Irish Farm Business - Vol 3 Issue 3 Autumn 2016

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MILK PRICE VOLATILITY HOW TO COPE IN A CHANGING WORLD

DRYING OFF COWS HOW TO INCREASE YOUR YIELD IN 2017

AUTUMN GRAZING GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR GRASS

>> SEE PAGE 24

>> SEE PAGE 44

>> SEE PAGE 48

IRISH

Farm Business Volume 3 Issue 3 Autumn 2016 Edition Price €3.95 £2.95 (Stg)

DAIRYING

QUALITY MILK FROM WEST CORK AWARD-WINNING FARMER OUTLINES METHODS

FARM ENERGY–IMPROVE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT & INCOME

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Foreword/Contents/Credits IRISH

Farm Business DAIRYING

Volume 3 Issue 3 Autumn 2016 Price €3.95 £2.95 (Stg)

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Foreword

Milk price volatility is a key feature of dairy farming today and this is likely to continue as the world market responds to changes in product supply and demand,writes Laurence Shalloo and Liam Hanrahan,Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark.

IT

30 SALMONELLA CONTROL: A SOLID RETURN ON INVESTMENT

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TAMS II or The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme is the newest scheme for on–farm capital investment. Liam Hennessy of FDC Group reports.

38 LIVESTOCK, ENERGY AND GHG’S Farmgas Community Partners, sets its sight on the Irish livestock sector to cut on-farm emissions and increase family farm incomes, by James Dorman.

44 THE BEST WAY TO DRY OFF COWS Drying off cows properly will have a direct effect on

yield in 2017. Finola McCoy, Programme Manager, 24 milk CellCheck,Animal Health Ireland reports.

48 AUTUMN GRAZING MANAGEMENT We need to manage grass so that we have sufficient grass in the diet for livestock in Autumn, and also set the farm up to grow grass for Spring as discussed by Deirdre Hennessy, B.Agr.Sc., Ph.D,Teagasc.

52 IMPROVING HERD HEALTH USING A NATURAL RESOURCE FROM THE SEA Could we really improve herd fertility, milk solids, and overall herd health by using an underutilised natural resource that is abundant on our shorelines? Paddy Tamplin of Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd. discusses.

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The Publishers, Irish Farm Business

Editorial: Denis Lane Advertising: James Small Design: John Barrett Production: Emma Meade

Salmonella Infections cost Irish Dairy Farmers €112 per cow, per year, based on a recent study from Teagasc Moorepark on the effect of Salmonella carriers in a 100 cow herd, writes Joanne Cregg,Vet Advisor,MSD Animal Health.

34 SUPPORT SCHEME FOR FARM INVESTMENT (TAMS II)

Until the next time………

Enquiries:

NDC/Kerrygold Quality Milk Award Farmer of the year gives advice on achieving high milk quality and breeding standards on the O’ Sullivan family farm.

24 COPING WITH MILK PRICE VOLATILITY

he days are getting shorter and the grass growth is slowing down. We have a very interesting feature from Deirdre Hennessy on how to manage the closing of paddocks etc in a way that will utilize autumn grass best, while at the same time ensuring the best start for each paddock in the spring.

One of the highlights of the year was our visit to the O’ Sullivan farm in West Cork. Kieran is the winner of the NDC/ Kerrygold Quality milk farmer of the year. While they have improved the breed of the herd by careful selection of bulls over a thirty year period the quality of the milk is very much a present day (every day) job.

The milking of the cows in an exceptionally clean environment and using all information collected properly is the open secret for this farm.

Milk Price:As we are all painfully aware milk price has not been good this year even though there are now signs of a slight improvement however long it will last.As Laurence Shalloo and Liam Hanrahan point out farmers are “price takers”in this equation.They analyse in detail the various ways a farmer can cope/ plan/deal with such swings in price over which the individual farmer has no control.

Liam Hennessy of FDC Group goes through in detail the various supports available under TAMS II and the nature and elements of the various schemes.

It looks like the need to manage our carbon footprint and look seriously at the income opportunities from anaerobic digestion is finally coming into focus.

It appears that countries like Germany and Austria have a headstart so we should be able to learn from their experiences. It makes for interesting reading..

Publishers: Denis Lane and Robert Heuston

Features 20 SUSTAINABLE QUALITY ON WEST CORK FARM

Contributors: Liam Hennessy (FDC Group), Paddy Tamplin (Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd.), Joanne Cregg (Vet Advisor, MSD Animal Health), Pat Griffin (Health and Safety Authority), Finola McCoy (Animal Health Ireland), Laurence Shalloo and Liam Hanrahan (Teagasc), James Dorman (Farmgas), Deirdre Hennessy (Teagasc)

66 FARMING CAN BE A CRUSHING BUSINESS The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), since its establishment in 1989,has recorded the circumstances of all fatalities in the workplace including farm deaths.Pat Griffin, Health and Safety Authority, Senior Inspector, discusses.

Profiles 32 CLAAS Machinery 42 Triska Energy (Shell Rimula) 47 Calor Gas 55 Nutribio (C.A.H.L.) Distribution: Easons, Newspread,WNS Published by: Select Media Ltd, 26 Clare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Tel. + 353 1 6622266 Fax. + 353 1 6624981 Email. info@selectmedialtd.com

All material contained in this edition is copyright of Irish Farm Business 2016 and may not be reproduced or electronically stored without the permission of the publisher. However items may be freely reproduced provided the source is acknowledged. Content and views expressed in the publication do not necessarily represent those of the publishers.

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

NEWS GERMINAL IRELAND APPOINTS NEW GENERAL MANAGER Germinal Ireland has recently appointed Dermot Campion as their new General Manager. Dermot will take over from longstanding Managing Director Oliver Vaughan.

Germinal Ireland is a key part of the Germinal Group, which was formed in 1825 and also incorporates Germinal NI, Germinal GB, and Germinal New Zealand.The formation of Germinal Ireland in 1982 was followed by strong growth under the direction of Oliver, to the extent that the company is now the market leader in forage seeds and related technical expertise in Ireland. Looking back to the early days, Oliver explains “variety selection was not as important then as today. Farmers now have the advantage of selecting mixtures based on the Department Recommended list and more recently the PPI list, all backed with advanced technical expertise”.

Germinal has key relationships with the Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Science (IBERS) in Wales which plays host to their impressive science based research protocol, as well as AFBI, Barenbrug and also Teagasc here in Ireland.Their market leading products such as the Top 5 range of forage mixtures, forage brassicas, cereals, and amenity mixtures are widely used by farmers throughout Ireland.

In his new capacity as Chairman of Germinal Ireland, Oliver explains that the vision for future growth will continue to be fuelled by the need to find innovative ways to improve performance, constantly looking beyond the present in a global capacity.

According to Oliver,“we believe in our products and their performance and we believe that this is what makes us trusted leaders in agribusiness here in Ireland”.

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Oliver Vaughan

Dermot Campion

Speaking to their new General Manager Dermot Campion, he said he is looking forward to working with the Germinal team on the challenges that lie ahead. Dermot stated “Oliver played a pivotal role in the development of Germinal Ireland and has left things in great shape. My role will be to build on these firm foundations”.

Dermot, a BAgSc Graduate from UCD is a proud Tipperary man and joined Germinal in 2001. His long association with the company puts him in the ideal position to fulfil the ambitious plans for Germinal Ireland.

Germinal’s grass and clover varieties are distributed worldwide in Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand and the company is one of the shining lights in the Irish agribusiness sector.

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NEWS

EVENTS

FINISHING CATTLE THIS WINTER September 13th, 2016 Event Time: 7:15 PM Venue: Cillin Hill Mart, Kilkenny • 7:15 Feed Options for Beef this Winter – Heather Peppard, Bretts, Callan • 8:00 Cattle Budgets – Aidan Murray,Teagasc • 8:30 Cattle Demo/Factory Spec. – Terry Carroll,Teagasc/Peter Quinn, Meadow Meats, Rathdowney • 8:45 Health issues/Factory Veterinary Reports – Rebecca Carroll - A.H.I. • 9:30 Beef Market Prospects - Paul Nolan, Dawn Meats Ltd. FARM WALK – SHINAGH DAIRY FARM, BANDON September 15th, 2016 Event Time: 10.30am Venue: Shinagh Dairy Farm, Bandon Carbery / Teagasc Joint Programme FARM WALK – RESILIENT DAIRY FARMING – SUPPORTED

BY AIB • Profitable production in challenging times • 6 years’ progress in Shinagh dairy farm • Gurteen Share Farm, 1’st years’ experience • Managing cash flow in difficult times For more information on these events visit www.teagasc.ie/news--events/

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eNEWS

WIMBLEDON TENNIS CHAMP ANDY MURRAY INVESTS IN THE RIGHTMOVE FOR LIVESTOCK AND GRAIN HECTARE AGRITECH Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has invested in UK startup Hectare Agritech, which is the manager of two agriculture trading platforms: SellMyLivestock, and Graindex.

Andy Murray won Wimbledon for the second time, beating Canada’s Milos Raonic in three sets.

The company raised £274,380 ($361k) on Seedrs, the UK crowdfunding platform, with which Murray has a strategic partnership, according to Hectare.

“We understand Murray is particularly keen on investing in technology related start-ups, and we are delighted he has chosen to invest in Hectare through Seedrs,” said Nick Shepherd, nonexecutive chairman of Hectare.

Hectare Agritech’s seed funding, which follows an earlier £150k raise in January, will be used to build out both platforms, ahead of a larger venture capital raise when the company wants to partner with strategic investors.“The crowdfunding route was simple, quick and relatively inexpensive for raising our early funds,” said Shepherd.“Our next stage of funding later this year is different: we shall need funds of course, but we will also want our funding partner to bring expertise in developing out digital marketplaces; capability in international roll out; and experience in innovative monetization programs.”

“We have already started some early discussions with parties who are showing considerable interest, including one Californian VC fund with extensive agricultural investments around the world,” he added.

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SellMyLivestock was the brainchild of Dan Luff, the company’s free, however, a range of paid upgrades such as featured listings, livestock director and a fourth-generation cattle farmer based in social media boosting, premium membership and reservation fees Hampshire, UK, who became increasingly frustrated with the are now being integrated.”The platform is also introducing online current process of buying and selling livestock. It usually involved ‘shops’ and dedicated sales portals. Graindex will generate income making calls to buyers and sellers to get price quotes, and he for Hectare Agritech from commission earned on every tonne sold. rarely, if ever, reached the price that was quoted in the Agriculture This article was originally featured on AgFunder News. and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Email: Media@AgFunderNews.com Traditionally livestock is sold in the UK through live auction COULD LESS GASSY LIVESTOCK BE A rings, as well as some direct farmer-to-processor relationship trading and some direct farmer-to-farmer trading through listings CASH COW? in farming newspapers.

It's time to have a conversation about flatulent cows.

Grain too has been sold on a relationship basis between farmers The hamburgers and cheese that come from U.S. cattle may be and intermediaries and both livestock and crops can go through favourite fare at many summer cookouts, but the methane the same two or three intermediaries before they reach the end user. cows produce is significantly less appetizing.

“It’s that market inefficiency the two businesses are seeking to That's especially the case for sustainable investors looking for a exploit,” said Shepherd. “There is no real digital competitor to low-emission place to park their cash. "Enteric fermentation," or either platform.” livestock's digestive process, accounts for 22 percent of all U.S. SellMyLivestock and Graindex enable farmers to sell their products methane emissions, and the manure they produce makes up 8 directly from the farm, through the online platform and using a percent more, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. smart and secure payment system called FarmPay, which is owned And although agriculture is a growing industry as the world looks

by Hectare and powered by Stripe, the US financial services business. to feed its swelling population, some investors are reluctant to Sales can take place anywhere through the platforms’ mobile support a sector with such a hefty methane footprint. apps and they are fully traceable.There’s also the added benefits "There are a lot of factors or buckets that go into agricultural to animal welfare, as cattle are not being transported from farm emissions, but livestock tends to be one of the largest focuses," to market to farm, but directly from farm to farm. Farmers stand said David Nicola, portfolio manager of the Gratitude Railroad to save on the costs associated with that transport too.

Farmland Fund, which launched this week and is targeting $40 million in capital commitments focused on regenerative agriculture.

How does Hectare Agritech make money?

It's also an issue for Michael Landymore, a senior portfolio “SellMyLivestock operates a “freemium” model commonly found manager at Impax Asset Management responsible for the firm's in disruptive marketplaces,” reads the website.“A basic listing is

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food and agriculture strategy.“We tend not to invest in companies that are solely focused on growing livestock,” he said in a recent interview.

required by last year's United Nations climate agreement in Paris.

Almost 130 countries that arrived in Paris last year to agree on emissions reductions included agriculture in climate change mitigation targets, according to CGIAR. Emissions Issues But while many agree lower emissions are an important goal Methane, like carbon, is a greenhouse gas, but methane’s global for the livestock industry, just how they get there is still up for warming impact per molecule is 25 times greater than carbon’s, debate. It doesn't help that there isn't even a uniform way to according to the EPA. measure cow-produced emissions.

In June, scientists from the Consultative Group for International For meat producers,“monitoring greenhouse gas emissions Agricultural Research found that the agricultural sector must reduce from cattle is challenging as there are more than 700,000 cownon–CO2 emissions by 1 gigatonne per year by 2030 if it's going calf stocker ranches in the U.S.” beef supply chain, Cargill Inc. to help meet the two degree limit on increases in global temperature spokesman Michael Martin said in an e–mail.

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eNEWS

Isolating the impact of direct livestock emissions versus indirect emissions such as fertilizer, crop production, and transport for animal feed is also a challenge, companies and investors say.

“The issue for agriculture is identifying the actors and creating levers for change,” Cynthia Simon, senior manager of investor initiatives at CDP, a not–for profit focused on corporate carbon and water measurement, said in an e–mail.

area," said Britt Lundgren, Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Danone–owned Stonyfield Farm Inc.“Our understanding of this I think is still just at the tip of the iceberg and we’ve got a lot to learn before we feel like we have all the answers on how to reduce emissions from our farms.”

