Plan 365 July 2017 by Farmlands

JULY 2017

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

Calcium essential for healthy calving Too often the return on investment in supplements such as maize silage or cereals is not achieved because essential minerals such as calcium are not adequately supplemented. Calcium is an essential component of the diet of healthy, highperforming, profitable dairy cows and is the most important macromineral for lactating cows. As calving approaches, hormonal and other factors depress appetite. The cow eats less just when it needs more. Less energy is absorbed, predisposing the cow to subclinical ketosis before the lactation has even begun. Concurrently, less calcium is absorbed because less feed is eaten, yet demand is increasing. If the cow cannot correct or cope with this problem, subclinical hypocalcaemia occurs, becoming clinical milk fever if the severity increases. It is likely that all cows including heifers suffer at least a mild degree of hypoglycaemia even if only for a short time during calving. Heat, stress and high humidity exacerbate these problems. Calcium metabolism at calving is one of the most important animal health factors influencing production, reproduction and feed conversion efficiency. Calcium is essential for proper muscle activity. Around calving there are some large demands on the cow’s calcium reserves. The initiation of milk production means increased calcium use. The first milk produced, colostrum, contains about twice as much calcium as normal milk, so this demand is particularly significant. Graymont’s Calcimate® is distributed

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throughout New Zealand and is manufactured from high-quality limestone. This, coupled with the industry’s most stringent manufacturing and testing processes, ensures that you get a fine, high-calcium supplement that you can trust. Calcimate is BioGro certified and tested daily.

such as PKE and maize silage.

Supplementing your herd with Calcimate will help younger stock reach their growth potential, get your cows back into condition quickly after calving, maximise milk production potential, strengthen immune systems, improve reproduction, counter the effects of wintry weather and extreme activity and balance low-calcium supplements

and reproductive performance.

Remember: Production and animal health can be compromised. Too little calcium in your cow’s diet can result in milk fever and, more commonly, subclinical hypocalcaemia. This can become a silent production thief by limiting both milk production Warning: Do not feed Calcimate in the 4 weeks prior to calving without veterinary or nutritionist advice. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Graymont.

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NUTRITION

Whey-based formula deflates lamb bloat Margaret Saunders rears about 200 lambs annually in Winton. She used to feed them casein-based milk powder. “With the casein formula, we lost up to a quarter of our orphans to bloat,” Margaret says. “It was heart-breaking.”

easily digested, moving through the

Three years ago, she started using

well, easily reaching their target

Sprayfo Primo Lamb from AgriVantage.

weights,” Margaret says.

“Rearing with Sprayfo has been

For more information, contact

a totally different experience. It

your Farmlands Technical Field

mixes easily, the lambs love it and

Officer or the friendly team at

bloat is no longer an issue.”

your local Farmlands store.

Whey-based Sprayfo Primo Lamb is

Article supplied by AgriVantage.

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gut in only 2-3 hours, compared to 5-8 hours for casein formulas. It contains all essential proteins, fats, probiotics and prebiotics, vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for young lambs. “With Sprayfo, the lambs grow

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NUTRITION

Balancing feed quality gives lambs best start Pre-lambing feeding has a major impact on lamb survival and growth rates, so knowing the nutritional quality of the available pasture, silage and baleage means the best possible use can be made of any supplements such as grain or pelleted feed. Points to consider • The conceptus (embryo) takes up a lot of abdominal space, which compresses the rumen and therefore reduces potential feed intake. This is especially true for bulky, slower-digesting feeds like baleage, silage and hay. Grain and pelleted feed provides energy and protein without being bulky and limiting intake. • Although the lamb size at birth weight is mostly set at 90 days in pregnancy, the fat reserves are put on the lamb in the last 60 days of pregnancy. Lambs with

more energy stored as fat at birth are better equipped to survive spells of bad weather in spring and maintain their suckling drive.

lambing on good quality pasture. In a situation of low pasture covers, it is better to wait as long as possible or the ewes with lambs on foot can

• When ewes are having multiple lambs they can easily lose condition and may be more susceptible to sleepy sickness (ketosis/ acetonaemia), which will also reduce colostrum and milk production after lambing. In the first 4 weeks, 80 percent of the lamb’s growth is derived from milk production.

