Scattered irrigated paddocks are the only bright spot on south-west Victorian dairy farms as drought turns everything else into a dust bowl.
PAGES 4 -8
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Breaking barriers to virtual fencing
VICTORIAN AND NSW dairy farmers will soon be able to harness the benefits of virtual fencing and herding technology.
The NSW Government moved first, joining Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania when it backed the technology on April 30.
On May 21, the Victorian Government said new regulations will be finalised by the end of the year for the technology’s use, leaving South Australia and the ACT the only states without plans to allow access to virtual fencing.
“The NSW Government has listened to ... the farming industry and will work with both industry and animal welfare groups to ensure we get the right balance for delivering virtual fencing on farms,” NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said.
“These changes seek to reduce costs for farming and to enable agile paddock formation across land holdings to meet the needs of farmers while also protecting the welfare of cattle,” Ms Moriarty said.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said her announcement followed engagement with industry, manufacturers and researchers on virtual fencing to understand the animal welfare impacts of the technology.
“We know that Victorian farmers are looking to use virtual fencing and herding technology to improve productivity and farmer safety, which is why we’re making decisions to ensure
farmers have the best technology up to date,” Ms Spence said.
A trial of Halter virtual fencing technology at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm in Gippsland will continue until June 30 and will help inform the new regulations.
The news has been welcomed by peak dairy bodies in both states.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said the announcement was a long-overdue recognition of the need to modernise Victoria’s outdated rules.
“Virtual fencing is already proving its worth in other states. It’s time Victorian farmers had the same opportunities to improve livestock management and reduce pressure on our land,” Mr Hosking said.
VFF United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said dairy farmers had been ready to adopt virtual fencing for years.
“We’ve done the groundwork, and while this announcement is welcome, we can’t afford to wait much longer,” Mr Free said.
Mr Hosking agreed the timing of the changes was critical.
“We’re in the middle of a challenging season, and farmers need every tool available to manage feed, protect soil, and rotate stock efficiently. Virtual fencing is one of those tools,” he said.
Dairy Farmers Victoria president Mark Billing is looking forward to installing the technology on his own farm.
“For the dairy industry, this is good news,” Mr Billing said.
“Regulatory change means a short time to adopt the technology on commercial farms. It enables us to have access to this technology by the end of this year.”
eastAUSmilk predident Joe Bradley said the NSW industry had been calling for the technology’s legalisation to bring NSW into line with other states and New Zealand.
“Where virtual fencing is allowed and used in other states and NZ, farmers report significant efficiencies, cost savings and pasture management flexibilities,” he said.
“In these tough economic times for the dairy industry, government decisions to remove regulatory barriers such as virtual fencing, go a long way to improve dairy farm profitability and efficiency.”
NSW Farmers’ Animal Welfare Committee chair Rob McIntosh said virtual fencing technology was a game changer for farmers.
“This technology can save lives by helping move livestock to safe areas in floods, fires or other natural disasters, without putting humans or animals at risk,” he said.
“It can also help reduce fencing costs, control noxious weeds and help with a whole other host of things — there’s almost no boundaries to what this technology can do.”
For more stories, go to: www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au
Tasmania’s best dairy farmers. PG.14-15
Pigs complete the picture. PG.16
Islanders glad to say cheese. PG.22
Virtual fencing is a step closer to reality in NSW and Victoria.
Farmers’ plight worsens as
BY RICK BAYNE
SOUTH-WEST VICTORIAN farmers are becoming increasingly stressed and depressed as they battle an autumn drought described as the worst in memory.
The region has always been prone to drought, but farmers say they are heading into new territory as the dry spell extends into mid-May.
The worst may still be to come, with fears that when the break finally happens, it’s going to be too late for any significant growth.
The plight of farmers has prompted calls for more government intervention and support, with fears that the conditions will send some farms out of business.
Industry leaders say the situation is as grim as they have ever seen. Many farmers are relying entirely on bought-in feed, and those supplies will soon run out.
They are also urging farmers to reach out for help before it gets too late and to check on their mates as concerns mount about the mental and emotional impact of the crisis.
Very hard decisions
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free, who farms at Winslow, said farmers had already made hard decisions, but would have to dig even deeper to get through.
“Farmers are pretty depressed,” Bernie said.
“It’s getting harder and harder to find hay, and people are starting to make some really hard decisions that they don’t want to make about whether to keep cows or not.
“You can only keep feeding them for so long and not make any money out of it.
“It’s getting to the point where it’s getting very hard to get hay to feed them. Some animals will have to go.
“We’ve already made hard decisions, now it’s time for the really hard decisions.”
Bernie said he hoped Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and new Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins would visit the area to see the extent of the disaster.
Interest rate subsidies to help young farmers and a drought declaration from the Federal Government are among the support options being pushed by the UDV, along with a longterm strategy for pipelines to secure water for the region.
“We need the governments to get fair dinkum about helping us. There’s no use just hoping – you’ve got to put in plans that are going to work, but for farmers, it’s hard to plan when there are predictions of rain in 10 days, but
then that rain disappears.
Bernie said he hadn’t experienced worse conditions.
“I’ve gone through a couple of tough times, but this is as bad as it has been, and it’s the quickest it has gone from being dry to being really difficult and into a drought,” he said.
“We’ve had other periods where it has been dry, but we’ve been able to buy hay; now we’re at the stage where we can’t buy hay, and you have to make really tough decisions.
“Everyone is hurting, but we’ve stopped spending. Ever dollar dairy farmers make turns into $6-$7 in the local community, so the flowon impact is huge.”
“It’s draining on the mind as well as the body. It’s a physical and mental strain on farmers and their families.”
“It’s very grim”
Australian Dairy Farmers president and Pomborneit farmer Ben Bennett said political will was needed to help farmers get through.
“I realise we’re a long way from the West Gate Bridge, but it’s bleak, and we need to have open dialogue with governments, and we need the political will to make something happen,” Ben said.
“We provided significant evidence eight months ago and we’ve just heard crickets and things continue to go downhill.
“We’re all in his together, but it is very grim.”
Ben said the ADF would continue to push the story.
“It’s not just the south-west. Parts of Gippsland are unusually dry, and South Australia has been doing it tough for two years.
“It doesn’t seem to resonate in Canberra that only two per cent of Australia is suitable for low-cost dairy farming.
Ben said his farm was relying 100 per cent on bought-in feed and that market was getting tight.
He worries that there’s no quick fix in sight.
“There hasn’t been any soil moisture for quite a while, and it’s going to take so long to dig down,” he said.
“I spoke to one farmer whose family has records going back to 1900 and from January to now, this is the worst on record.”
Support available
WestVic Dairy chairman Brendan Rea urged farmers to reach out for help, saying the situation had been bad for a long time, but was hitting a crisis point.
Brendan has been on his Allansford farm for 45 years and says the drought is the worst he’s seen.
Drought’s harsh reality on WestVic Dairy chair Brendan Rea’s Allansford farm. “This is by far the toughest time we’ve ever had.”
A green irrigation paddock marks a strong contrast to the dusty hill paddocks at Sarah Chant’s Warrion farm.
drought grips south-west
“My father Marcus is 90, and been a farmer all his life, and says it’s by far the worst he’s ever seen.”
Fodder reserves have been diluted, but Brendan has maintained herd numbers and opted to buy in feed.
“We’re buying four B-double loads of hay a week at $25,000 a load, plus we’re sourcing cotton seeds and almond hulls as well as a mix,” he said.
“The outflow of money to keep animals alive and fed well and producing well is enormous. We’re taking a significant financial hit in the short term, but thinking of the long-term and trying to maintain numbers.”
It’s also impacting on resources with two staff members being needed to feed cattle every day.
Brendan said he was concerned about morale and farmers’ mental health.
“It’s very difficult to look at another weather forecast and another feed bill and continue on with enthusiasm. It’s really tough.
“We are hoping some decent rain will turn things around, and we are looking at a better milk price this year which is one positive, and I encourage farmers to talk to people who can help before it gets too desperate.
“Banks, processors, nutritionists, agronomists and mental health support can help.
There is help out there so actively seek it.
“We are all concerned about how people will cope, but we’re all in this together. We’re not alone.
“We all need to look after each other. If you’re feeling down, go and talk to a mate or someone who can help.”
Brendan urged farmers to contact WestVic Dairy for advice and direction.
“We have changed the focus of programs into feed and water budgeting, how to make decisions, signposting to other services and resources and using Dairy Australia packages to help farmers,” he said.
“We realise it’s very critical at the moment, but I’ve always found that when you make a decision, even if it is forced on you, your path becomes clearer.”
Trying to stay optimistic
Terang farmer John Fahey said a lot of people were comparing it to the disastrous 1967 drought.
“Back then a lot of farmers were able to secure hay off irrigation country in the north, and it was rail freighted down here, and that got a lot of farmers through. The big problem here is that if it doesn’t rain properly soon, a lot of crops further north might be impacted,
which would have a major impact down here.”
Mr Fahey said he was planning to cull numbers harder than usual.
“At this stage the prices have held up, which is good, but how long will that last?
He said the farm hadn’t had good rain since August and sourcing hay was becoming almost impossible within a reasonable freight area, with transport costs increasing.
“I’m trying desperately to stay optimistic. The forecast models are suggesting good rain, but unfortunately the hours of daylight will impact on the ability to grow grass.”
“At this stage it’s a day-to-day game. The unfortunate part of a drought is that it’s a real rollercoaster with your emotions.
“We’re not as bad as farms east of the Curdies River because we have underground water, but we have one paddock with no grass in it that we can’t use.”
John said he hoped the government could subsidise freight costs for people trucking in water, and he hoped farmers wouldn’t be subjected to price gouging for essential supplies.
“We’re not as bad as farms east of the Curdies River because we have underground water, but we have one paddock with no grass in it that we can’t use.
Under pressure
Koroit farmer and Food and Fibre Great South Coast chair Oonagh Kilpatrick said the broader community needed to know about the struggles facing local farmers.
“I want the wider public to know what is going on, and what could be the outcome if we don’t get rain in the next month,” Oonagh said.
“It’s very severe, especially for young farmers. We’re at a tipping point now, and I’m
starting to hear of farmers really being under pressure.”
She said her farm was fortunate to have 35 hectares of irrigation and some silage to last for another four weeks, but was running out of fodder.
From bad to worse
Colac farmer and Dairy Farmers Victoria president Mark Billing said the difficult season had gone from bad to worse in May.
“In the last two weeks, we’ve gone from really tough to critical,” he said.
“We’ve got a whole industry in crisis in the south-west and unfortunately, it’s expanding and going into other areas of the state and into other states.”
“I was asked yesterday how do you keep going?
“As farmers, we’re pretty optimistic about the long-term future, but we’ve been saying for a while now that it’s going to have to rain soon.
“The worst thing with this drought is how long it has lasted.
“It’s also tough for service providers and all those trying to support farmers. They’re taking a lot of it onboard as well.”
Mark said most farming businesses in the south-west plan for drought and build a reserve, but two years of low rainfall had depleted reserves.
“Everything our cows are eating has been brought in,” he said.
“Fodder is hard to find and when you do find it, it’s very expensive.
“Assuming our perennial rye grasses survive, growth is going to be slow when we do get rain because we’re going into winter.
We’ve sold 50 cows to pay for feed.”
Mark said there were pockets in the southwest doing okay, but most farms had already pulled a lot of levers such as destocking and selling heifers “and have no more levers to pull”.
“Sadly, from what I’m hearing, unfortunately some farmers will be forced out of business.
