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

Country News PUBLICATION

GIPPSLAND Issue 4, June 2015

Bouncing back after the wet » page 32 Maize on the rise » page 24 Raising healthy calves » page 28 Sharefarmers chose Gippsland from three continents » page 35

Missens on a mission with ENEGEL

Dairy farmer Wayne Missen and Castlegate James state manager Neil Cope.

After a lifetime in the dairy industry, dating back to a small family in Willung South, Wayne Missen and wife Diane now own and operate a successful dairy operation at Denison. Wayne and Diane run their operation together, wearing many different hats varying from owner, manager and accountant to labourer, nutritionist and at times, human resource officer. Throughout the journey, Wayne and Diane have seen a plethora of new ideas, products and salesmen all beating down their door to push the next big thing in dairy, often with little or no result. Faced with the tough decision on whether to invest in costly infrastructure such as silos, mixers and dairy feed systems, Wayne and Diane made the decision to start looking for an allpurpose total mix ration that would allow them to boost production without investing through the teeth. After talking with a

number of sales reps and nutritionists, Wayne eventually made contact with Neil Cope from Castlegate James. “I’ve known Wayne for about two years and through taking the time to understand his business, I was able to suggest a complete product that I knew would do the job,” Neil said. Wayne and Diane started using Castlegate James ENEGEL more than seven weeks ago and have not looked back. “Usually in the drying-off period we expect a slow decrease in numbers but with ENEGEL we were actually able to reverse the trend,” Wayne said. Using ENEGEL, Wayne went from milking 3800 litres per pick up to pushing production to more than 5500 litres in late lactation.

Currently, Wayne and Diane are adlib feeding ENEGEL to both fresh and stale cows with great results. The benefit of ENEGEL for Wayne is that it complements both his pasture silage and grassbased systems. The rapid turnaround in production following the insertion of ENEGEL into the feed program certainly created some excitement among the farmers in Denison. “Milk production came up substantially within 24 hours of using ENEGEL.” Wayne and Diane have traditionally run a grassbased system and prior to ENEGEL, they found that by April it is extremely hard to maintain production levels. “You can improve your system, but it usually takes a hell of a lot of money to

do it.” Wayne has not only been able to “do what the big players are doing” but he is now doing it easier, quicker and with, as he puts it, “no fuss”. With the cost of mixer wagons combined with associated “human elements”, many farmers are now looking for ways to gain the competitive edge not only in production but also in cost reduction. Neil Cope explained that Castlegate James now has a number of dairy operations using ENEGEL, ranging from 150 through to 700 plus cows, all of which are seeing a fantastic return on their investment. “It really is a game changer, we are seeing time and time again that ENEGEL has been able to increase production levels, even in late lactation.”

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“Usually in the drying-off period we expect a slow decrease in numbers but with ENEGEL we were actually able to reverse the trend,” Willung farmer Wayne Missen

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Wayne has been storing the ENEGEL on the ground between feed-outs and so far the product has been able to hold its integrity. When the cows tell Wayne it’s time to eat, Wayne simply loads the ENEGEL into a feed-out wagon, while Diane keeps the cows at bay. “On the first feed-out, the cows were a little cautious but now they eat it down to the ground and then some. ENEGEL is a complete product that does the job.” Diane and Wayne admitted they hadn’t been on a holiday since they flew up to greet their son after his tour of Afghanistan. Diane was quick to remind Wayne that was four years ago, to which Wayne promptly added “times flies when you’re having fun”. With any luck, Diane may now be able to make a case for a well-deserved break.

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REMINDERS FOR JULY Calves/heifers Calf losses are very expensive. Having a good planned system for calf rearing is very important, so to avoid the following may be useful: • Prevent disease by ensuring all calves receive good quality colostrum. • Disinfect calf pens on a regular basis, including rails and bedding. • Ensure calves have a good supply of good quality water, fibre and pellets. • Ensure you have a good supply of drugs, vaccinations and drenches for calves on hand. In the busy period of calving it can be easy to forget about weaned heifers. Heifers require good quality supplements (pellets or good quality hay of 9 MJ/kg or better) to provide the energy and protein for growth, if the pasture diet is less available during the winter. Cows Deaths of cows or losses of production are expensive and can be avoided by: • Planning your transition feeding to minimise the risk of metabolic disorders in fresh or calving cows. For more information go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au/Farm/ Feeding-cows/Nutrition-management.aspx • Having a plan for action when cows present with difficult calvings or metabolic disorders. • Making sure your calving area is clean enough for cows to calve without excessive contamination of teats, to better avoid mastitis. • Preventing nitrate poisoning when grazing forage oats, brassicas, or rye-grass pastures containing capeweed or marshmallow by avoiding grazing within 21 days of nitrogen application and by including other low-risk feeds in the diet before grazing these pastures. • Making time to watch your cows walking on laneways to check for sore feet. If poor track surfaces are causing lameness and foot problems, consider adding sawdust, woodchips, even hay (e.g. at the lead in/lead out from the dairy shed). The use of foot mats on the walk into the dairy in conjunction with copper sulphate can be an effective solution to foot soreness in cows. People If using staff, plan rosters to ensure you can get through the spring calving and harvest without staff being too exhausted to pay attention to detail. Dairy shed and machinery When the cows are dry or you have a reduced number of milkers, take the opportunity to carry out your annual shed maintenance tasks, e.g. check milking machine function and replace rubberware. Carry out preventative maintenance on fixed and mobile plant. Business Prepare cash flow budgets using the announced opening milk prices to see what your financial position will be for the year. Complete final quarterly BAS for the year and collate the year’s financials for the tax accountant. Consider assessing your business’ performance, calculate your pasture consumption using the DEPI online tool (www. dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/dairy/pastures-management/ calculator), calculate your per cow production and set new targets for the current year. Create a plan to reach your pasture consumption and per cow production targets. 4

JUNE 2015

Writers Danny Buttler and Geoff Adams Graphic designers Brendan Cain, Alysha Bathman, Bella Considine and Riverine Herald production team Advertising James MacGibbon james.macgibbon@ countrynews.com.au Cover: Tim and Grit in their Leongatha South dairy. Story page 32

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

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Are you reading someone else’s copy of Dairy Direct? If you are dairy farming and want to make sure you get your own copy contact Gippsdairy on 5624 3900. Please call as well, if you are getting more than you need.

Dairy Direct Murray Goulburn’s move to launch a capital restructure and list an entity on the stock exchange has been one of the most talked about decisions in the dairy industry in the first half of this year, but remains largely uncontroversial. Australia’s biggest dairy processor always finds itself as a talking point (if not the butt of a few jokes) just because of its size. So you will always get the stories going around about mistakes, strange decisions or market failures. As one farmer told me: to continue, despite the “I don’t care if the managing temptation to shift to a publicly director drives a Ferrari, as long listed company, similar to SPCas he’s getting us the best price.” Ardmona. If there was any sensitivity, it The challenge ahead for the is over the suppliers’ ability to MG board is to demonstrate retain control of the co-operative, how a co-operative can remain and to stick to its long-term goal highly competitive and offer top of delivering “the best price”. rewards to its supplier owners, in The co-operative structure is at a 2015 environment. the core of MG’s history and — Geoff Adams culture and suppliers have made it clear they want this approach Dairy Direct

contents

Camaraderie is the key It’s the people that drive a successful dairy industry. GippsDairy will be looking for new board members to fill positions to be vacated at October’s annual general meeting. Talking about the vacancies with my fellow directors got me thinking about the contribution made to the dairy industry by so many people. Looking around the table, I saw people who had travelled for hours to get there, putting the workload on the shoulders of partners, paying extra to employees and delaying jobs that would just have to be done the next day. I also saw board members from outside the industry who have put their hands up and asked “how can I help an industry that offers so much to the economic and social fabric of Gippsland?”. And it’s certainly not just GippsDairy that has committed people thinking about more than just their next milk cheque. From the Young Dairy Development Program committees around Gippsland to the Focus Farm support groups and informal discussion groups — people are giving their time and energy to the greater good. The willingness of people to share their knowledge and to help each other out is what sets the dairy industry apart. At any Focus Farm support group, neighbours will be telling each other how they can improve their farm management to run a better business. There’s no sense of competition — only a sense of camaraderie. I’ve been privileged to be on the GippsDairy

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Raw milk sale rejected

Winter fair plans to be big

Legend leaves amazing legacy

Down but not necessarily out

No easy answer to RFM problem 10

board since 2009 and chair since 2013. During that time it has become more obvious to me that the most important asset of the dairy industry isn’t cows, land or free trade agreements — it’s the people. Looking after existing farmers and developing the next generation is what will keep this industry strong. Farmers will always look after their own businesses and there are plenty of clever people working hard to secure the big picture economics of the industry. But more than any other agricultural industry, dairy relies on having passionate and committed people at its core. It’s these people who get out of bed hours before the sun rises. The people who drive to a meeting three hours away, despite the fact they don’t have enough hours in the day as it is. So when you see an ad for the GippsDairy board positions, give a few moments’ thought about whether it’s the right fit for you. But also consider the local discussion group, YDDP committee, water board or even the local school or netball club committee. Milk prices and the weather might be out of control, but we can make a difference in how we look after each other. Committing to the industry and community beyond our front gate makes a better future for all of us.

The right diet can reduce calving stress

Lessons in life

Lely robotic dairy opens in West Gippsland 16 Database to help farmers compare performance

Karen’s passion for dairy

Dairy steps up to offer career options 23 Maize grain good for milk production 24 Possible applications for maize grain in dairy diets

Beware residues in calves

Attention to detail essential in raising healthy calves

Commercial benefits of genomics increasing

Staying focused on the important things

Milking every opportunity

Farmers and fishers meet at Corner Inlet

Calendar of events

— Matt Gleeson GippsDairy chairman

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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.

