Dairy direct gippsland april 2015 (low res) by McPherson Media Group

Country News PUBLICATION

GIPPSLAND Issue 3, April 2015

Late starter grabs the chance » page 18 Numbers man has cow sense » page 22 Talking genetics at Herd’15 » page 40

Editor Geoff Adams editor@countrynews.com.au

REMINDERS FOR APRIL Establishing a wedge of pasture after the autumn break • Balance your grazing rotation with seasonal conditions and your calving pattern. If you dry-off all or most cows and destock the farm for a period in winter, you may be able adopt a more aggressive grazing strategy now. If you milk cows through winter make sure to plan for the feed demand from pasture in winter. • Feed budgets that match predicted pasture eating rates with growth rates can be useful to plan for feed gaps over the winter months. • Have a plan for wet soil conditions should they occur; stand-off paddocks and suitable feed sources may be required this winter. • Use nitrogen fertiliser to boost pasture growth if required. For more information see http://fertsmart.dairyingfortomorrow. com.au/dairy-soils-and-fertiliser-manual/chapter-12-nitrogenand-nitrogen-fertilisers/ Establishing and managing new pastures • Do the ‘pluck test’ to check new-sown pastures are ready for grazing. Avoid overgrazing new plants; leave at least 4 cm to 6 cm residual. Stock • Drying-off for spring calving herds should be designed to protect cow condition and offers the opportunity to prevent mastitis using dry cow treatments. • If autumn calving: – Ensure dry cows have enough feed – dry cows require between 70 and 90 MJ/cow/day and 13 to 14 per cent crude protein when dry. Check the quality of the feed they are being offered if pasture is limiting. – Attention to detail is important in the close up dry cow herd (transition cow herd) because issues caused by feeding now can result in less production after calving. Energy, protein and fibre requirements need to be considered carefully to ensure cows calve strongly. • Prepare for autumn cow joining, make sure you have the necessary bull power. Aim for six bulls per 100 cows, if not using AI and three bulls per 100 cows with AI. Rest the herd bulls regularly, InCalf recommends alternating bull teams at least weekly. • Consider checking bull fertility, checking for pestivirus (especially if a new bull enters the property) and vaccinating to prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as vibriosis. Young stock • Investing in feeding young stock well provides a return to your business in more than one way. Well-grown young stock: – Stay in the herd for longer. – Produce more milk than under-grown heifers. – Contribute to a more predictable calving pattern because they are calved down at 24 months old rather than 30 months old. • Prepare your calf-rearing facilities; consider disease and ease of operating as priorities. For more information see http://www. dairyaustralia.com.au/Animal-management/Animal-welfare/ Calves.aspx Water issues • Make a note in your diary of irrigation trouble spots that need maintenance. Farm channel maintenance, irrigation stop maintenance and pump maintenance need to be planned ready for the next irrigation season. • Assess your current water supply needs and capacities, if upgrades or maintenance of them is required do so before winter arrives. Business • Once complete take the time to check your planned cash flow against your GST for the third quarter. • Plan your tax with your accountant or make an appointment to do so. • Prepare to plan next financial year’s budgets by thinking about the things you want to do on the farm in the next 12 months. 2

APRIL 2015

Writers Danny Buttler Geoff Adams Graphic designers Teresa Lagozzino Brendan Cain Advertising James MacGibbon james.macgibbon@ countrynews.com.au Cover: Rod Amendola. Story page 18

Published by Country News PO Box 204, Shepparton, Victoria 3632 (03) 5831 2312 www.countrynews.com.au

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Dairy Direct Keeping it clean and green The recent debate over the contamination of imported frozen cherries holds a number of issues for anyone involved in producing or processing food in Australia, as well as for consumers. The reaction from consumers, bordering on revulsion, and commentary in the media reflects modern attitudes to food safety. Although the packaging clearly identified the overseas country of origin, it’s interesting to see the public debate devolve into arguments over labelling. Most imported food products can already be identified by current labelling; the real issue is whether Australian consumers care enough about where their food comes from, and how good Australian companies are at separating themselves from the crowd. Much to the frustration of Australian food marketers, the public can be very fickle about food choices. They want quality, safe food as cheaply as

possible — never mind that a large percentage of their budgets is blown on the latest technology and video games. But they will quickly be turned off by any hint of contaminated food. And while the actual processing of food is out of the hands of farmers, primary producers are the first link in the chain, and must take responsibility for managing what they control. ‘Clean and green’ starts in the paddock, with pasture inputs and animal welfare; and it starts in the shed, with hygiene, disease control and cell count management. Australian farmers have a good record on these issues, but to remain a sought-after brand we must heed the experience of others and stay on top of the game. — Geoff Adams Dairy Direct

Focusing on the business of dairying Focus Farms has been a core project of GippsDairy since it started 14 years ago. This year’s farms offer a particularly fascinating insight into Gippsland dairy businesses and how they tackle the challenges of long-term strategy and short-term decision-making. Mirboo North’s Bruce Manintveld and Fiona Baker have come to the industry relatively late, but have made up for lost time and bought their first farm within the past two years. The couple, in their early 40s, took on a significant level of debt to gain a foothold in the market and have impressed all who have watched their progress. Their relatively simple philosophy is to produce as much milk as they can for the lowest cost possible. Milk price and weather are out of their control, but a focus on keeping the budget well in the black has already reduced their debt significantly and has put them ahead of schedule for achieving their aim of clearing the mortgage within 10 years of buying their farm. Mr Manintveld and Ms Baker have shown that by crunching numbers, having a disciplined approach to farm spending and a commitment to hard work, anything can be achieved. The Toora North Focus Farm of Dan and Cindy Knee is a different story, but just as interesting. The Knees have taken over the farm from Dan’s parents, Bruce and Rae, and are setting about putting their own stamp on the property.

contents Dan’s journey started by buying his own block in his early 20s and has led to a succession that has allowed the older generation to gracefully step back while allowing Dan, and then Cindy, to grow into full management roles. The strong turnout at the Toora North field day was an indication that people are interested in what one of the district’s most impressive young farmers has planned for the dairy business. The Focus Farm at the Macalister Demonstration Farm has had a huge amount of interest — although that shouldn’t be a surprise considering it is a community-owned asset. The passion that the management of the MDF tends to bring out of Macalister Irrigation District farmers is an indication of how important this unique farm venture is to the region. Every Focus Farm cycle brings us a fascinating insight into the dedication and innovation of Gippsland dairy farmers — and this round is certainly no different. If you haven’t had a chance to immerse yourself in a Focus Farm, keep an eye on How Now Gippy Cow, the local papers, GippsDairy’s Facebook page or come out to the next field day. It’s a wonderful project that should be of interest to any Gippsland dairy farmer wanting to improve their own business. — Matt Gleeson GippsDairy chairman

Rural Rumenations with Katie MacAulay

Dairy news

Animal health

New weapons in liver fluke battle

Symposium to tour robotic rotary

Staffing the modern dairy farm

Legendairy in more ways than one

Plant to reap best returns

Job leads to career direction

Good planning is the key to success

Farmers look for a feed advantage

Learn to manage your staff

Breed for feed savings

Looking for more feed options

Tour takes in northern farms

Smart fertiliser use is the target

Famous bull passes on

Profit is main aim

Cool new tool to boost water productivity

Use genetics to lift performance

Calendar of events

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APRIL 2015

Rural Rumenations with KATIE MACAULAY

Columnist Katie MacAulay lives in South Gippsland, and has been married to a dairy farmer long enough to appreciate the smell of good silage. She loves chooks, enjoys stacking hay bales with the tractor and wonders why the lawn grows twice as quickly as the grass in the paddocks.