ruin feed in the first month. Set

• Ewes having single lambs can become overweight on high-quality feed, which can lead to lambing difficulties. This is best addressed by feeding them less or bulkier feed between scanning and 120 days of pregnancy but not in the

gradually increased, to reduce the risk

last month before lambing. Best use of supplements The normal practice is to set stock the ewes 1-2 weeks before expected

aside your best silage or baleage for feeding to the multiple-bearing ewes in the last 6-8 weeks pre-lambing. Grain and grain-based pellets require an adaption period to allow the rumen to change to digesting grain. Ewes should be started on barley (or any other grain) slowly, with the amount of acidosis (grain poisoning). There should also be adequate effective (long) fibre provided from either pasture, silage or baleage but not too much that it decreases intake. Keep in mind that grain is not a balanced feed. It does not contain the vitamins and minerals to support health and production. Alternatively, you can use a balanced feed like the Reliance Sheep Nut. These contain quality ingredients like barley, wheat, molasses and also macro-minerals, trace elements and vitamins. The pelleting process in the feed mill enhances the digestibility and the utilisation in the paddock as there is less wastage. For high-performing ewes with triplets, the Reliance Triplet Nut delivers a high level of quality protein that supports the unborn lambs and their mother. It also results in more colostrum early on, which is crucial for the survival of triplet and twin lambs. For more information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

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NUTRITION

Trials find gains from premium probiotics Scientific advances have given the dairy industry premium probiotic extracts that do more than simply populate the digestive system with bacteria or yeast. These premium products more potently stimulate the beneficial bacteria already present in the rumen, thus further enhancing feed conversion and digestion while increasing milk production. In New Zealand, trials have shown that cows treated with premium probiotic Donaghys ProDairy® produced on average 65.3g more milksolids per cow per day than untreated cows, with no loss of body condition. For a 386 cow herd doing 276 days milking, extrapolating these trial results over a season gives an extra milk solid income

of more than $49,506, at a $6.00 payout. The cost of ProDairy for a season at the average volume used in these trials is about $8,000, or 7.6c per cow per day, a return on investment of 6:1. Independent scientific trials on dairy cows on Total Mixed Ration (TMR) feed in the United States’ big milkproducing states of Georgia and California showed similar increases in milk production. Cows treated with ProDairy produced about 6 percent more milk than untreated cows, with no loss of body weight or body condition. The advances in premium probiotics have also brought benefits for calving. A premium calf probiotic extract with rennet ensures your calves get the start they need. One

calf probiotic, Donaghys ProCalf®, includes microbes licensed from AgResearch to promote growth, development and health in calves raised on milk or calf milk replacer. Donaghys ProCalf is designed to support the early development of a calf’s rumen and establish beneficial microbe populations for digestion of hard feed, pasture and calf milk. An initial 5ml dose followed by a daily 2ml dose promotes faster growth, weight gain and increased uptake of feed. AgResearch trialed ProCalf under controlled conditions at AgResearch Grasslands in Palmerston North, with 30 calves treated with ProCalf and 30 treated as controls. The ProCalf calves grew faster during the 42 days leading up to weaning, with an average 1.13kg weight gain per calf, a 5 percent increase. The trial also showed that ProCalf increased the calves’ appetite by 6.3 percent. A field trial in South Canterbury showed an average daily gain of 696g per day (29kg after 42 days) for calves treated with ProCalf as against an average daily gain of 571g per day (24kg after 42 days) for untreated calves. This was a 22 percent weight increase. The treated calves were also weaned one week earlier. Probiotics can be easily applied through inline dispensers, trough dispensers or by direct oral drenching. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Donaghys.

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NUTRITION

New range widens choice in dairy feed Key elements of the diet that may limit profitability

Farmlands’ shareholders have a greater choice of compounded dairy feeds after the merging of the NRM and Reliance ranges to create a national NRM dairy range designed to satisfy more needs. Energy is typically the first limiting factor for milking cows – now farmers can choose compound feed across NRM’s new Value, Standard and Premium ranges. These offer a higher level of by-products to fill a feed deficit, through to higher energy options with more grain. To avoid over-feeding PKE, the maximum PKE level is declared for each product, as are starch and sugar levels, to indicate the proportion of these important non-structural carbohydrates.

Energy Typically the first limiting factor

Protein May be in excess or deficient

Major Minerals Essential for life

Does it matter where the energy comes from? Milk yield, milk protein production and reproduction tend to run more smoothly in a mild spring when the sun shines, which lifts sugar levels in the pasture – non-structural carbohydrates are a good complement to the structural carbohydrates in high-quality pasture. Sugar has a high energy content and is quickly fermented relative to structural carbohydrates so can help support higher levels of production. However, it is so quickly fermented it is best delivered in small amounts through the day. Starch can be thought of as a slower release form of sugar, which makes it far safer when fed at milking times. The benefits of feeding starch include increased metabolisable energy (ME) and metabolisable protein supply,

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Fibre Too much can be filling

Trace Minerals Essential for health

Vitamins

Palatability Dry Matter

Additives

reflected in greater milk and milk protein

were fed a barley-maize concentrate at

yield, in addition to an increase in body

3kg/head/day – even when cows were

tissue energy deposition compared

fed the same 179 MJ ME/day. Fat has

to feeding less digestible fibre.

been linked to improved conception

These benefits arise from increased

rates4. Rumen by-pass fat is available

digestible energy and decreased

as an additive for the new NRM dairy

methane emission as well as the

range for use where higher energy

higher DMI potential of starch feeds1.

intake is desired and could be worth

Globally peer-reviewed published

considering during mating if climatic

research indicates that starch feeding

conditions or grass quality deteriorate.

benefits fertility. This has been found

Protein is typically the second

in New Zealand research , with a

limiting factor so there is a choice

significant reduction in the postpartum

of low, medium and high protein

anovulatory interval (PPAI) when cows

feeds across the energy ranges.

