dairy news australia december 2015

BEST IN SHOWInterbreed Champs at IDWPAGE 30

NEW BOSSSimone Jolliffe to lead ADF PAGE 4

Brighter outlook for global dairy demand PAGE 10

DECEMBER, 2015 ISSUE 65 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

Simone Jolliffe to lead ADF PAGE 4

DECEMBER, 2015DECEMBER, 2015 ISSUE 65 ISSUE 65 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

TOP OF THE CROP

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

Interbreed Interbreed Champs at Champs at IDWPAGE 30

BOSSSimone Jolliffe to lead ADF

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NEWS // 3

THERE WILL need to be signifi-cant changes to regulatory barriers to enable growth in food manufac-turing in regional Australia, accord-ing to the Business Council of Australia’s CEO Jennifer Westacott.

The BCA released a blueprint last week to guide Australian agri-business development to meet an estimated $1 trillion soft commod-ity boom in the Asian food chain, fol-lowing 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 send-ing 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 econ-omy by focussing on growing our food manufacturing capability,” Ms Westacott said.

“But it will require a significant

review of regulations. Some of our regulations really stymie progress.

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

She recommended joint ven-tures between Australian agricul-tural producers and domestic and international investors to enable food manufacturing to occur on the

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 ven-ture.

Her views were echoed by

investor David Williams of Kidder Willaims Ltd. “The driver for inter-national 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 Euro-pean money.

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

China dairy heifer demand slide. PG.13

The Scourge of Aussie dairy. PG.19

Singing for his Tucker. PG.14

Planning hurdlesJEANETTE SEVERS On farm efficiencies drive profit

OUTGOING ADF president Noel Campbell, himself a dairy-farmer 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, inves-tors 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

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 increas-ing feed tonnages or feed effi-ciency – 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 chang-ing calving and feeding patterns, including increasing the amount of grain he feeds to cows.

“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 low-ered the incidence of milk fever and increased production post calving.” He increased the size of the effluent dam, to irrigate pas-tures and the herd is split-calving to chase seasonal rewards.

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4 // NEWS

AS OUTGOING ADF president Noel Campbell reflects on his three years in the president’s chair, it’s the now strong financial and lob-bying 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 ) pro-cessors 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 agree-ments.

He cites the China Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) as a high-light and says it was the stron-ger 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 indus-try 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 Fed-eral Minister for Agriculture and Water Barnaby Joyce and Shadow Minister Joel Fitzgibbon praising the approach by the outgoing pres-ident at an industry dinner in Can-berra 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 lobby-ing 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

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.”

ADF standing on solid ground

Noel Campbell. PHOTO BY JEANETTE

SEVERS

Jolliffe ready to representSIMONE JOLLIFFE has some fresh deci-sions to make on farm now that she’s been made president of Australian Dairy Farm-ers.

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 hol-iday period when the university students aren’t around,” Mrs Jolliffe said.

Together with husband Noel, she milks around 225 Holsteins on 360ha using irriga-tion from the Murrumbidgee River, as well as underground, and supplie s 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 rep-resentative 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 some-one’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 perspec-tive 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 sig-nificance.

“I don’t see being female as being any great feat, but what I do see it as is an oppor-tunity for other women in dairy to have the confidence to get off farm and to partici-pate 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 confi-dence 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 impor-tant “not to let our guard down around animal welfare and environmental issues” and that she valued the rela-tionship 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 sit-uation I guess, to ensure we all work together.”

MADELEINE BRENNAN

Jolliffe ready to representwe 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 perspec-tive 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 sig-

“I don’t see being female as being any great feat, but what I do see it as is an oppor-tunity for other women in dairy to have the confidence to get off farm and to partici-pate 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 confi-dence to see that they do have a voice and it’s valued, then that’s a positive and strong

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 impor-tant “not to let our guard down around animal welfare and environmental issues” and that she valued the rela-tionship 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 sit-uation I guess, to ensure we all work together.”

