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.
Quarantine drenching
Internal parasite resistance is thought to cost New Zealand at least $20 million in lost production every year.
There are two main factors contributing to the development of drench resistance on New Zealand sheep farms. The first factor is often due to ineffective drenching and livestock management policies for sheep bred on the property. The second factor is due to sheep that have been brought in from other properties where the drench history, worm genetics and resistance status of the animals is relatively unknown. This is especially common on properties where large numbers of sheep, especially lambs, are brought in from multiple sources.
What is quarantine drenching?
Quarantine drenching, as the name suggests, is the practice of drenching brought in lambs upon their entrance to the property with a product (e.g. Evolve®) that is likely to remove a high proportion of resistant parasites that might be residing in the gastrointestinal tract. Once the lambs are drenched, they are held in a ‘quarantine’ area (e.g. yards) for 24 hours to allow the expulsion of these parasites before being moved on to ‘clean’ pasture.
The primary reason for this quarantine period after drenching is to allow the adult worms and immature larvae to be killed and pass out in the faeces, which are subsequently deposited in an area where they can’t develop or be consumed by other lambs.
Having dealt with the adult and immature resistant worms, there will potentially still
be the eggs of some resistant worms that will not be killed and will take longer to pass out of the lambs’ digestive tract. It is recommended that recently introduced animals are not grazed on the ‘cleanest’ paddocks of the property immediately. Ideally, they should instead be grazed on the most contaminated or ‘dirty’ paddocks of the farm after the initial 24 hour quarantine period. This will reduce the proportion of (or dilute) any parasites surviving treatment with parasite larvae already present on the property.
Ideally, this quarantine paddock should then be grazed by animals with a higher immunity (e.g. adult ewes), a different species (e.g. cattle), closed up and conserved for supplementary feed (hay or baleage) or considered as part of the pasture renewal programme for the property.
Finally, a word of caution. Lambs which have either been trucked long distances or held in yards without ready access to water for some time may be dehydrated and therefore more susceptible to levamisole toxicity. Therefore, water must be made available to all stock in the quarantine area and consideration should also be given to providing some feed as well. What drench should I use?
The choice of drench should be based upon the drench resistance status of the lambs being brought in. Of course, the whole quarantine drenching process is predicated on the fact that this is unlikely to be known!
In most instances a triple-acting drench such as Evolve® Sheep HiMin or Evolve®
Tape, which contains members of the macrocyclic lactone (ML), benzimidazole (white) and levamisole (clear) families will be appropriate. The advantage of using a triple-acting product is that parasites that have a resistance to one or two of the actives will still be susceptible to at least one of the other actives, thus minimising the amount of worms surviving treatment. Therefore, for finishing, grazing or growing lambs, Evolve® Tape and Evolve® Sheep HiMin can be relied on to reduce the worm burden on your property without compromising your drench resistance status. Where the drench resistance status is known, a double-acting drench like Saturn® can also be used.
For more information, please talk to the friendly team at your local Farmlands store Article supplied by Donaghys Animal Health.
Understanding laboratory analyses
As the saying goes, ‘if you can measure it, you can manage it’. So the ability to understand the value of feeds is important, whether deciding on a fair price for traded feeds or trying to balance home grown forages to increase profitability or production.
If you send a feed or forage sample away to a laboratory, the reported analyses should include neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) –as a percentage of the dry matter. In the days before NIR analysis, samples were boiled in a detergent at pH7 (i.e. neutral) for 1 hour and the soluble cell contents’ material washed away through a glass container with a porous base. The non-soluble dry matter left behind gives an indication of the cell wall material in the sample and is reported as NDF. The retained cell wall material is then boiled in an acid detergent and the soluble material washed though a porous base – the material left behind represents the indigestible fibre, including hemicellulose and lignin and is reported as ADF. Straw has a high NDF and increased lignin levels (reflected by a typical ADF value of about 50 percent), which even rumen bacteria cannot digest and therefore delivers little energy and can be retained in the rumen for up to 7 days – occupying valuable space that at times may be better filled with higher quality feeds. Whilst the NDF content of palm kernel expeller and soy hulls may be very similar, the ADF level typically found in palm kernel expeller is typically higher at 45 percent compared to
about 30 percent ADF in soy hulls. Knowing the NDF content of feed is useful, because it consists mainly of structural tissue that reduces the availability of the cell contents to microbial digestion and provides one of the best indicators we have to predict dry matter intake. As grass matures, it becomes more fibrous and less digestible. Structural tissue also fills up the rumen, so combined with lower energy levels, animals grazing older grass have a double whammy that what they are eating delivers less energy and they can consume less of it. Selecting supplements with lower NDF levels may be appropriate if pasture NDF levels are increasing, whereas high NDF supplements can be helpful in managing residuals during a feed pinch.