Bagging a bargain — or not Spray of benefits captures interest. any spray on him. I collect handbags. Hubby says they cost a small fortune. But a few years ago, I nearly For the first time ever, Hubby zoned out did spend a fortune. On a sprayer. while I listened, enthralled, to a spiel on farm machinery. While I contemplated no We visit FarmWorld every year but that was more sore backs, knees or spray-covered the first time I’d ever been tempted to buy family members, Hubby was ready to leave. anything (apart from food and a novel from My new friend gave me a stack of glossy the top pavilion). brochures as we said goodbye. After a long drive, complete with running Hubby perked up once we reached the commentary on every crop, tractor and paddock we passed, we arrived before lunch. favoured tractor display. Immediately Hubby darted off, saying, “Just Personally, I think they all look the same and he’s already got an adequate collection a quick look”. I followed him and found myself standing in at home. (Unlike sprayers. We need a new one of those. We could spray out paddocks front of the biggest sprayer I’d ever seen. in a quarter of the time. Then I could see The sales rep quickly appeared. more of Hubby.) “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” “How many tractors does a man need?” I “Huge,” I replied. wondered aloud. The sales rep eagerly answered Hubby’s “How many handbags does a woman need?” questions before turning to me and Hubby wondered back. explaining the safety features. Rolling my eyes, I looked for somewhere to No more lifting heavy drums of spray while sit down since I could tell I was in for a long climbing up the unit; instead, sprays are wait. I perched awkwardly on a front-end poured in from ground level. loader bucket then tried to ignore the dirty looks from the sales reps. Surely if they There was even a fancy automated drumknew how many tractors they would sell if cleaning gizmo so that hubby wouldn’t get

we ever won Tattslotto, they would be more tolerant of me sitting on their machinery. Finally we agreed to buy something we could afford and headed for the food pavilion. Inside it was as crowded as the dairy yard at milking time so we quickly grabbed our hot turkey rolls and waffle cones with two scoops of ice-cream (gotta support the dairy industry!) then headed outside to sit down. Conversation flowed after we recognised many of the people around us. Hubby and friends eagerly compared rainfall and discussed milk price. I may have taken the farmer off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the farmer! When the stall holders started packing up, we headed for the car. When the running commentary re-commenced, this time interspersed with descriptions of the new tractor models, I picked up my glossy brochures. Hubby shook his head. “I’m not spending that much on a sprayer,” he said. Never mind. If I can’t buy the sprayer, I’ll just have to buy another handbag . . .

dairy news Fonterra buys into Chinese company Partnership to create global supply chain direct to Chinese consumers. Fonterra Co-operative Group has announced it has completed a partial tender offer and will acquire 18.8 per cent of Chinese infant formula manufacturer Beingmate Baby & Child Food Company. Chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini said the companies had earlier made provision for the possibility of the partial tender offer reaching slightly less than 20 per cent. “Our goal was to acquire up to 20 per cent. 4

APRIL 2015

We are extremely satisfied and confident that the partnership can and should proceed on the basis of the 18.8 per cent stake. It is a good result,” he said. “Fonterra and Beingmate will now move ahead with the next phase of our partnership, which includes establishing a joint venture to purchase the Darnum plant in Australia and finalising a distribution agreement making Beingmate Fonterra’s exclusive

Anmum distributor in mainland China,” Mr Paravicini said. Last August, Fonterra and Beingmate announced that they were forming a global partnership to help meet China’s growing demand for infant formula. The partnership will create a global supply chain from the farm gate direct to China’s consumers, using Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.

dairy news

Kit offers guide to discussion groups New resource includes detailed fact sheets on forming and co-ordinating a group. years with new and established groups Dairy Australia has created a new Dairy eligible. Since the funding was made Farmer Discussion Group Resources Kit to help farmers and advisors establish and available last year a number of groups have benefited and 20 new groups have run successful discussion groups. been formed. The kit is a simple guide offering insight “The kit holds all the information and into what makes group-based extension advice you need to get your group started effective and successful in driving change and might even be a good refresher for on-farm. established groups,” Mr Webster said. Dairy Australia’s On-Farm Adoption The new resource includes detailed fact and Evaluation Program manager Neil sheets on forming and co-ordinating Webster said the kit would particularly a group, tips from an experienced benefit new regional groups who had accessed Dairy Australia funding support. facilitator and information about how to access Dairy Australia discussion group Dairy Australia has funding support for funding. up to 90 discussion groups throughout To obtain a kit, contact Dairy Australia’s Australia’s dairy regions for the next two

extension co-ordinators or your Regional Development Program. Alternatively you can visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au/ discussiongroups to download a digital version. Farmers interested in applying for funding for a discussion group should contact their Regional Development Program or Dairy Australia extension co-ordinator. The Dairy Farmer Discussion Group Resources Kit is one of the many examples of the dairy service levy at work. For more information on this and other levy investments visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au

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AFL clash to honour Legendairy farmers Match pays tribute to the dairy industry, its families and communities. Footy rivalries might divide family dinner table conversations around the country, but for one Saturday afternoon in April the Australian dairy industry will get together and celebrate on the national stage in a Legendairy Farmer Round clash between Collingwood and Adelaide football clubs.

Innovation group manager Isabel MacNeill said. “Being involved with a community sport like AFL at a high-profile event like this is a really positive thing.” The Legendairy Farmer Round is one piece of a partnership Dairy Australia has developed with Collingwood Football Club, which has the largest membership base of any AFL club and a focus The match, to be held at on community engagement. Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on April 11 in Round 2 of the 2015 “Collingwood is a strongly community-based club, which is AFL premiership season and something that’s really attractive televised on Fox Footy, will pay because it aligns very much tribute to the dairy industry and particularly dairy farming families with our industry values,” Ms and communities across Australia. MacNeill said. Collingwood captain Scott “The match is an opportunity Pendlebury grew up in Sale. to recognise all of the people who make up our industry and “My grandfather owns a dairy highlight a superb product that farm in Gippsland, so I have is a mainstay in the diets of grown up with a real appreciation most Australians, particularly for the industry and have seen those that will be performing firsthand the importance of dairy farming to local communities,” on the field,” Dairy Australia’s Mr Pendlebury said. Industry Promotion and Product

APRIL 2015

April ABV changes Major changes allow more detailed selection of bulls. The April ABV release by the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme heralds some major changes. The key points are: The Feed Saved ABV allows farmers to identify bulls that can save at least 100 kg of dry feed matter per cow, per year. It forms part of ADHIS’ three new indices, so farmers who make bull selections using one of the indices will be including feed saved in their breeding decisions. A Residual Survival ABV has been added to all three indices. Residual survival includes all the reasons why cows last in the herd that aren’t related to production, fertility and cell count but have their own economic values in the indices. Type ABVs are now standardised to make it easier to see if an animal is average, a bit above average or extreme for a trait. One standard deviation will be set to five. For example, a bull with an ABV of 105 for overall type is one standard deviation above average for overall type. An extreme bull for overall type, that is three standard deviations above the average, will have an ABV of 115. Three new indices will be introduced: 1. Balanced Performance Index (BPI): maximises net profit 2. Type Weighted Index (TWI): fast-tracks type 3. Health Weighted Index (HWI): fast-tracks health traits and feed saved For more information on the changes or to arrange a presentation to your organisation, phone Michelle Axford at ADHIS on 0427 573 330 or email maxford@adhis.com.au

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animal health

Rochester Vet Practice

Time to deal with declining herd fertility Genetics can solve the problem of poor reproductive performance. Over the past two decades, declining reproductive performance in dairy herds has been described worldwide — including in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and North America. Over the past 20 years, we have seen evidence of declining reproductive performance in a selection of dairy herds within our practice — on average the first service conception rate has been falling by around 0.5 per cent a year. The InCalf Fertility Data Project 2011 showed that during the period from 2000 to 2009, the median six-week in-calf rates for 30 herds in the study declined by about 1 per cent a year. Similar patterns occurred with the 12-week, 21-week and overall not-in-calf rates, three-week submission rates and first service conception rates. There are a number of factors that are likely to be associated with this declining reproductive performance. They include: • Intensification of dairy farming. Larger herds lead to farm operators managing a considerably greater number of cows. • Management decisions that result in less fertile cows being retained in the herd. These measures might include treatment of non-cycling cows, the use of calving induction to help retain cows that would otherwise be late calving and the widespread move to split calving patterns whereby cows that fail to conceive in one mating period are mated again in the following mating period. • Selecting for cows with higher milk yields

in early lactation has resulted in a cow that delivers an increasing proportion of available energy to the udder in early lactation, utilising more body reserves and reducing the probability of conception until such time as the cow’s rate of decreasing weight is reduced. • Genetics. For a number of years breeding programs concentrated on increasing per cow production and took less note of factors such as fertility and longevity. This intensive selection pressure for production resulted in a relatively small number of young sires being retained as widely used proven sires. A result of this has been that in-breeding in dairy cattle breeds has increased dramatically since around 1980 and may play a role in declining reproductive performance. In-breeding negatively affects reproduction and longevity traits in dairy cows. There are a number of interventions that can be undertaken to improve reproductive performance in dairy herds and these have been incorporated into the InCalf program. But one of the issues that should be addressed on farms where improved reproductive performance is required is improving the herd’s genetics for fertility. As of April, Australian dairy farmers will have access (through ADHIS) to a new breeding index known as the Health Weighted Index (HWI). This index is appropriate for farmers

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who wish to fast track improvements in fertility, longevity and mastitis resistance. Using this index may slightly reduce the rate of production improvement in the herds using this index, but it is estimated that if this program is used for 10 years in a herd there is likely to be around a 10 per cent improvement in six-week in-calf rate. The other genetic approach is an attempt to reduce the negative impacts of in-breeding on reproduction and longevity. This approach is cross-breeding — by using two or three different breeds in a cross-breeding program the impact of in-breeding is markedly reduced and trials in Australia have shown that cross breeding can increase the sixweek in-calf rate by more than 10 per cent. Cross-breeding is certainly not for everyone, but may be suitable for some herds where maintenance of a seasonal calving pattern is a priority. A program combining cross-breeding with use of the Health Weighted Index in selecting bulls for use should result in even more rapid and larger improvements in herd fertility.

