farm field day · farmiq field day glenaan station ... extension agronomist)...

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FARMIQ FIELD DAY GLENAAN STATIONPROPERTY OF PAUL & PRUE ENSOR

2623 DOUBLE HILL RUN ROAD, RAKAIA GORGE

→ THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2014

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AGENDA

12.30pm Welcome – Jansen Travis

12.40pm Introducing FarmIQ – Greg McSkimming (GM FarmIQ)

12.55pm Question session

1.10pm Introduction: Paul Ensor

• Review of business plan goals

1.30pm Farm Strategic Plan: Graeme Ogle

• Past, present, future

2.00pm Split Session - Split in to 2 groups for each session

• Livestock

• Forages and development

4.55pm Question session

5.15pm Summary and Thank You – Nick Hamilton

5.30pm BBQ + beers

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INTRODUCTION

MISSION Improve property production by 20% by 2016, targeting a Farm working expense ratio below 50%

BUSINESS GOALS

• Finish Merino hoggets to 20kg (average kill date 15th November)

• Contract a minimum of 50% of Merino Wool

• Monitor ewe condition scores regularly

• Consistently Lamb 100% in Merinos

• Continue to be innovative and lead the way with technology transfer.

• Top 10% of Merino farms for productivity and EFS

• Be in a position to expand business

• Develop Lucerne area on river flat to 200+ hectares

THE FARMGlenaan Station is owned and farmed by Paul & Prue Ensor, and is situated in the Upper Rakaia Gorge. Glenaan is 1,035 hectares and has 3 distinct land types; high country tussock hill (598ha), cultivated paddocks on the fan (140 ha) and river flats (297ha). The hill is well subdivided and has a good fertiliser history. The cultivated paddocks grow all supplementary feed, have an average paddock size of 5.5hectares and run an estimated 15su per hectare. Currently 55 hectares of the river flats has been renovated into Lucerne and Lucerne mix based pastures, a further 40 hectares is top dressed and over sown.

We currently run 2,700 Ultra fine Merino ewes, 1,450 merino hoggets, 700 Romney ewes (all mated to a terminal with 2th replacements bought in). Alongside the sheep 160 Angus cattle are run including 85 in-calf cows & heifers, steers are sold store at 15months and heifers are mated as R2’s.

With no possibility for irrigation we want to develop a robust system that is flexible and can generate a good profit every season. Selecting pasture species that perform well in our environment will enable us to do this.

We feel there are great opportunities to increase stock production with the use of EID. Focus for the coming season will include continued development of the river flats, a focused animal health and management program for the hoggets, fodder beet trial, and Lucerne feed curve profile.

THE TEAM

Paul & Prue Ensor [email protected] 03 3185 125

Sam Lucas (McFarlane Rural Business - Agronomist) [email protected] 021 758 079

Sarah McKenzie (Agricom – Extension agronomist) [email protected] 027 704 6684

Grant King (Rabo Bank) [email protected] 027 742 8068

Steve Williams (Canterbury Vets) [email protected] 027 447 5363

Graeme Ogle (Consultant/NZ Merino) [email protected] 027 557 0823

Nick Hamilton (NZ Merino) [email protected] 027 546 6434

Jansen Travis (FarmIQ) [email protected] 021 220 1263

PAST PRESENTAND FUTURE

1. ANALYSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FARM SYSTEMThe approach we have taken to analysing the farm system has been to:

• Benchmark livestock performance to identify areas where improvement can be made;

• Model the value of opportunities to prioritise direction.

Merinos are the predominant enterprise on Glenaan. It has 3 components, each with different performance indicators:

• Breeding enterprise

• Young stock enterprise

• Wool production

1.1. BENCHMARKING THE MERINO BREEDING ENTERPRISEThe 3 factors that measure a ewe breeding performance are conception, survival and lamb growth.

Conception - A measure of conception performance is a scanning index. This is calculated as:

• Pregnancy percent

• Ewe weight at mating

Glenaan ranks well against an industry benchmark showing his ultra-fine ewes are as fertile as other fine wool sheep.

Glenaan Industry

MA Ewes 2.45 2.40

2th Ewes 2.35 2.30

Lamb survival – The standard measure of lamb survival is the number of lambs weaned as a percentage of total lambs scanned. It is also important to understand how well a ewes body weight is maintain between tupping and set stocking. Bodyweight near lambing needs to be corrected for conceptus and wool weight.

Glenaan has higher lamb losses particularly in 2th Ewes. This is correlated with a higher loss in body weight through winter.

Glenaan Industry

MA Ewes lamb survival 70% 76%

2th Ewes lamb survival 56% 72%

MA Ewe winter body weight loss 10.0% 7.0%

2th Ewe winter body weight loss 6.5% 4.8%

Lamb growth – Lamb growth from lambing to weaning is critical in achieving lambs with adequate weaning weights to grow rapidly before winter. Weaning weight comparisons need to be standardised to the same ‘Days to weaning’. The weights below are standardised to 100 days from the mid-point of lambing.

Glenaan has a lower weaning weight than the industry benchmark.

Glenaan Industry

MA and 2th Ewes 24.0 25.4

Summary of ewe breeding enterprise

Ewe and 2th Ewe weights need to be maintained through winter. This will contribute to lower lamb losses and better lamb weaning weights.