Sometimes it is useful to consider the effective fibre in the diet, which requires physical examination rather than a
laboratory test. Effective fibre is structural fibre that can be regurgitated and re-chewed during rumination. When very low NDF levels are reached, cows may not be consuming enough structural fibre to support rumination. Rumination helps cows to deal with the acids produced from highly fermentable forages. Opinions differ as to whether cows on lush, high protein pasture even need a floating mat of long fibre in the rumen, which can be regurgitated and ruminated – but if the total diet NDF level drops below 35 percent, it could be worth offering some effective fibre to see if production lifts from its presence.
Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.
Lessons from the stud breeders
Until recently, the most interest in supplementary feeds for beef has come from stud breeders who recognise that extra size and condition can make a difference in the sale ring. Increasingly changeable weather and improved prices for beef may make some of their techniques more appealing to commercial breeders, rearers and finishers and lifestyle farmers.
If breeding cows have had a difficult winter or spring, supplementary feeding over mating may help to boost cycling activity and fertility, especially if pasture growth is still sub optimal. Trace minerals can have a significant effect on fertility and may be supplemented via a number of routes –including in feed supplements, mineral blocks, water, blocks topdressing, bolus or injections. Growing animals may also benefit from supplementation if pasture quantity and/or quality are not adequate to support good growth rates. The greatest difference seen in pasture growth between years is during the December to April period, predominantly as a consequence of rainfall, so this period poses a risk to production. Conserved forages are
a good way to carry excess pasture growth into a period of shortage but if more feed is required, straights such as palm kernel expeller or soy hulls fed in trailers can be a useful way to fill a feed deficit. Higher energy grain based options can be fed in a nut form on the ground if a greater energy boost is required. Published supplementary feed trials indicate that responses from 3.2 to 7kg of supplement per kilogram of liveweight gain can be expected, depending on the type of supplement used and the need for supplementation in relation to pasture on offer.
Weaning can be a stressful time for calves, especially if it is relatively early due to late births or impending drought. Controlled delivery, free access feeders are increasingly popular, because pellets can be directed initially at the cows to maintain milk production and then limited to calves to assist growth before, during and after weaning. Pedigree breeders often like to feed calves because it helps to acclimatise them to humans after an early life on the hills or back country. Even strong calves can succumb to coccidiosis when bought into a more intensive
situation, so a coccidiostat such as Bovatec® can be helpful in protecting both health and feed conversion. Autumn grass can contain too much protein relative to energy, so the low protein straight, soy hulls, could be a useful supplement to help maintain growth rates and is very safe for trailer feeding. Winter diets may lack both energy and protein, so both may be worthwhile in a winter supplement. Compensatory growth following periods of slow growth has limits and often compensatory growth is not adequate enough to bring animals up to the weight that could have been reached on a more consistent growth – programme. Identifying periods when pasture quality or quantity may not be adequate to support steady growth and supplementing with alternative feeds – can be an effective way of keeping animal growth on track and minimising mortality and animal health issues.
Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Technical Product Manager, Farmlands Nutrition.
Feeding pigs from weaning to slaughter
Even though modern pig genotypes are considerably leaner than the genotypes of 20 years ago, the fundamental building blocks of nutrition remain unchanged. These are energy, protein (amino acids), vitamins and minerals – and for the optimum growth of any pig it is important to ensure these are provided in balanced amounts.
Personal preference for different breeds of pigs and variation in objective when choosing pigs for your property means that across New Zealand there is considerable variation in pig genetics. As genetics play an important role in how a pig uses the nutrients contained in the feed it consumes, it is important to know what stock you have and how they should be fed.
The old adage of ‘eating like a pig’ is no longer entirely true, since pigs are actually quite fussy. To provide some perspective, a modern (weaned) pig of 25kg is able to grow to 100kg in about 6 months and it takes a large human at least 20 years to get to that weight. The nutritional demands of the pig are therefore enormous compared to humans and this poses unique challenges during growth from weaning to slaughter.
Let’s handle the ‘easy’ nutritional blocks first – namely vitamins and minerals. Balanced compound feeds, such as NRM Pig Tucker and Reliance
Pig Weaner Grower, contain all the vitamins and trace minerals required to support the growth of fattening pigs. Kitchen scraps and waste may be well received by the growing pig with great enthusiasm and, whilst they may be adequate for slow growing humans, they are generally woefully inadequate in supporting the growth of the fattening pig. Any scraps one feeds should be regarded as equivalent to lollies for a young child – they are a treat and should not be regarded as balanced food. A balanced diet is essential for growing pigs and sufficient supply of vitamins, minerals and trace minerals will support skeletal growth, animal health and wellbeing. NRM Pig Tucker and Reliance Pig Weaner Grower are designed to supply these critical nutrients in sufficient quantities to maximise growth.
