RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE NUTRITION FORAGE AND ARABLE HORTICULTURE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT DAIRY MANAGEMENT
Plan 365 is a technical guide aimed at helping shareholders learn about best practice and the latest advancements in rural technology.
A fresh look
THE MCMILLAN RANGE HAS A NEW LOOK FOR ITS BAGS
McMillan Equine Feeds has worked alongside specialist, New Zealand based Equine Nutritionists while using NRC (National Research Council) recommendations to bring you enhanced, balanced and quality equine feeds.
What has changed? Your favourite feeds still look the same but the nutrients delivered have been enhanced to meet NRC recommendations. In all cases, this was only a small change — the major change being the way we declare these nutrients on our new bags. These are now listed on the back of the bag, in a table with the nutrient required on the left, NRC recommendations in the middle column and as fed, which will deliver 100 percent of requirements, on the right.
This continues the McMillan theme of transparency with information to the end user, to encourage a greater understanding of exactly what we are feeding our horses.
Products in the new bags all contain a live yeast to enhance digestion and only organic minerals are used.
McMillan
To further extend supporting our own industry by using only New Zealand grown grains, we have also recently changed to New Zealand grown canola oil for inclusion in our feeds.
Don’t forget to join us on Facebook! Article supplied by McMillan Equine Feeds.
Rapid Gain
Blends – as simple or complicated as you need
“A little bit of something does you good” and “too much of a good thing can be bad” are useful adages for ruminant nutrition and may be partly behind the growing interest in blends.
In its simplest form, a blend is a mixture of two commodities or straights – a straight being a single feed. More complex blends contain a larger number of straights for added nutritional complexity and possibly minerals, trace elements and additives. Interest in blends is emerging from straight users – predominantly palm kernel users who want to incorporate alternative feeds and in-shed grain users looking to economise in the light of the pay-out predictions.
When buying a straight feed, or deciding what straight to incorporate into a blend, it is important to know what they deliver relative to the needs of your livestock at any time, which is likely to change with the seasons and their stage of production and performance level.
Key nutritional factors determining the productivity of livestock:
Grains are a popular straight, which are rich in energy from starch and low in both fibre and fat — processing is required before feeding to cattle but they tend to encourage milk protein production, which is more valuable than butterfat. Grains are best suited to in-shed, total mixed or partially mixed diet feeding systems, which reduce the risk of over consumption.
By-product feeds are a legitimate and sustainable resource originating from production intended primarily for human consumption, e.g. molasses from sugar production, maize distillers from ethanol production, or palm oil for cooking oil and soap. Globally, the biggest demand for supplementary feed is for pigs and poultry — because mono-gastrics are not good at digesting the fibre in some by-products, it limits their inclusion
level and value, ensuring they are even better value for ruminant diets because of the reduced competition for a limited resource. High fibre feeds may not be the best complement to high fibre forages if the intention is to maximise pasture intakes, as economy does not always result in profitability.
Oilseed meals including soyabean meal and cottonseed meal are by-products that contain low to moderate fibre levels and high levels of protein. Their use in blends can be very beneficial if protein is limiting production but could be detrimental if protein is over supplied (relative to the production level the energy supply will support).
If blends are accurately mixed, they may provide a cost effective route for minerals and additives compared to dusting or water treatments. As with most things, the difference is in the detail and the source and form of the minerals should be considered. The Farmlands Nutrition team is equipped with a Blend Calculator to help formulate and price bespoke blend options from simple bi-blends through to more complex solutions if appropriate. They are committed to delivering the most appropriate feed solutions for our shareholders and are becoming increasingly involved, through our National Feed Desk, in the supply and use of straights and blends and strive to provide meaningful advice through our on-farm and retail networks.
Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.
Plenty of choice with calf milk replacers
Milligans’ range of calf milk replacers are premium quality milk replacers specially formulated for calves aged from as early as day 4. They are made from a nutritionally balanced blend of New Zealand milk powders and selected vitamins and minerals.
Quality product is valued highly by Milligans and to stand behind this, all products are regularly tested both internally and externally through recognised industry laboratories, to ensure that Milligans maintains the level of quality recognised with their products.
GoCalf
This calf milk replacer manufactured by Milligans is a basic blend for use from 3-4 weeks of age and can be mixed with colostrum or whole milk to extend its feeding time. GoCalf can be fed to calves from day 4 but is better suited as a finisher due to its lower protein content and exclusion of Deccox. As with all animals, colostrum should be fed for the first 4 days before starting them on a CMR. GoCalf is made from dairy proteins and fats and contains a balanced vitamin and mineral pre-mix to maximise calf health. GoCalf does not contain Deccox as a prevention for coccidiosis and is lower in protein, aimed at the finishing market and keeping costs down. GoCalf is a quality economy powder, which can be fed on either the once a day or twice a day feeding system.
Milligans Classic
This is Milligans’ most trusted calf milk replacer that has been used on New Zealand farms for more than 20 years. Milligans Classic can be fed to calves from day 4. Milligans Classic is made from dairy proteins and fats and contains a boosted vitamin and mineral pre-mix to maximise calf health. Milligans Classic is a premium quality, highly digestible milk powder that can be fed on either the once a day or twice a day feeding system. The number one mixing CMR for more than 20 years.
