Dairy News 18 August 2020

Breach effluent rules and pay the price. PAGE 3 CAREER MOVE Thrilled with new job PAGE 14

AUGUST 18, 2020 ISSUE 453 //

ALL CLEAR

Southland free of M.bovis PAGE 21

www.dairynews.co.nz

KEEP IT CLEAN, GREEN New Dairy Environment Leaders programme chair Melissa Slattery shares her vision.

PAGE 4

al Eva DeLav

1.5 kg

™ luster nza C

*Compared to DeLaval Harmony clusters with round liners, under the same conditions and settings on pilot farms.

Results may vary and are not guaranteed.

P U N R T SPEED THE

delaval.com | 0800 222 228

The new DeLaval Evanza™ milking cluster is our lightest, which means you can milk faster, with less effort*.

Call your DeLaval dealer to experience the difference.

DEL0469

ONLY

WE HAVE CHANGED OUR LOOK BUT NOT OUR PRIORITY. Our number one priority will always be to supply high quality machinery and high quality service to our customers.

This has not changed since we opened our doors in 1963.

‘Towards greener pastures’ ‘Towards greener pastures’

LETS MOVE TOWARDS GREENER PASTURES TOGETHER.

For more information call us on 06 370 0390 www.tulloch.nz Dealers located nationwide Proud distributors of

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

NEWS // 3

Break the rules, pay the price SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WMP price dip not unexpected. PG.11

Good grass growth bring challenges.

PG.16

Made in NZ – SmartShelters.. PG.19

NEWS .......................................................3-11 OPINION ...............................................12-13 AGRIBUSINESS .................................... 14 MANAGEMENT .................................15-17 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS ........................................18-19 ANIMAL HEALTH ........................... 20-21 MATING ...............................................22-28

FARMERS WHO flout effluent

rules have been warned that they will be caught and dealt with by the law.

Federated Farmers Waikato dairy chair Ben Moore calls the three recent cases of Waikato farmers copping fines totalling $116,000 for effluent management breaches “very annoying”.

Moore says farmers need to follow guidelines set out by the Waikato Regional Council and milk processors.

He says while a majority of farmers are investing in effluent management systems, a few are still digging their heels in.

“They will get caught over time and face the consequences,” Moore told Dairy News.

He says it’s cheaper to put in a pond and effluent system than most of the fines imposed by courts on defaulting farmers.

The three cases were heard by Judge Jeff Smith in the Hamilton District Court; prosecutions were taken by Waikato Regional Council under the Resource Management Act. In the first case, Gerard Peter Wolvers, a South Waikato farmer with nearly 50 years’ farming experience, was convicted on three charges of unlawfully discharging dairy efflu-

The pump on Gerard Peter Wolvers farm in South Waikato was set up to deliberately pump effluent into the environment. PHOTO: WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL

ent into the environment and fined $61,600.

The discharges were over a twoday period in April 2018 and the incident was reported to the council by a member of the public. Council staff inspected the property and discovered a petrol-powered pump had been set up at the effluent pond for the purpose of lowering the pond level.

The effluent had been pumped into a nearby paddock where it had formed a flow path across farmland.

An unknown volume of effluent made its way to a nearby watercourse that flows to the Waikeria Stream.

The total volume of effluent discharged was estimated to be between 300,000 and 400,000 litres.

Wolvers admitted to fuelling the

borrowed pump, starting it, and then allowing it to run unattended until its fuel supply ran out.

In the second case, a Waikato farming company, J B Thomas & Sons, was convicted for a single offence relating to an underpass at its Reporoa property that was discharging effluent via a drainage channel to a water body adjacent to the Waiotapu Stream in July 2019.

The company was fined $26,500.

In the third case, Michael David McMillan, a contract milker employed on a Turua dairy farm, was sentenced regarding a single charge for over application of effluent from a travelling irrigator in October 2018. The effluent flowed into a drain system that ultimately flows to the Waihou River. McMillan was fined $28,000.

“I expect that many in the farming industry will be very disappointed to see such cases continuing to be brought against their peers,” says WRC regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch.

“Particularly in the instance where there were three deliberate discharges of effluent into the environment by a vastly experienced farmer.

“These cases continue to be a source of frustration for all of those in the industry who have invested in the infrastructure to proactively manage their animal effluent effectively and work hard to manage it every day.

“I know that these cases also cause ongoing concern for the wider community and those advocating for an improvement in water quality.”

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

4 // NEWS

Fresh focus on sustainable dairying SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

SUSTAINABILITY IS

one of the main challenges facing the current generation of dairy farmers, says Waikato farmer and new Dairy Environment Leaders programme chair Melissa Slattery.

She says developing further practical solutions for water quality and climate change are crucial for the sector to remain relevant and profitable.

“With our predominantly grass fed milk production, we are the most efficient producers of dairy products worldwide, but we need to be relevant for the future,” Slattery told Dairy News.

“Every generation has had its challenges and this is ours.”

Slattery and her husband Justin own and operate a 300 cow, 106ha dairy farm near Te Aroha.

She is an associate with a local chartered accountant firm. The Slatterys

won the NZ Dairy Industry Awards 2015 Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title.

The Dairy Environment Leaders programme is run by DairyNZ. Slattery who was part of the programme for the past three years takes over from Matamata farmer Tracy Brown.

Slattery is excited and humbled to secure the role.

“I look forward to building on all the great work dairy farmers are doing throughout New Zealand to improve water quality, and reduce climate change emissions and dairy’s environmental footprint while maintaining our profitable farm business.”

New Zealand is responsible for less than 0.2% of the total global emissions and dairy farmers are among the most emissions-efficient producers in the world.

She notes that NZ has made international commitments for cli-

Notice of Election - DairyNZ Board of Directors - DairyNZ Directors Remuneration Committee Invitation for 2020 candidate nominations – three positions available In October, two elections will take place for DairyNZ Incorporated – one election for two farmer-elected directors for the Board of DairyNZ Incorporated and a second election for one member of the Directors Remuneration Committee.

Registered levy-paying dairy farmers are invited to nominate candidates to fill these three positions.

All farmers paying a levy on milk solids to DairyNZ are eligible to stand for either election. An information pack outlining desired criteria and nomination requirements for the positions can be obtained from the Returning Officer.

Nominations must be received by the Returning Officer by 12 noon on Thursday, 3 September 2020.

Elections If more candidates than the required nominations are received, elections will be carried out by postal, and internet voting using the STV (single transferable vote) voting method. Votes will be weighted by annual milk solids production. Voter packs will be posted on 21 September 2020 to all registered DairyNZ levy payers, with voting closing at 12 noon on Tuesday, 20 October 2020.

The DairyNZ Annual General Meeting will be held in Ashburton on Wednesday, 21 October 2020. Election results will be announced at the meeting.

For further details contact the Returning Officer as below.

Anthony Morton Returning Officer – DairyNZ Incorporated 0800 666 946 iro@electionz.com

Melissa Slattery says she is excited and humbled to secure the role.

mate change that require reductions in greenhouse gasses. As agriculture makes up 49% of NZ’s greenhouse gas profile, we have to find solutions to reduce our footprint while maintaining the ability of profitable dairy farming to contribute to NZ’s economy.

“Our country’s commitments for improved water quality within a generation also require collaboration, innovation, technology and practical solutions,” she says.

NZ dairy farmers have been improving their carbon footprint but more work is needed.

Slattery points out that over time the industry has achieved efficiencies on carbon emissions of 2% per year.

“This is out of being more efficient on farm and innovating either through more measuring or genetics or fine tuning our systems.

“Harvesting more grass/ha, wasting less brought-in feed, either

through improved farm practices or investment of infrastructure, is a winwin that has accumulated over time.

“The focus now is on how we achieve the 10% reduction by 2030 and the bigger more ambitious targets for 2050 and beyond, and how we reach them are unknown.”

She says there are some exciting innovations.

For instance, the recently announced work on ‘cowbotcha’ through Fonterra, a supplement that works

on the cow’s ruminant to reduce the methane production. These innovations we haven’t yet come across on farm will hopefully help us meet our longer term targets, says Slattery.

On water quality, farmers have invested in effluent infrastructure, fenced off waterways and some have retired parts of the farm.

They record nutrient use and have refined fertiliser policy so they only apply what the pasture and crop needs to grow.

Slattery notes that farmers who irrigate have invested in better infrastructure, moisture monitoring and are audited against their irrigation consent.

Farmers have completed a lot of riparian planting and some are constructing wetlands to catch contaminants. The industry is adopting Farm Environment Plans to support and guide practices on farm based on soil types, topography, rain fall, farm systems, infrastructure and local water bodies.

“Plenty has been done – though there is plenty more to do,” Slattery says.

“Some catchments are facing some ‘problems’ in terms of N-reduction.

Key moving forward is allowing the time needed for farmers to make the changes needed to meet new limits without complete loss of financial viability.”

Slattery believes strong sustainable credentials will bring better returns and keep the business in good stead for the next generation.

“The credit we will get is in positioning ourselves to achieve a value add price and farming practice that is sustainable for the next generations, and maintaining our market share as consumers appreciate the value of good food.

“Consumers and markets will determine the credit we deserve.

“It has been positive to see appreciation for the value the dairy sector is delivering to help rebuild the economy after the effects of Covid-19.”

FORWARD-LOOKING LEADER DAIRYNZ STRATEGY and investment leader – responsible dairy, Dr David Burger, says Melissa Slattery brings a wealth of dairy farming and business experience to the role, and a deep appreciation of the importance of environmental sustainability.

“Melissa is forward-looking and collaborative, and we know she will make a significant contribution to the dairy sector’s commitment to environmental stewardship for future generations,” Burger said.

He also thanked outgoing chair Tracy Brown for her outstanding contribution and excellent leadership, empowering farmers to lead solutions.

“As a leader, Tracy has developed and enhanced the role of Dairy Environment Leaders and motivated change among farmers in their environmental work,” Burger said.

Dairy Environment Leaders are active in their communities at grass-roots level, on boards and local committees. They look to accelerate positive change for the sector. Increasingly the focus is on building regional action to meet the wider Dairy Environment Leaders outcomes.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

NEWS // 5

Fonterra sites compete for awards FONTERRA’S MANUFACTURING sites work

to turn Fonterra farmers’ milk into products that end up in over 140 countries.

They employ 7000 people throughout the country in a range of roles from factory processors to tanker operators, food safety and quality experts and environmental managers.

So, the Best Site Cup awards at Fonterra is an event everyone looks forward to. This year, however, things were different thanks to Covid-19.

A Fonterra spokesman says teams gathered across the country to dial into the celebration last month.

“Our sites are starting to ramp back up after winter [shutdown], so it was nice to see the teams come together to celebrate the year that’s been,” he says.

“It’s been a season like no other and we’re proud of how the teams have come together during these challenging times.

“It’s nice to be able to take the time to celebrate the season and some outstanding success stories.”

Pahiatua in the Lower North Island received the Sustainability award, based on the focus they’ve had on reducing water, energy and waste. The site has the lowest waterto-milk ratio of Fonterra sites in New Zealand and

they’ve reduced their water use by more than half a million litres a day through a state-of-theart wastewater treatment plant.

The Darfield site took away the Best Big Site award. They’ve had a great year making progress against their goals, including the target set by the co-op last year to reduce their water use by 30% by 2030.

The Kauri site was recognised for Health and Safety. In the midst of droughts and floods in Northland, health and safety remained front of mind for the site.

Te Rapa, Hamilton, took out the Transformation award. They made

The Kauri site, Northland picked up the health and safety cup.

improvements in a variety of areas including employee engagement, health and safety and product quality.

Dubbed the ‘Oscars of Manufacturing’, the awards are now in their 14th year. There were 14 awards up for grabs.

DIRECTOR ELECTION NOMINATIONS OPEN

Multi Height Service Platform The P&Pd Multi-Height Service Platform is a height adjustable, brake-wheeled work platform that allows an operator (vet, AB technician, milker...) to work safely with an animal, elevated to its height, from

P&Pd worked in conjunction with dairy farmers to develop a portable, long lasting and strong platform to meet the needs of the New Zealand farmer.

The platforms features are:

PRICE

1510

$

+ GST + Freight

Five level options from folded (220mm) to full height (850mm) A strong, grippy self draining deck

NOMINATIONS FOR two Fon-

terra board vacancies are open.

This year chairman John Monaghan and Waikato farmer and chartered accountant Brent Goldsack retire by rotation.

Monaghan is stepping down from the board: Goldsack has confirmed that he will be standing for re-election this year.

Under Fonterra’s director election rules, the Independent Assessment Process will be run first with a nomination period of July 31 to August 14.

Candidates will be assessed by an independent selection panel – made up of business leaders Tony Carter, Joan Withers and Rob Campbell. Their role is to shortlist and recommend the best candidates to Fonterra’s shareholders.

Candidates nominated through this process will be announced on September 14.

The non-assessment process, where farmers can put themselves forward as a candidate for the board outside the independent assessment process will follow with the

nomination period running from 14 - 24 September 2020.

All director election candidates will be confirmed on September 25.

The Directors’ Election will be held using the ‘first past the post’ system via postal and online voting

by Fonterra Shareholders.