Tricky road to holiday bliss Dairy farming is all about seasons: silage, hay, AI, pregnancy testing, calving, calf rearing and then it begins again. But my favourite season is holidays! The last “official” pre-holiday job is shifting the dry cows to the turn-out paddock. This involves droving the herd 10 km down the road, past other people’s bulls, the old district tip and through the state forest. We try to rope in as many people to help as possible. (Murphy’s Law guarantees the herd will disappear through any unguarded gateway or intersection in a flash.) If it’s not a school day, Junior helps. Dressed in his kid-sized fluoro vest and wielding a piece of poly pipe as big as him, he rarely lets a cow sneak past. He might only be seven but he’s already a master at bluffing the cows. (A set of lungs and energy supply disproportionate to his size helps.)

Last year, we had a wonderful Italian backpacker helping us. He and I were to walk along behind the cows. After the Ussain Bolts of the herd had stampeded ahead, two bovine stragglers got caught behind an old boundary fence near the tip. We had to push the cows backwards to get them to join the rest of the herd. Thee stragglers didn’t want to double back, instead breaking through another section of the fence into the kikuyu-covered piles of rubbish. Then they decided to separate. The Italian followed one and I followed the other. As he headed off, the last I heard was a string of foreign words that I instinctively knew couldn’t be used in front of my grandparents. Eventually, my cow took pity on me and headed back onto the road where she suddenly took off after the herd. She soon disappeared from sight. Puffing, I abandoned my gumboot-stunted jog and trudged after

her. I’d stopped to pull up my sock which had worked its way loose in my gumboot when a close friend pulled up. “Jump in,” she said. “I was just heading home. We can catch up and work at the same time.” We leisurely followed the cow back to the main herd in climate-controlled comfort. Now this was droving at its finest. No sweating, no gumboot blisters, no exposure to the elements. Once the delinquent was safely deposited among her better-behaved colleagues, it was time to find our missing backpacker. And hopefully, his cow. Eventually we located them and the entire herd was safely locked up in their new paddock. The countdown to holidays had begun! “That’s a good job done,” Hubby said. “Time to start the ‘unofficial’ pre-holiday jobs.” I thought of the foreign words I’d heard earlier in the day. Dare I repeat them?

dairy news Raw milk sale rejected Safety concerns foremost in voting down of motion to allow sale of raw product. The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria has rejected a motion by the West Goulburn branch to lobby for the sale of raw milk at its annual meeting. The resolution was voted down unanimously, citing “significant safety concerns to the general public”. The motion stated: “The UDV lobby to amend the dairy licence conditions to allow the sale of unpasteurised, natural fresh milk to be available for purchase by the general public for human consumption under regulated conditions”. Stanhope dairy farmer and West Goulburn branch member Alison Couston 6

JUNE 2015

said she was disappointed the motion didn’t get voted through. “We think raw milk is a very healthy product and we want it to be sold under proper regulations,” Mrs Couston said. “It’s another market for our farmers as well.” “We supported the state government and Dairy Food Safety Victoria’s management of the issue earlier this year that saw an unfortunate death of a young child from consuming raw milk,” UDV president Adam Jenkins said. Katunga’s Daryl Hoey spoke passionately against the resolution, concerned for general public safety. “Such a move could put the entire dairy industry at risk just like we have seen before,” he said.

Winter fair plans to be big Following on from their success last year, organisation for the 2015 National Herd Development Victorian Winter Fair at is well under way. Organisers Stu and Claire Modra said the event would again be held at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre Prince of Wales Showgrounds Bendigo, starting with a gala dinner on Tuesday, June 30. This year will see a change in the program with judging to be held over two days to cater for increasing numbers and improve interaction between sponsors and visitors. “We are really looking forward to this year’s event. Last year we had a few teething problems but we have ironed them out for this year and things are looking awesome,” Mrs Modra said. “We are expecting around 250 head this year up from 210. The Australian Holstein Showcase Sale will again run on the Wednesday

night and we are expecting similar lot numbers of around 45 for that too.” Dry heifer classes start at 10 am on Wednesday, followed by the showcase sale at 7 pm. Thursday will see the in-milk classes get under way. World reknowned judge Perry Phend from Wisconsin will preside over the ring and he is looking forward to seeing what Australia has to offer. Mr Phend is an accomplished dairy cattle judge who has officiated at many state shows and fairs around the globe. He has judged World Dairy Expo three times and worked for many well-known herds including Carrousel Farm, Lylehaven, Rolling Lawns and Nabholz Farm. This will be his first time judging in Australia. Entry forms and more information can be found at www. victorianwinterfair.webs.com

dairy news Legend leaves amazing legacy MISTRO software founder Mike Larcombe will be missed by many. The Australian dairy industry has lost one of its legends with the death of MISTRO software founder Mike Larcombe. Dr Larcombe, 54, died peacefully at home in Sale on April 26 after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease and just hours after finishing his latest software development for the herd improvement industry. Industry leaders have described him as a visionary “legend” whose innovations and programs will continue to help dairy farmers for years to come. Dr Larcombe leaves a lasting legacy for Australian and international dairy farmers with software and computer systems that revolutionised herd recording and made life easier for farmers across a wide spectrum of programs. Despite his physical ailments that left him with no movement for the past nine months, Dr Larcombe continued to work until the day before his death by using eye tracking software. A qualified vet and former dairy farm owner,

solutions to help dairy farmers manage their Dr Larcombe turned his interest and expertise into the development of a broad range of operations — including automated drafting, software programs for farmers. ID and feeding. His MISTRO farm management software NHIA general manager Carol Millar said Dr packages developed for Hico Australia have Larcombe “didn’t seem to be the kind of bloke become the mainstay of Australia’s herd testing who wanted to conquer the world, but in his systems and are also used extensively in New own quiet way, he did”. Zealand, Brazil and Kenya. ADHIS general manager Daniel Abernethy He also worked as a consultant to farmers described Dr Larcombe as one of Australia’s across Australia and overseas. leaders in data, data transfer and herd In the early 1990s the need for a national herd improvement systems. recording system was widely recognised and Holstein Australia chief executive officer Dr Larcombe filled the void with MISTRO Graeme Gillan said it was hard to put a value being launched in 1994 and soon expanding on Dr Larcombe’s contribution. well beyond Maffra. “He was multi-faceted,” Mr Gillan said. MISTRO Farm for farmers was released “You firstly think of MISTRO but he in 1996 as the first of a suite of products contributed to a whole range of important developed to make farmers’ lives easier, software that remains important to our followed by MISTRO Finance in 2000. industry.” Around this time, Dr Larcombe and his Mr Larcombe is survived by his wife Sue and wife Sue purchased a 450-cow dairy near his children Andrew and Louise. A celebration Heyfield which inspired him to develop even more software products to provide of his life was held in Sale on May 10.

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Down but not necessarily out Good care is top of the list in the successful treatment of downer cows. and nerves. This is worse if the cow is Diagnosing and treating downer cows unable to swap sides by herself or isn’t rolled can be a complex management problem regularly by the farmer. for producers, but according to cattle veterinarians good nursing care is the key to “If the primary syndrome isn’t resolved successful recovery. quickly, with the animal being able to stand and walk, it will inevitably lead to more A ‘downer cow’ is typically defined as a cow problems. unable or unwilling to stand, and often happens in cows during late pregnancy or “If producers are unsure of the problem, it’s which have recently calved. important they seek veterinary attention to ensure the cows are either treated correctly According to Australian Veterinary or euthanased promptly for those unlikely to Association spokesperson Dr Phil Poulton, survive.” nursing of downer cows can be labourintensive and time-consuming — but without According to Dr Poulton, nursing strategies it, secondary damage will occur. for downer cows include: “Any cow that is down for any reason is at • Mineral treatments such as calcium, risk of developing secondary damage, which magnesium and phosphorus; often prevents them from recovering,” he • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; said. • Physiotherapy; • Adequate amounts of soft bedding; “This damage occurs because prolonged lying • Rolling to minimise muscle swelling; down results in heavy pressure on muscles

• Barriers to restrict movement and avoid secondary damage from crawling; • Supervised lifting to aid blood flow and muscle movement; • Adequate shelter — particularly from cold environments; • Easy access to food and water; • Lots of tender love and care; and • Strategies for returning the downer cow to the herd. “Recent research has shown that the chances of success are strongly linked to the quality of the nursing care with cows eight times more likely to survive than those nursed poorly, Dr Poulton said. “The management of downer cows is an important animal welfare issue for the cattle industries and it must be done well.” A range of resources on downer cows are available on Dairy Australia’s website.

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animal health

Amy Ruby, Yarram Vet Centre

No easy answer to RFM problem A combination of tactics is best defence against a stinky and potentially deadly condition. RFM (retained foetal membranes) is a dirty word. It makes grown men vomit and loving partners banish you. With the end of autumn calving fast approaching and the joys of spring yet to come, retained membranes are as relevant as ever. The ruminant placenta has unique attachments made up of maternal caruncles, mushroom-like growths which protrude from the internal surface of the uterus, and the foetal cotyledons, areas that interdigitate and cup the maternal caruncles to form entities known as placentomes. It is via these placentomes that the cow can supply the essentials to her foetus.