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NUTRITION

Operating profit per hectare by system (owner occupiers)* SYSTEM

1 LOW INPUT (HERDS)

2 FEED FOR DRY COWS (HERDS)

YEAR (PAYOUT $/KGMS)

3 10-20% TO EXTEND LACTATION (HERDS)

4+5 20% OR GREATER (HERDS SURVEYED)

AVERAGE

supplementary protein is stronger, especially with winter milking herds. Fibre

2005-06 ($4.18)

1,157 (40)

1,161 (89)

1,357 (72)

1,335 (36)

1,239

2006-07 ($4.13)

792 (52)

950 (143)

1,032 (90)

988 (34)

935

2007-08 ($7.37)

2,785 (24)

2,825 (74)

2,705 (82)

3,144 (37)

2,853

Excess fibre in the total diet of pasture-based cows is typically more of a problem than a deficiency. The maximum neutral detergent fibre (NDF) level in each product in the new NRM Dairy Range is indicated, to help further differentiate between the options. Minerals, vitamins and additives

2008-09 ($5.21)

1,312 (23)

762 (77)

814 (83)

228 (25)

749

2009-10 ($6.16)

1,585 (24)

1,588 (84)

1,966 (73)

2,573 (42)

1,958

2010-11 ($7.36)

2,553 (24)

2,448 (66)

2,974 (84)

3,452 (40)

2,810

2011 -12 ($6.69)

2,287 (23)

2,394 (64)

2,580 (76)

2,803 (41)

2,623

2012 -13 ($6.33)

1,530 (75)

1,766 (94)

2,145 (47)

1,830

2013-14 ($7.69)

2,905 (103)

3,363 (126)

3,797 (72)

3,294

2014-15 ($5.65)

1,475 (93)

1,479 (119)

1,553 (84)

1,537

2015-16 ($3.92)

244 (100)

-106 (119)

-260 (60)

-9

*Dairy NZ Economic survey. Operating profit excludes interest and rent.

Do pasture-based cows need additional protein? The crude protein percentage of high-quality pasture is typically high relative to the needs of lactating dairy cows. Feeding a low-protein supplement may help to lower the average protein content of the diet and reduce surplus protein, which has to be voided and has been estimated to reduce milk production by 1.8kg/ day compared to a total mixed diet with a better protein balance5.

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Despite high-quality pasture normally supplying more than enough crude protein for milking cows, Friesian Jersey X cows at Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm have responded to highenergy compound feed that contained more protein than would typically be supplied by grain alone6. Hard winters and dry summers can lower the protein level of pasture so that at times some supplementary protein may be beneficial. Where low-protein forages such as maize silage or wholecrop are included in the diet, the case for

Compound feed is a convenient way to deliver major minerals so all the products contain added calcium, magnesium and sodium, with levels reflecting the budget and potential need of the animal’s level of production. Grains are very low in calcium relative to the milk production they can support so limestone flour is included across the range. If additional lowcalcium by-products such as PKE or soya hulls, or maize silage/cereal wholecrop are fed it may be necessary to request additional limestone, which can be included as an additive to the compound feeds. Magnesium and starch are best delivered together because the uptake of magnesium may be increased by the presence of soluble carbohydrates7 and magnesium oxide helps buffer the acidity associated with grains. Trace mineral and vitamin levels have been adjusted relative to the potential need of the animals, with organic chromium included in the Premium range. Chromium may increase dry matter intake8 by improving glucose transport into a wide range of important body tissues. Extensions to the choice of additives, e.g. ZinMet 50 zinc methionine, reflect Farmlands’ commitment to empowering shareholders to help them deliver what is best for their cows at any particular time.

