APRIL 2021 ISSUE 126
WEST VIC REGION
Reaping rewards
A move from Holsteins to British Friesians a decade ago has delivered results for the Smith family. Page 6.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA APRIL 2021
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Chair’s message Happy to get back to normal I HEAR many have received a bit of rain recently,
but the bands have missed us so we’re still hoping. It would be quite timely, and by the time you are reading this I’m hoping my request has been considered favourably. Following on from the amazing season many of us have enjoyed, it seems a bit greedy to put requests in but I can’t help myself! Of course, we have to presume that the current favourable conditions we are experiencing won’t last forever. Inevitably we will face challenges in the future, be that the weather, input costs or milk price. Risk management and planning for tough times is a cornerstone of the new Our Farm, Our Plan program that you may have seen advertised
recently. In fact you may have recognised some of the faces in those adverts. This national campaign featured Derek and Julia Gale, and Phil and Nicole Lock, and I would like to thank them very much for taking the time to participate — it is great to showcase our region to the rest of the country. Along with managing volatility, Our Farm, Our Plan is designed to help farmers identify our longterm goals and improve business performance. It is very easy to get caught up in the day-today running of a farm. Taking the time to step back and focus on what we want to achieve, both in our work and personally, allows us to put plans in place to reach those goals.
With us now able to run our normal range of face-to-face extension, along with online options, it has been fantastic to catch up with many of you at our events. The social aspect of workshops, field days and discussion groups is so important and was missed by many last year. While it is almost business as usual at WestVic Dairy we are still unable to host large indoor events. With this in mind, but recognising the need and desire for social connection, this year the South West Dairy Ladies Luncheon will look a little different. We will be hosting three smaller lunches in August. The committee is currently planning these days, with more details to follow soon.
Like many of you, I will be spending the next few months in the calf shed! Every year I seem to rear more and more — I’m led to believe it might be 200 calves this year. I will try to escape occasionally and look forward to seeing many of you out and about, and at our events. As always feel free to contact myself or the office on 5557 1000 if there is anything we can assist you with. The board loves to hear new ideas, and feedback is really valuable to us as well. • Simone Renyard WestVic Dairy chair
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA APRIL 2021
WEST VIC REGION // 3
Turning late silage into hay JOSEPH CONHEADY had a predicament.
It was early December and the heavy, flat country at his Garvoc dairy farm had only just become passable for machinery. The rye-grass was long and the quality had declined, with the paddock locked-up during the wet south-west Victorian spring. Rain was never far away either and it was tough to get a string of dry days for harvest. “At this stage we would have been paying quite a bit of money to make pit silage, essentially with fodder that had gone past its best,” Joseph said. “Despite how good you are at making pit silage, it was never going to be the best feed and the whole idea of silage is to harvest it earlier in spring and make high quality feed. “That window had gone, and I was thinking about other ways we could store that feed without the great expense.” His solution was to cut the area for pasture hay and apply a preservative called Hay Guard during the baling process. The product, applied by the hay contractors, has been formulated to maintain the quality of the fodder and assist with shortening the time between cutting and baling. About 25 per cent of Joseph’s hay made last spring included the preservative — about 75 dry tonne. The remainder of the paddock was baled on the same day without Hay Guard. There were five days between the cutting and the baling of this hay, with the conservation process including tedding. Feed tests showed the fodder treated with Hay Guard had a Neutral Detergent Fibre (aNDF) of 56.5 per cent compared to the fodder without the preservative which had an aNDF of 66.2 per cent.
The metabolisable energy of the treated hay was 9.53 mj/kg compared to the untreated hay at 8.6 mj/kg. Protein tests across each hay was similar. Joseph and his wife Anna will milk 615 cows this year — down from previous seasons — as they move to reduce their business risk profile. Increasing the quality of the fodder they produce on-farm will help this, but it won’t negate the need for bought-in cereal hay and grain. It’s only early days, but Joseph said there could be a place in his farming system, at the end of spring or during wet harvests, for the strategic use of Hay Guard. “The reality is silage can be $100 to $120 a tonne to put into the pit,” he said. “The question is ‘can we do it for $50 to $60 instead? And still get, essentially, the same quality outcome even though we are still getting quite rainy Decembers?’ “If it makes it possible, that’s a great saving.” Hay Guard Australia and New Zealand product specialist Mark Lourey said making silage from pasture at that time of year at Garvoc would not have increased the quality of that feed. “It would have been more expensive to make into silage and wouldn’t necessarily have changed the protein and energy,” he said. “Maybe the NDF would have been lower and that’s where there might have been a gain — if it was cut for silage — but it’s really hard to speculate. “At the end of the day, wrapping the feed in plastic for silage — a day after it was cut — is never going to increase its value. “The plastic retains the value of the feed, the same as Hay Guard, but Hay Guard costs $8 to $10 a tonne, so it is more than half the price of silage.”