“There’s only so much pressure a business and a family can bear.”
Mark said he had never experienced conditions this bad and it keeps getting worse.
“You never wake up in a drought — it’s just slow and insidious,” he said.
“A flood or a fire goes through and you can start to rebuild, but a drought like this, we all just want to get on with the rebuild, but we don’t know when that’s going to start.
“In the last two weeks, the rain we were hoping for didn’t eventuate. There was a lot of hope when you get the forecast, and it doesn’t look too bad, and then it doesn’t eventuate. It’s soul destroying.
“We all want to look after our animals, but it’s getting harder and harder.”
Dairy Farmers Victoria has been advocating to government for transport subsidies for farms having to transport water for stock, changing the Federal Government farmhouse allowance asset cap, for the Victorian Government to support local government to defer rates for 12 months and for food vouchers for struggling families.
“We really need to get the message out and need the community to understand and the politicians to sit up and take notice,” Mark said.
“This is not a normal drought for western Victoria.
“We’ve had droughts before, but we’re in new territory now. There are a lot of farmers really hurting.”
ɋ More stories on pages 6 and 8.
Paddocks are turning into dust bowls across south-west Victoria.
“We’re buying four B-double loads of hay a week at $25,000 a load,” Brendan Rea says.
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DROUGHT PACKAGE ‘PATHETIC’ SAYS UDV
A Victorian Government announcement of a $15.9 million drought support package to help farmers and communities over winter has been labelled pathetic by the dairy industry’s peak body.
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said the package was an insult to farmers in south-west Victoria facing the worst drought conditions in memory.
“They have extended the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant program that was announced for south-west Victoria last September to farmers in other local government areas, but there’s nothing new for those farmers affected by drought who have already applied for the grants,” Mr Free said.
“You’ve got to have the matching $5000 to spend on infrastructure. If you’re in drought and struggling to feed animals, you’re not going to have $5000 to spend on infrastructure.
“It’s just ridiculous.”
The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant program, which has already supported more than 1500 farmers in south-west Victoria, will continue and be extended to farmers in West Wimmera, Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians, Hepburn, Moorabool, Ballarat, Towong, Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast, Cardinia, Baw Baw, Casey, South Gippsland and French Island. Northern Victoria and most of the northeast have been excluded.
“There’s nothing in there for us in southwest Victoria and we are in a worse situation than what we were six months ago,” Mr Free said.
Acknowledging the impacts of the dry conditions across Victoria on farmer mental health, a new program will be made available statewide to help communities come together and support farmers under stress.
The government will extend its partnership with the National Centre for Farmer Health by investing $900,000 through the May 20 state budget to deliver ongoing services and resources to the farming community.
But Mr Free said mental health was a core business of the government.
“They should be doing it anyway. It’s not an extra during drought — how dare they put that in the drought package. They are being disingenuous to rural communities.”
He also criticised State Member for South West Victoria Jacinta Ermacora for using an old photo of their meeting to promote the new package on social media.
“That photo was taken on April 8 and she hasn’t been in contact with me since then,” Mr Free said.
“She’s trying to pretend she knows about what’s happening with the drought now but they won’t visit us; they won’t talk to us.
“I was told to be nice and go through the right channels and look where that has got us — nowhere.”
Ms Ermacora’s office was contacted for comment but has not responded. The photo was later removed from Facebook.
Mr Free said the drought situation in south-west Victoria had worsened significantly in the past two weeks.
He said farmers needed an interest rate subsidy which could bring cash flow so businesses could buy feed and keep stock alive and practical support to help with day-to-day survival.
“People say you can sell your cattle today and in two years’ time you’ll have calves
coming into your herd and you’re away.
“I know from practical experience that when you sell stock you shouldn’t sell, it took me five to six years to get back to where I was.”
In a statement, Agriculture Victoria said it would continue to monitor conditions in the critical period leading up to spring, ensuring support is getting to farmers who need it most.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said she had heard directly from farmers about the impact drought conditions were having on communities.
“We’re continuing to back them with the support they need to tackle the challenging dry conditions across the state,” Ms Spence said.
”We’ve already supported more than 1500 primary producers with on-farm infrastructure and now we’re expanding that support as drought conditions persist across south-west Victoria and are now impacting South Gippsland and other areas of the state.”
Regional Drought Coordinator Ralph Cotter said farmers experiencing tough drought and dry conditions are urged to reach out.
“We are here to help through connecting you with the financial grants, technical advice or wellbeing support to help you navigate this difficult time,” he said.
Rain and cash are crucial
BY JEANETTE SEVERS
IT IS time for the Victorian and Federal governments to be creative about how they respond to drought.
Funding for mental health and financial counselling service funding to pay for farm consultants fulfils a stopgap need for wellbeing.
The dairy industry is proactive about providing courses in feed budgeting, pasture management and bookkeeping, among others, to support the upskilling of farmers.
But when primary producers are staring down the barrel of drought, they also need solutions that support their business’s needs and releases of cash to support their business.
Dairy farmers in Gippsland are calling for immediate and creative solutions, for themselves and other regions in drought, that will ensure cows keep being milked, that their businesses are viable in the medium and longer term, and butter and cheese are still on the table for Australia’s consumers.
Victorian dairy farms make up 60 per cent of the industry, and Gippsland is the largest producer of milk in Victoria.
The dairy industry is in crisis and the drought conditions across so much of the industry’s
geographic regions will result in lower production this year, and successive years.
With no rain for months, and nothing on the horizon, water is required.
“Many farmers are out of stock water, and have to cart it,” Benjamin Vagg said, a dairy farmer at Leongatha South, and South Gippsland representative on Dairy Farmers Victoria’s Committee.
“Just under 20,000 litres costs about $500 at the standpipe, and that’s not sustainable,” Mick Hughes said, a dairy farmer at Inverloch and member of GippsDairy’s board of management.
“South Gippsland farmers have been conserving water supplies since spring 2024,” Sarah O’Brien said, a dairy farmer at Dennison and chair of the GippsDairy board.
The drought in the region includes West Gippsland.
“These are the worst drought conditions we’ve had,” Evan Campbell said, a sharefarmer at Yannathan and West Gippsland representative on Dairy Farmers Victoria’s Committee.
“We haven’t had any soaking or run-off rain. Climactically, we’re in a green drought, but there’s no guts in resown pasture.
pumping water from neighbours’ dams, and consolidating their own supply.
Lisa Broad at Wonthaggi pumped water from five dams into one, to reduce the surface water availability for evaporation.
“People are also hosing down their dairy yard less often, only a couple of times a week, rather than daily, to conserve water,” Evan Campbell said.
Neil Gannon, a farmer in the Macalister Irrigation District and representative on the
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria Committee, suggested commissioning monitor bores for commercial use so farmers can buy stock and domestic water from water authorities.
This was done in the 2008 drought.
Neil also suggested water swaps between regional water authorities, another initiative that saved dairy businesses in past droughts.
Michelle and Michael Axford, near Leongatha, had a shovel-ready plan in place last summer with permits to dig a new bore, leading into this year.
Mick Hughes said groundwater inland was okay for stock use, but groundwater was saline under many of the dairy farms along the coast.
Evan said the inland groundwater was okay for stock use, but was a long way underground to access.
Farmers are sourcing feed from as many sources as possible, but against escalating cost.
Livestock agent Nicky Reeves said straw hay had increased in price by $100/roll overnight.
The lack of feed was affecting all dairy farmers, whether or not they were in drought.
Nicky is finding it difficult to source hay, silage and other feed options for her clients.
Farmers are being quoted lucerne hay at $680/tonne – then there’s the cost of transport.
Continued on page 8
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Drought bites hard on a south-west Victorian dairy farm.
Sarah O’Brien said farmers in South Gippsland had been conserving water supplies since spring 2024.
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SMART SOLUTIONS TO STAY AHEAD OF THE HERD
Rain and cash are crucial
Evan said $500/tonne vetch is effectively $700/tonne landed on the farm.
Fodder into Gippsland is coming from as far afield at northern NSW and other options are coming from overseas.
The drought is causing farmers to look beyond their normal options, and include lentil hay, almond hulls and palm kernels.
Mick Hughes has ordered imported almond hulls and is waiting for them to arrive in Australia, after two B-double loads of hay were sold out from under him.
“The price of fodder jumps every week,” he said.
“Last week it was $631/tonne delivered.”
Mick had good supplies of silage going into last summer. With rain effectively switching off in December, he has been feeding his milking herd for months.
Evan said there was a risk of traceability with some feed options.
“If you’re struggling to find feed and you find some and the supplier won’t provide traceability documents, beggars can’t be choosers,” he said.
Peter Young, a dairy farmer at Buffalo, said he was running very low on water and, like many, has dried the milking herd off early for spring calving.
He sold empty cows, in good condition, in the saleyards in mid-May, with the best-selling at $800 and those in lesser condition selling for $50 each.
At the Koonwarra cattle sale in mid-May, the price crashed.
Beef farmers were asked to send their cattle to Yea, to make room for 2000 extra dairy cattle.
“The top pens of Friesian cows in good condition sold at $2.22/kg. The week before, they would’ve sold at $2.80/kg,” livestock agent Roger Tweddle said.
“Then the price went down to $0.15/kg.
“Friesian steers, 350kg, sold at $1.50/kg.”
bores so dairy farmers can buy stock water from water authorities, and potentially run pipes to their dams and troughs.
Peter said he was holding on to as many of his cattle as he could, because he felt there wouldn’t be any decent cattle around to restock.
He needs to retain 350 milkers in his herd to service his debt level.
Secondary to rain, what is needed is cash
flow. One dairy farmer near Warragul said he is buying $7000 of fuel a month, for tractors, trucks and pumps.
“A cash rebate on the fuel excise tax would free up cash flow and go a long way to helping us in these conditions,” he said.
Peter Young needs to retain 350 milkers in his herd to service his debt level. He knows it will be difficult to buy replacement cows, and will have to rely on growing heifers.
Neil Gannon suggested commissioning monitoring
Evan Campbell feeding PKE to heifers. He is concerned about the wellbeing of farmers as the drought continues.
Flooded farmers need help
FARMERS ARE expecting to dig deep into their pockets as months of rain in a matter of days lashed many parts of NSW, with some fearing financial ruin.
As Dairy News Australia went to print, the flood drama in the NSW Hunter and midnorth coast regions was still unfolding.
On May 22, exhausted cattle and sodden grass could be seen across farmland in the mid-north coast, which bore the brunt of the devastating floods.
Dairy farmer Emily Neilson watched paddocks sink into the swollen Stewarts River on her property north of Taree.
“We need to move the cows to areas that don’t get too muddy because if they end up sitting in really muddy areas, we get really sick cows,” she said.
“It’s going to take weeks for this to dry out, so even once the rain stops and the sun comes out, the situation won’t change.
“Unless we can get some sort of government grant to cover the repairs, we can’t fix this.”
Australian Dairy Farmers said the region was battling the worst floods in living memory.
“Dairy farmers can’t simply stop milking their cows when a flood hits,” ADF president Ben Bennett said.
“This, combined with stock losses and the pressures of losing electricity, pasture and fodder, has left many farmers in dire need of assistance,” he said.
“We welcome the natural disaster declaration for flood-affected parts of NSW, but more
must be done to help dairy farmers.
“We call on governments to offer primary producers assistance with the clean-up and recovery, given the severity of this disaster.
“Farmers are telling us these floods are the worst in decades, perhaps even the worst in living memory, with the floods described as a one-in-500 year event.
