Dairy direct murray aug 2016 (low res)

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Country News PUBLICATION

MURRAY Issue 25, August 2016

New season, new shed » page 12 Maximising pasture growth » page 22

Four generations in dairy » page 42

The pressure ramps up on our newest Focus Farm family » page 18

Much has changed It doesn’t seem that long ago that I wrote my last column — but hasn’t a lot happened since then?! I don’t think I have seen a period create such uncertainty since the price step-down we experienced during the global financial crisis.

The price step-down by some companies and low opening prices has led to many in the industry questioning their futures, and rightly so. We cannot, as an industry, survive if our businesses aren’t sustainable over the long term.

It is not my place to comment on company performance, strategy or milk price; this is out of our control and is only one side of the ledger. What we can control in our businesses, to some extent, is our cost base and that is where our focus should be.

Depending on our feeding system, we need to develop strategies to try to take out volatility in these costs, for example: long-term contracts for hay, grain and water. There has been solid investment in upgrading infrastructure these past few years, and we need to capitalise on this and produce as much low-cost feed as possible this season. It is wet now, and the forecast of a wet spring will give us more opportunities to conserve a good solid feed base for the remainder of the season.

As part of our response at Murray Dairy, we are rolling out the Tactics for Tight Times program which involves a range of support service for dairy farmers and their families.

A free 1:1 Business Assessment and Support Service is available to analyse your farming business and provide a basis for subsequent discussions with

a consultant to help formulate a plan moving forward. This is available to all levy-paying businesses including farm owners, share farmers and lessees. A number of other programs will be run in the upcoming months to provide support around business planning and decision making in dairy, including: Setting Up Your Season sessions, cropping and forage planning workshops, feed and water budgeting sessions along with a range of community-based social events for the whole family.

Dairy Australia previously provided funding to Agriculture Victoria for dairy extension services which has now been redirected and is provided directly to the three Victorian Regional Development Programs; and as such, Murray Dairy has added two new regional extension officers — Lisa Menhenett and Lachlan Barnes — to the team. Both have started in their roles and will be seen delivering programs across the region, directly to farmers.

It will be a challenging season but by carrying out smart planning now we can place our businesses in the right place to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. We have had a nice wet winter, which will hopefully set us up to maximise our spring.

Please remember you are not alone, seek support and seek advice. You can call the Murray Dairy office to find out more about the programs and support that is available on (03) 5833 5312.

— Rick Cross Murray Dairy chairman

contents

Dairy news

4

Doing Dairy

6

New battle in the war on liver fluke

7

Processors announce prices

7

Bega weighs into pricing debate

8

Early abortion in cattle

10

Pressing on in adversity

12

Cell count achievers

13

Always ready to volunteer time

14

Going forward with a plan

16

Farm in focus

18

Dairy family building a niche in gourmet cheese

20

Making the most of your pastures

22

Help is available in tough times

23

Improving herd fertility

25

Disappointments part of farming Sun slashes dairy bills

26 28

Forum will share knowledge

30

Increasing rate of genetic gain

31

Still making his mark

32

Consider your bobby calf options

34

Mystery illness hits calves Another Jessica takes top award

36 37

Pasture production costs put to the test 39 Purchase made with eye on future

42

Legendairy day for farmers

45

Destiny realised

46

Dookie Dairy Report

49

Dairy Australia to advance virtual herding technology

50

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3

dairy news

Confidence levels take a dive Challenging, dry season likely to lead to losses for some.

The short-term to medium-term future looks industry has now dropped below 50 per cent. terms of 2015–16 profit expectations. particularly tough for dairy farmers in the Dairy Australia senior analyst John Droppert Mr Droppert said overall, margins had southern export-focused states of Victoria, been significantly tighter through 2015–16, said underlying tension across the industry Tasmania and South Australia, according to squeezed by higher costs and lower income. in the export-focused states had been analysis by Dairy Australia. amplified and brought to the surface by the “Recovery in the global market remains Following a challenging and dry season recent milk price cuts. unlikely until 2017, which will see cash many farmers in south-eastern Australia flow challenges through spring presenting a “The survey highlighted confidence in the are staring down the barrel of significant future of the industry is lower across Victoria significant hurdle for many farms.” financial losses. than it has been for the past few years,” Mr Mr Droppert said Victorian dairy farmers This has come about due to farm gate price Droppert said. were now more concerned about farm gate cuts by some processors and expectations of milk price than they had been for some time.

“Since then, late-season cuts to farm gate a much lower opening price for 2016–17. prices have caused a significant further “In the survey’s 12-year history, the national As a result, confidence levels for southern trend in farmer sentiment showed a close decline in sentiment across most regions, farmers have plummeted. relationship with farm gate prices. which follow-up research is currently attempting to quantify.”

As part of Dairy Australia’s Situation and “Statistical analysis suggests that prices Outlook June 2016 report released last week, account for more than 80 per cent of the Dairy Australia analysis shows farmers across the National Dairy Farmer Survey is carried variability in farmer positivity about the Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania face out to gauge behaviour and attitudes of future of the dairy industry.” income losses of more than $150 000 in a farmers across Australia. number of cases, based on the late-season At the time of the National Dairy Farmer changes to farm gate milk prices by some At the time of the 2016 survey, conducted Survey, availability and/or price of irrigation processors. in February and March, the proportion of water was expected to present a challenge for farmers feeling positive about the future of 75 per cent of Murray Dairy respondents.

Even prior to the recent price the industry dropped from 74 per cent last announcements, Victorian farmers in the More than half (58 per cent) nominated it as year to 67 per cent.

Murray Dairy (58 per cent) and WestVic (52 their “greatest” challenge going forward and 48 per cent expected it to be an issue for the per cent) regions as well as those in Dairy A recent supplementary survey suggests the coming months. number of farmers feeling positive about the Tas (60 per cent) were most pessimistic in

Editor Geoff Adams editor@countrynews.com.au Writers Geoff Adams, Emma Carinci, Sophie Baldwin Graphic design Teresa Crifo, Steph Bell, Brendan Cain, Alysha Bathman, Bella Considine Cover: Leigh Fletcher and Sasha Fletcher are Murray Dairy’s new Focus Farmers for 2016. They are pictured with their children Tully, Oscar and Jaspar.

Forecast herd size and production Anticipated change in herd size 2016 – 17 vs 2015 – 16 57% 38% 42%

4% 8% Increase expected

No change expected

Decrease expected

66% 66%

Unsure

National MurrayDairy

26%

21% 3% 4%

Increase expected

No change expected

Decrease expected

2% 3% Unsure

3% 5% Won't be in business

Regional profile

Enterprise phase

National MurrayDairy

38%

Supported by:

1% 2%

Anticipated change in production 2018– 19 vs 2015 – 16

Advertising James MacGibbon james.macgibbon@countrynews.com.au Published by Country News PO Box 204, Shepparton, Victoria 3632 (03) 5831 2312 www.countrynews.com.au Printed by Edge Print

National MurrayDairy

48%

26% 26%

32%

25% 26% 11% 14%

Country News Reaching Australia’s richest agricultural region

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JUNE 2016

1% 2% Expansion phase

Steady

(where want to be)

Steady

(unable to Expand)

Winding down phase

New farm/ taken over from family

dairy news Workshop raises good points Speakers share their insights regarding feed and finances with farmers.

There was a great deal of good information and some great discussion as part of Murray Dairy’s Finances, Feed and Farmers Top Tip workshop held at Lockington in June.

The workshop is part of a series held across the region.

Guest speakers included dairy farmers Anne Gardener and Bill Cochrane, agronomist Jono Fenwick, Ian Reid service representative Daniel Bacon and Matt Gill from Rural Finance Corporation.

Mr Fenwick spoke about fertiliser application, grazing wet paddocks and spraying.

He said when grazing wet paddocks it was important to graze them at the 2.5 to three-leaf stage, because this was the point at which the least amount of damage was inflicted upon the pasture.

“Cows will walk through the paddock taking big mouthfuls of feed, reducing their need to walk around and around. Confine the area with strip grazing and move the fence again at lunch time if necessary, refencing off the area they have

already eaten,” Mr Fenwick said.

“Around 80 per cent of pasture is consumed in the first two hours, so if you can get cows fed and off that is even better. The other option is to feed the cows first on the feed pad before they hit the paddock. This can help reduce pugging because they are partially full already.”

Mr Fenwick said success was about timing, and timing cost nothing when it came to making management decisions.

Mr Bacon said it was important to know your business from a nutritional point of view, know when your feed gaps would be, and what you were going to feed in them. He said farmers should look at stocking rates and consider if it was worth selling some animals and concentrating on feeding fewer, but feeding them better.

If commodity prices get to a point that takes the volatility out for you, consider locking in price; look at contracts.

Mr Bacon said farmers should maximise homegrown fodder and consider grazing dry cows

and heifers behind the milkers.

He said it was important to look after dry cows well, and their transition, because it set up the herd for the next season — and a good transition would reduce vet bills, improve fertility and increase production.

Bill Cochrane spoke about the importance of surviving tough times.

Having farmed for 45 years, he said he learned a lot out of the drought and that it was important to look at tough times as an opportunity.

“We are all caught up in a mistake that is not of our making. Look outside the box, there is always an opportunity; make lists, take a holiday, and keep talking to each other.”

He said it was important to remember the opening price might not necessarily be the ending price, so farmers should make decisions that considered how things might look six months down the track. Budgets changed, but it was important to keep doing them, he said.

“Don’t forget to have a laugh and a bit of fun. It doesn’t cost a lot, but it’s money well spent.”

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AUGUST 2016

5

Doing Dairy

with SOPHIE BALDWIN

Industry brought to its knees The dairy industry is in crisis, it’s that simple.

As the reality of the milk price drop and the clawback start to sink in, many are questioning their future in an industry they love.

Dairy farmers are a trusting and loyal lot, preferring to get on with the business of making milk and running their farms. They have placed their faith in their milk company to do the right thing, and once again they have been shafted.

The management of Australia’s largest co-op unfortunately has a lot to answer for.

How could they get things so wrong, when for years and years the co-op has been banging on to its supplier base about the importance of managing the books, knowing your business and budgeting?

I am sure the majority of suppliers could handle the milk price drop; after all, we all know commodity prices go up and down, it is the financial claw-back that has gutted the industry.

And for Fonterra to turn around and follow suit when as early as April it was still reassuring its suppliers $5.60 was achievable …

People went out and spent money on water, lots of money, because water was so expensive.

They fertilised, they planted and were trying to set themselves up for the approaching season — and then, bang! Out of nowhere they have been smacked with a debt and had their milk price crippled. Those milk cheques that were to be the reward for a year of hard work, are no longer. Bills are piling up and people really are left wondering where the money is going to come from.

While some processors have honoured their prices despite the tough conditions, how can Murray Goulburn announce a $42 million profit and still turn around and hit its supply base?

Don’t these people understand that without suppliers they don’t have a company?

Farmers cannot keep on taking the hit, there is no fat left in the budget, the industry is in the worst place it has ever been.

I have spoken to farmer after farmer, and all have been left scratching their heads and wondering how can they continue, or even more importantly, if they want to.

Something needs to be done, the clawback clause needs to be eradicated, it must go.

This alone will help immensely and will give some confidence back to the industry.

The board at Murray Goulburn needs to stand down, or at least give the suppliers the opportunity to decide whether they want them to stay on. MG needs to start listening to its supplier base. Loyalty doesn’t cut it anymore, especially when your business is on its knees; dairy farmers can’t afford to be loyal any more.

Dairy farmers need to be ruthless and chase the best dollar they can, and if that means swapping companies regularly, then so be it. Maybe it is time some of the big processors took some of the pain, looked at their running costs and started to value their supply base.