The more complex nutritional blocks are energy and protein – and balancing these can be very tricky. Protein consists of combinations of amino acids and, for the growing pig, the most important function of these is their role in lean meat gain. If a diet that is deficient in protein or a specific amino acid is fed to growing pigs, these animals will eat extra feed to try and eat sufficient amounts of protein or the deficient amino acid to support weight gain. This means the pig will in all likelihood eat too much energy
and consequently, become very fat. In contrast, if the diet is low in energy, the pig may not have sufficient energy to grow at its optimum rate. In such circumstances, feeding what appears to be a relatively cheap diet can turn out to be costly, as the amount of feed required per unit of body weight gain increases.
Feeding a balanced diet to growing pigs from weaning through to slaughter not only ensures that pigs grow rapidly but helps to ensure that the carcass composition and meat quality is desirable – while the added vitamins and minerals contained in a balanced feed help to ensure that animals remain healthy throughout the growing phase.
Article supplied by Natalie Chrystal, Nutritionist, NRM.
Feeding the competition horse
Ready, set, go – your horse is looking top-notch and fit to perform for the season.
But when attending events, your horse is removed from the comforts of home and is now under pressure in a foreign environment. Travelling and competing is stressful, often exacerbated by changes in diet and feeding regime. That’s why colic, ulcers/gut acidosis, tying up, poor appetite and lack of energy or excess ‘fizzy’ energy are often experienced. But the good news is, these can all be managed through nutrition.
Good preparation and feeding management can make the world of difference. The biggest problem is usually sudden changes in diet. If your horses graze for most or all of the day, start gradually substituting grazing time for access to the alternative forage you will take to the event 10–14 days beforehand. Many people have special feeds they only feed at shows or just prior, usually grain or concentrates, to give their horse more energy. This type of approach is like playing Russian Roulette – nothing triggers acidosis leading to a bout of colic or carbohydrate overload-induced tying-up more than a sudden increase in starch (from grain or concentrate-based rations). So if extra energy is required for your horse to train and compete, make changes to these rations or forage-to-concentrate ratios gradually.
Change in normal feeding times is also difficult while competing, feed (particularly concentrates) needs to be
withdrawn at different intervals prior to start time, depending on the discipline. However, giving your horse a pick of fresh grass (if they normally graze at home) or offering them 200–400g of moist forage fibre such as Fiber Fresh, as often as possible, will help prevent excessive acid in the gut and keep their energy levels more constant. This will also provide a highly digestible form of protein for muscle repair and natural electrolytes such as potassium and calcium.
Picky eaters can be even worse away from home. Poor appetite can often be a sign of stomach ulcers or excess acidity in the gut, so it’s even more important these horses receive as much quality fibre as possible to counteract gut problems. It’s often difficult to get picky eaters to eat enough fibre, especially in the form of hay, so a moist, highly palatable, high nutritional fibre is preferred.
Another issue in being away from home is that horses tend not to drink enough, creating dehydration-related or electrolyte imbalance problems such as fatigue, irritability, tying-up, colic and muscle soreness. This is potentially made worse if dry hay is the only forage available – another reason why travelling with a moist feed like FiberProtect ® is advantageous.
Research has shown that fibre should be mixed with concentrates to slow the digestion of concentrates and counteract the acidity of grain. If you have to feed concentrates, feed them with a quality, high nutritional forage fibre such as Fiber Fresh, in a 2:1 ratio.
Fiber Fresh products are the perfect travelling companion, providing a convenient supply of consistent, high quality, moist fibre your horses will love.
Article supplied by Dr. Simone Hoskin, Fiber Fresh.
Responsible use required with specialist feeds
The wide choice of supplementary feeds on offer provides the opportunity to provide key nutrients and additives to very specific groups of animals. But it also carries risks to non-target animals, which should be considered when storing and feeding-out feeds.
Farmlands manufactures and distributes a wide range of feeds that can look very similar in terms of declared energy and protein specifications. Often they contain very subtle differences that make them especially beneficial to the target animals – but potentially less worthwhile or even harmful to other species or even different classes of animal within the same species. For example, whilst goats and sheep might be expected to have very similar nutritional requirements, the level of copper added to products intended for goats could cause problems for some sheep if fed for an extended period. Similarly, compound feed intended for lactating dairy cows may contain high rates of copper, which could lead to excessive accumulation of stored copper in the liver of calves. Feed intended for laying hens will contain far more calcium for shell development
than is required by growing pullets and should only be introduced to layers typically from 18 weeks of age, just before laying commences. A specialist feed for race horses or a weight gain product might be less suitable for a leisure horse in good condition than a higher fibre maintenance option. Extra care should be taken when storing and feeding-out supplements containing a coccidiostat such as Bovatec® or Rumensin®. They provide protection against a very debilitating and potentially lethal parasite but unfortunately horses, camelids and dogs are sensitive to coccidiostats, which can be lethal if ingested in sufficient quantity. Occasionally, dogs, alpacas and horses get access to open bags or feed troughs and consume dangerous quantities very quickly. Ideally any medicated feed should be stored in a clearly labelled and well-sealed bin once the bag has been opened, so that anybody who comes in to feed the stock can’t make a mistake. Anybody who suspects feed containing a coccidiostat has been consumed by mistake is encouraged to contact their veterinary surgeon for advice and report
the incident to the manufacturer of the feed, so that adverse events can be logged and reviewed. Even for target animals, more is not necessarily better – especially feeds with higher nutrient density or mineral content and during the introduction phase. Any new feed should be introduced to ruminants and horses gradually, to give their microbial populations time to adjust. Those feeding stock are advised to read the label and check if consumption rates are higher than the typical levels indicated. Pellet size and density can affect the amount delivered in the dairy shed or feed scoop, so it pays to weigh a sample of feed before use – ideally for each batch but especially if the product is changed. Specialist products are preferable for those wanting higher levels of production or greater peace of mind – Farmlands is committed to helping livestock owners make informed decisions and getting the best outcome from purchases.