“I can’t stress enough he importance of
putting plans in place now to ensure assistance flows as soon as the water recedes.”
Mr Bennett said rebuilding from this event would be particularly difficult for dairy farmers, given fodder prices are already elevated due to the drought conditions further south.
Up to 300mm of rain fell in just a few days, inundating the hardest-hit communities of Taree, Kempsey, Dungog, Port Macquarie and
Coffs Harbour.
In Barrington Tops, the mountains copped more than 533mm in one week. Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Maurice Collison said it was the worst downpour he’d seen in more than 70 years.
Many properties suffered significant damage and farmers have lost livestock swept away by floodwater.
Others are working to help get some of them back, taking to community Facebook pages to track down owners for cattle that have washed up on their properties. There were even reports of livestock ending up on beaches.
NSW Farmers vice-president Rebecca Reardon said this was “another flood we didn’t need” and it was clear the impact on farm communities would be significant.
“Fences and farm infrastructure have already been damaged again, roads are cut or ruined, and paddocks and crops have now been waterlogged for months on end,” Mrs Reardon said.
“Farmers have been putting up an incredible front, but we’re also now heading into cold conditions that will put a choke-hold on any pasture growth — so it could be a challenging winter ahead with little fodder available.
“We don’t know the full extent of the damage just yet, but we know it’ll take a serious recovery effort to get everyone back on track as farmers absorb some significant production losses and challenges in their businesses.” – with AAP.
Floodwater near Taree on May 24. Days of intense rain caused widespread flooding throughout the NSW mid-north coast.
Photo: AAP Image/Supplied by PolAir, NSW Police Force Aviation Command
Lifeline for Bestons farmers
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN dairy farmers owed
more than $10 million in unpaid milk cheques after the closure of processor Bestons late last year, have been thrown a lifeline from the South Australian Government, announcing a $3 million support package.
The support package has been welcomed by South Australian Dairyfarmers Association and the embattled suppliers who will receive around 25 cents for each dollar owed.
For Brad Fisher, the support payment will total close to $200,000 of the $760,000 he is owed from the processor.
He adds, when you consider the cost to produce the milk sold, he is actually looking at a loss closer to $1.2 million.
“This will help us pay down some of our debtors — every little bit helps and we are so grateful,” Brad said.
“SADA have been great and worked really hard to support us through this difficult time, and the payout from the government wasn’t something we ever expected.
“It is not the government’s fault this happened — it’s just been poor management from Bestons and the National Australia Bank who gave the processor way too much leash,” Brad said.
Depending on findings from liquidators, there is a potential $9 million insurance payout to be shared among the unsecured creditors which includes the dairy farmers.
Secured creditors including the Bestons
workforce and NAB will be paid out by liquidation of assets.
“I don’t have a problem with workers receiving their entitlements as secured creditors, but I do have a problem with sharing a potential payment as an unsecured creditor with NAB after they received the majority of money from the liquidation of Bestons’ assets,” Brad said.
“Meanwhile, the farmers who supply the raw product just have to cop being out-of-pocket on the chin.”
Despite this, Brad is attempting to move his business forward and is now supplying Saputo and a couple of small niche processors.
“Saputo were very supportive and were able to take us on and make it happen and help us in
about 10 days,” he said.
The failure of Bestons could not have come at a worse time for the South Australian dairy industry which is also grappling with one of the toughest droughts in living memory.
And with no immediate rainfall relief in sight, the situation remains dire.
“We sold 100 milkers and culled 80 cows from the herd — we needed to generate some cash flow to keep things happening,” Brad said.
Normally self-sufficient with 2500ha of cropping, Brad said he hadn’t sown a thing this autumn, and he has made 47,000 different plans with his cropping manager.
“I will probably make another 47,000 plans before this is all over,” he said.
“In the last few days I have had three phone calls from different farmers across my network asking where am I getting my feed from, and what are my plans moving forward?
“They have their balls to the walls as well, and some weren’t Bestons’ suppliers either.”
He said one of his farming mates was looking at a 91 cent cost a litre to feed his cows, while only being paid 71 cents.
“It is tough to be a South Australian dairy farmer at the moment,” Brad said.
A sentiment echoed by SADA president Rob Brokenshire.
“The state government recognises the plight of the former Bestons’ suppliers and they also recognise the importance of keeping farmers in the industry and growing it in the future,” Rob said.
“SADA is fortunate to have a good relationship with the government.”
In a joint media release, SA treasurer Stephen Mullighan and Primary Industries and Development Minister Clare Scriven said the assistance package would be administered by SADA.
“The state government is committed to ensuring the state’s dairy industry continues to thrive, despite the recent challenges,” Mr Mullighan said.
“We’ve listened to SADA, and through the $3 million support scheme, we’re helping South Australian farmers get back on their feet.”
“Our state’s dairy industry is valued for its significant economic contribution as well as its premium products, which are supplied around Australia and the world,” Ms Scriven said.
28 SEPTEMBER - 6 OCTOBER,2025
Enjoy a trip to World Dairy Expo in Madison WI, including local herd tours, continuing on to an unforgettable visit to Select Sires in Ohio! Prize includes airfare to and from the USA as well as transport, accommodation and functions within the tour days.
•Contact your local rep or our office for details on how to enter
•All orders must be placed by 30th June 2025 with the raffle draw of qualified entrants on 1st July 2025
Government support for Bestons suppliers is the only bright spot on the horizon for embattled South Australian dairy farmers struggling to feed their herds during a devastating drought. Photo: Rural Aid.
Brownes Dairy on the market
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S biggest milk processor Brownes Dairy is up for sale following the appointment of receivers to its holding company, Australian Zhiran Co. Pty Ltd (AZC).
The receivership is limited to the shareholding in AZC, while the day-to-day operations remain unaffected.
CEO Natalie Sarich-Dayton said Brownes core business remained strong.
“Brownes is an incredible Australian success story,” Natalie said.
“Our annual revenue jumped 10 per cent over the last year and we are ramping up exports into new markets including Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
“Our dedicated team continues to operate with the same commitment to producing high-quality dairy products using milk sourced from our trusted local farmers in the southwest region of Western Australia.”
The receivership, initiated by China Mengniu Dairy Company, is specifically limited to the Australian shareholder level and will not impact Brownes commitment to producing high-quality dairy products using local milk.
McGrathNicol partner and receiver Keith Crawford said they were engaging with key stakeholders to begin an orderly sale process.
“As our appointment is limited to the holding company only, we do not anticipate any impact on day-to-day operations,” he said.
Brownes will continue to operate with the same commitment to producing high-quality
dairy products from milk sourced from farmers in the south-west region of Western Australia.
“Customers can continue to find their favourite Brownes Dairy milk, yoghurt, cream, and other products on supermarket shelves as usual.
“Our relationships with our local farmers and suppliers remain strong, and our focus on delivering fresh, delicious dairy to Western Australian families is unwavering.
“We are confident in the continued success of our business and appreciate the ongoing support of our community,” Natalie said.
In 2024, Brownes revenue increased from $244 million to $268.7 million, fuelled by expansion into new markets including
Singapore, Malaysia and the UK and the launch of their cold brew coffee product Hunt and Brew.
“We launched our cold brew coffee product Hunt And Brew into the UK through a distribution deal with Britain’s largest grocer Tesco and we also expanded throughout Asia with a number of partnerships including 7-Eleven,” Natalie said.
After several notable losses in recent years, Brownes Dairy has now stabilised its business
“Looking ahead, we are confident in our ability to maintain our positive momentum and further strengthen our position in the market,” she said.
“We will continue to focus on sustainable
growth and delivering long-term value.”
The company remains committed to expanding its footprint into new export markets, as it seeks to capitalise on current momentum and demand for Western Australian dairy products overseas.
Farmers Dairy Council president Ian Noakes told ABC reporters Georgia Hargreaves and Chela Williams back in April a state-based buyer would be ideal.
“We see it as a very vital part of the West Australian dairy industry and would definitely not like anything untoward to happen to it,” Ian said.
“There’s a lot of dairy processors around Australia [that] have gone out of business in the last couple of years, so you wouldn’t think finding a buyer would necessarily be that easy, although I think Brownes appears to be trading reasonably okay, so that might help.”
Brownes Dairy is Australia’s oldest dairy company.
It was established by Edward Browne and his small milking herd back in 1886.
Operating out of a main site in Balcatta with a second site in Brunswick, the company collects about 150 million litres of milk annually from around 50 dairy farms in the south-west of the state.
Brownes has a diverse portfolio of dairy including milk, cream, yoghurt, flavoured milk, juice and desserts.
It was named one Australia’s most innovative companies as part of the Financial Review’s 2019 BOSS annual awards (the only dairy company to make the list).
Brownes Dairy CEO Natalie Sarich-Dayton.
Bega to close cheese factory
BY OWEN SINCLAIR
BEGA GROUP will close its Strathmerton factory in northern Victoria, with the loss of more than 300 jobs.
The company told employees and the Australian Stock Exchange of the closure late on Tuesday, May 6.
A phased closure of the factory is expected to be complete by mid-2026.
Bega Cheese chief executive officer Pete Findlay told Dairy News Australia the decision to close the Strathmerton plant was not taken lightly, and that details around time frames for redundancies were still being developed.
“Starting from the 12th of May, we’ll be holding individual sessions or meetings with every single employee, and they’ll be done with an HR representative and the site management,” he said.
“We’ll be looking at all of those re-employment options with the individual. We’ll be looking at their own individual needs and own individual separation requirements and packages.”
The cheese processing and packaging operations at Strathmerton will be moved into Bega’s existing site at Ridge St, Bega, in NSW.
Meanwhile, the company will continue to operate five remaining plants across Victoria, at Tatura, Morwell, Chelsea, Koroit and Port Melbourne.
Mr Findlay said the closure of the Strathmerton plant will have no impact on the company’s nearby Tatura factory.
Mr Findlay expected it will take a further six to eight weeks for the company to get a better idea of how it can transition with the least impact on employees who are made redundant.
“We’re still working out some of the detail, but we thought it was important to give people a long as possible transition to be able to consult with them as soon as we made the decision,” he said.
“We envisage the first phase will be towards the end of this calendar year, as we said in the statement to the team last night, and then the remainder will probably happen over another couple of phases over the first half of the
calendar year next year.”
He also confirmed the closure will have no effect on local dairy suppliers.
“In fact, we would love farmers to sell us more milk,” he said.
“We would love more milk. I think most dairy places in Australia want more milk, so it will have no impact on the dairy industry whatsoever.”
Mr Findlay said 100 new positions will be created at the company’s head plant in Bega.
However, those positions will not be automatically allocated to employees at the Strathmerton plant.
“We’ll need to work through the skill
requirements and whether people want to shift. But we would love to offer people re-employment within our organisation,” he said.
“That would obviously be a really good outcome, so we’ll continue to work with people on that basis.”
The company expects the closure of the Strathmerton plant will deliver $30 million a year in savings by reducing duplication and reducing fixed costs.
Moira Shire Council chair administrator
Graeme Emonson said the news of the closure of the plant was devastating for the community.
“With 300 local jobs at risk, our hearts go out to the workers and their families who are facing this incredibly challenging time,” Dr Emonson said.
“We urge the Bega Group as a responsible corporate citizen to be generous in how it assists employees with this news and transition.
“We will be working closely with the local community to understand and manage the impacts to flow from the closure.
“We will also be calling on both the state and federal governments for immediate and longterm support during this transition period.
“This includes securing economic transition funding, providing retraining and redeployment opportunities for impacted employees, and working to attract investment that will help create new local job opportunities.
