GreentoGold Genetics that turn pasture into profit
Reidy and willing A worldwide study of succession and land transfer
• XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX • XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Aaron Wallace, Editor
Welcome
CONTENTS 3
Welcome to an information packed Green to Gold. It’s been a while since our last publication, but the contents of this edition make the wait worthwhile. For those of you who are receiving your first edition of Green to Gold welcome to the publication and welcome to the LIC team. Inside you’ll read articles which give depth to the fact that LIC is a global distributor or top quality dairy genetics in demand by farmers around the world, wanting fertile, productive cows which perform in most farming and feeding systems. LIC has been around for 100+ years earning an international reputation as one of the leading innovators in dairy science – and inside you’ll see even more evidence of that innovation. At the end of the day, LIC is about one thing – profitable dairying. Wherever you are in the world, if you are reading this magazine you are looking for ways to be more efficient, more productive and more profitable.
4 6 7 8 10 12 14
Reidy and willing
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Bicton College provides first-hand experience
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Tough farmers tough it out
You’ve come to the right place – LIC. Aaron Wallace
Contacts New Zealand LIC Private bag 3016 Hamilton New Zealand Tel: +64 7 856 3094 Fax +64 7 856 2963 E-mail: licnz@lic.co.nz
www.licnz.com Argentina LIC Latin America SA Independencia 2415 (6700) Luján. Bs. As. Tel: 02323-428252
SIRE SPOTLIGHT: Target and Joskin well received
ADVICE: Comparative stocking rates PRODUCTS: LIC Farm Wizard Every step forward Growing a business Lydney Park Farms ADVICE: Improved mating performance increases milk production
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2 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
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Editorial enquires EDITOR, Green to Gold, LIC, Private bag 3016, Hamilton, NEW ZEALAND Ph +64 7 856 3094 Fax +64 7 856 2963 E-mail licnz@lic.co.nz Editor: Aaron Wallace
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1 Cover photo: Brian and Caroline Reidy. See Reidy and willing, page 4.
SIRE SPOTLIGHT By John Redshaw, Bull Acquisition Manager
TARGET and JOSKIN well received
306041 Greenpark OM Target
306025 Tironui OM Joskin
Profiled in this article are two bulls that have been popular among breeders for various reasons Target and Joskin, both of which exhibit outstanding traits other than production (TOP).
Premier Sires team with Target (Tango was also in the 2009 DNA Proven Premier Sires team when Target was in the Daughter Proven team). Two Target sons have been purchased by LIC for progeny testing in 2010, and more are in contention for the Sire Proving Scheme and DNA Proven Premier Sires team for 2011.
Greenpark OM Target, on 185/87 BW and bred by Karsten and Anne Kristensen (formerly of Morrinsville) is number one on the RAS list for capacity (0.73 BV), dairy conformation (0.55 BV), udder support (0.48 BV), rear udder (0.90 BV), and udder overall (0.78 BV). In terms of size he is number two on the RAS list for liveweight (29kg BV within breed), behind Kerstens TGM Regal ET S2J. He is also close behind Regal on stature, at (0.55 BV within breed). Target also comes third on the RAS list for protein, at (13.6 kg BV), behind the identical twins Lynbrook Tradesman S3J and Lynbrook Trademark S3J. Target’s sire is Manhatten, and his VHC2 Pasco dam was in the 2005 JerseyJET herd. He has a Bourkes Nimrod maternal half-brother – Greenpark BN Tango (163 BW) – who was in the 2008 DNA Proven
Target daughter
An interesting bull in terms of udder traits, body traits, size, fertility and udder health is Tironui OM Joskin, bred by Murray Gibb of Taupiri. On 167/85 BW Joskin offers: tremendous capacity (0.83 BV); well attached udders with ideal teat placement; size both in terms of stature (0.32 BV within breed) and liveweight (25 kg BV within breed); high fertility (3.1% BV) and low somatic cell (-0.15 BV). Joskin is a Manhatten son from a Moffitts Kookaburra dam and a Gloaming SS Forever GR grand dam. Joskin’s Baylea Senators Venture2 great-great grand dam is the grand dam of 2008 Daughter Proven Premier Sire Tironui Jackflash S3J. The dam of Joskin is in her seventh consecutive lactation; her dam in her 10th consecutive lactation, and the great grand dam completed 10 lactations. s * Breeding Worths quoted are from the 15 January 2011 Animal Evaluation run.
Joskin daughter VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 3
REIDY and WILLING Born and bred Irish dairy farmer, Brian Reidy, is passionate about succession and land transfer, and as a 2009 recipient of the Peter Daly Nuffield Scholarship, has had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand, Australia and America to study the subject in depth. Brian grew up dairy farming in Sligo, Western Ireland. After completing his farming apprenticeship at Agricultural College Multy Farnham, County Westmeath, he returned 11 years ago, to the family farm. “Peter Daly was a forward thinking farmer,” explains Brian. “The Peter Daly Trust was set up by a group of forward thinking Irish dairy farmers following his tragic death.” Recipients of the Peter Daly Nuffield Scholarship are awarded €12,500, and then given 18 months to travel, research and gain as much information about their chosen topic as they can – meeting as many different farming/agricultural people as possible along the way. Ultimately, the recipient will deliver a paper to the Nuffield Scholarship on their chosen subject. “Generally people choose a topic they are passionate about and interested in,” says Brian, 31. “For me that was succession and land transfer, because land succession and the transference of land is a huge problem here in Ireland, and I realised there are similar problems around the world. “In Ireland only 7% of our farmers are under 35 years of age, five or six years ago it was 13%, and worryingly 50% of our farmers are over 60. “Little is being done to address this problem; it’s like there is a big white elephant in the room, yet at the moment, everyone is ignoring it.” In December 2009 the Peter Daly Nuffield scholarship provided Brian and his wife Caroline with the opportunity to travel to Australia and New Zealand and look at how dairy farmers in both countries manage succession, the transfer of land, and how each country Brian and Caroline Reidy.
4 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
encourages future farmers. “I had always wanted to visit both New Zealand and Australia because of their proactive approach to land transfer and I had also built great relationships with Nuffield scholars from these countries. “I selected where I would travel by getting contacts from both fellow Nuffield scholars and Irish dairy farmers. “We went to Victoria, Australia, where we visited a couple of dairy farms. We met Paul and Lisa Mumford who farm 450 Jersey cows. Paul took over the farm from his parents. “It is here where my learning began about the huge importance of openness among farming families. “Openness and transparency is critical in succession planning, especially as there is always so much relationship history between siblings. “It is paramount that all members of the family get around the table, and plan for succession are laid on the table. Everyone’s views need to be heard, who gets what needs to be decided and agreed upon, and the transfer planned. Without this openness and transparency things are likely to implode.” On 3 January 2010 Brian and Caroline arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand. “We travelled through Canterbury to Trevor and Stacey Munsoon’s dairy farm. Trevor came out to New Zealand 10 years ago from Ireland. “He started his working life in New Zealand on a dairy farm as a farm worker and progressively built a dairying career from scratch, working his way up to assistant farm manager and then farm manager. “Today Trevor is 50:50 sharemilking a 670 cross breed herd and continuing to build equity. “We then travelled to Gisborne, via Wellington, to meet a Maori Nuffield Scholar, Greg Pardoe, who manages a beef and sheep operation.