Milligans Ultra-Premium
Milligans Ultra-Premium calf milk replacer contains the natural gut conditioning package ExcelPlus Milk Additive, designed for better health and faster growing calves. Milligans + ExcelPlus Milk Additive can be fed to calves from day 4. Milligans + ExcelPlus Milk Additive is made from dairy proteins and fats and contains a boosted vitamin and mineral pre-mix to maximise calf health. Milligans + ExcelPlus Milk Additive is a premium
quality, highly digestible milk powder that can be fed on either the once a day or twice a day feeding system. ExcelPlus Milk Additive is exclusive to Milligans for the use in CMR and will give your calves the best start to life.
Milligans Multi Milk Replacer
Suitable for lambs, kids, fawns, foals, cria, piglets, pups and kittens and other infant animals. Milligans Multi Milk Replacer is a high quality blend of dairy proteins and is fortified with a vitamin and mineral pre-mix to support the functions of the growing infant animal. Multi Milk Replacer can be used from day 1 but it is recommended to feed a colostrum supplement such as ExcelPlus Colostrum for the first 1-2 days of life, to provide the much needed immunity the baby animal requires for growth and development. Article supplied by Milligans.
Calf rearing – building better outcomes
Giving your replacement heifers the best start now provides the platform for highly productive dairy cows in the future. With the percentage of cows artificially inseminated currently sitting at 73 percent, these heifers are likely to be genetically better than the herd they are entering. A poor start to life can reduce the lifetime milk production of a cow by 10-15 percent year on year.
The calf rearing fundamentals of colostrum, immunity, rumen development and weaning weights are all underpinned with careful hygiene and ensuring calves get the nutrients they need to thrive.
To get calves off to the best start and optimise lifetime milk potential, new formulations of TopCalf Formula 20 and TopCalf Formula 16 have been introduced to the market this season. Both formulations include new combinations of palatants to ensure ease of uptake by young calves. They also include Diamond V XPC ® for the first time.
The inclusion of Diamond V® in calf rations has proven results globally:
• Improved rumen development –increased length and width of papillae.
• Greater change in hip width and wither height.
• Increase in dry matter intake on starter feed.
• Reduced mortality rates via stimulation of immune function.
All of these will help meet development targets.
Successfully rearing dairy replacement heifers means critical targets need to be met throughout the next 2 years, to ensure cows enter the herd capable of meeting their genetic potential. Targets revolve around lean tissue development and frame growth. Importantly, lean tissue development goes hand in hand with mammary tissue development and this starts from day 1. If lean tissue development is not meeting breed requirements, the mammary tissue will not be either. And that reduces lifetime milk potential. Cows should be entering the herd at 100 percent of their expected weight and frame. This will ensure potential productivity is optimised, fewer health issues through calving and early lactation and a significantly greater probability of getting back in-calf.
Each year 12.4 percent of heifers (2-3 year olds) exit the dairy herd (LIC stats) with a further 12.6 percent exiting at
3-4 years of age. Estimated costs of rearing a dairy heifer currently sit somewhere between $1,800.00 and $2,000.00 per cow. Current benchmark data from Dairy New Zealand shows farm working expenses per cow at $1,631.00.
It is important to understand this in the context of calf rearing: If it costs $1,800.00 to get a heifer to its first milking season then it costs $1,631.00 to milk it for the first lactation. It has cost $3,431.00 by the time it reaches 3 years of age. At a $5.25/kgMS pay-out it will return $1,947.75 (based on national average production of 371kgMS). If 12.4 percent of 2-3 year olds are culled due to issues largely attributed to not being fully grown before entering the herd, this generates a significant loss — $19,171.40/100 cows.
Paying attention to detail, including good nutrition, when the calf is young and remaining focused on meeting targets over the next 2 years will improve milk production in the first season. It will also reduce the number and cost of culls in the 2-3 year old age group. That’s certainly an investment worth having. Article supplied by Inghams.
Develop the rumen for life
Fibre is absolutely essential in the calf shed for rumen development. Ruminants require quality fibre in the diet to maximise production and maintain health by sustaining a stable environment within the rumen. The focus of calf rearing should be to rear a calf to perform on pasture. If the calves you are rearing need to achieve maximum milk or beef production from pasture then setting the rumen up for life with quality fibre early cannot be overemphasised. But both fibre quality and form are paramount.
Poor quality fibres like straw and hay, especially if long stemmed, are indigestible in a young calf. These bulky fibres remain in the rumen until the calf can ruminate (chew cud) enough to grind it down. This takes up valuable space needed for the high energy and high protein feeds that fuel calf growth, especially when milk is restricted. Even when chopped, these fibre types provide a limited nutrient supply for rumen
microbial fermentation and chopping or chaffing can create short, sharp fibres that can damage the mouth, oesophagus or stomachs.
There is no doubt that only forage fibre can stretch and strengthen the rumen wall and build the musculature required for effective stomach contractions. So why bulk the rumen with filler, when a high nutritional fibre can build the rumen as well as grow the calf?
Rumen development starts when the first mouthful of solid feed is eaten.