Melanie and Tom Gannon from Tinamba caught up with Denison’s Wayne Warren at the Gippsland Irrigation Expo.

Farmers flooded into the inaugural Gippsland Irrigation Expo.

GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah, Wellington Shire mayor Carolyn Crossley and event organiser Brad Missen from Denison catch up during the day.

Poppy Cliff from Stratford wasn’t so sure about the irrigation Expo, but father Anthony and grand-dad Barry were certainly enjoying themselves.

Cath Noble and brother-in-law Rob Noble from the Rotary Club of Maffra accepting a $2000 cheque from Michael Turner of Rural Finance who paid for catering on the day.

GippsDairy board member Iain Stewart and Dairy Australia extension co-ordinator Tony Platt both worked behind the scenes to organise and run the successful Expo.

Jason and Casey Bermingham came over from Nambrok to enjoy the Expo.

Wellington Shire mayor Carolyn Crossley officially opening the Expo.

Farmers flood into Expo THE first Gippsland Irrigation Expo certainly won’t be the last. More than 500 people wandered through the Sale Showgrounds event, catching up with fellow farmers, talking to the many exhibitors and, most importantly, staying in touch with the latest in irrigation technology. GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah said the March 18 event had met — and even exceeded — expectations. “Putting on a new event always has an element of the unknown, but this has clearly tapped into Macalister Irrigation District farmers’ desire to run more efficient and cost effective irrigation systems,” he said. “It’s been a real group effort with local farmers coming up with the idea and a coalition of supporters getting behind the concept to turn it into the great event we have here today.” “To see so many farmers eager to embrace

new irrigation technology that uses water and energy more effectively is great news for both the dairy industry and the environment.” The Expo was supported by Dairy Australia, GippsDairy, Wellington Shire, the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) and Southern Rural Water. Lunch was provided by the Rotary Club of Maffra with a generous $2000 donation from Rural Finance, while the Lions Club was ready with first aid. Macalister Consultative Committee chairman, GippsDairy board member and Stratford dairy farmer Iain Stewart, who was one of the driving forces behind the event, said a similar event for Goulburn Murray irrigators had inspired the Gippsland Expo. “The response has been absolutely fantastic,” he said. “We are already talking about whether we run

another one in two or three years’ time, but you can be certain there will be another one.” As farmers mingled with exhibitors, discussing the benefits of solar powered risers, underground tanks or modern pumping systems, DEDJTR irrigation extension officer Gavan Lamb noted the buzz of noise in the Expo building. “There’s a lot of people here talking to each other ... which is great for the exchange of knowledge and information,” he said. “It’s proved a good opportunity for farmers to catch up with suppliers and talk about the latest in technology.” For the stall holders, having so many irrigators in one place was a great chance to show products and services that can help farmers improve their bottom line. “I think the concept of this Expo is great … it’s very well targeted,” Jen McDavitt from Gippsland Precast in Maffra said.

For more information please call GippsDairy on (03) 5624 3900 or visit www.gippsdairy.com.au APRIL 2015

New weapons in liver fluke battle Two new tests aim to help control parasites in dairy cows. fluke can result in a decrease in overall milk production of up to 10 per cent.” La Trobe University Professor Terry Spithill said AgriBio and La Trobe scientists created a second test to detect the presence of metacercaria, the infective stage of liver fluke in water and on pasture. “This new test is set to be deployed to the field in 2015 to help define the ecology of fluke infections in the environment where farms have been infected,” Prof Spithill said. “Results from both tests will be used to develop effective parasite management plans that aim to decrease adult fluke numbers below the threshold of 40 to reduce the loss of milk production. “This research will provide the key baseline knowledge of the extent of the liver fluke problem in Victorian dairy cattle and the farm environment.” Dr Rawlin stressed the importance of developing new control strategies because recent research had found that liver fluke were becoming increasingly resistant to the commonly used drug treatments. “A recent survey of dairy farms across Gippsland, the Goulburn Valley and Upper

Murray found that economically significant burdens of fluke were common,” Dr Rawlin said. “Liver fluke has been present in irrigated dairy areas of Victoria for many years and has been effectively managed, primarily through the use of the drug Triclabendazole, since the 1980s. “However, we have now found several cases on farms where liver fluke shows total resistance to Triclabendazole and we expect to find more farms with this problem. “The new tests will enable researchers to measure the distribution of liver flukes in cattle and in the farm environment and this will help us to evaluate how effective new control strategies are towards reducing liver fluke infections. “Instead of striving for eradication, which is very difficult, we can now strive to push more cattle below the threshold of 40 adult liver fluke, where significant milk production losses begin to occur.” AgriBio is a joint venture between DEDJTR and La Trobe University which brings together leading scientists Afi in a world-class Act II™™ facility for agriculture bioscience research and ion Afi Act IIsolut The next-generat ion development. for the accurateion heat detect Themost next-generat solut ion ion

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Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources and La Trobe University scientists have applied two new tests to help identify and control liver fluke parasites in Victorian dairy cattle at Agribio, the centre for AgriBioscience in Bundoora. AgriBio’s Biosciences Research Division’s veterinary pathobiologist Grant Rawlin said one test identified the threshold at which liver fluke was likely to cause significant production losses and the other test would detect the parasite in water and potentially on pasture. “Liver flukes are flatworm parasites that most commonly live in wet grass near streams or ponds,” Dr Rawlin said. “They infect cattle grazing on contaminated grass resulting in liver damage which has subsequent effects on milk production. “One of the new tests analyses cattle faecal samples to identify the relative intensity of infection, allowing an estimate of the approximate number of adult fluke in the animal, something which could only previously be done during post-mortem examinations. “These faecal samples can be analysed and then compared to cattle milk production: previous studies have shown that just 40 adult liver

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Symposium to tour robotic rotary Opportunity to see innovative milking system in action. Delegates at the 2015 Dairy Research Foundation symposium will be among the first in Australia to tour the innovative robotic rotary which was installed at the University of Sydney’s Corstorphine farm late last year. Organising committee chair Kendra Kerrisk said the symposium would return to Camden this year to allow delegates to see the robotic rotary in full operation. “This is only the second robotic rotary operating in Australia — the other is at Gala Farm in Tasmania — so there are many people in the industry keen to see it in action, milking our 400-cow herd,” Associate Professor Kerrisk said. The development of the robotic rotary was a collaborative project between dairy equipment company DeLaval and the FutureDairy team based at Camden. “It was developed to automatically milk cows under Australian conditions, particularly larger herds within a pasture feed base,” Assoc Prof Kerrisk said. This year’s symposium on June 17 and 18 will follow the popular format of the first day as a seminar series and a second day onfarm inspecting the robotic rotary and other

A tour of the innovative robotic rotary at the University of Sydney’s Corstorphine farm is on the program for this year’s Dairy Research Foundation annual symposium.

research projects under way at Corstorphine. “We’ll also have the ever-popular presentations from young scientists,” Assoc Prof Kerrisk said. “This year we are really promoting the event to dairy farmers as we receive rave reviews from the farmers who attend. Be prepared to

be challenged and to learn about things that you can put into practice at home with an immediate benefit.” For more information email EPP Events at donna@eppevents.com.au or phone 1800 177 636.

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APRIL 2015

Ruth Kydd talks about employment issues at the forum.

Staffing the modern dairy farm Farmers explain how employing workers has both benefits and pitfalls.

Taking the next step in employing staff can be liberating but comes with new responsibilities, farmers told the Murray Dairy Business Forum. A panel discussion heard how employing staff could improve the quality of life for farmers and help take their business to the next level. Experienced Busselton farmers Oscar and Wendy Negus employ up to 12 people and described how their business runs with a 1400-cow herd milked on a 60-stand rotary dairy. Wendy told the forum they had started small, but had got bigger over the past 10 years. “Our lifestyle was pretty crummy because we had no weekends off,” she said. “Our first employee had lunch with us because we had no facilities. When we started out we just blundered along, but now we have systems for inductions, employment contracts and proper pay slips.” New staff get a pack setting out guidelines for issues like handling cattle, using machinery and riding motorcycles. “About eight years ago I got a consultant in to do an OH&S plan for the farm,” Wendy said.

APRIL 2015

Farmer Luke Zuidema says employers need to be reasonable in their expectations of staff. “Why push them really hard when they can work for Safeway for the same money?’’

