YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR
Visa delay furore
SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
DAIRY FARMERS claim they’re often waiting six months for decisions on visa applications for overseas farm workers.
The dairy sector needs up to 1000 workers for the calving season that is getting underway in the North Island and will move down the country over coming months.
Federated Farmers immigration spokesman Richard McIntyre says the delays are causing “a high amount of frustration and stress”.
McIntyre told Dairy News that Federated Farmers know the urgency of visa applications during calving season and are working on behalf of dairy farmers.
“We have pushed Immigration NZ for a solution, and all dairy applications should be escalated for rapid response,” he says.
McIntyre points out some farmers have waited for up to six months, only to be told that the visas had been declined.
These farmers are accredited employers. He says Federated Farmers is working with Immigration NZ (INZ) to clarify some of the rules.
Under new rules introduced earlier this year, entry level staff on a work visa must have three years’ “relevant” work experience –with no clear guidelines as to what is relevant for a junior entering the industry on a visa, which is problematic given so little of the world does not farm outside on pasture.
Juniors with any form of bachelor’s degree or a NZ level 4 qualification recognised by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority can use this to qualify for a 2-year visa in place of experience.
Where low-skilled workers could previously be approved for a fiveyear visa, they can now only get a two-year visa, with potential for a third year before a stand-down period.
Employers also had to advertise low-skilled positions for 21 days
as opposed to 14, list low-skilled positions with Work and Income, and explain why no suitable New Zealanders were available for the job.
But after Federated Farmers met with Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, INZ announced a one-off reduction in the advertising time required before migrants could be hired, from 21 to 14 days, specifically
MINISTER RESPONDS
IMMIGRATION MINISTER Erica
Stanford told Dairy News that the time it takes to process an application can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of an application, whether all information has been provided to allow a decision to be made, and other individual circumstances that could impact processing times.
“To hire migrants on an accredited employer work visa, employers must first apply for a job check and
provide evidence that they have advertised the role and were unable to find New Zealand citizens or residents able to fill the role,” it says.
“This ensures that employers only recruit non-New Zealand citizen or residents for genuine shortages, while not displacing New Zealanders from employment opportunities.”
Stanford says she met with Federated Farmers on 18 April. Fol -
for dairy and cattle farm workers.
One rule that is causing concern is the three-year relevant work experience.
McIntyre says in some cases, overseas workers have grown up working on family-owned farms or small farms owned by relatives.
“Verifying experience in these cases has been problematic,” he says.
lowing this meeting, several adjustments were made in response to concerns from the dairy sector.
She says these changes are designed to shorten the recruitment process, ensuring that employers can hire and train workers for the calving season.
“My officials and I are also meeting with primary sector stakeholders to inform the second phase of work on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).”
Excess
The dairy sector needs another 1000 workers this calving season.
Rowarth changes her mind, is standing for re-election
SUDESH KISSUN
DAIRYNZ DEPUTY chair
Jacqueline Rowarth has changed her mind and is standing for re-election.
Last month it was announced that DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel and Rowarth would step down in October.
Matamata farmer Tracy Brown, a farmer-elected director since 2019, was named chair-elect.
However, Rowarth told Dairy News that she has been surprised by
the number of farmers expressing their regret that she won’t be continuing in the role.
“Late last month it was announced that I would not be seeking re-election as a farmerelected director of DairyNZ following six years on the organisation’s board,” she says.
“Since that announcement was made, I have been surprised by the number of farmers who have expressed both thanks for the work that I have done, and regret that I won’t be continu-
ing in the role.”
Rowarth points out that the issue of science understanding around the board has been foremost.
“Farmers need tools to help them improve their productivity, reduce their environmental footprint, and improve their profitability. These tools must be able to be implemented within a farm system.
“Credible scientific expertise at the board level and the ability to apply that practically to deliver better outcomes for farmers is vital.
“Nothing has changed over the years about my desire to work for dairy farmers and the primary sector.
“I’m energised to make a difference, and the fact that farmers have stated that I have a significant contribution to make has encouraged me to change the decision of last month. New information should always be evaluated.
“Credible science, research, and extension need to sit at the heart of the strategy for the primary sector and will be
the key to our success as farmers. I can help with that.”
DairyNZ is inviting candidate nominations for the board. It says two positions are available on the board. All farmers who pay a levy on milksolids to the industrygood organisation can stand.
Nominations close at midday on August 9. Voting will take place between September 18 and October 17. Election results will be announced at DairyNZ’s annual meeting on October 22.
TRADE DEALS FOR DAIRY TOUGH TO ACHIEVE
ations.
THE ENVIRONMENT for transformational trade deals seems murky at best, according to international trade specialist and former diplomat Stephan Jacobi.
He says it was well known that the era of trade liberalisation was coming to an end and this is now borne out by the rise of right-wing parties in Europe and the US, and a march to nationalism and protectionism.
His comments match those of one of NZ’s top trade negotiators, Vangelis Vitalis, who noted recently that the golden weather of trade deals was ending and that the trade jungle was growing back.
Jacobi says despite the changing global environment, he doesn’t
believe that NZ has completely exhausted the opportunities of negotiating other FTA’s. He points to the one currently being worked through with the UAE. He says other positives for NZ are countries wanting to join CPTTP and a move by Sri Lanka to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).
“Such a move by Sri Lanka would be a very welcome addition to our FTA’s,” he says.
But Jacobi says the present environment makes it harder for dairy, which is an integral part of the NZ economy because of the volumes of dairy exports. He says it’s already impacted with existing trade deals with the EU, Canada and Japan and the only real exception being the FTA with the UK, which offers tariff elimination within five years.
However, it should also be noted that for decades dairy has been the sticking point in most trade negoti-
“We can’t get away from the importance of dairy in our economy,” says Jacobi. “So, if you want to get the numbers up in terms of exports, you must have dairy in that equation, which is why we can’t afford to do an FTA that doesn’t do anything at all on dairy.
“If you look at India, where we would like to have an FTA, they are not interested in one that includes dairy,” he says.
Jacobi says when it comes to FTA’s we need comprehensiveness, ambition and high quality, which is now something of a problem. He says a solution is to incrementally increase our trade profile and maximise the benefits that are available within existing FTA’s. It’s been said that as much as 40% of the benefits available in FTA’s are not taken up.
The other solution, says Jacobi, is to develop more companies of scale, such as Fonterra and Zespri, which can be big players internationally and grow sectors around them. He says NZ is well placed to cater for consumers in markets it supplies who are looking for quality foods with health benefits.
“What Fonterra is doing in this space is quite revolutionary; that links to the new generation of food,” he says.
He adds that our lean, grass-fed meat and high-quality horticultural products such as kiwifruit are all part of that mix as well. Despite all the changes and challenges, Jacobi believes that the quality protein that NZ produces will always have a place in our export profile.
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DairyNZ deputy chair Jacqueline Rowarth says farmer sentiment encouraged her to change the decision of last month.
PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
Stephen Jacobi
Top young farmer eyes sharemilking job
SUDESH KISSUN
sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
THE 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year George Dodson is hoping that the win is a stepping stone to his dream job of sharemilking next season.
The 23-year-old is second in charge on a 430cow dairy farm between Darfield and Dunsandel in Canterbury.
Dodson says the FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition is
“My dad put hours and hours and hours into helping me prepare. I also had some of the boys coming out once a week from an hour’s drive away to test me on the buzzer, and I think that showed.”
Dodson believes the dairy sector is an attractive option for young people looking at the agriculture sector for a career.
hold.”
Coppersmith also paid special tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who ensured season 56 of the iconic contest was a roaring success.
“FMG Young Farmer
of the Year wouldn’t be what it is without a team of passionate and dedicated volunteers and contestants. Their enthusiasm and commitment are a testament to the strong farming community in Aotearoa. The future is looking very bright.”
“So, I hope winning the national title helps me get a sharemilking job next season.”
respected and well known throughout the country.
