Cowmanagement uk june/july 2014

V O LU M E 12 N O 4 J UN E /J ULY 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

HO O F H E ALT H

N M R/ RA BD F G O LD C U P

LIV ESTOCK EVENT

How to get ‘chronic’ cows back on track

Six finalists lock horns for the coveted title

What’s new at this year’s two-day show?

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CRV AVONCROFT

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VEKIS CHEVROLET (Freddie x Planet)

• EFFICIENCY: +10% • HEALTH: +4% • WORLD-WIDE SIRE OF SONS • GPLI £255, GTPI 2,347

Dam Chevrolet Larcrest Chenoa

BOUW ROCKY

(Shamrock x Goli)

• EFFICIENCY: +7% • HEALTH: +5% • PRODUCTION, HEALTH AND FERTILITY • GPLI £272, GTPI 2,347 Dam Rocky Goli Flower

DELTA BOOKEM DANNO (Bookem x Bolton)

• EFFICIENCY: +8% • HEALTH: +5% • HIGH LIFETIME PRODUCTION AND HEALTHY COWS • GPLI £254, GTPI 2,329

Dam Danno Walrich Delta Riant

Rocky, Chevrolet and Danno: top bulls for health and efficiency

You do not want to worry about the health and efficiency of your herd. But how do you know which bull can contribute to this? The breeding values will tell you a lot, but not which bull scores best for health or efficiency. CRV’s Better Life Health and Better Life Efficiency will tell you. Better Life Health is a unique breeding indicator, based on the total breeding values of the bull. And what do we see? Rocky, Chevrolet and Danno score very high for both health and efficiency: an attractive conformation and high longevity. A superb combination resulting in an impressive lifetime production.

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BETTER COWS | BETTER LIFE

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CO NTENT

FEATURES

Cow Talk Overalls off: classic-car enthusiast Roger Evans NMR Dairy Management News Avoncroft Breeding Information/ Thompsons Nutritional News 62 Events and contacts 4 10 38 51 59

REPORTS

12 The Birkle family’s award-winning herd has the ‘wow’ factor 54 From 3,000 to 300 cows at Ter Bogt Dairy FEEDING

16 Tackling mycotoxin contamination 26 Forward buying feed BREEDING

40 Breeding tool highlights the financial benefits of improving fertility H E A LT H

44 Campaign to cut Johne’s costs in national herd 48 ‘Can do’ approach vital to treat chronic lameness

Andrew Birkle “I aim for functional cows that last for at least five lactations” 22

Editor Rachael Porter It’s show time!

W

ith just a couple of weeks now until the Livestock Event, we showcase just a few highlights to look out for in our preview, which starts on page 31. The show also offers the opportunity to discuss management issues – free of charge – with a myriad of companies and experts who’ll be manning their stands throughout the two-day event.

Treating chronically lame cows can be notoriously difficult. But we spoke to two vets who say that a ‘can do’ attitude can see some cows not only complete their lactation but also go on to have more.

So seek out the hoof-care professionals and vets at the event and see what they have to say.

NMR will have its regular stand at the NEC and will be launching a genomic testing service for heifers, as well as promoting a comprehensive surveillance programme to help producers monitor BVD. Go and talk to them to find out more. And make sure you’re at the stand at 4pm on July 2 to see which of this year’s six finalists will lift the coveted NMR/RABDF Gold Cup. Roger Evans will also be at the show – I usually find him drinking tea on the FirstMilk stand. So wave as you go past – or stop and tell him how much you enjoy his regular column.

We’d also like you to come and see us at stand number BM152. Take your chance to be a CowManagement cover star (see page 47) or just come and say ‘hello’ to the team. It’s always good to meet our readers and to find out what you’d like to see more – or less – of in the magazine. We look forward to seeing you there!

Main article Genomic testing

Gold Cup Finalists line up

Special Livestock Event

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DNA profiling heifers could be the final piece of the breeding ‘puzzle’

UK herds battle it out for the dairy industry’s most prestigious title

A preview of Livestock 2014, the ‘must-visit’ show for progressive producers

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C O W

TA L K

Crowds gather to see Gold Cup winning herd The NMR/RABDF Gold Cup open day, held at Wilderley Hall in Pulverbatch, near Shrewsbury, attracted more than 1,000 visitors from throughout Britain and Northern Ireland. The Higgins family, the current holders of the sector’s most prestigious trophy, opened their gates in May and, once again, the annual event was a resounding success.

Following a series of presentations, visitors were able to tour the 350-cow pedigree Wilderley Holstein herd, which is managed by Bill and Margaret and their sons, Bill and Andrew. The herd is

currently averaging more than 12,000 litres and has been closed for more than 45 years.

“This year has been mind blowing for us as a team,” said Andrew. “Following the euphoria of winning the Gold Cup at the 2013 Livestock Event, we set out to showcase our system by putting facts and figures out in the public domain to demonstrate that high yielding housed Holstein cows can live long and happy productive lives.

“This culminated with the open day where, in our eyes, the cattle were the

Kill flies fast

Floods compound mineral problems

A systemic fly bait that kills flies within minutes after contact has been launched in the UK by specialist hygiene company Hysolv. Based on imidacloprid, which works on the nervous systems of insects, it is quick and easy to apply on interior surfaces by spray or paintbrush. Trials have shown that 98% of all flies within a building are killed within 24 hours.

An attractant lures flies to the bait, while a bitter substance helps prevent it being consumed by children, pets and other animals.

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Producers who had flooded fields during the winter are being urged to get a full mineral analysis of grazing, as the effects of the flooding could be to adversely affect mineral availability. So says Trouw Nutrition GB’s Adam Clay.

“Grazed grass is, at best, a variable source of minerals with levels directly dependent on the mineral content of soils,” he explains. “Some minerals will be in short supply, giving rise to potential deficiencies, while others can be present at high levels and can be antagonistic to other minerals. These risks increase where land has been waterlogged and where grass has been under water for any length of time.”

Where land has been flooded, the level of mineral leaching from the soil will be higher than usual resulting in poorer soil mineralisation.

“At the same time, damage to the soil

stars of the day. They were unfazed, despite being faced with hundreds of people. Going forward we want to maintain our position as one of the best dairy units in the UK,” he added.

“The Higgins family is a great example of how a family working together with such dedication and enthusiasm, and paying enormous attention to detail, can not only develop but also maintain a highly profitable and sustainable dairy farming business to take forward to the next generation,” said RABDF’s Nick Everington.

structure will reduce the ability of the roots to absorb nutrients from the soil, further depressing the levels available to livestock in grazing,” he adds.

“Combined, these problems may lead to lower minerals levels at grazing, which could results in a range of problems including suppressed immune system and lower fertility.”

Quoting results of grazing samples analysed at the company’s laboratory, Mr Clay said there has been a marked incidence of high levels of heavy metals that are antagonists to some minerals.

“A mineral assay is the only way to understand the actual mineral levels in your grazing and the risks your cows are exposed to.

“You need to understand the specific problem and then target supplementation from the most cost-effective solution,” he adds.

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Two-in-one silage sheet A way to cover silage clamps quickly and simply, without compromising on quality, is now available from Bock.

Its Kombi2plus product combines a high quality silage sheet and underlay film on the same roll.

Once the clamp has been compacted, producers can simply unroll the sheet and, in one move, lay both the underlay and silage sheet. Both should be pulled over the side wall film to create a perfect airtight seal to reduce silage losses.

“Putting both films on at once means that no one has to walk over the laid sheets, which can damage the under layer,” says the company’s Will Wilson.

Delivered direct from Germany, the film is folded onto the roll so it can be pulled apart from both sides. The silage film is extra strong and 115 microns thick and the exposed surface of the film is white, unlike most conventional films in the UK. The transparent underlay film is 35 microns and together the two-in-one sheet offers maximum protection against damage and good UV-stability, as well as acting as an oxygen barrier.

Robotic feeding system A fully automatic feeding system, designed specifically for UK units, has been launched by Trioliet. The T30UK gives producers total control, both in terms of herd and financial management, according to the company. This is achieved by allowing them to choose feeding times and feeding groups – and their frequency.

The robotic system can feed up to 600 animals, up to 12 times per day, at a filling accuracy of +/–1kg per ration intake.

All functions of the system are monitored

‘Expandable’ milk cooling Fabdec has launched the world’s first expandable vertical milk cooling silo to meet the needs of growing dairy herds.

Hi-KOOL has been designed with an eye to the future, providing producers with the opportunity to expand the existing tank upwards should production increase.

This means that rather than lose out on their initial investment, producers can simply add on more volume. The silo starts at 20,000 litres and expands up to a total capacity of 40,000 litres.

Slug-attack warning

remotely and can be programmed from the farm PC or laptop, and checked from a mobile or internet service, with any error code and message being texted immediately to pre-selected users.

Its operators menu has a simple to use menu bar, allowing for changes to settings as to pre programmed parameters. This allows for total control, both for the herd manager, and the farm office. Trioliet software is compatible with most management and feed management software.

Slug numbers have swelled during the past few weeks in the warm, wet weather and young, tender shoots of emerging maize crops are at risk. So says Oliver Seeds’ Tony Walkers.

“Producers need to take action quickly to stop the damage getting any worse.”

The field has had slug pellets applied to stop the onslaught.”

He says that producers should keep an eye out for widespread problems.

“And act immediately is they see slug damage or crop yields will suffer come harvest.”

Look out for lungworm Producers are being warned to be alert for signs of lungworm in their herds this summer. The June NADIS Parasite Forecast says that symptoms may appear in unvaccinated calves, naive adults and any cattle that have not been treated with an anthelmintic.

Signs of coughing and blowing could indicate the presence of the parasite in the lungs. The classic stance of an infected animal is mouth-breathing with the head

and neck out-stretched in an attempt to get air in to the lungs. A rapid loss of body condition and weight may also be indications of lungworm burden.

“Lungworm can effectively be treated with anthelmintics, including ivermectin and eprinomectin,” said Merial Animal Health’s Lynda Maris. “These provide persistent activity and so prevent reinfection.

“Products like Eprinex can be used in a

strategic worming programme to control gutworm infestation in autumn-born calves and to suppress the risk of lungworm infection, which generally peaks from July to September. She added that in the event of a lungworm outbreak all animals in the herd should be treated quickly. “An added advantage of Eprinex is that it has a zero milk withhold period, so milking cows can be treated with no need to throw away the milk.”

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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‘I was prompted to employ Dairy Management Systems because of their reputation in the sector and the good work they’ve done for other dairy producers’ Tom King Vortex Holsteins Ltd Winner RABDF Gold Cup 2011

it’s no accident that winners take safety seriously

t: 0800 028 1965

www.dairymanagementsystems.co.uk

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M A I N

A RT I C L E

Take breeding to the next level w ith h

Solve the g en For many producers, genomic testing heifers could provide the final piece of the breeding ‘puzzle’. And a new service, set to be launched by NMR at the Livestock Event, could be the next step to speed up your herd’s genetic progress. We spoke to two leading genetic and breeding experts to find out more. text Rachael Porter

D

NA profiling, or genomic testing, is no longer just for bulls or potential bull dams. More and more females – predominantly heifers – are being tested around the world in a bid to reduce heifer rearing costs, manage pedigree ‘risk’ and increase the rate of genetic gain.