“We continued on to Rotorua where we met Wendy and Lyndsay Marshall and visited them in their holiday home. “John and Sue Cliff, LIC Ireland Breeding Advisors, arranged the meeting for us and Wendy and Lyndsay were unbelievably good hosts. “This couple have nurtured so many young people through the dairy industry, and are totally unselfish with their approach to supporting and helping people progress in the industry.” “We then went to the Waikato, and the Te Awamutu farm of Craig Watkinson and his fiancé Anna Brooky, who is an LIC District Manager. “They were absolutely brilliant. Craig gave us great insight into the New Zealand sharemilking philosophy and how New Zealand encourages young people, through sharemilking, onto the ladder of farm ownership. “The way sharemilking in New Zealand works and the constant support given by the dairying industry is something I have not seen anywhere else in the world – New Zealand helps people progress their careers. “Craig was a marvellous example of how sharemilking can lead to farm ownership.” Craig’s father bought the dairy farm 10 years ago, but when Craig began as a lower order sharemilker, there were no aspirations to get the land from his father. Instead, Craig built capital in his own stock and in the future plans to move to his own property. While in the Waikato Anna Brooky took the opportunity to show Brian and Caroline around LIC’s head office and Bull Farm in Newstead, Hamilton. There, Brian was able to view some of the potential Jersey sires for his herd (LIC is a sponsor of the Peter Daly Nuffield Scholarship). Brian said an added bonus to their trip to Australia and New Zealand was that he and Caroline managed to miss the worst snow fall in Ireland in 50 years – they left on December 18 as it was just starting to snow and returned home on January 20 when it had all gone. Brian says the Peter Daly Nuffield Scholarship has opened doors into places, introduced him to people, and given him access to information he would never have had. “On a personal level, I can really recommend being a Nuffield Scholar, it’s been absolutely brilliant.” Brian says when he was first awarded the scholarship he felt empowered, and believed he could make a worthwhile world-changing difference. “In reality I don’t know now if I can do much about changing the situation, but I will be writing a strongly-worded paper. There is a huge problem in Ireland, and there are not enough people coming into farming – I will be making recommendations on a personal level. “I learned a lot about how farming businesses are run. The New Zealand approach, in particular, grabbed me. “Couples work together, husband and wife or partners; I haven’t really seen that in the way I saw it in New Zealand. “I was also taken with the simplicity of how New Zealand and Australian farms operate on grass. “Both in New Zealand and Australia, lifestyle and work/life balance is critical to dairying success; it was a key factor on all the farms I visited. “In Ireland land succession and land transfer is not really happening and it’s a huge issue. Land transfer and succession can get complicated because of different social and historical links. “My belief is that land transfer to farmers should happen when the farmers are in their 20s or early 30s, as that’s when they are at their peak. “It would be great to see the kind of dairying career development, progression and support given to our farmers that we see so successfully practised in New Zealand. “Seeing farming in America (Brian has recently returned from the USA), New Zealand and Australia has also reinforced my view that I need to expand my farming business.” Brian says his philosophy in business is “unless you’re moving forward,
you’re going backwards and there’s no use standing still.” To grow his business he says he needs to expand in the future. “I was lucky my father, who owned the farm, trusted I could take over the operation. However, at the time, he had no financial provision for retirement. ”He had no pension plan in place, so I leased the farm, thereby providing him with an income, and bought my original herd of 40 cows. “My father had the courage to lease the farm to me and allow me to take up the reins and run it when I was in my early 20s. “You quickly learn to use it or lose it – I made mistakes, but learnt from them. Once you have the purse strings and mistakes cost you money, you quickly realise you don’t want to do that again. When it’s someone else’s money and not your own, you don’t realise the financial impact of the mistakes you make.”
Farm facts •
Grazing platform of 89 acres with an additional 120 acres for heifer rearing and silage.
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Located in south Sligo in the north west of Ireland.
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The grazing platform is south facing and reasonably free draining.
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Brian runs a 100 cow herd with replacements.
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Farm supplies Connacht Gold Co op with supply liquid milk to Sligo Dairies.
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30% of the herd calves in October/November and the remainder in February, March, and April.
“My five-year goals are now to: •
“Ensure my family and I have work life balance.
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“I plan to adopt a lot of principals I have seen – keeping farming simple on a grass based system.
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“When I bought my herd I didn’t have the ability to buy animals with high genetic merit, I bought what my budget would allow – now I am going to concentrate on growing the herd’s genetic merit, using LIC Jersey semen.
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“I am setting up a farming system that is simple, and which anyone can come in and run.
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“I have been cross breeding for the past three years, using LIC Jersey genetics/semen and I have the first crop of heifers coming into my herd this year.
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“I am using a pasture and grass system and am growing a herd that will maximise productivity, providing me with the ability to expand my business.
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“I will, in the next five years, have a high genetic merit herd with high fertility which will generate more high quality animals and allow me to expand.
“Another thing has been confirmed by my travels – dairy farmers the world over love to talk about farming. In Ireland they talk about farming or Gaelic football; in New Zealand it’s dairy farming or rugby.” Brian says he would like to thank all those who helped organise his travels, The Peter Daly Trust, LIC’s John and Sue Cliff, David and Victoria Baker (David is the Chairperson of the Peter Daly Trust) and Gary and Barbara Nolan. Brian presented part of his paper on succession and land transfer to the Nuffield Board in England at a conference held in November 2010. He will be presenting his full paper on his learning round about mid 2011. s
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 5
ADVICE By Adrian van Bysterveldt, Dairy Farm Systems Specialist, Teagasc, Ireland
COMPARATIVE STOCKING RATE
Stocking rate, in this strategic sense, is a function of big picture decisions a farmer makes about how many animals he/she will farm on their land. It presumes that the farmer is attempting to get the best production and financial performance from grass on the current land holding. However, stocking rate for this purpose needs to consider more than just cows or stock units /ha. Breeds of cows vary greatly in size as does daily intake, and land varies greatly in its ability to produce grass. Differences in management are also reflected in comparative stocking rate; these include whether replacements are reared on the milking platform, and how much other feed is brought on to the farm to feed the milking cows. Comparative stocking rate addresses these differences. Comparative stocking rate is expressed as kilograms of liveweight per tonne of dry matter of feed (kg/DM). To be able to calculate comparative stocking rate, a farmer needs to know: 1. the grassed area of their farm; 2. how much grass their farm grows annually /ha; 3. the number of cows milked at peak; 4. the average cow liveweight between peak production and mid lactation; 5. the amount of kg DM of imported feed brought onto the farm to be fed to stock (which is then divided by the number of hectares of grazing land); 6. for cows that are out wintered: number of cows, length wintered (days), quality of feed per day (kg DM); 7. The number of replacements (calves and heifers), and days grazing on the milking platform. (Calves eat an average of 3.5 kg DM/day and heifers 6 kg DM/day.)