1.2. YOUNG STOCK PERFORMANCEThree weights are considered in measuring young stock performance. The weight they enter winter (May) and the weight they are at shearing (End of August). This provides an estimate of liveweight gain over winter. The third weight is the 2th Ewe tupping weight.

Glenaan starts with lower winter weights then during winter losses weight. The result is hoggets 5.5kg lighter than the industry standard by shearing. By 2th Ewe mating this gap has closed to 2.4kg.

Glenaan Industry

Pre-winter (May) weight 33.6 35.6

Shearing weight (Aug) 32.7 38.2

Winter liveweight gain (Grams/days) -8 24

Tupping weight (kg) 48.9 51.3

Summary

Better weaning weights will contribute to a better pre-winter weight. Hoggets need then to achieve a liveweight gain through winter.

1.3. WOOL PRODUCTIONThe efficiency with which a ewe produces wool can be measured by her clean wool weight as a percentage of her liveweight. Because fine wool can vary considerably in fineness it is also valuable to compare the revenue made per kg of ewe liveweight wintered. The liveweight represents the cost of growing wool.

Glenaan is slightly less efficient at growing wool. However, a premium for finer wool has meant Glenaan returns slightly more revenue per kg of ewe liveweight wintered.

Glenaan Industry

Micron 16.3 17.6

Wool weight (kg clean) 2.9 3.3

Efficiency (%) 5.6 5.9

Wool $/kg liveweight (cents) 1.13 1.06

In summary

The premiums paid for ultra-fine wool have diminished however, Glenaan is no worse off given they have selected for high wool producing animals.

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• What is the cost of Lucerne development? In particular:

• Soil fertility was lower than we expected and more capital fertiliser is required;

• Red tussock grass (Festuca Rubra) is present and we have not adequately controlled it with 11 litres (360) of Roundup;

• Establishment requires good moisture levels at sowing yet this soil has little water holding capacity – what is the effect of establishment failures?

• Ryecorn crops used for preparing the land have required more nitrogen than fi rst estimated.

Based on a 6tDM/ha production we change the feed supply in all months except May, June and July while Lucerne is dormant. However, a larger area of ryecorn is used for renewing Lucerne and assists us with feeing in March to May, then again from August to October. The resulting difference in feed supply is shown below.

2.3. ADDITIONAL EXPENDITUREThere are additional costs to maintaining a new large area of Lucerne and the additional costs of running livestock. These include:

• labour;

• Animal health;

• Increased shearing costs associated with greater hogget numbers

• Ryecorn crops associated with pasture renewal;

• Fertiliser;

• Vehicle costs associated with labour;

2.4. FINANCIAL OUTCOMEThe fi nancial outcome we predict is an increase in farm profi t before tax of $119K. This includes an increase in total revenue of $213K. This is made up of:

• $85K from meeting our new performance targets. These new performance targets increase our earnings from the merino enterprise from 12.9 cents/kgDM consumed to 15.0 cents/kgDM consumed.

• $70K from retaining more hoggets to fi nish.

• $58K from the new bull beef enterprise.

Expenses increase 95K.

The income earning potential (cents per kgDM consumed) for each enterprise is shown below. It shows a compelling case for maximising the use of the merino and bull beef enterprises.

Enterprise c/kgDM consumed

Merino 16.2

Romney 11.8

Beef herd 9.7

Bull beef grazers 16.7

2.5. RETURN ON INVESTMENTAt the last fi eld day we had calculated the total investment to cost the following.

Cost $

Lucerne development 210 x $770 161,700

Water supply and fencing 105,000

Yards 35,000

Total $301,700

Cost per hectare $1,436

We have since found the fl ats need a further 600kg of superphosphate as a capital dressing. This would increase our total investment by $55,000, or $265/ha.

This would still provide a 33% return on investment.

The other factor is the production we might expect from the Lucerne. As stated we are working on 6tDM/ha. Changes that would be made are:

• 4tDM/ha - bull fi nishing numbers would decrease from 150 to 30

• 5tDM/ha – bull fi nishing numbers would decrease from 150 to 90

• 6tDM/ha – Our current assumptions

• 7tDM/ha – bull fi nishing numbers would increase from 150 to 170

• 8tDM/ha - bull fi nishing numbers would increase from 150 to 220

Below shows how our return on investment might change with increased capital costs and changes in Lucerne production.

Capital costs

Lucerne produc-tion (tDM/ha/year)

4 5 6 7 8

1400 25.4 31.6 40.5 45.6 53.3

1700 20.9 26.0 33.3 37.5 43.9

2000 17.8 22.1 28.3 31.9 37.3

2300 15.4 19.3 24.6 27.8 32.4

2700 13.2 16.4 21.0 23.6 27.6

A doubling of capital costs halves the return on investment as does a doubling of dry matter production

1.4. SETTING NEW TARGETS FOR THE MERINO ENTERPRISEBased on the benchmarking we have set new targets for livestock production.

Current Target

All ewes above 3 CS at mating

Ewes fed main-tenance from weaning then fl ushed

35% of ewes under 3 CS fed 1.5 main-tenance from wean-ing – no fl ushing

Ewe liveweight change tupping to lambing

Ewes loose ¾ CS Ewes maintain CS

Set stocking to weaning Covers dip below 1200kg

Covers - 1250 Lambing- 1500 after 30 days- 1750 after 60 days

Lamb weaning weight 24.0 26.0

Hogget May weight 33.6 35.0

Tupping weight 48.9 52.0

Lambing % – MA Ewes 90 110

Lambing % - 2th Ewes 60 92

However, these targets require better feeding of ewes and the resulting increased lamb numbers. This therefore requires more feed to be produced.

2. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING FORAGE PRODUCTION

• Opportunities for increasing feed production have been considered, including:

• Optimising paddock fertility. Every paddock soil testing has been implemented and was reported at last year’s fi eld day;

• Increasing crop yields. Fodder beet is being trialled as a means of producing more high energy feed from the same crop area (reported in this booklet);

• Change in pasture species. More winter active tall fescue is now grown on paddocks. An added advantage is its grass grub resistance;

• Lucerne development on river fl ats.

2.1. ANALYSING THE VALUE OF LUCERNE DEVELOPMENTThe opportunity to develop 210ha of river fl ats is now being pursued. These fl ats have shallow soils on top of river gravels. There is a stable water table within 2 meters of the surface and we consider it likely that Lucerne will access this layer providing growth through summer.

There are key assumptions that need to be made and there are risks in establishment:

• What will the annual production be? We are working on 6tDM/ha. However, if Lucerne doesn’t access water it could be less, if it does then it could be considerably more;

2.2. UTILISING THE EXTRA FEEDIdeally we need a stock class that can come on in late winter and be fi nished by the end of April. We have taken two approaches:

Maximising the output from the merino enterprise – Meeting our new performance targets will require extra feed. Also, Glenaan sells male lambs shortly after weaning (830 out of 1100). The new system will:

• Have 680 more lambs from better lambing %;

• All lambs will be retained for fi nishing in the following spring.

Bull beef – We are considering the Silverferns bull beef contract. Bulls can be bought on in September at 250kg liveweight and fi nished on Lucerne at maximum liveweight gains being sold from February to April at around 290kg carcass weight. Payment is through a liveweight gain contract. This requires no capital and has an excellent fi t with feed supply as shown below. The new system includes running 150 bulls.

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BASE SYSTEM

TARGET SYSTEM

BREEDINGEWE BREEDING

3 KEY PILLARS• Conception

• Survival

• Growth Rate (Refer to Young Stock)

We spent a season collecting individual animal data to investigate the impact condition and weight had on the 3 key pillars. Our farm targets and farm policy has been drawn up from these results.

CONCEPTION – “WEANING THE START NOT THE END”We collected individual animal data to access what impact the Condition Score of ewes at mating had on conception (scanning) results.

The Impact on 2013 Scanning Results

Age of Dam

AD Ewes 6 Yr 5 Yr 6 tooth 4 tooth 2 Tooth Ave

Scan 2013 143.1% 145.0% 143.7% 135.0% 141.0% 121.0% 141.1%

Scan 2012 147.4% 144.4% 148.4% 140.3% 125.6% 107.9% 135.7%

Industry average scan results in 2013 were well down on the 2012 result. 2013 was the highest on record for Glenaan, an achievement in a very difficult mating season. Major gains came from the 2 and 4 tooth ewes through targeted feeding

Low Condition Score Ewes at Weaning Followed Through to Shearing

CS Weaning Mating Shearing

2 28 7 1

2.5 151 19 19

3 71 67

3.5 66 68

4 15 21

4.5 1 3

Total 179 179 179

Concern was raised within the group that poor conditioned ewes were likely to be repeat offenders throughout the season.

There were only 6 repeat offenders that stayed below CS 3 from Weaning to Shearing. The whole mob however always had 8% or ~ 180 ewes below CS 3 at Weaning, Mating and Shearing.

SURVIVAL – EWE CONDITION AT SET SOCKING AND PASTURE COVERSSet Stocking Plan

We acknowledged the variation in ewe condition, scan result and cycle and put a plan together to allocate paddocks that would meet their current demand.

Merino MA Ewes

Early Lambers Late Lambers

Multiples Low CS 9331

High CS 621

Singles Low CS 31 5

High CS 737 110

Condition score proved to be an extremely accurate predictor of conception to predict group average performance. Managing ewe condition late in the season is difficult and expensive. The focus starts at weaning with an emphasis on lifting the low condition score ewes, maintaining the medium condition score ewes and working the high condition score ewes.

Change in Condition Score from Weaning to Mating - 2013

Condition Score @ Weaning

Weaning Avg CS

Mating Avg CS

Change

Low CS (2-2.5) 2.85 3.18 0.33

Medium CS (3-3.5) 3.31 3.34 0.02

High CS (4-4.5) 4.09 3.63 -0.45

Ewes were condition scored and feed differently based on their condition score. Emphasis was to have all ewes above condition score 3 at mating excluding the 4 tooth ewes, the focus was to have these over condition score 3.5, you can see the impact in the scanning results.

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Merino 2 Tooths


Multiples Low CS143 7

High CS

Singles Low CS378 44

High CS

Merino Terminals


Multiples Low CS 238

High CS 105

Singles Low CS 1127

High CS 182

Lambing Results

There were not enough paddocks to segment all classes of stock, so all low condition scored ewes were run together, they were priority fed from shearing and received the pick of the paddocks.