Nominations for the Shareholders Council and the directors’ remuneration committee elections will be called for on September 8, closing September 24. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

A large brake pedal which can intermittently or permanently disengage the brakes Positive engagement brakes that cannot slip Large ground wheels for easy rolling A large footprint chassis for stability, combined with closed-section, thick wall aluminium beams used in the side rails and scissor beams that give excllent load strength and rigidity Conforms with requirements set for AB use.

Easily attached, clip on steps available.

For more information contact Kevin at kjsmithengineering@xtra.co.nz or ph 027-573 0566.

Visit our site at www.papd.co.nz for more detailed information about the Multi-Height Service Platform.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

6 // NEWS

Double whammy brings feed issues to the fore PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

FEED ISSUES are the big focus for dairy farmers in Northland as the region tries to recover from the double whammy of a severe drought and, latterly, major flooding.

DairyNZ’s lead consulting officer in the region, Tareen Ellis, says many farmers had feed issues with the drought and this has been exacerbated by the floods.

She says following the drought, some farmers were starting to see the grass growing again, but they have suffered a major setback with pastures being flooded.

On some Northland farms the water drained away quickly, but on others it has lingered.

“On some farms the water drained away quickly, but on others it has lingered and these people now face the prospect of having to re-grass parts of their

farms,” Ellis told Dairy News.

Ellis says DairyNZ along with Beef+Lamb NZ, Fonterra and rural professionals have joined forces to help farmers.

A regional advisory group (RAG) has been set up and feed coordinators appointed to ensure that farmers who need feed get it. The RAG group, which comes under the

Northland Regional Council and also involves MPI, can provide grants to farmers to transport feed to their farms.

This is similar to what has happened with the

drought in Hawkes Bay. Ellis says before farmers can apply to get a subsidy they need to have a feed budget and says her team is helping farmers prepare a feed budget if they don’t already have one.

She says the overall situation in Northland is very complex and that it is impossible to generalise on how the region is coping. She says it varies from district to district and in some cases from farm to farm within a district.

She says a farmer’s situation may also be determined by which farming system they are operating under.

“For example some

farmers may have coped reasonably well with the drought, but the floods have affected them badly.

Others have planned for the drought but the reality is that in some cases this hasn’t worked out.

“Some farmers have told me that the latest floods were not as bad as the ones in 2014. So the reality is that it is a very mixed bag,” she says.

Ellis says DairyNZ and other groups are taking a special interest in farmer welfare and says they are very conscious of the stress that people have been under.

“All told it’s been a long eighteen months up here for farmers,” she says.

WE NEED OVERSEAS WORKERS – FEDS FEDERATED FARMERS says tens of millions of dollars worth of farm production and the jobs of other workers are at risk if the Government continues to dither on allowing a limited number of skilled agricultural machinery operators into New Zealand.

Federated Farmers spokesperson on employment, Chris Lewis, says it has almost gone past critical now because the country is on the cusp of spring activity and there is a need to get these seasonal workers on flights and into quarantine for two weeks.

He says it’s interesting that exemptions have been allowed for workers laying synthetic tracks for horse racing, for the movie industry, and others.

“The fact is that the primary industries can help us pave the way to post-Covid economic recovery, but not if crucial cogs in our production systems are hobbled by key gaps in the workforce.”

Rural Contractors NZ has just finished surveying its members and has found that 57 contractors urgently need a total of 206 skilled operators, to service 8213 clients.

Many of those clients will be Federated Farmers’ members, he says.

It is estimated that if the highly skilled drivers and operators are not brought in from overseas, there

Chris Lewis

could be a loss of nearly 28 million tonnes of production with a value in excess of $110 million.

Lewis says the federation shares the Government’s desire to train Kiwis for these roles, and action is happening on that front with the 40 places on the first of six planned agricultural driver courses at SIT’s Telford campus already taken. He says these people should graduate with the ability to safely drive a tractor, but not the combine harvesters and silage machines that can be worth a million dollars or more.

“You don’t train someone to use a chainsaw, then send them out to bring down tall trees the next week. Newer drivers need to gain experience with tractors on basic

tasks in simple country before they can move on to more complex machines.

“The majority of fatalities in agriculture involve vehicles and the last thing anyone wants is inexperienced vehicle operators put in situations where they end up having an accident.

“These skilled operators have been coming into New Zealand without problems in the past. But the pandemic restrictions have caught everyone on the hop,” he says.

Lewis says these are extraordinary circumstances and government sign-off of managed entry of these highly skilled operators, with the quarantine paid for by contracting firms, is crucial.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

NEWS // 7

Good weather helps calving season on West Coast PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE CALVING season

on the West Coast is progressing well with the help of good weather, says retired Federated Farmers president Katie Milne.

She and her partner Ian Whitmore farm a Jersey herd at Rotomana near Hokitika and she says although they are waiting for spring to kick in there are already a lot of farms on the coast that are well into calving.

Milne says they had a reasonable amount of growth in autumn and it’s been a kind winter by West Coast standards.

“Utilisation was really good for June and July and although there was the odd wet patch, it was nothing we couldn’t deal with easily, so that was great,” she told Dairy News.

“There are a few lights cows around – not very many compared to some areas – and we are hoping that we will end up with a good season.

“In the next few months it’s predicted to be a La Nina season and, of course, for the West Coast that means a little bit drier than normal,” she says.

Milne says this is great as long as it doesn’t go too far the other way and they end up with a drought.

Supplies of supplement have been pretty good, according to Milne.

A lot of silage was made because of last season’s wet spring and summer.

She says it rained right up until Christmas and the situation was pretty awful.

“That meant that all supplement and the bulk of the silage that could get made was very late.

Crops were a bit lighter as they were all around the country.

“But we were very lucky to have a kind winter, which certainly helped, and fertiliser is now going and there seems to be good amounts of grass growing in the valleys,” she says.

Milne says she’s been down to Franz Josef and Haast and says there appears to be good amounts of tucker there for the cows.

While she hasn’t been up north to Karamea, she’s heard nothing that would suggest that there is a problem up there either.

The Milnes farm Jersey cows and Katie says the lighter cows are easier on the heavy soils they farm.

She says as a general rule there are more kiwi-cross cows on the coast now because of this.

Look forward to this season, Milne says they are hoping that their milksolids will be up on

NOW READ IT ONLINE READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER BREAKING NEWS MACHINERY REVIEWS MARKETS & TRENDS MANAGEMENT STORIES COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE...

All the latest stories and more at www.dairynews.co.nz

last year. She says the spring has been mild and if this continues, the

outlook is good – but quickly adds “you never can tell”.

CowScout collars monitor your cows 24 hours a day, providing accurate data on heat detection, eating and rumination.

Every cow wears a CowScout collar and is automatically drafted when eating or rumination time drops, or

CowScout has allowed Brad to spend less time on AB with much better results; he went from sitting at

West Coast farmer Katie Milne.

NAIT ready for calving?

Help build lifetime animal traceability Make sure you can tick off the following: Selling calves: All my calves are NAIT tagged correctly I have registered the calves in my NAIT account – after tagging them first I have recorded a movement in NAIT for the calves I sold – within 48 hours of them leaving. Note: This is not required when selling to a saleyard.

I’ve filled out an ASD form and have a Declaration to Livestock Transporter (DLT) form ready – if required

Buying calves: I’ve checked the calves I bought are tagged and NAIT registered I received an Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form from the seller I have recorded a movement in NAIT for the calves I bought – within 48 hours of them arriving I’ve updated the calves’ production type to beef – if brought in from a dairy farm.

Bobby calves moved direct to slaughter are exempt from all NAIT requirements. Check with your meat processor about their requirements for accepting bobby calves.

Failure to comply with NAIT obligations may result in fines or prosecution issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Need help? Call OSPRI on 0800 482 463 NAIT is an OSPRI programme

info@ospri.co.nz | ospri.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

NEWS // 9

Brendish departs Westland PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

OUTGOING CHIEF executive of Westland Milk Products, Toni Brendish, says she and her husband are heading back to Australia in the next couple of months to be with family.

Brendish stepped down from Westland Milk earlier this month after four years in the role. She oversaw the sale of the former co-op to Chinese company Yili over a year ago.

Yili issued a brief statement saying the Brendish was leaving the company on August 7. It says her replacement would be Shiqing Jian, the resident director of the company.

Jian says Brendish had been CEO of Westland during its most difficult years. He says Yili was grateful for her stewardship of Westland over the past 12 months as it transitioned to Yili ownership.

“Repositioning Westland away from an historical commodities producer to a modern company with hugely successful branded products such as Westgold as well as segregated milk

Toni Brendish

products, among other key innovations, has ensured that Westland will

continue to be part of the New Zealand dairy industry for the next gener-

ation,” says Jian.

He says demand for Westland and sister company, Oceania Dairy’s products was continuing to rise internationally, demonstrating the value that global consumers place on NZ dairy goods. Jian says Yili believes the future for the dairy industry in New Zealand is a very bright one.

“Increased demand for our products shows how much value global consumers place on the undoubted quality of New Zealand-based dairy products and their potential health benefits because of the advantages of New Zealand’s climate, location and quality processing facilities,” he says.

Brendish departure from the company came almost exactly a year to the day since Yili took over Westland. She says it’s been a privilege and delight to lead Westland in the past four years.

In the past year Brendish says she’s been working hard on integrating Westland into the ‘Yili family’.

“Westland itself is a fantastic family with such huge opportunities. I have been in the situation where we have just put together the five year plan and I am very excited about what that can

deliver, and excited for the team being able to put that in to place. I will watch with interest as they do that,” she says.

She says the last year has been a lot different given that Westland was a cooperative and Yili a corporate company. Brendish says Yili have really stepped up to invest in Westland and the West Coast.

“That is fantastic for Westland, the West Coast and for our suppliers,” she says.

Suppliers to Yili says Brendish seem to be happy and says in the past years she’s had very few calls from dairy farmers. This is confirmed by dairy farmers on the West Coast spoken to

by Dairy News who say that Yili is doing everything by the book and keeping their promises. They say they are especially happy with the ten year supply contract that Yili has given them.

Brendish says making the move to leave was a right decision at the right time. She and her husband have children in Sydney and Melbourne and says with Covid-19 this has not been easy. As for the future, Brendish says she does have plans, but says she’ll have to wait and see what eventuates.

SAVE OVER $1,000 *

KINGQUAD LT-A400F

$11,300+GST

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

10 // NEWS

Dairy sector turning to onfarm action on waterways PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

WITH THE passing of the Government’s new rules to protect and restore fresh waterways, DairyNZ says it’s turning its attention to what this now means on-farm.

Chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says for a start it’s encouraging that the Government has listened and made vital changes to elements of the freshwater proposal, including more time for some policies to be implemented.

He says, for many farmers, these changes cannot be made overnight. For example, the 190kg cap for nitrogen fertiliser presented a real challenge for some farmers – particularly the tight timeframe to implement it.

“So, we are pleased government has listened and is giving farmers consenting options that will phase reductions up to July 2023. This will give farmers breathing room to adjust their pasture, animal and people management. We are keen to ensure that timeframes for all regulations are fair and reflect the considerable effort made by dairy

DairyNZ was seeking an evidence-based, pragmatic policy on water quality.

farmers to date.”

The new requirements among other things include councils having to give effect to Te Mana o Te Wai by prioritising the health and wellbeing of waterways, halting further loss of wetlands and streams and putting controls on high-risk farming practices such as winter grazing and feedlots.

DairyNZ says it advocated for an evidencebased, pragmatic policy to be delivered through the freshwater proposal to meet New Zealand’s water quality aspirations in a fair and efficient way.

Mackle says the Government has adapted some aspects of the original proposal and taken a better approach for others

with science-based rules and practicality for farmers on the ground.

“Our original assessment showed we could deliver on water quality improvement with less economic pain. While DairyNZ is pleased the proposed DIN [dissolved inorganic nitrogen attribute] has been parked, analysis shows this measure should be completely dropped. The DIN attribute will not drive the ecosystem health outcomes the policy aimed to deliver. We also consider that the nitrogen toxicity standard of 2.4 g/m3 is too conservative for highly developed pastoral catchments,” he says Mackle says there is a need to have realis-

tic expectations about the type of aquatic biodiversity that these highly modified, productive catchments can support.

He says it is unrealistic to set national bottom lines based on protecting 95% of species when a lower level is justifiable, and still often aspirational to achieve.

“DairyNZ will continue to work closely with farmers, regional government and stakeholders as the rubber hits the road with implementation. Healthy waterways are important to dairy farmers. We share the same aspirations to protect our streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands and are working as a sector to deliver on environmental goals.”

WATER & EFFLUENT STORAGE

FUNDING FOR PROJECTS MEANWHILE THE Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is about to call for proposals from the Freshwater Improvement Fund which is part of the Government’s $1.3 billion Jobs for Nature environmental funding programme.

The Freshwater Improvement Fund is targeting environmental projects that create jobs and improve the state of NZ’s lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater and wetlands.

MfE says such projects could include wetland construction and restoration, stream reinstatements and the reduction of sediment eroding from the land. Any legal entity can apply including landowners, community groups, Iwi and local government.

