Plan 365 July 2019

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE NUTRITION FORAGE AND ARABLE HORTICULTURE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Plan 365 is a technical guide aimed at helping shareholders learn about best practice and the latest advancements in rural technology.

New non-GMO products

New Zealand has a potentially valuable point of difference as a supplier of premium food products to the world in that no genetically modified (GM) crops are grown here. Some consumers prefer to buy products from animals that have not been fed genetically modified feeds and their needs are increasingly being met by New Zealand entrepreneurs. From 1st January 2019, young deer must be fed only non-GM feeds to be eligible for the Cervena programme and the Dairy Goat Co-operative has long prohibited GM feeding of dairy goats supplying them milk. Feeding by-products to livestock is an excellent illustration of effective recycling and was undertaken long before the importance of recycling was appreciated. For example, a lot of maize grain is grown in the United States to be distilled into bio-fuel or wet milled to release starch to make food products and sweeteners. The resulting maize distillers or corn gluten feed is widely and effectively used in livestock feed but if it is derived from GM crops it will not be suitable for feeding to deer or goats under the above schemes. Northern Roller Milling Company – now known as NRM – has been producing animal feed since 1899 and has learnt to change with the times. It has developed four new products to meet the needs of livestock farmers looking for non-GM options.

1. NRM Deer Performance Nuts are a high-energy, 12% crude protein, mineralised supplement for deer on top-quality pasture. Being grain-

based, it will help support body condition which in turn can allow improved performance or fertility.

2. NRM Deer Elite Nuts are a higher protein (typically 16 percent crude protein) version for use when pasture or forage protein levels are not enough to support the genetic potential of the animals.

Note: Both above products have been designed with the nutritional requirements of deer in mind and contain minerals, trace elements and vitamins to minimise the risk of deficiencies that might negatively affect health or performance. Both forms of nut are highly suitable for controlled feeding to some classes of cattle and goats too.

3. NRM Dairy Goat Pellets have been designed for milking goats and are ideal for both commercial and personal supply situations. With 18 percent crude protein, they will help balance conserved forages with a

low-protein value and support milk production when pasture quality drops away. This product is fortified with nutritionally significant quantities of essential major and trace minerals to support sustained milk production.

4. NRM Alpaca Pellets have been designed to meet the very specific needs of alpacas and llamas which should not be fed any of the NRM ruminant products because of their particular sensitivity to ionophores. With a focus on health and bloom, these pellets contain elevated levels of vitamins D3 and B1, which can be deficient in camelids when grazing Aotearoa’s high-quality pastures. Palm Kernel Expeller is not currently GM but offers less benefits in highenergy products, therefore it has been excluded from these four new products. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist.

Preventing milk fever via a new anionic salt option

Reducing the incidence of both clinical and sub-clinical milk fever – the most common metabolic condition around calving – is beneficial for the short and long-term health of stock and a major stress relief for staff.

For herds with a persistent milk fever challenge, the feeding of anionic salt before calving should be considered to significantly reduce the incidence and severity of milk fever. The Achilles heel of anionic salts is low palatability however, some combinations of salts work really well and once people try them they keep using them.

Current products available include:

• NutriMin Springer Cow Balancer is a good option for those that prefer to incorporate minerals into other feeds or top dress onto forages themselves.

• NRM Anionic Pre-Calver Nuts are a more complete option with starch to aid in gut flora transition and added protein for those looking to feed 2kg per heifer/per day.

Both products stimulate a metabolic acidosis within the animal to which

they respond by releasing calcium; if that can be triggered before calving the cow is better able to cope with the increased need for calcium in colostrum and then milk. Most users report a large reduction in the incidence of milk fever which results in less stress at calving for both people and cows and a better outcome for calves.

Patented product now available in New Zealand

A product which is widely used in the US – Animate – is now available in New Zealand. Animate is a patented Dark Distillers Grains (DDG) product which has overcome the palatability issues associated with anionic salts and allows higher levels to be consumed. It has an exceptionally low Dietary Cation-Anion Difference (DCAD) which can help acidify the diet, even when springer cows are grazing high-quality pasture. Feeding correctly should result in a reduction in clinical milk fever but also sub-clinical milk fever which should support better feed intakes, greater milk yield and cow health.