Where do they think the milk is going to come from in the future?

It won’t be here, because the way things are going, the once vibrant dairy industry will be reduced to a shadow of itself; communities and towns will suffer; and the beautiful clean, green product we produce will instead come to us in UHT form, off a ship from overseas.

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dairy news

New battle in the war on liver fluke just relying on a chemical Existing drugs are failing to drench,” Professor Spithill said. control the scourge of liver fluke in cattle, a parasitic disease “Once we establish such that reduces productivity of techniques to identify the Australian dairy herds by up to parasite on farms, we plan to roll 10 per cent. out an on-farm control program so dairy industry groups can start Now, a $340 000 collaborative to implement it in 2018.” research effort by La Trobe University and Agriculture The project follows more than Victoria is developing a new two years’ research by the team approach to dealing with the into liver fluke in the irrigation problem. zones of Victoria.

The work has just been funded “We found widespread liver fluke by the Gardiner Foundation and parasite infestation, with up to Dairy Australia.

73 per cent of herds infected in the Macalister irrigation zone in Recent studies by the joint Gippsland alone,” Prof Spithill research team found the liver said. fluke parasite had developed widespread resistance against The project is a new triclabendazole, the most collaboration led by Prof Spithill common drug used to combat it. and Travis Beddoe from La Trobe University and Grant Rawlin “With a failing drug, we need from Agriculture Victoria. It is a new approach to manage the being carried out at the Centre parasite, particularly in relation for AgriBioscience, AgriBio, on to drug-resistant strains, as well La Trobe’s Melbourne campus in as better methods to assess the Bundoora. amount of infection in cattle,” co-lead researcher Terry Spithill Other members of the research said. team are Chris Hosking, PhD student Jane Kelley and two He said it was important to Honours students, Jaclyn Swan find the infective stage of the and Genevieve Williamson. parasite in the environment — in water, pastures and soil — as The project has also been this would allow better on-farm supported by the Victorian management of the problem.

Cattle Compensation Fund, “Our aim is to trial a fluke control the Federal Department of system based on environmentally Agriculture, Dairy Australia, Agriculture Victoria and La integrated parasite management Trobe University. on affected farms, rather than

Processors announce prices Milk processors have announced their opening prices for the 2016–17 season.

Murray Goulburn: Net opening farm gate milk price of $4.31/ kg milk solids after application of the Milk Supply Support Package repayment, and forecast for whole-of-year of $4.80.

Fonterra: Opening average of $4.75 and forecast closing of $5.

Tatura Milk: Opening price of $5.

ACM: Opening price of $5.30.

Warrnambool Cheese and Butter: Opening price of $4.80.

Burra Foods: Opening price of $4.40-$4.60.

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7

Bega weighs into pricing debate Chairman says what his competitors have done to farmers is not right.

When Murray Goulburn announced its controversial price step-down and claw-back, suppliers were understandably upset, but there was one other industry voice which emerged during the debate.

Early in June when farmers were still reeling from the Murray Goulburn announcement, and Fonterra’s subsequent decision to follow suit, Bega executive chairman Barry Irvin attended a dairy industry outlook seminar where he was shoulder to shoulder with the other dairy company leaders, including Murray Goulburn chairman Phil Tracy.

He told the seminar the industry had been damaged by Murray Goulburn’s actions, which he has described as unfair to suppliers.

This was only just a few weeks before the opening prices were announced. Murray Goulburn’s at $4.31 and Bega’s at $5. Bega maintained its closing price at $5.60.

Why did you say something about the situation with your two big competitors?

“I suppose I ended up concluding that if I was going to say something in environs of

an industry discussion, and I wasn’t brave enough to say it publicly, that wasn’t right.

“I had a number of views that I didn’t feel were being voiced and I thought they were for others to voice.

“I didn’t believe that what happened to the dairy farmers was correct. I believed in my heart it was wrong.

“Two months before, everyone knew we had a tough year coming. Everybody knew it was going to be a difficult 2016–17. But they weren’t marching in the street. They started marching when Murray Goulburn did a latein-the-season step-down.

“I am part of this industry. I run a very responsible, very carefully managed and deliberate business. For me to be put into the same category of industry crisis, when we in fact we had maintained our price to farmers, we had been very honourable in how we approached it … I did not want to be put in that bucket.

“I wanted a spotlight shone on what actually happened.

“My personal style is that I don’t leak to newspapers. If I want to say it, I will say it and put my name to it.

“From my perspective, they all know me, and quite frankly if I went to a supplier meeting and, not having said anything, sat in that supplier meeting and pretended nothing had happened … They would look at me and say: `You are not being honest with us. You must have a view.’

“I would hope they wouldn’t judge me on this one action.

“If you don’t examine why something occurred and in a very open and transparent way, and accept the voices not only of those who support you, but those who might suggest things could have been done differently, if you just block those out and say, `No, it was market or this or that’ — it’s going to happen again.”

In 2008 when the global financial crisis was in full swing, Bega had to announce a stepdown in prices and Barry Irvin will never forget it.

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“It was the hardest thing I had ever done. I felt like I had let down my farmers, and went as far to say: I had never broken my word to farmers and circumstances of GFC; although we reduced a lot less than our competitors, I was still reducing our price.

“It remains having an effect to this day.

“I wouldn’t send anyone else to tell them. I had a whole series of meetings because I wanted to face them and tell them.

“I had got it wrong.

“It was the most difficult time in my professional life because I put so much stake in up-front communication.

“Farmers might get frustrated because they might want me to say, `We can do that’ — when I know I can’t promise it.

“I had suppliers in meetings saying: `Your competition says they can lift the price, they can do better than you. Why don’t you say you can?’

“All I can say is that I am not going to tell you I can do something when I know I can’t guarantee it.

“We elected to take a loss on the balance sheet that year. We weren’t about to say, `We will put all that risk onto you’.”

A different product mix?

“Yes, a slightly different product mix, but

Bega chairman Barry Irvin.

you look at cheese, milk powders, infant formulas and value added packaging. But when you have a look at our competitors they are in most of those products in a similar fashion.”

He contends the differences are attributable to management behaviour.

“In that mix of products you need a balance that sees you able to manage the risk across the entire profile of the business.

“It’s a very rare thing for me to have every piece of the business performing how I would like it to perform.

“For example in the year just passed our infant nutritional business went very well, but our exposure to skim milk markets around the world was horrendous.

“You try to make sure you manage a balanced business, not relying on just one product range or one thing to work.

“Bega consistently invests over an extended period of time. It’s one way to manage risk.

“We have always recognised the need to

invest, but not in massive amounts, relying on them to come on-stream quickly.

“Ten months into the year, to go change our minds and also make a bit of profit … it was too much for me to keep my mouth shut.

“I have big competitors who would rather I didn’t speak.

“I am a great believer in doing good things as an industry. I will speak the truth and ideally move on.

“At the moment it is still pretty raw and a lot of things are going on around regulatory investigations, but on the other hand I don’t think my industry colleagues would be surprised that I spoke my mind.

“I do see it in a professional rather than a personal sense.’’

AUGUST 2016

9

animal health

Early abortion in cattle Recognising that early abortion is a problem in your herd can be a challenge.

In some cases, early abortion can appear as an unexpectedly high rate of repeated returns to service, often with prolonged intervals.

Agriculture Victoria’s district veterinary officer Dr Jeff Cave said it was worth remembering that a low rate of abortions was observed on all farms and three to five abortions per 100 pregnancies per year was considered normal.

“Two of the most common causes of early abortion in cattle in Australia are the sexually transmitted diseases trichomoniasis and vibriosis,” Dr Cave said.

A protozoon known as Trichomonas foetus causes trichomoniasis which is transmitted during breeding from infected bulls to susceptible cows.

“

Two of the most common causes of early abortion in cattle in Australia are the sexually transmitted diseases trichomoniasis and vibriosis . . .

“

Dr Jeff Cave

Older bulls were more likely to be infected and remain infected than virgin or young bulls, Dr Cave said.

Infections may result in abortion during the first five months of pregnancy.

Control of trichomoniasis within known infected herds is to begin artificial insemination, or to cull older bulls and only

District veterinary officer Dr Jeff Cave.

use young, clean bulls on heifers. once it is established in a herd, vibriosis usually only affects the younger cows and Even a switch in bull breeding to artificial heifers. insemination for six months will greatly reduce the effects of trichomoniasis.

Control of vibriosis is through artificial insemination or vaccination.

Vibriosis is caused by a bacterium known as Veterinarians can make a diagnosis of both Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis. of these diseases by checking the sheath of Infected bulls spread the disease during suspected infected bulls. breeding and there are usually no clinical For further information, contact your signs of disease in infected cows. local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria Dr Cave said the primary sign of the disease veterinary or animal health officer, or in was early abortion resulting in repeat NSW your Local Land Services. breedings with a prolonged service interval.

When vibriosis is first introduced into a herd, — Dr Jeff Cave, DEDJTR district veterinary officer cows in all age groups are affected; however

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Pressing on in adversity

Dairy renovation timing could have been better, but the Leahys are looking on the bright side.

The timing of a new dairy renovation hasn’t been the best for Tim Leahy after Fonterra dropped the milk price, but looking long-term he is confident the decision is the correct one.

Girgarre dairy farmers Tim and Jenny Leahy first began planning a dairy renovation back in 2001 but the drought hit, forcing them to scale back numbers and cut costs.

In 2016 they thought the timing was right so the Fonterra suppliers began the process in March — just before the milk price drop.

“If we had of known what was coming we probably wouldn’t have started, but we are thinking about the future and a good dairy will always help with resale in the end,” Mr Leahy said.

The couple will go from an old 10-a-side dairy to a 24 swing-over with cup removers and stall gates. The new dairy is being built up the other end of the old shed and includes a 300-cow yard.

The yard is 50 m long and 9 m wide.

They are considering a two pond effluent system consisting of a 1 Ml and 3 Ml dam.

The 1 Ml dam will be located next to the irrigation channel so effluent can be mixed with the irrigation water and spread across the farm.

“We just have to make milking quicker and easier. Our old dairy was so inefficient. In the peak with 220 cows we would spend 11 hours a day getting the cows up, milking, washing up and putting them away. We will cut that back to two to four hours,” Mr Leahy said.

12

AUGUST 2016

“We will be able to spend more time working on the farm and less time milking, and when our worker has the weekend off, it will be a pleasure to step into the shed and milk.”

The couple is sourcing second-hand equipment, including stall gates, wherever possible to cut costs and make the process as cheap as possible. They are not planning on finishing the shed until September or October, and the recent wet weather has delayed the process.

While it has been a long journey to finally make it to a shed renovation, the couple did complete a few small projects along the way to improve efficiency, including installing a new vat and industrial plate cooler, which has reduced milk cooling time by four hours a day.

The Leahy family has been dairy farming in the area for 40 years. In a normal year the farm is largely self-sufficient for hay. The Leahys have a combined 810 ha of land which also carries 400 breeding ewes.

The recent announcement buy Fonterra to slash the milk price has made the Leahys rethink the future and they are looking at what they can do to value add to their business.

With such a large land holding, they are considering organics.

“With all the country we have, we could be

totally self-sufficient and value-add with milk, we just have to get our mindset away from chemical and fertiliser use. We could go from milking 300 cows to 150 and have a better quality of life and not be chasing our tail all the time,” Mr Leahy said.

“A2 milk is also another avenue to consider.”

Mr Leahy said it was important to always look at ways to continue to improve your business.

“You have to keep your options open. You can’t just stick with one company and get taken for granted anymore. Trust has gone out the window, especially for MG and Fonterra suppliers, after all we are all still trying to run a business and I think it will be a long process before things turn around.”