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NEWS // 5

Tough action stalledTHE 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 imple-ment the majority of the Harper Review’s recom-mendations, and work with states and govern-ments to advance reform, but has delayed a decision on section 46 of the Com-petition and Consumer Act 2010.

Section 46 would create an effects test to laws gov-erning the abuse of market power.

Australian Dairy Farm-ers (ADF) acknowl-edged the government’s response as a positive move toward strengthen-ing the competition Act.

Outgoing ADF Presi-dent Noel Campbell rec-ognised the government’s support for key recom-mendations.

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

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

However, ADF expressed disappoint-ment that reform to sec-tion 46 of the Act dealing with the misuse of market power, recommended by the Harper Review, has

been delayed. “We will con-

tinue to advocate for improved transparency regarding the impact of retailer actions on suppliers, and for the regulating bodies to have the power to pre-vent potentially dam-aging 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 legisla-tive 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 recommen-dation 53 of the review, which refers to small busi-ness 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 spe-cifically on section 46 that “will canvas a spectrum of

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

Comments on the dis-cussion paper will be due by February 12.

He will then take a pro-posal to Cabinet for deci-sion by the end of March.

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

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

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 anti-competitive 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

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6 // NEWS

CASEY AND Bonnie Taylor are noticing the difference after chang-ing 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

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

The changes included more focus on perennial pastures and cropping, more detailed manage-ment of feed, and using the existing feedpad to help through the tradi-tional 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.

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 home-grown 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.

Total feed costs went from $2.67/kgMS to $2.43, well below the regional average and achieved mostly on the back of a big saving on purchased feeds. Total costs went from

$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 June-August 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 180-cow 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. “DairyBase has been

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

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.”

WHO: Casey and Bonnie Taylor WHERE: Heathmere WHAT: Focus Farm

Feed focus pays dividends

RICK BAYNE

Casey and Bonnie pictured with Casey’s dad Peter.

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NEWS // 7

WHEN CASEY Taylor decided to plant a maize crop on his farm near Portland in south-west Victoria, he quickly found himself the subject of ridicule.

His fellow Focus Farm support team was vocal in its opposition to the plan, with Casey saying it “was a bit like barracking for Collingwood. People were either for it or against it.” But Casey did it anyway.

Casey said he had considered the idea for about 10 years but had been told it was too risky, particularly on dryland farming.

“I did get the piss taken out of me about dryland maize,” Casey admit-ted at a recent WestVic Dairy focus farm field day.

Now he’s having the last laugh and other farmers are following his move, albeit with caution.

“There was a lot of debate about whether we should grow maize or not but I stuck to my guns and did it,” he said.

He’s happy he did.As an experiment he planted

16ha on dryland last year. He admits one paddock was a disaster and one mediocre, but the other two pro-duced good results.

Even including the disaster, he averaged a yield of about 7.5tDM/ha and it helped significantly during the feed pinch period from late June till early September.

“Based on last year’s figures we were about $240-$260 a dry tonne in the cow’s mouth,” he said.

“It did everything we thought it would do and possibly more. Now the focus is how we can grow this economically and improve those figures.”

Casey had planned to have another go at dryland maize this year but the conditions intervened.

“When it got half way through

October and we were get-ting dust off paddocks we pulled the pin on the traditional dryland pad-docks,” he said.

This year he is put-ting in 7.5ha under irrigation and 6.5ha in a peat swamp area.

“We felt it was less risky with the acidity in the swamp as opposed to the dry-land,” he said. “In an ideal world I’d grow it on outer areas of the farm and water something like turnips or more plan-tain that we can direct graze here.

“We wanted to see what maize could do for us in the July-Sep-tember period. I think last year we proved that it could work.”

The Taylors plant about 90,000 seeds per hectare and planted the first dryland crop on November 3 and the irrigated land on December 3, though next year plan to plant in October.

Focus Farm consultant Angus Drummond said the majority of the group was opposed to the dryland plan.