Genomic testing identifies the genetic potential of an animal. Genomic test results contribute to more accurate corrective mating and they can increase the rate of genetic progress in the dairy herd. A genomic test can identify the potential of a young animal. This can help to target specific traits that could, in future, extend to traits such as feed efficiency and disease resistance. The real gain is its use in achieving breeding selection goals much faster than previously afforded with conventional breeding systems.

Testing females is particularly popular in the US, according to GeneSeek’s business development manager for Europe Gary Evans. “It’s used heavily on commercial female cattle in the US and Canada, and is taking off across Europe. It’s available now for use in the UK using UK specific calculations,” he says.

Greater accuracy “I believe that once producers see the benefits of knowing the genomic profile of their heifers, it will take off here too.”

Benefits include the ability to avoid inbreeding and being able to improve matches between sires and dams.

“Breeding will be more tailored to suit the female if more information about her is available,” he says.

“If a producer knows that he has a

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particularly good heifer, he can more easily justify the use of a more expensive AI bull – or sexed semen. Genetic profiling heifers will allow producers to be more selective than ever before and this greater accuracy – when matching sires to dams, particularly heifers, – will help to speed up the rate of genetic gain.”

There are also benefits for producers who sell surplus stock. DNA profiling will allow them to select the heifers that they want to keep and those they want to sell with greater ease and more accuracy.

Clear benefits “They’ll be able to keep those that better suit their breeding programme or commercial objectives. I think that selling a heifer with additional paperwork, aside from the usual pedigree and health information, may also help them to command a better price,” says Dr Evans.

There are some clear benefits to be gained by producers from genomically testing young heifer calves. It identifies calves that may have a high inbreeding coefficient. If this is greater than 6.25% it is possible that production will be suppressed and the risk of inherited diseases increases so these animals should be bred to a terminal beef sire until it can be established whether or not the inbreeding has had a detrimental effect on their performance.

It can also make planning the next generation quicker and easier by using sire matching to compensate for known weaknesses before the breeding season starts.

The reliability of a young animal’s genetic index is around 35%, based on its parent

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el w ith heifer genomic-testing service

g ene jigsaw average. But with the addition of genomic information this increases to 60% where animal ancestry is known. This is the same as a cow completing its second lactation. So breeding decisions can be made with more confidence. Outcross semen can be used if family lines are found to be too inbred. And herd replacement rate can be reduced as more sexed semen can be used more accurately.

It can bring other management benefits too. Surplus female calves can be sold earlier, releasing land and accommodation for milking animals, while older animals can be put in calf to beef for enhanced calf prices, more than covering the cost of the test.

More widespread use of genomic testing means that the cost has dropped significantly and it is now a potential tool for the commercial breeder to consider using. That’s why NMR is launching a dairy heifer genomic testing service – at the Livestock Event.

NMR is working with GeneSeek, part of the Neogen Corporation, and one of the largest providers of genomic profiling in the world.

NMR’s new Genetracker dairy heifer service uses the custom GeneSeek Genomic Profiler (GGP) low density BeadChip. This is based on Illumina Infinium chemistry and features nearly 25,000 SNPs, including many for disease and performance traits. The GGP is fast becoming the global standard for performance testing.

Producers can contact NMR Customer Services by telephone or email to request testing kits. These contain bar-coded sample plastic wallets, to hold the hair sample and record calf details.

Producers must then follow the comprehensive instructions enclosed in each kit. Hair samples are posted via NMR to GeneSeek for testing. Results are sent directly to SRUC and then to DairyCo and the data is converted into PLI values before being reported to the producer via NMR iReports – a facility already used by NMR customers for many test results.

This process will take between six and eight weeks.

“This service will allow producers to pre-

screen heifers, to mate the first time as maidens, so that they then only get heifer calves, particularly if they’re using sexed semen, from their superior animals,” says independent breeding consultant Kevin Lane. “As it costs as much to rear a bad heifer as a good one, this will make sound financial sense.”

The cost of the test is expected to be around £32 – just a tiny fraction of the cost of rearing a replacement heifer.

And Mr Lane says it would be good practice to test all the heifers in a herd.

“It’s impossible to tell which animals are carrying the best genetics just by looking at them or their pedigree. For producers who are looking for a specific improvement, such as fertility or cell counts, it will be essential to test all heifers if they want to make the most of their breeding decisions.”

Mr Lane adds that all UK dairy herds could benefit from testing their heifers, although he has no idea what the uptake will be on a national basis.

“But herds that do use it should test all their heifers, unless they have already identified one or two that they wouldn’t breed from for whatever reason.”

Avoid inbreeding As for cost effectiveness, he says it’s difficult to give an exact figure. It will depend on the individual producer’s breeding goals, as well as many other factors.

“Testing will, however, pay for itself in several ways. It will enable producers to identify calves that are superior, to breed them to the best bulls that they can afford and avoid inbreeding issues.

“Corrective mating will be more accurate than before and producers can also make the best use of sexed semen.

“If they have a static herd size, they can also be more selective and reduce the number of animals that they rear for replacements, possibly by mating the rest of the herd to terminal beef sires for a quicker cash return,” adds Mr Lane.

“As the reliability of genomics increases and new indexes are added, such as feed efficiency and disease resistance, it will be of even greater value.” l

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O V E R A L L S

Name: Location: Heifers reared: Hobby:

O F F

Michael Isgar Shaftesbury, Dorset 40 per year Classic car enthusiast

Michael Isgar: “People always smile and wave as I drive past”

Classic-car passion text Rachael Porter

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t’s a Sunday afternoon drive with a difference, not least because of the attention that his wheels attract. Michael Isgar’s 1927 Riley Nine is certainly eye-catching and draws many an admirer when he gets behind the wheel.

The 87-year-old classic car is his pride and joy and the result of a lifetime’s passion for vintage motors. “I’ve always loved cars, right from being a boy,” says Michael, whose very first car was a 1936 Ford 8Y. “I bought that when I was 15 years old – before I could drive – and I did that up myself.”

His next car was a 1946 Singer Gazelle, followed by a 1955 Ford Zephyr 6 MkI. “The latter was a modern car at the time, but it’s a classic now,” he says.

His next classic car was the Riley Nine – one of the most successful light cars produced by the British motor industry in the inter-war period.“I didn’t buy this car – I inherited it in 1994. I was very fortunate because my wife’s uncle gave it to me. He too had a passion for classic cars and I think he knew that I would look after it just as carefully as he had done.”

The car is immaculate and in its original condition, except for the engine that was rebuilt in 2004. “It’s kept in a garage that I built especially for it. I’m preserving it not only for me but also for future generations. It’s an important piece of history.”

It certainly is – the car is only one of six left in the UK. It’s an early model and the only one with the original body work.

Michael’s uncle inherited the car from his father, who bought it new and named it ‘The Grandfather of all Rileys’. “He really cared for it – it was always garaged. And we have a diary documenting exactly where, and when, he drove the car,” Michael explains.

He believes that classic cars should be driven and should be out for all to see and enjoy. Michael does about 600 miles a year at an average speed of 45mph. “It’s a beautiful car and people always stop me to ask questions about it. They find it fascinating” When he’s not managing his heifers, you’ll find him ‘tinkering’ under the car bonnet or wiping down its fabric exterior.

Michael also enjoys quite a few social events with the car.

“We go to classic car shows and events throughout the year and I’m a member of the Three Counties Car Club. They’re a friendly bunch and hold at least 12 meetings a year.

“This hobby gives me an immense amount of pleasure. When I’m out driving, people always smile and wave and other drivers always move over and give me plenty of room.”

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H E R D

R E P O RT

The Birkle family Attention to detail – from breeding through to feeding – has seen this Leicestershirebased pedigree herd grow in stature during the past 40 years.

Wymeswold

Herd size: 200 cows Average yield: 10,000kg Herd classification: 78 EX 78 VG 16 GP Total annual production 1.8 million litres

Andrew and Mimi Birkle

Out-of-parlour feeders top up individual cows

Herd has the ‘wow’ factor – and plenty of production power

Stature and substance Breeding, feeding and on-farm technology are all key to the ongoing success of one Leicestershire-based dairy herd. We visited the award-winning pedigree herd to meet the brains behind the business and to find out more text Rachael Porter

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ndrew and Mimi Birkle’s 200-cow pedigree Whinchat herd, based at Dungehill Farm in Wymeswold, was runner up in Holstein UK’s national Holstein Premier Herd competition in 2013.

It has some impressive bloodlines and astounding examples of good type with herd classifications revealing a total of 78 EX, 78 VG and 16 GP cows.

But there’s also plenty of milk – and staying power. The NMR-recorded herd averages 10,000kg, at 3.85% fat and 3.15% protein. This is sold to local Stilton Cheese maker Long Clawson Dairies.

Average number of lactation for the herd is 2.8. It was around 3.5 in 2013, but 64 heifers have since been added to the herd. “If I send a cow off before she’s completed five lactations, I feel like I’ve failed.” Andrew has just sent one cow off after 12 lactations. Whinchat Astre Tippy produced 140 tonnes of milk in her lifetime.

Savy, Savoire Faire, Zandra and Beaujolais. “We have more out of the Farrah family than any other and they’re all tremendous cattle. But I’m pleased with all the cow families – they’ve all done really well.”

He aims to breed tall and large-framed cows. “But not too big, as I know that they can struggle to cope on some dairy management systems.

“Good udders and feet and legs are also vital. I’d say that breeding a wellbalanced animal is the most important thing – whether she’s big or small.

“I want functional cows that will produce between 50 tonnes and 60 tonnes of milk in five lactations. And I milk them every day so I want something that’s nice to look at.”

He does this by breeding all the cows and heifers in his herd as individuals.

“Rather than breed animals in groups, I prefer to look at each one in isolation.”

Firm foundations Excellent cow families are the foundation of this award-winning herd, which is managed with help from son Leo. Andrew lists several, including Farrah,

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Recycled bedding is produced on farm

The ‘PosiCare’ arm allows milking from the side

There are at least 10 different bulls in the AI flask at any one time, mainly a mixture of US and Canadian sires, but also including some from the UK and Europe.

“I’m looking for a type score of at least three and a high plus for fat and protein, to suit my current milk buyer, as well as good udders, feet and legs.”

Proven bulls He has some Picston Shottle in the flask – as well as daughters and granddaughters already milking in the herd by the UK-bred sire. “In fact some of our best cows are by Shottle. He is, without a doubt, the best UK-bred bull there’s ever been.”

Andrew also has a bull by Shottle and out of one of his best cows. He sells three or four bulls for breeding each year.

He’s not a big fan of genomic sires, preferring to use mainly daughterproven bulls. “I’m more comfortable

using proven sires – I trust their proofs.

And I think they’re better value for money. You know you’re going to get what you pay for.”

The unit has a total of 240 young stock and between 20 and 30 heifers and young cows are sold each year. And winning the Holstein herd competition, be it at local or regional or national level, helps to continue to raise the profile of the herd. “A trophy and a certificate are very nice. But it’s the prestige of winning that means the most. It’s recognition for years of careful breeding and hard work,” says Andrew.

Andrew and Leo share the milking – twice a day through a 20:20 Westfalia herringbone parlour. It’s a little unconventional as it has ‘PosiCare’ arms, which allows the cows to be milked from the side, rather than through the back legs. “As far as I know it’s the only one like it in the UK,” says Andrew.

