the project in an effort to make forestry operations more environmentally friendly and contracted John Deere to do a 30-month research programme. Research leader Professor Peter Pickel says modifications had to be made to the engine’s electronic control unit, changing the injection timing and pressure, and extra heating elements were added to keep the canola oil runny enough in winter. “The engine got some extra heated tubes and hoses because in winter operation the canola oil gets like butter,” he says. Other modifications were made to comply with exhaust emission regulations but researchers found plant-based oil has advantages over diesel in that regard. With diesel the particulate (soot) filter that every modern vehicle is fitted with needs to be cleaned regularly and that
Professor Peter Pickel, John Deere’s external relations manager in Germany says research into alternative fuels has been positive with canola oil performing well.
is done with a pulse injection of diesel fuel, adding up to 3% in overall fuel consumption. That happens automatically without any input from the driver. But plant oil burns a little hotter than diesel and produces less soot and seems to be selfcleaning, actively burning unassisted in the particulate filter. “This leads to a self-regeneration effect in the diesel particulate filter so we don’t need to regenerate the filter,” Pickel says. That means there’s no need for the injection of fuel to clean the filter, lowering overall fuel consumption. “The biggest challenge was emissions and winter operation because of the butter effect but there were some effects that were positive for us.” Originally, it was agreed that after the project the test machine would be
converted back to run on diesel but so successful has the testing been that the Bavarian state government wants to keep it as it is. “They want to have a clean machine for forest operations. If you spill some of the plant oil on the ground in the forest it does not hurt, it’s not toxic to the ground. For them, it’s an environmental issue.” The next step is to create a multi-fuel system so machines can run on different products including diesel, biodiesel, which is plant-based but with glycerin removed to make it very similar to diesel, or plant-based fuels basically made by pressing out the oil from the seeds of crops including canola, sunflowers and soya beans. “We want to make the engine detect the fuel in the tank and optimise automatically.” n
June’s themes
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RESEARCH
Spray ups yield, cuts emissions Biozest is unique spray that increases pasture resilience.
A
UNIQUE pasture spray might hold the key to reducing on-farm environmental impacts while increasing production. The technology behind a product successfully used to improve kiwifruit health and productivity for the past 10 years is now available to help pastoral farmers mitigate their environmental impacts while increasing pasture yield and milk and meat production. Biozest is a pasture spray proven in research trials to improve the productivity, resilience and quality of pasture. Paddock and farm-scale trials over the past decade have shown pasture treated with it can increase milk and meat production by up to 30% while simultaneously reducing urea excretion by more than 20%. The product has been developed by Pukehoke biotechnology company Zest Biotech. Its parent company, Indigo, has done research and development trials for more than 20 years. Indigo founder and entrepreneurial scientist Nathan Balasingham says with farmers under increasing pressure to respond to issues of greenhouse gas emissions and urea excretion from animals, the spray is a way for farmers to make a positive environmental impact while also significantly increasing pasture yield and milk and meat production. “For a long time there’s been a common thought in the agricultural industry that reducing farming’s environmental impact had to come at the expense of production
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
or that increasing production had to come at the expense of the environment,” he says. “We’ve researched this for over a decade, conducting rigorous trials onfarm and in commercial settings and we’ve seen it perform exceptionally in terms of increased production and, importantly, its use produces positive environmental effects.” The spray improves pasture resilience and growth by activating the molecular pattern recognition receptors (MPRR) on plant surfaces. When it is applied to pasture, the plant’s surface receptors trigger the production of bioactive molecules, called phenylpropanoids, which help plants overcome stress from pests, disease and environmental effects such as drought and frost so they increase the conversion of feed in grazing ruminants. “As a pasture spray it improves growth and resilience but, importantly, when treated pasture is consumed it increases ruminant digestion, which our research shows can lead to increased milk and meat production. “We’ve seen treated pasture in our trials being more efficiently converted to milk and meat instead of being wasted as methane and urea.” Balasingham firmly believes addressing agriculture’s environmental concerns should not be seen as an unwanted extra cost. “Reducing urea and greenhouse gases doesn’t need to be viewed as a threat or an attack on farmers – as long as scientists and developers are providing them the tools they need to respond.”
Indigo founder and entrepreneurial scientist Nathan Balasingham says farmers are under increasing pressure to respond to environmental issues. A recent independent review of the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre found it is leading the world in reducing livestock emissions. Balasingham says the report highlights the centre’s strategic thinking is focused heavily on productivity and efficiency, providing a value proposition for greenhouse gas mitigation. “By ensuring stock is more efficient through enhanced pasture growth, feed digestion and productivity we believe widespread use of Biozest can reduce the impact on the environment through reduced emissions, such as nitrogen leaching. “That means farmers can access an environmental solution that won’t reduce productivity and won’t financially cripple rural New Zealand, giving the rural economy a boost and contributing towards a solution to our greenhouse gas problem at the same time.” n
39
EFFLUENT
with DairyNZ
Big impacts on effluent storage There are a range of factors to consider when working out how much effluent storage your farm needs but some have a bigger impact than others. DairyNZ’s effluent expert Logan Bowler talks about the significant impact shed water use and application depths have on your storage requirements.
Logan Bowler
W
E’RE all familiar with the saying, reduce, reuse, recycle, and the same principle can be applied to water use in the milking shed to significantly slash the amount of effluent storage you need. After taking into account your soil-type, as discussed in the last column, shed water use is the second most important factor to consider when determining how much effluent storage your farm needs. I’m sure many of you know roughly how much water you use to clean up the milking shed but it’s a good idea to calculate exactly how much. On average, most dairy farms use about 70 litres a cow a day in the milking shed. Some might use slightly more or less depending on shed set up and whether you’re milking once or twice a day. By comparison, an interesting titbit is the average human uses about 250 to 300 litres a day. There are a few ways to reduce water 40
use in the milking shed but I believe the one with the biggest impact is installing a green water washing system. By washing your yard with recycled effluent or green water you can cut water use by up to 65%. That can cut your effluent storage requirements in half. It could see a 500-cow farm drop water use from 23,000l/day to 12,600l and reduce the pond size from 5700 cubic meters to 2400. Along with reducing water use and effluent storage there are also significant electricity and labour savings. If we consider the above example that farm would also reduce effluent irrigation from 77 minutes a day to 42 minutes. That 35-minute saving frees up staff to do other tasks. So, if you’re looking at installing or upgrading your effluent storage I’d encourage you to consider investing in a green water washing system. You might be surprised and find the cost is largely offset by the money you save with a smaller effluent storage pond or tank. Another key factor to consider is effluent application depths. Once again, this comes back to the importance of understanding your soiltype. If your farm is on high-risk soils it’s a good idea to take the little-and-often approach and irrigate effluent on your paddocks whenever conditions are right – dry soil and fine weather. Using shallow application depths
of 3mm rather than 5mm and 10mm enables you to irrigate more often and reduces your storage requirements. I know this might sound contradictory but let me explain. Soil is like a sponge – it can hold only so much water before it’s either taken up by pasture or leaks into ground water. Applying shallow amounts of effluent increases the number of opportunities when conditions are ideal to irrigate. But, as with most things, there is a trade-off. While shallow application will significantly reduce your effluent storage requirements it will require more labour because you irrigate more often and through the busy calving period. So, it’s worth weighing-up whether you’d rather spend a bit more and get a larger pond, which will allow you to store your effluent and apply deeper application rates when conditions are better in spring, summer and autumn. Everyone’s effluent storage requirements are different and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach so if you’re looking at upgrading or installing an effluent system talk to an accredited effluent system design company to ensure you get the right system for your farm.
MORE:
Visit dairynz.co.nz/effluent. Logan Bowler is a DairyNZ environmental extension specialist and effluent management expert
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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Southland farmers Ivan and Denise Hopper installed five DeLaval robotic milkers after considering what they wanted to change in their farming system.
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May 2019
AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
Switching to robotic milking A Southland couple wanted something more from farming than milking day in and day out so went robotic. Brittany Pickett reports.
I
VAN and Denise Hopper love dairy farming but putting on cups was more of a chore than a labour of love. That’s why the Woodlands farmers decided to switch to a robotic milking system. They milk 335 Holstein-Friesian cows during the peak of the milking season on their 126-hectare farm. Meanwhile, on the run-off they rear all the calves from their mixed-aged cows to sell. The couple installed five DeLaval voluntary milking system (VMS) robots in their shed in June last year after 18 months thinking about what they wanted to change on the farm. “Well, we wondered what we were going to do differently next season. We
were just sick of the daily grind,” Denise said. Previously, the couple had spent 12 years milking through a 30-aside herringbone system and Ivan says they had to start thinking about what they wanted for the future of their farm. Even with robots they could possibly still be walking the cows to the shed and putting cups on. However, the DeLaval system made it simple. The cows can walk to the shed whenever they want to be milked and the cups go on automatically. “There’s a bit of cleaning and that’s about all,” Ivan says. While it was a lifestyle change for the pair they weren’t the only ones who had a big change.
