Dairy direct gippsland december 2014 (low res)

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Country News PUBLICATION

GIPPSLAND Issue 1, December 2014

First Edition

New focus farmers have equity goal » page 16

Variable weather impacts Gippsland farms » page 12 Preparing for a hot summer » page 18 Worm internet turns » page 20

Dairy Direct

Editor Geoff Adams editor@countrynews.com.au Writers Danny Buttler Geoff Adams Graphic designer Teresa Lagozzino Brendan Cain

The first publication of Gippsland Dairy Direct represents the merging of two traditions: one the history of the region as a reliable producer of quality dairy products, and second publishing experience of a rural-based family-owned company.

Since the 1890s farmers have been producing milk, and now the industry has become a mainstay of the Gippsland region.

For more than a century the McPherson family has been publishing news in rural northern Victoria, and in more recent years, expanded into specialist agricultural publications.

For the past 20 years the company has published Country News, a weekly agricultural and rural newspaper circulating in 55 000 copies of local papers in northern Victoria and the southern Riverina.

Out of this experience, we introduced Dairy Direct, to cater specifically for dairy farmers. We have developed Gippsland Dairy Direct with the support of GippsDairy with the goal of providing relevant, useful and stimulating articles about the dairy industry.

Dairy Direct will also be available on-line shortly after its print publication.

We hope you enjoy your copy and we look forward to working with you.

— Geoff Adams Editor Dairy Direct P.S. Your feedback is welcome on (03) 5820 3229 or editor@countrynews.com.au If you are reading a Dairy Direct belonging to someone else and you want your own copy, please contact GippsDairy.

Advertising James MacGibbon james.macgibbon@ countrynews.com.au Cover: Mirboo North farmers Bruce and Fiona Manintveld Story page 16

Published by Country News PO Box 204, Shepparton, Victoria 3632 (03) 5831 2312 www.countrynews.com.au

Country News Reaching Australia’s richest agricultural region

Supported by:

The face of Gippsland farming The average Gippsland dairy farmer: Age: 51 Works on family-owned farm: 88% Irrigates: 29% Feeds moderate to high feed in bail: 65% Has a seasonal calving system: 48% Has split/batch calving system: 43% Is likely to encourage family or employees to remain in dairy industry: 63%

Profitability and Investment

Made profit 2012–13: 54% Expect profit 13–14: 84% Profit higher vs. five-year ave: 68% Profit about same: 17% Profit lower than five-year ave: 12% Invested on-farm in 2012–13: 53% Intend to invest in 2013–14: 58% Invest in shedding: 14% Invest in machinery: 20% Invest in dairy plant: 11%

— Dairy Situation and Outlook report, 2014 2

DECEMBER 2014

contents

Spreading the word

Doing Dairy with Katie MacAulay Dairy news

Gippsland dairy industry thriving Welcome to the first edition of Dairy Direct.

Country News, with support from GippsDairy, will produce this publication every two months.

Following on from the success of Murray Dairy’s sister magazine in north-east Victoria, GippsDairy has taken the opportunity to become involved in Dairy Direct in this region.

We believe this publication will show the Gippsland industry as we want it to be seen — modern, sophisticated and chock-full of hard-working and innovative people.

Telling the story of our industry is important for many reasons. We need to recognise the high achievers who might inspire others to become better farmers.

We also need to spread information around this great region. Dairy farmers have always been willing to share advice and knowledge with their neighbours. Dairy Direct is another way to put information into the hands of farmers so they can improve production and productivity.

In this edition, two farming families are profiled, illustrating that there is more than one way to make a career out of dairy farming.

4 4–7

Animal health

The Zuidema family of Leongatha South came out to Australia as Dutch immigrants in the 1980s and have built a wonderful business that should make us all proud to be in the Gippsland dairy industry.

With the next generation now in the family business, we can expect the Zuidema name to be part of the Gippsland dairy landscape for many years to come.

Bruce and Fiona Manintveld are among the latest round of Focus Farmers, opening up their business to public scrutiny for the next two years.

The Mirboo North couple is a great example of how Gippsland farmers are willing to commit time and energy to the greater good of the industry.

Focus Farms is all about farmers helping farmers to improve their business. It’s been one of the great success stories to come out of GippsDairy and this round looks like being another success.

With every edition, Dairy Direct will be telling the story of this great region. We hope you all get behind it and help spread the word about our wonderful industry in Gippsland.

— Matt Gleeson GippsDairy chairman

8

Living where you work

10

Not all plain sailing in the paddocks

12

Gippsland Dairy Expo

15

Focusing on equity

16

Keeping cows cool is hot topic as weather warms 18 Rare worms making a comeback

20

Healthy in mind and body

22

Love begins on the dairy farm

24

Fresh is best in NZ trial

26

Getting the basics right

27

Expansion limited by supply

28

Australia’s dairy show with the lot

29

GippsDairy makes a health difference

30

Calendar of events

30

DECEMBER 2014

3

Rural Rumenations with KATIE MACAULAY

Katie MacAulay lives in South Gippsland, and has been married to a dairy farmer long enough to appreciate the smell of good silage.

She loves chooks, enjoys stacking hay bales with the tractor and wonders why the lawn grows twice as quickly as the grass in the paddocks. Katie will be writing a regular column in Dairy Direct.

New ute not all that beaut The replacement for the old work-horse might be flash and shiny, but it lacks the character of its predecessor.

Our household is in mourning. Hubby’s trusty red ute has died. The local mechanic explained that even a multiple organ transplant would only prolong the inevitable.

Well, they were my words. What he actually said was “blah, blah, very old, blah, engine karked it, blah, no guarantee, blah, blah, expensive, blah, even more expensive.”

Hubby had had the red ute since before I knew him. He picked me up in it for our first date. It was shiny and spotlessly clean.

(As were his boots and hands/fingernails; the boy was out to impress.)

At first we asked about second-hand engines, but eventually accepted we needed to buy a new ute. (The Corolla wasn’t handling the muddy laneways too well.)

Hubby looked devastated as he emptied out nuts, bolts, old cassette tapes, dead pens and receipts so faded that no-one could read them. There were quite a few triumphant exclamations of, “Aha, that’s where it went,” and, “This might coming in handy.”

I took the opportunity to practise my stern wife glare I’d polished over the past decade, with comments like: “No dear, you’ve already got some of those,” and “That’s not useful, it’s junk.”

Since we were looking at a run-out model, there was no choice in colours. We had to get white. Contrary to popular belief, the white ute actually goes faster than the red one! And smoother (at least on the highway). It even has cute little mirrors with lights in the sun shades (just what every dairy farmer needs).

But while the ute manufacturers have invested in road suspension, cup holders and vanity mirrors, they have taken away from the strength and toughness of the vehicle.