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NUTRITION

Profitability Profitability has been a key driver encouraging dairy farmers to adopt higher input systems over the past decade. There are many ways to judge profitability but as farm size is a major limiting factor for most farms, operating profit per hectare is a key indicator to compare different systems. Over the past 11 seasons, operating profit per hectare has only twice (2008-2009 and 2015-2016) been most profitable for those farmers falling into Systems 1 or 2 in the Dairy NZ Economic Survey, which suggests that supplementary feeding is a logical strategy that offers the potential to respond to the inevitable variability of pasture growth. The latest Dairy NZ Economic Survey for the 20152016 season suggests that even at a $3.92/kgMS average pay-out for the farms surveyed, while the System 3 farmers surveyed returned an operating profit per kgMS of $-0.10, they were no that far below the $0.26/kgMS reported for System 1 and 2 farmers surveyed and about 20c of that was due to increased livestock sales. A key performance indicator for cows fed only pasture is to achieve 75-85 percent of their body weight in milksolids1. While these levels may be exceeded with excellent pasture management and favourable weather conditions in a particular season, supplementary feeding enables cows to be fed to support higher levels of production. Short-term grazing studies may underestimate the milk yield response when supplements are offered over a full lactation. To take a crossbred cow weighing 450kg from 350kgMS/lactation (78 percent of her body weight) to 450kgMS/ lactation (100 percent of body weight), its dry matter intake would need

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| The weather can be unpredictable throughout New Zealand.

to increase from 4.9 tonnes to 5.6 tonnes9, a response of about 130gMS per additional kg DM over 4.9 tonnes. The milk response to supplementary feeding will be reduced if wastage is higher than the 6 percent assumed, if the pasture is not appropriately managed to take account of the substitution effect from supplementary feeding or if energy is partitioned to body condition. If the long-term (i.e. after BCS has been improved if necessary) on-farm response to supplementary feeding was really only 55gMS/kg DM as some suggest10, herds achieving 100 percent of their body weight as MS would have to be eating far more than indicated above and it would be unlikely that farmers adopting Systems 3, 4 and 5 who appear in the Dairy NZ Economic Survey would be as profitable as they regularly appear to be relative to farmers who feed no supplement. For more information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist.

Considerations for feeding starch to highyielding dairy cows. C. K. Reynolds, D. J. Humphries, A. M. van Vuuren, J. Dijktra and A. Bannink (2014) In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition P. C. Garnsworthy and J. Wiseman.

2 Gong, J G, Lee, W J, Garnsworthy P C, Webb R (2002) Effects of dietary-induced increases in circulating insulin concentrations during the early postpartum period of reproductive function in dairy cows. Reproduction 123:419-427.

A nutrient-signalling effect of grain feeding on postpartum anovulatory intervals in mature dairy cows. C. R. Burke, J. R. Roche, P. W. Aspin and J. M. Lee. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production (2006) Vol 66 pages 334-338.

Effect of dietary-induced changes in plasma insulin concentrations during the early post partum period on pregnancy rate in dairy cows. P C Garnsworthy, A. A. Fouladi-Nashta, G. E. Sinclair and R Webb. Reproduction 2009 137 759-68.

5 Nutritional limits to increased production on pasture based systems. E. Kolver Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (2003) Vol 62 p 291-300. 6 Effects of post grazing residual and concentrate feeding on milk production in early lactation R. H. Bryant, C. Harkin, T. Vazathara and G. R. Edwards. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production (2013) Vol 73 205-210.

NRC Nutrient Requirements of Cattle 7th Ed 2001.

Adipose tissue metabolism and production responses to calcium propionate and chromium propionate. J P. McNamara and F. Valdez 2005. Journal of Dairy Science 88: 2498-2507. 8

Dairy NZ Facts and Figures Version 1 August 2010.

Mythbusters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Supplement Response Dairy NZ 14 Aug 2015. 10

Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.

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NUTRITION NUTRITION

Rearing more productive heifers Rearing calves well is recognised as important in the development of productive heifer replacements. This concept has been extended recently to studying the benefits of early rumen development on subsequent growth and milk production.

grazed on a run-off until about 6

conventionally reared calves. Similar

weeks prior to calving aged 2 years.

improvements in milksolids yields

Five herd tests recording milk

were recorded on these farms.

production were performed over

Comparisons between RumenX and

their first lactation. Milksolids yields

conventionally reared cows during

averaged 0.21-0.35kg per cow higher

later lactations showed the former

with the RumenX group compared

group appearing to outperform the

Trials have helped demonstrate

with the conventionally reared group

latter group during their second

the importance of early rumen

at each herd test â&#x20AC;&#x201C; being statistically

and third lactations. Calculations

development in setting cows up

higher in four out of the five herd tests,

based on performance data also

for improved milk production

which is remarkable for an on-farm

indicate the RumenX cows had

starting with their first lactation

trial, as both groups had been fed and

improved lifetime performance.

and continuing throughout their

managed together since weaning.