Class Lambing %

Twin 89%

Single 71%

Low CS 84%

2 Tooths 51%

Average 77%

Twins in Good Condition

Paddock Area (ha) Set Stock Cov-er (kgDM/ha)

Sheep/ha Ewes Dry Lambs Ewe deaths

Lamb % Covers 31/10/2013

Spurs 7.7 1900 16.9 98 30 104 2 80.0% 1550

Clarkes 12.2 1700 11.9 105 35 120 5 82.8% 1600

Little Acre 14.6 1900 14.0 150 47 181 8 88.3% 1700

Trig - btm 5 1750 14.6 58 12 78 3 106.8% 1800

While set stocked on good covers was the stocking rate too high in some paddocks impacting on available feed during peak lambing to have an impact on survival?

Risk

Risk of one lambing date is an area we will look at for the coming season based on the impact snow had on us this season.

Peak of First Cycle - 100mm of rain & 20cm of Snow!

VALUE OF LIFTING CONDITION SCORE BY MATINGAssumptions:

• 30% Lamb Wastage

• 25kg lambs at weaning

• Additional lambs value at weaning $2.50/kgLW

CS at Mating Average Scan % Point Change Potential Revenue $/Ewe Avg KgLW$Return/kgDM to lift

Ewe Condition

2 119.23% 43.81

2.5 126.56% 7.33% $3.21 46.54 $0.27

3 135.84% 9.28% $4.06 47.99 $0.58

3.5 142.02% 6.17% $2.70 49.36 $0.45

4 147.87% 5.86% $2.56 51.10 $0.32

4.5 153.85% 5.97% $2.61 52.92 $0.29

Total 141.04% 49.30

Of Interest

A faecal egg count was taken on the three bands of condition scored ewes.

Condition Score FEC

Low CS (2-2.5) 2000

Medium CS (3-3.5) 200

High CS (4-4.5) 0

Some say ewe micron has an impact on scanning %

2 Tooth Micron Number Avg Scan Result Mating CS

14-14.5 67 149% 3.44

14.5-15 159 142% 3.43

15-15.5 277 137% 3.45

15.5-16 416 138% 3.45

16-16.5 415 143% 3.46

16.5-17 306 147% 3.46

17-17.5 173 140% 3.43

17.5-18 53 138% 3.65

Total 1866 142% 3.46

There is no clear evidence micron has an impact on lambing %

Condition Score Weaning 2014

Avg CS Ratio

Single 3.3 44%

Twin 3.7 33%

Dry 4.3 2%

Wet/Dry 4.0 21%

CS Ratio

2 1%

2.5 11%

3 15%

3.5 24%

4 30%

4.5 18%

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Condition Score has an impact on wool return Condition Score at Weaning

CS @ Weaning Average of Yeild % Average of CFW (kg) Average of $/hd

2 68.86 2.35 45.89

2.5 68.66 2.43 47.32

3 69.36 2.55 50.13

3.5 70.01 2.60 51.44

4 70.06 2.65 52.23

4.5 69.41 2.68 51.83

Total 69.75 2.60 51.11

Condition Score at Mating

CS @ Mating Average of Yeild % Average of CFW (kg) Average of $/hd

2 68.41 2.43 48.61

2.5 68.73 2.45 48.23

3 68.76 2.48 48.01

3.5 69.90 2.61 51.43

4 70.52 2.71 53.56

4.5 74.45 3.04 63.39

Total 69.75 2.60 51.10

ANIMAL HEALTH - EWE FIELD STUDIESVitamin E Supplementation Pre-Lamb

Does the use of Veterinary Lamb Survival Drench (LSD) or Vitamin A, D & E vaccine pre lamb in two tooth ewes actually improve lamb survival? It is expected that animals treated with Vet LSD or Vitamin ADE have a higher lamb survival rate than the control that compensates for the cost of the treatment. If successful it will give us to confidence to use this product regularly.

150 single bearing two tooth ewes were treated with Vet LSD & another 150 treated with Vitamin of ADE, two weeks to ten days prior to lambing, and 100 single bearing two tooth ewes will remained untreated. The untreated and treated were run together and treatment identified by EID.

Analysis of establishing if there is a lower wet - dry rate in the animals treated with Vet LSD versus those which were untreated, by removing all wet-dry’s at tailing.

Results: Low survival due to a series of short sharp snow storms.

# Treated Lambing % Increase over Control

Vit ADE 146 63.0% 13.7%

LSD 147 64.8% 15.5%

Control 146 49.3%

Increase of 15.5 lambs per 100 ewes = $2.20/kg LW @ 26kg weaning weight = $57.20 *15.5 = $886.6/100 ewes = $8.87 return per head for $0.35 investment in LSD or $1.40 for Vitamin ADE

COPPER SUPPLEMENTATION TO EWESTo establish if supplementation of copper to pregnant ewes improves productivity. We will measure the supplementation of copper by assessing whether it improves animal performance by higher condition score at weaning and improved wool production & reduced wet/dry rate at tailing. If effective all ewes will be supplemented in future seasons.

At shearing 13/08/13 a random sample of 300 Mixed age twin bearing ewes and 300 Mixed age single bearing ewes will be treated with 1ml of COPPER•MAX™. The treated animals will be recorded against their EID tags. The remainder of the flock will be untreated. All wet-dry ewes are removed at tailing and we can monitor if the wet-dry rate of the treated animals is similar to those not treated. At weaning we can compare live weights and condition scores of those treated vs control, and at shearing 2014 wool weights can be assessed. All data capture for this project will come from existing data capture plans.

