Dairy News Australia December 2015

Brighter outlook for global dairy demand PAGE 10 BEST IN SHOW Interbreed Champs at IDW PAGE 30

NEW BOSS

Simone Jolliffe to lead ADF PAGE 4 DECEMBER, 2015 ISSUE 65

// www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

TOP OF THE CROP

How a gamble on maize paid off for Heathmere farmers Casey and Bonnie Taylor. PAGE 6-7

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

NEWS // 3

$120M PLANT UPGRADE AT STANHOPE FONTERRA Australia will invest $120 million in building a state-of-the-art cheese plant at its Stanhope factory in northern Victoria.

The new facility will replace the hard cheese plant, which was destroyed by fire in December 2014, with a larger, modern facility that will produce cheese for Australian consumer, foodservice and export markets. The new facility will be able to produce 45,000MT of cheeses each year including parmesan, gouda and mozzarella, an increase of 15,000MT on the previous plant. The plant will supply both domestic and export markets.

Construction of the new plant will begin next year, and is expected to be completed in 2017.

China dairy heifer demand slide. PG.13

Planning hurdles JEANETTE SEVERS Singing for his Tucker. PG.14

The Scourge of Aussie dairy. PG.19

NEWS �������������������������������������������� 3-9, 11-15 MARKETS �������������������������������������������������10 AROUND THE REGIONS ������������� 16-17 OPINION ���������������������������������������������18-20 WORLD ������������������������������������������������������� 21 MANAGEMENT ������������������������������������� 22 BREEDING MANAGEMENT ����������� 23 ANIMAL HEALTH �������������������������� 24-25 IDW DAIRY & MACHINE FIELD DAYS ��������������������������������������� 26-31 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS �������������������������������������� 32-34

THERE WILL need to be signifi-

cant changes to regulatory barriers to enable growth in food manufacturing in regional Australia, according to the Business Council of Australia’s CEO Jennifer Westacott.

The BCA released a blueprint last week to guide Australian agribusiness development to meet an estimated $1 trillion soft commodity boom in the Asian food chain, following the successful negotiation of trade agreements with Japan, China and India.

It was underpinned by a shift in manufacturing focus – processing food in Australia rather than sending the raw product offshore.

The BCA estimated by 2050 China would be importing 43% of its global food demand.

“This $1 trillion of investment – a once in a generation opportunity – can unlock the Australian economy by focussing on growing our food manufacturing capability,” Ms Westacott said.

“But it will require a significant

On farm efficiencies drive profit OUTGOING ADF president

Noel Campbell, himself a dairyfarmer at Yannathan in Gippsland, says farmers’ income growth is mostly dependent on improving efficiencies on farm, but that free trade agreements boost overall confidence for processors, investors and farmers alike.

“The free trade agreements give farmers confidence there is a market for growth in the dairy industry,” Mr Campbell said.

He said Australian farmers are excelling at finding means to improve efficiencies, such as review of regulations. Some of our regulations really stymie progress.

“Many of our planning approval processes and shipping costs are barriers to doing business.”

She recommended joint ventures between Australian agricultural producers and domestic and international investors to enable food manufacturing to occur on the

through genomic and breeding values and growing better pastures to improve production.

“This can be changing fodder crops, improving herd genetics, using sexed semen and increasing feed tonnages or feed efficiency – what goes into the cows and how much milk is produced,” Mr Campbell said.

Denison’s Brad Missen, a Murray Goulburn supplier, said he tripled production by changing calving and feeding patterns, including increasing the amount of grain he feeds to cows. scale needed to meet Asian demand for our clean and green products and reputation.

Examples of these were Bega marrying Blackmore’s pharma- and neutraceuticals brands; and the recently announced Fonterra and Bellamy’s Organic Foods joint venture.

Her views were echoed by

“Through grain we increased the amount of protein and anionic salts the cows were getting – this improved cow health, milk fever reduced from 15-20% to 1% and the cow now mobilises calcium from her bones to meet the needs of the calf and dairy production targets,” Mr Missen said.

“Feeding anionic salt also lowered the incidence of milk fever and increased production post calving.” He increased the size of the effluent dam, to irrigate pastures and the herd is split-calving to chase seasonal rewards. investor David Williams of Kidder Willaims Ltd. “The driver for international interest in the Australian dairy industry is selling product into Asia,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Williams said differentiation was key to growth in the sector and there were significant opportunities for investment, particularly European money.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

4 // NEWS

Jolliffe ready to represent MADELEINE BRENNAN

SIMONE JOLLIFFE has some fresh decisions to make on farm now that she’s been made president of Australian Dairy Farmers.

It’s a familiar story of resourcing, and making sure there’s always someone to milk, run a business and a family.

“We’ve been using casual milkers for a really long time now but we need to sit down for the family’s benefit and the farm and work out what we do beyond the holiday period when the university students aren’t around,” Mrs Jolliffe said.

Together with husband Noel, she milks around 225 Holsteins on 360ha using irrigation from the Murrumbidgee River, as well as underground, and supplies Fonterra’s Riverina Fresh brand.

Born and raised on a beef farm, Mrs Jolliffe “married into dairy” and said she initially put her hand up as a regional representative to support the community and because “the dairy industry was particularly supportive of its own members”.

Since 2010 she’s acted in several industry roles including deputy chair at DairyNSW and chair of the Inland Elite Dairy Network.

She joined the ADF Board in January 2014.

“I’ve grown into leadership,” she said.

“I find it very engaging. And the things that attract me and keep me in dairy is knowing that no two businesses are alike.

“I love that individuality of businesses and that farmers bring their own unique qualities to their businesses and their unique passions.”

She said it is a privilege to sit in someone’s home and have them share their thoughts on the sector.

“And they will! You ask, and they will tell and that’s really valuable.”

She said she hopes that people do feel that they can communicate with her.

“Obviously in this role I am acting as a voice for the whole industry and that’s really important.”

She said the benefit of being a NSW farmer is that she is not solely focused on one side of the equation.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that

we are an Australian dairy industry not a domestic industry and an export industry.

“Each obviously plays critical role to building a whole Australian dairy industry.

“But I think I bring a balanced perspective and understanding of the importance that the different components play in the long-term success of our industry.”

When asked about the fact that she was ADF’s first female president, Mrs Jolliffe was keen to downplay the individual significance.

“I don’t see being female as being any great feat, but what I do see it as is an opportunity for other women in dairy to have the confidence to get off farm and to participate and engage with industry,” she said.

“The dairy industry is predominantly family run so there’s a huge number of women in dairy businesses around our country and if this gives them the confidence to see that they do have a voice and it’s valued, then that’s a positive and strong outcome.”

Mrs Jolliffe said her priorities will be around farmers including capitalising on free trade, securing water for farmers in

balance with environmental needs and ensuring there’s a viable and appropriately skilled and accessible workforce.

She said it was also important “not to let our guard down around animal welfare and environmental issues” and that she valued the relationship ADF had with Dairy Australia and the work of ADF’s policy team in tackling a dynamic and diverse landscape of priorities.

“It’s a lean in situation I guess, to ensure we all work together.”

Simone Jolliffe

ADF standing on solid ground

Noel Campbell.

PHOTO BY JEANETTE SEVERS

AS OUTGOING ADF president Noel Campbell reflects on his three years in the president’s chair, it’s the now strong financial and lobbying position of the organisation that he ranks as a highlight.

“We were losing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year,” Mr Campbell said.

“We restructured and took on the (financial membership of) processors to move forward and we are now in a position where we are well resourced.

“It’s enabled us to do things we were never able to do before.”

One of those things is of course the intensive lobbying the ADF did around recent free trade agreements.

He cites the China Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) as a highlight and says it was the stronger position of the ADF that allowed it to lobby so actively.

He said having the shift to present issues across the value chain was also significant.

“Because previously I was involved in the processing side of things, I’ve always had an interest in the whole of chain and I’ve got an understanding that for the industry to be successful the whole chain needs to be successful,” he said.

“The processors need to be able to make money as much as the farmers do, so we need to act appropriately for the whole chain.”

It’s a strategy that clearly paid

off where it matters, with both Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Barnaby Joyce and Shadow Minister Joel Fitzgibbon praising the approach by the outgoing president at an industry dinner in Canberra in October.

“Under his direction the dairy industry has come together as a whole of value chain, bringing their united interests to Canberra. This is rare among the commodities and something government has highly valued.”

Mr Campbell said he had not had previous involvement lobbying at a federal level, and it was an aspect of the role he enjoyed. But he’s now looking forward to taking a step back from the demands of

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the role and spending more time with his family and on farm.

“I’m happy to do things in the future but without the same time requirement. It may be nothing comes up, or something comes up.”

He said the future for the sector in the medium to long term was positive, as long as it continued to invest in programs and policies that focus on reducing production cost, ensuring global competiveness and long-term viability.

“The trade space puts us in a really good position, but we’ve got to now make sure that we are able to provide a raw material at a world competitive price and we’ve got to have efficient processes to be able to market that.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

NEWS // 5

Tough action stalled THE FEDERAL Gov-

ernment has delayed a decision that would strengthen competition law in relation to the abuse of market power in retail markets.

The government announced it will implement the majority of the Harper Review’s recommendations, and work with states and governments to advance reform, but has delayed a decision on section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Section 46 would create an effects test to laws governing the abuse of market power.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) acknowledged the government’s response as a positive move toward strengthening the competition Act. Outgoing ADF President Noel Campbell recognised the government’s support for key recommendations.

“We are pleased to see support for the proposed changes to collective bargaining,” Mr Campbell said.

“These reforms will help improve farmers negotiating powers, and will contribute to fostering a more competitive business environment in future.”

However, ADF expressed disappointment that reform to section 46 of the Act dealing with the misuse of market power, recommended by the Harper Review, has

been delayed.

“We will continue to advocate for improved transparency regarding the impact of retailer actions on suppliers, and for the regulating bodies to have the power to prevent potentially damaging situations, such as retailer predatory pricing, in future,” Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell said almost all OECD countries already have an ‘effects test’ within their legislative schemes and there should be no trouble in drafting an appropriate test that protects the integrity of Australian market.

“Addressing the misuse of market power is crucial in determining the Australian dairy industry’s future profitability and sustainability,” he said.

“Farmers need every opportunity to improve their negotiating power for profitability and returns at the farm-gate to be achieved.”

Mr Campbell also noted the government’s support for recommendation 53 of the review, which refers to small business access to remedies.

The mechanism will make dispute resolution in the Federal Court more accessible to suppliers.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison said a discussion paper will be released specifically on section 46 that “will canvas a spectrum of

WHAT THE HARPER REVIEW RECOMMENDED: “The panel proposes that the primary prohibition in section 46 be re-framed to prohibit a corporation that has a substantial degree of power in a market from engaging in conduct if the conduct has the purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition in that or any other market Conduct undertaken by a firm with substantial market power can have pro-competitive and anticompetitive features.

The issue for courts, and for firms assessing their own conduct, is to weigh the pro-competitive and anti-competitive impacts of the conduct to decide if there has been a substantial lessening of competition…

The proposed reform to section 46 is intended to improve its clarity, force and effectiveness so that it can be used to prevent unilateral conduct that substantially harms competition and that has no economic justification.”

– Recommendation 30, Final Report

options for change beyond the proposition currently before the government”.

Comments on the discussion paper will be due

by February 12.

He will then take a proposal to Cabinet for decision by the end of March.

“This is an issue on which many people have strong views, and I encourage people to engage in the consultation process so we can find the best way forward,” Mr Morrison said.

“The government wants to unleash a spirit of competition, to put Australian consumers and choice front and centre, because it is the economy and all Australians that ultimately will be the winners.”

Scott Morrison and Ian Harper.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

6 // NEWS

Feed focus pays dividends CASEY AND Bonnie

Taylor are noticing the difference after changing their cows’ diets from Freddo Frogs and low G.I. bars.

That’s not to be taken literally of course, but the shift to a feeding regime designed to slow the metabolism of the cows is one of many initiatives that have improved the farm’s operations.

The cows are now grazing more high quality home-grown grass, with grain fed to complement the on-farm feed.

“It’s like the difference between eating a Freddo Frog and a low G.I. bar – if they eat the Freddo they get the same energy but they’re hungry again five minutes later,” Bonnie said.

The Taylor farm at Heathmere near Portland in south-west Victoria has undergone significant changes over the past

RICK BAYNE two years as part of the WestVic Dairy business Focus Farm program.

The changes included more focus on perennial pastures and cropping, more detailed management of feed, and using the existing feedpad to help through the traditional winter wet period.

A three-way cross breeding program was in place so condensing the calving pattern and bringing it forward from the traditional May become the main calving focus.

iDAIRY®

WHO:

Casey and Bonnie Taylor WHERE:

Heathmere WHAT:

Focus Farm Casey and Bonnie pictured with Casey’s dad Peter.

$5.74/kgMS to $5.07, now well below the south-west average of $5.59.

The farm has 460 cross-bred milkers on a 340ha milking platform and 120ha calf and heifer development area.

The feeding changes designed to maximise dry matter intake led to significant improvements, particularly in countering the traditional JuneAugust hurdle caused by wet paddocks.

The farm has gone from being a low to medium grain feeder.

The Focus Farm group had significant input into the feeding program, which included more grazing from high quality pastures, use of the 180cow feedpad to feed silage or cereal hay, and targeted grain feeding with secondary starch and fibre sources aimed at slow implementation.

“By slowing them down and utilising better quality

feed, the cows weren’t as hungry when they hit the paddocks. It’s not just about feeding and cow condition, it’s also about paddock management,” Casey said.

The move included planting 30ha to a mix of cereal crops and legumes as well as maize later in the year to add starch to the diet.

The decision to grow and conserve more high quality grass has helped the farm to become more self-sufficient, to avoid pasture damage in winter and to have some grass available in summer.

They are growing about 28ha of Lucerne and the summer cropping covers 35ha of peas and oats and peas and sorghum for dry cow silage, and maize.

“We’re continually scoring pastures to make sure the quality is high,” Casey said.