Animate should be fed within 14–21 days of calving and feeding rates are very specific to the diet

being consumed. It is important to test the pasture before starting to feed, review the diet with a ration calculator, then check the pH of the cow’s urine after 3–5 days to check the desired acidification has been achieved. The aim is to drop urine pH to 5.5–6 rather than 6–7, which is typically obtained with partial acidification. For the full benefits to be achieved, a higher level of calcium feeding is required which is counter to the normal advice to try to limit calcium intakes pre-calving. Animate is available in bags and can be mixed with blends or forages and could be incorporated into a compound feed if sufficient interest is shown.

Such a powerful tool is most likely to be sought by people with severe and ongoing milk fever problems in their cows. Given the importance of health at calving and appetite for subsequent milk production and fertility, anionic salts should also be relevant to anyone looking to counter sub-clinical problems that are less obvious but can have lingering effects. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist.

Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, NRM Lead Nutritionist.

Don’t be sheepish about lamb rearing this year

Check out some of the lamb rearing tips taken from the new NRM Sheep and Lamb Guide.

Pneumonia is very common in artificially reared lambs and is caused primarily by ammonia in the environment. Signs include coughing, runny nose, laboured breathing and fever. Pneumonia can be avoided by setting up and maintaining your rearing sheds well so you minimise ammonia building up. Avoid over-crowding and make sure bedding is always dry and there is adequate ventilation. Scouring lambs should be given electrolytes as they can quickly succumb to dehydration. Scouring may be caused by the diet (a nutritional scour) or by an infection

(normally accompanied by raised temperature). Use a thermometer to check the temperature of scouring lambs so you know which issue you are dealing with. A lamb with an infection will have an elevated temperature (above approximately 39.4°C). Check a healthy pen mate’s temperature for comparison.

Abomasal bloat is caused by bacteria in the gut producing excess gas and is caused by gorging of milk and is especially common in larger, greedier lambs that steal more than their share of the milk feed. Be prepared to quickly remove lambs that drink fast from milk feeders to prevent them getting too much. Transitioning to cold milk feeds as lambs get older and adding yoghurt to milk has been found to reduce the severity and incidence of bloat so is worth considering if you’re having bloat issues. Mix up lamb milk replacer according to manufacturer’s instructions and do regular checks to ensure you are mixing up the milk correctly (get some kitchen scales and measuring jugs for accuracy).

Offer a hard feed (e.g. NRM Lamb Start Mix or NRM Lamb Performance Pellets) during the first week of life as it’s important for rumen development of lambs. It takes a while for lambs to get used to the taste of the feed and intakes will be small at first, but will increase as lambs get older – this early period is a training period for getting them used to the hard feed.

Always go for a lamb-specific feed. Calf feeds are too high in copper and can cause copper toxicity in lambs. Keep feed troughs clean and don’t put lots of hard feed out or leave it to go mouldy and get contaminated by vermin/birds. A small amount of fresh feed every day is best and increase the amount offered to match intake. Coccidiosis is a common issue in lambs that destroys the lining of their gut. The worst cases of coccidiosis will have bloody scours, but most lambs won’t have any visible signs and will just have lower growth rates. NRM Lamb Feeds contain Deccox®, which is a coccidiostat that is registered for use in lambs. Deccox® kills the coccidiosis protozoa at several stages of the life cycle which helps to prevent it becoming a significant issue, while still allowing the animal to develop immunity against the disease. Lambs can be weaned off milk when they are about 10–15kg (depending on breed) and when they are consuming at least 200 grams of lamb hard feed per day. The intake of the hard feed is critical as it reflects how well their rumen has developed. Keep feeding a good-quality lamb hard feed for 4 weeks post weaning, or longer if pasture is limited or of a poor quality. Visit your local Farmlands store to pick up a copy of the new NRM Sheep and Lamb Guide.

Successful lamb rearing advice is easy to digest

There are essential differences in solubility, intake, digestibility and consistency of quality in different lamb milk replacers – which have a major impact on the health and growth potential of young lambs.

“Successful lamb rearing depends on many factors, especially good nutrition,” says Dr Bas Schouten, one of New Zealand’s renowned experts on animal rearing. “The aim is to meet the energy requirements of our animals while they are totally reliant on milk.

“At the same time, we want to encourage the early intake of concentrates and develop the rumen,

so the animals become functional ruminants as soon as possible.”

Bas advises to choose a milk replacer based on quality, not price. A quality whey-based milk replacer, such as AgriVantage’s Sprayfo Primo Lamb milk replacer, is one of the safest and most cost-effective options.

Here’s why whey-based milk replacers are effective:

Digestion

Whey-based formulas move through the lamb in only 2-3 hours, compared to 5-8 hours for traditional curding (casein) formulas.