It only took one cow to head-butt the door and we now have a dent 10 times bigger than anything the old ute ever received.

Once the white ute lost the new car smell and accumulated a healthy layer of dirt and cow smell inside and out and the passenger leg room filled with spanners, electric fence testers and random bits of polypipe and fittings, it began to feel more like hubby’s.

But now I’ve got a problem. The red ute was so distinctive, that I always knew it was hubby. Now he’s driving a white ute that looks like everyone else’s, I must have waved eagerly and blown kisses to nearly every farmer in the district . . .

dairy news

Students gain a rural perspective

Ask a medical student about an injured calf and they would normally tell you to roll up your trouser leg.

On a recent visit to a Gippsland dairy farm, however, a select group of prospective doctors were examining calves of a different type and learning about farm-related health issues.

The on-farm initiative is part of Monash University’s Rural Placement Program and is supported by Dairy Australia’s Legendairy marketing and communications initiative.

For Boolarra farmer Matt Gleeson, hosting the young medical students was a great opportunity to impress on them that farmers — and dairy farmers in particular — can present at a doctor’s clinic with unique problems.

“We talked about the repetitive part of the work, which is done seven days a week, maybe twice a day, maybe every day of the year,” he said.

“Also the dangers and things that could potentially go wrong on the farm as well, including zoonotic diseases, which are diseases 4

DECEMBER 2014

passed between animals and humans.”

Mr Gleeson said showing the trainee doctors around a working farm could one day help them to diagnose a particular ailment of a farmer.

“One thing I pass on to these prospective GPs is that when a farmer presents to them and says there is not much wrong, they should ask lots of questions,” he said.

“It’s about the health of the farmer and recognising what might be wrong when they consult a GP.” The 13 Monash students toured the dairy during afternoon milking and also inspected paddocks and the calving pens.

The gulf between the mostly city-raised students and the farm lifestyle was most evident when the opportunity to interact with some newborn calves was declined by some.

Most, however, relished the chance to get a taste of life on a dairy farm.

James O’Sullivan was the most comfortable with the calves, which could be explained by his upbringing on a Tarwin Lower beef

Medical students learning about farm-related health issues at a Boolarra dairy farm.

farm in South Gippsland.

The second-year student said the emphasis on rural placements meant that doctors would need to know how to deal with illness and injuries originating on the farm.

“I think what they have done with this program is a great idea. It’s a two-week program that shows you that, as a rural doctor, you are not on your own in country areas, just with a smaller team than you might have around you in the city,” he said.

“They also get to see that the people are real people as opposed to a brute of a farmer who doesn’t want any help from anyone and just wants to mind his own business.”

DECEMBER 2014

5

dairy news Aiming to help industry meet its potential Newly appointed GippsDairy executive officer Laurie Jeremiah knows Gippsland better than most.

Growing up on a South Gippsland dairy farm, Mr Jeremiah later moved to a family orchard in Pakenham and has recently been working in the Macalister Irrigation District as a business manager with DEPI. Excited to be starting his new role, Mr Jeremiah said dairy was a stimulating industry to be involved with.

“It’s very appealing to be working with people who are really motivated within an industry that is both vibrant and strong and has great future potential,” he said.

“It’s the passion and the energy to take dairy to a different place that is my motivator and driver.”

Mr Jeremiah believes the skills he has developed through a life-time working in different spheres of the agricultural sector will stand him in good stead as he deals with the challenges of the dairy industry.

His first task, however, is to listen to farmers and work out how GippsDairy can help them improve production and profitability.

“Do the networking, listen to

all the ideas, find the ones with the most potential and find the mechanism we need to try and carry that through,” he said.

“Farmers are contributing the dairy service levy money and they want to see where it is going.

“I see myself as a broker between the farmers who are providing the funds and the people who are using them in research or extension so we can provide a return back to the farmer.”

GippsDairy chair Matt Gleeson said Mr Jeremiah’s appointment would bring a new set of skills to the organisation, which would help further strengthen the Gippsland dairy industry.

“I am excited to welcome Laurie Jeremiah to GippsDairy,” Mr Gleeson said.

“Laurie brings strong experience in business and people management through his previous roles, as well as the ability to connect local and state government with community, both rural and urban.”

According to Mr Gleeson, the new executive officer has strong networks throughout Victoria, a connection with the agricultural sector through his rural property in Myrtlebank and a further understanding of farmers’ needs

Studying to be leaders through his hands-on role with the Sale and District Agricultural Society.

“I sincerely look forward to welcoming Laurie in the role of executive officer where he will continue GippsDairy and Dairy Australia’s priorities in enhancing dairying in Gippsland,” Mr Gleeson said.

The recent GippsDairy annual general meeting saw two new directors appointed to the board.

Dairy farmers Lauren Finger from Yanathan and Edwin Vandenberg from Inverloch have been appointed for two-year terms, replacing Aubrey Pellett and Mik Harford, both of whom stood down from the board.

“I’d like to thank Mik and Aubrey for their hard work and innovative thinking during their time on the board,” Mr Gleeson said.

“With Lauren and Edwin we have two fine replacements who I’m sure will bring the same level of energy and commitment that Mik and Aubrey brought to GippsDairy.’’

Business award Gippsland business Eli Innovation, which secured a Victorian Government grant to expand its operations across the Tasman, has picked up a win at the 2014 Gippsland Business Awards.

Known locally as Eli, the business is the only Australian manufacturer of automatic cup removers and milk meters, which it develops in Gippsland dairies in collaboration with farmers.

The unique milk meters tap into existing dairy equipment to record the volume, duration and conductivity of each cow’s 6

DECEMBER 2014

milking session.

The low-cost technology encourages a shift from monthly milk testing to twice-daily data for proactive herd management and optimised output.

The $10 000 Victorian Government grant for offshore commercialisation will assist Eli in establishing a New Zealand market for its milk meters. With a successful test site already operating in the South Island, the business is now setting up key distribution channels and hopes to be trading there by the end of the year.

Eli also took out the Manufacturing and Industrial category at this year’s Gippsland Business Awards, beating out larger rivals.

Owner and managing director Greg Cole says his team is elated with the recent wins.

“It’s been a tough few years for the dairy industry,” Mr Cole said. “But we felt strongly that there was a need for low-cost milk metering and that farmers would respond once the industry turned the corner.”

The next group of future dairy industry leaders has been selected for the 2015 New Zealand study tour. They will include: Hayden Hanratty, who is a farm manager and Certificate IV Agriculture student from Foster; Jason Bermingham, a farm owner and Certificate IV Agriculture student from Nambrok; Sarah Saxton, an extension officer from Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) from Frankston South; and Aaron Thomas, a share farmer and Diploma in Agriculture student from Binginwarri.

