Dairy News Australia July 2021

Dairy’s outlook positive PAGE 3 BACK IN THE SHOW RING

STOCKFEEDS FEATURE

The 2021 Winter Fair returns to Bendigo.

PAGE 10

Get the most out of your herd this winter.

PAGE 23

JULY, 2021 ISSUE 129 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

FLOOD DISASTER Widespread flooding in Gippsland sees dairy farmers lose stock, pasture and infrastructure. PAGE 4

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 3

Positive outlook WITH FARMER confidence

Planning for farming freedom. PG.14

Grants support innovation. PG.15

and consumer optimism high, much of Australia’s dairy industry has been riding on a wave of positivity over the past few months, according to Dairy Australia’s June 2021 S­ ituation and Outlook report.

Improved operating conditions, robust domestic demand and supportive global fundamentals have continued to underpin a reasonably strong market outlook.

Dairy Australia senior industry analyst Sofia Omstedt said it was expected to result in an improved bottom line for most dairy farms.

“A vast majority of farm businesses are expecting to make an operating profit this season, and having seen favourable weather conditions, industry confidence has bounced back,” she said.

“Several factors, including higher opening milk prices in 2021–22, suggest this momentum could be maintained well into next season.”

Favourable operating conditions have had a substantial impact on industry sentiment, as demonstrated by the latest National Dairy Farmer Survey

(NDFS), which shows 64 per cent of f­ armers are feeling positive about the future of the dairy industry, up 20 per cent from last year.

Furthermore, 88 per cent of respondents are anticipating making an operating profit in 2020–21, with 63 per cent of these farmers expecting profits to be higher than the five-year average.

National milk production is expected to be stable in 2020– 21, with minimal volume change compared to the season prior.

Looking ahead, several factors point to possible modest milk ­ production growth in 2021–22.

Dairy Australia’s initial forecasts suggest zero per cent to two per cent growth relative to this year, which would equate to a national milk pool of between 8.80 and 8.97 billion litres.

In light of otherwise supportive conditions, high beef prices and strong land values have continued to weigh on the national dairy herd and encourage farm exits, while flooding and the ongoing mouse plague have presented acute issues in the affected areas.

There is an increased

demand for branded products over ­ private label variants, which is seeing the sales value of all major dairy p ­ roducts soar.

Consumers are, however, going to the store less often and buying more items and bigger packs when they do.

Globally, milk output from the four largest exporters — New ­Zealand, the United States, the European Union plus the UK, and Australia — has been steadily increasing. Growth rates have ranged between one per cent and two per cent for much of the past year.

Global demand has so far absorbed the additional milk produced, by outpacing supply growth.

Greater China (China, Macau and Hong Kong) remains the key driver of this.

While global fundamentals remain positive for the ­Australian industry, the ongoing labour shortage remains a concern and any deterioration in feed supply also presents a risk.

Dairy Australia’s quarterly ­Situation and Outlook report is available at: www.dairyaustralia.com.au/sando

Milk prices continue to rise

Helping hand for new career. PG.20

NEWS ����������������������������������������������������� 3-22 OPINION ����������������������������������������������������� 6 MARKETS ��������������������������������������������12-13 STOCKFEEDS FEATURE ���������� 23-28 ANIMAL HEALTH ��������������������������29-30 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS ��������������������������������������� 31-35

PROCESSORS ARE continuing to offer step ups to their opening milk prices, as competition for milk continues to grow.

Fonterra once again revised its average farm gate milk price on June 25, the second time the processor has reviewed their price.

The June revision saw Fonterra Australia increase its milk price for the 2021–22 season to $6.95/kg MS — a 10 cent rise on the processor’s previous revision.

Fonterra Australia managing director Rene Dedoncker said the price rise takes the company to the “top end of the forecast range” Fonterra provided when it opened on May 10.

Mr Dedoncker said the price “reflects our commitment to supporting our farmers and paying a competitive milk price”.

Since the opening milk prices were released on June 1, dairy processors have been steadily competing their way

up to an across-the-board $7/ kg MS milk price.

On June 10, Bega Cheese lifted its farmgate milk price above the $7 mark for northern Victorian suppliers and to $6.94/kg MS for their southern Victoria and south-east Australian producers.

Bega had announced a $7/kg milk solids price on June 1, but on June 10 lifted this to $7.09/ kg for northern Victoria and the southern Riverina.

PROCESSOR FINED Brownes Dairy has been fined $22,200 after the ACCC issued it with two infringement notices for allegedly failing to comply with the Dairy Code of Conduct last year.

The ACCC issued Brownes Dairy two infringement notices for publishing two standard form milk supply agreements (exclusive and exclusive A2) on its website in June 2020 which allegedly did not comply with the code by: • not specifying a definite end date of the supply period; • allowing Brownes Dairy to unilaterally vary the agreement in circumstances other than those specified in the Dairy Code; • allowing Brownes Dairy to unilaterally vary the agreement without the variations being in writing; and • allowing Brownes Dairy to unilaterally reduce the minimum price for milk supplied in circumstances other than those specified in the dairy code.

“One of the requirements of the dairy code is that processors ensure their milk supply ­agreements are compliant before publishing them on their w ­ ebsites, and in this instance Brownes Dairy published two supply agreements that were allegedly non-compliant with the code,” ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said.

Brownes Dairy has addressed the ACCC’s concerns in the 2021-22 agreements which it published last month.

Brownes Dairy also undertook to write to farmers that it had contracts with, advising that it will only exercise its rights under existing agreements to the extent they are consistent with the terms of these new agreements.

“Ensuring compliance with the Dairy Code remains an ACCC priority. We are continuing to assess agreements published on 1 June this year, and any identified breaches may result in the ACCC taking enforcement action where appropriate,” Mr Keogh said.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

4 // NEWS

Flood disaster for farmers JEANETTE SEVERS

AUTHORITIES WERE caught unprepared for the scale of disaster when a storm and widespread flooding occurred simultaneously across Gippsland in early June.

One of Victoria’s worst hit regions has experienced successive, regular and severe fire and flood events, and yet in late June, Gippsland dairy farmers were still waiting for government agencies to decide who was responsible for clearing roads and farms of flood debris.

“I don’t care who’s responsible, I just want them to come and take away the flood debris so I can repair my fences and pasture,” Alan Wolford said, after a two-metre wall of water inundated his and neighbours’ farms, depositing trees, branches and other debris from Cowwarr Weir, Rainbow Creek and Thompson River.

With widespread power outages and blocked roads affecting their operations, dairy farmers were focused on animal welfare and health issues as well as repairing fences and laneways, and accessing fuel for their generators.

The dairy industry in Gippsland is worth about half of the region’s $7 billion food and fibre economic value.

Which has farmers asking the question, should the region’s dairy farms be at the second tier for emergency response, or be upgraded to the same level as hospitals and milk processor companies?

The Saputo factory at Leongatha and the Burra Foods factory at Korumburra were without electricity for more than a day as AusNet worked to restore grid connection. Many farmers were offline for at least a week.

The flood early warning system was also ­questioned.

State Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath recently asked in Victoria’s Parliament why Gippsland residents were warned about flooding four hours after they were already knee-deep in water, paddocks and workplaces were inundated and their homes were uninhabitable.

“There is just utter devastation,” she said.

“Gippsland farmers were aware there was a big storm coming, but there weren’t sufficient warnings in place.

“I don’t think the state government has realised the enormity of the workload in repairing and replacing private assets — the emergency management services don’t appear to recognise the enormity of the impact of this storm and flooding on our region, and what they have to do in order to be responsive to the needs of farmers.

“The safety of livestock is a critical issue, because these are a major asset for farmers.

“Then there’s also the exhaustion that comes from working without power and for the extra workload in cleaning up after storms.

“Farmers like to be recognised for the value they provide as food producers. They bear it on broad shoulders, but it comes at a financial, ­physical and mental cost.”

The Tarwin River was one of many Gippsland rivers in flood, and impacting on dairy farms.

Dairy farmers are counting the cost of drying off herds early, dealing with severe mastitis among other animal health issues, disposing of dead livestock, recovering damaged pasture, fixing broken fences, replacing ruined hay and silage, production losses, dumped milk, and infrastructure damage.

No-one has walked away unscathed, but the impacts vary from farm to farm.

A few years ago, Andrew and Ange Bayley, of Yarragon, began installing underground drainage pipes through their farm to mitigate flood impacts.

Andrew believes the investment made the difference in June, as he avoided the problems of previous years which neighbouring farmers were still dealing with.

“We had about 90-odd millimetres; farmers north of us had over 200 mm,” he said.

“The cows were in that section of the farm where it normally floods, but with the under-

ground drainage, those paddocks went from the wettest to the best paddocks.”

Power went out over the Wednesday night, but was restored for milking.

Farmers around Yarram, Jack River and Buffalo found themselves without power for at least a week, on roads isolated by debris, and had to make some strategic decisions around drying herds early.

For those who were milking through, it will mean production losses.

Many farmers also rely on electric fences to contain their livestock — and without electricity that created another issue of wandering cattle.

Kerrie Collins, of Buffalo, said their power was off for a week.

“We’ve got a generator for the dairy; it runs enough for milking but not for the electric fences. We’ve had to round up cows because a lot of trees fell onto fences.

STORMS LEAVE DAIRY FARMERS POWERLESS Peter Young found his milk was in demand more than usual after storms hit Gippsland on June 9.

Peter, who milks cows at Buffalo in South Gippsland, used a tractor-driven PTO-shaft diesel 70KVA generator to run the dairy and keep his milk vat cold.

Unfortunately, many of his neighbours were unable to cool their milk in vats, so milk processors were allocating farm pickups to mix the hot and cold milk, to avoid bacterial contamination.

It was a highlight in a week where Peter was couch-surfing, because his own home was without power — for lights, heating, cooking or water.

“I installed this generator at the dairy about a year ago and it’s paid for itself now,” Peter said.

Using 150 litres of diesel a day, running 14 hours a day, he was happy to see Evans Petroleum’s truck arrive two days after the storm, to refill his on-farm fuel storage.

Peter’s first priority was milking his cows; his next priority was clearing trees on access roads, laneways and fences.

He had to wait about a week for AusNet Services to restore power to his house, and he spent the week sleeping on his parents’ couch. Their home was also powered by the generator.

“I had to run the PTO-driven generator down the shed for 14 hours a day; and disconnect it when the milk truck came in,” Peter said.

“The generator ran the dairy, the vat, the electric fences, and cooking, light and water at Mum’s and Dad’s house.

“The fridge and freezers are in the cow shed, and they and Mum’s and Dad’s house could keep going on it. But we couldn’t

have hot water at either my parents’ or the dairy.

“I put the milk heater in the drum, so it was a bit of mucking around but it meant I had warm water to clean the dairy. I was able to keep the plant clean enough and keep the vat chilled at the right temperature, that the milk quality wasn’t affected.”

Peter turned the generator off at night, and the cold temperatures overnight kept the vat below 5°C. He had also begun drying off the herd prior to calving, but has milked through with 150 cows.

About one-third of AusNet Services’ 200,000 electricity grid customers in Victoria were affected by the power outage.

Many dairy farmers were impacted for a week and more. Other people were told they will not be reconnected to the grid until some time in July.

In late June, AusNet Services announced interstate crews would help with the reconnection work. Crews from the Australian Defence Force also arrived to clear trees to make the work easier to achieve.

As well as the loss of power, Peter said his mobile telephone and internet connection were not working, and his landline was reconnected after a week.

This disconnection from the real world meant he relied on other people for information.

“When we had no mobile telephone, internet or landline, I was worried if we needed emergency services — we had no way of contacting them,” Peter said.

“If someone got crook, you were in a lot of trouble. There’s a lot of older people

around here living on their own who were very isolated.”

Peter’s main priority now is repairing fences.

“I’ve got a few trees on fences, but the most work will be to cut the trees and restrain the wires,” he said.