Sprayfo Primo Lamb is easily digested

due to the key ingredient: hydrolysed wheat protein. This is proven to have better and safer digestive properties than other commonly used protein sources and can assist in the reduction of abomassal bloat.

Traditionally, most whey milk replacers weren’t recommended to be fed before 14-21 days. However, Sprayfo milk replacer can be fed to young lambs directly from colostrum.

The animals seek out concentrates sooner

Because whey moves through an animal’s system in 2-3 hours, they will seek out concentrates (meal) sooner and have the potential for faster rumen development – enhancing growth rates, particularly post-weaning transition.

Health and Safety

Good-quality, whey-based products can help reduce the incidence of nutritional scours.

Manufacturer Trouw Nutrition’s Spray

Dry production process ensures that solubility is optimal at 40ºC. Sprayfo mixes without forming any small lumps and is used extensively in automatic feeding machines because it mixes easily, doesn’t drop out of suspension and there’s no blocking of hoses and lines.

Farmers using Sprayfo Primo Lamb report strong early growth and minimal (if any) growth check at weaning.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by AgriVantage.

Small but vital

Deficiencies in micronutrients (also known as trace elements) can limit pasture and stock production.

“Plants and animals may only need small amounts of micronutrients but they’re vital,” says Ballance Agri-Nutrients Nutrient Dynamics Specialist Jim Risk.

A shortage of any essential nutrient affects plant growth, and in turn, grazing stock. Deficiencies in micronutrients (for example molybdenum) can limit pasture production even if macronutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur) are adequately supplied. Some micronutrients (copper, for example) are required by both plants and stock, while others (such as selenium and cobalt) only affect stock production.

Deficiencies happen

“Some soils’ parent material makes them naturally low in particular micronutrients, such as pumice soils having low cobalt levels. Micronutrients can also be slowly depleted over time,” Jim says. Any nutrients that are lacking can be identified by herbage testing, and then supplied to the soil in sufficient quantities. For animal requirements this can also be achieved by other means such as injecting or adding to stock water.

“But even with adequate levels of micronutrients in the soil, things like

soil pH can hinder plant uptake. Plants in high pH alkaline soils, which can happen if lime’s overapplied, are prone to induced boron, zinc, iron, copper and manganese deficiencies. An abundant supply of another nutrient can also affect both plant uptake and animal absorption of micronutrients. You see this with high levels of molybdenum in the soil, which can interfere with animals’ absorption of copper.”

Pinpointing deficiencies

“Herbage testing gives the most accurate picture of micronutrients available for pasture. Soil testing isn’t reliable as the issue may lie in plant uptake or animal absorption,” Jim says. For animal health, testing micronutrient levels in blood and tissue samples complement herbage testing.

In pastoral farming, both clover-only and mixed pasture tests are commonly used. Clover shows signs of nutrient deficiency sooner than grasses and a clover-only test reveals macronutrient levels as well as key micronutrients such as boron and molybdenum, both crucial for vigorous clover growth and for improving pasture quality. A mixed pasture test shows what stock are actually eating and can be analysed to measure other feed values such as nitrate-nitrogen levels, as well as monitoring key elements such as cobalt and selenium.

Testing is generally timed to allow application prior to periods of peak animal demand. For example, late

spring is the time to test for cobalt in anticipation of weaning while selenium is usually measured in spring before mating.

Overcoming deficiencies

Correcting deficiencies in pasture via fertiliser is a matter of applying the right amount at the right time to elevate herbage levels within the appropriate range so pasture can access the micronutrient when needed. Stock type may influence approach, with different rates of some elements such as selenium and copper required. A well-planned fertiliser programme can elevate levels of selenium, copper and cobalt in pasture to support sheep, cattle and deer through key times. For example, cobalt could be applied in October/November to spike herbage for weaned lambs. Serious deficiency where symptoms are evident requires direct-to-animal supplementation in conjunction with a long-term strategy to correct micronutrient levels in pasture. Where it is hard to immediately counteract factors affecting a particular micronutrient’s availability (such as high pH), direct-to-animal solutions alone may be more effective and economic. Consult your vet or farm advisor about the best options. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

Well-honed rearing system grows great calves

It may be simple, but a tried and tested calf rearing system in South Waikato proves you don’t have to get complicated to get great results year after year.

Recycled 200 litre drums, raw eggs and restricted entry to the calf shed help the Bernhards of Putaruru raise big, healthy heifers and beef cross bulls every spring, with minimal disease and maximum daily growth rates.