Copper Administered

Lambing NumberWeaning

CSLamb

Survival

No Copper

Single 646 3.31 78.9%

Twin 455 3.71 76.7%

Dry 41 4.25

Wet/Dry 276 4.05

Total 1418 3.61

Copper

Single 235 3.24 79.6%

Twin 255 3.74 77.4%

Dry 10 4.30

Wet/Dry 115 3.96

Total 615 3.59

• A positive result for both twins and singles for lamb survival but not for condition, possibly not statistically significant?

• 2.5 extra lambs per 100 ewes = $1.43/head return for a cost of $0.65 copper max shot.

• A challenging season to try establish a difference.

• More data to analyse – Condition score at weaning and fleece weights.

Glenaan FECRT results 2013

Group Strongyle (Round-worm) % reduction

Nematodirus % reduction

1 Control -50 -125

2 Ivermectin full (ML drench)

100 100

3 Ivermectin Half (ML drench)

60 33

4 Abermectin (ML drench) :

100 100

5 Levamisole (Clear drench)

94.7 100

6 Oxfendazole (White drench) :

100 -70

7 Ravensdown mix (Albendazole +Le-vamisole) (Clear/White combo)

100 100

We recommend any FECR <95% is seen as a sign of drench resistance, so would suggest that there the following resistance in these lambs:

• Benzimidazole resistant Nematodirus

• Emerging ML resistance (as shown by the half Ivermectin dose results)

• Possibly Levamisole resistant Round worms (marginal result though)

At this stage we would recommend doing larval roundworm cultures on the groups 3, 5 and 6 to further identify the populations of resistant round worms. This will also help us determine the extent of the “LEV” resistance in the Round worm population.

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LAMB GROWTHDATA

YOUNG STOCKGrowth Rates Tailing to Weaning

Blocks # Growth

RateManagement Tailing

to weaning

Darkies 150 210Set stocked on birth block

East Hill 309 200Rotated around 3 blocks

High Face 231 212 Set stocked post tailing on High Hill

Low East hill

187 213 Rotated around low hill

Lucerne 571 221Twins rotated on Lucerne

Summary of Lamb growth rates from Tailing to Weaning

• Top 10% of Merino lambs growing @ 277gram/day

• Average weaning weight @ 100 days 25.4kg

• Average Terminal lamb weaning weight 29.5kg

• MS Merino lambs 24.2kg

• Twin Merino lambs grew an average of 222grams/day on Lucerne

• Single Merino Lambs grew 206 grams per day on Hill

• Terminal Twin lambs grew @ 248g/day on Low Hill

• Terminal singles grew @ 273 grams per day on High hill.

#Ave Pre-wean Growth Rate

Ave 100 Day LWT

Average of Wean LWT

Merino 1450 213 24.5 23.6

Single 908 207 23.9 23.0

Twin 542 222 25.4 24.6

Terminal 343 263 29.5 28.5

Single 202 273 30.5 29.3

Twin 141 249 28.1 27.3

Grand Total 1793 222 25.4 24.6

#Average of Pre-wean Growth Rate

Ave 100 Day LWT

Average of Wean LWT

Merino 1450 213 24.5 23.6

1st Cycle 1070 213 24.5 24.3

2nd Cycle 127 199 23.1 19.4

2th Lambs 253 216 24.8 22.9

Terminal 343 263 29.5 28.5

1st Cycle 322 264 29.6 28.8

2nd Cycle 17 254 28.6 23.8

2th Lambs 4 227 25.9 23.9

Grand Total 1793 222 25.4 24.6

Selection of Replacements

#Hog Micron

Hog CV Hog CV $/hd

Culls 264 15.5 18.9 1.57 $30.88

Replacements 635 15.2 18.6 1.78 $36.77

All 899 15.3 18.7 1.72 $35.04

Hogget Wool Analysis

# MicronClean Fleece Kg

$/kg $/hd

Ewe 890 15.3 1.72 $20.47 $35.04

Single 528 15.0 1.70 $20.73 $35.06

Twin 362 15.7 1.74 $20.10 $34.98

Weather 254 15.3 1.90 $20.50 $38.82

Single 155 15.1 1.87 $20.85 $38.93

Twin 99 15.7 1.94 $19.95 $38.65

Grand Total 1219 15.3 1.75 $20.53 $35.85

Lamb Growth Rates

Lambing date Growth Rates

Larval Culture Results

Larval Culture Results Black - Control Half Ivermectin Overall Reduction %

Haemonchus % of total 0 0 Not counted

Ostertagia % of total 54 87 41% *Resistance

Trichostrongylus % of total 40 13 88% *Resistance

Cooperia % of total 1 0 100%

Oesoph/Chabertia % of total 5 0 100%

Black - Control Levamisole Overall Reduction %

Haemonchus % of total 0 0 Not counted

Ostertagia % of total 54 88 90% *Resistance

Trichostrongylus % of total 40 12 98.20%

Cooperia % of total 1 0 100%

Oesoph/Chabertia % of total 5 0 100% From the above results you can see there is evidence of emerging ivermectin ostertagia and trichostrongylus resistance as shown by the half ivermectin results, as well as having levamisole resistant ostertagia. We would recommend further drenching regimes should now contain LEV/BZ dual combination drenches, which is confi rmed by both the FECR test and the larval culture.

