Farmer King Country
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Farewell to Hizzy
Iconic stock agent, Alan Douglas (Hizzy) Hiscox passed away at his Taumarunui home on May 2. Paul Charman looks back at the life of this talented King Country auctioneer. Story page 2.
Well known auctioneer mourned
By Paul Charman
A man described as an iconic stock agent, Alan Douglas (Hizzy) Hiscox died at his Taumarunui home on May 2.
In a career stretching back to the 1970s, Alan became a top Central North Island auctioneer, following humble beginnings as a National Mortgage Association trainee from Feilding.
As one of the company’s front men, he was regarded as a talented operator, telling the King Country News in a 2016 interview that he prided himself on always doing his best for both client and company.
“‘Hizzy’ always did things his way,” fellow auctioneer and friend Carl White said.
“He was truly iconic in my view; though he only really sold in the Central North Island, he was second to none, definitely under-utilised.”
White said Alan outshone many others due to his presence and his diction – you could always understand him.
“Beyond that, one of his greatest assets was knowing the market. He had orders; he always knew where to place cattle and sheep.”
King Country News files preserve some of Alan’s own comments on his career:
After being promoted from general office duties as a young man, Alan said he naturally took to the role as a stock agent and never looked back.
“I had no experience in the livestock industry and as a young fella I was just looking for a job and I ended up at NMA.
“They were advertising for a trainee so I basically grew into the livestock game rather than coming off a farm or anything like that. But it’s an industry that’s once you are in it you don’t really want to do
anything else.”
After finding his feet in Feilding, Alan was transferred to Wrightsons in Taumarunui in 1984 and felt right at home.
“I accepted a transfer back to Feilding in 1987 but I didn’t want to leave Taumarunui,” he said.
“I liked the three Ts – Te Kūiti, Taumarunui and Taihape.
“They were hill country farmers and I liked the way they operated.
“After only about a week back in Feilding I didn’t like it but I couldn’t go back to Wrightsons because I had resigned so I became an independent.”
Operating under Alan Hiscox Livestock, one of the first independents in New Zealand, he returned to Taumarunui and remained there all his days.
Soon after his return, Taranaki Farmers purchased Fagan Farmers in Piopio and Te Kūiti renaming it King Country Farmers.
Alan was approached by King Country Farmers to sell his business, which he didn’t, instead agreeing on a 50-50 partnership and King Country Farmers Livestock was born.
Taranaki Farmers then acquired Manawatu Farmers and Waikato Farmers becoming Allied Farmers and then – New Zealand Farmers Livestock Ltd.
Through it all Alan said he specialised mainly in sheep and beef because of the down-to-earth way that industry does business. His area covered Te Kawa to Mōkau.
“Cattle farmers, right from the first day I started dealing with them – what you see is what you get.
“Still to this day they look you in the eye and shake your hand on a deal.
“The average day-to-day transaction between two farmers and the stock agent who makes it happen, is just a handshake.
“Everyone pays and that’s what it has always been like.”
A complex job, Alan said the main role of a stock agent was to do everything they could to achieve the maximum value for the farmer who has trusted them to do their business.
And having good old-fashioned values went a long way to doing just that.
White noted that Alan had both an amazingly high IQ and a dry sense of
humour and was capable of lively repartee.
“But this was never cruel; it was always just banter.”
Alan was made a life member of the Taumarunui Eels Rugby and Sports Cub about a week before his death from cancer, receiving his jacket at a ceremony at his home. Over the years he had taken on many roles within the club.
Alan is survived by his wife Arlene, their children Nathan and Kelly and their grandchildren. His funeral was held at the Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club last week.
Alan Hiscox said he liked the three Ts – Te Kūiti, Taumarunui and Taihape.
Book series shares farming history
By Sigrid Christiansen
The latest reprint from the ‘May series,’ ‘No one went to Town’ depicting the adventures of a settler family living near Piopio (in one book), will be available at the end of this month.
The five popular stories were first published over 40 years ago by author Phyllis Johnston about her mother May’s life.
Many who read the books as children and remember them fondly have introduced them to their own families.
Among their hordes of young readers are adventurous girls who love to read about tomboy protagonist May.