All their cows had to be trained to use the new yards and the robots. Each cow is fitted with an ear tag that is read by machines on the yard’s smart gates. If a cow returns to the shed too soon after her last milking she is diverted away for grazing, either in the paddock she came from or if a new grazing area has opened up she is sent there. It took a little learning before the girls knew what they were doing. Sometimes the cows would try to go through the gate two at a time, which created slight chaos when they were drafted incorrectly, but they soon got into the routine, Ivan says. They started off being milked in small batches and once they were being milked completely and could use the smart gates correctly they were put into the milking herd. They also had to learn to eat meal for the first time, which is provided in the shed and closely monitored. A body condition score camera keeps an eye on the cows’ condition and helps sort out the feed ratio. If a cow gets too
Continued page 44
FARM FACTS n Owners: Ivan and Denise Hopper n Location: Woodlands, Southland n Farm size: 126ha milking platform, 129ha run-off n Cows: 335 Holstein-Friesian n Production: 2017-18: 132,000kg MS n Target: 2018-19 148,000kg MS Cows wait patiently for their turn to be milked. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
The DeLaval robotic milking system records all data for each animal including production and somatic cell counts.
high on the scale its meal allowance is cut back, too low it is given more. “Having that information means we can make better decisions instead of just giving everyone the same,” Denise says. This way they are using the same amount of grain but more strategically and using it in the best way. “The heifers have done well on this system. They’ve held more condition than the mixed-aged cows. They’ve probably done only about 75% of the mixed-aged cows’ production but that’s something we’re happy with.” As a result the heifers won’t have to be dried off two weeks earlier than the rest of the herd to gain that condition back through winter, she says. While they aren’t doing it the traditional way the Hoppers still keep a close eye on their cows. Under the VMS system cows can potentially wander to the milking shed at all hours so the couple aren’t in the shed monitoring the cows at every milking though they take turns to visit the shed each morning and night. Through cameras installed in the shed they can keep an eye on the cows from home. The robots have built-in alarms to alert the pair if something is going wrong in the shed. “We’ve got more flexibility and more time. If things cropped up we couldn’t just rush off but now we can. “It just means that everything gets done but nobody gets bored doing the same thing every day,” Denise says. 44
“The milking is getting done,” Ivan adds. Initially, the couple had reservations about changing their system. One of those apprehensions was the possibility they would lose control of their cows. “In the conventional system we could close the gate,” Denise says. However, they actually control the cows more than ever before without the cows even knowing it’s happening. They control where the cows go for grazing and with all the information from the robots they are up to date on all of the statistics on each cow. And the cows
seem happier than ever. “We certainly have more pets but they just do their own thing.” The Hoppers have been dairy farming since their teens and made their way to Southland from Morrinsville, in Waikato, in 2007. They jumped at the chance to farm a flat property as opposed to the hill farm they had been previously milking on. Transitioning to the VMS system has added longevity to their farming careers. “It has given us another 10-15 years where we can keep milking the cows and still have the farm and then we can decide what we want to do,” Denise says. One of the biggest changes for the couple is the amount of information they get every milking. Not only do they know each cow’s body condition score, they can see her production statistics, how much milk she is producing down to each quarter, their somatic cell counts and even when the cow is expected to calf. “We’ve got so much information to make decisions,” Ivan says. Two of the robots have somatic cell counters and the couple can decide when to put the cows through those machines to check their numbers by restricting entry to just those particular robots. Milk from any cow more than 400 is automatically drafted out of the milking herd until the cell count goes back down to 250. The cows are set up on a three-way grazing system. Over 24 hours they have three pasture shifts, all controlled by the smart gates at the shed that direct them to their next grazing area after milking.
With cows coming in at all hours the Hoppers take turns going to the shed to check on the milking but can also monitor it remotely. Denise checks cow data in the shed. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
The heifers have done well on this system. They’ve held more condition than the mixed-aged cows.
Denise Hopper
While the new system has been great for their business and their lives off the farm, the pair still have some hurdles to tackle. Their empty rate of 16 % is of particular concern, especially without being able to pinpoint the underlying cause. “We do what we’re told to do every year. There’s just so many factors and we can’t really isolate one individual factor,” Denise says. Their high empty rate has started to affect their replacement herd because they can’t afford to get rid of 16% of their herd when they get only 23% replacements from their calves, she says. “We certainly don’t want to be in the position of buying in cows. We have had years when we haven’t had enough cows on the farm.” Their extra grass is made into balage, with 976 bales harvested this year. However, they would prefer to have more
Ivan Hopper says the only must-do job left at the cowshed is hosing down.
cows on the ground so grass can be made into milk, Denise says. They estimate the robots are not being used 36% of the time but hope with more cows they can lower that percentage. “From an investment point of view we’d want to get more cows in there utilising it,” she says. Their goal is to milk 350 cows at peak season. “This season has been about gaining confidence ourselves and getting the cows used to the robots,” Denise says. Next season they plan to better use the information they are getting from the system to improve their productivity
The Hoppers have noticed how much more relaxed and friendly the herd has become since they switched to milking robots. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
but they’re already noticing things they wouldn’t have in a conventional system. Denise says they might never have noticed their highest or lowest performing cows in a conventional system but now with the click of a button they can see how every cow is performing throughout the entire season. “We’ve just got so much information and now it’s figuring out how to use it all.” For example, they have had some cows that have had incomplete milkings their first time around in the robot so they are sent back around until they have been completely milked. Because of this, they have identified the need to breed for udder shape suited to the VMS but it will take time. As with most big changes, switching from conventional to fully automated milking has been a learning process with some mistakes along the way, including not having machines ready to milk the cows but at the end of the day it hasn’t been difficult to master. “Now we look back at that and it’s all so simple. It’s set up for farmers to run,” Ivan says. One thing that made the transition easier was joining a discussion group with farmers running similar systems. Not being the first ones to go through the change and all the little issues that arose was a big help, Denise says. After making the switch the couple say there’s no way they’d go back to the early morning shifts doing it all by hand. “The cows are happy and we’re happy.” n 45
The Tru-Test autodrafter sorts cows automatically so they are in the pen waiting for Jonathan Power after milking.
Drafting cows as easy as
B
EING environmentally friendly while farming happy and healthy cows and achieving a high in-calf rate were the three main drivers for Jonathan Power’s decision to install an autodrafter at his shed.
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Power milks 530 Friesian-cross on 143 hectares at Lismore, Mid Canterbury. When he took over the property as the sharemilker five seasons ago the 40-aside herringbone was completely refitted with new plant. His earlier experience in an 80-bail rotary with a competitor’s drafting gate
meant he already knew the value of autodrafting. With his farm goals in mind and the opportunity for a complete refit he wanted to make the best choice. He installed a Tru-Test autodrafter supplied by Dairy Technology Services (DTS). “We drove around a few farms and had
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS a look at their systems. We were quite happy with what we saw and went with the Tru-Test one.” He says there are a string of benefits to the quiet, three-way pneumatic drafter. “Foremost, it simplifies operations in and around the shed keeping work flow and cow flow streamlined. “Secondly, the drafter helps me manage cow health, in particular proactive management of lameness and seasonal activities like dairy cow mating and calving.” He also loves the ease of putting a cow’s visual ID number into the MiHub dairy herd management app on his phone, farm computer or in-shed keypad then walking away knowing the job will be done. “It’s uncomplicated freedom — time freed up for other jobs on the farm and away from the shed.” Compare that with manual drafting. Constant interruptions to the routine in the shed and to cow flow out of the shed, having to remember every cow and be there physically to draft her. At mating season, for example, even identified heats can be missed because of pushing and shoving and divided attention in the shed. One missed mating cycle because of a missed draft or a draft not going in the right direction can leave farmers $170 or more per cow out of pocket for future milk production or possibly result in an empty cow altogether. That is where the autodrafter is a critical support tool for managing mating.
Tail paint, Kamar, Estrotect and other heat detection patches are the go-to visual aids to help farmers and staff identify cycling cows. Still, there is a gap. Identification is only half the process. It is all for nothing without reliable drafting. Power uses the autodrafter and patches and it’s a breeze.
It’s uncomplicated freedom — time freed up for other jobs on the farm and away from the shed. Jonathan Power
“For mating I don’t really need to do anything as long as I have got my patches and the cows are ear tagged. The autodrafter will draft those cows that are on heat for me,” he says. Another particular benefit of the automatic drafter in a herringbone set up is that staff do not have to leave the pit, intervene or sort animals when they exit en masse. Once the autodrafter is in place both mental and physical stress in the shed
can be greatly reduced. Staff can stay focused on milking, looking for the visual signs of mating and keep an eye out for any other animal health issues. Drafts can be set up from anywhere, in the shed on the keypad, at home on the office PC or in the paddock with the DTS Tru-Test’s MiHub Smartphone app. Farmers can have instant online access to a wide range of cow data that can be used to draft using whatever criteria wanted. Jonathan loves this ability to draft on the move and in the moment. “If I didn’t have the autodrafter I would miss the autonomy,” he says. “If I have lame cows or cows on heat I can put it in my app and forget about it. The gate will catch and draft those cows. There might be a cow you see out in the paddock and you can note it in the app right then and there or put the cow number in the key pad at the start of milking. The gate will draft her after milking rather than you having to think about it and find that cow physically.” Power is already seeing good results from using the system as the in-calf rate has increased and the animals are all good healthy cows. “The gate has given us more time to work on creating a more sustainable operation,” he says. “What’s more, over four years there’s been minimal maintenance and throughout the season there’s pretty much a constant job for the gate. “This coming September we will be using the gate for drafting cows for Metrichecking and pre-heats as well as the usual, looking for lame cows.” n
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AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
Farmers milk new technologies Winton dairy farmers Billy and Sharn Roskam believe tapping into modern technologies is the key to an efficient dairy operation. They spoke to Luke Chivers.
I Billy Roskam invested in a Protrack to help him farm smarter and take the guesswork out of mating.