1st Mating

ShearingAutumn

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Annual Micron and Yield testing of hoggets and Two tooth Merino ewes.

The aim is to identify the micron and yield of individual animals so a ‘fl eece value’ for individuals and be calculated. Minimum ‘standards’ can then be set for each trait and animals can be selected as replacements based on these.

Animals with higher micron will be culled and therefore the average fl eece value of those hoggets retained will be higher thus improving the overall profi tability of the fl ock trial result. A ‘Pin bone’ sample will be taken from each animal at least two weeks prior to shearing and sent to NZWTA for analysis, this information along with fl eece weights taken at shearing will be used to calculate the individual fl eece values.

Once all measurements are collated this data can then be used to create a list of animals potentially suitable for retaining as replacements.

Ewe Hogget Replacements – Average Fleece Value = $36.77

Ewe Hoggets culled on Fleece data with acceptable confi rmation & constitution = $31.11

YOUNG STOCK FIELD STUDIESVitamin B12 Smart Shot supplementation

Through liver biopsies in 2013 we have established Vitamin B12 defi ciency in merino hoggets post weaning. Defi ciency causes loss of appetite resulting in poor growth. SmartShot gives at least 8 months protection.

Objective: To establish if Vitamin B12 supplementation via Smart Shot at various times has a positive effect on growth rates.

Expected Outcomes

The use of Smartshot will improve growth rates of Lambs reared on hill country to weaning and also continue to improve growth rates of lambs through the autumn. This should also be refl ected in improved wool weights and possibly wool quality. If successful all lambs will be treated in future.

Method & measurement

Analysis of growth rates will be conducted on the treated lambs vs untreated lambs from weaning until June 2014. 600 Lambs were treated at tailing time and recorded against their EID tags and a further 600 lambs treated at weaning, this will leave 300 untreated as the control. All data capture for this project will come from existing data capture plans.

Results

This project is part way through, but analysis on growth rates from tailing to weaning as follows:

• Single ewe lambs on hill; Treated animals +5grams per day

• @ 70 days = 350grams heavier @$2.30/kg LWT = $0.81

• Treatment lasts 8 months…….

• Cost is $1/hd + application

Foot Vaccine Study

To establish if foot vax will reduce the impact foot rot is having on hogget performance, in both growth rate and wool weight. In addition to this is a ‘half dose’ will be given to some to measure its effectiveness for young stock. The vaccine can put animals ‘off’ their diet for a few days which could result in a break in their wool. Hoggets vaccinated against foot rot should have higher growth rates and subsequently higher wool weights. It is anticipated that if superior weight gains are achieved all hoggets in following years will be foot vaccinated. This will reduce any additional yarding required to trough hoggets through a challenge period.

A return on investment will be calculated using the cost of vaccine against the increased live weight ($/kg LWT) and wool weight ($/kg wool). Shearing information will be used to determine if the vaccine caused a ‘break’ in the wool. This project will commence in April.

ANIMAL HEALTH PLAN

Month Action

Year 1

November Tailling

Scabbie Vax

5 in 1

SmartShot Vitamin B12 Trial

December Preferentially Feed twins

January Weaining

5 in 1

Triple drench

SmartShot Vitamin B12 Trial

Clik treatment

Preferentially Feed replacements

February Monitor Growth rates & Complete Faecal Egg Counts

Drench 4 weekly

Post mortem any sheep dying on Lucerne

March Target weight = 32kg

April Feceal egg count (Autumn rains = Larval Hatch)

May Commence Foot Vax trial

Target weight = 34kg

June Winter feeding commences

July Monitor Growth rates

August Regular Fecal egg counts

September Shearing - Pour-on off shears

Target Weight = 36kg

Year 2

October Drench off winter crop

November Target weight = 43kg

December Toxo Vax

1st Foot Vax

January Target weight = 47kg

February 1st Camy Vax & 2nd Foot Vax

March Target weight = 49kg

April Flexidene

Feceal egg count (Autumn rains = Larval Hatch)

2nd Campy Vax & 5 in 1

May Target weight = 49kg

Mating Commences

EWE LAMBS/HOGGETS

18 19

FODDER BEET FIELD STUDY

WHY TRIAL :• From data collected of body live weights it was

identifi ed losses during the winter period. Therefore goal to achieve maintenance during this period.

• Try to utilize less land with higher yielding fodder beet with property having limited fertile fl ats.

• To see if establishment of fodder beet is possible by direct drilling and a good option in Canterbury.

• To see if less herbicides could be applied due to direct drilling and therefore lowering growing costs while still maintaining yield.

• Paul has a share in a Duncan Enviro 3000E drill.

• Newish crop compared to traditional forages

• Potentially less pugging due to direct drilling.

• Compare against traditional swede crop grown.

WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY :• Sown 1st November no rain until 26th November -

caused double strike and diffi cult weed control. No activation of pre emerge herbicides.

• Drill calibration critical ! and sometimes diffi cult.

• Insect pressure of grass grub beetle.

• One post emergence herbicide spray.

ACTUAL COSTS TO DATE:Fodder beet $1690 / ha Swede $812 / ha

Tonnes DM/ha

10 17c / kg DM 10 8c / kg DM

15 11c / kg DM 15 5.5c / kgDM

20 8c / kg DM 20 4c / kgDM

25 6.7c / kgDM

30 5.6c / kgDM

*Includes cartage, application and drilling.