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as early or mid-March and leave it there if we need irrigation.”

The Taylors previously calved down about 450, keeping about 220 and then selling heifers to the export market.

“We decided we could use the land to grow more feed for the milkers so this year we only kept 140 and sold everything else,” Casey said.

“We need to keep a minimum 80-85 for replacements but kept more in case something goes wrong. Keeping extra heifers is a bonus but not core business.”

Casey said it was too early to say which of the initiatives adopted under the Focus Farm had been most successful but he was happy with the turnaround.

“All the signs have been good. We’re definitely happy with how it’s going.”

excellent for that but it’s also about looking at the animals and the condition of the pastures.

“We wanted to see production increase but it wasn’t production at all costs.”

The farm’s three-way cross-breeding system aims for hybrid vigour and has resulted in definite improvements for the herd.

They are also improving on the 12% empties rate.

They use artificial insemination for nine weeks and bulls for four to five weeks, and this year they used Friesian instead of Jersey bulls.

Calving has traditionally started early May but the Taylors are tightening the pattern and bringing forward the date.

“We’re creeping a week or 10 days forward every year,” Casey said.

“We might get as far

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DairyBase data shows the changes have worked.

In 2013-14, the Taylor farm had a 4.5% return on total assets compared to a south-west Victorian average of 7.10%.

In 2014-15 that was reversed with the Taylors achieving a 4.80% return compared to a 4.60% regional benchmark in the wake of tougher environmental conditions and a lower milk price.

In 2013-14 the homegrown feed was 6.2 t DM/ha, the same as the regional benchmark. The following year it was 6.5 compared to 5.4 regionally.

Milk production increased from an average of 460 to 491/kgMS per cow.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

NEWS // 7

DAIRYS NEWS ON THE GO COMPATIBLE WITH ANDROID AND APPLE TABLETS CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION AT

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The maize crop averaged a yield of about 7.5tDM/ ha and it helped significantly during the feed pinch period from late June till early September.

PICTURES: RICK BAYNE.

Maize gamble draws last laugh October and we were getplant a maize crop on his farm near ting dust off paddocks Portland in south-west Victoria, he we pulled the pin on the quickly found himself the subject of traditional dryland paddocks,” he said. ridicule.

His fellow Focus Farm support team was vocal in “It did everything its opposition to the plan, we thought it with Casey saying it “was would do and a bit like barracking for Collingwood. People were possibly more.” either for it or against it.”

But Casey did it anyway.

Casey said he had considered the This year he is putidea for about 10 years but had been ting in 7.5ha under told it was too risky, particularly on irrigation and 6.5ha in a peat swamp area. dryland farming.

“I did get the piss taken out of me “We felt it was about dryland maize,” Casey admit- less risky with the ted at a recent WestVic Dairy focus acidity in the swamp as opposed to the dryfarm field day.

Now he’s having the last laugh land,” he said. “In an and other farmers are following his ideal world I’d grow it on outer areas of move, albeit with caution.

“There was a lot of debate about the farm and water whether we should grow maize or something like turnips or more plannot but I stuck to my guns and did tain that we can direct graze here.

“We wanted to see what maize it,” he said. could do for us in the July-SepHe’s happy he did.

As an experiment he planted tember period. I think last year we 16ha on dryland last year. He admits proved that it could work.”

The Taylors plant about 90,000 one paddock was a disaster and one mediocre, but the other two pro- seeds per hectare and planted the first dryland crop on November 3 duced good results.

Even including the disaster, he and the irrigated land on December averaged a yield of about 7.5tDM/ha 3, though next year plan to plant in and it helped significantly during the October.

Focus Farm consultant Angus feed pinch period from late June till Drummond said the majority of the early September.

“Based on last year’s figures we group was opposed to the dryland were about $240-$260 a dry tonne plan.

“We were really nervous about in the cow’s mouth,” he said.

“It did everything we thought it it,” he admitted.

Angus added that the weather would do and possibly more. Now the focus is how we can grow this conditions had helped this time and economically and improve those that the system would not suit all farms. figures.”

“We don’t want to say this suits Casey had planned to have another go at dryland maize this year every system,” Angus said. “If you don’t have water you may end up but the conditions intervened.

“When it got half way through with a failed crop.”

WHEN CASEY Taylor decided to

Fellow south-west farmer Steve Luckin was previously a big critic of maize but has changed his mind.

Steve planted 12.5ha of his Mt Clay farm in 2014-15 and is happy with his

yield of 17.53t DM/ha. Feed tests showed it produced 12ME, 10.4 protein, 34DM and 37NDF. “For us it’s pretty good feed during winter.”

Steve said he got the idea from being part of the Focus Farm discussion group.

“If I hadn’t come here I wouldn’t have planted maize. I was one who criticised it but now it’s the best thing we’ve done for our system.”

He estimated the maize harvest led to $18,000 in savings compared to having to buy hay, and that could have been $24,000 if it wasn’t for one failed crop which was eaten by cockatoos.

The farm’s milk production didn’t increase but components improved and Steve says cow and paddock conditions were better.

“I can’t say it made us more milk but it helped everything else. We still think it’s high risk for dry land but it worked for us.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

8 // NEWS

Bobby calf footage shocks New Zealand dairy farmers THE NEW Zealand dairy industry is grappling with an animal welfare crisis after footage was released of cruelty against bobby calves.

The practices revealed in the video by an animal rights group have appalled the country’s dairy industry bodies.

Both DairyNZ and Federated Farmers have spoken out against the practices – but say 95% of farmers are compliant with animal welfare codes.

The practices were revealed in video footage recorded by animal rights group Farmwatch and released as part of a SAFE public campaign launched against dairy farming.

DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said cruel and illegal practices were in no way condoned or accepted by the industry as part of dairy farming.

“We are shocked and farmers are too,” said Mr Mackle.

“We will be asking questions of everyone involved. Farmers don’t see what goes on when calves leave their farm and we need to be holding the transport operators and processing plants to account to ensure bad practices get stamped out of our industry.

“Our surveys show that 95% of farmers are compliant with all animal

welfare codes and they take great care of their animals including calves.

“We obviously want to see that even higher because the dairy industry takes its animal welfare responsibilities seriously and we are committed to farming to high standards.

“There is a range of industry initiatives already in place and we will be boosting our actions with other groups to ensure the care of calves.”

NZ’s Federated Farmers’ dairy section chair, Andrew Hoggard said “farmers have to farm within strict animal welfare rules and the vast majority care for their animals humanely and responsibly”.

He says the footage released by SAFE and Farmwatch includes some appalling behaviour, by a minority of farmers but also by transport companies and slaughterhouse workers.

“This is something we and the industry will not tolerate,” Mr Hoggard said.

Federated Farmers each season strongly reinforces to its members that the highest standards of animal welfare must apply when dealing with all calves.

“The federation will also put resources behind any industry initiatives to review the handling, transport and processing of bobby

calves,” he said.

Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand executive director Kimberly Crewther said that compliance with the New Zealand codes of welfare is important to dairy companies.

“These codes are internationally recognised as robust. Where there are breaches we fully support and expect Ministry for Primary Industries’ compliance action,” she said.

The NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is investigating the alleged mistreatment.

MPI deputy director general regulation and assurance Scott Gallacher said the nature of the footage aired on the programme was unacceptable.

“Anybody seeing this type of abuse would be appalled. We share that view,” Mr Gallacher said.

He said the ministry takes animal welfare very seriously and there are very clear laws and guidelines for how animals should be treated.

The footage shown in the programme was part of extensive footage given to MPI by Farmwatch on September 14. Animal welfare officers reviewed the footage and immediately began an investigation.

MPI says they must build a robust

case before proceeding with any enforcement and cannot comment on the specifics of the investigation as it may prejudice its outcome.

However, the codes of welfare concerning bobby calves are clear and the department works in conjunction with industry and does a lot of work with farmers, transporters and processors to ensure the humane treatment of bobby calves “and that everyone working with animals understand their obligations”.

He said MPI gets about 700 animal welfare complaints a year and follows them all up.

Where there is offending people

are held to account. MPI has a strong record of successful animal welfare prosecutions and the penalties are significant.

The maximum penalty in New Zealand for wilful ill-treatment is five years in prison and $100,000 for individuals, and a maximum of $500,000 for a company. A former dairy farmer was sentenced to four and half years in prison earlier this year for wilfully ill-treating animals.

New Zealand’s Parliament also passed the Animal Welfare Amendment Act this year to improve compliance and enforcement.

ADIC issues swift response to welfare crisis THE AUSTRALIAN Dairy Industry Council was quick to respond to the NZ media reports issuing a statement on December 1 to reassure the sector and dairy consumers: “The Australian dairy industry has been shocked by the cruelty shown in the footage.

Any mistreatment of animals, including this cruel behaviour, is completely unacceptable.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) and its farmer members take their responsibilities for animal welfare seriously and are committed to continuous improvement in their animal husbandry practices. All animals, including calves must be treated with care.

This footage in no way represents reality for the majority of people in the Australian dairy industry responsible

for calves and cows.

We want to reassure our customers and consumers to know we are actively engaging with farmers, manufacturers and transporters to ensure such practices do not happen on Australian dairy farms.

The Australian dairy industry supports the draft Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle as well as the Land Transport

DAIRY NEWS ON THE GO CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION AT

www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au Available every month

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Standards and Guidelines.

These were developed in partnership with the animal welfare groups and government, and provide industry with clear animal health and welfare standards.

The dairy industry expects that all persons managing livestock abide by these standards and is committed to working with farmers to ensure best practice is observed on farm.

ADF, in collaboration with Dairy Australia, and other industry partners continues to work closely with transporters and the meat industry to ensure our cows and calves are well looked after.

We also continue to work with industry, government and animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA to ensure the wellbeing of our herds in all farming systems.”

Dairy NewS AUSTRALIA december 2015

news // 9

New board members elected at Dairy Australia AGM DAIRY AUSTRALIA

members voted at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 27 to elect candidates to the board of the organisation.

James Mann, dairy farmer and former chairperson of DairySA, and David Mallinson, executive general manager for Murray Goulburn were elected for the first time.

John McKillop, who was first appointed to the Dairy Australia board in 2012, has also been re-elected as a director to fill the agribusiness and strategy vacancy.

Mr Mann is the owner of Donovan’s Dairying Pty. Ltd. at Wye, South Australia, which is one of the nation’s leading dairy

businesses, developed by him, his wife Robyn and his team from a greenfield site in 1998.

The business has pioneered innovative grazing and production systems for dairy in southern Australia and continues to explore opportunities to leverage technology to maximise farm profitability and optimise business sustainability.

Mr Mann became chairperson of the DairySA Regional Development Program in 2002 and recently resigned from that position.

He has also performed other dairy industry leadership roles.

Mr Mallinson is the executive general

manager – business operations for Murray Goulburn.

He has held a range of roles across both MGC and other processors (Fonterra, Bonlac Foods, Cadbury Schweppes) and

has extensive operational line experience (including his current responsibility for MGC’s manufacturing sites (including China) with over 1600 employees.

He is also a non-executive director on the board of

Snapsil Corporation.

Dairy Australia invited applications for the vacancies earlier this year.

An industry selection committee conducted the formal process leading to the nomination of these

three candidates by the Dairy Australia board.

“It is my pleasure to welcome James and David as new directors to the board and I congratulate John on his reappointment,” said

Dairy Australia chair Geoff Akers.

“I would also like to sincerely thank the levy payers who voted in the election and attended the AGM today,” said Mr Akers.

in brief VDL sale heads to court AN injunction temporarily halting the sale of Van Diemen’s Land Company to an undisclosed foreign buyer was upheld by a Victorian Supreme Court judge last week. TasFoods (formerly Oncard International) says it entered into an agreement in early November to buy VDL from current owners, New Plymouth District Council (NPDC).

However, NPDC subsequently announced it was pursuing a “commercially superior” bid from an unnamed private company, conditional upon Foreign Investment Review Board approval. Media reports have named the proposed buyer as Moon Lake Investments, an Australian company set up

by Chinese businessman Lu Xianfeng.

In an ASX statement, TasFoods said that they understood the price offered by the new bidder to be less than their own bid, valued in excess of $280 million. However, New Plymouth council mayor Andrew Judd said its agreement with the buyer “follows the receipt of a significantly superior offer to the one we had previously received”.

“In accepting this offer the council is fulfilling its obligation to make decisions in the best interests of the New Plymouth district community. Comprehensive legal advice has been taken throughout the transaction process,” he said.

VFF welcome investments in drought relief, irrigation THE Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed announcements by the Victorian Government to boost support measures for farmers affected by drought. Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford, and Minister for Water Lisa Neville, made the announcement following a two day tour of the state’s north-west last month. Key measures include $1.5 million for a Drought Extension Program to help farmers make necessary on-farm decisions such as de-stocking, animal health and welfare, feed budgeting, land management, irrigation and water use efficiency; $1 million to employ drought affected farmers and farm workers on environmental projects; and $960,000 to support kindergarten participation in drought affected communities. Water Minister Lisa Neville also announced $20 million for the next stage of modernising the Macalister Irrigation District.

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Dairy News AUSTRALIA december 2015

10 // markets

Has the worm finally turned?

AS we approach

Christmas, we can at last talk about a brighter outlook for the global dairy market around the corner.

Not the usual promise of “things look great in the long term” which gets overplayed every time the market takes a dip.

The market is actually starting to turn; global milk supply is spluttering.

In part of our business, we use a measure of “global market fundamentals”, which is a nerdy way of describing the tension – or lack of it – between the demand and supply of milk at a point in time.

When the market is tense, supply is short and demand can’t be satisfied.

The market is “loose” when oversupplied – where we’ve been for most of the past two years.

The degree of tension – shortages or surpluses in milk availability – over time generally shows up in

the size stockpiles of milk powder.

Surpluses of milk tend to get stored in the form of the lowest value commodity – skim or whole milk powder.

Our tension barometer is a “worm chart”. At present the worm is lying on its side, looking for a way to get up.