“Thursday morning was a disaster on the roads, they were clearing the roads only enough to get emergency and necessary vehicles through. On other roads, power lines and trees were down.”

Kerrie and Kylie Collins and their children, also at Buffalo, had a generator for the dairy but it wasn’t enough to charge the electric fences or provide power to their house.

“We couldn’t run the vat the whole time, but the milk kept cool enough for the company to pick up on Thursday,” Kerrie said.

“Bega Cheese was in constant contact with us and they took the responsibility of liaising with AusNet Services to get the power back on.

“Neighbours cleaned the roads — one of them has a big excavator so he was able to do a lot of that work. There are trees on fences and where we haven’t got around to clearing fences yet, we’re keeping the cows out of those paddocks.”

Their cows and neighbours’ cattle are also mixed because boundary fences were broken.

Foster hospital was offering showering and phone recharge facilities for local residents. In Foster, the Manna Gum community house had cooked food and food hampers available, and the community centre was offering showers and facilities to charge phones.

Large and small trees created issues with access, damaged fences and brought down power lines to 200,000 customers of AusNet Services.

GippsDairy executive officer Alan Cameron confirmed that towns took priority over farming areas when cleaning up storm damage and reconnecting electricity.

“AusNet assessed the work required and critical infrastructure — hospitals, milk processors — was prioritised. Dairy farmers are at the second level of priority,” he said.

“The sheer scale of the three events — widespread power outage, floods and storm damage — were more than authorities were geared to cope with.”

Mr Cameron said going forward it was important that farmers focus on managing mastitis and other animal health issues and making decisions around energy security.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 5 Continued from page 4 “Because we could only wash the dairy with cold water, the milk quality was affected; but Bega Cheese haven’t downgraded the payment, which is good.”

Kerrie and Kylie Collins had already begun drying off cows, so milking numbers were down to 100 (half the herd).

While the generator could run the dairy, it couldn’t run the vat as well — and there was no power to the house. The family was also without mobile telephone or internet and, with the roads closed from fallen trees, felt isolated.

“We had no running water, and everything I couldn’t cook for us to eat, I just had to throw out,” Kerrie said.

Bega Cheese took responsibility for liaising with AusNet on their behalf to restore power to the farm.

At Labertouche, Michaela Whiting found herself stepping very carefully while milking her cows, as she moved around in a flooded pit.

“I was milking in water above my waist,” she said.

“It slows down milking. You’re shuffling along because you don’t want to get tangled in hoses and go underwater.”

When power was restored, she used a sump pump to drain the water into the effluent pond.

The pit was flooded for two milkings. The area around the dairy shed was flooded too.

“It took a long time because it’s only a two-inch line connected to the sump pump,” Michaela said.

“Wash down was also affected. I had to wait until the pit was drained.”

She is now dealing with increased incidences of severe mastitis in her herd. To keep the cows out of muddy paddocks, she has moved them onto hill country one kilometre from the dairy.

“Paddock rotation has gone out the window, I have to feed them silage and the cows don’t like having to walk so far to be milked. It’s all added extra time to get work done.”

Having a feedpad close to the dairy has ­benefited a number of farmers, including Prue and Anthony Cliff, of Stratford, whose farm was inundated from the Avon River and Nuntin Creek; and Luke Wallace, of Poowong North.

Prue Cliff said the cows were milked early in the afternoon then moved onto the feedpad located on higher ground. Calves were moved into paddocks behind the feedpad.

“Anthony lifted pumps and moved the centre pivots so they were in line with the floodwater,” she said.

Some electric fences are affected, and the herd missed one milking.

Luke Wallace, of Poowong North, was one of hundreds of farmers who have been clearing fence lines of fallen trees during June — and the work continues.

“For once, the flood peaked quickly and went down very quickly,” Prue said.

Storm damage rather than floods was the issue at Poowong North.

“It was very rugged here,” said Luke Wallace, referring to the wind and storm that swept his region.

Without grid electricity for the week, he relied on a tractor-driven PTO-shaft generator to c­ ontinue milking, run the water pumps, milk vat, hot water and electric fences. Fuel storage on farm meant he was self-sufficient for running the ­generator.

“As soon we finish milking, I switch power over to the milk vat,” Luke said.

“We have the feedpad, so we’re putting silage out on that in the afternoon for the cows.”

Electric boundary fences were largely unaffected but many of his internal fences were hit by trees, so he’s been trying to contain his herd while he clears the debris.

A small generator ensured running water and cooking at home, but is not enough to keep ­heating turned on.

“We put on extra jumpers and kept busy,” Luke said.

At nearby Leongatha, Sue and Stuart Landry were in similar circumstances. Stuart used his tractor to clear nearby roads and milk pick-up was delayed by a day.

“We lost power on Wednesday night and it returned late on Friday,” Sue said.

“We’ve got a generator for the cow shed, which was the most important thing. We upgraded it a few years ago. It’s the most important thing to be able to milk cows.

“Fortunately, about two-thirds of the cows were dried-off. The pressure on us was keeping them in the paddock because the electric wires were not being fed with power.”

Andrew and Ange Bayley, of Yarragon, coped with the storm and flooding.

Many of Gippsland’s rivers have been in flood for the past month, inundating farms and carrying debris to impact on fences.

Labertouche dairy farmer Michaela Whiting had to milk on two days from a pit full of water, as her sump pump struggled with the flood.

After floodwater receded.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

6 // NEWS

EDITORIAL

Code of conduct builds expectations

Plans to merge dairy bodies STATE AGAINST state, mate against mate — for so long this has been the catch-cry whenever Queensland and NSW come together.

However, dairy farmers are bucking the trend.

NSW’s Dairy Connect and Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) are teaming up and floating the idea of a merger.

The dream is to create a new dairy farming industry body with more power, members and ability to enact policy reform.

Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan said there was still work to do on the merger, but the Maroons and Blues were finding “strong common ground” and a “firm commitment” to representing dairy farmers.

“We are looking at options regarding structure of a new dairy farmer industry body and determining the priorities for the next three to five years,” Mr Morgan said.

“But it will be our members who have the final say.”

On World Milk Day on June 1, representatives met in Brisbane to talk about their grand plan.

According to Dairy Connect farmers’ group president Graham Forbes, the two bodies hope their mutual collaboration will encourage more farmers to engage with the issues affecting their industry.

NSW’s Dairy Connect board and farmer group members met with the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation board and members to discuss a possible merger of the two bodies.

“The greater the number of members, the stronger we are in our advocacy before the government and other stakeholders,” Mr Forbes said.

NSW Farmers Association dairy committee was involved in initial discussions, but decided not to participate in the merger.

QDO president Brian Tessmann said the most important step of the process was gaining ­support from QDO’s existing members.

“Ultimately, it is you, our members, who will have the final say,” Mr Tessmann said.

“This step is our response to what we have heard in consultation with farmers — that you are looking for stronger, more effective representation.”

If everything goes well, the new body could be in place by the end of 2021.

Advertising Max Hyde 0408 558 938 max.hyde@dairynewsaustralia.com.au Editor Alana Christensen (03) 5820 3237 editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au Dairy News Australia is published by Shepparton Newspapers Pty Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of Shepparton Newspapers Pty Ltd.

Regional editor news@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

What a difference a year can make.

There’s been a growing feeling of positivity around the dairy industry for several months now.

Strong seasonal conditions, early milk price announcements and step ups being announced left, right and centre.

And it’s having an effect on the bottom line at the farm gate.

The latest Dairy Australia Situation and Outlook report paints a picture.

In the latest National Dairy Farmer Survey 64 per cent of farmers said they are feeling positive about the future of the dairy industry, up 20 per cent from last year.

And, what’s more, 88 per cent of farmers are anticipating making an operating profit in 2020–21 — the highest number since tracking commenced in 2014.

And it’s not just the producers that are feeling confident.

This year saw processors come out of the gate earlier with their opening milk prices, with Fonterra Australia even revealing their opening position ahead of their New Zealand business arm.

Soon after the dairy code’s June 1 price deadline, processors reviewed and upped their position.

Fonterra, Bega and Saputo have all stepped up their initial prices.

During the code’s infancy, an outcome like this could only be dreamed off, but it seems a firm deadline has helped to manage expectations.

No processor wants to present the lowest opening price when 2 pm on June 1 hits, and the process is delivering strong results.

When asked about Fonterra’s decision to announce their price on May 10, 22 days before the code deadline, Fonterra Australia managing director Rene Dedoncker said they’d had their price point ready to go for several weeks and were just waiting for the right time to make a move.

It’s the kind of move that’s been welcomed by dairy farmers and the wider industry.

While the code of conduct isn’t without its issues, it has helped to create a feeling of urgency.

With competitions announcing their pricing structures at the same time, there’s less time to hide and all the more opportunity for comparison.

The message now seems to be coming through loud and clear, especially in a season like this year — open as early and as strong as possible.

Publisher Shepparton Newspapers Pty Ltd Printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd Head Office 7940 Goulburn Valley Highway Shepparton, VIC 3630 Phone (03) 5831 2312 Postal address PO Box 204 Shepparton, Victoria 3632 Australia

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Dairy News Australia welcomes contributions from stakeholders in the dairy industry, and particularly from organisations wishing to advance the industry.

Contributions and photos can be sent to: editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au Letters to the editor on topical issues are also welcome.

Letters should be concise and carry the name and town address of the author, as well as a contact phone number, not for publication.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 7

Genetics kick climate goals BREEDING MORE efficient animals could help unlock profitability and environmental gains for Tasmanian dairy farmers, according to a new project.

This comes as consumer pressure mounts on agricultural production to improve its on-farm and supply-chain environmental c­ redentials.

The project, led by DairyTas and supported by LIC, the Tasmanian Government and Serve-Ag, investigated how the Tasmanian dairy industry could reduce carbon emissions.

Central to the findings was the need to breed a cow that produces high milk solids ­relative to its live weight, while lasting longer in the herd.

Former DairyTas sustainable dairying adviser Rachel Brown said genetics was an obvious ­starting point for the investigation, as cattle ­produce 60 to 65 per cent of the emissions from the state’s industry.

“This project showed you can milk less cows, but milk better cows,” Dr Brown said.

“With the right animals you can focus on profitability, not production.

“With the right cows and the right genetics, it flows through the whole business, and you can have good people, who can run the farm well.

“Finding good staff is always a challenge and finding good people to run very large herds well, is even harder.”

Research from New Zealand’s Lincoln Univer-

At the launch of the 10-step guide to reduce carbon in Tasmanian dairy farms were (from left) Tree Alliance’s Peter Clarke, DairyTas adviser Rachel Brown and LIC’s Mike Rose.

LIC research assistant Gemma Worth with senior scientist Lorna McNaughton.

sity Dairy Farm, included in the project, showed a 12 per cent reduction in emissions from milking fewer, higher-producing cows, reducing supplements, nitrogen fertiliser inputs and improving pasture management.

This project was a first for the Australian dairy industry and it drew on research from across the Tasman, specifically the HoofPrint breeding index developed by LIC. The HoofPrint index allows farmers to select bulls based on their predicted ability to generate daughters who produce less methane and

“It’s the right cow producing the right levels, driving overall efficiency,” he said.

“Then there’s lifetime efficiency — is the cow getting in calf every year? Is it early in the season?

Does she have the health and conformation traits that means farmers keep her around longer?”

Mr Fransen said the next step to improving the environmental credentials and profitability of every generation, would be using sexed semen to breed from the best animals in each herd.

Dairy farmers can find the project’s ‘10-step guide’ on the Dairy Australia website.

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GENETIC STRATEGY?

­ itrogen per kilogram of milk solids over the n animal’s entire life.

Dr Brown said tapping into the New Zealand dairy industry not only provided access to worldleading research, but this science was also applicable for Tasmania because of climate and farm system similarities.