The Leahy family is planning on making this season the best it can by making as much hay and silage as possible this spring.

They recently lasered 20 ha which has been sown down to oats, and they have plans of putting in lucerne in October.

“It has been a tough time to complete a shed renovation but we are looking at dairying long term. Down the track if we ever did sell, somebody could walk straight in and makemoney from day one — good infrastructure always helps.’’

Peter and Susan Wearden’s dairy farm was among the farms recording low cell counts.

Cell count achievers

Farms in the top five per cent of the milk quality awards in northern Victoria: Agcor Dairies XII; PC & KL Angel; Beex Operations; A & J Bradley; JJ & LJ Brennan; C & R Cavallaro; Cimmaron; DF & NM Collins; RJ & JP Cook with sharefarmers SL & BE Cook and Country Road Holsteins; Coomboona Genetics; DN & AM Couston; BJ & EJ Darcy; L & LG De Fazio; M & N Demase; P & M; KI & TL Denhouting; RA & HJ Doolan; JJ & BL Evans; AJ Fiedler; Peter, Jan & Matthew Fisher; RW Fisher & SE Ross; KJ & FI Fitzsimmons M/S; Gordon Pastoral Pty Ltd ATF CB & KE Gordon Family Trust; Gundowring Farms; FA Hansen with sharefarmers PA & SE Hansen; GR & JR Hawken Pty Ltd; Helaku Dairies – Stuart, Julie, Alec & Jack Young; AJ & VK Hibberson; JC & CM Hicks with sharefarmers EG Mull & TD Hicks; GE & BA Hollingworth with sharefarmers DJ & AL McGowan; MJ & S Jacobs; SG & SJ Jones with sharefarmers GI & EA Jones; Kempton Bros; LF & SM Laffy; AK & PM Lawry; Lenree Pty Ltd; Loxby Brown Swiss; R & R McLean Family Trust; DB Milburn; Mina Helena Nominees Ltd; KF & VG Minogue Pty Ltd; Pinegrove Farming; KG, EH and W Poyner; LG & MH Schintler; SJ & JE Searle; NM Sloper & SA Wells; Star ML Pty Ltd; Hayden, Sonsi & Bryce Stephens; The University of Melbourne; MH Wearden; Peter & Susan Wearden & Lee O’Brien (herd manager); N & JE Werner; IR & DP Williams.

About 50 farmers from northern Victoria are among the top five per cent of milk quality producers in Australia.

The top group has been named in the 2016 Dairy Australia Countdown Milk Quality Awards.

The awards recognise farms across Australia in the lowest five per cent based on annual average bulk milk cell count (BMCC).

This year, the data collected by Dairy Australia for the 2016 awards demonstrated farmers achieved their best results nationally since the collection of national bulk milk cell count data from milk processors commenced.

There was 78.5 per cent in the top quality band for BMCC in 2015 (annual average below 250 000 cells per ml), compared with 63.1 per cent in 2000.

This year almost 270 farmers across Australia have been rewarded for their top quality milk. A feature of the awards sees the top 100 farmers with the lowest BMCC rewarded with a gold plaque.

Dairy Australia’s animal health and fertility program development manager Erika Oakes said milk quality across Australia was continually improving each year.

“This year we have recorded some very low average bulk milk cell counts across

Australia,” Ms Oakes said.

“It’s good to see so many farmers making a real concerted effort in both maintaining high quality milk and improving milk quality. There’s many familiar names who have celebrated high milk quality success for many years, which is a real credit to them.”

Ms Oakes said while milk quality was constantly improving each year, it was important farmers remained vigilant. A higher milk cell count generally occurs with mastitis, which in turn impacts milk quality and which products the milk can be used to produce.

“Controlling mastitis and maintaining milk quality is a constant issue farmers need to remain on top of— they can’t afford to become complacent about it,” she said.

“Reducing mastitis on-farm improves cow comfort and welfare, saves time at milking and considerable money in terms of lost milk production and animal treatments.”

Dairy Australia’s Countdown program has recently launched a series of videos and shed guides which cover off the prevention and treatment of mastitis in a format that makes it quick and easy for farmers to keep on top of mastitis control. These materials are also

available online at www.dairyaustralia.com. au/shedguides “We’ve had great take-up of these materials, which have been ordered by more than 1200 farmers,” Ms Oakes said.

“We have to acknowledge the work and support from the milk companies in this area, who have also been using Countdown materials to help farmers.

“Coming up to spring calving season, farmers need to keep a close eye on their cows and stick with their hygiene practices and systems, like wearing gloves and using teat spray.”

Data for the Countdown Milk Quality Awards is supplied to Dairy Australia by dairy companies across the country. To be eligible, dairy farms must have data for a minimum of nine months in a calendar year.

Monthly averages are then used to calculate the annual average BMCC for each farm, and the winners are those five per cent of farms with the lowest BMCC. For the full lists of the top five per cent and top 100, visit www.dairyaustralia. com.au/Animal-management/Mastitis/ Milk-quality-awards/2016-Milk-QualityAwards.aspx AUGUST 2016

13

Always ready to volunteer time Farm life is put on hold when the call comes to fight a fire.

When you milk cows before the sun comes up, the last thing you need is an emergency in the middle of the night.

But for Legendairy farmers and Country Fire Authority volunteers like Evan Bourchier, answering the call for help is just part of living in a rural community.

Mr Bourchier is captain of Strathmerton CFA, which deals with about 70 emergency call-outs each year, ranging from major bushfires along the nearby Murray River to house fires in the small town, just west of Cobram.

For nine-to-five workers, the regular call-outs and training can make firefighting a big commitment, but for dairy farmers like Mr Bourchier, responding to emergencies can put a genuine strain on time, energy and resources.

Milking the cows can’t be put off until later in the day, so when he jumps in the ute to head to the fire station, Mr Bourchier’s wife and fellow CFA volunteer Tamsin or their employees must step up to help out.

But don’t think Mr Bourchier or any other dairy farmer is complaining about volunteering. He sees the CFA as a vital part of the local district and is proud to share the responsibility of keeping his community safe.

“You also enjoy the mateship with your fellow firefighters that all get out of bed at two o’clock in the morning when the alarm goes off,” he said.

“Luckily we don’t have too many call-outs at one or two in the morning. But they are always the hardest, because you can’t get back to sleep.”

While CFA responsibilities can — and often do — come at inconvenient times for dairy farmers like Mr Bourchier, they offer a rare chance to get away from the farm and have a break from running a dairy business.

“I can work day and night on the farm, so as much as the brigade can be a pain when you are in the middle of doing something, it gets you off the farm and can get your mind off what’s happening on the farm.”

And the 29-year-old knows that while he

Point. Click. Grow.

CFA captain and dairy farmer Evan Bourchier outside the Strathmerton CFA.

might be on the truck that arrives to save a house, shed or paddock anywhere across northern Victoria, one day it might be his farm that needs help from a brigade chockfull of busy farmers like him.

“When you’re not home and something happens, it is nice to know that someone is coming to help,” he said.

“As another farmer once said to me, when the cow manure hits the fan, it’s nice to see those red and blue flashing lights coming down the road.”

For more Legendairy stories, head to legendairy.com.au

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Rob Schloss

Going forward

with a plan

Stanhope farmer is tweaking his operation to survive the low milk price.

Fonterra’s opening price at $4.75 was better than Stanhope supplier Rob Schloss was hoping for.

He had done his budgets on $4.70.

“In the context of Murray Goulburn I think they have done pretty well, I am glad they didn’t follow their opening price,” Mr Schloss said.

“Fonterra needed to do something for their

suppliers to give them some sort of faith in them again especially after suppliers attended a cluster meeting in March where they said they would hold their price.”

Mr Schloss milks 300 split-calving cows; one-third autumn, two-thirds spring. This year he will cut numbers back to 280 and he is hoping to grow more home-grown fodder.

“I normally purchase all my hay requirements

and I have identified this as an area that I need to improve upon. I am hoping to save myself $120 000 this year by growing my own,” he said.

In late May he sowed 47 ha of lucerne and oats on his outblock and 35 ha of wheat on his lease block.

“I normally have my young stock on the outblock but I have brought them home and

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Making hay will be crucial to Rob Schloss’ plan.

“

I normally purchase all my hay requirements and I have identified this as an area that I need to improve upon. I am hoping to save myself $120,000 this year by growing my own . . .

“

Rob Schloss

was drying cows off that were still giving I am concentrating on growing hay so I can Mr Schloss forward purchases water and secure some home-grown fodder. The rain while he likes the lease model idea, he feels around 25 to 28 litres. has been fantastic and hopefully it will keep locking himself into a contract while prices “I think my cows have the ability to milk coming.” are high is a bit of a risk. But in saying that longer and I was sort of doing it anyway, so he is leasing 100 Ml of water for $189/Ml, Mr Schloss has been farming at Stanhope for now I have put together a plan. I don’t run for the next three years. the past four years and owns no permanent any bulls and I will AI for six weeks in spring water.

“If you forward buy at a set price you get 100 and six weeks in autumn; anything that per cent; you might pay a little bit more for In November last year he sowed 12 ha of doesn’t get in calf will have to go.” the water but at least you get every megalitre lucerne on his milking area.

Mr Schloss spoke at Murray Dairy’s Tactics you pay for and it does give you a sense of In total he has 37 ha of permanent pasture for Tight Times event in Stanhope recently. security. I look at water as another bought-in with the balance annuals or dry.

He offered up these bits of advice for fellow feed source.” farmers: In a normal year he would use about 750 Ml Last season Mr Schloss budgeted on of water, this year he is hoping that figure • Have fun — try to make farming spending $170/Ml; he wasn’t too far away, will be about 660 Ml. as enjoyable as possible. paying an average of $185.

“I am hoping the lucerne will yield well this • Give yourself a break — you can’t afford year and help reduce my overall water usage.” This season he has upped that figure to $200, to not take a holiday somewhere. It although bearing in mind with the leased doesn’t have to be expensive.

As part of his management, Mr Schloss likes water and a partial allocation, that figure • Exercise — keep healthy, especially if the to carry over water each season to ensure he could increase. has enough to grow his permanent pasture. farm business revolves largely around you.

“It is a risk but at the end of the day you have • Plan ahead — have some sort of “This is the first season I have gone into to do what helps you sleep at night.” plan; even if it changes, it will give without any carryover water because I just you some sort of certainty.

Another management tool he is didn’t have the finances to buy any. It is a bit • Look after your cows — they implementing is extended lactation, to help of a risk but it is wet and if it keeps raining I with fertility and also because he found he might be okay.” are your livelihood.

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Leigh Fletcher and Sasha Fletcher are Murray Dairy’s new Focus Farmers for 2016. They are pictured with their children Tully, Oscar and Jaspar.

Farm in focus The Fletcher property at Cohuna is one of the new Focus Farms for northern Victoria in the Murray Dairy scheme.

Leigh and Sasha Fletcher milk 300 splitcalving cows near Cohuna and are looking forward to being involved with Murray Dairy and their group, to get the most out of the Focus Farm program.

“I was part of the Accelerating Change group, and that has been great,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This season is going to be pretty tough and I am going to have to be accountable and look very closely at our production costs. We are also going through succession planning while trying to grow the business, and I think being involved as a Focus Farm is going to help with all of that.

“I am hoping to get 15–20 farmers involved,

and they can bring their ideas along. There is a danger of getting stuck in your own ways and thought processes, and something like this is great to toss around ideas and try something new.”

Mr Fletcher farms with his mum and dad, Karen and Bluey.