Our worm peaked in advance of panic Chinese buying of massive tonnages of whole milk powder in the first half 2014, but has been sliding down a hill since.

That’s a long downward slide relative to the recent history of dairy markets, but one we’re probably seeing the bottom of about now.

All the time since that peak, supply has been building faster than demand, building powder stockpiles.

Much of that time China has been digesting the large reserves of milk

powders bought in 2014, and this year will buy 40% less powder.

The closure of Russia’s cheese and butter market to the West added to the misery, shifting more milk into powder production.

But now New Zealand milk flow is in decline, and US output has flattened, which combines to provide a large reduction in product supply.

New Zealand’s contraction is not as bad as was first expected – cow culls bit into the size of the herd, but dry conditions and the awful numbers for milk producers thinking about extending their milking season should see many herds dry-off early. The US meanwhile is a vast land of contrasts.

Drought has cut deep into milk flows in the west (and with that milk powder output) yet in the upper mid-west there is too much milk for plants.

fresh agenda steve spencer In the past few months we’ve seen net national milk growth grind to a halt.

Slowdowns in those two big exporters might have been enough.

But the weak market conditions have been extended by the large expansion of milk output in the EU which kicked off when the quota brakes were taken off supply in April this year.

European farmers now hold the key to how quickly our worm chart rises in 2016.

As their cows spend

more time in barns, output is expected to slow, but a fall in milk supply is not yet on the radar.

Milk prices aren’t low enough to speed that up, and feed grain prices are favourable.

European farmers have been buffered from falls in international commodity prices due to their large and steady home cheese market.

Farm gate prices are down just 5% on average since the start of the year, while powder prices are down more than 15% and cheese is down by about half that amount.

Hardly a surprise most big processors are owned by farmers.

Rather than send the blunt message that there is too much milk, co-ops are optimising milk prices to cushion the impact.

The current, still viable milk prices coupled with lush grass in front of their cows and the reasonable

costs of feed grain have been an incentive to Irish, Dutch, Danish, British and a lot of German farmers to keep the milk coming.

While all other regions have cut prices, French processors have actually increased theirs, basically a political ploy to ensure the government doesn’t re-regulate prices in the wake of EU-wide deregulation.

There might be a lot of wasted energy in protesting about the dairy crisis while milk output is still rising, but the French brand of militancy appears to have paid off – at least in the short term.

We’ve seen a couple of false starts to price recovery in the market slide.

Twice this year, the slowing of milk supply in NZ has been spun up as a problem for global product availability.

Twice we have seen the GDT rally for several

events; only to fall back just as hard as ingredient buyers came to terms with reality.

Another rally is probably underway with the results from the early December event.

The worm is not decisively on the upward slope just yet. Demand needs revival.

Chinese consumers are pretty gloomy about their economy and demand is weak.

The price of oil is set to stay low well into 2016, affecting the economic health of Russia and the big dairy markets in the Middle East and North Africa.

Economists say the world will be a better place in 2016, with most regions growing faster than in 2015.

Hopefully that converts to higher spending on dairy to reignite some sluggish demand.

Non-trade barriers worth $1.57 billion annually The situation in global markets makes it a good time for this column to take a look at some of the greatest impediments to greater dairy trade: non-tariff barriers.

Although international standards exist to guide market access requirements for most dairy products, many countries have their own standards in place.

These standards can differ from, and can be more onerous than, the international guidelines.

Such barriers, known as technical barriers to trade (TBTs) are not just border entry issues and come in many forms, including market access restrictions,

production and shipment costs, unnecessary compliance requirements and administrative red tape.

The impact of these technical, nontariff trade issues can be very difficult to quantify, particularly in comparison to tariff or quota based barriers, and can accordingly be given less attention.

Hence Dairy Australia commissioned a report in 2014 to examine the impact of such barriers on the Australian dairy sector.

The study reviewed the technical requirements of import markets and identified TBTs. Comparing these allowed the

global impact amy bellhouse impact to industry to be estimated in value terms, taking into account a range of issues including higher production costs, reduced product returns and restricted export demand.

The total value impact of all TBTs on the Australian dairy sector was estimated to be $1.57 billion annually.

While the dairy industry recognises there are legitimate minimum requirements such as quarantine inspection, sensible product testing and other such regulation, the report clearly identifies

a wide range of barriers that are effectively unnecessary, particularly in light of the stringent food safety standards that already exist within Australia’s domestic regulatory system.

Technical barriers across South East Asia stand out as a key opportunity given the collective impact on Australian dairy exports is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

South East Asian markets were the destination for 38% of Australia’s dairy exports (by volume) in 2014/15, and our trade to the region has been growing at around 10% annually in recent years.

Unnecessary technical trade barriers are

also impacting on our dairy trade to the Middle East, a region which accounted for 8% of our dairy exports in 2014/15.

The Australian dairy industry relies heavily on export markets, selling roughly 40% of total production overseas.

During 2014/15, product was exported to more than 100 countries, with a total value of $2.5 billion. While recent trade negotiations have bought the impact of tariffs on dairy trade to general attention, it is important to also be aware of the significance of non-tariff barriers, and of the opportunities to reduce them in countryto-country discussions.

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news in brief // 11

in briefs Voters says yes to dairy levy poll changes VOTERS have welcomed changes to the Dairy Levy Poll Process Review with the majority of voters in favour of the new approach. There was low voter engagement on the issue (24.70% of eligible voters) despite every Australian levy payer being contacted. However, of those that did vote, the result was overwhelming, with 89.86% voting in support. The changes will mean there will only be a levy poll vote when a change in the levy was being sought.

However, if farmers believe a poll is necessary, there is a mechanism for a group of levy payers representing at least 15% of levy votes to propose at a Dairy Australia general meeting, that a poll be held.

Dairy’s green vision awarded THE

Australian dairy industry has been recognised for its ongoing commitment to sustainability at this year’s Banksia Sustainability Awards.

The industry was presented with the Food for Sustainable Thought Award and was a finalist for the Natural Capital Award for work achieved under its Sustainability Framework.

Developed by the Australian Dairy Industry Council, the Sustainability Framework was

Clarification

developed to enhance livelihoods across the industry, improve community and animal wellbeing, and reduce environmental impact.

It contains 11 targets for 2020 and 41 measures against which performance can be tracked, and was developed following extensive consultation with industry as well as customers, interest groups, suppliers and government.

Sustainability Framework

steering committee chairman, Chris Griffin, accepted the award on behalf of the industry.

“The Australian dairy industry is committed to achieving ongoing improvement to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation of farmers and dairy consumers,” Mr Griffin said.

An important part of the Australian dairy industry implementing the framework is for customers and the community

DeLaval’s preventive maintenance programme decreases breakdowns by up to 70%

QUOTES attributed to Cameron McIlveen in the November issue of Dairy News Australia in an article about the ANZ Looking for a Sign report (p.7) were made as a dairy farmer from northern Victoria, and were not representing CFM Dairy Recruitment.

A winning formula

FONTERRA Australia and Bellamy’s have announced plans to enter into a five year, multi-million dollar strategic agreement to manufacture a range of new baby nutritional powders. Fonterra managing director Oceania Judith Swales says the announcement is part of Fonterra’s transformation of its Australian business “where we focus on the areas we can win in a highly competitive market to deliver the best returns”. She said Fonterra is growing its nutritionals business through strategic partnerships and agreements which will see the Darnum nutritionals plant move towards full capacity.

Fonterra and Bellamy’s will work to finalise the proposed arrangements by the end of the year, with the agreement commencing in 2016.

Six selected for 2016 NZ Study Tour

THE next group of future dairy industry leaders have been selected for the 2016 New Zealand Study Tour. The final six participants were selected based on their demonstrated dedication and passion for the dairy industry.

Leaving Melbourne in February 2016 for eight days, the tour will be conducted on the South Island of New Zealand and will include visits to dairy farms, research and processing facilities and agricultural sites to meet a framework of learning identified by the participants.

The six participants are: Alec Young, Wyuna East; Dustin Kemp, Rochester; Joey Conheady, Noorat; Lachlan Forster, Yarroweyah; Luke Randle, Briagolong; and Matthew Glennen, Terang. The study tour is funded by the Gardiner Foundation and is organised by the UDV.

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DEPARTMENT of Agriculture deputy secretary Phillip Glyde has been appointed chief executive of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).

Mr Glyde will take up his appointment in the new year, replacing Dr Rhondda Dickson who started at the MDBA in mid-2011 and announced her departure in July. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said Mr Glyde brings a record of achievement particularly relevant to the MDBA, through his extensive experience as a senior public servant in natural resource management and economics and involvement in complex state and Commonwealth issues. Mr Glyde has also headed the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) as well as worked overseas at the UK Government Cabinet Office and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.

to follow our performance and progress, Mr Griffin said.

“We welcome the opportunity to share the evidence of our progress against key targets on our farms and in the manufacturing sector.”

Dairy Australia managing director, Ian Halliday, said the Sustainability Framework made the industry’s performance more transparent and ensured there was genuine evidence to support all claims of improvement.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

12 // NEWS

Healthy soils at the heart of successful farming THEY SAY if you want something done right, do it yourself.

For Brenton Byerlee, managing director at Soil Management Systems, that’s exactly what he did.

Frustrated with what he saw as a narrow approach taught in his Ag/Science degree, and from other visits from various consultants “with a vested interest”, Brenton (pictured) set about conducting his own trials on some of the most degraded and eroded land at his 1200ha cropping and

merino farm in Orrorro, South Australia.

Starting with soil analysis, he added trace elements where there were deficiencies and focused on the interaction between chemistry,

soil structure and microbial life.

Over the next 15 years, he was able to regenerate the soils into highly productive land.

It was this experience that led him to start his own soil advice service for farmers.

“I reckon 90% of farmers are confused about the best way to go about it,” he said. “But it’s difficult to know where to get advice.

“Many farmers are realising that traditional, high-input farming

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“For every cow growing Handley, will be hosting methods are destroying on pasture, there should be a series of workshops the life in the soil and in NSW and Victoria in the equivalent of at least everyone would like to four cows in underground February for farmers reduce their chemical interested in learning microbial biomass. Once input costs. more about maximising we understand that, then “What we focus on is soil health. we need to consider all delivering soil friendly As well as drawing fertiliser and chemical practices that deliver from his own experience, inputs and rotations dividends over time.

Brenton will discuss and their effects on soil Microbes return and the the results of soil starts to work for “More carbon in several trials he you.” soils can have huge has conducted Brenton said at properties his approach is not financial gains for focused on pushing farmers in healthier throughout Australia, including one particular farming soils, and higher a dairy farm method or agenda production, all with in Broadford but draws from both Victoria where soil organic and traditional lower costs.” improvements over methods to get the four years achieved a 48% life. best results. increase in dry matter “Not all fertilisers are The company has production. developed its own range of bad,” he said. “It’s about “More carbon in soils products including AmSul asking whether it’s friendly can have huge financial to life in the soil, and (Ammuonium Sulphate, gains for farmers in where and how much you an alternative to Urea), healthier soils, and higher are applying.”

Seabird Guano (a natural production, all with lower He said he’s worked phosphatefertiliser) and costs,” Brenton said. with farmers who no Progro (liquid fertiliser) The workshops will be longer use insecticides on which are all designed to held in Orbost on February legume crops. promote microbial life.

9; Bega on February 10; “If you get a balanced “We must recognise and Omeo, February 11. soil, you don’t need to,” that soils are the For more information he said. foundation of every email brenton@soilms.

Brenton, together with farming enterprise,” he com.au sales representative John said.

IN BRIEF Soil critical to limit global warming A NEW international research program launched by France’s agriculture minister at the COP21 climate talks in Paris sets a target of increasing the amount of carbon-containing organic matter in the world’s soils by 0.4% a year. University of Sydney professor of soil science Alex McBratney said the world’s soils could be a key ally in the fight to limit global warming

5/10/2015 3:45 pm

to 2°C. “Soils’ ability to store carbon and contain greenhouse gases could be game-changing in the global effort to limit climate warming,” he said. “Soils are able to store approximately 2.4 trillion tonnes of carbon, making it the largest terrestrial carbon pool. The top two metres of the planet’s soils hold four times the amount of carbon stored in all the world’s plants.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

NEWS // 13

Chinese dairy heifer demand – has the ship sailed?

THE RECENT slowdown in Chinese demand for live dairy heifers has many Australian exporters and traders questioning if the boom period is over, according to a new industry report by agribusiness specialist, Rabobank.

In its report, ‘Chinese dairy heifer demand – has the ship sailed?’ Rabobank says structural changes in China’s dairy industry have dampened demand for dairy heifers, with volumes and prices expected to remain well below 2014 levels over the medium term.

“Last year we saw Australia’s exports of dairy heifers hit record levels,” says report author and senior dairy analyst, Michael Harvey, “with China accounting for more than 90% of Australia’s heifer exports.

“However, Chinese demand has since dropped

off, with trade volumes to China falling sharply throughout 2015, and prices also taking a hit – in the vicinity of 30%.”

Mr Harvey says despite the subdued Chinese demand outlook, China will remain a major destination for Australia’s dairy heifers, with potential for future spikes in demand.

China has taken its foot off the accelerator.

The Rabobank report says China has been the “engine room of growth” for dairy heifer trade in recent years, driven by China’s growing appetite for dairy products and aspirations to lift its local milk supply through investment in the supply chain.

“Since the 2008 food safety crisis in China (where melamine contamination was found in infant formula, other dairy and food stuffs), there

has been a marked shift to large-scale dairy operations in China, which has been supported by government assistance and tax incentives,” Mr Harvey says.

“However over recent months, we have seen a

deceleration in this trend fuelled by pressure on farmgate margins – stemming from lower milk prices and persistently high costs – as well as, the increasing challenge of raising funds in equity and debt markets for new

developments.

“Reduced profitability has seen some new largescale farm developments being postponed or cancelled, which has led to the backlog of dairy heifers in global supply chains.”

