Plan 365 September 2019 by Farmlands

SEPTEMBER 2019

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

NUTRITION

FORAGE AND ARABLE

HORTICULTURE

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Plan 365 is a technical guide aimed at helping shareholders learn about best practice and the latest advancements in rural technology.

NUTRITION

Equine Cushing’s disease Equine Cushing’s disease, or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is common in older horses and is suspected when a horse shows the classic signs of a long, thick hair coat that refuses to shed.

confirm the illness, leaving owners

Horses with Cushing’s disease may

• All PPID horses should be fed

unsure of how to manage horses. The following are nutritional guidelines for horses that have been diagnosed with Cushing’s or are displaying early signs of the disease.

also have abnormal fat deposits,

a primarily forage diet that will

increased thirst and urination, a

maintain (or regain) ideal body

lowered resistance to disease and

condition and avoid obesity

a tendency to develop laminitis

which will worsen IR.

more easily than healthy horses.

• Restrict horses from pasture

Dietary recommendations will be

at times of the year when

dependent on the horse’s body

it is high in sugars.

condition, the presence of insulin

• Feed concentrates with a low

resistance (IR) and adrenocorticotropic

glycemic index (GI) as required

hormone (ACTH) levels, which can

to maintain body condition

be determined by a veterinarian. In

at around 2.5–3 on the 0–5

early stages of the disease, horses showing signs of Cushing’s do not always have test results that

body condition score index. • Feed small, frequent meals to avoid major deviations in glucose and insulin concentrations. • Super fibres such as beet pulp or soy hulls are excellent lowGI feeds for horses with PPID (eg. McMillan Grain Free). • Feeds containing greater than 3 percent molasses and 20 percent non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) should be avoided if there is evidence of IR. • Pellets or extruded feeds that are higher in fibre (> 10 percent) and fat (> 5 percent) such as NRM LGI Sport or McMillan Grain Free should be fed instead of

• Meet nutritional requirements in overweight horses with balancer pellets such as NRM Equine Balancer to provide nutrients with limited calories. • U se low-GI full feeds such as NRM Low GI Sport or NRM Evolve for underweight horses. • Fat sources such as KER EquiJewel, sunflower seeds or oil can also be included in diets to increase body condition if required. • Feed long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from KERx EO-3 for a glucose regulating and anti-inflammatory effect without increased calorie intake. Use 60–120ml/500kg. • Stabilise hindgut pH and bacterial populations by limiting fructan intake from pasture and supplementing with a hindgut balancer such as KERx EquiShure. • Combat oxidative stress by antioxidant supplementation with natural vitamin E KERx Nano E. • Feed Equin Hoof Food or KER Bio-Bloom to increase hoof growth and allow more rapid hoof reshaping after a laminitis episode. • Give the horse access to rock salt or a salt block. • Small amounts of chaff or soaked beet pulp/soy hulls may be mixed with supplements to increase palatability and encourage consumption.

feeds that could contain high

For further assistance and advice on feeding horses with Cushing’s, consult a qualified Equine Nutritionist.

amounts of NSC or molasses.

Article supplied by Luisa Wood, Equine Nutritionist.

sweet feeds to provide additional dietary energy. Beware of senior

| Restrict horses from pasture at times of the year when it is high in sugars.

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NUTRITION

Supplementary feeding cows through mating The long-term health and wellbeing of cows within a seasonal calving system is highly dependent on their fertility. According to LIC, the national not-in-calf rate for spring calving herds averaged about 14 percent in 2012 (when mating was on average 85 days) rising to 17 percent in 2015 (when inductions were fully phased out) and 2016 and 2017 (when mating was on average 76 days). Approximately two thirds of the increase in cows not-in-calf can be explained by the shorter mating period; it has been estimated that 6-week in-calf rates would have to increase by about 4 percent to compensate for the shorter mating period. The pressure is on to get a higher percentage of cows in-calf quickly. Many factors may affect fertility including the accuracy of oestrous detection, semen quality, the timing of AB and technique but nutrition is a key factor. The pre-mating period is a critical time to review the average and spread of body condition score of cows and also assess milk quality and quantity, the mineral status of the herd (by diet analysis and blood tests if necessary) and identify non-cycling cows that need help. Dairy cows with a predisposition to produce milk will peak higher if fed well post-calving and are vulnerable to extra stresses or challenges over mating. There is a risk to feeding grain for 5 or 6 weeks after calving to help fill a feed pinch and then stopping before mating. While many people feel