“We were really nervous about it,” he admitted.

Angus added that the weather conditions had helped this time and that the system would not suit all farms.

“We don’t want to say this suits every system,” Angus said. “If you don’t have water you may end up with a failed crop.”

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 dis-cussion 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.”

Maize gamble draws last laugh

October and we were get-ting dust off paddocks we pulled the pin on the traditional dryland pad-

This year he is put-ting in 7.5ha under irrigation and 6.5ha in

“We felt it was less risky with the acidity in the swamp as opposed to the dry-land,” he said. “In an

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

The maize crop averaged a yield of about 7.5tDM/ha and it helped signifi cantly during the feed pinch period from late June till early September. PICTURES: RICK BAYNE.

“It did everything we thought it would do and possibly more.”

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8 // NEWS

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.

Bobby calf footage shocks New Zealand dairy farmers

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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

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 o ther 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.”

ADIC issues swift response to welfare crisis

Dai ry NewS aUSTraLia december 2015

news // 9

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 green-field 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

New board members elected at Dairy Australia AGM

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 courtAN 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 On-card International) says it entered into an agree-ment 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 For-eign 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 supe-rior 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. Com-prehensive legal advice has been taken through-out the transaction process,” he said.

VFF welcome investments in drought relief, irrigationTHE 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 follow-ing 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 Irriga-tion District.

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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.

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.

Dai ry News aUsTraLia december 2015

10 // mArketS

Has the worm finally turned?

fresh ageNDasTeve speNcer

the SituAtion in global markets makes it a good time for this column to take a look at some of the greatest imped-iments to greater dairy trade: non-tariff barriers.

Although international standards exist to guide market access requirements for most dairy products, many coun-tries 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 bar-riers to trade (TBTs) are not just border entry issues and come in many forms, including market access restrictions,

production and shipment costs, unnec-essary compliance requirements and administrative red tape.

The impact of these technical, non-tariff 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

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 require-ments such as quarantine inspection, sensible product testing and other such regulation, the report clearly identifies

a wide range of barriers that are effec-tively 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 over-seas.

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 sig-nificance of non-tariff barriers, and of the opportunities to reduce them in country-to-country discussions.

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news in brief // 11

in briefs

Voters says yes to dairy levy poll changesVOTERS 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.

ClarificationQUOTES 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.

new appointment to lead MDbADEPARTMENT 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.

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

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

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.

Dairy’s green vision awarded

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12 // NEWS

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

Healthy soils at the heart of successful farming

methods are destroying the life in the soil and everyone would like to reduce their chemical input costs.

“What we focus on is delivering soil friendly practices that deliver dividends over time. Microbes return and the soil starts to work for you.”

Brenton said his approach is not focused on pushing one particular farming method or agenda but draws from both organic and traditional methods to get the best results.

The company has developed its own range of products including AmSul (Ammuonium Sulphate, an alternative to Urea), Seabird Guano (a natural phosphatefertiliser) and Progro (liquid fertiliser) which are all designed to promote microbial life.

“We must recognise that soils are the foundation of every farming enterprise,” he said.

“For every cow growing on pasture, there should be the equivalent of at least four cows in underground microbial biomass. Once we understand that, then we need to consider all fertiliser and chemical inputs and rotations and their effects on soil

life.“Not all fertilisers are

bad,” he said. “It’s about asking whether it’s friendly to life in the soil, and where and how much you are applying.”

He said he’s worked with farmers who no longer use insecticides on legume crops.

“If you get a balanced soil, you don’t need to,” he said.Brenton, together with sales representative John

Handley, will be hosting a series of workshops in NSW and Victoria in February for farmers interested in learning more about maximising soil health.

As well as drawing from his own experience, Brenton will discuss

the results of several trials he has conducted at properties throughout Australia, including a dairy farm in Broadford Victoria where soil improvements over

four years achieved a 48% increase in dry matter production.