Meanwhile, “boys who don’t read, read these books,’ the late author’s granddaughter Nia says.
“That’s because the main character might be a little girl, but there’s lots of gory detail… and three big brothers who play a big part in the stories, she said.
“They are country kids having a great time in hard times.”
The King Country connection is solid: readers around the Waitomo district connect with the stories especially, because the second book of the five, “Black Boots and Buttonhooks,” is set at Paemako, just south of Piopio.
Phyllis died in 2021 at 86, but her descendants have taken the reins of the book process, making sure it’s available to families and schools across New Zealand and the world.
Profits go entirely back into reprinting the books, so they are accessible to as many children as possible.
KC Farmer spoke to Phyllis’ granddaughter Nia, who together with her powerhouse mother Mary (the daughter of Phyllis) is the custodian of the series. Nia
ships the books, while Mary masterminded many of the book production tasks, including commissioning professional edits of the (formerly unpublished) last book in the series.
Nia is dairy farming with her five children in the same valley featured in the first book: Tututawa, in Taranaki. She met her husband in Auckland, but that was his home.
“We couldn’t move the farm to Auckland, so I moved down to Taranaki instead,” she said.
The books are a huge part of their lives. Today, Nia’s children get a thrill when they drive up SH3 past Paemako and see the old school, she said.
Phyllis always hoped the books would be available again, but there was a break of about 20 years from the late 1990s, when the books were out of print.
Kelly Madden, a teacher at Omata school in rural Taranaki, told the family the books had such enduring appeal that her pupils’ parents were “stalking” second hand bookshelves and TradeMe looking for battered copies.
“It would make me so happy to reprint the books,” an elderly Phyllis told her family when the idea was first raised.
Phyllis started writing in her forties after her children had grown up.
She was a creative person who needed an outlet, Nia said. Writing became that to her.
Nia is 44, and she remembers going to some of her grandmother’s book launches in the 1980s.
Phyllis started writing the series longhand, in pencil. The very first words were scribbled on brown paper which had recently wrapped the household butcher’s
order, and still smelled a bit like the contents.
“She found her thing,” Nia said.
As a child, Phyllis had enjoyed books like ‘Little House on the Prairie’ set in the US and wondered why there was no New Zealand equivalent. She set out to write her own.
The author only later got a word processor, and her son-in-law had her play Solitaire on the computer to get used to using a mouse, which she never done before. She didn’t understand how to double click at first.
Yet she became skilled at corresponding with her readers by email.
But that was it. To the end of her life, she would send emails (at least until her sight failed in very old age) but refused to browse the web:
“I only have the email,” she would say to her family.
May was still alive at that time so Phyllis was able to ask her and other relatives questions as she wrote.
May later died after the first book was published, at the age of 90.
Phyllis did “a huge amount of research,” and once rescued the paperwork of a former dairy cooperative mentioned in the story – from its storage place underneath a tank stand on a farm.
This meticulous approach means that in last book in the series – featuring the adult May – goes into great detail into the dairy farming lives of share milkers in the rural Waikato during the 1930s depression.
Nia says the books’ value is that they show kids today how their great-grandparents lived – taking bread and dripping for school lunches, for example.
“It gives them perspective.”
Phyllis Johnston with her great-granddaughter, Genevieve Chesswas. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Data decisions double farm revenue
By Chris Gardner
Logan Dawson of Waipa, used data driven decision making to double dairy farm revenue.
Dawson, who with his wife Sian was runner up in the 2024 Dairy Industry Association Awards Share Farmer of the Year Award, is making $10,858 in gross farm revenue per hectare compared to the average $5856.
Judges said the Dawsons were continuously looking for more efficient and accurate ways to do things.
“I have managed to move from 13 kg of dry matter per kg of milk solids down to 11 kg,” he said. “That’s a 15 per cent reduction in feed for the same production.”
They’ve done this keeping a tight rein on every possible piece of farm data, feeding it daily into Google Sheets and sharing access across the entire Ngāhinapōuri farm team.
Data-driven decision making enhances accuracy, insights, and organisational effectiveness.
“Because it’s cloud based it means that our staff can access it at the same time as us,” he said.
