Plan 365 September 2018 by Farmlands

SEPTEMBER 2018

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

New products increase options for lamb rearers Demand for weaned lambs could be high this season as grazers look for alternatives to beef finishing and drystock contracts because of concerns around Mycoplasma bovis. Interest in rearing more lambs by hand is therefore likely to be strong in both the commercial and lifestyle sectors. Many traditional commercial sheep farmers rear or sell one lamb from a set of triplets in addition to rearing orphans. Young lamb supplies are increasing from sheep milking operations that are especially keen to find outlets for male lambs. Opportunities are therefore developing nationwide for commercial specialist lamb rearers through to lifestyle farmers looking to build a friendly handreared flock or fill the freezer.

| Rearing three lambs well can be challenging for some ewes.

Encouraging intake of grain-based hard feed can help stimulate rumen function in milk-fed lambs, which reduces stress at weaning off milk and reduces the cost of bought-in milk replacer. For years, NRM has resisted the temptation of adding the highly effective coccidiostat monensin sodium (e.g. as Rumensin®) to mainstream calf and lamb starter feeds because it can be so dangerous to dogs and horses if consumed by accident. Recently a more cost-effective form of an alternative coccidostat for lambs, which is much safer to non-target species – decoquinate (Deccox®) – has become available. The inclusion of Deccox in NRM’s new Lamb Start Mix and Lamb Performance Pellets aids in the protection of coccidiosis for large scale, repeat lamb rearers

THE FARMLANDER

without increasing the risk to companion animals for those first time and occasional lamb rearers with potentially a lower risk of coccidiosis.

get through but ewes cannot.

NRM’s new Lamb Start Mix and Lamb Performance Pellets have been designed with performance and animal health in mind. Grain based with high quality protein, both contain a blend of essential oils, trace minerals and vitamins.

tray, which can be lowered to preclude

Available in both 20kg and 10kg bags, Lamb Start Mix is a textured feed containing lucerne to help stimulate intake in young lambs. Lamb Performance Pellets are a flexible option, which can be fed from day one right through to feedingout in paddocks. Both can also be fed as a creep feed for lambs on ewes that need some extra nutrition. As a creep feed, they can be offered in a trough protected by a fence or gate, which lambs can

Lamb Performance Pellets can also be fed through some free-access ewe feeders that have a bar over the feed ewes but allows access to lambs. Lambs can be weaned off milk when they are about 10-15kg (depending on breed) and when they are consuming at least 200 grams of lamb hard feed per day. The intake of the hard feed is critical as it is a reflection of how well their rumen is developed. Be prepared to hold back lambs that are not meeting the weaning criteria. Ideally continue feeding a lamb hard feed to the weaned lambs for at least the next month and longer if pasture quality and/or quantity is lacking. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

NUTRITION

The effects of stress on reproductive performance The banning of inductions has focused attention on a shortened mating period to prevent a prolonged calving season.

to compensate by working harder but often productivity and output declines and we succumb to health problems to which we would normally be resistant.

likely to impact on submission rates.

A reduced mating period has inevitably increased empty rates – mating cows with a 53 percent conception rate for only 10 weeks as opposed to 13 weeks will tend to double empty rates with all things being equal.

I see the same thing in dairy cows, which are incredibly productive and robust but sometimes struggle to cope with additional, unexpected challenges – and fertility is one of the casualties. Metabolic diseases like milk fever, disorders such as retained fetal membranes, infected or damaged uterus and diseases such as BVD may all work against them and lower conception rates.

energy feeds like rumen protected

Seemingly small stresses like changes to the dairy shed, the pressure of backing gates, deterioration of raceways or increase in walking distance each day may be enough to make vulnerable animals such as first calvers, older cows and later calving cows less fertile. Good nutrition is essential to help animals cope when stresses rise.

• Falling milk urea levels through

Cows are being tail painted through September to detect cycling cows – identifying and reducing stress may be one thing to consider to increase future fertility and profitability. In both humans and animals some stress is probably good for performance – it helps humans get out of bed in the morning and drives us to achieve goals throughout the day. Sometimes life throws us more challenges than we can cope with and we get overly stressed – we try

Cows below the ideal BCS at calving take longer before they start cycling and the better fed the cow is after calving the sooner she will start cycling. Supplementing energy intake from around 6 weeks after calving may improve fertility in cows that would otherwise be underfed. Cows that are gaining weight over mating are more likely to get pregnant than cows that are losing weight. Cows should be regularly body scored to ensure targets are being met. Wet and cloudy weather reduces the energy from pasture, so a poor late spring and early summer are

Replacing the energy lost in pasture may be possible if supplementary feed rates can be increased or higher fats can be introduced to minimise weight loss through mating. Some tips to reduce nutritional stress over mating: • Avoiding excess condition loss and changes in feed intake. • Monitor fat to protein rations in the milk as an indication of how cows are coping – a falling ratio may indicate weight loss. mating could indicate sub-optimal protein levels in the diet related to changes in pasture quality. • Avoid additional challenges like salmonella by cleaning out feed troughs regularly. • Trace mineral deficiencies can cause anoestrous, increased risk of uterine infection and early embryonic death, so regular monitoring pre-mating can identify problems early. • Bovatec® can aid in the control of ketosis with subsequent improvement in immune function, which can aid in reducing the incidence of clinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows so may indirectly effect fertility. • Consider supplementary phosphorus if cows have had a hard winter. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist.

| Cows should be regularly body scored to ensure targets are being met.

THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

NUTRITION

Lighting in free range small scale layers Have you ever wondered why birds in the wild only lay eggs in the spring and early summer and then cease laying as winter approaches? This is all due to day-length or hours of daylight, as well as changes in light intensity. Birds that hatch in the spring require a shortening day-length approaching winter and an increasing day-length after midwinter to trigger maturity and begin to lay eggs. In technical terms, this is known as photorefractoriness. The modern commercial layer has almost had this phenomenon bred out of it and given sufficient time and food, a flock of commercial layer hens will eventually reach sexual maturity and start to lay some eggs, even without light stimulation. However, production will be poor as will peak of lay. Conversely, layers having access to natural daylight (typically in free range situations) usually do very well from late spring to mid-summer and one often notices a significant drop in egg production as autumn and winter approach. This is due to birds within the population exhibiting photorefractory behaviour and going out of lay. Fortunately, with the use of artificial light, we can “trick” these birds into believing summer is permanent and thereby reduce the drop-off in egg production. The choice of lighting is not that critical, so incandescent, fluorescent or even modern LED lighting can be used, although it is preferable to select warm white options when using fluorescents or LEDs. In open housing typical of free range

THE FARMLANDER

| For hens in lay, knowing the maximum day length for your region is really important.

layers, the artificial light needs to complement the natural day length and this is true of both rearing and during lay with open housing. For hens in lay, knowing the maximum day length for your region is really important. Find out when sunrise will occur and sunset on the longest day and how this changes over time. Then set the timer for the lights to come on half an hour before sunrise and stay on until the sun is up. The lights must then be turned on prior to sunset and remain on half an hour after sunset on the longest day in your region. The lights need to be bright enough, without shadows in corners, so the hens still perceive that it is daylight. A single 75 watt bulb will cover 20 square metres of floor space depending on how high the ceiling is. Some trial and error may be required to arrive at the ideal amount of light the

birds need for optimum production. If birds are flighty and nervous then reduce the light intensity with lower wattage bulbs. The Hy-Line website (www.hyline.com) has a customised lighting programme for any location and this will work for any breed of layer. Tossing birds a handful of whole grains, birdseed or some chopped greens in the late afternoon can help calm birds and help keep litter friable. Tip – the earlier lights come on in the morning, the more eggs will be laid before noon. This is more difficult to achieve as one goes further south in New Zealand, since the longest day reduces this flexibility. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Natalie Chrystal, Nutritionist.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Chicory key for changing climatic conditions Waikato farmer Brent Moss has watched the seasons changing over the years and experienced an increase in variable climatic events, so he knows the importance of having a reliable summer feed. Around 6 years ago Brent sought advice for his dairy farm located on 160ha just out of Matamata and local Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Pete Smart was happy to help. Given the challenges Brent faced in his region, Pete recommended chicory as an effective tool, particularly through the dry months when ryegrass isn’t performing at its best. Since introducing Choice chicory into his system, Brent has found that his cows love it and do extremely well. “It’s a low maintenance crop that is easy to grow,” he says. The use of Choice ensures both acceptable animal condition and summer production, as well as allowing for his pasture renewal programme. Brent aims to put in 25ha per year and has consistently noted that Choice holds its production going into the drier months, where you typically see ryegrass production beginning to drop. This ensures his 520 cows hold onto their condition better while producing extra milksolids. Sowing Choice allows Brent a break crop, which can help get on top of weeds including grass weeds that are not easily managed in a ryegrass mix. It also allows for a break in the pest cycle, helping prevent the increasing build-up of black beetle and clover root weevil inevitable in ryegrass based pastures. Brent finds the use of chicory provides

THE FARMLANDER

| Brent Moss with son Jack and Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Pete Smart standing in a re-grassed chicory paddock.

flexibility. “Traditionally the moisture has turned up in early March, where the chicory is then sprayed out and a permanent AR37 (typically ONE50) is drilled. However, with the seasons varying from year to year, Choice can be left in the ground allowing that flexibility I need these days.”

under grazing, where it was selected for

Due to Choice’s genetic make-up and its taproot, it has the ability to penetrate down through the soil profile. This not only allows for the plant to have better utilisation of soil moisture through the profile but it can also unlock nutrients and minerals located further down, that many other plants, including ryegrass, can’t access. This feature ensures Choice keeps performing through those drier months and allows it to spring back after grazings.

