Dairy News 12 July 2022

FTA a ‘lousy’ deal. PAGE 3

WORKFORCE PLAN

Attracting staff PAGE 25

GIVING CALVES A GOOD START

Calving feature PAGE 30

JULY 12, 2022 ISSUE 498 // www.dairynews.co.nz

SO LONG FETA! New Zealand cheesemakers forced to phase out Feta: fears other generic cheese names could be next . PAGE 4

Get more with less this calving season

90

Automatic calf feeding with DeLaval Calf Feeder CF1000S With calving season just around the corner, an automatic DeLaval Calf Feeder CF1000S can help you deliver more with less. Unlock up to 8% more milk from your cows at first lactation** and spend more time on other activities with up to 90% less time spent mixing, feeding and cleaning equipment.

A DeLaval Calf Feeder CF1000S can feed up to 4 calves at once (and up to 120 calves in total), all while automatically identifying and adapting portions to each calf’s individual feeding plan.

Pre-order yours today

%

Spend up to less time feeding calves this season*

To pre-order your DeLaval Calf Feeder CF1000S talk to your trusted DeLaval dealer today or give us a call on 0800 222 228.

delaval.com | 0800 222 228

*Compared to manual feeding. **Based on research by F. Soberon, M. E. Van Amburgh, 2014

Is your feed up to the mark?

“Using supplementary feed that’s FeedSafe NZ accredited is a great way to protect the health and wellbeing of your animals.”

TE RADAR Take your dairy cows from good to great, by complementing pasture with high quality feeds and balanced nutrition. Through every age and stage, including throughout the calving season, you can provide all the extra support your cows need with quality supplementary feed produced by New Zealand feed manufacturers. Look out for the FeedSafeNZ mark to ensure the feed you buy is made to the highest possible quality standards.

Look for the mark of quality. www.nzfma.org.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

NEWS // 3

A ‘lousy’ deal! for the dairy and beef sectors.

“We don’t use this phrase ‘walk away’ – for us it is just continue the negotiation rather than settle a deal at this time if it wasn’t going to be good enough and, as we have seen, it is not good enough for dairy. In the end it was a decisions made by the Government and I have already said how disappointed we are,” he says.

Bailey says he’s not at all critical of the MFAT trade negotiators, describing them as “top shelf people”.

He says while DCANZ was not at the actual negotiating table, they worked alongside the MFAT people and provided analysis and information to assist them where necessary.

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE CHAIR of the organisation

Funding boost for rural internet. PG.16

Smart water use. PG.24

Balers get upgrade. PG.28

NEWS ������������������������������������������������������ 3-17 AGRIBUSINESS ������������������������������������ 19 OPINION ��������������������������������������������� 20-21 MANAGEMENT ������������������������������ 23-25 ANIMAL HEALTH ���������������������������26-27 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS �������������������������������������� 28-29 CALVING ��������������������������������������������30-39

which represents all the New Zealand dairy companies has hit out at government politicians for failing to deliver a quality FTA with the EU for the dairy sector.

Malcolm Bailey, Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ), says the parameters the politicians finally set for the negotiations made it virtually impossible for our highly skilled trade negotiators to pull off a good deal for what he calls one of the big engine rooms of the NZ economy – the dairy industry.

“This is a lousy deal, a significantly missed opportunity and sets an awful precedent for any future trade negotiations,” he says.

Bailey, who was in Brussels when the final touches were being put on the deal, says he had a sleepless night when he heard that the message from the Government to the negotiators was ‘anything better than the status quo’.

He says DCANZ had urged them to keep on negotiating to get a better deal for dairy and says they were surprised at the approach they took.

He says the change in the language and the fact that NZ had signalled that it wanted a deal by June 30 was something of a cue to the EU negotiators, who knowing NZ’s bottom line, appeared to adopt a tactic of stalling the negotiations and counting down the clock to the end of June.

“This appears to have made it extremely difficult for our negotiators to deliver something meaningful

Malcolm Bailey, DCANZ, says it’s a lousy deal, a significantly missed opportunity and sets an awful precedent for any future trade negotiations.

MINIMAL RESULT MALCOLM BAILEY says, right from the start of the negotiations four years ago, it was clear that NZ was not going to get everything it wanted.

He says it then came down to what was really needed, which was tariff elimination – something we got in the UK FTA. He says, when this didn’t look possible, the language used was ‘achieving commercially meaningful outcomes’ for the dairy and beef sectors.

“So what’s the definition of that? Well, there is threshold of 5% open access to their market and 5% of 450 million people is reasonably significant, so

that’s the default if you like. But we have ended up miles below that,” he says.

Bailey points to the fact that NZ gave up using the name Feta and says if you look at the gain the FTA for dairy, the result is minimal and not what we needed.

He says he also challenges claims by the Government on the financial benefits for dairy in the FTA as it stands. He says he strongly disagrees with financial gains the Government claims the industry will get as a result of this FTA. He says DCANZ has a completely different take on these.

What has surprised Bailey is a belief that the EU actually wanted to deal with NZ. He says issues such as NZ’s support for Europe over the Ukraine war was a positive.

“The other thing was it was almost embarrassing for the EU not having a FTA with NZ when we are down to the last six in the world, sitting in a group that includes North Korea.

“So there was definitely a willingness and, as we have already noted, some sectors such as kiwifruit and horticultural crops have done well and I am pleased for them,” he says.

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

4 // NEWS

Costly cheese renaming exercise looming product from Greece.

“It will be a big task for all the individual cheesemakers with their marketing and websites, their price lists and point of sale information. They will have to create new labels, branding – you name it.

“Then there is trademarking those names, and that is hugely expen-

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

LOCAL CHEESEMAKERS are very disap-

pointed but not surprised by the recent free trade deal with the European Union.

They will lose naming rights to Feta cheese in nine years time and expect more European cheese names will be added to the list in future.

NZ Speciality Cheese Makers Association chair Catherine McNamara told Dairy News that there was a lot at stake for NZ in the negotiations and it was inevitable that there would be winners and losers. She says they are just thankful that the deal includes a nine year transition period for the use of the word Feta to be banned from use by NZ cheesemakers. She says this is a better deal than some other countries have had from the EU. “In the case of Feta we can’t refer to it in any way; we can’t rhyme it, we can’t have anything that gives any indication that it is that product because it is not that product anymore.

“Everything has been taken away from us. The only thing that someone has suggested, tongue in cheek, is Whetu, which is quite cool but I am not

sive, doing that not only in NZ but also overseas.

This is because if we do start exporting, those new names have to be protected, like the geographical indications in Europe,” she says.

Faced with these major changes, McNamara says they will need government help. She says they will need a person to proj-

ect-manage the change, lawyers to assist with IP and help from government departments such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to help guide them through the complex process.

“Individual cheesemakers cannot afford to do this without government help,” she says.

NZ Speciality Cheese Makers Association chair Catherine McNamara.

sure we’d get away with it,” she says.

McNamara says they’ll now be relying on the Government for financial help with the transition as they seek to create some unique NZ names for our specialty cheeses.

She says while Feta is on the schedule for removal now, it is likely that other names such as Havarti, Halloumi, Gorgonzola,

Gruyere and Parmesan will be added to the list in the future.

“We have really got to prepare now because there is no point in doing it once for Feta and then doing it as other cheese names come into the deal.

This is a huge task and the only logical way to deal with it is for everyone in the industry to work together and have

the same names for each type of cheese,” she says.

According to McNamara, it’s going to be tricky to inform customers what the name is going to be for Feta in the future. She adds it is going to be difficult for retailers because they have got categories saying Feta, but they won’t be able to have that anymore because Feta will be one

THE EXPORT ISSUE FONTERRA IS the major exporter of speciality cheeses from NZ. This goes to Australia, Japan and the Pacific Islands.

Catherine McNamara says while the EU has unlimited access to the NZ market, two-way trade is nigh impossible.

She says the cost of exporting cheese to the EU is prohibitive. She says competing against subsidised European cheese together with

the high cost of freight means that the price NZ would have to sell its produce for would be way above that of locally produced cheese.

McNamara, who is also the owner and managing director of award winning Grinning Gecko Cheese in Northland, says her big hope is that NZ consumers will support local cheesemakers as they try to deal with the challenges they now face.

YOUR LOCAL POLARIS EXPERT WILL STEER YOU RIGHT

Across New Zealand the Polaris Dealer Network is made up of over 30 Independent local businesses. Most are privately owned and many have been in operation for generations.

Your Polaris dealer is your Local expert on all things Off Road vehicles helping you with the right advice to choose the correct vehicle for your needs and ensuring you have the best possible service and support.

Their commitment and Investment to provide their customers with the very highest quality Customer Service is a big reason why

POLARIS IS THE #1 SELLING SxS BRAND IN NEW ZEALAND

Alton Rodgers

Action Equipment Hamilton

Dan Benjamin

Jacks Machinery

Geoff Gray

Temuka Motorcycles

SEE YOUR LOCAL POLARIS DEALER TODAY!

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

NEWS // 5

Govt defends inking trade deal TRADE AND Export

Minister Damien O’Connor has rejected claims that NZ should not have signed the free trade agreement with the European Union and instead kept negotiating and got a better deal.

Speaking to Dairy News from Ottawa in Canada where he’s been having trade talks, he refuted DCANZ chairman Malcolm Bailey’s claims and says he was wrong in his assessment and calculations about the value of the deal.

He says he understands the disappointment that the figures that NZ aspired to get at the start of the negotiating process were not reached, but says that’s the reality of trade negotiations.

“We have made huge progress across all sectors including beef and dairy and I am confident that we can build on these

O’Connor has rejected suggestions that NZ should have not signed the deal and continued on with the negotiations.

He says they considered every option but notes that it became increasingly apparent that if NZ didn’t conclude the negotiations when they did, things were going to get

a lot worse for us as the geopolitical realities hit home.

“The fact is this deal compares pretty favourably in all areas. In reality our trade agreement was a unique one with a grouping of 450 million people, which was beneficial to both and that is not easy to do. The EU

is very conscious that every one of these agreements sets precedents on how they open up to other countries that want a FTA,” he says.

Damien O’Connor Trade Minister Damien O’Connor says the FTA with Europe removes barriers across a vast majority of products.

says NZ and EU will meet annually after the deal has been ratified to discuss the FTA and what areas that might be adjusted over time. He says it’s possible but not certain that NZ could end up with greater volumes, but adds, the reality is that our sectors don’t produce enough product to fill

existing demand.

“If we were going to shift it into the EU then that would be at the expense of other customers,” he says.

The deal will now go through a ratification process in both jurisdictions and could take at least a year to be finally approved.

FREE

on-farm

DEMO

Make the most of the high milk payout.

Reduce your urea, apply multiple products in one-pass, including small seeds, and grow more grass with a Tow and Fert.

“

“ “

peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

opportunities over time.

“The FTA is a great deal for NZ because we have achieved the removal of barriers across the vast majority of products going into that valuable market and access to dairy products we haven’t had for a long time. This deal provides more valuable opportunities for NZ and one that can grow in the future,” he says.

O’Connor says one of the complicating factors in the negotiations was the Ukraine crisis which he says put more focus on food security.

He says unfortunately in the eyes of the EU, this translated into shoring up their own production rather than opening the doors to imports. He says that protectionist approach has always been a part of the EU’s doctrine.

“Even in spite of that we have been able to negotiate with them a commercially meaningful deal that is of huge value to us,” he says.

OVERSEER APPOINTS NEW CEO

“

PETER BURKE

OVERSEER LIMITED has appointed Jill Gower as

its new chief executive.

Gower has been Overseer’s interim chief executive since Caroline Read left the position in February 2022 to take up a role at FishServe.

She has also served as the organisation’s manager finance, governance & reporting from July 2021 until February 2022 and their company secretary for two years prior to that.

She also spent nine years in various roles at Sport New Zealand.

Overseer has been the subject of controversy in the last year after a Science Advisory Panel report found its signature tool, OverseerFM, was inaccurate.

Gower says she looks forward to consolidating and building the core business, but also taking advantage of emerging opportunities.

“It has been a challenging couple of years, however the light is starting to shine on OverseerFM’s value as a decision tool,” she says.

“That’s a relief to the team because knowing that OverseerFM actually helps farmers and growers respond to the enormous pressures on them personally, on their businesses and on our environment is what gets us out of bed in the morning.”

Gower says many farmers haven’t been shy about telling the organisation that the tool has been foisted upon them.

“We can’t control how the tool is used so the question became ‘what can we do to ensure using OverseerFM is easy to use and worthwhile?’”

– Jessica Marshall

Image shows a Multi 1200 in Victoria, Australia spraying a biological brew.

A Tow and Fert is a SMART BUSINESS INVESTMENT

Available in 5 models.

Tow and Fert. There is one for your farm.

For more information

www.towandfert.co.nz

CALL 0800

337 747

or email us at sales@towandfert.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

6 // NEWS

Milk price set to stay high SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE 2022-23 farmgate

milk price is likely to be one of the strongest on record, says ASB economist Nat Keall.

He says despite last week’s price drop in the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, the bank is sticking with its $10/kgMS forecast.

Whole milk powder prices fell 3.2%, while larger dips in butter and butter milk prices dragged the overall GDT index lower.

“Our view has always been based on the demand and supply fundamentals and on that front it’s not clear much has changed yet,” says Keall.

“We’ll want to see how things settle out after the

m

Synlait has lifted its forecast milk price by 50c to $9.50/kgMS.

Southern Hemisphere winter before adjusting our priors.

“And of course, don’t forget prices are very, very high still in an outright sense, so even if there is a little downside risk to our forecast, 2022/23 is likely

to be one of the strongest seasons on record.”

Keall says they are still sceptical prices can fall very far in an environment where global milk supply is extremely tight.

“As we noted in our last report, European

dairy production remains very weak and was decelerating further in the latest data.

“We suspect that the same constraints around high input costs and issues securing labour will hamper Southern

One dose, Job done!

Hemisphere producers as they step into the fray over spring. While global growth is slowing too and consumption won’t be as flash as hoped, global dairy demand should be inelastic enough to keep prices well supported.

“That’s particularly the case in China where achieving stability of food supply will be a high priority for policymakers ahead of this year’s National Congress, where Xi Jinping will seek a third

term as Paramount Leader.”

Keall also notes that the NZ dollar has edged down too. As Fonterra finishes the remainder of its hedging for the season, the Kiwi’s soft position still looks set to be a major boon, which was the other big driver of our recent forecast change, Keall adds.