The Dawsons are equity partners and 50/50 share milkers for leading dairy farmers Jim and Sue van der Poel on their 333ha, 1350-cow farm.
They employ six full time staff who, thanks to a satellite connection, have access no matter where they are on the farm.
“All of our planning and calculation can be done remotely. If I am doing sports, I can make sure that everything is being successfully monitored. There’s
a lot of scope for successful on farm management.”
Dawson created his system from scratch after searching for a software solution and finding nothing that fitted his specific needs.
His bespoke spreadsheet system includes a grazing plan detailing how much supplement to include in different sized GPS tagged feed bins, a fertiliser plan showing how much nitrogen and effluent has been applied, a mating plan, and a staff roster.
“I update it and the staff check it daily,” he said
“One of the benefits of Google Sheets is that you can go back in version history and see what has been happening. It’s just these little things that simplify everything.
“I am in the process of exploring how to turn it into an app to make it simpler and marketable I have not met many people that looks at things the way I do. I am really enjoying challenging thinking,” said Logan.
“His spreadsheets make his job a heck of a lot more efficient,” said Sian.
“Having five kids aged 10 months to 12 years it means we get more with him home a little bit more and makes for a better work and life balance.”
She describes herself as her husband’s sounding board, also supporting farm income with off farm photography.
“I love to take family portraits. A lot of the time I do it on farm. It’s a great little side business.”
Of being placed as a runner up, Sian said: “I am stoked. To be recognised on a national stage is amazing. To be second in all of New Zealand is a massive
CALF MILK PUMP
achievement.”
The Dawsons won two merit awards: the Federated Farmers Leadership Award and the Honda Farm Safety, Health, and Biosecurity Award and more than $28,000 in prizes.
“Logan and Sian are on a large-scale,
high input system 5 farm and are guiding a lot of people, adding another level of complexity,” said DairyNZ judge Steve Canton. “Through the use of technology and careful monitoring, they are really getting the most out of what they do.”
NZ’S MOST TRUSTED PARASITE KILLER
Logan and Sian Dawson on their Ngāhinapōuri farm.
Fifth generation born to be a farmer
By Chris Gardner
Nithmount Farm Cow 494 affectionately nuzzles 2024 New Zealand dairy trainee of the year Kirwyn Ellis.
The encounter in a paddock on Hamish and Sharee Germann’s 130ha dairy farm - nestled between Mt Pirongia and Mt Kakepuku in the Waipā district – illustrates how Ellis, 20, cares for his herd and its environment.
The fifth generation Pirongia farmer has been at it for as long as he can remember takes his roles in kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and conservation, very seriously.
He knows he must if his family is to continue to thrive by making a living off the land.
In his two seasons on Nithmount Farms Number Two, named after the River Nith in Canada where the Germanns hailed from and Mt Pirongia, Ellis has helped shepherd a riparian planting scheme.
Around 2000 plants, grown by Pirongia Primary School through the Trees for Survival Trust, have been planted on the farm’s 1.5km waterway to filter nutrients and sediments.
“It’s pretty cool for the kids to learn about the plants,” he said.
“They learn about the whole process of the plant. That guardianship of the land is really important to me. I believe in leaving the land in a better condition than what you found it in.”
Twenty years ago, Ellis would have been labelled a greenie.
“I think things have changed,” he said. “There’s more of an understanding. Farmers have always cared for the envi-
ronment that they have farmed in.”
Ellis won the award earlier this month. Described by judges as a relaxed, thoughtful, and mature young man who absorbs knowledge from those around him, he is a strong team player with a heart for his community.
He excelled across all categories, demonstrating effective communication skills. He maintains a good work-life balance and enjoys outdoor activities. Judges praised him as a down-to-earth farmer who genuinely cares for others and serves as a role model for the industry.
Ellis grew up on his parents Malcolm and Jody Ellis’s 150ha family dairy farm five minutes down the road in Pirongia attending Pirongia and Rukuhia primary schools and St Peter’s School in Cambridge. Grandparents John and Ann are also dairy farmers.
The Germanns, currently milk 475 cows - picked Ellis as their herd manager two seasons ago having known his family forever.