Cow Backpacks In Argentina, home to over 50 million cows, researchers from Stronger Together the Argentina National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) Some big producers are banding together to try to tackle the are attempting to use "methane backpacks," plastic contraptions issue.The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which includes attached to cows, to capture methane from a cow’s digestive companies such as McDonald's Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,Tyson tract.The technology is in its early stages, but so far the backpacks Foods Inc., JBS USA Holdings Inc. and Cargill, launched in 2015 have been able to extract 300 liters of methane a day, enough to with the aim of finding better ways to measure the environmental power a car or refrigerator, according to INTA. impact of cattle. Greenhouse gas emissions is one of its six "high Creating tools that will help farms identify opportunities to priority" indicators for sustainability, but “it is a challenge to align reduce emissions, while maintaining or improving profitability is the entire value chain,” to get emissions measurements, said John "the holy grail," Lundgren said.

Butler, chair of the roundtable, in an interview.

Impax, whose food and agriculture strategy has about $178 Some companies are also taking matters into their own hands, million in assets under management globally according to its getting creative when it comes to cutting emissions from their website, is investing in companies that breed livestock that herds. Cargill, for example, uses domed lagoons to capture some produce less methane, develop emissions–reducing feeds and of the methane released from biodegrading cow manure.Yogurt provide consumer alternatives to dairy, Landymore said. But it's maker Danone found through its research that adding Omega-3 going to be consumers, not investors, whose involvement results fatty acids to a cow’s diet — largely through infused flax seed — in real change, said Gratitude Railroad Farmland Fund's Nicola. can reduce methane emissions from cows by up to 30 percent.

“Where the pressure to measure these emissions more Further research, however, found that while the flax additive thoroughly will come from are consumers. It’s not likely to come reduced methane, it also reduced milk production, pushing directly from investors,” he said.“The opportunities that are Danone to focus on other ways to cut farm emissions. created in sustainable agriculture nowadays, it’s generally based "We’re really actively engaged in supporting research in this

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on the consumer waking up and realizing that they would like to have a higher quality product.”

Article published on www.bloomberg.com This story originally ran in Bloomberg Brief's free Sustainable Finance newsletter. You can subscribe at www.bloombergbriefs.com/sustainable-finance

HOW TINDER FOR TRACTORS IS SHAKING UP THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY We thought that might get your attention! No, it’s not quite what you think. But it’s close.

HarvestPort, a Californian startup, is matchmaking farmers to farm equipment that they don’t own and they don’t want to buy.

And, like Tinder, it’s fast becoming a service that users didn’t know they needed, until now.

As we all know, agriculture is a seasonal business, with various different activities taking place on the farm at different times of the year. It’s also an asset-heavy industry, with a range of different equipment needed at different times of the year.

Seasonal assets, like harvesting bins, are left for much of the year idle, collecting dust, and providing no value to the large farming businesses that own them. On the flipside, smaller farming organizations do not have the budget to acquire equipment that’s only used for a few months of the year.

Realizing this dynamic, HarvestPort has created an online marketplace to enable agribusinesses to lease their equipment for some extra cash.

“There is a lot of value being left on the table with underutilized assets and equipment throughout the supply chain,” Drew Taylor,

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head of New Ventures at Taylor Farms, the major Californian produce grower told AgFunderNews. “HarvestPort is using technology to unlock that value for growers and processors alike.”

And on the other side, agribusinesses that do own equipment seasonal equipment can rent it through the platform without the administrative, and sometimes complicated burden of doing it directly.

“HarvestPort’s B2B marketplace helps agribusinesses to avoid friction caused by sudden shifts in market preferences, weather events, and labor shortages–all while keeping capital in the industry,” said Tim Koide, cofounder of HarvestPort.

The platform officially launched in March 2016 and now has over 100 clients, which are all large-scale produce packers and processors, listing assets worth over $16 million.

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“Equipment sharing goes on all the time between local farmers, How does HarvestPort work?

A farming organization that wants to borrow equipment inputs but it often involves little more than a handshake agreement and so can create a lot of friction, especially if farmers have felt in HarvestPort a request for the type of equipment it needs, its obligated to lend to their neighbors or other acquaintances,” he location, and the price it would pay. added.

Those lending assets also pick the price they want along with HarvestPort makes money by charging a 10% fee on all transactions. listing their location and HarvestPort then makes a match based HarvestPort is now raising a $8m Series A round of funding to on these preferences. After the platform makes a match, the expand the business. It closed a $2 million seed round of funding borrower and lender are in touch to agree to a price and the with impact investment fund Fifth Season Ventures and Taylor terms of the deal.

Ventures, the investing arm of Taylor Farms, in 2015.

While HarvestPort does not arrange delivery and transport of This excerpt was originally featured on AgFunder News. the equipment for its user, it prompts them to document terms Email: Media@AgFunderNews.com around transportation to record the key logistics and financial information,“but clients are still free to employ their own preferred freight partners,” according to Brian Dawson, cofounder and CEO. Users have a seasonal planning dashboard where they can plan leases or rentals ahead of time, taking into account variables like the weather, government regulations, and market prices.

HarvestPort is responsible for invoicing the borrower for the lease, tracking the equipment, and ensuring accountability of the deal by listing upfront in the farmer–to–farmer online contract all potential costs associated with the equipment rental, like replacement value or repair.The platform can then easily convey any problems immediately on the return of the equipment, to avoid what Dawson says was a common pain point for the industry previously.

“This has seen borrowers receive an invoice for damage months after an asset has been returned, and trying to piece together which side was responsible was complicated and awkward,” he said.

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FARM CASE STUDY

SUSTAINABLE QUALITY

ON WEST CORK FARM NDC/Kerrygold Quality Milk Award Farmer of the year gives advice on achieving high milk quality and breeding standards on the O’ Sullivan family farm.

he O’ Sullivan family are well known in West Cork. Kieran O’ Sullivan and family are the fifth generation of O’ Sullivans on this land. Kieran attended Clonakilty Agricultural College in 1983/84 and has been full-time farming since then. His son Cathal is attending Clonakilty Agricultural College now so the wheel continues to turn. The family takes great pride in being part of the success story that is Carbery.

Kieran explains that Drinagh CO–OP has about 600 suppliers.

Each year they have a top 30 suppliers and the family would always strive to be in that number.The standard is improving all the time.

The total amount of land farmed is 102ha.This includes 22ha of rented land which is available for grazing cows. The land around here is fragmented which means the longest walk for cows to graze is near 2km. Included in the total area is 30ha of hill ground and a further 14ha of wet ground.

T

DAIRY HERD PERFORMANCE Total area farmed

102 ha

Average no. of cows

133 (up from 80 over 5/6 years ago)

Heifers in herd

20%

Stocking rate

1.82 LU/ha (overall farm)

Stocking rate

2.44 cows/ha (milking area)

Milk Yield per cow

4584 litres

Co-op Butterfat 4.02%

190kg per cow

Co-op Protein

168kg per cow

3.56%

Total Solids

358kg per cow

Meals fed

862kg per cow

Days in milk

271 days average

This is a spring calving pure British Friesian Herd.The calving starts about 1st February and continues until about the end of April.

The breed has been built up over a period of about 30 years and as a result there is good value in the calves when sold. (EBI Table for this herd at the start of the next page).

AI is used for the first 5/6 weeks and then an Angus stock bull is used to tidy up.

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FARM CASE STUDY

ECONOMIC BREEDING INDEX (EBI) The overall EBI reading for the herd in May 2016 was

The parlour has a cluster flush system that rinses out and disinfects clusters after each cow.This helps prevent any cross contamination between the high cell count cow and the next cow to be milked.

as follows: Overall herd

€146

The EBI of breeding heifers is

€170

The EBI of heifer calves is

€177

MILKING ROUTINE

In Spring, fresh calved cows are milked last.This milk is collected in the recorder jar and kept out of the tank for four days after calving: this milk is fed to calves.

When a cow’s milk is not to go into the tank, Kieran clips a

clothes peg on the transfer lever as a memory aid.

Gloves are worn at every milking.

The herd is milk recorded every month. Recording is used to

Every cow gets dry wiped with a paper towel every milking.

If teats are dirty, they are washed and dried with a paper towel.

monitor SCC, for breeding purposes and for selection of animals for culling.

Texts from Co-op are used to monitor SCC from one collection to

MILKING PARLOUR

the next.

Kieran installed an 18 unit Dairymaster in 2010. He has individual dairymaster feeders, with cluster removers and a clusterflush If a high cell count reading is received, all cows are checked system. When asked why he chose Dairymaster he says that the to find the high cell count cows and quarters. Identified quarters Dairymaster milks the cows out fully without causing any stress are treated immediately. to them. He also says that while there is a lot of technology in the background the machine is simple to operate. He believes After milk recording any cow with high cell count is checked that it is very important to service the machine regularly. While with the CMT test kit to find the high SCC quarter.This quarter most farmers change the liners every 2000 milkings you also is then treated until cured.The cow will again be checked with have to keep a close watch on all the other rubber joinings etc the CMT kit to ensure she is cured before her milk is allowed that can become worn with frequent washing and therefore back in the tank. need changing as well.

“One very noticeable thing is that the cows seem very relaxed and stress free.

Kieran believes this is very important and the heifers in particular are very calm when you walk through the herd”

Cows are teat sprayed after every milking. Kieran finds it good for teat condition.

Tetra Delta milking cow tube is the usual product used. All

mastitis milk is dumped until mastitis is cured and the withdrawal period observed.

MILKING MACHINE & BULK TANK WASHING ROUTINES After milking, clusters are washed on the outside first.

After milking, the plant is rinsed out with 400 litres of cold

water, the first 100 litres are let run to waste with the filter in,

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FARM CASE STUDY

then the filter is removed and the remaining 300 litres is circulated and checked to make sure it is clear.This is a good check to ensure all jars are set for washing.

Cows are milked twice a day until drying off.They are then

dried off abruptly in batches.They are then grazed on rough ground on the hill until mid–December.

Hot water is then drawn through the plant and let run to waste The herd is treated for fluke with Fasinex 2 weeks after housing, until the returning water is very hot. Then the hot wash solution and is treated a month later with Zanil for rumen fluke. of 200 litres is made up and the plant is washed with this formula for 10 minutes only….so the water remains very hot.

Cepravin is the product used for Dry Cow treatment: teat sealer is not used at present.

This hot wash solution is retained for the morning wash.

MILK QUALITY The plant is then rinsed out with 300 litres of cold water,

so it is ready for the morning milking.

After the morning milking the procedure is repeated, except this time using the cold solution held over from the previous evening and the solution is disposed of after this second use.

Solving a Somatic Cell Count problem Stop the spread of infection by correctly teat spraying and dipping all clusters after milking.This has been found on farms to be the single most effective way to reduce cell count and mastitis, caused by contagious mastitis Stop damage to teat ends caused by milking machines and

Bulk Tank: this operates on an automatic wash system using detergent and descaler from small drums so that the volume used can be checked.

poor habits in milking Prompt and effective treatment of clinical cases is essential,

along with appropriate use of dry cow tubes

GENERAL HYGIENE AND CLEANLINESS Farm roadways and yards are kept clean by scraping regularly.

When the cows are housed the cubicles are scraped twice a day and limed. Calving sheds and calf sheds are cleaned out after turn out, power washed and disinfected.

One very noticeable thing is that the cows seem very relaxed and stress free. Kieran believes this is very important and the heifers in particular are very calm when you walk through the herd.

DRYING OFF First calvers are dried off from mid– October on, depending on Body condition score and calving date target 10 to 12 weeks dry for 1st calvers.

Cows are dried off using Body condition score and expected calving date.

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Keeping the Somatic Cell Count Down Wear disposable gloves at every milking After milking, teat spray all cows Dip clusters after clinical cases and high cell count cows

CONCLUSION Kieran, Catherine, Donal and Mary O’ Sullivan have good reason to be proud of their achievements.They have worked diligently at improving the breed through good use of EBI, milk recording and other information available to them.

When asked to name a key factor Kieran says there are many but he says:“Milking time is a key time of the day, to ensure everything is done correctly and not to be treated as a chore to be worked through as speedily as possible”.

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FARM FINANCE

COPING WITH MILK PRICE VOLATILITY Milk price volatility is a key feature of dairy farming today and this is likely to continue as the world market responds to changes in product supply and demand, writes Laurence Shalloo and Liam Hanrahan, Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark.

Ireland’s milk production represents approximately 0.8% of In the past various levels of protection, operating mainly at EU global production and irrespective of our scale or how much we level, provided market support at times when there was an in- expand; in general we are price takers.

Therefore, the focus at farm level must be based on putting the balance in the Global supply/demand dynamic. farm in the best possible position to deal with a volatile price However, this protection has not operated at the market level to a large extent since 2007 (except in exceptional circumstances), while availing of tools and mechanisms to stabilise price. It must which has meant that the milk price received by farmers is much also be recognised that most dairy farmers in Ireland this year will experience a cash deficit when they combine the cash more volatile now than experienced in the past (See Figure 1). generated from the dairy farm with their drawings and tax from Currently, milk price is in a significant trough, which is causing many problems for virtually all dairy industries around the world. the business.

INTRODUCTION

Figure 1. Base milk price received by Irish farmers between 2005 and 2015.

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FARM FINANCE For many farmers, this process will identify potential pit–falls 1. LONG TERM VOLATILITY MANAGEMENT during the expansion process and will provide opportunities to STRATEGIES seek solutions. a) Optimising farm profitability For example, seeking a moratorium on capital repayments of The first and key step in ensuring the resilience of any business bank debt for the initial period of the expansion could make the during periods of low milk prices centres on having the right process viable and reduce the exposure to liquidity issues. system in place.The overall system operated on farm will be a Another solution would be to secure short–term finance (within key determinant of business resilience. year) to overcome periods of cash deficit as occurred on many A focus on a high EBI/crossbred cow within a system that maximises grass growth, matching grass growth and demand farms in the spring of 2013. while minimising capital investment will result in a business that Cash flow budgets should be set up at the start of the year. On has a lower overall cost base and will be best placed to deal at least a quarterly basis, these budgets should be compared with with price volatility. Based on the analysis of National Farm actual cash flow from the bank statements.