DM and crude protein between 22

Choice is a New Zealand bred chicory (AgResearch Grasslands), with uniform, full strap leaves. It has been evaluated

its improved cool season production, grazing recovery and high drymatter production, along with very good leaf disease tolerance. As a summer crop, Choice is a good source of high quality feed, with a Metabolisable Energy (ME) range of 11.5 to 13.0 MJ MEkg percent to 27 percent, at a time when unirrigated ryegrass can be less in terms of both ME and crude protein. Choice chicory has been a reliable performer for Brent over the last 6 years and an essential tool as he adapts to changing climatic conditions for his farming system. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agricom.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Get your farm in clover Clover is a great forage crop for finishing lambs. Summer can be hard on soil and pastures but clover can be a little more resilient to the heat. Its palatability and high-energy value make it an attractive option for finishing paddocks or for running ewes before lambing. “Creating a strong area of clover is easier than you might think,” Ballance Agri-Nutrients Forage Specialist, Murray Lane says. “With the right tools, even undeveloped land can be quickly converted into good finishing country.”

cropping without tilling, which means you are not changing the soil structure, the soil’s water infiltration rate or its “glueability”. “This is all good for keeping the soil on the hills,” Murray says. “There is still a need to match stock class, crop type, crop harvest season and terrain but, with appropriate planning, great crops can be established and harvested with minimal environmental impact. Clover is one of these.” Spray and wait Another option for undeveloped land

Help from on high

is to apply a very low rate of herbicide

Helicropping – applying clover seed and fertiliser from the air to a sprayed out area – is proving a powerful option for boosting hill-country production.

– 200-250ml of glyphosate per hectare

Aerial crop establishment implies

and allowing clovers to flourish.

– just before grasses start to bolt. This acts as a plant growth regulator, stopping grass seed-head development

“Suppression is key,” Murray says. “You don’t want to kill anything – just prevent brown top and Yorkshire fog seedhead emergence. An early November spray can be used to park areas of the farm that would normally go rank in the spring flush and have them ready for grazing 6 to 8 weeks later. The leafy grass will still be there, you’re just preventing a proportion of it from seeding, while releasing the legumes. It’s a great option for areas you’re planning to crop the following year as it minimises grass weed seed drop.” Things to watch • When establishing clover-only crops, ideally you need a spell without clover at some point in the cycle to manage pests. A cloveronly sward is very attractive to brown beetle/grass grub, which could cause problems on light soil in subsequent pasture. • If mixing the clover with other summer herbs like plantain or chicory, get advice to get the clover seed rate right. Clovers are slower to establish, so you may need higher sowing rates in relation to other species to get good plant numbers in the sward. • Clover is more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies than other species, so soil test to check and adjust pH and phosphate levels. Don’t forget to check molybdenum, which is needed for nitrogen fixation and is often overlooked. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

| Summer can be hard on soil and pastures but clover can be a little more resilient to the heat.

THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

New early maturity rape adopted nationwide Rape is a multipurpose crop that can be an effective tool for a wide range of farming systems throughout the country. Running sheep and beef systems at opposite ends of the country, farmers Evan Gibson and Scott Linknator have both historically used rape for fattening stock in drier months, where feed may otherwise be limiting. Recently, both Evan and Scott have chosen a new generation, early maturity rape, which gives them the ability to graze earlier with more opportunity to graze regrowth. Evan Gibson, manager of Long Gully Station, Tarras, runs a fine wool system and has been impressed with Agricom’s newest rape, Mainstar. Evan has found that Mainstar has rapid establishment and accumulation of yield, with high performance in paddocks containing a wide range of soil types. Evan’s Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Abigail Pont recommended Mainstar be drilled in late October, followed by weed control 4 weeks post-establishment. Following two grazings with the lambs over January to March, Evan found good per-head and per hectare liveweight gains occurred without suffering the initial growth check, which is commonly seen when first introducing lambs to rape. Mainstar’s high leaf-to-stem ratio meant Evan found minimal stem development in the paddock. This allowed him to carry good quality feed and impressive growth into the winter months. Scott Linknator is the owner of Greenlink Farms, located between

THE FARMLANDER

| Manager of Long Gully Station, Evan Gibson, in his paddock of Mainstar.