Mr Harvey says China’s

dairy sector is becoming increasingly self-sufficient in raising heifers, aided by improvements in fertility rates and herd management practices, reducing the need for local producers to replenish their herds through importing heifers.

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EXPORTERS AND TRADERS NEED TO REFOCUS THE Rabobank report says while China will continue to present significant market opportunities for dairy heifer exports, some of the structural changes taking place in its dairy market will permanently impact trade.

“We expect China to remain the cornerstone of trade, however their demand is likely to be at a lower rate than what we have witnessed in recent years,” Mr Harvey says.

“In the Chinese five-year plan, there are calls for transformation in the country’s growth model by way of, amongst others, stepping up agricultural modernisation, so we would expect to continue to see small farmers exit the industry in place of larger operators.”

Mr Harvey says in light of this trend, volatility has increased in the dairy heifer market and there has been a downward adjustment to prices, which will see exporters and traders adjust their strategies accordingly.

“For example, we are seeing Australian producers retain heifers and replace older and less productive stock – which has also been encouraged by attractive cull prices,” he says.

With Australian exporters and traders looking to other market opportunities for dairy heifers, Mr Harvey says it is important not to neglect China but to ensure there are the channels in place to supply alternative markets.

“Australia is well positioned to trade heifers with South East Asia, although trade with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Malaysia and Vietnam may require adjustments to breeding and sourcing strategies, and a particular focus on sustainability and animal welfare,” he says.

“But there are certainly opportunities in these markets, with dairy demand in South East Asia expected to increase by more than three billion litres between 2014 and 2020 and ongoing efforts to boost local milk supply to help meet some of this demand.”

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Dairy News AUSTRALIA december 2015

14 // news

Singing and milking for h Richard Meredith

Regan Tucker’s

theme song might well be “I’m getting by”.

It’s the title of a song he wrote for his latest country album.

And it’s an enduring refrain on a journey to fulfil a childhood dream to own a dairy farm.

That dream has been achieved by pulling himself up by his bootstraps.

New Zealand born, Regan and his partner Alison farm a 91ha effective milking platform at Dunorlan in Tasmania’s rich north-west where they milk 150 predominantly Holstein herd with about 15% Jerseys.

To look at the paddocks this spring it’s not the lush, green picture postcard it should be at this time.

A rare cold, snowy winter with little rain followed by below average spring rain has produced

less growth than normal.

Regan reckons he’ll cut about 20% less hay than in an average year.

When you’re relying on pasture and hay and not buying in any supplementary feed that’s a big drop in available feed.

The hard winter has tested the herd, many of them carrying less condition than they needed into their prime production period.

With advice from LIC’s Mike Waite, Regan and Alison have started milking 18 hour shifts. The cows get a fresh paddock after every milking, rotating around the farm every 30 days.

“With just three milkings every two days it’s taken the sting out of it for the cows.

“They’ve started to put on a bit of condition from less frequent milking and they’re getting in calf better.”

Regan anticipates that if the weather continues

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to be hot and dry into summer, production will be down from their best production year of 53,000kgMS (average 342kg/cow) to around 40,000kgMS (average 307kg/cow).

Despite a number of empty cows, they have sold very few and will carry the good ones through the season to boost up numbers for next year, hoping to milk 160-170.

They breed all their own replacements and have reared 45 calves this year to ensure they are always bringing more young stock through.

Never give up Regan’s musical choices reflect his working man origins – Huey Lewis’s ‘Working for a Living’ kicks off his first album, ‘The River’, made up of covers of some of the artists he admires most – Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, Garth Brooks.

Brought up at Otorohanga in New

Regan Tucker with wife Alison and two of his children Tegan and Dannielle.

Pictures: Richard Meredith.

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hours spent alone, sowing, going way back to people “I started out with no telling us we couldn’t money so I had to work my harvesting, fencing. make it. And we have. And Singing, which he way up,” he said. “It taught we will.” started at the age of five, me to never give up.”

His third album, which has become Regan’s past With little appetite will be released in 2016, time while he works. He for the classroom, he will have many of his own carries a notebook and learned from the owners songs on it. he worked with, picking up writes down ideas and He now has a band skills quickly on the “Don’t give up. That’s and bookings in job and retaining Launceston later in what he learned. what I always think. the year. Tamworth “The owners I We fought our way Country Music worked with were through. Fought and Festival is on the more schooled up scratched. And there horizon. than me but I was quick at learning have been tears along Singing practice “When I’m out practically.” the way. But the sun on my own, I sing to Regan accepted will shine tomorrow, myself. It’s a kind of has first share practice. I work on milking job milking so don’t give up.” the tunes in my head 120 cows at Taupiri phrases that come into his and try out different ways on a 25% share of 85c/ of singing them. It takes head and that might later kgMS. my mind off things.” make it into a song.

Hard yards in anyone’s His third album will “I always write songs book but it gave him his be called ‘Stone Cold’ on the farm. It hits me. credentials as a share and harks back to Regan’s If I’m sitting here (in the milker – a small step up a second dairy management kitchen) it doesn’t come. long ladder. job – 400 cows on the Out there the emotions No one needs to tell a steepest dairy farm in New start to flow; emotions farmer it’s a lonely life –

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

NEWS // 15

his Tucker Zealand – covered in rocks and ragwort.

“No one wanted the job, so I got it. It was my first management job – right at the bottom.”

They lasted there for two years before deciding to take a break. Regan went building houses and they bought a house in town for themselves.

But they missed dairying.

“Alison and I like working in the dairy together. We missed that.”

So they went looking for another job and ended up at Te Awamutu near where they were both brought up.

On a 25% share of $3.35/ kgMS they milked 260 cows for two years and saved $40,000.

“We had no holidays, no help, no days off but we had each other.”

And by that stage they had three children too.

“I asked myself, ‘how do I make it?’ I had to think outside the box. We decided to buy the worst block in the best district.”

How do I make it?

That 30ha (75 acre) block was at Dannevirke near Napier in the North Island.

It had a broken down house, no fences and no water stream.

It was for sale for $150,000 but no bank would lend enough to cover the gap. So they took out a small credit card debt and bought it.

For two years Regan worked as a shepherd, at contract fencing and at crutching sheep. Taught to crutch by Alison’s father Kerry Kennedy, Regan became a gun, crutching up to a 1000 a day against the average man’s 700.

“He taught me well.”

They built a hayshed and started a calf rearing business, buying calves from the market and rearing them up. And they started a Romney stud with advice from Kerry and Barbara Kennedy.

Thinking outside the box again, Regan rolled up all the fencing wire he took down on contract farms and, with the owner’s permission, took it back to his place and fenced the entire place into 15 paddocks.

He discovered a natural spring above the farm and piped its water down to the farm and the home.

“But we missed dairying. We missed working together.”

In June 2005 they took a job at Matakohe milking 320 cows but it didn’t come without a struggle as no bank would lend them the money they needed to buy the herd.

Eventually Westpac came to the party suggesting they lease the herd.

But before they could take up the offer, the farm they had improved at Dannevirke sold for $255,000.

“The pressure was off.”

In 2007 they went from Matakohe to a 50:50 share arrangement with their own 240 cows working for on ‘the best dairy in the world’ for ‘the best bosses ever’, Bevel and Bill SinghHeere at Gordonton near Hamilton.

They bought a new herd of Jersey in batches paying an average $1000 per head which they sold six months later for $2300 a head.

“I had a $500,000 cheque in my hand.”

Still ‘getting by’ In 2008, after scouring Victoria they bought their current dairy farm, Fairlea, in Tasmania. The NZ-AU exchange rate and sales tax brought them back to earth as they took on more debt.

Regan says they are not “living the life of Riley” with a poor season and a low milk price – but they are “getting by”.

“Don’t give up. That’s what I always think. We fought our way through.

Fought and scratched.

And there have been tears along the way. But the sun will shine tomorrow, so don’t give up.”

Singing with the band and cutting records – the first album has made it to number 16 on the American independent country chart – is Regan’s new “outside the box” solution to the pressures of the volatile farming life that every dairy farmer knows.

And if it doesn’t make him a star, music is “food for the soul”. It gets him

off the farm and, with a band and audiences at his performances, he and Alison can have more of a social life. And that’s got to be good for your health.

Hear Regan’s music at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kwKinLcnpPc

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

16 // AROUND THE REGIONS

Gippsland New regional manager GIPPSDAIRY HAS a new regional manager. Allan Cameron (right), who started in

the role on November 23, said improving the performance of Gippsland dairy farms will always be at the forefront of his thinking when dealing with the challenges and opportunities of the Gippsland dairy industry.

“The fundamental thing is whether we can help farmers improve their productivity and profitability,” he said.

“At the end of the day, GippsDairy receives a significant portion of its funding from the levies paid by dairy farmers. We need to listen to dairy farmers to make sure we are continually justifying the trust they have in paying over a levy to us.”

Allan has an agricultural science degree from Melbourne University as well as graduate diplomas in applied finance and financial planning, and has most recently been working as a key account manager with Elders looking after corporate agribusiness clients and high net worth family farming businesses.

New South Wales Boost for irrigators

Comboyne celebrating dairy heritage

MORE THAN $15 million will be invested into 12 proposed projects in the State’s north as part of the next round of the Sustaining the Basin Irrigated Farm Modernisation (STBIFM) program.

The Department of Primary Industries said upgrades from the $15 million investment are expected to recover more than 4,800ML of water currently lost from production. Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair, said of these beneficial savings, more than 1,500ML will remain on-farm to boost productivity with the remainder to be returned to the environment.

“In some cases the water losses were previously unknown, and now these irrigators can benefit from tightening up their production methods and modernising their equipment,” he said.

THE DAIRY industry at Comboyne is being recognised with a life-sized fibreglass cow mounted next to the general store thanks to a community grant for being named the Legendairy Capital of NSW. The Port Macquarie/Hastings Council is also supporting plans for a Legendairy museum.

Comboyne dairy farmer Shane Debreceny hopes the town’s `Legendairy’ status rubs off on others considering a career in the field.

Shane, 33, is one of only a few young farmers in the region and he hopes that being named the Legendairy Capital of NSW earlier this year will inspire others to take on farming in the region.

“It’s a good title to have because it

gets everyone more involved in dairy and reminds people what dairy does for the town,” Shane said.

“If dairying wasn’t here there wouldn’t be much here. Legendairy has really brought the community together.”

As it is, Comboyne, in the Port Macquarie hinterland, is home to a cluster of 13 dairy farms, mostly run by farmers nearing retirement age.

“Being named the Legendairy Capital brought some younger people to the industry. It’s a hard industry to get into if you don’t have a family background to help out,” Shane said.

“A lot of local farmers are ready to retire. We’ve got three younger fellas that have taken over their family farms,

Murray Dairy

Shane Debreceny pictured with Port Macquarie mayor Peter Besseling.

including me, but the others don’t have anyone next in line.”

Shane says his proudest achievement in the dairy industry is being willing to stand up and take it on.

He moved back to the family farm about six years ago and in July he and his wife Nicole took over the business

from his father Trevor who has taken an early retirement.

“When we came back six years ago we had 30 cows. We’ve built it up to 80 on 149 hectares and we’d like to grow a bit more, but not become too big,” he said. “Now the milk price is a bit better we can build it up.”

Western Australia

Green inspects pastures

Relief appeal for fire affected

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY for Regional Victoria Danielle Green visited Yarrawalla and Tongala on December 2 to inspect progress on two farms undertaking pasture research as part of the $2.9 m Accelerating Change project.

The project focusses on the accelerated adoption of research and technology to boost home grown pasture by 25%, improve pasture management, and to support the efficient use of

A FORMAL relief appeal has

irrigation water to reduce seasonal feed deficits.

Ms Green said the project had the potential to create 100 full-time jobs and boost dairy farming profitability in the Murray Darling region.

Research and technology is applied directly to the two farms and tested on 15 satellite farms, which help monitor and analyse the technology.

Results are then shared with 380 farmers in the region for further discussion and analysis.

been established to assist farmers who were affected by the fires in the Shire of Esperance.

Working alongside the Shire of Esperance, WAFarmers will assist in the management of a donation register for items including stock feed, clean seeds for next year’s crop, seed millet,

agistment placements, items to repair properties such as fencing and water fittings, or any other items that would be useful to those affected.

WAFarmers president Dale Park said the establishment of the appeal would help to ease the suffering of farmers.

“Putting out the fires is only

the first step; after that is when rehabilitation really begins and people can begin to recover,” Mr Park said.

Donations can be directed to WAFarmers BSB | 036000 Acc | 990651 or www.gofundme. com/29bmrwt3.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

AROUND THE REGIONS // 17

Sub Tropical Busting the myths ROSS WARREN and Ray Murphy from the DAFQ

Dairy team will be delivering ‘Busting the Myths of Summer Grazing Workshops’ throughout December.

Building on the success of the winter myth busting workshops, Subtropical Dairy will address the various myths around the productivity and profitability of summer pastures and how to maintain quality and quantity of tropical forages. Understanding the costs and benefits of efficient pasture utilisation will also be discussed.

Visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au/Industry-information/Dairy-events-calendar/Subtropical-dairyevents/Busting-the-Myths-of-Grazing-Workshops.aspx or contact Viv McCollum, 0428 460 380, vivienne@ dairyinfo.biz.

Tasmania NZ partnership THE UNIVERSITY of Tasmania has signed a memoran-

dum of understanding with New Zealand’s leading agricultural university, Lincoln. Its list of former Tasmanian students includes Jeremy Rockliff, former TFGA president David Gatenby and leading farmers Richard Gardner and James Walch. The three-year partnership in agriculture research, development and education will see students and academics cross the Tasman both ways as well as an exchange of information on research and extension delivery and infrastructure management.

South Australia Conference theme named DAIRY SA has named the date and theme for its annual conference. Titled ‘People, Production, Technology: getting the right mix’ the event will be held at Serafino’s, McLaren Vale on Wednesday, March 23. A full program will be released early next year.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION AT www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

Congratulations Clovelly Dairy!

Western Victoria

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Suzanne Lee speaking at the seminar.