Article supplied by Dr. Rob Derrick, Nutritionist, Farmlands Nutrition.
| Some commonly used feeds can be harmful if eaten by dogs.
Keeping our growing green FARMLANDS’
ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues and their choice to purchase items produced in an environmentally friendly fashion is driving a global trend. Farmlands has also become increasingly aware of environmental issues and is therefore taking the opportunity to have a closer look at their product offerings.
There are many systems adopted to grow a given crop, ranging from organic certified products through to the full use of conventional agrichemicals. Many growers are operating somewhere between these two systems but an increasingly common thread is the desire to reduce the environmental footprint of growing systems.
Regular crop monitoring by Farmlands Horticulture Technical Advisors is important when managing crops with consideration of environmental factors. The correct identification of target pests allows the selection of the appropriate target-specific agrichemical, rather than broad-spectrum alternatives. This results in less disruption to non-target species and unnecessary overuse of agrichemicals.
Beyond Farmlands just supplying products, we now also consider the environmental aspects of where the product is sourced, how it is manufactured and what impact its use will have on the local environment.
All conventional, organic and plant nutrition products go through some form of manufacturing process.
Increasingly our suppliers are sharing their environmental success stories with Farmlands, so it’s important that we share these with our shareholders.
Acadian seaweed products are manufactured using sustainably harvested seaweed from Nova Scotia. The sustainable rotational harvest plan is developed in conjunction with federal and provincial scientists and the company conducts ongoing research and monitoring of seaweed populations. Farmlands is proudly supporting a number of products that are manufactured using ‘soft’ ingredients but still have great efficacy out in the field. HML32 is a fungicide showing great efficacy against powdery mildew in grapes and is produced from fatty acids and potassium bicarbonate. It is often used in preference to conventional chemistry options and just happens to be organically certified.
WETCIT is an advanced adjuvant available only through Farmlands and has been highly successful in improving the efficacy of a large range of pesticides. WETCIT is produced using renewable cold-pressed orange oil, rather than mineral oil bases of other adjuvants. It is soft on the crop and on beneficial non-target insects.
A number of our suppliers are using recycled materials in the manufacture of their products. Nordox is a commonly used copper fungicide and bactericide supplied by Grochem. Nordox is manufactured in Europe using only high grade copper recycled from copper wire,
rather than non-renewable mined copper. The millions of ‘bread clips’ used to clip together viticulture bird netting are produced from recycled plastic. Other environmental initiatives include the use of Colour-It biodegradable mulch film and the use of recyclable sling bags and pallets. Farmlands is proud to partner with Agrecovery to assist with the disposal of your used agrichemical containers.
Manufactured inputs are a necessary part of all operations but it’s up to all of us to reduce our environmental impact. The success of this is important to the New Zealand brand and the clean/green light in which our horticultural products are perceived by the world’s consumers.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Gaz Ingram, Organic and Biological Manager, Farmlands Horticulture
From vine to vintage with Farmlands Horticulture
The new Farmlands winery input range, catalogue and technical workshops offer our shareholders even more.
The real winners in a market when you add competition are the buyers. But when that competition comes from a co-operative, the shareholders not only shed cost, they also gain technical support. It is this mantra that has seen Farmlands gain unparalleled momentum over the past couple of years.
This year, Farmlands entered the winery market through the offering of winery production supplies. For the first vintage we concentrated on getting our model correct – offering a selection of core winery supplies that were competitively priced, of impeccable quality, with the appropriate documentation and delivered on time.
With vintage looming, we are setting new challenges for the 2016 season by launching our new Winery Product Guide. The guide will be launched in November and be supported with a series of workshops held from Auckland to Central Otago. These workshops will cover winery sanitation, enzyme management in fermentation and winery waste management.
The range of products fulfils all winery requirements, including bulk winery additives, winery sanitisation, enzymes, fermentation aids, winery waste additives, organic winemaking additives and oak adjuncts.