Working out Comparative Stocking rate Step One: Calculate the kg LWT/ha =
b) Farm area (effective area)
=
c) Cow liveweight (average in month 6 of lactation
=
(a ÷ b) x c
=
kg LWT /ha [A]
=
t DM/ha
Total tons of dry matter of all purchased feeds /ha
=
t DM/ha
Total feed available = a + b
=
t DM/ha [B]
Step Two: Calculate t DM available /ha a) Pasture
b) Imported feed fed to cows
Step Three: Calculate the pasture eaten by calves and maiden heifers a) (
calves x 3.5 kg DM/day x
days) /farm area =
DM /ha
b) (
heifers x 6.0 kg DM/day x
days) /farm area =
DM /ha
Total feed used by young stock = (a + b) /farm area
=
t DM /ha [C]
b) Liveweight /ha [A] ÷ [D]
=
[D]
Comparative Stocking Rate
6 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
1.00 0.90
Pasture Utilization
0.80 Feed Conversion Efficiency
0.70 0.60 0.50 0.40
60
70
80 90 100 110 120 130 Comparative Stocking Rate (kgLWT/tDM)
140
Discussion Pasture growth will vary from year to year but is usually only about a tonne either side of the average year (unless there is a longer than normal dry period). If the comparative stocking rate is close to 80 based on an average growth year then it will still be within the most profitable range even with the normal variations in pasture growth. Soil conditions must also be taken into consideration because the model assumes that for most of the year the pasture that is grown can be properly utilised by the cows. For farms that are on wet difficult soils most of the grazing year, the comparative stocking rate will need to be dropped (to allow for a lower level of pasture utilisation). Changing stock numbers and type will also have an effect. Increasing cow numbers will increase liveweight/ha and so increase the comparative stocking rate. Decreasing cow size, either through breeding or by having a young herd, will reduce liveweight/ha and so decrease the comparative stocking rate. The comparative stocking rate that is most profitable for farmers in expansion mode is higher than 80 and can be as high as 100. This is due to the future value of the extra replacements that can be generated by farming more cows.
Conclusion
Step Four: Calculate Comparative Stocking Rate a) Total feed available/ha [B] – Young stock adjustment [C} =
The target comparative stocking rate of between 80 and 90 kg LWT /t DM recognises that for farmers focused on converting grass into milk most profitably, there needs to be a compromise between per cow performance and pasture harvested /ha. After cost control, the amount of pasture harvested /ha is the single most important driver of profitability on dairy farms where the emphasis is on converting grass into milk. This has been found by detailed financial analysis of dairy farm businesses in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Ireland. Pasture harvested is also closely related to how well pasture quality is maintained, the higher the pasture quality (digestibility) the higher cow intakes and the more pasture is harvested. At the same time, the level of feeding per cow (annually) needs to be high enough for the cow to be healthy, get incalf quickly, and be efficient at converting grass into milk.
The above relationships between comparative stocking rate and pasture harvested, and between comparative stocking rate and feed conversion efficiency, are for New Zealand cows grazing grass. New Zealand cows are mostly between 400 to 550 kg in weight and have been selected on their ability to convert grazed grass into milk solids (they are aggressive grazers).
a) Total number of cows at peak
Use farm walk data or local growth rates
What is the ideal Comparative stocking rate?
Efficiency
Stocking rate is one of the most important strategic tools a dairy farmer should use to successfully manage and harvest grass, get acceptable levels of performance from the herd, and to make a profit from a dairy farming operation.
Comparative Stocking Rate is a useful strategic management tool that allows farmers (with good information about their feed supply and their cows) the ability to calculate the optimum number of cows to farm, so they can achieve their profit potential. s
LIC Farm Wizard An easy-to-use, internet based recordkeeping service, FarmWizard can save you time and increase profits by monitoring herd fertility while keeping you better informed of your herd’s performance. FarmWizard is different from existing Agri-IT software packages because farmers do not have to go to the trouble of buying, installing and maintaining Agri-IT software on their PCs. FarmWizard allows you to record and access information where and when you need it. Farmers can use a mobile phone or hand held computer (PDA) to record and access information. You can receive text alerts and request information on animals in your herd. Most events can be recorded on the farm without needing to access a computer. FarmWizard can avoid record entry duplication by providing a single entry and access point for many data recording organisations.
Features • Community allows you to chat and trade with other members • Herd management area keeps a full range of Farm herd records • Breed cycle manager helps evaluate, manage and improve your herd fertility and inbreeding • Milk recording module analyses milk records • Field recording/pasture monitoring module records field events and monitors pasture growth • LIC genetics module improves your herd’s genetic performance.
What to do next? If you are interested in trying the FarmWizard pasture package for free, register by: 1. Visiting www.farmwizard.com 2. Click “Register Now” button on the right hand side 3. Register your details You will then be contacted by FarmWizard customer service.
Hassle free herd records • Maximise herd performance • Improve LIC genetics in your herd • Minimise record keeping time • Avoid cross compliance penalties
Alternatively you can call FarmWizard on 07973 128 429 or talk to your local LIC representative.
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 7
EVERY STEP FORWARD Diverse experience, an abundance of common sense, and forward planning have been the ingredients of Craig Eagleton and Carmen Fythe’s success. Craig and Carmen strive for and achieve 450 to 500 kgs of milk solids (per cow) with a low level input. Emphasis has been placed on strong fertility and pasture species. Craig likes to run with olsen p levels at approximately 40 and likes to have a summer crop at the equivalent of 1/7 of the farm area which becomes part of the re grassing program. Craig knows how to grow grass and, with the breeding of efficient converters, he is kicking goals. “After a year of studying to become a vet, I decided I was not going to meet the requirements to continue down that track. I could have opted to do agricultural science but, having lived on the land all my life, I chose to go farming instead” explains Craig. Craig worked as a farm hand for a year before managing the development of a Holstein Stud. The job at the stud involved importing embryos and putting them into the existing cross bred herd. The Holstein stud was run in conjunction with a horse stud. After three years of Holstein breeding, Craig headed to Argentina. He stopped off at Perth where he became involved for the first time in cropping. He then became a herd manager for a 700-cow farm in south Western Australia. From there, Craig moved to manage a 650-cow Holstein stud farm in Mt Gambier, South Australia. However, the farm was sold not long after Craig arrived. The next job was in Gippsland, Victoria, managing a 250-cow farm at Welshpool. It was during this time that Craig met Carmen Fythe, and the pair decided share farming was a good option. Carmen, daughter of local racehorse trainer Ken Fythe, had been working in Melbourne and decided that city life was not for her so she was ready to take up the challenge of dairying. Craig and Carmen’s first share farming position was at Won Wron just North of Yarram. The experience proved to be more of a learning curve than anticipated, with probably the worst drought on record encountered in their first year. Craig and Carmen nearly hit rock bottom, their savings eroded, but they battled through it. On reflection, the couple consider this adversity a major contribution to their success. They learnt very quickly the value (and insurance) of stored fodder and forward planning. Craig and Carmen spent 16 months on King Island but felt both the isolation and restrictive practices unattractive. Turning a negative into a positive, they took the opportunity to buy cows during the 2006-07 drought, and bought a herd of stud Jersey cows, plus odds and ends
8 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Carmen Fythe and Craig Eagleton with their daughter Charlotte.
wherever they could, to make a herd of 250-cows to go share farming at Labertouche.