The first round opens at the beginning of September.

Also of significance to rural communities is the Government’s setting aside of $30 million to improve drinking water in rural areas.

This is part of a $761 million package to assist local government to improve the overall quality of drink-

ing water nationwide and to monitor this.

The Minister of Local Government, Nanaia Mahuta, says $30 million has been set aside in recognition that many small non-council rural water supplies might struggle to meet aspects of the proposed new regulatory regime for drinking water.

She says the drinking water safety standards themselves are not increasing, but the Water Services Bill, recently introduced to Parliament, anticipates that many more water supplies, including small noncouncil rural providers, will fall under the new regime than is currently the case.

“That means that many more small supplies will have to comply with existing drinking water standards. The Government’s view is that rural New Zealanders should not be second-class citizens when it comes to the quality and safety of their drinking water,” she says.

Just how the $30 million will be allocated and precisely how it should be used is yet to be determined.

Storage from 50,000 up to 5,000,000 Litres Suitable for water, effluent, milk products, chemicals and more STANDARD FEEDER (C6 Pinned)

Minimal site preparation, no concrete required

FOR TOUGH NZ CONDITIONS

Fast on site installation 15 warranty, 25 year design life

Call 0800 255 222 Online www.kliptank.com Email info@kliptank.com

!"#$%&'#(

• 1 x 6 foot bale • 2m diameter • 15 feed positions • 15 - 30 animals

OVAL FEEDER (S2 Pinned) • 3 x 4 foot bales • 2 x 6 foot bales • 24 feed positions • 24 - 48 animals • 4m long

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

NEWS // 11

WMP price fall not unexpected – OCD SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE COUNTRY’S

second largest milk processor says it isn’t surprised at the big drop in whole milk powder prices at the last Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction.

Open Country Dairy (OCD) chief executive Steve Koekemoer says the 7.5% drop in WMP price was “somewhat expected”.

At the GDT auction on August 4, the price of

season.”

However Covid-19 looms large over future dairy prices.

“The greatest unknown is any potential impact from a further disruption in the supply chain through Covid,” he says.

“Although supply and demand are currently balanced, we have seen how the market can shift when the foodservice sector shuts down.”

While analysts have described the WMP price dip as tough and disappointing, for the time

agement recently completed another round of farmer meetings.

Koekemoer says OCD factories are starting to ramp up with milk coming into the sites and the team is “ready and

“The greatest unknown is any potential impact from a further disruption in the supply chain through Covid.”

Fonterra’s flagship offering suffered its largest decline in more than three years.

WMP prices sit at US$3,003/metric tonne – around 6% below the preCovid level in January.

In his monthly message to OCD farmer suppliers, Koekemoer says the price dip was somewhat expected after the double-digit increase last month and with additional volume now on offer.

“I am also assuming that some customers will be holding back to see how the NZ season ramps up and to assess the supply side over our peak,” he says.

“We see this price drop as a predictable correction and anticipate pricing to maintain around current levels with some movement either way over the

excited to deliver another record season”.

“Our review of last season’s performance shows exceptional results and you can be assured that your milk is in very good hands.”

Protected or infected?

Get 12 months fetal protection.

being they are sticking to their forecast payouts for 2020-21 of between $6.50 to $6.75/kgMS. Fonterra’s revised forecast price range is $5.90 to $6.90/ kgMS. OCD has a different milk payment. It has finalised the May Settlement Period price at an average of $7.04/kgMS. Koekemoer says it is pleased that the price is within the forecast range set some time ago.

“It was a challenge to forecast the pricing for the earlier calendar months of 2020, but the sales team have done extremely well to extract as much value as possible from the market.

“We have also reviewed our forecast going forward and adjusted the settlement periods upwards.”

OCD’s board and man-

If an unborn calf is infected with BVD prior to 120 days gestation, it could be born persistently infected (Pl). That means it will spread the virus to other cattle for the rest of its life. So fetal protection is vital to breaking the cycle of BVD transmission.

Vaccines in New Zealand provide varying durations of fetal protection, meaning unborn calves could become PIs if BVD exposure happens at the wrong time.

Bovilis BVD is the only vaccine that has demonstrated 12 months fetal protection after the 3rd dose – the longest coverage available. Booster cows and heifers with Bovilis BVD and this season’s pregnancies will be protected no matter when they are conceived.

BNZ STICKING TO FORECAST

So why risk it? Ask your vet for Bovilis BVD by name and get 12 months peace of mind.

BoviIis® BVD

NZ’s LEADING BVD VACCINE*

AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION. ACVM No: A8237. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-BOV-200800003 ©2020 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved.

DN-Calf-01

BNZ IS sticking to its 2020-21 forecast payout of $6.50/kgMS, says dairy analyst Doug Steel.

However, he cautions that uncertainty remains very high.

“We again maintain our $6.50 forecast, which builds in some softening in international prices ahead.

“But we still cannot rule out something significantly different to that forecast given the circumstances.”

He notes that over the past two GDT auctions, dairy prices have unwound roughly half of their prior bounce from early May lows. Prices are 5.6% lower than a year ago.

Open Country Dairy is eyeing another record season.

*Baron Market Data Q2 2020.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

12 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Crunch time!

MILKING IT...

Tractor challenge

SAFE gets it wrong!

Vegan ice cream

DEPUTY PRIME Minister Winston Peters’ assertion that New Zealand farming doesn’t need overseas machinery drivers hasn’t gone down well with farming leaders.

Peters claimed to have driven a tractor when he was 10, and he believes there’s not a huge difference between the tractor he drove and the machines on our farms today. They’re just bigger, he says.

One farming leader says someone needs to tell Peters that there isn’t a gear stick between the knees anymore.

His challenge to Peters: “Come down and have a drive in a Fendt tractor. For every minute that tractor doesn’t move you can donate $100 to the rural support trust. And the $100 comes out of your own pocket and not the Primary Growth Fund.”

ANIMAL RIGHT activists SAFE are again taking aim at the dairy industry. This time, someone stumbled upon dead calves left on public land in Taranaki.

SAFE now claims that the images of dead calves on top of each other is “the reality of the dairy industry”. Wrong!

Federated Farmers Dairy chair Wayne Langford says his understanding is that these calves are at a drop off point for a local charity.

They are in confined bins and are not a risk to any waterways, he says.

“It’s disappointing that they were left in a way that photos like this could be taken, however this animal activist group have been known to go to illegal measures to get photos in the past.”

CONSUMERS AROUND the world are going wild for plant-based innovation and ice cream is no exception.

According to the latest research from Mintel Global New Product Database (GNPD), vegan ice cream accounts for an increasing proportion of global ice cream launches, making up 7% of all launches in the last 12 months, more than double the 3% five years ago.

Japan scoops up number one position for ice cream. From matcha to mayonnaise and seaweed to soybean, there seems no limit to Japanese ice cream innovation as Mintel reveals that Japan is now the world’s number one global ice cream innovator, commanding the highest share of ice cream launches.

Head Office: Top Floor, 29 Northcroft St, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone 09-307 0399. Fax 09-307 0122 Postal Address: Published by: Printed by: Contacts: Advertising material: Rural News on-line: Subscriptions:

PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Rural News Group Ovato Print Editorial: sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz davef@ruralnews.co.nz www.ruralnews.co.nz subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz

ABC audited circulation 26,510 as at 31/3/2019

ISSN 1175-463X

Leaving underwear for milk DAVID BORTOLUSSI is jumping out of underwear and into A2 Milk and he bags a $5.5 million compensation package along the way.

Bortolussi has been appointed as managing director and chief executive of A2 and will be based in Sydney, he is expected to start in the role in February next year.

Bortolussi is leaving his job as group president international innerwear at Hanes Brands. On top of a salary of A$1.75m, he will get nearly A$5m of “transitional benefits”, as compensation for forfeiting entitlements in his current role.

Nearly A$1.3m will be paid in cash when Bortolussi commences the role, while another A$3.7m will be given in shares. Half will be paid on his first anniversary in the job and the other half after his second anniversary.

CRUNCH TIME is approaching for the country’s agricultural contractors.

It’s clear that the cultivation and planting of crops could be in jeopardy if some skilled machinery operators aren’t allowed in.

Rural Contractors NZ has just finished surveying its members and has found that 57 contractors urgently need a total of 206 skilled operators.

They’re needed to service 8213 clients. Federated Farmers says many of those would be its members.

Without this annual influx of highly skilled drivers and operators, RCNZ estimates there would be a 32% downturn in activity, worth $65 million.

The effect of that would be the loss of nearly 28 million tonnes of production, with a value in excess of $110 million.

These are whopping numbers. Not allowing these skilled machine operators on the grounds that there are enough locals to do the job is absurd.

Timing is critical: we’re on the cusp of spring activity and we need to get these seasonal workers on flights and into quarantine for two weeks.

Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis wrote to the new Immigration Minister Kris Fafoi and his message was clear.

If managed entry can’t be found for the machinery operators, experienced senior dairy staff and a limited number of other skilled technical staff, there is significant potential for economic, health & safety and animal welfare issues across the primary industries that could otherwise be avoided.

Lewis rightly points out that exemptions have been allowed for workers laying synthetic tracks for horse racing, for the movie industry, and others.

The farming sector shares the Government’s desire to train Kiwis for these roles, and action is happening on that front.

The 40 places on the first of six planned agricultural drivers’ courses at SIT’s Telford campus have all been taken.

They should graduate with the ability to safely drive a tractor, but not the combine harvesters and silage machines that can be worth a million dollars or more.

“Newer drivers need to gain experience with tractors on basic tasks in simple country before they can move on to more complex machines. The majority of fatalities in agriculture involve vehicles and the last thing anyone wants is inexperienced vehicle operators put in situations where they end up having an accident.”

The resurgence of Covid-19 last week marks a new twist.

What happens over the next few weeks will be crucial.

For rural contractors, the agonising wait continues.

Publisher: General Manager: Editor: Machinery Editor:

Brian Hight ...................... Ph 09-307 0399 Adam Fricker ................... Ph 021-842 226 Sudesh Kissun ................ Ph 021-963 177 Mark Daniel...................... Ph 021-906 723 markd@ruralnews.co.nz Reporters: Peter Burke.....................Ph 021-224 2184 peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

Subscriptions: Julie Beech ....................Ph 021-190 3144 Production: Dave Ferguson .............Ph 027-272 5372 Becky Williams ..............Ph 021-100 4831 Digital Strategist: Jessica Wilson ...............Ph 027-535 2534

Dairy News is published by Rural News Group Limited. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of Rural News Group Limited.

AUCKLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Stephen Pollard............................................. Ph 021-963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz WAIKATO SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ted Darley ...................................................... Ph 021-832 505 ted@ruralnews.co.nz WELLINGTON SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ron Mackay ................................................... Ph 021-453 914 ronm@ruralnews.co.nz SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland .........................................Ph 021-221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

OPINION // 13

Disconnect and science PETER BUCKLEY

LIKE OTHER coun-

tries, New Zealand should be compared to a three legged stool when it comes to setting policies and policy direction.

The three legs of the stool would represent social, environmental and economic direction with each and all of them being interdependent.

While these three main directions are set by the government, often policies around these directions that are presented to government by lobbyists and their organ-

dard of living that many other countries don’t have.

Both central and regional governments have set very high environmental standards that are designed to satisfy the lobbyists and other organisations that they are doing everything in their power to protect the natural environment.

These high standards, due to both their compliance levels and also their rapid enactment, are becoming some of the main drivers making our economy not perform to the standard that is required to give the

We need to set national standards that will allow New Zealand to have good social policy and outcomes, protect our natural environment and also to grow our economic base.

Like any three legged stool it will fall over if the three legs aren’t equal. isations have a disconnect with scientific facts, and although they may be supported by ideologically like-minded people in government, have a disconnect with the larger population of New Zealand.

It should be taken into account that ideological concepts are based on a concept of ‘natural’ that is not always based on reality.

We need to set national standards that will allow New Zealand to have good social policy and outcomes, protect our natural environment and also to grow our economic base. Like any three legged stool it will fall over if the three legs aren’t equal. The same goes for New Zealand directions and policies.

You can see unrest around world and in New Zealand because, like the three legged stool, direction around social, environmental and economic policy isn’t balanced.

The unbalanced three legged approach that New Zealand is taking is putting stress on the people who produce products for the country to sell on the world markets, which enables the New Zealand public to maintain a stan-

majority of New Zealander’s the life style that they want.

Our environmental standards should be derived from good science and standards that are set and used internationally, not some ideological based higher standard.

We need to realise that we may think New Zealand is a world trend setter, but we are but one small spoke in a wheel and others who have more spokes in this wheel wouldn’t even realise if our spoke fell out of the wheel – it would keep rolling on. So we need environmental standards that will fulfil our needs not the world.

The public needs to be involved with setting environmental standards but we need to use good science in helping to set these policies.

If the market place wants a higher environmental standard, let the industries set those standards then police those who produce those products, based on good science.

If we need higher standards set to protect the natural environment then we also need to have good sensible policies put in place that allow this to

happen.