Carol and Mark Bernhard have worked hard over the years to build up what was originally his family’s home farm to a business that peak milks 370 cows on 126ha (effective). They simultaneously sharemilked multiple properties, ran a contracting business and watched what they spent.

When Peach Teats came on the market several years ago boss calf rearer Carol started buying them and has never stopped.

“I remember seeing them for the first time, and thinking they were really cool because of the valve.”

Hundreds of calves later, she and Mark still fit pull-through Peach Teats to home-made 200L recycled drum feeders. Carol also uses Peach Teats to bottle-feed warm colostrum to newborn calves where necessary.

“They’re easy to put on and to teach calves with,” she says. “The milk’s right there so young calves don’t have to suck too hard to get a drink.”

She rears 100 calves a year, including Jersey and Friesian-cross herd replacements, bulls for sale at 4 days old and Hereford cross bulls to finish on farm. They are ad-libbed

colostrum milk for the first 3 weeks, then hay is added to their diet. Meal is introduced at 4 weeks. Hay and water is freely available, once milk is no longer ad-libbed.

“It’s nice and simple – which works for us. We keep everything very clean and we don’t like anybody coming into the shed. We hardly ever get scours or bugs. If we do get a calf scouring a bit we give them a whole raw egg, shell and all,” Carol says.

“That’s an old farming remedy – the membrane in the shell curdles the milk and stops the scour. We also use bentonite if we need to but mostly they’re very healthy. We only had to give electrolytes to three calves last year.”

The results speak for themselves;

Jersey heifer calves wean at 100kg, Friesians at 120kg and Hereford cross 120kg or more.

This was a topic of some discussion at the 2018 Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) conference in Rotorua, which was a good chance to do some informal benchmarking, Carol says. It was her first DWN conference, and comparing weaning weights with other DWN members was far from the only benefit.

“I found it all very useful and learned a lot. It was well worth the experience.”

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Skellerup.

Milk additives for calves –what are the benefits?

Calves have a high nutrient requirement as they have significant growth and immune challenges. Milk is highly nutritious and meets most of the energy, protein, calcium and phosphorous requirements to support calf growth.

What are the benefits then of adding extra vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics and coccidiostats to milk? Prevention of coccidiosis

Most commercial calf meals contain a coccidiostat to prevent coccidiosis. Often however, it takes time before the calf is eating enough meal to meet the required dose to prevent coccidia infection. Therefore including a coccidiostat in milk can help cover this period. Note that milk additives with Bovatec® should not be added to calf milk replacer that already contains an ionophore coccidiostat such as Bovatec® or Rumensin®

Extra vitamins and minerals cover any cow deficiencies

Phosphorous, selenium, copper, vitamin E and vitamin A can be passed from the cow to the calf. Therefore, if any of these nutrients are deficient in the diet of the cow, there is a risk that the calf may also be

born deficient. Adding these minerals and vitamins to milk can help ‘top up’ any limiting nutrients passed from the dam. This is why comprehensive nutrition supplements such as DanCalf ®Gold are recommended for the first 30 days of life. It also shows why it is so important to continue trace mineral supplementation for cows during the dry period.

Calves need supplementation while they can’t make their own vitamins

The calf cannot make its own vitamins (especially the B vitamins) until it has a functioning rumen. The longer it takes to develop the rumen, the longer the risk of B vitamin deficiency. A calf also takes at least 3 weeks to be able to synthesise its own vitamin C. This is why supplementation with both B and C vitamins is especially important in the first 3 weeks.

Vitamins and minerals support calf growth and development

For example, vitamin A helps to prevent issues with sight, vitamin D improves skeletal development, while selenium and vitamin E are vital for normal muscular development and antioxidant status. Also, milk is a poor source of iron, meaning calves can be at risk of anaemia. It is important to supplement

iron, especially for calves that are fed milk-only for an extended period.

Beneficial gut bacteria helps improve calf health

It takes time for the calf to develop their own microbial profile in the intestine. While there is some initial inoculation from amniotic fluid, the birth canal and the cow’s teat, providing large quantities of probiotic bacteria is highly beneficial. These bacteria outnumber any pathogenic bacteria, reducing disease while also helping the calf to digest milk. Prebiotics assist by improving the function of ‘good’ bacteria, while preventing the ‘bad’ bacteria from getting established.