Meanwhile Synlait Milk has increased its forecast base milk price forecast for the season to $9.50/ kgMS. The 50c lift reflects improved commodity prices, says chief executive Grant Watson.

“The forecasted lift in milk price reflects an improved outlook for 2022-23 dairy commodity prices, following the recent recovery in pricing, and the current strength of the US dollar,” he says.

Teat sprays Detergents Available in 500ml, 2 Litre 5 Litre

Technology

Get up to 10 days worth of magnesium when you drench with More-mag® Available from your veterinarian or rural supply store.

Contact Clark Products for your local supplier.

Ph 0800 66 66 33 E: orders@clarkproducts.co.nz W: www.clarkproducts.co.nz

CLARK PRODUCTS LTD

0508 732 733

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

NEWS // 7

‘Bold actions needed for food transition’ SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

A BANKING leader is urging the agriculture sector to take “bold actions” if it’s to take advantage of the global food transition.

Rabobank New Zealand chief executive Todd Charteris notes that everyone is grappling with how to the tackle the twin challenges of increasing food production and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking last week at Primary Industries Summit in Auckland, Charteris noted that the ag sector has a big job on its hands to ensure the growing world population has access to sufficient, safe and affordable food.

“But at the same time, the sector also needs to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions stemming from food production that risk warming our entire planet,” he says.

“As efficient food producers, New Zealand’s farmers and growers have a moral obligation to produce food over and above farmers in many other parts of the world.

“If New Zealand steps back from food production, what fills that gap could be something quite detrimental to the environment.

“So, as an industry,

we need to move forward on both fronts – increasing food production to feed the world and reducing our environmental impact.”

Charteris says New Zealand “earned its living” through food and agriculture and the country’s food producers were strongly positioned to take on this challenge.

“The sector is receiving strong signals from the Government, consumers, and the community to reduce its emissions’ profile and history shows New Zealand agriculture is innovative and adaptive when presented with a problem and given the time and resources to solve it,” he says.

“And with these factors in its favour, the sector is not only well placed to produce large volumes of top-quality food for global consumers, but to set the standard for the rest of the world with regard to sustainable food production.”

While this was the case, Charteris noted that a global leadership position would only be attained if the sector took bold actions that helped steer the industry through the food transition.

“Climate change is complex and, with food and agri sector participants at different stages of the journey of accep-

NEW WHITE PAPER TODD CHARTERIS says Rabobank was committed to playing a role to help transition the New Zealand agri sector to a higher production – lower carbon future.

“We’ve made a start on this journey by signing up to the United Nations net zero global alliance, benchmarking the non-financial aspects of client businesses to ensure we are banking with responsible farmers and growers, and undergoing Toitu accreditation to enable us to report on our own emissions,” he says.

“We’re also finalising a new white paper which looks at the climate change challenge for New Zealand agri-business and expands on some of the ideas and actions I’ve outlined.

“This paper will be released in the coming weeks and our intention is to engage with farmers, industry stakeholders and politicians over the months ahead to discuss the paper’s key findings and how the bank can work together with others to steer the coming food transition.”

tance and response, bold actions will be required to ensure the sector stays on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Accords.”

While acknowledg-

ing the reduction of emissions would be challenging, Charteris identified four key actions to help guide New Zealand’s food and agri industry on the pathway forward: set-

ting up a ‘swarm’ effect of innovation, kicking food waste ‘into touch’, making meaningful gains through precision agriculture and getting emissions offsetting right.

Rabobank NZ chief executive Todd Charteris.

Now you can turn your money into almost anything at Farm Source.

Every time you purchase through your Farm Source account, you’ll earn Farm Source Reward Dollars. These can be redeemed on over 5000 rewards online or almost anything you can dream of.

Get your spend working for you, and turn your money into more.

Sign up at nzfarmsource.co.nz/rewards

NEW FEATURE

Let’s get you sorted for nitrogen reporting

If you’re a dairy farmer, you’re going to need to file a report on your nitrogen fertiliser use by 31 July 2022 The easiest way to report your nitrogen use is through your MyBallance account, using our Nitrogen Limit Management feature.

Make sure your farm map and proof of application data are uploaded to your account, specify what the nitrogen was used for, and then your data will be calculated ready to submit to council.

Head to myballance.co.nz to login or register | 0800 222 090 BAL13660 MyBallance N Cap Reporting PressAd_265x390mm_FINAL2.indd 1

30/06/22 3:04 PM

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

NEWS // 9

Charting a new path?

JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

THE CLIMATE Change

Commission has recommended a detailed farm-level pricing system outside the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), according to a new report.

The report, sent off to the Minister for Climate Change on 30 June, was released to the public last week and details how ready farmers and the agriculture sector are for emissions pricing.

The report states that the sector would not be ready for a detailed system by 2025, but in the interim, a basic farm-level system using elements of the He Waka Eke Noa proposal would provide a path to progress towards a more detailed system.

“Our analysis shows that almost all eligible farmers can be ready to participate in a basic farm-level system by 1 January 2025,” the report states.

However, it notes there are several major changes that would need to be made to the He Waka Eke Noa proposal if the Government were to consider adopting elements of it.

One of these, sequestration, is already recognised through the NZ ETS. “Recognising non-NZ ETS sequestration through on-farm vegeta-

tion as suggested by the He Waka Eke Noa proposal should be progressed in a separate system, which could recognise and reward a wide range of benefits, such as biodiversity and water quality,” it states.

However, it states that bringing this on-farm vegetation into a farm-level emissions pricing system will add complexity and create inequity between farmers and other sectors, and wouldn’t significantly improve emissions.

Another issue is that of the pricing of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.

The Commission says that they should be priced at the manufacturer and importer level in the NZ ETS as soon as practicable.

“This would achieve a more broad and equitable coverage for emissions from synthetic nitrogen fertiliser across the country.”

In the chair’s message which opens the report Commission chair Rod Carr says that by pricing agricultural emissions, New Zealand is “charting a new path”.

“Being a ‘first mover’ globally, with a welldesigned agricultural pricing policy, will provide a strong, credible example to other countries and help maintain our reputation for innovation and progress,” Carr writes.

Importantly, he says

emissions pricing has to be delivered alongside a broader policy package to contribute to meeting the emissions reduction targets set.

“A farmer-focused and cost-effective pricing system is the best way to deliver that,” he says.

“While a detailed farm-

farmers have already started to move towards lower emissions practices on farm.

“The sector has made progress towards measuring and reporting on-farm agricultural emissions, and making sure farms have plans in place to manage their emissions.”

Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr says that by pricing agricultural emissions, New Zealand is “charting a new path”.

1 of a kind. makes a lot of cents.

Eprinex is not only the 1 and only drench to have worldwide NIL milk withholding when treating lactating cows - it is also the No.1 drench for return on investment by far.

For example, based on an average herd size of 500 cows and a $9.00 payout, farmers can expect a return of $67.44 per cow. Eprinex makes a lot of sense… and cents.

HWEN RESPONDS

For more info go to futureproducers.co.nz

Typical R.O.I. by using Eprinex® on your dairy herd this season.

$

67.44 PER COW*

Scan here to calculate the R.O.I. on your herd... *Based on a 500 cow herd and $9.00 milk solid payout.

Ensure young stock become future high producers through improved health, growth and energy at:

futureproducers.co.nz   

Together going forward.

PROUDLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTICIPATING VETERINARY CLINIC BO1387

IN A statement, He Waka Eke Noa programme director Kelly Forster said the partnership was pleased the Commission agreed that a farmlevel split-gas approach is the preferable option.

“The Commission has also acknowledged the significant work the sector has done to prepare farmers, by supporting them to know their emissions numbers and have a plan.

“We welcome the Commission’s confidence that farmers will be ready for a farm-level system by 2025,” Forster said.

She said He Waka Eke Noa recognised more work needed to be done on the detail.

“The Commission has taken a different view to He Waka Eke Noa on recognising sequestration and levying N fertiliser. We will need to study their analysis before responding in detail.

“However, it is important to remember that the He Waka Eke Noa recommendations are based on giving farmers control over all the levers that impact on their emissions, including sequestration and fertiliser use, so they can take a holistic view across their farm system as they make decisions. We would not want this wholefarm-system approach to be undermined.”

level system outside the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme would be the best approach in the long term, the Government will need to implement a basic farm-level system in the time it has – which can be rapidly scaled up.”

Carr writes that many

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. Level 3, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand. EPRINEX® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under licence. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A007191. © Copyright 2021 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. NZ-BOV-0012-2022.

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

10 // NEWS

Little River cheese wins big!

JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

BOUTIQUE CHEESEMAKER Little River

Estate was named one of four supreme winners at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards last month.

The Tasman-based

cheesemaker won the New World Champion of Champions Cheese – Mid-sized and the IXOM Champion European Style Cheese Award.

“We’re still in a wee state of shock but also immensely proud,” says owner David Barrett.

“It’s the second year running that Little River

Estate Mt Richmond has won the trophy for best European style cheese, which is amazing on its own,” he told Dairy News.

“But then it won the Supreme Champion Cheese for mid-sized producers which is a major achievement and one of the whole production team can take credit for,”

says Barrett.

He says Little River has been entering the awards for five years, since 2017, and had won numerous medals and trophies during that time, however this marks their first supreme award.

“We enter to see how we compare with our peers. There are some

amazing cheesemakers in New Zealand across the board, from large household name producers to the very small operators.

“The awards are a way to gauge your progress and to take stock of our processes and when necessary, make adjustments to keep improving,” Barrett says, “We have to

keep pushing boundaries in pursuit of perfection.”

The cheesemaker has two brands – Thorvald, their sheep milk range, and Little River Estate, their cow’s milk range. The milk supplied for Little River cheeses comes from Raine Farms (Oakland Milk) in Nelson and all of it is A2.

“The quality of milk supplied by Raine is superb and their on-farm practices and animal welfare policies are in line with our own beliefs so it was a natural fit,” Barrett says.

“We were originally 100% sheep milk only, partly driven by the digestive benefits of sheep milk for lactose intolerant consumers.”

Barrett says when the opportunity arose to work with cow’s milk containing only A2 milk, similarly associated with benefits for those with a lactose intolerance, it was a

THIS’LL MAKE UP FOR MISSING OUT ON A TRIP TO THE TRON. $5,995

+GST

TRACTA65029_DR200SE_DN

Just because that large agricultural event that happens annually in the Waikato at this time of year’s been postponed, doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on New Zealand’s favourite farm bike, the Suzuki DR200SE, at participating Suzuki dealers.

T&Cs: Price excludes GST. Offer runs from 1 June to 31 August 2022 or while stocks last at participating Suzuki dealers.

great fit.

“But just as importantly, it’s the sheer quality of their milk which drove our decision,” he says.

Also important to Little River Estate’s cheese is that they don’t use thickeners, stabilisers, added sugar or preservatives – only using whole milk direct from the farm so it hasn’t been homogenised or stabilised.

“We pasteurise it and that’s all. Because of this, we get seasonal variation in the milk and it’s the skill of our cheesemakers to adjust for this.

“We believe by keeping our intervention of the milk to a minimum, it lets the quality of the milk shine through and produces superior flavour and texture. That said, as the milk changes through the year, it also adds to the challenge of maintaining consistency.”

OTHER WINNERS

NZ’S FAVOURITE FARM BIKE ONLY

For proven reliability order your DR200SE, New Zealand’s favourite farm bike, today. suzuki.co.nz

Little River Estate’s awarding winning cheese.

SOME BIG names made it into the winner’s circle at this year’s NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.

Fonterra’s Cathy Lang was named MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker.

Lang has been a cheesemaker since 2005 and is Lead Cheesemaker at Fonterra’s Bridge Street site in Eltham, Taranaki.

“Three fantastic cheeses showing the diverse skill of the cheesemaker. Cathy (and her team) have produced three world-class cheeses that are still uniquely Kapiti. The Kahurangi Blue especially takes me back to a place in New Zealand where blue cheese history was once and continues to be made,” said master judge Jason Tarrant.

Open Country Dairy’s Young Cheddar, which has been aged for fewer than 6 months, was given the Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese Award – Commercial.

The final supreme winner was Craggy Range Sheep which won the Puhoi Valley Cheese Champion of Champions Cheese Award – Boutique for its Maraetotara Manchageo.

Run by James and Kate Clairmon at Tuki Tuki Valley outside of Napier, Craggy Range Sheep Dairy says they follow pasture-fed farming practices to create sheep milk cheese products.

“For a boutique producer to deliver such a high quality cheese shows our small scale industry is in great hands,” said Tarrant of the cheese.

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

12 // NEWS

Go back to the drawing board PAM TIPA

DAIRYNZ WANTS the National Animal Welfare Advisory Commit-

tee (NAWAC) to go back to the drawing board on many areas in its proposed Code of Welfare.

It then wants NAWAC to go back out to the

industry including farmers for another round of consultation. It supports the code update for clarity, to incorporate recent animal welfare science

and lift the bar in areas of the code where common practice surpasses previous standards.

But it does not support changes to the code

DairyNZ claims NAWAC seems to have lost sight of the overall purpose of the dairy welfare code.

ANTHONY GOODWRIGHT ..was considering purchasing another tractor for moving feed. We challenged him to see what he could do in a new JCB SERIES III. Here’s what he said...

“REALLY SURPRISED HOW EFFICIENT IT IS; SO MUCH QUICKER THAN A TRACTOR.”

When it comes to purchasing an additional utility for moving feed around the farm, most farmers consider getting another tractor. Anthony Goodwright of Goodwright farms in Southland was no exception.

We dropped off a brand new JCB SERIES III AGRI SUPER to show him how much more efficient, versatile, manoeuvrable and fast the JCB is. With vast amounts of baleage across three family farms to load and stack, Anthony, a proficient operator in any machine, was easily convinced. By the end of the second day with the JCB, he was a committed fan.

WHAT COULD YOU DO IN A JCB SERIES III LOADALL? LAN 2403

SEE THE FULL STORY & MORE INFO AT JCBAGRICULTURE.CO.NZ

that increase complexity and inhibit its value as a useful tool, the industry body says in its submission to the code.

DairyNZ wants NAWAC to review all of the proposed changes to minimum standards, example indicators and recommended best practice to align with the criteria in its own guidelines and those of MPI. It says the volume of change is difficult to review and analyse to provide valuable feedback on, particularly as the discussion document only covers a small proportion of the changes.

“We are concerned that this consultation will not be able to provide for adequate feedback from affected parties (such as farmers) due to the complicated nature of what is being proposed,” it submits. “DairyNZ has made considerable effort to collect farmer feedback through multiple methods to support our submission, including a farmer survey, farmer group meetings throughout the country and a simple submission template for farmers.