At the beginning of calving, a complex cascade of hormonal changes starts the process of birth and eventual placental detachment. Detachment is also aided by a maternal immune response against the foetal material (inflammation), mechanical forces created by the uterus contracting and a reduction in blood supply to the uterus once the calf is delivered. All these factors normally help the detachment and expulsion of the placenta within 12 to 24 hours of calving. After this time, the membranes are considered to be retained. Why should we be concerned? Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll eventually come out themselves. Well, yes,

they will. The placentomes will eventually weaken and break apart over six to 10 days, however in the meantime the pendulous membranes have provided bacteria from every surface and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stairway to bug heaven. Then we have metritis, an infection in the uterus. The consequences are nearly as endless as the causes. Apart from the obvious septicaemia and death (which does happen in severe cases), there can be a reduction in initial milk production post-calving but more importantly there can be a lengthening to the time between calving and next service, and reduced conception rates at first mating. There is a known link between retained membranes,

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mastitis and ketosis. From there we can create a spider web: production loss due to mastitis, further progression to other health issues such as left displaced abomasums and endometritis causing chronic infertility. There is also the inconvenience — everyone will have been blessed with the startling caress of RFM’s cold, stinking and slimy touch or enjoyed a warm, fetid shower of its marinade while milking. It’s just not cricket! Why does it happen? There are the standard calving problems where assistance is required whether it be a malpresented or deformed calf, twins or a calf too large for the pelvis of the cow. Calving induction, abortion, previous damage to the uterus (for example, Caesarians) all increase the risks of RFM. Infections such as leptospirosis and pestivirus may directly cause abortion or increase stress on the maternal immune system, reducing the cow’s ability to detach the membranes. Very good body condition (obesity) or a deficiency in energy and protein pre-calving may reduce the mechanical forces required to expel the calf as well as the placenta, increasing the need for intervention and assisted calving. Low calcium levels and subsequently postpartum hypocalcaemia (milk fever) will also reduce uterine contraction. Studies have shown that there is an association between marginal blood selenium levels and the incidence of retained membranes. Iodine and

vitamin A levels are also important. What can be done? There is unfortunately no single, instant cure. The process of normal membrane detachment is complex, so are the possible causes. This means the prevention and treatment of RFM can be just as confusing. A herd problem of greater than 10 per cent RFM may be due to one or a multitude of causes. As always prevention is better than cure. Pre-calving care of cows is always important — lead feeding and pre-calving rations containing appropriate energy and protein requirement and well as vitamins and minerals. Not every farm will have the same mineral requirements. Soil testing and a good nutritionalist can help avoid the ongoing battle with calcium levels (you might be surprised what can affect calcium in a cow, it isn’t necessarily due to a lack of dairy in her diet). Studies suggest an injection of selenium or Vitamin E three weeks before calving may reduce the risk of RFM, metritis and cystic ovaries. This may be incorporated with other vitamin and mineral injections and vaccinations (don’t forget the need for good quality colostrum, containing strong maternal antibodies for a healthy calf ). There will always be RFM. It is the smell that often distinguishes dairy vets from the

general populace. Prevention measures may be implemented but there will always be the exception to the rule. There are various schools of thought. The latest is than manual removal is more for our benefit than the cow’s. Removal of the membranes, especially at an early stage postcalving, can cause further damage to the lining of the uterus, creating a higher chance of infection. Should you cut them off? Well, yes and no. Trimming the exposed membranes will reduce wicking of infection into the uterus but potentially delay expulsion due to the lack of gravitational pull on the exposed membranes. Use of calcium, prostaglandins (PG) and oxytocin at time of calving can have the benefit of improving uterine contraction and hence expulsion of membranes, if this is the only cause for retention. PG is often used later in the process if metritis is a factor. Antibiotics at point of calving may do little or in fact delay detachment. They should be reserved for use if infection is evident. The best option is often to monitor. Minimise the contamination of the exposed membranes to reduce the chance of metritis developing by providing clean areas for fresh cows to lie. Be vigilant for signs of metritis — a drop in milk production, fever and an off-colour look. Metritis is a far dirtier word than RFM.

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The right diet can reduce calving stress Improved nutrition in the three weeks before calving will benefit cows and farmers. Calving time is very stressful for the dairy cow’s body. From four weeks before calving to four weeks after calving (called the transition period), the cow undergoes a series of dramatic metabolic changes that allow her body to adapt to the challenges of calving, lactation and re-breeding. It is a stressful time for people, too. There are so many tasks to attend to at this time and cow health issues around calving just add to the load. Effective pre-calving transition nutrition can reduce this stress. We used to think of transition feeding mainly from the perspective of controlling milk fever, but we now know that an integrated nutritional approach brings many benefits. There are five key aims for effective transition nutrition: 1. Meet the cow’s increasing demand for energy and protein; 2. Maintain dry matter intake; 3. Adapt the cow’s rumen to the post-calving diet; 4. Minimise the risk of milk fever and other cow health problems; and 5. Minimise body condition loss and the risk of ketosis and fatty liver. If these five key aims are achieved, the benefits are considerable: • The cow is set up for a productive lactation. Milk production responses of 300 to 500 litres per lactation have been reported in research trials where cows were fed well-balanced transition diets pre-calving. Recent Australian research in commercial herds indicates the production benefit obtained is greatest when a wellbalanced transition diet is fed for just over three weeks pre-calving. 12

JUNE 2015

transition diets pre-calving, the greater the • Almost no clinical cases of milk fever in reproductive benefit and the lower the risk of the herd. In fact, if more than three per cows dying or being culled. cent of your calving cows go down with milk fever within 14 days of calving, you However, because transition feeding cows need to seek help. for more than 24 days has potential negative • Very low incidence of other health effects on the risk of milk fever and does not problems soon after calving. Milk fever is give any additional production benefit, three a ‘gateway disease’ which leads to a higher weeks is recommended. risk of other diseases, including mastitis, How much you have to gain from improved ketosis, retained placenta, displaced transition nutrition on your farm depends abomasum and uterine prolapse. Therefore, on: controlling milk fever has the added • Which approach to transition feeding you benefit of reducing the incidence of other are willing and able to use; diseases too. • Your current levels of milk fever and other • Reduced death and culling rates around cow health problems; calving. Health problems around calving • Your current herd production and can lead to poor outcomes — even if cows reproductive performance; and survive, they have less chance of getting • How well you set up and implement your back in calf early in the joining period so transition feeding program so as to gain they have more chance of being culled. the full potential benefit it offers. • Improved herd reproductive performance. However, one thing is clear — the more Research suggests that reproductive done to help the cow successfully adapt to performance improves when a wellthe challenges of calving, lactation and rebalanced pre-calving transition diet is breeding, the greater the benefit. fed — up to five per cent higher sixDepending on the approach used, a week/100-day in-calf rate and five per cent transition feeding program could cost lower not-in-calf rate. between $20 and $60 per cow, but return a • Improved animal welfare. A smoother net benefit of up to $200 or more per cow transition with fewer health problems (after additional labour and feed costs are means that cows are coping better with accounted for). Successfully managing the this stressful period. transition period is a win for your cows, your • Less time and stress spent treating sick people and your farm business. and downer cows. Not only is effective transition nutrition good for your cows For more information, consult your and your bottom line, it also reduces nutrition adviser or visit the Dairy calving hassles for people on the farm. Australia website at www.dairyaustralia. Farmers who have implemented effective com.au/TCM transition feeding find that calving runs For more information on this article phone more smoothly and appreciate not having Dr Sarah Chaplin on 5833 5273 or email to treat so many sick cows. sarah.chaplin@ecodev.vic.gov.au Timing is important — aim to feed a — Steve Little, Capacity Ag and Dr Sarah transition diet for a full three weeks before Chaplin, DEDJTR calving. The longer cows spend on the

The extra care they could get used to.

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Lessons in life

“

The bottom line is, not many people get to be their own boss, and there are a lot of pluses in that. Sylvia Vagg

”

Sylvia Vagg on her Leongatha South dairy farm.

JUNE 2015

Sylvia Vagg believes everyone should be given the chance to be the best they can be. Many people would have looked for another career if they had faced what Sylvia Vagg encountered in her early days of rural education. As a young teacher with a diploma in agricultural education, she asked to be posted to a rural school. She found herself working in Glenroy in Melbourne’s (then) outer northern suburbs. When she applied to become an agricultural extension officer, she was promptly told that women weren’t suitable for the job. Decades later, Mrs Vagg has stepped away from an esteemed career as a leader in agricultural education with a love of dairy farming and what it can bring to individuals and the community. Speaking at her Leongatha South dairy farm, Mrs Vagg showed the energy and passion of someone who has spent a lifetime working in an industry she loves. “I’m one of those very lucky people who is able to work in a field that’s their passion, and I’ve got a passion for young people, or anybody, to be the best they can be,” she said. With a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Science, Diploma of Education and Masters level training in business leadership and education, Mrs Vagg could have written her own ticket to whatever career she wanted. But it is the 253 ha dairy farm (with a beef herd) that she owns with husband Gordon that is the basis of a life built around the dairy industry. Her off-farm career has seen her rise to become head of McMillan Campus in Warragul and transfer her skills to the National Centre for Dairy Education when University of Melbourne walked away from McMillan. It was a tumultuous period, but one in which Sylvia showed great resolve and courage in looking after staff and managing the ongoing educational needs of the industry.

After nine years of managing the Dairy Australia contract with Goulburn Ovens TAFE, Mrs Vagg is stepping away for a quieter life, but one in which she will still be actively involved in the dairy community. It’s been a long haul in the ag education sector, but Mrs Vagg was determined that she would never became stale. “I’ve had to reinvent myself. I don’t think I’ve ever run the same program more than once,” she said. “I started in the sector in 1982, but it was no different then — the people may be different but the challenges are very similar. “Those challenges are: how well they cope with their business management skills, their decision-making skills, and helping small business people make the best decisions they can. “There’s no group of people who are the same — they all have different needs and different challenges, and it’s great to work in a rural community like Leongatha.” During her decades in dairy education, Mrs Vagg has helped educate farmers who have had sons and daughters graduate with similar qualifications. “I’ve seen a few, not many though, because not too many farmers encourage their kids to stay on the farm, unlike Gordon and I,” she said. The Vagg children — Sam, Benjamin and Rebekah — are all forging careers in agriculture, perhaps as a result of watching parents who loved every minute of life in the dairy industry. Too many farmers, Mrs Vagg believes, deter their children from staying on the land because they don’t show them how good a lifestyle it can be. “Instead of making lifestyle decisions, they’ve been making purely business decisions, which are not necessarily in favour of lifestyle. They often only think of the cash rewards,” she said. “Gordon and I see ourselves as small business people. “The bottom line is, not many people get to be their own boss, and there are a lot of pluses in that.”