GROSS MARGIN PER HECTARE* Based on 25c /kgDM income

Beet

Income / ha Expenses / ha Profi t / ha

10 T $2500 $1690 $ 810

15 T $3750 $1690 $2060

20 T $5000 $1690 $3310

25 T $6250 $1690 $4560

30 T $7500 $1690 $5810

Swede

Income / ha Expenses / ha Profi t / ha

10 T $2500 $810 $1688

15 T $3750 $810 $2938

20 T $5000 $810 $4188

MEASURE RESULT:Test fi nal Dry matter yields per hectare and costings.

Potential to compare against neighbouring conventional sown fodder beet crop?

OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER:Utilisation Swedes 80% Beet 90%? depending conditions.

Value of feed eg. Beet 12-12.5 mjme / kgDM, swede 11-11.5 mjme / kgDM.

Stock performance.

LUCERNE NOTES

LUCERNE ON THE RIVER FLATS

SUITABILITY OF LUCERNEThe river fl ats of Glenaan provide a great opportunity for Lucerne. The shallow silt soils over river stones get very dry in the summer months, which make it diffi cult for most pasture species to persist.

The river stones will not impede the Lucerne roots and developed Lucerne plants should easily access the relatively shallow water table (generally sits less than 2 meters below the surface).

Animal growth rates are normally very good on Lucerne. The development into Lucerne on the river fl ats fi ts well with the goals and objectives of Glenaan to lift lamb weights – in particular the merino ewe lambs.

PERFORMANCE AND PERSISTENCEExpectations for Glenaan are that the Lucerene should produce 6-8TDM/ha/year and typically persist for a range of 5-8 years.

Pasture cages have put placed in several paddocks to help determine the growth and yield of the Lucerne and also the best Lucerne mixes for Glenaan.

ESTABLISHMENT & MANAGEMENT PLANIt is critical to the performance and persistence of the Lucerne pasture that conditions are fi rstly suitable for Lucerne and then secondly that the crop is established correctly.

Paddock Selection

There are fi ve main guidelines in selecting paddocks to plant in Lucerne;

• Free draining soils

• Well-prepared paddock (cleaned of weeds)

• pH over 6.0 (6.5 is optimal)

• High fertility (P>20, S>10, K>8)

• Ability to be rotationally grazed

At Glenaan Station the development from “native” pasture on the River Flats to Lucerne may take as between 2 & 4 years. This lead in time may be required to build the soil fertility and correct the soil pH, as well as clean out the old weed and pasture species.

THE USE OF RYECORNPreviously both a ‘fallow’ and the use of Ryecorn, as a break crop have been used to establish Lucerne. When done well both have merit and will help in a successful establishment.

With the further development into a signifi cant area of Lucerne it is important a management plan is devised that enables the farm to get a fi nancial return from the development costs and enables the large area of Lucerne to be viable.

Ryecorn is an important part of this plan. It is an important break crop – allowing for the control of broad-leaf weeds as well as building fertility and organic matter – but will also provide winter and early spring grazing to balance the extra summer carrying capacity the Lucerne will provide.


Pasture cages have put placed in several paddocks to help determine the growth and yield of the Lucerne and also the best



Pasture cages have put placed in several paddocks to help determine the growth and yield of the Lucerne and also the best


20 21

RESULTS FROM 2013 SOWINGThis year the rye-corn yielded less than our target of 6 T DM ( with yields estimated closer to 3T). Rye-corn is a cereal and has a high Nitrogen and Phosphate requirement. The soil available nitrogen in the early stages of development is often used by soil bacteria to break down (decay) the thatch present. This can often be underestimated.

Another consideration when using Rye-corn is that it has lower crude protein, carbohydrates and often higher NDF (digestable fi bre) levels than grasses such as ryegrass (i.e. lower quality). To improve this we are trialing the addition of an annual clover (Balansa Clover) with the ryecorn to improve these levels (and potentially yield). If this is successful the rye-corn/Balansa pasture may have additional benefi ts of increasing the growth rate of lambs on the ewe and potentially when weaned.

FARM IQ RYECORN TRIALS FOR 2014i) Impact of Spring Nitrogen on Ryecorn

. It is a high input crop that is receiving 2 applications of nitrogen early and late autumn. We want to establish the value of an additional application of early spring nitrogen.

• Compare 3 rates of Nitrogen application

• 0, 50, and 100 kg of Urea/ha

• Defi ne the most effi cient application rate$/kgDM additional DM

ii) The impact of an Annual Legume on late spring Ryecorn

Compare quality & quantity between Ryecorn & Ryecorn + Balansa Clover pastures

Defi ne the Pasture option (of the two) that produces the greater amount of energy/ha (MJME/ha)

5 February 2014 Sowing

Sowing rates

• Ryecorn @ 100kg/ha

• Ryecorn @ 90kg/ha + Balansa Clover @ 3kg/ha

Both pastures to be measured for yield (kgDM/ha) and quality MJME/kgDM) at two intervals

• 5th September

• 15th October

LUCERNE GRASS/HERB MIXES In the situation of Glenaan, Lucerne mixes – where Lucerne is sown with suitable companion species is favourable.