“More carbon in soils can have huge financial gains for farmers in healthier soils, and higher production, all with lower costs,” Brenton said.

The workshops will be held in Orbost on February 9; Bega on February 10; and Omeo, February 11. For more information email [email protected]

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 fi ght to limit global warming

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.”

“More carbon in soils can have huge financial gains for farmers in healthier soils, and higher production, all with lower costs.”

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NEWS // 13

Chinese dairy heifer demand – has the ship sailed? THE RECENT slow-down in Chinese demand for live dairy heifers has many Australian exporters and traders questioning if the boom period is over, according to a new indus-try 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 vol-umes and prices expected to remain well below 2014 levels over the medium term.

“Last year we saw Aus-tralia’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 desti-nation 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 appe-tite 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 con-tamination was found in infant formula, other dairy and food stuffs), there

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.”

EXPORTERS AND TRADERS NEED TO REFOCUS

has been a marked shift to large-scale dairy opera-tions in China, which has been supported by gov-ernment 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 – stem-ming 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 large-scale farm developments being postponed or can-celled, 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 fertil-ity rates and herd manage-ment practices, reducing the need for local produc-ers to replenish their herds through importing heifers.

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14 // news

Singing and milking for his TuckerRegan 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

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

Zealand’s rich central North Island dairy region, he learned his trade on 13 farms before saving enough to start buying into his own.

RichaRd MeRediTh

“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.”

Regan Tucker with wife Alison and two of his children Tegan and Dannielle. PicTuRes: RichARD MeReDiTh.

“I started out with no money so I had to work my way up,” he said. “It taught me to never give up.”

With little appetite for the classroom, he learned from the owners he worked with, picking up skills quickly on the job and retaining what he learned.

“The owners I worked with were more schooled up than me but I was quick at learning practically.”

Regan accepted has first share milking job milking 120 cows at Taupiri on a 25% share of 85c/kgMS.

Hard yards in anyone’s book but it gave him his credentials as a share milker – a small step up a long ladder.

No one needs to tell a farmer it’s a lonely life –

hours spent alone, sowing, harvesting, fencing.

Singing, which he started at the age of five, has become Regan’s past time while he works. He carries a notebook and writes down ideas and

phrases that come into his head and that might later make it into a song.

“I always write songs on the farm. It hits me. If I’m sitting here (in the kitchen) it doesn’t come. Out there the emotions start to flow; emotions

going way back to people telling us we couldn’t make it. And we have. And we will.”

His third album, which will be released in 2016, will have many of his own songs on it.

He now has a band and bookings in Launceston later in the year. Tamworth Country Music Festival is on the horizon.Singing practice

“When I’m out on my own, I sing to myself. It’s a kind of practice. I work on the tunes in my head

and try out different ways of singing them. It takes my mind off things.”

His third album will be called ‘Stone Cold’ and harks back to Regan’s second dairy management job – 400 cows on the steepest dairy farm in New

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NEWS // 15

Singing and milking for his TuckerZealand – 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 Singh-Heere at Gordonton near Hamilt on.

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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16 // AROUND THE REGIONS

Gippsland

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 oppor-tunities 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 grad-uate diplomas in applied finance and financial planning, and has most recently been working as a key account manager with Elders looking after corporate agribusiness cli-ents and high net worth family farming businesses.

New regional manager

Murray Dairy

Green inspects pasturesPARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY for Regional Victoria Danielle Green visited Yar-rawalla 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

irrigation water to reduce seasonal feed deficits. Ms Green said the project had the poten-

tial 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.

A FORMAL relief appeal has been established to assist farm-ers 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.

They are also looking for hands-on support.

Relief appeal for � re a� ected

Western Australia

New South WalesBoost for irrigatorsMORE 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 Indus-tries said upgrades from the $15 mil-lion investment are expected to recover more than 4,800ML of water currently lost from production. Minister for Pri-mary 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 irri-gators can benefit from tightening up their production methods and modernis-ing their equipment,” he said.