FAMILIAR FACES AT HERD’21 Farmers, scientists and genetics stakeholders attended the recent Herd’21 conference at Bendigo to hear the latest information about herd improvement and genetics.
Guest speakers from a number of countries presented live via video conference and also answered questions from the crowd.
Judson Jennings from World Wide Sires, based in Simpson, and Ross Suares from Larpent, catching up at Herd’21.
Chatting at the Herd’21 conference were Bryan Dickson from Emu Banks Holsteins, Terang and Bec Huth from ChemCert.
Excess feed at Joseph and Anna Conheady’s Garvoc dairy farm was made into cost-effective pasture hay thanks to the preservative Hay Guard.
About 25 per cent of the farm’s hay made last spring included the preservative Hay Guard — about 75 dry tonne.
Pictured at the Herd’21 conference were (from left) Rebecca Arnott from Vetoquinol, Brisbane; Colin Glennen and Michelle Glennen from White Star Jerseys, Noorat and Sarah Keen, from Holsteins Australia.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA APRIL 2021
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Controlling costs pays off RICK BAYNE
DALE AND Karen Angus have seen milk produc-
tion increase by 18 per cent in the last calendar year at their Ondit farm, but that wasn’t their main focus for the year. Their primary goals were to reduce costs and improve fertility, and those achievements have been equally impressive. There has been an eight per cent improvement in fertility following a similar rise the previous year, and they have been able to further reduce debt. The Anguses have experienced significant improvements during the past 18 months as part of WestVic Dairy’s Focus Farm project, but they were already performing profitably in a lowrainfall area 15 km north of Colac that’s generally considered marginal for dairy. Dale and Karen can’t attribute their success to any one factor, though keeping a lid on production in favour of reducing costs seems to be at the core. Over the past 18 months they have improved their irrigation, introduced lead feeding of cows, silage sampling, increased home-grown feed consumption, and introduced genomic testing and cow activity collars. Boosted by an excellent season, the improved milk production and fertility and better use of home-grown feed have given Dale and Karen plenty of good news to share at their Focus Farm field days. They have been working closely with farm consultant Paul Groves in “improving the one-percenters”. “We don’t have the big output figures; our production isn’t massive but we work on cost control to make sure we have a profitable business,” Karen said. “The Focus Farm has reinforced that it’s not necessarily about chasing more milk out of your cows, it’s about controlling costs.” Dale says “there’s no point doing silly hours for nothing” and he’s determined to stay on top of things to remain profitable. “You’ve got to keep your finger on the pulse — know your costs and don’t worry too much about what’s happening over the fence.” Karen says the success comes from Dale’s commitment to doing as much as possible himself.
“He runs a business,” she said. “His focus is not about chasing milk, it’s about running a solid business and he does that exceptionally well.” But that doesn’t mean he’s above learning and improving. “Becoming a Focus Farm was a chance to learn off others and get help from the farm consultant,” Dale said. Dale grew up on this farm and returned about eight years ago after working as a builder for 15 years. He and Karen invested in adjoining land and they started leasing the home farm about five years ago when his parents retired to Lorne. The expanded farm is 325 ha and they milk about 340 cows, predominantly Friesian, up from about 270 when they took over. “Friesians suit our farm; they’re able to walk a long way and they’re robust,” Dale said. “We could probably run a few more but if you don’t get the right season you’re probably in trouble.” Karen said being a Focus Farm had demonstrated their strength in cost control, though they’ve also achieved other goals along the way, including increasing fertility and decreasing purchased feed and purchased livestock. Dale and Karen took on the existing herd but needed to buy replacements to reach their desired stocking rate. Now with improved fertility rates they can maintain numbers. “We’ve done really well with fertility,” Dale said. “Last year we were 66 per cent in-calf in six weeks, which was quite a big jump on the previous year, and this year we’re up to 74 per cent. “We now lead-feed the cows so they’re right to calve and we’ve tweaked things here and there.” The Focus Farm group includes similar young farmers, those with more experience and experts in their service fields. Guest speakers touch on topics such as irrigation and silage, leading to more on-farm improvements. “We were developing irrigation before this but we’ve made a few changes,” Dale said. Only a small part of the farm near the dairy has irrigation and, while it isn’t likely to expand because they’re on the edge of the aquifer, this
The cows are enjoying more home-grown feed, with production up 18 per cent, as costs go down.
Karen and Dale Angus with their children Charlotte, 9, Indi, 7, and Clancy, 2, enjoy life on their Ondit farm.
adds to business security as evidenced by green pastures in March. A need to improve on feed costs was identified, resulting in an increase in the use of fertiliser. “Where previously we bought in hay, the last two years we’ve made our own hay on top of silage,” Karen said. “We’ve always done silage but hay was a new thing to do on-farm and has certainly helped to decrease costs. “Our fertiliser costs were considerably below farm averages; even now they are still low but we’re able to grow more grass.”
