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2019

Innovation for Future Profit PUBLISHED BY RURAL NEWS GROUP

ISSN: 1176-2012

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N G N I M R A F D N I H E B R E W O P E TH

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GISBORNE 06 868 8908

HASTINGS 06 879 9998

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CRV STANDS FOR HEALTHY & EFFICIENT COWS BETTER LIFE HEALTH

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ü Udder Overall

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FOREWORD

Pushing the boundaries WAYNE MCNEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LIC

2018 WAS A transformational year

for our sector. Now, more than ever, farmers have amazing smart technology available to them, designed to make life onfarm easier, boost productivity and reduce environmental impact. And more farmers are taking advantage, paving the way for a future where smart farming and precision agriculture is the norm. The Dairy Statistics Report for the 2017-18 season, which we compile each year with DairyNZ, showed a surge in the uptake of herd improvement services after a dip when the payout was down. This increase in herd testing and artificial breeding (AB) shows farmers are again seeking higher-performing and more efficient cows, and they’re relying more on technology to enable that, alongside more traditional herd improvement methods. Our industry has been criticised in the past for being slow to embrace technology but I see a strong interest and engagement in what the future for farming looks like and how technology can get us there. The future growth and sustainability of our industry, and our social licence to operate, rely on innovation and smart technology. That’s why we continue to invest heavily in new technology and R&D for the industry. This exceeded 5% of revenue last year, well above the NZ primary sector average of about 1%. Across our business, we have very talented and passionate people working to deliver the best outcome for farmers – with scientists, software developers and operational teams working to develop products and services that will improve your productivity and decision-making. This isn’t creating flashy toys,

but genuinely useful tools that will improve the way you do business. All innovation starts with a farmer problem and then we work together, with our farmers, to address it with a creative solution. In 2016 we started a companywide transformation process which allowed us to speed up product development, maximise new opportunities and build a more sustainable business. Our innovation-led growth strategy plays to our strength as an innovator to keep you and your farm ahead of the game. Innovation doesn’t happen when you’re standing still, and I think the size and spread of LIC’s workforce in a number of global markets give us an advantage. We can gather more insights into global forces shaping the market and keep at the forefront of risks and opportunities. Our international business also delivers a good return to our shareholders. Genetic gain has always underpinned our focus of improving NZ’s dairy herd, and our work in genomics research is a good example of how we can optimise and enhance our core business of AB to help lift the bar for productivity even higher, and at a faster rate. We recently received a $7 million funding boost from the Government

for a major project which applies the latest genomic technologies to breed healthier, more efficient dairy cattle. An exciting development on the horizon is our new inline milk meter technology which will revolutionise the way systematic herd testing is done on farms nationwide and overseas. This technology will change the way information is gathered onfarm and the frequency, disrupting the existing process to provide improved insights. We have also been experimenting with artificial intelligence and imaging techniques on new software that will monitor and track lameness on a daily basis. We know lameness is concerning for farmers and this new technology will help you detect lameness earlier. Our work to improve Space, our satellite pasture management service, also continues and we are making it available to more farmers. Innovation breeds resilience; by adapting to change and embracing technology we have the power to find creative solutions to mitigate global dairy’s volatility. Our sector is dynamic and fast-changing. We must adapt by optimising innovation and technology to push the frontiers of farming and what we can achieve. • Wayne McNee is the chief executive of LIC.

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CONTENTS 08 Pasture 26

It’s all in your calculations

Feed

Powering fodder beet crop

Maize

Building a resilient system

25 Soil EDITOR Sudesh Kissun sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

Healthy soil, healthy crop

30 Effluent and Water Management 50-51

Heavy investment from farmers

40 Mating Management

PUBLISHER Brian Hight

Breeding herds of the future

ADVERTISING MANAGER Stephen Pollard stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz

50 Calf Rearing

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Dave Ferguson davef@ruralnews.co.nz

56 Milk Quality

PRINTED BY PMP PUBLISHED BY Rural News Group

Reducing M.bovis risk

Time to change liners?

Animal Health

NAIT and biosecurity must be a priority

86 Agribusiness

Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622

Greater milk price certainty

88 Employment

PO Box 331100, Takapuna Auckland 0740

Phone 09.307.0399 Fax 09.307.0122

Without people, there’s no industry

95 Machinery 98

Let’s buy a tractor

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

8 // PASTURE

Maintaining grass quality will provide greatest rewards in summer.

Reducing the post peak decline: itâ€™s all in your calculations MARK BAILEY FARMWISE CONSULTANT, WAIKATO/SOUTH AUCKLAND

with appropriate fertiliser

PRODUCTION INEVITABLY DECLINES post peak. The rate

kk Not grazing these pastures

of decline can be influenced by pasture management decisions made through November. Decisions that will maximise the quantity of quality pasture include: kk Correct identification of surpluses kk Lower yields of silage and shorter periods from closure to harvesting kk Boosting silage regrowth

too soon and too hard after harvesting kk Ensure your grazing pressure/residuals are such to ensure good quality regrowth for the next grazing kk Longer rotation length leading into and through summer. An often employed strategy is to manage October/November grazing rotation at 22-25 days.

This allows you to still be on a reasonable round after dropping silage paddocks out. Moving back out to 22-25 days after the silage is taken is very simple. Those on 18-day rounds with all your paddocks in the rotation can find it difficult to take silage and it often leads to very short grazing frequency while paddocks are out. In dry areas -- pretty much all Hauraki and Waikato -- you

should be pushing out to a 30-day grazing frequency by Christmas. There is no real advantage to going slower. How do you identify when you are in surplus and the amount of silage to close up? The first, often neglected step is to know your actual growth rates. Walking your farm and doing a formal pasture score is essential to get accuracy about your farmâ€™s specific growth

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

10 // PASTURE

performance, if you want to be accurate. The next is to know your trigger level. This is the pre-grazing height above which on your current intake, current round, current stocking rate, you will not achieve your targeted residual. The simple calculation for trigger level is: stocking rate x intake x round length + targeted residual. Once your pre-grazing height reaches the trigger level, you need to make decisions on how you will treat that paddock and others at the same pre-grazing height. How much silage to take out? If we take the example of 2.8 cows per ha and a 100ha farm with cows consuming 18kg of grass, you will need to provide about 5040kg of dry matter every 24 hours, which is a demand of 50.4kgDM/ha/day.

Don’t graze pastures too soon and too hard after harvesting.

If you are growing 70kgDM/ ha/day, you are growing more than you can eat and are in a surplus situation: 50.4 / 70 = 0.72 or you need 72% of what you are growing, therefore you are growing 28% more than you need, so in theory you can afford to drop out 28ha. The question that you need to answer though, is “how long is it likely to grow at that rate?” If it’s long term silage, typical of the first cut you will need a few weeks to build the crop and 3-4 weeks after harvest. If it is short term silage -- which could be described as surplus at the top end of the wedge and harvested immediately into bales -- you might need 3-4 weeks. Another good way is to bring your effective stocking rate up to meet your current and expected future growth rate. If it’s growing at 70kg and you are feeding 18kg/cow, simply

divide 70kg growth by 18kg to get the short term stocking rate that you know the growth will support: 70 kg growth / 18kg intake = 3.88 cows / ha. Take your cow numbers and reduce the area farmed till you have a 3.88 stocking rate: 280 cows / 3.88 stocking rate = 72 ha. That would mean 28ha are surplus. Aim to have lighter rather than heavier crops of silage on the milking area and get them harvested by mid-November at the latest. The later you get, the more difficult it becomes to pick and get right your expected growth. React if you need to. Grazing off silage paddocks recently shut is a far cheaper option than having the expense of making silage then feeding it out a few weeks later. Getting your calculations right and having an educated estimation of

what is likely to happen is also important. Other strategies include topping where you simply get it wrong, as well as mowing in front of the cows where you have enough silage, to avoid that additional cost. Nitrogen to boost crops and nitrogen and potash will aid in recovery and help to get paddocks back in the round and contributing. A typical silage crop yielding 2000kg/ha will remove about 8kg of phosphate, 40kg of potassium, 7kg of sulphur and 4kg of magnesium. High quality supplements can guarantee a degree of quality feed as the quality of pasture declines but it will only ever be a portion. Maintaining grass quality through the combination of means outlined above will provide the greatest rewards going into the summer.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

PASTURE // 11

Knowing about mowing BRENT BOYCE FARMWISE CONSULTANT, NELSON & MARLBOROUGH

SPRING HAS BEEN

reasonably kind this season, and a cracker for some. But as the old heads like to remind us: it’s easier to farm with a wee deficit than a big surplus. These feed explosions happen regularly, but thankfully in more easily managed quantities. So what tools do we have in our toolbox? There are the usual strategies: speed up the round, bring other stock home to graze, take it out for silage/ baleage, etc. Unfortunately, farming is a biological business, and mother nature sometimes reads from a different book. The strategies outlined above work pretty well most

of the time, but are sometimes impractical (you’re already on a fast round, you have no suitable stock to bring home to graze, and it’s too wet for the contractors, etc). Strategic mowing is another useful tool to help with sporadic bursts of spring growth. It is worth remembering that even on the most heavily stocked farms the cows can’t keep up no matter what responsive strategies were put in place. So, if you are going to use mowing, here are some tips: a) Mowing in front of the cows can lift cow intakes if there is an excess of good quality

feed for the full height of the sward (not just mowing for the sake of it). If there is excess feed in the paddock, with a lower quality base, let the cows pick the best out of it and top behind the herd. b) Use the mower pre-graze to maintain and stop the decline in feed quality going into late spring, but only when growth rates are exceeding demand i.e. you need to have a feed surplus to allow mowing. And it’s important to start sooner versus later. c) When you commence mowing, apply 25 - 40kgN/ ha behind the mower.

d) When mowing in front of the cows, it is critical to target covers 200 - 300 kgDM/ha higher than would be used if grazing standing grass, to counter potential losses and allow for increased cow intakes. e) On non-irrigated properties, only mow 50% of what is to be grazed on any one day and mow the night feed ahead of the milkers. Mowing too much area in one round, or when growth rates are below demand, will result in reduced covers and a magnified reduction in growth rates if it gets dry. Under pivot irrigation,

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Vibe (right) compared to other varieties in Cropmark’s Italian ryegrass evaluation trial in the Waikato.

HOLDS FORAGE QUALITY FOR LONGER INTO SPRING Vibe has another big advantage. At +27 days heading date, Vibe is up to 10 days later heading than traditional Italian ryegrasses, enabling it to maintain forage quality for longer into the spring. And with low aftermath heading, it returns quickly to vegetative state, enabling higher livestock performance potential. For more info email: sales@cropmark.co.nz

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

12 // PASTURE

mowing all feeds in front or behind the cows is possible whilst growth rates exceed demand and nitrogen is continually being applied. f) Once pre-grazing covers are too long for the milkers to clean up the feed mown in front of them on the allocated area (the targeted round length), this suggests you have a genuine surplus of feed. g) Leading into summer, using the mower allows pasture quality to be maintained, at the same time as aiming to carry an average cover in excess of 2300kgDM/ha and pre grazing covers exceeding 3000kgDM/ha. h) Mowing is usually done at too high a height so mow or top down to the desired

‘post-grazing residual’ height – typically 5-6 cm. This is critical as grass stems below mowing height harden and lose quality, so you will lose MS production if you have to push cows to eat below mowing height. i) Use the right mower; some makes/models don’t mow low enough. Buy one that does. j) Roll paddocks to achieve the desired mowing height without damaging the mower; heavy rolling of paddocks may be needed. k) Keep mower blades sharp; sharpen blades every day. This means a cleaner cut, less leaf damage and faster pasture regrowth. l) Mow straight before grazing in warmer months; have the

Strategic mowing helps counter sporadic bursts of spring growth.

mower leaving the paddock just as cows are about to enter. Wilted pasture can dry quickly and lose palatability. m) A simple method to assess pasture quality and whether you need to mow is to ‘be the cow’. Try to pluck the grass with your fingers down to the desired grazing residual; if you are unable to break the grass off the cows won’t either. They will leave clumps and a higher than ideal residual. n) And remember – if pasture growth and covers fall below cow demand, stop mowing! Whether you use a mower or not, the critical point is to achieve the correct grazing residual. Mowing is just another tool to achieve that.

Strategic mowing is another useful tool to help with sporadic bursts of spring growth. It is worth remembering that even on the most heavily stocked farms the cows can’t keep up no matter what responsive strategies were put in place.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

14 // PASTURE

Want to grow more high quality grass? A PERENNIAL RYEGRASS

pasture is made up of a population of individual plants; each plant is made up of a number of tillers. Each tiller can only maintain three live leaves; each leaf will develop from the growing point at the base of the tiller. The ryegrass growing point is at the base of the plant where it is not damaged from grazing. Each tiller is capable of producing new or daughter tillers; these daughter tillers produce a new plant. Sunlight provides the basic food for ryegrass plants. Light energy is captured and used by leaves for photosynthesis, providing energy for plant growth. Grazing or harvesting pasture removes the ryegrass leaves

and deprives the plant of light energy, the plant’s primary food source. However, ryegrass leaves have a limited lifespan regardless of grazing. Ryegrass is a ‘three leaf plant’ in which each tiller generally sustains a maximum of three live leaves. Only one leaf grows in each tiller at any time; when the next leaf appears, the previous leaf has stopped growing. How quickly do leaves grow? The time it takes for a tiller to produce a new leaf depends largely on temperature and moisture. Ryegrass grows best in the range 5°-18 °C. In mid-spring a new leaf may grow every eight days but

in mid-winter this time will increase significantly. A ryegrass tiller has a growing point from which new leaves grow. The growing point is found at the base of the tiller, close to the soil surface where it won’t be damaged during grazing, allowing the tiller to regrow. Perennial ryegrasses mainly reproduce through daughter tillers which become separated from the parent tiller and result in a new plant. Each tiller must leave behind one offspring. Few new ryegrass plants emerge in established pasture through seed germination under existing management. The perennial nature of ryegrass depends on tillering as a tiller only lives for one year.

Ryegrass is a ‘three leaf plant’ in which each tiller generally sustains a maximum of three live leaves. Only one leaf grows in each tiller at any time; when the next leaf appears, the previous leaf has stopped growing.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

16 // PASTURE

Spring and autumn are key periods of tillering. Every time a new leaf is produced, a new tiller bud is produced. It stays dormant until the right conditions come for it to grow. Autumn tillers are the one that will grow winter and summer pastures. The spring tillers will grow spring, summer and autumn pastures. What does this mean for grazing management and nutrition? kk The live ryegrass leaf is the nutritious and most easily digestible part of the plant; it is easily digested by the cow and so can sustain high levels of milk solids. kk The aim of grazing management is to optimise the amount of live leaf available to the cow by grazing at the 2.5 to 3 leaf stage; this maximises the capture of sunlight and optimizes pasture quality. kk Monitoring leaf stage effectively indicates when a paddock is ready to graze.

kk Good grazing management

in spring promotes tillering; grazing management is the key to the survival of daughter tillers. New daughter tillers born in spring need as much light as possible to develop. Daughter tillers will not survive weeks of darkness under high pasture covers. Consistent grazing residuals of 1500-1600 kg DM/ha will enable sunlight to reach the base of the pasture and help the survival of newly emerged daughter tillers. Grazing before the 2.5 leaves per tiller reduces yield and regrowth as it does not allow the plants reserves to be fully restored. If a pasture grows too long (>3500 kg DM/ha) it produces new leaves and the old leaves die; these dying leaves accumulate in the base of the pasture leading to: kk Reduced pasture ME â€“ dead material kk Increased disease (favourable environment for pests, diseases, fungal spores)

IDENTIFYING PERENNIAL GRASS kk Leaves: hairless, defined mid-rib, ribbed on upper surface, shiny

underneath kk The emerging leaf is folded kk Reddish /purple base (dead leaf material may need to be peeled

back to see this) kk Plants are made up of a number of tillers.

Each tiller: kk Has its own leaves and roots kk Maintains three live leaves which develop from the growing point

at the base of the tiller kk Is capable of producing new or daughter tillers kk Has one leaf growing at a time kk As the fourth new leaf emerges, the oldest leaf dies kk Lives for about one year.

Spring and autumn are key periods of tillering, i.e. production/ growth of new tillers. Tillers can be classified as vegetative (leafy) or reproductive; a reproductive tiller can be identified by looking for, or feeling for, nodes on the stem. When tillers become reproductive the stem elongates and eventually, if the tiller is not grazed, a seed-head is produced. Poa and Italian ryegrass are commonly mistaken for perennial ryegrass.

kk Decreased pasture utilisation kk Reduced clover content due

to shading. kk Grazing too low can reduce

regrowth as less leaf material

is left to help regrowth and stem material is reduced.Â Graze to the same height each time e.g. if residual is set to 1500kgDM stick to it.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

18 // PASTURE

HawkEye provides the big picture view of farm mapping.

Harnessing the power of prediction FROM MANAGING PASTURE, nutrients and

crops right through to tracking the onfarm environmental footprint, there is no doubt a dairy farmer’s job is complicated. But decision support software like HawkEye can help remove some of the complications. HawkEye is a farm mappingbased software that includes strategic feed budgets, actual and predictive feed wedges, and a host of other nutrient, mapping and digital recordkeeping tools. HawkEye product manager Phil Barlow says the big picture view the software provides is invaluable. “It’s pulling together all the threads and you get a single view of what’s going on onfarm. Data outside of HawkEye

automation can be manually entered, so you can make up the difference and get a single picture of the inputs going on your farm.” With an industry push to concentrate on growing and utilising pasture, Ravensdown technology innovation manager Dr Rob Murray says it makes sense to use pasture management tools like those in HawkEye. “Modern pasture-based farms seek to match feed supply and animal demand, smoothing out peaks and troughs by way of careful use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser or supplementary feed,” he says. “To do this successfully, we need repeated accurate measurements of pasture cover and a timely generation of insights from our decision

management tools.” HawkEye’s pasture prediction tools bring together the power and ability of Farmax feed planning tools and automated data capture from C-Dax pasture measurement. The predictive feed wedge uses available water and weather data via partnerships with Farmax and NIWA, allowing the pasture growth forecaster to predict available feed for different scenarios, which in turn enables strategic management of feed in the farming operation. “While a single day (snapshot) feed wedge is probably the most used grazing management tool at present, recent advances in pasture growth rate predictions allow us to view how the feed situation may look up to two

weeks into the future,” says Rob Murray. HawkEye’s interactive feed wedge shows the feed situation over time, displaying short-term pasture cover predictability and consumption. In addition, the user can interact with the feed wedge, allowing supply/ demand balancing via tactical use of N and a feed conservation tool. A typical scenario for a paddock is where the user applies N to boost pasture growth and mitigate a looming feed deficit. This situation can be modelled and animated so good decisions can be made when addressing the deficit. This same functionality can be used for feed conservation as well. The strategic feed budget integrates with certain Farmax

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

PASTURE // 19

features to augment HawkEye’s existing knowledge about a farm. Created as a tool to proactively manage the farm’s feed requirements, it provides monthly visualisations of the likely surplus or deficits that the farm is expected to experience and offers interactive options for adjusting the farming system to better match what is required. Further tools within the HawkEye suite include the ability to create and edit farm maps, build nutrient summaries, order fertiliser and spread directly from a farm map to allow automated nutrient placement and reporting. This is currently done through integration with Ravensdown joint venture spreaders and spreaders enabled with TracMap. “You’ll either be able to order directly from your agronomy plan or, if you’re doing some more ad hoc type orders in a handful of paddocks, you can

pick those paddocks on the map and choose a product, a transporter and a spreader,” says Barlow. “Also, while HawkEye is recording all this data it is also building a compliance history.” The HawkEye team have worked to make the software user-friendly so that farmers find the tools as intuitive as possible. “We want to make HawkEye as simple as possible to use,” says Barlow. “We want it to be a quick and easy viewpoint for farmers, rather than being something they have to think about using. “The key thing for us is saving the farmer time. Being able to automate things means we can gradually start to cut back the time they are spending in an office doing paperwork. “We realise farmers are time-poor, so we see our role as providing tools that are useful, and hopefully we can help them gain some of that time back.”