E.E. Muir and Sons was established in Australia in 1927 and in 2007 they started supplying winery consumables to their viticulture clients. They now service nearly 60 percent of the Australian industry. They are HACCP accredited and have their products regularly tested by the AWRI (Australia Wine and Research Institute). They have worked for many years with a select group of suppliers – Enzyme Solutions, Suber Oak and Easy Clean Chemicals. Farmlands has now partnered with E.E. Muir and Sons to bring these same product ranges exclusively to New Zealand for our shareholders. Enzyme Solutions have their own laboratory and production facility in Melbourne and we have been working with them to develop new and improved enzyme formulations for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, to meet
the specific requirements here in New Zealand.
Suber Oak International was established by an obsessive French baker who settled in Australia 25 years ago and turned his skills to toasting oak, to achieve the same level
of complexity in wine but without the cost of $1,400 per barrel.
Easy Clean Chemicals is now run by second generation ‘mad scientist’ Sean Parsons, who while doing his apprenticeship in the laboratory, risked life and limb to develop a new generation cleaner that simply breaks down into water and oxygen. If you have a cleaning question, Sean has an answer and anyone that attended our first Winery Hygiene Workshop in Marlborough will know that! Farmlands have also formed valuable distribution relationships with Castle Chemicals, Enartis, Indac and RX Plastics.
This year Farmlands will be at the forefront, offering technical support in the form of specialised workshops. If you missed out on the November
round, talk to your local Farmlands Technical Advisor and make sure you get on our invitation list for the next workshop.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Advisor or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Mike Eaton, Technical Advisor, Farmlands Horticulture.
Winery Product Guide
Keeping it clean with Zoom
Ask Brett Barbour what he thinks is important in a dairy hygiene chemical and he gets straight to the point –“Strength, quality and back up service,” he says.
Brett milks 400 cows on his 137ha property at Pukeatua through a 40-a-side herringbone shed with a Read plant, sliding pulsators and circuit wash system.
“There’s no flushing pulsator and no turbulence – so it relies on flood washing,” Brett says.
This means he needs reliable dairy hygiene chemicals and effective, simple systems to ensure he supplies the best quality milk.
Brett’s was therefore a great trial shed for Deosan to really put its new Zoom Acid Detergent to the test, as part of its wider on-farm trial process last season. When asked how it performed, Brett says “it worked perfectly”!
“I liked the simple 1ml use rate in hot or cold water and I liked knowing that it had a low residue risk,” Brett says. “The Zoom Alkali Powder is big too. I like that. It’s tops. I know it’s strong because it really kicks when you add it to the wash tub. I trust them both to give a great clean.”
Brett also uses Deosan’s Keep It Clean system. Free for Deosan detergent customers, Keep It Clean supports farmers to prevent hygiene grades, by labelling the ten most common hygiene ‘hot spots’ in their shed with tags so they
are easy to locate. This is supported with training for farm teams, with simple tips on how to quickly check their plant and bulk milk tank at these hot spots routinely.
Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Peter Wright supports the Keep It Clean approach.
“I’ve seen it used on a number of farms. It’s that confidence. You may have someone whose first language is not English. Those tags are visual and make it simple. You say ‘go and check the milk line’ for example and they know exactly what they are looking for. It’s labelled
and there’s no confusion,” Peter says. So Brett is confident he has dairy hygiene well covered.
“I like Deosan being a New Zealand owned company. They have quality products and it’s backed up by a good bunch of roosters who support their products really well. What more could you ask!”
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Deosan.
| Farmlands Technical Field Officer, Peter Wright, with farm owner Brett Barbour and Deosan Territory Manager, Paul Johnson.
Good habits pay off with milk quality
Attention to detail is everything for young 50/50 sharemilkers Andrea Harvey and Jason DeBoo and it shows in their milk quality – along with the rest of their 550 cow, once a day operation, situated 350m above sea level in the picturesque Maruia valley, 40 minutes south of Murchison.
The pair are only in their second season on the farm, which comprises a 210ha milking platform owned by Peter and Margaret Brooker, on the Lewis Pass highway between Christchurch and Nelson. But as Andrea explains, they’ve brought with them some firm habits that have served well on previous properties, particularly in the 40 bail rotary dairy.
Their milking liners are replaced after every 2,500 milkings, for example, regardless of the milksolids pay-out and this season is no exception. Cow behaviour for the whole herd is watched carefully at milking, with close attention paid to udder and teat condition.
“We love our cows and we make a point of knowing them well. With a herd this size you can do that, you can pay attention to how they act in the shed and what their udders look like. If I see anything that looks a bit out of character at milking, I mark the cow and make sure I check her next time she’s in.”
Any sign of bulk milk somatic cell counts (BMSCC) going greater than 150,000 and it’s a case of immediately stripping the herd and looking for the cause. “Our SCC has always been around 100–120,000
and that’s the way we want it. It’s easier to keep control of it from day one, rather than trying to stop a problem after it has developed,” Andrea says.