UDV president Tyran Jones said the standard of applications this year was impressive.

“We received twice as many applications this year than ever before,” he said.

The group of six was selected on each’s capacity to grow from the experience, their passion, and their demonstrated dedication to the dairy industry.

“We wanted to give this opportunity to people who would gain the most from the trip. We want people who are going to take this opportunity and give back through their involvement with the industry,” Mr Jones said.

“Each person selected demonstrated how they will promote their learnings upon their return. It’s not only about their personal benefits; we want the whole of Victoria’s dairy industry to grow from these young people’s experience.”

Leaving Melbourne in February 2015 for eight days, the tour will be conducted on the South Island of New Zealand and will include visits to dairy farms, research and processing facilities and agricultural sites to meet the framework of learning identified by the participants.

dairy news Partnership “game changer” Strategy has new opportunities in China.

Fonterra Co-operative Group and leading Chinese infant food manufacturer Beingmate intend to form a global partnership that will involve a joint venture with Fonterra’s Darnum factory.

The partnership will create a fully integrated global supply chain from the farm gate direct to China’s consumers, using Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

Fonterra will issue a partial tender offer to gain up to a 20 per cent stake in Beingmate.

After regulatory approvals are gained and Fonterra has satisfactorily completed the partial tender offer, Fonterra and Beingmate will set up a joint venture to purchase Fonterra’s Darnum plant and will establish a distribution agreement to sell Fonterra’s Anmum brand in China.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said

the partnership between two leading dairy nutrition companies would be a game-changer that would provide a direct line into the infant formula market in China, which is the biggest growth story in paediatric nutrition in the world.

The partnership will also play a part in promoting leading product quality and safety standards in the infant formula market in China, participating in the ongoing development of the Chinese dairy industry, and supporting the development of Beingmate’s business.

“By working together with Beingmate, we will strengthen our infant formula brand presence in China and link China to high quality ingredients from New Zealand, high value paediatric products made at Darnum in Australia, and whey specialty ingredients manufactured at our new plant in

Heerenveen in the Netherlands and in alliance with Dairy Crest in the United Kingdom,” Mr Spierings said.

“We will also work with Beingmate to evaluate mutual investments in dairy farms in China.

“This will be another milestone in our strategy to create additional demand for ingredients and high value paediatric and maternal nutrition products made from our New Zealand milk, complemented by milk drawn from our other international milk pools.

“Our partnership with Beingmate will show the benefits of an integrated and secure supply chain, starting in New Zealand — our number one milk pool — where we are fast-tracking investment in milk processing capacity to meet global demand.’’

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DECEMBER 2014

7

animal health Theileriosis — an emerging disease in Victoria Theileriosis is a disease caused by a number of genotypes of Theileria orientalis, a blood-borne protozoan parasite of cattle (and potentially sheep, goats and alpacas) that is most likely spread by bush ticks (Haemaphysalis spp).

Theileriosis was first recorded in Australia in 1910 and has been endemic for many years in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, where it was generally considered not to cause any significant disease.

However outbreaks of clinical disease have been increasingly common since 2005. It is likely that the spread of a particularly virulent genotype (Ikeda) of Theileria spp is responsible.

The clinical signs of theileriosis include anaemia, jaundice, abortion and in severe cases, death. Affected animals are reluctant to move and will only walk short distances before collapsing. The mucous membranes (gums/eyes/vulva) are white (anaemia) or in

severe cases, jaundiced (yellow).

The most severe outbreaks have been in cattle around calving, possible due to immunosuppression normally experienced at that time.

While it is likely that the vector spreading the disease in Victoria is a bush tick, this is yet to be confirmed and other potential sources of spread may be biting flies, lice, mosquitos and iatrogenic spread (spread by people using equipment contaminated with blood such as needles and ear tag applicators). Research is ongoing in Victoria to determine the likely vector.

Unfortunately there is no effective treatment available for affected animals. It is important to ensure affected stock are rested as much as possible and not stressed.

Milking dairy cattle once a day (or not at all for a few days) and keeping them in a close paddock to minimise walking for up to a month is recommended. Individual animals

of high value will benefit from a blood transfusion, which is often life saving in severe cases.

Control of heileriosis is difficult — tick control while theoretically desirable is difficult, often costly and is yet to be demonstrated to be effective in controlling the spread of the disease under Victorian conditions.

Careful monitoring of stock after new introductions is important because previously unexposed cattle are at particular risk.

Outbreaks of disease are somewhat seasonal with the highest incidence in late spring and early summer.

Consideration should be given to not introducing new stock to a property around these times or when cattle are calving.

— Dr Peter DeGaris, Tarwin Veterinary Group, Leongatha Dr Jade Hammer, Main Street Veterinary Clinic, Bairnsdale

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Living where you work Family believes business can be both enjoyable and productive.

“

We are just enjoying ourselves and that’s the key to all of this.

If you are enjoying yourself, you will find a way of making it work for you.

10

“

Paul Zuidema

DECEMBER 2014

Andrew (left) and Paul Zuidema enjoying the fruits of their harvest.

Schottersveld is a different dairy farm in more ways than one.

The Zuidema family farm at Leongatha South is as neat and clean as any property in the district, with everything from the entry gates to effluent ponds looking picture-perfect.

The tracks are all in tip-top shape, the fencing couldn’t be better and there’s not a broken piece of equipment or spare roll of wire to be seen.

Visitors sit down for a chat in a leather executive chair set around a boardroom table.

It might be unusual, but make no mistake — this is a farm built to be productive, not just pretty.

Paul, who farms the property with younger brother Andrew and their respective sons Tristan and Shane, explained that the family wanted to represent the industry well and work in an environment that was attractive and effective.

“It comes down to enjoying yourself,” he said.

“I don’t want to work in a messy environment.

Remember, we are a food-producing business, so accordingly we want to do the right thing

Andrew Zuidema amongt the Holstein herd.

by ourselves and the factories.

“It makes a big difference — a clean dairy.

Everything runs smoothly and it’s well maintained. That is very important to us.”

With 566 ha and 640 Holsteins on some of the best farming land in Australia, the Zuidema brothers (including a third brother Hilco who farms up the road) run a relatively low-stocked/low-cost operation that relies on home-grown feed.

“It’s all pasture-based farming with easy farming using big paddocks,” Paul said.

“It’s a split calving system with about 400 calves in the autumn and the remaining calves in the spring.

“We’re just enjoying ourselves and that’s the key to all of this. If you are enjoying yourself, you will find a way of making it work for you.”

For a family that arrived in Australia from the Netherlands in 1987, it seems they can’t help but enjoy themselves.