Rob Murray

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

20 // FEED

Ensure fodder beet crop reaches full potential GEORGE KERSE RAVENSDOWN PRODUCT MANAGER AGROCHEMICALS

WITH ALL THE hard work that

goes into establishing a fodder beet crop now firmly in the rearview mirror, focus turns to ensuring your crop can reach its full potential. As we move through summer, fungal diseases can have an impact on your crop’s performance. While nitrogen drives canopy growth, fungicides help maintain the canopy and aid green leaf retention. The plant needs to put energy into growing new leaves and this will limit energy for bulb growth. Another benefit is that if green leaf area is maintained through autumn, the bulb will have some early frost protection. In addition, both overseas and local trial work shows an economic response can be obtained from use of fungicides in fodder beet. What am I seeing in my crop? As the crop grows rapidly through the row closure stages, the environment becomes favourable for fungal diseases such as: kk Powdery mildew – the white powdery mycelia visible on leaf surfaces, spread by wind; likes warm conditions (25°C) and low humidity; it attacks leaves aged six to eight weeks old on the upper surface. kk Beet rust -- small yellowishorange to reddish-brown pustules on upper and lower surfaces of leaves. Beet rust likes more moderate temperatures (15-22°C) and dewy moist conditions. It can be spread by wind, rain splash, insects, equipment and workers. kk Cercospora -- this is one of the destructive foliar diseases

in fodder beet, characterised by oval-shaped lesions with a grey centre and dark margins. This disease loves warm and humid conditions (25°C and above) and is spread by rain splash, wind, insects, equipment and workers. kk Ramularia leaf spot -- this shows as light brown spots sized 4-7mm in diameter, more angular than

just preventive measures to limit infection and spread by vectors like aphids. There are cultural practices that can help manage these diseases, such as good crop rotation and hygiene

ingredients -- trifloxystrobin and cyproconazole -- which are from different chemical groups with different modes of action and are registered for the control of Powdery Mildew, Beet Rust, Cercospora and Ramularia leaf spot.

execution, choosing tolerant cultivars, establishing an appropriate plant population and not applying excessive amounts of fertiliser or irrigation. These practices combined with a timely application of an effective fungicide can help control fungal diseases and prevent further development. Fungicides currently registered for disease control in fodder beet in New Zealand include Beetrizole, Escolta and Mondo. These combine the effectiveness of two active

These treatments are best applied early in the disease cycle when conditions favour disease development but before diseases have become well-established. A repeat application is possible any time from three weeks following the initial application. If you are seeing early signs of disease infection, it makes good economic sense to protect your investment with one to two fungicide applications to ensure the crop finishes as well as it can.

Beet rust

Cercospora. This disease thrives in 17-20°C temperatures and is spread by rain splash and wind. Other diseases you may be seeing: kk This season the cooler moist

weather in Canterbury has caused downy mildew in early sown crops. Unfortunately, there is no fungicide effective on downy mildew registered for use in fodder beet. kk Leaf yellowing may be associated with Beet Western Yellows Virus (BWYV). Unfortunately, there is no cure for BWYV,

UPGRADING YOUR FARM?

DO IT ONCE, DO IT RIGHT.

Above: The BEL Group’s new 105 x 37m feedpad and supporting infrastructure in construction.

At Presco, we believe in doing something once and doing it right. So does the BEL Group. So when they upgraded their feed and effluent systems on their Springfield Hawkes Bay farm, there were no half measures and we were a natural fit.

S UP E

R Q UA L

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BEL Group’s new 105x37m feedpad, which stands 600 cows at one time and incorporates a 55x12m Maize bunker, 31x9.5m custom Sand Trap and 12x12m Solids

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bunker ensures their 900 cows are well looked after and their farm is running at peak efficiency with minimal labour input. If you are looking at upgrading your feed or effluent systems or infrastructure and want to do the job once and do it right, give us a call on 0800 77 37 26. www.prescoinfrastructure.co.nz www.belgroup.co.nz

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

22 // MAIZE

Building resilient farm systems with maize IAN WILLIAMS PIONEER FORAGE SPECIALIST

THE LAST FEW seasons seem to have delivered many challenges for farmers. Milk price has been variable, weather patterns unpredictable, environmental regulations much tighter and now there are issues around M. bovis and the Fat Evaluation Index (FEI). The challenge for dairy farmers is to build “triple bottom line” sustainable systems which make money without damaging the environment and are

sustainable for all (people and animals) concerned. And this all must take place in the context of increased biosecurity risk. The recent Pasture Summit held in Hamilton and Ashburton highlighted the fact that pasture remains the cornerstone of New Zealand dairy systems. A number of speakers at the Summit reinforced the fact that “pasture is enough”. The question remains though… “Is there

enough pasture?” Data from the Waikato shows a yield variation of around 8 tDM/ ha between the best year and the worst year. Genetic gain is also slow with an estimated average genetic gain of just 0.5% per year1. While variable costs (including fertiliser and weed control) are relatively low, high dairy land prices and the associated interest cost mean the fixed cost of growing pasture is high.

Pasture yields vary both between seasons and within seasons. While pasture is generally a high quality feed, there are times of the year when supply is limited by poor grass growing conditions (e.g. too cold or too dry) and often these cannot be predicted ahead of time. In recent years it has become clear that intensive pasturebased systems can leach high amounts of nitrogen. For much

Precision Farming

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

24 // MAIZE

of the year pasture contains more crude protein (or nitrogen) than cows require. Excess protein is excreted in the urine. When a cow urinates up to 1000 kg N/ha falls onto an area the size of an A4 piece of paper, pasture simply cannot uptake all the nitrogen the urine contains. The surplus quickly drops below the root-zone of pasture (around 60 cm) most likely ends up in the groundwater. Maize silage - a potential solution. In order to meet these challenges many farmers are now using maize silage. Maize silage is a cost-effective, high quality supplement which can be grown on the milking platform or run-off or can be bought in from contract growers. Maize silage can help build sustainable profitable dairy systems by providing a high quality, low cost supplementary feed to fill in the gaps in pasture based systems. This stabilises milk production levels and allows farmers to dilute fixed costs. The end result is a sustainable farm system with plenty of milk produced at a moderate cost per kilogram of milksolids (kgMS). The dairy production system based around maize silage will have the following features: Lower feed costs Growing and harvesting more home grown feed (pasture and crops) dilutes fixed costs (including interest), reduces total feed costs and increases returns. Maize is a drought

tolerant crop that produces reliably high yields. Most dairy farmers can grow maize silage crops yielding 18–26 tDM/ ha for 14–21 c/kgDM in the stack2. Crops grown on high fertility paddocks will reduce costs by around 4-5c/kgDM as they usually require little or no fertiliser to grow the crop. At around 11.0 mjme/kgDM, maize silage can be used to displace concentrates and other supplements which have a higher cost per kilogram of drymatter and unit of energy. Improving pasture control Because maize silage is a forage, you can vary the amount you feed to control pasture residuals keeping ryegrass in its most productive growth stage. If pasture cover levels are low, increase the maize silage feeding rate and leave more pasture behind to prevent overgrazing. If you have plenty of grass on hand reduce the feeding rate and clean up paddocks better. The combination of maize silage and a stand-off pad or a wintering barn, allows you to restrict access to pasture minimising pasture pugging without compromising animal welfare. Filling feed deficits with a safe feed. Supplements will deliver the greatest return when they are fed during genuine feed shortages or used to increase days in milk. While many crops such as brassicas must be fed when they are mature, maize silage can be stacked and fed when you are short of feed.

Well compacted and sealed maize can hold its quality for several seasons providing nutritious feed exactly when you need it. With FEI penalties now coming into play for Fonterra suppliers, many former PKE users are now using maize silage and enjoying the benefits of reduced risk of grading Improving pasture renewal Maize not only produces high drymatter yields but it can help you establish higher performing pastures. Fertiliser and lime can be applied and incorporated in the cultivation process and it’s a great time to address drainage issues. Cropping enables you to deal to otherwise hard to kill weeds (e.g. twitch). It also removes the normal feed source for pasture pests such as Black Beetle, Argentine Stem Weevil and pasture nematodes. This interrupts their breeding cycle and reduces insect pressure on seedling plants during the pasture renewal process. Decreasing biosecurity risk. With the arrival of M. bovis, farmers across NZ have become very aware of the issues around biosecurity at the farm level. While many farmers have implemented policies around visitors to their farms washing their boots and vehicle tyres on entering and leaving the property, a growing number are addressing the far bigger risk; cows being wintered off the property. Farmers with off paddock facilities (e.g. feed pads/Herd Homes/Cow barns

etc) are now able to bring in more maize silage and winter cows at home rather than take the risk of them being infected while away winter grazing. Self containing the farm system makes very good sense in risky times. Making the most of effluent Applying dairy shed effluent to pasture often results in a build-up of soil potassium and a higher risk of milk fever. It can also increase the risk of nitrogen leaching. Maize thrives on the nutrients contained in effluent, and the maize plant can mine excess soil nitrogen and potassium reducing the risk of milk fever and nitrogen loss to water. Reducing nitrogen leaching Most of the nitrogen leached on dairy farms comes from cow urine. Ryegrass-clover pasture frequently contains more nitrogen (or crude protein) than cows can utilise. The bigger the nitrogen surplus in a cow’s diet, the higher the amount of nitrogen excreted in her urine. Feeding low nitrogen maize silage in conjunction with pasture dilutes dietary protein levels, and this in turn reduces the amount of urinary nitrogen. Lee et al, 2012. Perennial

ryegrass breeding in New Zealand: a dairy industry perspective. Crop and Pasture Science 63: 107–127. Pioneer® brand

Maize for Silage 2018/19

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

SOIL // 25

Soil quality governs farm economic health THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC viability of any

farm depends on the maintenance of soil quality. Environmental and economic performance and sustainability of our agriculture, including forestry, can be greatly influenced by soil quality. The effects of intensive farming on soil and water quality and on the surrounding environment are causing concern about the long-term viability of our natural resources. The physical condition of a soil has an important influence on farm economics and environment; it affects processes such as soil erosion and land drainage. Soil physical condition is commonly referred to as ‘soil structure’, a reference to the porosity, strength and stability of a soil. Well-structured soil has many stable aggregates with a wide range of sizes. It contains a large number of pores within and between those aggregates which maintain the correct balance of air and water in the soil and also allow easy emergence of seedlings and growth of plant roots. Poorly structured soil either

The physical condition of a soil has an important influence on farm economics and environment.

does not have aggregates of many different sizes, or the aggregates are packed tightly together with few pores. Poor structure in a light textured soil results in unstable aggregates and the soil appears fine and powdery. Poor soil structure can markedly increase the risk of wind erosion. The Waikato region has a wide range of soils, which include some of the most productive soils in New Zealand. However, even high quality soils can be degraded through some land use practices. Only about 34% of monitored sites fully meet national targets, with compaction and excessive fertility being the main soil quality issues in the intensively farmed areas of the Waikato region. Soil scientists have documented that a poorly aerated or compacted soil can be reducing pasture production

by 200kgDM/ha/month. Once the soil is properly aerated, at correct depth and time, you can increase about 30% dry matter within six months and about 50% of dry matter production after eight months. The basic issue to remember: soil health is farmers’ wealth. Visual soil assessment (VSA) Visual soil assessment (VSA) was developed by well known soil scientist Graham Shepherd. The VSA Field Guide has been produced to help land managers assess soil quality easily, quickly, reliably and cheaply on a paddock scale. Assessing and monitoring soil quality with VSA, and following guidelines for prevention or recovery of soil degradation, can help develop and implement sustainable land management practices. VSA is based on the visual assessment of key soil state and

plant performance indicators of soil quality, presented on a scorecard. Soil quality is ranked by assessment of the soil indicators alone; it does not require knowledge of paddock history. Plant indicators, however, require knowledge of immediate crop and paddock history. Because of this, only those who have this information will be able to complete the plant indicator scorecard satisfactorily. Each indicator is given a visual score of 0 (poor), 1 (moderate), or 2 (good), based on the soil quality observed when comparing the paddock sample with three photographs in the field guide manual. The score given to each indicator is multiplied by the weighting factor to give a VS ranking. The total of the VS rankings gives the overall ranking score for the sample you are assessing. You compare this with the score ranges at the bottom of the page to determine whether your soil has good, moderate or poor soil quality. • Article sourced from Waikato Regional Council. www. waikatoregion.govt.nz

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

26 // SOIL

Managing soil crucial for pasture, crop health REGULAR, PROACTIVE MONITORING of soil health

and fertility can save time and money, whether there appears to be a problem or not, says DairyNZ farm systems specialist Chris Glassey. Soil fertility management is vital for feeding dairy cows, because poorly managed soil fertility can limit the amount of pasture and crop eaten. Over time, the dynamic biological system of soil can also disguise its true state until it’s too late, causing a collapse in pasture production and a feed crisis. Regularly monitoring your soil will prevent this. It will also enable you to identify which technological and biological solutions might be the most practical and beneficial for your paddocks. Soil-testing tips kk Soil-test at the same time each year for more meaningful comparisons. kk Soil-test by groups (blocks) of paddocks, after carefully considering changes in soil type, contour and paddock history. kk Adopt sampling routines that attempt to reduce bias towards any high- or low-fertility areas. kk Soil test analysis should be consistent across years and backed by New Zealand science. If you are changing laboratories, make sure nutrient recommendations for phosphorus, potassium and sulphur and the soil acidity/alkalinity (pH) have been validated under NZ soil conditions. kk Test herbage at critical times each year, to check for trace elements. kk Complete a nutrient budget to guide fertiliser and environmental decisions.

Tapping into technology Set up effective, frequent soil-testing systems first, before adding precision technology or looking at alternative nutrient management strategies. These days, technology can map paddocks to identify where and when fertiliser should be applied. There’s also a new total nitrogen (N) soil test analysis, which you can use to find out whether a variable rate application of N will give you a better result for the money you spend on N. Now you can consider making each block (or paddock)

Chris Glassey, DairyNZ

as similar as possible in base fertility for all nutrients, including N. Although this technology has often been more focused on cropping than livestock farms, it’s useful to view pasture as a crop that can also create high value products. The efficient and precise management of nutrients will lead to cost savings, environmental benefits and yield increases. Alternative nutrient management strategies (e.g. biological agriculture) must also deliver on cost, production and environmental outcomes.

KEY POINTS: 1. Use established routines and practices for monitoring soil fertility trends over time. 2. Good monitoring opens opportunities for new variable rate technology. 3. Monitoring is even more important if you’re changing to alternative fertiliser practices.

Therefore, a regular proactive soil monitoring system should be in place to assess performance.

Choosing the Right Trough Valve There’s a reason farmers are turning to Hansen as their preferred trough valve. With up to 30% faster fills and a host of lower maintenance features, they’re fast becoming the choice of a new generation of users. Follow these steps to choose a suitable valve from the table below.

Step 1 - Kn ow yo ur tr ou gh ’s en tr y style

Hint: Grab a pen and circle the items relevant to your trough

9L/min @ 29 psi

he ck S te p 2 - C ’s in le t gh ou tr yo ur . e z th re ad si

S te p 3 - C ho os th e ar m le ng e th th at su it s yo ur tr ou gh .

34L/min @ 29 psi

• Suits confined spaces

• Compact design

• Hansen Ezi-Clamp arm makes level adjustment a breeze

• Reliable in low and high pressure applications

• Ability to attach a diffuser hose

• Durable long life valve seat

C h o o se S te p 4 b a ll f lo a t st th e la rg e our f it in to y th a t w ill tr o u g h .

188L/min @ 29 psi

S te p 5 - T he n w ith st oc k nu m be rs in m in d, ch oo se a Ha ns en V al ve th at su its .

570L/min @ 29 psi

• High performance cost effective trough valve

• Delivers high volumes of water quickly with unrestricted full flow

• Patented slipper fit piston helps eliminate stuck valves

• Stock proof bendable arm • Self Cleaning for clean/dirty water

Pressure Range 0 to 12 Bar / 0 to 174 psi

Pressure Range 0.2 to 12 Bar / 2.9 to 174 psi

Top only

Top or Side

Top, Side or Bottom

Trough Entry Style

Trough Inlet Adapters

Arm Options

Included

Float

Included

Stock Type & Total Volume

Calves, Horses, Pigs, Goats, Chickens

15mm, 20mm, 25mm

20mm, 25mm, 32mm

Note: 15-50mm standard & long tail adapters also available separately

Short or Long

Long or Short

115mm or 140mm

140mm or 115mm

(sold separately)

Dairy - Fewer than 150 Sheep - Fewer than 2,500 Beef - Fewer than 175 Calves

Dairy - Fewer than 500 Sheep - Fewer than 6,000 Beef - Fewer than 600

Stock volumes based on each valve’s flow rate at 29 psi (2bar). Flow rates will vary from farm to farm due to pipe size and system design. More information is available from Hansen Products’ website (www.hansenproducts.co.nz) or by contacting a Hansen Products Water System Specialist, phone 0800 420 349

for your local stockist visit

Standard & Extension Arms Included

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Included Dairy - More than 400 Sheep - More than 6,000 Beef - More than 600

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

28 // SOIL

It’s all about the anion storage capacity (ASC) of soil.

