Allflex – Let's Talk Cow by NZ Farmlife Media

Let’s Talk Cow.

Contents 5

From small beginnings to global influencer

Helping Kiwis farm better

Data completes the inside story

10 Allflex Monitoring Solutions

Case studies 12 Wairarapa: Early adopter Jason Christensen 18 Waikato: Bull-free mating success for Tania and Brendan Fernyhough 22 Taranaki: Collars aid growth for Christopher and Anne-Marie Blyde 28 Southland: Calving spread tightens in Pam and Jason Brock’s herd 34 South Canterbury: Data-driven decisions better for Ben Smith 39 North Otago: In-calf rate hike great outcome for Paul Butson

44 Our promise: We’ve got your back covered 46 Our products: Identification and Animal Health 48 Help at hand: New subscription payment option available 51 Mud on our boots: Our team are locals, just like you

Where it all started

Allflex started with the need to tell cattle apart The side effect of this was a fair bit of data that would help manage and trace the life of an entire herd. Now, Allflex lets you access information about your herd from anywhere – meaning you don’t have to be elbow deep to manage your farm.

It’s fair to say the tags did well. After setting up a new plant in Palmy, Brian and John started sharing their innovations with others, both locally and globally. In 1974, the first Allflex tags landed in Australia and America. By 1978, they had reached Europe and after a couple of years, they had managed to help farmers across most of the world. In 1992, Allflex successfully launched their electronic tags. These clever pieces were an even more efficient tool for herd management – and quickly made the lives of farmers

Allflex – Rural from the get go Back before stubbies were fashionable, plastics innovator, John Burford crossed paths with a local cocky, Brian Murphy. The two hit it off and set about finding a better way to track Brian’s livestock. After more than a handful of on-site meetings, they came up with what would become the most efficient means of identifying livestock – the flexible plastic ear tag.

around the globe much easier. However, as the old saying goes, there’s always more work to be done, so Allflex have been working hard to ensure they’re constantly developing better ways to help you farm.

Helping locals across the globe

in hand, we can quickly identify diseases and health treatments that will bring your animals back to health and production efficiency. Just like Allflex, MSD Animal Health products have been around since your grandfather’s grandfather started Over time we’ve grown to be known as Allflex Livestock

farming. The products have been trusted by Kiwis across

Intelligence – because what we do is pretty smart. We’ve

the country for over a century. Down the road in Upper

also joined forces with MSD Animal Health, so we can give

Hutt, MSD Animal Health have been developing and

you the same tailored service that we give to Kiwis to locals

producing world-class cattle and sheep vaccines for over

all over the globe.

75 years – the same ones you probably use on your farm. As well as supporting our local community, this plant

There’s a reason we put our heads together with MSD

also supports over 85 farming nations across the globe.

Animal Health. Between us, our teams are good at

It’s fair to say – they’re one of the best in manufacturing

designing, developing and innovating solutions. We’re

bacterial vaccines. Being locals, we know the day-to-day

experts in herd identification and monitoring platforms,

struggles and the common disease challenges that farmers

that further down the track, can be aligned with

face. Having healthy animals means we can provide more

preventative animal health technologies to keep your herd

sustainable food supplies and improve the lives of our

happy and healthy - so you can be sure they’re producing

animals.

at full potential. Allflex’s journey with MSD Animal Health is one of two Our objective is to avoid diseases in the first place to

minds that think alike, guided by one mission – THE

improve your farm’s production and food quality.

SCIENCE OF HEALTHIER ANIMALS.

However, things aren’t always completely avoidable, so when it does strike, we’re ready for it. Working hand

We monitor millions of animals worldwide

Our solutions collect and analyse critical data

Cow health

points for each individual animal and deliver timely

Early detection of illness can have a huge

reproduction, health and nutrition insights.

impact on cow recovery and performance. Allflex monitoring solutions provide up

Using our monitoring solutions, producers can

to the minute distress alerts for early

increase efficiency, improve livestock wellbeing and

detection of problems such as ketosis,

drive prosperity for their farms and families.

acidosis and Theileria. An example of a monitored cow that was later discovered

Monitoring an individual cow’s reproduction cycle,

to have acidosis is shown below.

rumination patterns and health status allows you to completely understand your herd. Ensuring your

The graph indicates a drop in rumination over a

cows are healthy at all times is a positive and efficient

10-hour window. The farmer was alerted to a sudden

way to farm. Allflex monitoring solutions are scalable

drop in rumination while the cows were on fodder

to any operation.

beet. The alert gave the farmer time to remove the animals and call a vet before fatality occurred.

Reproduction

Peace of mind

Our reproduction monitoring applications

With less reliance on staff and timely

eliminate the guesswork and inconsistency

information at your fingertips, Allflex monitoring

of evaluating the reproductive status of every

solutions improve the overall wellbeing of

individual heifer and cow. Mating can be a

all team members. Phone alerts help staff

labour-intensive part of the season and using

identify a problem early and allow for effective

technology to improve insemination accuracy

intervention. Giving them the resources to be

can be a huge cost saving.

solution-focused and proactive. Relying on data rather than people ensures all staff get regular breaks over the mating season. Use technology

Nutrition

to ensure peace of mind during the crucial

Improve your nutrition strategy by quickly

events of the season.

understanding how your cows react to ration changes including toxin or feed issues and ratio modifications.