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Pasture wants to reproduce at the same time we want cows to reproduce.

pressured to reduce supplementary feeding as grass growth increases, this could cause cows to plunge into a negative energy balance. If cows have had milk fever or mastitis, are skinny, late calving or just young or old cows struggling to gain condition prior to and through mating, their energy balance could be improved by milking them once per day (taking less milk, giving them longer to graze and less walking to the dairy shed) or by increasing the quality or quantity of supplementary feeding (to improve energy supply). If milk yield, protein production or milk urea levels are dropping away quickly as mating approaches it is worth paying extra attention to pasture quality and if necessary, increase supplementary feed levels. If cows are slipping into a negative energy balance through mating, feeding more supplements or increasing the nutrient density of the supplements is worth considering.

Rumen-protected fats are a safe option for increasing energy intake. Some essential trace minerals have a key part to play in fertility. I wish there was a silver bullet that could be added to feeds which would greatly improve fertility but apart from correcting a deficiency in a diet I have not seen anything which significantly affects fertility when provided in a special form or luxurious amount. Indeed, I think farmers should be cautious of oversupplying trace minerals like iodine and selenium at rates many times above the National Research Council recommendations. Resilience comes from an ability to adapt and respond â&#x20AC;&#x201C; understanding what has impacted fertility previously and taking stock of how this season is going now could be worthwhile. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, NRM Lead Nutritionist.

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NUTRITION

Getting the best out of your backyard flock Chickens lay eggs in what we call ‘clutches’, with an egg laid per day for a number of consecutive days followed by a rest period before they start to lay another clutch. The average chicken clutch size is about 12 eggs, with a pause of roughly a day or so in between clutches. Clutch size and pause length can vary quite a bit between birds and is largely dependent on breed and the age of birds. Genetic selection has meant that commercial laying breeds, such as the Shaver and the Hy-line, have become exceptional layers with large clutch sizes and short pauses. As birds get older, they start to lay less eggs per clutch with larger pauses in-between and their most efficient production period will be in their first year as a layer. This explains why we might not always get an egg a day out of our birds, especially as our flock ages. We may not even notice the difference in egg production between our old and young hens if we run a mixed-age flock. Older chickens lay larger eggs but they deposit the same amount of calcium into the shell which means

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we tend to see more thin-shelled egg issues in an aging flock. Older birds also have weaker chalazes which are the ropey strands of egg white which anchor the yolk in place in the center of the egg. The weaker chalazes can give the whites of the egg a more ‘watery’ appearance once cracked. This issue is also linked to the freshness of an egg with older eggs similarly appearing watery.

note that the first five weeks of life is

So, what does this mean for the backyard flock? Well, we have to expect that egg production and egg quality will drop off for older hens, even if offered the best-quality layer feed. Keeping older birds to a ripe old age can be personally very satisfying however, if space is limited and you really want to maintain production and egg quality, it is best to have a replacement strategy in place so that you always have young birds coming through to replace your older ones each season.

for your flock. If buying your pullets in

Most backyard chook farmers will purchase young hens (pullets) at point of lay, while others might choose to incubate eggs and rear chicks themselves. If you choose to rear your own it is important to

critical for development of immunity and the digestive system. A highquality chick starter can make all the difference when rearing chicks. Reproductive tract development is critical for egg production and occurs around 15 to 25 weeks of age, so moving on from a chick starter to a well-balanced pullet grower feed can be beneficial and have lifelong benefits at point of lay it is worth asking how old they are. Chickens will start laying at about 17 weeks of age, or slightly older for heritage breeds. If birds are already in lay when purchased, you may have missed a good portion of their most productive year. It is not all about egg production with a backyard flock though. Many people enjoy keeping their older chickens around and are happy with a reduction in performance. It is more about figuring out what you want from your flock and having realistic expectations if you do have some older chickens in the mix. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Nutritionist.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Soil testing 101 Soil testing can save you money, increase your profits and help you find exactly the right product for the job. The only way to get accurate, reliable information on soil nutrient levels (and fertiliser requirements) is by regular soil testing. “A soil testing programme can save you money as you’re not using unnecessary nutrients and by applying nutrients for optimal production you can also increase your profit,” says Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science Extension Officer, Aimee Dawson. “It’s important to use calibrated soil tests, which have been matched against optimum pasture and crop production. Tests such as pH,

Olsen P, Quick Test K, Quick Test Mg and Sulphate S are all calibrated to New Zealand soil types and conditions.

you to choose the right product for your needs as you may need a combination of nutrients,” says Aimee.