“It’s all I ever wanted to do,” Ellis said.
“I can’t pinpoint one moment when I became interested in farming. Mum and Dad were more than happy to take me out on the farm. I’m sure I got in the way.”
Ellis has been building on that foundation, soaking up knowledge like a sponge, ever since.
“The whole soaking up knowledge thing has been a real focus of mine.,” Ellis said.
“I have made so many connections in the local community, as a result people have been more than willing to pass knowledge on. A rising tide rises all boats.”
Ellis works closely with the Germanns and one other staff member on farm.
Farm management is a team effort.
“I really love the role that I am in, there’s a lot of support and affirmation in the role. There’s the opportunity to take on as much responsibility as you want to.”
He is also a member of Te Kawa West Young Farmers’ Club whose members meet regularly for netball and touch
rugby, as well as monthly meetings. Ellis received several awards, including the Federated Farmers General Farming Knowledge Award and the DeLaval Community and Industry Involvement Award, along with nearly $12,000 in prizes.
“It’s pretty bloody good,” said his boss Hamish Germann of the win. “We are very proud of him for what he’s achieved in the short time that he’s been here.”
Uncertainty over freshwater farm plans
By Paul Charman
Andrew Hoggard has labelled compulsory freshwater plans “overly costly and complex”, and said more fit-for-purpose rules were on the way.
But to date Hoggard, the associate Environment Minister, has given few specifics on how the NZ Freshwater Farm Plans System was to be changed, says King Country River Care coordinator Anna Nelson.
“We’re not really sure how they’re to be modified but obviously some changes within freshwater farm planning are on the way
“But from what we are hearing from Waikato Regional Council there is no certainty at the moment and we’re probably still in the stage of waiting and seeing.
“They’re talking about having a more risk-based approach.
It’s possible not everyone will require freshwater farm plans; that timeframes (to produce them) will be extended and that the process as regards certification and auditing is going to be altered. But there has been nothing definite.”
Nelson said it was likely that changes would affect various farming businesses differently.
“Hopefully for some there will be a much-reduced action required to reach compliance. But for other farming businesses which have a higher risk there may not be a massive change in their requirements, though the process that they follow may be different – we just don’t know.”
Previously freshwater farm plans were to be finalised the end of this year in the Waipā Catchment and by the middle of next year for the south-west Waikato of the Waikato region (including the King Country).
“Those time frames were completely unrealistic,” Nelson said.
“We’re really waiting to see how the regional council is going to interpret something from central Government which is completely unclear.
“It’s not easy for King Country River Care or the Waikato Regional Council to know quite how to move forward, we’re all in a sort of holding pattern if you like.
“River Care is discussing the best options while we wait for clarification on what freshwater farm planning might require us to do.
“What can we offer farm businesses that want to proactively get ahead of what is likely to be required by the markets (for meat). You can sit there waiting or you can look at what else is there for those who actually want to do something now, what approach may be the most logical, cost effective and valuable for our farming businesses.”
Nelson said River Care was looking at running some workshops based upon the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP Plus).
NZFAP was set up to provide confidence and certainty to the millions of consumers world-wide that the meat and wool produced from New Zealand sheep, beef and deer farms is authentic, genuine, and safe.
Kirwyn Ellis, New Zealand’s dairy trainee of the year, on the Pirongia farm where he gets to soak up his knowledge and nuzzle the cows. Photo: Chris Gardner.
King Country bull sales could
King Country bulls have had a great season and are as well presented as they have ever been, an auctioneer says.
Sales on farm and online from Wharepuhunga in the north to Taumarunui and Mahoenui in the south and west start next Monday (May 27).
Livestock genetics rep and auctioneer Cam Heggie said a number of sale dates had changed so people should take extra note of the dates and times.
“But of course with the lamb schedule being where they are, and other economic pressures coming into play, breeders are probably as we are, just a little bit concerned about how we are going to go.
“It’s probably going to be a year more of looking to clear more bulls than worrying about how big the average is.
“We would rather sell bulls at lesser money than end up with bulls left behind and no money.
“It’s a bit tough because they have turned out a great set of bulls. It’s probably going to be hard enough to sell them we are thinking.