The market would then have to pay the higher prices required by asking for higher standards, so the producers can be financially compensated for having to meet these. This requirement for the producers to be compensated for having to meet higher environ-

mental standards means that the security of food production and supply (and therefore social outcomes) within New Zealand can be maintained.

The people of New Zealand have become disconnected from reality and they have to realise that we need balanced policies around social,

environmental and economic direction (three legged stool) using good science and common sense for New Zealand to perform to a required standard to meet the expectations of the public.

• Peter Buckley is a Waikato dairy farmer and board member of Primary Land Users Group.

Peter Buckley

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

14 // AGRIBUSINESS

Court rules on RPR test case ADAM FRICKER

BOTH SIDES claimed a victory of sorts in a recent High Court case that tested the criteria for labelling phosphate rock as reactive phosphate rock (RPR) in the New Zealand market.

The case was between fertiliser companies Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Quin Environmentals. The former claimed the latter had breached the Fair Trading Act by marketing its Algerian RPR as an RPR product when it hadn’t met the necessary Citsol Test standard required in the Fertmark Code.

While the court clearly ruled that Quin had in fact breached the act and

that it could not market its Algerian RPR without a clear qualifying disclaimer about it not meeting the Citsol Test, it did allow Quin to continue to market the product as an RPR (subject to the qualifier), because it otherwise has the physical properties of an RPR. Quin sees this part of the ruling as a “win for science”.

The court also noted in passing that the Citsol Test used as the Fertmark Code criteria for defining what an RPR is in the NZ context is somewhat “arbitrary” and that the Fertiliser Quality Council appears to be moving towards an alternative test – the Watkinson Dissolution Test – which the Algerian phosphate rock scores well in.

However, the court noted it could only rule on the central issue at hand, which was whether or not Quin had failed to meet the Fertmark Code as it stands and therefore breached the Fair Trading Act. It ruled that the code is currently the industry-accepted standard and that Quin had breached the act with some of its advertising. Ballance sees this as a win for certification standards, saying it brought proceedings in a bid to “maintain the integrity of the Fertmark Code”.

So what is the Citsol Test and why did the court accept, at least in passing, that it may not be the most relevant measure of a RPR? In brief, the

test measures the amount of phosphate that can be extracted from a solution of 2% citric acid mixed with a fixed quantity of phosphate rock (not ground up).

To meet the Fertmark product classification as RPR, the rock must be shown to contain 30% P by the 30 minute Citsol Test.

While Quin’s Algerian ‘V2’ RPR product – with reduced dolomite to ensure it meets the Citsol standard – passed this test, its other Algerian phosphate rock produced results below 30% P – 27.28% and 28% in tests done

by Marsden Agri; 25.20% and 26.19% in tests done by Ballance.

The judge’s comments about the Citsol Test came partly in response

to the counterclaim brought by Quin, which claimed Ballance’s Hi P RPR is not a natural RPR product because it is a blend of Sechura RPR and ‘PB3’, which is derived from a phosphate rock but is not an RPR. Even though the Hi P RPR product is a blend, the judge accepted it was still a phosphate rock and that it passes the Citsol Test, and therefore dismissed the counterclaim, making this observation: “The Hi P RPR example does however show the rather arbitrary nature of the reliance on the Citsol Test for determining what is RPR in New Zealand.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

CAREER OFF TO A GOOD START NINETEEN-YEAROLD ASHLEE Ennis

is thrilled she has got a job on a dairy farm after recently completing three-weeks of GoDairy Farm Ready Training with DairyNZ. Hailing from Tauranga, Ashlee has moved to Taupo for a role as a farm assistant and is excited by her new career. She says she is relishing getting stuck in helping out with calving.

“It’s been great to get into the work and learn more on the job. I definitely see a future for myself in dairy farming,” she said. “I didn’t grow up on a farm but my mum did and she always loved it. I love working with animals.”

Ashlee attended one week of online training and two weeks of practical training as part of DairyNZ’s GoDairy cam-

paign to attract and train people for the dairy sector. There are 1000 jobs up for grabs throughout the country and Kiwis are needed on farm now.

DairyNZ people team leader Jane Muir said the training is aimed at new recruits to the sector, including people who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. It is attracting people from a wide range of backgrounds including tourism marketing, tour guiding and catering, to engineering and finance. Others include shop assistants, property managers, casual workers and construction.

The Farm Ready Training is designed to give people a taste for farm life to help them decide if working in the dairy sector is right for them. It also provides

Ashlee Ennis is thrilled to get a job on a dairy farm.

standing of working with cows,” says Ashlee.

“The vehicle training was great too. I learned how to ride a motorbike and drive a tractor on farm. It was great to see the focus on safety and I learnt a lot too.”

Ashlee took part in the first week of practical training, the pilot session held in Hamilton. There are now more than 300 registrations in the GoDairy Farm Ready Training with training taking place in regions nationwide.

Muir said it was great to see people getting a lot out of the training, with many confirming for themselves they are keen on a career in the dairy sector.

“We know people are getting jobs after completing the training, including roles as dairy farm assistants and calf

rearers. We are getting good interest from farmers wanting to hire career changers which is really positive.”

Trainees are provided with skills about finding a good job, including what to look for, and shown where farmers advertise, such as job websites and word of mouth.

They are encouraged to list on job websites and state they have completed the Farm Ready Training. Ashlee secured her job after advertising herself on Farm Source Jobs.

Muir said DairyNZ is encouraging farmers to advertise on Farm Source Jobs, TradeMe, Keep New Zealand Working (an MSD jobs portal) and Work the Seasons saying they are open to career changers and those who have completed Farm Ready Training.

Thinking outside the [tree and fence lined] box basic skills to support trainees into entry-level positions.

“The training was

really awesome and helped me realise a farm job was right for me. I learnt how to handle

cows, including making them feel comfortable around me. The training gave me a good under-

Dung beetles will deliver upon the promise to restore and protect our freshwater while increasing production and drought tolerance.

We need to be smarter than just focusing on planting and fencing. MPI supports planting, fencing and “other initiatives to prevent farm runoff ”.

Without question that is where dung beetles fit in.

Thinking outside the [tree and fence lined] box

Thinking outside the [tree and fence lined] box

There is absolutely no better scientifically proven way of reducing overland The solution is right under our feet thanwill dung beetles.

Theythe deliver an up 80% reduction in overland Dungflow beetles deliver upon promise toto restore and protect our freshwater while Dung increasing beetles offer a remarkable natural flow. This in a tolerance.

97% reduction in sediment, and equally includes production andresults drought sustainable solution to revitalise our soils and reduced e. coli and phosphorus.

There is absolutely no better scientifically proven way of reducing overland flow,pastures, and can rehabilitate New Zealand’s waterways – if we actFarming now. For Our Future Generations dung beetles to fix the broken nutrient production cycle and boost fixingSeed the broken nutrient cycle, and boosting thanproduction. dung beetles.

Dung beetles will deliver upon the promise to restore and protect our freshwater while Contact us Dung Beetle Innovations increasing production and8685 drought tolerance.

Shaun 021 040 | shaun@dungbeetles.co.nz

For more information or to order online go to www.dungbeetles.co.nz

We need to be smarter than just focusing on planting and fencing. MPI supports planting, fencing and “other initiatives to prevent farm runoff ”.

ORDER NOW

10%

DISCOUNT* *FSP orders placed *FSP orders placed before 30/06/20 before 30/07/20

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

MANAGEMENT // 15

Getting ready for planting IT IS that time of year again.

Calving is almost over, silage is being made from any surplus pasture or from ground that was in annual over winter, and paddocks are being chosen to be cropped.

After coming through another dry winter, it looks like spring may start early. Last season’s dry summer followed a dry winter. This years’ winter has been very dry as well and while most of us don’t want to think about the possibility of another dry summer, those farmers who are well planned will be in a better situation to cope with whatever the weather delivers.

Planning is key. It is important to plan your maize cropping programme early. Planning will help reduce last minute panics and will also increase the chance of getting a high yielding crop which is ready when you need it.

Some important steps are: Step 1: Decide the area to be planted.

If you are planning to crop an area that

has been planted in a winter crop, then this decision is easy. However, if you are taking paddocks out of pasture, you may want to choose your poorest producing paddocks, those which have been pugged, or paddocks which have excessive potassium which needs to be reduced by growing a maize crop.

Step 2: Decide when you need the maize silage. This will help determine both the hybrid and the target planting date. With better than average pasture cover levels, higher soil temperatures and lower soil moisture levels on many farms, earlier planting may be an option. A crop which is further through its development will be less impacted by summer dry weather conditions than one which is flowering and entering early grain fill on hot, dry days.

Step 3: Communicate early with your maize support team. This will include your merchant, contractor, and your local Pioneer representative. Ask

tant because it will impact what hybrid you use, what seeding rate you plant at and how much fertiliser you require.

Generally, the higher the yield potential of your paddock, the more seed you should plant on a per hectare basis and the more nutrients your crop will require.

Step 5: Order the seed. Once you have completed the above steps, call your merchant. Many farmers have done this already through Pioneer’s

the contractor to come to look at the area you are wanting to plant. They can check they can get through gates and down races and together you can work out an appropriate weed control and cultivation program before any ground is turned over. Liaising with the contractor early will allow them to put your farm into their work programme.

Step 4: Work with your support team to set a realistic yield expectation for your paddocks. This is impor-

Early Order Program but if you have not, get your order in as soon as possible to ensure you get the hybrid you want, on time.

Step 6: Do a soil test to make sure that you apply the right amount of fertiliser to your crop. Regulations around nutrient loss from farms are tightening.

Applying the right amount of fertiliser to get a good crop of maize silage while at the same time, reducing the risk of nutrient loss is a no brainer. Wasted nutrients mean lost income and a damaged environment. Something no one wants.

Step 7: Organise the stock rotation to ensure that maize paddocks are grazed with enough time left to freshen up before they are sprayed out.

In summary, being well planned gives you the best opportunity to optimise your yields. If you have not done so already, develop a plan as soon as you can and begin the process of getting everyone on board. Do not forget, great advice is only a phone call away.

Happy planting!

• Ian Williams is a Pioneer forage specialist. Contact him at iwilliams@genetic. co.nz

S – 135-205HP

DEUTZ-FAHR 6G SERIE

TI EFFICIENCY, PRODUC

VITY & DESIGN

NCE

A NEXT LEVEL PERFORM With a choice of five models with power outputs from 135 to 205 HP, the DeutzFahr 6G Series responds to the needs of customers who demand a tractor that not only delivers excellent productivity but is also inexpensive to run, easy to use and boasts simplified maintenance.

af

C E o p tio

+GST

129,990

DEUTZ WINTER DEAL

$

ns

AN

FROM ONLY

WITH SELF-LEVELLING LOADER*

E FRONT SUSPENSION

ADAPTIV

Deutz Fahr NZ

PF96041DN

of

ASK ABOUT

OUR DEALS FIN

These tractors are the perfect combination of numerous excellent components, with tried and tested Stage 3A compliant 6 cylinder Deutz engines, matched with highly efficient ZF transmissions and classbeating hydraulic systems. All controlled from the comfort of the highly configurable cabin. Contact us to demonstrate the 6G.

a ull r nge

Phone 0800 801 888 | deutztractors.co.nz | powerfarming.co.nz * Terms and conditions apply. Offer ends 31/08/2020 or while stocks last. Contact your local dealership for more information. ** Terms and conditions apply. Go to deutztractors.co.nz/trydeutz for detailed terms and conditions.

GE POWERSHIFT AUTOSHIFTING SIX STA

CTRONIC ENGINE

DEUTZ TIER THREE ELE

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

16 // MANAGEMENT

Good grass growth brings challenges WINTER PASTURE

growth rates over the past few years have been impressive, to say the least, and a saviour to many farming operations recovering from the drought conditions of late

summer.

However, while this abundant supply of free feed miraculously appearing on farm is viewed as a big plus, from an animal health perspective, it also presents some challenges.

Two of the more obvious animal health issues that arise from an abundance of fast-growing winter pasture available to cows are milk fever and bloat. Both arise from complex interactions

between plant factors, animal factors and farm management factors. Of these two problems, milk fever seems by far more common, of greater economic significance and the most complex one to solve. For this reason, it is best to leave milk fever to individual farmers and their veterinarians to find solutions and focus on addressing bloat for now.

Pasture bloat is generally associated with feeding pastures with greater legume content (clovers) in conditions promoting rapid plant growth, including recent rain and fertiliser application.

Plants growing under these conditions tend to have more readily soluble and digestible plant protein which is in greater concentration in the leaf of the plant. Rapid breakdown of these proteins in the rumen by microbes results in the production of stable foam trapping gas produced from the normal fermentation process.

In reducing the risk of bloat, there are several options available to herd managers.

The most practical is tweaking the feed management to ensure hungry cattle are not permitted to gorge themselves on risky pastures.

This can be achieved by restricting their allowance through strip grazing and mowing leaf or providing less risky bulky feeds (hay/straw) prior to them being moved onto high risk pastures. Further strategies include drenching cows, treating water

spraying pastures and painting flanks with products designed to reduce the build up of stable foam in the rumen. These products work in two general ways either by destabilising the foam (fats and surfactants – commonly known as bloat oil products) or slowing the rate of foam formation (ionophores).