Comboyne celebrating dairy heritageTHE 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 `Legen-dairy’ status rubs off on others consid-ering 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 Cap-ital brought some younger people to the industry. It’s a hard industry to get into if you don’t have a family back-ground 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,

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

Shane says his proudest achieve-ment in the dairy industry is being will-ing 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.”

Shane Debreceny pictured with Port Macquarie mayor Peter Besseling.

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AROUND THE REGIONS // 17

Suzanne Lee speaking at the seminar.

Western Victoria

Antibiotics use on the agenda

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 anti-biotic 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 pos-sible 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 Udder-Mate and natural scour treatment No-Scour Calf. The session was sponsored by Farmgate Stockfeeds.

Tasmania

THE UNIVERSITY of Tasmania h as signed a memoran-dum of understanding with New Zealand’s leading agri-cultural 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 deliv-ery and infrastructure management.

NZ partnership

Sub TropicalBusting the myths

ROSS WARREN and Ray Murphy from the DAFQ Dairy team will be delivering ‘Busting the Myths of Summer Grazing Workshops’ throughout Decem-ber.

Building on the success of the winter myth bust-ing workshops, Subtropical Dairy will address the various myths around the productivity and prof-itability of summer pastures and how to maintain quality and quantity of tropical forages. Understand-ing the costs and benefits of efficient pasture utilisa-tion will also be discussed.

Visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au/Industry-infor-mation/Dairy-events-calendar/Subtropical-dairy-events/Busting-the-Myths-of-Grazing-Workshops.aspx or contact Viv McCollum, 0428 460 380, [email protected].

South AustraliaConference 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.

www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

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18 // OPINION

EDITORIAL

MILKING IT...

RUMINATING

Practical hoof-wearTWO 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 fl exible soles made from beech and oak and are colour-coded 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 timesTHE milk aisle at some Coles stores now includes an enticing button for children to push (pictured). As if to confi rm 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 hereIT sounds like something 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 fl avour — 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.

Cosmetics showdownSINCE the days of Cleopatra many people have espoused the benefi ts 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.chain?

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 Coun-cil leaders’ breakfast held in Melbourne late last month, social researcher Dr Neil Barr painted an upbeat picture of the Aus-tralian 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 ter-tiary qualification; couples marrying later etc) it meant no more than a 10% decline in the number of young farmers across agri-culture 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 maintain-ing 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 Glo-balDairyTrade 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.

Dairy’s bright outlook

AdvertisingChris Dingle 0417.735.001

[email protected]

EditorMadeleine Brennan 03.9478.2178 or 0402.715.577

[email protected]

Publisher Brian Hight

Production Dave Ferguson Becky Williams

SubEditor Pamela Tipa

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OPINION // 19

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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20 // OPINION

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 signifi cant 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 HoutingKerang, Vic.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORLETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Articles speak close to home THE Victorian Government’s Food

and Fibre Discussion Paper, re-leased 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 Victo-ria’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 tar-get more growth in its preeminent position in agriculture, it will need more investment, new technology, improved infrastructure and leader-ship that will promote change.

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

We should welcome this inter-national interest in our world class farming land and have a vision to double or triple the size of the Ma-calister Irrigation District.

But every week, it’s disappoint-ing to see activists and naysayers dominate the media with their list of “No’s”: to foreign investment, FTAs, CSG, large dairies, new tech-nology 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 bi-products’ from our forests – but yet again, the urban idealists say NO.

Last year, the Victorian Agribusi-ness Council arranged a tour for seven leading Malaysian chefs to visit Victorian farming agribusi-nesses 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 environ-mental sustainability to productiv-ity.

Landcare could also become a new export into Asia, using the knowledge and the brand to add value to Victoria’s quality agricul-ture 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 agribusi-ness; 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 [email protected]’d love to hear what matters to you.