Rumen development is completed when the weaned calf is sustaining optimum growth rates on pasture. Fiber Fresh research has shown if only quality fibre (FiberStart®: 20 percent crude protein, 12.2 MJ metabolisable energy/kg dry matter) is available from day 1, rumen development will be accelerated and calves will be grass-ready in 7 weeks. It takes about 6 weeks on a forage diet for adequate rumen development to support
calf growth. So if quality fibre is withheld from calves for 3 to 6 weeks then it will take an additional 6 weeks from the point that quality forage is introduced before the rumen is sufficiently developed. The form of fibre is key to calf intake and hence calf growth. Nutrient-rich fibre is preferred, such as the fresh harvested and preserved forage fibre feeds from Fiber Fresh®. Fresh pasture in spring or autumn is usually only 10-20 percent dry matter. So if pasture is the only fibre source, calves are mostly taking in water. Most pastures contain less than 10 percent clover but like most ruminants, calves prefer legume (lucerne) to grassbased forage and Fiber Fresh Feeds base their FiberStart® and FiberGain® on lucerne.
For optimal growth and maximum uptake, lollipop FiberStart® or blend FiberStart® with starter meal.
Article supplied by Fiber Fresh.
Maximise feed efficiency
Following calving, mating is the next big challenge for cows and is crucial for farm profitability. Maintaining or improving cow condition is a key part of better cow cycling and conception and efficient conversion of feed can help achieve this.
Cows obtain their energy for milk production from the feed they eat and from body fat stores. Better conditioned cows at calving will produce more milk and better conditioned cows will cycle and conceive earlier. Body condition is influenced by many factors, one of which is internal parasites.
Effective worm treatments can help improve body condition and therefore production, not only through improved appetite but because protein and energy are not wasted fighting off this parasite challenge.
Making the most out of the feed available on the property is crucial. If there is a risk on your farm that stock are being exposed to parasites prior
to mating and they are in less than desirable condition, anthelmintic treatments are a viable option. Drenches that have long persistent activity, such as Cydectin® Pour-on, provide some of the best parasite control available against important production limiting parasites, like Ostertagia. Parasite control can make a difference to the feed conversion efficiency of the animal, mating performance, calving date and subsequent days in milk.
No other drench has longer persistent activity against key production limiting parasites than Cydectin Pour-on. With 35 days’ control of Ostertagia and 28 days’ control of Trichostrongylus, Cydectin Pour-on is an effective tool in your drench programme.
Plus … with its NIL milk, meat and bobby calf withholding periods, farmers can use Cydectin Pour-on anytime, with peace of mind.
Article supplied by Zoetis.
CYDECTIN POUR-ON
• No other drench has longer persistent activity.
• 35 days against Ostertagia
• 28 days against Trichostrongylus
• 42 days against lungworm.
• Rainfast.
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A6203.
Cattle tick control in spring
We are about to enter the time of the year when tick numbers begin to increase and failure to implement control measures now will make it virtually impossible to catch up later on.
In addition to the normal animal health issues that are brought about by tick infestation, including anaemia, skin irritation and hide damage, ticks also act as transmitters (vectors) for the blood-borne disease caused by Theileria orientalis. The symptoms of Theileria infection are also most commonly seen during the spring period and include lost production and deaths.
MPI has done a good job so far monitoring Theileria outbreaks, as this disease has spread by movements of infected stock and infected ticks over the whole of the North Island, plus sporadic
BAYTICOL POUR-ON 5L
• Targets every stage of the tick lifecycle.
• Prolonged residual action.
• Total body coverage.
• Dramatic visible results.
• Nil meat and milk withholding periods.
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A5335.
locations in the South Island. This makes a strong case for pre-movement Bayticol treatments of all stock going from a high to a low tick area, or to a Theileria free area, whether or not ticks are visible. On-farm tick control should also consider your area and status. The endemically stable Northland regions should utilise Bayticol treatments over the spring to keep tick numbers down and hopefully reduce the impact of high infestations and limit tick population build. In unstable areas of the North Island, tick treatments can be specifically important during the high risk spring period where ticks are most active and stock are stressed and susceptible to developing disease. Tick monitoring measures are useful for guiding how and when to treat with Bayticol, however if a standardised approach is required, treat with Bayticol in the spring pre and post-calving (July to September) with at least two treatments 3 to 4 weeks apart.
Bayticol treatments are also recommended in combination with other tick control strategies, such as grazing pasture with other species before exposing cattle (e.g. grazing with Seraphos treated sheep) and keeping sward length low, as this is a less hospitable environment for ticks. You can never eliminate ticks from the environment as the vast proportion of their lifecycle is spent in and on the ground, where it is very hard to treat them at all. Whilst you’re never going to have 100 percent protection, you can certainly limit the risk if you can reduce the likelihood that stock are bitten by ticks. Article supplied by Bayer.
Field trial demonstrates proven superiority
New data from a New Zealand field trial shows more evidence that Multine is a superior 5-in-1 vaccine. This trial looked at antibody response in lambs. Antibodies are what give animals the ability to fight disease.
On the back of an envelope:
• The trial shows lambs receive more antibodies against Pulpy Kidney and tetanus when ewes received a pre-lamb Multine shot, compared to ewes receiving Ultravac® 5-in-1.
• Lambs responded much better to Multine at tailing.
• The trial data supports using Multine at tailing and weaning, as lambs that receive Multine show superior antibody levels during this high-risk time.
What’s the story?
A lamb is born without any diseasepreventing antibodies.