The introduction of summer crops like rape and millet have been successful and a change from wheat to barley feed has improved fat and protein, with the cows achieving about 500 kg MS. Genomic testing on one-year-olds is also expected to have long-term benefits and shows all the calves sit above the national average. Traditionally they use sexed semen on all heifers, but it is hoped genomic testing will allow them to make more targeted decisions to build on the best genetic traits. “I think it will give more insight as we collect more data over the years,” Karen said.
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA APRIL 2021
WEST VIC REGION // 5 “When Dale and I started on our own, the focus was on improving fertility and the genetic testing gives us evidence that is happening. “The results are above where we expected them to be, and we’re very happy with that.” For the first time, Dale and Karen exported 29 heifers in late January. “One of the reasons for doing genomic testing was to help make decisions on who stays and who goes,” Karen said. Activity monitor collars have been added, giving Dale “another set of eyes” during AI time as well as helping with workplace health
and safety with the addition of an automatic drafting gate. Changing their calving pattern was discussed in the group but Dale and Karen are sticking with their autumn system. Heifers start calving the first week in March and cows from about March 20 to, hopefully, coincide with an autumn break. Dale and Karen plan to buy the home farm when their current loan is paid off. In the meantime, they will continue to “change the small things that over time will have a big impact”.
Green pastures at the start of autumn are a bonus thanks to a small part of the farm having access to irrigation.
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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA APRIL 2021
6 // WEST VIC REGION
Finding their sweet spot RICK BAYNE
WITH JUST 130 cows, Michael and Kim Smith
A move from Holsteins to British Friesians a decade ago has delivered results.
Michael Smith has found that a small herd can still reap rewards.
The property is only 81 ha, with a 95 ha outpaddock for breeding stock and cutting hay and silage.
aren’t out to break production records. But they’ve found a sweet spot when it comes to farming. Their farm at Bookaar is 10 km north of the Princes Hwy on the northern fringe of the Western District’s dairying region, and is proof that big isn’t always better. It is one of the northern-most farms in the area but they have been dairying on the land for 20 years and have defied the sceptics who thought they couldn’t make it with such a small herd. Originally from a grazing and cropping farm, Michael was a stock agent before turning back to farming, this time in dairying. Kim was originally from a dairy farm and was likewise working for a stock agent when they started the dairy. “We started with 11 acres on the house block then we bought another hundred acres and then half a dairy farm that had a little old four-a-side double-up dairy and my Mum and Dad gave us 24 cows to start with,” Kim recalls. The home property is only 81 hectares and over the years they’ve done hay and silage at Michael’s father Geoff’s farm 10 km to the north. After Geoff sold up three years ago, Michael and Kim invested in a 95-hectare out-paddock
at Boorcan for breeding stock and cutting hay and silage. “We don’t make any hay on the home farm; we cart it all home,” Michael said. Part of finding the sweet spot was finding the right cows for the land. About 10 years ago, they changed from Holsteins to British Friesians and couldn’t be happier with the move. “They’re not as tall as Holsteins, a bit more bone and a bit more muscle. They carry more meat and look after themselves a bit better,” Michael said. “We don’t produce as many litres but our fat and protein tests are better and that’s what we’re getting paid for.” “Not only do the British Friesians do more fat and protein, they have better fertility than the Holsteins, and they’re not as big so they don’t eat as much,” Kim said. “We don’t have a huge amount of land but we can look after them a lot better because they’re not eating us out of house and home.” When changing, they looked for a moderatesized cow while wanting to stay with black and whites to capitalise on the successful export heifer market. “A lot of semen companies have seen the writing on the wall and are coming back to a more medium-framed cow,” Michael said.
SHOOTING FOR OLYMPIC SUCCESS The Smith farm at Bookaar in south-west Victoria is home to the usual cows, pastures and machinery — plus a shooting range that is training a potential Olympic champion. Clay target shooter Penny Smith has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and during COVID-19 restrictions hasn’t had far to go to train. Born and raised on the farm, Penny simply walks into the backyard where her father Michael has built a trap shooting range able to simulate what she will encounter at Tokyo in late July. The cows and even the horses don’t mind the noise and Penny has maintained her training routine through the pandemic as she prepares to fulfil a nine-year dream of competing in the Olympics. At the same time, she continues to help around the farm and maintains a job leading the customer service team and as a lifeguard and swimming coach at the Colac Leisure Centre. The 25-year-old is talented in everything from football to horse riding — her first passion — and found her niche in shooting by accident. “Shooting wasn’t something I had an interest in growing up; horse riding was my passion,” she said. “I fell into it through my brother Andrew when I was 13 or 14 years old.” Andrew survived a bad motorbike accident and was advised by his parents to take up something safer. He chose shooting and recruited Penny to join a school competition. “I said I’d help make up a team and was only going to do it for a bit of fun,” she said. “One thing led to another and I went to the nationals and had some success and then wanted some more success.”