Oscar Negus observed that employees needed Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is now a sackable offence. to be treated with respect. “Having systems in place and information “Just because you own the business doesn’t available has taken a load off the family,” she make you any better,” he said. “People are said. harder to understand than cows, or fertilisers “Staff know what they should and shouldn’t be or grass.” doing and gives us a more stable workforce.” The speakers were asked about using Finley farmer Ruth Kydd described how they international workers and most replied they had moved from Gippsland to the Riverina had positive experiences with them. and how they found they needed staff for their Ruth said they had employed workers from expanded operation with a rotary dairy. all parts of the world and found them really “We found it hard to employ someone who good. “They come to Australia because they knew how to do everything, and as we got are looking for something and seem to have more cows we employed people for specific some extra zip.” jobs. For example, a milking team and then a But, she said, the mixture of locals and tractor team,” Ruth said. backpackers had to be right because the She said employing staff allowed them to have international workers sometimes didn’t stay a month off each year with the family. long. Zeerust farmer Luke Zuidema established “We also employ some on ag exchange his own farm after working as an assistant programs and we ask they stay for 12 months.” manager with Warakirri Dairies. He described how he tried to develop a On the issue of reaching quality targets, Oscar positive workplace that gave some regard for said they engaged their staff in understanding staff needs and motivations. the business, met regularly to talk about their goals and celebrated successes like low somatic “The ‘I’m working hard so they have to work hard’ attitude isn’t the right approach to take.” cell counts.

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APRIL 2015

Legendairy in more ways than one Rob and Janet Auchterlonie on their farm.

APRIL 2015

Couple regularly drops everything to answer brigade’s call. From Ash Wednesday to Black Saturday, dairy farmers Janet and Rob Auchterlonie have always answered the cry for help. As Country Fire Authority volunteers, the Legendairy couple from Dumbalk have travelled across the state and Australia, assisting communities in their most desperate hours of need for more than 30 years. While they are among thousands of Victorian volunteers who don the yellow overalls on a regular basis, the constant demands of twicea-day milking make the sacrifice of the South Gippsland couple even more remarkable. Mr and Mrs Auchterlonie are all too familiar with the work that awaits them when they return exhausted from an emergency call-out. “There’s been times when I’ve got home late from a call-out and had to go straight into the shed to milk,” Mr Auchterlonie said. “It has had a negative impact at times.” As CFA Strike Team leaders, Mr and Mrs Auchterlonie attend major fire incidents, taking them from the farm for days at a time to protect lives and communities hundreds of kilometres away.

Mr Auchterlonie, who is also heavily involved at district level as a deputy group officer and peer support officer, spent weeks mopping up after Black Saturday and was recently flown to Western Australia as part of a Victorian contingent of firefighters helping to battle huge bushfires in the state’s south. “Over many years there’s been a lot of major fires that Janet and I have attended, more recently as Strike Team leaders,” Mr Auchterlonie said. “We’re both Strike Team leaders which means when she goes I’ll stay, and when she comes back I’ll go.” The couple’s son Doug, who is also a CFA volunteer, works on the farm, which allows Mr and Mrs Auchterlonie to attend more callouts than would otherwise be possible. Once on the fire ground, they use their professional knowledge to protect the most important assets of farms that are under threat. “I don’t think non-farmers appreciate the value of a dairy herd and dairy sheds,” Mr Auchterlonie said. “They tend to look at saving a house as being

the most important thing, whereas farmers look at the herd and think: ‘that’s what has to be saved’.” The only time that Mrs Auchterlonie won’t leave the farm for an extended period is during calving and joining, when the health of her 240-strong herd is the number one priority. “Because herd health is really important to me, that’s the one time of the year when the farm comes first,” she said. “My aim is never to lose a cow in calving, which takes a fair bit of work. We have a moral obligation to do the best we can for our animals.” Gippsland CFA District 9 operations manager Mark Jones paid tribute to the “Legendairy” efforts of the many dairy farmers who volunteer with the emergency service. “We recognise the tremendous sacrifice of our self-employed volunteers, including dairy farmers, who put everything on hold, including their livelihood, to protect their community,” he said. — Dairy Australia

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Plant to reap best returns Expert takes farmers through steps to make most of pasture. Planting pastures to achieve maximum phase –and then a review day to talk about what worked and what could be improved. returns is an exercise dairy farmers can’t afford not to do, the first day of a Forage Mr Mickan and fellow DEDJTR presenter Planning for Dairy Farms course heard at Sarah Brown will be supported by service Lockington. providers in the forage cropping field to impart their knowledge. Yes, “can’t afford not to do” is a double At Lockington, farmers were challenged to negative but for presenter Frank Mickan it consider the true cost of fodder conservation, was a truism that could not be understated, which included: and the pasture expert from the Department noitDevelopment, avonnIJobs, ilETransport gninniw drawa morf no-dda of Economic • Cut, rake, bale/harvest and wrap/cover and Resources had many facts and figures to • Cartage; support his assertion. • Wastage (quantity and quality); Farmers.sheard that every extra tonne of feed retem klim tfi ot tnempiuqe• Storage gntisixe tuo gnippir tegroF • Cost to feed out that was conserved — made into hay, silage evah )sM MAS$150 ( sreand te$200/ M kliM e• nWastage olA-dwhen natSfeeding s’noout; tiavonnI ilE or grains — added between • Lost production due to poor quality/DM tonne compared with grazing, although some sdfeed narwas b rneeded evomotherwise er puctherefarm hto ot losses tcennoc ot dengised neeb conserved • Lost pasture due to bulk cuts. would be too exposed to the commercial feed t )laofvneed. aLeD dna ailatfseW ,Mr otaMickan’s kiaW calculations ,ctiamuocame B sauphwith cusa(cost market in o times of u $180/tonne/dry The scene ytiwas vticthe udLockington noc dnaCommunity notiarud ,em lov eht dromatter cer yforleround tarubale cca silage and $162 tonne/DM. Neither figure Centre where farmers from Mitiamo, Calivil, Dingee, Leitchville, Pine Grove, Bamawm .noincluded isses the gncost iklito mgrow s’ wthe ocfeed. hcae fo and just nearby had gathered for the first day Turning to the cost of producing crops, he of a nine-day program that will include three said the three main factors that influenced the metsys tnemeganam dreh rudifference oy ot dinedcosts aolbetween pu ebvarious nac aforages taD sessions of classroom-style learning followed were by five edfarm ivovisits — the rp nac simplementation dapyek evticaretn i laestablishment notipo elcosts, ihw conservation ,weiver rcosts of

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Rod Amendola makes sure this young calf is in good health.

Job leads to career direction

Farm employee finds his work is no longer just a job.

APRIL 2015

“

Rod Amendola has taken the long way into the dairy industry — but he reckons it has been worth the wait. The Nambrok farm employee hails from farther east at Lakes Entrance and had never been on a farm until a mate helped him find a milking job about two years ago. Before that, he had left school at 13, worked in a number of dead-end jobs and was finding himself heading towards the type of trouble that afflicts many young people in the region. Now 26, Mr Amendola has found his niche in life and work and is determined to make the most of the chance he has been offered. “I never had any direction or career path before this, now I wouldn’t do anything else,” he said.

There’s a lot of pathways you can take in farming.

Rod Amendola

As a farm labourer, milker and “all-rounder” on Jason Bermingham’s farm at Nambrok, west of Sale, Mr Amendola revels in making decisions on a daily basis and having a real impact on the operation of the farm. “It’s outside, in a way you are sort of your own boss,” he said. “You have to take responsibility for the jobs you have to do. “I enjoy seeing the difference you can make

with things like cell count and herd health.” Having taken his first milking job, Mr Amendola was soon working at a second farm and was eventually trying to juggle a third job. Not long after he met Mr Bermingham, he was offered a full-time job on the farm and has never looked back. From milker to farm owner is not out of the question for a young man who combines hard work with sharp intelligence — two vital ingredients for any successful farmer. “Hopefully I can see myself getting in a management position one day, maybe into share-farming, leasing or maybe at the end of the day, owning a farm,” he said. “There’s a lot of pathways you can take in farming.” >> Continued on page 20

Jason Bermingham has rewarded Rod Amendola’s hard work by helping him invest in professional development.

Rod Amendola has gone from milker to all-round farm employee.

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APRIL 2015

Farmer Jason Bermingham.