“The top end of the bulls we are still expecting them to probably hold up simply because guys who really do understand genetics can see the value in them. But there’s going to be a number of people that are more price driven, with
their mortgages and other costs going up – they are just going to be strapped for cash.”
They were still a solid investment because the bull bought this year will influence the herd for the next 10 years, Heggie said.
“But needs must, sometimes as well.”
The national 2024 two-year-old bull sale season started earlier this month. About 130 studs nationwide put their best genetics forward at auction, private sales and paddock selections, from Whangarei Heads in the north to Bluff in the south.
Callum Stewart, PGG Wrightson
Livestock Genetics national manager said an effective breeding programme will focus on rectifying any flaws in the herd or flock, identifying what needs improving, and refining so the programme best addresses the needs of the topography, the climate and farming system of a particular farm.
Ian Valler manages a sheep and beef breeding and fattening farm that winters up to 31,000 stock units at Te Hape in the King Country, working for Te Hape B Trust and Tiroa E Trust, which holds a series of neighbouring properties, ultimately under the ownership of more than 900 shareholders affiliated to the
Livestock auctioneer Cam Heggie.
be a hard sell this season
Manaipoto Rereahu iwi.
When selecting bulls and rams Te Hape B and Tiroa E Trust farms utilise the advice of PGG Wrightson Livestock Genetics.
“Callum has worked alongside us for more than 15 years. He has a clear understanding of what we need our breeding programmes to deliver.
“Our relationship operates on openness and trust. We communicate frequently and the PGG Wrightson team has a bit of scope: whatever we ask for, they will find someone who can provide it for us. We support them, and they definitely support us,” Valler said.
The genetics side of the farm has devel-
oped because of the relationship with Stewart and PGG Wrightson, and continued to develop, Valler said.
“Relationships take time and effort from both parties, though in farming the good ones can help to create substantial value in your business. This is certainly one of those relationships,” he said.
“We make decisions about our breeding programme together, after detailed discussions on farm. We all try to look at the situation objectively.
“PGG Wrightson doesn’t have ties to anyone, which makes their advice and recommendations unbiased, providing us with a trust relationship we can rely on,” says Ian.
Kia Toa Charolais Kia Toa Charolais
Stewart was also cautious about the bull sales prospects.
“Almost everyone on the farm is doing it tough at present, with rising costs and static or falling returns.
“That means commercial cattle farmers will be cautious when buying bulls, ensuring they make every dollar work as hard as possible. While there will be no compromise on genetics, some are likely to reduce bull numbers, mirroring what we have seen with ram sales.’
The temptation for farmers to keep any older bulls that remained sound and give them another year was strong, Stewart said.
“Last year the cow market constricted,
mainly due to conversion of land use to forestry. This year the number of cows is stable, possibly even slightly increased. So long as they have the genetics that buyers demand, breeders who have read those signals, limiting the number of bulls they offer, should meet the market satisfactorily,” he said.
Genetics was the major influence on a herd. Progeny from a bull purchased now would be born over the next three years, slaughtered over the next four, and female progeny used for breeding over the next ten years.
“Selection decisions have long-term consequences and will pay you back over an extended period,” he said.
Kia Toa Charolais Kia Toa Charolais
Tree trimming
The first successful trial of a specialised tree-trimming saw hanging beneath a helicopter has been undertaken by a Te Kūiti-based company.
Trialled by The Lines Company in a forestry block at Kuratau near Taupō last month, the heli-saw successfully trimmed 950 metres of radiata pine along a corridor housing a 33kV network line in just over an hour.
Material was left at the base of the trees, leaving two blocks of trees – nine years and 14 years – undamaged.
Vegetation manager Jason Gaukrodger said the trial was “sensational”, saving the company weeks and weeks of work and thousands of dollars. It proved the heli-saw technology had incredible potential, he said.
“I had high expectations, but this blew me out of the water in terms of how efficient it was. It was much faster than I anticipated, and the pilots had incredible control.
“This technology has the potential to be transformational for electricity distribution companies like ours, as well as for the forestry sector.”
The trial of the technology will continue this month at a plantation forest south of Piopio. A 2.6km corridor through a commercial forest will be trimmed, with support from the forestry owners.