The main reasons for this are:

• Reduced wind and water erosion

• Reduced weed invasion due to ground cover over winter and utilisation of soil nitrogen built up by Lucerne plants

Other advantages from mixed swards include:

• Improved out-of-season growth (winter and early spring)

• Nutritional balance for grazing

• Reduction in animal health disorders

• Providing a persistent legume companion to the grass, important for nitrogen supply

Disadvantages of grass/Lucerne mixes include;

• Inability to use some winter herbicides (depends on companion species used)

• Different grazing requirements of the two species, compromising one or the other, or resulting in one species being over-mature at grazing

• Selective grazing, putting pressure on either species

• Competition for soil moisture or light leading to premature disappearance of either species

Companion species ideally should not be aggressive in competing with Lucerne & have some common pre-sowing and post-emergence herbicides

There are currently a number of Lucerne/Grass mixes at Glenaan which are being evaluated including: Plantain, Red Clover, Brome grasses, Timothy, Phalaris, Tall Fescue & Cocksfoot.

GRAZING MANAGEMENTA management plan during development into a large area of Lucerne must allow for; subdivision, water and potentially power to enable the correct grazing management. All the above have been well planned and constructed on the river fl ats at Glenaan in line with the development into Lucerne.

Lucerne has the growing point at the tip of the stem. These growing points are removed when cut or grazed so care must be taken when cutting or grazing as to not remove the tips of new stems/shoots.

Due to this fact Lucerne must be given enough time between grazings to grow new stems. The ideal length of time between grazings ranges from 25-40 days, depending on the time of year. This is because as the canopy closes the carbohydrates are re-directed into the roots for rapid re-growth after grazing.

If Lucerne is grazed before this time a reduction in plant number and therefore reduced persistence is likely to occur.

SPRING

Grazing duration of less than 7-10 days is advised as this is the time it takes for new growth to appear; so any longer than that and the stock may graze the new growth. Set stocking is not advisable.

SUMMER

If moisture is not limiting, growth is increasing at this time of year with increased photoperiod and temperatures. The ideal length of time between grazings maybe as short as 25 days. However, under moisture constraints and therefore slow growth this may outside of 45 days.

The best indicator for when to graze/cut is the initiation of new nodes at the base of the Lucerne plant (“crown”). As soon as these are seen, the crop should be harvested, as these new nodes are important for fast recovery. (This is similar, but more precise, to the old rule of grazing/cutting when about 10% of the paddock is fl owering. This is a good indication that there are good root reserves of energy.)

AUTUMN

Management of Lucerne at this time has a direct infl uence on the following season’s production. Crops should be spelled until 50% of the crop is fl owering. This will encourage signifi cant build up of root reserves leading increased growth and plant survival in the following spring.

A fi nal clean up of the paddock should be done prior to the fi rst frost as Lucerne stops growing at this time. The removal of the crop will decrease the potential disease infestations.

WINTER

For pure Lucerne stands (or potentially Lucerne and Plantain) a herbicide should be applied during winter while the crop is dormant. Spraying should not be delayed until the late-winter due to a chance that the nodes that developed over winter being burnt.

22 23

GLENAAN STATION MAP

Big Flat (203.24ha)

yyy (7.26ha)

Prue 2 (6.53ha)

xxx (7.25ha)

Prue 1

(4.83ha)

Guys (10.84ha)

Juliet 2 (5.97ha)

Juliet 1(4.24ha)

Wet Little Flat (11.71ha)

Lucerne 4

(4.81ha)

Luce

rne

3(5

.17h

a)

Luc e

rne

2(6

.05h

a)

Lucerne1

(4.63ha)

Muddy Creek (17.99ha)

Mailbox 1 (3.64ha)

Wet Mailbox (7.36ha)

Mailbox 2 (7.47ha)

Mailbox 3 (6.68ha)

Diversion Flat

(2.99ha)

River Tce(7.51ha)

Fish Trap(4.79ha)Bottom Hay(5.12ha)

Triangle (8.09ha)

Hive (8.6ha)

Top Hay (4.66ha)Bottom house(3.78ha)

Road (7.28ha)

Shed (7.05ha)

Pit

(2.7

9ha)

Botto

mCr

eek

(7.0

2ha)Goose

(7.7ha)Gap

(9.33ha)

Tank (9.58ha)

Paul (9.08ha)

Fiona (7.85ha)

Bin (5.11ha)

Jims(4.04ha)Top

(5.54ha)

Little Acre (14.63ha)

Top Stony Creek (169.89ha)

Darkies (25.19ha)

High Face (59.1ha)

Bruce (16.09ha)

Knobs (20.41ha)

Dead Horse (27.44ha)

Bondies (19.17ha)

Duncans (14.63ha)

Little Track (3.49ha)

Track(7.75ha)Spurs(7.74ha)

Trig(5.87ha)

Bottom Trig(4.95ha)

Tenure (39.59ha)

Isolation (58.91ha)

Waterfall(28.78ha)

Clarks(12.23ha)

Confusion (28.06ha)

Road Block (11.23ha)

(4.77ha)

Creek Lane (2.49ha)

Bridge (1.88ha)

Air Strip (3.19ha)

Glenaan

0 500 1,000

Metres

Customer Number - 60465077 Date - 05/10/2012

24 25

NOTES

28

www.farmiq.co.nz

28 www.farmiq.co.nz

If you have other comments or queries please contact:

Greg McSkimming, General Manager Farming Systems

[email protected] or ph : 027 282 1101

For further information please visit our website – www.farmiq.co.nz

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