Calving

Winter crops such as fodder beet are high sugar

Use technology to break the standard 4-day rule

crops and overconsumption can lead to acidosis

with colostrum cows and monitor cow states to

in cows and even death. Using rumination

ensure each individual cow is up to particular

monitoring when feeding winter crops is

levels before drafting out of the colostrum herd.

becoming crucial in reducing these animal

Allflex monitoring solutions provide distress

health issues. Receiving distress alerts on your

alerts throughout the calving period. Knowing

mobile of abnormal cow activity can indicate a

that all cows are calving with ease and

break in the electric fence, for example, which

identifying early signs of distress is better for

may allow cows to overeat. Having a warning

both cow and the farmer. Like humans, every

system allows early intervention and can avoid

cow recovers differently from giving birth. Using

long term damage. Cows adapt differently to

the system to monitor cow rumination ensures

new feed types and the amount they can eat.

that each cow transitions out of the colostrum

By monitoring the rumination graphs during

herd when she has returned to at least 80% of

transition feeding, cows remain at their peak

her pre-calving rumination level.

with adequate feed and nutrition.

Allflex Monitoring Solutions Features • Our solutions can have desktop version located at the farm office with available app • Our solutions can give you access to customisable and detailed data which can allow unlimited tailored reporting • Our solutions are suitable for farmers wanting remote access via mobile app

• Our solutions are suitable for all herd sizes • Our solutions are user-friendly • Our solutions come with pre-selected sets of reports • Our solutions supply data that is processed on farm, so not reliant on internet entirely • Our solutions provide data updates to mobile app

cSenseTM Flex Neck Tag

• Our solutions can allow farmers to add additional Allflex Milking Intelligence components

2.4GHz - 802.15.4 area coverage: 200 x 500m

Flexible application plan levels:

7-year expected battery lifetime

Starter

Advanced

Premium

H 84mm / W 64mm / D 15mm

Reports:

Reports

• Heat

(All starter reports plus):

(All starter and advanced

• Cows with irregular heat

• Health

reports plus):

• Suspected for abortion

• Fresh cow

• Group heat

• Anestrous cows

• Animals to inspect

• Group consistency

• Distress

• Group routine

Waterproof (IP68) and unique plastic

• Customisable reports available

composition create a strong, airtight casing

• + Distress Alerts

98 grams Operating temperature: -30o to +50o C

only in Heattime Pro

• + Distress Alerts

Jason Christensen

Jason Christensen The pioneering spirit runs deep among members of the Christensen family who have been dairy farming for five generations since 1879 on the southern side of Mount Bruce in Wairarapa.

LOCATION

FARM SIZE

HERD SIZE

Mount Bruce, Wairarapa

150ha milking platform 177ha run-off 200ha regenerating bush

340 cows

Benefits:

Fourth generation owner Harry Christensen installed one

Jason enjoys having information at his fingertips and

• Staff retention and empowerment

of the first rotary dairy sheds in the country and son Jason,

incorporating it into his daily and strategic decision making.

• Less stress at calving and mating

the fifth generation on the property, was an early adopter

• Early detection of health issues

of cow monitoring technology when he built a new rotary

It is also empowering his two long-serving staff members,

• Upgrade of existing technology features

shed on the property soon after coming home in 2013.

Paul King and Kiela Te Awhe, who feel more informed about operational activities and less pressured at critical

The entire Fernhill 340-cow herd is now fitted with new

times of the year, particularly mating and calving.

Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars which capture more data including rumination activity. The new rotary dairy shed

The 150ha milking platform is a series of terraces running

is fully kitted out with Allflex’s in-shed feeding, milk

up from the very stony soils near the Ruamahunga river

monitoring and auto-drafting software package.

up to deeper loam soils higher up the farm. There is also

Being able to more closely match feed supply to demand means potentially more milk in the vat and it improves the accuracy of any decision to top up cow diet using the inshed feeding system. Jason says he spends time reviewing the daily data on the computer at the shed, checking the various automated reports for issues that need to be managed, such as mastitis infections or suspicious heats. The handy alert feature of the software means he and the team feel connected to the herd regardless of where they are on the farm or away from it through their mobile phones. As each cow enters its bail for milking, its unique tag triggers the software to begin a range of tasks. Aside from being able to release a pre-programmed ration of feed, it records the cow’s tag number and bail number, and also monitors the volume and flow of milk until the cups come off just before each cow leaves the shed. an adjoining run-off block of 177ha and a 200ha block

As the season draws to a close for 2020-21, and pasture

At the same time, a milk connectivity test is completed to

of regenerating bush running up into the ranges on the

growth slows, they are using the real-time milk yield data to

detect any mastitis infection. If necessary, cows showing

western boundary of the property.

draw off cows for drying off.

abnormal levels of connectivity can be automatically drafted

Jason upgraded the original cow collars in June last year

“Rather than rely solely on a herd test that we did a couple

also be slower to let down their milk, so this data is also

and says the two-hourly feed of rumination data is already

of weeks ago, we can overlay the real time milk production

available on screen as well.

proving a game changer, particularly in heat detection,

data, see the trend, and set a trigger level to draft off the

reducing cow losses through early intervention and easing

poorer performing cows. It’s just more accurate than basing

For 10-year staff member Paul King, adding the rumination

the pressure on the trio.

a decision just on the test which is really just a snapshot of

data in the latest upgrade has already saved cows who got

one day’s milkings.”

into difficulties through the calving period.

as they leave the shed for checking. Cows with mastitis can

“What we found was that the computer did know best and it was able to pick up cows that we wouldn’t have picked before.”