The high degradability of RumenX

productive lives, which is important

Calculations of the additional milk

encourages early rumen development

when trying to improve profitability.

income per cow in its first lactation

and its low density results in it being

A recent trial compared conventional

using the average milksolids difference

retained in the developing rumen

calf rearing systems to the use

at the herd tests, multiplied by 280 days

longer, ensuring more is degraded.

of an early rumen development

and a milksolids price of $6.00, showed

The restricted milk intake also

feeding programme using an

an increased income of $440.00

encourages early intake of RumenX

extruded pre-starter feed.

relative to a cost of the RumenX of

and subsequently calf meal, as the

This trial was conducted with

about $65.00 per cow, giving a return

rumen develops rapidly.

traditionally reared calves and those

on investment of about 6.5:1. This

fed RumenXÂŽ, on a Friesian and

does not include any savings from

Friesian Cross herd averaging 580kg

decreased milk required during rearing.

milksolids per cow. The calves were

These results confirm the

combined in one group after weaning

benefits of similar trials on other

around 9 weeks old and remained

farms, comparing early rumen

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

on the farm until 5 months old then

development using RumenX with

Article supplied by Nutritech.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Weed control keeps lucerne standing tall Grass and broadleaf weeds are a serious threat to the quality, productivity and viability of a lucerne stand. Weeds compete aggressively for water, nutrients, sunlight and space, thus reducing the nutritional value of the crop and causing significant reductions in yield.

and broadleaf weeds are controlled

Grazing or cutting a lucerne crop encourages weed growth. Failing to control these weeds will result in poor crop performance and can shorten the productive life of a lucerne stand.

weeds, with one treatment covering

Gramoxone 250 provides excellent knockdown and residual control of a wide range of grass and broadleaf weeds. Applied to lucerne annually during winter when the crop is dormant, Gramoxone 250 can increase lucerne yields by up to 30 percent and extend the productive life of a stand by many years.

with minimal damage to the stand.

Gramoxone 250 is a non-residual, fastacting, contact herbicide containing 250g/L paraquat in the form of a soluble concentrate. It is inactivated on contact with the soil. Most grasses

conditions. It is also 25 percent more

by Gramoxone 250, although clovers recover quickly. Gramoxone 250 contains a blue dye for identification and a stenching agent to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion. Gramoxone 250 controls a wide spectrum of grass and broadleaf most situations. It is activated by light and works well in cold winter conditions. It is tolerated by established (dormant) lucerne, removing weeds

How best to use Gramoxone 250 in lucerne: • Before use, remove all lucerne growth by hard grazing or close cutting. • A llow weeds to freshen up before application. • A pply 2.4L/ha of Gramoxone 250 during lucerne dormancy. • A dd 1kg/ha atrazine (90 percent WG) on stands older than 12 months.

value is increased, bringing a premium

• A pply only to clean, healthy weed foliage.

payment for better quality feed. The

• Avoid spraying when frost is on foliage.

The lucerne’s yield and nutritional

productive life of the lucerne stand is also prolonged, bringing a good return on investment. Gramoxone

• Ensure total coverage of weeds. • Use only clean water.

250 is rainfast within 20 minutes, making it less dependent on weather concentrated than some paraquat formulations, meaning more hectares

is highly recommended. Atrazine is a

treated per pack and less packaging.

“photosynthetic inhibitor” herbicide,

Adding atrazine to Gramoxone 250

acting the opposite way to Gramoxone 250. Atrazine promotes greater uptake of Gramoxone 250 by slowing its destruction of plant cells, resulting in improved control of larger and harder to control weed species. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Syngenta.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Improving arable returns Could you apply less fertiliser yet still grow a better crop? Chances are the answer is yes, since the most common approaches to fertiliser for arable crops leave plenty of room for improvement. “When it comes to fertiliser for crops like wheat and barley, there are two key aspects to consider,” Ballance Science Extension Officer, Aimee Dawson says. “The first thing is to make sure that your soil is not deficient in any of the nutrients needed by your crop. The second is to think about the best way to deliver fertiliser nutrients – what form they’re in, where they’re placed and when they are applied. In most instances, nutrient deficiencies are dealt with adequately but we can still make gains in the way we use fertiliser in arable settings.” Take winter wheat, for example. Typically, a base fertiliser would be broadcast over the soil to correct any nutrient deficits prior to sowing. As a rule, this base fertiliser would include some phosphorus and potassium, along with some sulphur and magnesium, as required. To achieve this, several products would be blended together, so that the right rates of each nutrient can be applied. “Broadcasting is a nice, easy way to get fertiliser on the ground but