“Our goal is clear: local jobs created to replace local jobs lost,” he said.
See more stories about the Bega closure at: https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/
A phased closure of Bega’s Strathmerton cheese factory is expected to be complete by mid-2026.
Photo: Owen Sinclair
Best sharefarmers crowned
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
TASMANIAN DAIRY farmers Aaron and Mercede Kay’s hard work has been rewarded after the couple were acknowledged as the Fonterra Share Dairy Farmer of the Year for 2025.
Sharefarming at Togari on Mercede’s parents’ farm (Vivienne and the late Michael Quilliam), the couple was recognised for its strong work ethic and business acumen.
Focusing heavily on the mating program, Mercede and Aaron have managed to reduce herd numbers from 650 to 550, while growing per cow production and improving fertility.
“Initially, the herd was split in two, but we decided to bring it back to one and drop numbers, which enabled us to conserve pasture growth, which also helped with paddock rejuvenation,” Mercede said.
“We then focused heavily on the mating program to improve type so we could have bigger producing cows.”
Calving in spring, the couple runs a tight sixweek joining program, which includes three weeks of AI and three weeks with the bull.
“We are quite strict with our mating program, and we don’t keep any carry over cows because we don’t want to foster infertility in our herd, we want our cows to get in-calf either the first or second time and that’s it,” Mercede said.
“Around 75 to 80 per cent of the herd gets in calf in the first three weeks.
“They’re
“Last year our cows averaged three days in milk across the herd.”
Importantly, the herd is dried off completely to give everyone, including the cows, a much-needed break and chance to reset for the season ahead.
From the start, they were very clear with their farming goals, which were to run a lowcost input system with a focus on home grown fodder.
“We have monthly farm meetings to discuss where the farm is at — we have debt and our focus is to make the most amount of milk with the least amount of money,” Mercede said.
Like most of the country, Tasmania is
experiencing dry conditions, which have impacted on their ability to enjoy a good autumn break.
“Luckily, we had a good spring and were able to conserve some fodder which we are now feeding to the herd,” Mercede said.
To accelerate their growth, the couple also took on a 210 hectare lease block, which enabled them to run up to 800 head of cattle including some beefies and agistment.
This helped with cash flow and equity, but they found they were spending a lot of additional time on the road.
“We also had some difficulty finding enough adequate permanent staff for the dairy, so we
decided to give up the lease, consolidate and go 50:50, which was a plan mum was more than happy to go forward with.” Mercede said.
“It has been our goal to take over the family farm one day, and we have got a good handle on where we want to go, which includes land ownership somewhere.”
Both Mercede and Aaron have shared similar farming goals ever since they first met in 2019.
“We love working together and building our future,” Aaron said.
“With dairying, there is something different to do every day, and the growth you can see physically out of your hard work is so rewarding.”
The couple was surprised to be nominated for sharefarmer of the year and even more surprised to win.
“Mercede had made a few notes on the back of an envelope just in case we won and she gave a pretty impressive speech on the night,” Aaron said.
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture extension officer Lesley Irvine said the impressive young couple demonstrated what could be achieved through hard work and commitment.
“Mercede and Aaron were selected based on their ability to maximise the use of the property through careful planning, and their absolute attention to detail in every aspect of their business from pasture production, animal health and production, the environment and people,” Lesley said.
“They are an impressive young couple demonstrating what can be achieved through hard work and commitment.”
Mercede and Aaron Kay have been crowned Tasmania’s best sharefarmers.
Mercede and Aaron Kay are planning on working their way up to farm ownership in the future.
BWB cleans up at awards
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
IT HAS been a great year for BWB Management, taking out four of the eight Tasmanian dairy awards for 2025, including Dairy Business of the Year with Juniper Lea, managed by Luke Davey-Baldock.
BWB Management oversees the management of seven family syndicate-owned dairy farms in northern Tasmania.
The syndicate milks about 7000 cows on pasture-based systems with an aim of 460 to 480 kilograms of milk solids per cow off 1.2 tonnes of grain.
BWB Management is directed by Andrew Beattie, John Wilson and Rob Bradley, and one of their main aims is to provide career pathways within the dairy industry. Luke Davey-Baldock is a prime example of the success of this model.
Luke’s agricultural career began in 2000, where he completed a dairy traineeship and apprenticeship.
Luke moved to the livestock grazing industry in 2009, working as a farm hand and farm manager in the Midlands of Tasmania.
Luke returned to the dairy industry in 2016 to work as a 2IC at Dalmore Dairy at Dairy Plains.
BWB group purchased Dalmore Dairy in 2018 and retained Luke as the 2IC.
Luke showed promise and was provided with mentorship and training, working his way up quickly to the farm manager role in 2019.
In 2021, Luke took on the challenging role of the inaugural farm manager of Juniper Lea, a newly converted dairy at Dairy Plains.
Under Luke’s management, Juniper Lea has increased production 12 per cent year-on-year since
the conversion, and is now milking 1000 cows, with further increases planned.
BWB Management works with Luke to get the best out of his farm and people, while achieving his own goals.
BWB Management provides flexible pathways for its managers and has allowed Luke and his family to gain equity and capital growth within the Juniper Lea business.
The key aim is alignment of interest between the owners and management.
This latest award comes on top of previous Tasmanian Dairy Business of the Year wins by BWB
Management farms, Clear Springs in 2019 and Dalmore Dairy in 2024.
In addition, Juniper Lea was a runner-up in 2024, Dalmore Dairy was a runner-up in 2021 and 2022 and Clear Springs was a runner-up in 2025.
BWB Management won the following:
ɋ ANZ Dairy Business of the Year Award: Juniper Lea, managed by Luke Davey Baldock, Dairy Plains
ɋ Blackley Pipelines & Irrigation Dairy Employee of the Year Award: Daniella Ashworth, Juniper Lea, Dairy Plains
ɋ Mondelez Young Dairy Farmer Encouragement Award: Jaydon Harvey, Springfield Dairy, Wilmot
ɋ Future of Dairy Scholarship (sponsored by the Lawrence family): Montanna Gilroy, Forester Lodge, Waterhouse.
The Tasmanian Dairy Industry Awards are conducted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) as part of the DairyHIGH 2 project which is funded by Dairy Australia and TIA.
The free benchmarking program considers a range of efficiency and performance indicators of dairy farming businesses factors including financial, management, pasture, herd size and environment.
DairyTas chair Luke McNab said it was wonderful to bring Tasmania’s dairy industry together to celebrate high performers in the industry and join together to reflect and celebrate the past year.
“It has been fantastic to recognise those businesses and individuals throughout the industry that have performed across these key areas in 2025,” Mr McNab said.
“This event not only highlights success but fosters a sense of community and collaboration, ensuring that we continue to grow and thrive together in the coming years.”
Other results
ɋ Fonterra Share Dairy Farmer of the Year Award: Mercede and Aaron Kay share farming for Vivienne and the (late) Michael Quilliam, Togari (see page 14 for the story).
ɋ Lely Australia Responsible Dairying Award: Gunningham Farms Pty Ltd.
ɋ Aurora Energy Workplace of Excellence Award: Rosemount Ag Pty Ltd.
Tasmanian Dairy Business of the Year was awarded to Juniper Lea managed by Luke DaveyBaldock (second from left).
Pigs complete the picture
BY RICK BAYNE
THE OWNERS of one of South Africa’s largest dairy herds has found that what goes around comes around when it comes to expanding the business.
Edgar and Lynda Brotherton have 17,000 milking cows across 15 farms under their Just Milk banner, but adding pigs and cheese production to the mix at one property has been the cream on top.
The cows’ milk goes into cheese production, the whey byproduct from cheese making goes back to the pigs as feed and the pig manure goes back to the dairy farm as fertiliser.
It’s been so successful that Just Milk places to replicate the format on a second property.
Edgar was hosted by Genetics Australia to join the World Jersey Conference tour presented by Jersey Australia from April 6 to 21, and addressed a sponsors’ breakfast in Warrnambool.
Just Milk is a management company based in the Eastern Cape that manages dairies.
The milking herd comprises 17,000 cows, and the total herd size including calves is 25,500. It also has a small beef operation.
Just Milk is a unifying brand, not a single corporate entity, operating on farms with various land ownership and profit-sharing structures.
Edgar said he planned to use more Australian genetics and had joined the World Jersey Conference tour for the opportunity to see bulls they’ve used and to meet breeders.
He told the breakfast dinner in Warrnambool that a partnership with a piggery company, Number Two Piggeries, dated back in 2004, but the circle was completed with the addition of the cheese processing plant in 2018.
“When Number Two Piggeries wanted to expand, we were looking for opportunities at the same time,” he said.
“We acquired our first cheese factory in 2018 and the second in 2024, and what makes it work is the combination of dairy and pig manure.”
The processing side of the enterprise is managed by their son Buster, and Edgar said they would concentrate more on that area in the future.
Their Cookhouse operation has 4700 cows and 16,000 pigs.
“The combination works very well,” Edgar said.
“That means our fertiliser and nitrogen requirement is minimal.”
“We transport the milk about 5-6km to the cheese factory and the whey is pumped back to the piggeries, so transport is taken out of the equation.”
On another site, Just Milk has a farm and cheese processor and hopes to build a piggery in the next few years.
While the climatic conditions are similar to Australia — prompting Just Milk’s interest in Australian genetics — Edgar highlighted some of the challenges peculiar to South African dairy.
Electricity is unreliable due to poor maintenance, forcing many farmers to invest in solar panels and other methods of electricity generation.
“We try to get double use of our solar panels by putting them over the holding yard so they provide shade for the cows,” he said.
“That’s something we want to expand on.”
They also have to fix a lot of their own roads, and water infrastructure is another issue, with Just Milk relying on canal systems to supplement supplies.
Security is a major problem.
“We have a huge level of thefts,” Edgar said.
“We have guards on a lot of our farms all night to protect our cattle and look after our infrastructure.
“That may be a jaw-dropping number for Australians, but we have high unemployment and also a largely unskilled and unreliable labour force.
“In Australia and New Zealand, a husband and wife might milk 450 cows, but it’s something we’ve never got right.”
Just Milk is taking a lead in addressing the issue, with a student program to introduce 15 agricultural college students to the dairy operations each year, along with 16 in the pig business.
“It has been a great success for us; we believe in growing our own talent,” he said.
Just Milk is also leading the way in addressing racial inequality.
“Traditionally, all farm managers have been white and the staff black.
“We’ve changed that significantly and now have six or seven young black men and women running our dairy operations,” Edgar said.
A government ban on farm schools has meant most staff have moved into towns.
“We have to transport them, which is not ideal,” Edgar said.
“If you start collecting cows at 4am in the morning, someone has to be up at 3 to collect the staff.”
However, he said the Just Milk group prides itself on people, cows and controls and invest a lot into people.
“We have a lot of challenges, but I’ve come to realise from going to other countries that we
Apart from close ties with Genetics Australia through its South African distributor CRV
Xseed Genetics, Just Milk uses rotary dairy platforms designed in Australia by Kevin and Mary Sorroghan from Rockwood Rotary in Shepparton.
“On a tour in 1995, we went to visit a farmer rearing ostriches in Shepparton,” Edgar said.
“It was Kevin’s son Mike. We got talking to Kevin, an engineer, who had built his own concrete platform which was something we didn’t have in South Africa.
“We had started building a swingover dairy, but I phoned Dad and told him to stop because we were doing the wrong thing.
“We filled the pit, broke down the building we’d started and Kevin came to South Africa and built three rotaries on three different farms.