Investment should be welcomed with open arms

the spenders of the levy

personally on whether we

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WORLD // 21 DAI RY NEWS AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2015

WORLD // 21

Fonterra lifts earnings forecastFONTERRA DELIV-ERED some good news for its New Zealand farm-ers 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$4.95-5.00 /kgMS after reten-tions.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson said per-formance 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 Fonter-ra’s performance deliver-ing increased returns,” Mr Wilson said.

Fonterra Australia had no announcement for Aus-tralian 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 condi-tions.

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

“Consumer volumes

are up supported in part by the Anchor cream launch while our domes-tic foodservice is grow-ing 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 exe-cute our multi-hub strat-egy, which sees Australia as a global hub for cheese, whey and infant nutrition-als, complementing our

domestic foodser-vice and retail businesses.”

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

Fonterra chairman 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 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.”

Greg Gent

BOOKING DEADLINE: January 27 MATERIAL DEADLINE: February 2PUBLISHED: February 9CONTACT: CHRIS DINGLE T: 0417 735 001 E: [email protected]

NEXT ISSUE: FEBRUARY

SPECIAL REPORT

IRRIGATIONUpdating 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.


22 // MANAGEMENT

■ 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.

SOME CHANGES TO RATIONS THAT CAN HELP IN HEAT STRESS:

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,

Taking the heat out of feedingDR DAVID ISAAC, ANIMAL HEALTH, INNOVATION ANDRESEARCH MANAGER BEC FEED SOLUTIONS

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 [email protected]

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.

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KEEP UP-TO-DATEWITH OUR WEEKLY

NEWSLETTER.

www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/enewsletter


breeding management // 23

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/Media-Releases/2015/November/26-11-2015-Michell-Axford-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.

genetiCS auStralia will become the exclusive distributor for Superbrown products in Australia. The Superbrown portfolio of prod-ucts 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 pro-duction benefits.

Genetics Australia general man-ager Jayne Senior said the cooperative was pleased to be able to add Super-brown 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 Aus-tralia with a high quality product.”

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

In addition, to elite inter-national genetics, the farmer-owned cooperative also markets complementary livestock breeding products.

Superbrown added to mix


24 // ANIMAL HEALTH

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

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 all-out” 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

Planning a new calf shed?

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 non-porous 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.

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ANIMAL HEALTH // 25

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 contem-plating liner change inter-vals, I passed a car on the side of the road accompa-nied 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

Change your liners for better healthROD DYSON

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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Look who’s talking. I reckon he’s been at it himself.


26 // THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS

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

introduction to social media.

IDW event manager, Robyn Barber, expects more than 80 exhibitors at this year’s Dairy Farm and Machinery Field Days.

“We have businesses coming from South Australia, Queensland, NSW and Victoria to participate, providing an excellent chance for any person involved in the industry to see the latest

Dairy’s biggest expo is back!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 Shepparton has finished constructing a fantastic new shed which is adjacent to the show pavilion.

“We are very excited about it,” Robyn said. “It’s going to be great for cattle exhibitors and we have also been able to introduce some new commercial display space.”

The Holstein breed will be the feature cattle 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

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.

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A genetic solution for healthier transition cowsMitch Amundson, ABS Global Dairy Brand Manager, will launch TransitionRight™ Genetics with a presentation in the ABS Australia stand at International Dairy Week at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 20 January.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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THE IDW DAIRY AND MACHINERY FIELD DAYS // 27

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IDW 2016 will host the launch of Power of Women in Dairying (POW). Instigated after many years of want-ing to, Jade Sieben a dairy farmer and principal of Brindabella Farms at Tor-rumbarry, is now taking the step to launch this fantastic initiative.

Jade (pictured) said that the group’s goal is to organise a welcom-ing and friendly night for women in the dairy industry in order to celebrate the strong, passion-ate 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 Part-ners 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 tick-ets contact Robyn Barber on 0418 656 082 or [email protected]. Please note that tickets for the evening are limited to 100 so women are encour-aged to book seats as soon as possible.