“So, I hope winning the national title helps me get a sharemilking job next season,” he told Dairy News
Dodson secured the win following three days of gruelling challenges against six other grand finalists in Hamilton this month. With challenges that included an exam, an interview, heavy machinery, livestock, quizzes, and public speaking, all seven finalists were neck and neck as they attempted to gain a point-scoring advantage over their competition.
Friday’s actionpacked practical day saw contestants work with quad bikes, power tools and a forage harvester to show off their practical skills.
In the end, Dodson pipped northern representative Caleb Eady by three points. Aorangi Young Farmer Gareth McKerchar finished in third place. Dodson took home $90,000 worth of prizes.
Dodson is no stranger to the contest, though 2024 was his first attempt at a Grand Final. The 23-year-old contestant dug deep and drew on the strong set of skills he learnt at home and through farm management. It was his performance in the final buzzer quiz, during the awards dinner, that secured him the win.
“The dairy sector has changed a lot over time: at one time it wasn’t so good to go dairy farming, but that was a long time ago. Farmer employers now compete directly with employers in town and offer competitive wages, working hours and accommodation for workers.”
Dodson’s advice for young people is to give dairying a try.
“Put your toes in, give it a crack; you have the option to leave but I can tell you that dairying can be a rewarding career.”
Dodson says working in rural areas, away from the town life, can be a challenge. But that’s where organisations like the NZ Young Farmers play a crucial role.
“It gives you the chance to socialise with people your own age and who do similar work and there’s also the chance to give back to your community.”
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith says Dodson impressed everyone with his broad knowledge and impressive leadership skills.
“FMG Young Farmer of the Year is one of the most prestigious farming awards in the country. It’s inspiring to see it go to someone who will not only be a strong ambassador for the next generation of young farmers, but the agricultural industry.
“After seeing the talent, it’s exciting to see what the future of the food and fibre sector will
2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year George Dodson.
August ‘crunch time’ for season’s milk price
PETER BURKE
AUGUST COULD be a crucial month for the farmgate milk price for this season, according to Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins.
Higgins believes demand for milk products and prices on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions next month will set the tone for the season.
Last week’s GDT auction saw a slight lift in the price index after a 6.9% slump the previous auction.
Whole milk powder prices dropped 1.6% to US$3,142/metric tonne last week. However, fat products – butter, cheddar and anhydrous milk fat – saw price increases.
Higgins says right now increased volumes of product are being put on the GDT auctions, coinciding with softer demand, and that has been driving down prices. She
large volumes of dairy products coming up for
sale on that platform. She says it will be interesting to see what demand there will be for these products.
“What we will need to see over the coming auctions is steady demand and also stable commodity prices through this period of time in order to underpin prices,” she
CHINA AT PLAY
says.
She says the August period is critical because of the weighting that prices in this period have in calculations that set the farmgate milk price.
She says a lot of this extra product is being absorbed by Southeast Asia and the Middle East buyers while conversely
ACCORDING TO Emma Higgins, China is going to import less dairy products this season than it did a year ago.
She says this is a theme that’s played out for the last couple of years and is a real challenge for NZ because what China does heavily influence what happens on the GDT platform.
Higgins says China’s reduced demand for dairy comes as no surprise.
What we are seeing is the practical application of Chinese government policies instigated back in 2018. She says there was a real concerted effort from the Chinese dairy industry and their government polices to increase their milk production. Also, supportive policies around genetics and feed have played a role in this.
“What we are seeing now is the fruits of these efforts impacting on weaker
China has been taking less dairy than we have seen in other years.
“So it’s really the strength of some of these other markets that will be the test to see how strong the demand is and that will flow into commodity prices which impacts on the farmgate milk price,” she says.
demand for NZ product,” she says.
But some good news is that the growth of Chinese milk supply has slowed in the past year. But Higgins says there is still additional milk in China and demand there is still “muted” compared with what it was historically.
On the home front, Rabobank held the view that milk production in NZ would lift this season, compared with last season when weather events curtailed production.
Higgins says so far this season the weather has been kind, but warns that NIWA is saying there is a risk of another La Nina weather system coming later in the year. She says the previous La Nina system brought rain to many major dairying regions and the bank is in process of reviewing its forecast in the light of
believes this trend will continue as the flow of NZ milk reaches its peak around August, with
Rabobank senior agricultural economist Emma Higgins.
‘Fat’ products like butter
anhydrous
fat saw price increases in last week’s Global Dairy Trade auction.
DCANZ backs clear labelling of food
DAIRY PROCESSORS
are backing a call for factual and clear labelling on consumer products.
Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) executive director Kimberly Crewther says they share concerns that current labelling practices for plant products risk significant consumer confusion, and agree that clear, standardised, enforceable and enforced labelling regulations are essential to support informed purchasing decisions.
Her comments come on the back of a petition launched by the New Zealand Vegetarian Society and the Vegan Society of Aotearoa to advocate for clear and standardised labelling for vegetarian and vegan products in New Zealand.
The petition calls on the Government to
implement legislation that ensures consumers can make informed choices about the products they purchase.
According to the two organisations, as the use of ambiguous terms such as “plant-based” or “less dairy” grows, it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to understand what is in their food without thoroughly reading the ingredient list.
Crewther agrees that it’s time for plant products to define and label products in a way that describes their characteristics and avoids confusion with milk and milk products.
“This clearer labelling for plant-products should start with greater adherence in New Zealand to the internationally agreed standard for use of dairy terms - under Codex Ali-
mentarius,” she told Dairy News.
“This internationally agreed standard defines milk as coming from milking animals.
Butter, cheese, yoghurt, cream, ice cream, and whey all have definitions that specify being made from milk. There are also standards for a range of cheeses including cheddar and mozzarella that link back to milk.
“The dairy industry is continually frustrated by
incorrect labelling and advertising of products in ways that are totally inconsistent with the existing labelling standard that was developed and agreed multinationally, including by New Zealand. Examples include vegan cheddar or more recently marine whey, which by definition are totally contradictory.”
Crewther points out that the purpose of the agreed international standard is to protect
consumers from being confused or misled and ensure fair practices in food trade.
DCANZ is concerned that expanding use of dairy terminology in the labelling of new nondairy foods is making it more difficult for consumers to make informed dietary choices.
“We would like to see the New Zealand government to do more to bring New Zealand food labelling practice in line with
the international standards,” says Crewther.
“Milk is a natural superfood that is rich in highly digestible protein and a range of nutrients that are essential for a healthy diet. A nutritional comparison of milk versus plant-based alternatives on New Zealand supermarket shelves, by the Riddet Institute, confirmed they simply do not compare to milk nutritionally.”
The study found that
milk substitutes have high cost and low nutritional benefits.
It would be more appropriate for them to be labelled distinctly using unique plant-based terms as is the requirement in Europe, according to Crewther.
“In seeking clearer food labelling the dairy industry acknowledge the important role that plantbased foods play alongside animal sourced foods in healthy diets for New Zealanders.
“Studies by the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative have confirmed that the most affordable nutritionally adequate diet for New Zealanders is one where the nutritional contributions of plants are optimised by high quality milk and meat products.”
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The dairy sector is frustrated by incorrect labelling and advertising of products like vegan cheddar. PHOTO- VEGAN SOCIETY OF AOTEAROA.
Passing on a farming legacy
WAIUKU DAIRY farm-
ers Nick and Nikki Ruygrok are passing on a dairy farming legacy to their sons that they can be proud of.
The Holstein Friesian breeders have spent their career perfecting the art of efficiency in their dairy herd – with ever-increasing production from 140 well-bred and well-fed cows.
The couple is in the early stages of succession planning with their sons Justin, Daniel and Mark. With Justin and Daniel dairy farming, Nick and Nikki are looking at how they can provide business opportunities to all three children in the future.
Nick has had a long career in farming. Born in Waiuku, he was brought up on dairy farms around the area by his Dutch immigrant, sharemilking parents.
“Farming has always been my passion, ever since I was young,” he says. “Around the farm, I was always dad’s main man.”