MORE THAN 40 Western district farmers were treated to a lively seminar presented by Integrated Animal Health (IAH) on Tuesday, December 1 in Terang featuring high profile dairy consultant Dr Les Sandles and IAH technical consultant Suzanne Lee. The main focus of the seminar was to highlight strategies and the thinking required to reduce antibiotic usage to meet consumer and market demands, while maintaining or increase farm profitability.

Dr Sandles challenged the audience to imagine a world without the use of antibiotics: “It’s coming sooner than you think. We need to get our heads around the changes in farm management practices that are required to achieve the reduction or possible elimination of antibiotics before it could be forced upon us and a mandatory requirement of milk production.”

IAH’s Suzanne Lee presented the results of on farm field trials that have taken place on two new products; a feed inclusion technology called UdderMate and natural scour treatment No-Scour Calf.

The session was sponsored by Farmgate Stockfeeds.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

18 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Dairy’s bright outlook

MILKING IT...

Practical hoof-wear

TWO British inventors have moo-ved into a new market after launching a range of footwear for cows. Robert Todd, a professional cattle hoof trimmer, designed the Croc-like slip-ons in a bid to tackle lameness in cattle caused by ulcers and bruising. They have flexible soles made from beech and oak and are colourcoded by size. Lameness can be a huge problem in modern dairy herds and the Moover shoes are a hit worldwide. Mr Todd and his business partner Mike Brimble have been approached by retailers in 42 countries, since the footwear went on sale this year.

A sign of the times

THE milk aisle at some Coles stores now includes an enticing button for children to push (pictured). As if to confirm that kids really don’t know where their milk comes from, the button plays a couple of “Moos” through speakers to remind them that their milk didn’t just turn up on the shelves.

It’s a great initiative for the majority population of urban dwellers who seldom get out on farm, but Dairy News can’t help but wonder whether selling milk for more than a $1-a-litre is a more useful way to educate consumers about the importance of farmers in the supply chain?

Homer was here Cosmetics IT sounds like something showdown Homer Simpson would dream up – and in a way, it is. The team at USA ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s (a subsidiary of Unilever) has joined forces with Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing to create its latest flavour — Salted Caramel Brown-ie Ale ice cream. The ice cream is made with New Belgium Brown Ale and the limited batch ice cream is only available in US. With the craft beer trend taking off in Australia, maybe there’s an opportunity locally to pursue. There’s plenty of Homer Simpsons in Australia after all.

Advertising Chris Dingle chris@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

SINCE the days of Cleopatra many people have espoused the benefits of milk baths and milk as a beautifying ingredient, but the good white stuff could soon have a new rival in the cosmetics market – marijuana. According to cosmeticdesign-asia. com, US based company Dixie has seized on recent developments in Australia which will see the use medical marijuana legalised and will export its range of THC bath soaks and muscle relief lotions to the big brown land.

Apparently cannabinoids – the chemical compounds found in the plant - have anti-ageing properties and are rich in antioxidants.

0417.735.001

Editor Madeleine Brennan

editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

Head Office Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Auckland 0622, New Zealand

Phone +64.9.307 0399

Dairy News Australia is published by RNG Publishing Limited. All editorial copy and

may not be reproduced without prior written

comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of RNG Publishing Limited.

03.9478.2178 or 0402.715.577

Publisher Brian Hight Production D ave Ferguson Becky Williams Sub Editor Pamela Tipa

photographs are subject to copyright and permission of the publisher. Opinions or

WITH many farmers tackling the work and financial pressures of a dry season, including lethal bushfires in Western and South Australia, it’s a welcome time to hear some positive news.

At this year’s 10th annual Australian Dairy Industry Council leaders’ breakfast held in Melbourne late last month, social researcher Dr Neil Barr painted an upbeat picture of the Australian dairy industry.

Using nearly 30 years of data from the census Dr Neil Barr’s research found the number of young farmers in Australia had fallen by 76%.

Good news? No. But this alarming figure was not all that it seemed.

Two thirds of the fall was attributable to the fact there are now fewer farms in Australia – farms have got larger.

And when removing the influence of social changes that affected the age people entered farming (higher uptakes of tertiary qualification; couples marrying later etc) it meant no more than a 10% decline in the number of young farmers across agriculture could be attributed to it being a “less attractive career choice”.

In comparing the number of young farmers across agriculture sectors - beef, sheep, cropping, horticulture and dairy - there was some stark differences, and dairy was unique.

In every sector other than dairy, the proportion of young farmers had fallen greater than the average. Beef fell 22% to 7%; sheep fell from 20% to 10%. The industry that stood out was dairy where the change over 30 years was “almost negligible”.

In looking at global data, Dr Barr said Australia has the second highest composition of young farmers in the developed world: second only to New Zealand.

“Dairy is the future of young farming in Australia,” Dr Barr concluded. “For anyone concerned about Australia maintaining a young farming profile, you have to be concerned about the dairy industry because that’s the industry that’s going to do it.”

He said nurturing dairy communities was therefore critical to maintaining healthy and vibrant regional communities. The data bears this out.

In 2016, we can only hope some other sets of data – the GlobalDairyTrade index, closing milk prices and rainfall – are equally upbeat.

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy holiday season and prosperous New Year. We’ll be back in February.

Published by RNG Publishing Ltd Printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd

WWW.DAIRYNEWSAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

Fax +64.9.307 0122 Postal address PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740, New Zealand

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

OPINION // 19

The scourge of the average Aussie dairy farmer PRICKLEWORTH McDUFF

Dairy visionary: We got some exciting news for you, Champ. We need you to make more milk, lots more milk.

Me: How much more?

Visionary: Look, you’re at 9 billion a year. With a little effort, you could be doing 15 billion in 10 years. And if you were prepared to work hard, 21 billion is the real deal. You can do it, you know you should, just lay down and think of mother processor, the feed and fertiliser companies and your banker.

Me: But why, we’re not getting paid enough to invest that…

Visionary: Because, otherwise, you’re gonna be a nobody, kid. Look at your big sister, Kiwi, she’s amazing, she’s a superstar and you…you could be too and we’re going to get you there!

Me: But Kiwi’s different, she’s…

Visionary: Put your cows in barns, shoot ’em up with hormones, buy in a helluva lotta feed, whatever it takes. You can do it, we know you can.

Me: Barns and hormones? But… Visionary: You just need to be a helluva good farmer and a helluva good businessperson too. Look, we know you love your cows and your grass and all that stuff. Geez, you’re in that dairy twice a day, for God’s sake. But you gotta get to know your numbers, too. I know that’s tricky for you, kid…

Me: Aah, mate, actually…

Visionary: You see, you need to start grazing your pastures properly. The only thing that we know for sure affects your profitability is home-grown pastures.

But let’s leave that til that later. Right now, we’re going to talk about barns, stuffing those cows full with mixed rations so they’ll make lotsa litres.

Me: But… Visionary: Like the big boys.

Actually, Champ, I’ve been doing a bit of thinking. There’s a rich bloke made his millions in mining, you mighta heard of him, he wants to buy up lotsa farms around here. You could be in the Big League. Your little farm your granddaddy built could be part of something really exciting. Forget

about running your own show, get a real career path as a manager for ZingZong Corporate Dairies and feed the new elites of Asia. One corporation spanning 50 farms, the factory and the retailer across three continents. Imagine that!

Me: Wish I could stop and chat, gotta go milking now…

Visionary (getting breathless

now): Imagine ONLY milking. Imagine 5000 cows in barns with conveyors and specially mixed feeds. You’d press the buttons. It’d be just like Maccas but without the burgers. White gold running in rivers. All you have to do is sign right here on the dotted line. It’s a brave new world and we want YOUR farm, Champ.

Me: I don’t think so.

Visionary: Now, don’t be like that.

There are two types of dairy farmers: the not so good ones who say “It doesn’t make sense” and the good, ambitious, clever ones who say: “Show me the way”. Which one are you?

• Editor’s note: The contributor wished to remain anonymous.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

20 // OPINION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Articles speak close to home I CANNOT help but write to you regarding two articles in the November edition.

Firstly, the tongue in cheek “Bull wrangler and His Lordship”. Not really sure if Lisa was writing about actual situations, but how right she was.

I have to admit that over many years I have assumed my wife Margaret (now of 53.5 years) always knew what or how I was thinking when doing tasks on the farm.

Poor Margaret often got the Lisa treatment and we ended up on not the best of terms after the venture. Yes, over time things settle down again but I wonder on behalf of how many women on farms Lisa wrote her story. Loved it Lisa, and I am sure many farm women will appreciate the tale.

Secondly, the article “Over my dead body” by Senator Leonhjelm. Most significant is the fact that most producers do not mind paying a levy.

It is interesting to read this view from the other side of the third fence.

First fence is ourselves as agricultural producers.

Second fence, and possibly

the highest with the most barb wires in it, is the spenders of the levy money eg; researchers, administrators etc.

Third fence is the people like the Senator who view this collection of money from an independent perspective.

I have been a dairy levy paying farmer for a long time and now retired from milking, I pay levies on a small beef enterprise. I have in all that time never been consulted personally on whether we wanted to pay any levy.

Yes, we had group discussions at the UDV with advocates there to either keep the levy in place or even increase it. It seems the dairy people do it better these days.

The beef levies we pay, the cattle transaction levy ($5 per head) and the cattle compensation levy have never been put before us for consultation or consideration.

These are charged to buyers/agents or processors but of course are passed on to the primary producer of the

cattle. The primary producer also pays the NLIS tag.

I loved it when the Senator says: “in reality government is only listening to peak industry bodies and R&D organisations, whose main interest is spending the levies, and not the producers who pay the levies”. That is the reality of primary industries levies, no consultation.

Thank you for the articles and your magazine.

Keith den Houting Kerang, Vic.

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Investment should be welcomed with open arms THE Victorian Government’s Food and Fibre Discussion Paper, released in July, provides a strategy to value add and grow Victorian agriculture into the global market; a starting point to a new prosperity for Victorian agribusiness.

This builds on the Victorian Super Trade Missions and Victoria’s Invitation Program (VIP) to attract new investment and trade into Victorian agriculture. New free trade agreements into the Asian markets provide new and exciting opportunities.

In 2013–14, Victorian agricultural exports reached nearly $12 billion and 25% of the total Australian exports.

Last year, Victoria was the largest exporter into the Chinese market, reaching $3 billion and half of this total was in food.

For Victoria to maintain or to target more growth in its preeminent position in agriculture, it will need more investment, new technology, improved infrastructure and leadership that will promote change.

Over recent months in my dairying district, Macalister Irrigation near Sale, corporate dairy investment has occurred from Australia, New Zealand, China and India – with inquiries from the Philippines and Canada.

We should welcome this international interest in our world class farming land and have a vision to double or triple the size of the Macalister Irrigation District.

But every week, it’s disappointing to see activists and naysayers dominate the media with their list of “No’s”: to foreign investment, FTAs, CSG, large dairies, new technology etc Victoria should welcome the integration of resource industries.

Gippsland has investors ready to go from China and Japan to use lignite

(brown coal) to produce fertiliser and new fuels. These would not only boost agribusiness but have export potential.

More gas connections to rural towns would attract more residents and more food manufacturing industries.

Intensive horticulture and large robotic dairies need gas or could also use bioenergy with timber biproducts’ from our forests – but yet again, the urban idealists say NO. Last year, the Victorian Agribusiness Council arranged a tour for seven leading Malaysian chefs to visit Victorian farming agribusinesses producing world class food products, and the resultant sales is exciting news.

Victoria and Australia also have an icon in Landcare - a successful community model linking environmental sustainability to productivity.

Landcare could also become a new export into Asia, using the knowledge and the brand to add value to Victoria’s quality agriculture and food sectors.

In 2016, Victoria celebrates 30 years of Landcare. Let’s adopt a new era of using the Landcare model to bring together the diverse groups.

And to win urban support, let’s promote good news stories on investment, fostering a shared pride in Victorian food and agribusiness; sectors which embrace new technology, new business models and can deliver a new prosperity to farmers and the wider Victorian economy.

Alexander Arbuthnot AM, dairy farmer and director at Landcare Australia Gippsland, VIC • Please send your letters or feedback to Madeleine editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au We’d love to hear what matters to you.

WRITERS WANTED Agriculture journalists with strong technical knowledge of dairy farming are wanted to contribute on a freelance basis to Dairy News Australia. ● We are looking for people in the New South Wales, South Australian and Western Australian dairying regions. Need to be professional, reliable and willing to travel (own car). Need to be handy with a camera and have a strong writing ability. ● EMAIL

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Written applications to editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

WORLD // 21

Fonterra lifts earnings forecast FONTERRA DELIVERED some good news

for its New Zealand farmers last month, lifting the forecast earnings per share by NZ5c/kgMS and boosting its financial aid to farmers.

The cooperative said it is increasing its forecast earnings per share range for the current financial year to NZ45-55 cents; in September it announced a range of NZ 40-50c.

With an unchanged forecast farmgate milk price of NZ$4.60 this lifts the total available for payout to NZ$5.05-5.15/ kgMS and would currently equate to a total forecast

cash payout of NZ$4.955.00 /kgMS after retentions.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson said performance in the period August 1– October 31 2015 was built on the strong second half of the 2015 financial year.

“While it is tough on farm due to low global milk prices, farmers will welcome the ongoing improvement in Fonterra’s performance delivering increased returns,” Mr Wilson said.

Fonterra Australia had no announcement for Australian farmers, but milk supply manager Matt Watt

told Dairy News that the cooperative continues to review the Australian farm gate price regularly in the context of global conditions.

He said there were positive signs the market was rebalancing, and both domestic and export markets were growing.

“Consumer volumes

are up supported in part by the Anchor cream launch while our domestic foodservice is growing strongly – our exports increased 9% from January to August 2015 compared to the same period last year, led by SMP up 29%, cheese up 12% and fluid and fresh dairy up 10%.”

He said milk volumes were

up on the year to date, but there was some pressure due to the exceptionally dry spring.