Land prices are a fraction of those in the Netherlands, and the farming lifestyle offers no comparison.

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“Mum and Dad had 40 ha and milked 140 cows — all up they had 240 cattle on 40 ha with a free stall barn system which meant they were always scraping manure and feeding,” Paul said.

“I certainly don’t want to go back to that.

“We believe that if we want to expand we will buy more land. That gives up capital growth and we keep the asset. We’ve been doing it like that for the past 20-odd years.”

As he sits in the boardroom talking about the family’s “corporatised” approach to farming, it would be easy to see the 48-year-old as an obsessive businessman who thinks about the farm 24/7.

But Paul believes treating his farm as his workplace and his home as a family retreat helps him keep life in balance.

“Inside my house it’s my house, inside my brother’s house it’s my brother’s house. And we don’t want to discuss business in there,” he said.

“My father always said when you hang your overalls up at night you put the problems in your top pocket, and at 5 am the next morning you pick up those problems again.’’ n

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DECEMBER 2014

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Not all plain sailing in the paddocks

Despite receiving average to above-average rainfall, Gippsland experienced variable growing conditions in the 2013-14 year, according to the latest Dairy Farm Monitor Project.

Grazed and conserved pasture increased by 16 per cent but home-grown feed costs grew.

Generally, farmers better controlled overhead costs, leading to a slight decrease in production costs for the year.

The surveyed farms show that gross farm income ranged from $6.55/kg milk solids to $8.77/kg, with an average of $7.33/kg, which was 46 per cent higher than the previous year.

The improved milk prices lead to a big jump in average earnings before interest and tax, to $284 000.

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COST OF PRODUCTION – GIPPSLAND The largest variable costs for Gippsland farms was feed, which accounted for 50 per cent of the total costs.

Higher grain prices in 2013-14 and more hay purchases contributed towards a five per cent increase in feed costs, compared to the previous year.

The poor season in 2012-13 resulted in low fodder reserves remaining which provided a challenging start to 2013-14.

In the 2013-14 year, farm businesses in Gippsland not only consumed greater amounts of fodder, they also conserved more.

Now in its eighth year in Victoria, Dairy Australia and the Victorian Department of Environmental Primary Industries (DEPI) Dairy Farm Monitor Project provides invaluable farm-level information relating to business profitability and production and is used by Dairy Australia, the wider industry and government to fully understand the actual level of farm profitability and to help dairy farmers succeed.

Following a positive 2013-14 year, expectations are variable; many farmers are expecting to see a decrease in the high milk price in 2014-15, and despite a general lift in sentiment, dairy farmers highlighted cash flow as the main issue to be tackled in the coming 12 months while succession planning remains a long-term issue.

Dairy Australia program manager Helen Quinn said more than 90 per cent of farmers indicated they intended to increase or make no change to milk production; this is a strong and positive sign from the industry.

Across Victoria, all 75 farm participants recorded a positive return on assets, compared to only 43 of the 75 participants in 2012-13 which was a challenging season. n

Farm costs ($/kg MS)

Gippsland average

Top 25% average

Livestock trading loss

$0.00

$0.00

Feed inventory change

-$0.14

$0.06

Changes in inventory ($/kg MS)

-$0.14

-$0.06

VARIABLE COSTS

51%

13%

Herd costs

$0.31

$0.26

Shed costs

$0.21

$0.18

Purchased feed and agistment

$1.75

$1.86

Home grown feed cost

$0.92

$0.94

Total variable costs ($/kg MS)

$3.19

$3.24

Rates

$0.06

$0.05

Registration and insurance

$0.02

$0.02

Farm insurance

$0.06

$0.06

Repairs and maintenance

$0.28

$0.26

Bank charges

$0.01

$0.01

Other overheads

$0.10

$0.07

Employed labour cost

$0.49

$0.52

Total cash overheads ($/kg MS)

$1.04

$0.98

Depreciation

$0.21

$0.11

Imputed owner/operator and family labour

$0.86

$0.53

Total overhead costs ($/kg MS)

$2.11

$1.63

Total cost of production ($/kg MS)

$5.16

$4.81

OVERHEAD COSTS

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IMPROVE UDDER HEALTH & CELL COUNT With automatic cup removers and milk meters from Eli Innovation Using a smart milk flow sensor to release clusters from cows once a set diminished rate is reached, Eli’s Automatic Cup Removers provide consistent milking out and help reduce cell count caused by poor udder health.

By pre-setting your milking to be carried out to your desired settings, you can also be confident that your cows won’t be under or over milked when you’re away. vers cup remo Automatic

Cup removers can be integrated with herd management systems to provide further quality functions, such as cowspecific operator alerts and automatic vacuum blocking.

PRO models also offer integrated milk metering.

The only Australian manufacturer of Automatic Cup Removers and Milk Meters, Eli develops their products in Gippsland where they offer on-the-ground support.

Optional interactiv e keypads

“We’ve had Eli’s products in operation for over 10 years and they have been an undeniable asset to the business.

They have decreased cell count and reduced fluctuations of overall health issues due to consistent and proper take off from animal.”

Ray and Sue Howe, Bonnie View Pastoral: Ray Howe (right) pictured with farm manager Stuart Seabrook

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Jess Delon from Dairy Australia and GippsDairy workforce co-ordinator Jeanette White were busy with inquiries during the expo.

Poowong North’s Julie Henshall (left) was enjoying the Dairy Expo with daughter Emma and parents Faye and Bill Loughridge.

Gippsland Dairy Expo The 15th South Gippsland Dairy Expo, organised by the Strzelecki Lions Club at Korumburra, catered for a range of rural interests and drew a broad crowd this year.

Michelle Worth and her children Taylah and Xavier travelled down from Longwarry to enjoy everything the Dairy Expo had to offer.

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Focusing on equity

The Mirboo North couple are looking to be debt free by the time they are both 50.

16

DECEMBER 2014

Bruce Manintveld contemplates his next job at his Mirboo North farm.

Couple has a simple aim as dairy farmers — wipe out their debt in the next 10 years.

Bruce and Fiona Manintveld, who borrowed $1.6 million in June last year to buy 148 ha at Mirboo North, believe they can be debt-free within a decade through smart management and frugal spending.

Having signed on to the latest round of Focus Farms, the Manintvelds will be looking for advice from their support group on how to more efficiently run their property to maximise profits.

Focus Farms is a project funded by GippsDairy and Dairy Australia using dairy levy funds and provides an experienced farm consultant as a facilitator as well as a support group made up of fellow farmers and local service providers.

“The big advantage of Focus Farm is the question, ‘Why? Why are we doing things that way?’,” Mrs Manintveld said.

“It makes you stop and think about why we do things the way we do and makes us justify those decisions to ourselves.