Breeding for environmental and business gains requires a focus on the production and ­ longevity of individual cows, according to New Zealand-based LIC environment and ­welfare manager Tony Fransen.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

8 // NEWS

Flood leaves tragedy in wake JEANETTE SEVERS

CAUGHT BETWEEN the floodwaters of

the Thomson River and Rainbow Creek, both fed from Cowwarr Weir spill, the yearling and autumn-drop heifers on Alan and Leah Wolford’s Gippsland farm didn’t stand a chance.

Of 50 missing heifers, the family has found 10 — all dead and caught with flood debris on neighbours’ farms — some of them found ­kilometres from the paddocks they were grazing.

“I had to get the cows up first. By the time I went back for the young cattle, they were gone,” an emotional Alan Wolford said.

Flood warnings and local knowledge estimated the flood peak to be lunchtime, so Alan got up at 4 am to check his livestock and the water levels on Rainbow Creek and the mighty Thomson River.

“I checked the river and the water was up to the dairy shed. It appears Southern Rural Water was caught unawares about the spill from the weir,” Alan said.

An estimated two metres of water had spilled from Cowwarr Weir, affecting many dairy farms in the Macalister Irrigation District. Not far away, the Latrobe River had also spread across the landscape.

“Some of the cows went through one of the washed-out fences. The normal height down to the river from the bank is 10 m, and the water was lapping the top of the bank. We got those cows back home.

“Then we went to the outblock where the yearling heifers and autumn calves were. It’s beside Rainbow Creek and the cattle were already standing in water. They wouldn’t move.

“We kept trying and were able to get some of them out. By the time we went back for the rest, they were gone.”

The 50 heifers swept away in floodwater were half their herd replacement numbers.

On June 11 Alan and Leah resumed milking the herd, although they had to dump the milk for a couple of days until floodwater receded enough for the milk tanker to drive in. The phone calls began as neighbours identified the Wolford cattle among the debris on their own farms.

“On Saturday, we also found some dead heifers on our block. We’ve recovered 10 of the 50 missing heifers — all drowned,” Alan said.

“We haven’t found the remaining 40 missing heifers.”

A farm worker used the tractor to collect the dead calves and bury them in a pit on the farm.

All of their hay and most of their silage was ruined by floodwaters and Alan was anxious that people driving by the farm may report him to animal welfare authorities because his cows look hungry.

Fortunately, in late June, the local Heyfield Lions Club and Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) donated funds to Alan and Leah to enable them to buy hay.

“I phoned around and a bloke is bringing a truckload of hay on Sunday,” Alan said.

“I should be able to get some more, but this news gives me a break for a few days from worrying about how I’m going to feed my cattle.

“A neighbour is letting the heifers and calves graze in one of his paddocks, but I’ve got to get some hay and silage up to them.”

Looking at 90 per cent of the farm emerging from the flood, Alan said he would have to re-sow a lot of paddocks. His first priority is getting an excavator to remove trees and other large debris from his fences, so repairs can begin.

“This was looking like one of our best seasons.

“We’ve just come out of the drought. We lost all our hay reserves in the 2019–20 bushfire, and we’ve lost all our hay and 100 bales of silage in the floods.”

“We’ve just come out of the drought. We lost all our hay reserves in the 2019–20 bushfire, and we’ve lost all our hay and 100 bales of silage in the floods.”

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Alan and Leah Wolford’s farm worker had to travel some distance in their tractor to find some of the drowned calves.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 9

Only 10 of the 50 calves and yearlings were found, drowned and caught among debris on fences.

It is community groups like Heyfield Lions Club, Lions Need for Feed, BlazeAid and GERF that were providing immediate assistance in communities across Gippsland.

Hospitals and community centres provided showering, temporary beds and phone charging facilities in the first couple of weeks, along with hot meals and food hampers. Farmers cleared roads to provide access for milk trucks.

Need for Feed deliveries of hay and silage began arriving at Yinnar on the last weekend in June, at the same time BlazeAid camps were setting up at Heyfield and Yinnar.

Of the government authorities, Southern Rural Water workers were early on the ground to assess the impact of the flood on the Wolford farm and their Macalister Irrigation District neighbours. Representatives of the milk

processing companies were also out across Gippsland.

Some dairy farmers received phone calls from industry and government authorities, after mobile coverage was restored, but the institutional responses have been slow — whether in providing funding assistance or to clean up the flood debris deposited on the Wolford and other farms, and roads.

B-double milk trucks were in trouble when drivers encountered flooded roads, but no signs to warn them.

The Heyfield co‑ordinator has prioritised the Wolford farm for BlazeAid assistance, but their volunteers’ help depends on heavy machinery removing debris.

“Leah phoned the Rural Financial Counselling Service and there’s no funding available yet,” Alan said.

Alan Wolford with hay he has been able to buy for his milking herd, after donations from Heyfield Lions Club and Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.

“West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority hasn’t been in touch. Agriculture Victoria phoned but we haven’t heard from them since. Our water meter reader from Southern Rural Water came out to see us. Ash from United Dairyfarmers of Victoria phoned and talked to Leah on the Monday after the flood. Wellington Shire Council did a phone assessment.

“We need machinery to remove the debris, to get the rubbish off the fences and paddocks, so we can get on and work. BlazeAid will help with clean-up of wire through the paddocks.

“Our calf shed and yards need to be cleaned up and repaired, because we’ve started calving.

“We’ve got a shed near the house we can use for the first couple of weeks; but we need to have it all up and operable in four weeks (mid-July) for the main calving period.

“The bloody hard part about all this is, we have no hay reserves but the cows are not going to wait for the funding to arrive in two or three weeks’ time.

“We’re still milking 120 cows, but we’ve driedoff the spring-calvers. We had to cut 20 cows with bad mastitis out of the herd. It’ll cost a lot of time and money to treat them. We’ll have to sell them as chopper cows.”

Dairy News made some phone calls after interviewing Alan and Leah, querying the status of assistance, and was able to connect with someone who gave impetus to progressing the institutional responses and applying to government for emergency funding to clear debris in the Wellington and Latrobe districts.

A senior industry source told Dairy News: “The sheer scale of these events were more than authorities were geared to cope with.”

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10 // NEWS

Cattle back in the showring THE 2021 Victorian Winter Fair has been hailed a success despite current COVID-19 restrictions and border closures.

About 145 heifers and in-milk cows made the trip to Bendigo on June 30 and July 1 for the annual Holstein show.

Judge Brian Leslie was blown away by the quality of animals on show.

“I was impressed with the line-up of heifers and the in-milk cows have been exceptional — it’s a great show and many of the cows in these classes would make champion at any show I have judged,” he said.

Mr Leslie has been judging cows since he was 17, when his father had to drive him to the shows.

“The evolution of the dairy breed over that time has resulted in cows with such good udders, producing so much milk, I would have never dreamt it.”

For organiser Clare Modra, COVID-19 did create a few headaches with some exhibitors pulling out and sponsors unable to attend — but all up she said it was just great to get the show in.

“Our Wednesday with the heifer classes was a little bit quieter than normal but overall, the quality of cows was just outstanding across both days,” Mrs Modra said.

The Gardiner family from Avonlea Holsteins couldn’t have had a better show taking out — among other wins — Champion Senior Cow

and Premier Breeder and Exhibitor across their team of 11 milkers and three dry heifers.

John Gardiner said it was a great show and the timing couldn’t have been better, considering they are selling the milking herd in September.

“The Winter Fair was a great result for us.

A lot of hard work goes into getting the cows ready and if you put the hard work in, often you are rewarded,” Mr Gardiner said.

He described Champion Senior Cow, Murribrook Reginald Victory — which is owned in partnership with Gorbro Holsteins at Cohuna — as a tremendously well balanced cow with the perfect pedigree.

“She is so structurally sound. She has the potential to breed with many different bulls and I think her potential will only improve over the coming years.”

Brad and Jess Gavenlock from Cherrylock Cattle Co were happy with Bluechip EV Shesaawesome Apple ET’s win, taking out Red Senior Champion.

Mr Gavenlock said her progeny also received Junior Champion and Honourable Mention in the heifer show and Honourable Mention in the intermediate.

“She is such a great cow to work with, with great fertility and should calve again in October,” he said.

Mr Gavenlock said the quality of cattle on show across all classes of the fair was outstanding.

“I was happy we got the chance to show because so much work goes into getting the cows ready.

Red Senior Champion Bluechip EV Shesaawesome Apple ET, with Cherrylock Cattle Co owners Brad and Jess Gavenlock and their daughters Penny and Britney.

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“The heifer red show was particularly competitive this year and it would be great to see a few more senior cows next year.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 11

(From left) Judge Brian Leslie; Drew and Glen Gordon (Gorbro Holsteins); and John, Cherie, Luke and Amy Gardiner (Avonlea) with Supreme Senior Champion Murribrook Reginald Victory owned by the Gorbro and Avonlea studs.

Judge Brian Leslie described finalists in the Supreme Champion line-up as some of the best cattle he has ever seen.

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12 // MARKETS

Dairy riding high, says NAB AT THE halfway point of 2021, Australian agriculture appears set for another strong year with the NAB Rural Commodities Index up 2.5 per cent month-on-month in May to now be 6.2 per cent above the same time in 2020.

NAB’s June Rural Commodities Wrap, released on June 22, reports dairy farmers are among the producers enjoying the flowon effects of good prices and strong seasonal ­conditions across many parts of the country.

NAB agribusiness economist Phin Z ­ iebell said dairy opening prices reflected hot ­competition among dairy processors.

“Opening prices have been announced, and in the case of Saputo and Fonterra Australia, already stepped up,” Mr Ziebell said.

“Saputo opened at $6.65/kg MS and stepped up to $6.85/kg MS three days later.

Fonterra A ­ ustralia opened at $6.55/kg MS but has likewise stepped up to $6.85/kg MS to stay competitive.

“Smaller processors are offering comparable opening prices.

“Bega opened at $6.80/kg MS for southern Victorian suppliers and $7/kg MS for

­ orthern Victorian suppliers, while Bulla is n in the $6.40-$6.90/kg MS range. ACM is at $6.85/kg MS but offering northern suppliers $7/kg MS.” Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction results have been flat to lower in US dollar terms since April this year, but overall, producers should be pleased with the trajectory of both GDT and local indicators, according to Mr Ziebell.

“Wholesale prices are now at a level in ­Australian dollar terms to support farm gate prices in the high $6/kg MS range, representing a strong return for producers,” he said.

“A key pressure for the industry has been ­elevated feed and in northern Victoria, water costs, however, both have now eased substantially over the last 18 months.

“While we see feed costs having essentially bottomed out, a return to 2018–19 levels is highly unlikely this year.

“Milk flow has likewise stabilised and the latest forecasts from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and ­Sciences put production just shy of nine ­billion litres in 2021–22.”

NAB Agribusiness economist Phin Ziebell says Australia’s dairy industry is reaping the rewards of hot competition among processors.

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MARKETS // 13

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relief for many in the Australian dairy industry, with most regions experiencing stability and an opportunity to consolidate businesses in relatively good circumstances.

Favourable weather, lower input costs and widespread profitability have not only buoyed sentiment but enabled many farmers to financially recover — even in the absence of national milk production growth.

After the recent announcement of minimum prices, and subsequent whirlwind of revisions, the stage is set for another season with relatively strong farm gate milk prices.

Higher opening prices are not the only cause for optimism, with several factors converging to support continued farm profitability and a possible increase in Australia’s milk pool for the year ahead.

For the past year, Mother Nature has played her part in supporting operating ­conditions.

Despite drier weather in southern Australia through autumn, rain from earlier in the year has helped keep soil moisture and water s­ torage levels elevated.

This has held temporary irrigation prices in northern Victoria and southern NSW below $100/Ml. The weather also helped to bolster a ­close-to-record grain and fodder harvest, boosted pasture growth rates and suppressed demand for purchased feed.