>> Continued from page 19 Mr Amendola’s farming journey is being assisted by his involvement in the Young Dairy Development Program, with Mr Bermingham as his mentor as YDDP East Gippsland chairman. So far, Mr Amendola has been to a forum in Melbourne, a conference in South Australia and has just returned from the Tasmanian Don Campbell Memorial Study, which is named after a West Gippsland dairy farmer and inaugural chair of GippsDairy who had a passion for investing in young people working in the industry. Like Don Campbell, Mr Bermingham can see the merit in encouraging young farmers to develop themselves to their maximum capacity. “Jason pushes me to do all that stuff,” Mr Amendola said. “I was sort of umming and ahhing, but it has opened up all sorts of different avenues. “I think Jason can see that I am willing to learn and do the best I can, so he does his best to help me out.” For Mr Bermingham, making sure Mr Amendola is improving his skills and knowledge just makes good business sense. “When you take someone on, you like to know they are learning something,” he said. “That they are growing and developing, and 20

APRIL 2015

heading in a direction that they want to, as well as helping the farm out along the way. “You want him to learn as much as he can so he is a better asset to himself and, obviously, to our farm.” Rod Amendola inspects a Tasmanian property during the But you don’t have to look Don Campbell Memorial Study Tour. too hard to realise that Mr Bermingham enjoys watching a young bloke develop as a person and learn skills that could take him wherever he wants to go within the industry. “You want to see someone succeed in life,” he said. “When people look after you, you want to look after them back. Rod Amendola and the YDDP crew make a farm stop “He’s reliable, enthusiastic, during the recent Don Campbell Memorial Study tour. keen, he’s a good worker, so you want to encourage and offer as a career, even for those outside the support that.” industry,” she said. YDDP Gippsland co-ordinator Colleen Laws “YDDP has been important in helping said Mr Amendola’s story should show people that the dairy industry was a great place for develop Jason Bermingham’s career and now young people to look when considering a he is making sure another young farmer career. has the chance to make the most of his “Rod’s a great example of what dairy can opportunities.”

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The dairy herd has been part of Colin Wright’s life since he was a boy.

Good planning is the

key to success Accountant knows a good dairy farm when he sees one.

“If you’ve seen all that, then it’s highly unlikely you’ll get a surprise when you sit down and look at their numbers.” Having grown up on a dairy farm at Riverslea, just west of Sale, Colin has spent a lifetime within the dairy industry. Watching his parents struggle out of bed on frosty winter mornings has left him with an understanding of the farmer’s lot and a desire to make sure his clients can leverage their hard work and long hours into a tangible financial reward. When he says he has a passion for the industry, it’s not just the words of a business man trying to drum up new clients. In consecutive weeks recently, he could be found at Focus Farm field days at Toora

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North and the Macalister Demonstration Farm, where he is also a board member. Colin said he understands farmers and wants to help them make the most of what he believes is often “a hard gig”. “It makes that initial conversation a little bit easier if you have an affinity with what they do, you have a bit of a passion for how you go about it and understand how unstable the environment is that they work in,” he said. “We can have an inch of rain one day and no rain for the next three months, so the decisions you have to make around that every day can be a fair challenge so it’s important I understand that side of it so I can help them get through it.” For Colin, planning ahead, rather than RRA16181

Colin Wright doesn’t have to look at the books to know how a farm is travelling financially. He usually knows by the time he gets to the top of the driveway. As Gippsland’s only accountant who works exclusively in the agricultural sector, Colin has an intimate knowledge of the signposts that indicate a farm is on the right track financially. “You can generally tell when you drive up the driveway,” he said. “Things are fairly neat, there’s not five John Deeres in the shed, there’s one tractor or two at the most, there’s a reasonably priced car and a reasonable shed, fences are tidy, laneways are pretty good, the cows are in good condition and pastures look good.

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APRIL 2015

Daniel and Cindy Knee Toora 150 milking hectares 420 Holsteins Split calving (mostly spring)

Colin Wright can usually pick a healthy financial farm from the state of the herd, pasture and fencing.

solving an existing problem, is the difference between a good farm business and a poor one. He said like a car owner who gets his vehicle regularly serviced, smart farmers are always preparing for the future while poor farmers treat their businesses like a car that only goes to the mechanic when a strange noise comes from under the bonnet.

“

We can have an inch of rain one day and no rain for the next three months . . . Colin Wright

“The majority of them wait for the funny sound,” he said. “The better farmers tend to come to you before the funny sound happens. They’re the ones talking to us about the next project

before it happens, rather than us finding out afterwards if it was a good idea. “What separates the good guys is that they are more proactive in their thinking and proactive in their advice seeking.” Despite popular belief, the accountant from Phillipsons in Sale is adamant that dairy is a stable industry that provides a good return for smart farmers. Putting the always unpredictable element of weather aside, Colin believes the short term “ups and downs” of farming are manageable in the bigger picture. “Provided production stays the same — and that’s what the good guys try and do so they can manage their situation — their income is fairly stable throughout the course of the year,” he said. “We don’t see too many wild fluctuations like December 2009 when they dropped the milk price by 30 per cent, which really set the cat among the pigeons. “It was the most I’ve ever seen farmers trying to do forecasts and budgets, trying to see where they were going to end up

Colin Wright was more than just a face in the crowd at the Macalister Demonstration Farm field day.

for the remainder of the year and the following year.” For those thinking of a career in dairy, Colin is adamant that — apart from the benefits of an outdoor lifestyle and being your own boss — the industry is a good financial option. “To me, agriculture is still one of the best industries for young people to create wealth for themselves.” For a man whose bread-and-butter is numbers, Colin believes there is still an intangible element to the make-up of a successful farmer — something that can’t be put into a calculator or plotted on a spread sheet. “My belief with a good farmer is that they have got a good sense of intuition that enables them to do the right things at the right time. “That goes across the board; from the genetics they use, to how they grow grass or keep their financials up to date. The good farmers can rely on their gut a little bit as well.”

APRIL 2015

Farmers look for a feed advantage Research asks whether increased rye-grass sowing rates is the answer. Most Gippsland dairy farmers rely on ryegrass as the cheapest source of feed and this won’t change in the foreseeable future. To stay ahead of the game, farmers continue to seek out whatever feed advantage they can, whether purchased or home-grown. Seed companies and DEDJTR (formerly DEPI) are continually breeding new varieties to lift total production and sometimes to increase growth in periods of feed shortage. They are also developing new species for a range of conditions, taking more than a decade for thorough testing before releasing them onto the market. Extensive research is also carried out on other traits such as endophyte suitability, seed treatments and seeding rates. Recent research by DEDJTR’s Joe Jacobs and seed company PGG Wrightson Seeds has separately investigated whether increasing the seeding rate of annual and short rotation (not perennial) rye-grasses was economically beneficial. DEDJTR’s research compared seeding rates from 10 to 50 kg/ha of three annual rye-grasses, one diploid (Progrow) and two tetraploids (Winterstar, Abundant) under a good grazing regime.

APRIL 2015

The trial was over two years with different seasons: 2007 which had a good growing season and 2008 which had a poor season due to a late break and waterlogging. Dry matter (DM) yields increased with seeding rates of 10 to 40 kg/ha, then levelled off at 45 to 50 kg/ha despite seasonal differences. Results were averaged because there were negligible differences between the three varieties. Total DM yield increased by 600 kg DM/ ha in year one and 1100 kg DM/ha in year two when seeding rate increased from 20 to 30 kg/ha. When seeding rate increased from 30 to 40 kg/ha, an extra 900 and 1700 kg DM/ ha was grown over years one and two respectively. The seed company compared a tetraploid annual rye-grass (Winterstar 2) in 2003, 2009 and 2010 over a seeding rate range of 10 to 50 kg/ha. The researchers, acknowledging there is a diminishing marginal return as seeding rate increases, used a marginal cost analysis approach in their analyses. They concluded that profit could be lifted by increasing seeding rate up to about 35

to 45 kg/ha but would be dependent on the cost of alternative feeds. The majority of the benefit (extra growth) occurred during the initial grazings, becoming less so as the season progressed when compensatory tillering diminished the differences. Total production over time was not decreased at the higher sowing rates but became uneconomical above about 45 kg/ha. The results of the research, averaged over two years, showed the potential milk production from the extra grass grown assuming pasture utilisation is 80 per cent of that grown, pasture energy value is 11.5 megajoules of metabolisable energy per kilogram dry matter value and 5.5 MJ produces one litre of milk. Although these results have shown good economical responses with increases in seeding rate, it must be stressed that the degree of response will vary according to rainfall, soil fertility and especially how well the pasture is managed and utilised. For more information phone Frank Mickan at DEDJTR on 5624 2259 or email frankmickan@ecodev.vic.gov.au — From DEDJTR

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APRIL 2015

Learn to manage your staff Get the best out of your employees by following some simple tips.

Shane Hellwege with Dairy Australia’s manual.

A recent survey in a Victorian dairy region found that only 37 per cent of dairy farmers were confident in their ability to manage people. Only 62 per cent of farms had an induction process for new employees and only 14 per cent had a training plan for their employees. Dairy Australia’s Shane Hellwege shared some major points in getting the best out of employees at a recent dairy forum. Here are a few tips: 1. Engage workers in your vision. People work better if they know where the business is headed. They need to know

their role in that strategic plan. 2. Resources. People get frustrated if they don’t have the right tools to do a good job. 3. Systems. Things go far more smoothly and safely if the farm systems are adapted to suit people and are documented. 4. Understand job roles. Make sure jobs are well defined and described, so you can achieve what the business needs. Skills, knowledge and training should be well understood. What training needs to be put in place to achieve the vision?