After he achieved Bursary and completed high school, Nick took jobs around Waiuku, taking advantage of the contacts he had around the area.
FARM FACTS
■ Owners: Nick & Nikki Ruygrok
■ Location: Waiuku, North Waikato
■ Farm size: 50 hectares (plus 50ha runoff)
■ Cows: 140 (98% registered Holstein Friesians)
■ Production: 92,000 kgMS
■ Stud name: Nou En
At 21, Nick bought his first block of land and at 24, he secured a good sharemilking job in the area, where he ended up staying for 27 years.
WINTER MILKING
WITH A winter milk contract, Daniel and Nick calve 45% of the herd in autumn (AB for three weeks, followed by the bull for three weeks), 45% of the herd in spring (AB for six weeks, followed by the bull for three weeks), and the remaining 10% in January.
Nick says calving three times a year is a lot of work, but it is to their advantage.
“Calves born in January are valuable as there is nothing around at that time of year,” he says.
“And when we dry off in autumn there is a group of freshly calved cows waiting. It keeps the milk flowing steadily throughout the year.”
The herd seldom carries empty cows as they have three chances to get in calf.
“We use a lot of sexed semen, which is less fertile than standard semen, but it works in our system,” Nick says. “Last year we reared 95 replacement heifer calves. We keep the best of the heifers, and sell the rest to the local market.”
Nick also works as an AB technician, inseminating around 4000 cows in the area annually. Having the resources to AB his own herd has allowed for greater flexibility and experimentation in their AB schedule, resulting in better outcomes.
When Nick was 27 he met Nikki, also a Dutch immigrant. They were married in 1989, and that was when Nick says their dairy farming career
Nick says with their high milk production (650 kgMS/cow, with a goal to hit 700 kgMS/cow), udder traits, capacity and strength are crucial when selecting sires; particularly important is breeding cows that are free milking and move through the shed quickly.
“I figure that if we have that right, everything else will fall into place,” he says. “I got caught up using only A2A2 bulls, and I’m not sure of the full benefits yet, but there was enough selection that we were able to do that.”
Nick says although he has never been “wound up” about BW, it has been interesting to observe overseas sires coming through with very high indexes, and what that might mean for the significance of BW.
“I prefer overseas bloodlines, with a reasonable index,” he says. “I’ve dabbled with a lot of sires over the years but more recently, Seagull-Bay Supersire-ET has done extremely well for us. He has left a lot of good cows, medium sized but capacious and strong.
“Bacon-Hill Montross-ET has also left some outstanding cows; they can really milk. Over the last eight-nine years, these bulls have done more for me than any others.”
HERD CLASSIFICATION
NICK SAYS the herd is classified every year, and currently includes 60 Very Good (VG) and five Excellent (EX) cows.
“They are trending better each year, so it indicates to me that we are on the right track with our breeding,” he says. “But to me, really, they are just all good cows.”
Nick says one cow in the herd is particularly special – Nou En Maels Shelley S0F VG88.
“She is our highest-ever producing cow, with 963 kgMS in one lactation,” he says.
Now the Waiuku farm is performing well, Nick says his focus is to reduce debt by selling the Lumsden farm and create business opportunities for his sons.
Nick says he doesn’t like the word ‘retirement’, but a succession plan will give them the chance to ease into it.
“We want to focus on giving Daniel and Justin the opportunity to buy into small farms they can handle themselves,” he says. “To have an interest in the properties while the boys slowly buy into them, allowing them to grow and eventually take over, would be great.”
Nicks says he would encourage Daniel and Justin to stay reasonably small in their farming endeavours.
“I would discourage them from going big, particularly when their parents are in the position to help them along,” he says.
“Why push for numbers? It all comes down to cost per cow. They don’t need the hassle of staff that comes with a larger farm, or to burn themselves out. I would say, stay small and efficient.”
Nick says it was in his early 50s that the hard graft of farming started to catch up with the couple, and they re-evaluated their farming career.
started to progress.
“I was pretty focused on saving, but it was when Nikki and I got together that things really started moving forward,” Nick says.
“As a single sharemilker you can make progress, but with a partner it’s far easier.”
The couple bought their first little dairy farm at Putaruru two years after they met, on which they employed a sharemilker. They sold the Putaruru farm a few years later and bought a 130ha
bare block at Waipango, western Southland, which they converted to dairy.
Four years later they sold the Waipango farm and bought 148ha at Lumsden, northern Southland. They slowly added on three neighbouring blocks until the property reached a total of 327ha.
“We’ve had the same sharemilker on that farm for the last 17 years,”
Nick says. “Over that time we’ve managed to hit our target of 380,000 kgMS.”
The couple gave up their sharemilking job, cashed in their surplus cows and bought a small 30ha farm in Waiuku.
“We sold the entire sharemilking herd, keeping the replacement heifers, empty cows and older cows,” Nick says. “We started milking 100 cows on the Waiuku farm and over the next seven years, we managed to increase milksolids from 40,000 kgMS to 70,000 kgMS.”
During this time, the couple’s sons were fol-
lowing their own dreams. Mark, the eldest, became a pilot; Justin, the youngest, sharemilks on a property 3km from the family farm; and Daniel, a qualified builder, came home to farm and is now sharemilking for Nick and Nikki.
“I bought the 20ha block across the road and, with an additional 50ha lease block, Daniel has increased milk production to 92,000 kgMS with 140 cows,” Nick says.
Daniel does the dayto-day work on farm, including herd management and milking, while Nick takes care of the runoff, transferring dry and fresh cows as required.
Although Nick’s herd was crossbred throughout his sharemilking years, he says when it came time to reduce cow numbers it made logical sense to start breeding to Holstein Friesian.
“We haven’t had bobby calves for 15 years,” he says. “Every single Holstein Friesian calf that is born has value.
“They always make good money, and they have the best return.
There is also options for dairy beef… there is no waste.”
ANNE BOSWELL
Waiuku dairy farmers Nick and Nikki Ruygrok, Holstein Friesian breeders have spent their career perfecting the art of efficiency in their dairy herd.
The 140 cows are mostly Holstein Frisians and produce 92,000 kgMS annually.
Japan hungry for high value Fonterra dairy ingredients
FONTERRA WAS part
of a recent New Zealand business delegation to Japan, a market that is one of the co-operative’s top export destinations for high-quality, innovative dairy ingredients.
The co-op’s director global sustainability, stakeholder affairs and trade Simon Tucker, part of the delegation headed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, says quality, food and technology come to mind when thinking about Japan.
“And these are well aligned to what is key to our business in Japan, which is using our dairy science expertise to help meet a growing demand for foods that support healthy living,” says Tucker.
ADVERTORIAL
“Our grass-fed dairy plays particularly well into products designed to promote healthy aging, which with Japan’s shifting demographics, is a large and growing opportunity for Fonterra,” he adds.
Fonterra’s protein ingredients are popular with its Japanese customers, many of which have been specifically devel-
oped for the Japanese market or as individual customer applications.
The co-op actively works with customers, technical experts and its team at its Research and Devel-
opment Centre to meet exact customer requirements.
Any visitor to Japan who steps into a 7-Eleven store has a good chance of finding protein forti-
fied drinks and yoghurts containing Fonterra farmers’ milk.
Fonterra’s grassfed dairy plays particularly well into products designed to promote healthy aging, which with Japan’s shifting demographics, is a large and growing opportunity for the co-op.
Research shows Japanese consumers are willing to pay a premium of up to 50% for products that have added health and nutrition benefits, and with an aging population, there is an increasing appetite for products that support well-being, mobility and combat cognitive decline.
Fonterra is well placed to meet this growing demand. Its proteins are
Less spraying. Better looking crops.
Seaward Downs is a small Southland farming community on the banks of the Mataura River some 8kms Southwest of Edendale and half an hour from Invercargill. Hamish Blackmore and his brother have been managing their family farm for more than 15 years. They converted to dairy from sheep and beef and have been running a milking herd of 750 cows.