Marton and Feilding. On the advice of his Farmlands Technical Field Officer, James Abbiss, Scott also decided to give Mainstar a try as a lamb fattening tool. Mainstar was drilled into 35ha of his 286ha property and not only did Scott experience high levels of edible yield, he says it was also highly palatable, with high quality. Due to a wet spring in the Manawatu, Scott drilled his Mainstar in late December and used it as a multi-graze option – to fill his DM requirements for lamb trades in late February then got two additional grazings in March and early June when grass growth slowed down. Mainstar is a new generation, modern, early maturing rape (70-75 days), which has excellent potential for re-growth, along with good frost tolerance allowing extended grazing from early summer to late winter. Mainstar has an extremely good tolerance to aphids,

which can be a major barrier to getting the best potential out of a rape crop, particularly within a dryland situation. Although this doesn’t completely remove the requirement for spraying, early grazing time and aphid tolerance provides the potential to reduce summer insects in many cases. Scott and Evan have both been impressed with their experience so far with the new Mainstar rape in their respective regions. It has shown the ability to have impressive regrowth, with a high leaf to stem ratio. In both their systems, Mainstar’s fit has been ideal and allowed improved quality, palatability and winter grazing. For further information contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agricom.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

FORAGE AND ARABLE

Profitability of fungicide programmes confirmed Have you checked your paddocks for disease recently? This winter has been mild and wet, ideal conditions for disease development. Out paddock walking, Bayer staff have found high levels of speckled leaf blotch in wheat and scald in barley, indicating that this spring 2018 is going to be challenging in terms of disease control. Maintaining healthy crops to maximise your yield is always vital but this year it is especially important with the high prices available for wheat and barley. One way to maintain plant health is by applying a robust fungicide programme. Each season Bayer carries out a large number of fungicide trials throughout New Zealand to monitor the performance of their fungicide range. Bayer’s target is the “Big 6” arable diseases of wheat, barley and ryegrass seed crops – speckled leaf blotch, leaf rust and stripe rust in wheat, scald and Ramularia leaf spot in barley and stem rust in ryegrass seed crops. Yield-hungry diseases that will ravage your profits if you let them.

In both wheat and barley, fungicides were highly profitable in 2017, when Bayer once again conclusively demonstrated the large profits you can receive from controlling the key wheat diseases. This is illustrated in the chart below. Last year Bayer observed aggressive infections of stripe rust, leaf rust and speckled leaf blotch and, very fortunately, in each trial a single disease dominated, allowing the profit from controlling that disease to be established. And for all diseases the profit achieved was impressive. Controlling speckled leaf blotch gave a profit of $615/ha, leaf rust $1,315/ha and stripe rust $1,390/ha. In all cases the fungicide programme used was a DMI fungicide at GS32 (T1) and then an application of Aviator Xpro at both GS39 and GS65 (T2 and T3). To calculate the profit achieved, a wheat price of $400/t and average on-farm fungicide prices were used. It was a very similar story for barley but in this case the trials illustrated the profitability of applying increasing robust programmes, rather than the

Profit ($/ha) from a GS32+GS39+GS65* fungicide programme

Controlling wheat disease delivers excellent profit 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400

response of a particular disease. There was a definite trend that as the standard GS32 (T1) and GS39 (T2) fungicide programme was strengthened by firstly adding a GS30 (T0) and then a GS30 and GS60 (T4) fungicide, the yield and profitability increased. This culminated with a profit of $683/ha for a four spray fungicide programme utilising Delaro and Aviator Xpro. What is the best way of achieving these returns? Firstly, let’s address the most important factor, fungicide timing. For both wheat and barley, once you apply your first fungicide maintain a spray interval of 25-28 days for the rest of your fungicide programme. For wheat, the most important application is GS39, flag leaf emergence and this is when Aviator Xpro should be applied. This year, as crops are at significant threat from speckled leaf blotch, Bayer recommends also applying Aviator Xpro at GS32. This programme can then be finished with Prosaro plus a strobilurin fungicide at GS65. For barley, Bayer recommends applying Delaro at both GS30 and GS32 followed by Aviator Xpro at flag leaf emergence. This ensures the lower leaves, responsible for much of a barley crop’s yield, are fully protected and that the impact of Ramularia leaf spot after ear emergence is minimised. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

200 0 Speckled leaf blotch

Leaf rust

Stripe rust

Article supplied by Bayer.

*GS32 DMI fungicide, GS39 Aviator Xpro 1.0L/ha, GS65 Aviator Xpro 1.0L/ha Source: Bayer trials, Canterbury 2017/18

THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

The right ryegrass essential for profitability Perennial ryegrass is the backbone of New Zealand agriculture. Having the right grass in our pastoral based systems is key to a profitable farming enterprise. Justin Vande Sandt, owner of a 240ha dairy support block has found the answer with the help of his local Mossburn Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Eric King. Justin’s dairy support unit runs alongside the Oreti River, just out of the township of Mossburn. He is currently running a combination of 600 R1 and R2 heifers along with an additional 80 bulls. With liveweight gains required all months of the year to grow replacement stock, a trusted ryegrass cultivar is essential. Three years ago, Justin decided to give ONE50 AR37 a crack and hasn’t looked back since. “ONE50 AR37 grows well on our farm, especially on the fringes of the season, which is a must,” Justin says. With many perennial ryegrass cultivars and endophytes now on the market, it is important to make educated choices as to what is right for your farm. ONE50 perennial ryegrass is a

late heading (+20 days) solid performer that has often exceeded farmers’ expectations since its release. It is no surprise that it is a popular choice for sheep, beef and dairy systems.

no compromise in feed quality.