“There’s some interesting characters in the group who have come up with some good thoughts and ideas and different ways of doing things.”

While the Manintvelds are keen for

input from the support group, they seem confident in their bigger picture thinking and won’t be making radical changes to their farming methods.

“Our basic thought is that grass is the cheapest way of doing things,” Mr Manintveld said.

“We were lucky to get this farm at the price we did. The pastures are great and soil fertility was fantastic, with only 30 acres that we needed to renovate.”

The effluent system can do with some work, some laneways have seen better days and the 28 swing-over dairy will do the job until Mr Manintveld can afford his dream of a robotic twice-aday system.

If the cell count can be dropped — “It’s still high and we would like to see it consistently in the 100s” — the farm will be operating just the way the couple wants it: cheap and effective.

“We’ve been taught well by (Focus Farm facilitator) Jeff Urie, who is really big on the milk price/grain price ratio and keeping an eye on costs — not spending when you don’t need to,” Mr Manintveld said.

“Our thinking is that if we take care of the debt, cash is freed up to do everything else.” n

Bruce and Fiona Manintveld Mirboo North 148 ha 85–90 per cent red soils 285 Jersey-mix milkers, 63 yearlings, 72 calves 12–week calving from midJuly to early October

The mixed Jersey herd has no shortage of feed at Mirboo North.

DECEMBER 2014

17

Keeping cows cool is hot topic as weather warms Farmers seek to reduce impacts of heat stress on their herds.

With a dry spring behind us and a forecast for a hot summer, keeping cows cool has once again become a priority for many dairy farmers.

Steve Little from Capacity+ Ag Consulting recently spoke to farmers about the importance of keeping cows cool.

“Cows become more heat sensitive as milk yields increase, and if recent weather patterns continue we will have to cope with more climate variability than before. Heat stress can affect production, fertility, cow health and wellbeing and ultimately the farm’s profit margin,” Dr Little said.

“He said it was great to see many farmers being proactive about managing heat stress and adding to their ability to keep their cows cool from year to year.

“If you follow the basic principles of keeping cows cool by providing shade and evaporative cooling, heat stress effects can be significantly reduced,” he said.

Dr Little said the holding yard was quite often the centre for heat stress on a dairy farm because cows were required to stand closely

packed together in the sun on hot concrete for an hour or more while waiting to be milked.

“Cows aren’t great sweaters and don’t all sweat at the same rate, so using sprinklers to wet them to the skin helps even this out and enables them to off-load heat. Many dairy farmers are now taking the next step by also setting up shade structures over their holding yard, and then considering installing fans to really transform their holding yard into a cooling centre, and this is great to see.”

Recent research studies overseas have shown the negative impacts that hot conditions can also have on dry cows.

“Up until now we haven’t focused on the effects that heat can have on dry cows.

However, recent studies indicate that it can have quite an impact on the dry cow’s placenta and her developing udder, leading to reduced calf birth weights and viability, and reduced milk production in the next lactation.

So farmers with autumn calvers should consider how much paddock shade is available for them over the hot summer months when they are dry.”

Dr Little said farmers should also take advantage of the resources and tools on the Dairy Australia (DA) Cool Cows website.

“A great new feature of the website is the upgraded weather forecast and alert service.

Rather than selecting the weather forecast from a list of towns in their region, farmers can now receive site-specific weather forecasts and alerts of hot weather events for their own farm, wherever it is. I would urge all farmers to make use of this fantastic resource by registering their farm for site-specific forecasts and alerts on the DA Cool Cows website.”

Feedback forms completed by seminar attendees at a recent forum showed farmers are concerned about the implications heat stress has on cow health. Over the short to medium term they indicated they would increase shade (both in paddocks and around the dairy), get bulls’ fertility checked, use the Cool Cows website and pay better attention to heat management in general. Over the medium to long term some indicated they would invest in better cooling infrastructure at the dairy and more permanent types of shade structures. n

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Making the big decisions Over coming months, GippsDairy will be offering three seminars designed for dairy farmers wishing to improve financial literacy, better plan their futures and tackle the big issues involving entering and exiting working farm life. Anyone with an interest in these areas is urged to book a place at these exciting events.|

Churn Milk into Money

To be held in Traralgon on 7-8 April, this two day event will help steer people in a direction where they can use their dairy careers to accumulate wealth and enjoy the lifestyle they want. Call 5624 3900 to book.

Welcome aboard GippsDairy is excited to announce the appointment of a new executive officer and two new board members.

As the new executive officer, Laurie Jeremiah will bring decades of experience working in and around Gippsland agriculture. Living in Myrtlebank, Laurie is looking forward to working closely with dairy farmers from across Gippsland.

Stepping in, stepping back

This workshop will look at options for new entrants and farmers looking to step back from day-to-day farming tasks. Both ends of the industry can be tricky, so book a place early. The one day seminars will be held at Inverloch on 17 March and Maffra on 19 March. Call 5624 3900 to book.

Yanathan dairy farmer Lauren Finger will bring to the board the perspective of a younger farmer making her way in the industry, as well as a background as a veterinarian.

InCharge Financial Literacy

Held over five days, this a workshop aimed at farming women who want to improve their ability to link every day farm decisions and their financial statements. It will also clarify how financial statements are linked together and developed while adding more confidence to financial decision making. The worksops will be help in February next year at a date to be announced.

Inverloch’s Edwin Vandenberg combines a lifelong passion for the dairy industry with a background in the corporate world that will add to the skills base of the GippsDairy board.

For more information please call GippsDairy on (03) 5624 3900 or visit www.gippsdairy.com.au DECEMBER 2014

19

Glenn Duncan on the landslip site where a population of giant Gippsland earthworms was discovered last year.

Rare worms making a comeback Farmers look to preserve giants’ habitat.

Gippsland dairy farmers have worms … and they’re loving it.

Sightings — or more appropriately, soundings — of giant Gippsland earthworms have been on the increase in a pocket of Strzelecki farmland around Poowong.

Measuring up to 75 cm when relaxed, the GGE is unique to the hills areas ranging from Buln Buln, north of Warragul to Jumbunna in the south, Mt Eccles to the east and Almurta to the west.

All told, it’s only about 40 000 ha where the worms live their mysterious lives beneath the soil.

The Triholm Landcare Group has embarked on a joint project with other land management authorities to try to identify and protect remnant habitat for the earthworm.

A recent field day at Poowong saw plenty of interest with landholders keen to learn about the likely whereabouts of worms on their own properties and what they could do to preserve the population.

The field day was part of the Building Capacity to Manage Earthworm Habitat on Farms Project, an 18-month study supported by South Gippsland Landcare Network, DEPI, Dairy Australia and Melbourne Water.