“During their three years at Labertouche, I set about breeding the most efficient animals I could breed from the purchased herd. LIC New Zealand proven sires were chosen for their outright efficiency and the reliability of their proof within a pasture-based system,” says Craig. Craig uses only two or three sires each year. LIC Holstein-Friesian sire NZGDauntless was used over the Jerseys and LIC Jersey sire NZLNevvy has been used over the Friesians. Both sires fit Craig’s selection criteria, which is to select the highest Breeding Worth (New Zealand Dairy animal evaluation) sire he can get with a reliability of 90% or better. The third major sire to be used was again New Zealand proven, but this time it was KiwiCross™ sire, NZLNorthsea. All three have thousands of very productive daughters in New Zealand. “Over many years I have seen too many sires that have been red hot one year with a price tag to match. Then they are no-where to be seen two years later. But this is not the case with any of these three sires, all have remained near the top of the New Zealand Rank of Active Sires (RAS) list for their respective breeds for multiple years.”
Carmen does a great job with the calves and the results speak for themselves.
Craig uses only two or three sires each year to breed replacements.
Carmen is the primary calf rearer and Craig is happy to leave her to it. He says Carmen does a great job with the calves and the results speak for themselves. This year is an exciting time for Craig and Carmen. There has been an addition to the family with the birth of daughter Charlotte last October. Further, they have moved their farming operation to a leased property at Fish Creek, and their first home bred heifers are milking. “I am very pleased with the results of our breeding regime and believe the Dauntless and Nevvy heifers are the best we’ve bred,” Craig say. “They are very even in type and size, display beautiful temperament, and milk out like rags. The heifers are showing excellent scale, strength and capacity.” Sixty quality heifers will come into the herd this year.
“Our success has come from the experiences I have had in many varied farming operations. I have seen what works and what doesn’t. I don’t follow trends, instead making decisions based on my experience and sound business practice.”
Craig’s philosophy: “Dairying is simple – there’s no need to complicate it – and when the going gets tough it doesn’t pay to be trendy.” Emphasis on productivity and the bottom line has enabled Craig and Carmen to grow their asset and take another step closer to their ultimate goal of farm ownership. s Craig knows how to grow grass and with the breeding of efficient converters he is kicking goals.
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 9
GROWING A BUSINESS The ABC of growing a dairy farm business? Talk it over with your Accountant, Bank manager and Consultant first. Taking time to work out the physical and financial benefits; sourcing a farm that best fits the business philosophy and getting a grazing infrastructure installed before calving will result in a business that hits the ground running. As John Millington has discovered, a planned business expansion pays off. “Getting the infrastructure in on time, so that tracks were laid by the end of February 2008 and we could use them straight away, worked nicely,” says John, who farms in partnership with his mother Margaret. An added bonus came from discussing his plans with staff. Not only have they been supportive, but are flourishing in the new regime. “What worked really well,” says John, “was being able to retain the new farm’s herdsman, Simon Shelley. He had 20 years experience of this farm, knew its wet spots and the layout – but he was open to change – he learned grass monitoring, and took on responsibility for the herd. It’s been great.”
Barely two years after deciding that he needed a new challenge, John has almost doubled his business. From a base of 240 spring-block calving crossbreds at Hardiwick Farm in Staffs, England (run by herdsman Jim Harvey), John’s business has expanded to 420 crossbred cows on two farms (five kilometres apart), totalling 192ha. After the first season, he de-stocked the new farm and sent all cows away for out-wintering. Before calving starts again in March, John will have replaced the parlour with a new 20:40 swingover,
with a rectangular collecting yard and backing gate to improve cow flow. The plan then is to calve everything at the home farm and on March 1 send over 150 problem-free calvers to milk at the new unit. The last 50 cows to calve, at the end of April, will also join this herd (all calves will be reared on the home farm where there is more space). So far, John’s only hitch has been buying in IBR when sourcing animals for the new herd. “We bought 112 cows and 40 heifers from three sources, to add to 30 homebred animals. We vaccinated for everything that we do at home: Leptospirosis, BVD and Bluetongue, but not IBR because it had never been an issue,” John explains. “We got an outbreak when the cows arrived. Conception rates that were initially good were poor for the next 3-4 weeks and cows were sick. If I were to do it again, I would vaccinate for everything and be cautious about mixing cows in the first two years. Although I am cost conscious, I believe we should not compromise animal health or labour costs. Buy the best cattle you can afford and employ good people to make the job enjoyable.” The drive to grow his business was threefold: the stimulation of a new challenge; no room to increase cow numbers at home; and, with three children, the potential to hand the business on. John’s accountant suggested that his next step should be to get a second farm. “The system at home was running nicely and we had developed a track record with the bank and accountant, and everyone was happy to back us,” John adds. But unlike many ambitious milk producers, he has no desire to own land. He is a second-generation tenant on a large estate, and, instead of owning a small farm, believes he can generate a better return on his assets by running a larger business with a bigger turnover and more profit. “Long term, it gives me better potential for building my assets. And as a tenant my expansion has all been from milk production.
John Millington believes a planned business expansion pays off.
10 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Janty and John Millington have almost doubled the business in two years.
There has been no external money, land to sell, or buildings to convert to fund it.” It was a TB problem in 2006 that set the ball rolling. Because livestock were prevented from leaving the farm, stocking rates rocketed and John realised they could cope with more animals. His next step, therefore, was to discuss his ideas with consultant Ian Browne of the Farm Consultancy Group. “We looked at the viability, the costs and labour, and how much of my input it would take away from the home farm so the core business wouldn’t suffer. A home farm needs to be running well before taking on another. In fact, it should be able to continue without your input while your attention is dragged away – it has basically got to run itself.” John and Ian looked at the home-farm’s profit and what it was likely to be, given a cautious budget, as this was key to underpinning the second unit’s development in the first two to three years. Then they did a sensitivity analysis on milk price, milk yield, and costs associated with: herd replacement, feeding, forage, overhead, power and machinery, and, interest rates, to demonstrate what the key business risks were. “We also looked at the cashflow implications of the above. The second business had to stand on its own two feet after the first two years. However the business synergies that a larger combined business can produce were also considered. It proved more difficult to put numbers on these, and only time will give us real figures.” Altogether, John spent five half-days with Ian (including two site meetings), over a period of up to three months, and Ian spent additional time report-writing for the bank. The bank manager was aware of John’s intentions from the outset, but became more involved when the plans were reasonably well formed and costed. “I had two, two-hour meetings (in addition to the usual) with the bank. After we were given the goahead I took time to keep the bank regularly informed about the stage we were at, and the progress of the second enterprise. Creating a track