T IS 7am. As daylight breaks on the Southland Plains, Winton dairy farmers Billy and Sharn Roskam’s morning milking is well under way. Their 36-bail rotary is filled with the steady hum of modern machinery – from automated cup removers to automated teat sprayers and heat patches. “It’s all about labour and efficiency,” Sharn says. “In our first few years, come mating, we’d be up at 3am to go out and pick up bulling cows. Milking was a two-person job and AI was pretty onerous. It was an exhausting time to say the least.” The couple are 50:50 sharemilkers on a 283-hectare (269ha effective), self-contained property, 30km north of Invercargill, running 585 crossbred cows. They also grow about 30ha of crop and their milksolids target is 260,000kg. The 37-year-olds have been farming crossbred cows for 11 years but their
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The drop in labour and animal health costs was balanced by the higher capital investment in Billy Roskam’s Protrack system.
Billy Roskam checks the data from the Protrack he installed. stimulus for looking deeper into technology came when they had children. “We we’re working around the clock, juggling our new-born child and our responsibilities on the farm. “A few years ago we made the decision that it was time to rationalise things. We knew there had to be a better way of operating.” The couple did their research and soon found their answer. Using LIC Protrack systems they can now work smarter and more profitably. Protrack Draft software lets them set up drafting of cows for the next milking from wherever they happen to be and in the same time it takes to send a text. “We generally know ahead of time what cows we need to draft out at milking. With Protrack technology we can simply enter the cow numbers into our device and the direction we want to draft them,” Billy says. “It takes the hassle out of drafting cows by identifying their EID tag as they leave the shed after milking.” The Roskams also use automated systems for heat detection and somatic cell count. They rely on Protrack Heat for the automatic identification and drafting of cows in standing heat by reading heat patches while Protrack SCC provides them with live SCC results within two minutes of cupping a cow. Sharn says the technology saves time and improves herd management decisions. “It reduces our production losses through missed heats while removing the
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
stress and labour costs associated with manual heat detection. “Identifying cows on heat is critical during the farm’s mating season and the following year’s production depends on it.” The system includes an in-race photo booth that cows walk through as they leave the shed after milking. A camera in the booth photographs the cow’s heat patch above its tail and evaluates the heat patch for signs of activation. Cows deemed to have no activity are sent back to the paddock. If a patch is deemed activated or is missing the cow is automatically drafted to a pen ready for the Roskams to inspect and put the cow up for artificial insemination. In recent years the Roskams have also shifted to automated body condition scoring, integrated their farm data with MINDA and fitted GPS technology to their tractor to ensure better placement of urea and fertiliser. “I was keen to introduce all this
FARM FACTS n Owner: Mara Blackwell n Sharemilkers: Billy and Sharn Roskam n Location: Winton, Southland n Farm size: 283ha, 269ha effective n Cows: 585 Friesian, with some crossbred n Production: 2017-18: 256,401kg MS n Target: 2018-19: 260,000kg MS
technology for a long time as I knew we needed it,” Sharn says. “These solutions have been the best thing to happen to our dairy farm.” Last season they raised the farm’s milk production by 3000kg MS a head and are on track to better that again. Adopting technology was as much about a lifestyle choice as it was about improving farm performance. “We don’t want to be out on the farm until six or seven o’clock every night. We have a family and others do too. “If anything, technology has helped to reduce the amount of pressure we are putting on ourselves as sharemilkers.” Sharn says the drop in labour costs and animal health costs was balanced by the higher capital investment. However, she believes the potential for increased cow longevity, proactive farm management and labour retention make the system worthwhile. “There was an instant payback. “It meant we could shift to a one-person milking operation, reduce over-milking of cows and so shortened the time they are in the shed and offer more flexibility with our staff rostering,” she says. “There is a lot of herd improvement technology out there, such as herd data apps, virtual fencing and genomics, which is still being under-utilised,” she said. “The reality is, the more data you have in your back pocket, the more insights you can draw. “I’d encourage farmers to give it a go. Look around at what’s on offer – and try it. “I think for farming to be endurable long-term, technology is a no-brainer, really.” n
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Bruce Dinnington with one of his Lely automatic milking robots installed last year.
Dual robotics and feeding A Southland farmer is future-proofing his farm with robotic milkers. Tim Fulton reports.
A
COMBINED robotic milking and self-feeding shed gives Bruce Dinnington priceless control over stock health and production. His 210ha dairy at Dacre near Invercargill has extended milking by up to 35 days and lifted production by about 10% under a single-shed, automated system installed last July. Bruce understands it’s the first time Lely has installed a system like it anywhere on a pastoral grazing farm. It’s the first in the world with robotic milking and adjacent feed stalls under one roof and yet you can still put the cows outside for grazing, he says. “On the old farm we had the winter sheds anyway but they were tunnel house sheds with sawdust underneath. “In the new set-up I believed we could milk out of it but we couldn’t keep the sawdust clean enough for mastitis reasons.” Having wintered in sheds previously he never doubted the value of a free50
Bruce Dinnington has three Lely milking robots. stall barn, with individual stalls and mattresses. The system is paying its way by taking cows off vulnerable pasture in Southland shoulder seasons. On heavy soil like that at Dacre it could take a farm several seasons to recover
from a single bad year of pugging every five or 10. By having cows contained under closer monitoring and a wider variety of feed, milksolids production has lifted from 560kg/MS a cow to 700kg. “I’ve always been into milking cows, always chasing the high production
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
A Lely milking robot prepares to put cups on Bruce Dinnington’s cow. Milking has extended by 35 days and production has increased since the introduction of the robots.
per cow. In the past we’ve only been able to manage a 270-275 day lactation because the soils here are heavier and the shoulders get wet.” Now, with indoor feeding and milking, Bruce has been able to take stock off sodden paddocks, improve animal health and increase lactation days to just over 300. He’s started split calving now he has confidence in feed supply and animal health. “With winter contracts we milk them all year round now.” The farm also benefits from an array of milk sensors, including continuous monitoring of fat and protein levels and two forms of mastitis testing – conductivity (cell count) and a solutionbased test. The robotics test each teat or quarter. Alerts ping to Bruce’s cellphone if there’s a problem. “You can actually pick it up three days before you can pick it up visually. It also gives what they call distress alerts. With that I picked up two cows with milk fever
After milking, the cows return to the paddock for grazing.
and it’s picked up cows that are starting to calve.” All Lely robotics systems are customdesigned so prices vary. Bruce’s design incorporated the feed station under the same roof but others might take a different approach.
Milksolids production has lifted from 560kg/ MS a cow to 700kg. One of the factors in any purchase is the exchange rate for imported materials. To offset the cost Bruce sold part of the existing farm, including a rotary cow shed. The gain from the robotic cow shed and barn in-one is considerable, he says. “We’re well aware of the benefits coming out of the winter shed then
you add on all the savings from pasture damage and you’re also feeding all the cows under the one roof so there’s no wastage out in the paddock. “So, while there’s an initial cost the production benefits are quite significant.” The robotics are touch-screen operated and Bruce had to have a new office and a bank of computer screens but it’s all quite manageable. “The only thing I’ve done is pay accounts and the odd email so I knew virtually stuff-all about computers in the first place. The whole system’s ended up being pretty simple.” The cows didn’t take long to adjust to the new regime. “It’s quite incredible how quickly they took to it. Three quarters of the cows went through the robot once and we never saw them again. The other quarter took it up after three or four days.” A minority 20-30 reluctant cows always used to hang back in the herd anyway. It soon became clear that the quickest
Continued page 52
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AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
Bruce Dinnington and one of his many pet cows.
way to get any cow moving was to let it work out the system for itself. The automation eliminates some of the usual herd hierarchy by allowing cows to milk when they please. “In the other system there would always be cows at the back of the herd which you had to bump up on your bike all the way into the shed. “Well, we never see them now and yet there’s other cows that are often back a bit. So it’s allowed the cows to be themselves a bit and they just come and go as they feel like.” The new shed didn’t cause much disruption to the rest of the farm as the milking platform already connected to four lanes. Bruce has a long view of farm improvement. Seventy years ago, on the smaller, original Dacre block his granddad Fred started running sheep and about 20 cows. His dad Alan converted to dairy when he took over in 1974, installing a six-a-side lowline herringbone. At that time, Alan and another farmer near Edendale, Stan Hall, were the first dairy farmers in the region to milk more than 100 cows. “They were told it was crazy, it couldn’t be done. “That was what the old timers reckoned but the technology comes on, doesn’t it?” Bruce says Alan never really wanted to farm sheep and he believed the farm could handle those 100-plus cows. “Of course, with the herringbone coming along with the walk-through it enabled them to milk more cows. And I guess the younger generation are perhaps a bit more keen to push the boundaries and try new things.” The son went on to do the same, of 52
A calf feeds on an automatic milk feeder.
course, but Bruce doesn’t get too carried away with pride about being an innovator. “It’s just progresses as it goes along.” Bruce started farming in the mid 1990s when the family bought another small farm nearby. He ran that unit for the next six years till the family bought a neighbouring farm and sold Bruce’s run. The Dinningtons put a 50-bale rotary on the new property to combine the old and new farms into a single unit and lifted cow numbers to 350. About six years ago Bruce bought another neighbour’s farm
and increased stock numbers to about 580. Going with robotics was partly about future-proofing, he says. He had always been interested in robotics but it was getting harder to staff the place and his parents were also getting older. “So I was just looking ahead to where I wanted to go, basically. I always enjoyed farming the best when I was doing my own thing. This was a good way for us to be able to carry on with that.” n
Feed and mating control BRUCE Dinnington uses robotics to dispense only the feed his cows need, including molasses and dairy pellets. “Cows that are doing 30 litres a day get X amount of grain and molasses, 40 get a bit extra and cows that are doing 50-plus get more still. And we use the robot to calculate the feed levels for cows in between.” The farm employs the robotics to the full. “We increase the protein levels a bit in late autumn and early spring and the mineral mix does change throughout the season. And all that changes as a result of liver biopsy and that sort of thing to keep the cows balanced and healthy.” Data-monitoring from the robotics helps Bruce put the cows into spring and autumn calving groups, offering preferential grain-feeding through the year as required. A heifer group gets a little bit more, for instance. The automation adds to the advice he gets from a dairy nutritionist and
supports his own judgment calls, which are usually based on feel for animal health, pasture supply and weather. Feeding and breeding are more important than ever now Bruce milks year-round. He still runs a single herd, which is put to AI in two seasonal rounds, with no bulls. Any cow that doesn’t get in calf in spring is carried over for another chance in autumn. The split-calving policy turns more cows into a yearround asset. The policy works well for his Friesians, which seem to appreciate an 18-month mating cycle. “We can keep cows milking right through and six months later give them another chance to get in calf. A lot of those big milking cows seem to take a little bit longer to cycle again and get in calf. They’re better off carrying over 18 months till calving. If you wait six months later they get in calf a lot easier. They’re off the peak and they’ve got that extra time to recover from calving.”