Thankfully, in most cases, when using ionophores such as Rumensin ®, Bovatech ® and Rumenox ® there are additional production and animal health benefits to be gained which are sufficient to cover the cost of these treatments.

If you are encountering issues with pasture bloat, discussing various strategies involving the options above with your veterinarian is recommended.

• Greg Jarratt is a vet and director of Matamata Veterinary Services.

This article is brought to you by

NOW READ IT ONLINE READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER BREAKING NEWS MACHINERY REVIEWS MARKETS & TRENDS MANAGEMENT STORIES COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE...

All the latest stories and more at www.dairynews.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

COMMENT / MANAGEMENT // 17

Why imported whey-based milk replacers are suitable for calves NATALIE CHRYSTAL

IF YOU have been read-

ing the rural press in recent weeks it’s likely you are scratching your head at some of the claims which have been made about whole or skim milk replacers in comparison to whey based milk replacers.

You may also be feeling a sense of déjà vu.

Much has been made of the importance of curd formation when assessing the quality of milk replacers, but as anyone who has done some reading around the different milk replacers available on the market will tell you, whey-based milk replacers simply do not curd.

Some suppliers of whole or skim milk powder-based products would like you to believe that this absence of curd formation means that wheybased products are inferior, but like most things, it’s not as simple as that!

For over twenty years, leading researchers around the world have been questioning the importance and physiological role of curd formation in milk or milk replacer.

Leading researchers from the US, where independent surveys have found that at least 34.8% of all calves are fed only milk replacer, have in fact questioned the criticism

directed towards noncasein based milk replacers when the assessments are carried out using tests and studies designed for casein based milk replacers.

So it is disappointing to see dated thinking and research making its way back into our rural press, with little consideration given to the extensive peer-reviewed and independent research carried out around the world which has been focused on improving our understanding of the health and nutrition of the young preruminant animals and, most importantly, improving animal welfare.

The results of a New Zealand trial carried out in 2004, over 15 years ago, have been used recently to support the argument that whey-based milk replacers are not suitable for young calves.

What the people who refer to this trial as an example of the superiority of casein-based milk replacers don’t tell you, is that there were dramatic differences in the energy content of the skim- and whey- based milk replacers compared in the 2004 trial.

Although the researchers formulated the milk replacers to have a similar energy content, laboratory analysis of the milk replacers used in the trial shows that the wheybased milk replacer contained 24g less fat per

Casein-based milk replacers and whey-based milk replacers both have their place, offering different benefits to animals.

kilogram than the caseinbased milk replacer.

As calves were fed the same amount of either skim or whey based milk replacer each day (500g/ calf/day in the case of calves fed twice a day), this means that the calves on the whey based milk replacer consumed almost 5% less fat and subsequently almost 10% less energy.

It’s no surprise then that (in the 2004 trial), the calves fed the wheybased milk replacer grew 4% slower than the calves fed the skim milk.

The effect of lower energy intakes on calves which are stressed or subjected to challenging conditions is well known and any good calf rearer will tell you that you that if calves are under fed (for example, if you are using the wrong mixing rate) they are more susceptible

to disease challenge. Once again, it’s no surprise that the calves fed on the whey-based milk replacer

• Small foot print • No storage ponds • Fully automated • Low running costs • 0.25mm application / 24 hrs • Low man hours to maintain

FREEPHONE 0800 400 365

• 60% fresh water savings

headoffice@cleangreeneffluent.co.nz www.cleangreeneffluent.co.nz

• Fully patented system

By applying Plasma 3000 Liquid Fertiliser, which contains an organic base and combined with NPK and all the important minerals, trace elements and soil conditioners, pastures can be rejuvenated while providing good nutrients to stock.

“The two go hand in hand and that’s where the money is!”

– quote from a retired astute farmer

Call today on 0800 and talk to us

752 762

www.plasmabiotec.co.nz

high quality, scientifically researched, whey based milk replacers which are manufactured to extremely high standards in the competitive European and American markets today.

At AgriVantage, we believe that both caseinbased milk replacers and whey-based milk replacers have their place, offering different benefits to animals. The key for us is providing you with quality, scientifically formulated milk replacers. What you decide to feed your animals will depend on your rearing objectives.

• Natalie Chrystal, is a nutrition consultant to AgriVantage

Benefits of the system

HOW TO REVITALISE THOSE JADED PASTURES AFTER THE DROUGHT & WINTER Cost effective Plasma 3000 looks after the pasture and animals.

were more susceptible to Salmonella.

Although the researchers do report in their

paper that all milk replacers in the 2004 trial were formulated and manufactured in New Zealand, they neglect to explain the implications of this.

Not only were there dramatic differences between the technologies available in New Zealand and countries such as Netherlands for the manufacture of whey-based milk replacers in 2004, but these differences are even greater now.

The results of a trial comparing products formulated and manufactured in New Zealand in 2004 simply cannot be used as a predictor of the performance under New Zealand conditions of

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

18 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Managing first colostrum feed MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

TAKING THE NZ Launch Innovation award for their colostrum management system in the 2020 Fieldays Competition, Antahi Innovations were building on their previous winner the Trusti Tuber.

It is well known that the first colostrum feed is critical to a calf as they are born without antibodies and have a brief window of about 12 hours of life to absorb antibodies into the blood stream for immunity.

Early stage colostrum is proven to result in a healthier and more productive animal for its lifespan. However, not all cows make good

quality colostrum, and many calves don’t receive enough colostrum from their mothers.

Although most farmers realise the benefits of colostrum, recent trials show that over 95% of farmers are feeding suboptimal colostrum; either with low antibody level, a high bacterial level or both.

The Antahi system provides the basis for optimal colostrum management based around quality assessment, storage and eventual use with the new-born animals. Firstly, a colostrum quality check is undertaken using a refractometer, allowing the farmer to quickly confirm which cows have the best quality colostrum to be kept for the first

feed.

Then the high-quality colostrum is placed into Trusti colostrum bags and chilled until feeding time.

Hygienic harvesting, refrigeration and freezing is said to be the key to

inside the colostrum bags.

This means the farmer should always have a store of quality colostrum on hand.

Said to offer flexibility, the reusable colostrum bags and accessories take

minimising bacterial contamination, without the need for chemical preservatives. Colostrum can be refrigerated for three days untreated, seven days if pasteurised, or frozen for up to year

care of days when there is plenty of high value colostrum, or lulls when the quality or quantity is not available.

Storage bags are easily transported to the paddock or calving area

during routine checks to enable the earliest possible feeding opportunity.

Calves can be fed using a good quality teat attached to the bag or via a Trusti Tuber oesophageal tube.

While the reusable Trusti Colostrum bags offer great advancement on their own, they are complemented further by the Trusti Pasteur.

Completing the system, the Trusti Pasteur enables easy pasteurisation to rid colostrum of bacteria, which can cause disease and inhibits the absorption of antibodies.

The machine also achieves quick thawing and warming of colostrum within the colostrum bags as it maintains the water at a constant warm temperature.

TACKLE TAIL PAINTING AND SAVE TIME MANY FARMERS use tail

painting for heat detection, a task that can be difficult, time consuming and dangerous – the latter particularly so if staff are climbing or reaching over rump rails in the dairy shed during milking.

For effective heat detection from tail painting, the paint needs to be topped up regularly, increasing that risk and labour burden, so the arrival of a new application system should make the task a lot easier.

The Tailpainter was originally launched in Ireland’s

dairy market in 2019 and has proved to be extremely successful over the last two European breeding seasons. Trials were done in New Zealand during 2019.

This saw the device tested with herds ranging from 180 to 1050 cows, leading to a planned launch in time for the NZ 2020 breeding season.

The patent pending design features a lightweight telescoping wand that can be extended from 65 to 115cm and can be increased by a further 30cm with an extension piece.

It carries a reservoir and

CHOOSE A SOLUTION. CHOOSE SUMO. MOUNTED TRIO

As its name suggests the Sumo Trio consists of 3 parts to help develop and create an ideal seed bed in all soil conditions.

First stage: Staggered row of subsoiler legs with a maximum working depth of 400mm. (both hydraulic and shear pin protection systems available)

OVER

3000 SOLD WORLDWIDE

Secondary stage: Two rows of 500mm concave discs equipped with triple sealed bearings and Sumo’s famous double drive system giving unrivalled performance when working in adverse conditions.

Third stage: Sumo’s 760mm multipacker roller with replaceable shoulders leaves a weatherproof level

NORTH ISLAND www.gaz.co.nz Call Andrew Johnson (AJ) | 027 703 7446 CAMBRIDGE | OTOROHANGA ROTORUA

applicator roller. At the operator end, a tough ergonomically designed D-shaped grip makes for ease of use, allowing the lance to be used in an angled, short or long reach configuration for milking shed, cattle crush or feed barrier scenarios respectively.

The system can work with water or oil-based products from all the major suppliers of marker products, although the manufacturer recommends the former, from an environmental and ease of clean-down perspective. www.tailpainter.co.nz

MADE IN THE UK

GLS SUBSOILER The Sumo Grassland subsoiler improves and revitalises compacted grassland that is suffering from the effects of continual livestock, rainfall and heavy machinery.

• •

Leading row of adjustable individually suspended discs allow minimum disturbance on the pasture surface.

Hydraulic Subsoiler legs with working depths from 100-350mm to suit all types of compaction layer depths with quick change points.

• full working width.

SOUTH ISLAND www.cochranes.co.nz Call Alastair Robertson | 027 435 2642 AMBERLEY | LEESTON | ASHBURTON TIMARU | OAMARU | WEST COAST

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 19

Made in NZ...

Livestock housing with unrestricted access and adequate airflow Made in New Zealand is a feature that looks at the wealth of design and manufacturing ability we have in New Zealand, producing productive and cost-effective products for the agricultural sector. This week Mark Daniel takes a closer look at SmartShelters, catching up with sales manager, Harvey Cottle.

Q- When was the company founded, by whom and why (was it to solve a problem or market a product)?

SmartShelters is part of Cairns & Woodward, which was founded as a partnership back to 1915 to provide military canvas products to the ANZAC troops in the First World War. Our products have evolved over more than a century, but our focus throughout that time has been on cutting edge

fabric technology and a commitment to tough designs proven across NZ. The company has been owned and managed by four generations of the same family for over fifty years.

Q- Where are you located?

Is it single or multiple sites and how many people are employed?

The business is located at Wiri, South Auckland, near Auckland Airport, where a team of 30 under-

take all design, and manufacturing takes place on site.

Q- What are your key products and which markets do they serve?

Our key products are dairy housMADE IN NZ ing strucA LOOK AT HOME-GROWN tures and COMPANIES commercial shelters that we supply and install nationwide and over-

Businesses

SmartShelter manufacturing site at Wiri, South Auckland.

PERFECT FOR TAIL CLIPPING Search ‘Xplorer Tail Clipper’ on YouTube

SmartShelters supply and install structures housing cows.

seas.

Q- Are your products unique - if so, what are the key benefits?

SmartShelters feature wide, clear-span designs that provide unrestricted access, the elimination of internal poles and braces and good airflow, the latter being a pre-requisite for housing livestock. Our fabric technologies used in the roof covers offer unique conditions for animal housing, including high levels of natural light, good ventilation, even temperatures and the ideal conditions for those considering composting barns. On the capital investment front, we can deliver costeffective, large scale structures that offer quicker returns compared to more conventional construction methods. We are also able to offer more rapid

construction times, particularly when there are marginal sites involved.

Q- Looking at an ever-evolving market, what changes have you made over the last few years, or what will you have to do moving forwards?

Bringing together knowledge and client experiences around dairy barn design and sharing that with the dairy community, especially around composting barn structures. This allows everyone to leverage off the successes and research of individuals to keep improving dairy housing methods nationwide.

Q- What has been the company’s greatest success since its formation?

Building a solid base of clients who are delighted with their structures and who go out of their way to promote and recommend SmartShelters.

XPLORER

Cordless Clipper 10.8V for smooth & powerful trimming 120 min run time on Li-Ion battery 990 grams

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

20 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Humates gain traction on the ground REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE is gain-

ing momentum in New Zealand pastoral farming, says Southland based humates company Southern Humates.

It says recent field days and seminars held around the country drew dozens of farmers. These field days have included “RA20”, a series of seminars throughout the North and South Island.

Southern Humates has been one of the RA20 sponsors over the seminar series.

The company has been a long-time supplier of humates to the agricultural sector.

Owner Malcolm Sinclair said he is noticing a distinct uplift in interest among pastoral farmers considering their options under a regenerative system, and in turn re-considering what inputs they may need to reach for.

Humates form as organic compounds sourced from the seams of some lignite deposits; consist of complex organic chemicals created by the long term break down of plant material.

It has historically been claimed humates can boost soil fertility through altering soil bacterial populations, increasing the ability of plants to uptake nutrients through their root systems.

“They are taking a fresh look at what the inputs are they really need, and want, for this new approach, and finding humates have a role to play,” Sinclair said.

Apiti dairy farmer and 2018 Ballance Farm Environment Award finalist Lance Gillespie has been using the product for the past two years, and initially incorporated it into his urea applications.