With the ever-increasing pest pressure throughout the country, endophyte protection is required to get the persistence and longevity out of modern ryegrass varieties. ONE50 is available in AR37, AR1 and LE endophyte. Having AR37 was one of the factors that effected Justin’s choice. AR37 has the best insect protection commercially available from a ryegrass endophyte. AR37 provides protection against porina, black beetle (adult), pasture mealy bug, root aphid and Argentine stem weevil (larvae).

in the market following on the back

Justin has been impressed with the amount of legume maintained within the sward in the time he has used ONE50 AR37. “It is very clover friendly and we use Relish red clover for extra production and quality,” he says. This added legume content in the sward makes it an excellent candidate for silage, which can be transported back to the platform with

Over the past 8 years, ONE50 has earned its reputation as the go-to grass in New Zealand. As a new variety, it quickly gained a solid place of the success of early adopters. The National Forage Variety Trials (NFVT), set up by the Plant Breeding and Research Associations (NZPBRA) tests many commercial and precommercial cultivars side-by-side in a variety of locations. Based off NZPBRA statistics, during 2012/2013 ONE50 was New Zealand’s largest selling ryegrass*. Each January, new industry statistics are made available and despite losing that title between 2013 to 2016, ONE50 reclaimed its position as New Zealand’s largest selling perennial ryegrass in 2017 and this has continued for the 2018 season*. “We chose to give ONE50 AR37 a go due to its impressive reputation,” Justin says. ONE50 perennial ryegrass provides the combination of excellent plant genetics, with the option to include novel endophyte technology. These combined, allow the ability to lift the production and persistence on-farm. “Since changing to ONE50 AR37 3 years ago I now have 45ha planted, with great results to date.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. *The NZPBRA’s statistics are generated from a rolling 3 years of sales where sales volumes are submitted by seed companies for their cultivars to contest becoming the “standard” in the following year’s national trials. Article supplied by Agricom.

| Farmlands Mossburn Technical Field Officer, Eric King (left) with farmer Justin Vande Sandt in his ONE50 paddock.

THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Vitamin B12 important for sheep Because many New Zealand soils are deficient or low in cobalt, vitamin B12 deficiency can occur. It has recently been indicated that the cobalt requirement of sheep was met by only 54 percent of pastures in New Zealand1. Ruminants require more vitamin B12 than other animals, with young, growing sheep (such as lambs after tailing) being the most susceptible to deficiency, as they have higher energy requirements for growth. Common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in sheep and cattle include loss of appetite, decreased growth rates, watery eye discharge, anaemia, increased susceptibility to parasites and scaly ears. A common presentation of deficiency is 3-6 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. In many regions of New Zealand, soil cobalt levels may be marginal. The result is that clinical symptoms may not be as obvious but vitamin B12 deficiency can still have a significant economic impact. The cost of supplementing vitamin

THE FARMLANDER

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.

one or more of your existing Multine

As vaccination with Multine routinely starts from either tailing/docking or at weaning, using Multine B12 can be timed with this. Or, if the Multine booster shot coincides with the selection of finishing or replacement stock, this is also a suitable time to use Multine B12.

animals – a priming dose followed

Multine B12 can be used in sheep, cattle and goats from tailing/docking. In sheep, each 2ml dose contains 2mg of vitamin B12. At the same time, Multine B12 provides protection against common causes of clostridial deaths including pulpy kidney (entertoxaemia), tetanus, black disease, malignant oedema and blackleg.

foetal liver and ensure higher levels

5-in-1 vaccinations with the new Multine B12 to supplement vitamin B12. Correct vaccination programmes start with two injections into young by a booster dose 4-6 weeks later. This can start as early as from tailing/docking. Annual boosters are necessary to maintain immunity and are timed 2-4 weeks prior to lambing/ calving. Multine B12 used at pre-lamb will increase vitamin B12 stored in the

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 sheep2.

are available in the dam’s colostrum. Between Multine (available as plain, B12 or selenised), Nilvax and Lamb Vaccine, MSD Animal Health provides farmers with the only range of clostridial vaccines researched, developed and manufactured here in New Zealand, for New Zealand farmers. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. Knowles and Grace, 2014.