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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Northbrook Stud was established in 1933 when Milking Shorthorns were a popular breed. It is still going strong and owned by David Wood and managed by daughter Anja.
Still going strong SAMANTHA TENNENT
S
HORTHORNS, thought to be the oldest breed in New Zealand, were introduced to provide milk and meat and pull bullock teams. The red, white and roan animals that originated in England were a familiar sight in the countryside. From the milking strains introduced, the Milking Shorthorn breed was established and the NZ Milking Shorthorn Association was founded in 1913. Today descendants of those early cows are very different and can now include other red breeds from around the world to increase the genetic base, production and efficiency. In the 1930s Shorthorns were a popular breed when David Wood’s grandfather established Northbrook Stud at Hiwinui near Feilding in 1933. Though numbers have decreased there are still about 80 breeders across NZ,
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including David and Johanna Wood who now own the 140-hectare stud managed by daughter Anja. The herd consists of 330 Milking Shorthorns with 250 in the spring herd and 80 in autumn mob made up of 35 autumn calvers, some carryovers and late calving cows. Shorthorns are known for their good nature and longevity. The Woods have a few lines of six generations in their herd and another, Northbrook Oops, has several generations milking with new offspring due to come into the herd. Aged 20, Northbrook Oops is still going strong. “She is well looked after,” Johanna says. “Oops is really friendly and still milking well though she is milked only once a day at the moment and kept close by. Not only that, she is A2A2.” They have invested a lot of time into breeding over the years. In the late 70s they realised the genetic pool for Shorthorns was diminishing and
introduced Norwegian Red and Swedish Red. They now breed their own bulls and use international genetics. The herd uses Red Breed Genetics, which is the Milking Shorthorn Association’s sire proving scheme and operates through Semex. One of their young bulls is going into the scheme this year to be proven. “We breed bulls to use over our heifers and a handful of bulls go into our sale. “We enjoy the breed, we believe they have calving ease, good feet and legs. “They’re a hardy cow that endures the ups and downs of the weather. Their fertility is good and they have reasonable fat and protein.” Last year cattle went as far north as Whangarei and south as Invercargill. Prices reflect the market. Heifers fetch $1500-$1850. The cows are herd-tested regularly and they TOP score the heifers for the sire-proving scheme and to help prove
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES
They’re a hardy cow that endures the ups and downs of the weather. Their fertility is good and they have reasonable fat and protein. not just their own bulls but other young bulls in the scheme. Northbrook stud was recognised for the best overall TOP in NZ at the association’s recent conference. They cull every month from their herdtest data. They are very specific about a cow earning her place in the herd. David does AI for six weeks, followed by five weeks with the bull in spring and five weeks AB for the autumn herd and all calves are reared. Some steers are sold before their first winter and the rest are finished. About 45 bulls are kept to finish and the remainder for breeding. All heifers are reared and sold. They hold an annual on-farm sale with an American-style auction. Heifers are paired and bids are placed on the pair. The successful bidder picks which heifer they want and the Woods keep the other. The only heifers not put up for sale are pets. Every year they give local school children the chance to raise calves for pet day. “Some have never been on a farm before. It’s great to give them a chance to experience it,” he says. David grew up on the farm and left
The 350-cow Milking Shorthorn herd on Northbrook Stud near Feilding.
school at the end of year 11 to work on the farm alongside his brother, Arthur, after his parents bought nearby land and expanded the operation. “We milked cows on a farm down the road but needed to walk the cows up and down the road to the shed.” When Arthur got married the units were split, David and his father ran the home block with a 12-aside herringbone and Arthur was down the road milking through a 10-aside. “Our father set us up on our own units. He had seen too many families fall apart from brothers farming together,” David says. “Having our own units meant we could do what we wanted to.” His father did a lot of showing and today the family is involved with Dairy Event. “The Stratford show and Feilding’s Dairy Event are highlights on the calendar.”
David is a director on the NZ Milking Shorthorn Association board and Johanna is kept busy both on and off farm. She was recently elected the chairwoman of NZ Football and in March she was elected to the Oceania FIFA council. She has also been involved in judging NZ Dairy Industry Awards trainees and was a principal of a local high school. Their children are all involved with dairy farming. Karl is a previous winner of the Manawatu Dairy Trainee of the Year. Daughter Catriona is based in Feilding and helps on the home farm when she can and their son Richard is milking cows in Canada with his young family. Their goal is that the family business will be a sustainable family farm for the long term. The children are involved in the succession plan and everything has been kept open. Meanwhile, they are aiming to continue to increase production and the quality of cows they breed. n
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farmersweekly.co.nz
BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES
Selecting only the best
Tony Landers and his wife run Glenui Stud in Taranaki and have had a number of bulls accepted by breeding companies.
ROSS NOLLY
E
VERY dairy farmer’s goal is to breed cows that are good performers and possess good type and conformation. Central to that aim is the sire, which needs to be reliable in passing those traits to his offspring. Genomic testing is now being successfully used to help select those sires. JerseyGenome has operated for 11 years and is a joint venture between Jersey NZ and CRV AmBreed. It aims to identify potential bull mothers and generate sires that will enhance the future of the Jersey breed. Tony and Lesley Landers own the 128ha Glenui Stud at Kaupokonui in Taranaki where they milk 370-380 Jersey cows. He is a JerseyGenome committee member. Each year a number of animals go through the genome testing programme. Jersey NZ receives a report of the top 900 registered Jersey heifer calves mapped on breeding worth (BW). Those calves go through a pre-selection process and numbers are whittled down. “Some criteria must be met. This season many calves were from a bull called Triple Star so we took only his top calves, which got us down to 700,” Landers says. “We then talk with our breeders to determine whether their animals are available to go through JerseyGenome. Some don’t want to or others have contract-mated calves or for various reasons they are unavailable.” That selection process reduces the numbers to 400. Each breeder then takes hair samples from their selected calves, which are sent to CRV for genomic testing. The calves’ genomic tests are compared to their parent average. The working group then does another selection process. Each heifer’s score is added up and it goes into yes, no and maybe categories. Last year CRV tested 250 and this year 400. It is the most to have gone through the genomic testing programme in a single season. Historically about 50-70 heifers make the final selection. “Originally, becoming part of the JerseyGenome programme was an avenue for me to see how my breeding compared to other
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Tony Landers is a member of the JerseyGenome committee, which selects calves to go through the JerseyGenome programme. breeders,” Landers says. “The genomic test is a good indication but it doesn’t always work out. That’s what makes breeding so interesting. It’s not just a case of putting your best cow to the best bull because it doesn’t always work that way.” Breeders receive a genomic test for each animal. The cost is negligible because most farmers usually have only one or two animals accepted. The breeders are given all the information on their tested animals. The Landers have had some success with their bull calves being accepted by breeding companies. “Our biggest buzz was having a bull, Glenui Degree Hoss, selected for this year’s LIC team. He’ll get used in most NZ Jersey herds. The bull’s mother is 12 years old and still in our herd,” Landers says. “This year we sold five bulls to CRV and LIC whereas last year we sold five to each company. Most years we’re lucky to sell one so it’s always a bit of a buzz to get so many into the system.” The Landers do embryo transfer (ET) work and quite a few of those bulls were from the same family. “ET is a good process to use on your elite animals. Our top cow
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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Several of the 370-380 cows in the herd produce more than 600kg MS and about 50 are doing more than 500kg MS.
is coming up seven years old and we’ve performed ET on her twice. She now has 12 daughters on the ground and we’ve sold seven of her bull calves. “This year we have 17 embryo transplant pregnancies and 15 of them are from two animals. It’s a numbers game though. You may transfer five embryos but only two or three cows get in calf. Sometimes you get extremely lucky and most get incalf. Usually you tend to have a 50% success rate.” A large number of their herd is contract-mated. Last year they raised 28 bulls and had five taken by AI companies. They say it is always satisfying to have animals that are good enough for the breeding companies to want. “There have been two proven JerseyGenome bulls come through over each of the last two years. Even if only small numbers are bought each year a high percentage of them come through as proven bulls. Last year was good and this year has been even better,” Landers says. BW is a valuable tool. “We have one more herd test to go but in early March we had three cows do over 600 kilograms of milksolids and they are some of the high BW/PW cows. It’s a very good tool even if we just compare cows within our own herd,” he says. “As well as the three cows producing over 600kg MS about 50 cows produce over 500kg MS and there’s still another month to go. We’re pleased with that percentage of the herd, which is now down to just over 300.” The Landers are big fans of Jerseys and always have been. They feel Jerseys will make a resurgence but it will be a slow process. Their herd produces about 1kg MS per kilo of live weight whereas a Friesian cow that is 100kg heavier needs to produce 100kg more MS just to match. “This year the fat component of the monthly cheque is nearly double that of the protein. That’s very significant. There are no Friesian bulls in the top 30 bulls (on BW). There are 25 Jerseys and five crossbreds. “That’s probably due to the financial incentive of the fat payout,” he says.” Landers would like to think Jerseys will eventually become a much higher percentage of the national dairy herd. At the moment they are sitting at about 12% and he’d like to see that double. “The Jersey breed has a lot of horsepower for its size. We have 25 bulls in the top 30 from a breed that makes up 12% of the population. We punch well above our weight. It’s about getting other farmers to see that. “Whether you like the BW system or not it tells us the Jersey is a very good dairy animal. Environmentally and sustainability-wise the breed is a very efficient producer.” n
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
Want to be able to cull a lot more cows from your herd? Want to have surplus pregnant females to sell? Want to have a sustainable year-on-year 17% replacement rate?