Women of dairy unite at IDW



Seminar programInternational Dairy Week 2016Tuesday, 19 January10am The on-going benefi ts of improved transition - reproductive and production performance and your peace of mindDr Abdallah Zankar DVM – JEFO AustraliaThe 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.

11.15amInnovations in rearing healthy, strong calvesDavid Reynolds - ProvicoDuring 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 fi ction and offers practical applications for dairy calf rearers.

12.30pmLeaders are those with followers – 30 years of selection for health traitsSpeaker: Claus Langdahl, Holstein sire analyst - Viking GeneticsSelection for health traits has proven to be a great tool for increasing farm profi ts 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.

1.45pmGenomics on the fast trackScott Ruby, Fir Ridge Holstein Farm, Oregon, USA

Kevin Jorgenson, sire analyst, Select Sires Inc – World Wide Sires AustraliaIn a panel discussion hosted by World Wide Sires Australia, Scott Ruby will discuss “A Dairy Farmer’s Approach to Genomics and Profi tability”, how he identifi es 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.

3pmA grain market outlook for dairy farmersStephen Howells, national merchandising manager, Grains & Oilseeds – Ridley AgriproductsStephen 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.

6.30pmPower of Women in Dairying, Tatura Tennis Club RoomsA 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 fi nancial 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 [email protected] Tickets limited to 100.

Wednesday, 20 January 10amCooking with cheeseJason Chesworth - Hunter Belle Cheese

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.

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

12.30pmLeaders are those with followers – 30 years of selection for health traitsSee synopsis above (12.30pm, Tuesday)

1.45pm Analysing your business with DairyBaseTom Farran – FarmancoAnalysing 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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opportunities to drive profi t 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.

3pmHow to milk social mediaHelena Athans – NAB AgribusinessDo 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 10amCooking with cheeseSee synopsis above (10am, Wednesday) 11.15am Genomics on the fast trackSee synopsis above (1.45pm, Tuesday)

12.30pmHow to milk social mediaSee synopsis left (3pm, Wednesday)

1.45pmOptimising the dry period: Why the dry period is the most important part of milk quality.Mark HumphriesMark 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 qualifi cations 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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Daryl will be at the IDW Dairy and Machinery Field Days from Friday the 15th January 2016

Pictures: Casey Treloar, South Australia.



Interbreed Champion to be awarded at IDWTHE ROYAL Agricultural Soci-ety of Victoria’s (RASV) highly cov-eted 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, Ayr-shire, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Holstein Breeds will be eligible for the sought-after prizes that carry with them significant cash prizes, rec-ognised 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 indus-try participants and support regional and community events.”

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

Win a stockfeederVISITORS 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 innova-tive 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 accom-modates 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 man-

ufactured 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 addi-tion of more

panels and pad stays,” Terry said.Terry said Dookie College trials have

shown the use of the Waste-Not hay-feeders 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 bene-fits 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.



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

World-first tool to aid transition period

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

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.

Proven Currajugle GONZO (Australian bull)29HO16322 No-Fla HURST29HO14961 RMW ARMITAGE29HO16153 Regancrest PARADISEPrimetime29HO16955 View-Home MONTEREY29HO17704 Pine-Tree SENATOR 29HO17706 De-Su 12128 TAILOR29HO17685 De-Su 12109 BATTLECRY

A SELECTION OF 5 STAR TR BULLS AVAILABLE FROM ABS AUSTRALIA:

a u s t r a l i a

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

Follow us on and #IDWaustralia

Your chance to see and hear the latest on:

• calf rearing equipment

• 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. Entry: $10.00 adults, children free. Free Seminars & Workshops to attendVenue: 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. See www.internationaldairyweek.com.au for booking forms; call Robyn on 0418 656 082 or email [email protected].