Survey data, maximising grazed grass utilisation and minimising Ideally this process should be undertaken with the bank to purchased supplementary feed use will maximise farm profit per build a strong relationship and understanding between the bank hectare and per kg MS produced. and the business. After each review process, projections should Nationally, there is huge scope to increase grass utilisation and be completed for the remainder of the year to determine the reduce the levels of bought in feed across the national dairy herd. new overall picture for the farm and steps should be taken if a Having the right type of robust cow capable of converting cash deficit issue is apparent. grass to milk in an efficient manner, producing high milk solids, with minimal supplementation and capable of withstanding c) Increase milk solids concentrations short term fluctuations in feed supply, with a low replacement Most milk payment systems across the country are now based rate and associated with a reduced labour requirement are on the A+B-C system to reward farmers for higher milk solids essential parts of a resilient business. concentrations.There has been significant progress made at farm b) Cash flow budgeting The expansion process at farm level has put a significant strain on scarce cash resources and is confounded by the current drop in milk prices.

Expansion usually results in increased debt servicing costs, reduced immediate farm productivity, growing stock numbers and increased on-going farm development costs. In many cases the on-farm investment is completed from cash generated from within the business instead of from borrowings which places unnecessary additional strain on the business.The creation of cash flow budgets that can be used to identify particular cash deficits within and between years, and can allow a plan to be developed around financing expansion and managing cash is a must for the business.

level over the past 10 years based on investment in breeding and grassland management.

Figure 2 shows the change in fat and protein concentration over the past 15 years on Irish dairy farms. It is evident that the annual increase in milk solids concentrations is higher now than it was in the past. At a base milk price of 29c/l and based on the 2015 milk volume output, the increase in solids concentrations between 2000 and 2015 is worth €161 million annually at farm level or 2.5c/l.

While the benefits from increasing milk solids concentrations decline with lower milk prices the relative benefit becomes more important at lower milk prices.

A key strategy at farm level around volatility management must centre on increasing the milk solids concentrations of the farm.

Figure 2. Fat and protein concentration changes between the year 2000 and 2015 on Irish dairy farms

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FARM FINANCE

cost), have provided a cushion in years when they are needed d) Fixing milk price (poor milk price).This scheme has both cushioned the farm in a The introduction of fixed price contracts has become much poor milk price year and has actually increased the overall paymore common across most milk processors over the past five years.While these pricing mechanisms are new in Ireland, different out over the six years to the end of 2016. formations have been available in other countries (particularly in the US) for a much longer period.A study completed by the United e) Cash management When milk price volatility is not managed on farm, periods of Farmers of America in 2014 showed that on average the milk price was 0.9% lower over a 14 year period when opting for the fixed significant acute cash surpluses and deficits become much more price contract, but the same study noted that much of the extremes common. If not managed correctly, these periods could result in increased costs at farm level coupled with increased stress for in price movement were avoided through fixing the price. those working in the business.

Many of the milk processors in Ireland have introduced fixed This will be exacerbated by the requirement to make tax returns pricing schemes over the past number of years.The Greenfield Dairy Farm in Kilkenny has availed of most (except 2013) of the potentially in periods of low prices based on profits generated Glanbia fixed milk price schemes that have been offered between when milk prices were higher.Therefore, a key strategy on farm 2011 and 2016. Each year there are different schemes offered by to manage volatility should involve creating a cash reserve when prices are high. Ultimately this puts power back in the farmer’s Glanbia based on deals done with customers. hands and creates a situation that the farmer is less vulnerable The Greenfield Dairy Farm has had different levels of milk locked into the different schemes each year based on availability when price drops.

While this strategy is possible at farm level, there is a requirement and the amount of each scheme that was sought.

There has been 0%, 15%, 27%, 24%, 25% and 23% locked into the to have the taxation structure of the business set up in an efficient manor to allow the business to create cash reserves. fixed price contract in each year from 2010 to 2015 (Table 1).

Internationally there are taxation structures (Farm Management Overall in the fixed pricing schemes that the Greenfield Dairy Deposit Scheme and Income Equalisation Scheme) operated in Farm has been locked into, there has been a net benefit of €10,455 up until the end of 2015.The net effect in each year has Australia and New Zealand that facilitate the creation of cash buffers in a tax efficient manner, with similar schemes required been -€3,891, €10,099, -€15,982, -€2,257, €22,487 for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and based on projections for 2016 it for Ireland and in reality right across the EU in order to manage volatility.There is a costs associated with this type of policy is estimated that net benefit will be over €23,000.The schemes which is related to the opportunity costs of not investing the that have operated to date while costing money in a high milk money elsewhere. price year (when the farm is in the best position to sustain a Table 1. The effect of fixed milk pricing on the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny between 2011 and 2015 Year

Total Supply (L)

Supply at Base (L)

Supply Fixed (L)

2011

1,328,654

1,126,142

202,512

2012

1,316,477

958,669

357,808

2013

1,469,612

1,111,804

357,808

2014

1,413,359

1,062,413

2015

1,490,829 7,018,931

Supply Fixed %

Base Price c/l

Fixed Price c/l

Diff c/l

Diff €

15.2

38.69

36.77

-1.92

-3,891

27.2

34.89

37.71

2.82

10,099

24.4

44.25

39.78

-4.47

-15,982

350,946

24.8

41.96

41.31

-0.64

-2,257

1,152,251

338,578

22.7

32.37

39.01

6.64

22,487

5,411,279

1,607,652

22.9

38.46

39.11

0.65

10,455

2011– 2015

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FARM FINANCE

2. SHORT TERM VOLATILITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES In a low milk price year the price received for milk is likely to be less than the total cost of production including the farmers own labour for most farmers in Ireland. As long as the industry maintains its competiveness it is likely that the periods of low milk prices will be relatively short lived as the low milk price will cause a supply correction in the least competitive industries.

In reality there is no magic bullet that will sort out the entire farm problems in a low milk price, the objectives of management in a low milk price year should be to generate adequate family drawings and to ensure the long term potential of the farm business is not significantly damaged.

process around deciding on the best next steps.The plan should be reviewed quarterly and adjustments made when the forecasted budget deficit is increasing. c) Evaluate options to sell surplus livestock There may be potential to free up some cash from the sales of beef or other stock that are surplus to requirements on the farm especially if the farm is being operated at a high overall stocking rate.

d) Reduce/eliminate capital investment There should be no/minimal capital expenditure completed unless the cash flow plan allows or is based on structured borrowings and all farm maintenance should be minimised. In reality on most farms there will be little scope for significant development, while in most cases this will have been financed a) Reduce costs Within a year like 2016, there is no one silver bullet that would by long term debt, there is a justification for postponing all lead to a massive reduction in costs. In reality, no one option will development in the short term to allow the business get over this time of depressed prices. If still considering farm development fit all farms and therefore there is no one solution. projects a significant contingency fund should be included in the All costs should be considered for potential saving and the impact of a reduction on each input should be assessed. Certain budget and ensure that there is financial resources available to cover the contingency if required. Any investment should be costs will have limited effect on the long term productivity of prioritised based on its potential to provide a significant return the farm and these should be prioritised for savings. In a low to the farm as a whole. milk price year, it is certain that the margin in producing milk

“A key strategy on farm to manage volatility should involve creating a cash reserve when prices are high. Ultimately this puts power back in the farmer’s hands and creates a situation that the farmer is less vulnerable when price drops” e) Liaise with your bank/accountant /consultant from purchased feed will be negative so the aim should be to match the stocking rate on the farm to the grass growth potential The cash flow budget should be discussed with your bank/accountant/ of the farm. Sell cows that may not have a long term future in the consultant.There may be a requirement for short term credit facilities and where debt servicing is a significant proportion of herd, older cows, late calving etc. and sell them while their sale total costs there may be a possibility to take a moratorium from will help reduce feed demand on the farm.

Cost savings are available by refocusing the business to producing capital repayments in the short term.There may also be potential milk from grazed grass and ensuring that pre–grazing yields, post to retrospectively finance development work completed on the farm in the past 2 years from cash flow with medium term debt. grazing residuals and overall growth is optimised.

It is extremely important that farmers are proactive with the bank Silage requirements should be calculated for 2016/2017 based on stock numbers planned, including current reserves and building and that contact is made at the earliest possible opportunity in order to put a plan in place to get over the short term issues. in a buffer to ensure that adequate areas are being conserved. b) Develop short term cash flow budget While it is prudent to always generate a monthly cash flow budget for the farm, this becomes significantly more important in a low milk price year.This is a forecast of the money entering and leaving your bank account each month.

All cash revenue and costs should be included for the farm as well as capital and interest payments, family drawings and a provision for tax.

The farm tax accounts for 2015 should be used as the starting point to create a financial picture of the farm for 2016 followed by the completion of a source and application of funds for the 2015 accounts which can then be used for the 2016 projections coupled with changes in milk outputs, milk values, livestock sales and any cost category changes.

Once the cash flow budget is developed and the size of the potential problem is identified a range of options can be considered.

No one option will fit all farms and therefore there is no one solution and thus the budget will help with the decision making

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f) Communication with others Dealing with these issues can be extremely stressful and should not be dealt with in isolation by any individual. While it is not second nature to share problems with others there is in general positive outcomes from the sharing of the individual problems.

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ANIMAL HEALTH

SALMONELLA CONTROL

A SOLID RETURN ON INVESTMENT Salmonella Infections cost Irish Dairy Farmers €112 per cow, per year, based on a recent study from Teagasc Moorepark on the effect of Salmonella carriers in a 100 cow herd, writes Joanne Cregg, Vet Advisor, MSD Animal Health.

Salmonella infections in cattle can result in a staggering variety of signs which can be detrimental to a farming enterprise. Among these signs are abortions, diarrhoea, septicaemia, joint infections, significant milk yield reduction and many others.

A worrying feature of infection is that many infected animals in a herd may show few or no symptoms but may still act as a source of infection for other animals. Salmonella infections are also of concern to the general public as many serotypes of these bacteria are capable of causing serious disease in humans.

In Ireland, exposure of herds to Salmonella is common. In fact, almost 50% of bulk milk samples from unvaccinated dairy herds tested positive for antibodies to Salmonella spp1.

This is a worrying trend given the zoonotic potential of many Salmonella spp. and the dairy industry’s dependence on the export of milk products.

The majority of Salmonella infections in Irish cattle are caused by one of the following serotypes:

In a study over a ten year period in Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL), S. typhimurium accounted for 11% of Salmonella isolates while S. dublin accounted for 85% of isolates. Abortion remains the most common clinical entity associated with S. dublin infection. In 2014, 6.5% of bovine abortion submissions to laboratories in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland were attributable to S. dublin. A clearly defined peak in Salmonella abortions was evident in October and November with the majority of abortions occurring in the second half of pregnancy.

SALMONELLA INFECTIONS: KNOW THE SIGNS YOUNG STOCK OLDER STOCK Scour outbreaks

Abortion

Septicaemia

Reduction in milk yield

Joint infections

Enteritis

Navel ill

Metritis

Pneumonia

Pneumonia

Failure to thrive

Chronic carrier animals

Chronic diarrhoea

Salmonella typhimurium or Salmonella dublin.

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Terminal dry gangrene Death

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ANIMAL HEALTH Sunken eye in a dehydrated calf with Salmonella scour.

Once infection enters the herd then the control of salmonellosis is difficult as the bacteria can survive for long periods of time in the environment (particularly in slurry) and may even multiply under moist conditions.

PREVENTION: In a disease free herd it would be best to maintain a fully closed herd in conjunction with stringent biosecurity and hygiene standards to prevent introduction of disease.These measures would include: • Control of rodents and wild birds and prevent access to feed bins • Preventing access to the farm by visitors and vehicles • Maintain double fencing at all farm boundaries (minimum 3 m buffer zone) • Attempt to diagnose suspicious illnesses on farm particularly abortions and scours EFFECT OF SALMONELLA EXPOSURE ON • Consider vaccination if herd is at risk i.e. neighbouring herd infected/ HERD PROFITABILITY: buying in A recent Irish study demonstrated that Salmonella exposure, • All bought in animals or indeed animals returning from marts or even in the absence of obvious signs of disease, can result in shows should be quarantined and vaccinated before allowing them access significant losses in non-vaccinated herds. Total annual profits in to the main herd if their exposure/vaccination status is uncertain. unvaccinated herds were reduced by €112.11 at milk prices of In disease-–positive herds all of the above biosecurity measures €0.34/L as a result of exposure to Salmonella. should also be implemented in an attempt to slow the spread of At a lower milk price of €0.24/L, Salmonella exposure still infection within the farm. Control of the spread of disease is reduced annual profits by €77.34 per cow. Herd simulations possible but eradication of salmonellosis from a persistently were used to examine the effect of vaccination for Salmonella infected herd is very difficult due to difficulties diagnosing on herd profitability. Herds vaccinated for Salmonella generated infected animals. As the disease transmission is mainly via faecal€101.89 more profit per cow compared with herds positive for oral contact then all efforts should be made to prevent faeces from exposure (at a milk price of €0.34/L).The improvement in annual affected animals coming in contact with feed or water sources profit from vaccination was still found to be €67.09 per cow at a including grazing land. Isolation facilities are essential and strict milk price of €0.24/L in these herds. personal hygiene need to be maintained to prevent human infection.

“All bought in animals or indeed animals returning from marts or shows should be quarantined and vaccinated before allowing them access to the main herd if their exposure/vaccination status is uncertain” In this study, this reduction in profits in test–positive herds could result In particular, the young, the elderly and immunocompromised in Irish dairy farmers operating at a loss when milk prices are low. people should avoid contact with stock on disease–positive farms.

Several researchers, including Riona Sayers of Teagasc SPREAD OF DISEASE: Moorepark, recommend vaccination against Salmonellae as part In cattle the most common route of transmission is faecal–oral. of an overall control programme on the basis that Salmonellae However,transmission can occur via aerosols,saliva and nasal secretion, are significant disease causing agents in both cattle and humans. milk and colostrum. Usually shedding occurs for approximately 2 There is currently only one Salmonella vaccine licensed for use in weeks after infection but recovered carrier animals can subsequently cattle, containing antigens of S. dublin and S. typhimurium.This shed bacteria intermittently particularly during times of stress. It vaccine, Bovivac S, is marketed in Ireland by MSD AH and is is very difficult to identify these carrier animals and movement of available from your animal health supplier.The advice of your these silently infected animals can facilitate transfer of infection veterinary practitioner should be sought before implementing a into naive herds. Carrier animals often start excreting the bacteria Salmonella control programme. again during periods for stress (often around the time of calving or due to parasitic infections, particularly liver fluke).