NZ COW POPULATION ECONOMICS: HF
X Bred
JERSEY
Death Rate
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
Destroyed on farms
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
Calving Damage
1.00%
0.60%
0.20%
Collapsed Udder
1.00%
0.75%
0.50%
Feet and leg problems
2.00%
1.50%
1.00%
Non Pregnancy rate
14.00%
11.80%
10.00%
Discretionary production culling
2.00%
2.00%
2.00%
Other
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
-2.80%
-2.40%
-2.00%
22%
19%
17%
20% of MTs returning as pregnant COs Replacement Rate Required
More Questions? Contact: jerseyprofitnz@gmail.com (021) 0274 2954 57
Zero to 100 at Mangotea Robin and Jacqueline Blackwell’s stud Mangaotea Herefords is in the heart of dairy country in Taranaki. Many clients are dairy farmers. Photos: Natalie Campbell NATALIE CAMPBELL
B
EING surrounded by dairy farms means the priorities in the breeding programme for Jacqueline and Robin Blackwell of Mangaotea Herefords vary slightly from what most would consider traditional. Dairy farming clients expect good, clean markings and cosmetics in their bulls and that’s an area the Blackwells are expected to put emphasis on when offering bulls for sale. It’s a delicate balancing act they manage without compromising quality while offering bulls with a moderate EBV package and structural soundness. The couple’s enterprise focuses on bull breeding and dairy support and winters 8500 stock units. It’s a multi-faceted operation that includes Hereford, Angus, Murray Grey and Southdown studs, dairy heifer and cow grazing, supplement feed sale, Jersey bulls and a commercial Romney flock. The 560-hectare property is in the heart of dairy country near Inglewood in Taranaki. They have forged a niche catering
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for the needs of their dairy farming neighbours. The Hereford herd has been Jacqueline’s passion since she founded it in 2002. She had been working off farm but was looking to make an on-farm investment and Herefords appealed.
It’s about building the brand and adding value but it will need to be cost competitive with dairy grazing. Jacqueline Blackwell
She started with small numbers and a goal of reaching 100 registered cows – a target she has now achieved. A few years ago Robin saw how much fun she was having so established a registered Angus herd.
Brought up in nearby Ratapiko, the daughter of a dairy farmer, she readily admits to never having any interest in milking cows. She enjoyed working with animals and outdoors but was adamant she was never going to be putting cups on. Following a career off farm and after meeting Robin she has returned to the land and has found her place in drystock farming. She gets a lot of satisfaction out of growing out the animals and seeing them reach their genetic potential and would like to incorporate a finishing platform and carry through the females that don’t make it as herd replacements. “It’s about building the brand and adding value but it will need to be cost competitive with dairy grazing,” she says. Replacement heifers are selected for a clean head, white shoulder, good markings, structural soundness, good feet and a moderate EBV package. The selection process for herd replacements is a balancing act around the aesthetics of the animal, structural soundness and a moderate EBV package. Moderate birth weights and growth rates, good milk figures and fertility are all part of the EBV package she is targeting in a moderate-sized female herd.
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES If a female fails to conceive, there are no second chances. There are similar criteria for bull selection for use in the Hereford herd, focusing on calving ease and a moderate birth weight EBV. They also must look the part. “We need to think about the calving experience for our clients. Will it be easy calving and have good growth rates?” she says. The needs of their clients are at the forefront of the their minds so they also breed Angus and Murray Grey bulls and buy in weaner Jersey bulls, which they grow out and offer at their annual on farm sale. She says the three registered beef herds are a big job in terms of admin work but their desire to offer their clients certainty and traceability is their motivation. “Any performance recording we can do helps show we are delivering a really good product,” she says. “We are here to help our beef and dairy clients add value to their business.” The Hereford bulls offered at auction are chosen for their quiet temperament, cosmetics and structural soundness backed up with balanced EBVs. Their dairy farming clients also demand their bulls are well grown, especially clients with Holstein-Friesian herds. Their selection criteria are hitting the mark with some clients repeat buyers since the first sale 23 years ago. The Blackwells not only host their own auction of genetics but they also host a charity auction following the bull sale.
Cattle born and bred at Mangaotea Herefords are selected for their moderate birth weights and growth rates with good milk figures and fertility.
They choose a different charity each year and gather donated goods, which are put up for sale. “We have done this for the past 11 years and past organisations to receive funds from the charity auction have included schools attended by clients’ children, the Cancer Society, the Rural Support Trust and the Taranaki rescue helicopter,” she says. Running alongside the three beef herds are 950 dairy heifers grazed from May to May. They also supply the bulls to run with the dairy heifers. They winter about 300 dairy cows. Looking to the future, Jacqueline says they want to continue lifting the quality bar. For her that means looking to lift weaning weights and improve the animal
package they offer. Another aspect to consider is adjusting policies so the farm can react more quickly to the extremes that have been experienced over the past couple of years. She says it has been a long journey from 2002 to now, having reached her goal of 100 registered cows, but she’s also looking at the possibility of incorporating a finishing platform in the business. They felt a few more opportunities are needed in the system and a finishing platform could be one option to add value and remove some of the intensity of the operation. It would also make their business less vulnerable to the dairy payout and spread some risk. n Article courtesy of NZ Hereford Association
Better Bulls for a Better Bottom Line!
With over 47 years experience in breeding performance Polled Hereford Bulls, and an 800 cow herd, we have a range of bulls available to suit Dairy Herd objectives. All bulls health tested & vaccinated, service & semen tested, detailed performance recorded, and carefully selected for calving ease with growth genetics.
For all your Dairy Bull needs, contact Dean Hollister. Bulls sold by private treaty from Te Kura Farm, Aokautere, Palmerston North.
For further information or to visit please contact: Dean Hollister: (06)3454055 OR 0273544076 Chris Chesterman: (06)8747844 OR 0274888635 Email: kphp@xtra.co.nz
www.koanuiherefords.co.nz
R2 sire Rauriki Nelson R7 won the Allbreeds Yearling Bull title at the Royal Show in Hawke’s Bay.
Charolais have it all BARBARA GILHAM
I
T HAS been 15 years since Simon and Wendy Collin established Rauriki Charolais stud when they bought their first in-calf R2 Charolais heifers from Pouriwai Stud at Gisborne. That was in 2004. Since then they have bought more cows and heifers from six other Charolais studs around the country with the objective of breeding moderate, sound and functional bulls with exceptional temperament. Originally based at Matapiro, west of Hastings, the couple have made several moves over the years, firstly to Whetukura, northeast of Dannevirke, and more recently moving to the two farms they now own in Central Hawke’s Bay.
2nd Rauriki Charolais Bull Sale 25 R 2 Charolais Bulls Tuesday 28th May at 2pm Viewing from 12pm
Yearling Bulls available for sale 20th September by private treaty.
Contact: Simon: P 06 858 8045 M: 027 636 3243 Wendy: P: 027 280 3471 George: P: 027 782 5237 email: s.collin@xtra.co.nz
www.raurikicharolais.co.nz
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LK0097231©
Semen available.
Ruariki Stud was established in Gisborne 15 years ago but is now located near Dannevirke. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES
Every time we bought cows we paid particular regard to obtaining cattle that have a red factor background or were in calf to red factor bulls.