Gaukrodger said people from the forestry sector were invited to see the heli-saw in action at Kuratau and left impressed. The company would continue to work alongside foresters, he said.
“This technology helps both us and forestry owners manage the risk from trees and does so cost-effectively, especially in steep or hard-to-access terrain.
The other option is felling the trees completely, but removing edge trees opens
up forestry blocks to wind. We can send arborists in to trim trees but we are literally looking at weeks and weeks of work. With this technology, weather permitting, we’re talking hours,” said Gaukrodger.
Heli-saws are approved by the Civil Aviation Authority for use under Taupō based Lakeview Helicopters’ H125 B3E and AS350 B2 helicopters.
Gaukrodger said when considering the heli-saw, safety was the primary concern.
“We began looking at this technology a few years ago so have had time to think about every facet of safety. We’ve put a huge amount of time into health and safety documentation and into developing a helicopter guide for use on our network. The trial itself also involved a site-specific health and safety management plan,” he said.
“This is a tool desperately needed by our industry and none of us want it to fail. It has the potential to transform the way we manage vegetation and that’s important for TLC because across our network, more and more land is now going into commercial forest.
It also allows us to reduce safety risk because we’re not having arborists up trees for extended periods of time, sometimes in challenging terrain.”
Chief executive Mike Fox said for customers the potential benefits could be huge. TLC services 24,000 connections across some of New Zealand’s most challenging geographical terrain.
Around 10 per cent of its network –approximately 150,000 hectares – is covered in forestry blocks, some poorly maintained.
The company had 269km of power lines running through forestry blocks as well as 106km of line through Department of (DoC) land.
It was an ongoing battle to keep trees clear of power lines, making the network vulnerable to storms and weather events.
“Cyclone Gabrielle is a good example of what can happen.
“Across our network we sustained around $1.65 million in damage just from that one event, and the vast majority of that cost was from trees falling into lines,” Fox said.
“In a normal year, we’d invest around $1.6 million in vegetation management but in the future, we will need to invest
more because of increasingly volatile weather patterns and the increase in commercial forestry. Over the next 10 years, we’ve budgeted a further $200,000 to $600,000 per annum to keep trees away from power lines and in some cases, reroute some lines away from trees completely.
“Those costs are huge, and at TLC we don’t have a big customer base to spread them across. The financial impact is significant, costing each customer on average $60 to $90 per year.”
The Heli-saw tree trimming trial proves successful. Photo: Supplied
Boar puts up epic fight
By Sigrid Christiansen
Wade Budd and David Youle had heard “whispers from the guys” about a notorious and elusive Mangakino boar lurking around their favourite spot in the bush.
So, when they turned up for weigh in at Piopio Cosmopolitan Club’s annual hunting competition earlier this month with the mysterious boar, everyone knew the great mates had been in a fight.
And so too did their hunting dog Doug –he ended up spending the night at the vets after the tussle.
The club’s competition was held from May 9-11.
Derek Tahi’s 76.1kg boar won him first prize; the best tusks category was taken out by Hiki Nathan.
In the kids’ critters section, Max Cornelissen won first prize for the heaviest hare. Koby Houghton’s possum was the heaviest, as was Angus Cowin’s turkey. Bentley Jones won a first prize for ‘overall widest goat horns.’
The competition also saw hunters and fisherfolk bringing in red stags, fallow bucks, snapper, kahawai, mallard drakes, paradise pairs, peacocks and peahens.
Wade said the boar they caught had “ripped up” quite a few of the other guys’ packs of dogs.
“We knew he was in there. We hadn’t been to that spot for a while, maybe in a year and a half, and so we went back to see if he was around, and we found him. That was pretty cool,” Wade said.
The guys are both dairy farmers: great mates and neighbours of seven years. They’ve spent that time going hunting together as often as possible, pigs, stags, “everything.”
They’re going to keep going “once the
dogs are off ACC – although they love it, 100 percent.”
Barry Stott and Waide Jones from the Cosmopolitan club said there had been 132 grown up entries into the competition, plus the kids.
