THE SOUTHERN
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1986
JANUARY, 2016
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WATER MANAGEMENT PAGE 22
Outcome on port lease must benefit all Release of parliamentary report welcomed, however, key issues still need to be addressed
CHAMPION BREEDERS: Modella-based Louden Holsteins has taken out first place in the 15th annual Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Dairy Competition with their three-year old heifer Arrowstar Goldwyn Paradise-ET. Pictured here from left to right are Alex Mathews from Semex, David and Elaine Louden and judge Matthew Templeton. Three thousand cows on 500 farms across Australia have now been judged in the competition which has a distinctive format that brings commercial and registered dairymen together. The cows are judged for their conformation on-farm – without any preparation – which opens up the entries in an exciting way, and always uncovers exciting cows that no one has seen before. PHOTO: Stu Mackie
THE release of the report into the proposed lease of the Port of Melbourne has addressed some of the concerns highlighted by farming groups alike, however, according to the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and the Australian Dairy Council (ADIC) there are still a number of key issues that need to be addressed to encourage fair competition and efficiency. Both the ADIC and VFF welcomed the Parliament of Victoria’s report on the proposed lease of the Port of Melbourne, with ADIC chair Simone Joliffe having said that the dairy industry was pleased to see key recommendations address a number of concerns around the proposed lease. “This report’s recommendations reflect the
industry concerns regarding the impact of the lease on leaseholders,” she said. “In particular, the recommendations to amend legislation that will lock in a role for the Essential Services Commission to manage complaints around port pricing is a positive acknowledgement of industry advice. “However, key issues including safeguards for lease holders are not addressed. “There needs to be greater oversight and safeguards on fees and charges for port uses.
Continued page 6
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Page 2, Southern Farmer
For more information on country shows visit www.vicagshows.com.au or www.countryshows.com.au THE SOUTHERN
Covering Central South Victoria and West Gippsland Level 1, Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surry Hill, North VIC 3127 Phone (03) 9888 4822 Fax (03) 9888 4840 Email: sfarmer@nemedia.com.au Website: www.nemedia.com.au
Advertising:
Rod Berryman Phone (03) 9888 4822 Fax (03) 9888 4840 rberryman@nemedia.com.au Jodie Fleming Phone (03) 5723 0129 Fax (03) 5721 9447 jfleming@nemedia.com.au
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Editorial:
Published by Hartley Higgins for North East Media Pty Ltd, 37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Editor Jeff Zeuschner. Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue is the copyright of North East Media Pty Ltd and cannot be used without the company’s permission.
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Rod BERRYMAN
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Jodie FLEMING Editorial
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January 2016
What’s on in our southern region *FUNDING is now available to groups of sheep and goat producers to assist in bringing the benefits of the latest in research outcomes to their everyday operations through Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) Producer Demonstration Sites program. The program is part of MLA’s on-farm adoption program providing up to $25,000 a year for a maximum of three years to producer groups to validate, adapt and demonstrate the business value of implementing new management practices, technologies or innovations and associated sills into local farming systems. Producers are provided with a hands-on environment enabling them to share experiences and participate in the commercial application of research outcomes in important areas. Funding support is specifically aimed at supporting practice change and enabling producer groups to advance the sustainable and profitable production of red meat and validate research and development knowledge. Preliminary applications should be submitted by Friday, January 15, 2016. For more information visit www.mla.com.au/Researchand-development/Fundingopportunities/Producers. *APPLICATIONS for the 2016 Peter Westblade Scholarship are now open for young people passionate about the sheep and wool industry. Open to young people aged 18 to 30 years old, the scholarship provides cash and in-kind support worth up to $10,000 over
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DAIRY DAYS: Australia’s premier dairy event – International Dairy Week - is set to take place once again from Sunday, January 17 to Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Tatura.
COUNTRY SHOWS AND REGIONAL FIELD DAYS JANUARY 9-10: Bass Coast Summer Agricultural Show, Wonthaggi 16: Lang Lang Show 17-21: International Dairy Week, Tatura 24: Neerim District Country Show 26: Catani Show 27-February 4: Beef Week 2016. a 12-month period and is aimed to deliver hands on experience to young people aspiring for a career in the sheep and wool industry. The 2016 recipient will receive mentoring from industry leaders, involvement in the industry’s largest commercial genetic trial, practical training, travel opportunities, resource books and the opportunity to develop wider networks of key industry contacts. Applications close on Wednesday, January 20, with applicants shortlisted in early February for interviews by an industry panel with the recipient announced at a dinner in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday, March 2.