Cow comfort is excellent at Dungehill Farm

“We milked from the side in our old parlour and I wanted to continue to do that in our new one. This special arm is from Europe and it works well for us. I just feel that the clusters hang better on the udder. And it’s a better position to attach the cluster from.”

Expanding production The herd is run as one group and fed a TMR that provides maintenance plus 20 litres. Individuals are then fed to yield with concentrates through the parlour and out-of-parlour feeders.

Cubicle housing was expanded two years ago. Feeding space was an issue, so a feed passage has been added, plus another row of beds. There’s now space for 180 milkers.

“We’re not looking to expand the herd, but I want to increase production,” says Andrew. “I’d like to produce two million litres a year. We’re at 1.8 million at the moment, so we’re almost there.” l

Cost-saving slurry separation Using recycled bedding is saving the Birkle’s between £15,000 and £20,000 each year, as they’re no longer buying in sawdust for cubicle bedding. The unit’s slurry separator broke down – for good – in 2013, so Andrew decided to buy a new system. “But this one makes the solids a bit drier – around 37% dry matter compared to just 30%.”

He says that the cost of the system – Bauer’s FAN separator – was surprisingly low, helped by the fact that the infrastructure for the previous separator was already there. But, none the less, he says it’ll have paid for itself in 18 months.

“I don’t have to buy in any bedding for the cubicles at all now,” Andrew says.

Somatic cell counts have remained steady – at less than 100,000 cells/ml – and mastitis cases have also remained

static. DairyCo and vet James Breen, from The University of Nottingham, carried out trial work and tested the bedding, to see just how ‘clean’ it really was.

“I took samples immediately after it left the separator, from four places across the cubicle after the cow had laid on it, and samples from the front of the cubicle too,” explains Andrew.

“The resulting bug counts were surprisingly low – I had expected them to be higher.

“And the bugs that are there are bugs from my herd – there’s nothing new there to challenge my cows.”

Andrew says that the trial work served to allay any fears that the bedding wasn’t dry or ‘clean’ enough for use in the cubicles. “And Defra has said ‘yes’ – it’s OK to use it.”

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How can any possible toxins in feed be managed?

Airborne anarchists

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With 75% of feed crops testing positive for naturally occurring moulds, mycotoxin contamination is an issue for every dairy producer in the UK. We spoke to two industry specialists and a producer to find out how they’re tackling the problem. text Allison Matthews

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ycotoxins have a direct impact on cow performance. By attacking the cow’s immune system, the ability to fight problems, such as mastitis, becomes almost impossible. When you add digestive and reproductive issues to the situation, it is no surprise that producers are becoming more aware of what this airborne trouble maker is capable of.

And, as AB Vistas’ technical director Derek McIlmoyle points out, there have been changes in herd management that have compounded the issue. “Higher yields tend to put cows under more stress, which can reduce the animal’s ability to deal with mycotoxins,” he says.

The rumen can usually deal with these efficiently but if the pH drops below 5.8, with the onset of sub-acute-ruminal acidosis (SARA), there is a negative impact on how well mycotoxins are managed.

Core health He adds that where cow health is affected

by SARA, the presence of toxins can be extremely detrimental. Reduced body condition, poor milk yields, higher mastitis and elevated cell counts are all symptoms of mycotoxin ingestion. Other key indicators include rough coats, variable manure consistency, the presence of mucus tags (pieces of gut wall) in manure, and foot lesions that won’t heal.

“SARA reduces the populations of microbes in the rumen that are able to break down the toxins, but it also damages the rumen wall, making the passage of mycotoxins into the blood much easier.

This serves to compounding the problem even further.”

So good rumen function is, therefore, the Derek McIlmoyle: “Stress can reduce cows’ ability to deal with mycotoxins”

Richard Moore: “It’s important to reduce lactic acid build up by feeding a balanced ration”

first line of defence. “It’s important to avoid overloading the rumen with too much rapidly fermentable energy and to include both digestible and structural fibre in the diet,” says Dr McIlmoyle.

Certain rumen microbes ingest, transform or degrade mycotoxins and render them less harmful. “It’s important to reduce the lactic acid build up with a balanced diet and a rumen enhancement product,” says Thompsons’ nutritionist Richard Moore. “With variable weather conditions, the turn-out of cows during the summer cannot be taken for granted and rumen health must be an all-year round priority.

“When pH falls below 5.8, the active fungi and protozoa that are responsible for fibre digestion and the breakdown of mycotoxins, are greatly reduced.”

He adds that a well-balanced diet with starch, sugars and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) is recognised as crucial in minimising SARA with physically effective fibre (PENDF) becoming a more popular means of control. “Chopped hay or straw, to a length of 5cm, provides a source of PENDF in the diet that creates a mat of fibre in the rumen and enhances optimal conditions.”

Grass contamination The amount and type of problematic mycotoxins can vary according to which moulds are present and whether conditions are favourable for them.

Temperature, humidity, insect damage and the weather all have a part to play, with the biggest load of mycotoxins coming from the field. “Unwelcome moulds can appear in the clamp when sward cutting is delayed due to poor weather conditions,” explains Mr Moore.

“Contaminated material at the base of the shoot is the culprit when grass is difficult to cut cleanly. Grass should ideally be cut when it’s dry and then wilted rapidly. The faster the pH falls in the clamp the more efficient the fermentation process. This means that there is a lower risk of moulds developing.”

Even without visible clues, such as mould on forage, there is still a good chance

toxins are an issue and action should be taken to guard against their effects.

“The past winter’s feeding season was particularly bad for contamination and it was common to see yields improve by up to three litres per cow per day when a high quality mycotoxin de-activator was added to the ration,” explains Dr McIlmoyle, adding that the cost is relatively low, when you consider that a 0.5 litre per cow per day improvement would give an easy 3:1 return on investment.

New challenges The nature of this toxic compound means that the cow has no opportunity to build up any immunity to it, so every year poses new challenges. Mycotoxins rarely travel alone and, in practice, it is the presence of the combination of different strains that exacerbates the problem.

Producers George and Irene McKnight, based at Loughbrickland in County Down, started feeding a toxin de-activator to their 143-cow pedigree herd when their high dry matter silage showed signs of mould and heating. “Our cows are currently averaging 28.5 litres and, when milk price was favourable, we wanted to ensure we were achieving this. There were signs of oedema and the consistency of manure was also variable, so the decision was made to feed Ultrasorb – a mycotoxin binder,” explains Mr McKnight.

“The herd is now milking exceptionally well, with an improvement in both components and yield, which have made the economic decision worthwhile.”

So tackling the moulds and their toxic results can reduce the severity of their effect. Where cow health is already an issue, there is an opportunity for the toxins to add to the problem.

“Good rumen function should always be a priority and many producers now include a mycotoxin binding product as low-cost insurance against potential lost production. Compared to the possible loss in income, it’s a small price to pay to protect milk output,” concludes Dr McIlmoyle. l

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G O L D

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UK herds battle it out for dairy industry’s most prestigious title

Top six set sights on Gold Cup This year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup will go to one of six dairy herds who have reached the final stages, from a line-up of 957 possible entries. It’s a UK battle with two herds from Lancashire, two from Somerset, a Scottish herd and a Northern Irish herd. text Karen Wright

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MR/RABDF Gold Cup judges – NMR chairman Philip Kirkham, Lyndon Edwards from RABDF and Dorset-based 2011 Gold Cup winner Tom King – will review each finalist, looking at the whole dairy business, how they manage their resources and their commitment to the industry. The winner will be announced

and the Gold Cup will be presented on the NMR stand at the Livestock Event, at the NEC in Birmingham, on July 2.

Want to know a bit more about each finalist?

Read a full report on NMR’s website www.nmr. co.uk and see who you think should win this year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup.

Mark Verity,Clitheroe, Lancs A Lancashire-based 350-cow herd, Mark Verity’s mainly Friesian cows with some Jersey and Swedish Red crosses, are kept on the 283ha farm within the Forest of Bowland.

Mark manages the day-to-day running of

the herd with the help of computer systems Crystal and InterHerd that, by being kept up to date, act as ‘guiding lights’ on herd performance and health.

He also relies on his family and four staff plus his nutritionist Duncan Rose, vet

Mark Verity

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Robert Howe, Simon Redcliffe for breeding and grassland adviser James Bretherton, who has helped him pursue an extensive grazing system in an area with 1,750mm of rain a year. “We’ve installed 3.5 miles of astro turf and conveyor belt rubber tracks to allow us to graze without excessive poaching,” says Mark.

“We’ve also developed an autumn block calving herd so we can get full benefit of the grass over summer and it also means that we can concentrate on cow nutrition and routine vet visits at specific times of the year. This has contributed to yields and to our good fertility rates.”

Production for the qualifying period was 8,244kg of milk at 4.65% fat and 3.23% protein with a somatic cell count of 126,000cells/ml. The herd’s calving index is 380 days with heifers calving at 24.5 months and the herd has a replacement rate of 22%. Milk is sold to Arla Foods Amba. A new building erected 18 months ago has allowed the family to expand herd numbers from 280 to 350 using only their own replacements. With spare capacity, growth will continue to a target of 400 cows plus followers.

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David and James Tomlinson, Preston, Lancashire Another family team, David, Sheila and James Tomlinson have made it to the Gold Cup final for the second year running. In 2013 they were runners-up and recipients of the NMR Silver Salver.

This high performance herd has achieved an average yield of 10,942kg of milk at 4.34% fat and 3.10% protein on twice-a-day milking for the year ending September 2013.

The herd has progressed well during

David and James Tomlinson

the past 12 months, according to James.

“We’ve installed 50 more cow cubicles, extended a roofed silage clamp, grown the storage business and increased average 305 day yield by 404kg across the herd.”

Land work and feeding are David’s responsibility, but he also has a big say in breeding. “We want a balanced cow,” says David. “Type merit should be between 1 and 2 with good production and avoiding extremes. Legs and feet are important with longevity and production our main aims so they are as trouble free as possible.”

All cows are bred to Holstein bulls and any surplus stock is sold. Bilsrow animals are well known through winning prizes in the show ring and attracting good prices at sales.

Milk is sold to Pakkezza Dairies in Rochdale.

With cow numbers now at 250 and 220 youngstock, and more land recently acquired, the Tomlinsons are set for expansion.

Neil Baker, Haselbury Plucknett, Somerset Also in the final for the second time is Neil Baker, who has managed to both grow his herd and significantly boost yields during the past year.

The family-owned unit now extends Neil Baker

to 663ha, with the herd size rising by 200 during the past year to 1,200 cows.

Neil has also boosted yields by 560kg in the past 12 months, while also seeking to reduce production costs and improve

herd health. For the qualifying year, this herd averaged 10,940kg at 3.71% fat and 3.23% protein with a somatic cell count of 105,000cells/ml. The herd’s average lifetime daily yield was 12.82kg.

A brand new forager made its debut with the first-cut silage this year and, so far, Neil is pleased with his investment.

“It’s much bigger so can cover more acres, which means silage-making is timely.”

More milk from forage and reducing purchased feed costs by buying better and investing in new storage for straights are both targets. “I want to use straights and co-products in this year’s rations,” he says. “If it works, the ration will be considerably better value.”