5. Recruitment. It’s not just about the technical skills of people. If they don’t have the right attitude and they’re not the right people, it’s going to be difficult from day one. Decisions here will have a long-term effect on business. 6. Teamwork. Getting effective teamwork and communication is important in the workplace culture. Dairy Australia has an employment manual which can be accessed online or through your regional dairy development organisation.

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• Well laid 210 acres situated on Reynoldsons Road, Strathmerton. • Very good 34 bale rotary dairy with in bale feeding, auto cup removers, auto teat spray, auto wash, 15,000 litre vat capacity, ample grain storage and 220 cow yard. • Large hay shed along with another large shed complex which is half machinery shed and the other half a calving barn which leads to a specialist livestock area. • Three bedroom family home that has been renovated with lovely rose gardens and lawns accompanied by outdoor entertaining area and double garage. • 386 megs on deep lead bore powered by diesel motor delivery up to 5 megs per day. GMW delivery share in place and on the backbone. • With exceptional soils and facilities this is a real milk producer that would be perfect for your herd.

• 300 acre property situated on Parnell Road just south of Cobram that is in one title and well set up for high production. • Good 20 bale double-up dairy with cup removers, in bail feeding, 20,000 ltr vat. • Four bedroom weatherboard family home in average condition that is currently being painted and is situated handy to the dairy. • Currently sown to Italians, Shaftal and Rye with some annuals this farm has a history of high pasture production and has produced over 16 tonne of fodder per Ha that has under pined production. • 100% lasered with very good irrigation set up that waters well. • This farm has milked 350 cows and produced in excess of 3.4 million litres of milk. Now is your chance to cash in on the dairy industry.

• 356 acres in five Titles with top quality soils, 95% lasered and situated on Chapmans Lane, Katunga • 30 aside swingover dairy with cup removers, 11,600 litre vat, in bale feeding, 300 cow yard & feed pads • Very good shedding for calves, hay and machinery • There are two family homes, a three-bedroom brick veneer with rumpus room, spilt system, wood heater and three-car garage. Second is a three-bedroom also with spilt systems and wood heater. Detached four-car garage and sleepout • Three spearpoint systems with 536 meg of licence all pumping well. GMW delivery share and connected to the backbone • Fantastic producer, 240,000kg/ms from 450 cows • For genuine sale as vendors have purchased.

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Breed for feed savings The first feed efficiency breeding value in the world has been developed by Dairy Futures CRC.

Brian Anderson from Bundalong Holsteins, Kongwak, explaining to participants how he will use new ABV in breeding the next generation of bulls at Feed Saved ABV launch.

Dairy farmers are now able to identify bulls that can save at least 100 kg of dry feed matter per cow, per year while maintaining milk production. The Feed Saved Australian Breeding Value (ABV), launched at Ellinbank, is the culmination of eight years of research and development activity by Dairy Futures CRC and a range of local and overseas partners.

It is the first feed efficiency breeding value in the world to incorporate real feed intake data, as well as a prediction of feed required for maintenance purposes, making the trait more relevant for farmers. Dairy Futures CRC’s chief executive officer David Nation said the Feed Saved ABV allowed farmers to breed cows in a new way: by reducing their maintenance requirements

for the same amount of milk produced. “This is the first practical use of genomic tests to measure a trait that can’t be routinely measured on farm, and the start of more extensive genomic testing to improve the range of traits important to dairy farmers,” Dr Nation said. “Visually, you can’t spot a highly feed

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efficient cow, but farmers can now breed for it.” The Feed Saved ABV will be published for the first time in April in all the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme’s (ADHIS) publications, including the Good Bulls Guide. It will form part of the ADHIS’ three new breeding indices, so farmers who make bull selections using one of the indices will be including feed efficiency in their breeding decisions. Dr Nation said the eight-year development process had involved measuring the feed intakes of almost 2000 heifers across Australia and New Zealand, then studying two lactations of production from the heifers with the greatest and least feed efficiency. This real feed intake data was incorporated with a prediction of the feed required for maintenance purposes to make the trait more relevant to farmers’ breeding objectives. The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and

Visually, you can’t spot a highly feed efficient cow, but farmers can now breed for it.

Dr Nation

Resources (formerly DEPI) made major contributions to the project through rearing heifers in Rutherglen, studies of milking cows at Ellinbank, and development of breeding values by geneticists at AgriBio in Melbourne. Large-scale research activities were made possible through funding grants from the Gardiner Foundation. ADHIS has overseen the development of feed efficiency trait and will include the trait in all evaluations from April onwards.

Ron Paynter from Paynter Farms, talking about how he plans to use the new Feed Saved ABV in conjunction with the new Balanced Performance Index in selecting bulls.

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The pasture trial at Ellinbank.

Looking for more feed options Research is trialling pasture alternatives to perennial rye-grass. A low-cost feed base underpins the future viability of Victorian dairy farms. Perennial rye-grass is likely to remain the cornerstone of our pasture-based systems, but the perennial rye-grass growth pattern means there are significant periods of the year when pasture supply does not match herd feed demand, particularly in dryland situations. It is wise to be on the lookout for forage species or mixes that can produce feed in a different seasonal pattern or with improved persistence compared to a perennial rye-grass pasture. New agronomy research in Gippsland is examining the potential of alternative pastures to improve home-grown feed production with an emphasis on filling key feed gaps. The three-year DEDJTR (formerly DEPI) research project is funded by Dairy Australia and compares 12 different pastures for their potential to improve feed production relative to perennial rye-grass. The research aims to find if the pattern and reliability of home-grown pasture supply, a key driver of farm profit, can be increased by the use

APRIL 2015

of perennial swards that complement the existing rye-grass pasture base. While perennial rye-grass is the dominant pasture species, strategic use of alternative perennial species could increase the availability of pasture, particularly during the summer and autumn. If successful, these species could reduce annual feed costs by reducing the amount of purchased or conserved feeds required to meet feed demands. Plant breeding has brought significant improvements to alternative perennial grasses so it’s a good time to have a fresh look. The pastures being evaluated are modern cultivars of cocksfoot, tall fescue and prairie grass which have been sown as monocultures or as mixed swards with white clover and perennial chicory. These species have been selected for their growth pattern and potential persistence on nonirrigated farms. Each species has characteristics that have potential to outperform perennial rye-grass in situations where its seasonal yield or persistence

is limited due to factors such as soil type, topography or insect pressure. There are currently 84 experimental minipaddocks established at Ellinbank. Farmers and advisers in the region are encouraged to visit and ‘look over the DEDJTR fence’ to see these pastures for themselves and consider if the alternative species or mixed pastures could benefit their farm. The new project offers a rare opportunity to compare different pastures grown side by side for a number of years. In the first experiment sown in spring 2013 adjacent to Hazeldean Rd, 12 different pastures were established in minipaddocks. Each mini-paddock is rotationally grazed to ensure the pastures are exposed to grazing pressure and measurements of herbage yield and quality are being made at every grazing. Results from the experiment’s first summer and autumn since establishment will be made available. — Matt Deighton, Ellinbank

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The herd of Brent and Kim Mitchell from Mitch Holsteins at Lockington provided members from the South Gippsland sub-branch with a good cross-section of cattle to view.

Tour takes in northern farms Tim Koolos from Leongatha and Lucas Licciardello from Marden were impressed with the cattle on display and the farms they toured.

Members of the South Gippsland Holstein seasons for quite some time. branch took some time out from their “We have had good rains, a good spring and busy farm lives to tour some northern our summer has been quite mild. Farmer Victorian dairy farms in March, including confidence is up because many farmers the property of Brent and Kim Mitchell of have been able to get two or three cuts of Mitch Holsteins, Bamawm. hay which has helped reduce the amount of Tour organiser and branch president Stu bought-in feed required this season.” Mackie said one of the reasons the group Tim Koolos runs a commercial herd at made the trip was because of the region’s Leongatha but he made the trip because he success at International Dairy Week in 2015. is interested in developing the stud side of “This area did so well at IDW we thought his business. we would organise a trip and come and have Mr Koolos is employed as a share farmer a look at some of these cows on-farm. on a 280-cow farm with a 50 per cent share We have mostly been looking at cows but and half herd ownership. we have also had a look at some of the dairy business operations as well,” Mr “Farming up here is completely different to Mackie said. where we are. We are very seasonal and it’s “I said to the group, ‘even if you pick up just all about spring for us. The quality of cattle one thing to take back home and change we have seen has gone above and beyond things, then the trip has been worth it’.” what I thought and I have seen some very strong powerful cows with great production Mr Mackie said South Gippsland was details,” Mr Koolos said. currently experiencing one of the best

APRIL 2015

“

Northern Victorian cows’ success at IDW prompts farmers from Gippsland to visit.