“When an alert comes in, we are able to get there quickly and stop an issue becoming a significant problem,” Paul says. “You don’t have to save many cows to make the investment worthwhile,” he says. Jason is convinced that investing in the cow monitoring technology will also pay further dividends in staff retention or recruitment in the future. “In many ways, we’re trying to future proof ourselves. Dad was leading edge when he built the first rotary in Wairarapa and we know the next generation is more IT savvy than my generation.” He’s confident that once staff experience the benefits of working on a property where monitoring technology is available, they won’t want to work on one that doesn’t have it. “Why would they want to go back,” he asks. First calving heifers are collared around May 1 as they come back to the milking platform so the system has several months of data on each animal by the time calving approaches later in the year. At least 10 days of data is required to set a ‘normal rumination activity’ level for each heifer which then sets trigger levels for alerts to signal any issues or cycling behavior ahead of mating. Trusting the data enough to not pregnancy test most of the

cows was a significant, first-season cost saving. They did scan a mob of about 60 cows that were either suspected as dry, based on data, or had been in the synchronisation programme leading into mating last year. “We saved $3/cow from not having to preg test most of the cows so that’s a big saving for us.” Their drafting gate can be operated with a manual switch or set to automatically draft off animals on either a predetermined list or one that is collated based on the current milk data feed. Jason says having the confidence in the data to automatically draw out a mob of cycling cows for the technician to inseminate means that if one of the team calls in sick, anyone can step into the shed and milk the cows

In the past, heifers have just been mated naturally, but

A big plus in the upgrade to the more advanced Heatime

without the pressure of selecting cows for mating.

Jason is introducing a component of insemination with beef

Pro+ collars was there was no need to replace any of the

semen for the coming mating season thanks to the cow

other components of the system at the same time.

“What we found was that the computer did know best and

monitoring information.

it was able to pick up cows that we wouldn’t have picked before.”

“That was also a big advantage when we first installed Being an early adopter of the original collars, Jason says he

the kit in the early days. We didn’t have to buy all the

relied heavily on the back-up from the company.

components at the start, we could build up to that as our

They will maintain a nine-week mating period from now on,

income allowed, and we didn’t have to throw anything away

giving cows just three chances to be inseminated and still

He jokes that he has his local Allflex regional rep “on speed

aim to achieve further reductions in empty rate from the

dial” but says the peace of mind that comes from an 0800

current 14% for mixed age cows and heifers combined. Tail

number that is answered by an expert anytime from 4am to

painting has been dropped as well.

8pm is excellent.

that we’d already installed.”

Tania and Brendan Fernyhough

Tania and Brendan Fernyhough Avoiding the need for bulls to back up their artificial breeding programme was a compelling reason for Tania and Brendan Fernyhough to install Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars on their 340-cow herd just before last season’s mating period. It’s a move they wish they had made years earlier.

LOCATION

FARM SIZE

HERD SIZE

Walton, Waikato

110ha (effective)

340 cows (system 4/5)

Challenges:

Benefits:

• Wanted to operate mating without back-up bulls on the property

• Data is accessible remotely to prepare daily mating lists

• Wanted full-proof, trustworthy heat detection data that staff could rely on

• System links to auto-drafting gate as cows leave the dairy shed

• Farm owners providing relief milking duties so not observing cows

• Cost effective system at annual cost of $2000/herd over seven-year life

every day

• Collars and system cost payable over two years • Excellent training and back-up service from Allflex team

Fine-tuning their management and debt reduction are primary goals for Waikato dairy farmers Tania and Brendan Fernyhough. The couple admit they are careful spenders and like to evaluate every purchase before going ahead. Nothing is left to chance while they consolidate their debt position on the family farm which has been home to Brendan all his life. After two seasons using Flashmate heat detection devices and talking to several other farmers, they made the decision to call Allflex to discuss Heatime Pro+ collars just as mating got underway in their 2020 season. “Brendan is not in the milking shed every day and we had a new member of staff who was getting to know the cows. We wanted more accuracy in heat detection and the collars have certainly delivered that,” Tania says. They considered other options, but after talking with other local dairy farmers who were already using Allflex collars, they took advantage of Allflex’s two-year payment option and went ahead. “Another motivating factor was we already had a retro-fitted drafting gate which would not have worked with the other system we considered. The software to manage the data was also user-friendly too,” she says.

“Having no bulls around took all the stress out of mating. We usually buy 10 or 11 bulls each year and it’s not uncommon for them to drop $1000 under what we’ve paid for them when they are slaughtered after mating.” “We already had a reasonable compact calving interval so the real bonus for us is that we are now mating only enough cows to get sufficient replacements, and the rest go to beef semen to breeds like Belgian Blue so we gain from producing more valuable beef-cross calves.” After two years using the Flashmate heat detectors, the

Tania spends about 30-60 minutes each day at the home

Two other benefits are showing up from the collars which

Fernyhoughs and their two staff had already become

computer looking at the data on each cow in the herd,

also provide data on rumination levels.

accustomed to trusting data and making breeding decisions

selecting those that should be drafted for probable

based on it.

insemination after checking.