Further herd expansion lies ahead, using a mix of home-bred replacements and freshly calved heifers from Germany this autumn. Increasing production is also on the cards with a target of 12,000 litres per cow sold.

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Michael Eavis, Glastonbury, Somerset Running a dairy farm on the Glastonbury Festival site certainly comes with its challenges, but during the past few years herd manager John Taylor, along with owner Michael Eavis, has made considerable changes, with dramatic results.

“We used to operate as a flying herd, but it just created too many problems with disease and cows not settling in,” says John. “So about eight years ago we started keeping our own replacements using a contract rearer, and now we’ve brought it all in-hand.”

Average production for the year ending September 2013 was 12,101kg of milk at 3.96% fat and 3.11% protein on twice-aday milking. The herd’s average lifetime daily yield was 15.39kg.

“We try to keep our system simple with as few diet changes as possible,” says John Taylor and Michael Eavis

John. “But the biggest change has been growing more maize. We used to feed apple pomace as it was free from cider makers – but it’s very acidic. We had to balance it with bicarbonate, and since we swapped it for maize it’s transformed the health of the cows.”

Energy efficiency is also important, with a large roof-mounted solar array reducing electricity costs, and spring water slashing water bills.

In the next few years they aim to push cow numbers from 385 to 500. Milking frequency may be increased too by using robots to improve the quality of life for both staff and cows.

John Harvey and family, Beeswing, Dumfries No newcomers to the prize-winning ring, brothers John and Stuart Harvey and their mother Margaret were 2012 AgriScot Scottish Dairy Farm of the Year winners and in the top 1% of NMR recorded herds.

This Holstein herd of 249 cows yielded 11,779kg of milk at 4.25% of fat and 3.21% protein on three-times-a-day milking for the year ending September 2013. They achieved a low average cell count of 102,000cells/ml – helped, they believe, by bedding cows on sand. This all-year-round calving herd has a calving interval of 401 days.

In a decade of developments, the Harveys have increased cows from 80 to 330 and doubled yields. “We’ve also invested in the farm’s infrastructure during the past four years , adding new silage pits, a John and Stuart Harvey

one-million-gallon slurry store and a new cubicle shed for 140 cows, with SDP funding,” says Stuart.

Cows are kept in two groups and great care is taken of dry cows. “We monitor blood ketone levels and urine pHs of dry cows fortnightly and keep them on sandbedded cubicles up until calving. We then move them to a sand-bedded yard.

This seems to be reducing mastitis infection in the dry period,” adds John.

With cow numbers at their target level, the Harveys will look to develop the market for surplus Killywhan heifers while maintaining high levels of management.

Darren and Stuart McMurran, Banbridge, Co Down Across the Irish channel, brothers Darren and Stuart McMurran are Gold Cup finalists for a second time.

Their 300-cow Holstein herd has yielded

10,829kg of milk in the year ending September 2013 – nearly 300kg up on the previous year – with fat at 3.84% and protein at 3.06% on three-times-a-day milking. They are targeting 12,000kg of milk by September 2014.

“But we won’t do this at the expense of controlling feed costs and maintaining cow health,” stresses Darren.

Darren and Stuart believe in taking a consistent approach to everything on their 202-hectare unit. Four crops of silage are taken each year by an ‘inhouse’ team. “We do this to make sure

we cut grass at exactly the right time,” adds Stuart.

With the herd’s average lifetime daily yield running at a high level of 14.82kg it is clear that cow health and fertility must be in good shape. The calving interval to September 2013 was 396 days and they calve heifers at 25.5 months.

Milk is now sold to Fane Valley Dairies, to support their local co-op and to take advantage of the better payment and bonus structure.

Better feed efficiency, more milk from forage and increasing the return per cubicle space are the aims on this unit.

Darren and Stuart McMurran

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F E E D I N G

Growing demand and volatile supply make feed buying a priority

If the price is right...

Do you think that it’s too early to be thinking about buying feed for next winter? Then think again. We find out why the Livestock Event could be the perfect opportunity to find out more about forward buying feed. text Rachael Porter

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olatility within the feed markets has risen dramatically since the mid 2000s, as increasing worldwide demand competes for a global supply that’s constantly in flux. Weather and politics, as well as the state of the economy in key growing regions around the world, are constantly changing export volumes and subsequent availability and price in the UK. Feed expenditure is the largest of the variable costs on most dairy units, so an effective and strategic approach to feed buying is critical if budgets are to be regularly met and the risks from feed

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market volatility are to be minimised.

And according to KW senior trade Paul Roberts, that process starts with an understanding of factors driving the markets.

“We’ve seen some big changes during the past 10 years and there are trends affecting the feed markets today that simply weren’t an issue in the past,” he explains.

“Demand from China is now a major influence, for example, as its emerging middle class chooses more meat in its diet and additional livestock feed is imported to help meet that demand.”

There’s also the impact of an overall growth in world population that’s predicted to hit nine billion by 2050 and peak at around 11 billion in 2100.

Global supply “To put that into perspective, the expected rate of population increase during the next 80 years is virtually identical to that seen since the 1920s,” he says.

The factors affecting global supply have also changed. Abnormal weather patterns now typically affect at least one key growing region each year – sometimes positively, sometimes negatively – and the behaviour of certain exporters has evolved.

In the past, a lack of storage facilities meant that countries like Brazil and Argentina generally had to sell harvested crops quickly each year, regardless of the price. But that’s now changing, with South American exporters now much more price sensitive, leading to delays between harvest and crop availability if

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Forward buying pays dividends for Devon-based producer

Philip Cooke

For Philip Cooke and his family forward buying has been a routine part of feed purchasing for many years. Their unit, based at Sutton Barton Farm near Honiton, joined the KW Compass Farm Programme three years ago and improvements to cow nutrition have gone hand-in-hand with reduced feed costs.

world prices are low, or if high inflation – a problem currently in Argentina – makes producers wary of converting crops into cash.

Price volatility “All these factors together mean that across the various feed markets, the current level of price volatility is likely to continue, and any overall price trend is more likely to be up than down,” Mr Roberts adds.

Analysis of historical Chicago Board of Trade wheat prices highlights the scale of the challenge. During the period from 1999 to 2006, wheat traded within a tight range equivalent to £50/t to £86/t, yet since then prices have peaked at £240/t and spent the rest of the time fluctuating dramatically between £78/t and £222/t.

“That’s a huge shift in the level of

Of the 500 Holstein Friesians in the herd, 430 are currently in milk and averaging 38 litres per cow per day at a feed cost of just 12.2 ppl. Annual milk sales per cow have hit 11,500 litres and are still rising, on a system based around simplicity and straightforward, no-nonsense feeding.

“Keeping things simple and easy to manage is extremely important to us, so apart from the moist feed Traffordgold, we have all the straights delivered as a single KW custom blend,” Mr Cooke says.

The feed buying strategy involves close contact with KW’s Al Harris, who keeps the Cookes updated with the latest information regarding market trends, and any factors that could potentially affect prices and availability going forward. The custom blend is produced to a fixed specification (13.2MJ ME/kg DM, 22.6% crude protein, 18% starch),

allowing some flexibility in composition depending on market fluctuations and which feeds represent the best value.

“We try to keep the blend as consistent as possible to avoid upsetting yields,” he continues. “It’s another advantage of booking forward – we can secure the feeds we need for the blend, know if the mix is going to alter well in advance and introduce any changes gradually if necessary.

“We’re currently looking to book feeds through to next summer, and I’m constantly in contact with Al Harris to make sure we can lock in chunks of what we need at good points in the market.

During the past three years, working closely with Al, as well as our vet and nutritionist, has seen feed costs drop. Yet yields have risen by almost 4,000 litres per cow.”

volatility and peak prices,” says Mr Roberts. “An effective and well-planned feed buying strategy is therefore critical if the worst of both the market highs and any availability shortages are to be avoided.

“It’s also the best way to regularly keep to budget, as the risks associated with not thinking about feed until just before it’s needed are simply too great. Just as risky is trying to aim for the bottom of the market – holding out to save maybe £10 per tonne can too easily backfire as the market rapidly rebounds by between £20 per tonne and £30 per tonne.”

The key to success is to take a more considered approach, paying close attention to feed market trends and budgeting for a realistic price that locks in a sustainable margin for the business.

Forward planning is essential, with

the most forward-thinking dairy units typically looking up to 18 months ahead – that means potentially booking contracts on winter 2015 feeds now if the price is right.

Figure 1: Market highs and lows for hi-pro soya during the past 12 months market high

market low

£/t hi-pro soyabean meal

450 400 350 300 250 200

May ‘13 Jun ‘13 Jul ‘13 Aug ‘13 Sep ‘13 Oct ‘13 Nov ‘13 Dec ‘13 Jan ‘14 Feb ‘14 Mar ‘14 Apr ‘14 May ‘14 month of delivery

Target price Figure 1 shows the market highs and lows for hi-pro soyabean meal delivered onto farm during the past 12 months.

And while the highs typically occur within five months of delivery, the best prices were achieved on forward contracts booked between seven and 13 months in advance.

“If you’ve got a good strategy in place, with volumes required and a budgeted target price in mind, then you can look ahead with confidence,” Mr Roberts explains. “Book a proportion of your requirements each time feeds come within your budgeted range, and aim to spread risk by booking perhaps three or more separate contracts over time.

“Alternatively, if market conditions are more challenging, booking the majority of a feed’s tonnage in one hit might be the best option, leaving just a little room to fine tune requirements later on.

“Or if availability looks uncertain, even securing 100% regardless of the price could be the right move – a consistent ration will often be worth more than any minor price saving if milk production is adversely affected by having to switch feeds unexpectedly,” he adds. l

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E V E N T

S P E C I A L

2014 Livestock Event preview: We take a look at what’s new at this year’s two-day show. Page 32

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L I V E S T O C K

E V E N T

S P E C I A L

Robots to take centre stage at Livestock 2014

Robot display a world first As the 2014 Livestock show looms, producers from across the country are making appointments and planning which stands to visit at the twoday show. CowManagement had a sneaky peak at some of the new and innovative features and products that will be on display. text Ben Pike & Rachael Porter

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t’s a world first for visitors to this year’s Livestock Event. A live robotic milking and feeding system will be operating throughout the two-day show, organised by the RABDF, at the NEC in Birmingham on July 2 and 3.

“There’s a lot of interest in robots and this demonstration will be working on both days with 40 cows being robotically milked and fed,” said RABDF Event’s chief executive Nick Everington.

The showpiece attraction, which will be run by Lely, will be supported by stands

Tickets and travel arrangements Tickets: Pre-book on line and take advantage of discounted rates. www.livestockevent.co.uk

Travel: By train or plane: 10 minutes walk from Birmingham International railway station and airport By car: straight off the M6 or M42 to free parking.

By coach FREE of charge. RABDF supported by the Livestock Auctioneers Association, is offering free coach travel from 34 auction marts across the country to coincide with the event opening times. To take advantage of the offer, purchase an online ticket for £20, the same as gate price.

For full details and how to book see www.livestockevent.co.uk/book-tickets.

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from automated milking systems specialists such as GEA Technologies, BouMatic and DeLaval.

BouMatic will be showcasing its single and double milking robot, which milks between the back legs of the cow rather from the side.