Today Gillespie’s regenerative farming

Humates are known to boost soil fertility through altering soil bacterial populations.

system has advanced to point he rarely uses urea and then only sparingly, but he continues to apply humates to his pastures.

His decision to purchase a towed liquid fertiliser sprayer has enabled him to adopt a “one mix” approach when over-sowing multiple small seed species, incorporating humates, minerals, lime and occasionally urea into the blend.

“I think much of what

I have been doing is under the surface, where you can’t see it. This is in terms of promoting soil health.

“The humates help with the uptake of nutrients, breakdown the organic matter and helping soils become more friable, particularly on heavier country,” says Lance.

He has also noticed fungal disease on the grasses that would have

otherwise affected stock health having no effect on them.

“We believe this is the humates acting as something of a toxin binder.”

Meantime he also been feeding humates to his 365 milking cows, incorporating it into a bespoke feed pellet he has had the local grain company produce.

“We have noticed our cell count stays low, and health wise the cows are

always in good shape, humates help improve gut microbe health.”

In Southland, Wendonside based family dairy farming business the Ditchfield Group have also commenced a regenerative journey, and incorporated humates into the process.

Dylan Ditchfield says while the family is only a year into transitioning to a regenerative system, humates are not an entirely new concept to him.

“We started using it a few years ago under a biological system, went back to a more conventional one. But with regenerative’s more holistic view of animals, soil and plants, we could see a more ‘whole system’ view that worked for us.”

While still learning as they go, the Ditchfields combine Southern Humates humates into the special mix applied

to pasture as a liquid that contains a variety of nutrients, occasionally urea, and fish product. This year urea use has been dropped back by over a third, and Dylan would ultimately like to fade it out altogether from their inputs.

He sees humate’s role in helping build soil carbon levels up, and providing humic acid to help promote fungal and mycorrhizal activity in the topsoil zone.

Meantime they are working on a feed system to deliver more regular rations of Stockmate humate feed, also being supplied regularly to the calves.

“They tend to get stuck into it when we first put it out, and over time their intake drops lower as their need reduces.

We see it as being invaluable for good gut health, and from there an overall healthier animal.”

RARE ACCOLADE FOR 18-YR OLD COW AN 18-YEAR-OLD dairy cow in

North Canterbury has achieved a rare accolade.

Belbrook Dynamic Vanessa EX5, owned by Belbrook Holsteins in Rangiora, has been classified excellent for a fifth time.

The result propels her into an elite club of bovines who have been recognised for their superior traits and longevity.

Vanessa was the only Holstein Friesian in New Zealand to receive an EX5 classification in 2019.

The achievement has left her owners, brothers Robbie and John Wakelin, elated.

“It’s been two decades since we’ve had a cow classify EX5, that was Belbrook LD Annabel EX5 in 2000,” said John.

“It’s quite rare. Dairy cows work a lot harder these days and don’t often live long enough to meet the required criteria.”

A Holstein Friesian cow is not eligible to receive her first excellent classification until she has calved at least three times.

“Vanessa is a very youthfullooking cow. She looks like a nineyear-old, even though she’s much older,” said John.

Vanessa was born in 2002 and was the oldest cow in the Wakelin’s milking herd in 2019-20. Her production peaked at 513 kilograms of milksolids (kgMS) in 2013.

“Vanessa is the smallest cow in

Belbrook Dynamic Vanessa EX5.

our herd. She goes back to a different time when our cows weren’t as big,” said John She classified excellent for the first time in 2009.

The bovine beauty has produced 13 calves. Five of her heifers were reared. Two of her daughters, Belbrook TKO Veronica EX2 and Belbrook Talent Victoria EX2, have both classified excellent twice.

Her youngest daughter, Belbrook Bankroll Viva VG88, who was born in 2016, produced 449 kgMS as a two-year-old heifer.

“Vanessa was the last cow we had in the ‘V’ family for about five or six years,” said John. “We thought we were going to lose the family, then she started having daughters and the family rebuilt.

“The ‘V’ family has never been outstanding for production, but they’ve been easy to work with and live a long time,” said John.

Longevity is a trait found on both sides of Vanessa’s family tree.

Her grand dam Belbrook C E Valerie GP84 lived until she was 12 and her great granddam Pinevale P V Vesta lived until she was 15.

Vanessa was sired by Bellview WM Dynamic, a bull bred by Robbie and John before they took over their parents’ stud name.

“He was an outstanding bull. He produced about 17 daughters who classified excellent,” said John.

The bull’s dam Cresslands Ambition Dalia EX4 was still milking at the age of 15 and was classified excellent four times.

Her production peaked at 636 kgMS. She still produced 520 kgMS as an 11-year-old.

The ‘V’ family at Belbrook Holsteins will continue to expand.

Twin granddaughters sired by Walnutlawn Solomon are set to enter the herd this year.

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

ANIMAL HEALTH // 21

Southland cleared of M.bovis SOUTHLAND HAS

reached a landmark zero cases of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis but the Government says this isn’t the time for complacency.

At the height of the M. bovis response, there were 27 active properties in the region.

Biosecurity and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor last week extended his thanks and congratulations to the Southland farming community.

“Southland farmers were really hard hit by this disease and they’ve done the hard yards to get to this point. Full credit to them for the sacrifices they have made for the national we need to. good,” 250 total confirmed properties – 3 “There’s O’Connor active, 247 cleared no excuse said.

Breakdown: now for He says the 58 dairy, 137 beef, 55 other farmers achievement 69 North Island, 181 South Island not knowis a testament 157,950 animals culled ing what to the coopthey need to eration shown 1,541,392 tests completed do to be combetween $168.1 million compensation paid pliant and I was farmers, govvery pleased to ernment see last week a and industry successful prosecution “We can’t afford to groups. take our foot off the pedal of a Waikato farmer for “This is a 10-year pronot registering 152 of his though. Farmers need to gramme so we need to cattle. Behaviour like this expect that new cases will ensure all their animals makes a mockery of the pop up from time to time, are tagged and recorded heartbreak affected farmin the National Animal but I think it’s important Identification and Tracing ers and their families have to acknowledge and celgone through.

(NAIT) system to ensure ebrate success along the “If we’re going to be we can trace them, should way.

FINE FOR FAILING TO REGISTER CATTLE A WAIKATO farmer has been fined $3,900 for not

Allowing Mycoplasma bovis to spread could cause $1.3 billion in economic losses in the first ten years.

Disease stats

the first country in the world to beat this disease, every cattle farmer in the country has to play their part.”

M.bovis was first detected in New Zealand on 22 July 2017, after a large number of cattle in a South Canterbury dairy herd began displaying symptoms of a novel disease.

M.bovis had not previously been detected in New Zealand, and it was soon established that this was a new incursion that occurred around early 2015, and the disease was not widespread through-

out the national cattle herd.

It was estimated that allowing the disease to spread could cause $1.3 billion in economic losses in the first ten years, along with substantial animal welfare issues, and serious ongoing challenges for farmers having to manage the disease within their herds.

In May 2018, the Government and industry bodies made the decision to attempt a world-first eradication of this disease.

The estimated budget for the ten year programme is $870 million.

registering 152 cattle under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme.

Waitomo sheep and beef farmer, 67-year old Brian Anthony Murphy, was sentenced at the Te Kuiti District Court recently after pleading guilty to three charges of failing to register the cattle.

The Ministry for Primary Industries national manager of Animal Welfare and NAIT compliance Gray Harrison said compliance with the animal and identification system was critical.

“We certainly take it very seriously. Our ability to track and trace cattle and deer through the NAIT system is a critical factor in managing biosecurity threats which could have a devastating impact on New Zealand’s agricultural sector.”

Recent amendments to penalties in the NAIT Act, which increased the maximum penalty to $100,000, reflected the importance of compliance, Harrison said.

“This latest sentencing follows a number of recent NAIT-related convictions. People who want to take short cuts need to be aware we will continue to identify and address non-compliance.”

In July, Taupo dairy farm manager Raymond Arthur Griffin was fined $3,600 for failing to register more than 1000 animals. And a Northland deer farmer was fined $3,250 over his failure to put NAIT tags on 70 of his deer.

In the meantime, MPI will continue to work with OSPRI and the sector to ensure people understand their responsibilities.

“If you don’t tag and register your cattle or deer in NAIT, the animal is not traceable and this has implications for managing disease outbreaks and our wider biosecurity capability. The absence of traceability may also impact on the value of the animal,” said OSPRI head of traceability Kevin Forward.

Have a better night’s sleep when using the Animate programme for milk fever

®

Over 24,000 cows were fed Animate®

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

22 // MATING

LIC says SGL Hereford is NZ’s leading short gestation product.

Beefed up for dairy IN WHAT is a signifi-

cant shift forward in the animal welfare space, dairy farmers are more focused than ever on reducing the number of bobby calves leaving their properties.

This coincides with a more targeted approach to artificial breeding (AB), with farmers being more selective about which cows they’re choosing to mate to elite dairy bulls.

After all, when the average difference in milksolids production between the top and bottom quarters of the herd is 160 kgMS/cow, some serious questions hang over any decision to retain replacements from the herd’s bottom end.

So when she’s not going to produce a calf worth keeping, and a reduction in bobby calves can be achieved, progressive dairy farmers are thinking beef.

The ideal synergy is to reduce the number

of bobby calves while increasing the value of the calves born – calves must be profitable and saleable, and born with minimal risk to the cow.

LIC believes beef sales are set to increase significantly over the next decade.

With many farmers sharing this view, it’s a natural progression for the cooperative to complement its strong dairy offering by providing quality beef options.

The recent dairy market shift in understanding that “beef isn’t just beef” means dairy farmers are looking for genuine value-add in their beef genetics.

The intent of LIC’s beef offering is to deliver value-add in several forms, be it short gestation length, striking coat colours, rapid growth to weaning age/finishing age, or the ability to lock in contracts.

LIC has aligned itself

with trait and breeds leaders in the beef space to ensure that the beef genetics offered will tick the boxes for our dairy farmers and maintain appeal to the beef finisher.

LIC is proud to say it now offers its widest-ever variety of beef options, providing all types of dairy farmers the opportunity to diversify their revenue streams while taking a more targeted approach at mating time.

Speckle Park, the Profit Maker composite, Wagyu, and Simmental were just a few of the breeds that in 2020 will share the limelight with the traditional Hereford and Angus duo.

Speckle Park are polled, medium frame (mature cow 650-800kg and mature bull 10001200kg), early maturing and possess an incredible yielding carcass. Weight gains are impressive and target 18 month markets.

The Speckle Park breed has a high marbling yet

An example of LIC’s wider range of beef options include Speckle Park.

perfect fat covering, with quality, fine, tender-eating meat.

Understanding the differences between the breeds is key, and farmer selection for breed should always come back to the desired outcome.

Some breeds may suit one farm system better than others. Factors such as herd size, breed, staff, the ability to take the beef-cross calves through to slaughter – or at what age the farm might opt to sell instead – all have a bearing on the decision the farmer will make.

BEEF SELECTION INDEX NEW ZEALAND dairy farmers are fortunate to have an Animal Evaluation system that compares dairy animals across breeds (in that you can compare a Jersey to a Friesian on the same scale, for example).

In New Zealand’s beef industry, between-breed comparisons have traditionally not been possible, making it difficult for dairy farmers to select the best beef genetics for their dairy cows.

However, the situation is set to change: Through ongoing collaboration with Leachman Cattle of Colorado, and Rissington Cattle

Company in the Hawke’s Bay, LIC is marketing a Beef Selection Index (BSI), designed to help dairy farmers choose the best beef bulls across breeds, with specific focus on traits that appeal to both the dairy farmer and the beef farmer.

Calving ease, gestation length, growth rates, feed intakes, and carcass are some of the key traits being incorporated.

The beauty of the BSI is its flexibility – if our farmers’ needs or market demands change, so too can the index.

Article supplied by LIC

Ezicalve make the best and safest beef bulls for dairy heifer and cow mating 300 BULLS FOR SALE September 17 & 22

Ask William Morrison 027-640 1166 and Mike Cranstone 027-218 0123 why their Ezicalve bulls are different, safer and better!

www.ezicalve.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

MATING // 23

Your future is in their genes IF YOU are a dairy

farmer, the prosperity of your future lies in your heifers - the future of your herd.

World Wide Sires says calving is arguably the biggest time of the year but do you ever step back and look at your calves and freshly calved heifers and ask yourself if they have the attributes your farming business will need to prosper in the future?

Most farmers agree the breeding goal is to, year on year, improve the quality of the herd in terms of fertility, health and production. Are you achieving that or has another year just gone by?

“All too often we’re caught doing what we’ve always done, getting what we’ve always got and just accepting things as they are because there are so many other priorities.

The difficulty with genetics and herd improvement is it’s not a quick fix, and the results of today’s decisions or indecisions take years to show any effect on your business,” says Craig Robertson, sales and marketing manager for World Wide Sires NZ. “Each year’s calving should be a time of anticipation and excitement to see ‘the next generation’ land on the farm. Similarly, it should be a time of pride and satisfaction to see your heifers come into the dairy with faultless temperament, adaptability to milking, and

improvement in udder and functional confirmation traits over their dams,” says Robertson.