Like many farms in the district, Hamish grows beet for winter feed because it’s a high-yielding crop and good value. The farm, however, had been struggling with a severe wild turnip issue over the years, which was affecting the beet yield. In 2023, on advice from their local PGG technical field rep, they decided to trial the Conviso® Smart System, to control the wild turnip and reduce the number of sprays.
Hamish explains:
“The benefits of using the Conviso Smart system are that it can control the wild turnip, which we have historically had issues with on this
property. And obviously being able to control the wild turnip, it increases our yields, and another benefit is fewer sprays that need to go into that crop.”
While at the time of the interview, Hamish had yet to graze the Conviso Smart Sugar beet crop, Hamish is already impressed by how the paddock looks.
“The Conviso crop is looking good. It’s still got a dark green colour and it’s very uniform and clean…we’re looking forward to seeing how it goes.”
The numbers are stacking up too. It doesn’t take too much effort to realise the cost savings of using the new system, and Hamish is already a convert.
“I would definitely recommend the Conviso Smart System to other farmers because of what I said, it controls the wild turnip, which can be very expensive and actually the growing of the crop is going to be considerably less compared to the conventional growing of traditional beet.”
Unleash the Power of Weed Control
designed to help people maintain muscle mass for better quality of life, its dairy lipids help improve mood and its probiotics support immunity and digestion.
Japan is also one of Fonterra’s largest markets for cheese, which it sells to customers through its ingredients channel.
As the world’s fourth largest economy and New Zealand’s fifth largest export market, Japan presents a lot of opportunities in science, innovation, food and agriculture.
For Fonterra, this means partnering with customers to make innovative, high-quality ingredients to meet Japan’s growing demand for dairy nutrition.
Fonterra showcases its products in Tokyo during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent visit to Japan.
Hamish Blackmore, Dairy Farmer - Seaward Downs, Southland
Backing losers
HERE WE go again. National’s cave-in on a media bail-out is misguided and will have the same affect on trust-in-media that the strings-attached Public Interest Journalism Fund did – it will deepen the public distrust. It also makes PM Chris Luxon look like a pushover, giving in to the pressure poured on by media outlets addicted to handouts like the PIJF. And, ironically, if Facebook responds to their pressure to pay for NZ news content by blocking NZ news content, traffic to NZ news websites will dry up, hastening their demise. Former Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee had a better idea: when told that Newshub was closing, her relatable reaction was little more than a shrug.
OCR pressure
WHILE RESERVE Bank boss Adrian Orr is sticking to his ‘abundance of caution’ messaging, the economy is in tatters and the jungle drums beat ever louder for an OCR cut no later than November (to be clear, that’s Nov 2024, not 2025!) ANZ was one of the first banks to put a November date on it, and other banks, via their various economic newsletters and missives, are slowly aligning themselves with that view. Milking It reckons it can’t come soon enough. The economic data reported faithfully each quarter by the media is always dated and therefore out of step with what’s happening on the ground. Out here in the real world, businesses are failing and need interest rate relief right now.
Code Red for National?
RECENTLY Several Labour MPs including leader Chris Hipkins and deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni spent two days in Waikato with representatives of DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers, Groundswell and Rural Women NZ among others.
The two-day event was aimed at farming organisations making ‘a team ag’ approach to improve outcomes for farmers.
Labour was flogged by farmers at the last general elections and National won back the traditionally blue seats. But Labour isn’t resting on its laurels and is keen to improve its standing among farmers. What this means is National should not take the farming vote for granted. The coalition Government has done a lot during the first eight months in office for the rural sector but there’s still more needs doing.
More bad news
SEVERAL DAYS after securing shareholder approval for a $130 million loan from Bright Dairy, Synlait has delivered more bad news to investors.
It’s now reported that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA), previously forecast to be at the lower end of the $45 million to $60 million range, will be even lower.
Continuing uncertainty means that it is not able to provide an updated outlook. Synlait blames “unforeseen year-end timing differences between July and August for manufacturing and shipping, along with additional costs incurred in relation to the strategic review and deleveraging plan”.
The news sent the company’s share price down by 4c to 29c, giving the troubled milk processor a market capitalisation of only $61 million.
EDITORIAL
Less red tape
FARMERS HAVE always been wary of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Under the previous Labour government, further amendments were made to the legislation imposing a patchwork of restrictions on the way Kiwis use their land, all in the name of reducing emissions.
However, a member’s bill recently lodged by ACT MP and Northland dairy farmer Mark Cameron seeks to restore longstanding provisions to the RMA that prohibit regional councils from considering climate change as a factor in their plans.
Cameron’s bill would prevent regional and district councils from regulating greenhouse gas emissions and is a smart step for climate change policy.
After all, greenhouse gas emissions are a global rather than local challenge. It has never made sense for local councils to individually regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
As Cameron points out, property rights were sacrificed to the climate gods in a way that wouldn’t even reduce net emissions.
“It’s not feasible to have regional councils trying to save the world’s climate. In fact, it’s hopeless, because emissions are already managed nationally under the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Having regional councils regulate greenhouse gas emissions has the potential to create huge headaches for farmers.
Federated Farmers points out that Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has proposed a target of a 50% reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, including biogenic methane.
For Wairarapa farmers who sit inside the GWRC’s boundaries, this means a resource consent application could set conditions that require farmers to reduce emissions in line with the 50% target. This raises questions for all resource consent applications. For example, could a new road or house fail a resource consent application if it wasn’t viewed as consistent with a 50% reduction?
None of this makes any sense when carbon dioxide emissions are already captured under the ETS.
That’s why Cameron’s bill makes sense.
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Farmers make top effort to embrace wintering practices
FARMERS FROM all over the country have made an impressive effort to put good wintering practices in place, ensuring their animals are cared for no matter what the weather conditions are.
Our recent DairyNZ wintering survey highlighted some notable achievements, including that 80% of farmers have now written wintering plans.
Planning makes perfect
Last winter, 74% of farmers implemented at least five good manage-
ment practices to support their cows and manage winter conditions. Also, 96% of farmers surveyed said they had strategies to provide comfortable lying conditions for their cows.
Despite this, another finding is that portable trough use and back fencing had a low uptake, which hasn’t increased over the last three seasons. If you’re looking to lift farm performance in 2024, these are two highly beneficial actions to consider.
The benefits of portable troughs and back fencing
I’ve seen firsthand the
THE GUMBOOT SCORE
SO HOW do you decide when the conditions aren’t right for sufficient lying time?
The gumboot score is a triedand-true method for responding to winter weather conditions.
However, we’ve heard of a few other quirky, but sensible methods. One farmer told us, “If the mud pulls your red bands off, it’s too wet for the cows to lie on”.
Another says, “If I won’t lie down in that paddock, I shouldn’t expect my cows to lie down in it either”.
Whatever your strategy for identifying a comfortable lying surface, it’s
advantages of using portable troughs and back fencing and encourage all farmers to consider how to make these a core part
important to have a firm boundary for when you need to provide cows with a more comfortable surface to lie on.
Outline this in your written wintering contingency plan, including your portable trough and back fence strategy, and share it with your farm team so everyone knows when to act.
Farmers with teams tell us that because of the high risks around animal care and environmental requirements, they prefer to manage crop wintering themselves.
But upskilling your team could
of winter grazing plans.
The main benefits farmers talk about relate to better soil conditions. Paddocks dry out sooner
take some of the pressure off.
If you develop your wintering plans with your team so they clearly understand the ‘why’ behind the plan, you will get better outcomes and they might even have novel solutions to some of the day-today challenges.
For insights into successful wintering visit dairynz.co.nz/wintering
Keeping cows comfortable
Cows wintered on crops prefer to lie for 10-12 hours daily. Discover tips to keep your cows comfortable and ensure their wellbeing over winter at dairynz.co.nz/cow-comfort.
so you can get equipment in early and get something else growing more easily. And soils are less damaged, so when the wet weather arrives, back fences can be extended or dropped to provide more area for cows to lie on.