Vitamin B12 has a high safety margin and can be used at the same time as using other cobalt supplements, such as drenches. You can simply swap out 3

2. Mulvaney, C., Hodgson, B., and Cuttance, W., data on file. 3. Grace, N. D., 1999. ACVM Numbers: A0934, A0935, A11311. ®Registered trademark. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Article supplied by MSD Coopers.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Heat detection made simple Accurately determining when a cow is on heat ensures a more successful mating period. You need a clear process, good observation and effective use of a reliable heat detection tool. Water-based tail paint is your simplest, safest and most cost-effective option.

The “detection to pregnancy” cycle is about 12 weeks. GEA’s FIL Detail tail paint comes in five fluorescent colours, which enables a systematic painting plan to identify each stage. For example: • Paint all cows with red tail paint approximately 3 weeks after calving. Check the paint strip at each milking. In most cases, much of the paint will be rubbed off when a cow is on heat.

With an effective tail painting plan in place, you can identify almost 90 percent of cows on heat. Applied properly, tail paint will reliably provide a visual indication of when a cow has stood to be mounted and consequently rubbed, to show that it is on heat. It also helps to pick up cows that are on heat for a short time and might otherwise be missed.

• Paint those cows on heat with green tail paint*. • After insemination, paint the cows with blue tail paint. If the paint rubs off, the cow is not pregnant. • Once pregnancy is confirmed, paint the cows with yellow tail paint.

How to apply tail paint: 1. Remove loose hair and dirt along

Detail is a water-based tail paint and it is gaining popularity as a more environmentally friendly option than the standard oil-based paints – minimising health and safety risks on-farm. Being water-based, it is gentler on skin, so it is better for cow comfort, particularly when they are severely rubbed. Plus, there is less risk to the

the backbone above the tail. 2. Paint a strip 50-60mm wide and 150mm long along the ridge of the backbone immediately above the tail. It is best to apply the paint from the tail pushing up the cow’s back – this lifts the hair and makes it easier to detect when a cow is rubbed. Heat detection timeline over 12 weeks

Breeding programme

| Water-based tail paint is your simplest, safest and most cost-effective option

applicator’s skin. Detail is also faster drying (dries in 10 minutes) and easily cleaned up with a bit of water if spilt. Furthermore, it is no less effective than oil-based tail paint, with similar adhesive and visibility qualities. Detail is visible for up to 21 days^. The 1L Detail applicator comes with a built-in brush for easy application, while the 10L pail is a more costeffective option and partners well with Tail-Mate™, a uniquely curved tail paint roller that provides good coverage along the tail bone in one easy roll. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

For seasonal or synchronised mating programmes only

* In the case of non-cycling cows, seek advice from your animal health professional. ^ Subject to conditions and correct application. Article supplied by GEA|FIL.

THE FARMLANDER

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

HORTICULTURE

Mulching proves successful for plant health With maturity a month earlier than most other growers and consistently the earliest in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Opotiki avocado orchardist, Grant Fraser, credits much of his success to mulching.

Phytophthora cinnamomi, more commonly known as avocado root rot is a soil fungus that attacks the soft, white feeder roots of the avocado tree and is widespread in many avocado producing areas around the world.

“Mulching is one of the things I’ve done consistently since I’ve started because it protects the surface feeding roots, suppresses weeds and locks in the moisture,” Grant says.

Mulching creates humous in the soil as it breaks down and, when it’s mixed with trace elements and minerals such as those found in seaweed, can effectively boost plant health and growth without the need for any extra additives or chemicals.

“I mulch every year and especially during replanting,” he explains. “Of my 800 Hass avocado trees, I’ve recently replaced some with 500 Phytophthora-resistant cloned trees, which benefit greatly from the mulch.”

THE FARMLANDER

Grant has been using New Zealand M nuka Group’s K LUSH M nuka mulch since he built his 4 hectare orchard over 20 years ago.

“I’ve tried using most other mulches,” Grant says. “But I like the aged K LUSH mulch because it’s easy to spread, it breaks down fairly slowly and the trees respond favourably.” Grant says the most important reason for mulching is to keep the area just outside the root-line covered. “All my young trees have 3-4 inches of M nuka mulch on them – it means I don’t have to weed and it supports spring plantings over a dry summer.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by NZ Seaweeds.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

HORTICULTURE

Optimising disease prevention with copper Copper is optimising the control of a wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases on fruit, vegetable and brassica crops. Copper is a bactericide, which inhibits fungal spore germination and mycelial growth. It has been widely used throughout the world for disease management in both conventional and organic crop production for many years. It was one of the first elements ever used as a plant fungicide and French growers began applying copper sulphate and slaked lime (still known as Bordeaux mixture) from the late 1880s to control downy mildew in their grapes. Copper fungicides act residually to protect the plant from disease, so they must be applied to the plant surface before disease infection. Foliar copper spray solutions are a suspension of copper particles, which persist on the plant after the spray droplets dry. Active copper ions are gradually released from the resultant copper deposits each time the plant surface becomes moist from leaf transpiration, dew or rain – and it is these ions that form a protective barrier that prevents disease taking hold, killing fungal and bacterial pathogens before they can penetrate the plant tissue.