“We’re happy” Stott said. “I can’t think of anything bigger we do here in Piopio, except maybe the Christmas parade.” Jones said the club would make donations to the fire brigade at Hato Hone St John, as part of their support of the community through the event.
Mates Wade Budd and David Youle with the boar who put up a fight.
Photo Sigrid Christiansen.
Protect our farmers – Leptospirosis
Farmers, both dairy farm and dry stock farmers, are significantly overrepresented in the human population who suffer from Leptospirosis every year in New Zealand. For anyone who knows a person that has suffered from Leptospirosis, they will recognise that it usually life changing and at times, can be life threatening.
Affected humans’ symptoms range from severe flu like symptoms, inappetence, muscle pain, vomiting and can progress to kidney or liver disease and even meningitis.
A recent Massey University study, showed that half othe people affected by the disease are still suffering some symptoms eight months after diagnosis.
This is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) that we wish to stay very clear from. There is no vaccine for humans, so it is all about minimising our risk of exposure. Risk management relates to personal hygiene around urine and bodily fluids, vaccination protocols, rodent control, protecting waterways and staff training.
Like humans, dogs are not a usual host of leptospirosis. For them, this disease is often fatal because of severe liver damage. We strongly recommend that all dogs at risk are vaccinated annually.
Needless to say, pig dogs, working dogs, dogs that love playing in puddles or waterways and little terriers are extremely high risk and annual dog lepto vaccinations do save lives. Cows and pigs are designed to play host to Leptospirosis and thus can be infected but with little or
no outward signs of disease. They can then shed the bacteria in their urine or foetal fluids which can survive in wet conditions for at least nine months.
A nationwide, New Zealand 2016 study performed on a random selection of 200 dairy herds, found that 2.4% of cows had leptospirosis in their urine.
Two percent may not seem too high, but astonishingly, these cows came from 26.5% of the herds tested. We might ask ourselves, why is this so high?
By Anna Martyn Veterinarian BVSc, MACVSc King Country Vets
Whilst vaccinations are very effective and help reduce the risk of shedding, they cannot cure an infection. For prevention, timing of the vaccination administration and what serovars it covers play key roles.
So, presuming that the serovar is covered, timing of administration is paramount. Calves that are exposed to the bacteria prior to being fully vaccinated, carry over cows being missed for 12 months or unknown vaccination status of other livestock coming onto the farm, can all increase the risk of cows being infect-
ed and shedding on farm.
The second key and potentially the most significant from recent findings is that the vaccine covers the serovars (type) of Leptospirosis present on farm and in the stock.
There are many different serovars (types) of Leptospirosis bacteria with the most well-known ones being Hardjo and Pomona. Most vaccines provide protection for these two serovars.
The more comprehensive vaccines also include a strain carried by rats and spread by infected urine onto feedstuff, this is called Copenhageni.
Most of our dairy farms use a vaccine with three serovars protection (Hardjo, Pomona and Copenhageni) as it has been the best defence on offered for cows and staff in contact with these animals to date.
However, as a spin off from the 2016 study, they discovered that the shedding cows were predominantly a servovar not contained in any vaccines.
Initially thought to be a serovar called
FARM PROFESSIONALS
Tarassovi, it has now been identified as a new serovar named ‘Pacifica’. Given a common surface antigen, the Tarassovi provides cross protection for Pascifica as well.
The great news is that we finally have Lepto 4 way, a vaccine that will cover this servovar.
What this means is, if you are after the best protection for yourself, staff and cows alike, please contact the clinic for further information on how to integrate this into your risk management plan.
Feds tilt at bankers
New capital holding rules were now costing farmers more each year than He Waka Eke Noa was ever going to, Federated Farmers’ dairy chair Richard McIntyre said.
Federated Farmers estimate the rules add between 0.5 per cent and 1.2 per cent to rural interest rates and cost farmers an eye-watering $310m to $740m each year.
By comparison, He Waka Eke Noa was forecast to levy farmers around $255m each year.
The capital holding rules were supposed to protect the banking system against a one in 200-year shock, he said.
“But the question does need to be asked: could the medicine be worse than the disease?”
The accusation was part of the Federated Farmers call for an inquiry into rural banking to Parliament’s Primary Production Select Committee.