MULTINE 5-IN-1 VACCINE 500ML
• The trusted 5-in-1 clostridial vaccine.
• Protects against Pulpy Kidney, tetanus, blackleg, black disease and malignant oedema.
• For use in sheep, cattle and goats.
• Nil meat withholding period.
• Available in available.
103459
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A0934, A0935.
Initially, lambs depend on the quality of colostrum from their dam to get protection from fatal diseases like Pulpy Kidney and tetanus. For ewes having multiples, the colostrum is divided between two or three lambs. So, the higher the amount of antibodies in the colostrum, the more protective antibodies are available to be passed on, meaning lambs get better protection from disease, earlier.
The antibodies a lamb receives from its mother go down over time, until these antibodies no longer provide protection. This makes it important to vaccinate lambs so that they produce their own antibodies for protection against disease.
This trial took place on a commercial farm in the Wairarapa using twinlambing, 2-tooth ewes:
1. The ewes were given a Multine or Ultravac shot at pre-lamb.
2. Lambs then received Multine or Ultravac at tailing.
3. Finally, lambs received a booster shot at weaning.
The first part of the trial then looked at the number of antibodies passed on to the lambs from the dams from
the pre-lamb shot. The aim was to find out how effective the vaccine was at providing a good antibody response at tailing and weaning.
The results were overwhelmingly in Multine’s favour.
The amount of Pulpy Kidney and tetanus antibodies the lambs got from colostrum following the pre-lamb dam shot was much greater with Multine than with Ultravac. This means ewes vaccinated with Multine pass on more antibodies for their lambs than those vaccinated with Ultravac.
The second part of the trial showed a superior response in lambs given Multine at tailing and weaning.
• 100 percent of the Multine lambs showed an increase in Pulpy Kidney protection — but 22 percent of the Ultravac lambs did not.
• Lambs given Multine produced more than two-and-a-half times the amount of antibodies than Ultravac.
Put simply, more individual lambs will be protected from tailing/weaning vaccination with Multine. The amount of antibodies for Multine has been shown to be much higher. This means better financial returns for the farmer by better protecting the flock.
Multine was developed right here in New Zealand and continues to be manufactured at Upper Hutt. MSD Coopers Animal Health is the marketleader for clostridial disease vaccines. Article supplied by Coopers.
Maximise feed efficiency
Following calving, mating is the next big challenge for cows and is crucial for farm profitability. Maintaining or improving cow condition is a key part of better cow cycling and conception and efficient conversion of feed can help achieve this.
Cows obtain their energy for milk production from the feed they eat and from body fat stores. Better conditioned cows at calving will produce more milk and better conditioned cows will cycle and conceive earlier. Body condition is influenced by many factors, one of which is internal parasites.
Effective worm treatments can help improve body condition and therefore production, not only through improved appetite but because protein and energy are not wasted fighting off this parasite challenge.
Making the most out of the feed available on the property is crucial. If there is a risk on your farm that stock are being exposed to parasites prior
to mating and they are in less than desirable condition, anthelmintic treatments are a viable option. Drenches that have long persistent activity, such as Cydectin® Pour-on, provide some of the best parasite control available against important production limiting parasites, like Ostertagia. Parasite control can make a difference to the feed conversion efficiency of the animal, mating performance, calving date and subsequent days in milk.
No other drench has longer persistent activity against key production limiting parasites than Cydectin Pour-on. With 35 days’ control of Ostertagia and 28 days’ control of Trichostrongylus, Cydectin Pour-on is an effective tool in your drench programme.
Plus … with its NIL milk, meat and bobby calf withholding periods, farmers can use Cydectin Pour-on anytime, with peace of mind.
Article supplied by Zoetis.
CYDECTIN POUR-ON
• No other drench has longer persistent activity.
• 35 days against Ostertagia
• 28 days against Trichostrongylus
• 42 days against lungworm.
• Rainfast.
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A6203.
Cattle tick control in spring
We are about to enter the time of the year when tick numbers begin to increase and failure to implement control measures now will make it virtually impossible to catch up later on.
In addition to the normal animal health issues that are brought about by tick infestation, including anaemia, skin irritation and hide damage, ticks also act as transmitters (vectors) for the blood-borne disease caused by Theileria orientalis. The symptoms of Theileria infection are also most commonly seen during the spring period and include lost production and deaths.
MPI has done a good job so far monitoring Theileria outbreaks, as this disease has spread by movements of infected stock and infected ticks over the whole of the North Island, plus sporadic
BAYTICOL POUR-ON 5L
• Targets every stage of the tick lifecycle.
• Prolonged residual action.
• Total body coverage.
• Dramatic visible results.
• Nil meat and milk withholding periods.
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A5335.
locations in the South Island. This makes a strong case for pre-movement Bayticol treatments of all stock going from a high to a low tick area, or to a Theileria free area, whether or not ticks are visible. On-farm tick control should also consider your area and status. The endemically stable Northland regions should utilise Bayticol treatments over the spring to keep tick numbers down and hopefully reduce the impact of high infestations and limit tick population build. In unstable areas of the North Island, tick treatments can be specifically important during the high risk spring period where ticks are most active and stock are stressed and susceptible to developing disease. Tick monitoring measures are useful for guiding how and when to treat with Bayticol, however if a standardised approach is required, treat with Bayticol in the spring pre and post-calving (July to September) with at least two treatments 3 to 4 weeks apart.