1. O’Doherty E., Sayers R., O’Grady L.,Temporal trends in bulk milk antibodies to Salmonella can also enter a herd via contaminated water or Salmonella, Neospora caninum and Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo in Irish feed. Mice and birds can act as long-term carriers of bacteria and dairy herds. Accessed online 25 July 2016. may contaminate feed and water on farm or in feed mills and may http://tstor.teagasc.ie/bitstream/11019/782/1/PVM%20Temporal%20trends%20EOdo even carry disease between farms. hertyetal.pdf Important risk factors Increasing herd size and purchasing replacement stock, mixing stock of different disease status i.e. contract rearing etc. facilitates spread from infected to naïve animals

Recovered carriers can appear clinically normal but will continue to shed bacteria

Spreading contaminated slurry on grazing land

S. dublin can survive in slurry for over a year

Salmonella-positive neighbouring herds

Nose-nose transmission

Contaminated feedstuffs/waterways

Birds, rodents and neighbouring herds may contaminate feed or water

Contact based spread

Personnel, vehicles, wildlife, renting land where infected stock have been.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

CLAAS Advanced automation for new LEXION 600

ver the 20 years since the LEXION combine range was first introduced, it has led the way in the development and use of advanced technology to help users consistently maintain high outputs and optimum cost efficiency.

As part of the ongoing development of the that direct the air down the side of the combine, In addition to continuously adjusting the LEXION 600 straw-walker combine range, fan speed, the system fully automatically creating a curtain of air that prevents dust 2017 models will benefit not only from new rising.As a result, the engine bay is kept far controls the opening of both the upper and cost-efficient engines, a new straw chopper cleaner and maintenance time is reduced. lower sieves to ensure that grain is cleaned and other advanced features previously only to a far higher level than would be humanly AUTOMATED CONTROL available on the higher capacity LEXION 700 possible. Depending on what they require, CLAAS leads the way in the development of HYBRID range. the operator has the choice of four operating As before, the LEXION 600 range comprises automated systems for combines, which has parameters: Maximum Throughput; Minimal of three 6-walker models (LEXION 670/660/650) helped LEXION 700 operators achieve Fuel Consumption/Straw Quality; High Grain higher outputs from their combine and some Quality or an Optimum Balance of all of these. with a drum width of 1700mm and two 5of which is now optionally available on the walker models (LEXION 630/620) with a LEXION 600.

1420mm-wide drum. MONTANA hillside RESIDUE MANAGEMENT versions of the LEXION 670 and 630 are also Combine output is often restricted by an Larger 6-walker LEXION 670, 660 and 650 available and in addition to the TERRA TRAC operator’s natural fear of pushing the combine models also now benefit from a new straw LEXION 670TT, a new tracked version of the too hard, resulting in a time-consuming chopper and radial spreader to ensure that LEXION 660 has also been added to the range. blockage.To avoid this, the CLAAS AUTO crop residues are efficiently chopped and CROP FLOW CONTROL developed for the Instead of the Caterpillar engines previously then evenly spread across the wider cutting used, all 2017 LEXION 600 range models are LEXION 700 range last year is now available widths on these combines. now powered by Mercedes-Benz T4F compliant on all LEXION 600 models. Using sensors In the straw chopper, the drum width has engines. On the largest LEXION 670 and 660, monitoring engine speed, the APS drum, the been increased by 5cm so that crop flow into impellor drum and the straw chopper, the the engines have a cubic capacity of 10.7 litres CROP FLOW CONTROL system automatically and through the chopper is more uniform, with power outputs of 435hp and 408hp resulting in a more even chop length. reacts and alerts the operator to a potential respectively. LEXION 650/630/620 models Acceleration of the chaff is also increased, blockage, so they can confidently push the come with 7.7 litre engines with power resulting in a wider spread pattern.The combine to its maximum capacity. outputs of 354, 354 and 313hp respectively.

Another new feature is AUTO SLOPE control, straw chopper is also now engaged from To provide adequate cooling for the new which guarantees the cleanest possible sample the cab and there is tool less adjustment of 10.7 litre engines on the LEXION 670/660,these and minimal losses on uneven terrain.AUTO the stationary knives and friction plate. now feature the unique CLAAS DYNAMIC The new radial spreader is now mechanically SLOPE automatically controls the fan speed COOLING system originally developed for driven, meaning that the rotors maintain a and continually adjusts this relative to the angle the LEXION 700 range. of the combine.When working uphill, the fan constant speed for a more even spread and use DYNAMIC COOLING incorporates a variable speed will be automatically reduced to avoid less fuel.The radial spreader is hydraulically fan drive that automatically adjusts the cooling controlled from the cab and will automatically losses and then increased again as it goes capacity as required by the engine, which downhill to ensure grain is cleaned sufficiently. adjust the spread pattern to compensate for helps save up to 20hp and so reduce fuel Taking this a stage further, the LEXION 600 crosswind or when harvesting on a slope. consumption. Located horizontally behind is also now available with CEMOS AUTOMATIC To reduce the time spent emptying, the the engine, the radiator draws in clean air CLEANING. Until now only available on the offloading time has been increased on from above the combine through a 1.6m LEXION 700, CEMOS AUTOMATIC CLEANING LEXION 670/660 to 130 litres/second and wide rotating sieve filter.The air is then fully automates the grain cleaning system to 110 litres/second on the LEXION 670 directed downwards through the radiator ensure the cleanest possible sample. Sensors MONTANA and LEXION 650-620. and engine bay, before exiting through louvers throughout the combine automatically monitor For further information contact: Adam and continuously react to changing harvesting Hayward, Combine Specialist, CLAAS UK, conditions far more regularly and accurately Tel: 01284 763100. than would be possible by the operator.

Email: Adam.hayward@claas.com

O

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FINANCE

SUPPORT SCHEME FOR FARM INVESTMENT (TAMS II)

TAMS II or The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme is the newest scheme for on–farm capital investment. Liam Hennessy of FDC Group reports.

AMS II is the newest scheme for on-farm capital investment EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE UNDER THIS GRANT as part of the new Rural Development programme that will SCHEME INCLUDE: run from 2015 until 2020. The total allocation of funds is • Mobile Slurry Tank with Trailing Shoe €395 million which will be co-funded by the European Union. • Mobile Slurry Tank with Shallow Injection System TAMS II comprises of a number of schemes that cater for the • Mobile Slurry Tank with Dribble Bar majority of facilities and equipment that farmers may wish to • Retrofitting Dribble Bar to existing slurry tank apply for across all agricultural sectors with tillage farmers being • Umbilical System (base pump, hose reel and fittings, lay flat the notable exception. hose and fittings, trailing shoe attachment/shallow injection/

T

THE SIX MAIN SCHEMES ARE: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme Dairy Equipment Scheme Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme Pig and Poultry Scheme Organic Investment Scheme

These grant aided schemes will run for five years and farmers will be able to apply in tranches that will be open for three months at a time. Every farmer will be allowed to make one application per tranche.

dribble bar) The Dribble Bar attachment is the only piece of equipment under the grant scheme that can be retrofitted to an existing tanker. All new tankers bought to avail of grant aid must be fitted with attachments listed above. Rain guns and splash plates are prohibited.

ANIMAL WELFARE, SAFETY AND NUTRIENT STORAGE SCHEME

This scheme comprises of on-farm investments for animal housing and handling, retrofitting of safety equipment, rewiring of sheds, slurry storage and silage pits.This scheme like previous schemes is designed to aid farmers in creating modern and more LOW EMISSION SLURRY SPREADING intensive holdings that can be farmed more efficiently as well as EQUIPMENT reducing their impact on the environment through detrimental This scheme is designed to encourage farmers to invest in slurry farming practises. spreading equipment that will help mitigate the level of ammonia being The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under released into the atmosphere through the land spreading of slurry. the Scheme is €80,000 per holding. In the case of a joint The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under application by two or more eligible partners under a registered the Scheme is €40,000 per holding. In the case of a joint partnership, the maximum eligible investment ceilings referred to application by two or more eligible partners under a registered above shall be increased to €160,000. Grant aid will be given at a partnership, the maximum eligible investment ceilings referred to rate of 40% under this scheme. In the case of a company, the above shall be increased to €60,000. All investments under this company is seen as a single legal individual and is eligible for scheme are grant aided at a rate of 40%.

40% grant of €80,000.

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FINANCE Applicants must have planning permission approved prior to making a grant application.This will have a significant effect on the overall level of applications particularly in the first few tranches.

Farmers must be fully cross compliant as of the winter prior to the application to be eligible for grant aid.As a result many farmers will find it difficult to secure grant aid if stock numbers have been increased over the past number of years and slurry storage has not been increased accordingly.

The conversion of existing sheds is not eligible for grant funding which means applicants will not be able to apply for a grant to convert loose housing or feed and machinery stores into cubicle housing or other housing facilities.

Applicants will however be eligible to build sheds over existing slurry tanks or put tanks into existing sheds provided they have an engineer's report stating the tank is structurally sound for the next 20 years.

DAIRY EQUIPMENT SCHEME The Dairy Equipment Scheme has been introduced to encourage, in particular, new entrants/young farmers in milk production by providing them with a level of support to meet considerable capital costs associated with the establishment of their enterprise and THE MAIN TYPES OF INVESTMENT UNDER ensuring that they have the most up-to-date technology available THE DES INCLUDE: to compete in the modern dairy sector.

1. Milking Machine Equipment The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under 2. Milk Storage Equipment and Ancillary Cooling Equipment the Scheme is €80,000 per holding. In the case of a joint application 3. In Parlour Feeding System by two or more eligible partners under a registered partnership, the maximum eligible investment ceilings referred to above shall Grant aid is available for the building of new parlours and the be increased to €160,000. Grant aid will be given at a rate of 40% extension of existing parlours. In the case of modifying existing under this scheme. Again the company is seen as a single legal parlours only add-ons that are already present in the parlour are individual and is eligible for 40% grant of €80,000. eligible under the grant.

“These grant aided schemes will run for five years and farmers will be able to apply in tranches that will be open for three months at a time”

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FINANCE

YOUNG FARMER CAPITAL INVESTMENT SCHEME (YFCIS) The Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme is essentially an amalgamation of the Dairy Equipment Scheme and the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme.The objective of the Scheme is to provide an incentive for young farmers to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment by providing them with an increased level of support to meet the considerable capital costs associated with the establishment of their enterprise.

There is a financial allocation of €120 million for this scheme alone.

Under this separate scheme young farmers/new entrants are eligible to apply for all the options in the DES and the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme with grant approval of 60% on up to €80,000 per holding.Young farmers/ new entrants are allowed to make as many applications per tranche as they wish.

When there is a partnership in place that includes a young farmer the young farmer will be eligible to apply for the grant at a rate of 60% on up to €80,000 with the second individual eligible to apply for a grant rate of 40% on another €80,000 moving the total spend allocation up to €160,000. In the case of a company the young farmer will qualify for a grant of 60% of €80,000.

As a company is seen as a legal individual the spending ceiling is €80,000 regardless of how many individuals or young farmers are involved in the company. Both the company and partnership involving a young farmer will be eligible to apply for all grants under the YFCIS.

36

ORGANIC CAPITAL INVESTMENT SCHEME The objective of the Scheme is to facilitate the development of the organic sector so as to ensure a regular supply of high quality organic produce to the market. Financial assistance will be directed towards projects which: • Improve the organic sector and provide the producers of the basic product with an opportunity of enhancing income.

• Help to guide production in line with foreseeable market trends or encourage the development of new outlets for agricultural products.

• Help to improve production, handling and preparation of organic produce • Facilitate the adoption and application of new technologies.

• Help to ensure the adoption of "best practice" within the organic production/processing sector.

• Develop facilities for preparation, grading, packing, storage, distribution, or the sale of organic products as part of a wider organic operation It also aims to provide an incentive to organic young farmers to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment by providing them with an increased level of support to meet the considerable capital costs associated with the establishment of their enterprises.

There is a national fund of approximately €8 million with the same funding levels available per holding as the other schemes outlined previously. Successful application to these schemes requires careful planning and adherence to stringent criteria. FDC Agricultural Consultants are available throughout our branch network to advise and help secure maximum aid for each applicant.

Liam Hennessy, BAg., Agricultural Consultant, FDC Group. Contact: kanturkagri@fdc.ie

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FARM ENERGY

LIVESTOCK, ENERGY AND GHG’S Farmgas Community Partners, sets its sight on the Irish livestock sector to cut on–farm emissions and increase family farm incomes, by James Dorman.

armgas Community Partners (www.farmgas.ie), co–founded

by Donal Flynn and Richard Keenan in 2012, is an Irish based and wholly owned renewable energy business. Donal and Richard have been friends since their time as students at UCD, where they qualified as engineers. After college, both moved to Canada to embrace careers in the burgeoning oil and gas industry; but after starting families, decided to return to their native Ireland in the late 70’s.

Richard is the co-founder of Keenan Feeders of Borris, County Carlow.The Keenan name is synonymous with livestock farmers for introducing operationally focused, advanced technology to agriculture and have more than 20,000 clients globally. It was on Richard’s travels promoting the Keenan brand that he became aware of on–farm anaerobic digestion.This principally occurred on visits to continental Europe where farms primarily used slurries and manures to produce electricity and heat to offset on-farm demands.The resulting digestate is a nutrient rich liquid, free of weed seeds and with increased availability of nitrogen for plant uptake.

Donal is a mechanical engineer who spent over 40 years in the design and construction business, both in Ireland and globally.

He has extensive business experience, primarily in the process and energy sectors. He is a former group director and shareholder of PM Group, Ireland’s largest engineering and project management company.

Since founding the company, Richard and Donal have been joined in the business by former UCD alumni Paddy Joy,Terry Nolan and Larry Murphy. Kieran Dunne, Managing Director of Direct Fuels Ltd has also joined the team. Biographies for the Board of Directors can be found on the Farmgas Community Partners website at www.farmgas.ie.

F

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Donal heads up the company as Managing Director along with Stephen Branagan, Head of Finance and myself, James Dorman, Head of Business Development.