Figuring phosphate losses from soils THE LOSSES OF phosphate from New Zealand soils can be higher than expected and are totally related to soil type, climate and the form of P applied. The amount of phosphate found in drainage water is strongly related to that found in soil, particularly soil solution P. According to many published studies, the amount of P found in soil solution is strongly related to the anion storage capacity (ASC) of the soil, also known as phosphate retention (PR). The ASC gives an indication of the soil’s ability to hold onto anions, particularly P and sulphur (S). The major soil property determining the ASC is the amount of iron and/or

aluminium oxides in the soil. A low ASC soil will have low P binding sites, conversely high ASC soils will have many binding sites. NZ soils generally have a range of ASC between 0 – 96%. Soils with ASC < 40% are more likely to be vulnerable to P loss. The amount of nutrients lost via subsurface flow is related to the amount of rainfall and drainage, according to Gordon Rajendram, Eurofins AgriTesting soil Scientist and Technical Manager. He did these studies when he worked for AgResearch in the 1990s and they have been included in the Overseer nutrient model. The rainfall for most regions of NZ ranges from about 500 to 3000 mm per year, but the South Island’s West Coast can

have as much as 5000 mm per year, if not more. Studies done on low ASC soils in Northland have found on average 35 – 65% of applied P can be lost via drainage. Recently, an AgResearch study on Waikato peat soils showed up to 46kg P/ha/yr with an ASC of 19%. The loss of 46kg of P is equivalent to what farmers would normally apply to their pastures in any one year (40 -70kg/ P/ha/year). As a consequence these types of losses have a large financial cost (~$150/ha) to the farmer and have implications for the environment. So a highly soluble P fertiliser, even though it may be cheaper per kilo basis, is not the answer for lower ASC soils. These low ASC soils can be

ABOUT EUROFINS Eurofins Agri-testing is an independent soil, plant and fertiliser testing lab to help New Zealand farmers. Formerly known as Soil Fertility Service, it was set up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the 1980s. Eurofins is a leading provider of testing services with more than 650 laboratories across 45 countries and over 45,000 staff.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

SOIL // 29

How much phosphate is your soil losing?

The way to grow any plant based material is naturally, while regenerating soils biologically. Join the biological movement with this range of products from Nitrosol. Nitrosol Fertiliser is now smoother, richer and easier to apply with increased N.P.K.

ASC is a great tool to determine different soil groups and provide an index for fertiliser recommendations.

found in all regions of NZ. You cannot change the soil type or the climate, but you can change the amount and form of P applied to areas which are vulnerable, according to Rajendram. The best way to reduce P & S loss is to apply less water-soluble P & S fertiliser which slowly release P & S or apply a small amount more often as the pasture or plant requires it. Sulphur is even more easily leached than P; it is like applying a whole yearâ€™s supply of food in one day that will just sit in the solution in lower ASC soils. Plants can only use a certain amount daily, the rest is at the mercy of the climate/ rainfall of the area. ASC was developed in NZ by WHM Saunders in 1965. ASC is determined using a buffered sodium acetate solution at pH 4.6, containing 1000mg/L phosphorus. It is important to

buffer the extracting solution to a pH of 4.6 to achieve maximum phosphate retention and provide repeatable results in the laboratory. The difference in initial 1000 mg/L added and the phosphorus remaining after 16 hours of shaking is used to calculate the % ASC. Saunders found that the amount of phosphate extracted from the soil by the sodium acetate was negligible compared to the amount of phosphate in the buffer solution so excluded this from the calculation. ASC is a great tool to determine different soil groups and provide an index for fertiliser recommendations. Like many empirical soils tests, ASC is good at providing a low, medium and high value, but it is less able to differentiate the phosphorus retention characteristics of similar soil groups.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

30 // EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT

The innovative use of ‘green water’ (recycled effluent) to wash out dairy sheds reduces on-farm water use.

Effective control is hugely important MOST DAIRY FARMERS

are doing the right thing in managing effluent on their properties and have invested much in reliable and sustainable systems, DairyNZ environmental extension specialist Logan Bowler says. Well-designed and constructed effluent storage provides a lot of benefits: better flexibility for irrigation, better environmental management, peace of mind and reduced risk of effluent non-compliance. For farmers who haven’t yet done the work needed to meet their obligations, advice is available from dairy companies and regional councils. DairyNZ resources are available to all dairy farmers, including a dairy effluent storage calculator, a publication entitled ‘A Farmer’s Guide to Building a New Effluent Storage Pond’ and a certification scheme for accredited effluent system designers. Meanwhile, more dairy

For farmers who haven’t yet done the work needed to meet their obligations, advice is available from dairy companies and regional councils. farmers are adopting innovative solutions and technology onfarm to improve their effluent management, Logan says. Here are some of the options farmers are reporting favourably: kk Irrigation monitors: minimise or prevent discharges from stalled irrigators and broken pipes, make managing systems more efficient, prevent environmental mishaps and save farmers stress and time. Most can be operated from a smartphone. kk Travelling rain guns: use ‘water wheel’ type turbines to irrigate with greater speed

control, creating greater wetted diameters, meeting slower soil infiltration needs and the ability to target only part or half circles. kk Hydrofan washdown nozzles: reduce water use by about half in dairy sheds. kk DairyNZ’s effluent spreading calculator app: helps contract effluent spreaders and farmers to know how much land they needed to spread over to match desired nutrient DairyNZ’s Envirowalk app: is used by farmers as they walk around the farm to help identify risk areas and possible solutions.

A ‘green water’ approach: using recycled effluent to ‘green wash’ dairy shed yards is also making effluent management easier for a growing number of dairy farmers. Water use in and around the farm is reduced by up to 65% and effluent storage requirements by around 50%. ‘Green water’ practices save time and money; less electricity is needed to pump water from its source; fewer runs are required from irrigation equipment; pumping times are halved for effluent irrigation and they enable labour-free washing of the dairy shed yard. Farmers looking for support in designing, upgrading and managing effluent infrastructure can visit the DairyNZ website www.dairynz.co.nz/ effluent New conversion information (including a Responsible Conversions guide) is available at www.dairynz.co.nz/conversions.

WE MAKE NUTRIENT APPLICATION THIS SIMPLE Growsmart® Precision VRI with FieldNET® now enables you to use your irrigation system to apply nutrients exactly where they are required, all while continuing to control the irrigation of your crops and pastures. Individual, specific irrigation plans can be created for effluent, fertigation or chemigation. The innovative technology will automatically switch to the appropriate plan when the ingredient is injected into the irrigation water line. Proof-ofplacement application reports will ensure you meet regulatory requirements and help with future decision-making. This amount of control makes improving the sustainability of your operation effortless, so you can spend less time in the field, giving you more time for what matters.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

32 // EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT

Farm moves starting to deliver results Challenges still there but environmental moves by farmers are starting to deliver results. STRONG AND STEADY

progress towards environmental goals is being made by New Zealand dairy farmers, with significant work undertaken on farms over the past 10 years. Dr David Burger, DairyNZ’s strategy and investment leader for responsible dairying, says improvements have come about in a number of ways, including by fencing cows out of waterways and improved effluent management practices. A 2015 DairyNZ and Federated Farmers survey showed an estimated environmental spend by farmers of over $1 billion from 2010. That equated to $18,000 a year per farm, or $90,000 over the five-year period – with 70% of that spending estimated to have been in the area of effluent management. This is notable

because effective effluent management is a fundamental step to improve water quality. In 2013 the dairy sector launched the Sustainable Dairy Water Accord– a major commitment from the sector to playing our part in helping to improve water quality in New Zealand. Its purpose is to enhance the overall performance of dairy farming’s effect on freshwater. The Accord lists a set of national good management practice benchmarks aimed at lifting environmental performance on all dairy farms. Commitments to planting alongside farm waterways (known as riparian planting) and improving effluent management are included. There are also measures to improve efficiency of water and nutrient use and compre-

hensive standards for new dairy farms. Through the Accord, which is voluntary, 97% of significant waterways on dairy farms (over 26,000 km), are now fenced off to keep cows out, and 99.7% of regular stock crossings now have bridges or culverts to protect water quality. Farmers are also working towards establishing riparian management plans to help manage contaminant runoff from the land. Supporting this is a newly developed tool, the Riparian Planner, which helps farmers set up a plan and advises on suitable species to plant and how this work should be carried out. In 2016, the Riparian Planner tool won an award by the New Zealand Association of Resource Management for Outstanding Contribution.

Many dairy farms have implemented farm enviromental plans.

Farmers have improved effluent infrastructure and practices across many regions and, as a result, incidences of significant non-compliance with local council regulations have decreased significantly, to less than 5.2% in 2016-17. Many dairy farms have also implemented farm environmental plans to help understand environmental risks on their properties and adopt actions to minimise these risks. This may include actions around nutrient management, for example fertiliser application and nutrient budgeting, and actions to reduce the risk of critical source areas around water ways. Critical source areas are small, low-lying parts of farms such as gullies and swales where runoff accumulates in high concentration. Over 2500 farmers now have such plans in place, with the intention to roll them out right across the country. The most recent Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) national water quality monitoring report shows that, for the majority of water quality indicators measured, more monitored sites are now showing signs of improving trends than degrading over the past 10 years. LAWA is an independent and robustly operated reporting network, using best statistical and reporting practices across a network of hundreds of water quality monitoring sites. Burger says the results are great news for freshwater management and great news for everyone actively working to improve water quality outcomes, including the many farmers and landowners all

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT // 33

around the country who have undertaken a huge amount of work to reduce their environmental footprint over the past decade. The report also shows that there are still degrading sites for all indicators, and this means that we all need to keep up our efforts and more work is still needed to continue to improve freshwater outcomes throughout the country. The LAWA finding that macroinvertebrates or the diversity of bugs in streams are under pressure is a big concern. The dairy sector is committed to doing everything we can, alongside other land users, to continue to contribute to improving the health of waterways including the health of macroinvertebrates. Much more work is underway, including science into better ways to mitigate contaminant runoff from the land before it leaves the farm gate. There are also whole of

Much more work is underway, including science into better ways to mitigate contaminant runoff from the land before it leaves the farm gate. catchment projects to adopt improved farming practices at scale, and demonstrate those outcomes through monitoring and modelling. “It’s critical that we have the right solution for the right place and that requires science from us ,” Burger says. “Farmers need certainty about where they’re going and that they will be supported. Without that science, they could be focusing on the wrong issues.” In June last year The Good Farming Practice: Action Plan for Water Quality was launched by Minister for the Environment, David Parker and Minister for Primary

Industries, Damien O’Connor, setting goals to be achieved by 2025. This plan sets out agreed principles for good farming practice across the whole country, as well as an action plan to adopt these principles through farm environment plans across all farms over the next five years. It was jointly developed by primary sector groups, including DairyNZ, regional councils and the two ministries. The dairy sector has a strategic vision, Dairy Tomorrow, which sets out the vision of what we want to achieve together as a sector over the coming decade and

beyond. The strategy is a joint initiative by DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand and the Dairy Women’s Network, and was launched in 2017. It puts improving dairying’s environmental footprint at the front of six commitments, which also include building a competitive and resilient sector, producing the highest quality dairy nutrition, improving animal welfare, fostering employment and helping grow vibrant and prosperous communities. DairyNZ is proud of work dairy farmers have done so far to continually reduce the dairy sector’s environmental footprint. There is still more work to be done and we are committed to putting in the hard work. It is a journey and we are learning and improving every day. • Courtesy of The Vision is Clear; www.thevisionisclear. co.nz

0800 786 774

www.pumpandvalve.com

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

34 // EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT

It’s getting better Award-winning dairy farmer: collective environmental action will benefit future generations. WHEN YOUR DRINKING

water comes out of a river and you like to swim in rivers, then being a dairy farmer with award-winning environmental stewardship comes naturally. Manawatu-Whanganui region dairy farmers Andrew Hardie and Helen Long’s Te Maunga Farm is bounded by two rivers – the Manawatu and

Mangatewainui rivers – and their property has hosted some significant environmental work. Long says clean water is very important to the family because they love swimming, and draw all their drinking water and stock water from the Mangatewainui. “It’s great to see clear water, with no algae growth or slime,”

Everyone along a water course plays a part in protecting it, not just dairy farmers.

Hardie says. The couple won four awards earlier this year in the recent Ballance Farm Environment Awards for their work for the environment and the success of their farming business. Their awards are for the Horizons region and are: the 2018 Regional Supreme Award, DairyNZ Sustainability

and Stewardship Award, Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award and WaterForce Integrated Management Award. Hardie says it was a real buzz winning the awards, adding that water quality is a collaborative effort and everyone along a water course plays a part, not just dairy farming. The biggest contributor to

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT // 35

“There are a lot of people doing good work and the more word gets out about that, the more people will come on board.”

water quality improvement from dairy farming is excluding stock from waterways. The couple excluded all their stock from major waterways in 1999, their first year on Te Maunga farm. Since then they have fenced more and more of the smaller streams and more of the ephemeral streams (which run only part of the year). Currently 97% of all significant dairy streams in New Zealand are planted and fenced and dairy farmers are working toward full stock exclusion. The couple’s property, northeast of Dannevirke, is diverse – of 420ha, only 300ha is in grass. The rest is planted in pines (40ha), native bush (30ha), shelter belts and fenced riparian areas (35ha). They milk 700 once-a-day cows on a 240ha milking platform, and have an 80ha runoff. Hardie and Long plan to continue fencing off and planting marginal areas. They also want to build structured wetlands at every outlet – drains and water courses – because wetlands are so good at filtering water. The couple also want to put QE2 covenants over a number of areas. Long says it’s absolutely vital they pass on a property that is in excellent environmental shape. “One of the really big things for us is our adult children love bringing their city friends home and showing them around the farm, swimming in the river and showing them the animals. It’s about bringing city and rural together. We love seeing that.” She says their work has to be a balance between business, family and environment: “Our business has to be financially secure. If it isn’t you can’t do

a lot of these environmental initiatives.” Results from Horizons Regional Council earlier this year showed improving trends in monitoring sites on the region’s rivers including the Mangatewainui River, which collects water from the couple’s farm and other farms upstream. Hardie says it’s encouraging to see continually improving results but adds: “We can all do a little better though.” He says it’s great to see farmers working together and sharing information and tips on their stewardship of the land. DairyNZ and other organisations run field days to help farmers learn about environmental initiatives and share tools to help. “The best advantage of farmers working together and learning from each other is the support it provides. If it becomes common knowledge it’s not that hard, people get encouraged and the whole community get behind you. It’s like team support. “There are a lot of people doing good work and the more word gets out about that, the more people will come on board,” says Hardie. “If we collectively keep going, it’s only going to get better. Actions we’re taking now will show up in improved water quality in the future. Technology will also have a big part to play in solving some of the environmental challenges in the future. “The better we look after the resource, the better and more valuable it will be not only for this generation but future generations.” • Courtesy of The Vision is Clear www.thevisionisclear. co.nz

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

36 // EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT

Plants, fencing keep nasties out of water Fencing waterways on farms can reduce the amount of phosphorus, sediment and microbes entering water. FENCES PREVENT STOCK

kk sediment entry to streams by

from entering and dirtying the water, and plants growing behind the fences stabilise stream banks and block the movement of particles from land into streams. Even without planting, fencing streams reduces faecal coliforms reaching the water by 35% and prevents banks eroding. kk In ideal conditions, fenced grass riparian strips can reduce:

at least 80%. kk dissolved P entry by at least 50%. kk nitrate-N by at least 60%. Planting riparian strips also helps restore the ecology of streams by casting shade that cools the water and suppresses aquatic weed growth. When combined with weed and pest killing, planting can enhance habitat on land for native insects and bird life. However, riparian planting

is less successful in reducing nitrate entry to streams where there are no wet soils bordering the stream channel from which N can be released back to the air. This is because nitrate tends to pass into groundwater from the paddock surface through the soil, rather than moving over the surface attached to particles as phosphorus does. So riparian planting alone will not be sufficient to solve the problem of nutrient build-up in

Waikato waterways. More farmers in the region and nationwide are protecting streams on their property with riparian fencing and plants. Seepage areas and wetlands Seeps and wetlands act like the â€˜kidneysâ€™ of the land. They naturally remove pollutants from farm run-off by filtering and cleaning the water that flows through them. Sediment and faecal material are trapped

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

38 // EFFLUENT & WATER MANAGEMENT

Planting riparian strips helps restore the ecology of streams.

in the wetland vegetation, and the microbes living in wetland soils remove nitrate from farm run-off. Very high levels of nitrate removal have been recorded for wetland areas (up to 90%). However, for wetlands to work effectively they need to be retained (unaffected by drainage), adequately sized for the catchment area and fenced to allow growth of wetland vegetation that will slow water flow. A carbon-rich form of vegetation increases the effectiveness of wetland bacteria that act to remove nitrogen. Abundant carbon also reduces the proportion of harmful greenhouse gases emitted by wetland areas. Wetlands can be constructed at drain outlets, or at the base of catchment areas, to remove nitrogen before drainage water flows into downstream waterways. A wetland of 2-5 % of the total catchment area draining into it is recommended for significant N-removal. Constructed wetlands are

getting noticed as an effective mechanism for protecting sensitive downstream receiving waters such as lakes. Retaining and fencing naturally occurring wetlands and seeps is much cheaper than a constructed wetland. Fencing out swampy areas can also prevent stock losses. If weeds are controlled these areas can quickly become attractive features in the farm landscape, and provide valuable habitat for fish and bird life as natural wetland vegetation re-establishes. Tree-planting is generally not recommended around wetland margins as trees can dry out the soils and shade the carbon-rich wetland species. Locally occurring reeds, rushes, and sedges are more suitable. Fenced and grassed drains Many drains on farms empty directly into waterways and can be a major source of pollutants in some areas. Poorly managed drains can act as contamination ‘highways’, providing shortcuts into waterways for nutrients, bacteria and sediment. A well-

managed drain can aid nutrient removal and form an important habitat for fish and other water life. Keeping drains fenced and well vegetated can greatly reduce the amount of nutrients discharged to waterways. Fencing banks prevents stock trampling and erosion, reducing the frequency of drain maintenance required. Vegetation such as rough grass will trap farm nutrients and slow the water flow so that nutrient removal processes can occur (in this case drains can act like miniwetlands). Mechanical drain cleaning should be kept to a minimum, and spraying of drain vegetation done only along a portion of the drain at any one time. Tracks and raceways Poorly designed and maintained tracks and raceways can collect and channel farm run-off into the nearest waterway, carrying sediment, nutrients and effluent into the water. Well-designed raceways divert run-off from the track

onto paddocks rather than into waterways. As well as helping the environment, this also prevents channelling and eroding, saving on track maintenance. An important consideration for track design and minimal maintenance is the shaping of the track to direct water off the track surface and into rough grass areas (for example, with a crown on a flat slope, or correct cambering and culverts on a slope). Regular cut-offs (small channels on the side of the track) will remove water, again directing it into the paddock or rough grass alongside. This prevents scouring of the track surface and excessive erosion. Approaches to waterways are particularly important: if there is an area of fenced vegetation or small wetland alongside the waterway, track run-off should be diverted into this area so that dirty water does not run directly into the stream. • Article sourced from Waikato Regional Council publication ‘The condition of rural water and soil in Waikato region’.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

40 // MATING MANAGEMENT

No matter how many cows you milk, cows must be milker-friendly.