Bayticol treatments are also recommended in combination with other tick control strategies, such as grazing pasture with other species before exposing cattle (e.g. grazing with Seraphos treated sheep) and keeping sward length low, as this is a less hospitable environment for ticks. You can never eliminate ticks from the environment as the vast proportion of their lifecycle is spent in and on the ground, where it is very hard to treat them at all. Whilst you’re never going to have 100 percent protection, you can certainly limit the risk if you can reduce the likelihood that stock are bitten by ticks. Article supplied by Bayer.
Field trial demonstrates proven superiority
New data from a New Zealand field trial shows more evidence that Multine is a superior 5-in-1 vaccine. This trial looked at antibody response in lambs. Antibodies are what give animals the ability to fight disease.
On the back of an envelope:
• The trial shows lambs receive more antibodies against Pulpy Kidney and tetanus when ewes received a pre-lamb Multine shot, compared to ewes receiving Ultravac® 5-in-1.
• Lambs responded much better to Multine at tailing.
• The trial data supports using Multine at tailing and weaning, as lambs that receive Multine show superior antibody levels during this high-risk time.
What’s the story?
A lamb is born without any diseasepreventing antibodies.
MULTINE 5-IN-1 VACCINE 500ML
• The trusted 5-in-1 clostridial vaccine.
• Protects against Pulpy Kidney, tetanus, blackleg, black disease and malignant oedema.
• For use in sheep, cattle and goats.
• Nil meat withholding period.
• Available in available.
103459
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A0934, A0935.
Initially, lambs depend on the quality of colostrum from their dam to get protection from fatal diseases like Pulpy Kidney and tetanus. For ewes having multiples, the colostrum is divided between two or three lambs. So, the higher the amount of antibodies in the colostrum, the more protective antibodies are available to be passed on, meaning lambs get better protection from disease, earlier.
The antibodies a lamb receives from its mother go down over time, until these antibodies no longer provide protection. This makes it important to vaccinate lambs so that they produce their own antibodies for protection against disease.
This trial took place on a commercial farm in the Wairarapa using twinlambing, 2-tooth ewes:
1. The ewes were given a Multine or Ultravac shot at pre-lamb.
2. Lambs then received Multine or Ultravac at tailing.
3. Finally, lambs received a booster shot at weaning.
The first part of the trial then looked at the number of antibodies passed on to the lambs from the dams from
the pre-lamb shot. The aim was to find out how effective the vaccine was at providing a good antibody response at tailing and weaning.
The results were overwhelmingly in Multine’s favour.
The amount of Pulpy Kidney and tetanus antibodies the lambs got from colostrum following the pre-lamb dam shot was much greater with Multine than with Ultravac. This means ewes vaccinated with Multine pass on more antibodies for their lambs than those vaccinated with Ultravac.
The second part of the trial showed a superior response in lambs given Multine at tailing and weaning.
• 100 percent of the Multine lambs showed an increase in Pulpy Kidney protection — but 22 percent of the Ultravac lambs did not.
• Lambs given Multine produced more than two-and-a-half times the amount of antibodies than Ultravac.
Put simply, more individual lambs will be protected from tailing/weaning vaccination with Multine. The amount of antibodies for Multine has been shown to be much higher. This means better financial returns for the farmer by better protecting the flock.
Multine was developed right here in New Zealand and continues to be manufactured at Upper Hutt. MSD Coopers Animal Health is the marketleader for clostridial disease vaccines. Article supplied by Coopers.
Cattle lice in New Zealand
Lice are small, flat-bodied insects with legs modified for grasping hairs. Four species of lice are known to infest cattle in New Zealand, three ‘sucking’ and one ‘biting’ (more correctly chewing) but only two are of significance.
The sucking louse (Linognathus vituli)
The sucking louse is the most common variety in New Zealand. Adults are 2-3mm in length, with a long, narrow head and a yellowish-brown body that appears bluish due to ingested blood. They are usually found on protected areas of the skin and are generally more prevalent on younger dairy stock.
The biting louse (Bovicola bovis)
The biting louse is found on cattle of all ages. Its mouthparts are adapted for chewing and it feeds on debris on the skin such as dead skin cells, secretions and bacteria.
Cattle lice are ‘species specific’ and cannot survive on sheep or goats, and vice versa with sheep lice unable to survive on cattle. It is commonly believed that lice cause weight loss but experimental evidence does not support this in New Zealand.
Lice irritation leads to scratching and licking that can damage the skin. They can also lead to ‘fleck’ defects on tanned hides that, along with secondary scratching damage, have a considerable cost for New Zealand’s leather industry.
Typical louse life cycle
The whole process takes 4-5 weeks and occurs on the animal, as most lice die within a week in the environment.
Numbers often peak in winter when climatic conditions and the animal’s coat favour survivability. Close contact may further facilitate spread.
Treating lice
Lice can be treated at any time of the year but many farmers prefer to treat in the autumn or early spring. Careful consideration must be given to milk and meat withholding when selecting a product.
BLAZE®
BLAZE contains 15g/L of deltamethrin, the most effective of Synthetic Pyrethroids (SPs). It acts as a repellent, preventing nuisance flies from landing and feeding. BLAZE causes rapid paralysis and death of both lice and flies, mainly due to them coming into contact with the active chemical but also through ingestion of it. Correct application is very important for good results.