record with all the professionals involved in the business has been a great help in ensuring their support.” A quarterly review with the bank continues, sometimes formally, sometimes as a chat on the phone. Any major events affecting the business (such as the result of a herd TB test) are notified to the bank. “The key is no nasty surprises.” John’s prime selection criteria for a second farm were locality and size. It needed to be close enough to share some machinery and not take too travelling time to set it up; the farm also had to be big enough for a one-man, 200-cow unit with relief help. John also wanted a good grass-growing farm. Fortunately, his landlord had another dairy tenancy opportunity and John’s track record, together with his comprehensive business plan, secured a 12-year tenancy. The new farm comprised 81ha and had been home to 140 cows calving year-round. They were loose-housed in winter and milked through a 20:20 parlour. There were no tracks, few troughs, and no paddock type fencing. “I’ve been told that when taking on a new farm there is a definite order of priorities. First, spend money on tracks: if you can’t get to land to graze it the system won’t work. Second, fencing: sub-dividing only works if cows graze where you put them and stay there. Finally water. Then there is a big gap before it’s necessary to consider anything such as reseeding, so we targeted our resources on troughs, tracks and fencing.” John’s goal for the remainder of the tenancy, is to do the best job he can to improve the farm’s asset value and, in turn, secure a renewed – and hopefully longer – tenancy. Along the way, he wants to improve the finances and keep people involved. “I don’t want to end up losing staff and having to do all of the milking myself. I’ve no set goals for cow numbers or farms, but I don’t see two units as being complete fulfilment: I will look to do something else when they are both running smoothly and successfully.” s VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 11
LYDNEY PARK FARMS CHARTING THE CONVERSION from a high yielding regime to a low-cost grazing system confirms that Lydney Park Farms in England saved a total of £350,000 in its first year. Change hasn’t been without its teething problems, as staff have had to learn to budget and manage grass for grazing. But the less intensive system has improved workloads, cow health and conception rates. Staff with enthusiasm for change are driving a dairy conversion near Chepstow in Wales. The drudgery and grind of 3x milking, cows housed full time and five hours a day spent feeding and bedding up, have been swapped for calving in two blocks (spring and autumn), rotational grazing and less than four months of winter housing. As feed, fuel and fertiliser prices continued to rise, the team began to make a big impact on running costs. Bought-in feeds were replaced with grazed grass, and the cost of bag fertiliser reduced by relying on nutrients supplied in dirty water. Diesel use also dropped to just 0.5 litre/day compared to the previous 80 litres/day. “We are financially better off: we were able to hold operating costs while everyone else’s rose – and we saved £350,000 in our first year of conversion,” says dairy herd manager Keith Davis. The team at Lydney Park Farms, owned by Lord Bledisloe, includes farm manager Gavin Green, Tim Thompson from New Zealand and Pawel Wegelewski from Poland. All are fully aware that it will probably take five years to get the system running smoothly and efficiently. As well as establishing infrastructure – paddocks, tracks and troughs – for the 445ha allocated to the 420 cows and 310 followers, they have had to learn how to manage it. Under the old system, the Holstein herd was producing 9200kg/cow and required a staffing of six full-time staff. Dry cows were turned out for just one month; the calving interval had stretched to 430 days; and heat stress in housed cows results in losses of 3.5 litres/cow/day. Now the plan is to produce 6500kg/cow from 700 cows (eventually), eating less than 1.5t/cow/year of concentrates.
Holsteins are now being bred to Kiwi sires.
12 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Farm manager Gavin Green(left) and dairy herd manager Keith Davis.
Why change now, after 11 years running a high output system, on what was a purpose-built unit? “We were getting a small return for such a large investment and were struggling to justify the setup,” says Keith. A lot of work was involved just to break even, adds Gavin: “Each milking took three hours. We always had two people here at night and we were calf rearing all year round. Now it takes the same amount of time to rear twice as many calves – and we are only doing this for six months instead of 12.” After visiting some good operators with their LIC area manager, they realised that real money could be made from running a simple system, grazing grass and keeping costs down. Two immediate changes were to drop the night milking and reduce the labour force. Natural staff attrition left two full-time staff plus a relief worker. The staff remaining were keen for change. “They were getting fed up with milk production being like factory work, indoors and the same work day in, day out,” says Gavin.
Can high yielders milk off grass?
Finding the right kind of cow to suit such a system proved tricky. There were few New Zealand-type crossbreds on the market, which made it impossible to change overnight by buying in a block-calving herd. But instead of culling all Holsteins that wouldn’t fit a tight spring calving/grazing system, cows were inseminated in three-month blocks to create spring and autumn calvings. This allowed cows that didn’t get back in-calf on time to slip round once, thus reducing the fertility losses associated with conversion. Furthermore, the split calving block provided an acceptable supply profile to the farm’s milk buyer, while still making best use of block-calving efficiencies. Both LIC Friesian and Jersey sires are used on the herd, but as the farm’s milk contract doesn’t encourage solids, there is no deliberate crossbreeding policy. “We need some litres,” says Keith. “We’re using a team of genomic bulls chosen on yield, fertility and reasonable milk solids. LIC bulls generally have good feet and legs for trotting up tracks. We’re more interested in correcting fertility.” To start conversion, young stock were turned out in the third week of February 2008, followed by first lactation heifers a week later. Being smaller and lighter, the new stock caused less damage to new leys. Cows were added until they were all out by the beginning of April. Turning out so early on heavy land (with a 1000mm rainfall) was helped by tracks and several access points to a paddock. The Holsteins handled their new regime surprisingly well. However, training them to graze was a challenge. Cows were initially turned out for six hours then brought in to a TMR and old habits died hard. “At the slightest sign of bad weather, the cows thought they should be back in the shed and stood bawling at the gate,” says Gavin, “Once there was enough grass to keep them out day and night, we stopped the TMR and they soon settled.” Not surprisingly, milk yield dropped. Mastitis levels rose then fell again, but fertility improved resulting in a 60% non-return rate for springcalving cows. The team also discovered that the farm could grow a lot of good quality grass, peaking at 110kgDM/ha/day and still achieve 5kgDM/ha/day in winter. The hardest part was learning how to manage it, says Keith. New leys took off in spring and took them by surprise. A period of cutting excess growth for silage was followed by a shortage of grazing, so 2008 was spent learning to balance grass growth with feed demand: “We scraped through and learned lessons,” Keith admits. Despite the Holsteins grazing better than expected, they still fell 10% below the budgeted 6500kg yield. “We also struggled with residuals not being as low as we’d have liked and grazing has taken a lot more management than a US-style TMR system. We have been constantly measuring grass growth and quality, but this isn’t 100% accurate and differs every day because grass is constantly changing. And we are having to make loads of decisions on a daily basis based on what’s ahead and what we have left behind.” Keith found that cows would only graze down to 1900kgDM/ha. Making them hungry to force them lower simply cut milk yields: “So we compromised with this higher residual and accepted the yield loss,
although this has been balanced by lower input costs and not culling cows to fit the system.” Success did come during summer with a £6,000 saving on vet costs (healthier cows and a 70% reduction in mastitis), heifers achieving growth rates of 1.0kg/day on grass alone, and a much-reduced summer workload. Without having to feed and bed up cows every day, staff could take holidays, catch up on paperwork and extend the infrastructure of tracks and troughs. Winter was also much easier to manage. “Before we used to have six milking-cow and two dry-cow groups and we employed one person at milking just to fetch them. Now we run just two cow groups: spring calvers and autumn calvers. Milking cows also receive just one ration.” The second spring calving also went well with around 45% calving in the first four weeks. This figure isn’t great on a New Zealand system, agrees Keith, but he points out that the herd is moving in the right direction. Plus there were only three dead calves (all bulls); they used to lose between 10% and 15%. “Cows don’t fall out of the system like they used to. We had budgeted for a replacement rate of 30% and after the first year, it was 20%. In the past, we had allowed for a 90% survival rate in calves (up to weaning at eight weeks) and we ended up with 96%. This means we have more animals on the farm: 821 compared with 744 the previous year. Of course, this causes a different headache: where will we get the extra grass from?” The first year of conversion is obviously the hardest as staff get used to change and learn different management practices. This team felt it was important to learn from others’ mistakes at discussion group and find the best way to do things, says Gavin. “Tracks and troughs are fundamental to a grazing system. Without a decent water supply – particularly in a big herd – it can all go wrong. And you can have all the grass in the world, but if you haven’t got the tracks, you can’t get to it in less favourable weather,” he explains. “However, when you start a grazing system, income takes a knock and it’s a toss-up between having capital to do the infrastructure perfectly at the start, or doing your best for the first couple of years, then waiting until costs come down and the herd is more profitable, before finishing everything.” s