Breeding dairy herds of the future starts today CRAIG ROBERTSON WORLD WIDE SIRES GENETICS PRODUCTION MANAGER

THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION’S report

highlighting the need for dairy herds of the future to be smaller and more productive, reinforces that farmers need to be using sires selected for that purpose – today or at the next mating season. The mating decisions you make now will hit the ground in three years; will those cows enable you to maintain or improve the profitability and viability of your farm/s? That is the dilemma facing every dairy farmer in the world. Breeding a herd of highly productive, profitable dairy

cows which will satisfy the myriad of drivers – industry, economic, environmental, welfare and regulatory – starts today. You can’t control the environment or the global industry drivers but you can make decisions now to ensure your farm and future is viable. Herd productivity A quick review of the latest Dairy Statistics confirms that the productivity of the New Zealand national herd has increased slowly. For example, 20 years ago the average cow produced 301kgMS/year; ten

years later her daughters and granddaughters were averaging 330kgMS/year and today the average cow produces 380kgMS/year. Using that rate of improvement, in five years the average cow will produce about 405kgMS/year. Will that level of production sustain your farm if, like Dutch farmers, you are asked to reduce your herd by upwards of 8%? And where would you start if you had to cut that percentage of the herd? Would those culling decisions be based on the industry index attached to each cow? Or would you trust your gut -- after all,

nobody knows a herd as well as its owner -- and make an assessment based on ‘will she last more than a lactation’? Milker-friendly cows No matter how many cows you milk, cows must be ‘milkerfriendly’, i.e. you want to be able to apply the cups easily, evenly and quickly. Start by looking at the business end of each cow and grade her (in your own mind and that of your staff) for how well her udder is supported, the shape of the udder (you want udders which are high and wide and above the hock

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

MATING MANAGEMENT // 41

With the range of dairy farm systems in New Zealand likely to increase, farmers will need to select feet and leg traits specific to their system. If you’re planning a barn, or more intensive system in years to come, you’ll need cows slightly straighter in the leg than a cow that needs to walk 8km a day.

with good teat placement and length so the cups sit evenly), thus making for fast and clean milking. Well supported and shaped udders are critical to improving production and health (and reducing costs) through less mastitis and lower SCC. Udders aside, temperament is also a huge driver behind ‘milker-friendly’ cows. How many heifers have you culled in the last few years because of temperament alone, despite your best efforts? A sire overlooked on temperament can be a costly selection in hindsight if you lose one or two just on temperament. Conformation A cow needs to track freely and effortlessly on her feet and legs. The structure of the rump and set to the rear legs -- side and rear -- have an enormous effect on the lifetime of an udder. Have you ever noticed how a cow with her hocks

almost touching has, in most cases, a rear udder far narrower and lower than other cows? A poor rear udder leads to faster degradation of the udder and ultimately udder breakdown. The rump not only affects the legs and udder but also the calving ability of the cow. With the range of dairy farm systems in New Zealand likely to increase, farmers will need to select feet and leg traits specific to their system. If you’re planning a barn, or more intensive system in years to come, you’ll need cows slightly straighter in the leg than a cow that needs to walk 8km a day. Are you thinking of changing to once-a-day milking in the forseeable future? Then your future herd needs to have strong udder ligaments, especially the centre ligament. Fortunately, conformation traits overall have a good level of heritability compared with most health traits, such as fertility and resistance to

mastitis. This means if mating decisions are made correctly, a rapid improvement can be made in one or two generations. It may sound like a drum that has been beaten a thousand times before, but these are the inches that will add up to make the difference between winning and losing. Productive life and return on investment The future cow must be low maintenance with a sustained productive life, the aim being that in only two lactations each cow should have returned the cost of breeding and rearing her. Every farmer knows the financial, time and opportunity cost of rearing a heifer replacement. How much does it cost you to rear your replacements? Whatever that cost, in coming years it will increase, applying not only additional financial, but more regulatory restraint in terms of stocking

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

42 // MATING MANAGEMENT

numbers and their effect on the environmental footprint of your business. Every farmer knows that a 9-year-old cow that has calved eight times is more profitable than one that is culled at second or third lactation. Why? Because they cost the same to replace. If environmental regulations continue to increase, the effect on the opportunity cost of having a greater number of replacements each year will significantly increase, so cows that last longer aren’t only more financially beneficial but also environmentally. Have you ever considered that a cow that lasts three lactations is in most cases twice as profitable as a cow that lasts two? And a cow that lasts four lactations is three or four times as profitable? The reason is the time, financial and opportunity cost to rear another heifer to replace her. If a cow only lasts two lactations and produces, say, 800kgMS. in that time with an average payout of $5.50/kg

Have you ever considered that a cow that lasts three lactations is in most cases twice as profitable as a cow that lasts two? And a cow that lasts four lactations is three or four times as profitable? The reason is the time, financial and opportunity cost to rear another heifer to replace her.

over that time, that equates to $4400 in turnover. However, when you consider it has cost about $2000 to rear her you are left with a balance of $2400 without considering all the other farm working expenses. The cow that lasts three lactations and produces 1200kgMS creates $6600 turnover with a balance of $4600 after

A commercial herd in Taranaki with average per cow production of 550 kgMS.

deducting her rearing cost. This, very simply, illustrates that you need long-lasting cows in the herd to improve the profitability of the herd and give you a return on your investment in each cow. In summary The farm of the future will not be vastly different from

today. It will still have the same core expense and revenue streams; however, each will require more attention and efficiency to improve profit. Where breeding in the past may have been an annual ‘tick the box’ exercise, in future it should be a continual focus as you work with and amongst your herd. Fortunately, the technology behind breeding has evolved significantly to meet the farmer’s need for tomorrow’s cow to be vastly superior in every way to her dam and granddam. The future is promising with improved genomic accuracy, shortened genetic intervals and increasing knowledge of traits and genes specific to health traits like mastitis. The herd you own today is the foundation for the future. Based on your assessment of weaknesses and strengths, how strong is that foundation? And what, if anything, needs to change so your farming business remains viable into the future?

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

MATING MANAGEMENT // 43

Pre-mating management DEAN EDWARDS FARMWISE CONSULTANT, BAY OF PLENTY

MATING IS ONE of the most important tasks of the year for a farmer. Having a clear plan of the requirements you need to carry out pre-mating can help ensure the mating period goes as smoothly as possible. The key areas to concentrate on pre-mating are: kk Staff training kk Pre-mating heats kk Cow health kk AB facilities kk Bulls kk Staff training About a month before your planned start of mating (PSM), hold a mating management meeting with all staff.

This will give you the chance to review the current heat detection processes with staff and make sure everyone is clear on what the signs are that a cow is on heat: kk Primary sign of heat = standing heat: cow standing to be mounted by other cows. kk Secondary signs of heat = mounting other cows, bellowing and restlessness, spending less time grazing, holding milk, changing their usual order when coming into the shed. Include all staff in setting targets and make sure you run through the requirements for

recording. The best opportunity to put it into practice is carrying out pre-mating heats. Pre-mating heats Heat detection must be done in the paddock, as well as at milking times. Get staff together in a paddock situation and discuss the primary and secondary signs of heat. Make sure everyone has the chance to pick cows on their own. After this, get all staff to complete three days of recording heats. This can range from the person shifting stock to the milk harvester who stays in the milking shed.

Each person has a book for recording cycling cows. At the end of each day, write the cows recorded up on a white board at the cowshed. Compare records and discuss any discrepancies. Be prepared to review the heat detection and recording procedure so everyone is clear on what is required. To ensure all staff are on the same page before mating starts, go through the drafting procedure and management of cows observed on heat and mated. Are cows to be drafted off at pm milking and kept in holding paddock for am insemination, or only drafted off at am

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

44 // MATING MANAGEMENT

milking? What colour aerosol is to be used and where are cows to be marked for drafting? When are cows to be re-painted after being inseminated? Tail painting and heat detection aids will improve detection rates especially if combined with paddock checks. Make sure that tail paint is applied properly and maintained at least weekly. Check heat detection aids regularly and replace if damaged or loose. Pre-mating heat detection is also vital for determining the number of cows cycling prior to PSM. It will identify the early calvers which should have cycled but haven’t. It will also ensure that those cows that were cycling prior to the start of mating are clearly identified as ‘still cycling’. Knowing which cows haven’t cycled allows the right decisions to be made with each inactive group of cows versus the blanket approach (hormonal intervention could be costly, for little or no return). Non-cyclers within the herd are cows that have calved +42 days, and heifers that have calved +49 days. The cow’s ability to recover from calving and start cycling again is

influenced by nutrition, body condition, calving difficulty, breed, age and possibility of a disease. You could run non-cyclers as a separate mob and milk OAD if they are light. This gives you the potential to not lose days in milk in the subsequent season and also reduces maintenance requirements. To ensure benefits are achieved, this mob needs to be separated out at least 21 days prior to PSM and put on OAD milking. Continue OAD milking until the cow(s) are in calf. Seek veterinary advice for hormonal treatment. To get cows cycling Make sure you have adequate feed for cows (>18kgDM/c/day). Feed budgeting over winter and regular monitoring nitrogen use can reduce risks of feed shortages. Make sure the feed is quality, that means going into 2800kgDM/ha leaving 1500kgDM/ha (150m2/cow/ day). Planning and monitoring are the key here. Cow health Prior to the start of mating, get your vet to check cows with assisted calving and retained

DAYS TO PSM

ACTION / ACTIVITY

35 days

Metri-check at-risk cows If you are using bulls, make sure you have them secured for both the herd and the yearlings.

30 days

Hold a mating management meeting with all staff to review your farm’s heat detection processes.

28 days

Start recording pre-mating heats: • Record cycling cows daily and enter into MINDA • New tail paint colour.

7 days

Run MINDA Non -cycling Report (Health Reports – Treatment worksheet for non-cyclers). Any cows calved +42d and heifers +49d you may want to get checked. Yearling matings should start.

6-3 days

Run MINDA Cows Due to Mate Report (Mating Reports) to check that the cows that had cycled in the first week of pre-mating heats are returning.

1 day

Tailpaint and / or apply heat detection aids for the herd. If you’re not considering heat detection aids for the whole herd, consider at-risk cows (first and second calvers); cows with issues through calving; and anoestrous cows.

afterbirths (RFM) and discuss treatment options for cows that have had health problems over calving. Also ensure cows and heifers have adequate trace element levels (copper, selenium, cobalt, iodine and zinc).

the best opportunity to get your cows in-calf when first presented. At a minimum, AB facilities need to hold animals safely and securely and allow the AB techs footing to be firm, safe and on same level as animal.

AB facilities A common factor among farmers who get great AB results is the quality of their AB facilities. Providing secure, appropriate AB facilities is not only critical to creating a safe working environment but it will also give AB technicians

Bulls If you are using bulls, make sure you ask questions about animal health, animal movements, and biosecurity practices on the source farm. Pay attention to purchasing or leasing well grown, healthy, disease-free bulls. A vet check is a good investment; EBL, BVD and Tb status should be checked. The prime objective with later-calving cows is to have them calve without any difficulty so choose easy-calving bulls. Ensuring top bull performance starts by correctly calculating the right number of bulls. Calculating on 25 - 30 ‘open’ cows/bull ensures that the bull’s capacity isn’t outstripped (particularly on a big day where 10% of the cows may come on at once). Lameness can have a severe impact on bull performance as the bull will not be keen to mount. Make sure your total number of bulls is sufficient to have a good rotation policy to avoid lameness and speed recovery. Use a calendar to plan out what needs to happen in the lead up to mating.

Ensuring top bull performance starts by calculating the right number of bulls.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

46 // MATING MANAGEMENT

KYC – know your cows DANIEL REGTIEN FARMWISE CONSULTANT, LOWER NORTH ISLAND

MANY FARMERS HAVE

told me “I know my cows individually; I know if one is not right.” They can easily tell me their best cows, their average cows and their worst cows. Paying attention to individual performance is a very rewarding aspect of farming for many people and, as I will show here, it is also one of the keys to profitable farming. When considering the effect of individual cows on the performance of the business, one question to ask is: Are your cows performing close to their potential? Take an example cow, call her Bluey. She is 500kg liveweight and produces 411kgMS (82% of liveweight) over 270 days. She needs to eat about 6kgDM/ day through the milking season for maintenance, plus 7.5kgDM for every kilogram of milksolid she produces (DairyNZ, Facts

and Figures). Bluey would require 1620kgDM (6 x 270) for maintenance and 3083kgDM for production (7.5 x 411), totalling 4703kgDM for the milking season. Now consider a scenario where we didn’t manage to feed Bluey to produce to her potential, and she produced 370kgMS (74% of her liveweight). Bluey would still require 1620kgDM for maintenance and now 2775kgDM for production (7.5 x 370), totalling 4395kgDM. From the same cow we get lower efficiency: 10% less production from 6.5% less feed. Now let’s look at the lifetime profitability of Bluey (both scenarios) compared with two of her herd mates. Yellowy is 500kg of liveweight and produces 450kgMS per season. Pinky is also 500kg of

liveweight and doing 300kgMS per lactation. The graph opposite shows that by five years of age, Yellowy has reached a net income of over $1000, while Pinky just passes $0. By eight years of age, Pinky’s income of $1448 is almost doubled by Bluey (the one that was not fed to potential), and is tripled by Yellowy. Which would be your favourite cow? Of course, there is a trade-off between grazing intensity and individual cow efficiency. However, there is ongoing genetic progress being made on the ability of cows to achieve more of both. If cows are producing at below their genetic potential, increasing feed supply per cow (or reducing cows per tonne of feed available) would

KEY NOTES kk A cow that achieves close to

her potential milk production each season will be more efficient than one which doesn’t. kk Over a cow’s lifetime, the difference in profitability between cows on the same farm is huge. kk Cows that produce close to their liveweights in MS/ year are more suited for the future, with lower environmental impact.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

MATING MANAGEMENT // 47 Comparison of the profitability of cows with differing milk production

When considering the effect of individual cows on the performance of the business, one question to ask is: Are your cows performing close to their potential?

Assumptions: $1200 to rear animal to two years; 37 cents per kgDM eaten based on operating expenses of $1600 per cow per year; milk income reduces at 5% per year after eight years of age; $6/kgMS payout.

increase efficiency and, often, profitability. To drive the curve upward over the long term, it makes sense not to keep heifer replacements out of cows that arenâ€™t performing in the system.

How do you select the bottom 10% cows for mating to a breef breed?

The fact that these cows often submit early to mating increases their genetic influence on the future herd, making genetic gain like a driving a vehicle with the handbrake half on. Mating the bottom 10% of the

herd to a beef breed is a popular and effective option to avoid rearing replacements that end up performing like Pinky. So how do you select the bottom 10% cows? If there are good quality

historical records on individual animals, the breeding worth index (BW) is an excellent predictor of ranking within the herd. BW is based on the performance of relatives as well as the cow herself, giving more

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

48 // MATING MANAGEMENT

Individual cows also vary in their environmental footprint, particularly looking at nitrogen and methane outputs.

Source: Your Index, Your Animal Evaluation System, NZAEL

confidence to the ranking. The pie charts show the proportion of the indices that are weighted on ancestry, cow’s own records and progeny. Production worth (PW), although designed for culling decisions, is a useful alternative if there is questionable historical recording on cows, as more weighting is put on the cow herself.

Individual cows also vary in their environmental footprint, particularly looking at nitrogen and methane outputs. The good news is that more efficient cows, along with being more profitable also tread lighter on the environment. This is because, generally speaking, more feed digested by cows means more nitrogen and methane released into the

environment. A measure of total feed eaten onfarm is often used to calculate environmental outputs in nutrient budgets. Therefore higher efficiency animals are more suited to the future, showing reduced pollutants per kilogram of product and higher profitability. Balancing feed demand and

supply at a whole farm level is certainly more important for overall profitability than individual animal performance. However, it pays to consider cow production compared to genetic potential and which cows we are choosing to breed the next generation. So keep taking notice of cows as individuals; they reward us more than we realise.

More efficient cows are not only more profitable but also tread lighter on the environment.

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19 kW Solar System installed in July 2018 â€“ Power bill now half of the previous year. An extra $4010 plus GST in Matt and Suzanneâ€™s bank account to date, which equates to a 16.5% cash return on investment in the first year, before depreciation dedutions. The system will be fully paid-off inside 6 years and delivers an annual saving off their power bill of $32 per cow! 19 kW Solar System installed in July '18 - Power bill now half of previous year. An extra $4,010 plus GST in Matt and Suzanne's bank account to date, which equates to a 16.5% cash return on investment in first year, before depreciation deductions. The system will be fully paid-off inside 6 years and delivers an annual saving off their power bill of $32 per cow!

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

50 // CALF REARING

Reduce the risk of spreading M.bovis CALF REARING CAN increase the spread of infectious diseases including Mycoplasma bovis. Calves can become infected through direct contact with infected cattle, or by consuming their milk. Here are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of spreading disease. Stock movements pose the highest risk. Any situation where animals from different farms and groups mix, presents a risk for spreading disease, including M. bovis.

If you can’t avoid buying calves kk Purchase from as few sources as possible. kk When purchasing and mixing stock, consider the risk of spreading disease by mixing animals from different farms and isolated husbandry groups. kk Ensure calves get adequate colostrum from healthy cows on their home farm. This is important for the development of the calf’s immune system, making them better able to fight disease. kk Deal directly with a trusted source farm or agent. Ask them:

• about any M. bovis test results for the farm • if the farm has been subject to any M. bovis tracing by MPI, and the outcome • about stock management and trading practices on the farm • about the farm’s biosecurity (such as double fencing or quarantine) • if all stock movement records are up to date and recorded in NAIT • about cow and calf health on the farm for the past 2 seasons kk Only purchase cattle with NAIT tags and promptly record all movements. kk Ask your transporter if they can transport your cattle without mixing with others in holding yards or on the truck. kk Keep purchased calves isolated from your main group for at least 7 days and monitor them for signs of disease. kk Find a buyer now for your future weaned calves, if possible, and tell buyers about your efforts to reduce risk of M. bovis exposure. Milk use for calves

Feeding infected milk to calves is a high risk activity in the spread of M. bovis. To limit the risk, avoid trading colostrum and milk. If you are trading milk or colostrum for calves kk Reduce the risk of M. bovis transmission from fresh milk by one of the following: • using calf milk replacer (CMR) • pasteurising the milk • acidifying the milk. kk Good quality colostrum fed to calves in the first 24 hours of life promotes good calf immunity to infectious diseases. kk Both pasteurisation and acidification destroy some antibodies in colostrum. This is only significant for colostrum fed to calves less than 24-hours-old as calves only absorb antibodies from colostrum for the first day of life. kk Colostrum and milk that has been pasteurised or acidified is suitable for feeding to calves. kk Milk from cows being treated for mastitis or other illnesses should not be fed to calves. kk The lowest risk for spread

of M. bovis is calf milk replacer. Good quality calf milk replacer has similar performance to raw milk. Milk treatment advice Pasteurisation

Pasteurisation will destroy M. bovis bacteria, if done correctly. kk The recommended treatment is 60°C for 60 minutes. kk Refer to manufacturer’s specifications for operating the pasteuriser. Acidification with citric acid To kill M. bovis by acidifying milk, it needs to be at a pH of 4.5 for a minimum of 8 hours. kk Citric acid is available online

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CALF REARING // 51

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and will be available at other suppliers, including farm merchant stores, this spring. kk Use cool milk (10°C to 24°C) or cold (less than 10°C) to minimise coagulation or clot formation. kk Always add acid to milk, not milk to acid. kk Acidification works best when citric acid is added to fresh milk. kk It’s important to accurately measure the weight of citric acid and volume of milk. Use a rate of: • 5.5g citric acid per litre of whole milk • 550g per 100 litres of whole milk • 5.5kg per 1000 litres of whole milk kk Sprinkle the acid on top of the milk while the milk is being agitated. kk Milk at pH 4.5 separates, but with gentle mixing goes back into a homogenous solution. kk Do not acidify below pH 4 – this will result in: • thickened milk • risk of complete coagulation • calves not drinking the milk. kk Gentle mixing of the milk twice a week is the recommended method. Continuous mixing causes coagulation, as does vigorous

mixing. kk For systems that pipe milk,

the milk may coagulate in pipes or tubes with blockage of lines and nipples. This may result in the feeding of whey to calves if the casein coagulates.