“We have trusted the data from day one but we’re also

Because the collars were installed just as mating got

still observing each cow and making sure what we see is

underway last season, the Fernyhoughs had no pre-mating

“It just means we can intervene early and deal with a

backing up the collar data. If we’re in any doubt with a cow

data on each cow. In spite of this, they still achieved an

problem before it becomes a bigger issue.”

that has been inseminated already, we’ll often inseminate a

empty rate of just under 11% over the entire herd, with no

second time with beef semen but only a half-way dose so as

back-up bulls.

Firstly, alerts can be sent to mobile phones to signal lack of movement or rumination, suggesting a cow has an issue.

Secondly, the Fernyhoughs top up each day’s grass ration

not to upset her pregnancy if she is already in calf.”

with supplements, including fodder beet and Kiwifruit and

“It just means we can intervene early and deal with a problem before it becomes a bigger issue.”

the rumination data provides an excellent guide to cow

animal health challenge. They thought their herd had a very

health during the transition phase from one supplement to

low Theileria infection but found the incidence was larger

another through the season.

after investigating further.

“Getting that rumination data gives us an earlier signal

Tania did her own evaluation of the cost from installing the

about how the cows are transitioning than seeing what’s

Heatime Pro+ collars and says it was $2000 per year for a

coming through in the vat because we know what’s

herd of 340 cows, based on an expected seven year life for

happening inside the cows rather than wondering

the collars.

if production dipped because it rained overnight or something like that.”

From the first phone call to Allflex, Tania says the service and back-up support has been responsive and always

The rumination data also provided better insight into an

helpful.

Christopher and Anne-Marie Blyde

Christopher and Anne-Marie Blyde The stars are aligning for Taranaki sharemilkers Christopher and Anne-Marie Blyde as they come to the end of their fourth season share-milking on a property just on the outskirts of New Plymouth city.

LOCATION

FARM SIZE

HERD SIZE

New Plymouth, Taranaki

81.5ha milking platform

Peaked at 255 cows in 2020-21 Rising to 285 cows for 2021-22

Challenges:

Benefits:

• Two people needed in dairy shed each milking over mating period

• Lift in six-week in-calf rate

• Possible feed transition issues from high feed input system

• Early detection of cow health issues after calving • No more tail paint • Herd growth but retaining one-person shed status

“I know having

Their farm owners Ken and Heather Kruse recently bought

At the same time the collars were installed, the Kruses paid

a 30ha runoff 1km away to provide valuable supplement for

for an auto-draft gate to be installed which allowed the

the herd and space for replacement stock. That extra land

Blydes to return to one-person milking in their 22-aside

means they can expand their dairy herd for the 2021-22

herringbone milking shed.

heat data from

“Before the collars, we needed two people in the shed

the collars

season to 285 mostly Jersey-cross cows, up about 30 head on the previous season.

through mating so we could manually draft off the cows that With further fine-tuning of their high-input system, the

were on heat or touch up tail paints or replace scratchies.

couple has a future season target to produce 2000kg/ha of

But now we don’t bother with any of that and the cows on

milksolids. That growth goal was a primary reason for their

heat are automatically drafted off.”

decision last year to invest in Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars to manage cow health more effectively and improve their herd

They decided to fully commit to trusting the data from day

mating performance.

one.

“As sharemilkers, our biggest asset are the cows so we

Against the advice from a few of Christopher’s dairy farmer

wanted to ensure they were in-calf early and got back in calf

mates, they also stopped tail painting. He admits that for the

early next mating,” Christopher says.

first 10 days of that first mating, he did spend 30 minutes checking for signs of cows on heat once they had settled

Taranaki’s weather created plenty of challenges during

down after returning to their morning paddock.

their first mating season after installing the collars. It hardly stopped raining through week four, five and six of mating.

But it was clear the collars were delivered reliable heat data and he stopped the visits.

“A lot of Taranaki herds suffered from that weather during mating with high empty rates. But our herd came in at just

“I know having the pre-mating heat data from the collars

under 11% which is about the same as normal, with just AI

helped me get 10 of the cows in calf three weeks earlier than

and no bulls backing up.”

if I was using conventional methods of heat detection.”

the pre-mating

helped me get 10 of the cows in calf three weeks earlier than if I was using conventional methods of heat detection.”

“The software is pretty simple to learn. We’ve got access to all the graphs and alerts on our phones, so it’s not difficult at all.”

“These cows had probably just had a light heat but being an AB technician myself, I was able to get them inseminated at just the right time.” “Our six week in-calf rate climbed from 72% the previous season to 79% which was a real bonus from better heat detection thanks to the collars.” He was also able to save a more serious problem emerging with four cows that experienced difficulty over calving. In each case, a final check of the calving mob at around 9.30pm had not revealed any issues but an alert soon after to his mobile phone showed a problem. “One cow was having difficulty calving and the others were down with milk fever and not able to get up. Not returning to the paddock till the morning would have created a much more serious problem in each case. Luckily I was able to deal with the issues before it got worse and each cow was saved.”

Christopher and Anne-Marie investigated four options before settling on the Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars. They visited other farms in the region that had already installed collar technology and auto-draft gates. “We’ve got limited space in our yard for a drafting gate and the Allflex IntelligateTM option appealed to me because it is so simple in its design and it obviously talks to the collars. Some other systems were more complex and there were integration issues with some of them.” “We have also found the service from the Allflex team is excellent. From the day the local salesperson Trevor (Ward) dropped in to see me the first time to run through the system, the back-up has been great.” They have installed the App on their mobile phones so they receive alerts on cow health and they can keep an eye on heat data at all times. “The software is pretty simple to learn. We’ve got access to all the graphs and alerts on our phones, so it’s not difficult at all.”

the property. Christopher is from a dairy farming family at nearby Lepperton and says although his initial aim was

Another attraction for the Blydes was the option to fund the

to return to the home property, they are enjoying the

collar and software purchase on a two-year, interest-free,

opportunity to grow their herd size and farm in a great

payment plan. They also receive future software upgrades at

location, with excellent owners.

no charge. “We’re very lucky to have supportive owners who see value The couple have just signed for another two seasons on

in continuing to invest in the business,” he says.