“Heifers calving this spring are the result of a mating decision made three years ago. It’s sobering to think that the calves filling your pens this spring won’t have an economic return on your business for another five years – so do they represent the genes which will take you into the future?

“Today’s farmers face different challenges to their forebears.

“On all sides the efficiency and sustainability of your business is facing pressure, and we are all faced with the fact that future herds need to be smaller but capable of producing more than today’s.

“It’s a challenging prospect but one better faced now than in five years’ time.”

Robertson says the dairy industry of the future needs cows that last, with udders capable of multiple lactations and greater per cow production than the average New Zealand cow is achieving today.

“The decisions you make this breeding season will pay forward in five or ten years time so it’s worth spending some time, this calving, on the quality of your herd and asking yourself if it has what you, your family and the industry need in the future.”

NOW READ IT ONLINE READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER BREAKING NEWS MACHINERY REVIEWS MARKETS & TRENDS MANAGEMENT STORIES COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE...

All the latest stories and more at www.dairynews.co.nz

WWS bred calves grazing at J. Taylor and D. Manley’s farm, Taranaki.

Because You Should Never Ask If They’re Pregnant.

LIVESTOCK MONITORING

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

24 // MATING

The reason to buy Hereford bulls is ‘black and white’ THE NZ Hereford Association warns farmers not to persist in playing Russian roulette with “bush bulls”.

Posy Moody, general manager of NZ Herefords, says the decision to buy registered Herefords is black and white.

“You have some assurance regarding the bull’s traits and the progeny they will sire.

“The genetic variation within all breeds dictates that now more than ever dairy farmers need to be armed with good bull

Kairuru steers

2019 SIRES LIST A FULL list of the 2019 born sires which qualified for the award is listed on the NZ Hereford website herefords.co.nz.

Alternatively, look for the Boehringer Ingelheim Dairy Merit sires’ brand at your Hereford Spring Bull sale.

(For a list of spring sales visit Herefords. co.nz/bull-sale-calendar)

selection tools.

“We know that dairy farms are busy, so efficiency and convenience reign supreme, which is why we urge dairy farm-

ers to view the list of registered dairy merit sires and consider their options before buying”.

The use of beef bulls over dairy cows is an

activity that has varied in popularity over the years.

The use of beef bulls was once widespread, and then curtailed in response to increased calving difficulty as the beef breeds made genetic improvement for growth and concurrently increased birth weight.

However, with careful genetic selection made over the years by stud breeders and focus on calving ease, they have been able to produce sires with low birthweight, whilst maintaining high growth.

The contribution of calf sales to overall farm income on a dairy farm is increasing and with impact on farming by the social conscience of consumers, we are likely to see this increase more.

Producing beef-cross dairy calves for sale as feeder calves instead of Jersey or Friesian sired calves destined for the processing at 4 days of age is seen now as a means of generating additional income.

Previously it was reported that the use of beef bulls created some risks, particularly around calving difficulty, however we now know that the

The use of beef bulls over dairy cows is an activity that has varied in popularity over the years.

selection of appropriate bulls is critical to the success of such programmes, as a result Beef and Lamb Genetics created a research programme.

The Dairy Beef Progeny Test is now heading into its fifth year exploring the performance of beef bulls with a range of estimated breeding values (EBV) to determine appropriate bull types for use in dairy herds.

NZ Herefords support the research programme yearly by encouraging their stud breeders to enter bulls into the trial.

The previous tests

showed that progeny performance reflected sire EBV’s, so farmers can use EBVs to get the types of calves they want from beef bulls. There are some exceptionally high performing beef bulls available, which could be used via artificial breeding in dairy herds to generate surplus calves of high value.

Using beef bulls over 15-month-old heifers requires very low birthweight bulls and well grown heifers.

NZ Herefords Association has made it one step simpler for buyers to

With over 48 years’ experience in breeding performance Polled Hereford Bulls, and an 800-cow closed herd, we have the largest genetic base and a range of bulls suited to the beef & dairy industry.

a rs e y 5 A

Y SEA NT L

W

SY

ST

EM

S

WA

R

R

AI

K A T O M IL K I N

G

identify the appropriate bull for the dairy industry by running their own “Boehringer Ingelheim Dairy Merit Sire” programme awarding owners of bulls which have displayed low birth weight, high growth and good maternal index.

Using these criteria, the programme identifies sires which will be ideal for use within dairy beef programmes. It is a tool that should be used in conjunction with eye appraisal as structural soundness and smooth shoulders also positively assist calving ease.

CRV, leading in health and efficiency

Effective Heat Detection

KNOW the

SCORE YOUR INDICATORS:

1

SCORE

2

< DON’T BREED

for higher pregnancy rates Don’t miss a heat.

Using Estrotect™ Breeding Indicators, identify when cows are ready to breed when the breeding patch or equivalent area rubs off.

Make easy yes or no decisions with Estrotect Breeding Indicator.

BETTER COWS

BETTER LIFE

• •

Available in 5 colours $112.50 (excl GST) per 50 pack

BREED >

3

4

CRV offers smart solutions for your herd.

Order Estrotect through our website or contact your local CRV Ambreed field consultant to receive a sample.

0800 262 733 | CRV4all.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS AUGUST 18, 2020

26 // MATING

Phil Beatson, CRV Ambreed.

Right genetics could reduce leaching WIDESPREAD USE of genetics for

low-N dairy cows could result in a 20% reduction in nitrogen leaching in 20 years, says CRV Ambreed.

Head geneticist, Phil Beatson, says it’s a strategy that could change dairy’s future.

Lincoln University’s recently-published research is the first independent work carried out in New Zealand on pasture-based grazing systems to report that cows with lower milk urea nitrogen (MUN) breeding values have a lower concentration of N in their urine and urinate less total N. “The results of the Lincoln study were very much in line with our prediction when we released LowN Sires, and it’s really encouraging to see,” says Beatson.

“Farmers can have further confidence that breeding for reduced MUN by using LowN Sires will reduce the amount of N excreted in their daughters’ urine compared to daughters of ‘average’ sires. Modelling predicts that N leaching would also be significantly reduced.

“What’s also encouraging is these cows that are peeing out lower concentration of nitrogen are likely to be also putting less nitrogen up into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide. With less concentration of nitrogen in the urine patch, leading to less nitrogen being leached and less nitrous oxide environmentally, it’s a double win.

“We envisage this strategy being useful across New Zealand, but particularly on the free-draining soils, where a higher proportion of the urinary nitrogen ends up being leached. Typically, that’s on the light, stony, irrigated soils – and that’s where we see the maximum benefit from these genetics.”

Beatson emphasises that this points to the thinking that those cows that are genetically low for MUN are partitioning

the nitrogen they eat differently – away from urine and into other outputs particularly milk protein and faeces. Less urinary N emitted per kg of feed eaten indicates increased efficiency of how nitrogen is used by the animal.

This is a totally different mechanism to reducing the amount of urinary nitrogen per kg of milk produced, which simply involves having cows or farm systems that result in cows producing more milk per kg of feed eaten, therefore eating less nitrogen per kg of milk and producing less urine per kg of milk.

Breeding is one of a number of options to reduce urinary nitrogen and minimise leaching. Farmers can affect milk urea – and therefore urinary nitrogen – through feeding.

The bonus of breeding is that it is a permanent and easily implemented solution for farmers in their efforts to reduce nitrogen loss and protect our waterways.

Breeding for low MUN is likely to be effective across a range of feeding systems.

Beatson says there’s no one silver bullet for nitrogen reduction, but putting together a range of techniques and adopting a range of technologies will enable farmers to produce current volumes of milk within acceptable environmental constraints.

“New Zealand dairy farmers have already made great strides over the past ten years to mitigate the effects of their farming operations on the environment and protect water quality.

“Many dairy farmers understand that they need to make an investment in new innovations that will enable them to farm sustainably. We’re excited about the part that CRV Ambreed’s LowN Sires can play towards a solution,” says Beatson.

THE

FACTOR Quiet and easy to handle. Instant white face recognition. Lower birth weights.

These are just some of the traits that define the HerefordX advantage.

Registered Herefords have an incredibly quiet nature. We know a large number of dairy farmers allow their Hereford bulls on and off the milking platform and are confident their staff will be comfortable working with these docile animals. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more the highly sought after HerefordX commands a premium at all weight ranges, with 4 day old calves making up to $400.

Use our Dairy Beef Selection Index to calculate all pedigree information, and put it into a dollar value for you.

Because the more dollars, the better. Right?

You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t argue with genetics when it comes to maximising the value of your herd. To find out more about buying a registered Hereford bull, visit herefords.co.nz/bullsales or talk to your stock agent.

www.herefords.co.nz

The proof is in the progeny.

Fresh sexed is best

KINGST_1290_DN_A

There's always room for improvement

Get more heifer replacements from your best cows with LICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Long Last Liquid fresh sexed semen. As the only provider of fresh sexed semen worldwide, LICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh sexed semen delivers non-return rates better than frozen.

To get more heifers from your best cows and reduce calf wastage from your herd, contact your Agri Manager today.

IT’S TIME TO OPEN UP ABOUT OUR NEW FEEDER if it’s not a Stallion, it’s not the best feeder

OTM SERIES OPEN TROUGH MIXER

AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

2 YEAR* RAN

UDLY RO

ALAN NEW ZE P

WA

KEY FEATURES D

MADE

Carries up to 1000 litres

Self-cleaning tank

Saves time

Mix & feed colostrum/ milk

Recycle option

The new Stallion OTM combines the MTF and OT range to create another innovative feeder designed to be user friendly and make the lives of farmers that much easier.

The open trough design allows farmers access to see what’s being fed out to their livestock and more control cleaning the troughs.

MODELS OTM50 - TANDEM AXLE 50 teat • 1000L tank 1700H x 2000W x 4300L

TIP Allow for 10-15% teats free to avoid over-crowding.

2

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ/SHOP

NEED A PART?

OTM50

Click and clean

Honda 4 stroke pump

Mix milk powder or other milk replacer

NEED A PART?

Camlock fast fill

Nozzle and hose

Electric start *optional extra

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ/SHOP

3

MTF SERIES MIXER TANKER FEEDER

AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

2 YEAR*

UDLY RO

ALAN NEW ZE P

WA

KEY FEATURES

RAN

D

MADE

Carries up to 1000 litres

Self-cleaning tank

Saves time

Mix & feed colostrum/milk

Recycle option

The first self-cleaning, self-mixing and self-distributing mobile feeder on the market, the MTF has become the go-to Stallion product for farmers around the world who want to work smarter.

Whether you’re in the pens or paddocks, the MTF is accessible in both with its modern manifold design and hose and nozzle dispensing unit.

MODELS MTF50 - TANDEM AXLE 50 teat • 1000L tank 1450H x 1520W x 3520L

MTF60 - TANDEM AXLE 60 teat • 1000L tank 1450H x 1520W x 3520L

MTF70 - TANDEM AXLE 70 teat • 1000L tank 1450H x 1520W x 4200L

MTF80 - TANDEM AXLE 80 teat • 1000L tank 1450H x 1520W x 4800L

MTF60

Click and clean

4

Easy clean manifold design

Honda 4 stroke pump

Mix milk powder or other milk replacer

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ/SHOP

Camlock fast fill

NEED A PART?

Nozzle and hose

Electric start *optional extra

MT SERIES MIXER TANKER

AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

2 YEAR*

UDLY RO

ALAN NEW ZE P

WA

KEY FEATURES

RAN

D

MADE

Carries up to 1000 litres

Self-cleaning tank

Saves time

Mix & feed colostrum/milk

Recycle option

Dispensing gun

The MT range by Stallion is designed to make mixing colostrum or milk replacer to calves that much easier, taking the strain out of calf rearing.

TIP To clean the tank, fill it with water and start the pump. The feeder will self wash, within 3 minutes.

MT1000

MODELS MT500 - SINGLE AXLE 500L tank 1240H x 1450W x 3000L

MT1000 - TANDEM AXLE 1000L tank 1450H x 1450W x 3000L

Click and clean

Honda 4 stroke pump

Mix milk powder or other milk replacer

NEED A PART?

Camlock fast fill

Nozzle and hose

Electric start *optional extra

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ/SHOP

5

MG SERIES

ore l e a r n omu r at e! websit

MOBILE GRAVITY

AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

2 YEAR* RAN

UDLY RO

ALAND NEW ZE P

WA

KEY FEATURES

MADE

Retractable drawbar

Recycle option

MG50S

TIP Allow for 10-15% teats free to avoid over-crowding.

Click and clean

MODELS

Easy clean manifold design

MG26S

MG40S

MG50S

MG50LT

MG60S

MG60LT

MG80LT

No# of teats

26

40

50

50

60

60

80

Tank size (L)

250

500

500

1000

500

1000

1000

Height (mm):

1200

1180

1180

1390

1180

1390

1390

Width (mm):

1200

1400

1400

1400

1400

1400

1400

Length (mm)

1250

1900

2500

2500

3100

3100

4800

Single Axle: Tandem Axle

6

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ/SHOP

NEED A PART?