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Testing pH kk Test the pH of milk half an hour after the addition of citric acid to the milk. kk Test again just prior to it being fed to calves. kk Use pH test strips. You can buy these online and in stores, including farm merchant stores. kk It can be difficult to keep electronic pH meters clean and calibrated when working with milk – if using one, make sure you clean and calibrate it regularly. Other treatment options Acidification with yoghurt Adding yoghurt to milk is a less reliable way to reduce milk pH. kk The process takes longer and is temperature dependent to get the culture growing. kk If the pH doesn’t drop below 5 for at least 8 hours, M. bovis will not be killed. • Article- Ministry of Primary Industries. www.biosecurity. govt.nz

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

52 // CALF REARING

Good housing is key to raising healthy calves.

Keeping new arrivals out of harmâ€™s way YOUNG CALVES ARE born with very little fat reserves to use to keep warm, so they are susceptible to the effects of wind and rain. Calves should be sheltered inside for at least three to four weeks after birth as cold, wet calves will put their energy into staying warm, rather than growing. This means increased costs for feed and calf health, as well as increased calf mortality. To get the most out of calves it is essential that they are provided with good housing. The following can be used as a guideline for calf shelters: kk A barn with separate pens is necessary. Allow one pen per

10 to 12 calves and allocate a sick pen or pens, depending on the size of the herd. kk Pens must be dry, draught free and get good daylight. kk Pens should be constructed with three solid walls using sheet metal or untreated ply. kk One end should be open for good ventilation and to allow the removal of gases and ammonia from urine. kk The open end should face leeward and north for sunshine. kk Each pen should be twice as long as it is wide to allow calves to move to the back to get out of the wind or rain. kk There should be adequate space per calf â€“ allow 1.5 to

When transporting calves there should be adequate space for each animal to lie down, and ensure there is a protective covering over the floor.

2m square per calf. kk Ideally the floor should be

coarse gravel or sand, and have adequate drainage. To minimise spread of disease, drainage should not flow through other pens. kk Bedding should be straw, untreated bark or sawdust, which should be spread over the entire floor in a layer that is 200mm deep. Bedding should not be raked or disturbed when it gets messy, but rather just add more on top. kk Commercial floor grating can be used but this will need to be cleaned regularly (without wetting the calves), and care will need to be taken with

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

54 // CALF REARING

draughts. kk The barn, pens and bedding

should be sterilised with a virucidal spray before calves arrive to kill any viruses. This should then be done every two weeks thereafter. The virucidal spray should be safe for calves. kk Keep birds from roosting in the barn as their droppings can cause disease (for example, salmonella). Calf Transport When transporting calves there should be adequate space for each animal to lie down, and ensure there is a protective covering over the floor. This will keep the calves warm and reduce the risk of injury. During transport calves should also be protected from wind chill. This will ensure they are kept as warm as possible. The less stress calves have during transport, the healthier they will be on arrival. On arrival calves should be placed in pens according to size; place the smallest and weakest calves in the warmest pens. Allow time for the calves to de-stress and feed only electrolytes for the first 24 hours. If calves are not stressed on arrival they can be fed two feeds of electrolytes before being fed milk or milk replacer. Calves can be moved outdoors at three to four weeks old, but they should always have access to the calf barn or covered shelter overnight and on cold days to stay warm. Stop the calves from shivering by keeping them warm and dry. Friesian calves can start to shiver at 3o C when dry and 13o C when wet. For Jersey calves this can be around 8o C if dry and 18o C if wet. Disease Management Scours

There are two types of scours – nutritional and infectious. Nutritional scours occurs when un-clotted milk enters a calf’s small intestine due to stress, over feeding or poor quality

Calves must be kept in dry pens

milk or milk replacer. To prevent nutritional scours calves should not be overfed, diet changes should be made slowly and good quality milk/ milk replacers should be used. Calves should be fed at the same time each day by the same person; consistency is the key to reducing stress. Infectious scours can be caused by bacteria (E-Coli and salmonella), protozoa (coccidiosis and cryptosporidia) and viruses (coronavirus and rotavirus). Always consult your veterinarian when calves start scouring to get scours diagnosed by laboratory analysis, rather than by scour colour; that way scours can be treated promptly and effectively. The initial treatment for both types of scours is similar. Calves should be removed from

milk and fed electrolytes. The electrolyte should provide the calf with energy and water and replace body salts that have been lost through scouring. Calves should be provided with eight litres per day in a number of small feeds. It is important to remember that calves die from dehydration and lack of energy, not the scours themselves. With serious infectious scours medication prescribed by your veterinarian might be required in addition to electrolytes. Coccidiosis Coccidiosis is caused by protozoa that destroy the finger-like villi in the small intestine that absorb nutrients. The worst cases of coccidiosis will have bloody scours, but most calves won’t have any visibly noticeable signs and will just have lower growth rates.

Reliance calf feeds (excluding EconoCalf) contain the coccidiostat Bovatec® to aid in the prevention of coccidiosis. In at-risk situations it is a good idea to include a liquid form of Bovatec in the milk to aid in the prevention of coccidiosis until calves start consuming enough calf muesli/pellets. Milk replacers for young calves usually contain a coccidiostat, but not always. Worms When put on grass, calves should be on clean pasture to keep their worm burden low. De-worming should occur every three to four weeks from weaning through to winter. Biosecurity and Hygiene It is cheaper and easier to prevent disease, than cure it. • Article sourced from Farmlands Calf Rearing Guide

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56 // MILK QUALITY

Change milk liners once they reach their use-by date.

Reduce costs, lift milk yield with one simple change in milking shed WHAT IF YOU could make one

change to your dairy system that would reduce costs, shorten milk-out time, prevent cup slip, lower somatic cell counts (SCC) and boost milk yield? It may sound unlikely, but with a simple decision, you can. All you have to do is replace your milking liners once they reach their use-by date of 2500 milkings. This can have an immediate, positive effect on two of the most important components of any dairy business, because fast, efficient milk harvesting puts less stress on cows and staff (not to mention milking plant). Replacing worn-out liners

at the right time is also a financial win, because it helps improve overall milk quality. That in turn is a key indicator for several critical areas of farm business performance, including animal health and labour. As a rule, the lower your somatic cell count (SCC) and the fewer grades you incur during lactation, the better your milking systems. Farmers who have replaced liners during the season, instead of milking through with the same set from start to finish of the lactation, say they didnâ€™t realise what they were missing out on until they made the

change. They report immediate reduction in teat end damage as well as better SCC results and faster milk-out. In some large herd operations, liners reach the end of their 2500 milking lifespan and are changed as often as every two months as normal practice to protect milk quality. That might seem excessive, but when you look at the statistics you see those properties are simply following best practice based on average liner changes. In general, many New Zealand dairy farmers expect their liners to last for about 4900 milkings -- nearly twice their effective lifetime. Thatâ€™s

like expecting the average cow to milk well for 20 years. Changing milking liners once they reach their use-by date not only shortens milk-out time, reduces cup slip and lowers somatic cell counts, it also helps save power, labour and animal health costs and can increase milk solids yield while minimising the risk of costly grades. Now is an ideal time to review and if necessary fine-tune your milking system by asking three questions: 1. When were the milking liners last changed? 2. What is the correct milking liner for your shells, and are you

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

58 // MILK QUALITY

using the best liner? 3. Do you have milking problems in the plant (cup slip, etc.)? Milking liners are the single part of your dairy plant that comes into direct contact with the cow. Every lactation she typically spends 50-100 hours attached to the machine – via those liners – so it’s no wonder they play such an important role in milk harvesting.

Most dairy rubberware is designed to take a lot of punishment. As soon as it is installed in your plant, its surface strength and integrity comes under daily attack from a wide range of environmental challenges, including milk, detergents, sanitisers, milkstone removers, ozone, UV light and variable temperatures. And on top of that, the average liner expands and contracts over two million

WORK IT OUT Here’s an example of how to work out how many days remain until milking liners should be changed for maximum benefit: Step one: multiply the number of cows being milked by the number of milkings per day. Step two: divide the number in ‘step one’ by the number of milking clusters in the milking plant. Step three: divide 2500 by the number in ‘step two’. This is the number of days between optimum liner changes. For 750 cows, milked twice a day in a 60-bail rotary plant, each cluster is milking 25 cows per day. Divide 2500 by 25 and the answer is 100 days. This farm should change liners every 100 days (see www.2500change.co.nz for the easy-to-use online calculator)

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MILK QUALITY // 59

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A good, well-fitted liner will milk out a cow completely.

times during its working life. Perry Davis, Skellerup national manager, says cows are the first to know when milking liners need changing, and they have their own ways of letting farmers know. “Liners are hidden inside the cups, so you can’t see what happens to them when they wear out. The first thing you might see instead is a cow kicking the cluster off, damaged teat ends or a surprisingly high BMSCC on the milk docket. Another very common sign is when cups start falling off cows during milking.” A good liner, well-fitted, will completely milk out a cow quickly and efficiently. It doesn’t slip and it leaves the teats looking very similar in size and colour to how they looked before milking. “A badly fitting over-used liner is just the opposite,” Davis says. “It could leave milk in the udder, slip off the teat and/or leave noticeable rings at the top of the teat. Permanent teat

damage is not only possible but common.” After 2500 milkings, the rubber that makes up the milking liner begins to lose its natural qualities and can become become cracked, swollen or caked with mineral build-up. It’s uncomfortable for the cow and creates an ideal environment for bacteria. Davis says the old myth that replacement heifers should be trained on old milking liners at the start of the season is also past its use-by date. “The reasoning behind it is that they are supposedly softer than new ones, and if the heifers kick them off they won’t damage new equipment. But in fact the opposite is true: old liners are not softer at all, they have a rougher inner surface. ” Any cow or heifer kicking off liners old or new usually has a good reason, such as discomfort, stray voltage in the dairy or inexperienced or rough operators.”

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

60 // MILK QUALITY

Dealing with mastitis: shortcuts to success NATASHA MAGUIRE DIRECTOR, FARM MEDIX

WE TALK TO farmers every day, so we understand how valuable time is. There are many moving parts in a farm, and not enough time to dedicate to all those needing attention every day. ‘Keeping an eye out’ can be done in a variety of ways and involves varying amounts of input from farm staff. For example, a rise in bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) might see an episode of stripping cows or RMT testing to try to identify sub-clinically infected cows. Whilst this would be reasonably common, for anyone with a contagious or cow-associated mastitis issue in the herd this could make things worse. So how can you tell what is the right thing to do?

Confused? Get to the bottom of your situation What does SCC really mean? The figure on your tanker docket only represents the milk you sell, not necessarily including all the cows. How many clinical cases of mastitis a day, a week, a month are you getting? If you have all your cows’ milk in the vat and a low bulk tank SCC you are doing well. If you are uncomfortable with something, then something is not right. What does mastitis really cost you? Have you ever considered all the staff labour and steps that cost you money? Have you ever tallied up how much time is taken on mastitis, e.g. tasks such as drafting and treating cows, keeping a separate mob and marking up cows under treatment? How are you treating mastitis?

Farm Medix’s Natassja Mclean testing samples in lab.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

MILK QUALITY // 61

Have you recently evaluated how you are treating cows, and what drugs you are using? Do you treat once or twice a day and do you milk cows under treatment once or twice a day? Which drug do you use and why? Are you using selective dry cow therapy or are you really worried enough to stop using blanket dry cow therapy? How do you feel about reducing the amount of antibiotics for mastitis and do you have a strategy? Do you ever assume that all cows with mastitis should be treated the same? Are you getting stressed about the amount of mastitis you are getting? Did you cull heavily in the past and now are in a pattern year after year without a good path forward and good cows leaving the farm? Big changes have occurred in how mastitis can be identified

and managed; understanding these changes are to your advantage in saving you money and time. What applies to your herd? You could make a list of 500 things to be mindful of about mastitis; while some will apply, others will not. Neighbouring farms and regions can experience quite different problems: just because your neighbour has had a problem with something doesn’t mean you will. Remember things can change very quickly; if something isn’t going right its best to find out what’s going on, correct it and move forward. Changing a pile of things in hurry to get a result is stressful for everyone. Because things can escalate, don’t wait for things to get out of hand before you act. Smaller corrections are easier and less costly to

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make; knowing which ones to make depends on some of the shortcuts suggested below. Bacteria have favourite places to hang out Did you know that the mastitis pathogens in your herd originate from certain places? Which ones affect you is probably mostly unknown. Knowing what to change and what you’re doing well is a good step in the right direction. It’s not all about finding fault, but you need to know what’s affecting you. Here’s a few short cuts 1. Know your enemies; why wait? (Time required: 0 minutes.) ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,’ says an old saying. Technology has evolved. Mastitis is like an iceberg: the clinical cases you see are a small sub-set of the larger

sub-clinical picture. In our experience the clinical picture can differ from the sub-clinical picture. Doing a few cultures on a few cows is a different scenario from looking at the whole herd as a group. With a bulk tank Snapshot test, it is possible to rapidly assess herd issues. This means the herd as a group and identifies the biggest issues, so you can action issues before you have a whole lot of cows with mastitis. This can be done rapidly a few times a year to keep on track; remember things change all the time. 2. Identification of the bacteria involved in clinical cases of mastitis. (Time required by you about 5 mins per case.) Once you begin using onfarm culture you will be able to have your vet develop a strategic protocol based on the pathogen. This will bring you more

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

62 // MILK QUALITY

success with treatment and fewer days lost milk, and save you time and money. You will be surprised that some mastitis cases do not need treatment at all, you will get better understanding of your chances of success with each case based on culture results and you will identify problem cows at the outset. 3. Don’t get sucked in with treatments. Sometimes people get sucked into using high level, long duration or combination treatments, thinking that what they are doing is better. This is usually unnecessary and often does not work. This usually happens where there isn’t a lot of information or testing done, and veterinary advice may not have been sought. This is one reason to seriously consider if you can use onfarm culture to your advantage. If you don’t want to do the test yourself, most vets offer a service and it’s worth finding out what they can do for you. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is another pitfall,

which has limited merit for monitoring for AMR, but on a case-by-case basis it is often incorrect as the test only tells you that bacteria are inhibited, not that they are killed by the drug involved. This can mean once the course of antibiotic is finished the bacteria continue to grow. Instead, the best tool by far -- using actual cow data from real cases to give you a chance of success -- is the Cognosco Bovine Mastitis Cure Calculator app. It’s free from the app store.

Don’t wait days and days to see if things settle down, get onto problems. Chat to your milk quality team about options with Snapshot testing to see a fast result and get started.

On-farm culture test

your situation. 4. New year, new protocol Have a chat to your vet. They are the only ones that can guide you on drug choices and strategies based on your situation. Having them develop a protocol for treatment of cows will only be reliable with information. This is on a needto-know basis: you need to know. Remember they’re your cows, it’s your money and it’s

5. Don’t play the blame game. Mastitis and milk quality issues can appear to come from nowhere. There is always a reason, but it may not be you or your staff. Cows bought in from elsewhere (even heifers), hot water cylinder issues, a failure in the milking machine or a teat sprayer fault can all be reasons for milk quality problems.

6. Focus on quality and staff culture Rather than just go through the motions, train staff well; that’s an investment in your business. Show them why things are important and have written systems. This ensures they have something to refer to if you aren’t on hand or they forget. Memory alone is no way to hand down important information. If you aren’t sure yourself, ask for help to do this. Habits like teat spraying, chemical mixing, treating cows and plant washing correctly are learned. Don’t focus on how fast you can get the cows out of the shed: 10 minutes extra in the shed could make the difference between a herd of cows to bring in and treat after milking, or going home to the family after the herd is milked.

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Liners are one of the single biggest factors influencing milk production. But more than 50% of New Zealand dairy farmers don’t change them frequently enough. The result can be more cup slip, increased bacteria counts, and longer milking times.

A SIMPLE EQUATION New Liners = Increased Production Increased Production = Enhanced Profits

For a more complete milk-out and better overall yield, change your liners every 2500 milkings. Your cows, and your bank manager, will thank you for it!

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64 // MILK QUALITY

Solution to mastitis not in tubes, bottles STEVE CRANEFIELD TECHNICAL MANAGER AGRIHEALTH

WE ARE AT a tipping point

for change in the New Zealand dairy industry. On the back of a British Government commissioned review on antimicrobial resistance in humans (May 2016), there will be mounting global pressure on the agricultural sector to reduce the use of antibiotics for the prevention of disease. The dairy sector will not be immune to this change as pressure mounts for farmers to only use antibiotics when necessary. This will include restrictions on the use of dry cow antibiotics in uninfected (low somatic cell count) cows. ‘By 2050, 10 million lives and

a cumulative 100 trillion USD of economic output are at risk due to the rise of drug resistant infections’- Jim O’Neill (chairman Antimicrobial Resistance Review 2016). Our attitudes toward antibiotics will be challenged and we will have to focus on prevention of diseases, such as mastitis, rather than treatment. We will also need to change our targets to include rational use of antibiotics. New Zealand dairy farms should be aiming to achieve: An average season Bulk Milk Somatic Cell Count (BMSCC) under 100,000 cells/ml. Less than 10% of the herd treated for mastitis.

The ultimate aim of mastitis control is to limit the number of bacteria on the cow’s teats and to reduce the risk of bacteria entering the udder through the teat canal.