FEBRUARY 9: Yarra Glen Show 10-12: Sungold Field Days 13-14: Korumburra Show 19-21: Seymour Alternative Farming Expo 26-27: Rochester Show 26-28: Royal Canberra Show 27-28: Berwick Show
For more information visit www.peterwestblade scholarship.com.au. * TICKETS are now on sale for the Toyota Country Music Festival in Tamworth to be held from Friday, January 15, to Sunday, January 24, 2016. The line-up of artists includes Kasey Chambers, Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Jasmine Rae, Simply Bushed, Shannon Noll, Kevin Bloody Wilson, Troy Kemp, Ashleigh Dallas, The Wolfe Brothers, Sara Storer, James Blundell and Brothers 3. For more information visit www.tcmf.com.au. * NOMINATIONS are now open for the vegetable industry’s
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MARCH 4: Warragul Show 13: Bellarine Show, Port Arlington 19: Apollo Bay/Otway Show 19: Pakenham Show For more information on country shows visit www.vicagshows. com.au or www. countryshows.com.au. national industry specific 2016 leadership program Growing Leaders. The program, funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA), using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government focuses on giving participants the tools and understanding they need to have a positive impact on their own future, the future of their business and the future of the Australian vegetable industry as a whole. For more information contact Rural Training Initiatives via jill@ ruraltraininginitiatives. com.au to request an application form before Friday, January 22, 2016 to apply. Please note that places are limited. * THE Grains Research and Development Corporation is holding its premier grains research forum for 2016 – Victorian Grains Research Update - on Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24 at the Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo. In what is an important source of agronomic and industry information and resources, the Update will be attended by hundreds of
*Applications are now open for the 2016 Growing Leaders National Vegetable Industry Leadership Program. Growing Leaders is a highly regarded program designed to develop personal, business and industry skills. The program was designed in consultation with vegetable industry people with their specific needs in mind. The program encourages all sectors of the industry including growing, harvesting, processing, extension, exporters, importers, marketing and employees to register interest. The program ensures that participants develop effective ways of handling conflict, improve communication, manage efficient meetings, build high performance teams, manage change and media awareness. The program is costfree to The Vegetable Growers’ Association of Victoria levy payers and includes dinners with guest speakers, tours, industry functions and three residential sessions in May, August and November 2016. For more information contact Jill Briggs on (02) 6035 7284 or 0409 455 710. *The 2016 National Horticulture Convention will be held from Thursday, June 23 to Saturday, June 25 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, QLD. Hosted by AUSVEG, Central Markets Association of Australia and Fresh Markets Australia the convention will allow vegetable and potato growers, as well as marketers from across Australia to forge business networks, learn from the world’s leading industry experts and gain priceless industry insights that will strengthen the future of Australian horticulture. For more information contact Shaun Lindhe on (03) 9882 0277.
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NEWS
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 3
Camperdown Dairy ensures stronghold in infant formula market Powdered milk company introduces safety system to ensure infant formula is free from contamination
SAFE AND SOUND: CID has introduced a new laser coding system to enable customers to confirm the authenticity of their premium Australian made products such as infant formula.
WITH demand for Australian infant formula skyrocketing recently to the point of having to limit how many tins consumers can purchase at local supermarkets, Camperdown Dairy International is making sure it has a foothold in not only the Australian infant formula market but also the Chinese market by introducing a new safety system that ensures full traceability with direct access to product information. Camperdown Dairy International (CID) has introduced a new laser coding system to enable customers in both the Australian and international markets to confirm the authenticity of their premium Australian made products such as infant formula. CID general manager powder division Gavin Evans said a contamination threat to a major dairy company and farmers group in New Zealand in November 2015 and events in China had heightened consumer awareness about infant formula safety.