“It was the first concrete platform built in South Africa and it’s still in use today.
“We were very fortunate to meet them … they made our lives a lot easier.”
Lynda and Edgar Brotherton during their visit to Australia in April for the World Jersey Conference.
Edgar Brotherton spoke at a sponsors’ dinner at the World Jersey Conference and says he will look at Australia to improve his herd quality.
Lynda Brotherton visiting the TLG facilities at Camperdown to see some of the bulls they have been using. Photos: Rick Bayne
Unlocking whey’s potential
NEW RESEARCH suggests converting the Australian dairy industry’s whey waste into a valuable food product is more feasible than many realise, with significant potential for industry-wide change.
Whey is a by-product of cheese manufacturing and one of the largest sources of food loss and waste in the Australian dairy sector, and the country’s food industry more broadly. It’s the liquid that remains after milk is curdled and strained during cheese and yoghurt production.
Jack Hetherington, from the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Global Food and Resources, says while there are multiple high-value reuse options — such as protein powders, alcoholic beverages (beer or vodka), kombucha and cooking stocks — his new report reveals the sector has not fully capitalised on this valuable by-product.
“A key finding from my research is that only a small number of cheese manufacturers, across all production scales, have adopted innovative technologies and business models to upcycle whey into high-value products,” Dr Hetherington said.
“The broader sector has been slow to adopt these practices due to a lack of clear incentives, persistent and unique barriers, and an absence of enabling conditions.
“Despite this, there is significant potential for widespread change in a relatively short period, particularly if collaborative efforts receive greater support.”
The dairy sector significantly contributes
to Australia’s overall food loss and waste, accounting for an estimated 14.9 per cent.
According to Dairy Australia, about half of this dairy waste is whey.
As part of a mixed-methods study, funded by the University of Adelaide, the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre and CSIRO, Dr Hetherington interviewed large and small cheese manufacturers across Australia to understand where their whey goes and what factors influence their
decisions to repurpose it.
Dr Hetherington explored four potential business models and collaboration strategies to reduce whey waste: in-house processing; third-party partnerships, where whey is sold or given to another business for processing; joint ventures, where manufacturers collaborate to achieve scale and share processing infrastructure; and focal companies, where existing whey processors accept whey from other cheesemakers, increasing throughput
and reducing waste.
“All four models ultimately achieve the same goal: transforming whey waste into a valuable food product,” Dr Hetherington said.
“Manufacturers already processing whey should consider accepting whey from nearby cheesemakers, which would demonstrate industry leadership, reduce waste, and generate additional revenue.
“One business I spoke to makes more money from whey than cheese — there’s great potential for success.
“For retail businesses, such as supermarkets, shifting procurement policies towards whey-based alternatives would also incentivise change, while consumers should consider opting for whey-based products.”
Regulatory hurdles could be streamlined to make it easier for cheesemakers and other sectors to seize these opportunities.
“While regulations like waste levies incentivise change, other policies — such as food safety regulations and alcohol taxation — can act as barriers,” Dr Hetherington said.
“Finding ways to improve the circularity of our food system could unlock economic benefits for the industry and enable us to produce more with less.
“This will require both new forms of collaboration and the right incentives to help businesses overcome barriers and invest in change.
“Dealing with food loss and waste is a complex, ever-evolving issue, with no single solution.”
Researcher at the University of Adelaide, Jack Hetherington.
Photo: Morgan Sette.
Sharing sustainability funds
THE A2 Farm Sustainability Fund is making awards totalling $530,500 in its 2025 funding round, for sustainability projects on farms in Australia and New Zealand.
The fund was established in Australia by The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) in 2017 and expanded into New Zealand in 2022.
It supports projects that demonstrate an integrated approach to a sustainable future and enable a positive and meaningful impact across the welfare of their cows, community
In the latest round of funding, 19 projects have been selected to receive grants.
Successful applicants were notified in midApril, with projects set to start from early May onwards. Each project can receive up to $30,000 in funding.
Examples of successful projects include initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing diesel-operated machinery with electric machinery run through solar, improving soil health through the introduction
sheds to provide shade and shelter to animals.
The fund is open to eligible farmers who are contracted to supply A1 protein free milk in Australia or NZ for use in a2MC’s products.
In Australia, the fund’s operations have been supported through collaboration with Landcare Australia.
Leo and Sue Cleary, who farm in NSW, said this was their sixth grant from the a2 Farm Sustainability Fund.
“We received our first award in 2017 and would like to thank The a2 Milk Company for
being open to multiple applications and awards over this period,” Leo said.
“It’s enabled us to make continuous improvements on our farm over the years including reducing fertiliser use, improving water quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving animal welfare.
“The grants have allowed us to future proof our farm and protect our herd.”
The Clearys’ funded project for 2025 involves implementing an innovative approach to gain insights on their herd. This initiative aims to optimise feed and pasture use, enhancing animal welfare and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The a2 Milk Company chief sustainability officer Jaron McVicar said it was encouraging to see the diverse range of applications received each year and the impact the fund is making.
“We’ve had farmers awarded funding over multiple rounds, building on their projects year-on-year, as well as farmers applying for the first time,” he said.
“It’s great that we can support positive environmental outcomes on-farm for those who are early in their sustainability journey and those who already have long-term plans in place to improve their farming practices.”
Applications to the a2TM Farm Sustainability Fund are reviewed by a committee comprised of experts in regenerative agriculture, soil health, animal health and wellbeing and farming systems.
Evaluation is based on criteria aligned to The a2 Milk Company’s sustainability objectives and key priority areas, which include:
ɋ Reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.
ɋ Improve resilience or adapt to climate change.
ɋ Improve animal health and wellbeing.
ɋ Improve soil health and soil carbon sequestration.
ɋ Reduce effluent run-off and enhance water quality.
ɋ Increase water use efficiency.
ɋ Increase on-farm natural and indigenous biodiversity.
ɋ Adapt farm management systems to environmental challenges and opportunities.
ɋ Control and protect against invasive species.
ɋ Build sustainable communities.
ɋ Enhance employee health, safety and wellbeing.
ɋ Support people development opportunities.
ɋ For more information. go to: https:// thea2milkcompany.com/
Leo (pictured) and Sue Cleary, who farm in NSW, have received their sixth grant from the a2 Farm Sustainability Fund.
Investing in dairy’s future
SAPUTO DAIRY Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the long-term success and sustainability of the Australian dairy industry through its annual Supplier Scholarship Program.
This year, nine farmer suppliers or their immediate family members from across Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have been awarded up to $5000 in financial aid, which is designed to help them achieve their educational and professional goals within or connected to the dairy sector.
Among this year’s recipients is Jorja Hughes from Inverloch in Victoria.
“I wish to open a health centre with a focus on mental health,” Jorja said.
“As farmers are isolated, I believe it is even more important for them to have access to help, whether that be someone coming to them or having a place that is closer to have a short period of time off the farm where they can focus on themselves and the things they need to help themselves.”
Rhiannon Field from Smithton in Tasmania sees herself “as a scientist trying to improve the genetics of dairy cows or research and development of new dairy products”.
Rachael Dohnt from Glencoe in South Australia says “I want to return to the southeast after I complete my studies and work as a vet with my main focus working with livestock”.
SDA’s milk supply director Kate Ryan said Saputo was proud to support the next generation of dairy industry leaders.
“Their dedication and passion for the industry inspire us, and we look forward to witnessing their continued growth and positive impact contributing to a bright future for the dairy industry.”
She congratulated the 2025 Supplier Scholarship recipients: Rachael Dohnt from Glencoe and Sophie Edmonds from Struan, South Australia; Rhiannon Field from Smithton and Abbi Wright from West Ridgley, Tasmania; and Abbey Gass from Princeton, Jorja Hughes from Inverloch, Daniel Meade from Garvoc, Rachael Moncrieff from Port Campbell and Olivia Whiting from Simpson, Victoria.
Their studies include science, law/commerce, veterinary science, agriculture, community services, business and animal care.
“Their dedication and passion for the industry inspire us, and we look forward to witnessing their continued growth and positive impact contributing to a bright future for the dairy industry.”
— SDA’s
milk supply director Kate Ryan
Rachael Dohnt is a Saputo scholarship recipient. Abbey Gass from Princeton in Victoria.
Sophie Edmonds is from Struan in South Australia.
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The endless troughs can be laid in a continuous length, they are also stackable, so you can move them easily from one paddock to another. The frame is made from Australian Steel, with repurposed rubber conveyor belt used to make the trough, its nylon based and will last a lifetime.
Bulls have a ‘sweet spot’
PRODUCTION, LONGEVITY and health data is helping dairy farmers understand what their cows should look like — if they want to stay profitable.
And it turns out Australian dairy farmers are right — moderate stature cows pay the bills.
In a world first, ABS Australia has overhauled the way it expresses a bull’s Type — the observable characteristics of its offspring — rewarding those sires which breed functional, long-lasting and profitable daughters.
Focusing on the ‘Sweet Spot’ in a bull’s genetic Type proof, this ABS strategy ensures dairy farmers are picking bulls that add value to their herd.
ABS Australia sales representative Alan Blum said the ‘Sweet Spot’ for functional Type — breeding for ideals and not the extremes — will put an end to tall, unproductive cows with close rear teats.
“Cows don’t lie, their production, longevity and health data tell us that they are more profitable and live longer if they are moderate in stature, not tall or small,” Alan said.
“If you looked at current Type proofs, you would find bulls with extreme right-handed linear falsely interpreted as excellent when in fact their Type has become undesirable, and alternatively many highly desirable bulls falsely interpreted as negative for Type.
“Australian dairy farmers should be able to easily select bulls for functional Type, not the show Type that HFAA prefer.”
Western Victorian dairy farmer Pat Sloane has been breeding for long-lasting, healthy
and profitable cows for the past decade.
Not surprisingly, his Holstein herd is moderate in stature, strong, produces well, gets in calf and converts feed well.
“We like the black and whites, we find they are a bit tougher and when it is dry they have the capacity to eat more concentrate and grains or even silage and produce more in late lactation,” Pat said.
“But we didn’t want an overly big cow, we wanted to downsize, and we need them to get in calf and produce milk.”
The ‘Sweet Spot’ strategy has been developed to assist with commercial breeding objectives and will make sire selection easier.
The ABS ‘Sweet Spot’ has been included in the genetic information of 27 Holstein bulls in the latest ABS Australia catalogue.
This easy-to-read bar graph lists the important linear traits but instead of scoring them according to a number, it ranks them from ‘undesirable’ to ‘ideal’ depending on the effect these individual traits have on a cow’s functionality, profit and longevity.
Alan said this interpretation of the effect these traits have on the profitability of a herd makes it easier to select for functional Type.
“The ‘Sweet Spot’ strategy is listening to the modern cows as they tell us what they should look like, then making a visual representation of what’s good for a long-lasting and profitable cow and what isn’t,” he said.
“We’ve expressed it in a bar chart with ‘ideal’ on the right-hand side working back to ‘undesirable’ on the left. Colours also help to make decisions easier.”
Western Victorian dairy farmers Pat Sloane and Nele Koemle have been breeding for longlasting, healthy and profitable cows for the past decade.
Know what’s going on
BY RICHARD MEREDITH
THE ONLY regret Lachlan Fry has about installing CowManager in his dairy herd is that he didn’t do it sooner.
Since installing the CowManager system in May 2023, Lachlan has nothing negative to say about that decision. It’s all been upside as far as he’s concerned.