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it lacks precision,” Aimee says. “If your aim is to generally improve soil fertility – as you would for growing pasture – then broadcasting is fine. But if you really want to target crop growth then precision placement is likely to offer greater benefits. “There are two factors that reduce the effectiveness of broadcasting in an arable setting. First, while it improves the overall soil fertility rating, it’s very much an average effect. The nutrients get applied over the whole soil surface, yet the seed is only sown in one discrete location. That means there’s the potential for some of those nutrients to be wasted – or at least, not be available to the arable crop. “Second is the spread pattern of the blend. The ideal bout width (distance between spreader passes) varies depending on the granule size and weight. When a blend is made, we try to use products with similar ballistic properties in an attempt to maximise bout width.” When a blend contains products with different spreading characteristics, as a consequence, you have the potential to end up with uneven nutrient distribution. “One of the ways to overcome the challenges of spreading blends is to use a compound fertiliser,” Aimee advises. “This type of fertiliser contains

all of the nutrients in a single granule, so there is no worry about uneven spreading due to ballistic differences.” Compound fertilisers offer additional benefits to arable farmers. For a start, they are ideal for precision planting. “High-quality compound fertilisers – for example, those from the Yara range of products – are ideal for use in drills. They are hard, even granules, all of the same size, all with the same nutrient content. When they are drilled, each plant gets access to the exact same suite of nutrients, which means the crop has the best chance of reaching its potential yield.” Banding compound fertilisers, such as YaraMila 12-10-10 and YaraMila Actyva S, can help improve efficiencies, since there tends to be higher recovery of the nutrients, especially phosphorus. “Precision farming isn’t that widespread in New Zealand,” Aimee says. “But we feel it will play an increasingly important role in the future, especially in the arable setting, where it will help farmers get more out of the nutrients they use.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Ewes benefit from long-term drench Selenium and cobalt deficiencies are well recognised in many regions of New Zealand and the effect of these on livestock production and health is well documented. Supplementation with a long-acting source benefits both the ewe and lambs and such supplementation has been shown to be more beneficial than shortacting “spike” treatments. Deciding whether ewes, two-tooths and hoggets require a pre-lamb drench is not black and white, with adult ewes being more capable of managing a parasite challenge than ewe hoggets or two-tooths. There are strong opinions for all options and in the end you need to make the decision that is best for your farm. Factors like worm resilience or resistant genetics of your flock, grass covers, Body Condition Score (BCS) twin or single pregnancy and pasture larval challenge all play a part. Talk to your Farmlands Technical Field Officer for strategies to help determine the most productive use of these products in the farm system, using the Wormwise® principles. There are situations where using longacting drenches is high-risk (e.g. in situations with low refugia) and there are also management factors that can help with these risks (e.g. FECRT, primer and exit drenching). The options that suit you will be unique to your farm – an effective parasite management plan incorporates all the tools available, including effective drenches. If a significant parasite challenge is present mid-winter, as indicated by faecal egg counts and BCS then treating earlier than pre-lamb may be more beneficial.

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Centramax is a production-enhancing tool that may be suitable for your farm system, maximising the use of feed offered and countering the effects of subclinical parasitism. It can help boost production when used as part of your parasite management plan and in conjunction with adequate nutrition.

the lambs. A further possible benefit

Centramax is a long-acting drench that contains the anthelmintics abamectin and albendazole, along with trace elements selenium and cobalt, in a continuous delivery mechanism. A major feature is killing susceptible adult and larval parasites for 100 days. This can improve the appetite in the treated sheep, which is the major mechanism by which parasites limit production. Centramax helps to increase BCS in light ewes and lift milk production, resulting in greater weaning weights of

your local Farmlands store.

is that pasture is less contaminated with parasite eggs, which reduces the parasite challenge for sheep subsequently grazing these pastures. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at

Article supplied by Agritrade.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Jab takes the fight to dairy herd parasites All New Zealand pastures carry a parasite burden, regardless of climate, grazing pattern or the class of stock being grazed. All cattle also carry some internal parasites most of their life. As cattle mature, the impact from Cooperia reduces but all other common parasite species remain and can affect condition, feed conversion and milk production. While management practices might affect the timing and frequency of treatments, autumn and spring are the key times traditionally chosen.

Parasite levels are highest then and using some products to reduce their impact has been proven to improve weight gain and milk production. Autumn’s drop in temperatures, increase in rainfall and the first “feedcheck” of the calendar year can see stock body condition drop and the effect of parasites become more evident. Treatments at this stage in the season can suit beef operations as they coincide with the weaning of calves for the weaner fair market, or serve as a dry-off for dairy.

has mostly been limited to pour-on treatments. Recent investment in animal health in New Zealand has resulted in a new range of products, including one unique to this range, Eprinomectin, injectable at 1ml/50kg liveweight with nil milk withholding. Eprinomectin is an active ingredient well known across pastoral farming in pour-on formulations but not often as an injectable. Eprinomectin is effective against all main internal parasite species in New Zealand and against lice for cattle.

Other options often used in dairy herds are to selectively treat those animals in lighter condition at dryoff with a short-acting and obviously cheaper product, or just to opt for a treatment for the external parasite most commonly evident, such as lice and in some regions ticks.