Alan and Bev Gregg’s Poowong dairy property was a focus of the field day, with the gurgling sound of worms beneath a soggy creek area

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The noise is clearly music to the ears of the Greggs, who consider themselves to be trustees of some of the world’s rarest and most unusual creatures.

“Dad knew about them and pointed out a few spots where they were — but we didn’t hear anything for a long time … I thought they had gone,” Mr Gregg said.

“It’s a thrill to know they are still here.”

Glenn Duncan, whose dairy farm in nearby Hallora was also used during the field day, said a land slip in a steep paddock had revealed a strong population of the subterranean tenants.

Initially, he was pleased that the earthworm population might help him receive funding to rehabilitate the land, but he has since come to realise the importance of his property to the survival of the species.

“It was all about the funding to fix the land to start with, but then I thought ‘stuff the funding’, I’m excited about this,” Mr Duncan said.

The worms can be identified by a gurgling or flushing sound beneath the ground and by small holes similar to yabby holes.

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Nick Dudley from DEPI inspects a worm hole during the field day at Alan and Bev Gregg’s Poowong property.

The worms, which grow up to 75 cm in length, should only be handled by experts.

“

“

It was all about the funding to fix the land to start with, but then I thought ‘stuff the funding’, I’m excited about this.

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Field day participants look for traces of giant Gippsland earthworms at Glenn Duncan’s Hallora farm.

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Healthy in mind and body

Peter Dowel

Farmer has found the secret to a good life.

22

DECEMBER 2014

(it doesn’t happen often) his herd crowds around for a scratch and a pat like a bunch of old house cats.

It’s a relationship built on trust and fair treatment in the paddock and in the dairy shed.

“If you walk past the cows, you give every one of them a pat as you go by. Keeping contact with them builds a confidence,” he said.

“You only get out of a cow what you put into them and my cows are my family.”

While he treats his animals like family, Mr Dowel’s life doesn’t stop at the dairy farm gate.

An avid ballroom dancer, squash champion and football umpire, who will officiate at his 300th game next year, he knows that work/ life balance is the key to staying healthy.

The foundation for his lifestyle, however, is his constant running.

Mr Dowel is quite the ‘Legendairy’ local figure. He can be seen on the hills around Crossover with his distinctive jogging style, which is significantly quicker than the famous shuffle of another Victorian farmerathlete — ultra-marathon legend Cliff Young.

Unlike Cliffy, however, there’s no chasing cows in gumboots, but Mr Dowel does take

every opportunity to break into a trot.

“Even just going to get the calf feeder off the last set of calves, even if it’s only 100m, it helps to save time for the next job,” he said.

“

“

Peter Dowel is a walking — make that running — embodiment of the healthy dairy lifestyle.

The 59-year-old Legendairy farmer is a fitness fanatic whose training regimen sees him jogging around his picturesque property doing everyday farm chores.

But the happy, healthy lifestyle isn’t only about Mr Dowel. He has a herd of contented Jersey cows that produce high-quality milk, and plenty of it.

The secret to the good life at the Crossover dairy farm, just north of Warragul, is having a good diet and enough fodder to meet the needs of man and beast.

Mr Dowel starts the day with bananas, kiwifruit and seven Weet-Bix (with milk of course) and ensures his 135 cows get that little bit extra in their diet to keep them in top condition.

“One thing I feed them is brewers’ grain. It seems to prevent so many things,” he said.

“I’m far better off spending money on healthy food for the cows than having the vet coming down the driveway every second day.”

His cows not only have healthy bodies, they seem to have healthy minds to match.

If Mr Dowel stands still for long enough

You only get out of a cow what you put into them and my cows are my family.

Peter Dowel

Having been born and raised on a dairy farm, apart from a couple of years in the city as a young man, Mr Dowel can imagine no better way to live than among his beloved Jerseys.

Milking his own cows and growing all his own feed is hard work, but he never has any trouble getting out of bed to start his day’s work.

“We have the way of life, none of that hustle and bustle,” he said.

“They talk about keeping up with the Joneses … well we dairy farmers are the Joneses.” n

DECEMBER 2014

23

Belinda and Stuart Griffin.

Love begins on the dairy farm Continuing a 100-year-old tradition.

The old saying ‘you can talk about it ’til the cows come home’ isn’t far from the truth for Gippsland dairy farmers Belinda and Stuart Griffin.

What began as a quick chat after a football game in 2010 quickly turned into something more — under slightly unusual circumstances.

“As the story goes, we can both talk the air out of a paper bag and stayed up all night talking until 4.30 am, at which point we rode off on the motorbike to get the cows in,” Belinda said, recalling the couple’s first meeting.

The impromptu first date was far from over.

Smack-bang in the middle of a busy calving season on the Griffin family farm, Belinda was put right to work that early morning in borrowed tracksuit pants and beanie, helping with the morning milking.

It was the start of one love affair and the revival of another for Belinda, who grew up in suburban Melbourne but found a passion for dairy farming at age 14 through a work experience stint on a dairy near Echuca.

“It was just like riding a bike — very familiar,” she said of her first morning on the Griffin farm.

“I met Stu’s parents and extended family that day and I think I was considered part of the future plans right from the word ‘go’.”

Stuart and Belinda married earlier this year, adding to nearly 100 years of history for the Griffin family which settled on the ‘Springdale’ property in Westbury, Victoria in 1920.

“The Griffin family is proud that Springdale has had nearly a century in the hands of one family. Considering the recent droughts that have passed though, this is a considerable 24

DECEMBER 2014

effort,” Belinda said.

“I feel we have very big shoes to fill, but hopefully with the information and technology available, we can continue to grow stronger every year.”

Stuart is the fourth generation to farm on Springdale. A vet by training, he left the farm after university, but returned to help manage the farm when his father Chris took on various industry leadership roles, including time as Australian Dairy Farmers president and Australian Dairy Industry Council chair.

Stuart and Belinda are building equity in the business as Chris and wife Jan gradually hand over the reins.

“Every year we take a bigger stake in the business, including buying a percentage of the herd, so we’re quite lucky to have a supportive entry to the industry,” Belinda said.

“It’s great to have the whole family committed to the farm and the dairy industry and we feel that this gives the business strength and an ability to adapt to challenges and opportunities as they arise.”

One of those challenges is access to affordable and productive land, given growing tourism to the area and encroaching urban development.

The Griffins are partly addressing this by investing strategically in infrastructure improvements to handle possible expansion of their current herd of 370 cows.

“Over the past five years we’ve added automatic drafting, extended the dairy, improved our yard wash and effluent system and upgraded cattle handling facilities — all of which have allowed us to milk more cows with a similar labour input, and made things

less stressful for both the cattle and the operator,” Belinda said.