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The vetch and corn silage is keeping the cows fed during the wet conditions.

The cows are milked in a 19-a-side swingover dairy with stall gates and ADF. The dairy has an individual feed system which incorporates NLIS tags and the Ezy Dairy system.

“I don’t use any less grain, but I do use it better because the cows are fed based on their production,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Two years ago they were fed a flat rate of 8 kg, today some may get 12 kg and others 4 kg, this system just helps me to utilise grain better.”

There are plans to extend the 19-a-side dairy to 26.

The herd has access to a 120-cow cement feed pad as it exits the dairy, and while it is not an ideal set-up, it is proving to be quite the place where I lose the amount of money There are plans to increase the lucerne to handy — especially during wet weather.

35 ha, but that will be dependent on the and that will become clearer as the season “When it is wet I fill the feeders up with vetch season. progresses. and corn silage and the cows eat there and The business leases two nearby blocks, one “I hope people will get involved in our Focus then head to a loafing paddock which I have is 75 ha and the other 45 ha; one is a fodder Farm. Murray Dairy offers some great wood-chipped to a depth of 300–400 mm. block while the other is used for young stock. services which people are engaging.

I have had no feet problems at all, but the Mr Fletcher grew corn silage last year, but he “Being involved in the Accelerating cows aren’t walking very far either. is unsure whether he will grow any this year.

Change program has given me some great “I haven’t had the money to get around to He fears the crop might be too expensive, information on lucerne production and rocking the lanes and probably won’t with especially if he doesn’t grow the tonnage water utilisation. I am hoping people will the current financial constraints we are facing required. become just as involved with us; there is a lot this year.” of great information out there and in a tough “I will be really looking at fodder production The 160 ha home farm consists of 20 ha year it’s great if we can support each other as and costs this year. I am not sticking to a lucerne, 70 ha of annuals and the rest cereals. particular herd number, I am just looking for well as take some time out to socialise.”

AUGUST 2016

19

Ken Cameron and his award-winning Warby Red cheese, which was Champion Washed Rind Cheese at the 2015 Australian Grand Dairy Awards and won gold medals at the 2013 Australian Dairy Product Competition and the Victorian Dairy Product Competition.

Dairy family building a niche in gourmet cheese Potential for growth is huge if funding can be sourced.

Ken Cameron looks at his family’s 400 dairy cows and sees a lot of cheese.

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The result is a variety of cheeses including Boosey Creek Cheese is a genuine familyBoosey Blue, Boosey Soft and Tungamah run operation — Mr Cameron’s brother Tasty, but it’s Mr Cameron’s signature Warby Robert manages the farm, while their Red washed rind that has cemented his name parents Don and Ada are out and about at among cheesemakers and cheese lovers. farmers’ markets, and delivering cheese to For Mr Cameron, the process of turning supermarkets and specialty stores. milk into a high-end value-added product is While Ken started off with a bang, winning extremely satisfying. a silver medal at the Sydney Show with “Taking the milk, making it into cheeses and his second batch of Warby Red, building a seeing people enjoy it … it’s a different and hand-crafted cheese business has been all interesting process,” he said. about hard graft and muscle-aching work.

Currently, Mr Cameron uses milk from just Four days a week, the cheesemaker fills a 10 of his cows for his cheese-making needs.

500 litre vat with milk straight from the herd.

One day, he’d like to see his family’s entire “It’s very important that we have good milk milk production used onsite for Boosey if we’re going to make good cheese,” Mr Creek Cheese products.

Cameron said.

“I think it could be 100 times bigger than it “We get it straight from our cows and it’s is now. It’s so small now, which is where the pasteurised on-site.” problem is,” he said.

“The next few years will be about trying to get bigger. Trying to find finance or funding to get a two or three thousand litre vat rather than the 500 litre vat.

“I can see the potential, because we’re only using milk from about 10 cows, but we produce about four million litres from the 400 cows each year.”

In the meantime, Mr Cameron is happy making cheese that is unique and much coveted by discerning foodies.

“As a young kid said the other day, the Warby Red, which won Gold at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards last year, smells like Brussels sprouts, which is right, because that’s what it’s supposed to smell like,” he said.

“But the taste is much more delicate than the smell.”

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Making the most of your pastures Small changes in grazing management can reap big benefits.

In the current tight times many dairy farmers will be focusing on gaining the best return from their investments using the resources they have available. One investment most farmers have already made is sowing pastures. The management of these pastures will impact the return on this investment. Two things that can increase this return are grazing management and nitrogen.

Many farmers have heard about leaf stage grazing, however it is important to get the basics right, especially in tight times, as small changes can result in big benefits.

The aim of good grazing management is to balance the requirements of the pasture and herd. Deferring grazing between the two- to three-leaf stage allows pasture to reach its potential production. By the twoleaf stage the tiller has restored its energy reserves required to regrow after the last grazing. Allowing the tiller to reach the three-leaf stage before grazing can be a bonus as the third leaf is an extra 30–40 per cent

22

AUGUST 2016

larger than the second leaf — though if we go beyond this the first leaf begins to die, increasing wastage.

In spring you may reach canopy closure before the two-leaf stage. If this occurs, graze before or on canopy closure, because leaving it past canopy closure will lead to death and decay, thus increasing wastage. Canopy closure is the point when no light is able to reach the bottom of the canopy and can be identified when we are no longer able to see the ground through the canopy of the plant.

Aim to leave a post-grazing residual of 4–6 cm between clumps, because this is where the tiller stores its energy or ‘fuel’ to re-grow. Grazing below 4 cm will reduce the amount of energy reserves available, resulting in smaller tillers, slower regrowth and less pasture at the next grazing, while grazing above 6 cm has no benefit to growth and increases pasture wastage.

With low temperatures and short day length during winter, leaf appearance rate slows.

This means the rotation length needs to be lengthened so the pastures continue to reach the two- to three-leaf stage target. As we head into spring our days become warmer and longer, accelerating leaf appearance rate and resulting in a shortening rotation.

Remember to keep an eye on the leaf stage of the pasture you are offering to the herd each day to see if you are reaching your target leaf stage and not shortening your rotation too soon while maintaining post-grazing residuals.

Remember, lengthening or shortening rotation length is about reaching the desired leaf stage. Post-grazing residuals are a measure of supplementary feeding level with higher residuals indicating over-feeding and low residuals indicating under-feeding.

Nitrogen fertiliser is useful and, used strategically, can boost pasture production and fill feed gaps. When making decisions, base them on the potential response rate in conjunction with your feed budget and feed

“

The use of nitrogen does not increase the rate of leaf appearance but increases the size of the leaf, increasing the volume of feed available to be grazed.

“

requirements. Ensuring the extra pasture grown is consumed will maximise the return on this investment.

The use of nitrogen does not increase the rate of leaf appearance but increases the size of the leaf, increasing the volume of feed available to be grazed. This can lead to the occurrence of canopy closure before the three-leaf stage is reached, particularly in tetraploid varieties. It is best to graze at the point of canopy closure than to allow death and decay to occur which will lead to feed wastage.

The cooler temperatures in late winter result in a lower response to nitrogen than in spring or autumn, though this does not mean it is not cost-effective. Often during winter supplement feed prices are higher and quality feed is scarcer, making nitrogen a viable option. If soil temperatures drop below 4°C response rates will be very low. A table of responses you could expect can be found under the tools tab at http://www. nitrogen.unimelb.edu.au/Index.htm

Nitrogen should be applied two to three days either side of grazing at a rate of 25 to 50 kg N/ha (about 50 to 100 kg urea/ha) to allow the plant to fully utilise the nitrogen for growth. Applying earlier than three days before grazing increases the risk of nitrates and reduces the potential response from the nitrogen applied. Applying less than 25 kg N/ha often results in unpredictable responses, while applying above 50 kg N/ha can result in a reduced response per kilogram of nitrogen applied. Combining this with grazing at the two- to three-leaf stage will maximise pasture growth.

Urea continues to be the cheapest source A tool available to help calculate this point of nitrogen. There is no difference in the for your situation is the Dairy Nitrogen response rates of different forms of nitrogen (for example, urea verses DAP) unless there Fertiliser Advisor: http://vro.agriculture.vic. is another nutritional deficiency. The best gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/nitrogenresponse will come from those paddocks advisor with few other limiting factors. Paddocks — Sarah Brown, with better species composition, high density, dairy extension officer, good fertility (P, K and S) and limited weeds with no waterlogging will respond best.

Agriculture Victoria, Tatura

Help is available in tough times Website guides dairy farmers to support and advice.

Agriculture Victoria is working with a number of organisations to support dairy farmers through the current challenging economic and seasonal conditions.

Increased support is being provided to help farmers make decisions, including through: • Dairy Australia’s Tactics for Tight Times and Taking Stock programs, which provide specialist one-to-one farm business support.

• The Rural Financial Counselling Service, which provides free financial counselling to farmers experiencing financial hardship.

Increased support is also

focusing on ensuring the health and wellbeing of farmers and communities, including through: • The Look Over the Farm Gate program, which is providing extra community wellbeing workshops and community events.

• Mental Health First Aid Training, which is giving the community valuable information about mental health issues and where to get help for themselves, their friends or family.

• Lifeline on 131 114 • beyondblue on 1300 224 636 For more information about the support that is available, phone 136 186 or visit www. dairyfarmercentral.com.au

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Improving herd fertility Plan recognises that proper transition management has positive impact on cows.

Herd health was the topic of a Murray Dairy workshop held in Echuca. Guest speakers included (L-R) Dr Les Sandles, Dr Jim Spain and Dr Stewart Scott.

Professor Jim Spain from the University of Missouri had a simple message for attendees at Murray Dairy’s Improving Herd Health and Reproduction Performance workshop in May, and that is: improvements in fertility begin in the dry cow paddock, before the cow has even calved.

He has come up with the concept of a 100day contract between the herd owner and the cows, as a simple means of improving herd fertility.

The contract recognises management influences the health of the transition dairy cow and that the nutritional metabolic status leaves a ‘nutrional’ imprint on the reproductive tract that can have positive effects well into lactation.

“Biology is consistent across all species of mammals and if they are undernourished they don’t reproduce, and cows are no different,” Mr Spain said.

He said a transition period done well positively impacted fertility moving forward.

Mr Spain has spent a large part of his life proving this theory on the 384 ha research facility Foremost Dairy Centre in Columbia, in the United States.

Mr Spain said it was important changes in diet were kept to a minimum, cows were fed correctly and, if applicable, kept cool during summer.

“Feeding and managing transition is essential

for the reproductive success of the dairy cow. It is important to understand the level your herd is currently at. Use your records to evaluate what is and isn’t working for you, what effect seasonal and feed management trends are having — only then can you begin to understand the factors related to a successful vs unsuccessful transition.”

Mr Spain said cows did not like change, but quite often as they moved through the various stages of dry-off, they encountered quite a bit. Moving from one mob to another often involved a change in diet, but keeping dietary change to a minimum, while still fully feeding the cow nutritionally, helped create a successful transition.

Cows dried off over the summer months are often left to their own devices and it doesn’t take long for a shady area to turn into a management nightmare.

At the Foremost Dairy Centre Mr Spain built a shade structure that was simple and cheap to construct, but more importantly was effective at keeping cows cool.

The structure runs north-south, is 240 cm off the ground and covered with cheap 80 per cent shade cloth. The structure has a sandy bottom that slopes toward the middle to encourage cows to lay with their hind quarters facing out so when they stand up to defecate or urinate it is on the outer edge of the shed and can be easily cleaned.

“We have found this structure to be better than shade trees where you can’t control the environment, it was much cheaper than a barn to construct, it’s portable and the shade cloth can be taken down and reused season by season,” Mr Spain said.