THE FARMLANDER

for good disease control, because copper ions are not all released at once but slowly over a period of time. Several factors affect copper retention, including rainfall, physical rubbing of plant parts against each other and fruit growth and expansion. But particle size is important here too – larger particles can be blown off the plant surface and smaller particles have better rainfastness. Nufarm technical expert, Alan Cliffe says these were key considerations for the formulation chemists who created ChampION++ water dispersible granules.

One of the critical factors influencing copper fungicide efficacy is the particle size of the copper used. Larger particles have relatively less surface area than smaller ones and this reduces the number of copper ions available to protect the plant surface from infection. Retention on plants is also critical

| Copper is a bactericide that inhibits fungal spore germination and mycelial growth.

“This was a global development project, with the specific goal of setting a new standard of performance for present-day copper treatments,” Alan says. “The priority was to develop a formulation that provided excellent coverage and disease control, with low use rates of active ingredient, so there would be less environmental load than older, high dose copper formulations.”

As a result, copper hydroxide particles contained in ChampION++ are smaller and more precisely shaped than most other coppers currently available, with an average size of 1.8 microns. This gives better coverage and enhanced disease control. Because of their proportionately greater surface area, there is also a higher release of Cu2+ ions, which means lower rates of copper are required. ChampION++ contains 300g/kg copper as copper hydroxide and is registered for use on pipfruit, avocado, citrus kiwifruit and grapes, as well as feijoas, stonefruit, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, pine trees and many other crops. The WDG formulation is low-dust, stable, free flowing, easily pourable and quick to disperse in water. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Nufarm.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Low flow, no flow Trapped air within a stock water pipeline creates many issues and may well be the cause of poor performance – low flow, no flow (airlock) and erratic system operation, including additional energy costs and damage to pipeline components. Air pockets reduce the effective pipe bore, increasing the headloss, leading to reduced flow into the trough or tank. So where does this air come from? There are four main causes – trapped air when initially filling the pipe, leaking joints, air introduced through pumps and dissolved air coming out of the water. These factors can be lessened through competent pipeline plumbing and system design. The dissolved air issue is usually an outcome of low water velocity in the pipeline and can be minimised during the system design process,

where flow velocity is calculated and managed. Higher water velocities can also push air-pockets along the pipeline to system outlets. Air sucked into the system through inadequate joints occurs when these joints are above the hydraulic grade line, creating negative pressure within the line. This is both a design and installation issue. Any air that does accumulate will tend to be in the “high points” of a reticulation system. A simple way to overcome this, if practical, is to position troughs at these points, so the entrapped air can be discharged through the trough valve. Vacuums in pipelines can also create operating and system longevity issues. Caused by draining the system, pump stop/start, or fast valve open/ close producing column-separation, this negative pressure can suck the pipe flat to the point of failure and have a detrimental effect on pumps, valves, fittings and system controls. There are two basic types of air valves to manage these issues: • Air release valves – automatically releases small pockets of accumulated air while the pipeline operates under pressure. Located at the highpoints in the system, these valves can dramatically improve system performance.

• Combination air/vacuum valves – designed to automatically exhaust large quantities of air during pipeline filling and admit large amounts of air when the internal pressure drops below atmospheric. These valves manage air introduced into the system during pump start-up, a common bore-pump issue. They also manage the issues caused by vacuums within a pipeline. Locate these valves where air is likely to be trapped or vacuums will form. It is also important to: • Couple the valve to the pipe by way of pipe saddle or tee. • Size air valve to design requirements. • Keep riser pipe vertical, as short as practical and size pipe and isolation valve to suit inlet diameter of air valve. • Have a site with ease of access, discharge clearances and protection from freezing, contamination, flooding and vandalism. • Have an active maintenance programme. • Managing air within your reticulation system will help consistently deliver the designed optimum water for maximum production, minimise operating issues and increase system longevity. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Iplex Pipelines.

| Typical air valve installation.

THE FARMLANDER

| Pipeline without air-release valves.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Building a better fence With a 340-hectare beef block to run single-handedly, Kaiwaka farmer Marty Roest needs to manage his time carefully. The farm currently has 55km of batten and electric fences, so the hours he spends on fence building and maintenance can add up significantly. With the endless todo list on his farm, anything he can do to save time is worthwhile. To ensure longevity of his batten fences, there are a few key things

Marty considers. Firstly, the condition of the batten when the fence is built is critical. Having dry battens ensures the staples continue to hold the wire tight. If a batten is stapled when wet, the staple will loosen over time as the batten dries. It is best practice to fillet stack battens in a dry area (such as a barn) for at least 2 months.