Lachlan manages the family’s Katandra Park Stud, a 50 per cent Holstein, 50 per cent Jersey operation, milking 140 cows at Brunswick Junction in south-west Western Australia. He is the fourth generation of his family to dairy farm, currently leasing a farm which includes an 89ha milking platform and another 121ha for young stock and cropping. Around 60 per cent of the property can be irrigated, usually from October to April each year.
“We grow all our own fodder and feed a supplement customised dairy pellet, averaging around 8.5kg for the Holsteins and 6kg a day for the Jerseys,” Lachlan said.
“We don’t have a TMR system, so at this time, I felt the Nutrition module in CowManager was unnecessary for us. But we may look at it in time.”
For the past 18 months Lachlan has been running the Fertility and Health modules of the CowManager system, fully utilising the system for the first time for the 2023 spring joining.
Although they don’t calve all year round, they do have an extended calving period from August to April which suits the farm’s needs.
“Cows and the breeding side of things has been my passion from a very young age, so naturally you always take a greater interest in this side of the business,” Lachlan said.
“I strongly believe getting cows pregnant is one of the most important things on any dairy farm and CowManager has really contributed to those one percenters that really add up.
“It’s been so beneficial to picking up on non-cycling cows, cystic cows and general health issues before we do. And there’s the overnight heats you might just miss too. CowManager picks them up.
“It takes a bit of time to trust that the system is getting the timing right, but now I am confident in the system; in fact, we probably won’t pregnancy test in the future.”
While he thinks there’s been only a slight increase in conception rates, Lachlan is convinced that getting that precise window for AI has meant far less semen wastage, which is especially critical when using expensive sexed semen.
“It gives you the confidence to invest in good semen because you know you’re breeding the right cows at the right time.”
They now use no other methods of heat detection, relying entirely on CowManager to set the optimal timing for joining.
“Installing CowManager has given me greater freedom to be away from the farm and still be completely aware of what the cows are up too, their activity levels and breeding status all from my iPhone.
“I will often get a health alert that something suspicious is going on with a cow and I can check its rumination activity.
“If I’m not there I can get staff to check, often well before they have seen anything. I can get them to check a certain cow as soon as they come in in the morning.
“It’s just great reassurance and CowManager is very rarely wrong.”
Early alert notifications on a cow can mean getting treatments started earlier and reduce the severity of the impact of a health issue. The cow recovers quicker, and she is back in production sooner.
“It’s the accumulation of lots of little things that make CowManager so valuable,” Lachlan said.
“The information available on the system is very powerful. You really know what’s going on with your cows.
“I think without this kind of system in today’s dairy business environment, you’re behind the eight ball. You must know what’s going on.”
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WA dairy farmer Lachlan Fry and his niece, Stella Fry, helping feed one of the first calves born after installing the CowManager system.
Islanders glad to say cheese
BY GEOFF ADAMS
WHEN THE news came through that King Island Dairy was saved from closure, there were multiple businesses on the Bass Strait island which put up $500 each across the bar of the island’s hotel.
The ecstatic response to the purchase by two mainland entrepreneurs told us several things about the event — the central role the dairy business plays in the economic life of the island of 1600 people, and the close nature of the community.
The previous owner, multi-national dairy processor Saputo, had threatened to shut down the century-old cheesemaker if they couldn’t find a buyer.
And they were about to do so early this year.
King Island Tourism president and businessman Adam Hely points out the award-winning dairy is the major employer on the island.
“The enthusiastic new owners will need to undertake signi cant reform, restructuring and market evolution, then relaunch the brand accordingly.”
— King Island Mayor Marcus Blackie
“There are so many people connected with the business.
“We just can’t afford to lose employment, and things like the numbers of kids enrolled in the schools.
“There was a lot of anxiety about what would happen. Especially when you consider there are so many families relying on the business,” Adam said.
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Built to Last
“Most families have someone who is connected with the dairy.”
When island residents heard that Saputo couldn’t find a buyer, Adam said everyone felt dismayed.
“We could not believe that no-one was interested in it,” he said.
“When it went out for tender, there were 100 applications for documents.”
The island lies roughly between Victoria and Tasmania in the path of the roaring 40s and boasts Australia’s top golf course, according to Golfing Digest
The 18 holes stretch around the magnificent coastline, and regularly attracts golfers from the mainland.
Saputo announced last year that it intended to close its dairy factory in mid-2025.
But a last-minute offer by Australian businessmen, Nicholas Dobromilsky and Graeme Wilson in March, saw Saputo announce it had entered a binding agreement to sell the dairy.
historic King Island Dairy cheese company had been saved, but pointed out the company must pivot towards the future.
“The enthusiastic new owners will need to undertake significant reform, restructuring and market evolution, then relaunch the brand accordingly,” he said.
“I am confident that the council and all King Islanders will stand behind this necessary reform process and promote our born-again cheese company like never before.
“I strongly encourage the new owners to put the Australian flag back on our cheese products as a clarion call to the domestic and export markets that our legendary brand is back.
“Most didn’t think we could do it, but King Island as the underdog has again shown Australia what can be achieved by a courageous small country community.
“Blessed are the cheesemakers,” Marcus quoted from Monty Python’s Life of Brian
“I sincerely congratulate the new Australian owners, we look forward to meeting them very soon.
“The sale includes the King Island Dairy facility and brand, the on-site cheese store and two local farms that provide a guaranteed milk supply,” Saputo said.
Saputo offered assurances to current staff, saying they would be offered to transfer their employment to the new owner.
King Island Mayor Marcus Blackie said the
“King Island Dairy has been foreign-owned for 25 years now ... it is great to see them return to Australian ownership.”
He said both the brands and facility needed an “entrepreneurial” revamp, to ensure the historic brand would continue well into the future.
A motto posted on the wall of King Island Dairy cheese shop says it all.
The King Island Dairy factory.
Farmers nally improve
AFTER A horrendous past 18 months, dairy farmers in north Queensland are finally in a slightly better place, according to eastAusmilk CEO Eric Danzi
He said over the next three months, most farmers would have their milking herd numbers close to pre-wet levels of 2023. And milk yields should be close to 2023 numbers as well.
However, financially there is a long way to go to make up for the losses most farmers incurred over the past 18 months.
“Matt Hall and I travelled to Malanda, Millaa Millaa and Ravenshoe ... and held several workshops with farmers to discuss the recent trip to Finley, farm planning and milk pricing,” Mr Danzi said.
“As usual, our meetings were well attended and there was a lot of interest and enthusiasm from those who attended the trip to Finley.
“Many farmers were quite daunted by what they saw in Finley which was very different to what they are used to. But many also saw the opportunity to learn, be inspired and implement changes on their farm.”
Mr Danzi said farmers appreciated Mr Hall’s considerable expertise and experience in farm planning and extension.
“Between eastAUSmilk and DPI, over half of all dairy farmers in north Queensland now have farm plans, which is very encouraging.
“I look forward to the next phase of FBRP where the focus should move from developing plans for farmers to eastAUSmilk and DPI working jointly to support dairy farmers implement their plans.”
Mr Danzi said there was also a thorough discussion about milk pricing and contracts at the workshops.
“Again, Matt’s considerable experience was very helpful in providing farmers with a factual understanding of how milk pricing is undertaken,” he said.
“There is very little competition for milk in north Queensland given the two processors have very different requirements from their suppliers in most circumstances.”
He said changes to the milk price were needed to reverse the decline in milk production in north Queensland.
“International milk prices converted to Australian dollars are miles above what farmers in southern Australia are being paid.
“Many processors are consequently making high profits and raising prices through step-up this year.
“This competition for milk should significantly push up farmers’ milk prices in Victoria which should flow onto NSW, southern Queensland and north Queensland.”
FEED YOUR FARM
North Queensland farmers finally have a more positive outlook.
Robot investment delivers
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
THE JACOBS family has been calling the Mt Compass district in South Australia home for 100 years — initially they started out growing vegies and milking a couple of cows.
The family didn’t move into dairying until Warren’s Dad bought a local farm and started milking 120 cows back in the early 1950s.
Warren bought a neighbouring farm, Whispering Pines, in 1992, and converted it back to a dairy.
Over the ensuing years, both the herd and farm sizes have grown to include 440 cows on 324ha, and an additional dairy partnership milking 350 cows on a separate property.
The milking platform consists of around 202ha, which includes 60ha of irrigation.
Any surplus pasture is harvested for silage, but the majority of their hay and silage requirements are bought in.
The family has been supplying South Australian processor La Casa Del Formaggio for a decade.
“They are an Italian cheese maker producing bocconcini, mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, haloumi, parmesan and mascarpone and they have looked after us as suppliers very well,” Warren said.
In March 2024, a 10-year dream was finally realised when the family — Warren and Jane, business partner Perrin and Kelly Hicks and son Asher and partner Jenny, started milking with eight Lely Astronaut robots.
The decision to install the robots was well-researched and included trips to Tasmania, Gippsland and northern Victoria, looking at other robotic systems.
It was also a financial one, made even more sound when they soon worked out the robots would save a couple of labour units and help reduce the physical workload.
The family has just passed its first anniversary with the new system, and while it was a bit of a learning curve at the start, Warren said the robots had delivered across every aspect.
“One of the biggest surprises has been how much better the cows now graze the pasture,” Warren said.
They have access to three different paddocks a day with a grazing window of about eight hours each.
They are voluntary milked and make up their own minds about where they go, but on average, Warren said they were milked 2.5 times a day.
He said the majority of the cows picked up
the system in a couple of months.
“We put the heifers in with the cows about a month before they calve so they are familiar with how the system works, and from that aspect, it has all been pretty easy,” Warren said.
Warren said took some getting used to seeing cows coming and going from the shed at all hours of the day.
“In the past we had one herd that just went into one paddock, but now the cows wander past each other say hello for 10 minutes and then head off in different directions,” he said.
Warren said while the herd already had pretty good fertility, the robots had helped pick up cows on heat and that combined with a double ovsynch program, has seen fertility stable, with some gains on the second mating.
“The robots will also give our cows an extra lactation in their lifetime, requiring fewer replacement heifers, along with improved cow health, lower cell count and ultimately a better lifestyle for us with a work day starting around 7am and finishing around 4pm,” he said.
Each robot has the potential to milk 70 cows, and the family plans on increasing herd numbers in the future to around 500.
Warren said they recently installed an 80 kilowatt solar system to help with increasing power costs.
He is expecting the system to be cost
positive in about two years.
“Our power usage has increased with robots, however, with more even milkings during the day, our power bill has been the same,” Warren said.
“The advantage is solar will help us with power usage during the day and battery storage should enable us to better utilise the power we generate.”
Warren said while the family was excited about the installation of the robots, it had been a tough year to invest with South Australia going through one of its toughest droughts on record.
“It has been dry since we put the robots in – a dry winter, spring and now autumn, has meant we have really had to rely on our irrigated area which has performed well,” he said.
“We have had to buy a lot of hay in, which has been expensive, and eroded some of our profit.
“The cooler weather has helped, but we are
still waiting for a break and are anxious about what the coming year will bring.
“We are trying to be positive and are dry seeding and fertilising in the hope of a good year ahead.”
Warren Jacobs (left) with his son Asher and partner Jenny.
The Jacob family has installed eight robots on their SA dairy farm in March 2024.
The cows have taken to the new system and there have been many benefits including an extra lactation over the life of each cow.
Show is a dream come true
BY SOPHIE BALDWIN
IT’S ALL systems go for this year’s National Herd Development Victorian Winter Fair, with the much loved dairy show set for July 1 to 3 at the Bendigo Showgrounds.