Both hay and grain prices remain at a significant discount compared to last year and, given stock on hand, demand is likely to be muted for some time.

Some farmers have chosen to increase supplementary feeding rates in response to ­ lower costs, and this practice has helped to boost ­per-cow yields.

As feed costs are expected to remain subdued, this is likely to support milk flows heading into the 2021–22 season.

While many factors seem to be coming together to support milk production growth in 2021–22, there are still some opposing forces at play.

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Persistently high beef prices continue to hold back a national rebuild of the dairy herd, as some farmers de-stock to boost returns and repair balance sheets, and others see beef farming as a more attractive pursuit.

Cull cow prices in April were pegged 23 per cent above the five-year average, with demand from domestic and international markets ­remaining strong.

Early indicators are also suggesting the ­re-emergence of African swine fever in China.

If these are borne out, increased protein demand from China is likely to keep beef prices elevated.

Despite these price levels, more farmers have been working to expand their herds.

This has seen culling slow, with data indicating year-to-date culling rates are down 18 per cent.

As the increasing of stocking rates by some farmers work to offset continued culling by others, Dairy Australia expects the national dairy herd to stabilise in 2021–22.

Labour shortages continue to pose significant issues for the industry, as international ­borders are set to remain closed for the f­oreseeable future.

According to the National Dairy Farmer Survey, labour availability is seen as a challenge in the next six months for nearly half of farms with herds in excess of 500 cows.

These farms are also significantly more likely to be relying on workers on temporary visas, with 49 per cent currently using this type of worker.

As employment options remain limited, some affected businesses are expected to continue diversifying away from dairy for the time being, impeding production prospects in 2021–22.

While ongoing culling, labour challenges and farm exits still temper expectations, many of the precursors for profitable growth finally seem to be coming together.

Favourable weather, higher opening prices, low input costs, and increased feed and water availability have improved operating conditions.

As such, Dairy Australia’s initial forecast envisages a zero per cent to two per cent increase in production for the 2021–22 season, which implies a full year range of between 8.80 billion litres and 8.97 billion litres.

The potential for profitable growth of the national milk pool is a welcome sign, as this would allow Australia’s dairy industry a chance to capitalise on any improvement in returns offered internationally and maintain a balanced ­portfolio of markets.

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14 // NEWS

Planning for farming freedom MADDIE VENEMAN and Anthony Scott have

Anthony Scott and Maddie Veneman hope to have more freedom to spend time with their children Dempsey and Emmy-Lou.

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found a path to reducing stress and enjoying the good things about farming life after completing the Our Farm, Our Plan program.

The young couple made the big jump into farm ownership at Yarram four years ago at ages 23 and 25; a daunting challenge, especially for Maddie who is from a non-farming ­background.

Dairy Australia’s Our Farm, Our Plan ­program, supported by Gardiner Dairy Foundation, gave them a fresh perspective on where they are h ­ eading and how they can get there.

It especially helped Maddie and Anthony to focus on their personal relationship and worklife balance, making them a stronger couple as well as better farmers.

“A lot in the group focused on a plan for their farm; Anthony and I focused on our relationship,” Maddie said.

“With farming, you and your partner are the foundation of the business and that needs to be going well,” she said.

“Buying a farm when we had a six-month-old baby was a huge investment and an overwhelming process.

“Life as a dairy farming couple living and working together, especially with young kids, can be stressful at times.

“Our Farm, Our Plan allowed us to have the conversations we might not have had about me not being from a dairy farming background and how it might help if I got an off-farm job.”

Maddie never envisioned a life as a full-time dairy farmer. Her main personal goal identified during Our Farm Our Plan — to find a job — has been achieved ahead of schedule. She now works part-time as a teacher’s aide, and they are ­seeking a full-time farm employee.

Maddie and Anthony don’t see themselves as lifelong farmers but want to establish a good base for their family, with their children Dempsey, 4, and Emmy-Lou, 2.

“In our plan we identified that in the next five years we want to diversify by reducing our m ­ ilking numbers and extending our beef herd and even looking at investing in another ­business,” Maddie said.

Already involved in local netball and cricket, Maddie and Anthony have a goal to contribute more to their south-east Victorian community while sharing more time with their family.

“We still want to be active in the farm but have less day-to-day involvement so we can go

travelling and be part of what our kids are doing,” Maddie said.

“People farm for different purposes; our ­purpose is to set up our kids and give them the best opportunities we can.

“When Anthony was about 10, he travelled around Australia with his family when they took a year off the farm. That was a really good life experience and it’s something we want to do as well.”

Our Farm, Our Plan included a review of participants’ attitudes towards risk taking, ­ ­revealing Maddie and Anthony to be “like chalk and cheese”, but somehow it has worked.

Anthony said Our Farm, Our Plan had ­provided a reference for the future, and the ­confidence to curtail his risk-taking approach.

“Some wacky ideas might pop up in your head, but they may not take you in the right direction,” he said.

“I think outside the box a bit but doing this helped me to focus on the end goal and how it will be quicker to get there.

“In five years, we hope to be in a position that someone else can run the farm for long periods of time so we can pursue other interests.

“We’ve been high stress for four or five years but we’re ahead of where we thought we’d be, so we don’t have to take risks now — we can manage what we’re doing and reduce stress.

“We can concentrate on us first and get more freedom in our lives.”

Maddie admits she has been the conservative voice to Anthony’s risk-taking in e­ verything from growing grass to buying a farm at a young age.

“I was a bit overwhelmed when we started and I looked at our debt, but I trust Anthony and know he is an excellent farmer and having a plan has helped us to better focus on our goals,” she said.

“Sometimes people have plans in their head but if you don’t write them down, they can be easily forgotten or put off.

“We’ve already reached the first stepping stones in our five-year plan with my job and we’ve started to mix our herd.”

Our Farm, Our Plan is designed to help ­farmers identify long-term goals, improve business performance and manage volatility. It was developed by Dairy Australia with support from Gardiner Dairy Foundation and Dairy NZ. To register for the Our Farm, Our Plan ­program, visit: dairyaustralia.com.au

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 15

Grants support innovation WOOLWORTHS HAS invested more than $2 million in grants to 24 dairy farms across ­Australia to support innovation, efficiency and seasonal resilience.

The inaugural round of the Woolworths Dairy Innovation Fund has awarded grants up to $100,000 to farmers for future-focused projects, including solar-powered desalina­ tion, milk sensor technology, enhanced bushfire ­protection, herd monitoring technology and dairy automation.

With this season delivering the best c­ onditions many dairy regions have seen in recent years, the projects to be funded show a concerted focus on investments that will shore-up farms to withstand future seasonal challenges.

Close to 500 applications were received from farmers, spanning dairy regions, supply relationships and a wide array of projects.

Queensland farmer Peter Garratt received $100,000 to introduce an automatic grain batching system, which will support a balanced diet for his herd by ensuring an accurate mix of the right grains that can be tailored as needed.

He will also use his grant to reduce feed loss with improved fodder storage, build an effluent recycling system and boost cow health and comfort with additions to the herd’s summertime shelter.

Mr Garratt’s herd produces 2.6 million litres of milk annually on the Darling Downs property that has belonged to his family for 95 years.

He and his young family live on the farm, which he runs in partnership with his ­parents.

“We are really excited to have the opportunity to make some of our dreams a reality,” Mr ­Garratt said.

“The installation of automated grain batching will ensure our cows receive a correctly balanced diet and save us valuable time.

“We will also be providing motion-detecting comfort brushes and a ventilation system to keep our herd healthy and happy all year round.”

Victorian farmer Jason Riley has received $80,000 from the fund to build a new milking shed, which will integrate automation, inline milk sensors and solar power, replacing his ­existing 50-year-old milking shed.

A first-generation dairy farmer, Mr Riley ­purchased his first herd of cows when he was just 18 years old, to farm on the South Gippsland property of two dairy farmers who mentored him during his early interest in dairy.

Now in his early 20s, he has grown his business to milk up to 230 cows daily and purchased his first piece of land in Dumbalk earlier this year.

Other recipients include Manning Valley dairy farmer Julian Biega, who will use a $100,000 grant to install a new solar-powered desalination system that will deliver greater water ­efficiency and conserve fresh water for nearby ­communities.

Mr Biega supplies Woolworths with milk for its Farmers’ Own range.

He and his wife live on a property on the NSW mid-north coast, that’s been producing milk since the 1890s, and have 335 cows on 260 ha.

Although surrounded by water, Mr Biega’s unique position at the mouth of the Manning River means saltwater is in abundance, while clean drinking water for the region can be in short supply during periods of drought, like those endured 18 months ago.

He’ll be developing a more efficient water system, recycling the desalinated water and using it in three different parts of his farm.

In the dairy, it will be used to cool fresh milk in a heat exchange unit, then wash down the dairy yards and finally it will be funnelled into irrigation across 12 ha of pasture. It will also ­provide daily drinking water for the cows.

South Australia’s Samantha Martin will use a $90,000 grant to modernise her farm with new digital herd monitoring technology.

A fourth-generation farmer, Ms Martin lives on the dairy farm in Myponga that her family has owned since the 1930s.

The project will allow each cow to be monitored individually, tracking how much they eat and their activity, to improve overall animal welfare and manage the herd over time to ­ increase the lifespan of the cows.

These special collars will alert Ms Martin and the dairy team when cows are unwell, sooner than they would normally be able to detect issues so their vet and nutritionist can deliver more t­ argeted treatment.

The collars will also improve reproduction rates by allowing the team to better pinpoint peak fertility.

Woolworths director of buying Paul Harker said the grant applications showed Australian dairy farmers had their eyes firmly fixed on the sustainable future of the industry and were keen to invest in new technology and infrastructure to build thriving farms for generations to come.

“The first round of the fund comes in a ­ promising dairy season, with favourable ­operating c­ onditions,” Mr Harker said.

“This makes it a particularly good time to invest because it will help set these dairies up to prosper through the seasonal challenges that have always been a part of Australian farming.”

The fund was designed in consultation with peak industry groups Australian Dairy ­Farmers, Dairy Australia, National Farmers’ ­Federation, Premium Milk Ltd and the NSW Farmers’ ­Association Dairy Committee.

The second round of the Dairy Innovation Fund will open later this year.

For more information, visit: woolworths. com.au/dairyinnovationfund

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

16 // MANAGEMENT

Big changes yield big results TWO DECISIONS in the past year have been transformational for south-western Victorian dairy farmers Roger and Amanda Heath.

The couple milks 380 head at Wanstead ­Jerseys — including 70 Illawarras under Amor Illawarras — just outside Camperdown.

One of their six children, Tayla, 20, now works alongside them in what is finally a season in which most dairy farmers are happy to be ­milking cows.

Roger admits there have been times when they have questioned whether they should ­continue.

They were milking through a 20-a-side swingover herringbone, labouring under poor payouts and the seven-hour commitment in the dairy every day.

Roger said he “dreaded” going to milking because it took so long, and they weren’t sure if they would ever be in a position to change it.

After the 2016 milk price crash, the Heaths joined ACM, and — as things started to improve — they decided to push on and build a new 50-stand rotary dairy in October 2020.

“Honestly, if ACM hadn’t come along, I don’t think we’d still be milking cows,” Roger said.

“We needed a change, and we had no ­confidence left in the whole industry.”

The new dairy was built next to the old ­herringbone, which has since been transformed into an undercover yard.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” Roger said.

“It’s cut our milking times in half. We can put 300 cows through in an hour now, and we can feed to production — and that ticks a lot of boxes for us.

“It’s made a massive difference to our life.”

The second change was their decision to replace antibiotic buffers in their in-feed system with probiotics from Australian Probiotic S ­ olutions (APS).

Roger knew it was a big call, because they feed lucerne pasture and bloat can be an issue. ­However, his preference for natural products drove him on.