“However, due the volume of changes, we were only able to focus these efforts on a smaller set of priority issues.

“NAWAC seems to have lost sight of the overall purpose of the code which is to provide detail on the minimum standards that need to be met and to promote rec-

ommended best practice.

It does not need to be a complete ‘how to’ manual.

“Industry stakeholders are constantly working on voluntary improvements to animal welfare, for example, the latest intensive winter grazing inspections showing improvement from previous years. DairyNZ suggest a further round of consultation should be carried out to ensure that all impacted parties have the opportunity to understand the implications of these changes.”

DairyNZ says it has concerns regarding cross over and duplication and at times inconsistency of how the code has been written. A few examples where the way the code is drafted does not support farmer understanding are: ■ Body Condition Score minimum standard 6 (b) does not align with Body Condition Score example indicator under pretransport selection.

■ Duplication across sections: Calf feeding detail sits as an example indicator under the feed minimum standard. Heifers being familiarised with milking facilities is mentioned under animal handling and milking (where it is mentioned twice).

■ Duplication within sections: Many of the example indicators are rewording of what is written in the minimum standard.

Se l f

Sh a

rpen

ing

A Cut Above

FOR THE FARM AND THE GARDEN Tidy up sheep, cows tails, flaxes, grasses, topiary & more

Available from all leading vet/farm supply stores

0800

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

NEWS // 13

Fonterra taps into booming health, wellbeing markets FONTERRA IS tapping into the global health and wellbeing market to boost returns for farmer shareholders.

The co-op is supplying specialised ingredients, like bioactive whey and its patented probiotic strains, to leading companies in key markets – China, US and South Korea.

The global health and wellness market is valued at US$66b, growing at 6.1% per year and medical nutrition is valued at US$50b globally and growing at 5% per year.

Fonterra’s director active living, Komal Mistry-Mehta, says the way people manage their health and wellness is being revolutionised, the trend growing more prominently due to Covid-19.

She says consumers are rethinking what it means to age well, are being proactive with their health and taking a holistic perspective on their wellbeing.

This has given rise to a range of consumer solutions targeting specific health and wellness needs, which Fonterra is well placed to take advantage of, she adds.

Last year when the co-operative released its long-term strategy, it set an aspiration to grow operating profit by 40-50% from FY21 base by 2030. This will be done by focusing on our New Zealand milk, sustainability, nutrition and innovation credentials.

Mistry-Mehta says one of the ways Fonterra will

Fonterra’s director active living, Komal Mistry-Mehta, says the way people manage their health and wellness is being revolutionised.

create more value is to shift more of the Ingredients portfolio towards higher-value ingredients and solutions through its Active Living business.

She explains that this business addresses three dimensions of wellbeing (physical, mental, inner) and the health needs of a medical patient right through to those taking a proactive approach to their health and wellbeing.

“Fonterra is already well positioned to take a slice of these markets.

“We have expertise in protein to help people maintain muscle mass for better quality of life, dairy lipids that improve people’s mood and probiotics to support immunity and digestion.

“To date, we’re able to claim our products have health benefits relating to muscle health and sarcopenia (age related loss of muscle mass), mobility, malnutrition, and digestive health.

“In addition to this we’re beginning to see benefits emerging in the areas of oncology care, perioperative care, mental wellbeing and beauty from within. We’re also seeing complementary benefits of immunity, metabolic health, and weight management coming through.”

The US remains a key market due to its interest in health and wellness and its wealth of innovative companies at the forefront of this trend.

The co-op is also focusing on Japan, China and South Korea with the team scoping Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam for future potential.

“We already have a number of partnerships underway with customers who value our expertise,” she says.

Four key partnerships are: ■ An R&D partnership focusing on mental wellbeing with US

THINKING MONITORING? THINK ALLFLEX

based personalised nutrition company Sun Genomics.

■ The fastest growing probiotic brand in China, Wonderlab, who is focused on providing nutrition solutions to younger generations.

■ Korean brand Daesang a customer that values our specialist ingredients and our sustainability credentials. They’ve recently launched a new product using Fonterra’s bioactive whey – which has lactoferrin content 11 times higher than standard whey protein, to support immunity and provide protein benefits.

■ Leading health solutions company, Life Extension, who offer a range of vitamins, nutritional supplement and blood-testing services. They launched a new probiotic supplement in the US market in 2021, using Fonterra’s BifidoB HN019 probiotic strain Mistry-Mehta says its Active Living business has grown steadily over the last few years.

“This growth has been driven by innovation, increase in market share and share of wallet, portfolio expansion and geographic expansion.

“Going forward we will continue to invest in R&D, customer experience and our service model, as well as look for opportunities to enhance our capability and strategy through partnerships.”

A monitoring solution that lives up to your standards and our reputation.

Built to take the guesswork out of heat detection, improve animal health outcomes and save you time and money.

Thinking of monitoring collars - choose a system that gives you confidence, and is delivered by an unbeatable support team from a brand you trust.

Chat to your local Allflex Monitoring Specialist today

0800 255 3539 | www.allflex.global/nz

FONTERRA WILL focus on three areas to achieve its 2030 ambitions.

Medical & Lifestyle proteinbased beverages – lifestyle beverages has a market size of US$9.2b, growing at 6.4% per year.

“We have well established internal capability in this space, differentiated solutions through our advanced proteins, and an existing global customer net-

work,” she says.

Probiotics in Asia – the Asian probiotics market is valued at US$1.54b and growing at 11.6% per year.

Mistry-Mehta says two of Fonterra’s probiotics ‘superstrains’ are currently highly regarded in market because of the depth of human clinical research backing their effectiveness.

“Mental wellbeing is the top

and fastest growing consumer concern globally. We know our lipids, probiotics and proteins have a role to play in improving mental wellness.

“It is an exciting time for the food industry as investment in health, data and technology are rising and we are excited to be part of this journey to provide better nutritional solutions to customers and consumers around the world.”

NZ-NON-220500003

THREE AREAS OF FOCUS

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

14 // NEWS

Welfare code changes to ‘harm viability of farming’ PAM TIPA

A PROPOSED Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare is highly prescriptive and dictates what a farmer must do, rather than having an outcome that will need to be met, says Federated Farmers.

“We are concerned that the proposed code will harm the viability of farming, will have severe economic costs, and will probably not improve animal welfare outcomes,” the Feds say in a submission to MPI’s National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).

It fears the proposed minimum standards will do nothing to improve animal welfare but may “criminalise farmers” by

having standards that cannot be met and indicators that are open to interpretation.

The code as proposed is overly long and confusing in its structure; it will be difficult for farmers to convert it into practical action and processes on farm, the Feds say.

The Feds are “concerned that many of the proposed changes to minimum standards are being argued as necessary for market access”.

“We consider that a Code of Welfare is not the place to address market access issues. There is little evidence to suggest that changes to the Code will materially improve the saleability of our primary produce as the current minimum standards

Much of the proposed code does not align with MPI’s own guidelines for drafting codes of animal welfare, including plain language requirements, claims Federated Farmers.

and best practice outstrips animal welfare standards in most the of the markets we supply.

“Farmers are under increasing pressure to meet higher standards of compliance (i.e. reviews/ formal training/quality assurance). This regulatory burden ironically

means that they have less time with their animals and staff which in turn can lead to poorer outcomes for their stock.

“The prescriptive inputs focus of the proposed code also has the potential to stifle innovation by forcing farmers into a tick box situation

where they are concentrating on the required inputs rather than finding the best way to achieve the desired outcomes.”

Much of the proposed code does not align with MPI’s own guidelines for drafting codes of animal welfare, including plain language requirements.

The Feds say many example indicators are quasi standards and should be included only as best practice, if at all. Many of the Recommended Best go well above what even leading farmers are doing. The inclusion of many more example Indicators and the expansion of the Recommended Best Practice sections has made the Code overly long.

“Much of the material in these sections would be better suited for a companion guide to recommended best practice where there would be sufficient room to expand on the science attracted to the recommendations.”

The Code will increase from 63 to 85 pages, have 15 new/amended regula-

tions, 100 new points on minimum standards, 100 new points on recommended best practice, and 250 new example indicators. Because of its size, many operators may not engage with it.

The Feds question whether the Code of Welfare is the right vehicle for much of this material, saying an alternative would be a manual of best practice, which could be the basis of an education campaign.

Many of the ‘indicators’ are behaviours and are not measurable.

“Many of these indicators are written in a way that would lead people to assume that famers are not already doing these things and need it spelt out.

MASSIVE WINTER SALE

A SHORT, SHARP BLAST OF GREAT WINTER DEALS ON NEW & USED MACHINERY

CULTIVATION

MASSIVE SAVINGS! $29,500

YOUR SPECIAL DEAL $46,900

WAS $21,950

EXPRESSPLUS 3000 3PTL SPEED DISCS W/ DBL U-BOX ROLLER

FALC KRATOS 5000 POWER HARROW W/ 550 PACKER ROLLER

QUIVOGNE AP 32 66 23 OFFSET DISCS W/ SCALLOPED FRONT DISCS. 3.6M WIDE

COSGROVE 32 BLADE TANDEM A-LINE DSICS - 3.2M WORKING WIDTH

YOURS FOR $14,900

AVAILABLE NOW FOR $7,500

START THE JOB FOR $ 69,900

STORTH 6” SUPERJET PUMP. 1M-1.5M ADJUSTABLE. HYD TILT CONTROL.

STORTH 4.6M LAGOON MIXER C/W PTO. 1500M3 MIXING CAPACITY

FARMCHIEF FALCON - 10 TONNE MUCK SPREADER - WILL LAST GENERATIONS!

NOW $19,990

SAVE $1,960

YOURS FOR $7,900

EFFLUENT & SLURRY

WAS $109,800

NOW $89,890

SAVE $19,910

PEECON 20000LTR SLURRY TANKER 8" FILLING ARM C/W 5M CULTIVATOR

SEEDING & SPREADING MASSIVE RANGE AVAILABLE. SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL BROCHURE! ASK ABOUT OUR GREAT LEASE-TO-BUY & FINANCE OPTIONS.

WWW.FARMCHIEF.CO.NZ | 0800 327 624 SALE ENDS JULY 22 2022. LIMITED STOCK - ACT NOW.

TAKE TO THE FARM - $27,500

YOURS FOR $39,500

DUNCAN MK3 RENOVATOR DRILL - 3M WORKING WIDTH

HEVA 9.3M ROLLER C/W PADDLES, 24’ RINGS & LEVLLING BOARDS

*All pricing excludes GST, is subject to change & availability.

Your future herd needs the best start

The best start comes from Calf Max Calves love the taste, smell and texture of Calf Max. Made in New Zealand with NuStart® Evolution for superior rumen development, it’s always good and always gone.

sealeswinslow.co.nz | 0800 287 325

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

16 // NEWS

Funding boost for rural internet THE GOVERNMENT is

spending $150,000 to help upgrade rural internet.

The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund is ‘coinvesting’ to help WISPA Network Limited (WNL) tackle the commercial roll-out of a collaborative delivery model for a nationwide, rural-focused LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network).

“Patchy network connection remains a significant barrier to many farmers looking to adopt agricultural technology solutions,” says Steve Penno, MPI’s director of investment programmes.

“Improving connectivity in remote rural areas of New Zealand would help lift productivity and equip farmers and growers with tools to improve sustainability.

“The ultimate aim

is to develop a sustainable commercial business model that offers a lowcost solution for our rural farmers.”

Tim Cutfield, WNL’s general manager, says the main Telcos have focused their LoRaWAN activities closer to urban areas where there are larger populations, and WNL’s focus is bringing connectivity to rural areas.

“LoRaWAN technology is significantly cheaper than an equivalent cellular network. Delivering it via an existing network of around 3,000 sites, which currently provide rural internet services, will lower establishment and running costs,” says Cutfield.

“We’re ensuring the network is an open to all Internet of Things (IoT) solution providers for a reasonable price.

“Farmers’ connectiv-

One of WNL’s LoRaWAN sites on the coast in Clevedon, South Auckland.

ity needs differ from case to case – they don’t need 5G coverage on the back block of the farm just to monitor an inaccessible water tank, for instance.”

IoT describes physical objects with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet or other communications networks.

LoRaWAN is used extensively internationally so there are numerous low-cost sensors available off the shelf which can be adapted for the needs of New Zealand farmers.

WNL has already deployed a pilot-scale version of a rural wireless IoT network, which is now in the testing phase.

“This partnership with government is enabling us to achieve our goals much

faster than we would have on our own,” says Cutfield.

“We’re helping farmers access invaluable data that will help them save time and improve their decision-making on-farm.

“We’re already working with a range of partners, including helping Predator Free 2050 monitor 7,500 traps in remote regions, putting sensors on grain silos so dairy

farmers know when their grain supplies are low, and digitally monitoring water systems.

“Farmers are able to use sensors to ensure they meet environmental targets such as reducing their use of water or nitrogen inputs.”

Penno says having a more efficient rural network will be of huge benefit to farmers as they develop their Integrated

Farm Plans, Farm Environment Plans and Fresh Water Management Plans.

“This project will contribute to realising the goals of the Government and sector’s Fit for a Better World roadmap.

It aims to lift productivity and add value within our food and fibre sector, while protecting our natural environment,” says Penno.

“Enabling farmers and growers to capitalise on the information held in existing digital farm management systems, tools, applications, and emerging technologies will be crucial.

“To achieve this we need to realise data interoperability within our food and fibre sector.

However, we can’t achieve this without improving the connectivity of remote places in New Zealand.”

Dairy Automation Control Solutions

Solids Da age Lower Milk Milk Coolim ng Improve

IS YOUR MILK $195 LESS THAN $500 H H USUALLY SUPPLIED AND FITTED COOLING MARGINAL? + GST each

MILKFLOW WILL PUMP FROTH!

CHILLBOOST If your chiller can cool your milk within two hours of completion of milking but your blend temperature is marginal then all you may need is a CSL Chillboost

ROTARY LOBE PUMP Combined with the CSL Milkflow Controller, the CSL Lobe Pump accommodates the large wash volumes required in today’s dairy sheds without compromising milk quality.

The CSL Milkflow Milk Pump Controller improves returns by reducing milk solids damage and optimising primary cooling.

Not the answer for everyone but will assist even if other cooling shortcomings exist.

Proven in the field by over 700 installed nationwide.

ntroller for vacuum system Varivac Co s

REDUCE SHED POWER COSTS DRAMATICALLY!