I am the former Co-Founder and Sales & Operations Director of Baron Recycling Ltd. I sold my share of the business to my cofounder in January 2012. More recently I held the position of MD of Manure Bioenergy Systems Ltd, a company focused on using Anaerobic Digestion to find a solution to the Poultry Litter issue in Northern Ireland. I grew up on the family farm and have remained passionate about agriculture ever since.

Stephen is a Chartered Accountant (ACA), and has worked in numerous accountancy practices and financial services businesses in the UK and Ireland after qualifying in Dublin. Stephen has also held the role of Head of Finance and Chief Risk Officer in the Irish operation of an international investment bank, and has held numerous directorships in various companies in the renewable energy industry.

Anaerobic digestion is a controlled process where biodegradable materials (except timber based) are broken down by bacteria in the absence of oxygen at mesophilic (40°C) or thermophilic (50°C) temperatures to produce biogas. Biogas usually contains 55% methane, 44% carbon dioxide and 1% impurities like Hydrogen Sulphide, Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide and water vapour.

Anaerobic digestion originates from Central Asia and has been used for many centuries to provide fuel for heating, cooking and more recently electricity since the onset of ignition engines.

Germany has presented the strongest market for anaerobic digestion development in Europe over the last 30 years.Today there are more than 8,000 operational anaerobic digestion facilities in Germany. They primarily operate on energy crops but many also use slaughterhouse residues, food waste, agri–food processing residues and industrial by-products to generate biogas.

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FARM ENERGY

This biogas is either used to fuel a Combined Heat and Power unit, supplying heat and electricity on-farm, to local villages and factories or the Carbon Dioxide can be removed from the biogas, allowing the methane to be injected into the natural gas grid.

Where surplus electricity exists from Combined Heat and Power units it can be supplied onto the local electrical system for use further away from the anaerobic digestion process.

Farmgas Community Partners was founded to bring next generation biogas technology exclusively to the UK and Irish markets, to deliver Enhanced Biogas Generation© versus traditional methods.

Donal and Richard spent almost two years traveling throughout Europe to Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark,The Netherlands and Italy; to meet with potential technology suppliers and to see examples of their work. It was their ambition to find a technology supplier who focused their energies on producing more biogas from manures and slurries than was currently believed to be achievable.

It was not until Richard attended a Chamber of Commerce event in Dublin organised by the German embassy promoting renewable technologies and the German experience of renewables, that he

At Farmgas Community Partners we feel that the use of anaerobic digestion can help livestock farmers take the peaks and troughs out of farm incomes and create greater value for the family farm.

Why is anaerobic digestion a great example how to do so in Ireland? Ireland have strict 2020 EU Renewable Energy Targets.

Our target is to replace 16% of total energy consumed from fossil fuels with renewable energy. Given that 98% of Irish energy comes from imported fossil fuels, it’s a big target but reinforces our deplorable dependence upon imported energy given we have such fantastic resources available to us.

However, renewable energy is a deceptive term and in many cases used incorrectly. Renewable energy is typically thought to refer only to electricity; when in actual fact it applies to heat and transport also. In fact, electricity generation represents just 20% of the imported fossil fuel consumption, with the remainder split evenly between heat and transport.

The use of fossil fuels to produce energy in any of the three formats above is primarily measured in the volume of CO2 that is emitted. A recent report, published by the IIEA and RDS revealed

“Our aim is to work closely with livestock farmers to build on farm anaerobic digestion facilities that will help them to reduce their environmental footprint, improve the family farm income and continue to produce wholesome food for our kitchen tables” met Norbert Rossow from Rossow Energy Consultants (PRV).

Farmgas Community Partners is now the exclusive distributor of PRV technology, including their patented designs, in the UK and Ireland.You can find out more about the PRV technology on website, www.farmgas.ie.

Ireland is awash with slurries and manures from its intensive dairy, beef, pork and poultry farming practices. Many challenges currently face these industries and their viability.They include falling global commodity prices, increased input costs, stricter environmental rules and the uncertainties that Brexit poses. Farmers are looking for ways of increasing returns from their land. One idea is to remove themselves from the commodities market and add value to their primary product on farm.There are many good examples of doing so, such as the dairy farmer who produces ice cream from the farm’s milk.

A great way to add value, spread the risk of the volatile milk markets but only so many can do this. What about the rest?

What about the beef farmer, poultry farmer and pig farmer who are less likely to be able to create such added value and are becoming ever more dependent on the large processors to return a fair price?

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that the agricultural sector in Ireland is currently responsible for 40% of carbon emissions, and this is projected to increase to 47% by 2020.

Our aim is to work closely with livestock farmers to build on farm anaerobic digestion facilities that will help them to reduce their environmental footprint, improve the family farm income and continue to produce wholesome food for our kitchen tables.

In the next edition I will talk more about the PRV technology and its unique capabilities to generate more biogas from slurries and manures than traditional designs, and what the current renewable policies in Ireland relevant to anaerobic digestion look like.

In the meantime, please feel free to visit our website at www.farmgas.ie or email: info@farmgas.ie for more information.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

SHELL RIMULA PRODUCT FAMILY GROWS

TO INCLUDE SHELL RIMULA ULTRA 5W-30 –

ITS MOST ADVANCED HEAVY–DUTY DIESEL ENGINE OIL TO DATE Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 with Dynamic Protection Plus Technology complies with the latest specifications even for the most sophisticated diesel engines, ensuring peace of mind and warranty compliance. Up to 2% fuel savings, optimal wear protection up to 56% and longer oil-drain intervals means more efficiency and a reduction of total cost of ownership.

T

he new high-tech Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 heavy-duty diesel engine oil is distinguished by its wide range of approvals. It complies with both the latest European specifications (ACEA E6 and ACEA E9) and manufacturers’ approvals for use in Euro IV to Euro VI diesel engines. It offers full warranty compliance for the latest technology Euro V and VI vehicles and for operators of mixed fleets, the possibility to reduce the range of engine oil grades required for servicing.

As a new premium product in the Shell Rimula product family, Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 is based on Dynamic Protection Plus Technology. It offers advantages in terms of longer oil service lives and extended oil-drain intervals, ensuring particularly reliable engine protection under all conditions, while helping to save fuel costs.

Extensive field trials with OEM partners such as Mercedes-Benz have proven that Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 offers up to 56 % better engine wear protection.[1] Depending on the respective approvals and manufacturers’ recommendations, oildrain intervals can also be extended to up to 150,000 km using this new high-tech engine oil. [2] Furthermore, Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 helps deliver up to 2% better fuel economy compared to typical 10W-40 engine oils.

“Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 enables customers to save time and money, whether they are maintaining a single vehicle or entire fleets” “Shell Rimula Ultra 5W-30 enables customers to save time and money, whether they are maintaining a single vehicle or entire fleets. On the one hand, even the most sophisticated diesel vehicles stay on the road for longer thanks to first-class engine wear protection and longer maintenance intervals. On the other hand, annual operating costs are noticeably reduced by up to 2% fuel savings”, says Andrew Gibson, UK Marketing Manager, Shell.

Dynamic Protection Plus Technology provides long oil life and extended oil drain intervals, longer engine life, reduced maintenance and fuel costs which helps to lower Total Cost of Ownership – giving more than just ordinary protection. The Dynamic Protection Plus Technology combines Shell PurePlus Technology with a particularly efficient Adaptive Additive Technology. Giving rise to a product which specifically prevents the build-up of harmful acids and deposits on key components such as the sump, cylinder head, cylinder sleeves, pistons or valve train.

The unique Shell PurePlus Technology is a revolutionary gas-to-liquids process that converts natural gas into crystal-clear, ultra-pure base oil with virtually none of the impurities often found in crude oil.

[1] Compared with the revised, more stringent MP 228.51 limit, as measured in the MB OM 646 LA engine test.

[2] Compared with a typical 10W-40 oil over a 100,000-km oil-drain interval.

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DRYING OFF COWS

THE BEST WAY TO DRY OFF COWS

Images courtesy of AHI

Drying off cows properly will have a direct effect on milk yield in 2017. Finola McCoy, Programme Manager, CellCheck,Animal Health Ireland reports.

Checking animal records

GET 2017 OFF TO A FLYING START!

shorten dry periods and milk on for as long as possible–but

remember, any short–term gain for 2016 will be outweighed by While many farmers may consider the dry period as a time for the potentially negative impact on herd productivity in 2017. The winding down and a break (and rightly so!), it is also an ideal time to get the next lactation off to a great start. What farmers do CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control recommend a dry period of at least six weeks, and ideally eight weeks. The dry now when they are drying off their herds can make or break period is also an ideal time to treat infected quarters present at 2017 in terms of udder health and mastitis control.

Every cow needs a dry period.This is the time at the end of one the end of lactation, often with a higher degree of success than lactation, when mammary tissue regenerates, repairs and prepares treatment during lactation.

However, drying off and the dry period can also be a period of for the next lactation. It is also the period when cows have an risk.

Research has shown that 50–60% of all new infections opportunity to reach the optimal body condition score, in caused by environmental pathogens occur during the dry period, preparation for calving and the start of the next breeding cycle. with many of these infections becoming clinical after calving.

And don’t forget about the milker! This break is important for Milk secretion shuts down and a keratin plug forms in the teat their own mental and physical health. Now that production is canal, sealing it off. no longer constrained by quotas, there may be a temptation to

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DRYING OFF COWS This plug takes around two weeks to form. While the teat canal is still open in the early dry period, bacteria can gain access to the quarter and also more easily adhere to the lining of the teat canal because there is no flushing mechanism from milking.

New infections during the dry period have been shown to occur at up to 10 times the rate of new infections during lactation, with E. coli or Strep. uberis being the most common bacteria responsible.

This keratin teat plug begins to dissolve again in the last two weeks before calving thus, the two weeks after drying off and the two weeks before calving are high risk times for picking up new udder infections.

Cleaning teats

REMEMBER! Dry cow therapy (DCT) consists of intramammary antibiotic tubes and/or internal teat sealer.The purpose of DCT is to: 1. eliminate existing udder infections at the end of lactation 2. prevent new infections over the dry period.

Hygiene and technique at drying off is crucial to avoid the introduction of bacteria into the udder – mistakes made now cannot be fixed later, and will have a negative impact on the udder health of the herd next year.

Traditionally, antibiotic DCT has been used for both treating infections present at the end of lactation (therapy) and preventing new infections during the dry period (prevention). When all cows in the herd are treated with antibiotic, this is known as blanket DCT. With an ever–increasing focus internationally on prudent antibiotic use, more and more farmers are using selective DCT, which means only animals that have been identified as infected receive antibiotic DCT. Internal teat sealer may then be used in the rest of the herd, to prevent new infections. In order to make informed decisions about which animals require treatment, certain information is essential e.g. regular milk recording information.

The decision to use blanket or selective DCT requires detailed animal level information i.e. regular milk recording results and good clinical mastitis records.

Inserting dry cow

For more information on blanket and selective DCT, see Management Note C in the CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control.

All decisions about what DCT to use (including blanket or selective) should be made following a consultation between the farmer and their vet, and based on things such as previous knowledge of the herd, response to treatment and an understanding of the common mastitis bacteria on the farm.

The latter can be determined by culturing milk samples – remember these samples must be collected in a sterile fashion, so using milk from the bulk tank is not advised.

Sensitivity tests can also be carried out on any bacteria cultured, to determine if the bacteria are sensitive or resistant to a range of antibiotics. However sensitivity tests are just a guide, as conditions on a lab plate are not always exactly the same as those in a cow’s udder – farmers should discuss any resistant bacteria identified with their vet.

Taking milk sample for milk culturing

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DRYING OFF COWS

TIP 1: PLAN AHEAD AND BE PREPARED!

TIP 3: WHAT ABOUT TEAT SEALANTS?

• Review expected calving dates – plan so the cow has a minimum 6 week dry period (8 weeks is preferable).

• Administer after antibiotic DCT, into a clean disinfected teat.

• Dry off low yielding cows (< 9 litres / day) earlier than the planned date.

• Dry cows off abruptly – don’t skip milkings!

• Organise trained help for drying off and allow sufficient time.

• Gently close off where the teat joins the udder before infusing the tube contents.

• Do not massage the udder after the teat seal is inserted – teat seal must stay in the lower part of the teat • After calving, avoid any teat sealant residue by stripping each quarter 10–12 times at the first milking.

• Only dry off a manageable number of cows at a time i.e. max 20 • Have disposable gloves, teat wipes/cotton wool and methylated spirits and intramammary tubes organised.

TIP 2: HYGIENE WHEN DRYING OFF IS ESSENTIAL: • Ensure the cow is milked out fully • Wearing clean gloves, disinfect the teats thoroughly with teat wipes or cotton wool and methylated spirits. Start with the teats furthest away, followed by the teats closest to you.

• Keep freshly calved cows out of the tank for at least 8 milkings. Carefully clean clusters and plant to avoid teat sealant clumps forming.

For more information on using internal teat seals at drying off, see Management Note E of the CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control.

Website: http://animalhealthireland.ie/?page_id=52

TIP 4: KEEP GOOD RECORDS: • Do not use antibiotic dry cow tubes in quarters that have been dried off for some time i.e. cows milked as “three teaters”

• Gently infuse the contents of the tube into the nearest teats first, followed by the more distant teats.

• Mark the cow before starting treatment,to avoid any mistakes later.

• After infusing the intramammary antibiotic tube, massage the contents up into the udder.

• Remember, shorter dry periods can increase the risk of antibiotic residues in milk after calving. When each cow calves check these records to be sure that the minimum dry period duration of the product has passed.

• Finish by thoroughly teat dipping all 4 teats.

• Record the cow I.D., the type of tube used and date of treatment.This is essential to avoid residue issues after calving.

“Hygiene and technique at drying off is crucial to avoid the introduction of bacteria into the udder - mistakes made now cannot be fixed later, and will have a negative impact on the udder health of the herd next year” For more information on drying off cows, see Guideline 16 & 17, and Management Notes D, E & F of the CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control.