In September 2020 they added BioPro to their grain mix.

APS says it is made from a unique combination of 11 powerful biological compounds, five selected strains of probiotic bacteria and a specific strain of active live dry yeast — Saccharomyces cerevisiae — which stimulates cellulosedigesting bacteria, improving fibre digestibility and rumen development.

The probiotic bacteria are micro-encapsulated, to reach the lower GI tract for improved immune function and the competitive exclusion of pathogens.

Finally, APS says a blend of five digestive enzymes in BioPro supports feed breakdown, allowing more surface area for microbes to work on.

Multiple herd health benefits Roger said he was a little nervous as he looked at his lucerne pasture when it was ready to graze.

“The first day we went back in there, I thought, ‘Here we go, I better stay here and watch this in case the cows blow’.

“But, it just wasn’t an issue. The cows were fine, and that not only excited me, it blew me away.”

It didn’t take him long to notice other subtle shifts in his herd’s health.

The first was increased rumination. Roger said he now looks back and estimates that roughly 40 to 50 per cent of his cows used to chew their cud.

“Within 10 days of adding the BioPro, I’d go up the paddock at 9 am, and 98 per cent of the cows would be sitting down chewing their cud,” he said.

“They looked fuller, and they were just so ­content. I took a video the other day of the cows waiting to go into the dairy — all chewing their cud.

“I guess you get a bit complacent about that, but when you see so many cows doing it, you realise something significant had to have been missing.

“We also had a production lift of about one to two litres per cow, and our milk solids lifted by about half-a-percent. It had to be the BioPro, because we had literally changed nothing else.

“There were also noticeable changes in their manure. They were digesting their feed better, it’s simple as that.

“We had been getting a bit of grain and fibre coming through in their manure. Within a f­ ortnight to three weeks, we had basically e­ liminated that.”

General cow health also improved.

“You’d get those cows that always look a little bit flat — who are not necessarily aggressive. I think we’ve eliminated those cows. They’re just not there.

“I think it’s great we’re not using antibiotics.

We haven’t been using the BioPro long enough yet to know if it will make a massive difference to our in-calf rates, but I believe it will, because the cows are just so content.”

Into the calf sheds Roger has extended the probiotic program to their calf sheds — available through Daviesway DASCO — adding SuperCalf to the milk.

Designed for whole milk, APS says SuperCalf includes five industry-leading-strength microencapsulated probiotics (at 15.5 billion colony forming units or CFUs), five digestive enzymes, active live yeast, Actigen (a yeast carbohydrate, which normalises gut microflora and promotes microbiome diversity), Yucca (an extract derived from Yucca schidigera, which is native to the US deserts and leads to higher microbial yields through rumen nitrogen uptake), vitamins and minerals.

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MANAGEMENT // 17

Roger Heath says including probiotics for his Camperdown herd has lifted production and milk solids, while improving herd health. Photo: John Leech.

“We certainly haven’t had any sick calves, and the calves look really healthy,” Roger said.

“I think this product has helped them get on to the grain quicker, and if they do that, at the end of the day you can pull them off their milk sooner, so the weaning ages become a little bit sharper.”

The Heaths also offer OptiGuard, a premium, finely-milled zeolite product for treating

­diarrhoea in calves.

The BioBoost paste — a probiotic paste with the addition of vitamin E — completes the regime.

Roger said the paste was ideal for cows who were slightly “off”, and new, stressed or sick calves.

“I give it to every calf that goes into the shed, because it gets things going for them immunitywise,” he said.

“I also use it if the cows might have a bit much

Cows chewing their cud has lifted from around 40 per cent to 98 per cent with the inclusion of probiotics. Photo: John Leech.

grain — we give them 15 to 20 g of that for three days and it certainly gets them back quicker.”

Final piece in the puzzle Roger’s next step will be to use APS’s lead feed, SuperStart.

APS says this product includes more than 70 billion CFU probiotics delivered daily in a ­targeted anionic salt, vitamin and mineral blend.

“We like BioPro, and we love what it’s done for our cows,” Roger said.

“We’re keen to try the SuperStart lead feed in the spring. Once we do that, I think we’ll see even bigger changes.

“I’ve been telling people about these ­products all over the place. It’s too important not to share.”

The Dairy Mineral Supplement Advantage though Animal Mineral Solutions For the past 10 years we have made major advances in our entire lactation nutrition program by incorporating AMS Dairy Lick into the far-off dry cow period. Essentially a combination of macro and micro minerals balanced to build a stronger ‘bone bank’ in the cow’s skeleton, which is fully replenished over the dry period rather than being mined away.

THE BENEFITS ARE: • Loading up a fully mineralised ‘bone bank’ allows the springing cow to call on minerals during transition and into early lactation.

• When fed as a precursor to AMS Get Set Cow leed feed, we see reduced sub clinical milk fever symptoms such as leaking teats, mastitis, and greatly reduced withheld placental cleanings.

• Calves are born stronger, healthier, and of great colour, due to mother building minerals into the growing foetus in utero. Born calves then drink higher immunoglobulin concentration in colostrum.

• Enhanced breeding rates from building healthier eggs long before they are needed, due to feeding the year-long mineral program.

• Less lameness through Zinc supplementation over the dry period which continues to keep hooves hardened throughout growth, so you don’t experience a period of soft hooves eight weeks into lactation.

For more information about how AMS Dairy Lick and the enhanced mineral program of AMS Go Cow Dairy Mineral Supplements, can improve your herds nutrition contact: Animal Mineral Solutions /Dairy Business Centre Call: 03 5831 2176 Vist: www.animalmineralsolutions.com.au email: hjm@dairybusinesscentre.com.au

Northern Victoria Gippsland Maxi Cow Consulting Huggins Nutrition Services Dan Huggins 0448 805 334 David Huggins 0455 099 196 Western District Progressive Agribusiness Charlotte Graesser 0438 939 275

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

18 // NEWS

A dairy dream comes true HARD WORK, perseverance and the support of a good farming family have provided the keys to success for Yannathan dairy farmer Dean Turner on his journey from farmhand to lease-farmer.

His father warned him there was no career in dairy, but 19-year-old Dean pursued his dream and started his dairy career in 1998 working as a farmhand for the Campbell family in southeast Victoria.

He started on the smallest farm, tending 150 cows and easing into a new career which ­ultimately grew into sharing time between all three family farms.

In 2004, the Campbells purchased another farm, expanding the business to a 400-cow operation, and Dean was ready to take the next step.

“I enjoyed managing staff and a larger herd — it probably drove me to start thinking about whether I wanted to become a sharefarmer,” he said.

Together with his wife Bek, Dean started to build equity by purchasing cows and leasing them back to the Campbells.

In 2012 they sold the cows, creating the ­cashflow to buy machinery and generated startup cash for a share arrangement.

“The first year was tough — the milk price was $4.70/kg MS, and a wet season meant we were buying in a lot of hay,” Dean said.

“It was strange because as a manager, you knew exactly what you were getting, but at the

time, we didn’t know what we were going to get and what we were up against.”

The Turners didn’t just survive their ­initiation, they loved the life. After working hard to get through the first season, things started to improve, and they were ready to take their next step.

Those plans morphed into a new arrangement when a neighbouring 400-cow farm came up for lease in 2017.

While maintaining their existing sharefarming agreement, Dean worked with the Campbells and their son Evan to create an equity p ­ artnership on the new farm.

“That’s where things started to change for us, and we started to get herd equity,” Dean said.

“Ultimately, I wanted to be standalone on my lease-farm, and the equity share created the wealth for us to do that.”

The share arrangement finished at the end of the 2020 season when Dean realised his ­standalone goal and took over a neighbouring 200-cow property lease.

Dean credits his success to the relationship he has enjoyed with the Campbell family.

“They have always been very supportive of what I was doing.

“I wanted to be a sharefarmer, and they knew our goal was to own a herd of cows. And we’ve achieved that.”

Dean Turner’s dairy career started as a farmhand, grew to being a sharefarmer, and now he’s leasing a farm and couldn’t be happier.

Dean said the support of the Fonterra Farm Source team was also integral to achieving his goals.

“Sometimes our Farm Source representatives are probably underestimated a little bit, but the knowledge they have of their fields is second to none.”

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Four decades after being told to avoid the industry, Dean is content with his career path.

“Dairy has been really good to us, and we’re still enjoying it. Hopefully, I’ll keep enjoying it for a lot longer.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

NEWS // 19

Small farms get second chance SMALL, FAMILY-RUN dairy farms are being offered a way out of processor contracts and into independence by Dairy Cocoon.

The not-for-profit digital platform and ­support hub is hoping to stop the wholesale exit of family dairy farms by helping mum and dad farmers establish their own brands.

The hub was founded by Cressida Cains, a Southern Highlands dairy farmer and cheesemaker who won the 2021 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her work promoting

secure futures for dairy farmers.

Ms Cains believes independent brands of cheese, yoghurt, gelato and milk are a strong and profitable alternative for family-run dairies currently disappearing under the processor system.

“We have already saved five dairy farms from closure and we’re not even out of our first gear,” Ms Cains said of Dairy Cocoon.

The aim is to take advantage of a growing demand for specialty cheeses and dairy prod-

ucts among Australians.

Dairy Cocoon is backed by the Australian Specialty Cheese Association, NSW Women In Dairy, Westpac, AgriFutures Australia, Calendar Cheese Company, The Cheese School, Pecora Dairy and now — very recently — Dairy Connect.

Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan said the importance of a website such as Dairy Cocoon could not be u ­ nderestimated.

“It is vital that dairy farmers can obtain infor-

mation written and prepared by active dairy farmers for the information of existing dairy farmers.”

In 1980, ABARES reported 22,000 dairy farms in Australia. Today there are about 5000.

According to Dairy Cocoon, more than 50 per cent of small dairy farmers rate the viability of their farm as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.

Almost 60 per cent of respondents pointed to the concentration of processors and retail market power as the biggest contributors to farm ­pressure.

HYDROGEN PROJECT GOES GLOBAL A landmark project is exploring hydrogen opportunities for dairy industries in Australia and Uruguay.

The Deakin University project, dubbed Hycel, has received financial support from the Federal Government’s Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR).

The landmark COALAR hydrogen dairy project will be led by the Hycel team at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus and Deakin’s Latin American office in Montevideo, Uruguay, and delivered in partnership with Food and Fibre Great South Coast.

Hycel is a regional hub of hydrogen expertise located in Victoria’s southwest along a key transport corridor that connects industries, communities and resources.

Hydrogen hubs are a core element of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy and provide industry with a springboard to scale.

The project combines Hycel’s industry-led hydrogen leadership with Food and Fibre Great South Coast’s agricultural networks to produce a hydrogen dairy industry feasibility study, global webinar and key message campaign.

Deakin University vice-chancellor Iain Martin said the project exemplified an industry-led research approach.

“Deakin’s research aims to deliver lasting value to communities and industry,” Professor Martin said.

“Hycel’s new project aptly demonstrates how we are pursuing this goal, connecting dairy industries in south-west Victoria and Uruguay to explore hydrogen opportunities that have positive economic and environmental impacts.”

Food and Fibre Great South Coast executive officer Natalie Collard said the project focused on laying the foundations to understand hydrogen’s broad application for dairy industries, so the region could capitalise on a market estimated to be worth US $2.5 trillion by 2050.

“Hydrogen is an emerging market with enormous potential and mapping the opportunities for key industries such as dairy in these early stages means that our south-west Victorian region can be at the forefront of innovation” Ms Collard said.

The establishment phase of Hycel is backed with $2 million in Federal Government funding, announced in December 2019.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

20 // NEWS

Helping hand for new career MARIKA AUSTIN was looking for a cool sea

change when she left Mildura two years ago; what she found was a new career on a dairy farm.

Before moving to Nullawarre in south-west Victoria, Marika had never been on a dairy farm let alone milked a cow or raised a calf.