“We have seen improvements in milk production, decreases in retained placentas and metritis; although shade alone isn’t going to solve the problem … looking after your cows better will help.”

Mr Spain said on really hot days dry cows would benefit from sprinklers and fans, especially during the last four weeks before calving.

“Heat stress is defined by the cow and not the thermometer. The first sign is starting to pant.”

The Foremost Dairy Research Centre in the United States is at the intersection of traditional hands-on teaching and cuttingedge research.

The centre supports more than 425 cattle, including Holsteins and Guernseys. The research completed improves the health of dairy herds and the quality of their milk.

“We disseminate the knowledge gained through our research to those working in the field as well as the next generation of dairy farmers, scientists and industry specialists,” Mr Spain said.

Top Three Websites Below you will find the top three websites providing dairy specific information to help you manage the current challenging seasonal and market conditions.

1. Murray Dairy www.murraydairy.com.au For local and region specific support and to find out what Tactic for Tight Times events are taking place in your area.

2. Dairy Farmer Central www.dairyfarmercentral.com.au A new website, designed to be a source

of information on programs, initiatives and events for dairy farmers and their communities throughout Victoria. The website includes information on: • Farm business managementhighlighting programs and financial services to assist with farm management and preparation for the future

• Farmer wellbeing and supportcontacts and services all in one place

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

3. Dairy Australia Tactics for Tight Times www.tftt.dairyaustralia.com.au Find tools and resources and view fact sheets, videos, and case studies to help improve your output.

AUGUST 2016

25

Keith Lawry has spent half a century milking cows at Dingee. The MG supplier is disappointed with management but is determined to continue farming.

Disappointments part of

farming

Dairy business will continue despite the difficult conditions at present.

Keith and Pam Lawry know a thing about the dairy industry; after all, they have been milking cows for more than 50 years.

They currently have three generations of their family farming at Dingee: Keith, son Anthony (farm manager) and his son Jake.

They have weathered the storm that is dairying and have managed to expand their operation during half a century from their very first farm of 95ha, to include 461ha.

The dairy farm consists of 226ha, a fully automated pipe-and-riser irrigation system, a 50-unit rotary and a herd of 400 cows this year, down from 420–450 in recent years.

The rolling average per cow is 417 days, 11 400 litres, 850 kg of fat and protein.

The business has milked up to 500 cows,

allowing for grain at $250 and hay at $180 but found that number was too stressful for he is hoping to be close to the mark. everyone, including the four part-time milkers.

“This season I did three different budgets and The business normally grows about half of interestingly the one where we would lose its hay and silage requirements in a normal the most money was where we milked the season. This year some of the land that least amount of cows,” Mr Lawry said. couldn’t be irrigated was sown down to wheat and, at this stage, it is looking like it “In previous downturns cutting back on will go on to make hay. numbers and reducing inputs has rarely been “We might have a bit of a win there. The long a solution unless you are running a wasteful business. Your overheads always remain the and the short of it is, you put yourself in a same, there is just less cows to cover them.” position to win and sometimes you do, but if you don’t have a go you will never win,” The loyal team of workers is very important Mr Lawry said. to the business and the family is hoping to keep everyone employed through the current This season he budgeted on a $4.75 milk downturn. price.

To cope with the low milk price and wet He concedes his budgeted water price winter the family will cull NIC cows earlier of $120 Ml might be optimistic, but in

The new Accelerating Change website is now live!

By visiting www.acceleratingchangeproject.com you will find: • Updates about what’s happening on the project’s Partner Farms

• Summaries of previous Accelerating Change events, including our Open Days in May

• Data from Partner Farms examining the role of different forage types and irrigation strategies in different systems

• A calendar of future events, open to the wider industry, that span the following topic areas: forage types; irrigation and water management; soils; cropping; and nutrition

• Financial analysis of the above data, demonstrating how each of the Partner farms managed their business throughout the difficult spring-summer

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AUGUST 2016

• Additional resources addressing the five topics listed above

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

and dry off spring-calving cows at 10–12 weeks instead of seven to eight weeks.

“We are hoping this will help reduce pugging and if the cows can put on a condition score before calving we should be able to recover some of the milk production lost now.

“We are also spreading straw on the tracks to cushion the cows’ feet and sacrificing some areas for hay feeding. Stress levels are high for all concerned.”

The Lawry family has been an MG supplier for 45 years and has found the milk price issue, the claw-back plan and the board of directors’ actions disappointing.

“The present plan is flawed and will likely just encourage more problems in the future.

Claw-back will almost certainly mean a lower milk price than competitors for the

next three years, reduced supply, reducing efficiency. Unfair aspects of the plan include suppliers who leave now or retire won’t help the payback, and those people new to the industry building up supply will pay more than they should — and they are the ones who can least afford it.”

Mr Lawry said there was no easy solution, but he had a few suggestions as a starting point.

“The people responsible for this situation need to admit to their error and show a willingness to learn from the mistakes made.

“The loss they are seeking to recover should be carried by the company, and thus spread amongst everyone who benefits from the operation of MG. “Loyalties are not as strong as they were and suppliers are very disillusioned. If enough of

us in the industry speak out now, we might get heard.

“When you have been farming as long as Pam and I, you don’t change things so easily, but the next generation are different and they will make the change because they have so many years ahead of them.”

Mr Lawry said the depressed world market was out of the farmers’ control, but on the home front he felt that most consumers would be happy to pay more for their milk if they thought it would go to the farmers.

“Supermarket chains could also be more proactive in selling the milk for a fair price, with a reasonable amount going to the farmer. It would be an investment in the future of our industry and the provision of a quality food for future generations.’’

Look Over the Farm Gate Program Activities supporting rural and regional farming communities are currently occurring across the region to raise awareness and support physical and mental health. Please visit the Murray Dairy events calendar at www.murraydairy.com.au/news-events to keep up to date with events near you.

Visit www.murraydairy.com.au

Remember, you are not alone — seek support — seek advice.

AUGUST 2016

27

Sun slashes dairy bills Solar power has paid for itself already, while reducing dairy running costs.

Gayle Clark

When the sun shines on Katandra West, Gayle and Laurie Clark kick their machinery into gear.

The Legendairy farmers have installed a 30 kW solar system on their dairy shed roof that allows them to run power-hungry appliances free of charge.

“We only get an eight cent tariff for feeding back into the grid, which is a poor return, so we try to use as much sunshine power as we can,” Mrs Clark said.

“During the day when it’s sunny, I will operate the roller mill and in the summertime we use the power from the system to operate the recycled water pump.”

Using solar energy to run irrigation pumps closes the loop on a system that uses water and energy extremely efficiently.

Paddocks are flood irrigated, with run-off feeding into recycled water dams.

This water is then pumped — using solar

energy where possible — back onto paddocks, rather than re-entering the local river system.

Effluent from the dairy is utilised in a similar fashion, with the nutrient-rich liquid pumped back onto paddocks to grow more grass for the cows.

“We use everything that we can,” Mrs Clark said.

The solar electricity system has slashed power bills by a third, from $6000 a quarter to $4000 every three months.

While it was an expensive system to install, it has been paid off in just three years, rather than the six to seven years that the Clarks had initially estimated.

With a lifespan of 25–30 years for the 117-panel system, the initial outlay is looking like an increasingly good investment.

“We could see the price rises coming, so when an interest-free offer came along, we took it. It took three years to pay it off and I’d

certainly do it again,” Mrs Clark said.

For farmers like Mr and Mrs Clark, being responsible custodians of the land goes handin-hand with running a good farm business.

Mrs Clark said almost every farm in the region now had recycled water systems in place, ensuring that a valuable commodity was kept on-farm and no waste was sent back into local waterways.

“I’m not sure our city counterparts realise how connected and how appreciative we are of our environment,” she said.

“We are trying our very, very best to look after our environment.”

For Mrs Clark, installing solar panels to help power the farm is part of a philosophy of making the most of technology and innovation.

“As I heard at a recent farmers’ conference, ‘some people say why, but other people say why not?’’’

Free 1:1 Business Assessment & Support Service for Dairy Farmers The Business Assessment and Support Service delivers free one-on-one support, to assist dairy farm families and businesses in identifying their current situation and then referring them onto further assistance if required. Current financial and physical data will be collected and discussed with the aim of clarifying the farm business options.

This service is co-ordinated via Murray Dairy in collaboration with key dairy service providers — milk factory field officers, Rural Financial Counsellors and farm consultants and is available to all levy paying businesses regardless of which milk company they supply.

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AUGUST 2016

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29

Forum will share knowledge Murray Dairy is set to celebrate 20 years of operations at its annual forum.

Murray Dairy’s Business Forum will be held on Thursday, October 20 at Barooga Golf Club.

The annual one-day conference is open to dairy farmers in the region, to enable them to hear about the latest in research and new techniques in dairy farm management, from fodder growth and conservation to the most recent developments from the Dairy Futures CRC at AgriBio. With a theme of “20 years back; 20 years forward”, there will be a mix of celebrating past achievements, and looking to the future with exciting prospects of new developments.

The celebrating of the past 20 years of dairy project development and research will look at what has been brought to dairy farms in the region through wide and varied seasonal conditions in the Murray Dairy Region, during the past 20 years.

Rural Bank and Rural Finance managing director and chief executive officer Alexandra Gartmann will open proceedings for the forum, sharing her experiences not only from her current banking role, but also from her time leading Birchip Cropping Group for

Rural Bank and Rural Finance managing director and chief executive officer Alexandra Gartmann will open proceedings for the Murray Dairy Business Forum.

10 years, and the FRRR — an organisation focused on building the economic and social strength of rural Australia.

Other leading researchers and speakers will address the forum, including a session on future employment and labour plans from the Young Dairy Network group with a new generation point of view.

Kevin Sheedy will be speaking at the forum on the many changes that he has seen and managed through his extraordinary experiences in football, culture and life.

Murray Dairy chairman Rick Cross said the celebration dinner would be a fantastic event.

“We are looking forward to the celebration forum dinner in the evening, which will feature past and present personalities that have brought so much to the industry in the region over this time,” he said.

This event is open to all dairy farmers in the region as a day of learning and celebration.

Inquiries can be made through Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312, with more details and bookings available through the Murray Dairy website; visit www.muraydairy.com.au and go to the Business Forum tab.

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• Wordcount: 500 • – Caption: Dr Moore at work.

– Caption: Dr Moore getting ready to trial MOET. PICS: Lachlan Moore

Increasing rate of genetic gain A combination of technologies is reaping rewards for farmers.

The use of reproductive technologies “Hopefully the end result is high quality Because of this, Dr Woodward said such as sexed semen and embryo transfer embryos that are almost certainly female,” artificial insemination and sexed semen in commercial dairy herds is not a new she said. was preferred to embryo transfer; but now, phenomenon, however significant refinement operators were becoming more skilled and Dr Woodward said by combining this and advancement means that combining experiencing much more consistent results, technology with genomics, breeders could these technologies alongside genomic often comparable to those achieved using identify and focus on genetically superior testing could be a cost-effective approach to conventional semen. heifers, harvesting top quality embryos increasing the rate of genetic gain.

“I believe the quality of the sexed semen being from those individuals, thereby fast-tracking Multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) used is better than it was when sexed semen genetic gains. involves producing multiple embryos from a was first available.”

Results between herds would vary due to single animal, thereby amplifying desirable biological factors.

With MOET, sexed semen is still used, genetics, increasing reproductive rate and however the embryo is flushed out for use on In collaboration with the Australian Dairy decreasing the generation interval — both other animals.

Herd Improvement Scheme’s ImProving key drivers of genetic gain.