Farmer confidence is up because many farmers have been able to get two or three cuts of hay . . .

Stu Mackie

Lucas Licciardello from Long Meadow Holsteins at Mardon said it had been great to get off-farm and have a look around. “I love looking at other people’s cows, I am a real sucker for a nice cow and one thing I have noticed is the consistency. It is great to see the philosophies of the breeders come through their generations of cattle,” Mr Licciardello said.

Dean Turner (share farmer) and Kellie Turner (herd manager) 180 hectare farm at Yannathan Milking 460-480 mixed cows 220 cows (90 per cent Holstein, 10 per cent Jersey)

Members of Holstein Australia South Gippsland sub-branch: Stu Mackie, Ian Cash, Maree Deenen, Kevin Jones, Ash Harrison, Mitchell Jones and Andrew Bacon.

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Maree Deenan looks over the facts and figures of the herd.

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Smart fertiliser use is the target Program examines ways to maximise farm pasture’s potential.

Pasture management costs can be lowered through reassessing what soil testing reveals.

Dairy Australia’s Fert$mart program wants farmers to take another look at their most important asset and ask if they are managing it in the most efficient way possible. AgChallenge’s Glenn Marriott is one of several consultants across Australia delivering the Fert$mart program, which aims to challenge dairy farmers about their established methods of soil and fertiliser management. With three programs running simultaneously across Gippsland, there are plenty of farmers willing to question whether their existing soil regime is maximising the potential of their pasture. Speaking at a full house forum at Meeniyan recently, Mr Marriott said it was sometimes difficult to convince dairy farmers to change their tried and tested methods, but the message of managing soils “smarter” was getting through. “Based on the turnout here today, I would say there is definitely an appetite for this information,” he said. The basic doctrine of Fert$mart is that by getting soil and fertiliser management right, farmers should be able to produce more feed at no extra cost. The four ‘Rs’ of the program are: Right source of fertiliser, Right rate, Right place and Right time. Soil testing and the proper interpretation of test results are the keys to efficient use of fertiliser. 34

APRIL 2015

The bottom line of improving data interpretation is that farmers can expect significant savings on their next fertiliser bill. “Financial savings that can be quite significant,” Mr Marriott said. “The cost benefits can vary from $5000 to $25 000 per farm with no reduction in productivity. “The results are always open to interpretation; from our experience to date, there’s a lot of potential for improvement on most farms.” Mr Marriott cited examples of where farmers with adequate levels of nutrients in their soil continued to apply boosters to their pasture. “For someone who has adequate levels of potassium, sulphur and phosphorus, and are continuing to use a pasture booster — they just don’t need it,” he said. “The Fert$mart guidelines have qualified the range of pasture response to lower levels of phosphorus in particular.” Despite the cost-saving message to farmers, Mr Marriott said changing long-established habits was not always easy and sometimes led to very robust conversations. “People have pre-conceived ideas and we challenge a lot of those principles and dogmas, many of which are supported by their fertiliser salesman or their ag consultant,” he said. For Dairy Australia’s Gippsland Natural

Resource Management technical specialist Gillian Hayman, Fert$mart is a win/win for farmers and the environment. “Fert$mart came about when the dairy industry wanted to be proactive about soil and fertiliser decision-making on farms and bringing scientific evidence to that space, allowing farmers to make informed decisions,” she said. “The environmental impact of Fert$mart is seen particularly when you farm in a high rainfall area, where there is a potential for nutrient run-off into waterways.” Ms Hayman said keeping up-to-date with the latest research in soil testing was important for any farmer who wanted to improve productivity and profits. “For a lot of farmers it’s a bit like a checkin — the same as they would take the car to the mechanic — on how you are going with your soils and fertilisers,” she said. “For other farmers it might be the first time they have been exposed to soil testing and understanding what the results mean and relating it back to their farm businesses.” The project, which was developed in 2012 with a successful pilot program at Drouin, has spread to the current round of activities in the Meeniyan, Poowong and Yanakie districts. “Around 40 farmers are lucky enough to be involved in the project this year, with West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority partnering with Dairy Australia to run even more in the future.”

Justin Richards from Dumbalk talks soil testing with Mardan’s Lucas Licciardello.

Meeniyan’s Chris and Rob Kelly talk to Stuart McNaughton from Brown’s Fertilisers at the Fert$mart workshop.

Jason McRae from Middle Tarwin is hard at work with Sally Pate from Brown’s Fertlisers at the Meeniyan Fert$mart workshop.

Fert$mart workshop presenter Glenn Marriott with George Occhipinti from Leongatha South, Andy Robinson from Riverbank Stockfeeds and Darren Verboon from Leongatha South.

APRIL 2015

Famous bull passes on Fantastic genetic legacy will continue. One of the world’s most influential dairy bulls, Shottle, has died at his retirement home in the United Kingdom, leaving a genetic legacy of 100 000 daughters.

farming around the globe over the past 15 years and has become one of the greatest customer satisfaction bulls of all time,” Mr Korink said.

Picston Shottle produced 1.17 million units of semen during his lifetime and obtained the almost unobtainable: the celebration of a topfive Holstein USA legend ranking on his 15th birthday last year.

Shottle was born at Spot Acre Grange near Stafford in the United Kingdom, the home of the Pickford family and Picston Holsteins.

Shottle leaves a long list of offspring, including more than 100 000 daughters in 20 000 herds across 22 countries. ABS Global chief operating officer Saskia Korink said the peaceful passing of Shottle meant the industry had lost one of its most influential animals. “He has made a major impact on dairy

APRIL 2015

ABS sire to achieve ‘millionaire’ status, with one million units of semen sold. When he turned 12, Shottle still outperformed bulls half his age, remaining in the top 25 of the Top 100 TPI list.

He was the son of dam Condon Aero Sharon EX-91 and sire Carole Prelude Mtoto.

“Even at the age of 15 and post-retirement, he continued to be a tremendous improver of health traits and was over 1.20 for PTAT,” Mr Korink said.

For seven straight sire summary releases (January 2008 to January 2010), Shottle sat at the peak of the Top 100 TPI list.

“He continues to impact the Holstein USA Top 100 TPI list, with two sons and 28 maternal grandsons listed.

After those seven straight runs, the bull remained a top-15 sire for the next five sire summaries.

“Conservatively, those 100 000 Shottle daughters have produced more than two billion litres of milk to help nourish the world.”

In December 2011, Shottle became the 11th

Profit is main aim Breeding for genetic gain is also the way to grow profit, cattle breeder says. Irish cattle breeding executive Andrew Cromie has told Australian dairy farmers obtaining genetic gains was not about “rosettes and awards” but creating profit. Mr Cromie told the Herd15 conference in Bendigo a two-year study on a Cork dairy farm had shown a gain of 301 euros/ lactation/ cow was possible. He said genetic gain could deliver more milk and better fertility. Mr Cromie, the director of innovation for the Irish Cattle Breeding Association, said at a national level they had consolidated a fragmented industry and established an Economic Breeding Index. He said although the cattle breeding industry was sceptical of change, farmers came on board when the national system promised less duplication and paperwork. Andrew Cromie He said they had also moved away from a heavy reliance on imported genes. Now, 84 per cent of our sires are Irish bred.” “The best genetics are in your own country. Mr Cromie said Irish farmers could genotype The opportunity was to build an Irish male calves themselves. breeding program based on EBI,” Mr Cromie said. “Ireland is now genotyping five to 10 times more candidate males than other countries,” “Our active bull list has moved from one he said. dominated by Netherlands, NZ and USA.

Mr Cromie said the industry was looking at new traits not yet accounted for, and was now breeding more resilient animals. He said in some sires they had found a susceptibility to TB and were acting to breed out the predisposition.

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A new tool based on plant water requirements has been developed to boost water and pasture productivity.