“The market has called for some form of defence against counterfeiting and the risk of contamination,” he said. “By laser printing unique codes on the bottom of each tin, we are taking steps to combat this problem in what we believe is the first form of bulk serialisation for individual products in Australia. “Camperdown customers have always been assured that our infant formula sourced from local Australian dairy farms is among the safest available anywhere in the world. The system generates a unique code printed by precision fibre-optic laser on each tin, providing Camperdown and its customers with full traceability across the supply chain and direct access to health and safety information specific to each product at the touch of a button. “These added new safeguards of a laser coding and the contamination proof lid with built in spoon offer added peace of mind for consumers that what they are buying is
“Camperdown has always been conscious of the fact we are dealing with a very sensitive product in the manufacture of infant formula,” he said. “We go to great lengths to ensure all Camperdown products are manufactured to the highest food quality standards, the tamper proof lids being an extension of our commitment to world best practice. “Ingredients are sourced from local dairy farms which give us the ability to control and monitor the quality of products throughout the supply chain to ensure consistent and safe products of the highest quality.” The Camperdown Cheese & Butter Factory started back in 1891 and has been supplying fresh dairy produce to the local market ever since. From simple beginnings, Camperdown Dairy International has grown to be one of the leading high-tech dairies of Australia.
the authentic Camperdown product and free from the threat of contamination,” Mr Evans said. Using a mobile phone at the point of sale, the customer can scan the QR code to access important information about the individual tin such as manufacture date, expiry, batch number, where the product has come from as well as company information and contact details. In addition, the system provides Camperdown and their distributors in various markets with unique opportunities to market directly to existing and potential customers during this mobile phone-based validation process. This will increase direct customer interaction and facilitates cross product marketing and promotional activities. Mr Evans added that the company has also commissioned a new contamination proof lid and spoon system in addition to laser coding technology to guarantee authenticity.
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Page 4, Southern Farmer journalist yes we want Contact Jodie Fleming your news__ on (03) 5723 0129
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Published by: North East Media Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hill 3127 Ph: (03) 9888 4822 Fax: (03) 9888 4840 ABN 65 006 238 277
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THE ďŹ rst all-Australian frozen berries have hit supermarket shelves thanks to third-generation strawberry farmers Matt and Ruth Gallace. Until recently, commercial quantities of Australian frozen berries have not been available. The only frozen berries that were available were imported from other countries. The couple’s 100 per cent locally grown frozen berry business, Matilda’s, was launched after dozens of people contracted Hepatitis A from eating imported contaminated frozen mixed berries. Berries are sourced from the 800 acre Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm in Main Ridge, Victoria and Queensland, which has been in the Gallace family for 50 years. Raspberries and blueberries are sourced from New South Wales and Tasmania. The berries are all handpicked, washed and snap frozen in an entirely new purpose-built facility in the Yarra Valley. Matilda’s co-founder Ruth Gallace said the fact that they have built the factory from the ground up, and the packing site is exclusively for fruit, means there is no risk of cross contamination. “In many cases nuts are processed on the same site used
BERRY DELIGHT: Charlotte and Ella Gallace pictured promoting their family’s new frozen berry venture.
to process other foods, which causes great concern for parents who have children with allergies,� she said. “My daughter has anaphylaxis and I’m only too well aware of the need to ensure there is no chance of contamination. “The beauty of having our own site means it’s only used exclusively for fruit, so there is nothing else processed on site,� Mrs Gallace said. She added that the origin
of each product is completely transparent too and is labelled on each and every bag, so consumers know which region the berries came from. “We’re really proud to be able to provide a product which really challenges the current food labelling system. “There needs to be far more transparency as to food origin, how it’s processed and packaged.� Mrs Gallace believes that it is
now up to the consumer to show they want a wholly Australian product and to ask for it at their local retailer. “Demand will now be driven by the consumer, and the people really do hold the power. “If you ask for the product, your retailer will order it in,� she said. Matilda’s frozen strawberries can be purchased at Leo’s, IGA, Foodworks and La Manna’s across Victoria.