• Separate dedicated milk and wash program to optimise process when milking including goats and sheep • Proven to reduce SCC • Easily installed between milkings The only system designed specifically to retrofit to • Up to 40% power savings across whole shed usage all vacuum pump types including water ring.

0800 10 7006 www.corkillsystems.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

NEWS // 17

Award winners get serious about muck, feed handling markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE MCCULLOUGH

Farm Partnership, adjacent to the shore of Lake Karapiro south of Cambridge, milks 610 crossbred Friesian cows, producing around 300,000 kgMS annually.

Run in partnership

by Richard and his wife Nadine, with Richard’s retired parents Bruce and Wyn, the farm also employs two long standing full-time workers.

Alongside the autumncalving herd, the operation also carries around 150 heifers and 170 calves, with a smattering of Highland cattle, with the bulls put over heifers to encourage ease of calving. Fed a total mixed ration, currently made up of 6.5kg maize silage, 3.5kg PKE, 1.5kg molasses and 3kg canola, the remainder of the ration is 7kg of pasture.

In 2021, in an effort to protect the ground and in a concerted effort to combat lameness, the operation erected a 44m x 60m Smart Shelter, set up as composting barn. Now the herd is split 50:50, spending half of each day in the barn and adjacent feed pad.

This means that the cows only need to undertake one return trip to the paddock each day, resulting in less wear and tear on feet While yard scraping and liquid effluent was pushed into two weeping wall systems, and material taken to the paddock with a rotary spreader, the arrival of the composting barn meant that there would be much larger volumes of solid manures to be dealt with, so a decision was made to purchase a UK-built Bunning Lowlander spreader.

Offering a capacity of 12.9 cubic metres, allowing a load of about 12.6 tonnes, the machine has proved ideal for dealing with large amounts of both solid and semi-liquid

manures. Carried on oversized, 650-65R38 tractorstyle tyres, material is fed by a moving floor in the base of the body to twin vertical beaters at the rear, to be spread finely over a working width of around 15 metres, depending on density. Ahead of the beaters a vertical slurry door allows the flow of liquids to be controlled, while the machine also features road lighting and hydraulic brakes for safe operation.

More recently, the farm has also taken delivery of its first telehandler, a Massey Ferguson TH 7038, supplied alongside the muckspreader by local dealer Waikato Tractors based in Hamilton.

Manufactured under licence by the Bobcat Group, the machine offers a 7m lift height, 3.8 tonne maximum lift capacity and a useful 1,500kg lift capacity when extended to a maximum forward reach of 4m.

Richard says, “Over the years we have relied on conventional tractors and front end loaders.

When our main tractor broke down earlier in the year, we had to call on our second, much smaller utility tractor and quickly realised our vulnerability when our main machine wasn’t available, so we decided to invest in the telehandler.”

The TH 7038 is equipped with a Perkins, Tier 3, 3.4 litre, 4-cylinder engine pushing out 130hp, that in turn is mated to a two-stage hydrostatic transmission, offering infinite speed control from 0 to the maximum 40km/h road speed.

Of note, a load sensing, variable output hydraulic system can deliver a class leading output of 190l/ minute, meaning fast response speeds with minimal engine revs.

Completing the package, three steering modes offer front wheel, four wheel and crab steer modes, the latter allowing the machine to move away from obstacles, but

also run in separate wheel tracks.

The deluxe cabin is said to offer exceptional

visibility in all directions, further enhanced by a low boom pivot and a low, sloping engine hood.

The new Bunning Lowlander spreader has proved ideal for dealing with large amounts of both solid and semi-liquid manures.

4x4÷3 FREE SET OF HEATED GRIPS AND A FRONT BOX LIMITED TO 100 CUSTOMERS

1/3 DEPOSIT

+

1/3

IN 12 MONTHS

+

1/3

IN 24 MONTHS

When you buy a Suzuki KingQuad, you’re getting more than 40 years of proven 4x4 performance and reliability. And right now you can divide the cost into 3 payments over 24 months at an interest rate of only 4.99%.

Talk to your participating Suzuki dealer today or visit Suzuki.co.nz

KINGQUAD LT-A400F / F400F MRP $12,173 +GST DEPOSIT $4,108 +GST

KINGQUAD LT-A500X MRP $14,347 +GST DEPOSIT $4,826 +GST

KINGQUAD LT-A500XP MRP $15,652 +GST DEPOSIT $5,256 +GST

KINGQUAD LT-A750XP MRP $16,521 +GST DEPOSIT $5,543 +GST

* Price excludes GST. Finance offer based on new Suzuki KingQuad ATV from 23/05/22 – 31/08/22, or while stocks last. The offer is based on 4.99% interest rate over 24 months and an up-front payment of one third of the MRP, $305 documentation fee and $10.35 PPSR; a further payment of one third to be paid in 12 months; and a final payment of one third in 24 months. Details of finance (including payments, the total amount repayable over the term of the loan, interest rate and any applicable fees) can be confirmed with a detailed quote in store. Normal UDC lending and credit criteria apply. Excludes demo units and all other promotion. Free heated grips and front box limited to the first 100 customers.

TRACTA_SUZ65022_KQ1/3_RN

MARK DANIEL

™

The only ACVM registered intra-ruminal calcium bolus for the prevention and treatment of subclinical hypocalcaemia and as an aid in the prevention and treatment of clinical hypocalcaemia (Milk Fever) in cows.

Backed by NZ peer-reviewed trial.1

Bolus Technology

Keep on top of the calcium drop.

Treat Subclinical Hypocalcaemia • Fast Action • Sustained Release • Targeted Individual Treatment

1. KI Roberts, J Bennison & S McDougall (2019) Effect of treatment with oral Ca boluses following calving on concentrations of Ca in serum in pasture-based dairy cows, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 67:1, 20-26, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2018.1520654 Calpro™ Bolus is registered under the ACVM Act 1997 No. A011667.

Calpro, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.

Elanco New Zealand, 106 Wiri Station Road, Manukau, Auckland 2104. www.elanco.com | 0800 446 121. © 2022 Elanco. www.calprobolus.co.nz. PM-NZ-22-0101

Calpro™ Bolus dissolves completely in the reticulorumen. The coating of the bolus protects against irritation of the epithelial surface of the throat and oesophagus. Furthermore, the bolus has a neutral taste, which makes it easy to administer.

Wax coating dissolves in 50 minutes

Calcium Sulfate 23% (Slow release)

Calcium Chloride 56% (Dissolves rapidly)

Calcium chloride is rapidly absorbed, and the calcium sulphate is absorbed over a longer period.

VET ONLY

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

AGRIBUSINESS // 19

PLANNING FOR the 2023 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) is underway with national sponsors continuing to back the programme.

Farmer co-op LIC has renewed their sponsorship for the next three years.

NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon says LIC has a long history of providing world-leading innovations for the dairy industry and the name change of the merit award to include Animal Wellbeing demonstrates its importance to LIC and the awards programme.

“The LIC dinner during Nationals week has become a permanent fixture that is looked forward to by our national finalists.”

Congdon says national sponsors play a key role and their ongoing support ensures the success of the programme.

“Some of our sponsors have been associated with the awards since their inception more than 30 years ago,” he says.

“A real benefit from sponsorship is the relationships that develop between entrants and sponsor representatives as they network, work together and learn from each other.”

LIC chief executive, David Chin, says the farmerowned co-operative is proud to renew its sponsorship for the awards.

“LIC has a rich history sponsoring the NZ Dairy Industry Awards and we are honoured to continue this partnership and celebrate the achievements of farmers across all levels of the dairy industry.

“Our farmers are at the heart of every decision we make at LIC and through increasing our support of these awards, we are proud to play a role in providing the farming community with the development and recognition opportunities that NZDIA offers.”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, and Ravensdown, along with industry partner DairyNZ and MediaWorks.

Entries open for the 2023 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards on October 1. An announcement on the date and location of the 2023 National Awards gala dinner is expected by the end of August.

Fonterra’s $35m windfall from sale of majority GDT stake FONTERRA HAS final-

ised the sale of majority shares in the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction.

The New Zealand’s Exchange (NZX) and the European Energy Exchange (EEX) have each taken a 33.3% stake in the platform for $35 million.

Fonterra chief financial officer Marc Rivers says the confirmation of the strategic partnership is an important milestone for Fonterra and global dairy participants.

“The move to a broader ownership structure marks the next step in the evolution of GDT – giving it a presence in prominent international dairy producing regions, with greater participation expected at GDT events.

“It will bring more participants and transactions, stimulating further growth of risk manage-

The new ownership structure of Global Dairy Trade (GDT) will bring more participants and transactions.

ners with strong interests in dairy and established reputations as regulated exchanges to enhance GDT’s role as an “independent, neutral and transparent price discovery platform”.

NZX chief executive Mark Peterson says the strategic partnership will strengthen GDT’s market reach benefiting New Zealand dairy farmers and customers.

“At a time of geopolitical and macroeconomic

ment contracts available on financial trading platforms.

“This creates opportunities for the growth of financial tools to better manage price volatility – which is something many industry participants, from farmers through to customers, are exposed to,” says Rivers.

GDT chief Executive Eric Hansen says the GDT team is looking forward to working with EEX and NZX as strategic part-

Auto Inline Liquid Dispenser

Water Flow Indicator

Dispenses chemicals and minerals into a water supply Check Valve

Outlet

ig

hV

i s ib

il it y F l o w I n d

ica

ti

on

H

Planning underway for 2023 awards

Quick Release Couplings

Pressure Release

No Flow Control Valves

Benefits Inlet

Particle Filter

E a s y A d ju s

Mast available in various lengths

Three models available tm

Flow (Flourescence Visible)

e nt

• • • • • • •

Reduce water loss Locate leaks with ease Saves time and labour costs Positive indication day and night Easy to install Stainless steel construction Designed and manufactured in NZ

Can Handle • • • • • • •

Suction Tube

Zinc Magnesium Copper Salt Bloat oil Minerals Chemicals

Ideal for:

Benefits

• • • •

• • • • • • •

Animal health remedies General water treatments Wash system detergents Horticultural chemicals

Enquire about our all NEW Chlorinator

Reduces labour costs Easy to install Operates using water flow Any pressure from 10 – 210 PSI Competitively priced Made from high quality materials Designed and manufactured in NZ

Features: • Water driven – no power required • Non-contact indication – no seals to wear • Designed for minimal maintenance • Available in packs of 2, 3 & 5 units Several sizes and mast lengths available

Singh’s Engineering Services

66-68 Mahana Rd, Hamilton, Ph/Fax 07-849 3108 www.setech.co.nz or your local dairy equipment dealer

instability, GDT’s vision to expand its global reach and provide better transparency in dairy commodity prices, is more important than ever for dairy market stakeholders,” says Peterson.

“It aligns with NZX’s strategy of growing capi-

tal markets, connecting with more businesses, and creating greater value for shareholders and investors.

“In GDT, NZX is excited to be working with the best partners to achieve this.”

EEX chief strategy officer Dr Tobias Paulun says being a shareholder of GDT fits perfectly with its strategy.

“EEX looks forward to supporting GDT’s growth vision with NZX and Fonterra with the aim to create value for the global dairy value chain by further improving price discovery and price risk management instruments.”

ESCORTED TOURS 2022

"Hassle-free travel for mature travellers’’ • PORT DOUGLAS & CAIRNS EXPLORER 10 days, depart 05 August. A winter holiday with a variety of sightseeing including a Great Barrier Outer Reef Cruise.

• RAROTONGA ‘RELAXER’ 7 days, depart 23 August. A leisurely South Pacific escape with great sightseeing, food & entertainment.

• PERTH WILDFLOWERS 11 days, depart 15 September. A spectacular tour of Perth’s wildflowers and the magical Margaret River region.

• FAR NORTH & BAY OF ISLANDS 7 days, depart 17 September. A leisurely coach tour of the Far North including the new Hundertwasser Art Centre and day trip to Cape Reinga.

• EAST COAST & NAPIER 8 days, depart 21 September. A unique and exciting tour around the East Cape and return via the Northern Explorer train.

• FORGOTTEN HIGHWAY & TARANAKI 6 days, depart 08 November. Travel by Rail Cart into the Forgotten World. Visit Hobbiton on route and Cruise on the Wanganui river.

• BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND 15 days, depart 22 November. A spectacular trip around the many highlights of the South Island taking in the wonders of Tekapo, Twizel, Stewart Island day excursion, the Milford Sound and Queenstown. Overnight cruise on the Milford Sound.

• CORAL PRINCESS 'CHRISTMAS CRUISE' 14 days, depart 15 December. Cruise from Auckland to Auckland via Brisbane and around NZ. A close to home ‘festive cruise’ experience.

• NORFOLK ISLAND 'ÇHRISTMAS SPECIAL' 8 days, depart 22 December. Join us for a hassle free Christmas holiday and experience the very best of Norfolk Island.

For full details

Phone 0800 11 60 60

www.travelwiseholidays.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

20 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

What’s in a deal?

MILKING IT...

Labour shortage

Pragmatic approach?

War’s toll on cows

FOR THE past few years the ag sector and dairy farmers have cried out for more overseas workers but for most part their pleas fell on deaf years.

Now the tourism sector, trying to roar back into life after a three-year hiatus, is facing a similar predicament.

The NZ Herald reports that hotels are even offering guests discounts if they clean their own room because they can’t do it due to staff shortages.

Not a good look, especially when our Prime Minister has been overseas making pitches to get tourists back.

The labour shortage issue needs to be fixed and fixed fast!

CLEARLY NOT everyone is happy with the free trade deal signed recently with the European Union.

Yes, there are some good gains for horticulture and seafood but the dairy and red meat sectors have been stumped.

The Government claims to have taken a pragmatic approach, arguing a deal is better than no deal, despite the poor result on dairy and meat.

The NZ dairy sector has effectively lost Europe under this approach.

Now will the Government take a similar approach in India where dairy will be the key point for negotiation?

THE WAR in Ukraine is causing massive losses for the country’s farmers and these include dairy farmers.

Fears are growing that Ukraine may lose 150,000 cows – one-third of its national herd – if the war with Russia does not stop by the end of this year.

Amid the ongoing hostilities, analysts estimate about 50,000 cows have already been lost, by either being bombed, shot or having succumbed to disease.

Due to communication problems, it is difficult to estimate exact numbers of livestock losses, especially as small, private dairy farms have also suffered badly.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing that milk products destined for export from Ukraine to Asia and Africa will deteriorate if they are left accumulating in warehouses for much longer.

Head Office: Top Floor, 29 Northcroft St, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone 09-307 0399.