“Last year was a first whole season once a day milking for us and our new herd. SCC was kept under 150,000 with relative ease until late summer, however we still achieved a grade free season for Westland Milk Products nonetheless.”
And now that both they and the cows have got used to OAD, 2015/16 has kicked off on a more satisfying note, with only a handful of mastitis cows. “Last year was a real challenge learning the new farm, the area and getting to know the cows but this year it’s a breeze by comparison.”
Budgeted production on a System 2 is 195,000kgMS for this season and while finances are tight, Andrea says there’s no compromising on cheaper dairy rubberware, or trying to make milking liners last longer than they’re supposed to. She got her first experience of VacPlus Square liners as a farm worker earlier in her career and says after seeing the difference they made, she wouldn’t use anything else.
“We had a lot of cup slip and teat end damage at that farm. Once we started using the squares, we immediately shaved
half an hour off our milking time by speeding up the slow milkers – teat end damage disappeared and cup slip stopped too.
“I think it’s definitely worth paying for them. Especially here, with automatic cup removers. They last the distance. I’d rather spend a bit more on rubberware and know we’re going to save on animal health costs later on because we have better cow udder health.”
It’s the same with changing liners at the industry recommended interval of 2,500 milkings. Again, she and Jason have seen positive results of this on previous farms and they’re sticking to it themselves. “You can tell from the way the cows act and milk out when the liners are wearing out. It’s just easier to change them before you create a problem.”
Worn out rubber can harbour bacteria, which compromises milk quality. It also feels bad on the cow’s teats, so she is more likely to kick the cups off and it doesn’t flex properly, leading to incomplete milk out, cup slip and potential teat end damage.
Article supplied by Skellerup.
High yielding feed crops start with close attention to detail
Forage brassica and fodder beet crops play an essential role in feed management and farm systems for many farmers. If they don’t produce as much dry matter/hectare (DM/ha) as expected by the time they are ready to be grazed, this can have major implications for feed budgeting.
In other words, all the work that has gone into preparation and planning up to this point is just the first step in seeing that these crops realise their full potential. The next stage is just as important, if not more so – controlling weeds and pests.
Good weed control starts straight away, even before crop seedlings germinate and the newest pre-emergence herbicide on the market, Director® CS is a great choice in this category. It kills the main species of grass and broadleaf weeds that reduce yields in both fodder beet and forage crops, so crop
seedlings get a clean start with minimal competition.
About 3 to 6 weeks after sowing is often the best time to apply postemergence herbicides. For forage brassicas, the main post-emergence broadleaf herbicides are Prestige®, Archer® and Kamba® 500 (registered for kale only). SeQuence® will kill grass weeds. Prestige or Archer can be tank mixed with SeQuence for control of both broadleaf and grass weeds in forage brassica crops, with insecticide added if required.
In fodder beet crops, Archer® can be used for post-emergence broadleaf weed control.
When it comes to insect pests, vigilance is key. Greasy cutworm, aphids, springtails, diamondback moth and white butterfly caterpillars, leaf miner, nysius and Argentine stem weevil can cause considerable
economic damage in a surprisingly short period of time, so it’s a good idea to check carefully for pests every 1 or 2 days in the first few weeks after crop emergence.
Greasy cutworm can be severely damaging in the early stages of crop emergence, often completely defoliating seedlings and it can wipe out large areas of crop if populations are large. Kaiso® 50WG offers effective control of this pest among others in forage brassicas, in a unique wettable granule (WG) formulation using patented Sorbie technology. This combines the efficacy of emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations with the stability, volumetric measuring and enhanced operator safety benefits of a WG formulation. Attack® is a leading insecticide in this market and its usefulness has just improved with the addition of a further important pest to its label.
As well as aphids, springtails, leaf miner, nysius, white butterfly and diamondback moth, Attack is now registered for control of Argentine stem weevil in both forage brassicas and fodder beet crops.
That means you only need to buy, store and handle one insecticide to control seven key insect pests.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Nufarm.
™Director is a trademark of Nufarm Ltd. ®Kaiso and Prestige are registered trademarks of Nufarm Ltd. Archer, Kamba, Sequence are registered trademarks of Nufarm Australia Ltd. Attack is a registered trademark of Nufarm Technologies USA Pty Limited.
Managing forage crops to transform your season
Forage crops are a boon when feed is in short supply but establishing them takes time, money and land, so it’s important that they yield a good return. One of the key contributors to this is the fertiliser programme that’s used. While it’s tempting to cut corners when times are tight, it’s not necessarily the best approach.
Jim Risk, Ballance Nutrient Dynamics Specialist, advises farmers to stick to good practice this year, the same as any year. “It is about focusing on good management in order to achieve the best outcome, which is a high quality crop.”
The fact that finances may be tight for some underlines the importance of making informed decisions. “Crops are
a valuable part of any farm system,” Jim says. “People shouldn’t try to cut corners to save a few dollars, because they may end up with a poor yield. Nutrient application decisions should be made on the basis of good information – soil testing means you can make decisions based on evidence rather than guesswork.”