In terms of cost-effectiveness, MOET has the Herds project, the study will be conducted Dr Lindsay Moore, of Dr R.L Moore & ability to create more embryos per procedure. in herds across the Gippsland area in 2016 Associates in South Gippsland, is currently and will specifically use 12-to-15-month-old The trial started several months ago, and conducting a field study of the cost benefit of maiden heifers. while there are no firm numbers yet, Dr using sexed semen and MOET in heifers.

Heifers in the trial groups will likely undergo Woodward said Dr Moore had found some Combining these technologies could offer one or two MOET cycles before being impressive results. benefits to the dairy farmer including the mated to calve naturally.

The trial has included up to seven farms and reduction of birth rate of bull calves as well Dr Moore aims to include at least 10 farms 25–30 animals, however it is hoped that up as production of high index embryos as a in the study, which will yield important data to 100 animals may be included. saleable commodity to the wider commercial regarding the factors affecting success in dairy industry.

At this point, Dr Woodward said the trial terms of embryo yields. was achieving a high incidence of usable Veterinarian and assistant to Dr Moore, Kate female embryos. On one farm, seven animals For more information and to be included in Woodward, said in the past the use of sexed the trial, contact Dr R.L Moore & Associates have been included in the trial; flushing semen in MOET programs was limited and these animals produced 39 embryos of which through the website at even discouraged due to variable and often poor results. www.moore-embryos.com 29 were useable.

AUGUST 2016

31

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Former high-flying Demon Michael Newton is loving life back on the farm and playing for the Wangaratta Magpies.

Still making his mark Michael Newton may have taken one of the AFL’s legendary marks, but these days he’s kicking goals as a Legendairy farmer.

The former Melbourne Demons player is back home on the family dairy farm in north-east Victoria, more than a decade after being drafted to the big league.

Playing for Melbourne and South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Norwood from 2004 to 2015, the man universally known as ‘Juice’ cemented his place in football folklore with a spectacular grab that earned him the 2007 AFL Mark of the Year.

However, both feet are well and truly back on solid ground since Mr Newton returned to the picturesque 800 ha family farm on the banks of the Ovens River at Whorouly, near Myrtleford.

Towering red gums dominate the river flats, which can grow enough grass to keep the farm’s 600 Holsteins in prime condition.

“It’s such beautiful country,” he said.

It’s land that has been farmed by his family for four generations — and it’s not hard to see why Mr Newton wants to keep that tradition going.

But that family link — his father Rod and uncle Wayne manage the business, and cousins Josh and Andy work alongside him performing dayto-day tasks — doesn’t mean it’s an easy ride for Mr Newton, who can still cop a spray from his father that would do justice to an AFL coach.

“Dad likes things to run perfectly

and when they don’t you get told about it,” he said.

“To have someone who is such a perfectionist to look up to, it helps you stay on the right pathway. Dad always says if you are going to do something, you may as well do it right.”

The 29-year-old said that having lived his dream of playing in the big league, he could now take the lessons he has learnt from being a professional athlete to the next stage of his career.

“In footy, if you’re good but stay with the same game-plan, everybody is going to move past you. I guess it’s the same with the dairy industry, if you don’t keep up with the modern practices, you’re going to get run over.”

When he’s not helping to develop the farm business, Mr Newton is a key forward for the Wangaratta Magpies in the famous Ovens and Murray league.

While it’s all a world away from the roar of the MCG, it seems Mr Newton has rewritten Newton’s law of gravity to prove that what goes up, can keep on flying high.

“The lifestyle up here on the farm is great and it works well with footy,” he said.

“You’d be hard pressed not to enjoy working here.”

For more Legendairy stories, head to legendairy.com.au

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Consider your bobby calf options

A review of practices could save you money in the long term.

In light of the current tight times, now is a good time to review all on-farm decisions and ask whether they are best for business.

How bobby calves are managed is one such area to consider. Do you have the facilities and time to do the job well, or is it an added source of stress? Could you bring in a little more income by doing things differently?

Dairy farmers have several options for dealing with bobby calves so it is worth taking the time to ask whether you have chosen the option that is best for you.

A bobby calf is a calf that is less than 30 days old, weighs less than 80 kg and is not accompanied by its mother. Typically they are dairy breed, male calves.

Bobby calves need to be given the same standard of care as every other calf on the farm. If you are not able to provide this standard of care, then humane euthanasia at birth by a trained operator using a firearm or a captive bolt is the best option.

Captive bolts are inexpensive, readily available, not subject to firearm regulations (except in WA and Tasmania) and safer to have around the farm than a firearm. The NCDE runs small group accredited training 34

AUGUST 2016

in ‘Euthanasia of Livestock’ and your Dairy Australia Regional Development Program may be able to set up a course in your area if there is enough interest.

Euthanasing calves is not a task that everyone wants to do, so you need to discuss with your staff if they are comfortable to carry out this responsible job. It is also worth asking your local herd improvement company if they offer a euthanasia service.

If you choose to rear or sell your calves, good on-farm management is essential. Some people choose to rear their bobby calves onfarm for veal or dairy beef. With the current good season and strong livestock prices, rearing might be a good option if you have surplus feed and the time and facilities to get calves through to weaning economically.

They will be worth much more at three to four months than they are at five days old, but you need to consider the cost of rearing which will include milk, feed, labour and associated health costs.

If rearing calves yourself is not an option, you might be able to find someone locally who will rear them. Many calf rearers prefer to have weaned calves, in which case you will

need the space, time and milk to get them through to weaning. Advanced calf rearing systems that get the calves to weaning in less than eight weeks could be an attractive option.

If you are lucky enough to find a calf rearer who will take unweaned calves, they can leave your farm as soon as possible (as long as they are travelling direct to the calf rearer’s property). However, the calf rearer is going to want calves that are going to thrive, so you need to make sure that bobby calves get sufficient good-quality colostrum in the first 12 hours of life and you will need to be especially careful transporting very young calves.

Calf rearers tend to prefer beef crossbred or Holstein-type calves, so selling to a calf rearer might not be an option if you have Jersey calves.

Calves that are sold to a calf buyer for consignment to an abattoir might have a long journey ahead of them, and farmers have a responsibility to ensure that they are properly prepared. While they remain on the farm they need to be cared for as well as any other calf, which means colostrum, clean

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They need to be fed within six hours of leaving the farm and must be fit for transport. This means they must be at least five days old, strong and healthy. These responsibilities and others are described in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Land Transport of Livestock. Under the Livestock Management Act (2010), anyone involved in the livestock transport process must comply with these standards.

It is often less stressful for calves to be sold direct to the buyer with the aim of transporting calves for the shortest possible time or distance.

Ultimately, making a considered decision about how to best manage bobby calves and ensuring that you follow best practices is good for calf welfare, it’s good for you and your business, and it’s good for the industry.

For more information, you can contact NCDE to find out about calf rearing courses available in your region.

The Dairy Australia website has a wealth of resources: just visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au and search for `bobby’ to see what is available.

In particular, the Rearing Healthy Calves manual is available from Murray Dairy or online at the Dairy Australia website.

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Mystery illness hits calves The cause of disease is not yet known, however investigations are continuing.

Mystery still surrounds a potentially fatal including northern Victoria. illness affecting weaned calves, however recent research is getting closer to At this point, it can only determining the cause of the problem. be confirmed that the illness is not one of the Earlier this year DEDJTR animal health major exotic diseases. officers cautioned farmers to be on the Dr Charles Milne. Photo: Libby Price lookout for the disease, which includes “We’ve ruled out all major symptoms of weight loss and diarrhoea. exotic diseases like foot and mouth diseases,” Dr Milne said.

In-depth investigations into the illness have than seasonality and weather conditions. been conducted since its discovery, however Information from DEDJTR earlier this year “The only reason it is seasonal is it does occur the cause remains unidentified. stated that another symptom was ulcers in in young calves, so it occurs in times of year the mouth and throat region, however this “Progress has been made but we’re not in a when calving occurs,” Dr Milne said. position to definitively say what the cause is,” has since been disproved.

The disease could pose significant problems district veterinary officer Charles Milne said. “It’s important we get that message out that it for farmers and Dr Milne encouraged them is not about ulceration in the mouth.”

“Since February we’ve received two reports, to report any signs of the illness so animal which brings the total to 10 (cases) in the Animal health officers are undertaking health staff could conduct more research. intensive sampling on sick calves, and full last three years.”

Without knowing the cause, there was post-mortems on dead calves.

Dr Milne said affected calves were dairy no indication of whether the disease was “We are looking for all possible causes … it breeds, and the mortality rate of the disease contagious, Dr Milne said. could be anything from a chemical toxin was 10 per cent.

For more information, contact your through to plant toxins.” private veterinary practitioner or your local Reported cases have come from the three The disease reflects calving seasons rather DEDJTR animal health officer. major dairying regions across the state,

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Astre Modra from Cohuna shows off her leading skills in the ring.

Elmar Goldwyn Jessica 11, the Top BPI Cow at the 2016 Winter Fair, with Elmar Holsteins’ Steve Hore with Daniel Abernethy and Peter Williams from the ADHIS.

Another Jessica takes top award Winter Fair boasts excellent line-up.

From left, Lachie and baby Max Fisher with Sophie and Kaitlyn Joyce and Cooper Fisher at the Winter Fair.

with Holstein Australia and the Victorian The 2016 National Herd Development Winter Fair committee.

Winter Fair has been deemed a success by the organising committee despite it being Reserve Senior Champion was taken out held during one of the toughest periods in

by Elmar Goldwyn Jessica, owned by dairying history.

Elmar Holsteins.

While cattle numbers were down, the In the red class, Rusty Red Apple Redrose quality was definitely high, with senior owned by Judson Jennings took out judge Eddie Bue saying he was more than Sometimes they don’t want to move. John top honours after it was crowned Red Gardiner from Gippsland has a hard time moving impressed by the line-up of cattle, and the Senior Champion, while Lightning Ridge one of the big girls around the ring. organisation of the event.

Contender Jane-Red, owned by Bluechip Genetics, won Reserve Champion.

Elmar Goldwyn Jessica 11 (EX-91) took Reserve Junior Champion: Bluechip out the top BPI award at the Winter Fair, Organiser Stu Modra said he was pleased Mount Hero Marion, Bluechip Genetics continuing the dominance of the Jessica with the event. and Miss Holsteins. cow family bred by the Hore family at “Our numbers may have been down this year Supreme Intermediate Udder and Reserve Leitchville. but that’s just a reflection of the tough times.

Intermediate Champion: Eclipse Atwood Of all females animals entered in the fair, We still had very similar exhibitor numbers, Jessica 11 had the top Balanced Performance they just bought less cattle,” Mr Modra said. Satin, Woodlawn Holsteins and G.K. Index (BPI) calculated by the Australian Turner.

“We certainly can’t fault the quality of cattle Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme in its this year, they were as good as ever and I just Red Intermediate Champion: Empire May 2016 evaluations. hope that the fair provided people with an Destry Pearl, A. and J. Hogg.

With a BPI of 225, Jessica 11 was well above opportunity to get off the farm, get together, Reserve Red Intermediate Champion: the breed average, putting her in the top two socialise and forget about their troubles at Sunvale Redliner Wonka-Red, Sun Vale per cent of Australian herd recorded Holstein home for a while.”

Holsteins. cows based on genetic merit for profit.

Mr Modra thanked the Winter Fair Intermediate Champion and Supreme She is also among the best in the country sponsors this year and the organising for health and type with a HWI of 190 and Intermediate Exhibit: Bluechip Goldwyn committee.

TWI of 259.

Frosty, Bluechip Genetics and Toi Toi Genetics.