Having a resident vet on the farm doesn’t hurt either.

“It’s certainly a great skill set to have on the farm. We’re always looking for better ways to do things and animal health is no different. Stu’s vet background means he’s often running small trials on things like reproduction or calf management to see what works for our system,” Belinda said.

“Our cattle are our livelihood, so their wellbeing is at the centre of how we operate our farm,” Stuart said.

And just in case the day-to-day running of the farm isn’t enough, Belinda works fulltime for the Victorian Department of Human Services, fitting her office schedule around morning milkings. Football and volleyball clubs, community volunteering and industry groups also pack the calendar.

“Evenings are often filled with any number of activities and weekends can be really busy on-farm. Sometimes we feel like we don’t get a rest,” she said.

“We see dairy as a fantastic industry with a positive future. We’re excited to be part of such a progressive industry that produces world-class products. We’re always striving to better ourselves as people and as farmers, so looking at the bigger picture helps to keep us focused on the future, not just the jobs that need to be done tomorrow,” Belinda said.

“What really makes this job Legendairy is sitting back at the end of the day and reflecting on the quality milk we are producing, the sustainable way we produce it, and the fact that we are continuing an almost 100-year-old family tradition.” n

DECEMBER 2014

25

Fresh is best in NZ trial Experimenting with sexed semen.

“

When sexed semen first hit the dairy industry about a decade ago it was heralded as a game changer.

“

However, despite the advantages, some farmers have been reluctant to use sexed semen due to its lower conception rate (70 to 80 per cent of conventional).

This is caused by limitations to the sexing process, because it damages sperm (lowering the conception rate) and takes a long time to complete (lowering availability). To make sexed semen commercially viable, the dose of sperm within each sexed straw is also significantly lower than a conventional straw (2.1 million compared to 10 million).

This could be about to change, with two new technologies emerging in the sexed semen space. Fresh sexed semen has prompted a great deal of interest both in Australia and overseas, and there has also been an improvement in the frozen sexed semen

26

DECEMBER 2014

process.

Sexed semen is made particularly fragile by the sorting process, making it more likely to be damaged during processing. This damage can occur at every stage of straw production, including collection, dilution, cooling, extension, freezing, packaging, storage, thawing and insemination.

Theoretically, by eliminating the freezing and thawing steps of the process, fresh sexed semen should have an improved conception rate compared with its frozen counterpart.

However, there are good, logistical reasons why most semen is frozen in Australia: frozen semen keeps for much longer than fresh, and is easier to store and handle.

Fresh semen must be used within 48 hours (or less) from sorting to insemination. If you live next door to Australia’s only semen sexing facility in Camperdown, this is perfectly fine — but if you’re located in another region or state, this can prove difficult.

Partly for this reason, geographically smaller countries have taken the lead in fresh sexed semen experimentation. The Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) in New Zealand conducted a trial in early 2012 and already commonly uses fresh conventional semen on-farm. More recently, Ireland has also conducted a large research project.

But results from both trials were contradictory, highlighting the need for more research under Australian conditions.

The Irish trial, completed in March this year, found there was no advantage to using fresh sexed semen compared to frozen. The study, which involved 15 000 inseminations, found fresh and frozen sexed semen had an identical conception rate of 87 per cent of conventional in heifers (46 per cent conception rate to first service). In cows, they found that frozen sexed semen was actually superior to fresh, at 85 per cent.

However, under New Zealand conditions on more than 15 000 cows, fresh sexed semen produced conception rates that were 94 per cent of conventional fresh semen — an extraordinarily good result.

“

Sexed semen is made particualrly fragile by the sorting process, making it more likely to be damaged during processing.

“

The way dairy farmers think about sexed semen may be about to change for the better.

When sexed semen first hit the dairy industry about a decade ago it was heralded as a game-changer — the ability to control the gender of new calves was thought to be a major advance for the entire industry.

It offered great benefits: more heifer calves for herd expansion or export, faster genetic progress, greater culling flexibility, and reduced dystocia rates and bobby calf numbers.

The main point of difference between the two sets of results is so far unknown. New Zealand researchers have speculated that this could be due to the semen extenders used in the two trials, and the Irish trial also had a longer interval between processing and insemination.

While no official protocols or recommendations can be made yet, for those farmers who are keen to forge ahead and trial the technology, it makes sense that the usual measures to improve sexed semen conception still apply.

Use sexed semen preferentially on the more fertile cows or heifers. Make sure that individual animals are well-grown, that the semen storage and AI technique follow best practice guidelines, and that the heat detection methods are spot-on for accuracy.

Fresh sexed semen should be used as soon as possible; the longer the delay, the poorer the results are likely to be.

— Ee Cheng Ooi , DEPI ee.cheng.ooi@depi.vic.gov.au

Getting the basics right The dairy farmer’s day doesn’t end when the last cow is milked.

Running a multi-million-dollar business – often family owned – means that staying on top of finances, career development and succession planning can be difficult and timeconsuming.

GippsDairy has sought to assist farmers with managing these demands through a series of three seminars that will be run in the new year.

Held over two days, Stepping In and Stepping Back will deal with strategies for older farmers reducing their work commitment and younger farmers making the next step in their career development.

The “Churn” workshops are for people who see dairying as a viable career option that can help them accumulate wealth and reach the lifestyle goals they want.

GippsDairy project director Annette Zurrer said even the best on-farm performers could struggle to deal with longer-term career and financial goals.

“It’s one thing to grow quality pasture and have a healthy herd of high-production cows, but staying on top of farm financials and keeping an eye on the bigger picture of career and lifestyle is just as important for a dairy farmer,” she said.

InCharge: Financial Literacy is aimed at women who carry the burden of book-keeping for the farm business. It will be run over five days spread over five weeks.

Churn Milk into Money, and Stepping In and Stepping Back will be co-ordinated by respected agricultural consultant John Mulvany, who will also speak at InCharge: Financial Literacy on linking book-keeping with on-farm physicals.

The third seminar is the highly successful Churn Milk Into Money two-day session is aimed at younger farmers or recent industry entrants who are looking to develop strategies to improve their business performance.

Having seen many farmers benefit from similar programs in the past, Mr Mulvany believes all three seminars offer vital information for farmers at all stages of their careers.

John Mulvany will be involved with all three GippsDairy seminars.

“Churn Milk into Money is designed for young farmers to build foundation knowledge … we go through a whole lot of fundamental stuff, so you can bed knowledge down,” he said.

“Stepping In and Stepping Back is a quick look at options for young farmers who are wanting to progress in the industry.

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Expansion limited by supply Industry must grow at farm gate in order to capitalise on global opportunities.