Less than 10 – 20% of cows treated with antibiotic dry cow therapy. There is now both an economic and moral cost if these targets are not achieved. The ultimate aim of mastitis control is to limit the number of bacteria on the cow’s teats and to reduce the risk of bacteria entering the udder through the teat canal. Although this sounds simple, mastitis is the end result of complex interactions between the cow, bacteria, environment, milking machine and the farmer. The relative importance of these factors varies from farm to farm so it is important that your plan is

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specific to your farm. Mastitis management There are two key elements to reducing mastitis: kk Eliminate existing infections kk Infected cows are the source of infection for other cows during lactation. kk Cull long term infected cows We need to make more use of historic records to identify and cull chronically infected cows. Too often clinical mastitis records are incomplete and / or poor use is made of historic herd test information so it is only the recent high SCC cows that are culled. Also mandatory culls (e.g. a high empty rate) often take precedence over culling for mastitis. Drying off strategies We should all aim to achieve consistently low SCC throughout the season to reduce the need for antibiotic dry cow therapy at dry-off. Cows with an ISCC of <150,000 cells/ml and heifers with a ISCC of < 120,000 cells/ml can be regarded as uninfected. Options for these cows include no treatment, or treatment with internal teat sealants. Best practice teat disinfection prior to treatment is often poorly done prior to administration of both milking cow and

If teat skin is dry the fatty acid layer is lost and bacteria will multiply in the cracked skin. It is critical to achieve good teat condition in your herd all year round.

dry cow intra-mammary tubes. Prevent new infections There are 5 key areas of importance during milking that will reduce the mastitis risk: kk Identify and treat mastitis cows early kk Routine stripping of the herd (e.g. a quarter at every milking) will identify infected cows quicker to minimise the spread of infection. kk Reduce spread of bacteria and improve teat skin condition by effective teatspraying Bacteria from milking an infected cow will contaminate the cluster for the next five cows that are milked by that cluster. Teat spray trials in New Zealand and overseas all show a 50% reduction in the new infection rate if teat spray is mixed and applied correctly. Healthy teat skin has a fatty

acid layer that slows bacterial growth reducing the mastitis risk. If teat skin is dry the fatty acid layer is lost and bacteria will multiply in the cracked skin. It is critical to achieve good teat condition in your herd all year round. This requires addition of sufficient emollient and ensuring full coverage of all teat surfaces at every milking all season. This should be a key focus and constantly assessed throughout the season. Pre-milking teat spraying the colostrum cows will assist to improve milk let down, improve teat condition and reduce bacteria on the teats. Minimise teat end damage Teat end damage can result from the physical action of the milking machine. Teats are most susceptible to damage in the first few months of lactation (spring) when the teats are first

exposed to the physical action of the milking process. Teats may be examined and categorised as normal, rough or very rough / cracked as shown in the following pictures. Within a herd there are many shapes and sizes of teats and some are more prone to damage than others. Damaged teat ends harbour bacteria that cause mastitis and increase the risk of bacteria entering the teat canal. Minimise impacts Excessive airflow into the cluster during milking may result in a backflow of air that may push any droplets of milk and bacteria into the quarters. There are two common causes of impacts: Cup slip. Poor cluster alignment, unsuitable liners or heavy clusters are the most common causes of cup slip. Poor cluster removal technique. When the cups are removed manually it is important to bend the long milk tube fully and allow sufficient time for the vacuum to drop off so the cups fall away. Pulling cups off or using the claw button does not allow the vacuum to drop off so impacts occur which increase the mastitis risk. Recent research shows that slight under-milking does not

Teats are most susceptible to damage in the first few months of lactation.

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increase the risk of mastitis or affect production. However, uneven milk-out is a mastitis risk and is most commonly a result of poor cluster alignment. The best approach you can take is to assess your cows. To achieve good results and reduce the need for antibiotics farmers are encouraged to assess 50 cows for teat skin condition and teat end damage once a month through the season as an early indicator of problems. The targets are: Teat skin condition – target > 95% supple. Teat end damage – target > 90% normal. If any of these risk factors are lower than the target then farmers should look for rectify possible causes or seek expert advice to avoid mastitis. • Article reproduced with permission from Smaller Milk and Supply Herds (SMASH) www.smallerherds.co.nz

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68 // MILK QUALITY

Lightweight liners help milking, udder health MANAWATU FARMER KEVIN

Buckman was experiencing ongoing cup slip issues before experimenting with lightweight milking liners in his three herringbone sheds. As he explains, “selecting the correct milking liner for your herd is a challenge for all dairy farmers. It is the only component of the milking machine that comes into contact with the cow’s teat and so has a large influence on milking performance, udder and teat health”. Buckman runs a herd of 700 season-supply crossbreds on 240ha on the Apiti River terraces, 46km north of Feilding. He first learned about the plastic liners at the start of the 2017 season and realised the advantages. “We tried them on all cups and they just didn’t work because the shut-off valve wouldn’t cut the air on all cups simultaneously because the product was so light. “We then placed stainless shells on the back quarters and the lightweight shells on the front teats and it’s made a big difference.” He experimented with this for one month and soon noticed the benefits, notably that cup slip had drastically reduced. “The biggest advantage for me and my staff is no cup slip; its virtually nil these days, and they’re good with heifers because the cups stay on them compared with how it was before, where staff used to hold them on with their hand or a couple of minutes later and they would have have fallen off.” DairyFlo equipment accommodates different combinations of weights to meet the farmer’s requirements. Traditional rubber liners in steel shells could be as heavy as 2500 grams

Farmer Kevin Buckman

“We tried them on all cups and they just didn’t work because the shut-off valve wouldn’t cut the air on all cups simultaneously because the product was so light. We then placed stainless shells on the back quarters and the lightweight shells on the front teats and it’s made a big difference.”

including the collection bowl. A DairyFlo lightweight bowl and claw set starts at 1300 grams. Buckman’s combination of plastic in the front and steel in the back weighs 1600 grams. “The good thing about it is you can see through them and it can tell you a story about what’s happening -- whether it’s a split liner or health issues, you can see everything.” He also said they can minimise teat spray because the teat condition and cell count are excellent. The farmer can notice inconsistencies in the milk much quicker and remove that cluster before it contaminates the milk vat. Lightweight shells are popular with the staff, says Buckman. “We have left one set in the shed that has all steel shells to demonstrate how heavy and awkward the gear was previously. It also saves wear and tear on your back, wrists, arms and shoulders, keeps staff

happy and helps to make it a better place to work in.” The liners are guaranteed to last a full season or 5000 milkings, in some cases two seasons depending on herd size to shed capacity. “You save money because the liners won’t ever crack, perish or deteriorate from chemical washings or milk fat absorption and you also save time by not having to replace the liners because they last twice as long.” Buckman’s staff have never struck the soft plastic before and said “anything takes a while to get used to but after a few days they would never go back”. He even said a staff member’s father milks across the road, but he won’t go and work for his dad where in the past he has -- not until he installs lighter shells. “It’s a no-brainer because the weight of them is much easier on staff and they are happier using them. If you put the old ones back on, they’d likely throw them at you.”

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Milk cooling always on the radar – co-op MILK COOLING IS consistently a focus of regulators and customers, according to Fonterra’s 2018-19 handbook to its suppliers. The co-op accepts that it is an area where some farms will need to make some changes to meet new standards that came into effect from June 1 this year. Many farmers have already upgraded their dairy systems to comply with the new rules. From June 1 this year raw milk must: - be cooled to 10°C or below within four hours of the start of milking; and

- be cooled to 6°C or below within the sooner of six hours from the start of milking, or two hours from the completion of milking; and - be held at or below 6°C without freezing until collection or the next milking; and - must not exceed 10°C during subsequent milkings until collection Dairy farmers are being urged to familiarise themselves with the new milk cooling requirements. Fonterra says in situations where there is continuous

or extended milking, such as automated milking systems, the milk must enter the bulk milk tank at 6.0°C or below (“continuous or extended milking” is defined as milking for six hours or longer from the time that milk first enters any bulk milk tank). To confirm the capability of milk cooling equipment, farm dairy operators are required to have an auditable system that confirms milk cooling requirements are met. As a minimum, milk cooling performance must be monitored and recorded on at

All milk cooling systems must comply with the Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand Code of Practice 1: Design and Operation of Farm Dairies requirements.

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NEED MODIFICATIONS? SEEK APPROVAL If farmers wish to make any modifications to any Fonterra owned equipment they are required to obtain Fonterra’s prior written approval. This includes (without limitation) operating glycol or water in the refrigeration base of the vat, attaching any sensor or monitoring systems to a vat, any welding to a vat or components (including, without limitation, valves, stirrer, ladder, strongbacks, etc), and attaching any items that may affect the use of a vat or come into contact with the milk. If you insulate a milk vat, you are required to: • ensure the insulation is adhesive free and maintained in a satisfactory state; and • if the vat is changed, remove (at your own cost) all insulation, clean any glue deposits and repair any damage or corrosion to the vat.

least two occasions per dairy season, including: kk about the time of expected peak milk production; and kk February each year. Each performance check must cover at least two consecutive milkings, and the records must include: kk the temperature of the milk in each bulk milk tank immediately prior to the start of milking (if any); kk the time that milking started; kk the time milking is completed; kk the temperature of the milk in the bulk milk tank at the completion of milking; and kk the time that the milk is confirmed to meet the requirements. Temperature measurements and recording can be accomplished using: kk an electronic monitoring system; kk a chart recorder; kk a tiny tag or similar temperature logging device; kk manual measurements using an electronic thermometer (non-glass); or kk any other equivalent method. The accuracy of the temperature measurement device must be known as the data collected is an official record. All milk cooling systems must comply with the Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand Code of Practice 1: Design and Operation of Farm Dairies requirements. Coolants that are not water (for example, glycol) must be food safe and a MPI-approved dairy maintenance compound.

Farmers are required to inform Fonterra if they are using a coolant other than water in your primary cooling system. Milk storage To ensure Fonterra operates efficiently at all levels, management of key on-farm assets such as vats requires forward planning and regular maintenance. Fonterra will: kk provide farmers with a milk vat, or vats, appropriate to farming operation and efficient milk collection. Vats may have a device installed that determines the volume of milk and in-line temperature sensors that could transmit data, provided they meet Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand Code of Practice 1: Design and Operation of Farm Dairies requirements and are approved by Fonterra; kk attach a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) to the vat. These devices are unique to the vat and are essential to the milk collection operation and sample accuracy. The device should always remain attached to the vat kk be responsible for all maintenance costs associated with the vat and other Fonterraowned equipment (except if vat is damaged by farmer) and kk provide a complimentary farm dairy ‘Milk Vat & Cooling System Maintenance Guide’ to assist with the correct use of farm vat and cooling system.

Farmers are also required to have an auditable system that confirms milk cooling requirements are met.

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All cattle and deer should be tagged within 6 months of birth or before they move off farm.

NAIT and biosecurity must get every farmer’s best attention NAIT AND BIOSECURITY

have been top-of-mind for farmers this year. The Mycoplasma bovis response proved to be a catalyst for farmers and industry seeking better onfarm biosecurity and for raising awareness of the value of animal traceability. Our national traceability system has generated debate and conjecture on NAIT’s role in biosecurity. While NAIT cannot prevent spread of livestock diseases or diagnose the health status of a herd or individual animal,

it is integral to biosecurity capability. In the event of a livestock disease outbreak, the swiftness of a government and industry response depends on farmers entering accurate and up-todate information about their animals and farm locations in the NAIT online system. This information is critical too for biosecurity readiness. NAIT can inform decisionmaking on food safety, animal health monitoring and farm surveillance, and it can guide future biosecurity management. Once suspect animals or

farms are identified in NAIT,

Our national traceability system has generated debate and conjecture on NAIT’s role in biosecurity.

the greater are the chances of quantifying and controlling a disease outbreak and minimising the costly effects on industry and the supply chain. OSPRI, which manages the NAIT scheme, is assisting the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which is the lead agency for the M.bovis response. To support MPI’s response, NAIT has produced at least 5000 biosecurity reports on a variety of data related to farm location, animal location and animal movements. This information has enabled investigators to study and trace NAIT

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animal movements across the country. It also has been used by disease analysts and scientists to identify animals for testing and movement controls. To give perspective, about 760,000 animal movements are recorded in NAIT on average per month; about 12.5 million cattle and deer are now registered. This engagement with NAIT implies a strong traceability system, but in fact it is only as good as its weakest link. Farmers have a duty to their neighbours, community and wider industry to ensure they are meeting their NAIT obligations. The key to that is lifetime animal traceability and that starts at the farmgate. It means all cattle and deer should be tagged within six months of birth or before they move off-farm, whichever comes first. Animals must be registered in NAIT within seven days of being tagged. Animal registration is not

automatic and farmers are accountable for declaring all animals at their registered NAIT locations. It is especially important that farmers identify and record all animals and their movements accurately in the NAIT online system, after selling or purchasing, or before consigning them to slaughter. The recording and confirming of animal movements is fundamental to the NAIT system and relies on the principle of the sender and receiver of animals confirming livestock movements in NAIT within 48 hours of the transfer. A common misperception is that only the receiver of animals must record and confirm the movement. That exception only applies when farmers send animals directly to a NAIT accredited meat processor or saleyard, which will record the sending movement on their behalf. Registering all your farm

Animals must be registered in NAIT within seven days of being tagged.

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locations in NAIT is mandatory; NAIT locations are now based on Land Information New Zealand property data. NAIT numbers as a result cannot be assigned to a new location and stay fixed at a particular address. This requirement was introduced following lessons learned in the M.bovis response. It is considered best practice that herds managed separately are registered as different NAIT locations, with each having a unique NAIT number. This reduces onfarm biosecurity impacts especially if you have multiple properties, minimising the risk of your business being locked down. Finally, if you are unsure about NAIT obligations, the OSPRI contact centre (0800

482 463) can help. They can also advise on suitable information providers to help ensure you are meeting your NAIT requirements. Buying animals Ask the seller if animals are home-bred and if not where did they originate? Request a pre-sale ASD before committing to the purchase; look at the information and assess the risks. If purchasing through an agent, tell them your expectations, where the animals are coming from, the type of vendor (trader, breeder) and give assurance that both will be completing the NAIT movement. Assess TB risk at areas the animals are located in, their TB

Farmers must identify and record all animals and their movements in NAIT within 48 hours of transfer.

status and when they last had a TB test. Grazing Ask your agent where they are going, what other animals are onfarm, where they are from and how the grazier will keep the mobs separate. As the largest biosecurity risk to your farm, all animal movement has some risk and farmers need to be asking questions to be better informed. When animals arrive When receiving animals, if possible keep them separate from other stock for a few weeks. Scan animals when they arrive to ensure the movement and receiving tag numbers are correct in the NAIT system.

Expect all animals to be tagged and make sure tags are correctly placed so that they stay attached. Assign correct production type, and ensure the movement is recorded within 48 hours of the transfer and confirm the movement in NAIT. Tagging It is an offence to remove, reuse or alter a NAIT tag. You must request authorisation from OSPRI before removing and replacing a tag. Tag replacements must be logged in the NAIT online system as soon as practicable. If you are unable to tag an animal, and if it constitutes a health and safety risk, contact OSPRI for an impractical-to-tag (ITT) exemption.

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A productive dairy cow needs high energy feed, adequate fibre and finely balanced mineral supplementation.

Mineral balance crucial for in-calf dairy cows CHRIS BALEMI AGVANCE NUTRITION

THE CHALLENGE IS not to get them in-calf but to keep them in calf. A trend persists among some dairy farmers to concentrate on mineral supplementation only through the months of early lactation and up to the completion of the mating period. In my view this misses the point. Generally speaking, while the energy and protein levels of the pasture may improve as the season progresses, the mineral levels in lush green spring pasture are often very low, and can reach their lowest level

in the spring to early summer months. Cutting minerals at such a critical time can be likened to â€˜saving cents while sacrificing dollarsâ€™. A fully formulated trace element supplement designed to be delivered all season can cost from 50 cents to $1.70 per dairy cow per month depending on the types of mineral used and the levels required. We ask a lot of our cows and it is amazing what they will endure and still remain productive. Given the usually challenging climate conditions on most New Zealand dairy farms

during the spring, the average farmer certainly expects a lot from their cows. Firstly they go through the trauma of giving birth, then we extract large volumes of milk pretty much from day one, and then the cow is expected to become pregnant again. This all happens within a very small window of time. Is it any wonder that cows struggle to recover when one stress event so closely follows the next? Given the stresses inherent in modern dairying, a combination of high energy feed, adequate fibre and finely balanced mineral supplementation

are all critical in the life of a productive dairy cow. Over the last couple of decades, as the productive levels of dairy herds have kept climbing, empty rates seem to have increased at a similar rate. Given the increases in the stress we are placing on these highly productive animals and without any major modifications in the feeding and supplementation regimes, these problems are expected to continue. Much research is now being done to identify the causes of this costly issue. Research to date has highlighted that conception is relatively easy to achieve;

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even under NZ conditions most cows will conceive on the first service. But, the real challenge is ensuring the cow receives adequate nutrition in order to maintain this initial pregnancy. A major NZ study in 2005 titled Pregnancy loss in dairy cattle in the Waikato region of New Zealand, authored by McDougall, Rhodes and Verkerk, showed that for every 100 cows inseminated, just 55 remained pregnant after 70 days. Scientific monitoring of the same matings showed that of the 100 cows inseminated, 89 pregnancies were initially established. On a typical dairy farm these cows will simply be re-mated, and many will subsequently become pregnant on either the second or third round. However, it is also likely that a large percentage of these same cows will not re-establish a viable pregnancy on those subsequent mating rounds, and due to economic factors may need to be culled. I think it is worth considering how much more profitable the average dairy farm would be if they could increase the original

Due to the nature of grass, grazing cows will normally be able to extract sufficient levels of most key vitamins from their diet and, given the correct balances of quality feed and fibre, can normally synthesise other vitamins from within the digestive system. first round pregnancies by even 10%? You may also ask what happened to undermine initially viable pregnancies in these first 70 days? Many factors may be involved in losing what started as a successful pregnancy and there are particular risk factors in the first 100 days following pregnancy. Successfully carrying the foetus through to full term is quite a balancing act. It requires the correct level of energy, which in turn requires a diet that supplies a balance of protein, carbohydrate and, in the case of a ruminant, good quality fibre. Also required is a correctly

balanced ratio of minerals and vitamins, critical factors in maintaining the very tightly balanced ratio of hormones required in early pregnancy. Due to the nature of grass, grazing cows will normally be able to extract sufficient levels of most key vitamins from their diet and, given the correct balances of quality feed and fibre, can normally synthesise other vitamins from within the digestive system. But what about minerals? Firstly, why are minerals so important? Macro minerals (minerals required in larger volumes) such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium are essential

for energy metabolism, blood flow both in utero and in the developing foetus, as well as the bone and tissue development required. Microelements or trace elements (minerals required in small amounts) such as zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and iodine, are important in the maintenance of healthy enzymes, hormones, and in the synthesis of those essential vitamins that ruminants are so good at producing in the digestive process. So how do you know what minerals are necessary for successful reproduction, and at what levels? Recently much research has gone into looking into what particular minerals are key in driving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy in dairy cattle. Early on, certain minerals were identified as being essential to successfully maintaining a pregnancy -- calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and iodine. In a study published in 2017

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Correctly calculating the levels of energy, protein and fibre means you’re halfway there.

called Diselementosis as a risk factor of embryo loss in lactating dairy cows, these elements were studied across three groups of cows in order to identify their individual importance. During the study, different groups of cows were split depending on the outcome of their pregnancy; the first group experienced an uncomplicated pregnancy through to birth, the second group was identified as suffering from foetal growth restriction, and the third group experienced embryo death. When comparing the two latter groups -- those with reproductive issues versus the group with no issues -- the level of mineral deficiency measured was in each case directly related to the severity of the reproductive issue being experienced. The difference between the healthy group and the other two groups (group II: foetal growth restriction, Group III: embryo death) were as follows: calcium -7.2% and -11.4%, phosphorous -9.1% and -9.8%, magnesium -23.5% and - 27.2%, zinc -17.2% and -25.5%, copper

-12.0% and -23.3%, manganese -15.2% and -15.8%, selenium -26.2 and -29.1%, iodine -21.2 and -33.4% respectively. This trial also demonstrated a strong correlation between higher daily milk yield and lower blood serum levels across the two problem groups. It will come as no surprise to many farmers that it is the higher producing groups of cows that most suffered the consequences of mineral deficiency. This trial, and other research, is clearly showing that while reproductive issues in dairy cattle are a multi-factor problem, there is also a strong correlation between mineral balance and successful reproductive outcomes. Dairy herd management and mineral balance When totalling up the empty rate, a herd manager may be tempted to speculate on the cause and the reason behind the outcome, and this will be forever varied. Many factors can be outside the farmer’s control: a feed pinch at the vital time, poor transitioning from

one feed to another, cold wet unseasonal conditions -- all these factors can play a big part. As we know from research, a number of pregnancies will terminate early for no apparent reason. However, taking all of this into account, much of the outcome is still in the hands of the herd manager. If the correct balance of critical factors is put in place ahead of time, there is every reason a large number of these initial pregnancies should go full term and not go on to become a statistic. If the herd manager knows their feeds and has the ability to balance feed ratios -- correctly calculating the levels of energy, protein and fibre -- they are already halfway there. However, don’t short-change on the other factors that may be just as important in maintaining the nutrition of the cow on a high plane. Ensure that your cows are receiving the right balance of essential macro and micro minerals in their diet. Don’t take it for granted that your cows are receiving the correct balance of minerals in their feeds.