That success led to solo and mixed team world titles won in Italy, Russia, Finland and India, but being selected in the Olympics team is the pinnacle of her career so far. “I qualified in March 2019 before COVID wiped out everything,” she said. “It was disappointing but I changed a few things with my shooting and it probably benefitted me through having more time to consolidate those things I changed.” Two females and two males make up the shotgun trap team, with Penny joining competitors from Melbourne, Albury and Sydney. During COVID-19 restrictions, Penny spent more time at home on the farm helping to raise calves, milk cows and do whatever else was needed while fitting in as much practice as possible around her work schedule. “I was so lucky to have this range,” she said. “It started with a down-the-line layout then Dad put a 20-foot shipping container in the ground that shoots out the traps for simulated training.” The traps fly about 78 metres and 1.5 to three metres high at up to 100 km an hour. The 130 British Friesian cows on the 81-hectare family farm aren’t in the firing line, and don’t seem to mind the noise. Penny said dedication, persistence, practice and good hand-eye coordination were essential to her success. “Anyone can shoot, it’s just a matter of how much time you want to spend to get to the top.” While she has enjoyed great success nationally and internationally, Penny said the Olympics was the pinnacle.
A dairy farm isn’t your normal training ground for a potential Olympic champion, unless you’re Penny Smith.
After being selected for the Olympic team in March 2019, Penny Smith has success in her sights.
The 81 ha property features a shooting range, allowing Penny Smith to practice on-farm.
The cows and even horses on the property aren’t bothered by the noise, says Penny Smith.
“It’s where everyone wants to be with the best of the best athletes. Tokyo was always the goal. “I had an eight-year plan that has been bumped out to nine years; that’s how long it has taken me.” Despite the ongoing pandemic, Penny is confident the Olympics will happen. “We’re being reassured by our higher body it will go ahead,” she said. “We have to keep going forward in life and learn to live with and manage the virus.” While not getting ahead of herself with expectations, Penny was the first to qualify
for the Australian team with a 12-shot buffer, overcoming her disappointment of missing the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The top scorer in the selection series qualifies automatically but the second position is at Shooting Australia’s discretion. “I missed the Commonwealth Games in 2018,” she said. “I was second but missed selection to the third-place getter and I was determined to take that out of the equation this time. “That was the driving force to push me forward to finish first.”
DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA APRIL 2021
WEST VIC REGION // 7
This has been one of the best seasons, with enough feed in storage for another year.
The change to British Friesians has been a success, with the moderate-sized cows improving fertility and production solids.
“It’s about how they milk, not how they look, and we look for medium frame and place importance on fat and protein and fertility.” The Smiths are unassuming and usually like to fly under the radar, but there’s obvious pride in their ability to thrive with a small farm. “I guess it’s fairly amazing what we’ve achieved with 130 cows,” Michael said. Now in their late 50s, Michael and Kim bemoan their lack of holidays but still enjoy farming as a family unit with help from children Penny and Andrew. Kim says the new farm has added to their workload but in an enjoyable way.
The Smiths have always followed a “keep it simple” philosophy with farming, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t innovated. “Because we’re fairly small, we need to keep the milking operation and day-to-day running of the farm really simple,” Michael said. “That doesn’t mean you don’t move with the times to a certain degree, but you should do what you want to do.” They traditionally calve once a year from May 1 for nine weeks and have been dabbling in sexed semen over the past two years. “We expect this coming season with the use of sexed semen about three quarters of the herd
will have heifer calves within that nine-week period,” Michael said. “This is our second season with sexed semen. Since buying the Boorcan property we have been rearing 100 per cent of our calves. “At the moment it’s a great market and we’re looking for 80 to 90 heifers out of 130 cows.” They admit to getting tougher over the years with cows that don’t get in calf, although there are a few exceptions. “We only join for nine weeks and anything that’s not in calf gets moved on for fattening,” Michael said. “It means you bring new genetics into the herd annually.”
The oldest cow in the herd, aged 17, has had a calf every year until this year. “She’s coming home and she’s going to be the pet,” Kim said. “She’s been a great cow we can keep special cows.” Like other farmers in the region, the Smiths are enjoying a bumper season. “We’ve got plenty of hay and plenty of silage. I expect we’ll have a lot of silage left over,” Michael said. They plan to milk for another seven or eight years and then consider their future plans.
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