If you’re concerned about the added work involved in moving portable troughs, there are some great ‘number 8 wire’ solutions recommended by farmers who have used them successfully.
These include the installation of skis for ease of movement, putting troughs under fences of neighbouring grass paddocks to avoid dragging them through mud,
and putting troughs on trailers.
Identify comfortable lying surfaces
Portable troughs and back fencing are an essential part of a great winter toolkit to provide comfortable lying surfaces that allow cows to lie down for as long as they want to. Since cows require a minimum of 8-10 hours of lying time per day, and prefer 10-12 hours, it’s important to make sure conditions are good enough for them to lie down comfortably when they want to.
During prolonged periods of wet weather when paddocks become too wet and muddy, it’s important
to have a contingency plan. The range of strategies available include shifting cows to a drier, lower-risk paddock, or using crops positioned in drier or more-sheltered areas for grazing during bad weather. You could also stand them off in a tree block, or use feed pads/standoff pads, or grass strips in crop paddocks.
I’ve also seen farmers roll out straw for cows to lie on.
Develop your wintering plans with your team so they clearly understand the ‘why’ behind the plan.
• Justin Kitto is DairyNZ lead adviser
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During prolonged periods of wet weather when paddocks become too wet and muddy, it’s important to have a contingency plan.Inset: Justin Kitto, DairyNZ.
Spreading sweet delight in Oz
FONTERRA SAYS its latest butter offering is delighting taste buds across Australia.
The Mainland Sweet Cinnamon Spreadable Butter landed on supermarket shelves last month and has since clocked up a viral rate of likes, shares, and views, taking social media – and sales expectations – by storm, according to Fonterra Oceania. The innovative spread is infused with a blend of cinnamon and sugar. It marks the first time Fonterra’s brands in Australia have ventured into sweet butters under the premium Mainland brand, with a focus on adding flavour to breakfast.
Fonterra Ocea-
nia includes the co-op’s brand business in New Zealand and the Australian operations. Fonterra is looking at full or partial divestment of its Oceania business as part of “a step-change in strategic direction” announced two months ago.
Fonterra Oceania’s senior brand manager for Mainland, Caroline Stedman, said the activity around Sweet Cinnamon on social media continues to trend, with engagement in the tens of thousands of likes, downloads, and shares.
“One video on TikTok has been viewed more than half a million times, which kicked off sales that are now well above forecast,” she says.
“In fact, they’re five times higher than the initial planned run rate, by far exceeding our expec-
tations for the launch and demonstrating the power of social media.”
Stedman notes that breakfast is a daily habit for most people, and dairy plays such a significant role in it.
“Think butter on toast, milk in your coffee or with cereal. So, we
looked at breakfast and thought, ‘how can we make it more exciting? How can we inspire people to add more flavour and excitement to their breakfast with something they use each day, like butter?’ That’s where the idea for Sweet Cinnamon grew.”
Sweet Cinnamon started as a concept in Fonterra’s innovation pipeline two years earlier, with shopper insights and consumer trends driving the initial concept into production.
“Our insights were telling us consumers were increasingly prioritising
taste and convenience. They’re looking for something extra that adds a hit of flavour to their food,” says Stedman.
“Leveraging the strength of the Mainland brand, it was the perfect opportunity to extend our portfolio of flavoured spreads with a sweet one,” she added.
The journey from an idea to the dairy shelf is a meticulous one, beginning with a simple concept supported by a specific consumer need or occasion.
Fonterra’s innovation and technical teams take a lead role throughout the production process, carefully testing and trialling the product to perfect its final form.
Fonterra Oceania senior development technologist, Liz Kitchen says the process starts with
COLOSTRUM EXPERT TURNS 40
AUCKLAND BASED supplement and nutritional company New Image International is celebrating 40 years of business in their home country.
Founded in 1984 by executive chairman Graeme Clegg in Masterton, New Image has expanded operations to 20 countries.
Recognising the nutritional power of colostrum and motivated by the tragic loss of his family to cancer, Clegg says he dedicated his life to developing nutritional supplements
• DairyNZ Board of Directors
to promote good health.
His goal was “to create highquality health and nutritional supplements that deliver essential nourishment while bolstering the immune system, a crucial element of overall well-being”.
The company says it is globally recognised as a leading innovator in the nutrition and supplements industry, earning the Cawthorn Institute’s prestigious ‘Innovation in science and technology’ award.
• DairyNZ Directors Remuneration Invitation for 2024 candidate nominations – three positions available
• Two directors for the Board of DairyNZ Incorporated.
• One member for the DairyNZ Directors’ Remuneration Committee. Current levy-paying dairy farmers are now invited to nominate candidates to fill these three positions.
All farmers paying a levy on milksolids to DairyNZ are eligible to stand for election. An information pack outlining desired criteria and nomination requirements for the positions can be obtained from the Returning Officer.
Nominations must be received by the Returning Officer by 12 noon on Friday, 9 August 2024.
Elections
If more than the required nominations are received, a voting process will be carried out by postal voting using the STV (single transferable vote) voting method. Votes will be weighted by annual milksolids based on 2023/24 dairy season ended 31 May 2024. Voting credentials will be posted to all registered DairyNZ levy payers on 18 September, with voting closing at noon on Thursday, 17 October 2024. The DairyNZ Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 22 October 2024. Election results will be announced at the meeting. For further details contact the Returning Officer below.
Anthony Morton Returning Officer – DairyNZ Incorporated
0800 666 935
iro@electionz.com
The company says its innovation laboratory in Auckland underscores its commitment to advancing the understanding of colostrum’s health benefits.
Clegg, who continues to play a pivotal role in the company, says he’s proud to serve customers in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
Since its inception, New Image has garnered a number of accolades, including three Trade NZ export
awards and the 2022 Excellence in International Trade award. Clegg himself has more than once been a finalist for ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’.
With a diverse portfolio of 30 products catering to 1.5 million customers from Auckland to Athens, New Image has expanded beyond supplements. This includes the acquisition of skincare and cosmetics company Nutrimetics and the launch of ResMAX, an antioxidant-rich berry supplement.
numerous samples where the product starts to take shape.
“It all starts in the onsite applications kitchen by experimenting and building prototypes, using different butter blends, flavours, and textures,” she explained.
The product then undergoes rigorous trials and sensory testing.
“At each of these steps, we receive constructive feedback on the flavour profile and mouth feel. With Sweet Cinnamon, the product you see on shelves today is the result of trialling 27 unique formulations until we achieved the optimal combination. This highlights the extensive technical process and the importance of consumer feedback when working on a new product,” Kitchen says.
While expanding globally, the company says it has also invested locally, acquiring Food Innovation Waikato and its major milk powder drying facility to enhance New Zealand colostrum production. Clegg emphasises the importance of sourcing colostrum locally, believing it benefits both New Zealanders and international consumers who rely on New Image products.
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Fonterra’s latest star offering in AustraliaMainland Sweet Cinnamon Spreadable Butter.
Cows with excess BCS face health, production issues
OVER-CONDITIONED
COWS, those with excess body condition (BCS > 6.0), present unique challenges, especially as they approach calving.
Our pasture-based systems combined with a relatively good summer mean we’re encountering a lot of these cows on farm. While adequate nutrition is crucial for dairy cows, excessive body condition can lead to significant health and production issues. Identifying and managing over-conditioned cows through appropriate mineral supplementation (as just one of several important strategies) can mitigate risks and improve outcomes during the calving period.
Identifying overconditioned cows
Identifying over-conditioned cows involves regular body condition scoring (BCS) at critical points in the production cycle, including pre-calving, post-calving, mating, and drying off. Over-conditioned cows typically display noticeable fat deposits around the tailhead, over the ribs, and along the spine. Their appearance is smooth, with a lack of visible bone structure, making anatomical points such as the short
hips, and pin bones difficult to examine by feel. Pronounced fat pads in the brisket and around the pelvis further indicate over-conditioning. Regular and accurate BCS assessments are key to managing body condition, particularly in our seasonal calving systems where pasture quality can fluctuate.