Lydney Park Farms, near Chepstow in Wales OLD SYSTEM
NEW SYSTEM
420 Holsteins
480 Holsteins
9200kg/cow
6500kg/cow
3x milking
2x milking
Calving year round
Block calve spring + autumn
Housed 11 months
Housed 2-4 months
TMR feeding
< 1 tonne/cow/year concentrates
6 full time staff
2 full time + 1 relief
Changes •
Overall conception rates: autumn calvers 40%; spring calvers 49%; old system 28%
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Grass growth in early Feb 0kg to 1kgDM/ha/day
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Peak grass growth 110kgDM/ha/day
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Spring calvers 45% calved in first 4 weeks
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Cows and heifers 821 head; last year 744
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Split heifers onto separate farm to create milking platform
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18km electric fencing erected
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2.5km water pipe laid
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Several km of cow tracks
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30 concrete water troughs VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 13
ADVICE By Bridget Ray, FarmWise Consultant
IMPROVED MATING PERFORMANCE INCREASES MILK PRODUCTION Achieving more days in milk and increased production at the start of the season equals more profit – the way to achieve this is by improving mating performance, says Waikato dairy farm consultant, Bridget Ray. Bridget says poor mating performance has the potential to impact heavily on the following year’s calving spread and production. Therefore getting the basics right at mating optimises potential to increase your profit. “In New Zealand with a $6.00 (average) payout the cost of missing a cycle (assuming 1.5kg MS/cow/day multiplied by 21 days multiplied by $6.00) is $189.00 per cow. “In order to achieve a good mating performance and establish a more compact calving, farmers should be monitoring their mating programmes,” says Bridget. “A tight calving pattern will mean that cows have longer to recover from calving to mating so more cows get in calf to AB (artificial breeding) resulting in lower empty rates, more heifer replacements and a greater culling selection, as farmers can identify the genuine non performers. “A more compact calving means fewer late calvers and therefore fewer empties.”
Bridget says pre-mating heats should begin four weeks before the planned start of mating, so farmers can check their cows are cycling before they start AB. “Pre-mating heats should be recorded daily as they will provide farmers with a clear picture of what is going on. Calculate the number of cows you would expect to be cycling each day so you know you are on track. If not hitting expected number of cows cycling over a three-day average you may have a problem which can be addresses before mating starts. “Cows cycling in the first week of pre-mating heats should be cycling three weeks later – if they are not, then there’s a problem.
Feeding levels “If it is a warm sunny spring day and the farmer is not seeing lots of cows bulling, there is probably a problem – generally cows which are ‘shut down’ are highlighting a feed problem – whether it be feed quality and/or feed quantity,” says Bridget. She says evidence shows there is a direct correlation between mating problems and cow body condition score (BCS), feeding levels and the anestrous period. Farmers should aim for cows to be at BCS 4 or more at the start of mating.
“It is important to be feeding cows well while at the same time ensuring pasture quality is maintained – any farmers short of feed or with a thin mob need to take action now. “It is important to stick to your spring rotation plan and not offer more area than allocated, but any feed deficit should be filled with supplements. “If you stick to your 1500 -1600kg DM/ha you ensure your cows are being fully fed while maintaining pasture quality. “A cow underweight at calving is more likely to suffer health problems,
14 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
such as retained afterbirth, and her production potential for the season will be reduced. Also her ability to get in calf on time will be compromised so production next season will be reduced. “Cows will naturally lose weight in the first six weeks after calving, but the more weight they lose the poorer their reproductive performance. Therefore it is very important that farmers feed their cows good quality feed. “Grazing management is crucial. Farmers should be aiming to keep average pasture covers between 1800 and 1900kg DM/ha; this ensures pasture growth rates are maximised. Time spent on weekly farm walks and diligent pasture management will pay dividends, she says. “It is a must to check residuals when the cows leave the paddock, and using a feed wedge will help farmers identify surpluses and deficits.” She says there are a few checks farmers can do to help identify if there is a feed quality and/or feed quantity issue. Check your milk protein, milk fat and milk protein to fat ratio on Fencepost. Use a 10 day average. “Daily milksolid yield should not be dropping by more than 0.07 – 0.1 kg MS/cow/day over a period of two to four days – if it is dropping there is definitely a problem with what the cows are eating and potentially they are already starting to lose weight. “If milk protein percentage is more than 2% below previous seasons, energy intake has dropped and again this indicates either a feed quantity or quality problem. “If fat percentage is increasing from one 10-day average to the next, cows are being underfed and are losing weight. “If the milk protein to fat ratio is different to normal and falling, cows are losing weight. At least half of all cows sitting in the paddock should be chewing their cud.” Bridget advises if farmers have any thin cows (less than BCS4) these should be given preferential feeding, or considered for once-a-day milking.
Mating goals Bridget Ray says top performing dairy farmers achieve a 90% submission rate at three weeks, a 60% conception rate, a 78% six week in calf rate, and, after a 12 week mating period, a 6% empty rate. The average New Zealand dairy farmer has an 80% submission rate at three weeks, a 55% conception rate, a 68% six week in calf rate and at 12 weeks a 10% empties. “The ultimate goal is to reach those top targets, but realistically most farmers would not achieve this in the first year. However, with determination, consistency and hard work, it is over a period of years, achievable. “The benefits of achieving a better mating performance include a more compact calving, which means more days in milk, translating to more milksolids and therefore greater profits. “As a result of fewer empties farmers have a greater opportunity to identify true culls. “There will be more replacement heifers and spending on interventions such as CIDRs will be reduced. “A shorter calving period allows more days between calving and mating, resulting in higher conception rate at first insemination.” Bridget says it is important to ensure good replacements are coming into the herd each year and that there are enough replacements to maintain cow numbers.
“Cows should be observed three times a day; morning, mid day and later evening for 20 minutes each time. This will help identify about 90% of the heats in the herd. During cooler weather the middle of the day is generally better. “Cows should be checked about one or two hours after they have been moved to a new break as activity is fairly low when cows are eating – oestrous cows are initially more interested in eating than mounting each other. “Cows should be checked before being let out of the paddock before milking. “A cow standing to be mounted is the most accurate sign of Oestrous. Standing heat is the most sexually intensive period of the oestrous cycle. “Cows which move away quickly when a mount is attempted are not in true oestrous. “The average duration of standing heat is 15 to 18 hours. “In a normally cycling cow, standing oestrous will occur approximately every 21 days (this can range from 17 to 24 days). “Observation is the key. The more time spent with the cows looking for standing heats and signs of oestrous, the greater the likelihood of detection.”