We know by testing feeds that no single feed comes close to being balanced, and no single feed supplies all the minerals adequate to the needs of lactation, let alone the demands of pregnancy. In fact, modern highly productive grasses are often worse than the older slower growing grass cultivars for mineral balance -- this is even before you look at depleted soils and regional deficiencies. Then there are the crops: while they all have their attributes, each one also presents a different set of problems. Each crop has inherent deficiencies and many contain naturally occurring toxins (anti-nutrients) that can induce a number of mineral deficiencies. Is it any wonder that we have issues? Dairy nutrition support At Agvance Nutrition we specialise in the formulation of lactation premixes for cow nutrition. Contact us for more mineral advice or guidance for your dairy herd.

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Sending away bobby calves from farms isn’t considered a best practice by some consumers.

Waste not, want not JO HARRIS MANAGING DIRECTOR, DOM HEALTH

WHEN A BOBBY calf is worth

$40 at best, what are the alternatives? Increasingly consumers are looking disapprovingly on dairy farms that send away bobby calves, their perception being that it’s a cruel, heartless practice and one that does not value life. It’s a given that you need a pregnant cow in order to have a milking cow, so what are the options to dairy farmers other than sending away bobby calves? There is certainly a market for calves for lifestyle blocks, usually traded online. These calves can be a chocolate box assortment of breeds and the best looking ones can fetch pretty good money. However, trading calves like

this does not guarantee income as often they need to be weaned or are close to weaning, which can be time consuming. In light of new movement-control regulations, trading calves may not be a viable option in many regions. Whatever system you choose, there are two things that need to work: the financial viability and meeting the animal requirements of that system. A traditional whiteface costs about $250/calf vs a market price at the sales of about $125/calf, with prices varying depending on date of supply. So that’s a good starting point, but add the facilities or additional resources that may be required. Beef + Lamb NZ and the C Alma Baker Trust have funded trials with Dr Nicola

Dairy Wagyo cross calf.

Schreurs, a senior lecturer in animal and meat science at Massey University, looking at the eating quality of different dairy-cross cows, with Angus x Friesian, Angus x Jersey and Angus x Kiwicross,

in comparison to straight Angus cows. The main finding so far, published in Journal of Meat Science in 2016, is that there were no differences between the breeds in eating quality,

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although the yields on Jerseycross were lower from lighter carcase weights. Even more specialised and often attracting higher returns, are breeds like Wagyu, that achieve high levels of meat marbling in a pasture based system. Pasture based Wagyu supply in NZ is to First Light Foods, and more information is on their website www.firstlight. farm/grass-fed-wagyu Disease is now very topical, with M.bovis requiring that movement of animals needs to comply with regulations. There are big fines for non-compliance, so ensure National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) processes are up to date. For more information on what is required, see www.nait.co.nz/manageanimals. Sometimes a calf will get sick and antibiotics can be a lifesaving measure. Whether still destined for the bobby truck

PROVIDING PAIN RELIEF NEW RULES WILL apply in the next year that will make it compulsory to administer pain relief for all calves older than seven days when they must undergo painful procedures like disbudding and castrating. The consumer is the driving force that makes us look more closely at our farm practices. To reach higher end-price markets there is an increased focus on grass fed, antibiotic free, GMO free, better pain management and improved environmental management (with a great deal related to nitrogen leaching and mud). Although relevant for dairy replacements, it’s equally important for calves venturing into the beef markets too, particularly if they are destined for markets requiring Certified Humane Product verification.

Rather than seeing this as a cost, it seems timely to look at the benefits of administering pain relief. In a NZ trial with several hundred animals that had these procedures, the group receiving pain relief had far superior growth rates than animals that hadn’t had pain relief. Interestingly, the difference in growth rate between the two groups was still significant 30 days after the procedure, with 17% increased weight gain in the group that had pain relief. So, compensatory growth doesn’t seem to occur for animals without pain relief, because in the short term they certainly have a growth check. The improved growth performance reduces rearing cost more than enough to cover the dollar cost of pain relief.

Painful procedures can be performed with far better outcomes with pain relief. As an example, castration is far easier on both the calf and the operator if the calf is sedated, and there is improved efficacy. The other part of the equation to maximise calf outcomes is to do the procedure as young as possible; the recommendations are as close as possible to 3-4 weeks, as wound healing is better on younger animals and overall recovery is faster. In many cases it might be worth staggering procedures over a period of weeks or months. Talk with your vet about what the options are for your animals and your farm system, so that your farm can comply with regulations before they become mandatory.

or other markets, the least use of antibiotics is preferable. In July 2015, the New Zealand Veterinary Association said it aspires to seeing that, “by the

year 2030, New Zealand Inc. will not need antibiotics for the maintenance of animal health and wellness”. So it is important to look at other

proven non-antibiotic treatments like Scour-mate tubes, and ensuring vigilance with hygiene and biosecurity in calf rearing sheds.

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Don’t worry about ME JOE McGRATH SOLLUS NUTRIONIST

OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY

is dependent on a fairly fundamental concept: we turn a biologically low-value commodity into an extremely high biological-value product. In other words we turn captured solar energy into amino acids and triglycerides -or grass into milk. Our industry has been educated to understand this concept by referring to ME (metabolisable energy). It has been well documented how many MJ of ME are required for a milk solid and the more ME the better in our grasses. But is it really this simple? No, it’s not. In fact, ME is a fictitious number that can only be estimated. Also, the traditional and most accurate methods for estimation are slow, cumbersome and expensive. What the industry is left with is an estimate multiplied by a formula. In fact, it is an indicator of the energy of feedstuff and that is all (this is clearly highlighted in the fine print of most feed test reports). So why does this matter? Simply because ME has become ‘gospel’ to many in our industry, and it is time to turn this metric on its head. Recently one of our Sollus farmers presented our team with a conundrum: a certain part of the farm when grazed caused the milk production to crash. When the cows were removed from this part of the farm their milk production returned to normal. The efficient management team on the farm quickly suspected it was the grass, so they took accurate samples and sent them to the lab to be analysed. To their shock and confusion the ‘bad’ grass had an ME of 11.8 and the ‘good’ grass 11.7. How could this be?

The crude protein fallacy has become endemic in NZ.

Luckily the Sollus mantra of ‘forget ME’ had been followed, and the grass samples had a full proximate analysis, ie. ash, ether extract, WSC (water soluble carbohydrates), crude protein and NDF. These measures are absolute measurements of real nutrients; even when estimated by NIR analysis they are still descriptive for properly trained nutritionists, as opposed to ME which is not. Also, the above values are actually what the cow digests and then metabolises. For this to happen effectively there are ratios and physical factors that have to be met; none of these are taken into account by ME. The interesting thing about these two grass samples is that the five key nutrients listed above all were better for the

‘good’ grass. Yet this was not reflected in the calculated ME -- a real concern for the industry. In this case, and I suspect many, it was because of the crude protein fallacy that has invaded the dairy industry. Crude protein does not necessarily have any energy at all, as it is only a measure of nitrogen; however, the assumption is that if it comes from a product such as grass then it must be an amino acid, so the ME formula attaches a perceived energy value to it. Unfortunately this is wrong on two fronts. The first is that ryegrass on nutrient rich soil will have a very high level of NPN (non protein nitrogen – think urea) and with no energy at all. The second part is that it costs the cow a significant

amount of energy to get rid of the excess NPN, which also should be taken into account in the ME formula but is not. In this case the massive increase in crude protein had negated the real truth about these grass tests. The real energy drivers -- WSC, NDF, ash and ether extract -- had all moved favourably for the good grass. The cows demonstrated this with their milk production. This crude protein fallacy has become endemic in the NZ industry. It is backed up by feed tests describing inaccurate ME, supported by people promoting milk urea values and validated by the industry chorus of ‘grass only is best’. The only truth is that it is also the source of the nitrogen that is damaging the rivers. So don’t worry about ME.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

ANIMAL HEALTH // 83

Letâ€™s get serious about cattle drench resistance PAUL McKEE RAVENSDOWN TECHNICAL MANAGER, ANIMAL HEALTH

TO GET A better understanding of drench effectiveness in cattle, both faecal egg counts (FEC) and quantitative larval cultures are required to build a reliable picture of onfarm resistance levels. Drench tests are not usually done on adult cattle, as they are considered to be of most value in young stock. With relatively few tests being done nationally, this suggests most farmers do not know if their drench programme is working effectively. A recent drench reduction test on an intensive dairy bull beef farm in the North Island identified two species of parasites (Ostertagia and Cooperia) as showing resistance to single, double and triple combination drenches. Alarmingly this triple resistance developed without the farmer ever using triple combination. The farmer had for many years followed a worm control programme involving four weekly drenches with a white/ clear oral combination with one

to two endectocide pour-ons each year. This farm was typical of many seen throughout New Zealand, where cattle have minimal, if any, cross-grazing with other stock classes and/or species to reduce pasture contamination and allow refugia for drenchsusceptible worms. It is a recipe that can only increase the pressure for drench resistance. To address this high level of resistance, the farmer will need to change some aspects of the farm management. The challenge then will be managing a triple-resistant worm population while minimising the impact on production. Can we trust the testing? One of the issues with FEC in cattle is the huge variability in results, which can hinder confidence in drench efficacy conclusions. Historically, drench resistance has been defined as a reduction in FEC of less than 95% following treatment. However, variability in worm egg output, dung volume,

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persistent activity of treatments and the age of the cattle treated can combine to give an indication a treatment is working better than it actually is. On the study farm, the post-drench effectiveness of the abamectin injection (28% effective) and combination oral drench (42% effective) were both well below the 95% threshold. However, with the triple combination treatment, the FEC was zero, suggesting 100% efficacy. However, a quantitative larval culture allows for eggs that may have been undetected in the faecal egg procedure to hatch into larvae, grow and be counted. In this test a combined total of 2250 larvae consisting of both Ostertagia and Cooperia worms were present in the post triple-combination culture Using the pre-and-post drench larval numbers the reduction in larval numbers works out to only 58% -- significantly different from the 100% reduction seen in FEC. In the

Drench tests are not usually done on adult cattle, as they are considered to be of most value in young stock second test, a positive FEC was returned to the triple treatment, reaffirming the presence of a triple resistance and the variability we can get when looking at egg counts alone. The use of quantitative larval cultures in calculating drench efficacy clearly has a place in reducing the variability associated with faecal egg counts. Farmers are encouraged to talk with their animal health advisors on testing drench effectiveness in their cattle and include quantitative larval cultures as part of the testing process. Understanding the situation on farm combined with best practice recommendations will help ensure farmers can better manage parasites in their stock.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

84 // ANIMAL HEALTH

CRV Ambreed grazing product manager Peter van Elzakker.

Health, efficiency vital traits in future cow THE BASIC INGREDIENTS of

many dairy farmers’ breeding programmes for years have been production- and fertilityrelated traits. Simply having a cow in-calf to put milk in the vat and money in the back pocket have often ticked the right box. Times are changing. Today, the recipe for breeding success is greatly influenced by the challenges farmers and the industry face in environmental compliance and consumer demand for animal welfare. To meet these challenges, breeding healthy and efficient cows is more important than ever for dairy farming. CRV Ambreed grazing product manager Peter van Elzakker says it has to predict the changing needs of NZ’s

dairy industry at least five years in advance to make sure farmers can get what they need to meet the ever-evolving challenges. “Breeding bulls that produce healthy and efficient daughters that are easy to manage has been our focus for many years because that’s what farmers want and need today,” van Elzakker says. Ten years ago, in predicting future pressures on farmers in environmental compliance and animal welfare, the company began developing -- and recently began marketing -specific breeding solutions to meet these needs: these include LowN sires, a selection tool that farmers can use to manage nitrate leaching, homozygous polled genetics to create progeny that do not require

time-consuming and costly dis-budding, and facial eczematolerant genetics. The company also offers the Better Life Health Index and Better Life Efficiency Index, which rank CRV’s bulls so farmers can easily and quickly choose the sires that will produce the most healthy and efficient herds. “These indexes capture the traits essential for health and management, and we know there’s a good correlation between health and efficiency: healthy cows will produce well and have a better life,” van Elzakker says. He says this helps farmers make better decisions by focusing on all the traits that help create a resilient cow that is a pleasure to have in the herd.

Data for somatic cell count, udders, fertility, easy calvings and temperament is analysed for each bull in CRV Ambreed’s breeding programmes. All bulls are given a value; the higher the value the healthier the animal compared to the cow population average. “A farmer’s breeding programme has a huge impact on their overall success, so it is important to be strategic and select specific traits that will improve the overall health and sustainability of their herd,” says van Elzakker. “Our approach is ‘better cows, better life’: the welfare of the cows feeds into the welfare of our farmers. So healthy cows that produce well will have a better life, and life will also be better for the farmer.”

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

ANIMAL HEALTH // 85

Healthy hoof app builds a full picture THE HEALTHY HOOF

kk Record and treat

app takes the hassle out of recording your lame cows. Prevention of lameness is critical to the welfare of your cows and to your bottom line. To reduce the lameness in your herd, you must first understand the nature and scale of the problem and this is where the Healthy Hoof app comes in, allowing you to easily record lameness information. You can then use this information to identify and address the potential risk factors, assisting you to move your focus from treating lameness to preventing it, saving you time and money and your cows from the associated pain and discomfort. You don’t need to be a lameness expert. The Healthy Hoof app steps you through, from scoring to treatment.

You don’t have to be a vet to identify and treat lameness. The ‘treatments’ section of the app allows you to select the point of pain on the hoof that needs treating, and the app will indicate the type of lameness. Treatments are recorded, so you can track the treatment history for the cow and any herd trends. kk Reports The reports section of the app is where you can track trends that will help understand lameness on your farm. It identifies your: · current lame cows · recurring lame cows · lameness type · frequency of incidence. Data can easily be exported to your computer, so you can talk about the reports with a Healthy Hoof advisor, veterinarian or hoof care specialist. kk National dataset The information you collect is synced to a cloud-based database. By entering data into the app, you are helping us build a national lameness dataset. This info will help us establish sector benchmarks for lameness in New Zealand. Your data will not be tracked to your farm or shared with anyone.

App features kk Lameness scoring Detect lameness early on your farm by lameness scoring your cows. This tool is great for estimating the proportion of lame cows in your herd. If you vet is scoring the herd, they can use the app too. kk Flag If you’re getting the cows in and notice a lame cow, tap on the app and flag her for treatment later.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

86 // AGRIBUSINESS

Greater price certainty, one month at a time FONTERRA WILL INTRODUCE a new financial

tool to help farmers know better what they will be paid for their milk for the season. The new ‘fixed milk price’, announced in December, will be in place for the 2019-2020 season and the co-op says it will help farmers with budgeting, planning, and managing on-farm profitability. Global Operations chief operating officer Robert Spurway says, “this season reminds us of the volatility in the global marketplace and the impact it can have on the milk price. While the co-op manages this volatility as best it can when

selling our products, we recognise that it’s farmers who feel the brunt of it”. In a 2017 survey by the co-op of at least 400 farmers, almost 70% were concerned about the impact milk price volatility can have on their business. Farmers expressed the need for tools that allow them to manage milk price volatility. “As a cooperative owned by 10,000 farming families, we [will make] a difference for Fonterra farmers; providing flexible options will help them share up, invest onfarm and manage financial exposure,” says

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Spurway. How it will work:

All Fonterra farmers may participate on a monthly basis (excluding January and February). The fixed milk price will be referenced to the NZX Milk Futures Market. There will be a service fee of no more than 10c/kgMS initially. During a season farmers will be able to fix up to 50% of their estimated milk production per farm. Fonterra will make at least 1 million kgMS available at every event and up to a total of 5% of New Zealand milk supply available in a given season. If an event is oversubscribed,

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

AGRIBUSINESS // 87

a pro-rata allocation will apply. Fonterra is planning to make the first offer available in June 2019. In developing this, Fonterra incorporated feedback from farmers on its previous ‘guaranteed milk price’ to ensure the fixed milk price respects the co-op’s principles, and is more transparent, flexible and accessible. For example, the fixed milk price will allow farmers access to monthly opportunities, rather than just twice a year. The more regular opportunities will give farmers greater choice in when they want to participate.If a farmer chooses not to participate in an event, he will have another opportunity in one month. The fixed milk price will complement to the NZX Milk Price Futures market tool. While the NZX will allow greater flexibility to participate, Fonterra’s tool will not require a margin account or other

regulatory requirements and farmers will have the support of the co-op in learning how to use the tool. For the first season of the fixed milk price, only owners can apply, but the co-op is looking to develop an option for the following season that will accommodate sharemilkers. The fixed milk price will provide wider benefits to the co-op, says Spurway. “In addition to providing farmers with the opportunity to get more price certainty, the fixed milk price will also provide the cooperative with certainty on the margins it can achieve on a portion of milk supplied.” Internationally, fixed milk price options and other financial tools are readily available to farmers in America and in parts of Europe including Ireland. Domestically, many dairy processors are also providing farmers with similar tools.

years of global agricultural history

FINANCIAL TOOLS: BEYOND THE FIXED MILK PRICE THE FIXED MILK price is one of seven financial tools Fonterra has created in recent years to assist farmers in sharing up and investing in their farms. These tools include the ‘share-up over time contract’, ‘invest as you earn’ dividend reinvestment plan. Farmers, at different stages and times in life, can find sharing up and investing in their farm challenging. Flexible financial options can make the decision to join Fonterra easier. The ‘share-up over time’ options allow farmers to spread their share buying over three to nine seasons. Spreading share purchase over time can help to minimise the need for lump-sum borrowing to buy shares and smooth the impacts on cashflow. The ‘invest as you earn’ scheme provides an easy, hands-off way for farmers to increase their shareholding over time by allowing them to use their monthly milk payment to buy shares. ‘Invest as you earn’ can be used to purchase shares to meet a minimum shareholding requirement, cover future production growth or to invest in the co-op beyond a shareholding requirement. Over the last year, Fonterra has introduced another four tools, including ‘strike price contract’, ‘contract fee for units’ and Farm Source’s ‘reward dollars for shares’ and ‘smart finance’. The ‘strike price contract’ gives farmers the flexibility to share up in seasons when the farmgate milk price is higher and minimise their share purchases in seasons when the farmgate milk price is lower and therefore cashflow is less positive. The ‘strike price contract’ would provide greater certainty for banks looking to lend on positive cash flows. Under ‘contract fee for units’, Fonterra will voluntarily transfer the contract fee from ‘share-up over time’ contracts to a trust that will purchase units. The units will be distributed to a farmer when the farmer needs to acquire shares.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

88 // EMPLOYMENT

How do we ensure that the right people are put into right postions to run farms?