Pukerua is 660ha with an adjoining 190ha lease block, which is double the size of their previous farm and has enabled them to also double the number of stock units. The lease block was a big factor in their decision to buy the property. “Having the lease block was a really important factor because if we had to buy the total acreage that we have now it would have been a bit more difficult to buy.” Those first animals from Pouriwai Stud were the basis of the stud they run today. “We picked 12 R2 heifers that were in calf to Pouriwai S335 and newly imported French bull, Laurel,” Collin says. “Every time we bought cows we paid particular regard to obtaining cattle that have a red factor background or were in calf to red factor bulls.” Wendy and Simon Collin like the Charolais breed for its quiet temperament. More recently their objective of having a sole Their stud now sells bulls all over the lower North Island. red factor cattle herd has changed to incorporate the more traditional white or cream colour but still offer red-factor bulls for commercial farmers dairy. I’m very conscious of the bulls. We may also be looking at a who prefer red-coated cattle. newer bloodline to have available this spring.” Their bulls are now sold across the lower North Island. The couple like the growth rate of Charolais cattle as well as Charolais originated in the old French provinces of Charolles their temperament. and neighboring Nievre. While the exact origins are not known “Their temperament is a big thing. If the temperament’s legend has it white cattle were first noticed in the region as early wrong it doesn’t matter what age it is, it’s gone. We cull hard for as 878AD. temperament because it’s so important. By the 16th and 17th centuries they were popular in French “With our breeding programme we are also looking at markets and like other cattle of continental Europe were used for structural soundness, medium frame and easy maintenance, pulling, milk and meat. calving ease and high fertility.” The breed is known for its growth ability, efficient feedlot gains As well as breeding Charolais, they also show their cattle and and in carcase cut-out values and is well suited to fattening for Simon is president of the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society and they are high finished weight and to all-purpose crossbreeding. both involved with the Dannevirke A&P Show. Collin says when they started they were looking at stud cattle They have enjoyed a lot of success over the years including last that had the most potential, which he believes the Charolais has. year when their cow Rauriki Jasmine J20 won the senior cow in “They have a very good live weight gain for age, they’re good the Charolais section and her bull calf Rauriki Nero (Nigel) won for growth and conformity and ease of calving.” the bull calf class to then take out the champion Charolais male Of particular interest to them is the dairy industry and the at the Auckland Easter Show. potential they can see for growth in that direction with the breed. This year at the Masterton A&P Show Rauriki Nelson won the “What we are getting is demand for Charolais to put over all breeds yearling bull title and went on the win the same title at Holstein cows as a terminal breed,” he says. the Royal Show in Hawke’s Bay. “We can see a lot of further development in the dairy industry Daughter Lucy is also keen on Charolais and last year side and a lot of potential benefits so that is something we are competed at the Royal Melbourne Show where she was fourth in very interested in developing, the supply of terminal sires to the national handlers class. the dairy industry. You’ve got to breed the right type of bull into n
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES
An Ayrshire affair ROSS NOLLY
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YRSHIRE is the most popular breed in Finland, which has the biggest progeny-tested Ayrshire population in the world. But in New Zealand, where there are more than five million dairy cows, it makes up only 0.5% of the national dairy herd. Those farmers who milk and breed Ayrshire are keen to develop, promote and maintain the breed as a credible option for dairy farmers. As a young child Taranaki farmer Gordon Glentworth had a passion for the Ayrshire cow even though his father had a predominately Jersey herd. Little did he know back then but in 1977 he would start a successful Ayrshire stud Sanrosa Stud. “When I was a kid I used to fill out dad’s AI book. You wrote down A, J or F for the bull breed. Some days when I filled it out I put A down instead of J for the breed of sire. So we got some Jersey-Ayrshire calves,” he says. “When dad began herd testing he discovered that they were the topproducing cows in the herd. With that hybrid vigour they should have been too but as a result dad began to use more Ayrshire genetics.” Glentworth believes the Ayrshire cow is a viable dairy animal in the modern herd. His 27-year commitment to Semayr Breeding Services is testament to that belief. In 1992 he become chairman of the Semayr board. Semayr began in the late 1980s as a division of the Ayrshire Association of NZ to give farmers the ability to buy semen with different genetics to those then available from AB companies. It began by marketing a few bulls that had been privately proven in herds and also used some overseas semen. LIC now markets all Semayr bulls. “In 1992 we increased the number of unproven bulls. We started offering NZbred young bulls as well as our proven bulls. In 1998 LIC stopped sire proving so we took over that role. “We increased the number of bulls and we really needed to do so. Geneticists 62
Gordon Glentworth has had a passion for Ayrshires since he was a youngster. He now owns Sanrosa Stud in Taranaki. Photos: Ross Nolly from around the world had told me that if we wanted to keep pace with the major breeds then we needed to put 25-30 bulls through per year.” At one stage they were proving more than 30 Ayrshire bulls a year. The next step was the establishment of a genomic testing programme. Semayr has taken a little longer to begin genomic testing because of the need to establish reliability in the results. It’s also a numbers game and it realises it cannot do it on its own in NZ. Many of the Semayr genetics have Scandinavian blood so Semayr will begin testing the genetics in Scandinavia. “Our first aim is to test a group of our proven bulls with their system. We’re initially looking for a correlation between our breeding values and the results of the Scandinavian genomic tests. If there’s no correlation then it probably won’t go any further. “I’m pretty hopeful that it’ll be all right because our bulls have some of those genetics in them. By using genomic testing, if successful, we hope we can get that down to four or five each year.” Promising bull calves are offered to the scheme by breeders. LIC also uses their system to help find promising young bulls. “LIC provide a printout of the highest BW Ayrshire cows throughout the country and also runs pedigrees for us so that we can select from them.
“We usually are offered 50-60 young bulls and that is cut down to about 15 bulls by using the information we have at hand.” It selects bulls with high breeding values on production because it wants to use genomic testing as a tool in the selection process. “This year we’ve taken in four full brothers. If we had genomic information available we might take only one or two.” Recently Semayr has made great gains on the type and production qualities of its bulls. It has bulls that score up to 0.7 for udders. Once there were bulls that wouldn’t make zero. There were other bulls out there that were high in type but lacked in production. He prefers to produce genetic lines of animals and often uses 150-200 straws from one bull if he believes it’s good enough. That provides a good run of daughters and helps prevent inbreeding. “The fewer bulls I use the further I can look out for something different. If you’re using bits of everything it can become a bit of a mess. Glenthworth uses a selection of the best-ranked NZ bulls depending on availability. At the moment he is using a split of two-thirds NZ bulls and one-third Finnish. “The Finnish bull we’ll be using this year is a complete out-cross to 95-98% of my herd.”
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
Glentworth’s herd has gained about 100kg MS a cow by using Finnish genetics and they are now producing about 1kg MS per kg of bodyweight. His production is on target to hit 600kg MS a cow and higher. “We are hoping to hit a record this season of over 610kg MS per cow.” A bull that Glentworth considers the best is one he bred, Sanrosa Deacon. “We’re using Deacon over all of the cows that aren’t related to him. He’s our first choice. This year we have a new bull come through that is Deacon’s half-brother, Dalton, out of the same cow. He puts a lot of emphasis on the breeding values of fat and protein. Deacon, for example, rates 28 for fat and 27 for protein and Dalton sits at 28 for protein and 19 for fat. Both bulls are a2a2. He says Deacon and Dalton would never have been accepted into the breeding team solely on BW but they had top-class production breeding values. He feels the BW system is the reason many farmers don’t use Ayrshires. “You can’t get anywhere without production. Personally, I feel the BW system is a good system for the major
Dalton and his full sister Sanrosa Della who is also a purebred Ayrshire, stand side by side to show the difference that genetics can throw up.
breeds but out of kilter for minor breeds because we‘re now in the margin of error. “The breeding values of our best bulls for production are as good as any of the crossbred bulls and half of the Friesian team and all of the Jersey team yet we’re 100 BW units behind. People don’t buy Ayrshire breed because their BW isn’t high enough. It’s a little disappointing.”
Est. 1910 www.motereangus.co.nz
35 BULLS ANGUS
While BW remains so important to the financial sector Glentworth feels the Ayrshire is going to struggle as a breed. He believes there needs to be some dialogue with animal valuers about the BW system. “I’d hate to see the Ayrshire breed disappear from the NZ dairy herd. I feel that production-wise they still have a place,” he says. n
ON FARM
BULL SALE
Tuesday 11th June, 3pm Yearling Bull Sale 26th September 2019
Motere Bull Sale Rostrum, 766 Longrange Rd, Omakere
CONTACT: Isaac Pharazyn 06 857 3828 027 857 3828
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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Hooked on Murray Grey
A
BARBARA GILHAM WAIKATO dairy farmer reckons the best way to describe a Murray Grey calf is that they have ears like Mickey Mouse. Michael and Rochelle
van Heuven, 50-50 sharemilkers on a 400-cow farm at Te Aroha, use Murray Grey bulls over their Jersey-Friesian herd. “When a calf is born I can tell instantly if it is a Murray Grey because it will have what I call Mickey Mouse ears. Rochelle calls them teddy bear ears.
Waikato farmers Rochelle and Michael van Heuven have been using Murray Grey over their herd for 14 years.
“They are also polled but the ears make them distinctive,” Michael said. They have been using Murray Grey for 14 years after they bought a herd in which the R2s were in-calf to the breed. At the time he had not worked with the breed but did know of some their attributes. “I liked what I saw and was hooked on
DAIRY FARMERS
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Murray Grey bulls are renowned for their outstanding temperaments!
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DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES them right from the start. And I thought there may be a market for the calves and there has been,” he says. “Their ease of calving combined with a fast rate of growth and weight gain and gentle disposition make them a top choice to crossbreed in a commercial herd. They are perfect for breeding to heifers or mature cows and by putting them over a dairy herd it also means their calves are not going on the bobby lorry.” The Murray Grey originated in Australia in the early 1900s when a particular Shorthorn cow was crossed with different Aberdeen Angus bulls to produce gray offspring. Local cattlemen were attracted to the breed because of their size, appearance, superior feed conversion and carcase merit. Murray Greys are natural polls and range in colour from silver to dark gray. “They are known for producing low birthweight so are easy calving. The calves are vigorous at birth and quick to stand and seek food as well as easy to train and feed. Quick growers with an easy-going temperament, the Murray Grey has many traits that are perfect for a dairy operation,” he says. “Also, they are a very fertile breed and reproduce quickly and easily.” He does his own AB each morning then puts those bulling cows out to run with a bull so that if the AB doesn’t take the bull will get her. “I always know when AB hasn’t been successful with one of the herd,” he says. “Sometimes it is too early for AB for those cows and even if the bull gets her then at least she is in calf three weeks earlier than if we had left her thinking she was in-calf to AB.” Using Murray Grey means they are getting a valuable little calf from the cows and the tail end of their herd instead of a bobby. “A four-day-old Murray Grey calf can
Murray Grey calves are vigorous feeders from birth and are quick to stand up and feed and easy to train.