“You don’t have to test every paddock on the farm, just distinct farm management areas, such as effluent paddocks, steep hill country and so on, as these are likely to have different soil fertility.

If a micronutrient deficiency is suspected, it is best to determine this with a herbage test. Cloveronly tests can help refine fertiliser recommendations by showing any micronutrients that may be below or above optimum. Herbage tests for clover growth should be taken in spring, when the clover is actively growing and will help to determine whether micronutrients such as molybdenum are required. For crops, leaf testing can also be completed when the crop is actively growing or when a nutrient deficiency is suspected.

“Following certain protocols when taking samples for testing will ensure accurate results,” says Aimee. For instance: • It’s important to take an average of the paddock and avoid areas of high fertility such as gateways, troughs and feed out areas. • Also avoid urine and dung patches as well as recently grazed paddocks or those occupied by stock. • Testing in extreme conditions (waterlogged or very dry) or within three months of fertiliser or lime application can also affect results. • Spring or autumn are the best times of year to take samples. • Transects, the lines along which samples are collected for each area tested, should be recorded, so testing can be repeated on them in future years. • It’s also important to take future tests at the same time of year. “It’s sensible to monitor your investment in fertiliser by regularly soil testing and examining the trends and results. This allows you to decrease fertiliser if nutrient levels are above requirements, or to address a declining trend in nutrients with capital fertiliser applications. Soil testing also helps

Besides the standard approach to soil testing, a number of more detailed strategies can be considered depending on variability in soil fertility, previous paddock history, maximum crop/pasture yield and crop/pasture value. These approaches are: • All-paddock testing • Zonal soil testing • Grid testing. “Before completing these more intensive soil testing options, it’s important to understand their costbenefit by determining the likelihood of soil fertility variability within a paddock or farm, the additional cost of testing and the payback from the pasture or crop you are growing,” says Aimee. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

| The only way to get accurate, reliable information on soil nutrient levels is by regular soil testing.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Do it once, do it right Eliminating a broad spectrum of weeds and grasses with a Granstar ® and glyphosate mix means your crop is no longer competing for moisture or nutrients, leading to better establishment of your new crop or pasture.

The short withholding period of

The robust control of broad leaf weeds with this approach minimizes re-growth at a critical crop establishment stage. Throughout New Zealand there are numerous weeds present but not always apparent in an old pasture or crop paddock. Some of the weeds Granstar® controls are: clover, yarrow, thistles, ragwort, sorrel, chickweed, spurrey, wild turnip, redroot, shepherd’s purse, fat hen, scarlet pimpernel, twin cress, wire weed and dandelions. Rather than a rapid brownout, Granstar® stops cell division within the plant, working its way throughout the plant including the root system.

residual to impact the establishment

the foliage and translocated

of clover, lucerne or a brassica crop.

quickly, visual symptoms of

Talking with your Farmlands

control are very slow and can

Technical Field Officer can assist

take up to 4 weeks to appear.

with planning when to spray, what

• Sowing withholding period: allow

products and the rates of tank mix

14 days between the application

to be included with Granstar®.

and sowing of pasture (including

Some key points to note:

clovers), forage brassicas, lucerne,

• Application rate: 40g per hectare.

peas, potatoes, maize and squash.

• Tank mix: Use a tank mix with

Lime may be applied 14 days after

label rates of WeedMaster®* or

Granstar®, just before planting or

glyphosate plus an organo-silicone

at drilling. If the soil pH exceeds

penetrant i.e. Pulse, Boost .

6.5 or if lime has been applied in

• Application conditions: Granstar® is primarily absorbed through

the previous 2 months, do not sow brassicas into Granstar®-treated soil.

the foliage and therefore target

Several weeks after treatment

weeds need to be actively

the difference can be seen.

growing with good leaf area.