Without people there’s no dairy industry JAMES THOMAS FARMWISE CONSULTANT, WAIKATO

He tangata, He tangata, He tangata It is people, it is people, it is people NOTHING COULD BE truer, and not just in a farming perspective. Without people to run our farms, people prepared to employ, people prepared to mentor and people as part of the business, we do not have an industry. The dairy farmers of today must nurture and encourage the dairy farmers of the future. The question is, how do we ensure that the right people are put into the right positions to run our farms in the most efficient and economical way? It starts with the recruitment process and there are a few

things a CV should have to give a good chance at achieving an interview at least. Looking for a farm job: kk Make your CV relevant to the job you are looking at (this is most easily done in the covering letter) and be concise in your information. kk Personal information is important as even though your family may not be employed, they are still living in the house provided. kk A photograph of your farm and family can make a good

impression, but choose wisely. kk Outline your off-farm interests and industry goals. kk List your work history from most recent and explain any ‘gaps’ that may be there. kk Credible referees are very important. You should list them at the time rather than saying ‘available on request’. kk For people looking at sharemilking positions (especially herd ownership) be prepared with a budget and some evidence of your financial position. kk Above all, be honest.

Recruiting for a farm job: kk Bring the short-listed people in individually rather than as a group. This will put people more at ease and avoid one or two couples dominating proceedings. kk Try to allocate the same amount of time per applicant to give a level playing field and explain the timeline and the rules of the day early in the interview. Honesty is paramount here also. kk Time-frames can be very tight so don’t keep people waiting too long for an answer.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

90 // EMPLOYMENT

The dairy farmers of today must nurture and encourage the dairy farmers of the future. The question is, how do we ensure that the right people are put into the right positions to run our farms in the most efficient and economical way?

kk Once a selection has been

made, ensure that a contract is done and agreed on and allow the successful applicant the ability to take it away and to be able to seek advice from a trusted advisor so that it is understood and that there are no â€˜fish hooksâ€™. Once a role is offered, the next logical step for the potential employee is due diligence on the farm and system so that an informed decision is made. Budgets must be done (especially in a sharemilking or contract milking position) and then a contract can be filled in and signed by both parties. It is vital that this is understood and not signed until agreement is reached. It is a legal right to take the contract away so it can be reviewed by a trusted advisor before signing.

An employment contract should only be signed once agreement is reached between the employer and employee.

For wage earners the contract will include the wage, house rent, time off and rosters, and a job description of the position. If a 90- day trial is to be put in then it is vital that the contract is signed before work begins otherwise this will be null and void. Once all of this is achieved, you hopefully will have found the right position or the right employee to ensure that the farm will operate at its potential. However, with people it is always an ongoing process and there needs to be regular catch-ups -- whether formal or informal -- so that any potential issues are dealt with before they become a problem. Health and safety plans need to be formulated to keep people safe, including drug and alcohol policies, and increasingly now, biosecurity measures need to

be part of farm policy as well. For farms with multiple staff, workplace culture needs to be addressed so that all members feel valued and safe. Donâ€™t forget about the other people associated with the business which can include bankers, accountants, advisors and other mentors and lastly remember your family. For a business to be successful they must be on board and be supportive of the goals and objectives of the farm business. Without people there is no business. There is a huge cost in employing the wrong people or indeed going to the wrong farm. A good person on a good farm can be expected to achieve a great outcome and will allow both parties to meet their goals in a positive environment. Value your people and they will value you.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

EMPLOYMENT // 91

Keep good relief staff safe, engaged SARAH GORDON PEOPLE DEVELOPER, DAIRYNZ

IT CAN BE difficult to find

and retain good relief staff. By attending to the compliance aspects you can keep your business safe and by looking after H & S, training, and doing some preparation you can keep people safe and engaged. Employee or contractor? It is important to be clear as to whether or not relief staff are contractors or employees. Contractors typically invoice a farmer for work carried out. On its own however this is

not enough to classify them as a contractor. They must also fulfill the requirements set down by the Department of Labour which include but are not limited to: They pay their own tax and ACC levies. If earning over $60,000 they are GST registered. A contractor generally sets their own fee for a job. A contractor has control over whether or not they accept a job. If you incorrectly classify

You should be comfortable that relief staff are able to use any machinery or vehicles that are a requirement for the job.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

92 // EMPLOYMENT

an employee as a contractor you will be liable to give the ‘employee’ their employment entitlements. The ‘employer’ may also be penalised. Contracts – using the right one at the right time There are three main contracts used for relief staff: Casual – the employee is not offered any set hours and there is no pattern to the employment. Permanent part-time – there is a regular pattern of work, e.g. every third weekend, and no end date. Fixed term – an employee can be offered a fixed term position for a specific task e.g. feeding calves or a project with a specific end date. It is important that no matter which agreement you use that the terms and conditions are made very clear.

Ensure farms have simple easy-touse process in place for relief staff to follow.

You cannot use a fixed term agreement as a trial period and if you sign someone up as a casual you cannot include a 90 day trial. For full descriptions of employment types and entitlements go to: www.employment. govt.nz/starting-employment. Health & safety Keeping staff safe extends to your relief staff be they employees or contractors. You will need to ensure that relief staff are inducted onto your farm. You should be comfortable that relief staff are able to use any machinery or vehicles that are a requirement for the job. A hazard map showing any no-go areas on the farm is a useful tool. Provide any safety gear required. Put processes in place so you can leave the farm in

confidence. Do your homework just as you would do with a permanent employee. Check references and ensure that relief staff have the necessary skills to undertake the job. Have clear expectations around the role and responsibilities and communicate these. By ensuring that you have a simple easy-to-use process in place for relief staff to follow will help to minimise the risk of mistakes happening. Provide emergency contact phone numbers. Not just your own – what if something goes wrong on the farm while you are away and you can’t be contacted. Create Standard Operating Procedures for routine tasks such as clean up, setting up the shed, mastitis protocol, preferably include pictures as well as words to make it even

easier to follow. Remember that every dairy will be slightly different so make sure that you include these in your instructions, don’t assume that relief staff will ‘just do it’. Keeping relief staff coming back Paying a fair rate for the job done and paying promptly are a good incentive for relief workers to return. A clean, well – organised dairy, and having systems in place if there are any problems will also make relief staff more comfortable about working on your farm. Keep the system as simple as possible. • Article reproduced with permission from Smaller Milk and Supply Herds (SMASH) website- www.smallerherds. co.nz.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

EMPLOYMENT // 93

Training made easier DAIRY FARMERS WISHING

to pursue the popular Diploma in Agribusiness Management next year can breathe easy. Primary ITO and Wintec will significantly alter the course structure for Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki students to help more dairy farmers continue to study during their busiest times of year. The Diploma, which is offered in the central North Island through Wintec, will be broken into eight smaller modules instead of the traditional four, giving farmers and other agribusiness owners and managers more flexibility to tackle smaller chunks of learning. Primary ITO’s Diploma Programme Leader Rebecca Drummond says the full

qualification normally takes 2.5 years to finish if students complete one module per semester. “That can be a big commitment for people who are already working fulltime, generally running their own business and often raising a family,” she acknowledges. “The course content will remain the same but now the larger modules will be split into smaller pieces of learning making them easier to manage.” From 2019, Wintec will deliver these smaller modules in a new three semester structure, with courses available between February and mid-May; mid-May to early July; and late September until mid-December. Previously people have only been able to

start a course in February or late September. “This will be particularly useful for dairy farmers who calve in the autumn, but also for sheep and beef farmers and horticulture owners who are busy during the early part of the year. It will also allow other farmers to pick up a smaller module in the winter while their cows are dry.” Farmers can choose to study the entire Diploma or just enrol for specific papers when it suits them. “There may be a young contract milker who’s just starting out in their business and doesn’t have a good grasp of GST or PAYE. So these smaller modules will make it easy to access specific topics of

information.” “This new course structure will also be helpful for those farmers who may be moving properties at the end of the season (1 June). By enrolling for one paper at a time they’re not over-committing themselves.” Drummond says the Diploma in Agribusiness Management (Level 5) is designed to help people acquire all the skills they need to run a successful agribusiness. Under the new structure, students will be able to enrol in papers covering business planning, business risk management, financial planning, investment & tax, resource management & sustainability, employment planning, and work allocation, health & safety.

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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

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Support for productive, positive workplaces A wide range of tools have been created by DairyNZ to help keep farm teams happy, healthy and productive. DairyNZ people team leader Jane Muir explains some of these evidence-based tools. MANY FARMERS ARE

kk Wellness, wellbeing, health

keen to improve their work environment but aren’t sure where to start. Before we look at the tools available, let’s consider what makes for a good dairy farm workplace. The Sustainable Dairying: Workplace Action Plan has five pillars: kk Balanced and productive work time kk Fair remuneration

and safety kk Effective teamwork kk Rewarding careers If our sector can improve in these areas, we’ll end up having more of the people we need on our dairy farms – people who are capable, reliable, willing and respectful. Below are some tips and actions you could take to make positive change on your farm.

Balanced and productive work time Create different roster options quickly using the DairyNZ roster builder at co.nz/ rosterbuilder (copy this exact website address; no need to put DairyNZ in front). Start using a payroll system. Check out our advice on payroll systems at dairynzco.nz/payroll. Using a payroll system makes pay transparent, is great for

KEY POINTS: kk Good work environments

attract and retain good people kk Good people increase your

chances of a successful farming business kk Save time by using the tools

that exist; you don’t need to start from scratch.

keeping records and minimises your business risk. It also enables you to understand the actual hours being worked, a necessary starting point if you want to get more efficient. Find and remove operational waste (e.g. time, equipment, production) from your farm system by taking DairyNZ’s six-step waste challenge at co.nz/waste-hunt. Do things easier, better, faster and safer for your profitability, farm systems and work environment by participating in a FarmTune course with your team. It takes a fair chunk of time but you won’t look back. Visit co.nz/farmtune.

Make a dairy farm a great workplace for staff.

Wellness, wellbeing, health and safety Go to dairynz.co.nz/people/ health-and-safety/ for advice and practical ways to keeping people safe on farm. Sign up to a Good Yarn workshop through your local Rural Support Trust. This will help you recognise and respond appropriately to friends, family, farming colleagues or customers who are suffering from stress or mental illness.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

MACHINERY // 95

Buying a new tractor? Things to look out for MARK DANIEL MACHINERY EDITOR, RURAL NEWS GROUP

TRACTOR DISTRIBUTORS AND dealer salesmen will

tell you there’s a direct link between the New Zealand milk payout and the number of tractors sold annually. What they won’t tell you is that it’s a minefield to understand what you’re potentially buying, given that most tractor companies use different standards for reporting horsepower, so it’s a bit like comparing apples with peaches. How are you supposed to know the difference between

rated power, rated power with IPM, maximum power, maximum power with EPM, constant power, torque reserve, torque rise, maximum torque and rated speed? Then add in all the different standards for measuring power outputs, such as ECE-R120, ISO TRI 14396, 97/68 EC, ECE 24, SAE J 1995 -- or as one distributor quaintly puts it, maximum homologated net power. It’s probably easier to learn how to speak ‘double-dutch’. Interestingly,

some manufacturers even use differing standards amongst different ranges in their offerings, obviously choosing the rating that shows their tractor in the best light. If it’s all goobledygook and gives you a headache, fear not as we try to steer through the mire, hoping to make it all clear. Trying to compare how much bang you get for your bucks usually starts with the question of horsepower, so here’s a good starting point for a comparison. Firstly, look at rated horse-

If it’s all goobledygook and gives you a headache, fear not as we try to steer through the mire, hoping to make it all clear.

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96 // MACHINERY

Most tractor companies use different standards for reporting horsepower.

power; that typically occurs when an engine is running at its rated speed or usually when the crankshaft is spinning at its fastest. As an engine comes under load, it will ‘scrub off’ some of those engine revs and hit a point when it develops maximum horsepower. Dependent on individual set-up, this might be like rated horsepower, but in most modern tractors it’s likely to climb by about 10% as engine revs drop -- usually between 100 and 300 revs below rated speed. Some modern tractors then use clever electronics to deliver more power, and often torque, with a system typically called IPM (intelligent power management), EPM (electronic power management) or more commonly -- power boost. The power boosted horsepower rating is best taken with a degree of scepticism, given that the upgrade can only take place when a certain range of parameters are met. This is typically when the PTO is engaged and the tractor is travelling at lower speeds, or operating at higher speeds with

low draught characteristics, such as haulage work. The parameters are normally put in place to protect the weakest link in the tractor’s driveline, namely the transmission or the rear axle assembly. If you took notice during your school science lessons years ago, you will remember that reducing the rotational speed of a shaft will double the torque loading. Hence power boost is allowed in most tractors in the higher gears, where shafts are spinning more quickly, so reducing the torque in the driveline. After-market companies that offer to “switch on power boost permanently” are doing no one any favours; indeed they could be subjecting the drivelines to abuse, notwithstanding the safety aspect of stopping tractors within their design capabilities. Power boost pushes a tractor to the limits of its capabilities so it should be treated as a bonus; buy the tractor horsepower you need. Different power rating standards refer to theoretical horsepower measured in a

Some tractors use clever electronics to boost engine power.

laboratory test rig, and some refer to engines with ancillaries such fans, alternators, water and auxiliary hydraulic pumps removed. The result produces a gross horsepower figure to show the machine in the best light, but in fact many tractors will produce about 10 - 15% less at the flywheel and even less at the PTO. If you want to deal in realities, make sure you compare like for like ratings and don’t be fobbed off by a salesman who says he can’t give you a figure for power at the PTO; a smart salesman will know that you can see all that information on the University

of Nebraska test site web page. Once you’ve decided on the most suitable horsepower, it’s also worth considering how the tractor stacks up in the torque stakes. Torque is an indicator of the ability of the engine to ‘hang on’ as it comes under load; that in turn imparts the ability to resist frequent powershift or gear changes that cause loss of momentum and the risk of bogging. Look at the torque graph, keeping an eye out for a relatively straight line as engine speed drops; this means the torque remains constant and the tractor keeps pulling. On the same subject many manufacturers crow about torque rise; that put simply is the difference -- as a percentage -- between maximum torque and torque at rated speed. Taken in isolation, the figure is of limited value unless you know the rated speed of each engine. As an example, take two engines with the same maximum torque. One would expect them to have the same

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT 2019

MACHINERY // 97

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98 // MACHINERY

Fuel consumption is notoriously difficult to predict in tractor running because each farm has different uses, different soil types and many variables in play, including weather, implement and the load on the tractor. torque rise, but it might not be the case if they have different rated speeds of, say, 2200 and 2500rpm respectively. In this case, the unit with the higher rated speed would likely have a lower torque value, so will, on paper, have a higher torque rise to the maximum value -- in fact, a steeper torque graph and a likelihood that the engine won’t hang on so well. In the same area, low-end torque is also a good trait to be looking for, particularly for transport or frontloader operations. The baseline torque value available at tick-over, or slightly

Now that’s an engine!

Typical power and torque graph of modern electronically controlled tractor.

Max power: 110 Hp @ 2000 rpm. Max torque: 440 Nm @ 1600 rpm Torque rise: 32%

above, gives a good indicator of how well the tractor will pull away from a standing start or perhaps a road junction. With today’s rising fuel prices, consumption is worth considering especially if you run up many tractor hours in a year. Fuel consumption is notoriously difficult to predict in tractor running because each farm has different uses, different soil types and many variables in play, including weather, implement and the load on the tractor. To get a good guide, it’s best to work out the mix

of work you’re likely to be doing. The independent DLG testing station provides fuel consumption stats for most tractors that give the flavour of its efficiency at different speed and load points. Steady-state figures (where the engine is running at a pretty constant speed) tend to be calculated in g/kWh -- the measure of the number of grams of fuel used to produce 1kW for an hour. Multiply the figure by the rated output in kW and divide the result by 840 (the average specific weight of diesel fuel) to see the consumption in litres/

hour. This method is the most accurate for comparing tractors of differing horsepower. You might want to ask the age-old question, should I buy a four- or a six-cylinder machine? The choice is becoming more common as tractor makers try to fit smaller, lighter-weight blocks whose outputs compare favourably with six-cylinder units. This is enabled by the lower costs of production, higher outputs using modern electronically controlled injection systems and the trend to short wheelbase, high-horsepower and lighter-weight prime movers. The biggest downside in opting for a four-cylinder is typically that of reduced low-end torque. In simple terms, it relates to the capacity to combust and the total displacement, so the bigger the engine volume -- and more fuel in the combustion chamber -the higher the low-end torque. Manufacturers can partially offset this problem by tweaking the governor to predict heavy loads and rev up quickly in response. Four-cylinders typically have less torque rise, mainly because of a lower peak torque figure. So, although the headline-rated power stats look similar, the torque graphs tend to look completely different.

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Since installation of the new system, Richard says the water is of such quality that when the cows go to the trough they don’t lick or sniff, they just drink. “We dispense magnesium and iodine for animal health, and I’m refilling it more often than in previous years, which tells me they are drinking

more. During 2017 a wet spring affected the districts milk production by around 3.5 %. However, milk production at the van Ras farm showed an 8% increase. "We partly put that down to the fact that our cows are drinking more." There has also been a significant reduction in the milk’s somatic cell count (SCC) which is an indicator of milk quality. The number of somatic cells increases in response to pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, a cause of mastitis. The van Ras’ SCC average as reduced by over 35%. The 2019 season is showing even greater results. To see how your farm can achieve similar results, please contact Robert Barker at dairy@microlene.co.nz or 0800 00 PUMP

If youâ€™re looking at your options for a new milking system, the first step is deciding which of the many options will deliver the best results for you. We honestly believe that the best place to start that conversation is with us, after all â€“ we are the only company who manufacture all the different systems as well as the recording, reporting and farm management solutions that make them work harder. That means we will recommend the system that is right for you, not the system that is right for us.

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To find out more, either talk to your trusted DeLaval representative or for more information, visit us at www.delaval.com

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