The company’s Marianne Blaauw said the method keeps cows calmer during milking and the position of the arm makes it difficult for them to kick the cup off.

The double milking robot – the MR-D1 – takes two cows at a time and can handle around 3,500 litres per day.

It’s targeted at herds of around 100 cows and costs £90,000. Two single robots from BouMatic, to service 120 cows, would cost around £120,000.

DeLaval will be showcasing its Clover milking liner that has been designed to rival the triangular-shaped liners, which have increased in popularity, and the traditional round shape.

The company says that triangular liners can create air gaps between the rubber and the teat and that they don’t milk as quickly as round liners, while the clover design eliminates this problem.

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Lean management for big improvements DairyCo will be using the show to promote a new approach to managing a farm business.

The levy-funded body has been trialling Lean Management – a programme focused on minimising waste and maximising output – with more than 20 dairy producers.

The scheme sees producers working one-on-one with consultants to evaluate every aspect of production within the business, with the aim of finding efficiencies that improve net profit.

DairyCo’s Rachel Chamberlayne said that, during the trials, producers had seen improvements equivalent to

between 5ppl and 7ppl. “The scheme is for the most progressive dairy producers who want to challenge themselves,” she said.

She reported that the approximate costs of the scheme were around £8,000 in year one and £5,000 in year two.

has formed over the foot to use it just once or twice a week as a maintenance tool.

Using Red Agron on an on-going basis costs around £15 per cow. Treatment of existing foot conditions will push that figure higher.

Distributor Robert Houlbrooke said that what the system offers is a clean shot of treatment every time the cow walks on the mat because the solution can’t be contaminated.

“This is particularly useful for robotic systems, because the race after the robot is short. The mats have been designed to fit around that. Each is 80cm by 40cm and they can link together.”

The mats are connected to mains water at a constant 30PSI pressure and also draw in the producer’s chosen foot-care solution.

The ingredients are mixed inside the mat before being squirted.

Mr Houlbrooke said that the product would last for at least five years with cows passing over it four or five times a day. Four mats cost £1,850.

Stay one step ahead Footcare will form an important part of the 2014 show. Visitors will be given the chance to take part in interactive foot scoring and a number of stands will be offering new products to improve footcare on farm.

Jan van Wyhe-Storgaard said that for a long-term strategy to reduce lameness, producers should consider products that prevent infection rather than waiting for problems to occur and treating chronic cases.

His Red Agron product, sold under the Vitfoss brand, helps a scab to form over any wounds on the cow’s hoof, helping the natural healing process to repair the foot. It can be used in a parlour spray or footbath.

Mr van Whye-Storgaard said that traditional footcare solutions concentrate on killing the bacteria but not repairing the wound.

For effective treatment producers are advised to use the product intensively on chronic foot problems to start the healing process, but once a black scab

Smart spraying A new way to treat feet, particularly in robotic parlours, will be showcased at the show by Agrihealth.

The Vink Spraymat, engineered in the Netherlands, comprises four sections of rubber mats with eight buttons on each mat. When the buttons are depressed by the weight of a cow walking on it, the valve beneath it shoots a liquid foot-care solution and water up into and onto the hoof.

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A firmer footing in cow housing Northern Ireland-based Moore Concrete will unveil slatted flooring with a new rough surface, which it says improves cows’ grip at housing.

The Surefoot pre-cast concrete slat has the fines removed to produce a very shallow cobbled effect on the surface.

The company’s Keri McGivern said the rough top didn’t have an abnormal

There’s an app for that Feed supplier KW is launching a mobile phone app for its customers.

Downloadable for free from the Google Play Store, ‘KW My Orders’ allows customers to instantly access their account to see how much feed they have left on contract with the company and view when deliveries are due to be made.

Orders for more feed cannot be placed using the app just yet, but the company is planning further developments in the future.

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effect on hoof wear and that trials had shown that cows have a longer, more confident stride length.

“It’s fair to say that their stride on our slat is as long as it would be on rubber,” she said, adding that in tests it was 9cm longer on the rough surface than on a typical brushed-concrete finish.

“A brush finish is the norm for most

slatted systems, but over time a scraper will take the top off it and it becomes slippery.”

The apparent improvement does come at a price.

The product is £7 a square metre more than a brushed finished slat and it can’t be retro-fitted, meaning producers must start with new slats.

Simple, but effective ‘bucket’ ID system Vet Graham Shepherd has gone back to basics to try to find a solution to a problem faced by many producers and calf rearers. He is launching a simple identification system to ensure that calves are given the correct feed.

Producers can now buy threehandled buckets – each with a different coloured lid – to be able to quickly distinguish between milk from a cow treated with antibiotics, colostrum, milk for calf feeding, and waste milk.

“Buckets with a yellow lid could be for colostrum, while the whitelidded buckets could be used to store milk for the calves.

“The bucket with the red lid would be used for milk deemed unfit for calf consumption,” he said.

Mr Shepherd added that despite the simplicity of the concept, he was unaware of any suitable alternatives on the market.

Each bucket with a lid and handle costs £10.

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Competition to name portable milking machine Equipment supplier Dairy Spares is inviting producers to enter a competition to name a portable milking machine, which has a modern and ergonomic design compared to other machines of this kind, at this year’s show.

The portable milker, which will make its market debut at the show, is manufactured from re-cycled plastic by Italian company Interpuls.

Fitted with a 20-litre vacuum tank, it is lightweight and its design makes it easy to use. It is ideal for milking cows at shows and invalid cows on the farm. The portable milker costs £1,350+VAT. Visitors to the Dairy Spares stand at the Livestock Event can enter the competition to name this ‘designer’ machine from Italy, or visit the Dairy Spares website.

The prize is £200 of vouchers to spend on Dairy Spares’ parlour equipment. The winner will be announced at the end of July.

Cow calcium supplement A new system for delivering calcium to cows pre-calving, with a product that contains 40% more calcium than most bolus-type supplements, will be launched by Animax.

Easycal is the culmination of two years of comprehensive research and farm trials by the Suffolk-based company.

Calcium is contained in a small, egg-shaped pump and is delivered to cows orally through an attached-hook applicator.

The product, designed to reduce the risk of milk fever in calving cows, is small enough to fit in a pocket and is different to calcium boluses, which must be administered with an applicator gun.

Another factor that sets the product

apart from eroding boluses is the level of calcium it contains, according to the company’s vet Les Porter.

“The product is a liquid solution, containing 60g of calcium. At this level, the calcium is 40% greater than you would find in most calcium boluses,’’ he explains.

“There is a growing demand for calcium products, but these can be bulky because calcium is a macro element and, therefore, a high dose is needed.”

Once administered, the calcium solution is effective for between 12 and 15 hours.

It should be used to balance the sudden drop in blood calcium levels at or around calving.

Hoof care disinfectant Rumenco division Nettex will launch a footbath product at the Livestock Event as part of its developing Progiene dairy hygiene range.

DigicurTM Footbath is a fast-acting broadspectrum disinfectant based on glutaraldehyde plus QAC biocides with proven efficacy against known bacterial challenges that can led to hoof disorders.

It is free from formalin, copper and other heavy

metals and is formulated with high levels of surfactants, to ensure hoof cling and penetration to maximise effectiveness. The disinfectant can also be used at a low concentration (1% solution), yet still retains activity with high hoof soil loads.

And its low pH inhibits bacterial growth, even at low temperatures.

The product is available in 25-, 200- and 1,000-litre packs from the agricultural merchant trade.

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Award-winning columnist and Shropshire-based producer Roger Evans isn’t sure whether to laugh or cry over indifference when it comes to slaughtering animals without stunning.

Cruel irony T

oday’s subject is irony. Some years ago I had a Farm Assurance visit. When it came to inspecting the calf shed there was only one, newish, calf in there. The man said: “This is unsatisfactory, the calf should be able to see another calf.”

“But we haven’t got another calf, the next one isn’t due for a few days.”

“Well you need to put a big mirror in the pen until you have another calf, so the calf thinks that it has company.”

I point out the cats hanging about near there and tell the man that the cats get in with the calf at night and keep it company. He tells me (scornfully) that a cat isn’t a calf.

I tell him I agree, but that the calf doesn’t know that. They don’t like remarks like that.

We reach a compromise with me promising to nick a mirror out of the house just as soon as my wife goes shopping. Did I? Of course I didn’t.

The calf went on thinking it was a cat for another three days until another calf turned up. So we park that story for a minute.

A few years ago I sold some cull cows privately. When the cheque came from the abattoir I was appalled to find that the cows were taken more than 200 miles away to be killed.

We don’t let that happen anymore. Our cull cows go in a truck and trailer off the yard and their journey will be about an hour, depending on traffic. I want to give the animals we keep as good a life as possible and, if there is such a thing, as comfortable an end as is possible as well.

So, to draw the two strands together. On the one hand we have people coming on to our farms whose concern for the well being of our animals borders on the ridiculous, not only looking for healthy animals, well fed and well cared for, but also concerned about the animals psychological well being.

Then there’s me, concerned that a cow that has spent her working life here, does not get transported hundreds of miles but has a humane end to that working life.

And then we have ritual slaughter. Some use worrying about calves and mirrors and short journey times if ritual slaughter without stunning is to be the end.

I’m not happy about my animals ending up this way, but it seems not everybody worries. It’s all to do with money. Segregating carcases into two categories, dependant on how they were killed, costs money.

Far easier and cheaper to kill them all the same way and then you can just get our carcases as you want them.

It’s a bit like segregating dedicated milk supplies, it costs money but then it isn’t cruel.

So how come we have the irony of people and supermarkets so concerned about how we keep and care for our animals and just shrug their shoulders and turn a blind eye to what goes on elsewhere?

It could make you cry or it could make you laugh, if it wasn’t so cruel.

Whatever. I’m not happy about it.

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S E R I E S E F F I C I E N T

D A I RY I N G

Breeding tool highlights the financial benefit of improving fertility

Efficient dairying is vital in today’s economic climate.

And breeding highly productive and trouble-free cows is key to efficient milk production. In this article we look at a new tool to help you improve fertility – and health.

Part 1: Lifetime production in the Netherlands Part 2: Efficient production in block calving systems Part 3: Fertility: a financial point of view Part 4: Weight of fertility in block calving systems Part 5: Dairy management in block calving systems Part 6: Easy-to-manage Holstein cows Part 7: Benefits of reliable breeding values

Return on fertility investment A new breeding tool, that will help producers to select for better health and fertility more easily, will also highlight the true value of the return on their investment. We spoke to a UK breeding specialist to find out more. text Rachael Porter

F

ertility is important in all dairy herds and now CRV has finally put a figure on it. Fertility is inextricably linked with health and longevity, so it’s not surprising that fertility or daughter fertility, which is the breeding value CRV use for bulls, is just part of the overall health of the cow.

It is viewed alongside the other health traits like udder health, hoof health, calving ease, maternal calving ease, and calf vitality.

“If a cow isn’t healthy then she won’t be fertile and, if she’s not fertile, she won’t last in the herd,” says CRV Avoncroft’s David Matthews. “Ask any producer what their priorities are and cow health will be at the top of the list. As herds continue to expand – and labour becomes scarcer – there’s a greater demand for ‘trouble-free’ and easy-to-manage cows and heifers.”