Results: ADHIS general manager Daniel Abernethy Reserve Intermediate Champion: Eclipse Junior Champion, Youth Show: said Jessica 11 typified the sort of cow that Atwood Stain, Woodlawn Holsteins and Strongbark Gold Tara, owned by B. and J. many dairy farmers aspired to breed.

G.K. Turner.

Gavenlock and J. and S. Maloney.

The Hore family has taken the achievement Reserve Junior Champion, Youth Show: Supreme Senior Udder, Senior Champion a step further in developing a cow family Quality Ridge Windbrook Versace, J. and and Supreme Senior Exhibit: Windy Vale of exceptional performers. Jessica 11’s B. Fisher.

Contender Rose, Bluechip Genetics, Windy sister, Elmar Goldwyn Jessica 4 (EXJunior Champion, Red Show: View Fort Vale and F. and D. Borba.

93–3E), took out the top BPI award at last Barbwire Redfoo-Red, M. Templeton. year’s Victorian Winter Fair, and in 2015 Reserve Senior Champion: Elmar the Jessica cow family created history in Reserve Junior Champion, Red Show: Goldwyn Jessica 11 ET, Elmar Holsteins. claiming International Dairy Week’s top Avonlea Acme Pompei 2nd ET Red, J.H. Red Senior Champion: Rusty Red Apple three awards — Grand Champion, Reserve and C.J. Gardiner.

Redrose, Judsun Jennings.

Champion and Honourable Mention.

Junior Champion and Supreme Junior Reserve Red Senior Champion: Lightning The BPI Highest Female Award was Exhibit: Linsand Reginal Choclat, A. presented by the ADHIS in collaboration Ridge Contender Jane-Red, Bluechip Genetics.

Johnson.

AUGUST 2016

37

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The automated pasture reader is attached to the front of a gator to read height and calculate mass as it moves across the paddock.

Sample cuts of different forage types are dried and weighed to determine the accuracy of the automated pasture reader, accounting for seasonal changes in the height-density-mass relationship.

Pasture production costs put to the test

With the cost of temporary water rising last summer, the cost of production of perennial rye-grass-based pastures was much higher than that of more summer-active species such as lucerne or sorghum, and higher than the cost of comparable bought-in feed, the Accelerating Change project in northern Victoria has found.

Information collected by the Accelerating Change project has demonstrated the importance of understanding water use efficiency and cost of production in different dairy systems across the Goulburn and Murray irrigation region.

Two project partner farms have been monitored since last spring, with a focus on the performance of different forage types and the impact of different management practices in a water-constrained environment.

Project Partner farmers Tim and Lyndal Humphris milk 325 cows on 150 ha at Tongala. Their philosophy is to run a lowinput, low-cost system that maximises the use of grazed annual and perennial pasture and uses grain and conserved fodder to balance and fill feed gaps.

Project Partner sharefarmers Don and Meg Stewart and Kelvin and Shelley Matthews share a 600-cow herd milked on 242 ha in Yarrawalla. Their system targets higher production and is higher input, with

Farmers attending a recent field on a Murray Dairy Accelerating Change field day.

profitability being the underlying driver. Just under half their feed is home-grown and consists predominantly of lucerne and a mixture of annual and perennial pastures.

Project farmers have used this year’s project data to help make business decisions moving into 2016–17.

The analysis of the data indicated that, with the cost of temporary water rising above $250/Ml in the 2015–16 summer, the cost of production of perennial rye-grass based pastures was much higher than that of more summer-active species such as lucerne or sorghum, under good management, and higher than the cost of comparable bought-in feed.

On the Humphris farm, the accumulation rates of perennial rye-grass pasture reached 80 kgDM/ha/day in October but declined as the temperature rose and evapo-transpiration rates increased. By December, accumulation rates were at a low of 40 kgDM/ha/day.

By comparison, the accumulation rates in paddocks oversown with paspalum, a forage type more tolerant of heat and water stress, were lower in October but higher from November to February. Nutritive characteristic assessments came back with similar figures, in terms of energy, protein and fibre, for both pasture types from spring to autumn.

CHART As a result of the data analysis as part of the project, the Humphrises are aiming for a more water-use-efficient system, given the likelihood of continued elevated water prices in 2016–17.

Under this scenario, they are likely to dry-off the perennial rye-grass block over summer.

As an adjustment to their fodder base, they have sown about 12 ha of lucerne which will act as a more water-efficient substitute for the perennial rye-grass block in the grazing rotation this coming year and they will persist with the rye-grass and paspalum block.

On the Stewart farm, two bays of perennial rye-grass were irrigated at two different intervals through the summer — the shorter interval being about 10 days (an average of 60 mm ET0 — R), and the longer, about 13 days (an average of 80 mm ET0 — R), which saw the plants go into water stress.

Lengthening out irrigation intervals on perennial rye-grass resulted in reduced water use efficiency. Between December and April, accumulation rates of pasture under a shorter irrigation interval were consistently higher than those of perennial rye-grass under a longer irrigation interval.

Perennial rye-grass under a shorter irrigation interval cost an average of $524/tonneDM between October and April. By comparison, >> Continued on page 40 AUGUST 2016

39

PERENNIAL PASTURE GROWTH RATES AT DIFFERENT IRRIGATION INTERVALS (kgDM/ha/day) 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 -

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR

>> Continued from page 39 under a longer irrigation interval, perennial rye-grass cost $713/tonneDM. Plant quality was also compromised by lengthening out the period between waterings.

Lucerne was a dietary staple over summer on the Stewart farm. Between October and April, an estimated total of 692 tonneDM was grown over 65ha.

Two bays of lucerne were similarly irrigated at two different intervals, the shorter about 20 days (three times in two grazings) and the longer about 30 days (once after each grazing). Lucerne does not require irrigation

as frequently as pasture due mostly to being deeper rooted, hence capable of extracting soil moisture from deeper in the profile.

Project data revealed that, although water use efficiency didn’t vary significantly between these bays, water application was directly correlated with yield. For a cost of $217/tonneDM, 12.8 tonneDM was grown in the bay watered more frequently between October and April (equivalent to 1.6 tonneDM/Ml). For $222/ tonneDM, 10.7 tonneDM was grown in the bay watered less frequently over the same period (equivalent to 1.5 tonneDM/Ml).

CHART Accelerating Change has been using an Automatic Pasture Reader to collect pasture accumulation on the partner farms. The APR is now calibrated and can be used by other farmers, service providers or researchers.

Accelerating Change has ground-truthed the device’s measurements of yield as they are collected. The single equation currently programmed into the device does not account for the changing relationship between height, density and mass of different forage types or the same forage type over different seasons.

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LUCERNE ACCUMULATION RATES AT DIFFERNT IRRIGATION INTERVALS ON THE STEWART FARM (kgDM/ha/day) 120 100 80

SHORTER INTERVAL

60 40

LONGER INTERVAL

20 0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

As the Accelerating Change project demonstrates, many dairy farmers in this region use a range of forage types in their system in order to improve efficiency and reduce risks, as well as to adapt to the range of climate conditions they experience which affect plant growth. For this reason it is critical to generate a series of calibration curves to ensure the accuracy and usability of the APR in a range of farm systems throughout the year.

The value of more accurate pasture measurement was demonstrated on the Humphris partner farm this season. The data

collected from Accelerating Change showed that as the Humphrises’ made a feeding transition through summer to increase supplementary feeding, the portion of the diet attributed to pasture through a back calculation was significantly different to the actual pasture measurements taken through the project’s monitoring and measurement component. This indicates the value of having more accurate readings from the APR. If you are interested in using the APR on your farm or in your research project, contact Accelerating Change to hear about its experience with it.

Perennial pasture resown and watered up in March, and thriving a few weeks later.

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AUGUST 2016

41

Purchase made with eye on future

Kurt Dye (left) is the fourth generation of his family to take on dairy farming at Kow Swamp near Leitchville. He is pictured with his brother Zac, dad Stephen and grandfather Ivan.

Business expands with fourth generation of farmers in mind.

When the opportunity came up to purchase the dairy farm next door, Stephen and Liz Dye jumped at the chance.

but even though contracts were signed before the milk price drop, they believe they still would have gone ahead regardless.

The family has been farming at Kow Swamp near Leitchville for many years and son Kurt will be the fourth generation to continue with the farming tradition.

“It’s not very often the opportunity to buy the neighbour’s farm comes up. We have two sons and if Zac ever wants to come back home, there will be two farms and the boys can farm independently from each other,” Stephen said.

The Dyes admit they are nervous about their purchase given the current financial climate,

“Stephen would never have let the opportunity to buy that farm go,” Liz said.

“Whilst we have been doing a lot of thinking, my gut instinct tells me we have done the right thing.

“Kurt has always wanted to be a farmer but we made sure he got out and had a life away from farming. He has a background in horticulture so he knows how to get up

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The view of the swamp from the dairy.

The next generation of the herd.

end, but that is an option we will consider,” early, and right now he is probably the only Stephen said. farmer smiling in the district, he couldn’t be any happier.”

The farm is well laid out, has good irrigation infrastructure and doesn’t need big dollars The family bought the 186 ha farm with the spent on it. There will be a few small things pick of the cows. down the track, but for now everything is Between the two farms they will milk up and running and Kurt is loving it; not 480–500 split-calving Holstein cows. even the mud is bothering him.

The initial dairy farm business had been Both farms supply Murray Goulburn, which in a rebuilding phase purchasing cows 10 is not the ideal situation. months ago.

“Ideally we would have supplied a different The purchase of the new farms brings the company to share the risk, but because family’s land holding up to 365 ha, which is no-one is taking on new supply we had no enough to make the properties self-sufficient choice but to stick with MG and we take for all their hay requirements. on that debt too. Fourteen cents a litre will To cut costs, machinery will be shared be coming out of the milk cheque every between the properties. month,” Liz said.

The new farm has sandy high ground “The claw-back has been the thing that has which has proven handy during recent wet affected people the most — it has been the conditions. real kick. It’s not morally correct. We have Pastures consist of 40 ha of lucerne and the been Murray Goulburn suppliers since the balance is sub. Depending how the pastures days of Kraft, but our days of loyalty are survive the winter, the family will consider gone. We are very disappointed with the sowing summer crops. way they have treated their suppliers.”

“We don’t know what is going to happen and Stephen’s dad Ivan is 81 and he has been farming in the district for a long time. He how the pastures will come out at the other

remembers milking his dairy herd of 22 cows by hand.

He is proud of his grandson taking on the farm but has concerns for the area.

“MG need to be looked at, they are not encouraging anyone to get into the industry.

They have an empty factory sitting in Leitchville worth millions of dollars, doing nothing,” Ivan said.

“Farmers have spent lots of money improving their farms, their irrigation systems, their infrastructure, and this happens. This is the worst I have ever seen it, and it is a disgrace; the board have a lot to answer for.”

Despite the tough times, the family is confident of good times ahead.

“If we have a good spring and don’t have to water until September, things won’t be so bad,” Stephen said.

“The industry can bounce back quickly and things can turn around in six months.

“Liz panics, but I think it will be okay,” he said with a grin.

AUGUST 2016

43

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Legendairy day for farmers A day out at the footy will be a chance for farmers to relax.

Traditional football rivals Stanhope and Girgarre will get together not only to chase football glory but to support the region’s dairy farmers at the inaugural Legendairy Farmer Day. The match will be held at Stanhope — the Murray Dairy region’s Legendairy Capital — on Saturday, August 20.