Applied down the midline of cattle, from poll to tail, BLAZE controls lice by moving through the natural oils on the skin surface to cover the entire body.
BLAZE has nil milk and nil bobby calf withholding periods, meaning dairy cows can be treated for lice anytime. The meat withholding period is 28 days — this means it can be used at any time of year.
1: Apply BLAZE down midline, from poll to tail.
Article supplied by Coopers.
BLAZE 5L
• Deltamethrin (SP) pour-on for cattle.
• Provides up to 4 weeks’ protection against nuisance fly.
• Prevents flies landing and kills on contact.
• Provides control of biting and sucking lice.
• Nil milk withholding period.
• Cows are protected in the milking shed and out grazing.
Registered pursuant of the ACVM Act 1997, No. A8214.
Figure
Prepare well to secure days in-milk
Pre-calving, birthing and cycling are particularly demanding periods for any dairy cow. Good management requires implementation of intensive trace element supplementation before and during the stress periods. Cows need sufficient reserves to support them during the calving process, to mating and into summer lactation.
Arguably there is money to be made in cows achieving and holding peak lactation and getting in-calf again. Regularly undertake blood tests and ask for liver tests when culling cows. Monitoring trace element status in cows provides a mechanism to make informed decisions. The critical trace elements to consider are:
Selenium: Retained after birth, infertility, ill-thrift, poor immune responses and reduced milk production are all symptoms of a selenium deficiency. One of the critical elements cows need on a daily basis to offset these animal issues.
Copper: Copper is also required daily and is essential for the formation of 10 vital enzymes. Dairy cows are particularly susceptible to copper deficiency and it shows in a poor reproductive system, failure to be oestrous and poor growth rate.
Cobalt: Cobalt is required daily and is essential for the formation of vitamin B12, a vital enzyme in the utilisation of the energy content of food and animal growth. If cows exhibit lethargic tendencies and
Is infertility costing you?
Underweight animals, cows with low trace element status and diseases associated with lameness and mastitis have a causal effect on lowering fertility. To assist in offsetting the stress associated with these issues, we need to provide the cow with essential elements that prepare it for reproduction, reduce the incidences of absorptions and achieve an acceptable result after the first two rounds of mating.
Nutrimol 4n1 contains the same compounds contained in Nutrimol Classic to increase heat strength and improve submission rates – and now has more iodine, as well as folic acid, vitamins A, D and E and a prebiotic to provide food for the ‘rumen bugs’ to assist with feed
conversion during this time of the season.
Nutrimol 4n1 can be administered via a Dosatron Inline Dispenser or drench gun. For best results, begin dosing 30 days prior to the planned start of mating at 7ml/ cow/day and continue until 60 days after the end of mating.
The key points to aim for with a Nutrimol 4n1 programme:
• Improve heat strength
a lack of drive to graze, they are probably cobalt deficient.
Iodine: The presence of iodine is essential for the proper function of the thyroid gland. Avoid low hormone production, as this will significantly impact on reproduction outcomes, foetal survival and foetal development.
Everyone should have addressed the magnesium and calcium needs by this time of the season but not to be forgotten is the key trace elements that support milk production and reproduction. We need to get it right from the onset otherwise the costs are too high.
Article supplied by Bell-Booth.
• Improve length of heat
• 90 percent submission within the first 6 weeks
• Less re-absorption
The cost of an empty cow in lost milk production plus the purchase price of a replacement animal is reducing farm productivity. The cost of a Nutrimol 4n1 programme is less than $9.00 + GST/cow. It makes sense to implement a programme 30 days before mating starts.
Talk to your local Farmlands store about a Nutrimol 4n1 Mating Programme or pick up an ‘It’s Business Time’ brochure for more information.
Article supplied by Bell-Booth.
Glyphosate resistance?
Glyphosate was originally discovered by Swiss chemist Henri Martin in 1950 but it was not until 1970 that another scientist, John Franz, synthesised the molecule “glyphosate”. This was then patented by Monsanto as the active ingredient for the herbicide Roundup®. Prior to the introduction of Roundup to the market, Paraquat, Amitrole and cultivation were the main weed control options for horticulturalists. Roundup offered growers a broad-spectrum perennial herbicide, which had a much safer environmental and user toxicity than those being used at the time. However, the cost of the brand Roundup remained relatively expensive, so many growers continued to use a mix of herbicide options in their programmes.
When Monsanto’s glyphosate patent expired in 2000 and many generic suppliers came to the market, the price plummeted, turning this highly effective but expensive product into the cheapest broad-spectrum option for horticultural use. Its cheapness is one of the main
factors that has contributed to its downfall – the development of resistance. Glyphosate is now the most widely used herbicide on the planet.