Sylvia Vagg has spent more time in the education sector than the calf shed. JUNE 2015

Lely robotic dairy opens in West Gippsland West Gippsland dairy farmers Darryl and Trudi Hammond installed six Lely Astronaut A4 milking robots in March. The Hammonds are one of a growing number of Australian dairy farming families who have installed a Darryl and Trudi Hammond Lely robotic milking system. with their son Finn. Their farm at Buln Buln, just out of Warragul, has been in Mrs Hammond’s family for 46 “The system is voluntary and feed driven, • and Soft floor years milks 450properties to 500 cows atreduces its peak. lameness & increases profit therefore removing cow stress. The reduction Flooring of choice by AustralianofDairy Mr•and Mrs Hammond were previously stress is Farmers due to minimal human interference,” milking through an automated 20-unit & recommended • MLA & RSPCA approved he said. double-up herringbone, which needed • Creates beast contentment which reduces anxiety replacing, so they looked through the available “Free cow traffic allows cows to flow accordingly to the hierarchy rules in the herd and leads to • Patented options of installing‘SureFoot®’ a rotary compareddesign to a relaxed cow behaviour.” robotic milking system. In turn, Mr Hammond said farmers faced a Robotic milking is a revolutionary step in much lighter workload and could choose when dairy technology that offers the potential to they wanted to be in the shed. increase production and at the same time reduce stress on animals and people. Not only does the Lely Astronaut A4 automate milking, it automatically cleans the milk lines and Mr Hammond said they saw robots as a the robots three times a day, and automatically long-term commitment and liked what washes the vat after the milk is removed. Lely stood for.

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convinced they make a difference . . . Begin with a problem area - you’ll be The system is designed to improve animal health and it is built around the cow. Mr Hammond said the cows weren’t too difficult to teach. “About four days for the average cow until they were comfortable,” he said. The cow is able to decide when she eats, gets milked, or lies down, therefore reducing stress. When asked if the Hammonds would go back to the old way they used to milk cows, they both had the same view: “No way, not a chance. We would probably get out of dairying.”

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ELI INNOVATION Eli Innovation is the only manufacturer of Australian made and designed Automatic Cup Removers and Milk Meters. During its decade of Gippsland operations, Eli has continued to win best practice awards and government grants. Things certainly didn’t start as smoothly. The company was originally formed by a Melbourne group to manufacture a milk meter prototype by the Ellinbank Dairy Research Farm. While it had huge potential, it was fast-tracked without proper development and product failures drove the company into liquidation. It was time for industry experts to take back the reins. Warragul businessman Greg Cole purchased Eli Innovation in 2004, bringing on Gippsland farmers and engineers to redevelop the product. Using local dairies for in-field testing, the punt proved successful. They developed a range of integrated systems and have gone on to sell over 10,000 units across Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Staying in touch with farm needs by providing customised solutions and on-the-ground technical support, Eli is now known for its well-considered and intuitive systems.

Winners: 2014 Gippsland Business

Awards

(Manufacturing & Industrial)

Eli Innovation chalked up an impressive win last year, taking out the Manufacturing and Industrial category at the 2014 Gippsland Business Awards. Eli beat out Gippy Foods for the win, the retail brand of Longwarry Food Park which lists $100m+ turnover. The win was preceded by a $10,000 Government grant to help establish a market for its milk meters in New Zealand. The company is currently setting up distribution channels and will be trading across the Tasman in 2015. (Inset: Eli Innovation with their award)

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“We have had the Eli Milk Meters in operation for over 10 years; they have been very successful and an undeniable asset to the business. The overall service and backup support provided by Eli is one that we could not survive without, even after hours call outs and the smallest issues. The whole Eli system is one that we rely heavily upon to run the business.”

- Ray & Sue Howe, Bonnie View Pastoral

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dairy news Database to help farmers compare performance A new web-based system called DairyBase to help farmers assess their farm performance and compare it to others was expected to be launched by Dairy Australia in late May. DairyBase will provide dairy farmers, service providers and industry with a national database of Dairy Farm Monitor Project (DFMP) data and other datasets from consultants and other service providers. It will offer dairy farmers a free web-based system to allow them to measure their business performance, make anonymous comparisons and learn new insights to help their farms become more profitable. Ken Kimber from Bega who milks about 1100 cows believes it will be good for farms. “For years I have been trying to get my own figures in some sort of order so I can compare myself when I see publications about people’s cost per kg of milk solids,” Mr Kimber said. “At last there is a format I can enter very

easily and know myself I am organised, and wether I compare myself to other farmers is my own business, but at least it gets me in an organised format.” Dairy Australia program manager Neil Lane said the key benefit of DairyBase was that it gave farmers and their advisors the information and analysis they needed to have well-informed discussions about farm performance. “This is about having a better understanding of the numbers in the farm business, particularly how the physical aspect of the business relates to the financial,” he said. “They can then discuss topics such as achieving short and long-term goals, opportunities to improve operations, how they stack up against other farms, whether their farm expenses are in line with similar farms and what decisions need to be made to improve their position.”

What is DairyBase? DairyBase is a secure, web-based tool that enables dairy farmers to measure and compare their farm business. After entering their farm data, farmers can then create confidential and comprehensive farm reports to help them understand the overall financial performance of their farm. DairyBase will be of great benefit to dairy farmers who want to reduce on-farm costs, boost profitability and formulate annual business plans. All individual farm data remains confidential to the farm business owner. DairyBase helps farmers to: • Compare their own farm business over time • Identify opportunities to drive profit and reduce risk • Make more informed business decisions • Generate benchmarks according to farm size, region and production system • Create annual reports and forecasts. ™ For further information go to: Act II Afi ™ www.dairyaustralia.com.au Afi ActionIIsolut The next-generat ion for the accurateion heat detect Themost next-generat solut ion ion ™ for the most accurate heat detect ion The next-generat ion solut ion for the most accurate heat detect ion

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Karen’s passion for dairy Karen Romano is perfect for her new dairy extension role. The saying you can take the girl out of the country but not the country out of the girl holds true for GippsDairy’s newest staff member Karen Romano. Mrs Romano grew up on a dairy farm at Macks Creek near Yarram and has spent most of her career working in agriculture in roles as a dairy extension officer, at Macalister Demonstration Farm and in Sydney with the Australian Farm Institute working on farm policy issues. Having returned to Gippsland with her husband and five daughters, she has re-joined GippsDairy in a similar role to the one she last held in 2009 as projects and events coordinator. This is an exciting turn of events for Mrs Romano who is passionate about the dairy industry and the Gippsland Region. “I’ll be responsible for the delivery of GippsDairy’s portfolio of projects to the Gippsland dairy industry and engaging with industry stakeholders to develop new projects,” she said. “I will also be responsible for the planning and delivery of industry events that address regional needs and showcase the dairy industry to current and future farmers.”

An important skill that Mrs Romano brings to her role is her ability to develop networks that can attract funding to the Gippsland dairy industry at a time when money for research and industry development is becoming difficult to access. “I hope to be able to identify dairy industry needs and then use my project development skills to create research, development and extension projects that benefit Gippsland’s dairy industry and its people,” she said. “More importantly, I want to help farmers adapt to a changing operating environment, and achieve a profitable, sustainable dairy industry.” She believes that dairy farmers must drive the agenda for industry development, with all initiatives aimed at increasing their ability to farm the land more effectively. “I want to make sure that I am not just sitting here as a desk job, I want to make sure I’m connected with my community and that I’m bringing real issues to the table that people want tackled,” Mrs Romano said. “I think it is important that farmers feel they are getting value from their industry levy payments. “That’s why at GippsDairy we need to be

Point. Click. Grow.

asking farmers what issues need to be addressed, so we can tailor what we do here to come up with some real Karen Romano benefits for them. “Benefits can take many forms, including higher returns or better regulatory outcomes.” Karen said she had been impressed by developments in the industry during the past five years. Now her challenge is to help an already wellrun industry develop even further. GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah said regaining Mrs Romano and her extensive knowledge of the industry would strengthen GippsDairy’s ability to service the needs of farmers. “Attracting quality people like Karen is vital as we try to further develop the Gippsland dairy industry,” he said. For Mrs Romano, working on behalf of dairy farmers is what comes naturally after a lifetime of enjoyment in the industry. “I had the best childhood ever growing up on a dairy farm and I love the people and their cando attitude and positivity,” she said.

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I reckon if they could talk, they’d ask for it by name.

If we could talk we’d be on TV.

The MaxCare range of milk replacers has been created to deliver maximum growth, nutrition and health support for calves like Kim and Khloé in the all-important first few weeks. Choose from Essential, Premium and Ultimate for different levels of performance depending on the particular needs of your animals. Available now. To learn more visit our website or call 0439 773 145. maxumanimal.com.au

And asking for Champagne with breakfast.

Dairy Australia managing director Ian Halliday presented Foster’s Hayden Hanratty (left) and Jason Riley from Dumbalk with their respective winner and runner-up awards for outstanding NCDE/GOTAFE students of the year.

Poowong’s Peta Dorrity with the Stepping Stones guide which was launched by Dairy Australia managing director Ian Halliday (right), seen here with Dairy Australia colleague Shane Hellwege.