Now, with support from a DemoDAIRY ­Foundation scholarship, she is fully committed to the dairy industry and relishing her unexpected mid-life career move.

“I’m not a morning person but now I get up at 4.30 without a problem,” Marika said.

“I’ve lived most of my life around Mildura and never really had a career as I was raising kids and never thought I’d find one at this age.

“It’s a bit late: I wish I had found this 20 years ago.”

Marika, 48, has worked for the past two years under two different owners on a dairy farm at Nirranda South.

“We were doing renovations and a burnoff and I spoke to the local CFA captain who ­mentioned there are milking jobs around if I was looking for work,” she said.

“Then a full-time job came up only 10 ­minutes away and they gave me a trial, even though I had no experience. I absolutely love everything about it.”

The current farm owners, Tim and Maree Humphris, have introduced Marika to all aspects of the farm business — and her Certificate III in Agriculture through South West TAFE and

Marika Austin, 48, has gained a career in the dairy industry with the help of a scholarship.

s­upported by the DemoDAIRY scholarship is giving her a more rounded view of agriculture.

She said the course had given her extra insights into dairy and agriculture.

“It’s all about calving this year; last year was mostly about pastures and fertilisers and f­ eeding ratios and I sailed through it.”

Marika is now a confident farm worker and student, and is raising her own bull calves for sale.

She also helped the herd of new calves to ­successfully fight off two diseases this year.

The scholarship helped Marika to buy books and clothes for her course and has inspired her to look at more educational opportunities, ­including going on to a Certificate IV in Agriculture and to specialise in artificial insemination.

Marika moved south with her husband Ian and children Jy, 14, and Chelsea, 11, and she expects at least one other convert to dairying.

“My husband can’t stand the smell, but my son is 14 and he’s already looking forward to working on a farm.

“I spent most of my life in Mildura and we certainly don’t regret the change.”

Information about DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarships can be found at: www.demodairy. com.au

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

22 // NEWS

Change at the top for Brownes Brownes Dairy has appointed Natalie Sarich-Dayton as its first female CEO.

BROWNES DAIRY has appointed its first female chief executive officer, heralding changes at the factory gate for the iconic West ­Australian company.

Natalie Sarich-Dayton becomes the first woman to lead the company in its 135-year

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­ istory, previously serving as Brownes’ sales and h marketing director.

“Brownes Dairy is a remarkable company with a thirst for product and brand innovation,” Ms Sarich-Dayton said.

“Everyone in the business genuinely believes in our mission of ‘doing dairy better, together’, and I’m excited to take the reins as chief ­executive officer and continue our tradition of nourishing Australian families with the best range of highquality dairy products.”

With two decades of experience in the international food and beverage industry, ­ Ms ­Sarich-Dayton was a driving force behind Brownes Dairy’s return of the iconic ‘Milkos’ home delivery service, which became a lifeline to the WA community during the COVID-19 ­lockdowns.

The service won national and international accolades, including a Gold trophy in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Social Idea of the Year in the annual Mumbrella Awards, and Best COVID Pivot by the Australian Financial Review.

Ms Sarich-Dayton’s appointment comes after long-serving chief executive officer Tony Girgis stepped down from the role after navigating the company through an ownership change and championing the return of traditional cheddar cheese to West Australian supermarkets for the first time in 14 years.

“Brownes Dairy is an iconic WA company and I have been honoured to have led a vibrant and innovative team for many years as the chief ­executive officer and managing director,” Mr Girgis said.

“I have greatly enjoyed working alongside Natalie, and believe she is an inspired choice as the company’s new chief executive officer who will continue to bring success to WA’s favourite dairy.”

Ms Sarich-Dayton was born and educated in the Perth Hills of WA before graduating from the University of Western Australia.

She then carved out a distinguished career in sales, marketing and management spanning more than 20 years, working for some of the world’s top international food and beverage companies in Australia and overseas, including Coca-Cola Amatil, HJ Heinz, Danone and Unilever.

In 2019 and 2020, her marketing leadership of Brownes Dairy was honoured with placings in the CMO50 list of Australia’s most innovative and effective chief marketing officers.

Ms Sarich-Dayton joins a small group of women in charge of WA’s most successful ­companies, including Elizabeth Gaines, the chief executive officer of Fortescue Metals Group, and Stephanie Unwin, chief executive officer of Horizon Power.

“It’s crucial WA business takes a leading role in promoting more women to leadership positions, and I’m honoured that Brownes has entrusted me with this vital role,” Ms ­Sarich-Dayton said.

“The pandemic has reminded us about the role we all can play in keeping our communities, including our businesses, authentically ­connected.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

STOCKFEEDS // 23

STOCKFEEDS FEATURE

Healthy rumens, happy cows THE MAIN advantage of a cow is her ability to

extract nutrients from normally poorly digestible feeds through the process of rumen fermentation, says Ridley Agriproducts dairy technical manager Andre Nel. As soon the process is disrupted, feed ­conversion efficiency decreases — resulting in higher feed costs per litre of milk produced.

“The rumen microbes require very specific conditions for optimum function, if any one of these is not met fermentation rates can fall, ­significantly reducing potential feed intake,” Mr Nel said.

“Cows are themselves less sensitive than

microbes and can produce effectively for long periods on unbalanced diets, however because we are losing rumen efficiency, feed costs per litre usually increase.”

Some of the conditions required by the microbes include a regular supply of nutrients, removal of waste products, a fluid environment, constant temperature and pH. “It is important to understand how the ­composition of the diet impacts on these rumen conditions,” Mr Nel said.

“A well-designed diet will provide sufficient energy for production without dropping rumen pH. Enough protein for microbial growth without

excess accumulation of ammonia in the rumen.

Sufficient fibre to initiate regular mixing through rumen contraction and stimulate saliva production to maintain pH. “Optimum diet dry matter along with easy access to water is required to produce a fluid environment enabling microbes to move to new feed sources and as a medium to transport the products of fermentation like volatile fatty acids and ammonia to the rumen wall for absorption.

“Water also plays an important role in regulating the temperature in the rumen.”

Mr Nel said a number of feed additives can further help to improve rumen function.

Buffers can help maintain ideal pH, yeasts can stimulate microbial activity and ionophores can shift the microbial population to more efficient species.

Ridley’s technical team can help determine the potential impact of feeding decisions on rumen function.

“By actively managing rumen fermentation we can increase dry matter intake and improve feed conversion efficiency, reducing feed cost per litre of milk,” Mr Nel said.

“The result of taking care of the cow’s most important asset — her rumen — is not only happy, healthy cows but also a healthier bottom line.”

Ridley sales manager Ben Boyd providing on-farm technical advice to a farmer in western Victoria.

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24 // STOCKFEED

Sourcing top-quality fodder FODDER LINK was founded on the premise of

providing fodder users with a predictable, quality source of hay and straw guaranteed year-round.

Founder and owner Cameron Angel said the business was focused on carefully sourcing ­Australia’s broadest range of roughage and byproduct commodities available for consumers across the nation.

“We take the time to really get to know our consumers, their budgets, their feeding plan and the nutritional requirements of their stock,” Mr Angel said.

“Our understanding of livestock feeding and connections with industry-leading nutritionists can also give buyers the opportunity to obtain expert advice, where commodities, visual

c­ omponents or feed values can be identified and targeted by the team.

“As a result, we can offer personalised service in sourcing fodder suited specifically to achieving the goals of the buyer with a price-efficient, quality assurance approach, while simultaneously aiming for the mutual success of all parties involved.”

Mr Angel said the business provided a range of services, including independent nutritional advice, feed testing, pellets and meals.

They also offer a range of hays, including cereal, legumes, pastures and straw, and by-products from almond hulls to dry distiller’s grain.

“With each product differing in species or type, visual parameters, nutritional quality, and

amount, to name a few,” Mr Angel said.

“We believe this is what sets us apart from our hay marketing competitors, as we care about buyers, we care about growers and we care about the animals we feed.

“Our superior interstate hay supplier network is backed by independent grading and feed ­testing by Fodder Link professionals, where both services are available to all clients, enabling us to provide premium nationwide service.”

He said the business was focused on operations to maximise security, accuracy and ­efficiency in its supply agreements.

“We communicate and negotiate with our clients thoroughly before commodity terms and conditions are generated into an official

a­ greement to further be signed and confirmed for sale and delivery.

“Our system allows ultimate protection for all parties involved with no fine print. We have multiple payment options and contract types available.

“Our ability to adapt to the individual needs of customers when developing final contracts is why we are Australia’s most trusted supplier of hay and straw.

“We aim to protect local industries from fluctuations in the market, fodder availability and quality standards to consistently achieve higher grade livestock.”

For more information, visit: www.fodderlink.com.au

FodderLink owner and founder Cameron Angel with Darling Downs dairy farmer David Janke.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

STOCKFEED // 25

Chew the fat on supplements supplementation of dairy diets provides producers with opportunities to optimise cow performance, according to Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients.

New research on the impact individual fatty acids have on cow performance shows there is a lot to be gained by no longer viewing fat simply as a concentrated source of energy, says Richard Kirkland, global technical manager for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients.

“By understanding the fatty acids that make up fat supplements and how they affect responses and partitioning of nutrients, dairy producers can improve specific areas of herd performance,” Dr Kirkland said.

He said there were seven things dairy producers should consider when selecting fat supplements:

Think about fatty acids — not fat There are five major fatty acids found in ruminant diets, with recent research centred on C16:0 (palmitic) and C18:1 (oleic) fatty acids and their impacts on cow performance during specific stages of the lactation cycle.

C18:1 improves digestibility of total diet fat, which increases energy supply.

It also increases the hormone insulin which aids partitioning of nutrients to improve body condition — making it particularly beneficial when offered in early lactation.

In contrast, C16:0 increases the partitioning of nutrients to milk, particularly milk fat production.

This may be more beneficial in mid to late lactation when a cow is no longer losing body condition, but indicates care should be taken with supplementation during the fresh period.

The granule size of fat supplements is important Research by Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients at the National University of Singapore has reported significantly higher breakdown of calcium salts of ‘fine’ granules.

As the industry-standard method of delivering C18:1 and C16:0 fatty acids to dairy cows, the physical nature of calcium salt-type fat supplements indicates that granule size has a major impact on the degree of rumen-protection of

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predominate in one particular fatty acid, with

Decisions should be driven by your objectives

palm oil being the only prime source for C16:0 (palmitic), though also containing significant

While fat will continue to provide an essential energy supply to dairy cows, how producers utilise it to manipulate performance on a farm level should be determined on individual milk contracts and business objectives.

levels of C18:1 (oleic).

Sustainable palm oil is an important source In general, different vegetable oils

Ensuring palm oil has been grown and sourced sustainably is key and policies assuring no deforestation, no development on peat and no exploitation of people and local communities should be a fundamental requirement (the often-referred-to NDPE policies).

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Fat supplementation is beneficial in early lactation Through early lactation when body fat is being used to supply energy, fat supplementation needs to be considered in the context of the impact specific fatty acids have on cow performance.

Researchers at Michigan State University in the United States reported that fresh cows offered Mega-Max, a rumen-protected fat supplement containing a 60:30 ratio of C16:0 to C18:1 for the first 24 days of lactation, produced notable increases in milk fat (+0.33 per cent) and yield, resulting in 2.8 kg/day more energycorrected milk than the control group of cows.

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Early fat supplementation benefits later in lactation In the Michigan State study, cows supplemented with fat from calving through to day 67 of lactation produced an additional 5.1 litres/ day, with 0.2 per cent higher milk fat.

However, in the group where fat supplementation stopped at day 24, cows continued to produce more milk, an additional 2.2 litres/ day, until the end of the study at day 67, indicating a strong carry-over effect from supplementation in the very early stages of lactation, according to Dr Kirkland.