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NEWS
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 5
Country of Origin labelling proves important after another scare VITAL reforms to Australia’s food labelling system has once again come to the forefront of food producers’ minds as four new cases of hepatitis A is being linked to frozen berries imported into New Zealand. AUSVEG claims that the New Zealand health scare, which echoes the outbreak of hepatitis A linked to imported frozen berries that occurred in early 2015 in Australia, highlights the need for regulations that give consumers the power to choose where their food comes from. “Given the situation in New Zealand and similarities to what took place in Australia, it’s more important than ever that Australia has effective Country of Origin labelling,” said AUSVEG deputy chief executive officer Andrew White. “We’ve seen New Zealand raise concerns in the Ministerial Forum on
Food Regulation about the impact that Australian Country of Origin labelling reforms could have on New Zealand food producers who import food into Australia. “All Australia’s reforms will introduce transparency into our labelling system so that consumers can make informed decisions about their food purchases. “The only producers who could possibly be hurt by this kind of reform are those who are importing dangerous produce from countries with lax food safety standards and want to hide this vital information from consumers,” he said. The new health scare has led to New Zealand’s opposition parties calling on the government to introduce mandatory Country of Origin labelling. “Shoppers deserve to have this kind of information available to them in the supermarket isle, and
New Zealand’s statement to the Ministerial Forum goes against all principles of consumer rights,” Mr White said. “Transparent food labelling must apply equally to all countries, regardless of trading relationships, so that consumers get the information they want and sorely need.” The Federal Government recently released its Consultation Regulation Impact Statement which outlines issues to consider in implementing the reform agenda. Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne said that significant progress had been made in meeting community expectations and that government was keen to talk to business about their role in delivering these improvements to customers. “We have come a long way in addressing an issue that many governments of both sides before us have
failed to resolve,” he said. “The next step is to gather the right information to ensure our final decision meets everyone’s needs.” A new label for food is proposed with the kangaroo in a triangle icon and a bar chart with accompanying text showing what proportion of ingredients are from Australia. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said the work was being undertaken jointly with state and territory governments, reflecting shared responsibility for Australia’s origin labelling system. “We are determined to deliver a meaningful and clear country of origin labelling system for food and we are well on the way to making that happen,” he said. “Concerns about Country of Origin labelling have been going on for too long.
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“The changes we have flagged will finally address those concerns so that Australian shoppers can have confidence about the origins of the food that they buy,” Mr Joyce said. The consultation includes an opportunity to comment on a draft
information standard that sets out the rules around food products and the proposed new labelling requirements. Ministers said they also wanted to hear from businesses outside of the food sector as both food and non-food businesses would be interested in
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NEWS
Page 6, Southern Farmer
January 2016
Outcome on Port of Melbourne lease must benefit all From page 1
“Further, the issue of compensation for leaseholders, the amount of money being allocated to rural and regional Victoria, the timing and process for development of a second port, and the investment in the freight infrastructure servicing the port must also be considered,” Mrs Joliffe said. The Australian dairy industry is the fifth largest user of the Port of Melbourne, with more than 85 per cent of Australia’s total dairy exports sent via the port. It is not only the point of export for Victorian dairy producers, but also for the dairy industry located in Tasmania and parts of South Australia and New South Wales. The ADIC has previously expressed concern at rent potentially doubling by 2023, which will significantly impact dairy’s competitiveness globally. Mrs Joliffe added that the pricing, ongoing cost effectiveness and efficiency of the port will continue to play a pivotal role in the global competitiveness of Australian dairy. “In conjunction with the VFF, the ADIC will continue to engage with the Victorian government to ensure the lease agreement encourages competition and efficiency,” she said. VFF president Peter Tuohey said that in the lobby group’s submission it called for ongoing infrastructure investment
STATE ASSET: More than 85 per cent of Australia’s total dairy exports are sent via the Port of Melbourne.