Soil testing to 150mm deep on cultivated ground for the key nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and magnesium), pH, available nitrogen and boron, should occur well before sowing, so that there is adequate time available to adjust nutrient and pH levels. Then, if any nutrient levels are below target, an application of a base fertiliser can go on.
Using a starter fertiliser is important too, particularly for farmers on the east coast, who are likely to see extremely dry conditions this season. Applying phosphorus and nitrogen close to the seed supports root and shoot development and encourages rapid canopy closure, which is particularly beneficial if it is likely to be dry later.
“The available N test is another management tool we have at our disposal to make an informed decision about the amount of nitrogen required,” Jim notes. “If the paddock has come out of pasture, as opposed to being in a crop for the past 2 or 3 years, there may be more available nitrogen in the soil. This will affect the amount of nitrogen you may need to apply to achieve the desired yield.”
“How the season is progressing will also affect nitrogen applications. If it turns out to be a good season and you could achieve a greater yield then you might revisit how much you need to apply.”
Pay attention to your crop and it will pay rewards for you, Jim notes.
“Growing good crops can take so much pressure off the feed situation in your farm system – it can transform your season.”
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.
The high production herb bred for New Zealand systems
Sowing 10 percent of their land area in Choice chicory has increased production at key times of the season for Hauraki Plains farmers, Matthew and Jemma Morrissey.
Matthew and Jemma are in their third season 50/50 sharemilking on the Hauraki Plains. They explain that farming on marine clay can be difficult but one of the best tools they have is Choice chicory.
The couple were recently runners-up in the Hauraki Plains Sharemilker of the Year competition. Up until this season, all of Matthew and Jemma’s pasture renovation has been grass to grass. However, this was not reducing the black beetle challenges and supplementary feed was still being purchased to fill the summer pasture deficit. It was time for a change, so they decided to look into Choice chicory. Its deep tap root and high warm season growth has helped to reduce the challenges the couple were facing with a grass to grass programme.
Last season, Matthew and Jemma established 10 percent of their farm in Choice chicory, matching their pasture renewal requirements in the autumn. After spraying out paddocks in October, 8kg/ha of Superstrike Choice chicory was direct drilled with DAP down the spout. Slug bait was then applied and the paddock was rolled to ensure a good establishment. Brian McMillan, Farmlands Ngatea Technical Field Officer then recommended a weed spray after the crop had germinated, with the end result a very clean crop. The Morrisseys had their first graze prior to the New Year and were on a 25 day round length all summer. Chicory is most productive and persistent when it is rotationally grazed (first graze chicory when its 20-25cm high) and spelled until 2-4 leaves per plant have fully regrown. Between spring and autumn, this will mean a 21 to 35 day rotation. In mid-spring of the second year, chicory plants will develop a reproductive stem. This should be grazed off, close to the ground, while it is small (< 10cm) and soft. A second grazing, just 2 weeks later will reduce stem regrowth for the rest of the season.
Chicory is very responsive to fertiliser, with the clover in the sward not providing sufficient fixation to maximise growth. After the first grazing, it is
recommended to apply nitrogen. Some farmers with chicory under irrigation are applying 60kg/ha of urea after every grazing, with lower input systems opting for less applications at a higher rate. Phosphate, sulphur and potassium should be applied at maintenance rates that reflect the higher stocking rates (e.g. 200 percent of farm average). Specialist stands of chicory may get winter and annual grasses after 1-2 seasons and these can be controlled with grassselective herbicides.
Requiring careful management, Matthew says “you need to have good discipline to take the paddocks out through March or April to re-grass and this can be difficult when the chicory is still very green.”
Matthew and Jemma have had great success with their Choice chicory –finding a boost in production, increased protein intake and a reduction of their weed and insect pressures. With trials finding that cows can produce up to 90 percent more milk when on a diet of chicory, compared with Italian ryegrass pasture1, a relatively small area can have a positive impact on total farm milk production.
Article supplied by Agricom.
1 Tharamaj, J., Chapman, D.F., Nie, Z.N., and Lane, A.P. (2008). Herbage accumulation, botanical composition, and nutritive value of five pasture types for dairy production in southern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 59, 127-138.
| Brian McMillan, Farmlands Technical Field Officer at Ngatea with Jemma and Matthew Morrissey.
Insect control in forage brassica crops
Ampligo insecticide controls a wide range of insect pests and can replace organophosphate insecticides in most situations, with longer lasting activity and no unpleasant smell.
Ampligo controls nysius, cutworm, leaf miner, aphids, white butterfly, diamondback moth and soybean looper. It has a low use rate of just 100ml/ha, which means fewer empty containers and less bulk to handle than with older chemistry.
Nysius can cause significant damage to forage crops at the seedling stage. Direct drilled crops are generally more at risk, where decaying trash becomes a food source for nysius. Depending on the season, aphids, leaf miner and/ or caterpillars can become a problem as the season progresses.