Fatty acids must be rumenprotected To see the benefit of individual fatty acids, rumen-protected fats that have been manufactured to avoid interference with fibre digestion in the rumen must be used.

If unprotected (for example, vegetable oils or high-oil ingredients such as brewer’s grains), fat will kill many of the fibre-digesting rumen bacterial species and reduce fibre digestion.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

26 // STOCKFEEDS

Designing a balanced diet TRYING TO get the right feed mix for your

herd? Dairy Australia has designed a three-step process.

A milker diet that is good for the herd’s productivity and health plus the farm’s bottom line is optimal for milk income minus feed cost, nutritionally balanced, within the cow’s daily appetite limit and palatable.

Having assessed your herd profile to set a realistic milk yield target based on cow type, body condition and stage of lactation, designing a milker diet is a three-step process: 1. Calculate cow nutrient requirements.

2. Select feeds.

3. Formulate diet.

Step 1: Calculate cow daily nutrient requirements Cows require diets that contain enough nutrients for maintenance, pregnancy, activity, growth, reproduction and milk ­production.

Although water, energy, protein and fibre are the key nutrients when formulating diets, ­minerals and vitamins must not be ignored.

Factors which affect cow nutrient requirements include cow bodyweight and age, growth, stage of lactation, pregnancy, activity (walking and grazing), changes in body ­condition, milk yield and composition and environmental conditions.

Step 2: Select feeds When selecting feeds to use in milker diets, ­factors to consider are nutrient specifications, price, consistency of supply and quality, losses to be expected during storage (shrinkage), mixing and feed-out, increased capital requirements required to handle, extra labour required to handle and other costs.

Feeds can vary markedly in their nutritive characteristics. Obtaining a feed test analysis is the best way to establish the nutritive characteristics of a feed.

As the feed pyramid illustrates (Figure 1), high forage quality is paramount when designing diets for milking dairy cows.

Defined by its NDF per cent and NDF Digestibility values, forage quality has a substantial influence on feed intake. Forage quality drives the response to concentrates and diets.

Step 3: Formulate diet When formulating milking cow diets we follow a set of targets/guidelines (Table 1).

Table 1 Milking cow diet formulation targets/guidelines Daily dry matter intake

3.5-4% of bodyweight

Crude protein 16-18% DM Metab. protein

Positive balance (supply>demand)

Metab. protein

Positive balance (supply>demand)

NDF 30-35% DM Effective NDF >22% DM Starch 22-27% DM Starch and sugar

Max. 30% DM

Crude fat Max. 6-7% DM totals fats, of which max. 5% DM is unprotected fats Macro-minerals

Balance to requirements

Micro-minerals

Balance to requirements

Three key things to focus on are forage NDF per cent and NDF digestibility, starch digestibility in the rumen, and protein per cent and rumen degradability.

Excessive supply of nutrients may affect cow health, reduce feed conversion efficiency (kg of milk per kg of feed) and reduce milk income minus feed cost.

On the other hand, underfeeding will impact performance and potentially cow health and fertility if severe.

Figure 2 describes the diet formulation ­process. As shown, it may take s­ everal cycles to balance up the main components of a diet and find a diet within the cow’s ­appetite limit that gives the maximum possible milk income minus feed cost.

Maximising milk income minus feed cost Milk income minus feed cost is a useful measure, particularly in circumstances where little or no pasture is available. It tells you how much of your milk income is left after paying for feed.

This amount needs to pay for operating costs such as herd, shed, labour and overhead costs, plus your finance and capital costs, including drawings.

If you are feeding a significant amount of bought-in feed, you must achieve a high daily milk yield per cow to produce a greater milk income minus feed cost.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

STOCKFEEDS // 27 Table 2

Figure 2 Diet formulation process Optimal diet cost and milk income minus feed cost

Milk yield per cow pert day

Milk income per cow ($) assuming same fat % & protein %

Feed cost per cow/day ($)

Milk income minus feed cost per cow per day ($)

35 litres

16.63

9.81

6.82

30 litres

14.25

8.77

5.48

Mg

25 litres

11.88

7.72

4.16

P

20 litres

9.50

6.65

2.85

Macro-minerals S

DM intake

Na & Cl

Rebalance & review diet cost + milk income - feed cost

K

It could take 2—4 cycles to balance up the main components

Protein %

NDF %

Starch % + sugar %

Ca

Figure 1

Macro-minerals & additives Review diet cost & milk income minus feed cost

Feed additives

‘Adapted from Hannah and Barbe, 2007’

The higher the milk yield, the smaller the percentage of unproductive money, that is, ­ money spent on cow maintenance rather than producing milk and revenue.

Let’s have a look at how a cow’s milk yield affects milk income minus feed cost, using a simple example.

We design a nutritionally-balanced, 30-litre diet using these five ingredients: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

vetch hay ($410/tonne DM); cereal silage ($250/tonne DM); wheat ($405/tonne DM); canola meal ($540/tonne DM); and palm kernel extract ($320/tonne DM).

Assuming a milk price of 47.5 cents/litre, this diet generates milk income of $14.25/cow/day.

Feed cost is $8.77, leaving a milk income minus feed cost of $5.48.

Now let’s compare this with the milk income minus feed cost for diets based on the same milk price and varying amounts of the same five ingredients to meet cow requirements for higher and lower milk yields/cow/day.

As you can see in this example in Table 2, milk income minus feed cost is lower at lower milk yield levels (25 and 20 litres), and higher at 35 litres. This is because the non-productive feed costs (to meet the cow’s maintenance nutrient requirements) are diluted at higher milk yields.

Fat suppl.

Bypass protein

Minerals & vitamins NFC feeds Grains Byproducts

Rumen degradable protein

Forages Nutrients & physical fibre Paulson, 2007

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

28 // STOCKFEEDS

Consider fertiliser options WHY SHOULD you consider using liquid ­fertiliser?

SLTEC technical agronomist Scott Palmer says liquid fertilisers can be used as a strategic option to enhance the growth of winter pastures, giving you improved return on your investment.

“Unlike granular fertilisers, liquid fertilisers can be taken up through both the leaf and roots,” he said.

“The advantage of nutrients being taken through the leaf is that they are being converted to amino acids and proteins within hours not days.

“Foliar-applied nitrogen can be taken up by the plant within 24 to 48 hours as compared to soil-applied urea.”

Mr Palmer said soil-applied urea could take weeks to be converted to a root-available form of nitrogen before getting taken up and converted to proteins in the leaf and much of this nitrogen can be lost to volatilisation.

The benefit of liquid fertilisers is that the crop has immediate nitrogen availability given the ­different forms of nitrogen that can be ­delivered, ensuring there is no nutrient d ­ eficiency, which can lead to poor pasture ­production, he said.

“SLTEC foliar nitrogen options can be safely co-applied with other nutrients, crop stimulants (like gibberellic acid) and many ­

Liquid fertiliser offers a range of benefits, says SLTEC technical agronomist Scott Palmer.

common ag chemicals (herbicides, insecticides and ­fungicides).

“This means that a boom spray can apply nitrogen, trace elements, stimulants and ag chemicals in the single pass, saving time, labour and money.”

SLTEC has developed products that are ­balanced specifically to the intended crop.

One such product is Winter Boost, developed to maximise pasture growth over winter.

It includes: ■ Nitrogen, the main building block of proteins/enzymes and a key component in

■

■

■

chlorophyll. It has a major effect on growth and quality.

Calcium, which is necessary for proper functioning of growing points, particularly root tips. Foliar applications may be necessary if transpiration is inhibited.

Manganese, which is essential for chlorophyll production, photosynthesis, regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and energy transfer.

Zinc for carbohydrate metabolism and enzyme activation.

Copper, which is a component of proteins, energy transfer and helps regulate water movement.

“If growers suspect a crop has a nutrient deficiency, they should conduct a tissue test,” Mr Palmer said.

“Tissue tests are quick, effective and cheap.

Tissue tests can give farmers true guidance of nutrients that are required for optimal pasture growth.

“Tissue test data can be sent to your SLTEC agronomist for advice on selecting the most ­suitable product for each situation.”

■

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

ANIMAL HEALTH // 29

Taking pains to prevent pain LUCY COLLINS

ALTHOUGH PRICE and quality remain some

of the most influential factors when consumers make purchasing decisions, welfare and ethics are of increasing importance to the general public.

When it comes to dairy, the 2020 Dairy Trust Tracker Survey found that 76 per cent of ­consumers believe “dairy farmers do a good job caring for animals”.

Now, I find this somewhat concerning: nearly one quarter of our community think we’re not doing a good enough job.

So, how do we better show consumers that we care for and about our animals (because I know we all do), and what is left to be done?

When I look around the farms I regularly service, I see there’s still some areas we could improve upon.

One of those is pain relief.

Pain can be either physical (for example, trauma) or psychological (for example, fear), acute (for example, an injection) or chronic (for example, persistent lameness).

Not all pain is avoidable, even in humans. And not all pain is necessarily bad — especially if it helps a human or animal escape an even more adverse outcome (for example, hotwiring off a dangerous area).

Sometimes, pain is a necessary side-effect of an unavoidable management procedure on farms.

This can include things like disbudding (calves less than eight weeks of age), dehorning (cattle older than two months), branding, castration, assisted births and caesarians.

While the industry works towards long-term solutions to mitigate the need for some of these procedures (for example, polled genetics), the reality is that at this stage there are still times in a dairy animal’s life that pain will be inflicted — it is how we choose to care about it that matters.

To use the example of disbudding — industry policy endorsed by the Australian Dairy Farmers National Council has set the target as 2030 for achieving 100 per cent of Australian dairy calves disbudded prior to two months of age and with pain relief (analgesia).

According to the most recent Dairy A ­ ustralia Animal Husbandry Survey, 72 per cent of ­Australian dairy farmers are currently disbudding their calves at the correct age, and 76 per cent

of those are providing some form of pain relief.

So, despite the known production benefits of providing adequate analgesia — calves disbudded with pain relief can achieve more than 15 per cent better growth rates (kg/day) in the following month — it seems we still have a way to go yet.

Painful health issues also arise from time-totime on dairy farms, including lameness, mastitis, pneumonia, uterine infections, eye disease or downer cows.

Signs of pain are variable, but can include vocalisation, teeth grinding, swelling or deformities, abnormal ear or head carriage, limping or abnormal posture, reluctance to move, ­kicking or rolling, poor appetite and loss of condition.

In addition to threatening our social licence, pain is also known to negatively affect productivity — the impacts on milk yields and liveweight gains have been well-researched.

Subsequently, a myriad of available pain relief options now exist to help producers ­mitigate the pain and stress associated with necessary ­husbandry procedures, or to help an animal through a period of ill-health.

Broadly, pain relief medications may be ­classified by: ■ Route of administration (topical, oral or injectable).

■ Mode of action (localised or systemic effects).

■ Onset of action (immediate or slow release).

■ Duration of action (short, intermediate or long).

■ Permitted use (not all drugs can be used in lactating animals, for example).

When it comes to administering medications, follow your ‘rights’ — choose the right drug for the right patient, administer the right dose via the right route at the right time, and always keep the right documentation.

Consult with your vet to determine the right approach for your farm.

One of the Australian Dairy Industry ­Sustainability Framework’s key commitments is “striving for health, welfare and best care for all our animals throughout their lives”.

To me, this is a reflection of what most of us already aim to achieve daily — but there’s always capacity for improvement.

Adopting best-practice pain management strategies on your farm has the potential to deliver enhanced productivity and welfare outcomes, and will help reassure our ­

Dairy News columnist Lucy Collins says pain relief is an important aspect of caring for dairy cattle.

consumers and communities that we do, in fact, care.

Lucy Collins is completing her Dairy ­ Residency with The University of Melbourne. She works as an on-farm

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veterinarian for Apiam Animal Health, and alongside her ­partner on his family’s dairy farm in south-west Victoria. She is a 2021 Nuffield Scholar supported by Gardiner Dairy ­Foundation.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

30 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Get ahead of grass tetany ALL FARMERS try to get ahead of animal

health problems before they occur, whatever the season.