Inserting teat seal and pinching top of teat

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

CALOR’S SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTION FOR DAIRY FARMS

alor is Ireland’s oldest and most trusted supplier of LPG and has a long relationship with the Irish agriculture community as a sustainable and intuitive source of energy across the farm. With many dairy farms expanding or making improvements, Calor is reminding customers of the range of innovative energy solutions available to them, helping to drive down costs and increase environmental sustainability on farms.

For many years, Calor has worked directly with dairy farmers to design systems that reduce costs and work for the farm enterprise.

As one of the most important considerations on a dairy farm is hygiene, and large quantities of boiling water are required each day to wash milk lines and bulk milk storage tanks, Calor LPG– powered instant water heaters provide an ideal solution. They produce a reliable, instant and infinite hot water supply on demand, which is an essential component in managing hygiene and controlling the Total Bacteria Count (TBC) of milk.The use of Calor instantaneous water heaters also minimises the need for chemical detergent use on dairy farms.

Andrew Claxton, a dairy farmer with farms in Counties Waterford and Wexford converted his farm in Stradbally over to Calor Gas water heaters a couple of years ago and more recently has installed the same system in a new dairy farm in New Ross.

“The Calor instant water heaters have been a great benefit to our dairy business. It’s a much more efficient system for us to heat the water we need for wash down.We have all the hot water we need at any time, day or night and importantly it’s at the right temperature to ensure we maintain the hygiene levels. We’ve definitely made savings since changing to gas.”

Origin Green and the Sustainable Dairy Scheme are placing ever greater focus on improving the environmental performance of Irish farms. The Calor LPG solution also delivers in terms of environmental sustainability. As water is heated only when required, hot water storage costs are eliminated. Calor’s intuitive telemetry system also ensures that you will never run short on gas, as a gauge continuously monitors gas levels. When you need a top–up, a transmitter sends a signal via GSM technology, and your local Calor depot will call you to schedule a fuel delivery at a time convenient to you.

Calor Gas is part of SHV Energy - the largest dedicated global LPG distributor. Information on Calor is available at Dock leaf completely defoliated by natural predators www.calorgas.ie.

C

(Dock Beetle) but won’t eradicate roots

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

AUTUMN GRAZING MANAGEMENT We need to manage grass so that we have sufficient grass in the diet for livestock in Autumn, and also set the farm up to grow grass for Spring as discussed by Deirdre Hennessy, B.Agr.Sc., Ph.D,Teagasc.

INTRODUCTION As summer moves into autumn grassland management focus changes from managing grass to ensure surpluses were kept to a minimum to building covers to extend the grazing season.

Generally, grass supply is not limited in autumn and the aim should be to maximise its proportion in the diet of the cow.

Good grazing management this autumn will also have a knock on benefit for spring 2017; the management put in place now is one of the main factors that will influence grass availability next spring.

and 3.5 LU/ha are shown in Table 1. Several management issues and key targets must be achieved in the autumn in order to maximise the proportion of grazed grass in the diet of lactating dairy cows.

• Increase rotation length from mid–August onwards to approximately 35 days by mid–September To ensure that grass can make a significant contribution to the dairy cow diet into November a ‘bank’ or reserve of grass must be built up.This is achieved by increasing rotation length from mid–August onwards to about 35 days by mid–September.

There are two main objectives for grazing management Rotation length can be increased from mid–August onwards this autumn: through reduced stocking rate on the grazing platform as second (1) Maximise the proportion of grazed grass in the diet of cut silage ground comes back into the grazing rotation. If no grazing livestock throughout the autumn period silage ground is available to come back into the grazing area than stock other than milking cows should be removed from the (2) Use good autumn grazing management to set the farm grazing platform to other areas of the farm. Consider drying off up to be productive next spring low yielding cows, heifers or cows in poor condition or cows that are due to be culled to reduce the stocking rate on the Grassland budgeting is essential to ensure that these objectives grazing platform. are achieved. Provided grass is well managed in autumn it should be of high quality (20–23% crude protein; >70% DMD).

• Highest average farm cover should be achieved in mid–to–late September GRASS BUDGETING IN AUTUMN TO ENSURE A farm cover of up to 1150 kg DM/ha is manageable in mid– ADEQUATE HERBAGE AVAILABILITY FOR to–late September. Building up this average farm cover allows a GRAZING ‘bank’ of grass or a reserve of grass to be attained on the farm.

Generally grass growth rates begin to decline in August and This average farm cover will gradually decline until closing.This will reduce below feed demand during September. On most ‘bank’ of grass will allow grass to be a major component of the dairy farms feed demand will not begin to decline until October diet in the late autumn, ensuring grass is available for grazing or November when dairy cows are dried off for the winter and even when grass growth falls below feed demand. removed from the grazing platform. Dairy farmers should aim to • Maintain pre–grazing herbage mass at or below 2,500 kg have lactating cows grazing until mid to late November.Target DM/ha farm covers for the autumn period for farms stocked at 2.5, 3.0

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT Autumn pre–grazing herbage masses should be maintained at or below 2,500 kg DM/ha to ensure maximum utilisation and to maintain herbage quality. Pre–grazing herbage masses can be allowed to increase to these high levels in autumn as the sward is vegetative and does not go stemmy during long regrowth periods. As well as this, in autumn once ceiling yield (i.e. the point at which no increase in herbage mass is observed on the paddock) has been achieved, herbage mass and quality are maintained for four to six weeks. If pre–grazing herbage mass increases above 2,500 kg DM/ha other stock, e.g. dry cows, heifers, should be used to graze these paddocks to ensure that milk production is not compromised.

• Post–grazing residuals of 3.5 – 4.0 cm should be targeted during the last rotation Swards should be tightly grazed in autumn to ensure that old material does not remain in the sward over winter leading to decay of herbage and tiller death. Grazing swards tightly at closing will ensure that light can penetrate to the base of the sward to promote tiller production over winter ensuring a productive sward in spring.

• Start the last rotation on the 10th October The final grazing rotation for the year should begin on approximately the 10th October in the south of Ireland. Every paddock grazed from this day onwards should not be grazed again until spring.

Every day delay in closing from 15th October reduces spring

“Good grazing management this autumn will also have a knock on benefit for spring 2017; the management put in place now is one of the main factors that will influence grass availability next spring” and in early spring, crucial to ensure grass availability at turn out grass supply by 15 kg DM/ha. In the northern part of the country, or in slow grass growing areas, closing may begin earlier next spring.The target is to have at least 60% of the farm closed (two to three weeks) as this will compensate for lower subsequent by the 1st November and graze the remaining 40% from then until housing. At a stocking rate of 3.0 LU/ha the target is to have at autumn and early spring growth. least 65% of the farm closed by 1st November and graze the remaining 35% from then until housing, while at 3.5 LU/ha the • Autumn closing targets Autumn closing targets in the final grazing rotation vary depending targets are 70% of the farm grazed by the 1st November and the on stocking rate (Table 1).At a stocking rate of 2.5 LU/ha the ’60:40 remainder by housing. By adhering to these rules the optimum rule’ is recommended as best practise for the final grazing rotation target farm cover of approximately 210–230 kg DM/LU at closing can be achieved. to ensure that the farm is well set up for grass growth over winter

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

• Close paddocks in the order in which you wish to graze them in early spring Ideally the paddocks you plan to graze first in spring should be closed first in the autumn.These paddocks should be those closest to the parlour and/or the driest areas of the farm which will facilitate early spring turnout.

• Be flexible in your approach to autumn grazing If a period of wet weather occurs, graze lower covers first. Strip grazing and back fencing should also be used in wet weather to graze high covers in order to maximise grass utilisation and avoid spoiling and trampling of grass which would result in reduced utilisation. Consider ‘on–off’ grazing if wet weather persists to ensure that grazed grass continues to be the main forage in the lactating cows’ diet without causing detrimental damage to sward surfaces and subsequent sward quality. Several strategies exist, such as turning cows out for 3–4 hours after milking and then returning them to the shed until the next milking, or allowing cows to graze by day and then housing them at night. Research carried out in Moorepark has shown that animals adjust their grazing behaviour to compensate for

reduced access to pasture, so that intake, and hence milk production, are not compromised.

• Target closing cover The target closing farm cover for farms stocked at 2.5 LU/ha is approximately 550 – 600 kg DM/ha; for farms stocked at 3.0 LU/ha is approximately 600 – 650 kg DM/ha; and for farms stocked at 3.5 LU/ha is approximately 700 – 750 kg DM/ha in late November.

Achieving the appropriate target closing cover for your farm will, in suitable conditions, promote grass growth over winter to ensure productive, leafy, high quality swards next spring.

SPRING 2017 Throughout the autumn, and at every stage of autumn grazing management decision making, it is worth remembering that the grazing season actually begins in autumn; that means that the management put in place now is one of the main factors that will influence grass availability next spring.

Article by Deirdre Hennessy, B.Agr.Sc., Ph.D. Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork.

Table 1. Autumn grazing management targets on farms stocked at 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 LU/ha.

Date

Cover/Cow (kg DM)

Average Farm Cover (kg DM/ha)

Rotation Length

1st August Mid – August 1st September Mid–September 1st October 1st November Fully Housed

180 450 20 Days 200 500 25 Days 300 750 30 Days 400–450 1,000–1,100 35 Days 400 1,000 40 Days 60% of your grazing platform should be closed for Spring at this stage 550–600

Mid – August 1st September Mid–September 1st October 1st November Fully Housed

250 750 25 Days 330 990 30 Days 370 1100 35 Days 380 1150 40 Days 65% of your grazing platform should be closed for Spring at this stage 600–650

Mid – August 1st September Mid–September 1st October 1st November Fully Housed

220 770 25 Days 280 980 30 Days 340 1200 35 Days 335 1175 40 Days 70% of your grazing platform should be closed for Spring at this stage 700–750

STOCKING RATE OF 2.5 LU/ha

STOCKING RATE OF 3.0 LU/ha

STOCKING RATE OF 3.5 LU/ha

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE: FEED SUPPLEMENTS

IMPROVING HERD HEALTH USING A NATURAL RESOURCE FROM THE SEA Could we really improve herd fertility, milk solids, and overall herd health by using an underutilised natural resource that is abundant on our shorelines? Paddy Tamplin of Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd. discusses.

he health benefits of animals eating seaweed has been known provide a greener approach at the start of the food chain.This mission has led to healthier fish, providing safer and healthier for many years. Farmers know this, and animals that get food for consumers with higher Omega 3 levels. access to seaweed from our shorelines also know this.

The research and development led to the production of OceanFeed™ There have been several worldwide studies on the use of seaweed in cattle feed.They often show a positive effect on health, fertility Salmon initially, which naturally evolved into also developing and and production.These trials are published in Bendary et al., 2013, producing other specific OceanFeed™ seaweed formulations for and Cvetkovic et al., 2004. However, each of these studies were the agricultural industry, Swine initially, and then on to Bovine HPI carried out using a single species of seaweed. (health and performance improver) over the last couple of years.

What hasn’t been researched fully to date is the total extent of The main motivation behind OHT is derived from a vision to the potential benefits from scientifically formulating macro algae produce natural sustainable products that will improve nutrient (seaweed) blends to avail of the maximum anti–bacterial and absorption and provide natural bioactives, and therefore improve immune boosting properties that various seaweed groups have their health and performance. The company prides itself in been proven to contain. producing 100% natural products with no synthetic ingredients There are over 10,000 species of seaweed globally, and over 600 added. Furthermore, the seaweed used is harvested in a sustainable species of seaweed in Ireland alone. manner thus with no negative impact on the environment. As a Traditionally, those who know about the health benefits of diverse natural product, the seaweed blends contain a high content seaweed would have used a single species of seaweed, and of organically available minerals and vitamins in addition to a plethora although they would experience some health benefits, it’s a bit of beneficial unique bioactive compounds which are not found in like eating just carrots when you know eating a balanced diet of land plants.This means the seaweed formulations are beneficial vegetables is more beneficial. for the animals, the environment, and the farmer’s wallet.

All farmers know the importance of nutrition. Better nutrition How much more could we improve an animal’s health by means better health.That is why so much time and money is formulating specific seaweeds, specially selected for their invested in consultancy and advice to develop the optimum feed anti–bacterial and immune boosting properties? provision for livestock.

At Ocean Harvest Technology (OHT), a small company based in Milltown, Co. Galway, we have been conducting research in order SO, WHAT IF YOUR ANIMALS COULD to answer this question, and have been researching seaweeds and ACTUALLY ABSORB MORE NUTRIENTS FROM developing seaweed mixes in order to provide the best health WHAT YOU CURRENTLY FEED THEM? benefits for ruminants.

Well, using a blend of seaweeds to avail of their bioactive properties The initial mission was to research and develop seaweed blends assists your animals in doing just that. It helps to improve your that would replace certain, synthetic and chemical disease control animals digestive tract, and in doing so aids your animals ability treatments used in the salmon industry.The aim was to replace to absorb more nutrients. This leads to an increase in overall them with natural sustainable alternatives (seaweeds) that will health.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE: FEED SUPPLEMENTS seaweed formulation fed group had increased protein levels in their milk by 8.8% in comparison to the control group. Eoin continued using the seaweed blend with his herd, and in relation to fertility he also managed to increase his compact calving percentage from 50% to 70%.

TRIAL #2: SEPTEMBER 2015 – FAMILY FOPMA DAIRY FARM. THE NETHERLANDS

OceanFeed™ Bovine HPI (Health and Performance Improver) is the ruminant seaweed formulation.You just add the seaweed formulation at a low inclusion rate of just 70g per mature animal per day to avail of all the health benefits.There is no need to change your animals feed regime.

For those who are already advocates of seaweed and currently seeing the benefits, you only need to use half the amount of the seaweed formulation compared to a single species seaweed.

HOW IT WORKS: The insoluble fibre (structural carbohydrates) within the OceanFeed formulation fulfils a function in the animals rumen and digestive tract, creating an environment for good bacteria to thrive, whilst also restricting and suppressing the bad bacteria.

This provides a better “good” bacterial growth environment which helps digest compounds, and liberating more smaller nutrients like amino acids (which convert to protein) and volatile fatty acids

During the summer months the cows are in the fields grazing (similar to Ireland). During winter the cows get grass silage and concentrates (administered via the robot) consisting of 2 kg of maize flour + 2 kg brick Maize (corn 70/ pulp 30). Production of Brick consists of: 170 crude protein 50 bypass starch 125 digestible protein. 100 dairy cows producing 8500 kg milk/cow. 50 Oceanfeed cows and 50 control cows.