Stanhope dairy Stanhope dairy farmer and former player Andrew Hipwell and his wife farmer and former Mary are looking forward to the match. player Andrew Hipwell said the day evolved from importance of dairy farming to discussions with Stanhope the community and to support Community Health and football farmers, however Mr Hipwell club president Brett Sloane. said Stanhope’s title of Australia’s Legendairy Capital was not up “Stanhope Community Health received funding from Look for grabs at the match.

Over the Farm Gate and we “(The title) has brought a lot came up with the idea of putting of opportunities for our kids, on a day for local dairy farmers,” including the new playground Mr Hipwell said. and Legendairy Capital branded The event is simply a casual day sports tops for students. It’s out for local farmers to enjoy really put us on the map and the footy for free and have everybody’s proud of winning something to eat and drink. the title. I don’t think there’s a car in Stanhope without a Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy Legendairy Capital sticker on it.” will be a special guest at the game.

The Legendairy Farmer Day Mr Hipwell said farmers is being sponsored by the needed to get off the farm more Legendairy Capital program often, because there were many with support from Stanhope benefits from social gatherings.

Development Committee, Campaspe Shire, and local Both teams have relied heavily on dairy farming families during sponsors who will help provide food and drinks for farmers. the years, not just as players but as committee members.

“That’s why we were named the Legendairy Capital — we look The Legendairy Farmer Day after each other,” Mr Hipwell is expected to become an said. annual event to recognise the

AUGUST 2016

45

Despite the tough times and milk price woes, Leigh Kempinski is doing what he loves, and that is milking cows.

Destiny realised False start no deterrent to career as a dairy farmer.

Synchronising the heifers allowed him to Leigh Kempinski knew from the age of build up herd numbers quite quickly. In nine he was going to be a dairy farmer. His 2013 when he moved to his Girgarre farm, parents tried very hard to talk him out of it he took 170 split-calving cows, 50 per cent but it seems some things are just destined to autumn, 50 per cent spring. happen — and in 2013 he became the owner of an 80 ha farm at Girgarre.

“Mum and Dad had a 65 acre property and they were looking towards retirement, so to Mr Kempinski’s journey began when he first help me buy this place, they sold theirs and left school and started working on a dairy we looked for a farm with two titles and two farm at Kyabram with Murray and Judy houses. They live in one and I live in the Maxwell. other.”

In 2006–07 he was offered a share farming The farm has a 13 double-up dairy which role with the family and the opportunity to purchase 55 cows. It wasn’t a great beginning. Mr Kempinski updated recently with new cup removers and an 8000 litre vat. The “I lost $30 000 in my first year but I ended existing calf shed houses 50 calves and works up staying there for three years until they well. retired. I was then given the opportunity to A storm blew over the old hay shed so the lease a property at Tongala and to buy 75 construction of a new one has been a nice cows that were left, interest-free from Greg addition and complements the infrastructure Regan. It was a great opportunity and that is nicely. what really set me up on the path to where I am now,” Mr Kempinski said.

Last year Mr Kempinski changed milk companies from Fonterra to Tatura Milk, a He began milking 140 cows on the leased decision he is pretty happy about in light of property but the opportunity to pay for the the recent milk price downturn. cows interest-free allowed Mr Kempinski to gain momentum. He purchased some “I was lucky they (Fonterra) upset me when machinery and began building up his herd they did. I now have a three-year supply numbers.

46

AUGUST 2016

contract with Tat Milk. They have opened up at $5 so I am pretty happy with that.”

Mr Kempinski has no plans to milk large herd numbers. He is happy enough to keep numbers where they are, which is manageable for a bloke on his own.

Pastures consist of 50 per cent perennial and 50 per cent annual. The business has some high-reliability water shares and purchases about 400–500 Ml of temporary water a year.

As a young farmer looking to the future, Mr Kempinski — like most farmers — has major concerns about water.

“The milk price doesn’t matter too much if we have cheap water, and that’s the biggest problem we face at the moment. I am not smart enough to fix the problem, I can only whinge about it. But the system was ruined once water could be traded.”

It might have been a lot of hard work and sacrifice for Mr Kempinski to get where he is today, but he loves dairy farming and he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I enjoy being outside, working with animals and achieving something. Whether it be improving the cows or growing better feed,

The newly constructed hay shed will hopefully be full of hay come spring.

A view of the dairy farm on a cold and wet June day.

“

“

The milk price doesn’t matter too much if we have cheap water, and that’s the biggest problem we face at the moment.

Leigh Kempinski

there is always something to challenge you.”

He believes synchronising his herd has been one of the best management tools he has implemented. It gets the cows in calf and tightens up the calving pattern.

The cows are artificially inseminated, kamared (heat detection) and the returns are then artificially inseminated again. The beef bull is then thrown in and that’s it. The cows are either in calf, carried over or sold.

“I carry over about 10 cows each season and I am pretty happy with the way this system works for me.”

All young stock is agisted off the property so Mr Kempinski can concentrate on feeding the milkers.

“My heifers are at Undera. They (the landholders) are good people to work with, which I think is very important. I am loyal and I like to keep using the same suppliers because I think that works both ways and helps us all.’’

The calf shed can comfortably house 50 calves.

AUGUST 2016

47

Join the Country News community today

Welcome to our new website .com.au

Dookie Dairy Report

May 1, 2016

June 1, 2016

July 1, 2016

Cow numbers

144

136

99

kg milk solids/cow/day

2.23

2.0

1.70

kg concentrate/cow/day

9.8

9.0

7.1

kg fodder/cow/day

8.6

8.6

8.6

Pasture (KgDM) /cow

5.4

2.5

1.1

34.5

34.5

34.5

Av milkings/cow/day

3.0

2.6

2.5

No. of failures/day

1.2

1.0

1.0

No. of cows got/day

10

5

5

Litres/machine/day

1342

1100

737

378

402

379

Area in rotation

Rumination minutes/cow/day • * 12.5 MJ ME/kg DM, 22% CP. • * * 9.0 MJ ME/kg DM, 12% CP.

At the Dookie dairy cows are fed a moderate to high amount of concentrate feed to support high milk production per cow, and the high stocking rates used.

Cows are fed concentrate on an individual basis depending on their production, utilising a computerised bail feeding system.

This system feeds a minimum amount of concentrate per cow, with higher concentrate feeding for higher producing cows. The feeding rules are adjusted

according to seasonal conditions.

During the past year at Dookie, cows were fed an average of 2.0 tonnes of concentrate per year. However, this varies between individuals, from 1.5 to 2.8 tonnes of concentrate per cow per year.

Recent research on the potential benefits of individual cow feeding suggest that benefits are most likely to be seen when there is large variation in production per cow, and when pasture intake is restricted.

Both of these conditions are currently met at the Dookie dairy.

In the previous lactation, milking production ranged from 6500 to 12500 litres per cow, so variation in production between cows is large. Pasture intake per cow is also restricted in the automatic milking system, because the aim is to use pasture allocation to encourage cows to move voluntarily from the paddock to the dairy, then to a fresh pasture allocation.

AUGUST 2016

49

REMINDERS FOR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER Murray Dairy Tactics for Tight Times

Cups On Cups Off (NCDE)

Upcoming program delivery: Business Assessment Support Service Free 1:1 service: Now to June 2017 Setting Up Your Seasons: August Cropping Workshops: August Forage Planning Workshops: August to September VFF’s Look over the Farm Gate: Ongoing Employing People 101: August Business Analysis Scenario Planning: Now to December Feed and Water Budgeting: Now to September Financial Literacy: Now to December

Katandra Monday, August 8 and Tuesday, August 9

The Tactics for Tight Times program is supported by Dairy Australia through Murray Dairy as well as contribution from local service providers and farmers.

Event dates and venues will be advertised via Murray Dairy website, local media and the fortnightly eNews.

For information on the events above please contact Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5312, admin@murraydairy.com.au or visit www.murraydairy.com.au

Cups On Cups Off (NCDE)

Kiewa Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16

Murray Dairy www.murraydairy.com.au Phone: (03) 5833 5312 NCDE www.ncdeagotafe.vic.edu.au Phone: 1300 468 233 DEDJTR www.depi.vic.gov.au Phone: 136 186

Dairy Australia to advance virtual herding technology Dairy Australia will embark on a project called virtual herding to manage individual grazing animals with their feed requirements.

Dairy Australia has obtained a Federal Government grant for the development of virtual herding technology.

The grant, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce, will fund research into managing individual grazing animals and better matching their feeding requirements with the availability of feed.

Dairy Australia’s managing director Ian Halliday said Dairy Australia invested in research and technology to help ensure the longer-term viability of dairy farmers.

“While we are tightening our belts with budget cuts to manage our way through very difficult times, we are committed to longer-term initiatives that will benefit farmers.”

As a result of this research overall animal and pasture productivity will be improved, 50

AUGUST 2016

resulting in reduced production costs and improved farm profitability.

“The high upfront cost of developing technologies like virtual herding, which will reduce the cost of production, would not be possible without the shared contribution of farmers through the research levy and the support of the Commonwealth Government, which will fund approximately two-thirds of the project,” Mr Halliday said.

Virtual herding or fencing technology will allow farms to better manage individual and small groups of animals within a herd, and will contribute to a reduction in labour required to move and draft cattle.

“This project will put Australian livestock industries at the forefront of applying advanced digital technologies,” Mr Halliday said.

“Virtual fencing and herding technology has

the potential to transform individual, small group and entire herd management.”

By keeping animals out of sensitive areas and managing overgrazing, virtual herding will also help to improve environmental and animal welfare outcomes and give farm managers a better way to manage animal health and welfare.

The research grant is made under the Federal Government’s Rural Research and Development for Profit program and will be conducted in partnership with other RDCs, including Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool International and Australian Pork Limited.

Research providers and other partners for this project are Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, CSIRO, University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, University of New England and Agersens Pty Ltd.

Supports Dairy Farmers If you are a Murray Goulburn farmer and feel aggrieved at the injustice of paying for someone else’s mistakes then you need to read this letter.

DEAR Murray Goulburn suppliers and shareholders,

We are all badly affected by the recent decisions imposed on us with regard to milk pricing for the past season and the requirement to repay a portion of monies received. Further we are faced with an even lower opening milk price for the coming season, which is scarcely competitive with other companies.

We should be proud of being suppliers to Australia’s largest milk processor, we should be proud of being shareholders in one of Australia’s most significant companies, a company set up in 1950 by 14 farmers for the mutual benefit of dairy farmers by co-operation. The development of the company from such humble beginnings has been a mighty achievement but recently it has all gone wrong. Many of us have long family connections and deep loyalties to our company and we have been let down. What can be done to rebuild our faith in the company?

As supplier-shareholders we have the right to question the company and ask how the company could have got it so wrong. As farmers we know better than most that seasons and markets vary and we have to take the rough with the smooth but in this instance it seems that our board of directors have failed badly such that their decisions have put both the company at risk as well as many suppliers.

As suppliers we are worried that if we are outspoken and complain we will be penalised in some way and we often feel some disloyalty in voicing complaint. This is not the time for such feelings, we have been ill-informed and badly misled about our company’s prospects and unless we do something about it we may lose a great deal more.

It is time to band together and ask the difficult questions and really find out who is to blame for this devastating situation and replace the poor performers with capable people. We have to recognise that the company is no longer a simple co-operative but a significant modern business and one that should meet our expectations. This might involve change; change in the right direction is good for business, good for shareholders and good for suppliers.

Murray Goulburn says on its website: “Our co-operative is 100 per cent

For the complete letter go to – www.ndservices.com.au For more information please contact MG Farmers John Bell – 0419 314 304 or Paul Mundy – 0427 735 335

UNITED WE MUST FIGHT TO BE HEARD

ND Services: 31 to 33 Nelson Street, Numurkah Email: sales@ndservices.com.au • www.ndservices.com.au