Grass tetany is potentially a major problem in cattle at this time of year.

Since cattle with grass tetany often die ­suddenly, the first sign of grass tetany on your property may be a dead cow.

To establish the likelihood of grass tetany occurring on your property it is worth considering some of the risk factors involved.

Some factors associated with grass tetany include: ■ Grazing on immature, rapidly growing, grass-dominant pastures.

■ Soils high in potassium, or with the heavy use of nitrogen or potash fertilisers.

■ Older, fatter cows — soon after calving — are most likely to be affected.

■ Most likely to occur during cool and cloudy weather.

It is advised you do an assessment on your risk factors and make a plan on how you can ­prevent, and if required, treat an outbreak of grass tetany on your property.

Grass tetany occurs when blood magnesium levels are low. Hence the condition’s other name — hypomagnesaemia.

Cattle’s bodies are unable to store magnesium. Therefore, to prevent grass tetany, ­magnesium supplementation needs to be given daily to cattle at highest risk, during periods of greatest threat.

Have you considered how you could ­supplement your herd? Whether it is by giving Causmag-treated hay, mineral licks, magnesium capsules or by some other means?

When cattle are affected clinically with grass tetany they display initial excitement, b ­ ellowing, muscle spasms, tetany and finally convulsions before dying.

Since grass tetany leads to the rapid death of cattle, the treatment of clinical cases is an ­emergency and veterinary assistance should be sought immediately. A veterinarian will give a calcium and magnesium solution intravenously.

If a veterinarian is not available, the calcium and magnesium solution should at least be given under the skin.

However, clinical cases of grass tetany and cattle lost to the condition are best prevented with some forward planning and action.

For further advice please contact your local veterinarian or a veterinary or animal health officer, from your state agriculture department or local land service.

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MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 31

Simple tool to manage cows MODERN DAIRYING truly is a numbers game

and, as with any good business, when you get the numbers right it can help you to build a ­sustainable operation.

In recent times one tool that has proven its value for Rob and Jan Mortlock from South Gippsland is CowManager.

World Wide Sires distributes this p ­ roduct, which monitors herd health, nutrition, the ­transition period and reproduction.

By reducing the number of empty cows from 23 per cent to 15 per cent on joining, ­CowManager has quickly proven to be a v­ aluable tool to keep the Mortlocks’ business healthy and sustainable.

“We’ve been using CowManager for about 15 months now and the ease of management is the key,” Rob said.

“There’s no tail paint or scratchies used at all to identify cycling cows. The internet and ­CowManager do it all. They are our main tools.”

The Mortlocks milk 650 cows and Rob has encouraged their employees to connect to the CowManager system.

This enables any one of them to remotely batch enter any cow that needs to be drafted during milking either for AI or herd health.

It also allows a sick cow to be detected at the sub-clinical stage.

CowManager allows information to be added remotely and collects data on herd health.

The animal can then be drafted for treatment one or two days before she is showing clinical signs.

Early detection can and has reduced the amount of antibiotics needed. It also speeds up recovery and means less time out of the vat.

Knowing precisely how each cow is p ­ erforming makes culling decisions quick and easy.

“It’s a simple system,” Rob said.

“With 180 heifers coming into the milking herd this year, it puts pressure on the current milking herd for fertility, mastitis, bad feet and udder conformation.

“The numbers tell us exactly what we need to do and when — that’s the beauty of ­CowManager.”

Dairy farmer Rob Mortlock says CowManager has helped them manage their herd.

Jan (pictured) and Rob Mortlock milk 650 cows in South Gippsland.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

32 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Versatile tractor has arrived A NEW addition to the Case IH Farmall range has been released, making its debut at June’s FarmFest field days at Toowoomba.

The Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 has just been launched into the Australian and New Zealand market, and combines its famous power-packed performance with improved comfort and a semipowershift transmission.

“Case IH’s utility tractor range is strengthened by the introduction of the Farmall M, ­combining many of the best Farmall features such as the Farmall U’s SPS transmission, hydraulics and Electronic Draft Control (EDC) and Farmall JX’s superior engine and front axle design,” Case IH ANZ product manager for mid horsepower and compact tractors Seamus McCarthy said.

Central to the new Farmall M is the ­ActiveDrive 4 transmission, designed to ­combine power with efficiency.

ActiveDrive 4 is a smooth-shifting ­semi-automatic transmission, dispensing with a clutch between in-range speeds, and replacing it with buttons for seamless gear shifting.

With a total of 32 forward and 32 reverse gear options, the ActiveDrive 4 transmission covers a wide range of speeds, from 0.28 km/h to 40 km/h.

Case IH Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 tractors ­feature a powerful S8000 engine as standard in all models, making easy work of even heavy loads; along with a Tier 3 emission level, four

c­ylinders, Turbo-Intercooler and high torque values.

The tractors also have electro-hydraulic ­components to ensure peak efficiency when working with a variety of agricultural attachments, a hydraulic lift capacity of 5400 kg, six hydraulic outlets, fender-mounted hydraulic controls, and hydraulic top link and standard electronic hitch control system ensures high precision — especially during subsoil work — by making it easy to control heavy agricultural attachments.

“The Farmall range represents our smaller horsepower tractors, but these tractors have always been big on performance and features,” Mr McCarthy said.

“The Farmall M is a perfect reflection of this and represents customer expectations that our increasingly sophisticated technology isn’t reserved only for our larger tractors, but that it’s also incorporated at the lower end of our t­ ractor line-up.”

The Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 will suit a variety of agricultural businesses, including ­ dairy ­ operations, possessing the adaptability needed for a variety of tasks in a range of ­conditions.

The Farmall is available in a 90 hp model up to 110 hp.

For more information go to www.caseih.com or speak to your local Case IH dealer.

Case IH has launched the latest tractor in its Farmall range.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 33

A new Warrior in farm army THE NEW Deutz-Fahr Warrior Series is now available in Australia and its mission is simple — maximum comfort and productivity underpinned by bottom-line figures.

In 2018, Deutz-Fahr launched a range of sixcylinder tractors, featuring the latest technology and design.

The latest addition to the Warrior series ­ features unique styling and design,

paired with the latest in performance and driver comfort.

Designed and built specifically for the ­Australian market, the new 6, 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors range between 171 and 336 horsepower and are engineered to be AdBlue and DPF ­technology free.

The redesign has enabled the Australian farmer to use straight diesel once more.

“We are thrilled with this release,” PFG’s ag division general manager Doug Robinson said.

“The Warriors have a brilliant finish, with matching performance, and customers are going to love the ability to customise the tech, specs and cabin options in their Warrior, as well as choose RC-Shift or TTV transmission.”

The ergonomically designed cab offers increased visibility and deluxe comfort options

means operators can go further for longer.

Intuitive controls, precision farming systems and attachment points for the heaviest equipment combinations round off the latest updates.

For more details, call your local Deutz-Fahr dealer or Deutz-Fahr representative, or visit www.deutzfahr.com.au

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REPORT BACKS REPAIRS REFORM Australia’s ‘right-to-repair’ fight is one step closer to the boxing ring.

A report by the Productivity Commission has found evidence the repair markets for agricultural machinery, mobiles and tablets are in need of reform.

This report was requested by Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and in July will be officially submitted to the Federal Government.

Currently the report remains a draft and has been released for community feedback until July 23.

The draft report proposes a rigorous assessment of the agricultural machinery and tech repair markets to determine how exactly people and independent repair shops are being stopped from fixing products.

In addition, the commission is seeking further evidence on potential reforms to: ■ Warranties: Prohibit manufacturer warranties from being voided if consumers do not use manufacturer-approved parts and repairers.

■

Digital locks: Amending copyright laws to enable third-party repairers to copy and share repair manuals and legally access repair data hidden behind digital locks.

■

E-waste: Enable product stewardship schemes to count repaired and reused product, not just recycled products.

Evidence given to the report include statements from the National Farmers’ Federation saying agricultural machinery manufacturers refuse to supply technical information, ­diagnostic tools and parts to anyone outside their ­authorised network.

Other practices noted in the draft report include manufacturers selling repair supplies but at inflated costs, or only selling bundles of s ­ ervices.

Overall the right-to-repair report is focused on agricultural machinery, electronics, cars and high-end watches, which all have a list of ­complaints against them for anticompetitive business practices.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

PERFORMANCE, SIMPLICITY AND RELIABILITY

34 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

ENGINEERED TO PERFORM

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Ben Maile runs a 205ha dairy farm in South Raina.

WHEN BEN Maile switched from his old bale feeder to a Hustler Chainless TE205, he noticed a dramatic change in feed efficiency and cut his feed waste by 20 per cent.

Ben runs a 205-hectare, sustainably-irrigated, dairy operation in South Raina in n ­ orthern ­Tasmania.

The 500-cow herd is a split-calving operation with most of the calving done in spring and autumn, which means most of the feeding — an impressive 1000 to 1500 bales a season — is done in winter.

“We do most of our feeding out through summer and winter, with a little bit in spring and autumn,” Ben said.

“Being a split-calving operation, we’re milking through the middle of winter when grass growth rates are a lot lower.

“We feed a lot of silage out then — up to eight bales a day. Depending on how dry the summer is, we feed a few (bales) through summer as well.”

While a split-calving operation has some great benefits like efficient and sustainable pasture utilisation, a consistency of production and cashflow and a spread-out workload, it also comes with the big challenge of successfully managing feed and mineral requirements for all cows at different stages of lactation.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JULY 2021

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 35

Ben Maile says his Hustler Chainless TE205 has increased feed efficiency on his Tasmanian dairy farm.

The 500-cow herd is split-calved.

Cows have different nutrition requirements at different stages of lactation, which means that all spring- and autumn-calved cows need to be fed efficiently at different times of the year according to their needs, to ensure maximum performance.

“Since we’ve had the Hustler, we’re probably saving about 20 per cent on wastage, compared to the other bale feeder,” Ben said.

“The way it feeds the bale out and teases it apart nicely, the cows waste a lot less. Ideally we’d be feeding fewer bales this season.”

Ben said the Hustler TE205 had been a gamechanger.

While his old bale feeder used to feed the silage in the path of the wheels and just trample it into the mud, especially in winter, the Hustler gently teases apart the hay and feeds it out in a

tidy windrow, preserving as much of the nutrition as possible and making it more palatable.

Ben is glad his dealer suggested a Hustler bale feeder.

The Hustler TE205 is able to handle round and square bales, which means more choice when having to buy in feed.

Also, because the feeder handles two bales at once and saves time going to and from p ­ addocks,

it has changed the way Ben operates his feeding system.

Maintenance is not an issue with the easyto-access grease points and few moving parts.

The Hustler TE205 has meant for Ben an increase in efficiency, economics and time ­savings, and a decrease in feed waste.

“We’ve been very happy with the job it’s done.”

www.elhoaustralia.com.au IMPORTED BY COLAC AGRICULTURAL COMPANY PTY LTD, VICTORIA

Ph. 03 5231 6999

Email: sales@colacag.com.au SIDELINER 1790 PRO WRAPPER

DC2100S FORAGE HARVESTER

V-TWIN BASKET RAKE

Don’t let milk fever ruin Fundays with family and friends.

Low DCAD Pre-calving pellets – formulated to make calving as smooth as possible.

Studies have shown that the lower the DCAD, the better the protection from milk fever for your whole herd. Optimilk Precalving pellets not only have a very low DCAD (-1270 meq#/kg) but have been formulated to make calving as smooth as possible. Don’t compromise, make the effort now* so that you don’t miss out on Fundays around calving. # meq – milliequivalents *21 days prior to calving

Contact Rivalea on 02 6033 8000 or your local reseller. Visit optimilk.com.au

PRE-CALVING