Challenges of overconditioned cows at calving
These cows face several challenges during calving. One major issue is dystocia, or difficult calving, due to excessive body fat reducing pelvic space and increasing calf size, which can complicate deliveries.
Moreover, high body fat predisposes these cows to metabolic disorders such as ketosis and fatty liver syndrome
because of inefficient mobilisation of stored fat, which is often exacerbated by grazing on lush, high-energy pastures. These cows are also more prone to reduced fertility, experiencing delayed returns to oestrus and lower conception rates, which can disrupt the timing of subsequent calving and affect overall herd fertility. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including proper mineral supplementation.
Management via mineral supplementation
Managing over-conditioned cows effectively involves addressing nutritional imbalances through mineral supplementation, which plays a central role in supporting metabolic health and mit-
igating risks.
Calcium and phosphorus are key for skeletal health and metabolic functions. Calcium is essential for muscle function, including uterine contractions during calving, while phosphorus supports energy metabolism and bone health. Over-conditioned cows, often susceptible to milk fever due to disrupted calcium homeostasis, require adequate dietary calcium to prevent hypocalcaemia.
This issue is particularly relevant in New Zealand where high potassium content in pastures can affect calcium balance. Phosphorus supplements, such as dicalcium phosphate, help to balance high potassium levels in the diet, maintaining a recommended Ca:P ratio of approxi-
Magnesium is another critical mineral, essential for nerve function and calcium regulation. Magnesium deficiency can lead to grass tetany and also exacerbate milk fever, especially in pasture-based systems where high potassium levels inhibit magnesium absorption.
It is important to supplement magnesium at maintenance levels in dry and springer cow diets. Levels need to be substantially increased during early lactation to offset the higher metabolic demand. The amount of magnesium should be adjusted based on pasture analysis to ensure cows receive adequate levels.
Selenium and vitamin E play a significant role in antioxidant defence and
immune function. Selenium, which is crucial due to its low levels in New Zealand soils, supports reproductive health and reduces the risk of retained placentas and post-calving infections.
Vitamin E complements selenium in enhancing immune function and protecting cells from oxidative stress.
Selenium, in the form of seleno-methionine, selenium yeast, or a rumen protected form will be preferable as these forms will be stored and utilised more efficiently. Alternatively, if a water-soluble form is the only option, sodium selenate will be the best option. Ensuring adequate Vitamin E through pasture management or supplementation, is essential, especially during dry periods when cows might have limited access to fresh forage. Important trace minerals
Trace minerals such as zinc, copper, and manganese are involved in enzyme function and reproductive health. Zinc supports skin integrity and hoof health, essential for maintaining mobility and reducing the risk of lameness.
Our grass-based diets often lack sufficient trace minerals, impacting metabolic and immune functions. Supplementing with organic trace min-
erals improves absorption and bioavailability, addressing deficiencies and avoiding imbalances that can impair metabolic functions.
Potassium and sodium are also essential for fluid balance, nerve function, and acid-base equilibrium. However, New Zealand’s pastures typically have high potassium levels, which can interfere with magnesium and calcium absorption, heightening the risk of metabolic disorders. Maintaining an appropriate dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) is crucial for preventing milk fever. Monitoring potassium levels in pasture and adjusting mineral supplementation accordingly, including the use of sodium bicarbonate or other buffering agents, helps to support metabolic stability and prevent acidosis.
Understanding the unique challenges of our pasture-based systems and addressing them with strategic mineral supplementation, pasture management, and regular BCS assessments will go a long way to reducing the risk of metabolic disorders and improving calving outcomes.
• Chris Balemi is Agvance Nutrition founder and managing director
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Avoids Starting & Stopping of Pump When Tank is Filling
ribs,
mately 2:1.
CHRIS BALEMI
New Zealand’s typically high potassium content in pastures can affect calcium balance.
Project to raise awareness, funds to fight leptospirosis
RURAL WOMEN New Zealand (RWNZ) and Massey University are joining forces to help raise awareness and funds to combat leptospirosis.
“Leptospirosis is a nasty flu-like illness which is unfortunately on the rise again in floodaffected regions as it can be spread through contaminated water,” RWNZ national president Gill Naylor says.
“We have a proud history over the past 50 years in raising awareness and much needed funds to better control the disease.
By making leptospirosis our national project until June 2025 we can again mobilise our members across the country.
“This is especially important as New Zealand has one of the highest rates of leptospirosis in countries with temperate climates in the world.”
Massey University Professor of Veterinary Public Health Jackie Benschop says last year there were 170 cases notified, nearly all in people living rurally.
“This is the tip of the iceberg as there are many cases missed because lepto can look like Covid or the flu and there are issues with getting a diagnosis.
“Our data shows that 70 per cent of people suspected of having leptospirosis are not tested for it.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection of humans and animals.
“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of leptospirosis in countries with temperate climates in the world.”
“Protecting yourself against lepto need not be too difficult and mimics good farm management like vaccinating stock, adopting good hygiene practices, wearing PPE, controlling effluent, waterways and rodents and training your staff and visitors.
SYMPTOMS IN HUMANS AND COWS
SYMPTOMS can feel like a bad case of the flu and can include:
■ fatigue
■ fever
■ chills
■ headache
■ muscle aches and pains
■ nausea
■ diarrhoea
■ abdominal pain
■ sensitivity to light
■ cough.
Symptoms of severe illness can include kidney and liver damage. Some people may be unable to return to work for months and in severe cases, unable to return at all due to symptoms of
“Above all, if you are feeling unwell, seek help
chronic fatigue. The disease can keep coming back. There is also overseas research indicating the disease may cause miscarriages in pregnant women and a cautious approach is recommended.
Livestock tend to be infected with lepto strains that are well adapted to them, so stock appear unaffected yet still shed the bug in their urine. When impacted by poor nutrition, floods or other stressors, stock may show reduced production and reproduction.
However, when infected with a different strain and if that is combined with severe stress then severe outbreaks of the disease can occur with death in young stock and abortion storms.
early. Tell your doctor lepto may be the cause and ask to be tested.” Benschop says any
funds raised as part of the national project will help further their research with the aim of better understanding leptospirosis in humans, animals and the environment to reduce the burden of the disease.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection of humans and animals.
Farmers, their families, meat workers, vets, stock agents and rural transport truck drivers are among those most exposed to the bacteria in New Zealand, which is shed in the urine of infected animals, such as deer, pigs, cattle, sheep and dogs, as well as wild
Knowledge is power
mammals (rats, mice, possums, hedgehogs) and passed on to humans through cuts in the skin or through the membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth. Overseas, flooding and poverty are the most common exposures.
In infected humans, leptospirosis presents as a serious flu-like illness, which if not treated promptly can lead to long-term health effects and in rare cases – death.
Massey University reports that lepto leads to hospital admissions in 70% of cases, with half of patients experiencing longer term illness.
Every year thousands of cows get unnecessary dry cow therapy antibiotics. Not only is this costly for farmers, but it also takes us one step closer to increased antibiotic resistance.
DairySmarts’ innovative culture-based system ensures the proper identification of cows with bugs in their udders before dry-off, so you can optimise treatment and safeguard your future.
Get DairySmart today.
Talk to us about the latest award-winning way to dry off.
Harness the power of the rumen
DAIRY FARMERS have the perfect tool at their disposal this calving season to set their herds up for future productivity –the rumen in their replacement heifer calves.
Raising healthy replacement heifer calves that efficiently turn feed into milk is fundamental to the future of New Zealand’s dairy herd, says SealesWinslow quality and technical manager Paul Drew.
“Farmers have a single fundamental tool at their disposal that can help them grow the most efficient dairy cows possible and that’s the rumen in their replacement heifer
calves,” says Drew.
The rumen is a vital part of a calf’s stomach, responsible for fermenting solid feeds and forages and turning them into usable energy. For a calf to thrive, its rumen needs to develop quickly and effectively. Drew says the key to achieving that is getting enough starch into their diets to kickstart the development of gut microbes.