All cows were milked using a milking robot system.This allowed for the individual tracking of each cow. Even numbered cows received 70 grams Oceanfeed. Odd numbered cows were the control group.This was conducted over a period of four months.

Results from the seaweed formulation fed group: Yield: 1 kg milk extra per cow Milk solids: Maintained SCC: Reduced by 72 points Concentrate feed efficiency: Improved This trial returned a 2.83 return on investment.

The main benefits experienced from commercial trials and dairy farmer feedback is that the seaweed formulation helps to improve overall herd fertility, milk quality, calf health and vitality, coat sheen and overall herd health. It also helps lower SCC, and some

“As the industry looks to find alternatives to antibiotics and seeks to find safer natural ingredients to assist in improving health and performance,seaweed,and especially seaweed formulations are starting to be looked at seriously as a solution to some of these industry challenges” (an energy source). With less bad bacteria to be combated, more energy is available for converting proteins and muscle growth.

Also present is a range of minerals, vitamins and trace elements, all of which are organically available (easily taken up by the animal). As we head into the dry cow and Winter season, cows on grass silage are probably not receiving sufficient levels of copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, manganese, and selenium.All these are present in the seaweed formulations. Although they are present in small quantities (selenium trace amount), they are organically bound and more available than salt based minerals.

Seaweed is especially beneficial for any farming operation that has to address insufficient iodine levels as seaweed is also rich in organically available iodine.

The company has completed a couple of significant commercial trials with dairy herds.The first one was with local farmer Eoin Godwin, and a second more extensive trial on a Dutch dairy farm using a robot milking system.

TRIAL #1: OCTOBER 2013 – EOIN GODWIN, MILLTOWN, CO. GALWAY This was 10 Oceanfeed cows and 10 control cows, matched age, parity, and months since calving.

Diets were identical, except that the Oceanfeed cows received 70g of the seaweed blend per day for a total of 55 days.

Results: Within 14 days, the Oceanfeed cows protein lifted substantially in comparison to the control group, and continued to lift slightly for the remainder of the trial. After 55 days the

farmers have reported reductions in their veterinarian bills.

These seaweed formulations are generating a lot of interest in the Agri sector, especially with nutritionists and formulators at premix level.As the industry looks to find alternatives to antibiotics and seeks to find safer natural ingredients to assist in improving health and performance, seaweed, and especially seaweed formulations are starting to be looked at seriously as a solution to some of these industry challenges.

TESTIMONIAL: Matt Ryan, Dairy Farmer – Golden, Co. Tipperary “I am very happy with OceanFeed Bovine HPI. Since incorporating OceanFeed Bovine HPI in my herd’s diet I have tightened my compact calving by 3 to 4 weeks. This means I don’t have to buy as many replacements, saving me the cost of 3 to 4 replacements per year.

Also, my fats and protein are up on this time last year. I would normally gauge my solids performance against my brother and my neighbours’ solids performance, against which I have always been a bit behind. Now, I am slightly ahead of them both. There is also a great sheen on the cows, their dung is dryer, and they look healthier. I am feeding OceanFeed Bovine HPI all the time now”.

For more information about OceanFeed™ formulations you can contact Paddy Tamplin at Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd. on Tel: 087 2579765 or visit the OceanFeed website: www.oceanfeed.ie

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

PRODUCT NEWS HOW MUCH OF YOUR TIME GETS WASTED BY LAMENESS? nfectious causes of lameness can be costly and time consuming for dairy farmers.That’s why Kilco has developed Farmalin® MAINTENANCE and Farmalin® INTENSE footbath solutions to provide a two pronged programme in the fight against bacteria that causes lameness.

Our studies have shown that most farmers use a formaldehyde solution in their footbath and the majority add copper sulphate when lameness increases. Research tells us that formaldehyde is an ineffective disinfectant for short contact foot bathing.Additionally it is highly toxic and is a known carcinogenic. We also know that copper sulphate does not break down well in the environment.

The Farmalin® Footbath range has been developed using Kilco’s IONAS™ footbath technology designed to work with the animals normal barrier function. It is effective and consistent at a walkthrough pace even with soiling and is completely safe for the stockman to handle.

Farmalin® MAINTENANCE contains skin and hoof conditioning agents which improve the health of the foot over time. The challenge from lameness causing bacteria can increase in all

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herds when conditions are favourable. When incidences of increased lameness are noted the footbath should be switched to Farmalin® INTENSE which kills the microbes that cause lameness.

For more information please contact Kilco, at the following email: enquiries@kilco.co.uk or Tel: 01576 205480.

TEGRAL, THE FARMER’S CHOICE, CELEBRATES 80 YEARS WITH NEW BRAND AND LOGO Tegral, Ireland’s market leader in agricultural building materials and Ireland’s only manufacturer of fibre cement roof slates, recently celebrated 80 years in business by unveiling a stunning new corporate brand that captures the rich history of the company and reflects its ambitious vision for the future. ince first establishing its manufacturing base in Athy in 1936,Tegral has made a significant contribution to the Irish construction and agricultural industry and now employs 150 people across its operations.

As essential part of the Irish farming industry since 1936,Tegral are Ireland’s most experienced company in the production of farm building materials and we are proud to have been the farmer’s choice for over 80 years.

Tegral offer both fibre cement sheeting and metal sheeting.Whatever your farm building requirements, we have the solution. With 80 years experience under our belts, our expert team of customer service and technical support are on hand to guide you every step of the way. With grant approval and full CE Marking,Tegral have got you covered.

Tegral’s Profile 6R, is the best quality fibre cement sheeting in Ireland and is perfect for livestock buildings, equestrian centres and agricultural storage. Warm in winter, cool in summer, there is no condensation making it perfect for both the farmer and the livestock. It also absorbs rain noise for increased animal comfort. Spaced sheeting is available for improved ventilation.

Agribild Plus is the highest protective metal sheeting on the market, with 35µm of polyester coating inside and out. With a

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factory to farmer guarantee, this product is easy to install, rust resistant and is animal housing friendly.Vented sheets are available for condensation control.

Tegral can supply the full package, as we offer a full range of flashings, available in matching colours and materials; rooflights and zeta purlins, with full technical back up.

Visit our stand at the upcoming National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore where you can check out our new branding and talk to us about your farm building requirements.

You can also call us at Tel: +353 (0) 59 863 1316 or visit www.tegral.com

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

MASTERVET HIGH TRACE BOLUSES Deliver more trace elements for longer. astervet High Trace boluses are formulated to provide a reliable continuous source of trace elements for cattle.

Unlike other boluses Mastervet High Trace boluses release a constant amount of trace elements to the animal for the full duration of cover.

This technology is known as Zero Order Kinetics and provides the longest and highest delivery of trace elements to your cattle.

The complex matrix structure of the Mastervet High Trace bolus ensure that as the bolus size shrinks over the 6 month usage period a constant daily amount of trace elements is delivered.

Other boluses are manufactured using a technology called First Order Kinetics which deliver a constant % of the bolus weight daily however as the bolus gets smaller less trace elements are released, Mastervet High Trace boluses have been trialed extensively including a trial by the INRA an internationally renowned research facility in France.The results of the trials speak for themselves:

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• After 98 days in the rumen (50.5 % of the release period of the bolus—180 days), the bolus had released 53.3g - that is 49% of its initial weight of 108.6g was released over a 3 month period.

• Leaving a remainder of 51% of the content of the bolus, providing optimal trace element levels for the final 3 months.

MASTERVET HIGH TRACE BOLUS: Can help to prevent health and fertility problems in dairy and suckler cows.

Contains copper (to aid with fertility and work in conjunction with zinc for hoof health), cobalt (important for immunity, blood growth and formation of B12), selenium, zinc and iodine (vital for immunity and reproduction)

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE MASTERVET BOLUS RANGE: • Mastervet Dry Top Bolus Provides additional trace minerals for dairy cattle during the dry period.

• Mastervet Junior Plus Bolus Provides a steady stream of trace minerals to help optimise growth rates of young stock.

Contains copper, cobalt, selenium, zinc and iodine.

• Mastervet Calcitop Bolus Can help to prevent calcium deficiency and reduce the risk of milk fever in dairy and suckler cows.

Contains 20g of calcium and Vitamin D. • Mastervet Magnitop Bolus Can help to prevent magnesium deficiency and reduce the risk of grass tetany in dairy and suckler cows. New Boluses in the range include Calftop Twin (for young calves),Mammitop (improves general cow health) and Ketotop (helps prevent ketosis in Dairy Cows) Contact CAHL on 059 9151251 or visit www.cahl.ie.

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

PRODUCT NEWS DELAVAL COW BODY CONDITION SCORING GENERATING SAVINGS FOR IRISH FARMERS Recent trial proves effectiveness of automated body condition scoring

rish farmers stand to generate significant on–farm savings by harnessing a new system designed by global milking technology leader, DeLaval, to assess the condition of their cows enabling them to make better management decisions.

Recent trials conducted by DeLaval, in association with ‘The Dairy Group’ has clearly shown the greater potential for human error compared to using the DeLaval Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system.

The research was carried out on a herd of 184 high yielding Holstein Friesian dairy cows over a period of 22 days. It showed that 21 cows were not assigned scores by a farmer due to misidentification, incorrect recording, cow ID or cow handling issues. Each cow presenting under the BCS camera was assigned a consistent score. Furthermore, the time taken to manually 'score' the cows was three hours, compared to using the automated DeLaval BCS camera which provides accurate results with zero time input from the farmer.

Last Autumn, global milking technology leader, DeLaval launched the world’s first automated body condition scoring (BCS) system for cows, taking the guesswork out of an otherwise laborious process. Body condition scores are used as a critical measure of how effective feeding is on a farm.

Body condition scoring needs to be done accurately and at specific times in the lactation cycle. Knowing the body condition score of

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cows helps a farmer plan feeding to ensure his/her herd has healthy body fat reserves thus promoting milk production, reproductive efficiency and cow longevity.

The innovative BCS system makes it easy and quick for farmers to obtain an accurate body condition score of their cows.The technology is based on a 3D camera fixed on a gate. Once a cow passes under the camera, the system recognises the movement and selects the best still image of the cow in the video sequence.The image is converted into an accurate body condition score. It then calculates the body condition score of each cow and sends it to DeLaval DelPro™ Farm Manager where the farmer can view graphs of individual animals, groups or the entire herd.

“Most farmers understand the concept and benefits of body condition.

However, they are not doing it because it is time-consuming and difficult to maintain consistency. Now that we have a cost-effective solution for consistent, regular and accurate scoring, we see that the potential is huge as borne out by this recent research,” said Kieran FitzGerald,VMS Solutions Manager, GB and Ireland.

INTRA HOOF–FIT: DISCOVER AN ANTIBIOTIC

FREE APPROACH TO YOUR HERDS HOOF PROBLEMS

roblems with hoof health are an important cause of forced removals of cows from dairy farms. Financial damage can range from €100 up to over €300 per lame cow.The losses can be mainly attributed to the fact that lame cows eat less, which soon reduces their milk production levels. The risk of nutritional deficiencies is also great. This makes lame cows more susceptible to other infections and fertility problems.

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concentrated gel contains a strong adhesive which prolongs its contact with the claw making it ideal for use with severe cases.

INTRA HOOF-FIT LIQUID Hoof–fit Liquid is suitable for both the individual and herd application.

A low pressure application sprayer is the best way to apply the liquid for herd application.

INTRA BATH ANTIBIOTIC FREE APPROACH

Cows with a claw problem are always last to go through footbaths.

By this stage the footbath is so contaminated that it no longer offers a In order to help dairy farmers maintain optimum hoof condition solution.

Intra Hoof–fit Liquid delivered using the Intra Bath helps Intracare have developed the Intra Hoof–fit range of products. These solve this problem. It is designed to allow up to 60% of manure to fall antibiotic free products were developed in close collaboration with through the middle grill making it more effective than a traditional dairy farmers, veterinary surgeons, farriers and cattle specialists.All the foot bath.

The Intra bath also folds away neatly for easy storage. products fully support medical treatment, if required.

These products contain copper and zinc (both have antibacterial properties) in an organic chelate form. This coated form is more stable and better soluble than conventional forms of copper and zinc, such as sulphates and oxides. This allows the active substances to better penetrate the core of the hoof problems. Zinc in chelate form and other skin care products, such as aloe vera can also stimulate wound healing.The powerful bonding agents within the products allows it to stay active even when cows are walking through manure after treatment.

INTRA HOOF–FIT GEL Intra Hoof–fit Gel contains isopropanol, which enhances the antibacterial action of the agent. Hoof-fit Gel targets tissue around the claw reducing the risk of new bacterial infections. This highly-

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REPIDERMA FOR OPTIMUM SKIN CARE This convenient skin protection aerosol supplements the Hoof–fit product line. The active ingredients are micronised chelated minerals which, in contrast to traditional minerals, can be absorbed much more easily by the skin.Because of this,Repiderma is not only active ’on’the skin, but also ‘under and within’ the skin. It forms a semi-permeable protective layer thus protecting against negative external influences and allowing oxygen to penetrate and repair the skin. Repiderma is a user–friendly variant of Hoof–fit Gel and just like all the Hoof-fit products there is no withholding period.

The Intracare range of products is distributed in Ireland by Agrihealth and is available to the public through most co-ops’s and independent merchants. Call Agrihealth on Tel: 047 71800 for more information.

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

PRODUCT NEWS WELL–KNOWN FARM PARTNERSHIP IS AHEAD

OF THE CURVE FOR HOT WATER SOLUTIONS

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he switch from electricity to LPG in 2014 for its dairy operations has proven very successful for Andrew Purcell of Kiltallaght farm and Alf McGlew of Rinkinstown farm at Termonfeckin in Co. Louth.

Prior to this, the farm used electricity to heat water for the milklines which was proving costly so they approached Flogas to see if the company could offer a more tailored solution for their business.

Tom Wall, Flogas sales executive, then visited the farm with a local approved LPG installer to undertake a free site survey and present a proposal.

The solution was simple – two 56kw Andrews FASTflo water heaters would be installed onto either an internal or external wall (no additional weather protection required) and then piped to a Flogas LPG tank placed on-site.