Farmlands shareholders now have the opportunity to benefit from investment in products “new to the market” with the injectable Epriject.

Increasing in popularity is the option of treatments during lactation, where cow condition is supported by better nutrition and there can be the additional benefit of increased production.

Article supplied by Horizon Agresources NZ.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Once herds are all back in-milk and options are being considered, until now the choice for rural retail customers

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

To drench or not to drench – that is the question When it comes to deciding whether you should drench your ewes before lambing you need to consider some important questions. These include: • W hat performance am I already achieving from my ewe flock? • W hat am I trying to achieve from drenching the ewes? • W ill I get a production and financial benefit from that treatment? • Do I need to treat all of my ewes to achieve my goal? Drenching ewes pre-lamb should never be a routine practice, done every year to all ewes. Ewes go through a natural weight loss and gain cycle over lambing to weaning. Ideally ewes should be around Body Condition Score (BCS) 3 at pre-lamb1, drop no lower than BCS 2.5 by docking and be back to BCS 3 at weaning. If the majority of your ewes are achieving this then it is unlikely that you will get a financial return from drenching them. If your ewes are consistently failing to achieve these targets then addressing stocking and feeding levels could be more beneficial than relying on drenches. Where drenches can be useful is on farms with high parasite contamination on pasture

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and in years where the ewes are unable to meet their condition score targets (e.g. drought years). Drenches can also be helpful in lifting the performance of the bottom end of the flock. Trial work indicates that long acting drenches deliver better production responses than short acting ones2. A recent trial has shown the benefits of pre-lamb treatment of poor conditioned ewes with long acting drenches3. The trial compared the performance of poor condition ewes (BCS ≤ 2) carrying twin lambs that were treated with Cydectin® Long Acting Injection for Sheep or combination capsules against untreated ewes. On average the treated ewes were 3.5kg heavier at weaning and had lambs that were 2.6kg heavier than the untreated ewes. At weaning, approximately 70 percent of the treated ewes were at their target BCS of 3 compared to only 30 percent in the untreated ewes. There was no significant difference in response between ewes given Cydectin Long Acting Injection or capsules. This is a good demonstration of how you can lift the overall performance of your ewe flock by working on the bottom end, bringing them back into line with your overall flock targets.

Where ewes are in better condition but feed is limiting, a medium acting drench may be a more cost effective option compared to a long acting product. Eweguard® is an excellent choice. Not only is it very user friendly with it being a clostridial vaccine and long acting drench in one, trials with Eweguard have also demonstrated an economic return when it is used pre-lamb4. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. Beef and Lamb New Zealand. Ewe body condition scoring handbook, 2013. 2. Millar, C. et al. Production benefits from pre and post-lambing anthelmintic treatment of ewes on commercial farms in the southern North Island of New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 2015. 3. Bingham, C. Comparison of the production effects of two different long acting pre-lamb treatments in poor condition twin bearing ewes. Proceedings of the Society of Sheep and Beef Cattle Veterinarians of the NZVA, 2016. 4. Zoetis data on file. Cydectin and Eweguard are registered trademarks of Zoetis Inc. or its subsidiaries. ACVM numbers A9926 A7302, A9659 and A9122. Article supplied by Zoetis.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Recover, ensure, boost – a three step plan for down cows A quick return to milking is the aim when treating cows that go down with milk fever, or milk fever complicated by grass staggers or ketosis. This three step treatment plan can help give cows the best chance of a successful outcome and reducing the risk of relapse. Recover – administer injectable calcium or calcium combination metabolic solutions for rapid replacement.

Recover

Ensure

Boost

Intravenous (into the vein) acts quickly and gets the cow up and walking again, often within several minutes. However, this route of administration is quickly utilised around the body, which is why treatment is often supplemented with a bag under the skin. Subcutaneous (under the skin) takes comparatively longer to absorb, giving the cow a more sustained release over the next few hours. Using a bag into the vein, plus one under the skin, as your first line of treatment will provide rapid and slower release replacement. Products such as C.B.G 37.5, Glucalmag, Glucalmax and Glucalphos are suitable for this step. Be sure to read the product label to ensure the bag you are using is suitable for the intended route of delivery.

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Ensure – oral calcium for sustained support.