Pam and Jason Brock

Pam Brock and son Jason A tighter calving spread and lowering empty rate are two immediate improvements since Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars were fitted to the 750 cow herd at the Brock family’s dairy unit at Wallacetown in Southland.

LOCATION

FARM SIZE

HERD SIZE

Wallacetown, Southland

283ha plus 40ha runoff

Peaked at 750 cows in 2020-21 Future goal 350,000kg MS

Challenges:

Benefits:

• Staff pressure over mating period with visual selection

• Lift in six-week in-calf rate

• Calving spread ballooned under previous management

• Empty rate declining • Early detection of cow health issues after calving

Contract milker Jason Brock and his mother Pam made the decision to purchase collars in June last year and they were installed two weeks after the start of calving. While the timing was not ideal, they were rewarded with immediate benefits in less stress for Jason and their staff at mating time, better 21-day and 42-day in-calf rates and a lower empty rate. Before Jason returned home to take on the role three seasons ago, the property and cows were leased out for nine years when his father Stephen was diagnosed with lymphoma and subsequently passed away in 2011. “When we got the herd back, the calving spread had ballooned out and we had cows calving from July 11 to October 28. So, we had to find ways to condense that back down to a more acceptable interval,” Pam says. They immediately started using shorter-gestation back-up bulls and CIDRs in all their cows that had not shown a heat within 50 days of calving, and reducing the AI period. They paid the price from shortening the mating period with a sharp increase in empty rate. It was a hit they were prepared to take, but progress has come quickly since the Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars were fitted and the heat detection data flowed in. “Last season (2019-20) our empty rate was 18% and that was with back-up bulls. This season, our empty rate dropped to

“A big factor for us was the collars allowed us to reduce the pressure on our team.”

15.6% and that was with no back-up bulls and we had 30 less cows to calve in October than the previous season.” “We always knew the empty rate would be higher while we got the calving interval back to an acceptable level,” Jason says. Jason’s future goal is an empty rate of less than 12% and he is confident the heat detection data coming from the collars will get them there. “This season, our 21-day submission rate was 86% and last season, it was 69%. So, we’re already seeing good progress there,” she says. Their interest in the benefits of using a collar technology was piqued when they attended a seminar organised by their local veterinary practice a couple of years earlier. They admit they were initially put off by the cost, and the decision

almost solely responsible for selecting cows for mating at

Now heat cows are automatically drafted at milking for

was delayed. But when they considered all the benefits and

the morning milking right through the mating period, and

Jason to “double-check” ahead of the AB technician arriving

the two-year payment option from Allflex, they were much

not available to do any milkings.

at 7.30am each day.

They also factored not having to buy in bulls to back up the

They still used tail paint last season, and topped it up a

“A big factor for us was the collars allowed us to reduce the

AB programme, and the expected improvements in their

couple of times through the mating period just in case

pressure on our team. Our experienced 2IC was going on

herd’s in-calf rate and lower empty rate.

something escaped through the gate so it was easier to

more comfortable with the outlay.

maternity leave, right in the middle of mating last year, and

identify in the paddock and return them for AI. Tailing

we also had another member of the team away recovering

They already had an older software version of a Protrack

painting is under review but will likely remain at least for

from an injury,” Jason says.

auto-drafting gate fitted in their shed. When they added the

staff training.

collars, a simple software upgrade for the gate allowed full The loss of two staff at a critical time meant he would be

integration.

“We made the call that we’d trust the data from day one

“We made the call that we’d trust the data from day one and we’ve never regretted it.” and we’ve never regretted it. If anything, it’s picked up cows

The herd is on track to finish the 2020-21 season at

that were not really showing as on heat and I’ve had the AB

325,000kg milksolids, up 5000kg on the previous season

technician ask me if I want to inseminate them. But in all

when they were milking 30 more cows at peak.

those cases, those cows have all held so they are getting in calf much earlier than using tail paint and just eye-balling

“Our longer term goal is to maintain cow numbers at about

them,” Jason says.

the current level of 750 and grow production to 350,000kg milksolids,” Jason says.

Another benefit is being able to pick up unhealthy cows early, based on their rumination data which sends an alert

The herd is predominantly Friesian and using selective

to the SenseHub mobile phone app.

mating to introduce up to 25% Kiwi-cross genetics.

“We’ve been able to save cows by getting an early signal

“The Kiwi-cross cows are just a bit lighter, but they seem to

that something’s wrong and we’re also able to track the

produce a similar amount of milk and they seem to have

recovery of cows after they’ve received medication.”

fewer issues with lameness than the Friesian cows,” Jason says.

The Brocks say the back-up support from their Allflex trainer and the 0800 support line has been excellent.

They operate a system 2-3 hybrid model, feeding up to 1.5kg/day of PKE/DDG mix mostly in spring and autumn,

“We’re still learning how much we can really get out of

and occasionally over summer depending on pasture

the data. I just didn’t have a chance to spend time playing

availability.

around with it all after we first fitted the collars, but I’m spending more time doing that now,” Jason says.