I liked what I saw and was hooked on them right from the start. fetch a premium price on the market,” he says. “They are definitely worthwhile. And we are finding there is a real market for the calves and most people want them early.” A lot of lifestylers are keen on them because of their quiet temperament among other attributes. The 100ha farm is supported by a 35ha run-off and both are completely self-contained. They operate an all-grass system and do not use any bought-in feed or supplements. With the risk of Mycoplasma bovis they now buy and keep bulls from a M bovisfree and trusted Murray Grey breeder so they, too, are now kept on-farm. They have a team of eight bulls for the herd and four to run with the yearlings, which makes the unit completely closed thus mitigating any risk from the disease.
Rochelle and Michael van Heuven like Murray Grey for their quiet temperament. The breed is known for producing low-birth weight offspring so are easy calving.
The breed is known for its excellent marbling and high yield. It has a 12% larger rib eye and less back fat than most other breeds. The couple are big fans of the meat and rear several beef animals for their own consumption. As far as beef or a good steak goes, it is the best, he says. “You can’t beat it and is definitely my preferred choice of meat. “It is beautifully marbled, juicy and full of flavour.” Both Michael and Rochelle grew up on dairy farms and it was the only career Michael wanted. “I enjoy being outside working with the animals and farm machinery,” he says. “It is a great lifestyle for family, especially with young children. I can go off between milkings and watch them play sport or attend other events. Although they love dairying his real passion is in breeding. Ultimately, he hopes to buy a large lifestyle block and focus on breeding Murray Grey cattle. “I’d like to carry on with them in the future. Perhaps it will be more of a hobby but I really like the animals. “They’re really placid and I like the bulls. They’re easy to handle. I’m totally hooked on them.” n
BETTER BULLS BETTER CALVES
Wagyu provides a premium First Light cattle are farmed under environmentally sustainable conditions where animal welfare is a key focus.
SAMANTHA TENNENT
C
ONSIDERED to be the Rolls Royce of beef, Wagyu is a high-value product fitting a niche market that is sweet, nutty, juicy and tender and just melts in the mouth. First Light was founded by Jason Ross, Gerard Hickey and Greg Evans from Hawke’s Bay. They saw a demand for top-quality, healthy beef. Their vision was to connect New Zealand’s best grass-fed suppliers with discerning and conscientious consumers. The small company is now making a name for itself around the world for producing some of the best meat anywhere. At the heart of the business are the farmers who breed and rear Wagyu. One is south Otago farmer Will Clarke who farms 1100 Friesian and Friesian-cross cows at Clinton and has been using Wagyu semen for the past four seasons. This year he will supply First Light with 360 Wagyu-cross calves.
FROM HERE...
“First Light has their market sorted and it is great to be part of a company that really cares about their farmers and their animals,” he says. “We are a part of their producer group, which has a clear path for farmers and their stock from semen through to the market.” First Light cattle are farmed under environmentally sustainable conditions where animal welfare is a key focus. Cattle stay within the group of producers who are part of the marketing chain and are closely linked with the buyers of their product. The product is marketed internationally with a large portion exported to the United States. Two major drawcards sparked Clarke’s interest in becoming involved with First Light. “The price you will receive is set in the last week of March for the following year. This is really helpful from a planning perspective,” he says. “From a dairy farming point of view it’s also a way to eliminate bobby calves.”
HIGH VALUE C ALVE S FIRST LIGHT WAGYU IS QUIETLY GROWING IN LINE WITH DEMAND FROM OUR DISCERNING NEW ZEALAND AND INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS.
THROUGH LIC FIRST LIGHT OFFER BOTH AUTUMN AND SPRING AB OPTIONS FROM 10-DAYS TO FINISH. • • • • • •
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Breeding options via LIC, 10-day and 90kg R1yr and R2yr cattle to purchase Proven sustainable premium returns Fixed pricing for calves, store and finished cattle Producer group of NZ’s elite cattle farmers Bred and reared under strict bio-security protocols
NO
ANTIBIOTICS OR ADDED HORMONES EVER
Cattle to purchase: 0800 4 Wagyu (0800 492 498) info@firstlight.farm www.firstlight.farm Breeding options via LIC: 0800 793 793
...TO HERE
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
There are many advantages to having fewer bobby calves for each farmer and the sector. Because he rears all calves on-farm he appreciates having options to reduce or eliminate bobby calves. “It gives dairy farmers options and a calf with higher value and the public image of the sector is more positive. “By using Wagyu genetics we end up with a calf that is not only salable but also in demand.” He has designed a breeding programme that involves a lot of artificial breeding and the cows wear collars to help with heat detection. The first-time calving heifers are mated to sexed semen through a synchrony programme and tailed off with Wagyu bulls. By using sexed semen there is a good supply of replacement heifers available. Good cows are mated to AB and the bottom 30% of the herd is mated to Wagyu semen. The bottom cows are decided on a variety of criteria including anything they do not want to keep a replacement from. Only AB is used over the herd. He recommends mating the bottom cows using Wagyu semen from the first day of mating. “An early Wagyu calf is valuable for the same reasons as any early calf.” First Light, in partnership with LIC, offers AB services nationwide including fixed pricing for 10-day old calves and premiums for long-term supply. In addition, First Light offers fixed price contracts for weaner, store and finish options for dairy farmers looking to diversify their operations. Wagyu have a slightly longer gestation period meaning the
By using Wagyu genetics farmers’end up with a calf that is not only saleable but also in demand. cow will have fewer days in milk and a reduced time to recover before she is put to AB again. Wagyu stock typically take 24 to 30 months to finish and return on average 25% more than commodity prices. Farmers are paid not just on weight but also on quality best represented by the degree of marbling. Wagyu is traded at a premium over traditional beef. Topquality beef has been reported to fetch as much as $900 a kilogram at top Japanese markets but more commonly can sell for about $120 a kilo. It is a highly prized meat because it is tender and has a buttery, soft flavour. The rich flavour comes from its intense fat marbling in the meat. n
Genetics breed success
BULLSEYE SALE
THE success of First Light and Wagyu can be credited not just to demand but also the genetics used, which are the best in the world. Genetic improvement is a long game but through continued investment breeders will reap the benefits. In 2012 with the support of a Primary Growth Partnership, First Light began a three-year progeny trial of Wagyu over dairy cows. The trials mated more than 3000 calves with the superior NZ grass-fed Wagyu genetics from 13 bulls, in controlled conditions at Synlait’s farm in Christchurch. “The results from the first completed trial in 2016 have enabled the development of genomic indices to rank Wagyu sires based on growth rate, marbling, gestation length and calving ease,” First Light’s Wagyu general manager Matt Crowther said. “The creation of genomic indices also allows us to provide our consumers with the transparency they demand. It gives farmers and First Light confidence that the product they are marketing and selling is what they say it is.” Crowther said there are specific genetic traits of interest to First Light as a Wagyu business. “With this information we were able to develop genomic tools that identified the Wagyu animals that possess the best genetics to collect for our artificial breeding programme with LIC. These are traits we are aiming to continuously enhance through genetic selection. “By focusing our efforts on identifying the best genetics we are giving farmers better-quality animals and a reliable, consistent product to First Light.”
3RD AUTUMN ON FARM
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
SERVICE BULL SALE Undercover
MONDAY 6TH MAY 2019 Sale CommenCeS - 12 noon
On Account of David & Fiona MacKenzie 300 McDonald Mine Road Huntly Delivery dates are: Monday 6th & 20th May and Monday 3rd & 17th June or by arrangement. The bulls are TB & BVD tested and double innoculated, Nasal sample tested for M Bovis, complete traceability.
230 - 2yr & 3yr Quality Service Bulls
160 Hereford Bulls - 40 Angus Bulls - 30 Jersey Bulls FINANCE OR BULL PLAN AVAILABLE TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY I have inspected these bulls and they come forward in excellent condition. The Herefords are well marked and have very good temperament. Buy in confidence!
Agent in charge: Bill Sweeney - 027 451 5310
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LONGVIEW SHORTHORNS FOR SALE
23 Bulls and In-Calf Heifers at home - 705 Mangakaretu Road KERIKERI (lunch provided)
Friday 31 May, 1.30pm Earlier viewing welcome
Milking Shorthorns: Higher milk protein Good longevity NZ’s oldest cow breed Come in red, white and roan
Catalogue available Visit us on Facebook @ Longview Shorthorns - Bay of Islands
LK0097280©
T: 09 401 9633 Shane & Dot Dromgool M: 021 0295 2030 BAY OF ISLANDS, NZ E: s.d.dromgool@actrix.co.nz LK0097284©
Are you currently milking Shorthorn cows, or would you like to find out more about this fantastic breed of milking cow? If so, contact us today!
Yearling Beef Breed Option for Dairy Farmers
LEASE YOUR BULLS THIS SEASON FROM THE BULL MAN
Teviot Valley Station Millers Flat, RD2, Roxburgh 9572, Otago. Phone Trevor 027 201 4490 or Shane 027 364 1438
DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
LK0097180©
PETERS ANGUS
LK0097356©
Yearling Angus bulls available late spring for dairy mating – from a closed herd
For more information or to book your lease bulls contact Heather: ☎ 0800 285 5636 THEBULLMAN.CO.NZ leasebull
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Up to date at Sanson
T
This farm has a four-bedroom house and an 11-year-old, 40-aside herringbone dairy.
GREAT MIX OF SOILS 988 Tangimoana Road, Manawatu
This awesome smaller dairy unit, 10km south of Sanson, has a great mix of soils and recent infrastructure. The 40AS HB is automated and only 11 years old, with the farm virtually completely re-fenced, and re-watered over the same period. Run as part of a larger business, the farm has typically milked the younger cows, with peak production close to 150,000kgMS from 350 cows. Overlooking the farm and district, is a spacious four bedroom home set on a unique high point.