DanCalf ®Gold contains both a prebiotic (AgriMOS®) and probiotic (ImmuBoost®) as well as Levucell®SB live yeast for optimum hind gut health. DanCalf ®Gold also supplies a source of minerals and vitamins to help support the calf in its early stage of life. DanCalf ®Gold comes with a coccidiostat, or noBovatec option (DanCalf ®CMR). Overall, DanCalf ®Gold is a comprehensive milk additive that aids in better growth, health and digestive tract function. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Nutritech.

In-calf statistics improve through nutrition programme

Stephen and Bronwyn Dudin milk 680 cows on their Southland dairy farm. As an AB (artificial breeding) technician for 20 years, Stephen learned that getting everything right early in the mating process helped save money in the long run.

“Large herds can achieve a low empty rate, season after season,” he says.

“I work hard to ensure my cows get back in-calf. I can achieve it without the use of intervention.”

Their production and reproduction figures from the last few years are impressive:

• For the 2016/17 season, production was 470kg/MS, the 6 week in-calf rate 82% and the not in-calf rate was 5.7%

• The 2017 spring-mating results drove the empty rate (not incalf rate) down to 5% within a 10.5-week mating timeframe

“Our 2017 spring mating 6 week in-calf rate was 80%. The results in our young cows were impressive with only 11 empties from 330; that’s a 3% empty-rate in an age group that generally are a challenge to get back in-calf,” Stephen says.

“When you consider that we were in a serious drought at the beginning of the 2017 mating period and even though we tried to eliminate the feed pinch and keep condition on them, it was tough going.

“The technician who scanned our cows was really impressed with the outcome. He confirmed the first round of AB demonstrated a significant number of the cows were in-calf, which meant most of them had held the pregnancy even though they were under stress from the unseasonably dry weather conditions. He said there were very few late-calvers and very few empties.”

Reflecting back over 12 years of using the Nutrimol 4n1 mating program, Stephen is quick to point out the cost benefits.

“I only need a few extra cows in-calf and it’s paid for the product,” he says.

In true farming form, spring 2018 was different weather altogether. Despite very wet conditions over mating, the 6 week in-calf rate improved by two points year-onyear to 82%. The empty rate moved to 7%, in part due to the weather. “We’re feeding Nutrimol 4n1 from

calving till the end of the season. My theory is, if you make your decisions late, you pay the price. So, I put a lot of energy into getting cows in-calf, early, and the choice of using Nutrimol 4n1 is an easy business decision to make.”

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Bell Booth.

Selection of pre-lamb treatments

What is most important to you in the pre-lambing to weaning period? Is it to get ewes away early, get more lambs away before weaning, have ewes wean in mating condition or to just set stock ewes quickly into their lambing paddocks? Whatever your goals, there are pre-lamb treatment options available to help you achieve them.

Here are some factors to consider during this period:

• If your goal is to push production boundaries and maximise ewe and lamb weights at weaning, you will probably want to use long-acting products.

• Where you have a need to wean and quit ewes early, a shorter meat withholding period is ideal. Failing to quit ewes early can be costly due to the extra feed that they eat, particularly when feed levels are tight, and the loss associated with a falling meat schedule.

• There is a lot to be said for getting very pregnant ewes out of the yards quickly and back onto grass. Significant delays in doing this or rough handling can precipitate sleepy sickness or abortions.

• With the loss of the ewe’s immunity due to parasites during lambing, they often develop more dags. Many farmers are motivated to treat ewes pre-lamb, in order to prevent dags, lower the risk of fly strike and reduce the effort required to dag the ewes.

Cydectin® Long Acting Injection for Sheep has the longest period of activity against the production limiting

parasite Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta. It has also been shown to significantly increase ewe weight (3.2kg) and lamb weaning weights (2.6kg) compared to untreated light ewes when given at pre-lamb1

The shorter 91-day meat withholding period of Cydectin Long Acting is advantageous compared to mineralised combination sheep capsules and some other long acting injections, which have a 128-day meat withholding.

Both Cydectin Long Acting and Eweguard® are injections which are easy and quick to give. Eweguard also has the advantage of combining both clostridial protection and worm control in a single injection. This saves time and effort when you are in the yards, and gets the ewes back into the paddock faster.

Both Cydectin Long Acting2 and Eweguard3 have been shown to reduce dag score in ewes when given pre-lamb. Irrespective of what treatment you choose for the ewes before lambing, it is important not to drench all ewes for worms. Some ewes need to be left undrenched to provide a source of susceptible parasites to help slow the development of resistance. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

1. Bingham, C., et al. (2017). “Comparison of two long acting pre-lambing anthelmintic treatments on the productivity of ewes in low body condition.” New Zealand Veterinary Journal 65(3): 152-155.