Ben Smith

Ben Smith Accurate, trustworthy data is supporting better decision making on the multi-farm dairy enterprise of energetic South Canterbury farmer Ben Smith.

LOCATION

FARM SIZE

HERD SIZE

Waimate, South Canterbury

215ha, 108ha, 57ha plus runoff land

1500 cows – three herds (830, 420, 250) on adjoining land

Challenges

Benefits:

• Identifying cows needing help during transition period

• Ability to validate heat detection accuracy

• Getting operational overview across three herds

• Massive gain in transition period health

• Shortening calving interval

• Herd achieving oestrus sooner after calving

Ben Smith operates three adjoining dairy units, all owned by Greg and Quintin Paul, south of Waimate. He is the lower-order sharemilker on an 830 cow unit, and 50-50 sharemilker on a 420 and 250-cow operation. Every cow on all three properties is now fitted with Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars and each dairy shed also features Allflex auto-draft gates. His first move into cow collars was motivated by the appearance of Mycoplasma bovis in the district three seasons ago, just as he was purchasing a herd from the previous owner to start the smaller of the 50-50 sharemilker operations. “At that time, the lawyers were including clauses in the sales agreement around M bovis to protect everyone. Our owners had sufficient run-off land for replacements and supplements so we were able to be self-contained, other than for bulls,” he says. “So, the collars enabled us to make the move to not having back-up bulls on the property.” But the collar convert says that was just the start and he is now testing many aspects of the management of his herds

“The collars are brilliant for accurately picking those later cycling cows which are often quite difficult to catch...”

to gain improvements in health, more efficient staff work allocation and mating performance. He began by validating the heat detection data he was gathering on his herd, working with veterinarian Ryan Lucknow from Waimate, to scan cows selected for mating to check their ovulation status and the result was very clear. “The data produced by the collars is overwhelmingly accurate. We know now that if heat detection is not good through traditional techniques like tail painting and observation, then you’ll pay for the collars in no time at all from improvements you can make mating performance straight away.” Ben was also keen to see what he could learn from the rumination data collected through the challenging transition period just after calving. Again, with his veterinarian, they graphed the rumination data for each cow for the first 10 days after calving and matched that against their future mating date. “What we found was a very clear link between the level of rumination post-calving and their mating date. When we split the rumination data into quartiles, those cows in the top quartile on rumination post calving were getting back in calf much earlier in the mating period than those from the bottom quartile.”

This evidence led to a change in policy for each herd and all

days quicker after receiving the Calcium dose, than those

cows now remain in the once-a-day milking mob until their

that didn’t receive it.

rumination reaches 90% or more of their pre-calving level. “We just don’t get downer cows anymore.” Ben says without the rumination data showing up every day, it is difficult to detect cows that are slightly off their feed

In-calf rates were already high in each herd before collars

after calving.

were added and have improved slightly since. But when accurate heat detection is combined with the use of sexed

“It sounds cheesy, but we can make every cow count. If a

semen for replacements and short gestation beef semen,

cow is not right, the data tells us and we can check her. If

the results have been game changing for Ben.

we can’t see what is wrong with her, then we’ll ask the vet to check her, because we know she needs help.”

The sexed semen delivers sufficient replacement heifers to maintain the herd, and the short gestation beef semen

Standard practice now is to treat all cows with a Calcium-

means they can still mate cows out to week 11 but calve the

enriched molasses dose within 24 hours of calving.

entire herd within a nine-week period. And, the result beefcross calves are also worth more than bobbies.

“We used to use Calcium bullets, but this is proving a cheaper alternative and it works just as well. We don’t risk

“The collars are brilliant for accurately picking those later

applying it to their feed, we use a rumen pump.”

cycling cows which are often quite difficult to catch. We also

“The scary thing about cows with low rumination after

made the call not to use any tail paint or back-up bulls from

“We always seem to be juggling the start of mating with

day one and we’ve never regretted it.”

irrigating and making silage in the same week, so having

calving is some of them are able to push through and

another staff member available to help with those things is

recover, but they always end up cycling later and most of

“If a cow is in the pen for the technician, we don’t question

the time you don’t know why. With the collars, we know

it. They just get a straw.”

something’s wrong immediately, even when we can’t see a change in the cow from looking at it in the paddock.”

great.” Ben admits he is lucky to work with the two brothers who

Being confident about the selection of cycling cows also

own all three dairy units.

frees up one person in the shed each milking, allowing more The Calcium dose revives appetite quickly and was

efficient staffing and scope for that person to tackle other

“Our working relationship is excellent and I could not

confirmed in further analysis that showed the cows

farm activities.

have grown the business without their support and

returned to their pre-calving rumination level two to three

commitment,” he says.

Paul Butson

Paul Butson Fitting Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars to a North Otago spring-calving herd last July produced an immediate 50% lift in its six week in-calf rate.