Trouble-free cows To help producers to breed these cows, CRV has developed two new tools – Better Life Health and Better Life Efficiency.

These are unique indicators to help producers to improve their herd’s productivity and lifespan, as well as the producer’s own life. Trouble-free cows are less stressful and more enjoyable to look after.

Prior to the launch of these tools, breeding for a ‘trouble-free’ herd meant that producers had to take many different factors into account when selecting sires, such as udder health, hoof health and calving ease.

But Better Life Health incorporates all the relevant factors for cow health,

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Health and fertility improvers: Atlantic and Windstar The top NVI bull in the Netherlands – Delta Atlantic – also has the highest score for Better Life Health.

This Ramos son adds strength and capacity to herds and he scores well on somatic cell count, fertility, hoof health and calving ease.

These figures make him the perfect bull for producers who want to milk troublefree cows with high lifetime production.

For red-and-white breeders, HJR Windstar has to be the first choice for

improving health in the herd. Spencer son Windstar (maternal grandfather O Man) excels in udder health, hoof health, feet and legs, fertility, and calving ease.

His breeding value is extremely balanced with production, strong and dairy type and health and efficiency in one package.

To accompany this, his daughters also have the right ‘equipment’ to achieve high production and last for several lactations in the herd.

which means that producers can see, at a glance, which bull will have the most positive effect on the health of their herd. Milking more ‘trouble-free’ cows

should free up more time to focus on herd management.

Many different breeding values are calculated for health traits and the Better Life Health tool sums them up. The new indicator is based on the following breeding values: udder health, hoof health, calving ease, maternal calving ease, calf vitality, and daughter fertility.

No weightings are applied to the different breeding values. “This is because a cow with mastitis is just as time consuming and labour intensive for the producer to treat as a difficult calving or a lame cow,” explains Mr Matthews.

Different traits Better Life Health is composed with different traits that are – in isolation – very reliable and have plenty of heritability. That’s always an important base from which to make breeding improvements. It is the percentage of healthier animals compared to the population average.

“This means that a bull with a higher percentage will sire daughters that are healthier on average. The resulting percentage typically varies between –5 and up to +10 or +15 for the best bulls.

“The higher the number, the higher the percentage of healthy animals compared to the population average.

This means that they are trouble-free cows – with fewer disease problems, fewer treatments, and requiring less labour,” he adds.

An important trait in Better Life Health is fertility, not least because it is in the top three (along with udder and hoof health) most important reasons for culling cows.

Improving fertility is particularly high on producers’ agendas. “For many years, bulls have been selected on production and herd fertility began to decline as a

HJR Windstar

result. Since breeding organisations have put fertility into their total index, the emphasis on improving fertility has grown. This is logical, because good fertility means high production and more profit per cow,” says Mr Matthews.

CRV has a lot of reliable data that’s available on fertility. The heritability of fertility may be not too high, but it’s still well worth selecting bulls to breed more fertile cows, as there is a lot of variation in breeding value for fertility between bulls.

The company puts all the information about calving, inseminations and pregnancies together and makes a reliable breeding value for fertility for a bull. “As the focus on fertility grows while selecting bulls, a steady and improved trend has been the result. This is good news and proof that breeding can, indeed, make a contribution to better fertility.”

Improved welfare So, a high score on Better Life Health means that a bull’s progeny will have a low rate of health incidents, such as mastitis, lameness, difficult calving or failure to get in calf.

Selecting on Better Life Health makes herds easier to manage. Cows mature ‘healthily’; they have a higher lifetime production, fewer medical interventions and improved welfare.

The animals with top scores for Better Life Health will see figures of around +10%, which means that a bull will pass on 10% fewer health problems to its progeny.

If the bull is mated with an average cow, 5% fewer problems can be expected in his daughters, as well as an extra profit of £57 during a cow’s life.

In a large herd, this extra profit quickly adds up to quite a tidy sum. l

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H E A LT H

“Johne’s disease was costing us a fortune – due to one or two infected cows”

Campaign to cut Johne’s costs in national herd

A stark but true message on the impact of Johne’s disease in Lyndon Edwards’ Chepstow-based herd. Taking the bull by the horns and committing to a long-term control plan, he now has the disease well under control. The huge cost and impact on herd progress is being reinforced by NMR vet and technical

problem,” says Mr Edwards, who runs a 200-cow pedigree Holstein and Brown Swiss herd. “As a typical organic herd we were calving a lot of cows in spring and Figure 1: Average lifetime daily yield according to percentage infected (red) cows, NMR Herdwise herds 12,0

group chair of the National Johne’s Action Group Karen Bond.

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yndon Edwards feels passionately that producers need to face up to Johne’s if they haven’t already done so.

As chairman of the Johne’s Action Group – a voluntary group set up by Dairy UK

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that includes wide representation from the likes of farming unions, DairyCo, vets and producers – he uses his own experiences to get the message home.

“Six years ago we realised we had a

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seeing an unacceptable proportion lose body condition in early lactation. Yields dropped and basically the cows looked unwell.”

Taboo subject Blood tests across the herd revealed Johne’s and subsequent heifer blood tests showed that 20% of young stock were infected. “To pick up the Johne’s causing pathogen in young stock isn’t always easy, but for us it highlighted the problem that we were facing.”

The ‘mistake’, unbeknown to Mr Edwards, occurred when he bought in a few infected cows to replace TB losses.

“One or two of these, we subsequently discovered, were Johne’s positive. We ‘fanned the flames’ by calving in groups and pooling colostrum. Also, in an organic herd, milk is fed for 12 weeks. So the chances were that these infected cows were spreading the disease to their own calves, any calves getting their milk and to calves born at roughly the same time.”

Mr Edwards feels that his case wasn’t – and still isn’t - unusual in many herds and particularly those that have bought in even just one or two cows.

“Six or so years ago I would stand up and talk about Johne’s at meetings and no one admitted having similar problems in their herds. Johne’s was a taboo subject.

But when I got home the phone would ring with producers keen to share notes and ask me how I was tackling the disease.

“And I think that one of the problems was that there was no common ‘hymn sheet’ for Johne’s. Vets and advisers were saying different things and, as a result, very few producers did anything about it, even if they suspected Johne’s was a problem.”

No ‘quick-fix’ Sharing his drive for the need to develop a common approach to dealing with the disease has resulted in the Johne’s Action Group’s six-strand approach.

“We’ve now got a common template to help vets and producers tackle the disease,” says Karen Bond. “But it’s not a ‘quick fix’ – any serious attempt to assess and manage Johne’s needs long term commitment and it’s vital that we get this message across. Two or three years then giving up won’t work.”

But before producers shy away from taking Johne’s more seriously, Mr Edwards points out that control isn’t difficult or expensive. “We assessed the

Karen Bond: “Johne’s disease seriously limits herd progress”

Lyndon Edwards: “Johne’s isn’t difficult or expensive to control”

Johne’s status through blood tests, but it’s now possible to use individual milk samples to pick up antibodies to Johne’s.

A 30-cow milk sample screen selecting the highest risk cows will often be the route suggested by vets for initial screening.”

Strict protocols were then put in place at Sevendale Farm with any infected cows calved in isolation and the calf removed at birth. Pens were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between calvings.

“One investment we made was a pasteuriser for colostrum and milk for feeding the calves. And any bought-in animals are tested for Johne’s before they arrive on the farm. Only those with a clean bill of health are purchased, and all enter our quarterly screening programme when they arrive.

“This surveillance plan is particularly important. We use NMR Herdwise to test individual cow milk samples four times a year and we will continue to do this, maybe twice a year, if improvements continue. It’s easy and cost-effective.

In 2013 all young stock were blood tested and the results were negative, which is great. But we know that they may still be infected and show up as they get older. We can’t say that we are Johne’s free but we’re certainly heading that way.”

higher cell counts and more cases of mastitis. So these cows find themselves high on the cull list. They are involuntary culls and will leave the herd early – some before they have even covered their rearing costs. This is clearly reflected in the lifetime yields in Johne’s infected cows.

“Producers looking to progress their herds need to be selecting cows for culling based on their genetics and profitability. Unfortunately there is little opportunity for this to happen in herds infected with Johne’s.”

Figure 1 shows the average lifetime daily yield in Herdwise monitored herds according to the percentage of red cows.

“It is clear from this that the more infected cows there are in the herd the lower the average LDY is,” adds Mrs Bond.

Although he’s feeling confident that Johne’s disease is now under control, Mr Edwards is far from complacent. “During the past 10 years we’ve lost 70 cows to TB, but I know that Johne’s has cost us much more. We will never relax the protocols that are now integrated into everyday herd management.”

Johne’s-free label Apart from a ‘Johne’s-free’ label – that both Mr Edwards and Mrs Bond can see being a prerequisite of cattle purchases for many producers – controlling the disease is clearly reflected in better cow performance. “Reduced longevity and involuntary culling are often seen as the main consequences of Johne’s infection in a herd,” says Mrs Bond.

“When it comes to culling, Johne’s infected cows are more likely to have depressed yields, reduced fertility,

Tackling costs And it’s the hidden costs of the disease that Karen Bond will be talking to producers about this summer, starting with the Farm Health Planning seminar at the Livestock Show on July 2 and July 3 when the six-strand control programme will be rolled out.

“We need producers and vets to assess the Johne’s status of the herd and their infection risk then commit to a control programme. This programme won’t be the same for all herds, of course, but we are advocating a range of practical control options from which producers, in conjunction with their vet, can choose the most appropriate for their situation.” l

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WANTED: COVER STARS! Fancy yourself as a cover model? Then this is your chance!

Polish your biggest smile, strike a pose and ‘click’ – you’re a cover star!

We’re offering everyone the chance to come along and create their own personalised CowManagement cover at this year’s Livestock Event. And for the more camera shy, bring a friend and have your photo taken together!

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C O W

H E A LT H

‘Can do’ approach to chronic lameness is needed

Tough love for ‘chronic’ cows Most herds have a handful of ‘problem’ cows with chronic lameness. Two leading dairy vets explain why it’s time to tackle serious hoof health problems head on. text Rachael Porter

S

everely lame cows – with a mobility score of 3 – rarely get the correct treatment, if any.

Producers and foot trimmers often give up on them, choosing instead to either milk them on for as long as possible or to cull them.

But vet Ben Brearley, from The Livestock Partnership based in West Sussex, believes that, with the correct treatment and pain relief, these cows can sometimes recover and continue to have a productive lactation and remain in the milking herd.

“If producers pick up chronically lame cows and deal with them promptly, by presenting them to a vet, even severe hoof lesions, such as toe necrosis and wall ulcers and deep infections, can be treated successfully,” he says.

Starting point “This means that the cow may be able to complete her lactation and even go on to see another one or two. Or she may avoid becoming a farm casualty and, instead, end up being sent off on the lorry as a valuable cull cow. Either way, it’s a win – for the cow and the producer.”

He says the first step is to identify the cows with chronic lameness: “Acknowledging that they’re there is a starting point. Many producers’ ‘threshold’ for accepting lameness is quite high and they don’t always see them. They also need to put them in front of a vet.

“The lesions we see in these cows often require specialist treatment – usually with a local anaesthetic – and that’s not something that a foot trimmer can do,” he adds.