The signs and stages of oestrous Coming into Heat (6-10 hours in duration)
“Artificial breeding (AB) is an important and cost effective way to achieve this. Not using AB, doing it for too shorter period or using low genetic merit and/or unproven bulls, are not sound practices for the future of the herd.”
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Will not stand to be ridden
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Smells other cows
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Attempt to ride other cows
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Noisy and restless
Heat detection
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Stands to be ridden – hair and skin rubbed on crest of tail
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May see riding marks e.g. mud on the flanks
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Will ride other cows
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Are restless and excitable
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May stand with back arched and tail in the air
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Display a red vulva
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Clear mucus discharge from vulva
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May hold milk
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May change the order of milking, or coming into the shed
One of the most common reasons for low submission rates is not enough contact time between human and cow, says Bridget. And as herd size have grown very rapidly in the past 20 years, this has become more of an issue. “For a successful AB programme, farmers need to achieve a high percentage of pregnancy and that requires good oestrous detection. “Heat detection aids, such as Kamars or tail paint, will help ensure cows cycling are identified and these aids should be checked every milking. “It is, however, essential that those responsible for identifying cows in oestrous understand the signs of heat in order to achieve accurate and efficient heat detection.
On Heat (2-30 hours in duration)
Coming off Heat •
Will not stand to be ridden
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Smell other cows
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Clear mucus discharge from vulva
Bridget says it is also important that mating performance isn’t compromised by trace element deficiencies. “The safest thing to do is blood test a sample of cows one month before mating starts so there is time to treat deficiencies. “It is also important to remember mating hasn’t finished once AB has stopped. Having the right bull numbers and having fit healthy bulls is important to reduce empty rates.” She says farmers can improve their reproductive performance by improving their mating management. “Mating performance is largely within the control of individual farmers, and by sitting down and working out a plan to improve it and then implementing that plan, the desired results can be achieved. “A good idea is to check your MINDA reproductive and calving reports from the last few seasons to identify your problem areas. “It won’t be long before AB starts again on your farm. So start your planning now.” s VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 15
Bicton College provides
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE Progressive dairy farmers who want to change management, and follow the grazing route to profit, often find that decision is either helped or hindered by the attitude of their employees. Those sourcing staff who have studied at Bicton College in Devon, England, however, are in for a pleasant surprise. That’s because students gain first-hand experience of running a springblock calving herd of Kiwi crossbreds. Not only do they learn how to use a plate meter and monitor grass growth, but students get to practice their condition scoring, use tail paint for heat detection and gain experience budgeting on a profitable dairy farm. “It’s people who make a system work and our students can see that this system works. Then take that experience out into the industry,” says the college’s farm manager Paul Redmore. “As a college we believe that, to be credible, we have to be commercial as well. Too many people have the perception that we have plenty of money from government funding, but that’s not the case. The farm has to stand on its own two feet commercially.” The college herd of 190 cows calves from February to April, averaging 5600 litres at 4.65% butterfat and 3.56% protein (458kg milksolids/ cow). Concentrate input totals 859kg/cow/year. Breeding is based on Jersey X Holstein bloodlines, with subsequent crossings using LIC Kiwi
Paul Redmore, Farm Manager at Bicton Home Farm, with some of the Bicton herd.
16 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Cross, Ayrshire and Friesian semen to produce hybrid stock which are hardier and show hybrid vigour. Until 2001, the herd was typical for the area with 120 Holstein cows pushing toward 8500 litres. They were winter housed in cubicles and borderline in terms of profitability. “We were at the whim of low milk prices running a high cost system,” says Paul. Both teaching and farm staff decided the way forward was to operate a low-cost system based on crossbreeding, grazed grass and outwintering on the college’s sandy soils. The aim was to be more financially robust during periods of volatile milk pricing. “We ran the herd on a New Zealand pasture approach, modified to deal with British farming variables such as grass growth and input costs. We also went for crossbred cows to reduce the production costs of each litre of milk, through lower vet and med costs, lower housing costs, and superior longevity which keeps replacement rates low at below 15%.” Paul adds that mastitis cases now stand at nine per 100 cows [the industry average is 45]; lameness at eight per 100 cows and a barren cow rate of 10%. Conception rates are 60%. The farm employs Paul, plus a herdsman, and a stockman for the beef, sheep and pig enterprises. While it could run efficiently with a team of two, a major part of the job is teaching students – in Paul’s case, 60% of his time. “There is a real art to balancing teaching with commercial goals and the curriculum. We do have to make compromises: jobs
would be a lot quicker if we did them ourselves, but we are very much hands-on and students are involved in all work. At milking for instance, the herdsman milks alone at weekends; during the week he is helped by three students,” Paul explains. “We are also under the spotlight as everyone wants to see what we are doing. Visitors include farmers, politicians, Defra and local schoolchildren. We have to have the answers – everyone scrutinises the low-cost system. At the start, more traditional farmers said that we would never get cows to live out, or make money from low production. Yet our cost base is now lower and we have the flexibility to feed extra concentrates if the milk price rises.” Another misconception about college farms is that they have an unlimited source of ‘free’ labour. However, Paul reveals that in addition to the extra full-time man (compared to a commercial unit), the farm’s repair bill and running costs are higher than most. “We go through things piece by piece because we are explaining and coaching, so the extra time counters the more hands of free labour. Plus at milking, with one herdsman and three students in the parlour, four sets of gloves and equipment, and extra teat spray are being used.” However, the advantages of block calving on farm – efficiency and concentrating on doing a job well – translate into a big advantage for students: They can focus on specific tasks such as fertility, AI or calving and learn how to look after freshly calved cows, all of which ties into their dairy module on the course. Crossbreeding also fits nicely with genetics lectures comparing health traits, and benchmarking the herd against pure Holsteins. The low-cost approach is taught alongside high yielding herd management and other milk production systems. Perhaps the major difference between this college and a commercial farm lies in its calf rearing and the beef unit. This is where students get to try different feeding regimes on small groups as part of trials. Calves are reared in batches of five and studies may compare whole milk with milk replacer, or different weaning ages. The breeding programme uses Belgian Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus semen, plus either a Hereford or Devon is used as a sweeper bull. The resulting beef calves are then reared, again as part of projects, on different feeding regimes. The mix of breeds helps demonstrate variable growth rates and finishing weights. As some 60% of students come from farms, there are plenty of comments along the lines of: ‘my dad doesn’t do it like that’. However, Paul finds that because the college doesn’t preach that one system fits all, students eventually take home bits that work for them. “We are very open and explain why things go wrong and how they can learn from our mistakes,” he says. “We also point out that this isn’t the only way to farm, but it’s what works well here. It’s all about what suits the farm owner.” Bicton College aims to produce trained graduates who can be valuable assets in the industry. Half of them end up working on dairy farms, some go to New Zealand and quite a few end up operating grazing systems. However, learning isn’t just for students. Paul says that as his staff understand more about grass growth, they have been able to improve grazing management and maximise the flexibility from grazing forage crops in dry spells. Dry cows live on a diet of maize silage, straw and big bale grass silage. Kale drilled after whole crop harvest in mid July offers a bite in August and re-grows enough for dry cows to graze in December and January. Spring-sown forage crops supplement early spring and late summer grazing. The upshot is that yields have risen 36% and milk from forage has increased by 30% from the same area. “We produced just over 1 million litres this year: four years ago it was 743,000 litres. We have done it by managing our grassland and introducing buffer crops such as wholecrop peas and barley, maize silage and kale – without buying in extra feed.” s
A Bicton student getting hands-on experience milking.