Postal Address: Published by: Printed by: Contacts: Advertising material: Rural News on-line: Subscriptions:

PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Rural News Group Inkwise NZ Ltd 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

Hourly showers THE HEAT is on in India.

In some parts of India, the temperature gauge has hit 50 degree Celsius – bad news for the world’s largest milk producer.

Heat stress is leading to reduced appetite, lower weight gain and decreased fertility in cattle. Rising temperatures could reduce milk output by up to 25% in India’s hotter areas by 2085, according to recent research published in the Lancet.

Solutions to ward off heat stress include specially designed sheds with fans and sprinklers to keep cattle cool, but that comes at a high cost and only big, intensive dairy farms can afford such infrastructure.

So many farmers are giving their cows hourly showers to keep them cool.

UNDERSTANDABLY THE dairy sector is very unhappy about the recent free trade agreement that New Zealand has signed with the European Union.

They feel let down by not getting the tariff free access to the EU that they claim they needed to take advantage of that lucrative market of 450 million consumers, many of whom are able and willing to pay more for our high quality dairy products. The meat industry feels similarly aggrieved.

Dairy Companies Association of NZ chair Malcolm Bailey is placing the blame for what the dairy sector sees as a poor outcome for them on the political decision taken to accept the present offer rather than continue the negotiations.

While not disputing their grievances, one has to also take account of the other side of the story.

The fact is that an FTA with the EU was always going to be a tough nut to crack given that its formation goes back to the Treaty of Rome which gave birth to the EEC in 1958. It was about protecting the economies of members as well as creating a wider political alliance among members.

The EU has always carefully protected its agricultural producers because of the electoral power they hold in most of the member states.

To be fair the NZ dairy and red meat sectors have long recognised this and no one had high expectations of making great access gains in these areas. The final government message was ‘commercially meaningful access’. The dairy industry says this wasn’t achieved and that we should have continued the talks.

The Government’s view is it got the best deal possible in the circumstances and that there was risk that if the negotiations were stalled during the European summer break, the geopolitical situation may have deteriorated in Europe and that any future deal could have been worse than what we have now.

In Europe there are all sorts of political power plays such as elections in individual countries and in the EU itself, and our Government rightly had to factor these in and make a judgement call to sign now.

It was clear several weeks back the deal was going to be signed when Jacinda Ardern made the call to go to Brussels.

The word is the talks went down to the wire and there were suggestions that we may still walk away at the last minute. The cynic would suggest this was political theatre because the political fall-out of Ardern coming back to NZ with no deal would have been very embarrassing to NZ and the EU. So this is the deal and we have to live with it – probably for the next twenty years or so. - Peter Burke

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

AUCKLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Stephen Pollard............................................. Ph 021-963 166 stephenp@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 Marshall ..........Ph 021 0232 6446

SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland .........................................Ph 021-221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz

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.

WAIKATO SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Lisa Wise .......................................................Ph 027-369 9218 lisaw@ruralnews.co.nz WELLINGTON SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ron Mackay ................................................... Ph 021-453 914 ronm@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

OPINION // 21

Ag holding strong!

BARBARA KURIGER

NEW ZEALAND is a

trading nation. We are respected by the world and the best at what we do.

Despite a pandemic, disruption to global supply chains, rapidly rising inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a lack of RSE workers, our food and fibre exports have outperformed expectations. In fact, by June 30, they will have brought in $52.2 billion in revenue.

I recently returned from a Parliamentary trip to Europe. Zoom is a wonderful invention, but nothing can beat sitting at a table face-to-face with farming representatives to discover areas of collaboration and where we differ.

With the Russian/ Ukrainian situation, food and energy security were to the fore, given Ukraine is Europe’s second-largest supplier of corn and wheat to the European Union, as well as countries in Asia and Africa.

Growers and their lands will take a long time to recover from the devastating assault they are being subjected to.

Soil structures were the main topic of discussion in Ireland.

While New Zealand agriculture is at the front of the global pack according to 2021’s Net Zero Readiness Index, to stay there we must look to science to help us reduce methane and further develop the carbon sequestration of our soils.

We must also understand more accurately the

sequestration of indigenous planting and reduce food waste which adds to emissions.

He Waka Eke Noa is now in the hands of the Government and the Climate Commission.

This is the food and fibre industry’s chance to take control of its destiny in the climate space rather than become part of the ETS. National will be engaging with interest in the process throughout the next six months.

But any transitions we make from this must be fair and workable.

Because there are overseas examples where doing it by decree has gone horribly wrong.

None more so than in Sri Lanka, where the government ruling that all farmers (tea, rubber, coconut, rice etc) go organic was a disaster, causing an economic and humanitarian crisis.

Regenerative practices are coming to the fore in most countries, but there is still some confusion about what this means.

It’s about understanding how the biology of our soils can be restored and the methods needed to achieve this.

Despite the challenges of the past few years, our farmers and growers have shown resilience and adaptability. For example, they are hiring students in place of the RSE workers in the horticulture industry, selling frozen rather than chilled meat in response to shipping delays, and successfully implementing crossindustry freight sharing operations.

It hasn’t all been rosy.

2022’s export revenue could have been higher if RSE workers had been allowed into the country in time for areas like Hawke’s Bay. Thousands of apples were left to rot on trees, with industry experts estimating more than $100 million down in revenue

and three million fewer cartons sent overseas.

We know more challenges are on their way, but with this year’s record export revenue and a predicted rise to $56.8 billion by 2026, there is much hope for the future.

Our agriculture sector will never be the sunset

industry predicted in the 1980s because our food and fibre producers do such a great job.

And every time we eat, we should thank them for it.

• Barbara Kuriger is National’s agriculture spokesperson and Taranaki/ King Country MP

es Sometim IT TAKES

TOUGH GEAR FOR THE HARD YARDS Whatever the weather throws at you this winter, we've got the right gear from trusted brands to help protect you, no matter what the task at hand.

RAIN Water and windproof garments HAIL Tough fabrics and durable construction SHINE Breathable base and mid-layer options

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

nzfarmsource.co.nz/clothing

|

0800 731 266

Barbara Kuriger says the agriculture sector will never be the sunset industry predicted in the 1980s.

How can you reduce your reliance on imported feed?

MAYBE THE ANSWER IS SIMPLY TO GROW A BIT E With the air of uncertainty around imported feeds in both the short and long term, now is a good time to explore alternatives. And you don’t have to look far. Planting an extra paddock in maize at home, or ordering more maize silage in, may be all that’s needed.

Maize silage is the ideal supplement to pasture. The cows love the stuff, it helps you maintain high production and milk quality when your feed levels dip (and will keep for years if they don’t). To find out about adding more maize to your farm system, contact your local Pioneer representative, call 0800 PIONEER or visit pioneer.co.nz/maize-silage

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

MANAGEMENT // 23

Business management award for Mid-Canterbury farmer MID-CANTERBURY FARM manager Darryl

Oldham has taken out the 2022 Rabobank Management Project Award, a business management prize for up-and-coming farmers.

Selected from a group of New Zealand’s most progressive farmers – graduates of the 2021 Rabobank Farm Managers Program (FMP) – Oldham was recognised for his business management project, which highlighted how he had utilised the lessons from the program in his role as farm manager on the 200ha farming operation he runs in partnership with his wife Anna, and parents Peter and Gael.

Darryl Oldham receives the award from Rabobank NZ chief executive Todd Charteris.

The Oldhams’ farming partnership is

located in Westerfield near Ashburton. As the

farm manager, Darryl is involved in all the day-

to-day aspects of running the business which grows cereals, small seeds, peas, maize for silage, and fodder crops for finishing lambs.

Oldham says his management project assessed the viability of converting all or part of the farming operation to sheep milking.

“Incorporating lessons from the FMP, I looked at the key financial performance indicators for the current system, including with a sheep milking unit added,” he says.

“To do this, I designed a business plan with conversion costs and gross margins to generate some financial information that could be used as performance indicators in the event sheep milking was introduced.”

Oldham also looked at what adding sheep milking to the farming system would do to the farm’s environmental footprint.

“I spoke with a number of other farmers who are sheep milking, as well as the local Ravensdown Environmental Team, to get a feel for the environmental impact, and the initial analysis suggested sheep milking would have a similar or lower environmental impact than our existing farming activity,” he says.

While his analysis highlighted, there were several merits to the sheep milking option, Oldham said. The partnership had decided not to add the sheep milking unit at this point in time.

“The sheep milk processing plant that was

planned to open in the area later this year has met with delays, and with this factory not expected to open until next year — and no other factory nearby to collect sheep milk — the conversion didn’t make sense right now.

“My analysis also found no strong financial advantage for going down the sheep milking route for our business, with the forecast profitability largely in line with that of our existing operation.”

However, the family will continue to analyse the feasibility of adding sheep milking into the farming system.

“If we can find a way to increase the yield of milk per sheep, we may well go down this path at some stage in the future.”

EXTRA The farm management programme participants from New Zealand.

GRADUATION DINNER DARRYL OLDHAM was presented with the Management Project Award at the 2022 Farm Managers Program Graduation dinner in Christchurch last month.

The event was attended by a selection of graduates from the most recent FMP course in 2021 as well as this year’s crop of FMP participants and other agricultural industry leaders.

Accepting the award and the accompanying $2,000 cash prize from Rabobank NZ chief executive Todd Charteris, Oldham said the FMP was a great course with a top line up of speakers from

all around the country.

“The course covered a wide array of topics that I hadn’t had much exposure to before, like leadership, staff management and selfawareness,” he says.

“The program also included some ideas and tools that have helped me to change my mind set when I’m confronted with a problem, and these have been really helpful over the last year when I’ve encountered challenges onfarm.

“In addition, I really enjoyed the interaction with other farmers on the program

and learning more about their farming operations and the obstacles they’re facing.” Rabobank South Island regional manager Micheal Dunn, who acted as one of the judges for the Management Project award, said the projects were done so participants could put into practice the tools, theories and ideas introduced during the program and utilise these on the farming operations where they worked.

“Darryl looked outside the box at an option with the potential to add value to the overall farming business. All

of the judging panel were impressed by the high level of detail and thoughtful analysis incorporated within his project, and it was clear to see he’d taken a lot away from his attendance at last year’s program,” he says.

“Ultimately, the partnership has decided not to proceed with the sheep milking opportunity right now, however, it’s the journey that’s valuable and the groundwork has now been done should the family decide to re-visit this opportunity in the future.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

TRANS-TASMAN PROGRAMME THE ANNUAL Rabobank Farm Managers Program has been run since 2006 and offers farmers from across New Zealand and Australia an opportunity to develop and enhance their business management skills.

Previous years have seen farmers from both sides of the Tasman joining together on the same course, however, over the last two years, separate programs have been run in both New Zealand and Australia due to Covidrelated travel restrictions.

The New Zealand Farm Managers Program was attended by 29 Kiwi farmers representing the sheep and beef, deer, dairy and grains sectors.

Participants leave the course with new skills, techniques and a commercially-driven perspective on farm management. They also gain the ability to put systems and structures in place to manage growth.

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

24 // MANAGEMENT

Saving water, reducing power costs through smart irrigation GINA McKENZIE

A WETTER than usual irrigation season has hindered data collection efforts for Canterbury dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson.

They had planned to collect data over the season from their subsur-

face irrigation system and compare this with traditional irrigation methods. However, the couple have still been able to prove the system’s water and power saving benefits on their two-hectare test block.

Gary and Penny are participating in a sixmonth farming innovation

project, which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovation to improve their farming practices.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the

Penny and Gary Robinson review data from their subsurface drip irrigation trial.

project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ. A subsurface drip irrigation system consists of a network of valves, drip lines, pipes, and emitters that are installed in tape below the surface of the soil.

The evenly spaced emitters slowly release water directly to the root zone of plants which differs from traditional irrigation systems that apply water to the surface of the soil.

Gary Robinson says that while the unseasonably wet season meant that farmers didn’t require much water for irrigation, the rainy weather stymied efforts to collect and compare data

from their subsurface drip irrigation trial block.

“This was meant to be our data collection season but with the significant rainfall events we have had all season it hasn’t quite worked out the way we thought it would.”

Despite the uncooperative weather, Penny and Gary were able to gather information on water and power savings during a drier period in the middle of the season.

“What we found was that over the drier period in December we only had to irrigate every fourth day and with the emitters putting on two millilitres per hour, we only ran it for two hours per day to get our four millilitres.

“This equates to water savings of up to 25 per cent and you can take that water and spread it

out further over the rest of your land, so it is a much more efficient use of water.

“With the subsurface drip irrigation system, we are not wetting from the top but from under the soil, so it stays wetter for longer which means you don’t need to irrigate as often, and you also don’t lose any water due to evaporation.”

The couple also researched power savings and found that it was possible to save up to 50 per cent on power usage due to the shorter operating time for the subsurface drip irrigation system.

“With a sprinkler system you need to keep it running 24 hours per day but because the subsurface system doesn’t need to be running continuously you can make

quite significant savings on power.”

Gary and Penny have secured another site for a subsurface drip irrigation trial at Angus Aiken’s 550-hectare mixed cropping and finishing farm in Waiau.

The plan is to have the irrigation system installed in early spring.

Aiken, who is a firm believer in technological innovation, says he is keen to see if the system can add value to his farm.

“We have a limited water resource on this farm and if we can use it more efficiently and spread it further that would be great. I am keen to make changes that preserve our soil structure, help to manage nutrients, and improve our water use efficiency, while also improving our crop yield.”

Easily manage and monitor your environment in real-time, automate tasks and make informed decisions with our IoT farm management solution.

FREE

to download and use

Sign up at

www.farmdeck.com

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

MANAGEMENT // 25

New workforce plan for sector THE DAIRY sector has

launched a new workforce plan setting out how it will attract, retain and grow the farm workforce in the next decade.

The Great Futures in Dairying plan is the sector’s strategy for shaping dairy farming as a competitive career option through a range of workplace and technology advances.

“Dairy farms employ 37,000 people on-farm.

The success of dairy is critical for those working in the sector and to New Zealand as a whole,” says DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle.

“New Zealand is facing significant social changes which will require many businesses to work harder to attract and retain staff.

These include an ageing population, increasing urbanisation, wider career options, lower fertility

rates and technological change.”

Mackle say these trends mean the dairy sector needs to be forward-thinking and develop fresh ideas to attract and keep the right staff.

“Farmers are resilient and practical people, and we know they are focused on finding solutions to this challenge.”

The Great Futures in Dairying plan is led by DairyNZ in partnership with farmers, government and farming sector representatives. The plan identifies three key focus areas to make dairy a competitive career option.