For further information, contact

appears likely within 1 hour. • Grazing or cultivation withholding: Only 3 days (this allows for maximum uptake as well as

your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. WeedMaster is a registered trademark of Nufarm Limited.

Article supplied by FMC.

translocation and is good practice).

| Glyphosate + Granstar® + penetrant = weeds still dying out.

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Although it is absorbed through

• Rain fast: Do not apply if rain

A sign that Granstar® has done the job is the loss of the fine root fibres on the target weeds before the plant has browned off, providing robust weed control well into the establishment of the new pasture or crop.

• How quickly does it work?

14 days means there is no long-term

| Re-growth of old clover and broadleaf weeds, treated with glyphosate + penetrant only = shows the first sign of a problem about to begin.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Slug control a key element of crop protection programmes Several invasive European slug species are thriving in New Zealand and have become significant pests of forage and arable crops.

farmers need a formulated molluscicide

Slugs are extreme generalists in terms of grazing which makes them a real threat to crops, especially in the establishment phase. Slugs reduce plant populations early by grazing on cotyledon plants and new growth. This has a big impact on plant vigor and can greatly impact the success of the desirable crop species establishment.

product manufactured via a unique

A limiting factor of slug populations is moisture availability. The spring rains that bring optimal growing conditions for the establishment of new crops also present New Zealand farmers with the challenge of increased slug populations. Cultural control methods such as intensive grazing and rolling after drilling can work to minimise these populations however when monitoring thresholds are exceeded,

The wet-extrusion formulation

that will withstand the wet conditions that are so favorable to slugs. Axcela® is a proven molluscicide wet-extrusion process by Lonza. It combines the advantages of the specific mode of action of Lonza’s patented Meta® Metaldehyde with the latest formulation techniques to give Axcela® pellets the highest level of control over slugs and snails under a wide range of conditions. technique used in the production of Axcela® provides New Zealand farmers with several benefits. In the field, the pellets expand by up to 80 percent which increases pellet presence and palatability by gelatinizing when in contact with moisture. Furthermore, the active ingredient Meta® Metaldehyde is evenly distributed throughout the pellet which means that Axcela®

will continue to control slugs after a significant amount of rain. Lonza’s Technical Manager Stephen McKennie emphasises the need for accurate calibration when applying any molluscicide. “Accurate calibration of optimal bait points per square metre is key in ensuring that slugs have the maximum chance of intercepting the pellet before they find the crop,” he says. The uniform size of Axcela® provides optimum spreading ballistics and the wet extruded formulation technique ensures that even after environmental conditions break a pellet down it still contains enough Meta® Metaldehyde to deliver a fatal dose to slugs. “These key advantages make Axcela® the most robust molluscicide on the market,” says Stephen. Stephen also mentions that users can take advantage of the calibration app designed by Lonza which gives them the confidence that they are applying the correct amount of baits per square metre. This will ensure the product works to its full potential; aiding in getting crops through the vulnerable establishment phase. It contains specific product information as well as a calibration tool by which a photo is taken of the pellets on the ground and a rate per hectare is calculated. Download from the app store for both IOS and Android. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Lonza.

| Axcela pellets after two weeks in the field and 58mm of rain still intact, still working to control slugs.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Lambs flourish on high-energy summer herb With its deep tap-root and extremely high-feed quality, chicory is a resilient, cost-effective summer and autumn finishing crop. Chicory’s protein and metabolisable energy (ME) levels are much higher than ryegrass over summer. It can also handle dry conditions, is very palatable to livestock and is among the lowest risk forages recommended for managing the risk of facial eczema (FE). On a Taranaki farm where FE and pleurisy have historically affected sheep performance, chicory has become a successful tool for growing lambs to their potential. | Jarred and Sarah Coogan farm the family property at Tarata with Sarah’s parents Bryan and Helen Hocken.

As a result, MataRata Downs drafted its heaviest-ever prime lambs last season, reaching average carcase weights of 18.5kg and growing lambs at 300g liveweight/day. Jarred and Sarah Coogan farm the 425ha (effective) family property at Tarata with Sarah’s parents Bryan and Helen Hocken. They sowed 5.5ha of 501 Chicory and Zulu II annual clover last October to create a mini lamb finishing unit close to the sheep yards.