“Our focus for the next few months is to navigate ongoing volatility and execute our multi-hub strategy, which sees Australia as a global hub for cheese, whey and infant nutritionals, complementing our

domestic foodservice and retail businesses.”

Fonterra Australia’s current forecast closing range is $5.80-$6/ kgMSFonterra for the chairman 2015/16 season.

John Wilson

MOTION LOSES BID TO REDUCE DIRECTORS A PROPOSAL to reduce Fonterra’s board from 16 directors to nine received over 50% support from shareholders, but will not reach the 75% threshold required to change the constitution.

Former Fonterra directors Colin Armer and Greg Gent spoke in favour of the motion at the cooperative’s AGM on November 25 meeting.

Former Fonterra director Greg Gent said boards of 13 are “prehistoric”.

“Our motion has always been about a fitter and leaner board for shareholders,” Mr Gent said.

Fonterra’s board and the Shareholders Council are opposing the motion. However, co-op chairman John Wilson said Greg Gent many farmers clearly want a smaller board.

He said the board and Shareholders Council will soon embark on a major consultation process with shareholders to discuss the capability of the board and the mix between elected and appointed directors.

The review committee will be made up of board and council members; outside consultants may be engaged as part of the review.

A discussion document will be released in January; a special shareholders meeting will be called around June next year.

Meanwhile, chief executive Theo Spierings told shareholders the co-op must “stay the course” despite ongoing market uncertainty.

Mr Spierings said the recent political developments in Europe and the Middle East was further compounding the markets.

But he says Fonterra needs to stay the course and stay focussed on strategy.

“We look at things we are doing well and do them faster; things we are not doing well, we need to improve on,” he said.

“Because these are the things we can control; we can’t control the other things happening around the world.”

Mr Spierings also wants Fonterra to focus on opportunities to grow the business.

He alluded to a Chinese saying that when winds of change are blowing, some build walls while others build windows.

“I am in the camp that builds windows.”

L A I C E P S T R O REP NEXT ISSUE: FEBRUARY IRRIGATION Updating your irrigation system will not only save water, it will save you money, time and boost pasture growth.

In the next issue of Dairy News Australia, we will feature a special report on the latest in irrigation technology and showcase the farmers that have benefitted from upgrading.

BOOKING DEADLINE: January 27 MATERIAL DEADLINE: February 2 PUBLISHED: February 9 CONTACT: CHRIS DINGLE T: 0417 735 001 E: chris@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

22 // MANAGEMENT

Taking the heat out of feeding DR DAVID ISAAC, ANIMAL HEALTH, INNOVATION AND RESEARCH MANAGER BEC FEED SOLUTIONS

HEAT DURING spring and summer poses many challenges to the dairy farmer.

Cows eat less when they are heat stressed.

The lower feed intake means lower energy intake, which affects milk and its component yield, and its impact on conception and health will

last well beyond the hot summer months.

Complicating the effect on energy balance in the diet of cows is that high producing dairy cows are often in negative energy balance during early lactation.

Feeding grain is the first step in raising energy density of the diet, but excessive amounts in a reduced forage diet can lead to rapid fermentation and sub-clinical acidosis and a decline in forage digestion.

Feeding a calcium salt

of palm oil fatty acids will increase the energy density of the diet without interfering with rumen digestion.

The fats will be absorbed post-ruminally and provide the dairy cow with high quality energy for milk and fat yield.

Calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids can be used to meet the upper fat level of 7% in the total diet dry matter.

RumiFat Plus is a high quality rumen protected fat that does not interfere with rumen function,

Feeding a high energy density ration concentrate through the addition of a calcium salt of palm oil fatty acid such as RumiFat Plus (88.4% Fat) will prevent the drop in milk yield and income.

providing a highly digestible fat in the small intestine.

Heat stress will have an impact on farm income.

Take steps to reduce this impact through changes in management practices.

Feeding a high energy density ration concentrate through the addition of a calcium salt of palm oil fatty acid such as RumiFat Plus (88.4% Fat) will

prevent the drop in milk yield and income.

RumiFat Plus is available from BEC Feed Solutions directly to farm or can be incorporated into grain concentrate provided by your feed mill.

For more information or a brochure please contact Dr Brenda McLachlan on 0418 782 866 or email her at b.mclachlan@ becfeedsolutions.com.au

SOME CHANGES TO RATIONS THAT CAN HELP IN HEAT STRESS: ■

Increase the energy density of concentrate mix

■

Feed high quality forages to the milking herd

■

Ensure access and supply of high quality water

■

Provide forages or mixes in the cooler parts of the day

■

Feed ensiled feed at more regular intervals to prevent spoilage and lower intakes.

www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/enewsletter

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Dairy NewS AUSTRALIA december 2015

breeding management // 23

Superbrown added to mix GENETICS

Australia will become the exclusive distributor for Superbrown products in Australia.

The Superbrown portfolio of products is highly regarded worldwide, with a range of high quality genomic Brown Swiss sires that offer superior cheese-making ability of the milk, in addition to health, fertility and production benefits.

Genetics Australia general manager Jayne Senior said the cooperative was pleased to be able to add Superbrown to their range of domestic and imported products.

“We are confident Superbrown will both complement our current portfolio, as well as meet the needs of the Brown Swiss customer in Australia with a high quality product.”

in briefs $25 million of profits unleashed through genetics focus EXTENSION and education manager for the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) Michelle Axford is spreading the word on the benefits of better cow genetics to improving profit on farm.

In a short podcast by Dairy Australia, Michelle says there is at least $25 million of untapped profit on the table that farmers can access by making more focussed bull selections.

“Genetics is permanent and cumulative from year to year, meaning the choices we make today will last in your herd so it is worthwhile to take time to make sure we are making the right choices to maximise profit over time,” Michelle said.

“The Balanced Performance Index, Health Weighted Index or Type Weighted Index make it easier to choose profitable bulls that improve the traits you are interested in.”

The ADHIS website provides a searchable database of over 300,000 bulls from Australia and overseas and it provides breeding values to allow farmers to compare ‘apples to apples’ to enable the choice of bull that is best suited to achieve your breeding objective.

The podcast can be found at www. dairyaustralia.com.au/Standard-Items/MediaReleases/2015/November/26-11-2015-MichellAxford-Better-genetic-focus.aspx

Harlock to head up dairy genetic evaluation body VICTORIAN dairy farmer John Harlock has been appointed as chairman of the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS), the organisation that provides Australian Breeding Values and other objective information about the genetic merit of dairy cattle.

Mr Harlock operates a 350-cow dairy farm near Warrnambool with his wife Shirley, who was also recently awarded the Australian Dairy Industry Council’s Outstanding Service Award at the annual dairy leaders’ breakfast on November 27.

Mr Harlock has served on the ADHIS Board for eight years after holding positions on a number of dairy industry boards including Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Company, Genetics Australia, Western Herd Improvement and Warrnambool Cooperative Society.

As a member and former branch president of the UDV, Mr Harlock also has a strong understanding of the broader dairy industry and the issues faced by farmers.

To provide stability through the process, the annual ADHIS board nominations have been held over for 2015.

Established in 1958, Genetics Australia is the leading source of high quality, Australian-bred genetics that have been proven under Australian conditions.

In addition, to elite international genetics, the farmerowned cooperative also markets complementary livestock breeding products.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

24 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Planning a new calf shed?

IN SEASONAL parts of Australia, many cows are approaching dry off and with the warmer weather and longer days, now is the ideal time to think about making changes to your calf housing.

The easiest time to make changes to your calf housing is when there are no calves in the shed.

This article introduces the key concepts of rearing calves in groups and how these impact shed design.

Plan ahead of time Every farm is different and an in depth discussion of what the calf requirements are now and what they will be in the future is necessary to determine what the needs of the farm and the needs of the calves are likely to be.

The area of the calf shed should be determined by the

THE VET GROUP GEMMA CHUCK number of calves reared per season and the time period for which calves are to remain in the shed.

The industry recommendation is 2m2 per calf and this should be considered a minimum space allowance.

Remember to account for the thickness of partitions and any alleyways when planning the pen layout.

Rear calves in groups of similar ages This emphasises the

need for an “all-in allout” system.

This means that calves fill a pen until that pen is full and they are reared in that pen until they are all moved out of the shed.

When new calves come into the shed, the next pen starts to be filled, until it is full. After that the next pen is filled and so on.

The only reason a calf should leave her pen is if she becomes sick, in which case she may be removed to an isolation pen, or in some instances if she is a slow drinker.

Calves in each pen are reared as a ‘batch’ and do not mix between pens.

The pen size within the calf shed is determined by calving pattern, to allow complete filling of a pen with calves of similar ages and therefore similar immunity.

There should be no

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more than seven days difference in age between the oldest and youngest calf in the pen.

Method of milk feeding and nutrition also helps determine pen size.

Do not allow younger calves to mix with older calves To continue the approach of rearing calves in groups of similar ages, contact between pens should be avoided.

This means that common partitions between pens need to be solid and made of a nonporous material such as corrugated iron or tin, to prevent nose-to-nose contact and passage of manure between pens of calves.

Wood is not a suitable material for this purpose as it is difficult to clean and allows survival of pathogens which can cause disease in calves.

Mesh partitions such as gates, will only suffice when there is an alleyway between pens.

This can be useful in wide span sheds where airflow can be a challenge towards the centre of the shed but there is usually

ample space to allow alleyways between pens.

Partitions need to be 1.5m high if calves are to be housed until weaning.

It is advisable that either the front gate of the pen is easily opened or that there is a smaller gate within it, to allow easy access to pens.

Climbing and lifting of calves over gates is not recommended and will result in injury to staff and to calves.

Consider how calves will be fed Feeding facilities involve method of delivery for milk feeding, water, grain and roughage.

These should be carefully considered when designing the calf shed as delivery method will be dependent on pen size, the time calves stay in the pen, the number of staff available at feeding time and cost.

Milk feeding should be an efficient process to reduce stress for calves and staff, allow inspection of all calves for signs of early disease, allow the volume and speed of feeding for each calf to be observed and allow slow

drinkers to finish without bullying from other calves.

Ad lib water should be available from birth and should ideally be located at the front of the pen (the wet area).

Automated drinkers are ideal as there is a constant supply of fresh clean water. Large barrels are unsuitable as they easily become contaminated with manure and urine, and are difficult to clean.

Ad lib grain or calf starter (minimum 18% protein) should be available from birth and should be located in the pen such that many calves can have access at the same time.

One bucket in the corner of a pen will not be sufficient. Long raised troughs are ideal to help prevent contamination with manure.

They should be easily cleaned and should be of a suitable height for the breed and age of calves in the pen.

These troughs should be placed in the centre of the pen to allow access to grain by calves from all

sides and to help prevent rodents gaining access by running along pen walls.

Allow easy access for machinery In much of Australia calves require some form of bedding to create a warm and comfortable environment.

There is no perfect bedding and no one bedding that will suit every farm’s needs.

Bedding options in Australia include straw, rice hulls, sawdust, woodchips and sand, and raised mesh with rubber matting.

Regardless of the choice of bedding, there needs to be some thought regarding how the bedding will be removed between pens of calves.

Manual removal of soiled bedding is time consuming and physically demanding.

Machinery access to all pens in the shed will allow safe and efficient removal of bedding.

This may involve demountable pens with drop pins or clips, or slide doors to gain access to larger pens.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

ANIMAL HEALTH // 25

Change your liners for better health ROD DYSON

RECENTLY, I was

returning home from two farm visits at which I discovered that both farms had been dutifully replacing their rubber teat cup liners every 12 months, just as they had done for many years.

While I was contemplating liner change intervals, I passed a car on the side of the road accompanied by a police car with lights flashing.

Because the traffic was slow, I observed the driver and the policeman having what appeared to be an animated discussion whilst pointing to what were obviously very bald tyres on the car.

The policemen already had his “ticket book” in his hand, so I thought the driver was unlikely to win that one, and would probably receive both a financial penalty and some licence demerit points.

It then occurred to me how lucky we are with car tyres that we can actually see when they are worn out, and there are also wear indicators built into the rubber tread.

However, with rubber teat cup liners there is commonly no visible sign of deterioration as they age – yet just like car tyres, they begin to wear from the time they are first installed.

If milking machines operate for four hours per day, then with a pulsation rate of 60 cycles per minute, the liners will open and close 14,400 times in a day, or 432,000 times in a month.

The rubber will actually begin to absorb some fat from the time the liners are installed, and if there is a wash cycle twice a day, they will undergo a chemical wash 60 times in a month.

So it is little wonder that liners wear out!

After 12 months of this intense work on the farms I visited, the liners would have opened and closed five million times, and been subjected to 730 chemical washes - they would probably be close to “dead”.

Now consider that when operating, the liners are actively closed by vacuum in each pulsation cycle, but they actually open again entirely due to the tension and resilience of the rubber – there is no other force, vacuum or otherwise, involved.

As they wear out, they progressively lose tension and resilience, so they can no longer apply the same forces and massage the teats as they did when new, resulting in a degradation of milking performance and a far higher risk of teat end damage.

Consequently the risk of mastitis is greatly increased.

When badly worn, you may notice a bit more cup slip or poorer milking; if you do notice these changes, or if you notice any change after you change your liners, then the old ones were definitely in for too long.

How often should liners be changed?

The Countdown 2020 Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control and milking equipment manufacturers recommend changing liners after 2500 cow milkings or six months, whichever occurs first.

The Countdown Mastitis Toolkit app (available free for both iOS and Android smartphones) has a liner life calculator which calculates the 2500 cow milkings when liners are due to be changed and allows you to set a reminder alarm for that date.

For most farms, this will be the right timetable; however, just as car tyres don’t do the same number of kilometres on every car with every driver, there are other factors that may cause early deterioration in rubber teatcup liners.

Exposure to sun, heat, chemicals and ozone all contribute to deterioration in liners, but perhaps the most common and most destructive influence that we see is the use of chemical (usually alkali) “bombs” for plant cleaning.

These “bombs” have a

huge effect on rubberware and can probably be compared to a car doing “burn outs” on its tyres – neither will have a long life afterwards.