“As a sector we firstly want to shape up to ensure we are attractive in an increasingly competitive labour market. We are looking at a range of initiatives, including piloting an induction experi-

The 2021 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer of the Year Quinn Morgan is one of the farmers supporting the new plan.

ence for new dairy staff and developing clear career training pathways for people to progress into more senior roles,” says Mackle.

The second focus area – change the job – looks at embracing new technology and strategies

to improve workplaces.

Smart cow collars, milking cup removal technology and flexible milking are some initiatives proposed to provide staff with a better work-life balance.

“Lastly, we want to look in new places – like Pacifika communities,

women and people with disabilities – for our dairy teams to draw on a larger and more diverse talent pool,” says Dr Mackle.

The 2021 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year Quinn Morgan is one of the farmers supporting the new plan. He

grew up in the city and previously worked in the fitness industry. Morgan now manages a team of eight on a Taupo dairy farm.

“For people who aren’t familiar with farming, it can feel intimidating to consider applying for a dairy job.

“So, it’s awesome that the dairy sector is looking to encourage a wider range of people to work on farms,” he says.

Morgan’s team is already focused on developing their skills by using online video learning, and they are looking forward to welcoming a staff member who is new to farming soon.

Taranaki farmer Hayden Lawrence is one farmer who is embracing new technology, with his farm team.

“We use a project management platform which

allows our team to see and manage farm tasks.

This gives us the flexibility to better manage workloads to avoid too much overtime,” says Hayden.

He says it is a priority to support his team to upskill themselves so they can move into more senior roles in the sector.

Mackle says that the Great Futures in Dairying plan is ambitious and will require contributions from many organisations to succeed.

“We already have some of the initiatives in the plan underway – like our GoDairy recruitment campaign. The next step will be working with other stakeholders to secure funding for other projects and plan their rollout. We hope to see the Government get behind the plan, as the dairy sector is vital to New Zealand’s future.”

Reduce antibiotic usage by 23% and maximise cure rates for mastitis 1. GIVE PAIN RELIEF

2. SAMPLE & TEST

Treat every clinical case with

Identify the mastitis bug with

rapid on-farm test

to reduce pain and inflammation

Evidence based vet medicines

to improve cure rates

0800 821 421

www.agrihealth.co.nz AH-KTM/MASTA-DN6.22

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

26 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Make sure your feed is FeedSafe NZ accredited

Top bull joins Hall of Fame

Do you know if your f Find out at the

manager Simon Worth with over 150,000 daugh- says Sierra has had a significant impact in helping ters has been inducted to improve the producinto an elite animal ‘Hall of Fame’ for his outstand- tion efficiency of New Zealand’s national dairy ing contribution to dairy herd improvement in New herd.

“Breeding the best Zealand.

Well known to farmers cows faster is key to helping farmers solve the chalfor fathering dairy cows lenge of being profitable with high production and sustainable and it’s and good fertility, Priests elite bulls like Sierra that Sierra is the latest artificial breeding bull to enter are helping farmers do exactly that.” farmer-owned co-operaKnown for his high tive LIC’s prestigious Hall of Fame, which dates back genetic merit (Breeding Worth), Priests Sierra to the 1950s.

The respected accolade was part of LIC’s Premier is reserved exclusively for Sires artificial breeding bull team for eight years – bulls that have had, and a record jointly held with will continue to have, a profound influence across just one other bull.

Worth says securing a the New Zealand dairy industry, and are in a class place in one of the co-op’s Do you know if your feed is FeedSafe accredited? renowned Premier Sires of their Findown. out at the NZFMA Fieldays stand LIC livestock selection bull teams is no easy feat

A 12-YEAR-OLD bull

feedsafe-15x11.pdf

1

20/04/21

NZFMA Fielda

5:09 PM

KiwiCross artificial breeding bull, Priests Sierra, has been inducted into LIC’s Hall of Fame for his significant contribution to New Zealand’s dairy industry.

NZFMA Fieldays stand number AG 7C

Do you know if your feed is FeedSafe NZ accredited?

ABOUT PRIESTS SIERRA ■ ■

It’s time to get your milking machine tested Your Milking Machinery is one of the most expensive and by far the most vital piece of equipment on your farm, which is why it is crucial to ensure it is always working at its best.

Book your test now with a Registered Milking Machine Tester listed at www.nzmpta.co.nz

Milking machines that perform at full capacity maximise profitability and minimise risks for your herd.

Born in 2010.

Debuted in LIC’s Premier Sires bull team in 2011 and spent eight years in the team, a record held jointly with only one other bull.

■

797,207 inseminations.

■

151,937 daughters.

■

8 sons in LIC’s Premier Sires bull team.

■

gBW = 319 / AE BW = 337.

■

59th inductee into the Hall of Fame.

and rightly so, as the bulls that make up these teams are responsible for siring up to 75% of New Zealand’s national dairy herd.

“There’s a lot of boxes a bull needs to tick to earn a spot in one of our teams and they can be

quickly superseded by the next generation of elite young bulls from our breeding programme, so for Sierra to have a place on the team for eight years on the trot is extremely impressive.”

Worth says Priests

LIC livestock selection manager Simon Worth says Priests Sierra has had a significant impact in helping to improve the production efficiency of New Zealand’s national dairy herd.

Sierra, who was bred by Waikato farmer Rowan Priest, has been a favourite through the breeding programme, with eight of his sons also making the cut to join LIC’s Premier Sires bull team.

DIET FEEDERS

www.hispec.net.nz

Single/double axle

From 7m3 to 35m3.

Molasses and mineral intake tubes for dietary requirements with front facing conveyor with side shift. Teaser rollers placed at door to break up clumps.

2 speed main gearboxes.

Full chassis for strength.

It is a requirement to have your milking machinery tested annually by a MPTA Registered Tester.

Refer NZCP1: Design & Operation of Farm Dairies – Code of Practice (page 48)

Ph: 027 449 7402 E: info@nzmpta.co.nz www.nzmpta.co.nz

“The offspring Sierra generates tick many boxes for farmers including more dollars in the bank and a lower environmental footprint.

“It is fantastic to see so many of his daughters, sons and grandsons continuing his legacy and contributing to the next generation too.”

His induction into the Hall of Fame was announced to some of the country’s top bull breeders who gathered in Hamilton for LIC’s Breeders’ Day event.

Farmers from across New Zealand were invited to attend the annual event to celebrate their contribution to the dairy industry by breeding a bull worthy of joining one of LIC’s Premier Sires bull teams the year before.

SOUTH ISLAND Alastair Robertson 027 435 2642 www.cochranes.co.nz

NORTH ISLAND Product Specialist 027 203 5022 www.gaz.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

ANIMAL HEALTH // 27

Doing more, lasting longer DURING RECENT

years West Coast farmer Andrew Robb has milked up to 925 cows on his 365ha (effective) dairy platform, but he’s driven numbers down since, and today is down to about 700 cows.

He says herd production has not been significantly compromised with the lower numbers, but profitability is certainly up, because farm costs have decreased with fewer cows – and in terms of MS output per cow, he’s getting plenty more bangfor-buck.

Robb believes the New Zealand farmer’s desire to get more from each cow is set to continue.

“Over time, with better technology and continued use of good genetics, we should be able to have the flexibility to lower our stock numbers further, because our cows are getting better, and there’s room for picking cows more accurately. ”Why the need to drop numbers? My theory is that herd sizes in general are likely to decrease over time, or at least hold, rather than increase, because politically and economically that’s what’s occurring, and the pressure is there.

“We’re [dairy farmers] no longer in a growth phase, so breeding goals have changed, and it’s really important to me to get the very best I can out of my genetics. My focus has changed from getting as many cows as I can, to utilising the best of what

FARM FACTS ■

Owned by a company that includes four shareholders, including Robb who is managing director, and his wife Michelle

■

Located near Greymouth, the farm has been in existence for 20 years.

■

700 cows, Kiwi Crossherd, predominantly Jersey initially, but now close to a 50/50 breed mix (HolsteinFriesian). Most cows are450-475kg mature weight; heifers 375-400kg live weight

■

Herd is in top 5%nationally in terms of Breeding Worth

■

60-bail rotary shed equipped with Protrack and automatic cup removers

■

Cows fed mainly on pasture, but each get 500 to 800kg of supplementary feed per year in the shed.

West Coast farmer Andrew Robb believes the New Zealand farmer’s desire to get more from each cow is set to continue.

Andrew Robb’s herd is in the top 5% nationally for Breeding Worth (BW) and as the breeding goals have evolved, so has his mating strategy.

I’ve got to drive better performance from my existing stock.”

Robb’s herd is in the top 5% nationally for Breeding Worth (BW) and as the breeding goals have evolved, so has his mating strategy.

“For the past two mating seasons we’ve used 210 straws of fresh Sexed Semen during the first three weeks of AB. “At the same time, I’ve

used the Forward Pack Premier Sires, as well Stabiliser as a beef breed option.

“So I pick out 10 cows a day for the Sexed Semen, and that’s based on whether they’re a good, sound cow. I have a criteria: they’ve got to be within the top one-third of the herd (based on Production Worth and Breeding Worth), they’ve got to have recorded a pre-mat-

ing heat, and they must have calved for a certain length of time –pretty much they would have calved within the first six weeks.

“I use up my Sexed Semen on the first 10 cows, and the remainder of the really good cows go to Premier Sires... the rest will get a beef straw; Stabiliser beef genetics promise a low birth weight so that’s great for

calving. “When they get to about 150-180 days they have very vigorous growth – they just takeoff.

“And they’re quiet animals, almost quieter than our replacement calves.”

After week-three of mating, all animals are put to Stabiliser beef until about week seven, then short gestation length Hereford and Angus is used for about 10 days before the bull is put out.

Having refined his mating approach over the past few years, Robb is particularly pleased with how his replacement stock is looking.

The R1 average BW is 295, while the R2 average BW is 236.

“That’s a result of Sexed Semen use, and influence of selecting from my top BW cows,” Robb says.

“The big leap is the Sexed Semen – I know it looks relatively expensive but we’re utilising the value of those calves and it pays for itself; I think more people are starting to realise that.

“My ultimate goal is to put collars on the cows and not to put the bull out at all.

“I’ll probably AI all my heifers too, because of the genomic test that LIC’s putting out to test the female’s DNA.” Robb says getting genomic information on his female stock is yet another avenue that will further-refine what genetics he puts to Sexed Semen and Forward Pack, and what animals will be kept aside for beef.

Ideally Robb goes after a high Production Worth and Breeding Worth animal.

“Production (of milk-

solids) is most important to me obviously, but next in line is temperament and soundness.

“I don’t need a beauty queen, but I do need a good, solid body-type that I know is going to handle calving and that has good feet and good udders – there’s a correlation between some traits and longevity, and that’s what I’m after.

“I’m aware of my empty rate, six-week incalf rate, and I know what my ideal levels are; I think I can improve things with technology like collars and genome testing on the cows over the next few seasons, and I’ll be moving toward that.

“That means I should be able to lower my replacement rate over time, because I’m trying to breed for longevity, and with the lower numbers they’ll be getting fed to their potential, so everything points toward them doing more, and lasting longer.”

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

28 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Balers get upgrade MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

IN MAY, Case IH

released details of upgrades to the RB344, variable chamber baler and has now indicated multiple redesigns to the high-end RB456 and 466 HD-Pro models.

Designed to make high density bales in crops, including dry straw or wet silage, the company reports an extensive development and pre-production phase that saw machines producing more than 150,000 bales.

Aimed at farmers or contractors who make 10,000 bales a year or more, much of the development has centred around ensuring reliability and consistent bale shape.

In the case of the former, machines have been fitted

The revamped CaseIH HD-Pro baler.

with heavy-duty components and fewer moving parts. Engineers have also enlarged and strengthened rolls, shafts and the rear door assembly, while also introducing a heavier duty gearbox and driveline.

Up front, an extra-wide diameter rotor is said to help prevent blockages, while a newly introduced, active drop floor means blockages can be cleared quickly. The bale chamber has also been redesigned to incorporate a revised belt path, said to deliver

STANDARD FEEDER (C6 Pinned) • 1 x 6 foot bale • 2m diameter • 15 feed positions • 15 - 30 animals

$

950 +

GST

well-formed, dense bales that will stack efficiently.

The RB456 HD Pro makes 120cm-wide bales from 90cm to 165cm in diameter, while the RB466 HD Pro is also 120cm wide, but offers increased diameters from 90cm up to 190cm.

Each model offers a choice of three rotor options, including a basic feeding rotor, 13 or 25 knife chopping rotors.

Bale size, number of net wraps and density can be easily set on the in-cab control panel.

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

$

1325

• High Flow • Compact/Robust • New Pilot Flow Filter • Side/Bottom Mount • Detach to Clean

+

GST

Pottinger’s new Novacat V 10000 mower.

NEW GRASSLAND PRODUCTS GRASSLAND

SPECIALIST

Pöttinger has released a new portfolio of products and innovations for the new mowing season.

On the mowing front, the Novacat V 10000 is available with a headstock suitable for 3.0 or 3.5-metre wide front mowers, combining with rear butterfly units to deliver working widths of up to 9.62 and 10.02 metres. As an option, the NOVACAT V 10000 can be equipped with the Collector cross conveyor belt and CROSS FLOW auger for merging swaths.

Like its Novacat A10 predecessor, the new combo is said to be exceptionally adaptable and easy to operate thanks to an electronic and hydraulic update.

Hydraulic cylinders integrated into the booms shift the cutter bar by up to 370mm on each side, allowing an optimum overlap and perfect mowing quality on slopes or when cornering.

Ground pressure automatically adapts to the working width, offering less soil damage, better forage quality and reduced wear.

The driveline layout takes the form of a patented Y DRIVE input gearbox that has the advantage that longer standard PTO shafts can be

used with less of an angle in operation.

A choice of machine control sees the latest ISOBUS-capable SELECT pre-select control system as standard. All functions can be preselected and performed using the tractor’s remote valves- requiring only one double-acting hydraulic connection.

The control system allows the mower units to be lifted individually, while hydraulics are also used to fold the optional side guards, adjust the working width and operate the transport interlock.

The second control option is the optional ISOBUS-compatible system, either using an ISOBUS tractor terminal or the new thirdgeneration POWER CONTROL, EXPERT 75, or the CCI 1200 control terminal. A new feature is Section Control activation, using the standard job computer, allowing individual mower units to be automatically raised and lowered at the headland, depending on the GPS position.