2. Miller, C. M., et al. (2015). “Production benefits from pre and post-lambing anthelmintic treatment of ewes on commercial farms in the southern North Island of New Zealand.” NZ Veterinary Journal 63(4): 211-219.

3. Zoetis data on file.

Article supplied by Zoetis.

Don’t let milk fever get you down

Milk fever is a sudden fall in the amount of calcium available in the blood. It commonly occurs within a few hours of calving due to the demands of milk production. It can occur on its own, or in conjunction with grass staggers and ketosis.

Cows become more susceptible as they age and have a reduced capacity for mobilising calcium from their bones. Because of calcium’s role in muscle function, tell-tale signs of milk fever include trembling, weak, staggery movements and inability to stand (down cow). Digestive, respiratory, circulatory and milk-producing processes are also affected by low calcium. Milk fever can severely reduce milk production and may be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

A quick return to milking is the aim when treating cows that go down with milk fever, or milk fever complicated by grass staggers or ketosis. Initial treatment is typically fast and immediately effective –however the chance of relapse

remains a risk, extending recovery time, increasing labour and reducing milk in the vat. Relapse affects at least 30-35 percent of cows offered only first-line treatment1. We can’t always prevent a cow going down but with the right treatment plan, the risk of relapse can be minimised.

Get them up

Administer injectable calcium or calcium combination metabolic solutions for rapid replacement.

• Intravenous (into the vein) acts quickly and gets the cow up and walking again, often within several minutes.

• Subcutaneous (under the skin) takes comparatively longer to absorb, giving the cow a more sustained release over the next few hours. Using a bag into the vein plus one under the skin, as your first line of treatment will provide rapid and slower release replacement. Bayer’s C.B.G 37.5, Glucalmag, Glucalmax and Glucalphos products are suitable for this type of treatment.

| Milk fever can severely reduce milk production and may be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

Keep them up

Once the cow is up and walking following initial treatment and has regained enough muscle control to swallow normally, orally administered calcium provides a continued level of support (a product such as Bayer’s Oral-Cal or Oral-Max are suitable for this). Studies have shown using oral calcium in this way can prevent relapse by up to 60 percent1.

Bayer metabolic solutions provide the right balance of minerals and energy to bring cows back to health and back to production.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

1. Thilsing-Hansen, T., Jorgensen, R. J., Ostergaard, S. Milk fever control principles: A review. Acta vet. scand. 2002, 43, 1-19.

C.B.G. 37.5, Glucalmag, Glucalmax, Glucalphos, Oral-Cal and Oral-Max are registered under the ACVM Act 1997. Article supplied by Bayer.

Chain strainer gets the thumbs up from fencing champion

New Zealand prides itself on punching well above its weight in the global agricultural industry, leading the way in product development and best-practice farming methods.

Success on farm is further reinforced by homegrown New Zealand businesses that are committed to supporting industry requirements by developing innovative solutions.

At this time of year, maintaining and installing farm fences is an important job on every farm but it’s not always the easiest task so farmers and fencing contractors are often on the lookout for new ways to eliminate some of the strain.

It is well known that chain wire strainers are an effective method to pull up tension on fencing wire. They generally incorporate a simple design which makes them extremely effective. While there are various options available in the market, different product features can yield efficiency and time gains. For instance, the Strainrite RX2

Contractor chain strainer has a removable threaded handle and computer-designed geometry for effective grip on zinc/aluminium fencing wire. This means farmers and contractors alike can quickly and easily strain fence wires

Paul Van Beers is a farmer and 14-time New Zealand Singles Fencing Title Champion who has put this to the test.

“When I’m working on the farm or in competition it’s essential to choose the right tools for the job. I need quality, reliability and performance. My Strainrite chain strainers are bomb-proof and have never slipped. They are perfect for the job, and I wouldn’t use anything else.”

With a focus on product development and innovation, Strainrite listen to farmers and fencing contractors like Paul. They deliver fencing products that withstand tough and demanding farming elements across

New Zealand, Australia, United States and the United Kingdom. The RX2 models also include:

• a swivel grab that has an improved casting design for effective grip on fencing wire

• an optional claw spring kit to assist with single-handed operation.

Strainrite Director Maurice Wooster says, “Coming from a rural background I have a personal connection with the agricultural industry and have been helping on-farm fencers with product engineering since 1974.”

“By understanding user needs we continually refine our Strainrite tools and equipment to ensure they deliver the best results,” Maurice says. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

Article supplied by Strainrite.