Bayer metabolic solutions provide

Once the cow is up and walking following initial treatment and has regained enough muscle control to swallow normally, orally administered calcium such as Oral-Cal and OralMax provides a continued level of support. In fact, studies have shown using oral calcium in this way can prevent relapse by up to 60 percent1,2,3.

energy to bring cows back to

Boost – liquid energy boost for a sustained recovery. Finally, administer propylene glycol (Ketol) for that essential energy boost for a quicker metabolic recovery and a positive influence on the post-calving energy gap.

the right balance of minerals and health and back to production. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. Jonsgard, K., Odegaard, S.A. and Overby, I. Supplement of calcium gel by mouth in addition to treatment with calcium by vein in paresis puerperalis in cows. The Obstetrics Institute of the Veterinary University, Norway. Nord. Vet – Med: (23) 606-619, 1971. 2. Rajala, P.J., Grohn, Y.T. Disease occurrence and risk factors analysis in Finnish Ayshire cows. J. Dairy Sci. 81, 3172-3151. 1998. Thilsing-Hansen, T., Jorgensen, R.J., Ostergaard, S. Milk fever control principals: A review. Actc vet. Scand, 43, 1-19. 2002. C.B.G. 37.5, Glucalmag, Glucalmax and Glucalphos are registered under the ACVM Act 1997. Article supplied by Bayer.

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Teat care crucial throughout season Cows with healthy udders produce better quality milk. When a cow is cupped, the teat stretches up to 50 percent, which is why maintaining healthy, supple teats throughout lactation is vital. Of course, weather conditions change and you may need to make changes to your routine programme to keep on top of teat care. Contract milker Mark Rosacker manages a herd of 250 cows, his father Rex has 950. They use GEA’s FIL Teatshield on both farms at Norsewood, manually on the smaller farm and through an automatic sprayer on the home farm. It’s been that way for years.

| Contract milker Mark Rosacker.

However, with the cows wintered on

It’s important to note that glycerine

crops, cold, wet and muddy conditions

is a major ingredient of FIL Teat

hardened and thickened the teat

Conditioner – it works well in drawing

skin. Resulting cracks and teat sores made the cows uncomfortable and milk let-down poor. In cases like

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moisture onto the teat surface from the humidity and moisture in the air.

this it’s important to add emollient,

However, in dry conditions, glycerine

such as glycerine, in teat sanitisers

can have the adverse effect of taking

to help improve teat condition

moisture out of the cows’ teats.

and reduce the risk of mastitis.

GEA’s FIL teat care products cater

“Our GEA Area Manager, Ryan Medlin,

for every sort of condition. It’s

assessed the situation and put us onto

important you’re using the best

Teat Conditioner,” Mark explains. “We

active for the challenge presented.

took that advice on board and had

For further information, contact

training on the right mixing rates. Within

your Farmlands Technical Field

2 weeks of adding Teat Conditioner, we

Officer or the friendly team at

saw a major improvement. The cows’

your local Farmlands store.

teats were as soft as a baby’s bum.”

Article supplied by GEA.

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Trace elements key focus for pre-mating With the climatic challenges cows

The critical trace elements to consider at this time of the dairy calendar are:

Iodine

have encountered over summer and autumn, now is the ideal time for

Selenium

function of the thyroid gland. A

you to review their trace element

Retained afterbirth, infertility, illthrift, poor immune responses and reduced milk production are all symptoms of a selenium deficiency. It is one of the critical elements cows need daily to offset these issues.

functioning thyroid helps the cow

requirements in order to maintain optimum health. Plan now to ensure favourable results this season. The calving, lactation and mating periods are particularly demanding on dairy cows. For best results over these stressful times, implementing a robust trace element supplementation programme will support lactation and cow wellbeing. There is money to be made with cows achieving and holding peak lactation, controlling metabolic conditions and getting the cow back in-calf, early. Monitor the trace element status in your cows by regular blood testing, or, test the liver status when culling. These “snapshots” provide you with a mechanism to make informed decisions and plan ahead.

Copper Copper is required daily and is essential for the formation of 10 vital enzymes. Dairy cows are particularly susceptible to copper deficiency. It shows in a poor reproductive system, failure to be oestrous and poor growth rate. Cobalt Cobalt is required daily and is essential for the formation of vitamin B12, a vital enzyme for growth and utilising the energy contained in the food cows eat. Note that if your cows are lethargic and lack the drive to graze chances are they are deficient in adequate levels of cobalt.

Iodine is essential for the proper

avoid low hormone production, an essential role as poor function impacts reproduction outcomes, foetal survival and foetal development. Every dairy farmer should have addressed their magnesium and calcium needs by now. However, don’t leave good nutrition up to the responsibility of magnesium and calcium. You must get your trace element status right in order to enjoy a fully-functioning and productive herd. Getting it right from the onset of calving will help prevent losses. This is the year for recovery so plan to bank the benefits of good milk production. If you farm an organic system, Bell-Booth has a comprehensive range of BioGroregistered trace elements, under the “IntenSE Organic” brand. Look for the bright orange containers in your Farmlands store. You can use these products at label rates, with confidence as every one of them are “Dosatronapproved”. There are other Bell-Booth formulations designed for use in feedout wagons or in-shed feeding systems. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Bell-Booth Ltd.

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