Further innovations include the optional automatic inclination system that, on slopes, shifts the mower units automatically so no streaks are left standing, even

• For Water Storage Tanks • Adjustable levels from 50mm-2.5m • Minimises pump operation •Available in 20/25/32/50mm

0800 JOBE VALVES jobevalves.com

if the mower combination drifts sideways.

In other product news, the HIT V 11100 tedder uses 1.42m rotors to achieve a 10.70m working width.

The new machine is equipped with a ball eye and linkage rod combined with two hydraulic centring cylinders as standard in the pivoting headstock.

Said to track perfectly during tedding, the centring action of the hydraulic cylinders ensures smooth guidance of the ten rotors without swaying. The preload pressure of the cylinders prevents the machine from running ahead when driving downhill, while each assembly is fitted with a nitrogen accumulator to cushion horizontal movements while an additional rubber buffer absorbs shocks.

During lifting at the headland, the tedder first dips slightly at the linkage rod (slotted hole), before the centering cylinders on the headstock retract, allowing the tedder to move smoothly into the centre position. The dipping action during lifting also causes the rotors to tilt back. This ensures that the tines do not scrape against the ground, keeping the forage clean as a result.

• Stainless steel bracket and Shaft • Fits plastic and concrete tanks • Rugged and long lasting

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 29

Implement changeovers without any hassle

Kramer’s new ‘Smart Attach’ system avoids the need for the operator to leave the cab.

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

ONE OF the greatest ‘pains’ when changing loader attachments, apart from having to climb down from the cab, is having to change hydraulic hoses that either can’t be undone or can’t be reattached because of residual hydraulic back pressure.

Whatever the problem, it’s usually something that tries an operator’s patience.

Specialised handler manufacturer Kramer, looks to have addressed the issue with its new ‘Smart Attach’ system that avoids the need for the operator to leave the cab. It uses a clever design detail – a hollow locking pin

The company claims that oilflow remains unrestricted, with switching attachments done in seconds, rather than the minutes required when climbing out of the cab, twice, in a typical changeover. that is hydraulically inserted into the receptor coupling.

This means that auxiliary oil-flows, usually directed via traditional couplings, is now directed through the locking pins, doing away with the need for auxiliary hose couplings altogether.

While this is might appear to be a simple solution, attempts to do the same in the past have led to some problems; typically the high pressures needed for attachments has resulted in blown seals at the locking mechanism.

Kramer has overcome this issue with the help of electronics, which sense when the system has been engaged via a dashboard switch and automatically drops the system pressure from the standard operating pressure of 220 bar to only 25 bar.

This lower value is enough to activate the pins and locate them in the female sockets in the frame of the bucket or implement, before returning to the standard operating pressure when the system is deactivated.

To account for any wear in the hitch points, the locator pins have some ‘float’ built in, allowing them to locate securely, even if the frames on the bucket and on the loader fail to line up exactly.

The company claims that oil-flow remains unrestricted, with switching attachments done in seconds, rather than the minutes required when climbing out of the cab, twice, in a typical changeover. That alone should sell it to many.

While it is impractical to retrofit the system to existing machines, on the plus side, many existing buckets and attachments can be adapted to the system, and it is entirely compatible with all the Kramerequipped quick hitch attachments that have been produced since 1963.

Only available on the 8 Series loaders at present, there are plans to extend the system across the complete range in due course.

‘Built To Last Longer’

North - Gerry Clare 021 245 4471 South - Jethro Boakes 021 513 368

www.webbline.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

30 // CALVING

Feed calves well, get them off PENNY MEHRTENS

NEWBORN CALVES

rely on antibodies in colostrum for protection while their own immune system matures.

About two-thirds of calves in New Zealand don’t get enough good quality colostrum as newborns and this is an underlying cause of most scours outbreaks.

You can figure out how well your farm is doing at managing

colostrum by asking your vet to blood test approximately 10 healthy 2-7 day old calves to check for failure of passive transfer of antibodies from colostrum.

Cows that are wellfed and milked soon after calving have better quality colostrum than poorlyfed animals where first milking is delayed.

If you have enough “good” gold colostrum for newborns, feed your poorer quality gold colostrum (tested with a

refractometer) together with your transition milk (milkings 2-8) to older calves. It’s still a great source of nutrition and it provides some short-term protection against scourscausing pathogens at the gut level.

However, even despite the best laid plans, sometimes calves will still get scours. A calf gets scours when it accidentally ingests more scours-causing pathogens than its immune system can

100% PURE NZ PRODUCT

THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR CALVES IN OPTIMUM HEALTH About two-thirds of calves in New Zealand don’t get enough good quality colostrum as newborns, says Penny Mehrtens, veterinary advisor, MSD Animal Health.

•

Boost Gut Biology

•

Energy Booster

•

Increase Feed U�lisa�on

•

Supports Immunity

•

Improves Diges�on

Available in 20kg Bags

StockMate is the natural way to look a�er the health of your calves.

Now Available in FARM SOURCE and

FARMLANDS Stores Na�onwide

CONTACT: Na�onal Sales Manager: Steve Brooker - 021 150 6050

www.southernhumates.co.nz

CALF TRAILER MATTING   

STRONG FIRM FOOTING DURING TRANSPORT

“Designed by a Farmer for Farmers”

HEAVY DUTY, FREE DRAINING MATTING MADE IN NZ FROM 100% RECYCLED RUBBER

New Mobile Feeder

Standard Sizes - 6’ x 4’ $280.00 + GST - 7’ x 5’ $405.00 + GST

 

MADE TO FIT YOUR TRAILER



CALL US TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS INCLUDE SOLID & OPEN WEAVE MATS

0800 80 85 70 WWW.BURGESSMATTING.CO.NZ

Nothing beats a Flexirigger PHONE

0800 4 AGBITS | 0800 4 242 487 WEBSITE www.agbits.co.nz

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

CALVING // 31

to a great start! handle. Unfortunately, the pathogens that cause scours can be found in the faecal material of healthy animals, and they can stay in the environment for days or even months, so all calves will have some exposure.

You can reduce the risk of calves getting sick by keeping colostrum, calf milk and the calves’ environment as clean as possible.

Tips to reduce risk: ■ Do not use colostrum and milk from scouring cows ■ Clean dirty teats with low pressure, clean water and ensure treats are dried using paper towels before cupping ■ Keep colostrum and transition milk in covered containers after collection.

Use it asap or add a colostrum preserver for longer term storage ■ Clean & disinfect all calf feeding equipment and test buckets daily ■ At each feeding, begin with the new-born calves first. Then, feed all the healthy animals, moving from youngest to oldest. Feed sick pens last, ideally with dedicated equipment ■ Divide calf pens from one another with solid, easy-to-clean plastic or metal partitions or at least isolate sick pens with solid partitions ■ Keep enough fresh bedding in each pen so that calves are always dry ■ Regularly spraying pens with disinfectant will help reduce the environmental contamination but effectiveness is lost when organic matter (e.g. faeces) is present As calves come in, fill the shed pen-by-pen, so they’re with other calves their age. Leave them in the same pen until they go outside. This is sometimes called “all-in, all-out” management Remove an individual sick calf from a pen of healthy calves as soon as you see that it’s scouring Ideally, after they’ve recovered, these sick calves should go into another “recovered calf pen” instead of back with healthy calves If more than a third

of the animals in a pen are scouring, leave all the calves together and make that a sick pen Clean and disinfect your boots, waterproofs, and change your gloves whenever you move from a sick pen to a healthy pen. All sick animals should be treated last so you do not accidentally infect the healthy calves.

Change foot baths daily Here is a summary of what to do if you have scouring calves: Isolate individual scouring calves or pens of scouring calves as early as possible Check your hygiene and colostrum management practices.

Watch the Top Farmers’ series of videos for more information visit www. topfarmers.co.nz Get your vet involved immediately to help you contain the current outbreak and prevent an outbreak from happening again. Taking fresh fecal samples will help understand the cause Alternate milk and electrolyte feeds to scouring calves (never mix milk and electrolytes together in the same feed), provide 6-8 litres of total fluids each day.

Smaller more frequent feeding at least 2 hours apart are better than 1 or 2 large feeds Tube calves if they won’t drink. Provide free choice electrolytes overnight in pens of scouring calves, and ensure clean water is always available to all calves Treat scouring calves with any other medications prescribed by your vet. Check with your vet that you’re using them correctly. For example, Halocur is recommended for treatment and prevention of outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis Lastly, consider vaccinating the herd before calving to protect against scours with Rotavec Corona.

The colostrum from animals vaccinated with Rotavec Corona, is supercharged to contain more antibodies against Rotavirus, Coronavirus and E.Coli than colostrum from unvaccinated cows.

Furthermore, calves

fed colostrum from cows vaccinated with Rotavec Corona shed less rotavirus & coronavirus in their faeces, reducing disease spread to other calves and reducing environmental contamination.

Consistently doing these things requires constant attention to

detail, if you’re able to get the whole team on board before calving season begins, then you’ll save time, money, stress, and, most importantly, calves.

• Dr Penny Mehrtens is veterinary advisor, MSD Animal Health @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

Calving 2022

Support lifetime traceability • • •

•

Ensure all Calves are fitted with a NAIT tag before they reach 180 days of age.

Register any fitted NAIT tags within 7 days of tagging.

All calves must be tagged and registered before their first movement. So, if you are sending them off your location, make sure you meet your NAIT obligations.

Calves must be NAIT tagged correctly.

For more information go to OSPRI.co.nz or 0800

842 463 NAIT is an OSPRI programme

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

For more information about your obligations as a PICA, please visit our website ospri.co.nz.

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

32 // CALVING

Covers give calves ‘the jump start’ NIGEL MALTHUS

A CHRISTCHURCH

manufacturer of woollen calf covers says his newest product should find favour with the dairy farmers of Southland – even though his main market is the beef ranchers of North America.

David Brown is promoting his Fit N Forget calf covers, made of hes-

sian-reinforced wool.

They are sized for the typical American black Angus beef calf, at 85kg liveweight and with leg holes more closely spaced than a dairy calf cover, to match their stockier build.

Selling online, his main market is in the northern states of Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, with their particularly harsh winters.

But Brown also sees a

market for them in New Zealand, even on dairy farms, whenever a farmer is not seeking dairy replacements but is using beef genetics to enhance the value of his calves.

He sees particular value in the deep south, where dairy farmers calve in August but can experience bitterly cold weather episodes even as late as October.

He adds that calves

produced on Wagyu genetics, which he says are thin skinned and slower maturing, can get a “jump start” by using the covers.

One Clinton farmer has tried them and described them as “brilliant,” said Brown.

“We’ll never be big in New Zealand but there’s help available should those guys decide to do that.”

AuraCalf

the new standard in your rearing program for a healthy gut function

Woolover director David Brown with his latest product, the Fit N Forget calf cover.

NEW PROVEN SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION

TECHNOLOGY BY

a ranta

Optimal protection from day one

Supports gut health during milk feeding

Makes rearing easier, safer and more efficient

Scan QR code & check our website

Contact Chris T 022 304 7904 E sales@ccdanimalhealth.co.nz

Distributed by CCD Animal Health Pty Ltd

2 X 20KG BAGS PER TONNE

FREE! • • • •

*

Bonus is from 1st July - 31st August Minimum 1 tonne order Bonus is 16% earlywean or 20% high protein calf pellets only Plus extra 2 FREE bags with your first mobile app order *Offer available Lower North Island only

Buy at your local store today!

A former South Canterbury farmer, Brown has been producing his Woolover brand covers for 25 years. His main products are covers designed for re-use, with straps and buckles, that must be manually removed.

One is expected to last about 25 weeks and be used on three or four animals in succession. A premium product with a more weatherproof outer layer is expected to last twice that.

However the Fit N Forget cover is simpler and intended to fall off as the calf grows and biodegrade where it falls.

It is intended for the North American ranchers who don’t want to have to “drive around in a blizzard” to manage them after the initial fitting.

Brown was on a Montana ranch in early 2021 to test the new cover in weather of minus 28 Fahrenheit. A vet used a ther-

mometer with a sensor pressed against a calf’s flank to measure its external temperature, before and after putting a cover on it.

“And we lifted the temperature by 32 degrees in four minutes, which was just like you and I putting a jacket on,” said Brown.

“It’s the wind chill that’s doing the damage.”

Brown says he devised the new cover after an Idaho animal health professional who knew of his previous products alerted him to the attrition rate of beef calves in North America – 80,000 annually dying from hypothermia, according to United States Department of Agriculture figures.

Brown says that’s only 4% to 7%, and most ranchers write that off as a bearable cost, but he says a rancher spending $30 on a cover has a live animal a year later.

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

CALVING // 33

FPT in calves EMMA CUTTANCE

WHAT IS failure of pas-

sive transfer (FPT) and why is it relevant to my herd?

• Calves are born with very low immunity and need colostrum to absorb antibodies (immune molecules) across their guts into their bloodstreams.

• FPT leads to more calf disease and death.

• A third of calves in NZ have FPT and the range on farms is 5%-80%.

• FPT may also cause poor milk production and poor reproductive performance when FPT heifers reach the herd.

• Rearing healthy calves is important; they are the future of your herd.

When is a calf more likely to get FPT? • FPT is the result of poor colostrum feeding; not quickly enough, not good enough quality, not enough volume.

• Older cows are more likely to have calves with FPT. • There is more FPT during the peak of calving.

• South Island has a higher prevalence of FPT. • Weak, sick calves at pick up are more likely to have FPT. • Herds over 400 are more likely to have a higher prevalence of FPT. Colostrum testing • Colostrum is the first milking colostrum. Everything else until the cow goes into the vat is transition milk.

• Know the quality of your colostrum.

• Bacterial contamination and low immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations lead to poor quality colostrum and calves with low immunity.

• The method of giving colostrum is only as good as the quality of colostrum given.

• Estimate the IgG concentration in your colostrum using a BRIX refractometer (over 22% is good quality).

• Reduce bacterial contamination of colostrum

by careful cleaning of storage and feeding equipment.

PRESERVING COLOSTRUM QUALITY Take home tips • Colostrum goes off!

• If you wouldn’t drink it don’t feed it to your calves!

• Store colostrum in a lidded drum and stir it regularly.

• Keep it cool – refrigerated if possible at 4⁰C. • Use an approved preservative like potassium sorbate (1%) to preserve IgG concentration and prevent bacterial proliferation.

Timing and volume of colostrum feeding: When you know you are feeding good quality colostrum, the next things to consider are when to feed it and how much to feed.

Take home tips • Feed 10-15% of the calf’s bodyweight in colostrum within the first 6-12 hours of life – this is the ‘Golden Period’. For a 40kg calf this is 4-6 litres of colostrum.