Swinging a hammer consumes

Livestock can ruin batten placement on an incorrectly stapled fence. To ensure battens remain secure, the way battens are stapled is important. Alternating the staples to the left/ right sides and at 45-degree angles on the batten, will ensure the battens don’t move on the fence.

ST315i has a guide that shoots the

Choosing the right staple for the job will mean a long-lasting fence and no rework. With most of New Zealand not too far from the coast, the harsh climate eventually rusts staples. A long-lasting corrosion protection on the staple is crucial for a fence to last the test of time. Marty ensures that the staples he uses meet the same corrosion resistance as the fence wire. Hammering staples present several problems. Every time the hammer hits the staple, the galvanising can be chipped off, exposing the staple to rust and reducing its life.

THE FARMLANDER

a lot of time. It also causes wear and tear on the whole body. Marty found a solution to all these problems with STOCKade. He uses the STOCKade ST315i batten stapler in place of a hammer, saving many hours of hard work and reducing the wear and tear on his body. The staple in at a perfect 45-degree angle every time. STOCKade staples have a zinc aluminium coating, the same as standard fence wire. This provides up to six times the life of regular galvanised staples. The staples are made in New Zealand, for New Zealand conditions. After seeing the STOCKade ST315i Cordless Fencing Stapler in action at Fieldays, Marty says the decision to buy one was easy. “One of the biggest benefits of the ST315i is that it is very fast and easy to use,” he says. “A farm this size is a one-man operation, so anything I can do that saves me time is very worthwhile.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by STOCKade.

WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Spring dairy calf drenching The future production of your farm is very much reliant on the quality of your replacement heifers. A major target for ensuring their future production in the milking herd is their weight at their first mating at 15 months of age. Once we’ve reared a healthy calf, well-adjusted to a grass diet, we next need to optimise growth rates on pasture through to the first mating. A good parasite control programme is an important part of this. Cooperia is of concern particularly in young stock, with significant burdens on pasture building up supressing appetite and growth. Cooperia resistant to the ML or “mectin” family of drenches are wide spread and levamisole has retained good efficacy against ML resistant Cooperia1. The other species we are concerned about in cattle is Ostertagia, which are the most harmful worms in cattle of all ages. The ML drenches are best for the control of Ostertagia – particularly the potent active abamectin. Although pour-on drenches are seen as being more convenient, studies have shown that their efficacy can be variable, with many factors limiting the absorption of pour-on drenches2. Oral drenches are the most cost-effective way to drench

THE FARMLANDER

your stock, combatting resistance and ensuring excellent growth rates in your replacement heifers. In weaned calves, Scanda® is an ideal choice of oral drench for young calves heavier than 50 kilograms liveweight. Scanda is a double combination containing both oxfendazole and levamisole. Calves still feeding on milk rarely need drenching but if they are to be drenched it should be given with a drench gun and not mixed in with the milk. Once calves are heavier than 100kg, we can consider other combinations of actives that give better control of the two most important parasites of calves Cooperia sp. and Ostertagia sp. Converge® is an ideal choice for calves greater than 100kg liveweight, as it contains both levamisole and abamectin. For extra protection from resistance, consider Alliance®, a triple combination that contains oxfendazole combined with levamisole and abamectin. So an ideal programme would be to start with Scanda in your smaller calves then move on to either Converge or Alliance, drenching every 28 days through the summer and autumn. Talk to an animal health specialist about planning this programme on your own farm or with your grazier.

Protection against clostridial disease is also an important consideration for your replacement heifers. Clostridial diseases in cattle include malignant oedema, tetanus, pulpy kidney, black disease and blood poisoning. These diseases are caused by bacteria found everywhere in the environment and often the first you will see of these diseases is the sudden death of often the biggest calves. Prevention by vaccination is your only option and Multine® 5-in-1, developed and manufactured in New Zealand is an excellent choice. Full protection with Multine requires an initial sensitiser and then a booster 4-6 weeks later and this programme can be started at any time after weaning in combination with your drench programme. If vitamin B12 supplementation is required in your stock, Multine B12® is an extremely easy and convenient option to supplement B12 in the same single injection as your 5-n-1 vaccination. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. National Drench Resistance Survey 2004-2005. Waghorn, T. S. et al. NZVJ 54 (6), 278-282, 2006. 2. Leathwick, D. M. and Miller, C. M. Vet. Parasitology 191 (2013) 293-300. ACVM Numbers: A10119, A10249, A000934, A7130, A11311. ®Registered trademark. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Article supplied by MSD Coopers.