Following on from a change to the program last year, the showmanship and junior judging will again be held on Tuesday, making day one all about the youth.
The dry heifer and milking classes will follow on Wednesday and Thursday.
Organiser Clare Modra said she is looking forward to this year’s show.
“I would like to thank National Herd Development who are our major sponsor again for 2025 along with Trans Ova who are sponsoring the youth show and Stockyard Industries and Easyfix who have taken on the red show,” Clare said.
The team is expecting 2025 to be just as successful as other years, despite the tough conditions currently experienced in some dairying regions.
For Emily Robins, this year will be extra special as the 23-year-old is taking on the role of associate judge.
“I actually cried when Clare asked me because
I can remember saying to her after the very first Winter Fair that one day I am going to be the associate judge and here I am,” Emily said.
“I can remember when I was little winning the junior judging competition and now I get to be part of the judging.
“It’s also pretty cool considering my dad was part of the original team that got the Winter Fair up and running.”
Emily’s involvement in the Winter Fair might have begun with participation in the youth classes but she has always followed its progress and been involved one way or another.
She has also taken the opportunity to learn from the many judges who have presided over the ring.
“I can’t believe I get to work with one of the great judges in Kevin Doeberiener as well,” Emily said.
Dairying and showing have always been a huge part of Emily’s life growing up on the family farm at Cohuna.
“You either have the dairy bug or you don’t and, as tough as the industry is at times, the show ring always seems to bring everyone together,” she said.
Emily currently works at National Herd Development evaluating cows.
She participated in the Judging School in 2023
and last year judged the Rochester Show. “The champion cow ended up being owned by people who I worked for when I was 13 so that was another full circle moment for me,” she said.
Emily will be joined in the ring by Kevin Doeberiener who operates Queens Manor Farm in West Salem, Ohio, in the United States.
Queens Manor’s mission is to purchase, raise, develop and market high type and deep pedigree animals across all breeds.
Kevin has owned and exhibited several All American and All Canadian Holsteins and Jerseys, and has garnered numerous other nominations.
Kevin’s prior judging experiences include country fairs, district shows, associate judge at the 2021 WDE Jersey Show and the 2022 Midwest National Spring Red and White and Jersey Show.
Entries for the 2025 Winter Fair are now open.
For more information, visit Victorian Winter Fair on Facebook or https://victorianwinterfair.wixsite.com/Victorian-winter-f-1
RENEWED INTEREST IN AUSSIE JERSEYS
AUSTRALIAN JERSEY genetics could soon be back on the agenda for New Zealand farmers.
ST Genetics breeding consultant Jean Macky is sending a strong message to farmers in NZ – it’s time to look at Aussie Jerseys.
ST Genetics distributes Genetics Australia semen in NZ and Jean joined her GA colleagues and several Kiwi farmers on the recent World Jersey Conference tour in Australia.
“I love the capacious style of the Australian cow and I need to convince more New Zealanders about them,” she said.
“There is a misconception that cows are treated differently in Australia and there is a different style of farming, but in reality, it’s very similar.
“Generally, the NZ Jersey has become too small, in my opinion, and I think they lack a bit of the depth and strength of Australian Jerseys,” she said.
“They seem to be getting smaller and winters are very tough in NZ, but we can learn a lot from Australia.”
“A lot of farmers have gone into KiwiCross, but if they could see this modern style of Jersey cow, they probably wouldn’t have gone into the cross-breed.
“They wanted to get away from the smaller and bigger cows so they’ve created this mid-sized cow – but that’s what the Jersey
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Jean said she was pleased to see so many NZ farmers joining the Australian tour.
While Jersey numbers are growing in most countries, they have been declining in NZ.
“Hopefully after this trip, demand will really grow because we’ve seen so many
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good cows and I will be trying to spread that word,” she said.
Jersey New Zealand president Julie Pirie also joined the tour to Australia and said she wanted to reverse a trend that has seen the breed in decline over the past two decades.
“The future for Jerseys in NZ should be bright; the issue is the mindset of farmers who need to understand that milking modern-day Jerseys is different to milking Jerseys from 20 years ago,” Julie said.
“We’ve got a stronger animal that can withstand a lot tougher conditions than 20 years ago.”
“Jersey cows are better able to withstand the effects of increased temperature, convert feed into milk far more efficiently than other breeds, and because they have a smaller frame, they are better for our soils and environment.
“It’s a matter of convincing farmers to move away from KiwiCross.”
Jersey Australia, Genetics Australia and Agri-Gene will have a site at Mystery Creek Field Days in June to promote the breed.
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ST Genetics breeding consultant Jean Macky and Genetics Australia export manager Rob Derksen at TLG Camperdown.
Jersey New Zealand president Julie Pirie attended the World Jersey Conference.
Emily Robins with Eclipse Moovin Mae 4th VG85 at the Echuca Show where she won the junior three class.
Vet suggests feeding rethink
A VISITING American veterinarian is encouraging Australian dairy farmers to rethink their calf feeding regime.
Dr Liz Cox, who oversees agricultural animal care in California, says feeding more to calves earlier, basing their feed on dry matter solids instead of litres and using a step-down approach to the milk feeding program can lead to long-term health and production benefits.
She has also encouraged Australian farmers to feed the first lot of colostrum to calves within six hours of birth.
Dr Cox, who has been hosted in Australia by ProviCo, has met farmers, suppliers and veterinarians in NSW and Victoria to stress the importance of feeding calves early and well.
“Research shows that as we feed calves more, we improve health and gains and we help them to reach the producer’s goal of having a healthy cow that makes more milk,” she said.
Dr Cox oversees the animal care program for California’s Department of Food and Agriculture and also consults nationally with Calf Compas and around the world on calf nutrition and health. Her previous work within the industry included Merck Animal Health (MSD in Australia) and Purina Land O’Lakes.
This was her second visit to Australia and included a forum on calf nutrition with farmer suppliers at ProviCo’s Dennington milk processing facility.
During her week in Australia, she also met with farmers and veterinarians in NSW and Victoria to teach about thoracic ultrasonography of calves.
Dr Cox said farmers should aim to get the first feed of colostrum into calves within six hours of
birth to improve immunity and reduce the risk of disease.
“If you can’t do that, ensure you feed the colostrum as soon as you’re able due to drop off of the efficacy in the immunity response,” she said.
Dr Cox said farmers should monitor the colostrum program by testing it and consider enriching lower quality colostrum by using a colostrum enhancer.
“You need to ensure the colostrum is greater than 22 per cent on the Brix reading.”
Farmers should also assess overall colostrum
by taking a blood sample from calves 48 to 72 hours after they are born.
“Vets can test the sample for total serum protein which gives an estimate of how well your system is working for feeding colostrum,” Dr Cox said.
After colostrum when moving calves over to milk, she said farmers need to feed 1.5 to two per cent of body weight at kilograms of dry matter of milk solids — and not just think in litres.
“People traditionally thought in volume because they were feeding milk from the vat to
calves. Now we can feed milk replacer or milk that has powder added to it so you can’t just think in litres, you have to think in dry matter because it can be a different amount.
“The important thing is how many grams of dry matter fed to calves, which is the same way you would think about how you feed your cows.
Remember that the pre-weaning period has lifelong effects on her health and production.”
At the Dennington forum, Dr Cox said farmers could increase the volume of feed or the number of times they fed their calves each day, but she stressed that consistent feeding routines were vitally important.
She also said there was a limit to how much dry matter feed could be safely consumed by calves, and warned that calves were susceptible to cold stress.
“I advocate twice a day feeding to minimise stresses and while there are ways such as shelters or jackets to protect them from cold stress, the way we feed them can also help.”
Dr Cox recommended a step-down approach to the milk feeding program to promote earlier transition to starter feed.
“Increased feeding of milk solids early in life, grows a larger calf who is then able to eat more starter feed during the steps down in milk offered,” she said.
“Pre-weaning average daily gain above 0.5kg/ day can enhance the first lactation performance of heifers. The best indicator that she is ready to wean is consuming 2kg of starter feed daily.”
Dr Cox’s visit to Australia included seven forums at Dennington and Allansford in southwest Victoria, Echuca in northern Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
HEAT-TOLERANT BULLS ARE HOT
SEVEN YEARS ago, Trevor Parrish’s bull-buying clients were asking about the new Heat Tolerance Australian Breeding Value.
Now it doesn’t rate a mention, unless it is hot. But that’s not because the NSW bull-breeder’s clients don’t care about heat tolerance.
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It’s quite the contrary. These farmers, who are mostly in NSW and Queensland, consider heat tolerance one of the core breeding values that make up a sustainable and efficient animal.
These farmers, who milk up to 2000 cows, expect high Balanced Performance Index bulls to have an above average Heat Tolerance ABV.
“Clients, they are thinking longer term, we have to select for it,” Trevor, from Kangaroo Valley, said.
“Into the future, they are going to want more of a compact cow, a cow that can handle just about everything.
“A smaller cow, with good feet, that can walk more, and convert feed into milk. A cow that’s efficient.
“Heat tolerance is part of that efficiency. As a breeder, you are trying to cover all the bases and heat
tolerance, now it has an ABV, is part of a solid, good quality cow.”
DataGene’s Good Bulls Guide reflects the growing focus on breeding heat-tolerant bulls.
In DataGene’s August 2024 ABV release, one third (197) of the Holstein Good Bulls had a Heat Tolerance ABV of 100 or more — which is the Australian average.
Included in this group were 34 Holsteins which scored at least 105 for heat tolerance; this means they are five per cent more tolerant to hot and/or humid conditions than the average. Or the fall in production due to these conditions would be five per cent less than average. This compares to a small number of bulls that ranked more than 100 for heat tolerance back in December 2016, when the breeding value was first released.
Australia was the first country in the world to have a Heat Tolerance ABV.
See the full story at: https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/news/heat-tolerant-bulls-redefine-breeding/
Trevor Parrish aims to breed dairy cattle with a high BPI and a Heat Tolerance ABV above 100.
Dr Liz Cox has met farmers, suppliers and veterinarians in NSW and Victoria to stress the importance of feeding calves early and well.
Sorting the fact from fiction
PROBIOTICS NOW sit front and centre in the dairy section of most supermarkets, and rightly so.
Known for improving digestion, boosting immunity, and even enhancing mental wellbeing in humans, the benefits are there for all to see.
So, are we about to see a similar trend sweep the livestock industry?
Calf-rearers know that good gut health is critical to raising healthy calves that grow up to be productive cows.
A well-functioning gastrointestinal tract is essential for nutrient absorption, leading to improvements in liveweight gain.
However, periods of stress such as disease and dietary transitions can impact gut health.
A diet supplemented with probiotics can promote a balanced intestinal microbiome and help overcome these challenges.
But when it comes to purchasing a probiotic for your calves, how can you sort the fact from fiction?
Firstly, it’s important to look at the active ingredients in each product, whether it has independent certification, and what scientific research the company has conducted, if any.
Terragen has recently launched its new dry probiotic powder, Probiotic for Ruminants, containing three strains of performance-enhancing Lactobacillus bacteria, scientifically proven to improve liveweight gains in calves.
A single gram of Terragen Probiotic for
Ruminants delivers a minimum of 13 billion beneficial live microbes. To put that into perspective, if each bacteria were a grain of sand, that would be enough to cover more than 12 tennis courts.
Terragen is independently certified through FAMI-QS — a globally recognised scheme ensuring specialised feed supplement safety.