LOCATION

FARM SIZE

HERD SIZE

Papakaio, North Otago

168ha (eff) fully irrigated, plus run-off

800 cows

Challenges:

Benefits:

• Low six-week in-calf rate

• Immediate lift in mating performance

• Heat detection issues, especially in autumn calving cows

• Manager more aware of issues earlier

• Back-up bulls needed

• Great back-up support via 0800

• Lengthy AB season

• Auto-drafting of cycling cows

Paul Butson has been the lower order sharemilker on the 168ha (effective) Papakaio property for the past five seasons

“We discussed

for owners Ross and Maree Skinner.

it, met with the

They milked 600 cows through the existing 40-aside

local Allflex rep

herringbone shed in their first year and built then reduced numbers as they settled into the property over the following two seasons. Then in time for their 2019-20 season, they invested in a new shed and cow numbers were increased to just over 800, split between autumn and spring calving. The dairy platform is fully irrigated and supported by a runoff block 10km away where replacement stock is reared and

and she took us to meet a farmer up the road who already had them on his herd.”

a combination of crops and silage are grown. The motivation to invest in Allflex Heatime Pro+ collars was shared between the Skinners and Paul.

Both herds had room for improvement in their six-week

The herd’s six-week in-calf rate soared from 52% to 79%,

in-calf rates and the collars offered a proven solution.

reflecting the much improved heat detection capability of

“I had been investigating them and Ross was obviously

the collars.

thinking the same thing. Ross had read about them in

“We did have a poor result in the autumn calvers last

one of the dairy magazines and I’d seen them advertised

mating but overall, the in-calf rate across the herd was

Paul is confident there is scope for further improvements

myself,” Paul says.

okay,” Paul says.

but expects incremental gains in future years. Based on

“We discussed it, met with the local Allflex rep and she took

They installed collars on the spring calving cows three

fitted to the autumn calving mob just ahead of their mating

us to meet a farmer up the road who already had them on

weeks before their 2020 mating got underway. It was just

period starting on May 20.

his herd.”

sufficient time to calibrate the collar data before mating got

the mating success in the spring calving cows, collars were

underway, but the impact was immediate.

“It’s definitely tougher to select the autumn cows as they

“It’s certainly helping us pick up lameness so we can draft them off and deal with it early on.” come on heat because they are in the barn at nights and being in that confined space means tail paint gets rubbed off some of them. We’re certainly hoping to see a massive improvement in their in-calf rate from the collars.” Paul says he eliminated tail painting the spring herd once the collars went on the spring herd last mating. “We just decided to trust the system from day one and it certainly hasn’t let us down.” The collars have also allowed them to drop back-up bulls out of their mating programme, to the relief of his three full-time farm staff and himself. It has also allowed a change in mating strategy. In the past, they have always put two bulls in with the cows after the first three of artificial insemination has been completed and continued to inseminate cows for a total of just under 12 weeks.

Now, the plan is to inseminate using sexed semen to get sufficient replacements from the top-performing cows in each herd and use beef semen across the remainder of the herd. “We’ve had success with using Charolais semen and we’ve also used some Wagyu semen in the past as well. We trialed the sexed semen last season and got a great result from it, with 58% holding within three weeks of mating.” Not having one of the team on the platform selecting cows for insemination every day has also been welcomed. The collars provide the opportunity to gain substantial health benefits too. Butson and his team are able to monitor rumination data daily to review any cows that drop into the health group and may require follow-up treatments or veterinary intervention. “It’s certainly helping us pick up lameness so we can draft them off and deal with it early on.” “Compared to just eyeballing them, the collar data means

over the calving period next spring when it will be really

“They are always there if you need them. If we’ve got

valuable to get on to any issues before they become bigger

something not working, we just phone the 0800 number

problems,” he says.

and they know our set up and they can usually sort out any

we can pull cows out before we can see something is wrong.”

issues straight away.” The back-up service from Allflex’s trainers and sales teams has also been exceptional.

He is looking forward to having the rumination data

The cows seem to get used to wearing the collars within two to three days, he says.

What’s your why? From people to animal health, management to mating, you’ll have a bunch of reasons why you need Allflex cow collars. Just know that no matter what your ‘why’ is, we’ve got your back.

Mating

Animal health

Catch silent heats, non-cyclers and identify the precise

Keep your herd healthy. Get notified of any issues early –

moment you need to inseminate for optimal breeding.

before they cause major problems.

People

Management

Let your workers take a break. Allflex monitoring system

Don’t miss any rumination changes you can monitor your

gives your staff the right information at their fingertips,

entire farms wellbeing – so there’s no guesswork.

regardless of where they are.

Improve accuracy of submission rates

No more tail paint

reduces mortality rate on average

Condense your calving window

These are just some of the results farmers are achieving with our collars

More days in milk

Allows regular breaks over busy events of the season

Reduce your empty rate

Increase yearly milk production per cow

Identification and Animal Health

Colour swatch LaserPlus marking, ensuring the most visible, durable numbers.

Livestock identification and monitoring is Allflex’s sweet spot. But there’s more following its recent acquisition by MSD, the global animal health and pharmaceutical company. MSD Animal Health provides New Zealand farmers with a wide range of animal health products, available through veterinary practices and your local rural retailers.

LaserPlus marking The boldest, blackest, easiest-to-read livestock identification

Box of Wet TSUs - 10 pack

The boldest, blackest, easiest-to-read livestock identification.

Quick, easy, reliable DNA sampling

LaserPlus marking

LaserInk pitch black ink Laser marking for proven durability Advanced shiny, non-stick surface As permanent as a tag tattoo

Box of wet

• Take an ear punch, instead of tail hair, semen or other DNA TSUs testing methods - 10 pack • Sample is sealed in a specifically designed Quick, easy, reliable preservative DNA sampling.