• Limited calf stomach (abomasal) capacity means you will need to split this into at least 2 separate feeds.

• After 24 hours the calf’s gut starts to ‘close off’ and will not absorb any more IgG molecules.

• Colostrum is still an excellent feed after 24 hours of age.

TUBING COLOSTRUM Take home tips • Know what you are tubing with! Tubing is only as good as what you are tubing with so get your colostrum quality right.

• Tubing can take the ‘guesswork’ out of knowing how much colostrum a calf has had and is useful for sick calves that won’t drink.

• Gentle tubing is essential.

• Potential problems with ‘oesophageal groove closure’ when tubing calves may mean that colostrum pools in the rumen causing bloat.

• Emma Cuttance of Epivets presented this at a recent Smaller Milkand Supply Herds (SMASH) field day.

Calves are born with very low immunity and need colostrum.

PREPARE FOR CALVING WITH CERTAINTY With all of the complexities and busyness that come with calving, you want to be as prepared as you can, as soon as you can.

Your local Technical Sales Rep and store team are there for you to bounce ideas off and to provide seasonal tips, calf rearing insights and to make sure you’ve got the right mix of products in time for the months ahead.

We’ve also locked in pricing between now and the end of October on a wide range of products, from metabolics to feeding supplies.

Visit nzfarmsource.co.nz/calving for more info or to shop online

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

CALVING // 35

Treating calves with lavendar extracts land farmer in court A CANTERBURY

farmer has been disqualified from owning calves and fined $26,000 following the death of a large number of calves he was raising.

Additionally, John Yi Jiang, 62, was fined $24,000 for NAIT offences.

Jiang was sentenced this month in the Christchurch District Court on two charges he pleaded guilty to under the Animal Welfare Act after a successful prosecution by Ministry for Primary Industries. He was also ordered to pay vet costs of $5,523. The disqualification is for 2 years and includes calves under the age of 6 months.

“These calves were being raised in sheds with

poor ventilation, suffering from heat stress and dehydration, along with showing signs of disease and scouring. 19 calves had to be euthanised during our first visit,” says MPI Regional Manager Animal Welfare and NAIT Compliance, Murray Pridham.

Jiang, who is also an alternative medicine practitioner, was using lavender extracts as a health supplement for sick animals, stating it worked well on humans and he believed this medicine would work with animals.

“While lavender might have health benefits for people – these were agricultural animals and they require specific antibiotics and veterinarian treatment to manage or

While lavender might have health benefits for people, they don’t work on calves, says MPI.

prevent illness or disease which he failed to do,” says Pridham.

After receiving a complaint, MPI Animal Welfare Inspectors and veterinarians examined the calves on 31 August, 2020. Tests on live animals found many were suffering from rotavirus,

cryptosporidium, and salmonella. If not treated, all these illnesses include diarrhoea as a symptom and can lead to death from dehydration. Antibiotics were provided to some of the ill calves during this visit and their health began to improve.

Jiang had been housing

454 calves in pig sheds, which were mostly cared for by a contractor who had no experience in calf rearing.

MPI Animal Welfare inspectors euthanised another 21 calves on 1 September to end their suffering. A large compost area was also discovered

at the farm containing the remains of an unknown number of calves. Many showed signs of having suffered diarrhoea at the time of death.

MPI concluded that at least 74 calves had died before it intervened, and Jiang told MPI that 194 other animals that arrived on the farm between late July and late August were in ‘the pit’ or compost area.

“All of these deaths could have been prevented if Mr Jiang had done the right thing. Most people in charge of animals know their responsibilities, understand their animals’ welfare and nutritional requirements, and provide timely medical attention from a veterinarian. Mr

Jiang seriously failed these animals,” says Pridham.

MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 00 83 33.

In a separate matter, Jiang has also been fined $24,000 on three charges under the National Identification and Tracing Act 2012.

The law requires people in charge of deer or cattle to tag and register their animals in the national database and report any deaths to MPI. This is to ensure traceability in the event of a possible biosecurity problem occurring at a farm.

Get out of the crap Once your calves start getting scours, it’s very hard to stop. Not only can it spread quickly through all your calves, it can spread to you as well. One of the causes of scours, which is highly contagious, is Cryptosporidium parvum (crypto).

TREATS AND PREVENTS SPREAD OF CRYPTO SCOURS IN CALVES

So don’t let the crap get on top of you. Get on top of it before it spreads.

Keep Halocur® ready so your calves get the best chance of combatting crypto.

Talk to your vet about Halocur® today.

AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION. ACVM No’s: A9802. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Ph: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. NZ-HAC-220600003

My payback for using Ancalf vs Whole Milk will be as much as

12,500

$

this season.

What will yours be?

NZAGBIZ.CO.NZ

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

CALVING // 37

Business boost with pain relief THE PAIN scale medical professionals use with people isn’t applicable to animals. They can’t tell us whether they’re experiencing a 5 or a 9 out of 10. But that doesn’t mean they are not impacted by pain.

Pain is a form of ‘suffering’, it is an animal welfare issue and an increasing concern of consumers which affects the marketability of animalproduced products.

Productivity can be impacted by pain as it impairs normal functions such as growth and production which directly impacts the farming business.

Pain is defined as an unpleasant, subjective feeling or sensation associated with actual or potential tissue damage that results from chemical, thermal or mechanical stimulation of nerve endings. It is a normal physiological process that indicates a ‘stress’ response and the ease of relief depends on the intensity and duration.

As cattle are prey animals they have developed a survival strategy and a stoic nature that disguises any sign of pain until the stimulus is severe which

can make it difficult to detect pain until the cause is relatively advanced.

Pain can be acute and chronic. Any inflammatory condition (with a suffix ‘-itis’) is associated with pain and once pain becomes chronic or pain is associated with a chronic disorder, it is more difficult to control.

Pain on farms There are a number of husbandry procedures performed on farms to reduce aggression and carcass damage and improve identification, handler safety and meat quality.

It is important to determine methods to mitigate the pain during a justifiable procedure but readily pain relief is perceived as a cost.

But the cost of using pain relief is regularly offset by faster recovery, better productivity and an improved image of the sector.

To demonstrate this we can explore some work that looked at treating clinical mastitis.

In the results they saw if a combination of pain relief and antibiotics was used there were lower somatic cell counts and a reduced risk of cows needing to be removed from the herd compared with treating with

antibiotics alone.

On top of the management benefits, there are also the financial rewards to be considered. For example, if a farm treated 100 cows with mastitis and it was estimated the cows were 500kg, the potential cost of pain relief using Metacam would be $3,500, based on the cost per dose of approximately $35.

Since they would be treated with antibiotics anyway, we can exclude the value of withholding the milk but there will potentially be 12 fewer cows culled at the end of the season due to mastitis. Depending on the value of a milking cow versus cull cow price at the time, that could equate to a value of $12,000 for the business.

So subtracting the cost of the pain relief, the farm is roughly $8,500 better off and they have a better ability to selectively cull as well as comfort knowing their animals received adequate support during their ill health.

Another situation where pain relief has been shown to improve outcomes is when calves are disbudded. If pain relief is used alongside the local anesthetic, studies show calves have higher milk intakes and grow faster

CALF HEALTH KNOW-HOW WORTH KNOWING

Videos, fact-sheets and more, all geared to help farmers to be at the top of their game.

Using pain relief has benefits beyond improving welfare as calves recover faster and reach weaner weight sooner.

SAMANTHA TENNENT

FREE ONLINE

by day 15 than calves who don’t receive pain relief.

This shows that using pain relief has benefits beyond improving welfare as calves recover faster and reach weaner weight sooner.

Although there are times when pain relief is not suitable, for example, a bad fracture, if there are no products accessible, or there is a grave prognosis. But suffering should be avoided and euthanasia must be considered in those situations.

Always talk through your options with your veterinarian and have standard operating procedures in place to help the farm team determine the best course of action.

Ultimately, when planning animal health this spring and throughout the season, it is worth considering utilising pain relief to treat unwell animals or perform routine procedures.

To prevent some of the productivity losses caused by animals experiencing pain, support their recovery, improve public perception and ensure you are maximising the productivity of your farming businesses.

• Samantha Tennent is general manager of WelFarm @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

It’s part of an investment from MSD Animal Health and comes as another layer of service to the robust technical team deployed nationally.

www.TopFarmers.co.nz Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Ph: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.

NZ-HAC-220600002

DAIRY NEWS JULY 12, 2022

38 // CALVING

Good planning will ensure 2024 heifers reach their full potential WITH CALVING

fast approaching, dairy farmers and calf readers are planning for the busy months ahead.

But NZAgbiz suggests that planning for long term productivity and profitable returns is about much more than preparing to cope with the demands of the season.

Good planning leads to long term success, and it’s especially important when it comes to the busy peaks when there’s less time to make improvements on

the fly, it says.

Leading into this year’s calving season, good decisions made early, will ensure you are well placed to not only make the most of the payout from a record farm gate milk price, but to make sure 2024 heifers reach their full potential.

“It’s not easy to think about colostrum quality and its effect on immunity and health in the middle of long days and nights when calving gets into full swing,” says NZAgbiz’s Carla Rawson.

NZAgbiz’s Carla Rawson says now is a good time to put a plan into place for the upcoming calving season.

“Often, there just isn’t the time to spend to consider feed options,

WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL VARIABLE SPEED CLIPPER!

handypiece Tail Clipping – Trim 400-500 Cow Tails with One Battery ■

Ideal for trimming cow tails, shearing sheep, alpacas, or goats.

■

1400gms means 100-200gms lighter than standard handpiece.

■

Variable speed from 2600-3500 rpm.

■

■

Latest brushless motor technology means minimal heat build up

At 2800 rpm the 12-volt lithium battery will crutch up to 400-500 cows tails or 300-400 sheep.

■

Auto reset fuse for overload or lock up

0800 474 327

Freephone email: dave@handypiece.co.nz

View in action go to www.handypiece.co.nz

setting target weights and their effect on heifers’ future productivity and reproduction when the pens are filling up. Which is why now is the right time to think about these things and to put a plan in place.”

For most farmers, the planning starts with the big numbers – this season’s payout. So for many of those keeping an eye on the figures, the decision has already been made to maximise their return this season by choosing not to feed out of the vat.

Matamata farmers, Robert and Sharon Klaus, have calculated that feeding their calves a quality milk replacer will mean an estimated $12,500 increase in payout this year.

“It’s a simple formula,” says Robert.

“Based on our volumes and kgMS per litre, when you subtract the cost of the Ancalf, we see that we’d otherwise be feeding thousands of dollars of profit to the calves.”

There’s a calculator on the NZAgbiz website that crunches the numbers.

Rawson says the calculator is proving pretty popular.

“We’re seeing hundreds of farmers using it as they make decisions and get their plans and orders sorted.”

There is however a limit to how much planning in any one season can affect returns and overall herd productivity.

Farmers are, of course, making decisions today

that will affect their operation for years to come. A lot of those decisions are about future production and future reproduction – which requires careful consideration of the connection between animal growth rates, weight, and condition and effects on the animal’s potential, notes Rawson.

Research indicates that weight gain pre-weaning is connected to an animal’s lifetime productivity.

Industry experts suggest that setting a calf up for success is more important than was previously realised. The data supports feeding calves well will have an impact on mammary gland development and therefore future production of those animals once they enter the herd.

“There is a lot to consider when rearing calves to their full potential so we make sure we’re guided by the science when we’re talking with our customers,” Rawson says.

“What we know is that young calves need high quality colostrum as early as possible to ensure a successful transfer of antibody molecules, which

CONTACT:

Waikato

: Mark Ahlers Stu Richards : Loren Greensill

Taranaki Otago/ Southland : Rodney Cook

021-192 9569 021-347 570 021-192 6100 021-855 838

www.OSPStockfeeds.co.nz

0800 677 333

100% FAMILY OWNED NZL BUSINESS

leads to better long-term immunity and health.

“And we also know that whole milk and whole milk based milk replacers are like nature intended, which is connected to healthy gastro-intestinal tract development and better growth rates.”

The secret to whole milk’s positive effects on young animal development is in its casein-rich protein which allows the milk to curd as well as the fatty acid profile of milk fat. A highquality curd allows more complete digestion and better nutrient uptake.

“When we spend time with our customers, we end up getting into interesting conversations about the research and calves’ digestive systems,” says Rawson. “But it always comes down to one thing – making good decisions about the future.

“Future payout, long term animal health, future productivity, future herd performance: that’s why we’re here – we want to help our farmers to plan for continual improvement and their herd’s success.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

THINKING ABOUT ADDING VALUE TO YOUR SURPLUS CALVES? OPTIMISE YOUR DAIRY CALVES DIRECTLY WITH FIRST LIGHT WAGYU • Deal direct with First Light to become part of an exclusive value chain producing the best beef in the world • Join over 250 other farmers involved in the First Light value chain • Buy First Light straws to use alongside your existing AI programme • Select the type of contract – competitive options for 7-day old calves; weaners; 8-month; 20-month and finished cattle • First Light Wagyu – in operation and proven since 2011

“FIRST LIGHT WAGYU HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS FOR OUR DAIRY COWS, ENABLING THEM TO CALVE WITH EASE AND RECOVER WELL. DECREASING WASTAGE WITH MORE PROGENY IN A VALUE ADD STREAM HAS ALSO ENHANCED RETURNS WITHIN OUR BUSINESS”.

DUNCAN AND NICKY ANDERSON, SUPPLYING SHAREHOLDERS IN CULVERDEN

LIMITED STRAWS AVAILABLE – BE QUICK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT FIRST LIGHT WAGYU ON 0800 4 WAGYU (0800 492 498) OR CONTACT LIVESTOCK@FIRSTLIGHT.FARM

s t a e T h Peac ‘em!

®

®

Calves love

st natural at® is the mo e T ch a e P e Th simulates e market. It th n o t a te g feedin n be ectly that it ca rf e p so t a te the cow’s or by hand. ing machine ilk m a n o d e milk

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CALF FEEDER QUITE LIKE THIS Fitted with every calf’s favourite, Peach Teats®, the STALLION 5-CALF OPEN TROUGH FEEDER was designed with the health and wellbeing of the calves at the heart of its features: • open trough, to discourage calves bunting each other off the teat looking for more milk • extra-wide teat spacings to allow easy, comfortable feeding • super-strong construction, but light enough to be handled by one person • multiple feeders can fit closely side-by-side for larger group feeding requirements • easy to keep clean

Available from your local farm supply stockist