501 Chicory again this spring, possibly over a larger area.

Growth was very impressive, with the Coogans noting that it was the only green paddock on the farm in February and it had an unexpectedly fast re-growth after grazing.

Blair Cotching, Pasture Systems Manager for Barenbrug Agriseeds, says their results show what a difference even a relatively small area of highvalue, specialist feed can make to a sheep breeding and finishing business.

“The only way we could control it was to fence it into three blocks, and rotationally graze it. We were getting around it in 17-20 days.”

From December through March, they grazed their heaviest Romney and Romney-Suffolk cross lambs on the crop for the last 28 days before slaughter. Working with Technical Field Officer Shelly Worthington from Farmlands Inglewood and Barenbrug Agriseeds’ Area Manager Bruce Paterson, they chose 501 Chicory specifically because it is an annual, with faster establishment and higher growth rates over six months than a perennial chicory1.

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Zulu II was added to lift feed protein levels even higher.

Direct-drilled to minimise soil disturbance on their rolling land, the crop was sprayed for broadleaf and grass weeds then sidedressed with 30 units of N/ha. Lambs were drafted onto it at an average of 37–40kg/head and drafted off at an average of 42–50kg. Close proximity to the yards minimised handling and simplified loading for transport. Jarred and Sarah plan to sow

“As an annual, 501 Chicory is ideally suited to this type of situation because it grows as much as 550kg/ha more than a perennial chicory in six months.” MataRata Downs is this year’s regional Supreme Winner of the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards and has a long and proud association with Farmlands. For further information contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. Barenbrug Agriseeds chicory DM yield trials, Cambridge 2011-12 and Canterbury 2012-13. Article supplied by Barenbrug Agriseeds.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Quality summer feed yields milk gains Central Hawke’s Bay farmer Craig Alley was looking for a forage that could produce reliable, high-quality summer feed, last multiple years and be productive in both irrigated and dryland environments. With his requirement being a tall order for any crop, Craig sought advice from local Farmlands Technical Field Officer Shane Mullany, who recommended

Choice chicory for Craig’s dairy and dairy support block. He has not looked back since seeing the benefits of Choice, particularly through the summer and early autumn months. Choice requires different establishment and management practices to grass pastures when it is used as a special purpose crop. It is however, a more effective way of increasing seasonal animal performance because it provides a greater amount of high-quality feed over summer, which is often difficult to achieve with grass pasture at this time. Craig milks 650 cows on his 330ha property and Choice fits well into his system. Using Superstrike-treated seed at 12 kg/ha with 250 kg/ha of DAP down the spout, Craig is growing 8–10 tonne DM/ha out of his Choice from November through to April, achieving his first grazing round 40 days after drilling. After the first graze, he is then able to maintain a 20-day round until late March where he applies Glyphosate at 1.5L/ha as the Choice slows its growth heading into winter. To utilise the residual life of his Choice, Craig uses this time to stitch in perennial ryegrass and white clover to make up a mixed pasture sward. “I’ve found Choice quite persistent, it handles hard grazing through summer and still makes up a high proportion of feed in the second and third year mixed pastures,” explains Craig. Out of Craig’s 650 cows, 300 are 2–3-year olds grazing either pure swards of Choice or Choice-mixed pastures every day from December

through until late March. During this time the cows are offered 5–6 kg DM/day of Choice to make up approximately one third of their total diet (this works out to be around half a hectare per day). “It provides reliable, high-quality summer feed, resulting in higher summer milk production. We notice good summer milk production on the Choice chicory and the cows hold good condition on it,” says Craig. Over the years, Craig has tried other forages for summer production such as turnips. Craig finds Choice faster to first graze and it cuts cultivation costs (as you can direct drill grass straight into chicory in autumn rather than working up a turnip paddock following strip grazing). It is also a multi-graze rather than a one-off and Choice will last in the grass for another 1–2 years. Craig is running the same system for his young stock on the run-off. His dairy support block is able to maintain a 20-day round under dryland conditions. Under this system Craig’s conclusion is simple: Choice provides excellent summer quality for the young stock which results in good growth rates. For Craig, Choice chicory has proven to be an attractive forage option to maximise both summer production and quality, home-grown feed to ultimately increase the overall robustness of the forage base on farm. For further information contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agricom.