• Tissue samples contain large quantity of high quality DNA for genetic analysis, yielding excellent lab results • Fully sealed and positively identified with both a 2D barcode and ID panel • Can be paired to matching visual and management tags • TSU applicator used to take samples

Matching Management tag set HDX tags are the best practice EID tag • LaserPlus marking for easy to read numbers • Advanced, shiny, non-stick surface, preventing tags from warping or fading

Matching

• HDX equals high performance, suitable for weighing stock regularly Management

MSD Animal Health cattle vaccines

• Suitable for cattle and deer

tag set

• Visual tags colour available in white, orange, green, purple, pink, yellow, black and brown HDXred, tagsblue, are the best practice EID tag.

Our vaccines can help farmers protect cattle from production losses and disease. These tried and proven vaccines give farmers greater control of their herd health by helping protect against the following: • BVD • Rotavirus, Coronavirus and E. coli – the 3 most common causes of infectious calf scours

TSU calf pack

• Salmonellosis • Clostridial diseases

calf pack

d to the birth ID

Dairy TSU

nd tag your TSU sample calf pack

g errors

HDX Premium calf pack.

omponents packed ust tray

AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION. ACVM No’s: A8237, A8132, A7886, A9028. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-SAL-210500002. © 2021 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved.

Invest in quality and service After all, this is your livelihood. Our team knows what it’s like to own and run a farm and business and all the pressures associated with it. Cash flow pressures have kept us all awake at night, so we’ve developed a simple and affordable way for you to access our advanced monitoring solutions with NO upfront costs. It’s the ultimate user friendly finance option designed specifically with YOU - the New Zealand dairy farmer in mind.

Introducing the Full GO – the new and improved subscription payment option.

Full GO is:

Full GO includes:

• Affordable – No up-front costs, helps with your budget and farm cash flow.

• NO deposit

• Simple – calculated as a monthly cost per monitored cow, resulting in an easy to

• Full warranty

understand billing statement.

• Complete install

• Flexible – upgradeable, collars can be added to farm and application plans can be

• Ongoing and continuous training service and support

upgraded throughout season.

• Access to a knowledge base and resources

• Peace of Mind – Continuous warranty, support and software upgrades on all collars

• Automatic software upgrades and backups

including free replacement of lost collars and uninterrupted renewal of collars and subscription when needed. No action required from the farmer.

No hidden costs – ever. Don’t let others put you crook. Allflex Monitoring Solutions are not only the best, they are also the most cost effective. Do your own research, you would be mad not to.

Need convincing? Chat to a local • Our dedicated team of training and tech support specialists are located across the country – meaning we’re never too far away to pop over for a cuppa. • You don’t just buy a system, you buy the support you need. We’ll provide unlimited face-to-face system training with one of our experienced team members. • We’ll meet your demand – no exceptions. • We’re monitoring over 18 million cows globally. • We have a global R&D department at our fingertips. • We’ve built up a good deal of trust with farmers – and we don’t intend to break it. • After 65 years, we’ve been around almost as long as most cockies.

We’re pretty much locals, everywhere. So if you’d like more information on Allflex monitoring solutions, give your local sales rep a call.

Sales Specialists

Training Specialists Our specialists are ready to support you nationwide:

North Island

South Island

North Island

South Island

HAMILTON

ASHBURTON

HAMILTON

CANTERBURY

Libby Monaghan

Jeff Hill

Nicole Cooper

Abby Hawkins

Monitoring Sales Specialist

Senior Monitoring Sales Specialist

Training Specialist

027 227 2611

027 585 4400

027 251 8265

027 362 3986

libby.monaghan@merck.com

jeff.hill@merck.com

nicole.cooper@merck.com

abby.hawkins@merck.com

PALMERSTON NORTH

LOWER SOUTH ISLAND

Melinda Little

Steph Voice

Training Specialist

Training Specialist Co-ordinator

027 286 0444

Kurow

melinda.little@merck.com

027 205 4924

WAIUKU

Craig Midgley Monitoring Sales Specialist 027 222 8622 craig.midgley@merck.com

PALMERSTON NORTH

Trevor Ward Monitoring Sales Specialist 027 556 7779 trevor.ward@merck.com

CHRISTCHURCH

Trevor Green Monitoring Sales Specialist 027 244 6144 trevor.green@merck.com

steph.voice@merck.com

DUNEDIN

Erin Blair

Fleur Dickie

Training Specialist

Monitoring Sales Specialist

Dipton

027 347 3344

027 535 0934

fleur.dickie@merck.com

erin.blair@merck.com

For more details visit www.thegamechanger.farm

Allﬂex Livestock Intelligence is the world leader in the design,

Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals®,

development, manufacturing and delivery of solutions for animal

MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and

identification, monitoring and traceability. Our data-driven solutions

governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals,

are used by farmers, companies and countries to manage hundreds

vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an

of millions of animals worldwide. By putting intelligent, actionable

extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and

management information into farmers’ hands, our solutions empower

monitoring products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and

them to act in a timely manner to safeguard their animals’ health and

improving the health, wellbeing and performance of animals and the

wellbeing, while achieving optimal production outcomes for a healthy

people who care for them.

food supply. Allﬂex Livestock Intelligence is a livestock portfolio of digital products within MSD Animal Health.

www.allflex.global/nz | custserv@allflex.co.nz Copyright© 2021 Allflex New Zealand Limited, subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, U.S.A. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for Allﬂex’s products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Allﬂex Livestock Intelligence shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.