OT SERIES OPEN TROUGH

KEY FEATURES

TIP The Open Trough series from Stallion is designed with a low mounted tank for maximum stability and is available in both 500L (single axle) and 1000L (tandem axle) models. The open troughs allow for easy cleaning and visibility of milk flow.

WA

AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

2 YEAR* RAN

Lower inspection point

Recycle option

OT50S

MODELS OT50S - SINGLE AXLE 50 teat • 500L tank 1280H x 1850W x 2800L

OT50LT - TANDEM AXLE 50 teat • 1000L tank 1700H x 1850W x 2800L

OT60LT - TANDEM AXLE 60 teat • 1000L tank 1700H x 2320W x 3020L

MF SERIES MODULAR FEEDER

WA

KEY FEATURES AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

2 YEAR* RAN

SLIP ON/OFF Slip on/off troughs

Feeds 12 to 60

TIP If you’re looking for a multi-use feeder our MF range is the one to look at. Designed to be able to remove the individual feeders for in shed use, the MF is ideal for the life style farmer. The mobile can be used for a smaller numbers of calves and then expanded as numbers increase.

Recycle option

MODELS MF50S - SINGLE AXLE 50 teat • 500L tank 1380H x 1550W x 2850L

MF50LT

MF50LT - TANDEM AXLE 50 teat • 1000L tank 1730H x 1550W x 2850L

MF55LT - TANDEM AXLE 55 teat • 1000L tank 1730H x 1550W x 3400L

MF60LT - TANDEM AXLE 60 teat • 1000L tank 1730H x 1550W x 3400L

ENQUIRE NOW

0508 688688 | WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ

7

MILK MAID AND CAPS

MILK MAID SERIES

Stallion’s complete range of MM and FC feeders have been thoroughly tested and proven to effectively feed calves from the first day through to weaning. A must for every calf rearer, Stallion has the largest range of feeders in New Zealand.

MM1 1 teat • 4L • 280H x 170W x 240L

MM3 3 teat • 16L • 260H x 280W x 430L

MM5 5 teat • 25L • 260H x 250W x 700L MM6 6 teat • 30L • 260H x 260W x 850L MM8 8 teat • 40L • 275H x 245W x 1460L

WA

MM10 10 teat • 66L • 350H x 500W x 1200L MM12 12 teat • 70L • 350H x 530W x 1230L

AN RR TY

G

UA

TE

E

3 YEAR RAN

MM13 13 teat • 40L • 320H x 280W x 1810L MM20 20 teat • 100L • 940H x 1120D

MM15 15 teat • 90L • 280H x 245W x 2720L

CAP22 Use with all pull through teats

8

LTD Lamb bottle cap

LTCAP Cap for lamb teat on feeders

BLANK CAP Blanks off teats

PCAP To fit threaded Peach Teat

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ | 0508 688688

SCAP Suits Stallion teats

ENQUIRE NOW

CAPS TO FIT STALLION FEEDERS

SD Calf drencher 2.5L

The Calfateria series features a range of non-compartmentalised pen feeders available from 1 to 20 teat models. Made of tough, durable plastic with rounded edges, they are easy to transport and clean. Complete with steel brackets and screw in Peach Teats, the Calfateria series are easy to take off and ensure a hygienic clean.

SCB Calf bottle • 1 teat • 2.5L

SC1 6L • 300H x 230W x 310L

BKT 3 teat • 10L • 280H x 240W x 320L

FC12 12 teat • 80L • 300H x 520W x 1130L FC10 10 teat • 80L • 300H x 520W x 1130L

WA

FC5 5 teat • 30L • 255H x 250W x 700L FC6 6 teat • 35L • 255H x 250W x 820L

CALFATERIA SERIES

CALFATERIA SERIES

FC20 20 teat • 160L • 940H x 1120D

AN RR TY

UA

G

FC13 13 teat • 80L • 320H x 285W x 1800L

TE

E

3 YEAR RAN

RFC5 5 teat • 25L • 275H x 295W x 805L

TIP

Included bracket makes this suitable for wood or wire fences.

FC15 15 teat • 110L • 275H x 245W x 2700L

smart cow

TH E ’S LD O W R ST FI R ALF RC C L E AE AT !

T

TRY SOMETHING UDDERLY DIFFERENT. FITS ALL STALLION FEEDERS!

FITS ALL STALLION FEEDERS

SEE THROUGH

NON ABSORBENT

LASTS LONGER SO YOU SAVE MONEY

TWO SPEED TEAT

MORE HYGIENIC

SOFT AND NATURAL

MEAL AND WATER

MEAL FEEDERS

PMF Capacity 12kg • 510H x 400W x 500L

SALT BLOCK SAVER 555W x 555L x 140H

PC Capacity 55kg • 1260H x 740D

PCBS Capacity 55kg • 1260H x 740D (also available with bird skirts)

CMF Capacity 40kg • 580H x 670W x 1060L (also available with bird skirts)

LPMF Capacity 25kg • 250H x 425W x 1050L

WA

JPC Capacity 85kg • 1450H x 890D

AN RR TY

G

UA

HAY Hay & meal feeder 700H x 500W x 620L

10

HAYJ Hay & meal feeder 700H x 500W x 1210L

T

MEAL/HAY FEEDERS

EE

3 YEAR RAN

HAYPEN 60L • 630H x 350W x 650L

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ | 0508 688688

ENQUIRE NOW

SMF Meal feeder 30kg • 585H x 360W x 920L

Made from polyethylene, the Stallion Meal Troughs are tough and durable. For pens, the meal feeders come complete with galvanized steel brackets that are strong and durable.

HOOK ON

PF10 10L • 230H x 335W x 410L

MEAL TROUGHS WITH LEGS AND SLED FRAME

AFT3 Sled • 70L • 420H x 345W x 1815L

MEAL AND WATER

MEAL TROUGHS

PF30 30L • 230H x 410W x 880L

The AFT series from Stallion are designed for feeding out in paddocks. The troughs are strong and durable enough to withstand the elements while being easy to tow on the back of a fourwheeler. All troughs from Stallion can be used for both dry feed and water to suit a wide range of needs.

AFT4 with legs • 110L • 400H x 395W x 2440L

AFT4 Sled • 110L • 440H x 390W x 2440L

MEAL TROUGHS FREE STANDING

AFT1 Free Standing 205H x 345W x 900L

AFT2 Free Standing 300H x 410W x 1420L

ENQUIRE NOW

AFT3 BARE Free Standing 220H x 340W x 1800L

AFT6 Free Standing 300H x 410W x 2020L

0508 688688 | WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ

11

WATER TROUGHS

WATER TROUGHS

Lightweight but strong, these Stallion water troughs are ideal for a pen and a small paddock. They come complete with a valve, are available in green or black and includes a quality ballcock with removable cover.

PERMANENT WATER SUPPLY

PD8 Hook on water trough

MODELS

WT80 Also available in eco80 bare black

PT10 Hook on water trough

WT180 Also available in eco80 bare black

PD8

PT10

PT30

WT80

ECO80

WT120

ECO120

WT180

WT360

Tank size (L)

8

10

30

80

80

120

120

180

360

Height (mm):

200

310

300

350

350

320

320

320

420

Width (mm):

350

340

410

500

500

630

630

830

820

Length (mm)

300

400

880

850

850

970

970

1100

1580

Valve: Colour:

ROUND WATER TROUGHS PERMANENT WATER SUPPLY

These troughs are ideal for both large and small paddocks, with cattle, deer or sheep. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re extra strong to withstand the rigours of larger animals in a permanent position.

WT95

WT150 Also available in eco80 bare black

WT260 Also available in eco80 bare black

WT600

WT1000

WT95

WT150

ECO150

WT260

ECO260

WT600

WT600 BARE

WT1000

WT1000 BARE

Diam. (mm):

670

900

900

1000

1000

1500

1500

1650

1650

Height (mm):

420

380

380

480

480

495

495

620

620

MODELS

Valve: Cover: Colour:

12

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ | 0508 688688

ENQUIRE NOW

PERMANENT AND PORTABLE SITUATIONS

WT130

These long troughs are suitable for both permanent and portable situations.

• • • • •

Through the fence permanent water supply Used in sheep yards or other confined spaces Easily transportable on farm bikes over rough terrain Strong and robust to cope with wear and tear Long for maximum animal access

WT90

Volume: 90 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 295H x 410W x 1400L WT130

Volume: 130 litres

Colour:

TROUGHS AND OTHER

MULTI PURPOSE LONG TROUGHS

WT90

Dimensions (mm): 295H x 410W x 2000L

FOOTROT TROUGH

FTI

Made from 100% recyclable polyethylene, our Footrot Troughs are tough and durable. The troughs are designed to fit in a sheep race for easy footrot treatment and have a sloping ends with a non-slip base to prevent leg damage.

FT1

Volume: 70 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 195H x 340W x 2400L FTYL

Volume: 225 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 200H x 1000W x 1500L FB

Volume: 40 litres

FTYL

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 200H x 460W x 1500L

FB

SPECIALISED PRODUCTS

DRAINAGE SUMP SMALL 600H x 640W x 345L DRAINAGE SUMP LARGE 1030H x 780W x 475L

CARGO CORNERS Available in: 300L, 600L or 1200L

ENQUIRE NOW

DOG BIN 770Hx480Wx540L

LAWN ROLLER 95L • 1240H x 400W x 840L (Roller filled with water)

0508 688688 | WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ

13

TANKS

EASYFIT WATER TANKS UV stabilised for long outdoor life, the range of Easy Fit Stallion tanks come in 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 litres. The Water Tanks come complete with a bayonet-style lid, a direct down-pipe entry point and a unique overflow system with a removable cover.

500

Volume: 500 litres

2000

Colour:

Dimensions (m): 0.8H x 0.95D 1000

Volume: 1000 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (m): 1.56H x 0.95D 2000

Volume: 2000 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (m): 1.75H x 1.29D 3000

Volume: 3000 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (m): 1.7H x 1.79D

500

1000

3000

STORAGE TANKS UV stabilised for long outdoor life, the Stallion Storage Tanks come complete with bayonet-style lids and range in sizes from 95L to 750L tanks.

95

Volume: 95 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 670 Diameter 250

Volume: 250 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 720 Diameter x 580mm Side Height 420

Volume: 420 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 710 Diameter x 1030mm Side Height 750

Volume: 750 litres

Colour:

Dimensions (mm): 860 Diameter x 1210mm Side Height 750

14

WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ | 0508 688688

420

ENQUIRE NOW

250

95

The Lamb Feeder range of bottles and buckets are easy to fill and carry. Complete with an easy to carry handle, the lamb teats are easy to take off, ensuring a hygienic clean. All Stallion pen feeders can be changed to fit lamb teats.

LT Stallion Lamb Teats for bottles or any MM or FC feeder.

SC Poly Scoop with a capacity of 2kg • 160H x 160W x 300L

BKTL 7 teat • 10L 280H x 240W x 320L

AN RR TY

WA

3 YEAR

learn a t o um o r e webs r ite!

E

G

UA

TE

GOAT SERIES

BTL Single teat • 1L

LAMB AND GOAT

LAMB FEEDERS

RAN

GTC15 15 teat • 90L • 900H x 600D

GTHAY 60L • 600H x 350W x 650L

GTM15 Capacity 15kg • 460H x 200W x 390L

GTM30 Capacity 30kg • 460H x 220W x 770L

GT8 8 teat • 25L • 250H x 240W x 700L

GT15 15 teat • 70L • 275H x 245W x 1780L

PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS

RAT BAIT BOX The Bait Box has been designed to sit against a wall to take advantage of the typical hunting characteristics of the rat. The rat can feed inside the bait box without fear.

This will ensure an adequate poison strike.

TIMMS POSSUM KILL TRAP The Timms Kill Trap is made of tough polyethylene plastic.

It’s light colour is an effective lure to the curious possum.

ENQUIRE NOW

TUNNEL TRAP The Tunnel Trap has been designed to attract and kill ferrets, stoats and weasels. The small access hole in the front of the trap will stop cats, dogs and other non-target species from entering.

0508 688688 | WWW.STALLION.CO.NZ

15

They get out what you put in.

Skellerup Peach Teats closely simulate a cow’s natural milk let down, making for rapid acceptance which is ideal for weak and sick calves.

Talk to your rural retailer or visit us online skellerup.co.nz

Stallion is committed to proactively working towards a greener New Zealand. The steps we’re taking to move forward will involve the ability to recycle our polyethelene products.

Our products are made with the intention of being used for years to come but we understand that wear and tear is natural and sometimes products can be deemed unusable.

Because of this, we wanted to allow our customers the opportunity to drop off previously loved polyethelene products and be able to recycle them for free.

All that we ask is that products are as clean as possible, drop off is organized ahead of time by phoning us at 0508 688 688 and that you only drop off the polyethelene components of your product.

To find out more, feel free to contact us via phone or social media

STALLION LIMITED

ORDER NOW

73 Railway Road, PO Box 807, Palmerston North, New Zealand Phone +64 (6) 356 8816 • Fax +64 (6) 356 8817 • www.stallion.co.nz @Stallionnz

Stallion Limited

www.stallion.co.nz/shop

ENQUIRIES 0508 688 688 * 2 year warranty excludes the teats, caps and Honda pump motor