Facts about Bicton College • 160ha • Grazing platform 40ha • 17ha maize • 20ha red clover and grass silage • Average rainfall 750mm (30”) • 190 crossbred cows • Spring block calving • 5600 litres/cow • 859kg/cow/year concentrates @ £171/tonne • SCC 178,000 cells/ml • Milk from forage is 4089 litres/cow, and 11273 litres/ha • Total cost of production 19ppl • Average milk price 24ppl • Mastitis 9 cases per 100 cows • Lameness 8 cases per 100 cows • Barren cow rate 10% • Conception rates 60% • Grass growth peaks at 135kg DM/ha in early May • Trough mid summer < 20kg DM/ha in early June dry period • Once a day milking December and January
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 17
TOUGH FARMERS TOUGH IT OUT “TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST, but tough farmers do,” and John Bicknell should know. John comes from a family of dairy farmers and has himself been dairying for 35 years, 25 of those in the Bay of Plenty. He says if dairy farmers focus on keeping their records up to date and accurate and ensure their breeding programme gives continued genetic gain, their businesses will remain robust, profitable and sustainable whether the pay-out is NZ$4.00 or $8.00. John and wife Desley are now in their sixth season on their current farm, 180 ha (159 ha effective) in Galatea, near Rotorua, in New Zealand’s North Island. They average 120,000 kg/MS per season. Their
milking herd of 410 predominantly KiwiCross cows are on OAD (once a day) and with a BW (breeding worth) of 125 and PW (production worth) of 155, the herd ranks in the top 5% of the national herd. John says there are two major farm management practices he considers essential for his farming operation to remain profitable – regular herd testing and an AI (artificial insemination) programme using high BW, high reliability bulls. “I am not a gambler,” says John. I’m in farming for the long haul.”
Herd testing (milk recording) as important as fertiliser “Herd testing is as important as applying fertilizer,” says John. “I herd test four times a year, every year and always have – I couldn’t farm effectively without it as many of my farm management decisions are based on the results it provides. “I make culling and replacement decisions based on my herd test results. We rear 90 calves each year for replacements and I only want to rear the best. If I didn’t have the information herd testing provided I would be basing my decisions purely on ancestral information and not on reliable production data. “It is important in these tighter economic times, particularly following two droughts and a shocking winter, to avoid being penalized for high SCC (somatic cell counts). “To remain productive a farmer must know which cows have high SCC as managing mastitis in the herd is a must. Herd testing takes the guesswork out of things, it gives me reliable data to make informed culling and drying-off decisions. On average I would cull 10% of my herd annually based on herd testing information.
“My advice is the same to all farmers – your herd and your cows are an asset and an asset you must preserve – cows need to be high BW and cow information must be recorded accurately.” John says if he had not herd tested he wouldn’t have the herd he has today. “You cannot look at a cow and know she’s a good one. You may be able to tell if a cow is a dud by looking at her, but you can’t tell a good one on sight.”
Management essentials
John and Desley Bicknell: “Tough times do not last but tough farmers do.”
18 Green to Gold VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
“Keeping all my herd test information accurate and using LIC Sires for AI is the reason my herd’s ranked in the top 5% in the country. “Not herd testing would be like driving with blinkers on, or worse driving blind.” The Bicknells put their entire herd to AI over eight weeks, with no tailend bull and, despite such a short mating period, achieve an average 6% empty rate (last season 5.8). “Last season I put my whole herd to LIC’s DNA Proven KiwiCross team and plan to do the same this year. “Only using AI is just easier. I don’t have to worry about the hassle of bulls, the cost and damage they cause, their calves have no value, and safety is a big concern of mine. The potential dangers to staff, when working bulls, are too great.”
“My advice is the same to all farmers – your herd and your cows are an asset and an asset you must preserve – cows need to be high BW and cow information must be recorded accurately.”
The Bicknells’ farm near Galatea, Bay of Plenty.
Value in BW
Cost cutting
“LIC has one of the largest and most rigorous progeny test schemes in the world. In the past I’ve been an SPS (sire proving scheme) farmer and know how the system works: The stringent TOP scoring and record keeping, combined with the animal evaluation BW system ensures the LIC Sires teams are the best, most up-to-date BW bulls available at the time. Any less desirable TOP traits are identified and weeded out during SPS. “The only people who criticize LIC’s sire proving are competitors – now that tells you something.
John said it’s not easy for good farmers to cut costs. “Efficient farmers are operating cost effectively so there’s little fat in the system for trimming. “But if they sit down and do their sums they’ll soon see that it’s cheaper to do AI than run bulls. If they really are going to cut costs then I suggest they put the best part of the herd and the best cows to AI, as breed replacements are always needed. “My only other piece of advice would be to those farmers using supplementary feed. “Some spending on supplementary feed has got out of hand. Until recently 99% of New Zealand dairy farmers used to be just grass, giving them an ability to handle the ups and downs. “I think one of the biggest on farm savings can be made with good pasture management – negating the need to buy in supplement. Get it right using pasture and don’t waste the grass in the paddock. “Income may be down, but it’s cost you less to produce it, so you’re ahead.” s
“If I’m biased towards LIC it’s because I understand BW – I know it translates to production and profit.” “When times get tough farmers who don’t fully understand the value of BW may make short term breeding decisions which could negatively impact on their herd’s productivity, genetic gain and BW/PW for the long term. “I’ve always invested in improvement and only spend money on quality inputs that provide quality outputs. My farming business has always been and still is based on quality semen and quality records resulting in quality milk. “This philosophy, I believe, applies to sharemilkers who want to own their own farms.
“A sharemilker’s asset is his/her herd; cows are their asset which is why AI and herd testing is even more important for them.” “Higher BW cows are a better asset – banks realize cows are a sharemilker’s asset and herd testing and AI aren’t discretionary expenses; they’re critical to maximizing the value of their asset.”
Farm Facts • 180 ha (159 ha effective) in Galatea, Bay of Plenty • Average 120,000 kg/MS per season. • 410 predominantly KiwiCross milking herd • Herd BW 125. PW 155 • Empty rate average 6% empty rate (last season 5.8%) • Raises 180 AI heifer calves each year, 90 heifer calves to sell • Milking OAD through a 22-aside herringbone (seventh season)
A history of farmer representation John Bicknell became involved in the farmer representative side of LIC “many years ago” starting off as a member of the Liaison Farmer network before being elected as a Regional Director, and then a member of the Board of Directors. “I became an LIC Regional Director because I wanted to be involved in making changes to benefit New Zealand dairy farmers, to make doing things on farm easier and better. I felt my experience as an AI
technician positioned me well to represent the interests/concerns of the New Zealand dairy farmer. “In these tough times I am reassured that as a New Zealand dairy farmer owned cooperative any profits and advances made by LIC directly benefit its shareholders, both financially and on farm, and in turn benefit the whole New Zealand dairy industry and national economy.” s
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
Green to Gold 19