GippsDairy directors Edwin Vandenberg and Grant Williams enjoying the Stepping Stones launch with Grant’s wife Leesa and GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah.

GippsDairy’s workforce co-ordinator Jeanette White helped launch Stepping Stones with Jason McEwan from Meeniyan.

Longwarry farmer John Versteden made a speech acknowledging Sylvia Vagg’s service to dairy education.

GippsDairy director Dr Sinead de Gooyer, guest speaker Natalie Collard and ADF president, Noel Campbell.

Dairy steps up to offer career options Stepping Stones is a guide to help people choose the right dairy career pathway. People planning a career in the dairy industry can now use Stepping Stones to help find the right pathway. Providing information on the different types of careers available in the industry, the newly released guide is aimed at those looking to enter dairying or who want to progress their existing careers. Stepping Stones, which was launched at Lardner Park on May 6, offers real life examples of Gippslanders who currently work in the industry, share-farm or own their own farms. The launch was jointly held with the graduation of National Centre for Dairy Education/GOTAFE students. NCDE, which helped develop Stepping Stones, sees it as a critical development for the dairy industry. “Stepping Stones is a welcome addition to the human resources tool kit for the Gippsland dairy industry and the broader community,” NCDE’s commercial manager agriculture (Gippsland) Luke Prime said. “Stepping Stones gives people of all ages and backgrounds a framework to plan or review their career or education pathway, while offering employers and employees a framework to start professional development discussions.” Mr Prime said Stepping Stones would

combine with other existing regional resources such as the Gippsland Dairy Services Guide (available through NCDE, DEDJTR or GippsDairy) and the NCDE course guide (available from NCDE) to offer individuals a starting point to make informed decisions around investment in professional development. “The National Centre for Dairy Education, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (NCDE/ GOTAFE) offers obligation-free career and education planning appointments for individuals in the Gippsland dairy industry or those considering entering into it,” he said. These appointments can be conducted on-farm or at one of the three Gippsland campuses at Warragul, Leongatha or Sale. GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah said Stepping Stones would prove to be an important tool in developing the next generation of dairy farmers and employees. “Dairying is a great career and Stepping Stones will help people make the journey towards where they want to go in their careers,” he said. “The industry has a real need to grow its workforce to provide for the needs of modern dairy farms. “Stepping Stones, which is part-funded by dairy service levy funds, is a key plank in building an even more productive and profitable dairy industry in Gippsland.”

The booklet features stories from people who have made it into the industry via a number of different paths. Will Colbert, a share-farmer who enjoys the responsibility of running a business, was a senior farm hand when he purchased 22 Jersey heifers and started to explore share-farming options. He currently manages a farm in a 50 per cent share-farming arrangement, milking 150 cows on 100 ha and aims to increase the herd size each year. Kellie Price is another inspiring story from Stepping Stones. Ms Price is a farm manager who started her dairy career while still at school, completing her apprenticeship, working as a farm hand and gaining valuable off-farm industry experience. She now manages a 180 ha farm which milks 460 cows. Whether you want work on a dairy farm or own your own property, Stepping Stones can be the first step on a pathway to achieving your career goal. Stepping Stones is funded by Dairy Australia and was developed in collaboration with NCDE and GippsDairy. An electronic copy can be downloaded via the internet at www.thepeopleindairy.org.au with hard copies available by phoning GippsDairy on 5624 3900. JUNE 2015

Maize grain good for

milk production

Grain is becoming a more significant component in cows’ diets.

With maize grain now a similar price to wheat, there is increased interest in including it in dairy cow diets. This article briefly discusses how grains provide starch for energy, how maize grain compares nutritionally to other grains, and the possible applications for maize grain in dairy cow diets. As Australian dairy farmers have steadily intensified their operations over the past 30 years by increasing herd numbers and milk production per cow, grain has become a significant component of the diet for most dairy farmers. Today, grain and grain-based concentrates support about 25–30 per cent of all milk produced in Australia, with 95 per cent of dairy farmers feeding grain at an average of about 1.6 tonnes of grain or grain-based concentrates per cow per year. Larger herds tend to feed higher rates of grain and grain-based concentrates than smaller herds, and some dairying regions tend to feed more than others. In the 1980s and 1990s, barley and triticale were the predominant grains fed to Australian dairy cows. However, since the late 1990s, wheat has become more commonly used.

JUNE 2015

Other grains fed to dairy cows, particularly in the more northern dairying regions of Australia, are maize grain and sorghum. To understand how maize grain might play a greater role in Australian dairy cow diets in future, it is necessary to have a reasonable understanding of how cows consume, digest and absorb nutrients from grain. Dairy cows are ruminants Dairy cows are ruminant animals. They have a complex digestive system which enables them to digest fibrous plant material. Their stomach has four compartments (rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum), each of which has a specific role to play in the breakdown of feed. Most of the absorption of nutrients in the feed occurs after the rumen when digested feed reaches the small and large intestines. The cow’s rumen is a massive fermentation vat (200 litres) which is home to many populations of different microbes which specialise in breaking down different types of feedstuffs, and provide food for the cow in their own right. Some digest fibre, while others digest sugars and starch. Grains are digested more rapidly by microbes in the rumen than fibrous feeds (but not as rapidly as sugars).

The number and proportion of each type of microbe in the rumen varies in response to the cow’s diet. A stable temperature and pH must be maintained in the rumen at all times to maintain thriving populations of microbes and function efficiently. As ruminant nutritionists often say: a happy rumen; a happy cow. Grains provide starch for energy When dairy farmers buy and feed grains, they are really buying and feeding starch as a means to increase their cows’ daily metabolisable energy (ME) intakes, for milk production or body condition gain. The starch in grains eaten by cows is digested at three sites: the rumen, small intestine and large intestine. • Rumen: Starch digested by the microbes in the cow’s rumen is converted into volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and fermentation gases. The VFAs are absorbed through the rumen wall into the blood stream, transported to the liver and used as an energy source. • Small intestine: Starch which escapes microbial digestion in the rumen is washed down undigested into the small intestine. If digested in the small intestine, it yields glucose which the cow can use immediately

Key points • Grains provide cows with starch for energy. • Maize grain is higher in energy density and starch content, and has a slower rate of rumen fermentation. • Maize may be useful as a complementary grain to wheat: – when grain is fed at high levels per cow per day; – when cows are freshly calved; – when cows are at increased risk of ruminal acidosis; and – in hot weather. • To optimise milk responses from maize grain, processing prior to feeding needs to carefully control particle size.

Figure 1. Example showing effect of grain type on rate of in vitro rumen digestion

Gas production (mL)

Source: Dunshea et al 2012

140 120 100 80

Wheat Maize

60 40 20 0

0 12 24 36 48 Time (h)

Table 1. Approximate nutrient specifications of grains Grain type

Energy density (MJ ME/kg DM)

Starch content (% DM)

Rate of rumen fermentation (+ = slow, +++++ = fast)

Crude Protein content (% DM)

Maize

13.5 (12–16)

70–75

9.5

Wheat

13 (12–14)

65–70

+++++

12–13

Barley

12 (11.5–13.5)

55–60

+++

12–13.5

Oats

11 (9–13)

45–50

11.5–12

Sorghum

11 (7–13)

65–70

10.5

Sorghum (steam-flaked)

12 (9–14)

65–70

11.5

DM = Dry matter

(releasing more energy than if the starch was fermented in the rumen).Large intestine: Starch not digested and absorbed in the small intestine is subjected to microbial digestion in the large intestine. Any starch eaten which is not digested is passed out in the cow’s manure. Nutrient value of maize grain compared with other grains When comparing the nutritional value of maize grain to other grains, the key

parameters are energy density, starch content, rate of rumen fermentation and protein content. Maize grain: • has a marginally higher metabolisable energy (ME) density than other grains; • is also higher in starch than other grains; • ferments at a slower rate per hour in the rumen than other grains; and • is generally lower in crude protein (CP) than other grains. See Table 1.

Figure 1 illustrates how maize grain ferments in the rumen more slowly than wheat, as measured by the amount of gas produced during microbial digestion. The rate of fermentation of grains varies with cultivar. For maize grain, it depends on whether the endosperm is vitreous (slower digesting) or floury (faster digesting). If maize grain is fed at a high rate/cow/day, additional rumen degradable protein and undegradable protein supplementation will be required to meet cow requirements. >> Continued on page 24 JUNE 2015

>> Continued from page 25

Possible applications for maize grain in dairy diets Incorporating a slower digesting source of starch such as maize grain in milking cow diets may be potentially beneficial in several ways: 1) As a complementary grain to wheat when grain is fed at high levels per cow/day Research at Vic — DEDJTR’s dairy research centre at Ellinbank has found that at high levels of grain / grain-based concentrate feeding, replacing some of the wheat with a slower digesting source of starch such as maize grain can, in some situations, help cows maintain a more stable rumen pH, avoid the milk fat depression often seen when diets high in wheat are fed, and produce more milk. Maize grain is the preferred grain to be fed in combination with wheat. A grain-based concentrate fed to a high production herd at say 8 kg to 10 kg/ cow/day could, for example, include a mix of two-thirds to three-quarters wheat and one quarter to one third

maize grain, plus a protein supplement such as canola meal and other ingredients. 2) Whenever cows are at increased risk of ruminal acidosis Whenever a dairy herd has an increased risk of ruminal acidosis, and where a moderate to high level of grain/grainbased concentrate is being fed, replacing some of the wheat with a slower digesting source of starch such as maize grain may help mitigate that risk. 3) For freshly calved cows If practical to do so, feeding cows a slower digesting source of starch such as maize grain in their first three-four weeks after calving may help them more easily overcome feed intake suppression experienced early in lactation. 4) In hot weather Hot weather reduces a cow’s appetite