We test the number of microbes in every batch of product from factory to farm. This ensures that our products deliver the benefits that we say it will, and that you’re paying for.
Our probiotic is backed by scientific research, too.
Calves on Terragen Probiotic for Ruminants wean up to 10 days earlier, are on average eight per cent heavier at weaning, and have improved gut development for better digestion and nutrition — which is essential for the animal’s future productivity.
Perhaps most importantly, the product is easy-to-use, it has a two-year life span and is stored in the fridge in resealable sachets. It is administered by being mixed into milk or milk replacer.
So, when it comes to choosing the probiotic to improve your herd’s health, don’t skip the science.
To find out more, visit Terragen.com.au, contact one of our local representatives, or drop into your trusted rural retailer.
ɋ By Dr Tom Bayes, Terragen’s Animal Health Lead.
Terragen’s Probiotic for Ruminants. Inset, Dr Tom Bayes, Terragen’s Animal Health Lead.
Shelters provide rooms with
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•Convenient and easy-to-use
KENT AND Annette Anderson’s cows enjoy the ultimate room with a view as they give birth under shelter on the rolling hills overlooking Stanley in northern Tasmania.
But it’s not the scenic attraction of The Nut in the background that appeals to Kent and Annette, it’s the health and welfare benefits that come from birthing in a Dairy Shelters Australia structure.
Kent and Annette moved to Vegasoul’s Spring Farm in 2023 after sharefarming for three years at the owner’s sister farm, Nutview, where they were introduced to the benefits of calving under shelter.
After supervising calving in the paddocks for more than 20 years in the dairy industry, they weren’t about to go back.
“We had a calving barn on the other farm and when we calved here last year without it, we said we’d never calve without a shelter ever again,” Kent said.
The farms are owned by a Hong Kong investor and overseen by New Zealand consultant Hamish Edge.
Kent and Annette are sharefarmers on a milk solids basis. With support from two full-time staff and two backpackers, they milk 720 HolsteinJersey cross-bred cows on about 340 hectares.
The farm had a Holstein herd under the previous owner but changed to the cross-bred system to increase milk solids and to lessen the impact of the cows on the land.
“We get a lot of rain,” Kent said.
“We don’t talk inches; we talk metres.”
Kent and Annette enjoy a close relationship with the farm management and were keen to
discuss the best shelter options, not only to create a better environment for the cows but to protect the land.
And that’s where the Dairy Shelters Australia structure became an essential part of the farm’s infrastructure – with more likely to come.
“We put the calving shelter in this year and it’s bloody brilliant,” Kent said.
“All we had before was an open calving pad and it always got boggy and muddy.”
The Nutview farm had a traditional enclosed barn and while that was helpful, Kent and Annette discussed the option of the clear roof, deep litter Dairy Shelters Australia shelter with Hamish and their former vet, Neil Leighton, who has now joined the Dairy Shelters Australia team.
“For an enclosed shed this size you’re looking at $350-$400,000 but the Dairy Shelters Australia option was considerably cheaper and we think it’s even better with the sunlight and warmth they let in,” Kent said.
“We found out some more information about Dairy Shelters Australia and then met them at AgFest and it all happened very quickly.”
The decision to build two side-by-side shelters was made in May last year, but with calving due to start on August 5, the pressure was on.
With no builders available locally, a team from Victoria flew down to do the work.
“We were worried about the weather, so they organised a team to come across from the mainland,” Annette said.
“They got here in June and had it up in 13 days. They were great. It was bloody cold, but they
a view for calving cows
were here at half past five in the morning and worked till it was dark.”
The shelters were ready in time and the 2024 calving period finished with great success.
“There are so many benefits,” Annette said.
“Your cows are warm and dry and right there beside the dairy. The clear roof brings in the sunshine and warmth, so it’s better for the cows and people.”
“You don’t have health issues like you do out in the paddocks and you don’t trash your paddocks when they’re in the shelter,” Kent said.
The existing calf shed was at maximum capacity so part of the new shelter was partitioned off to house some older calves.
The success has prompted Kent and Annette to start planning more clear-roof shelters for raising calves and housing cows during the harsh Tasmanian winters.
“We’ve got 1000 square metres with the current calving shelter, but if we bumped it out to 6000 square metres, on a bad day the cows could go into the paddock and eat for two hours and then come back to the shelter,” Kent said.
“It would be much better than being in the water and the mud.
“They could lay down in the warmth and they wouldn’t be trashing the paddocks and we wouldn’t have the cost of repairing pastures all the time.
“There are multiple health benefits for the cows and you reduce the risk of many calving-related diseases if they are warmer and sheltered.
“You always get one of two stillborn calves, but you don’t lose any due to the elements. This time of year, can be pretty tough here.
Kent and Annette said the Dairy Shelters Australia shelters were good for the reputation of the industry.
“There are a lot of people who don’t understand what farmers have to do at calving time,” Kent said.
“You might see a dead cow, but it’s not the fault of the farmer; it’s what sometimes happens in dairying.
“But with these, you reduce the risk of things going wrong because they’re in a better environment and they’re in a safer spot where we can check on them.
“By having the shelter, we alleviate a lot of that risk so it’s got to be good for the industry.”
There has been a lot of interest in the structures.
“We’ve had so many neighbours call in to have a look and they’re all impressed,” Annette said.
“This is the way that things are going to go.”
While they have no plans to go a total barn system, Kent and Annette said having multiple clear-roof shelters would bring great management flexibility.
“From October to May it lends itself to get the cows outside here,” Kent said.
“We’d like the capacity to house them all over the winter months and just give them a few hours out in the paddock to eat and then they can come back here out of the elements.
“It’s better for the cows, the paddocks and the farmers.”
ɋ For more information, go to: https:// dairysheltersaustralia.com.au/ or https:// www.facebook.com/dairysheltersaustralia/
Kent and Annette Anderson are happy with the health and welfare benefits that come from their cows birthing in a shelter.
The cows enjoy their room with a view in northern Tasmania.
Saliva is free liquid gold
WHEN THE calf suckles in the same slow, controlled way they do from a cow, it stimulates the production of saliva which has several beneficial functions for the calf.
The Milk Bar calf feeding system activates the suckling action required for proper saliva production.
Immune support
Saliva is rich in lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase, enzyme systems with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that boost the immunity of the calf.
Lactoferrin is an important part of the immune response and inflammation. It increases immune defence by inducing a broad spectrum of antimicrobial effects against microbial infections.
Lactoperoxidase (LP) oxidises groups of enzymes and proteins which are essential to microbial metabolism. This alters the metabolism of bacteria and causes lesions or changes in the bacterial cell which reduces the bacteria’s ability to multiply.
Improved digestibility
The digestive processes start with saliva which contains pre-gastric lipase. This enzyme is required for the digestion of fats and the breakdown of milk fat to energy starts when contact is made with the pre-gastric lipase rich saliva.
Saliva plays a crucial role in altering the pH in the abomasum and creates an optimal environment for curding. Saliva is alkaline
while milk is almost neutral
Before feeding, conditions in the abomasum are acidic with a pH of around 5.6.
As the calf suckles, the milk and saliva mix to form an alkaline mixture. When this alkaline mixture meets the acid in the abomasum it coagulates into a creamy curd. The lactose in the curd is broken down to glucose and galactose which are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Without sufficient saliva production, the optimum pH for coagulation is not met, which inhibits proper curd formation in the abomasum.
This can lead to raw milk and lactose, entering the intestines were it provides an excellent nutrient source for bacteria, such as E.coli, to feed on and multiply. This is the leading cause of nutritional scours in preweaned calves.
Cross-sucking impacts
Heifers cross-sucking on the immature udders of their pen-mates can lead to the premature removal of the keratin plugs which protect the teat canal from infection.
Calves that are repeatedly ‘bunted’ suffer damage to the developing mammary glands that can result in blind quarters.
As one of their natural survival mechanisms, calves are instinctively ‘wired’ to suckle for a period of time to prevent starvation. This is called the suckling instinct.
The gut and brain work in synergy, and after some time spent suckling, neurological feedback tells the calf she’s had enough and to stop suckling.
When a calf drinks her milk too quickly from a fast flowing teat, this communication fails. The milk is finished but the brain is telling her to keep suckling. She then tries to suckle on other calves or her surroundings, until the suckling urge switch’s off.
By controlling milk speed, the suckling instinct is satisfied so calves are quiet and content after feeding.
Milk Bar teats activate the suckling action required for proper saliva production to increase immune protection and improve the digestibility of fats and lactose.
The controlled flow satisfies the suckling instinct to protect calves from cross suckling damage.
For more information about the Milk Bar calf feeding system, go to: https://milkbar. co.nz/
• Next generation, iron-based, all weather slug & snail bait with technology for maximum attractiveness, palatability and persistence •Gentle on the environment, crops and non-target organisms
•Nil withholding period for grazing and harvest •Certified input for organic production
(pH8.2)
(pH6.7).
Making history
VICTORIAN DAIRY farmer Daryl Fleming chuckles as he acknowledges that locals have christened the district around his family’s Willung farm, ‘Flemingville’.
Daryl’s Irish great-grandfather and his English wife originally settled the farm near Traralgon around 1910, and their nine children and descendants proceeded to buy adjoining farmland throughout the valley.
Daryl, his wife Emma, and two of his three sons, Lachlan and Ethan, are the fourth and fifth generations of the family operating a 486ha dairy, hay and contracting business, milking 375 cows twice a day.
“We all have designated roles. Lachlan is in charge of fodder and silage production — the making, carting and feeding of it on-farm; and Emma, Ethan and I handle the day-to-day running of the herd, and we have beef country too. It all works well,” Daryl said.
It’s not surprising that a fleet of John Deere machinery is integral to the smooth running of the business, especially since Lachlan’s first word was
not mum or dad, but “tractor”.
It’s definitely all about the machines and new technology for now 22-year-old Lachlan.
“We run a range of John Deere 6M Series tractors and Combi balers and for us, the choice was easy, because these machines are reliable, tough and fuel-efficient workhorses,” Lachlan said.
“There’s never a day when we don’t have to feed cows, so it’s nice to be able to jump in a tractor and know it’s going to run reliably.
“It’s very important that we get crops in on time too, so the machines have to run at 110 per cent every day.
“The John Deere tech ecosystem is all integrated and easy for operators to use, and the Operations Center remote display means that anyone can jump in at any stage and go.”
Read the full story at: https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/machinery-and-products/ five-generations-rely-on-john-deere-to-makehistory/
McIntosh Multi Bale Feeders
McIntosh Multi Bale Feeders
McIntosh Multi Bale Feeders
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IF YOU ARE ALARGEHERD OWNERAND DOMULTIPAL TRIPSFEEDINGYOURHERDS, THEN THE McINTOSHMULTI4 ORMULTI5 BALE FEEDER IS THE MACHINE FOR YOU.
Theseaward winning bale feedershave been carefullydesigned tohandle all typesof Round bale silage andhay,withoutfuss. With it’sbale capacity, clever design and rugged construction, that makesthe Multibale feeder simple and easy to operate.
Theseaward winning bale feedershave been carefullydesigned tohandle all typesof Round bale silage andhay,withoutfuss. With it’sbale capacity, clever design and rugged construction, that makesthe Multibale feeder simple and easy to operate.
These award winning bale feeders have been carefully designed to handle all types of Round bale silage and hay, without fuss. With it’s bale capacity, clever design and rugged construction, that makes the Multi bale feeder simple and easy to operate.
Daryl Fleming (left) and his son Lachlan are the fourth and fifth generations of the family farming at Willung in Victoria.