The unfortunate driver with the policeman was receiving a penalty for driving a vehicle that was at a greater risk of having an accident. If you have

worn out liners in your dairy, you have a greater risk of having a mastitis “accident”, and suffering the resulting financial cost.

Perhaps it is time for a change?

• Rod Dyson is principal veterinary consultant and team leader at Dairy Focus based in Tongala, Victoria.

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I reckon he’s been at it himself.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

26 // THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS

Dairy’s biggest expo is back!

THE IDW Dairy Farm and Machinery Field Days will run for three days at Tatura next month to cater for growing farmer interest.

The Field Days, proudly supported by Dairy News Australia, will be open to the public from Tuesday, January 19, through to Thursday, January 21.

The field days are open from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and close at 1.30pm on Thursday.

International Dairy Week – now in its 27th year - runs from Sunday, January 17 and closes on Thursday, January 21 with the presentation of the Interbreed Champion.

The popular IDW

seminar program will be held from Tuesday, January 19 to Thursday, January 21 in the tennis club rooms across the road from IDW. The seminars cover a variety of subjects, including improved transition, innovations in calf rearing, grain market outlook, analysing your business with DairyBase, how to optimise the dry period, and an

farm equipment and machinery in a relaxed environment.”

Major sponsors for Australia’s largest dairy expo include Semex, RuralCo, RASV and the City of Greater Shepparton.

The City of Greater introduction to social Shepparton has finished media. constructing a fantastic IDW event manager, new shed which is Robyn Barber, expects adjacent to the show more than 80 exhibitors at pavilion. this year’s Dairy Farm and “We are very excited Machinery Field Days. about it,” Robyn said. “It’s “We have businesses going to be great for cattle coming from South exhibitors and we have Australia, Queensland, also been able to introduce NSW and Victoria to some new commercial participate, providing an display space.” excellent chance for any The Holstein breed person involved in the the feature cattle 12.9cmwillxbe9.5cm industry to see the latest highlight of this year’s IDW with the World Wide Sires Evolution Sale to be held on the Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. ™ The Elite Ayreshire Sale .

Finally, a genetic solution to help your herd TransitionRight

PHOTO: CASEY TRELOAR

will be held at 11.30am on Tuesday, January 19, and the Elite Guernsey Sale, will be held at midday on that day.

The Jersey Showcase Sale will be held at 11.30am on Wednesday, January 20.

There are seven cattle shows across the

program and for the first time, the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria’s highly coveted Interbreed Champion will be presented as part of International Dairy Week. (see page 30) Dairy News Australia editor Madeleine Brennan

and advertising manager Chris Dingle will also be at the field days to chat to exhibitors and visitors, take photos and give away a hay feeder courtesy of Waste-Not Stockfeeders (see page 30).

Be sure to come and say hello.

Are you interested in becoming an organic dairy farmer?

Visit us at International Dairy Week, Tatura 19th-21st January, 2016 Demand for organic milk is growing rapidly creating exciting opportunities for our co-op. If you care for the land, animals and people alike we invite you to join us.

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Paul Trapp, ABS Global Regional Sire Analyst who is a judge at IDW, will also give a short talk on future trends in genomics and breeding.

Find out more about TransitionRight™ on page 31.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS // 27

Women of dairy unite at IDW IDW 2016 will host the launch of Power of Women in Dairying (POW).

Instigated after many years of wanting to, Jade Sieben a dairy farmer and principal of Brindabella Farms at Torrumbarry, is now taking the step to launch this fantastic initiative.

Jade (pictured) said that the group’s goal is to organise a welcoming and friendly night for women in the dairy industry in order to celebrate the strong, passionate and successful women in dairy.

The function, on Tuesday January 19, will enable like-minded women to meet, network, be informed and inspired by guest speakers.

The guest speaker for the night will be Tracy Sofra of Sofra Partners in Shepparton who will speak about financial freedom for women.

Dianna Malcolm of Crazy Cow and

Blue Chip Genetics will also introduce and chair a panel of women to share their learnings in the dairy industry.

During the evening POW will launch the Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Excellence Award with the first inaugural winner to be announced on the night.

Bette Hall from Plana Partnership in South Australia is no stranger to the world of dairy and is an inspiring role model for women.

The function, including pre-dinner drinks and a two course dinner, will be held at the Tatura Tennis Club Rooms, starting at 6.30pm with tickets at $10 per head.

The money will be put towards a scholarship which will be launched on the night.

With the aid of a number of sponsors, POW will launch a

scholarship to provide funding for a young woman over the age of 21 years to attend World Dairy Expo and the Dairy Girl Network Dinner in a few years.

“We hope to see women who are involved in dairy come together and enjoy each other’s company and learn some valuable financial tips” says Jade.

“What a great way to kick off 2016. Come and join us for a relaxing night and celebrate some wonderful achievements.”

For more information contact Jade Sieben on 0407 377 114 or for tickets contact Robyn Barber on 0418 656 082 or info@internationaldairyweek. com.au.

Please note that tickets for the evening are limited to 100 so women are encouraged to book seats as soon as possible.

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28 // THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS

Seminar program International Dairy Week 2016 Tuesday, 19 January 10am The on-going benefits of improved transition - reproductive and production performance and your peace of mind Dr Abdallah Zankar DVM – JEFO Australia The requirements of the modern day dairy cow during transition are different from decades gone by. If farmers get this correct the cow is set up for the whole year. If not, then reproductive performance, milk production, fertility and cow health is all affected. Dr Zankar has 20 years’ experience in dairy farming and ran a 5000 cow dairy owed by IDJ Almarai-PepsiCo in Jordan. He will share his experiences and the tools used.

11.15am Innovations in rearing healthy, strong calves David Reynolds - Provico During the past decade there have been many advances in technology which has resulted in innovation products and feeding strategies for

rearing healthy, better framed dairy heifers.

This talk presents a number of these innovations with a view to separating fact from fiction and offers practical applications for dairy calf rearers.

12.30pm Leaders are those with followers – 30 years of selection for health traits Speaker: Claus Langdahl, Holstein sire analyst Viking Genetics Selection for health traits has proven to be a great tool for increasing farm profits and decreasing veterinary and labour costs. Reducing poor cow fertility, lameness, mastitis treatments and metabolic disorders greatly increases cow longevity. Claus Langdahl will share the results of breeding Holsteins in Denmark for more than 30 years with a heavy emphasis on health trait selection. The last decade has seen an impressive increase of cow longevity in Scandinavia of 130 productive days.

1.45pm Genomics on the fast track Scott Ruby, Fir Ridge Holstein Farm, Oregon, USA

Kevin Jorgenson, sire analyst, Select Sires Inc – World Wide Sires Australia In a panel discussion hosted by World Wide Sires Australia, Scott Ruby will discuss “A Dairy Farmer’s Approach to Genomics and Profitability”, how he identifies the right bulls and uses genomics to manage his breeding program, and how he reaches targets more quickly. Scott is co-owner of Fir Ridge Holstein Farm, LLC in Scio, Oregon, USA and milks 550 registered Holsteins three times daily. The farm uses a TMR feeding system year-round.

Kevin Jorgenson (pictured) will provide an update on the reliability of genomics and also the ART program, Select Sires’ female genetic program.

3pm A grain market outlook for dairy farmers Stephen Howells, national merchandising manager, Grains & Oilseeds – Ridley Agriproducts Stephen will use his expertise in grain accumulation and grain

price risk management to explain the major drivers for international and domestic grain prices in 2016, and how this will impact major grain raw material inputs across the feed sector.

Former MKR contestant and cheesemaker at Hunter Belle Cheese, Jason Chesworth, returns to the kitchen to demonstrate easy to cook recipes with cheese as the hero ingredient.

6.30pm Power of Women in Dairying, Tatura Tennis Club Rooms A welcoming and friendly night for women in the dairy industry in order to celebrate the strong, passionate and successful women in dairy. Guest speaker Tracy Sofra of Sofra Partners in Shepparton will speak about financial freedom for women. Dianna Malcolm of Crazy Cow and Blue Chip Genetics will also introduce and chair a panel of women to share their learnings in the dairy industry. The inaugural Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Excellence Award will also be announced. Pre-dinner drinks and two course dinner is $10 per head. Tickets contact Robyn Barber on 0418 656 082 or info@internationaldairyweek.com.au Tickets limited to 100.

11.15am A grain market outlook for dairy farmers See synopsis above (3pm, Tuesday)

Wednesday, 20 January 10am Cooking with cheese Jason Chesworth - Hunter Belle Cheese

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1.45pm Analysing your business with DairyBase Tom Farran – Farmanco Analysing and understanding your overall farm business performance is easier with Dairy Australia’s online farm business management tool, DairyBase. Dairy farm business consultant, Tom Farran, will demonstrate how DairyBase can help farmers and their advisors track their own farm business over time, identify

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12.30pm Leaders are those with followers – 30 years of selection for health traits See synopsis above (12.30pm, Tuesday)

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THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS // 29 Pictures: Casey Treloar, South Australia.

opportunities to drive profit and reduce risk, make more informed business decisions, compare their performance to other farms according to size, region and production system and create annual reports and forecasts.

3pm How to milk social media Helena Athans – NAB Agribusiness Do you want to understand social media and what Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are? Agriculture is the second largest industry using social media. Learn how your business can leverage social media with NAB social media manager Helena Athans, who will demonstrate which social media channel is best for your business and how to build your brand.

Thursday, 21 January 10am Cooking with cheese See synopsis above (10am, Wednesday) 11.15am Genomics on the fast track See synopsis above (1.45pm, Tuesday)

12.30pm How to milk social media See synopsis left (3pm, Wednesday) 1.45pm Optimising the dry period: Why the dry period is the most important part of milk quality.

Mark Humphries Mark has been involved in dairying since he was 10, growing up on dairy farms in South Australia and Victoria.

Since then, he has maintained his dairying interest through vet school at Murdoch University (1999 Graduate), mixed practice in Korumburra, South Gippsland, dairy practice in Scotland, England and then nine years at the Maffra Vet Centre.

As well as the normal work of a cattle vet, he has completed further qualifications through the College of Veterinary Scientists in dairy medicine, trained many farmer short courses in mastitis, fertility, lameness, calf health and transition management and now has the role of project leader for Dairy Australia’s Countdown Program. Mark has a strong focus for disease prevention and for education in driving change and sustainability on farms.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

30 // THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS

Interbreed Champion to be awarded at IDW THE ROYAL Agricultural Society of Victoria’s (RASV) highly coveted Interbreed Champion will for the first time be presented as part of International Dairy Week (IDW).

The prestigious awards of Junior Interbreed Champion, Intermediate Interbreed Champion and Australia’s Grand Champion, will be awarded by an esteemed panel of six judges, including local and international experts from Australia, Canada and the USA, on the final day of competition.

The Champions and Reserve Champions of the Illawarra, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Holstein Breeds will be eligible for the sought-after prizes that carry with them significant cash prizes, recognised as the highest on offer in the country.

Australia’s Grand Champion will be awarded a cash prize of $2000, with Reserve receiving $1000, while Junior and Intermediate Champions will be awarded $1000 each, with each reserve taking home $500.

Mark O’Sullivan, CEO, RASV

said the awarding of the Interbreed Champion as part of the IDW schedule would provide greater opportunity for participants of the event, the largest expo in the Australian dairy industry.

“RASV is delighted to continue as a partner of IDW, which is highly regarded as Australia’s premier dairy event, and to offer participants the chance to be named RASV Interbreed

Champion,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

“Our partnership with IDW is underpinned by our commitment to promote and celebrate excellence in agriculture, provide value for industry participants and support regional and community events.”

Entries for the 2016 IDW Cattle Show opened on November 1 with details available at www.internationaldairyweek.com.au

Win a stockfeeder VISITORS TO the 2016 IDW will have

a chance to win a classic oval hayfeeder from Waste-Not Stockfeeders, courtesy of Waste-Not Stockfeeders and Dairy News Australia.

The feeders, designed and made in Maryborough, Victoria, ensure each animal gets its own feeding slot between the arches.

Farmers across the country have been using the Waste-Not feeders since 1988 when inventor and company owner Terry Allen won the Inventors Award at the Royal Melbourne Show for his innovative Waste-Not Stockfeeder System.

“Keeping the animal in place while it feeds eliminates bossing and ensures a fair go for all stock,” Terry said.

“Dropped feed also goes straight back in the feeder, ready to be eaten, ensuring all of the precious feed is used and not lost.”

The classic oval hayfeeder accommodates 18 head of cattle at once, and would suit a herd of up to 50 weaners and either one big square or two round

bales of hay.

The Waste-Not hayfeeders are manufactured in a number of sizes and shapes and the super duty high tensile steel ensures they are extremely robust to take the knocks and pressure on them by hungry cattle.

“The oval feeders can easily be extended to hold as many big square bales or round bales as required with the addition of more panels and pad stays,” Terry said.

Terry said Dookie College trials have shown the use of the Waste-Not hayfeeders can reduce hay use by 28% and increase live weight gain by up to 27%.

“It’s been very rewarding over the years to see many farmers – including many return customers – see the benefits of our hayfeeders and feed pads on farm,” he said.

To win, visitors must check in at six exhibitors stalls named on the entry form provided by Dairy News Australia.

To collect your entry, visit the Dairy News Australia team at IDW.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS // 31

World-first tool to aid transition period TRANSITIONRIGHT GENETICS is the world’s

first genetic solution to the costly diseases and disorders that occur in dairy cows during the transition period.

ABS Global Dairy brand manager, Mitch Amundson, will launch TransitionRight in Australia at International Dairy Week in January.

TransitionRight (TR) is a genetic tool developed

by ABS Global, which identifies bulls with greater transition disease resistance traits that can be bred into future progeny. (A selection of some of the TR bulls available in Australia is included in the table right.)

Current evaluation of progeny performance demonstrates that five star TR sires create $100 in value per cow per lactation through reduced health costs.

“Sires that transmit these traits produce progeny with greater resistance to typical transition diseases such as metritis, ketosis and mastitis,” Mitch said.