(and energy intake), reduces their ability to digest and absorb feed nutrients and requires them to burn more energy to try to keep cool. With its relatively high energy density and low fibre content, inclusion of some maize in the diet may help to reduce the risk of acidosis, reduce the heat load on the cow and maintain the cow’s daily intake of metabolisable energy and other nutrients to support milk production. Processing maize grain prior to feeding to dairy cow diets With maize grain, as with other types of grain fed to dairy cows, the rate and extent of starch digestion in the rumen versus the intestines, and how much of the starch is lost in the manure, depend on the extent to which its particle size is reduced during processing prior to feeding. — Dr Steve Little Capacity+ Ag Consulting

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Beware residues in calves Ten simple steps can keep your calves antibiotic residue-free. It is important that everyone caring for calves on your farm understands how antibiotic residues may happen and ensures that all calves sent for slaughter are free from antibiotic residues. Any antibiotic residues in calves sent for slaughter are a major concern for the Australian dairy industry. Calves are frequently tested at abattoirs for the presence of antibiotics. Detection of antibiotic residues could result in loss of this valuable outlet for your calves. For the past two years Dairy Australia has run a program to help dairy farmers reduce the risk of antibiotic residues in their calves. The following advice is based on the findings of DA’s investigations on farms where antibiotic residues have occurred. Take these 10 simple steps to keep your calves residue-free: 1. Prevent disease: Develop a plan for colostrum management, and prevention and treatment of calf diseases. Ask your vet for

advice if you are unsure. 2. Training: Make sure that everyone who cares for your calves understands and follows your management plan. 3. Separate housing: Keep calves destined for sale separated from the calves you intend to rear. 4. Dedicated equipment: Feed your sale calves with separate equipment that is clearly marked and used only for this purpose. 5. Fluid therapy: Use electrolytes as the first option for treating sick calves. Remember many common causes of calf scours do not respond to antibiotics. 6. Follow directions: Use antibiotics carefully and only after discussing the treatment options with your vet. Always read the label and observe the meat withholding period. Don’t feed sale calves with waste milk from antibiotic-treated cows. 7. Manage treatments: Treat calves individually, preferably by injection to minimise cross contamination. It is risky and

ineffective to mix oral antibiotics with milk. 8. Identify treated calves: Make sure any treated calves are highly visible and kept away from other calves until the drug withholding period has elapsed. 9. Keep records: Record every treatment, for every calf, every time. 10. Avoid contamination: Buckets, feeders, drench guns and syringes that have been in contact with antibiotics are common sources of contamination. Mark them clearly and do not use them for feeding or dosing your sale calves. For more detailed advice on managing antibiotic residues in calves, refer to chapter six of the Dairy Australia publication Rearing Healthy Calves — How to raise calves that thrive. This is available online at www. dairyaustralia.com.au/healthycalves For questions about calf antibiotic residues, phone Dairy Australia animal health manager Kathryn Davis on 9694 3723 or email kdavis@dairyaustralia.com.au

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Attention to detail essential in raising healthy calves

Rearing healthy calves is like a jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces of the puzzle must not only interact, but also balance with each other. Australian Veterinary Association spokesperson given an appropriate volume of good quality colostrum within 24 hours to ensure it can Dr Gemma Chuck from the University of absorb enough protective immunoglobulins to Melbourne says calf-rearing is a balance of fight infection. This volume may need to be attention to detail. split into two feeds. “A deficit in one area means compensation in another area to avoid the system becoming out The quality of colostrum can be easily tested using a Brix refractometer. This is simple of balance,” she said. and easy to use on-farm and is robust and “The work of rearing a healthy calf starts inexpensive.” before birth. Accurate pregnancy testing is Dr Chuck said new calves should be collected essential so that all cows have an adequate dry from the calving area at least twice daily and period prior to calving. Shorter dry periods fed colostrum immediately. She said this can compromise colostrum quality — the first would help ensure all calves receive adequate nutrient-rich milk produced in the udder at colostrum within 24 hours to reduce the risk calving. of disease. “Strategic vaccination can be also be used to “A recording system should be set up to boost antibodies in colostrum if expected ensure all calves receive their two feeds of calving dates have been calculated. If vaccines are given too early, the peak antibody response colostrum. This can be as simple as records on a whiteboard or stock markers on the calves will decline before the calf is born and if given themselves,” she said. too late, the antibody response won’t occur in time. “The calf trailer, used to transport calves from the calving area to the calf shed, should also “It’s very important that a newborn calf is

be washed daily and have appropriate non-slip flooring such as rubber or straw. On some farms, a dirty calf trailer can be the source of infection for newborn calves.” Dr Chuck also recommends the following for optimal care and development of calves: • Solid partitions of a non-porous material, such as corrugated iron or tin, between pens; • Suitable bedding such as woodchips with adequate drainage to prevent accumulation of wet, soiled bedding; • A passive ventilation system to allow fresh air to circulate at the calf level without direct draught; • Fresh water at the front of each pen; • An individual milk-feeding system for each calf to avoid competition from other calves; • Raised grain troughs to help prevent contamination with manure; and • Thorough cleaning of calf pens between groups of calves.

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Commercial benefits of genomics increasing As the science advances, so do the practical uses of the technology in dairy herds.

Genomics continues to be a cutting-edge technology applied across a range of industries, but few industries can say they have capitalised off the technology as well as the dairy industry. The technology predicts performance based on the genes carried and how they have performed in other animals. In the 1970s difficult market conditions led to many dairy farmers leaving the industry, but there were also some major breakthroughs in science. Genomics, which has become a part of modern dairy breeding, had some of its first major discoveries during the 1970s. Genomics looks at an individual’s genes by extracting the DNA from cells, typically taken from hair follicles in cattle. This DNA is then examined and the genes which make up that individual’s DNA are interpreted. This allows Australian Breeding Values (ABV) to be produced which provide an indication of how the individual is likely to perform. This predicted performance is based on how those genes have performed in other cows, with the assistance of statistical analysis. Globally tens of thousands of animals are tested each year, contributing significantly to the type of cows bred into the future. Without genomics it would take seven years to get the same level of information genomics provides on an animal, if we were to physically collect data. What this means is that the rate at which gains can be made through breeding are significantly increased. Genomics has evolved a great deal since the 1970s with its commercial release to the Australian dairy industry in the late 2000s. This development has been driven by the great work of the Dairy Futures CRC, Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme 30

JUNE 2015

and Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources scientists. Development of the technology has occurred in three main areas, with groundbreaking science being a key part of the improvements: 1. Improvements in the science and commercial application of genomics have been the driving forces behind both the drop in price of commercial testing and also the increase in value that can be returned from testing. 2. Recently the introduction of new traits and indices has had a big impact on the Australian dairy industry. Some of the biggest include the new fertility ABV, feed saved ABV, balanced performance index (BPI), type-weighted index (TWI) and healthweighted index (HWI). 3. A number of key projects have been undertaken to expand this reference population. Projects include the 1000 bulls project, 10 000 Holstein cow project, Jernomics and GINFO. Gains in breeding historically have been quite significant — a typical cow in the 1950s produced 1746 litres of milk compared to today where the average is 6890 litres/cow/ year. Genetic gain is responsible for about 33 per cent of this improvement, with the remainder coming from improvements in management and feeding practices. As the science of genomics has advanced in leaps and bounds, the cost to producers has fallen. The technology which previously was too expensive for the average commercial farm to generate a return from, has quickly become a cost-effective business decision to Australian dairy producers.

Today genomic testing costs as little as $65 for a basic test which will return ABVs on almost 40 traits. This offers a huge opportunity to return value to the farm through a number of ways: • Use of genomic sires: Farmers are able to use a proportion of young genomic sires to increase their rate of genetic gain. Rules of thumb suggest using two young genomic sires for every one proven bull that would otherwise be used. • Parent verification: The ability to verify the parents of an individual seems simple but has the potential to offer time-saving benefits to farms around data and herd management. • Herd bull selection: The use of genomics to identify elite herd bulls has the potential to offer big gains to the industry. InCalf found that almost half the average herd is bred to a herd bull, based on the average six week in-calf rate. • Heifer selection: Heifers are the future and a significant investment is made in getting them to milking and returning a profit to the farm. The ability therefore to predict up to seven lactations worth of information on a heifer offers a big opportunity to reduce the risk of having cows which don’t perform. With advances in the science continuing, the commercial benefits of genomics will only increase. Improvements in rates of genetic gain and management will ultimately fuel improvements in profitability and sustainability of farms into the future. For more information, phone Matt Reynolds on 0408 534 595 or 5561 9912 or email matthew.reynolds@ecodev.vic.gov.au — Matt Reynolds, dairy extension officer, DEDJTR, Warrnambool

What’s your next big step? STEPPING into or away from life on the farm can be a difficult process for many reasons. Younger farmers or new entrants to the industry often face financial hurdles as they chase their dream of building a rewarding career in dairying. Older farmers have to deal with emotional connections to their properties, businesses and even their herds. Others are ready to move onto a more relaxed lifestyle, but find the logistics of leaving the farm to be overly complicated. With that in mind, GippsDairy, Dairy Australia and Young Dairy Development Program are organising Stepping Up Stepping

Back workshops aimed at farmers who wants to change their position in the industry or better prepare for their future. Peter and Linda Bowden travelled up from Won Wron for the previous Stepping Up Stepping Back session in Traralgon in April. Peter, who is about to turn 60 and doesn’t want to milk anymore, said the seminar provided plenty of food for thought. “It was quite interesting,” he said. “I actually thought it’s good that this sort of thing is put on so

John Mulvany will lead the next Stepping In Stepping Back session.

people can learn what other people are doing around share dairy farming.” While older farmers can gain plenty from the sessions, Peter thought it was just as important that younger farmers made the time to attend workshops like these. “I actually think it is more important for them than it is for me.” Highly respected South Gippsland-based consultant

John Mulvany from OMJ Consulting will lead the discussion, which is sure to change attitudes and approaches on how to tackle the next stage of your farming life. GippsDairy will hold a Stepping Up Stepping Back workshop at Leongatha on 1st September 2015. To register please contact GippsDairy at executiveassistant@gippsdairy. com.au or by phoning (03) 5624 3900.