Using an anaesthetic makes the cow comfortable during treatment and this, in

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Nick Bell: “I’m disappointed if I don’t see a vast improvement after one treatment”

turn, means that the vet can focus on the job in hand without fear of being kicked or inflicting more pain on the animal. “It improves cow welfare – both during and immediately after treatment. And using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug will also provide pain relief for the cow after treatment, as well as help to reduce swelling,” explains Dorset-based specialist hoof vet Nick Bell, from The Royal Veterinary College.

He too is an advocate of treating cows with chronic lameness: “But it has to be done properly. Too many chronic cows have their feet lifted time and time again, but with little or no effect on their mobility score. “The key is to go in ‘hard’ and get it right first time.”

Dr Bell runs practical classes and uses rejected cows’ feet from the abattoir to demonstrate lameness problems and treatments. “I see all kinds of lesions – some worse than others – and quite often I look at a foot and think ‘I could have done something with that’.”

He says he’s been particularly inspired by US-based foot trimmer Karl Burgi. “He’s never satisfied and doesn’t like to be beaten – even by what some would call ‘non-healing’ lesions. He’s always looking at ways to improve what he does and successfully treat even the worst cases of lameness.”

Thorough job US foot trimmers are allowed to use local anaesthetic and they do treat some severe cases of lameness with considerable success. “I wouldn’t like to see UK foot trimmers using local anaesthetic, but I would like to see more producers presenting these ‘chronic’ cows to their vet.

“Vets can use a local anaesthetic – it works quickly and we can then get on and do a proper job without the cow kicking and struggling. We can do a thorough job and, hopefully, deal with a problem with just one treatment.”

He adds that he’s genuinely ‘disappointed’ if he doesn’t see a vast improvement in a ‘chronic’ cow after just one treatment.

“A second treatment should certainly do the job. The trick is to assess the cows carefully before starting any treatment and to decide which ones are likely to respond to treatment and which ones won’t.”

Mr Brearley agrees and says it’s vital to be realistic about the prognosis for these cows before treating. And Dr Bell says that producers should also try to be more optimistic.

Change mindset Some problems are beyond treatment, such as long-standing lesions and infections that have travelled to the bone.

“These are usually impossible to treat, but not all score 3 cows should be written off,” he says.

“I think that a change of mindset is required. A ‘can treat’ attitude goes a long way. But there does come a point, if an infection has tracked really deeply into the foot, where you may have to admit defeat. That’s said, amputating a claw can also be extremely effective and successful.”

Trials, by vet Sara Pederson, have shown that cows without one claw can complete their lactation and go on to have more.

“One cow milked for another 980 days after having a claw amputated – that’s more than three lactations. And even making a cow comfortable, so she can

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Thorough job: vets can use a local anaesthetic to make the cow more comfortable when treating severe hoof problems

Ben Brearley: “It’s vital to be realistic about prognosis prior to treatment”

walk onto a lorry as a cull, is a better result than having her shot on farm and incurring a cost.”

The latter option costs about £200, but even cull cows in relatively poor condition can realise around £300. Cows in top condition can sell for up to £800.

“So investing around £50 to treat a severe lesion can be money well spent, even if she still ends up going off as a cull,” says Mr Brearley. He adds that he charges £15 for vet time, plus the cost of materials, for treating one claw. “We’ve reduced our fees for treating lameness – we just want the chance to see and treat these animals.”

“Treating these cows just requires a bit of effort – and a small investment in vet time, blocks, bandages, pain relief and sometimes antibiotics,” agrees Dr Bell.

He adds that early intervention will also increase the likelihood of success when treating ‘chronic’ cows. And it can also prevent cows reaching ‘score 3’ in the first place. Picking up cows scoring 1 and 2 is the ideal, of course, but there will always be the odd cow that slips through the net.

“But take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach and don’t ignore her – get her looked at by the vet. Treat her once, treat her properly and focus on preventing any more new chronic cases.”

The cure rate for ‘chronic’ score 3 and above cases is about 6%, compared to 80% for scores 1 and 2.

“So the focus has to remain firmly on prevention, obviously, and keeping chronic cases to a minimum,” says Dr Bell. “And remember, too much time spent on ‘chronic’ cows could see other score 1 and 2 cows not being seen by the foot trimmer and then they too could slip through the net and become ‘chronic’.” l

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DAIRY MANAGEMENT NEWS

New ‘belt and braces’ for BVD A new comprehensive surveillance scheme to help dairy and beef producers with successful Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) virus control is now available. BVD HerdCheck, developed and available through National Milk Laboratories (NML), is accredited through CHeCS, the selfregulatory body for cattle health schemes in the UK and Ireland.

BVD HerdCheck brings unique features which increases its accuracy and reliability as a surveillance service.

For the dairy sector it includes two quarterly bulk-milk-sample tests – an antibody ELISA test and a BVD virus test, which uses PCR technology. “The two milk tests complement each other,” says NML’s Nicola Hares. “Combined results monitor protective antibodies and pinpoint virus in the herd. This gives a more informative picture, particularly in vaccinated herds, and enables producers and their vets to more accurately assess the BVD status of the herd. Repeating the tests every quarter adds to this accuracy and reduces the chances of cows being missed from screening.”

Using the service is easy as the herd’s milk samples are drawn from those already collected and stored by NML for payment purposes. This means that no further sampling is required.

BVD HerdCheck for dairy herds also includes a young stock antibody blood screen from 10 unvaccinated animals aged from nine to 18 months.

Dairy herds using BVD HerdCheck will be assigned a risk level depending on their results with red being for herds with one or more positive results, indicating an active or recent infection, and green for herds with

Spring 100 tonners

Nicola Hares, NML service development manager

enough negative results to indicate the herd is not affected by active BVD infection. Herds with an amber status will have submitted insufficient test samples.

For beef herds, the new scheme provides a young stock blood test screen for all calves from nine to 18 months old and advocates the use of Tag and Test in young calves soon after birth.

All HerdCheck tests are reported by Bulk milk samples collected for payment testing through NML can also be used for BVD HerdCheck

The top three NMR-recorded cows ranked on lifetime daily yield that have reached 100 tonnes of milk in March and April are: 1 Line 5 – LDY 31.23kg/day gave 101,532kg of milk in six lactations. From Mapledurham Trust, Reading, Berkshire.

2 Line 133 – LDY 29.67kg/day gave 101,723 kg of milk in six lactations. From Shutt and Mansell, Newport, Shropshire.

3 Cogent Lucente Beth – LDY 28.81kg/day gave 102,878kg of milk in seven lactations. From Grosvenor Farms, Pulford, Cheshire.

A full list is published on the NMR website: www.NMR.co.uk

email, fax or on the NMR Herd Companion site. The scheme is compatible with many of the existing schemes in the UK. Close collaboration with the farm vet is recommended in interpreting results. As part of the service, vets can draw on the added support of the NML veterinary team.

NML’s BVD HerdCheck for dairy herds, that includes two bulk-milk tests carried out four times a year and 10 young stock antibody blood tests, costs £175 plus VAT a year.

The cost for beef herds, which includes 10 young stock antibody blood tests a year and reporting of all BVD related test results, is £75 a year.

Find out more on BVD HerdCheck from NMR at the Livestock Event on July 2 and 3 or from NMR Customer Services.

Johne’s seminars at the Livestock Event NMR vet Karen Bond will discuss the hidden costs of Johne’s disease and the impact it has on culling rates and longevity in the Farm Health planning seminars at the Livestock Event.

Producer Rob Davies will also share his own experiences in his herd. This presentation takes place on both days: • Wednesday July 2, 12.40pm and 3.40pm • Thursday July 3, 12.15pm and 3.15pm

The new booklet ‘Action Johne’s: Johne’s Disease control options’ will be available to all producers at the seminar and from stands of industry partners, including NMR and DairyCo.

For more information on NMR products and services contact customer services, 0844 7255567, NMR web address: www.nmr.co.uk, NMR email address: customerservices@nmr.co.uk COW MAN AG E ME N T

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H E R D

R E P O RT

Ter Bogt Dairy Hielkje and Freddy ter Bogt ‘emigrated’ back from New Zealand to Germany to farm on a smaller, and more ‘lifestyle friendly’ scale.

Number of cows: Amount of land: Total year production: Additional staff:

Westoverledingen

Germany

170 150 hectares 2.5 million kg One (part time)

Hielkje and Freddy ter Bogt

The 2:8 tandem parlour will be replaced

German unit has feed mixing room and solar panels

From 3,000 to 300 cows After 10 years of dairying in New Zealand, producers Freddy and Hielkje ter Bogt ‘emigrated’ back to Europe two years ago, deliberately choosing to farm on a smaller scale. Here, they say, they can ‘see the cows again’. text Jorieke van Cappellen

I

t was meant to be for just one year. But it became 10 years. Producers Freddy and Hielkje ter Bogt look back on New Zealand as a period of much freedom and of extremely hard work.

“We were 18 and 21 years old, had just left agricultural college and were keen to work abroad for a year,” says Hielkje.

“We weren’t attached to a particular place in the Netherlands because at home it was not possible for us to take over a family farm. We packed a few things together and got on a plane.”

This adventurous step shows the mentality of the two producers. Hielkje knew from a young age that she wanted to do ‘something’ with cows. With a pig farm at home, Freddy had a background and training in pig production. “Hielkje encouraged me to go with her to New Zealand. And I thought why shouldn’t we give it a go?”

Once there, Freddy and Hielkje got to work as milkers on a dairy unit on the South Island. “In New Zealand the system of share milking is common practice,” says Freddy. “The share milker owns cows but does not own a farm. You enter into an agreement with the owner of a farm so that you can milk and graze your herd. For this you get paid for part of the milk yield. You can live from this

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and expand your herd. Or take on staff,” he explains.

Freddy and Hielkje were there at a good time, they say. “The milk price was very good. And in New Zealand you don’t pay any wealth tax so you can quickly build up assets. On the other hand, as a share milker, you do take on all the risks because you have the livestock and the staff,” says Hielkje.

In 12 years, Hielkje and Freddy’s modest herd expanded to 3,000 cows and the young couple became joint owners of four dairies. “We worked incredibly hard. It was milking, moving the herd around, and more milking. We became bigger and bigger but we didn’t really intend to farm on that scale,” says Freddy. “Dairy farming is constantly becoming more commercial. We did everything in consultation with our associates and, over time, we saw more of the office than we did of the cows. We increasingly disliked that way of life.”

Western Europe, where the size of dairy farms was closer to what we were looking for.”

Not everyone would relocate with such apparent ease. But Freddy turns it around. “In principle it doesn’t matter to me where I live and have my farm. All things considered, you don’t really miss anything if you go away. Each time I After expansion, the cow house now has capacity for 190 dairy cows

Family farm They decided to go back to a ‘family farm’ environment and, in 2010, the assets they had built up in New Zealand were sold. “We considered moving to Australia, but the weather there is very changeable. So we decided to head for

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The roof of the cow house is rented out to an energy company and covered in solar panels

came back to family and friends in the Netherlands everyone had got a bit older, but life as we had left it still went on as before. Only at Christmas did we miss the Netherlands, because in New Zealand we had to celebrate in the sun with warm temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius.”

However, going back to the Netherlands was not an option. Germany seemed a more attractive prospect. “The milk quota in the Netherlands and land were too expensive. On an investment of a million kilogrammes of milk quota there was already a difference more than £700,000 between the Netherlands and Germany.”