into regional and rural Victoria, which he said he was pleased to see prioritised in the report. “We have always maintained that regional Victoria should get its fair share of the lease of the port given farmers and regional Victorians are the main economic drivers of its use,” he said. “We have also made it abun-
dantly clear that the lease of the Port of Melbourne must include safeguards around pricing. “We are calling on both the State Government and Opposition to come to an agreement here,” Mr Tuohey said. The report highlights a lack of high-quality rail links to the port and calls on the government to start work on the fully
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funded, $58 million port-rail shuttle immediately, and begin planning a rail link to Webb Dock, due to open as a container port this year. The VFF has called for clarity around the term of the lease including the 20-year lease extension. “It’s pleasing that the report recommends proper parliamen-
tary process to be followed for any lease extension,” Mr Tuohey said. The VFF has expressed concern around the day-today costs of accessing the port which could skyrocket if a regulatory framework is not in place. “The report has echoed some of our concerns of vertical in-
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NEWS
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 7
The dry cow – the most important animal on the farm By JOHN LYNE Dairytech dairy production specialist
Committee: Warren Miller 0423 396 014 Ken Manton 0437 585 605 www.charolais.com.au
worse, most of it will be soluble protein causing other health problems as mentioned above. If you haven’t already guessed; there is one feed that â€˜ďŹ lls the bill’ perfectly: silage. Recent knowledge has raised other matters in the protein arena that are known as amino acids – types or fractions of true protein. Again, a subject for a whole article at a later date, but sufďŹ ce to say, one of my sons and I are travelling to the USA in February for training in amino acid optimisation. More on our return and perhaps some practice on grazing based rations. The potential of balancing amino acids has been well demonstrated in one of our client’s herds: high milk production, high MP percentages and very high fertility. Last, but by far not least, is mineral nutrition. Supplementation of a sound mineral mix to dry cows is well supported by a burgeoning body of research. The difďŹ culty for us in grazing systems is how do you do it unless you are fortifying a low nutrient forage source (hay/dry pasture) with a quality dairy grain mix daily? We have designed and manufactured a self-feed, rain resistant mineral mix that can be placed in troughs weekly at dry cow sites. The dry period is a good opportunity to replenish minerals depleted during lactation even with good supplementation during lactation. Blood tests we’ve done on dry cows have
YEA SALEYARDS 2.00 PM, WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH 2016
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TRACTORS CASE trencher, articulated, 4wd, 40hp diesel. CLAAS Ares 556 RZ ,4wd, Stoll loader, a/c cab, 3pl, rem, tidy unit. DEUTZ DX 110, fwa, a/c cab, loader. FERGUSON TED, diesel, rops. FORDSON Major diesel. FORD 6700, dual power, a/c cab, 3pl, 77hp, 2wd. FORD TW30, reco engine & clutch, fwa, a/c cab, 3pl . FIAT 580, 2wd, a/c cab, 3pl, pwr steer, 58hp. INTER 414, loader, rops canopy, new clutch, 3pl, good tyres. ISEKI 6000, fwa,4 post rops, 3pl, pwr steering. JOHN DEERE 6600, fwa, a/c cab, fel. LEYLAND 253, pwr steer, rops, 50hp. MASSEY FERGUSON 135, rops , tidy. MASSEY FERGUSON 148, rops , like new. MASSEY FERGUSON 355, a/c cab, pwr steer, 3pl. NUFFIELD 10/60, rops canopy, 3pl, d/bar. Runs well. 60hp. SAME Silver 100.6 ,Agroshift, fwa, a/c cab, new rear tyres ,103hp. Excellent unit.
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proven the deďŹ ciency despite supplementation during lactation. While dry and no lactation demand, mineral reserves can be lifted signiďŹ cantly with wholeof-lactation beneďŹ ts. Macro minerals of calcium (especially), magnesium, phosphorous are reabsorbed into skeletal frame ready for supplementing milk production and reproduction of early lactation. Likewise, trace elements of zinc, copper, cobalt, manganese and selenium (essential to address retained placenta/foetal membrane), vitamins of A, D3 and E are fat soluble, stored in body fat for, again, supplementing cow health requirements (immunity) in early lactation when demand exceeds intake.
New loaders available to suit all tractors above. BACKHOE Trailing Cranvel backhoe with 3 buckets, pto driven. RIMS & TYRES New Ferguson 16� and 19� front rims. VINTAGE Vinyard model Lanz Bulldog. 28hp, 3pl. Farmall Cub, reco engine, suit restoration. V8 diesel Deutz irrigation motor with 15 KVA generator, and pto.150hp‌.$8,800 inc gst. IMPLEMENTS Massey Ferguson post rammer, Front end loader for Massey 35148, 16 plate 3pl discs, soft hands for fel, Connor Shea 14 row tyned 3pl seeder, 2.5 mtr Rau rotary harrows, 6ft Berends grader with rippers, 7ft smudger, 3 furrow disc plow, 3.5 mtr Lely Power Harrows, 5ft - 8ft slashers, 3pl bale forks, grader blades, Howard Paraplow, Krone 2.5 mtr rotary harrows, wick wiper, Hardi 1200 ltr trailing spray unit with 10 mtr boom & hand reel, quick detach front end loader , assorted tractor weights & frames. WANTED Good quality late model tractors. Also Wanted for wrecking‌‌Ford: 5000 6600 6610 7600 7610 .Ford, New-Holland: 5640 6640 7740 7840 8240 8340 S/SL . New-holland: TD 85 TD 95 L85 L95 L90 Ts and TL series . No Powershift.