Cool new tool to boost water productivity

Rob O’Connor, senior irrigation officer at DEDJTR Echuca

Irrigators can now match irrigation applications with plant water requirements. At a time when water is a key issue in the dairy industry, and many irrigators are now better positioned to improve irrigation efficiency, a new tool has been developed to boost water and pasture productivity. The tool gauges plant water requirements and can be used in decision making about when to irrigate for maximum plant growth. The good news for most dairy farmers is the tool relates directly to irrigated pastures. Weather variables — including sunshine, temperature, wind speed and humidity — are factored in to the tool to quantify the water requirement of dense, actively growing, 12 cmhigh grass. The calculated water requirement is expressed in millimetres and is known as evapotranspiration or ETo. Unlike rainfall which can vary from one side of the farm to the other, ETo is a lot less variable and is usually fairly consistent over a 30 km distance, particularly on the plains. ETo data is likely to be of particular value in autumn and spring because of the more variable weather conditions in these seasons, which typically make it more difficult to know when to irrigate. Daily ETo information can be obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology home page by clicking successively on the ‘Agriculture’ and ‘Evapotranspiration’ icons and hovering the mouse over the relevant location on the map (or go to http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/eto/). By adding up the daily ETo figures following the last irrigation, irrigators will be better informed about plant water use and when to 38

APRIL 2015

apply the next irrigation. Alternatively, if you are interested in participating in a weekly pilot service, where daily ETo data for the past week and the forecast week are emailed to you, then phone Rob O’Connor at DEDJTR Echuca on 0408 515 652 or email robert.oconnor@ecodev. vic.gov.au Ideally, ETo data is used in conjunction with other irrigation scheduling tools and methods already used on-farm such as the electric fence post (used as a penetrometer) and general observations of the weather conditions. ETo provides a more objective estimate of plant water use and is another handy tool in the toolbox. The knowledge gained from using ETo can be used to sharpen up the tools and skills that most irrigators have already developed over time and use regularly. Small improvements in irrigation scheduling over a total irrigated farm area can make a big difference in the amount and quality of homegrown feed produced. This reduces feed costs and increases farm profit. Research and farmer experience has clearly shown pasture production and quality is significantly improved with more timely surface irrigations. Matching irrigations with plant water requirements not only boosts plant growth, but optimises water productivity. The challenge is to keep in the zone of optimum soil moisture and avoid stretching out irrigations causing plant moisture stress, or

irrigating too frequently causing unnecessary waterlogging (and work). Stretching out irrigations beyond rye-grass requirements favours deeper-rooted species like paspalum, while quality rye-grass and clover growth is reduced. For most irrigated dairy pastures, the available water held in the soil water bank account is around 40 mm. Using the BOM’s daily ETo figures, an irrigator can now work out how much of the available water has been debited from the soil water bank account each day. Cumulative water use can be calculated by adding up each daily ETo figure since excess water has drained off the bay following the last irrigation. Effective rainfall occurring during this time (in millimetres), on the other hand, is deducted. This method of irrigation scheduling enables irrigators to optimise pasture growth by timing surface irrigations when the 40 mm of readily available water has been used up. These days many irrigators are better placed to boost water productivity by using improved irrigation scheduling tools and better matching irrigation applications with plant water requirements. This has been achieved by utilising a range of relatively recent developments, including irrigation supply system modernisation, shorter water ordering periods, improved farm irrigation layouts and new farm irrigation technology. —Rob O’Connor, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

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South Gippsland farmer Andrew Verboom (left) with Hico Gippsland general manager Michael Lee at the Herd15 conference.

Use genetics to lift

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Selective breeding can capitalise on inherited traits. The recent Herd15 conference dealt with the newest developments in herd improvement, but also emphasised the fundamental importance of using genetics to lift cow performance. Right from the start, Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme chair Adrian Drury acknowledged the complexities that come with increased technology and science. “We introduced a lot of technology to our farm recently and brought ourselves a lot of trouble,” Mr Drury said. “Stuff-ups will never stop happening.

“The technology will get better and people will have to learn. You can apply technology and you can win,” the NSW farmer concluded after discussing his recent introduction to automated milking technology. The Bendigo conference was attended by about 200 people. Senior research scientist Jennie Pryce talked about how traits were inherited and how selective breeding could capitalise on this. “In dairy cattle, there have been a few notable experiments that have

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demonstrated the effect of genetic selection,” she said. Dr Pryce, who works at the new agri-bio centre at La Trobe University in Bundoora, discussed what happened when single traits, such as milk production only, were emphasised and how multiple traits could result in a better economic outcome for the farmer. “One common misconception is that by adding more and more traits to an index, selection is somehow diluted,” she said. “This is true if the traits do not contribute

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Dr Jennie Pryce talked about enhancing multiple traits through breeding.

“

In dairy cattle, there have been a few notable experiments that have demonstrated the effect of genetic selection.

“

Jennie Pryce

anything economically, however, if each trait has monetary value, then the net result of multi-trait selection is reduced gain in each component trait, but greater gain in the overall breeding objective. “In fact, many countries now have more than six trait categories (milk

production, type, longevity, udder health, fertility, other) in their national selection objectives.” Last year, Australian dairy farmers and industry were asked to think about which traits were needed for the next generation of the herd. Dairy farmers in all regions have been talking about breeding preferences and having a direct say in answering the question: which cows best meet the needs of Australian dairy farmers into the future? Farm walk discussions varied widely depending on the region and the views of participants, but here are some of the main points: • Profit remains the main focus for genetic improvement. • Fertility is a high priority.

• Farmers want a robust, functional cow that can survive and thrive in the herd under a variety of conditions. • Cows that are resilient and flexible to respond to changing dairying environments are desirable (at least in pasture-based systems). • Some traits have an ‘ideal’ zone: too much milk or too little milk are undesirable; teats that were too short or too long are undesirable; extreme overall type and poor overall type are undesirable. Our breeding priorities can be different — even between neighbours. For example, some aim to maximise milk solids/kg of cow liveweight or breeding an easy-care animal, while others focus on structural soundness through type.

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calendar of events Churn Milk into Money

Develop people so they can have careers in dairy, accumulate wealth and have the lifestyles they want. Traralgon 2 days — time TBC Date: April 15 and 16 Contact: GippsDairy Phone: (03) 5624 3900 GippsDairy/Dairy Australia

Email: ash.michael@ecodev.vic.gov.au DEDJTR Irrigation Management

Short course covering best management irrigation practices. Includes flood and spray irrigation. Maffra DEDJTR 1 Stratford Rd Date: April 22, 29 and May 6 Contact: Frank Tyndall Phone: 0409 940 782 NCDE

2015 Feeding Pastures for Profit

Principles of grazing management and supplementary feeding for profitability.

AI Course

Loch Date: April 9 and 16 Time: 10 am — 2.30 pm, mix of theory and multiple farm walks Contact: Frank Mickan Phone: (03) 5624 2259 DEDJTR NCDE InCharge Fertility Workshop

5-day workshop (over 2 months) covering all aspects of reproductive performance. Maffra and Leongatha Maffra — starts April 9 Leongatha — starts April 10 5 days over 2 months Contact: Ashleigh Michael Phone: 0428 307 250

Please contact GippsDairy for updates. Phone: (03) 5624 3900. Email: executiveassistant@gippsdairy.com.au

Includes heat detection, semen handling, disease management and genetics. Course fees apply, maximum 10 places. Warragul — day 1 Sunbury — days 2 and 3 April 22, 29 and 30 1 day theory, 2 days practical Time: 9 am — 4 pm Enrolments essential Contact: Robin Bell Phone: 0427 574 229 NCDE

Feeding in the spotlight

Join our experts Dr Joe Jacobs, Ian Sawyer, Dr Bill Wales and John Mulvany for a day at Ellinbank. Get your questions on nutrition and feeding answered from some of the best

in the business. The morning will host a Q & A session where your questions will be answered directly by the panel. The day will include an update and short tour on the latest nutrition and feeding research conducted at the Ellinbank Centre. Ellinbank Centre, 1301 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank Date: Wednesday, May 6 Time: 10 am — 2.30 pm (lunch provided) Contact: Maria Rose Phone: (03) 5147 0843 or 0438 282 205 Email: maria.rose@ecodev.vic.gov.au DEDJTR Getting more from your pastures and crops

Can seed treatment and sowing rates help? Join leading experts and researchers for a paddock walk Q & A session focusing on getting the most out of alternative forage crops. Come along and see the different forages in action, discuss crucial factors for the establishment of successful crops and pastures, and learn how they can fill feed gaps. Ellinbank Centre, 1301 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank Date: May 26 Time: 10.15 am — 2.30 pm (lunch provided) Contact: Frank Mickan Phone: (03) 5624 2259 or 0427 317 471 Email: frank.mickan@ecodev.vic.gov.auDEDJTR

Do you need to speak to dairy farmers? Dairy Direct delivers the expertise, advice and regional specific industry news farmers need to stay at the cutting edge. Dairy Direct has been producing vital information to dairy farmers in the Murray Dairy region through Dairy Direct for the past two years. Building on our weekly regional newspaper Country News, Dairy Direct now brings the same uncompromising commitment to quality journalism for farmers. If you’re business needs to talk with dairy farmers, then talk to us. Dairy Direct can provide a targeted, cost-effective advertising solutions for the Gippsland region.

Give our Dairy Direct advertising team a call today.

James MacGibbon 0409 103 745

james.macgibbon@countrynews.com.au 42

APRIL 2015

Ashton Still 0403 156 726

ashton.still@countrynews.com.au

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APRIL 2015