The Australian industry appears well placed to tap into export markets, however it currently sits at a ‘crossroads’ due to its inability to grow milk supply which has significantly reduced the sector’s role in global dairy trade, says specialist agri-lender Rabobank.

In a recently-released report, Australian Dairy — More milk matters, Rabobank says the global dairy market will remain ‘an engine for growth’ but the Australian dairy sector will need to reignite growth at the farm gate if it is to be in a position to fully capture the opportunities.

Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey says without improved profitability on-farm, the dairy industry is unlikely to see the milk production growth that will be required for the whole industry to tap into the opportunities that lie in regional export markets.

“The dairy processing sector is evolving rapidly and is poised for growth,” Mr Harvey says.

“This period of change will have ongoing implications for milk producers. Very simply, dairy processors are in search of more milk supply and stronger supplier partnerships.

“Right now, we are seeing record investment in the processing sector, with more than one billion dollars committed in the past few years.”

However, the processing sector needs to prove that the opportunities it sees and the investments it has made can lead to not just improved margins, but also a better return to Australian dairy farmers, Rabobank warns.

“Many offshore customers place a strong importance on high-quality, safe products with strong traceability across supply chains, and these factors mean that Australia is a favoured exporter, but the sector also needs to be able to match export customers’ growth,” Mr Harvey said.

He said if milk producers in conjunction with the dairy processing sector could align the vision and strategy to cope with complex and volatile global markets, the opportunity for the sector could be “golden”.

Meeting the sector’s ambitions to lift production to 15 billion litres by 2020 will require a fundamental shift in milk supply growth, Rabobank says.

The 2013–14 season closed at 9.2 billion litres and 2014–15 should see milk production expand by two per cent, but achieving the goal of 15 billion litres by 2020 would require average annual growth of eight per cent.

Mr Harvey said rebuilding confidence levels to underpin investment was an important factor on the road to recovery for the Australian dairy sector.

“For the majority of the farm sector, 2013–14 was a profitable season on the back of record-high farm gate milk prices.” n

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Australia’s dairy show with the lot There will be 20 seminars and speakers split between three days during the event, starting at 9 am on Tuesday, January 20.

Seminars will include topics such as managing mastitis with Erica Oakes from Dairy Australia, accelerating calf growth with Allan MacGillivray from ProviCo, and the gene market with Shane Ashworth from Total Livestock Genetics.

On Wednesday, January 21 seminars will begin again at 9 am and include presentations on transition feeding with Ian Lean from ProviCo, and Semex Works’ Jay Shannon talking about breeding solutions adding value to Holsteins through genomics with Graeme Gillan from Holstein Australia.

On Thursday, January 22 seminars will start at 8 am with an Immunity+ and diseaseresistant genetics presentation, and finish at 2 pm after a seminar on how to make a blue cheese sauce and raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake with Jason Chesworth from Hunter Belle Cheese.

International Dairy Week, Australia’s premier dairy event and one of the top five cattle shows in the world, will be held in Tatura from Sunday, January 18 to Thursday, January 22.

The seminars will be held at the Tatura Tennis Club in Albert St (across the road from the event’s main location at Tatura Park in Hastie St).

Semex global dairy solutions manager Jay Shannon will talk about the company’s breeding program during International Dairy Week.

• For more information on International Dairy Week, including seminars, visit https://internationaldairyweek.com.au

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calendar of events Please check www.murraydairy.com.au for updates or phone (03) 5833 5312.

International Dairy Week

Scholarship aims to lure registrars to the bush.

lifestyles they want.

Tatura — Sunday, January 18 — Thursday, January 22

Traralgon, April 7 and 8, 2015.

Phone: 5624 3900, GippsDairy

2015 Forage Planning for Dairy Farms

2015 Stepping In, Stepping Back

When, what, how and why of producing more home-grown forage (pastures and crops) to fill feed gaps.

South or West Gippsland depending on demand, February 18 and 25, and March 3 and 18 10 am–2.30 pm mix of theory and multiple farm walks.

Phone: Frank Mickan, 5624 2259, DEPI 2015 Feeding Pastures for Profit

Principles of grazing management and supplementary feeding for profitability.

South or West Gippsland depending on demand, April 9 and 16 plus on farm days.

10 am–2.30 pm mix of theory and multiple farm walks.

Phone: Frank Mickan, 5624 2259, DEPI 2015 Churn Milk Into Money

GippsDairy makes a health difference

This workshop will look at options for new entrants and farmers looking to step back from the day-to-day farming tasks.

Inverlock and Maffra, March 17 and 19.

Phone: 5624 3900, GippsDairy

2015 InCharge Financial Literacy Program

Five five-hour workshops aimed at farming women, to improve:

• The links between everyday farm decisions and their financial statements; • How financial statements are linked together and developed; • Confidence with financial decision making.

Location: TBC. February 2015 (TBC).

Phone: 5624 3900, GippsDairy

Aims to develop people so they can have careers in dairy where they can accumulate wealth and have the

GippsDairy is not just committed to keeping our industry healthy — but also wants to make sure Gippsland farmers are in good shape.

With that in mind, a new scholarship for trainee doctors will be awarded for registrars working in the Gippsland area.

GippsDairy will offer $2500 to the recipient to help foster a passion for rural medicine and assist in training them in the health needs of country patients.

In announcing the scholarship, GippsDairy director Sinead de Gooyer said she hoped it could make a real difference to health outcomes in the

region.

“It’s about getting these registrars out there and exposing them to the rural health environment and developing a passion for rural medicine,” she said.

Dr de Gooyer, who is a Korumburra dairy farmer as well as a general practitioner, said the scholarship could also help attract young city-based doctors into a full-time commitment to rural health, helping to ease the on-going problems with attracting GPs to the region.

“It might break the ice a little bit with the people coming in from the city,” she said. n

Do you need to speak to dairy farmers?

Dairy Direct delivers the expertise, advice and regional specific industry news farmers need to stay at the cutting edge.

Dairy Direct has been producing vital information to dairy farmers in the Murray Dairy region through Dairy Direct for the past two years.

Building on our weekly regional newspaper Country News, Dairy Direct now brings the same uncompromising commitment to quality journalism for farmers. This edition also commences our bi-monthly magazine in the GippsDairy region.

If you’re business needs to talk with dairy farmers, then talk to us. Dairy Direct can provide a targeted, cost-effective advertising solutions for the Gippsland region.

Give our Dairy Direct advertising team a call today.

James MacGibbon 0409 103 745

james.macgibbon@countrynews.com.au 30

DECEMBER 2014

Ashton Still 0403 156 726

ashton.still@countrynews.com.au

Simon Bingham 0432 851 272

simon.bingham@countrynews.com.au

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