Silage Wrap Recycling

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Wellington Shire farmers can now recycle their silage wrap.

GippsDairy, Dairy Australia and YDDP have designed a workshop to provide development opportunities for enthusiastic dairy people.

On 8 and 9 July, from 10–3 pm, silage wrap can be taken to the Victorian Livestock Exchange (Southern Sheepyards end) where correctly delivered wrap will be accepted.

GippsDairy, Sustainability Victoria and Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Group.

The correct methods of delivery are either in Plasback green liners, which are available from local ag stores, or in Bulka Bags, which will incur a $10 fee. Plasback liners will be taken for free. For more information, please contact Mal Rogers at Tapex on 0407 531 052 or GippsDairy at executiveassistant@gippsdairy. com.au or by phoning (03) 5624 3900. The Sale silage wrap initiative has been developed by Wellington Shire Council, Plasback, For more information please call GippsDairy on (03) 5624 3900 or visit www.gippsdairy.com.au

• Highlight mentor and Stepping Up Stepping Back aims to help farmers consider professional support available the options available to them as • Real life case studies they transition into or out of the • Starting the process of dairy industry. succession The 1-day workshop is • A resource kit to take away designed to be interactive and content will include: Location • An introduction of Dairy Federation Training Leongatha Australia’s “Share Dairy Campus, Nerrena Road. Farming in Australia — Model Code of Practice” which assists Date/Time 1st September 2015 10.15 am in evaluating if you are suited to for a 10.30 am sharp start to share dairy farming 3 pm. • Evaluating options: staying These interactive workshops will as an employee, share dairy be delivered by John Mulvany, farming, leasing, owner or OMJ Consulting (lunch included). equity partner • Helping individuals sort out For more information please what they want contact GippsDairy T: (03) 5624 3900 • Focusing on building E: executiveassistant@ relationships between business gippsdairy.com.au partners This workshop is co-funded by Regional Development Victoria

Staying focused on the important things Couple keeps a tight rein on finances, from bad seasons to good. “One of the things was in that really crook year Tim and Grit Cashin’s attitude to farming might best be shown by their on-farm vehicle. … we had a really wet season and a poor milk price — when the two line up, that’s when An old Suzuki four-wheel drive carries them we’re in the poo. around the farm — if not in style, then with “But when it’s one or the other, that’s when reliability and at the right price. they balance to a certain degree. For the Leongatha South couple, it’s all about “It’s tea-tree country, so it gets really wet, but spending time and money on the important with the hump and hollow we now have a things and not worrying about the rest. chance.” It’s an attitude that has seen them turn around It’s a chance the Cashins have grabbed with a farm business that was struggling with poor both hands. milk prices and weather conditions into a thriving concern that is making the most of Mrs Cashin, who was a bookkeeper in much improved seasons. her native Germany before meeting Mr Cashin and moving to Australia, said the A couple of years ago, the Cashins put their transformation of the farm finances in a hands up to be the subject of a Tactics relatively short time had been a pleasant for Tight Times project that was run by surprise. GippsDairy and Dairy Australia to help farmers cope with a very poor season. Since then, farm improvements, weather and milk price have all combined to put a smile back on the faces of Mr and Mrs Cashin. It’s tea-tree country, so it “It’s been a turnaround in the prices and, especially this year, the season,” Mr Cashin gets really wet, but with said. the hump and hollow we “It’s been a fantastic season for us this year and it’s made a really big difference. now have a chance. “Mainly, just because it has continually Tim Cashin rained — but not in huge amounts.” Money has been invested, not in fancy four-wheel farm vehicles but in extensive “We thought it would take three years to get renovations of paddocks. over it, but last year gave us a chance to get A massive “hump and hollow” project has our heads above water again, and this year turned 56 ha of potentially unusable land in we’re moving forward even further,” she said. wet years into a productive part of the farm 12 “We just sling-shotted out of that bad year a lot months a year. earlier than we thought.” “One of the main things is our exposure to the Mrs Cashin keeps a tight rein on finances, but really wet seasons,” Mr Cashin said. neither she nor Mr Cashin has any desire to “When it’s a dry winter, that’s when our farm start spending money for the sake of it. really kicks along.

“

The herd makes its way up the hill after morning milking.

JUNE 2015

”

“It’s just as important to watch the finances in a good year as in a bad year,” she said. “Everyone battens down the hatches in a bad year, but it’s just as important when you are in a good year.” Where they are willing to spend money is making sure they spend time with their children, Charlotte and Jack. Last year’s family holiday to visit Mrs Cashin’s family in Germany is not something many younger farmers would consider, but making time for the important things is a priority for the couple. And when they do take time off, Mr Cashin makes sure it is a real holiday away from the farm. “We were in Germany for seven weeks and there were only five phone calls back to the farm, so it was actual time off,” he said. As part of the latest round of Focus Farms, the Cashins have opened their farm up to scrutiny in the hope they can improve their business and help other farmers learn from their successes and failures. Focus Farms is a project funded by GippsDairy and Dairy Australia using dairy levy funds and provides an experienced farm consultant as a facilitator as well as a support group made up of fellow farmers and local service providers. “I like the input; it’s practical and comes from farmers who have been there,” Mrs Cashin said. Mr Cashin agreed that the frank discussion about the way they managed the farm was helping to build their skills and knowledge. “If the support group doesn’t like something, they just tell you,” he said. “From day one they were stuck into us.”

Tim and Grit Cashin Leongatha South 202 ha, leased 280 head, mainly Holsteins 2014–16 Focus Farmers

Tim Cashin in one of the many paddocks transformed by hump and hollow renovations.

Tim and Grit in their Leongatha South dairy.

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• Located on McGrath Road, Teal Point is this outstanding dairy farm on some of the best soils in the district comprising of 395 acres. • Very good three-bedroom brick veneer family home, with air conditioning and wood heater sitting among well-established gardens. • Modern 20-aside double-up dairy with cup removers, stall gates, ADF teat care system, Delaval milking machines, 7000 litre vat. • GMW delivery share in place and connected to the backbone. Very well laid out with good access. • Recently resown to Italian rye and shaftal and growing well. • Currently milking up to 300 cows and producing 150,000 kg/ms. This is a great family farm, ACT NOW. • Call Les Cain on 0458 646 318. or Ken Trewin on 0428 531 887.

• 476 acre dairy farm situated on Langan Road, Cobram East in some of the North’s best country. • Very good 30-aside swingover dairy with cup removers, 8600 litre vat, 300 cow yard, grain feeding system with silos, roller mill, good calf rearing facilities. • Connected to main channel with GMW delivery share in place and 1400 megs of water including spearpoint Katunga Deep Lead Bore and MG irrigation water. • Refurbished three-bedroom brick family home set back off the road in its own treed surrounds. • Well laid out. The dairy is very central with excellent laneways. • If you are looking for water security and an outstanding layout, then this farm would have to tick all the boxes. With a combination of two ground water sources aligned with the MG waste water program you have access to a water goldmine. • Call Les to discuss your offer.

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Wijbren de Boer, Ashlee, Katelyn, Breanne, Monica, Samantha and Colby love life on their Nar Nar Goon share-farm.

Milking every opportunity Chance to expand their dairy operation is catalyst for family’s move to new country. Having share-farmed with the Lawsons for Wijbren de Boer has lived on three continents three years, they moved onto another share in two hemispheres — but there’s only one arrangement in Yannathan which lasted industry he’s interested in working in. another four years. The 44-year-old Canadian is currently shareLast year they put their Jersey herd on a farming on Geoff and Deb Bramley’s 160 ha truck and took over from Michael Shipton as farm just outside of Pakenham. share-farmers with Mr and Mrs Bramley — an It’s quite literally a world away from the small arrangement that seems to suit both parties Friesland farm in the Netherlands that his down to the ground. parents left when he was seven years old to Looking for better opportunities is in the seek wider pastures in North America. de Boer blood. With wife Monica and their five children — Breanne, Ashlee, Katelyn, Colby It was a lack of growth potential that saw Mr and Samantha — the Canadian-Australians are de Boer’s parents move their nine children loving life in a country where land is plentiful from Holland to Alberta, on Canada’s western and the market isn’t compromised by quota prairies. systems. It was the same desire to improve their It was a combination of the inefficient farming opportunities that saw Wijbren quotas that prevent new farmers entering the and Monica de Boer move their four Canadian dairy market and a large family children — little Samantha was born in that was an obstacle to taking on his parents’ Australia — halfway around the world. former farm that saw the de Boers move to “We always wanted to milk our own cows with Australia in 2008. the hope of buying my brothers out, but it An exchange program 10 years earlier had never happened so we thought there might be given Mr de Boer a glimpse of Gippsland opportunities in Australia,” Mr de Boer said. dairy life on Wally Dowell’s Korumburra farm. Moving from the frozen north to the milder He liked what he saw and gained an climes of Gippsland forced Mr de Boer to immigration sponsorship from Leongatha’s adapt quickly to some dramatic changes in Gordon and Marianne Lawson. farming methods.