Different feeds are stored separately

With five children born in the meantime, the social aspect also played a part. “In Germany, the education system is very good,” says Hielkje. “And it is now rather easier to travel to the Netherlands to visit the family.”

Solar panels The dairy operation, based in the German village of Westoverledingen, was built in 1984 and in poor condition.

Freddy and Hielkje carried out renovation work and expanded the housing to accommodate 190 cows.

They run the unit with one part-time employee. The roof of the cowshed is rented out to an energy company and

partly covered in solar panels. It provides the business with £16,000 and, after 15 years, they will own the solar panels.

“We used this money to improve the roof,” adds Freddy.

A large equipment building has just been finished. Freddy opens the automatic sliding door to reveal the closed feed mixing centre. “I want a herd with between 250 and 300 very healthy cows that average around 11,000kg,” says Freddy. “The feeds are in separate silos, so you don’t get any vermin in the feed, and I want my farm to look clean and tidy without ugly silage piles everywhere.” The cows are fed a TMR of grass and maize silage, brewers’ grain, wheat, cornmeal, citrus pulp, rape seed and minerals.

Grass quality The management system in Germany and the extensive management in New Zealand are miles apart. So how did the transition go? “We did have a lot of experience with looking after and grazing large herds, but here we had to learn how you can milk cows in the best way possible and keep them healthy in more intensive conditions,” says Freddy.

“In New Zealand we had a stocking rate of five cows per hectare. The milk production in Germany is a little higher and that is why we have to deal with milk fever.”

There were more hurdles following the move. When the cows arrived in November 2011 the weather became extremely cold and everything froze.

“The farm yard did not yet have a hard surface and it was a heap of rubbish with all the snow and ice.”

“When we went from the Netherlands to New Zealand we had nothing. But when we went from New Zealand to Germany we had five children and we started up a completely different kind of farm,” adds Hielkje. “It felt as if we didn’t know how to farm.

“What I found really awful was that, at

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first, the children really didn’t like the school. Of course they didn’t know the language, nor did we. Fortunately, in the meantime, they have now completely settled in.”

Freddy and Hielkje graze the herd for a few hours each day on the grassland behind the cow house. The area is too small for a New Zealand-style farm and grass quality is also poor. The couple have reseeded 70% of the grassland. “By reseeding we have 30% more grass production than before and the quality has also improved,” says Freddy.

The cows eat enthusiastically at the feed fence and they look healthy. “A good cow has a plenty of capacity to be able to eat, as well as a fine udder,” he adds.

A track through the grassland leads to their neighbour’s stables, which Freddy and Hielkje bought to provide accommodation for young stock and dry cows.

Heifer rearing Freddy is keen for the young stock to have a good ration. “We feed the young stock solidly, up until they’re ready to calve. When calving, a heifer must be well developed so that she can turn her energy into milk from the outset.”

Too little attention, both in New Zealand and in Germany, is paid to good heifer rearing.

“The replacement rate is very high.

Some 40% of heifers do not make a second lactation in Germany.”

In the long term the 2:8 tandem milking parlour will be replaced by one with more capacity. But Freddy and Hielkje don’t mind working hard. “It might seem a bit odd, but we really like working,” says Freddy. “In New Zealand

The cows are managed as one group and fed a TMR

we learned what you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.”

“It was a period of our lives that we wouldn’t have missed for the world.

But, here in Germany, I am doing what I have always really wanted to do,” adds Hielkje. “And here I can see the cows again.” l

The dairy operation in Germany was in poor condition and required considerable investment

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at us at Se Seee us ent,, Evow allkSh woc rnst Live the Co 3. .

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COW MAN AG E ME N T

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BREEDING INFORMATION

Red-and-white sires Topspeed Kodak, with more than 2,700 daughters in his proof, is a sublime calving ease bull with a highly reliable 111 for this trait. He scores 107 for udder and 104 for feet and legs.

He also transmits a good plus for milk (+318kg), plusses for component Kodak daughter Gert 21, fourth calver

percentages (fat +0.18% and protein +0.08%), a high longevity score of +624 days, 104 for udder health, –14 for SCC and 106 for hoof health. Kodak is a complete bull who does not sire very large offspring, something many producers prefer nowadays.

Kodak is available from CRV Avoncroft priced at £15 for 50+ straws.

Rising red-and-white star HJR Windstar, (Spencer x O Man) transmits good milk (+229kg), good protein (+0.09%) and offers +523 days of longevity, 106 for udder health, –17 SCC, 103 for hoof health, while he is a strong feet-and-legs improver at 108. He also has an outstanding +6.3 fertility index.

Windstar is available from CRV Avoncroft priced at £12 for 50+ straws.

Both Kodak (£38/straw) and Windstar (£28/straw) are available sexed.

HJR Windstar daughter Gonda 376: 8,040kg of milk (4.47% fat and 3.55% protein) in her first 330-day lactation

Nine top-level daughter groups at the NRM CRV will present nine daughter groups at the All Holland Dairy Show (NRM) on June 27 and 28, 2014. They are all bulls that are excellent for producers to use to breed an economic herd with high longevity. Black-and-white sires include: Atlantic, Goldmar, Jeroen, Gofast, and Cricket. Red-and-white bulls include: Brooklyn, Fidelity, Windstar and Kodak.

To visit the NRM, or for further information about these sires, call CRV Avoncroft for free on 0800 7831880.

All in the family Lifetime production and late maturing Cricket daughter Amarins 64, second calver

– a much undervalued trait in breeding – are fixed in Aurora Jeroen’s pedigree (Bertil x O Man). The well-established Frisia cow family is sound and productive and offers problem-free cows and, once again, it has produced a new breeding star in Jeroen. He gives his daughters very good milk production (+339kg) with excellent components at +28.3kg (+0.18%) for fat and +22.8kg (+0.14%) for protein).

They are averaged sized, at around 150cm, with well-attached udders and sound feet and legs. A good –13 SCC score ensures a strong udder health score of 104, while easy calvings (106)

make him a suitable sire for yearling heifers.

Aurora Jeroen is available from CRV Avoncroft priced at £17 for 50+ straws

Kodak, Cricket and Fidelity With more than 38,000 inseminations, Topspeed Kodak was the most used bull in the Netherlands in a 12-month period. Kodak left behind the blackand-white O Man son Cricket and another red-and-white star Fidelity, both with more than 33,000 inseminations.

Fidelity is available from CRV Avoncroft priced at £12 for 50+ straws.

Jeroen daughter Southland Belle

COW MAN AG E ME N T

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Livestock Event Stand nr.

HS81

AUGUST 26: FEEDING / UK DAIRY DAY Book your advertisement now! Deadline for reservation: August 19

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C O N TA C T S

SHOWS AND EVENTS June 24-25: June 24-26: June 27-28: July 2-3: July 8-10: July 21-24: September 17: Sept 30-Oct 4: October 1: October 14: November 7-16: November 19:

Nottingham Feed Conference, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire Large Herd Seminar, Tortworth Court, Gloucester All Holland Dairy Show, Zwolle (The Netherlands) Livestock Event, NEC, Birmingham Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate, North Yorkshire Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells, Powys UK Dairy Day, Telford International Centre, Shropshire World Dairy Expo, Madison (United States) The Dairy Show, Shepton Mallet, Somerset Welsh Dairy Show, Nantyci Showground, Carmarthen Royal Winter Fair, Toronto (Canada) AgriScot, Edinburgh, Scotland

Chewing the cud: summer is in full swing for these contented girls Picture: Harrie van Leeuwen

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX C O N TA C T S CowManagement is published eight times per year by CRV Holding BV

Editorial team Chief Editor Jaap van der Knaap Editor Rachael Porter Phone 01394 270587 E-mail rachael.porter@virgin.net Editing, design and production Veeteelt Contributing writers Roger Evans, Allison Matthews, Jorieke van Cappellen, David Matthews, Ben Pike and Karen Wright Publisher Rochus Kingmans

Chief editor’s address P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands Phone 0031 26 38 98 821. Fax 0031 26 38 98 839 E-mail cm.office@crv4all.com internet www.cowmanagement.net

Subscriptions CowManagement is available free of charge to customers of NMR, Avoncroft and Thompsons.

If you think you are eligible, please contact: NMR Customer Services, Ground Floor Building 26, Pannal Industrial Estate, Station Road, Harrogate HG3 1JL Phone 08447 255567 E-mail customerservices@NMR.co.uk www.isubscribe.co.uk

Advertisements Julia Hughes, NMR. Phone 01249 467224 Willem Gemmink, Froukje Visser P.O. Box 454, 6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands, Fax 0031 26 38 98 824 E-mail willem.gemmink@crv4all.com

Illustrations/pictures

ADF milking...............................................23 Airwash .....................................................58 Alta ...........................................................29 Ancotec .....................................................42 ATL agri.....................................................24 Biotal .........................................................19 Boumatic .....................................................7 Cogent ......................................................50 Comfort Slat Mat.......................................23 Concept Cowhouse Ltd. ................18, 36, 60 Cosy Calf ...................................................14 CowManagement......................................47 CRV Avoncroft Ltd/ Thompsons ............2, 53 Dairy Management......................................6 Dairy Spares ..............................................28 De Boer Housing Systems Ltd, .............14, 57 Devenish Nutrition.....................................64 DP Agri......................................................43 Easyfix .......................................................46 Elanco........................................................30 Enegis Ltd. ...........................................18, 52 Farmacy.co.uk ...........................................11 Farmplus....................................................42 FiveF..........................................................60

Photographs by Veeteelt Photography and Kevin Milner (10).

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Healthy Hooves .........................................28 Hydor ........................................................18 Intershape .................................................36 Joskin ..........................................................6 Lallemand ..................................................61 Limagrain ..................................................39 Matman ....................................................42 Milkrite ......................................................52 Moore Concrete ........................................36 MSD ..........................................................57 Nedap .........................................................7 NMR ...................................................15, 63 Norbrook .....................................................6 Northern Dairy Equipment Ltd. ..................24 Platts .........................................................14 Quill Productions .......................................57 RABDF.......................................................25 Semex .......................................................37 Spermex ....................................................46 Spinder ......................................................52 Storth ........................................................36 Teemore Engineering Ltd. ..........................14 Vervaeke .....................................................6

August (August 26) – We’ll feature our annual feeding special. And would you like to know more about September’s UK Dairy Day? Take a look at our preview.

Printer Stephens and George Ltd. Phone 01685 352097 ISSN 1570-5641

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Profit from Milk Recording

Your milk sample – what else can you get out of it?...

Milk samples are taken from each cow and tested

The Laboratories conform to the highest ICAR quality standards and regularly take part in European ring trial sampling. Johne’s testing meets UKAS accreditation ISO 17025.

for Butterfat, Protein and Somatic Cell counts.

Farmers milk record for many different reasons:

Event information is recorded along with animal

• Improve bulk tank compositional payments

identities and ancestry data to provide a whole herd

• Improve 100 day in-calf rate

picture and feeding efficiency.

Pregnancyof Health, Fertility Herd

• Monitor and manage feed efficiency

Testing

Companion

• Reduce Cell Count penalties • Develop and implement a herd breeding plan • Get expert third parties to analysis the records.

Recording Services

BVD Service Options

Call us now on

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