In recent times, glyphosate has given effective control with a low cost per hectare and many growers have just used glyphosate and glyphosate mixes with application rate spikes designed to increase control. Often little alternative chemistry is being used during the season, or from year to year. If we are to keep this chemistry working for us in the future, we must now introduce a sustainable resistance management programme, just like those used for other pesticides. There are two main points that must be considered if we are going to keep glyphosate in our programmes: Rate per hectare: Under-dosing is a leading cause of resistance development. Often an application rate is selected that kills many of the weeds present but some individual weeds survive and grow back. They are then re-treated with a sub-lethal dose of the same chemical. When deciding on the correct application rate per hectare, it is critical that all of the species in the area being treated are identified. The application rate chosen must provide complete control of the hardest to kill weed. In the photographs, glyphosate resistant ryegrass was identified so Vixen (glufosinate + oxyfluorfen) was chosen. At 4.0L/ha the Vixen was ineffective at controlling this species, however at 6.0L/ha it was controlled.
Mixing up chemistry: All growers, regardless of whether resistance has been identified or not, should be implementing a programme of mixing herbicide groups throughout the year. The options will vary depending on the crops and the weed species present. Farmlands Technical Advisors are trained to assist growers with a planned approach to using a mix of chemistry to control all weed species in an economical and sustainable manner.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Chris Herries, Technical Manager, Farmlands Horticulture.
| Vixen 4.0 L/ha (86 days after application)
| Vixen 6.0 L/ha (86 days after application)
| Glyphosate 360 at 9.0L/ha (30 days post application). Good control of other weed species but resistant ryegrass is left to re-populate the herbicide strip.
Get better results from glyphosate
We always knew that WETCIT greatly enhanced the performance of glyphosate – but we never knew why or by how much. This past year, the University of Illinois was given the job of answering both of these questions. Dr. Dean Riechers and Dr. Anatoli Lygin from the Department of Crop Sciences conducted a series of experiments to investigate the effect of WETCIT on the performance of Roundup® PowerMAX (a leading brand of glyphosate in the United States) for the control of fathen. For those that haven’t experienced WETCIT, it is a revolutionary wetting agent and penetrant that outclasses other adjuvants on the market.
A key experiment conducted was to label the glyphosate molecule with a radioisotope C14 (i.e. make it radioactive) and measure the level of radioactivity in the plant at given time intervals. This allows the researchers to see where the glyphosate has moved to and in what concentrations. The results were impressive to say the least.
• When WETCIT was added to the Roundup PowerMAX, the chemical was absorbed into the leaf more than twice as fast than for Roundup PowerMAX alone (3 minutes vs. 7 minutes).
• 15 minutes after application, the WETCIT plus Roundup PowerMAX combination had distributed
entirely throughout the leaf and had begun to translocate into the petiole. In comparison, Roundup PowerMAX alone was still yet to distribute throughout the leaf and no translocation had begun.
• 12 hours after application, the WETCIT plus Roundup PowerMAX combination had completely moved through the plant including the roots. Roundup PowerMAX by itself was still localised in the leaf tissues.
The study looked at other wetting agents, including non-ionic surfactants and oils. In all comparisons, the combination of Roundup PowerMAX with WETCIT showed superior distribution through the plant and in a shorter amount of time. In fact, the combinations with oil showed no benefit compared to using the Roundup PowerMAX by itself!
| MSO = methylated seed oil
| Treatments: Wetting agents added to Roundup PowerMAX
Key MSO = methylated seed oil
HSMO = high surfactant methylated seed oil
Glyphosate = no wetting agent
NIS = non-ionic surfactant
COC = crop oil concentrate
The key messages from this research are:
1. Despite Roundup PowerMAX having a surfactant already present in the formulation, the performance of this product can be greatly enhanced by adding WETCIT.
2. With conclusive evidence showing translocation out of the leaf into surrounding tissues begins 15 minutes after application, growers can have comfort knowing the addition of WETCIT will get the glyphosate molecule into the plant, particularly when inclement weather is forecast.
3. Oils did not enhance the performance of the Roundup PowerMAX in this study.
NB: WETCIT was used at 300ml per 100L of water in this study.
The next stage in the research is to look at the speed the six herbicide treatments kill weeds in a field environment.
Article supplied by WETCIT
Cost-effective grazing: grow more dry matter this spring
Nothing competes with grass when it comes to cost effective feed. But when there’s not quite enough grass to go round, ProGibb SG is the next best thing.
For less than 16c/kg DM (including application costs), New Zealand’s first and most widely tested plant growth regulator for pasture packs a compelling financial argument this spring.
Few inputs can offer the same return in the current economic climate but for many farmers, ProGibb SG has become part and parcel of costeffective farming, no matter what the budget looks like.
Farmlands Manawatu Field Manager
Mike McLean says there’s a good reason for this. “It’s proven to work and there’s good trial data wrapped around it as well.”
Mike estimates at least 50 percent of his clients now routinely use ProGibb to boost DM production in spring and autumn by 30-60 percent within 3 weeks of applications.
With 2,400 cows on two milking platforms and a sizeable run-off, Himitangi dairy farmer Owen Greig knows precisely the value of extra grass at key times of the season. He started using ProGibb SG 3 or 4 years ago and now aims to apply it across both milking platforms several times a year, spraying up to 200ha a week at the busiest times and complementing it with solid urea.
His first goal was to shift his spring balance date and he says today pasture supply matches cow demand 7-10 days earlier than it used to. “Now we’re using it in early autumn too, to help build our covers back up after summer.”
Either way, he says, “it’s growing grass for the cheapest possible price at the time of the year that you need it most.”