“In Canada, we grow as much as we can off the land, because we only have the land for maybe three months frost-free,” he said. “You can grow amazing crops because you have 18–20 hours of sunlight each day in midsummer. You can grow maize crops and things like that. “Over there it is completely different. We don’t have long tracks, you don’t have troughs out in the paddock. In fact, we pulled most of the fences out. “The biggest thing I had to adapt to was planting in autumn to get the winter rain, because there is no summer rain here. Your summer is like our winter, which is cold but dry.” One thing that hasn’t changed from Canada to Australia is the joy that farm life brings for the de Boer family. The children have responsibilities on the farm that allow them to spend time together as a family unit. “Part of why I wanted to farm was to raise kids on the farm where you can instill values and work ethic,” Mr de Boer said. “They have to be involved with the farm, otherwise they don’t see their father.” >> Continued on page 36 JUNE 2015

>> Continued from page 35 Productive partnership Geoff Bramley knows who’s the boss in his share farming arrangement — and it’s not him. The former maths teacher and dairy farmer happily hands responsibility for day-to-day operations to Wijbren de Boer, who moved to the farm late last year. They operate on a 50/50 split of expenses and milk cheques — the same arrangement that saw Mr Bramley share a fruitful long-term relationship with his previous share-farmer, Michael Shipton. “Michael was here for six-and-a-half years and we never had an argument,” Mr Bramley said.” Wijbren’s been here for six months and never an argument either. “We’re here to make money and both be successful. If the share-farmer isn’t successful, we won’t be successful.” Wijbren de Boer and Geoff Bramley have a productive share-farming partnership. Mr Bramley and his wife Deb wanted to “Wijbren is the boss. He decides when to put “What really makes his farm attractive is that step away from the farm, but also allow it to he has spared no expense in rebuilding the the fertiliser on or whatever has to be done. provide income as they grew older. farm,” Mr de Boer said. “We can have a chat and I will make He said finding quality famers like Mr “He built the rotary dairy with share-farmers suggestions, but at the end of the day he is Shipton and Mr de Boer and letting them in mind and he built a new house for the the one who will make the decision.” farm without interference was the key to a share-farmer, which is very hard to come by. successful outcome. Mr Bramley’s helpful but hands-off attitude, “The dairy and feeding facilities are top along with his investment in the farm, has “Wijbren doesn’t want me looking over his notch.” made the property an attractive proposition shoulder when he has to make the day-to-day for share-farmers. decisions,” Mr Bramley said.

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Statement (03) 5998 3216 (03) 5662 4044 Date

Amount Due

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Amount Enc.

EUR 5,060.00

Date 07/12/2012

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Amount 5,060.00

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“

Part of why I wanted to farm was to raise kids on the farm where you can instill values and work ethic.

”

Wijbren de Boer

Wijbren and Samantha sharing some quality time in the calf shed.

The herd is mainly Jersey with a few Holsteins and crosses thrown in.

Active protectio Better animal health, more prof itable farming Active protection which works... which works... T-C3-G liner

The teat condition improved significantly within a month of installing SurePulse. For five years it has worked well. We have cows up to 10 and 12 years old. Seldom do we cull for animal health reasons.

Enjoy improved SurePulse pulsation with your Delaval Harmony Plus cluster and our new SurePulse T-C3-G system.

T-C3-G liner

T-A1-W liner Fits most 155mm shell systems.

with S teat h T-A1W liner not go Fits most 155mm shell systems. have e health Sure P years teats i For be st resav ul use SuOur triang rePulse uage lar linis and fitt er ing inseand rts w cull co qualit SureP

Enjoy improved SurePulse pulsation with your Delaval T-A1W liner Harmony Fits mostPlus 155mm shell and systems. cluster our new SurePulse T-C3-G system.

T-C3-G liner Enjoy improved SurePulse pulsation with your Delaval Harmony Plus cluster and our new SurePulse T-C3-G system.

For be use S st results triang urePulse ula and fittr liners insertsing

Darren Vickers, Dairy Farmer, Terang, Western Victoria

Andrew Calderm Gippsla Victoria

For best use Sureresults Pulse triangula r liners and fittin inserts g

AMC110914

for peace of mind for peace of mind Available from: Available from:

for peace of mind

Sale: (03) 5144 4441 Bairnsdale: (03) 5152 1313 Maffra: (03) 5141 1544

Sale: (03) 4441contact... Warragul: (03) 5623 For information, supply & 5144 fitting Warragul: (03) 5623 6911 Yarram: (03) 5182 5148 Meeniyan: (03) 5664 0265

Bairnsdale: (03) 5152 1313 Maffra: (03) 5141 1544

Sale: (03) 5144 4441 Bairnsdale: (03) 5152 1313 Maffra: (03) 5141 1544 Warragul: (03) 5623 68 McEwan Rd,6911 Kyabram Yarram: 5182 5148 Ph: 03(03) 5853 2653 Meeniyan: (03) 5664 0265

1A Alp Yarram: (03)Street, 5182 K5 Shop: (03) 56 55566 22 Meeniyan:

Brian: 0427 551

SurePulse is a trade mark of Bullseye Australia Pty Ltd. Patented System. Australian Patent #2008202821. SurePulse™ is an accessory that is compatible with the DeL

1A Alp Street, Korumburra Shop: 56 55 22 17 Brian: 0427 551 605 Rob: 0428 551 605

SurePulse is a trade mark of Bullseye Australia Pty Ltd. Patented System. Australian Patent #2008202821. SurePulse™ is an accessory that is compatible with the DeLaval™ Harmony Plus™ cluster. DeLaval™ and Harmony Plus™ are trade marks of DeLaval Holding AB. There is no busin

JUNE 2015

calendar of events Please contact GippsDairy for updates. Phone: (03) 5624 3900. Email: executiveassistant@gippsdairy.com.au Ellinbank seminar series

Kerry Stott, senior researcher, on ‘Nitrogen use trends on Vic Dairy farms since 1990 & 2030 predictions’. Where: Ellinbank Centre 1301 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank Date: June 17 Time: 12.30–1.30 pm Contact: Sharon Aarons on 5624 2339 DEDJTR On-farm QA

Establish quality specs, record QA procedures, provide supervision and staff training. Where: Warragul Campus Date: June 25 Time: 10 am – 3 pm Contact: Robin Bell on 5667 4505 NCDE Enrolment essential Dairy cow nutrition

Assess available feed, determine grazing management strategies, conserve feed, assess alternative forage options and optimise cow nutrition for production. Where: Leongatha NCDE Campus Dates: July 16, July 23, July 30, Aug 6 Four days over four weeks Time: 10 am – 3 pm Contact: Louise Underhill on 5624 1414 NCDE Enrolment essential Intrduction to Feeding Cattle

Monitor pasture availability, herd heath and condition, understand feeding requirements. Where: Sale NCDE Campus Dates: July 21, July 28, Aug 4 Three days over three weeks Time: 10 am – 3 pm” Contact: Louise Underhill 5624 1414 NCDE Enrolment essential Intrduction to feeding cattle

Monitor pasture availability, herd heath and condition, understand feeding requirements. Where: Leongatha NCDE Campus Dates: Aug 5, Aug 12, Aug 19 Three days over three weeks Time: 10 am – 3 pm Contact: Louise Underhill on 5624 1414 NCDE Enrolment essential Soils and fertiliser course

Understand soil and plant requirements, management techniques and nutrient planning. Where: Warragul NCDE Campus Dates: Aug 13, Aug 20, Aug 27, Sept 3 Four days over four weeks Time: 10 am – 3 pm Contact: Louise Underhill on 5624 1414 NCDE Enrolment essential Pasture and crop management

Assess weed, pest and disease of pasture, maintain records, implement control strategies. Where: Leongatha NCDE Campus Date: Aug 13, Aug 20, Aug 27 Three days over three weeks Time: 10 am – 3 pm Contact: Louise Underhill on 5624 1414 NCDE Enrolment essential 38

JUNE 2015

Farmers and fishers meet at Corner Inlet Declining seagrass meadows was the topic up for discussion at a recent get-together. A collaborative meeting between farmers of the sea and farmers of the land was held at Corner Inlet on Friday, May 8. More than 40 people, including commercial fishermen, farmers and researchers, gathered to discuss the problem of declining seagrass meadows within Corner Inlet. Dr John Ford of University of Melbourne explained that just as farmers rely on good quality pasture to feed their stock, Corner Inlet’s fishermen relied on good quality seagrass to produce their catch. Representatives of Corner Inlet’s commercial fishing industry took participants on a tour of the inlet and spoke of the impact that declining seagrass cover is having on their livelihoods. They explained the vital role that seagrass plays in providing nutrients, habitat and protection for marine life, and their own efforts to create a sustainable fishing industry. After a seafood lunch, the group visited a local dairy farm managed by Dan and Cindy Knee. The Knees have implemented best management practices to keep nutrients and sediment on-farm and out of the inlet. Nutrient and sediment run-off are regarded as the two greatest threats to seagrass meadows around the world, and there is genuine concern about seagrass

levels in the inlet. Land uses contributing to sediment and nutrient loads entering the inlet include farming, forestry and urban development. Because the waterways at the western end of Corner Inlet are smaller, steeper, have erodible soils and are in a high rainfall area they are more susceptible to the impacts of these land uses. Discussions acknowledged the efforts that many farmers are taking to keep nutrients and sediment on-farm in partnership with agencies such as Landcare and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. These include vegetating and fencing off creeks and drainage lines, siting laneways to avoid run-off, maximising groundcover to reduce soil loss and following best management practices when applying fertiliser. The day also raised awareness of the measures that the Corner Inlet fishermen and Dairy Australia are taking to ensure their industries are sustainable. The day was funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and was delivered by representatives of University of Melbourne, GippsDairy and the South Gippsland Landcare Network. For information about the day, phone Kate Williams on 5662 5759 or John Ford on 0423 227 090.

Reduce cell counts. Improve milk quality. Automatic Dipping & Flushing.

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Healthy cows, healthy profit

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