“These microbes are essential for fermenting feed and producing volatile fatty acids, which are crucial for energy production,” he says.
“Feeding a starch-rich diet from early on helps grow the calf’s rumen
from a small, underdeveloped organ into a fully functional part of the
stomach that can efficiently digest and absorb nutrients, enhancing the
animal’s future milk production and profitability.”
Cows with fully developed rumen functions become feed-efficient machines which supports initiatives like Fonterra’s Scope 3 emissions that are targeting a 30% reduction in onfarm emissions by 2030. Fonterra has signalled it expects to achieve 7% of that reduction through farming best practices such as feed quality and improving herd performance. “By focusing on starch-rich diets, farmers have a golden opportunity to rear replacements that become super-efficient at turning feed into milk, enhancing both pro-
duction and profitability while contributing to the industry’s sustainability efforts,” says Drew.
Starch is a powerful energy source. The byproducts of starch fermentation in the gut, particularly volatile fatty acids, provide up to 75% of the energy needs of a fully developed cow.
“By feeding your calves high-starch feeds, you ensure they get the energy they need to grow strong and healthy,” says Drew.
Starch not only fuels growth but also enhances the structure of the rumen wall. The rumen wall needs to develop finger-like projections called
papillae, which increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.
“Calves fed with starch-rich diets show significantly better development of these papillae, allowing them to absorb more nutrients and grow faster which all adds up to better efficiency,” says Drew.
“Calves fed with highquality feed with a good starch content reach target weights faster and reduce the overall amount of feed needed. By incorporating starchrich feeds into your calves’ diet, you help fire up the biggest tool you have to grow a more productive dairy herd.”
KEEP WARM, BOOST WEIGHT
THE MISSING link in getting maximum weight gain in your calves may be as simple as keeping them warm, says the Christchurch manufacturer of a range of woollen covers for young livestock.
David Brown, a former South Canterbury farmer, has been marketing his Woolover brand covers for 30 years, producing a range of covers sized for lambs, dairy calves or beef calves, all made with 100% New Zealand wool.
While his major market is in the northern US with their fierce winters, Brown says even the relatively milder winters of New Zealand chill calves so that they do not thrive as well as they should.
Even at 10˚C a newborn calf feels cold, he says.
“As the temperate drops to, say, 4˚C the calf is now ill-equipped to
absorb its milk intake to best advantage, meaning that at least half of that milk intake is going into just staying warm, as opposed to growing.”
Brown acknowledges that farmers, especially in the south, usually house young calves in sheds. While that keeps them “out of the icy blast”, it is only a partial solution.
“A lot of those existing sheep farmers exited the industry and the
covered yards became their calf rearing facilities, but they’re not particularly warm.”
Those farmers were doing the best they could with the hand they were dealt.
“It’s better than nothing in there, but it’s still not damn well warm.”
He says there is a definite correlation between having a calf warm and receptive to getting a feed of milk in
the morning, as opposed to letting it get cold during the night, even in a shelter.
“The question is, what’s the calf feeling like at four o’clock in the morning? It’s like you having a Swanndri on, 24 hours. And wool does it best, because it breathes.”
Southland farmer Warren MacPherson, a Woolover customer for the past four years, told Dairy News that having initially used them on dairy replacement calves he now uses them on all calves.
“The calves are very active and playful with growth and weight gain obvious. We find calves with Woolover covers can be introduced to outdoor conditions sooner.”
MacPherson said he had recently been visiting farms in the UK where he was surprised to find calves coming down with illness from being kept indoors in stuffy conditions, when they would thrive outdoors with covers, even in poor weather.
Brown says his biggest customer in the United States, Busse’s Barron Acres in Wisconsin, raises 9000 calves outside.
“They’ve got the best growth rates of any calves in America because they’re wearing a Woolover.”
On the other hand, Brown says he knew of 4000 calves which died in freezing temperatures on two other large American dairy operations, despite wearing a competing cover of different material. Because those covers did not breathe like wool the calves were wet under the covers and froze to death, he says.
Brown says it will cost a farmer $1500 to $2000 to raise a heifer calf to go into the herd at 18 months, but adding a Woolover adds only $30 over about eight weeks.
He says fifty cents a day is a small price to maximise the growth of that calf and “capture its true potential”. Even then, the farmer doesn’t have to throw the cover away
NIGEL MALTHUS
Paul Drew, SealesWinslow
Even the relatively milder winters of New Zealand chill calves so that they do not thrive as well as they should.
Get teams set for what lies ahead in coming months
AS CALVING approaches, farmers need to get their teams ready for what lies ahead in the coming months.
That’s the advice from Tony Finch, DairyNZ’s national engagement lead, who says calving is just starting in the north of the country and will work its way south over the coming months.
He says a key thing for farmers at this time of the year is to manage and preserve feed as best they can, manage animal health and keep up the condition score of animals prior to calving.
Finch says by and large the season has been better than some had anticipated, but he says farmers in some regions are still managing the hangover from dry autumn weather.
“This is the sting in the tail from El Nino and we still have some regions that went in with low covers and finished milking with low covers and their winter crop yields were well back. They’ve been having to manage body condition score, and it’s challenging and it comes at a cost, because of the extra feed they have had to provide,” he says
On the upside, Finch says the frosts that would
normally stunt pasture growth have in this case been a help. He says feed utilisation on the harder ground has been good. He says also the winter so
WARM & BREATHABLE WOOLOVER CALF COVERS WORK 24/7
Cover vital heart-lung area with wool and ensure thermoneutral zone is established. Bigger, heavier, healthier replacement heifer and bull calves.
wicking properties
TIMES
FINCH says while things are better than some had predicted, dairy farmers are still apprehensive about the future – particularly about what the farmgate milk price might end up being.
He says while on-farm inflation has come down, it’s still high, as are interest rates. He reiterates that many farmers will come into winter feeling the cost of feeding out in the dry autumn. He says
far has been a bit warmer than expected, allowing what he calls “compensatory growth” or late grass growth, which has helped some farmers.
“Some regions like the West Coast had a brilliant season and some
while the weather has been kind so far, winter is far from over and farmers need to plan for the unexpected.
“Southland is a classic case. They had a really wet May and June and it got pretty hard down there. But it’s since settled down and they’ve had some nice weather, but all it takes is another front and things can revert to where they were,” he says.
farmers are growing up to 30kgDM/day which is amazing for this time of the year.
“So overall, some winter crop yields are down in yields, but the compensatory growth and greater utilisation means
that by and large the country is coping pretty well. It would seem that teams are well prepared and ready for calving and looking forward to what’s in front of them – ‘the havoc season’ aka calving,” he says.
TONY
TOUGH
Calving has started north of the country and will work its way south over the coming months.
Tony Finch, DairyNZ
Ensuring calves stay healthy
REARING FACILITIES
should be set-up and maintained well to ensure calves stay healthy.
Young calves should be housed for at least four weeks to ensure they stay warm and are using their energy for growth.
Housing
• Must be dry and draught-free for calves to regulate body temperature. Calves should be protected from wind and rain in a structure twice as long as wide.
• Cover the floor surface with dry materials such as sawdust, shavings, straw, post peelings or wood chip to a depth of at least 200-300mm. Avoid dusty materials. Ideally the floor should be lower at the front to help drain effluent and water. Regularly muck out and top up the bedding so it is clean and dry.
• Good ventilation is
essential and is best situated where the walls meet the ceiling. It’s easier to ventilate across the shed, not down the length. Ventilation should be adaptable, so the use of boards, shutters or wind cloth is recom-
mended.
Spacing calves
• Calves are less stressed and have higher intakes in smaller groups. The shelter should provide a minimum of 1.5m2 per calf and, where possible, minimise calf contact
between pens. The best approach is 10-20 calves per pen.
• Depending on how many calves you are rearing - having more than one shed separated into pens allows for easier separation of age groups
and feeding levels. Having more pens also provides a safety barrier between calves in case of disease outbreak and will allow a pen/shed to be rested for cleaning and sanitation between different batches of calves.