At his scale and with the volumes he is using, it quickly became apparent early on that it was worth Owen buying a spray unit to apply ProGibb SG himself. This has meant they’ve had to get used to spraying when the ground is wet, rather than when it’s dry, as in preparing a paddock for cropping. “We had to change the rims on the tyres three times to get it right…”
When it comes to taking advantage of the extra DM/ha available as a result of ProGibb, Owen says the priority has been to put it straight into the vat via the cows, rather than intensifying herd size.
For him, there’s just one key to success. “That 3 to 5 day window after grazing is the one thing to get right.
“You go much outside of that and it’s not going to work.”
Mike says because every farm is different, there are many ways to benefit from ProGibb SG. His best advice to potential new users? “Talk to other farmers. Give your merchant a ring and say I want to speak with someone who’s used it then go and have a yarn with them.”
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Nufarm.
Making it watertight
This year saw the finals of the ANZ Young Farmers Contest held at the Taupo Domain in early July. This was the 47th year of the competition and was the culmination of 250 contestants competing in 22 District Finals, leading on to seven Regional Finals, with the winner from each region contesting the Grand Final. This iconic competition demonstrates the skills and knowledge tomorrow'cs rural leaders possess.
Over the 3 days, competition modules included diverse subjects such as cooking, putting on nappies, calibrating spray equipment and participating in question and answer sessions. Practical day was held on 3rd, comprising 40 minute hands-on modules, including farmlets the contestants were required to maintain.
Stock water reticulation was one of the modules in the Ravensdown Agri-skills Challenge. John Calkin, Farmlands Taupo Business Manager, was heavily involved in putting this challenge
together – organising the troughs, pipe, fittings, tools and a suitably experienced judge. Pete Carswell from Iplex Pipelines was drafted into the judging role.
“It was a very realistic set-up,” Pete says. “The seven contestants were required to connect a water trough to a mainline pipe and then fill the trough. This required them to source the correct pipe and fittings from a store Farmlands had set up on-site, uncoil the pipe, cut to length, tap into the mainline, install trough valve and ballcock and connect the lateral to trough.”
The competition was judged on a number of criteria, including safe work practices, skill use, knowledge of pipe and fitting ranges and good installation “trade practices”. A successful outcome required filling the trough with no leaks in the system. The pipe chosen was metric diameter polyethylene, connected using Plasson compression fittings.
Good trade practices included square cuts, removal of burrs and chamfering of pipe, lubrication of pipe and fittings, full insertion of pipe into fittings and
the use of thread tape on threaded fittings. Also included is the burying of the pipe to protect it from environmental and mechanical damage and ensuring that the pipe doesn’t kink while being installed.
“Working with pipe is a skill set that most famers possess to varying degrees,” Pete says. “It was interesting to see what issues came to the fore under the time pressures of a competition situation. I saw things like leaks caused by insufficient pipe insertion into fittings and in one case a kink in the pipe causing poor flow rate into the trough – don’t over bend pipe, use an elbow. Overall however, the contestants did a good job.
“Back on the farm, my advice would be – take time and care connecting pipe, don’t skimp on fittings where they’re needed and always bury the pipe where practical. A correctly designed and installed stock water system is the most important infrastructure asset on a farm, settling for anything less will be costly in terms of operation and lost production. Congratulations to Farmlands for supporting this event – I know the guys certainly enjoyed the hot soup on a cold Taupo day!”
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Iplex.
Bluff Station tracks the changes
Hamish Murray, along with his parents Richard and Sue, run Bluff Station –located in the high country halfway between Kaikoura and Blenheim.
The station’s homestead is closest to the sea while the rest of the 13,800 hectare property is accessed via a 38 kilometre stock and 4WD track. The track was built in stages over many years and 3 years ago, the Murrays decided to refurbish a small section of it. As it is a vital link to and through the farm, it was critical to do the job with both workmanship and materials that would last. Management of water cascading down from the hills above the track was a major issue that needed addressing, to both keep the track dry and prevent erosion.
“We run 8,000 Merinos and more than 900 breeding cows and young stock, so the track is our lifeline to the farm,” Hamish says.
“When we decided to do this section of track I did some research and had a long chat with the team at Farmlands Kaikoura. They have had many clients who have used the Promax Polyflo Culverts and are reporting that they work well.”
Farmlands put Hamish in touch with Nathan at Promax and together they worked out what the track required. Promax were also able to plastic weld the pipes to the lengths that suited the Bluff Station track.
“The standard culvert is 2.7 metres but we had most of them made into 8.1 metre continuous lengths,” Hamish says.
“Being very light and in one piece allowed us to fit them quickly and easily. This reduced the cost to us both in labour and machinery. One of the other key points we appreciated is that they are ribbed, providing both strength and stabilisation of the ground. I expect these to last more than my time on the farm and the fact they won’t rust out or corrode and are virtually maintenance free makes them ideal for our situation.”
A culvert was placed everywhere that water was flowing down the inside slope of the track and the various new culverts are easily dispatching the volume of water pouring down. The 3.5 kilometres of upgraded track traverses sheer cliff faces and will now allow truck and trailer units to cart stock and fertiliser deep into the main body of the station all year round.
The newly installed Promax Polyflo Culverts have solved a big issue for Bluff Station and the Murrays plan to upgrade other parts of the track with new culverts in the future.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Promax.