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HE majority of a 129ha dairy farm in the Manawatu was regrassed two years ago after it was all sown in maize and that’s just one of the bonuses of a property that has infrastructure no older than 11 years in a sought-after location. Less than 10km from Sanson places the farm on a mix of soil types ranging from silt loam and black sandy loam to peaty loam to provide strong maize country plus a small area of lighter sand supplying a winter balance. Peter Barnett from NZR says the farm has been run as part of a larger business where it has typically milked the younger cows with a peak production close to 150,000kg milksolids from 350 cows. The owners aim to run a simple, low-to-medium input spring-calving system close to a system 3 with the younger cows starting milking later than the herd on the other farm and benefiting from a less intensive property with shorter walks. At its heart is an 11-year-old, 40-aside herringbone dairy with automatic cup removers and drafting plus in-shed
feeding that all works well with one-person at milking. In the past 10 years the farm has been refenced and had a new water reticulation system installed for the 55 main paddocks. Barnett says the stronger peaty loam soils provide reliable maize country with 22-24t/ha common, including the past year when Manawatu struggled to grow good maize crops. In the past season 9ha was planted in maize and 11ha in turnips that are now being direct drilled with diploid perennial ryegrass plus white and red clovers. Overlooking the farm from the sole elevated site, with views that extend across the immediate district, sits a 1970s home that has been tastefully redecorated and includes four bedrooms as well as a games room. Tenders for the farm close on May 23 with various options for the three titles, including the entire property, the 102ha home block or the 27ha block over the road. Tenders can also include the herd at valuation while settlement date is flexible.
MORE:
Peter Barnett, 027 482 6835.
129.60 hectares Video on website
nzr.nz/RX1861762
Tender Closes 11am, Thu 23 May 2019, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Rd, Feilding. Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008
The land grows crops with the reliable maize country producing up to 24 tonnes a hectare. DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
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One last word …
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HERE is something in the air. Excitement? Anticipation? Anxiety? Actually all three. This month many farmers will have dried off and be taking a long-earned rest from milking those girls. I was chatting with a farmer down south a few weeks ago and he had already dried off about a quarter of his herd with the rest to follow. By the end of April he and his team were done milking for another season. Jumping on social media there are lot more of you in countdown mode talking about how many days and even how many more sleeps were left until the girls went on holiday. I had to laugh when an old mate of mine said he was wondering what to do with himself until mid July when calving started again. “I’m looking forward to doing nothing for at least week except sleeping, eating
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and watching the footy,” he says. “Dunno what I’m going to do after that though ...” I know he was joking but I told him not to get too comfy in his armchair watching the footy. He still has to go out and feed the girls and move them. Then I suggested perhaps he could clean the shed he keeps telling me needs cleaning and sorting. I even suggested perhaps he could help his wife tidy up the house and gardens, help out with the school run, cook the family dinner or do some paperwork – that didn’t go down too well. He suddenly remembered a few fences that need fixing and some other “forgotten” jobs. Funny that. It is easy for people, especially our urban cousins who think farmers just milk cows, to forget that just because the girls no longer need you twice a day in the shed there are still plenty of other jobs to do. This month we also see the best of the
best honoured at the national finals of the 2019 Dairy Industry Awards. By now the 33 finalists will have had their final round of judging. No doubt the nerves and a level of anticipation and excitement are likely to be building up. The finalists represent 11 regions and will compete for prizes worth more than $210,000 and the honour of being named the 2019 New Zealand Share Farmer, Dairy Manager or Dairy Trainee of the year. The winners will be announced at a black-tie awards dinner at TSB Arena in Wellington on Saturday May 11. It is the biggest night on the dairy calendar so I hope to see you there. n
Sonita Like us: farmersweekly.co.nz Follow us: @DairyFarmer15 Read us anywhere: farmersweekly.co.nz DAIRY FARMER
May 2019
Dairy Diary
Proudly brought to you by Farmside
May 2019
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 2 3 May 13 DairyNZ
May 6-10 DairyNZ Farmer Health Pitstop, various locations. Once a year your car gets checked. Why not you? A regular health check-up would fix most issues before they became serious. Visit your local Farm Source store and get a health WOF. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz May 7, 16 and 28 Extension 350 Public Field Days, Waipu, Far North and Whakapara. Find out to achieve your on-farm goals and increase your bottom line. 6 how 7 8 9 Find out about Northland’s Extension 350 project. Info at www. northlandnz.com /extension-350 May 8-9 DairyNZ FeedRight Training - Canterbury. Aimed at rural professionals who offer or plan to offer feed management and nutrition advice. More info at www.dairyevents.co.nz May 8 and 14 Dairy Women’s Network and Taupo. This is a16 must13Shed Hygiene: keep14it clean, Manawatu15 attend event for all farm employees in the milking shed keen to learn more about mastitis management or refresh your skills. Info at www.dwn.co.nz/events May 8 DairyNZ Coastal Taranaki Effluent Field Day. Looking at putting a new effluent system in? Is your effluent consent expiring or coming up for renewal? Have questions about effluent? Come along to get information before you make any decisions. 20the most up-to-date21 22 23 Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz May 9 DairyNZ Northland Progression Group - People Management Workshop. Create a working environment where it is easy for people to be motivated. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz *May 10 SMASH Come Dine With Us, Hamilton. Get your glad rags on and join 27us for an evening of28good company, great 29food and excellent30 entertainment and two outstanding speakers. Info at www. smallerherds.co.nz May 11 Dairy Industry Awards New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, National Awards Dinner. The culmination of the 2019 Dairy Industry Awards. Info at www. dairyindustryawards.co.nz
DAIRY FARMER
Saturday 4
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Water quality – Pahiatua. Come along and hear the latest in water quality in the Horizons region and learn about the Future Farms project in Horizons One Plan catchments. Info at www.dairyevents. co.nz May 14 and 28 DairyNZ Once A Day Discussion Group, lower North Island and Waikato. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz May 15 and and NZAGRC 10 29 AgFirst, Scion11 12 Mitigating Greenhouse Gases on Farms, Rerewhakaaitu and Taumarunui. Come along and hear the results of modelling of a range of GHG mitigation strategies on individual dairy and sheep and beef farms and across a multi-enterprise farming business. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz May 23 SMASH Expert Calf Rearing, Tirau. Have you been calf rearing for years and think you know everything? Or you are just starting out and want to 17 18 19 know the tricks of the trade? We bet you will learn something from this trip to see how the team at Top-Notch Calves does it. Info at www.smallerherds.co.nz Dairy Women’s Network Gain control of infectious diseases on farm, various dates and locations. Future-proof your farm with improved understanding and control measures for diseases. Farm tools with a difference 24 25 26 Various dates and locations. FarmIQ brings members a three-in-one workshop that can provide them with knowledge and tools with a difference for their busy farm operations. Info at www.dwn.co.nz/ events DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum 2019, various dates and locations. Be part of what the future holds for New Zealand’s dairy sector. Hear inspiring speakers, get a snapshot of the latest dairy science and take 31 practical hands-on workshops. Free for levy-paying farmers and their staff. Info at www.dairyevents.co.nz Lincoln, Fonterra and NZX Managing Your Milk Price Risk, various dates and locations. Come along and hear from the team at one of our workshops. RSVP to: rodney.mcmillan@lincoln.ac.nz or 027 499 5840 or heather. stevenson@lincoln.ac.nz
We know rural because we are rural www.farmside.co.nz
May 2019
Sunday
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Protect the economic health of your farm and your herd with NRM feed solutions
There’s a lot more to NRM than you might think. We are an industry leading, national supplier offering complete feeding solutions – dairy blends and compound feeds that ensure your herd is at peak nutrition to optimise milk production.
What you put in impacts what you get out Calf rearing sets the foundation for the lifetime productivity of your animal. Doing it well will give you the best chance to have a profitable animal. Whether rearing calves for heifer replacements or beef animals, NRM offers the only complete package to support your calf rearing programme.
NRM feeds the herd and fuels your economic health The NRM Calf Packages offer a complete solution to your calf rearing programme. This starts with a range of high quality calf milk replacers and feeds to give your calves optimal nutrition at every stage, complemented by Virkon®S for premium disease protection. Completed with the backing of our technical experts for advice and support, you can get the best start out of your calves.
The NRM Dairy Range has been developed to provide feed solutions that offer choice and flexibility. Rather than a bulk standard feed, options are available to suit a variety of budgets, health needs and performance targets, offering a comprehensive range of compound feeds, blends and straights.
There’s feed and then there’s NRM dairy feed programmes With a team of in-house nutritional experts developing our feed solutions and programs you can be sure that NRM offers leading products developed by New Zealand experts. Combine that with our ability to blend and mix, our team is able to first understand and then deliver relevant feed that matches your objectives and your herd's nutritional needs. Your NRM dairy feed programme will get your production up to speed and keep it ticking over nicely.
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FEED TO SUCCEED
The six week in-calf rate has improved so much, Wairarapa Moana now have surplus stock. Not a bad position to be in.
With all that’s going on with dairy, being self-sufficient is an enviable position to be in. For Wairarapa Moana Incorporation this came about through changes in farming practices, including improved data collection, better heat detection, and a move to genetics more suited for their system. One improvement often can’t work without the other – it’s a case of getting all your pieces lined up to deliver a great outcome. Higher six week in-calf rates, achieving target liveweights, less interventions and reduced stock movement and risk have all combined to help Wairarapa Moana transform their business dramatically. At LIC® results like this just raise the bar, because there’s always room for improvement.
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Learn more at lic.co.nz/alwaysimproving
There's always room for improvement