Feeding facilities
• Each pen must have clean, quality water, which should be checked, cleaned and refreshed daily. In hot conditions, restricted feeding systems, high meal/ fibre intakes or scours, an additional 2-6L of water per calf per day is required.
• Meal troughs should have sufficient space for feeding at least half of the calves at the trough at any one time. Provide a minimum of 300mm of trough space per calf.
• Keep meal feeders free from moisture and clean weekly to avoid fungal growth.
• Keep milk lines as short as possible and ensure there is no stale milk left in hoses between feeds.
Cleaning
• Ensure all feeding equipment is regu-
larly cleaned and treated with disinfectant. Bottles or cafeterias should be cleaned between feeds and automatic feeders (mixing bowls, lines and teats) should be cleaned and calibrated at least weekly.
• Use a broom to remove any excess material in laneways. Do not use a high-pressure hose inside the shed, as this will aerosol bacteria and viruses to calves in other pens.
• Spray the rearing area, feeding utensils and teats with approved virucidal at least once a week and daily during a disease outbreak.
• Rodents and birds must be controlled.
• Isolate sick calves to reduce risk of spreading disease.
• Article: NZAgbiz @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews
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Young calves should be housed for at least 4 weeks to ensure they stay warm and are using their energy for growth.
Mixer makes tough conditions easy
TANIA AND Innes Anderson are second generation farmers whose family have had ties to the land where they operate for more than fifty years.
Hokonui Farms at Kaiwaka in Northland is 211 effective, gentle rolling hectares with challenging clay and limestone soils that are often wet in winter. Around two thirds of the property can be irrigated during a dry spell.
The dairy operation runs to five hundred cows, producing around 180,000 kgMS/ annum, with yields of 360 kgMS/cow and 900 kgMS/ha. A beef enterprise on the farm runs to 170 head, using Hereford sand Angus bulls over the dairy cows, finishes heifers at around 24 months, with steers taking a little longer to 28 months.
Due to the challenging conditions, a decision was made around five years ago to install a concrete feed pad that allowed cattle to be stood off paddocks to reduce pugging, while at the same time, a second-hand mixer wagon arrived to ensure all animals were fed equally and received monitored and consistent ration. This was replaced in 2022 with a new eighteen cubic metre capac-
ity Peecon Biga mixer wagon.
The 500 kiwicross cows are split into two herds, with a system 3.5 feeding regime. With an 18 cube Peecon mixer wagon the machine is large enough yet compact enough to be manoeuvrable around the yard and feed-pad. Maize, PKE, grass silage and hay, or a combination is able
to be fed out most days throughout lactation.
Innes is particularly pleased with the ability to incorporate minerals with a mix, ensuring each animal gets the required dosage.
There is an added advantage of removing the time-consuming task of dusting magnesium powder to paddocks and notes that the over-
all result is a sizeable reduction in metabolic problems and happier cows. During the drier summer months, there is the ability to add up to two thousand litres of water, which means there is reduced pressure on water troughs and subsequent breaking of ballcock arms.
Powered by the farm’s 110hp tractor, Innes says
the Peecon is easy to operate, easy to maintain with a centralised greasing system and has good visibility all round.
In particular, the hydraulic discharge conveyor allows feed bins to be filled easily, with no spillage, while its length means the tractor and mixer are kept further away from the bins, so reducing potential
machine or tyre damage.
During a European trip earlier in the year, the Andersons took the opportunity to visit the Peecon factory in the Netherlands.
“Like ourselves, Peecon is a family business that has been in manufacturing since 1973,” says Innes. “Looking around the vast facility, it was fascinating
JD set to run with Skechers
PROBABLY BEST known for its tractors, harvesters and farm equipment, it looks like John Deere is about to put its long-recognised and trademarked catch phrase of ‘Nothing Runs Like a Deere’ into practice.
It has announced the arrival of the new Skechers x John Deere footwear collection.
Sources say the collection will begin hitting stores later this month, with designs aimed at agricultural professionals, construction workers, outdoor enthusiasts and trendsetters.
Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, says, “As the country’s number one work footwear brand, this new offering is a natural for us as John Deere is a best-in-class company, that is highly recognised and a valued name with tremendous untapped potential for the greater market”.
“We’ve worked in close collab-
oration with John Deere’s team to ensure that our offering meets consumers’ needs, incorporating our advanced technologies and durable designs, emblazoned with JD’s iconic colours,” he says. The footwear features a sturdy construction and is upgraded with waterproof materials and protective features such as PORON XRD metatarsal protection.
The initial line will include patented features including Hands Free Slip-ins, Arch Fit and Relaxed Fit Technology, while children’s styles will feature Air-Cooled Memory Foam and machine washability.
Skechers x John Deere sport adventure, work, utility sneaker and casual styles will be available at Skechers retail stores, via www.skechers. com and “premium retail partners and specialty retailers worldwide”.
– Mark Daniel
to see the attention to detail, from the arrival of the raw materials to the precision engineering and the chance to sit and talk with the owners.”
Tania says their visit to Peecon made them appreciate where their money had gone. “An investment that brings together innovation, quality and a great deal of care.”
MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
Powered by the farm’s 110hp tractor, the Peecon Biga mixer wagon is easy to operate and has good visibility all round.
The new Skechers x John Deere footwear collection could hit stores later this month.
Classy triple auger layout
deflector plates at the centre help control the row shape when merging.
THE GROWING popularity of whole-crop cereals for livestock, and in some countries as a food source for anaerobic digesters, has led Claas to develop a new auger-based merging system alongside other grouping options for its latest Disco triple mower ranges.
The newcomers gain dark grey covers in place of the more familiar white canvas skirts to identify
Changeover to full width spreading is a push button action in the ISOBUS display or via the Cemis 700 or 1200 terminals, allowing the doors to open hydraulically and the auger directing the crop onto to the ground.
While minimising grain losses from wholecrop is said to be one of the primary reasons for the introduction of the new model, product specialists suggest the config-
The 180hp-plus required for the auger system puts it more in reach, with the added benefit of being able to group crops, but the flipside is losing conditioning.
the new generation.
The new Disco 9300 Direct Swather does away with the usual conditioner, to replace it with an auger that is used to direct the crop to the middle when merging directly behind the tractor, or alternatively, by opening the rear hood, the crop can be laid on the ground for full width spreading. A second alternative allows one auger to be used at full width spreading, while the other is grouping, so helping to move crop away from the field boundary.
While manufacturers such as Krone and Pöttinger have offered auger-based merging systems for several years, the Claas configuration is different in that it uses a conical shaped auger, with the flights double in height from the outside of the mower to the inside, resulting in the forage moving earlier and tidier end of rows.
While the mowing hardware remains the same as the other Disco 9300 models, a slight ‘tweak’ sees the drive to the augers running through the support arm for the central pivot and out the other side, from where drive belts power the augers. Additional
uration might also appeal to users with front and rear set-ups who want to move up to triple mowers but may have limited horsepower. T
The 180hp-plus required for the auger system puts it more in reach, with the added benefit of being able to group crops, but the flipside is losing conditioning.
For those wanting to condition and merge, Claas has also introduced the 9300C Auto Swather version of its conditioner mower/belt merger. This is essentially the same setup as the side-shifting 9700C AS that can be powered by the tractor’s hydraulic and is now available with an oil cooler option.
Another new addition aimed at those wanting a no-frills triple mower is the Disco 8500C Trend. This 8.3m wide mower gains the Hardox steel hood already introduced on the other triple mowers and is also available with a new roller conditioner option (8500RC). Hydraulic functions are operated using the tractor’s spool with pre-selection on the Cemis 10 control box.
The final offering is the introduction of a non-
conditioner version of the Disco 1100, said to meet demands of certain markets. In 2017 Claas introduced the Disco 1010 with a slanting rear ver-
tical fold system and a fixed working width. The new 1100 model has hydraulic working width adjustment from 10m to 11m.
MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
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