| Craig Alley and Farmlands Technical Field Officer Shane Mullany.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

What vitamins should I use at tailing? Cobalt is a core element of vitamin B12, which means that ruminants can produce vitamin B12 if there is adequate cobalt in their diet. Recent indications show that the cobalt requirements of sheep were met by only 54 percent of pastures in New Zealand.1 Vitamin B12 deficiency can still have a significant economic impact. Ruminants require more vitamin B12 than other animals. Young growing sheep, such as lambs after tailing, are the most susceptible to deficiency as they have higher energy requirements for growth. A common presentation of deficiency is 3 to 6-month-old lambs showing signs of ill-thrift when grazing good green pasture. Sometimes, the only sign may be reduced weight gain with the development of a tail-end of unthrifty lambs. Common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in sheep and cattle are: • Decreased growth rates • Loss of appetite • Watery eye discharge • Anaemia • Increased susceptibility to parasites • Scaly ears From birth to weaning, a lamb

| Young growing sheep, such as lambs after tailing, are the most susceptible to deficiency.

It is not until pasture makes up a large percentage of their diet that their requirements for B12 increase. In many cases tailing/docking is a convenient time for this supplementation to begin.

programmes start with the ewes

The cost of supplementing vitamin B12 is small compared to the benefits gained. To make supplementation more convenient, vitamin B12 has been added to the trusted Multine 5-in-1 brand – Multine B12®. As lamb vaccination with Multine 5-in-1 routinely starts from either tailing/docking or at weaning, for convenience Multine B12 can be used at this time instead.

Multine B12 2–4 weeks pre-lamb will

formed molecules of vitamin B12

The period of raised vitamin B12 levels depends on the animal’s liver storage levels and the ongoing dietary intake of cobalt. Injected soluble vitamin B12 can persist for up to 1–3 months in young sheep.2 Vitamin B12 has a high safety margin3 and can be used at the same time as using other cobalt supplements, such as drenches.

which already incorporate cobalt.

Best-practice clostridial vaccination

develops from a monogastric to a ruminant. The change in diet from milk to pasture presents markedly different requirements of some trace nutrients, such as cobalt or selenium. For the suckling lamb, milk is a complete food that provides pre-

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receiving a pre-lamb vaccination, then two injections into young animals – a priming dose followed by a booster dose 4–6 weeks later. Using increase vitamin B12 stored in the foetal liver and ensure higher levels are available in the dam’s colostrum.4 For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. References: 1. Knowles SO and Grace ND. Vitamin B12 status and the effects of vitamin B12 supplementation during the first year of life of spring calves from pasturefed dairy herds. NZ Vet Journal, 2014: 274–8. 2. Mulvaney C, Hodgson B, Cuttance W. MSD data on file. 3. Grace ND. Managing trace element deficiencies in New Zealand grazing livestock. 1994. 4. Knowles SO and Grace ND. The vitamin B12 and Se status of lambs during their transition from milk-fed monogastric to grazing herbivore. NZ Vet Journal, 2017: 113–118. ACVM No’s: A0934, A0935, A11311, A1009, A3977 Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. © 2019 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved. NZ/MLT/0519/0002. Article supplied by MSD Coopers.

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How quality silage inputs affect your bottom line Feeding dairy cows a balanced diet is of the utmost importance when it comes to maximising production and maintaining optimum animal health. Silage makers are faced with a number of challenges, not least the need to minimise dry matter loss and maintain silage quality. Possibly the most critical factor in maintaining silage quality and minimising dry matter loss is controlling the exposure to oxygen. If oxygen is not effectively excluded, the fermentation process is slow and inefficient resulting in a high loss of dry matter. You can only keep oxygen out of the stack if there is an impermeable, airtight barrier between the silage and the surrounding atmosphere. Silostop® oxygen barrier film is up to 20 times more effective than conventional black/white film and plain

PE cling film in preventing oxygen transfer. As a result, Silostop® oxygen barrier film substantially reduces dry matter loss and aerobic spoilage in the top 1m of stored silage by limiting the growth of fungi and other spoilage organisms that need oxygen to respire.

to ruminants can reduce digestibility

Silostop® is a premium oxygen barrier film created using highquality food grade barrier resins in combination with high-quality polyethylene resins thus ensuring silage is sealed against air entry.