Ampligo is best applied as soon as insect damage first appears, then at 2 to 3 week intervals or as indicated by pest activity. It pays to spray early, before pest numbers increase and are much harder to control.
Spray coverage is important, with 200 litres of water/ha required on
plants and 300–400 litres/ha on mature/dense crops. Always use a non-ionic wetting agent and for aerial applications use 100 litres of water/ha.
Field trials have shown a programme of Ampligo can increase forage brassica yields by more than 3,500kg of DM/ha vs untreated crops, with healthy margins over chemical cost. Ampligo has a 14 day withholding
period for grazing stock and is available in 1L and 5L containers, enough to treat 10 and 50 hectares respectively.
For further information on Ampligo, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Syngenta.
young
Dry matter yield kg/ha kale
Trial results with Ampligo vs traditional OP/SP insecticide*
Waikato and the weeds
Getting on top of problem weeds has been an ongoing battle spanning decades for Waikato dairy farmers, the Downing family.
Dogged determination saw them rid their farm of their first target – ragwort – but until recently, Californian thistles have proved impossible to eliminate despite annual spraying.
Justin Downing and his wife Liesl are equity partners, managing a farm near Morrinsville in conjunction with Justin’s parents Lloyd and Olwyn, as well as owning another farm that employs a contract milker. Lloyd is a well-known, outspoken Waikato dairy farmer who has held prominent roles in the farming community, including Federated Farmers Waikato President. He is also stepping down after more than 30 years’ involvement with the National Fieldays Society, including terms as both Chairman and President.
Milking 500 cows on 200 hectares, Justin says ragwort and Scotch thistles were the first priority. Once these were controlled, attention turned to Californian thistles.
“Apart from cosmetically looking terrible, the patches get bigger and thicker every year if you don’t do anything. Cows end up grazing amongst the thistles, reducing the area of productive pasture.”
Frustrated with chemical spraying annually for about 10 years, only for Californian thistles to regrow, Justin was persuaded by a consultant to try Tordon PastureBoss. A more expensive option, it includes a new generation herbicide particularly effective at controlling weeds with large root systems such as Californian thistle.
“We found in the past, using another chemical, 24-D, we were spraying the same patches of callies year after year. The thistles would die but because of their huge root system, would just grow back again the next year.
“With Tordon PastureBoss, we sprayed it once and 90 percent of callies are gone.”
About 10ha was sprayed last summer with Tordon PastureBoss, boom spraying the big patches and spot spraying areas that can’t be accessed by tractor.
While Tordon PastureBoss is more expensive at $100.00/ha, applied at 2L/ha, it is worth it because it works, Justin says. This is compared with the previous chemical, which after annual applications at a cost of $40.00/ha still failed to provide control.
“We now spray all weeds with PastureBoss. We go around with knapsacks, so if we see ragwort or a Scotch thistle, it gets spot sprayed,”
Justin says. PastureBoss also controlled oxeye daisy, a problem weed on his other farm. “Like Californian thistles, it is now at the stage we can just spot spray.”
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Dow AgroSciences.
How much water do my stock need?
There may be a couple of things you can take a guess at during your farming career – but you definitely should not guess the availability, access and reliability of stock water.
Farmlands staff hear all sorts of weird and wonderful descriptions when it comes to water systems – but it is well proven that having the correct quantity of good quality water available for stock will result in increased production. Water is vital in the process of converting grass to milk and meat and if there is a shortage in supply or a delay in supply stock will stress, with the outcome being not reaching potential production. There are two things that need to be considered when assessing “how much water do my stock need” – daily demand and peak flow. Daily demand is the information on which scheme feasibility
and storage capacity decisions are made. Peak flow recognises that stock do not drink water evenly over a 24 hour period and is the number on which pump duty and pipe diameter/s are calculated.
Type
Thought needs to be given to the viability of the water source. This
includes volume of water available vs volume required, annual consistency and seasonal fluctuations. On many farms storage is a vital component in the makeup of the stock water system, with tanks strategically placed around the farm, supplying the peak flow requirements to stock via gravity. Having at least 2 days’ stock water in storage takes the stress out of the reticulation scheme, especially if there is a breakdown at the water source.
Water supply systems should be designed to cater for the peak flow, which is generally estimated on an hourly rate in mid-summer. Every farmer knows that stock can survive on a lot less than they would like but to maximise productivity we must do better than that. Quantity is only part of the system – the rest is how well it is reticulated around the property. An unlimited supply of water won’t satisfy many animals if pipe size is too small and pressure too low. In estimating water requirements, it pays to think well ahead as far as stocking rates are concerned. Although you can increase pumping capacity by using larger pumps or by duplicating pumps, pipelines once laid underground are almost impossible to recover. This is worth considering before selecting a pipe diameter.
For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.
Article supplied by Iplex.