Kick Off 2016 with Australia’s Dairy & Farm Machinery Field Days 19 to 21 January, Tatura, Victoria

Proudly Supported By


32 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

DEAN PULHAM is the machinery operator and maintenance co ordinator 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

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

Fast baler put to work during favourable conditions

WORKING CLOTHESCHRIS DINGLE

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 pull-type 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.”

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

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MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 33

Choose the right size tank for the jobPREPARING AN over-all plan for your rainwater harvesting and water stor-age is critical according to David Mortimer, direc-tor of Tankworks, who is the largest manufacturer of steel water tanks in the country.

Taking the time to cal-culate the catchment area, rainfall rates and proposed usage such as stock water-ing, irrigation, fire-fight-ing and household supply

means the important deci-sions on tank size and tank configuration can be con-fidently made based on all the relevant information.

“I have seen many cus-tomers 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 manu-facturing long-lasting steel rainwater tanks since 1934 and is experienced in pro-viding advice and support.

With local representa-tion 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 condi-tions 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 dif-ficult for a single person to carry.

With this in mind, Aussie Pumps has launched a trolley mounted version of the Aussie Fire Chief bushfire fight-ing 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 firefight-ing 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 impel-ler that provides the extra perfor-mance,” product manager for AussieQP pumps Brad Farrugia said. “The abil-ity to port more water literally means fires are doused faster, which is vital. We simply put more metal into the impel-ler 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

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 book-let covering protection of property, livestock and even lives during bushfire season. The guide is available from Aus-tralian Pump distributors around Australia or online at www.aussiepumps.com.au.

ucts to dairy farmers.“The water tank game

is very competitive and it’s tempting to cut out fea-tures 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 geo-fabric 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 custom-ise their tank with addi-tional outlets, inlets and overflows as required. Ph 1300 736 562 or email [email protected].

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

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 impel-ler that provides the extra perfor-mance,” product manager for AussieQP pumps Brad Farrugia said. “The abil-ity to port more water literally means fires are doused faster, which is vital. We simply put more metal into the impel-ler because we know that improves the life expectancy of

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

season. The guide is available from Aus-tralian Pump distributors around Australia or online at www.aussiepumps.com.au.

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

STRENGTH | QUALITY | PERFORMANCE

www.mcintosh.net.nz


34 // machinery & products

Katana self-propelled harvester.

Katana – a cut above the restWith the recent news that high-end tractor spe-cialist 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 sam-urai, 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 Mer-cedes engine to make way for a MTU in-line straight six (625hp and more torque than the pre-vious unit) redesigned to address power consump-tion: 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-

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

On the technical front, throughput and yield mon-itoring can be recorded, allowing yield maps to be created, with the abil-ity 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

mark daniel

Where there’s a will, there’s a weighkuhn nZ has announced updates to its electronic weighing and data management sys-tems for Euromix and Pro-file diet feeders which can be supplied as an option

or retro-fitted to existing machines.

The KDW 340 and 360 weighing and feed track-ing systems use three load cells mounted at the draw-bar and on the main chas-sis to weigh accurate to 0.5kg; they can store 200 ingredients or 25 mixes

containing eight ingredi-ents 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 bat-tery, the unit can be used

unhitched from the trac-tor.

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

Three load cells accurately weight ingredients.

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

flash drive.In conjunction with

the weighing units, a wire-less display unit called KDR 300/400 can be fitted to a loader tractor or telehandler to give the operator accurate infor-mation about the load as it is being formed. The units have 90m and 300m ranges, respectively, and the display units have six-digit 25mm high charac-ters, and can work with up

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 produc-tion, and the unit’s ability to measure to 0.5kg accu-racy and transfer data to dairy professionals such as nutritionists or vets will be incredibly useful.”www.kuhn.co.nz

mark daniel

PASTURE IMPROVEMENTThe 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 2PUBLISHED: February 9CONTACT: CHRIS DINGLE T: 0417 735 001 E: [email protected]

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dairy news australia december 2015

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