The new heating system now provides on-demand hot water at whatever temperature that is Andrew Purcell of Kiltallaght required, determined by an easy farm, Termonfeckin and Tom Wall, Flogas sales executive, with to use temperature controller the two Andrews FASTflo water which allows the water to be heaters wallmounted in the background, part of the farm’s heated from anywhere between 37°C to 80°C. When it is switched new dairy hot water system

on, the water heater is designed to heat up to 80°C, effectively killing any bacteria.As one heater produces 140 litres of hot water in 10 minutes, using two would mean 280 litres of hot water in the same time period.

Furthermore, the Flogas LPG tank is fitted with a state of the art telemetry system to monitor usage. It alerts Flogas as to when the tank needs to be refilled and a timely delivery is scheduled.

The installation was a short, one-day, process and no day–to–day activities were interrupted while it was taking place, another bonus for the busy farm. Both men say they cannot believe how well it’s been working for them.

Andrew said,“The new Flogas system is working brilliantly for our business and we are delighted with the sheer efficiency of it.

The instantaneous hot water is incredible; we now never have to worry about running out, whereas previously we would have had to conserve our hot water carefully to ensure we had enough for the day. It’s made our daily activities a lot easier and ensures that we constantly have spotlessly clean milk lines, tanks and premises.”

Tom Wall, Flogas sales executive, said,“Basically, the system is tailormade for the needs of a dairy farm and the excellent feedback we’ve been getting from those who’ve made the switch is bearing this out. The primary benefit is, of course, the instant hot water on demand but now all the farm’s needs are being met for the equivalent of the night rate electricity rather than the more expensive daily rate.”

For further information visit www.flogas.ie

DIPETANE – REDUCING EMISSIONS HONESTLY

DIPETANE (NON-ADDITIVE) FUEL TREATMENT ipetane treated fuel uniquely equalises and stabilises the carbon chains in all standard fuel. This enables all of the incoming 21 Units of Oxygen in the air, to attach and burn the carbon chains, thereby enabling more complete combustion.

Dipetane is a unique product. It is the only pre–combustion fuel treatment world-wide that significantly reduces the Green House Gas problems associated with all standard fuels.

Dipetane is 100% Hydro–Carbon. There is nothing in Dipetane that is not already in your fuel. It cannot change the spec of your fuel which remains within the EN590 Fuel Specification. Therefore all warranties for your vehicle remain intact.

Dipetane is not a ‘Fuel Additive’. Fuel Additives poorly address the problem of un-burnt carbon after combustion. Additives do very little to help the initial burning of the expensive Carbon.

You will notice the lists of toxic and hazardous ingredients in these fuel additives. Dipetane contains no additives at all.

In all fuels Dipetane is used at a ratio of 1:200. 1 Litre of Dipetane treats 200 litres of Fuel. Dipetane is available directly from our Company and is sold in 1 Litre – 5 Litre – 25 Litre. We also supply in 200 Litre barrels and 1,000 Litre IBC’S. Dipetane is Researched &Developed in Ireland. Solely manufactured in Ireland and distributed world–wide from Kilcoole in County Wicklow.

Dipetane is available in all good Motor Factors

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Dipetane International Ltd, Unit 5 Kilcoole Industrial Estate, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, A63 HP71. View our animated video at www.dipetane.com/how-dipetane-works/

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

PRODUCT NEWS PLATTS ANIMAL BEDDING: SUPPLYING THE IRISH DAIRY INDUSTRY

stablished more than 40 years ago, Platts Animal Bedding know only too well the challenges of being a dairy farmer.

Developing a product to keep cattle clean, dry and with low cell counts–as well as affordable has been considered by Platts as they’ve grown their range of products aimed at dairy farmers.

With farmers being ever more concerned about costs, yet at the same time protecting the health, welfare and comfort of their livestock, finding affordable yet effective bedding is as important as ever. Platts Powder BED® and Finebed are designed to be used on mats or mattresses, and because of their fine consistency and excellent absorbency, there is no need for mixing with additives such as lime.

Dairy farmer Alan Creith, Co.Antrim uses Powder BED® for his herd of around 150 Holstein Friesians. He says the following:“The best thing about the product is that it’s so absorbent. Since I started using the Powder BED® over a year ago now after meeting Platts at the Balmoral Show, I haven’t had a single case of mastitis. I use a mechanical dispenser to bed down at every milking time, and my cattle don’t suffer from any hock burns. We pay a collection price and arrange our own haulage from Wrexham to Northern Ireland via a trusted haulier.When it arrives here on our farm, we’ve got the room to store it inside, but if you’re not lucky enough to have space, the beauty of the pallets is that they can stay outside until they’re needed.”

Whilst Platts’ own diverse fleet of vehicles deliver to farms throughout England,Wales and Scotland, delivery to Ireland is arranged by the customer. Product is ordered via the sales team– and loaded by staff at their production facility – with the customer arranging haulage. For bulk

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Pictured is Connor Creith (son) who milks the herd each day with father Alan.

deliveries a moving–floor trailer can be loaded within the hour using new bulk–loading technology on–site.Alternatively, Platts can recommend external hauliers who are experienced at handing their product.

Platts Animal Bedding will be exhibiting at the National Ploughing Championships, Tullamore, in September - visit their website (plattsanimalbedding.co.uk) for updates on their stand location- and visit the team to discuss how Platts products can improve cattle comfort on your farm.

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

PRODUCT NEWS

KINGSWOOD COMPUTING TO LAUNCH A NEW FIELD & GRASS RECORDING APP AT THE FORTHCOMING NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS ingswood Computing,Ireland's market-leading Farm IT Company, is to launch a new Field & Grass Recording App at the forthcoming National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Kingswood Computing has been developing and supporting functional, easy-to-use software for dairy and beef farmers since 1987. Its main products Kingswood Herd, Field and Accounts, contain the key recording requirements for bovine livestock farms: • Dairy and Beef Herd Management.

• Field Recording and Grassland Management.

• Compliancy with national and EU regulations.

• Farm Accounts for tight cost control.

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• Enter grass measurements and check their feed wedge and grazing planner • Stay compliant with their spray recording and manage their fertiliser application • Enter purchases of farm stocks as they happen and check recent purchases.

FLEXIBILITY AND VERSATILITY

Gerry Lynskey of Kingswood Computing outlined the uniqueness of their new Field and Grass Recording App which allows them to MOBILE RECORDING cater for such a wide spectrum of recording requirements.

In recent years they’ve added mobile recording on phones and “Kingswood Apps can operate in two modes. For the farmer mainly tablets to their repertoire of PC-based software. Kingswood Mobile – focussed on compliancy issues (Dept regulations, Bord Bia etc), they for herd recording – was launched at last year’s Ploughing and has can work totally standalone on a phone or tablet. But for the bigger, proved immensely popular with younger farmers. Now they’re launching more intensive dairy or beef farmer, who will be using it in Kingswood Field App at this year’s event. Kingswood’s new Field and conjunction with a full herd management system on their PC, they Grass Recording App caters for the full spectrum of field and grass can be used as an add-on to enter data or look up animal records. events including spraying events, fertiliser & slurry spreading and grass More detailed analysis or reporting can be done on their PC.” It’s measurement and complements Kingswood Mobile. this unique flexibility that enables Kingswood to cater for a range NEW APP of herds from ten cows up to a thousand cows or more”, he said.

Their new App, which is compatible with Android, iPhone, iPad and To find out more information on Kingswood’s new Field Windows devices, allows farmers to: and Grass Recording App contact Kingswood Computing on • Enter a full range of field events – spraying,fertiliser spreading & sowing. 01 459 6677 or email: info@kingswood.ie

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IRISH FARM BUSINESS – DAIRYING

PRODUCT NEWS

FIREBIRD HEATING SOLUTIONS www.firebird.ie

IREBIRD HEATING SOLUTIONS have added two new stoves efficient boiler in Europe, to their extensive range. Up to now, all Firebird stoves were Firebird solar panels inset but these new stoves are freestanding.The FM5 is a and the Firebird smoke multifuel dry stove and the FW5 is a wood only dry stove. exempt stove.

Firebird’s first stove, the backboiler inset stove, was launched The innovative in 2012 and is the most efficient multifuel boiler stove in Ireland. Enviromax Blue Designed to give you comfort as well as circulating heat throughout Supreme is the first your home. This success was soon followed in 2013 by the multifuel boiler of its kind to dry inset stove and the smoke exempt wood burning inset stove. embrace blue flame Firebird stoves are proving popular on the Irish market, due to burner technology, their high efficiency, excellent quality and reliability. The backboiler simultaneously saving inset stove has an efficiency of 81%. Stove features include: glass you money whilst also air wash design, easy installation, clean, easy operation and a 5 helping to safeguard year warranty. All Firebird stoves are manufactured in the Gaeltacht our planet. in Co. Cork with emphasis on high quality, efficiency and design. At Firebird, we are In these ever changing times, with renewed focus on a greener focused on giving our planet, everyone is looking for the edge when it comes to energy customers the best efficiency and limiting carbon emissions. Firebird Heating Solutions savings possible in efficiencies, developing the most eco-friendly have been at the forefront of innovation in heating products for products and providing installation advice and guidelines to help almost four decades. our customers save even more money.

Recently the company has developed a heating solution which Come and see the Firebird range of products at the helps homeowners, engineers, architects and installers specify Ploughing Championships this year. As well as stoves and a total heating solution with Firebird products. This solution is boilers, Firebird will be exhibiting their multifuel and oil both cost and time efficient and can help achieve a BER A3 rating. fired range cookers.

It includes the Firebird Enviromax Blue Supreme boiler, the most Block 4 – Row 26 – Stand 672.

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J B TYRES

www.jbtyres.com

J B Tyres began business in 1989 by the current owner James Barfoot – a one man band operating out of a small two bay garage on the main street of Tobermore in South Derry.

James grew up on a farm in the neighbouring village of Desertmartin and so always had an interest in the agriculture sector. The business evolved into a specialist agriculture dealership with Michelin,Trelleborg and Goodyear being the main brands and offering specialist technical advice to the customer.

In 2005 J B Tyres became the first dealer in the UK and Ireland to sign up for the exclusive Michelin Exelagri programme which promotes excellence and professionalism in tractor tyre fitting and servicing.

J B Tyres are currently one of the largest stockists and suppliers of agri tyres not just in Ireland but the whole of the UK, with a comprehensive range in stock of Michelin, Kleber, Goodyear, Trelleborg and Taurus they can supply tyres to cover all agricultural needs.

For further information visit the website www.jbtyres.com or Tel: +44 (0) 28 7964 4128

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HEALTH AND SAFETY AUTHORITY

FARMING CAN BE A CRUSHING BUSINESS

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), since its establishment in 1989, has recorded the circumstances of all fatalities in the workplace including farm deaths. Pat Griffin, Health and Safety Authority, Senior Inspector, discusses.

G Are machine operators fully competent to operate all farm

vehicles and machinery?

G Are the machines used always the right one for the job?

G Are bales (round & square) loaded safely for transport with no

risk of falling and crushing people in fields or road users?

G Are bales (round & square) stacked and stored correctly which

may prevent a crush injury later when being moved?

G Are tractors, machines and loaders parked safely on level

ground and locked?

G Are tractors, machines and loaders reverse parked making it

safer when starting up the next day?

G Do you take enough care of your health and well-being to do

ragically agriculture has consistently featured as the sector with the highest number of workplace deaths. It is also the only sector where every year people outside of the working age (18 – 65) suffer serious injuries and death. And is probably the only sector where the family live and face each day where the death occurred with the constant trauma and heartache that it brings.

Looking at the main causes of these deaths the picture is pretty much the same each year, with tractors and machinery involved in some way in 50% of deaths over the last 10 years followed by livestock 14%, closely followed by Falls from Height.The vast majority of these tragic deaths involve suffering a crush (or impact) injury whether it’s being crushed by a tractor, a trailer, crushed by, in,

T

the work safely?

I believe many of these crush injuries and deaths happen when there is excessive speed, workload, pressure, stress, rushing, improvising and taking short cuts. All of these factors are often coupled with fatigue or farmers sometimes just not thinking straight. Most farmers I have spoken to that have survived a very serious injury would agree that they were trying to do too much on the day, didn’t think of the risks, didn’t see the risk of crushing and should have taken a step back for just one minute to consider what they were doing.

One of the key issues to focus on is managing workload.

Here are a few simple steps that can be considered for managing workload: Plan: Allocate enough time for the work, plan the work and plan for busy seasonal periods. Consider getting extra help or contracting out some of the work at very busy periods where fatigue becomes a major factor.

Prioritise: Do the most important and difficult jobs first when you are fresh and spread your workload out over time.

“Prioritise: Do the most important and difficult jobs first when you are fresh and spread your workload out over time” or under a machine or crushed by an animal that has suddenly Participate: In a Knowledge Transfer Group and in the TAMS turned aggressive.There are of course some more unusual crush Grant Aid Scheme to make your enterprise more efficient. injuries that happen on farms such as under falling trees or in Pace: Don’t try to do too much in one day.This is easier said automatic gates. than done. It is linked to planning how much you can realistically Farmers must become much more aware of the many potential do in a day and making sure that you know when to stop. situations where they risk having (or sadly causing) a fatal crush Hopefully then tomorrow will be another day. injury on their farms.They must be aware of the risk of crushing For more information and safety resources click on your someone against a building, a wall or a gate while operating their industry at www.hsa.ie tractor or other farm vehicle. Machinery related crush injuries are generally between the tractor and an attachment/machine or indeed within the machine itself. Farmers need to identify and be aware of these crush zones and ensure that the risk to themselves or others is minimised.

To find solutions we have to look deeper into the root causes and consider if we are really aware of all crush zones and consider how we organise and carry out work on the farm.

G Are all work practices on the farm planned and checked to ensure safety and the prevention of these crush injuries?

G Are calving facilities and livestock handling facilities designed with easy escape routes to minimise the risk of being crushed by aggressive animals?

G Are all tractors and machinery in perfect working order and safe to use, particularly braking systems, and other critical controls?

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05/09/2016

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IFBD 2016 ISSUE 3

05/09/2016

10:19

Page 68