“The result is healthier cows going through the most vulnerable period for health issues and making a good start into their most productive period.”

It is estimated that up to 75% of a cow’s health problems occur during the transition period from calving to lactation.

A preventative solution to transition “Typically, the transition period has been handled through management: changes to

nutrition, vaccinations and physical treatment of the cow when she comes down with one or more of these common transition diseases,” Mitch said.

“Now we are able to look at the transition period from a genetic perspective, we can take a preventative approach rather than a reactive one.

“ABS has created a genetic evaluation for transition cows that is truly revolutionary. We are the only company that is able to offer a genetic solution specifically for the transition period.”

Metritis or inflammation of the uterus, often called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), costs on average $350 per cow and an average of 20% of all calving cows are affected.

“It is not unusual for us to hear dairy farmers say 90% of their herd health work is on transition cows.

“This is the time a dairy farmer hears those dreaded words metritis, ketosis, mastitis, hypocalcaemia, abomasal displacement and many others that can only mean more expenses and lost production,” Mitch said.

Greatly increased risk of disease A 2010 study on Transition Cow Management by Dairy Australia’s Grains2Milk and InCalf programs describes the transition period as being “characterised by greatly increased risk of disease”.

“Real World Data has been combined with genetic insights to

create TransitionRight Genetics,” said Mitch.

“We would expect to have about seven fewer daughters out of 100 that had a case of mastitis in

first lactation if a five star TR sire was used in place of a one star sire.”

• TransitionRight Genetics will be launched in the ABS marquee at IDW at 5.30pm

on Wednesday, January 20.

Paul Trapp, ABS Global Regional Sire Analyst who is a judge at IDW, will also give a short talk on future trends in genomics and breeding.

A SELECTION OF 5 STAR TR BULLS AVAILABLE FROM ABS AUSTRALIA: Proven Currajugle GONZO (Australian bull) 29HO16322 No-Fla HURST 29HO14961 RMW ARMITAGE 29HO16153 Regancrest PARADISE Primetime 29HO16955 View-Home MONTEREY 29HO17704 Pine-Tree SENATOR 29HO17706 De-Su 12128 TAILOR 29HO17685 De-Su 12109 BATTLECRY

Kick Off 2016 with Australia’s Dairy & Farm Machinery Field Days

a u s t r a l i a

19 to 21 January, Tatura, Victoria Your chance to see and hear the latest on: • calf rearing equipment

A good place to do business and a good place to socialise.

Follow us on

and

#IDWaustralia

• feeding, milking & dairy machinery, matting & flooring and free stall barn equipment • animal health products • tractors, airseeders and planters • hay, silage, mowers, slashers and fodder equipment • pastures, seeds & additives • hay and feed supplies • irrigation equipment, pumps & water storage and treatment systems • tanks, cartage and storage • artificial breeding systems • solar technology and solutions, air-conditioning & heating • farm supplies & merchandise

Gates: Open from 9.00 am.

Proudly Supported By

Entry: $10.00 adults, children free. Free Seminars & Workshops to attend Venue: Tatura Park Exhibition Centre, Hastie Street, Tatura, Victoria. www.internationaldairyweek.com.au Commercial exhibition space is available for the field day event, proudly supported by Dairy News Australia.

Sires that transmit these traits produce progeny with greater resistance to transition diseases including mastitis.

See www.internationaldairyweek.com.au for booking forms; call Robyn on 0418 656 082 or email info@internationaldairyweek.com.au.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

32 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Fast baler put to work during favourable conditions DEAN PULHAM is the machinery operator and maintenance coordinator for Peter Hanrahan’s dairy operation at Stony Creek in Gippsland and has been there for three years.

The farm has been in the Hanrahan family farm since 1956 and Peter has been running it here for 32 years.

They are milking 900 cows on a 50 unit rotary with automatic cluster removers.

He told us the cows receive a ‘blanket feed’ with wheat and mineral additive in the bail.

The New Holland

Roll-Belt 180 baler they purchased through Gendore Tractors & Machinery at Leongatha had done one season so far at the time of our visit in mid-August.

In that time it churned out 1000 rolls of hay and 1500 of silage, mainly ryegrass and all from their own paddocks on the place.

Peter said they make the majority of their own hay and silage and buy in when needed.

The baling starts at the end of October and usually goes through to mid-January.

“It kept raining so that’s why we ended up with so many round bales of silage,” explained Dean.

“The manufacturer says that when conditions are favourable the baler will do up to 500 bales in a day, and we can see that it is possible.”

The 180 in the baler’s model name refer to the maximum bale diameter in centimetres.

It makes 1.8m x 1.7 hay bales, which come out at about 500kg and 1.2m x 1.4m silage bales which Dean estimates average 700kg.

All the bales are

WORKING CLOTHES CHRIS DINGLE destined for the feed mixer which was mixing hay, silage and bread together at the time.

The feed mixer fills the feedpad twice a day, and the winter ration required fibre. Hay is the winter/early spring fibre

Peter Hanrahan (right) and Dean Pulham pictured with the New Holland Roll-Belt 180.

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supplement.

The baler is operated by a Deutz AgriTron TTV610 which Dean told us has had its ECU remapped to produce 180 horsepower: “It handles it easily.”

Dean added the baler is very user-friendly; the monitor is easy to learn and get used to.

The Roll-Belt baler is standard with New Holland’s IntelliView III colour touchscreen monitor to manage all key baling parameters from the cab.

New Holland says a brand new feeding logic has been developed for the Roll-Belt series which is set to significantly improve baler efficiency.

The system uses two contra rotating overshot and undershot augers to direct and merge the crop flow into the rotor.

A feed assist roller positively directs the crop into the rotor to maintain a constant crop flow at all times.

“The twin auger system, with the paddle feed gives a nice even

feed,” said Dean.

“It’s miles ahead of what I’ve been used to and I’ve operated most of the most recent major brands of balers – new and old.”

Peter added the machine has exceeded expectations: “Through Gendore the New Holland is better and cheaper than the rest. The proof is in how it feeds out and the weight of the bale. A nice and even feed out across the paddock.

“There is an option to change the core density – not so dense for feeding out, with a softer core and tighter outer. You have control of the material in all sorts of weather.

“The baler was intended mainly as a hay back-up for the silage, but the season just kept going and going. We have a pulltype New Holland FP240 precision chopper which we bought second-hand about 12 months ago and it’s covered 800 to 1000 acres (324 -405ha).”

Peter is complimentary about Gendore, particularly their salesman, Kevin Smith.

“They’ve been good to us. They have a very cooperative team with very efficient on-farm service and are always available on the phone. We have had an association with them for over 30 years.”

A Deutz TTV1160 does most of the mowing and odd jobs including running a 15,000 litre Muck Runner effluent tanker, a Duncan seed drill and an Alpego cultivator.

The Hanrahan farm employs eight workers.

“We calve twice a year, one-third in autumn, two-thirds in spring, so that keeps the workers occupied,” said Peter.

“We’re always looking at opportunities, we’re in a typical dairy cycle – shorter and harsher.

“The industry will be okay, we are milking all year round.

“We structure our production to the milk.

Our incentives are the same as they’ve always been. We manage the business to maximise the return pricing at the time.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 33

Choose the right size tank for the job PREPARING AN over-

all plan for your rainwater harvesting and water storage is critical according to David Mortimer, director of Tankworks, who is the largest manufacturer of steel water tanks in the country.

Taking the time to calculate the catchment area, rainfall rates and proposed usage such as stock watering, irrigation, fire-fighting and household supply

means the important decisions on tank size and tank configuration can be confidently made based on all the relevant information.

“I have seen many customers think biggest is best but not realising with the given catchment it will rarely fill or, on the flip side, they have purchased an undersized tank and then have needed to add additional tanks later on, which ends up being a

more expensive exercise,” David said.

He said Tankworks Australia has been manufacturing long-lasting steel rainwater tanks since 1934 and is experienced in providing advice and support.

With local representation and factories in each state on the east coast, David said Tankworks is well set up with expanded delivery capabilities to offer a wide range of prod-

An easier way to access water WHEN FIRES are burning and conditions worsen, moving a fire pump into position is stressful and tricky. Engine drive pumps are often stored in sheds, weigh in excess of 26kg, and can be difficult for a single person to carry.

With this in mind, Aussie Pumps has launched a trolley mounted version of the Aussie Fire Chief bushfire fighting pump. Called the Aussie Fire Cart, the pump can be easily manoeuvred for speedy deployment.

The Aussie Fire Chief is claimed to be Australia’s best portable firefighting pump. With a maximum head of 75m and maximum flow of 450 l/pm the pump also produces more water at high pressure.

Powered by a genuine Honda 5.5hp the pump is loaded with user friendly features.

The big belly body enables the pump to prime fast from vertical lifts of 7.6m.

The huge 19.5cm (7.5 inch) diameter, single piece impeller weighs up to 2.5 times that of competitors.

“It’s that huge, closed vane impeller that provides the extra performance,” product manager for AussieQP pumps Brad Farrugia said. “The ability to port more water literally means fires are doused faster, which is vital.

We simply put more metal into the impeller because we know that improves the life expectancy of the pump.”

The 5cm flanged, bolt-on suction port means the check valve can be serviced without having to dismantle the complete pump.

The three way outlet provides a choice of

ucts to dairy farmers.

“The water tank game is very competitive and it’s tempting to cut out features and options to have a great entry level price,” he said.

“However we decided early on to keep important features in the tank such as true Z450 galvanised walls and heavy duty geofabric to supply a product we are proud of and know

will stand the test of time.”

Tankworks tanks come in capacities from 27,000 to 466,000 litres in a wide range of colours, and with seven layer heavy duty polypropylene liners.

Farmers can fully customise their tank with additional outlets, inlets and overflows as required.

Ph 1300 736 562 or email rural@tankworks. com.au.

either two 2.5cm or a 3.8cm outlet for top performance. The outlet ports are fitted with metal caps and chains, not plastic.

The new heavy duty steel trolley, fitted with big 24.4cm foam filled tyre wheels, means the pump operates from a robust steady base, but at the same time is highly mobile.

“We came up with the Fire Cart idea because pumps are often moved around the property and used for a variety of applications on a farm,” Brad said.

The Aussie Fire Cart is featured in the latest edition of Aussie’s Fire Smart Survival Guide, a comprehensive booklet covering protection of property, livestock and even lives during bushfire season. The guide is available from Australian Pump distributors around Australia or online at www.aussiepumps. com.au.

STRENGTH | QUALITY | PERFORMANCE

Kerry McArthur, from Blayney NSW, pictured with the Aussie Fire Cart.

www.mcintosh.net.nz

Dairy News AUSTRALIA december 2015

34 // machinery & products

Katana – a cut above the rest mark daniel

WITH THE recent news

that high-end tractor specialist Fendt intends to go ‘long-line’ by offering a product range of AGCO sourced machines in their familiar green and red – in Europe at this stage anyway – it’s interesting to see upgrades to the Katana 65 self-propelled harvester.

Named for the long, single-edge sword favoured by Japanese samurai, this machine sells in 13 countries and at least 200 have been sold in three years of production.

Now the model is ready for upgrades required by

emission regulations and prompted by customer feedback.

Out goes the V8 Mercedes engine to make way for a MTU in-line straight six (625hp and more torque than the previous unit) redesigned to address power consumption: it has a much larger cooling package that slows air passage. This allows a smaller cooling fan and releases more power to the cutter-head.

Tank capacities have been increased to 1225L of diesel, 205L of AdBlue and 215L of water or silage additive.

More room has been created at the rear for stor-

Katana selfpropelled harvester.

age, and general access is improved by lighter, LED-lit panels around the machine. Serviceability is better, with three air-line connection points protected by one large centralised air filter.

On the technical front, throughput and yield monitoring can be recorded, allowing yield maps to be created, with the ability to communicate to the additive dosing system and automatically apply product according to crop yield.

Finally, an upgrade to the tyre package has the machine with rubber up to 900-70R42 sizing. www.fendt.com.au

Where there’s a will, there’s a weigh mark daniel

KUHN NZ has announced updates to its electronic weighing and data management systems for Euromix and Profile diet feeders which can be supplied as an option

or retro-fitted to existing machines.

The KDW 340 and 360 weighing and feed tracking systems use three load cells mounted at the drawbar and on the main chassis to weigh accurate to 0.5kg; they can store 200 ingredients or 25 mixes

containing eight ingredients each. They can also recalculate each item as the numbers of animals in a group change or as the load size changes.

Self-contained and powered by a machine mounted ancillary battery, the unit can be used

unhitched from the tractor.

A clear back-lit display of six figures with 43mm high characters makes the unit useable in bright sun or darkness.

Data is easily transferred to a farm office via a standard USB

Accurate information is given to driver as load is being formed.

flash drive.

In conjunction with the weighing units, a wireless display unit called KDR 300/400 can be fitted to a loader tractor or telehandler to give the operator accurate information about the load as it is being formed. The units have 90m and 300m ranges, respectively, and the display units have sixdigit 25mm high characters, and can work with up

Three load cells accurately weight ingredients.

to 12 different feed wagons via separate operating channels.

Brian Robertson, Kuhn operations manager, noted “the ability to weigh out precise rations is the key to efficient milk production, and the unit’s ability to measure to 0.5kg accuracy and transfer data to dairy professionals such as nutritionists or vets will be incredibly useful.” www.kuhn.co.nz

L A I C E SP T R O P RE NEXT ISSUE: FEBRUARY PASTURE IMPROVEMENT The huge productivity gains available through pasture renewal have been proven by research and by farmer experience over recent years. Renovating pastures with new high yielding grass varieties means more milk in the vat and more money in the bank.

The February issue of Dairy News will feature a special report on the latest technology, equipment and techniques to use to get the most out of Pasture Improvement.

BOOKING DEADLINE: January 27 MATERIAL DEADLINE: February 2 PUBLISHED: February 9 CONTACT: CHRIS DINGLE T: 0417 735 001 E: chris@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

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