a proven inoculant that will deliver

Trials conducted by the University of Nottingham showed that silage judged to be unpalatable was reduced from 5.9 percent using black plastic to 0.1 percent using Silostop® oxygen barrier film. This equated to a reduction from 100 tonnes of discarded silage per stack to just 1.7 tonnes. With the increasing cost of conserving forage, this represents a great return on investment. For silage stacks, Silostop® oxygen barrier film is part of a two-layer system which can be applied under SiloStop® UV Protection Covers or under conventional white-on-black PE film. You can also use SiloStop® gravel bags, rather than tyres, as sealing weights that are less likely to damage the silage film. Trish Lewis, a New Zealand Dairy and Silage Consultant, says that a good silage management programme is a key component of profitable production and can make a difference when farmers are faced with climatic challenges.

| Feeding high-quality, stable silage can benefit milk yield and constituent levels.

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“Research has shown that feeding even a small amount of spoiled silage

of the whole diet,” advises Trish. Trish says that good silage, in terms of both nutritional quality and minimal spoilage, comes from attention to detail throughout the silage making process. “This includes taking the time to select the required results and ensuring it is correctly applied,” she says. The Sil-All® range of bacterial forage inoculants are designed to improve the fermentation efficiency of silages made from pastures, maize, legumes and cereals. These premium inoculants: • Contain selected strains of bacteria authorised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to manage the fermentation process and aerobic stability of common silages. • Contain a specific enzyme package to help release sugars to speed up the fermentation process. • Work under difficult conditions such as low dry matter content and lack of soluble sugars. • Rapidly produce large volumes of lactic acid, quickly reducing pH levels to prevent dry matter losses. Feeding high-quality, stable silage can benefit milk yield and constituent levels. The extra milk produced from the use of forages will increase the profitability of Kiwi dairy farming, now and into the future. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Nutritech International.

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Spring time means possum time Possums are one of the greatest threats to New Zealand’s natural environment. Here, they have no predators and lots of palatable vegetation. As a result, they have a huge impact on our ecosystems, native land and forests, with the added worry of them spreading bovine tuberculosis to cattle. Possums eat leaves, flowers, leaf buds, fruit, eggs, birds, insects and snails, as well as pasture, which means less food for farm animals. They can also damage horticultural and garden crops. The damage caused by possums costs New Zealand farmers millions of dollars a year. New growth in early spring means possums start invading our farms – if you have roses you will know you have

• Possums hissing and squawking at night and running over the roof.

a problem by the fur left on the thorns as possums dine on the emerging buds. There are a number of other ways to tell if you have a possum problem:

• Clear tracks from the bush into the paddocks or fur on the fence wire.

• Severe defoliation of trees in the bush, especially Northern ra-ta-.

• Sick (dopey) possums seen out in the paddocks during daytime.

• Dead trees (especially Northern ra-ta-) in the bush canopy – clearly visible from the air.

Now is the time to organise your strategy to achieve an effective eradication for the coming spring and PestOff Possum Bait and stations are simple, easy-to-use solutions. The bait combines the effectiveness of the anti-coagulant toxin, brodifacoum, with a highly palatable cereal formulation which eliminates the need for prefeeding. PestOff Possum Bait contains attractive lures – either cinnamon or raspberry. This ensures the possum will consume on average 50g per feed, with the lethal dose being 100g, or roughly two feeds. If bait supply is maintained to ensure possums can feed freely over 4–5 consecutive nights, they will usually die 5–10 days after eating a full lethal dose.

• Fruit trees in gardens being robbed at nights. • Possum dung pellets around trees bearing fruit or flowers. • Rubbish bins being searched for fruit. • Many possums seen on pastures and in the trees at night. • TB-infected possums being found (showing cheesy lymph nodes under arms and back legs).

Secure the bait stations about 200mm above ground level or at a similar height above a tree fork where a possum can sit while feeding. Place bait stations 100m apart on shelter belts and bush/pasture margins, or two per hectare of forest. Keep them out of reach of pets, stock and feral pigs. You are not required to hold an Approved Handler Certificate to use PestOff Possum Bait and stations. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Bell-Booth. | New growth in early spring means possums start invading our farms.

THE FARMLANDER