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dry cow (dependent on live-weight – Jersey/ Holstein). Any of my clients who feed solely ad-lib silage to dry cows (we can control the diet for many other parameters when we lot feed drys/ springers) can vouch for just how much feed this is: two to three rolls of silage per cow for a 60 day dry/springer period. DMI is the number one failure in dry cow nutrition (and springers). It is always either not enough, or too much -not enough in late summer/dry pastures or hay, and too much in unrestricted, fast fermenting, pasture during the growing season. The ‘not enough’, apart from sub-optimal rumination/health issues, invariably these dry cows will be very deďŹ cient in energy and protein initiating mobilisation of body reserves. We have blood tested dry cows that had no ‘visible’ BCS change, yet were in signiďŹ cant sub-clinical ketosis resulting in LDA’s postcalving (and I might add, low blood calcium = sub-clinical milk fever and still dry). Alternately, the dry cow on an out-block with unrestricted lush grass will eat too much (lower ďŹ bre/fast fermentation and its inherent problems – acidosis) furnishing excess energy metabolised to body fat and predisposing our cow to ketosis at, or soon after calving, and
calving difďŹ culties. On unrestricted pasture her intake of soluble protein will cause very high blood urea nitrogen levels and another whole range of health issues (for later discussion). Following on from the ‘too much’, this diet is also too low in ďŹ bre. A high ďŹ bre diet for dry cows is essential to rumen health/function. We want to keep that rumen churning and producing as many as possible cuds for chewing; qualify this by knowing we are getting our eight to 12kg DMI. Hay or dry paddock feed may keep cows chewing all day, but the limited amount of energy/protein digested from poor feeds will plummet her into weight loss and a cascade of health/production problems at calving. Calving, and the ensuing three weeks of health/production data is a potent report card on dry cow/springer nutrition. Energy: we need an energy density of 9 MJME per kg DM. We are only aiming to meet the cow’s energy requirement for maintenance (no weight gain or loss), and supply the calf’s needs. For an average 10kg DM intake, this is 90 MJME; about 70 MJME for cow maintenance and 20 MJME for the calf. The calf’s additional energy needs in the three weeks prior to birth will be met by the three kg of Lead Feed grain. Protein: aim for a ration of 14 per cent crude protein. Grazing of fresh pasture will exceed this very signiďŹ cantly, and
;MXL E ,E[O &MVH 7GEVIV 36 MX [SR´X GSWX ]SY E VIH GIRX
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MANY a lactation is won or lost in the dry cow phase. There has been a signiďŹ cant failure in Australian dry cow nutrition with a tell-tale legacy in national average milk production and fertility. We have one client with rumination technology monitoring cows. Apart from very early detection of health issues in lactating cows, the greatest shock to my client was dry cow rumination; or more accurately put, lack of it. Rumination is the engine of the cow. Any reduction in rumination not just lowers milk production, but the cow is heading downhill very rapidly, with plummeting health. But as above, alerts to very early intervention to compensate. The ďŹ rst and foremost considerations are: energy, ďŹ bre and protein; but even more so, dry matter intake (DMI). The above rumination technology alerted us to just how frequently we fail our dry cows with insufďŹ cient feed. Using dry cows to clean up paddocks in late summer is a recipe for disaster on intake alone, without any consideration to adequate energy or protein. I defy anyone who can judge how much ‘consumable’ feed is in any given paddock. The negative effects of this in past experience for either dry cows or lactating cows is well documented in our ration analysis library of the past ďŹ fteen years. Dealing with DMI ďŹ rst, we need to feed eight to 12 kilograms (kg) DM daily for a
“Solve Your Bird Problems�
NEWS
Page 8, Southern Farmer
Interest increasing for Polled Highland breed of cattle
Leaf, Twig & Stick Rake. For Ride on Mowers t/05d07642-v11/4515
Clean up in time for the FIRE season
January 2016
1800 819 493 sales@stumpmansales.com www.stumpmansales.com
ECOSS Organic Certified Seedlings Organic certified vegetable and herb seedlings grown to order in farm-trays. We help you with orders and delivery at competitive wholesale prices. Contact Shaun Bayly our Nursery Manager to discuss. We propagate certified heirloom seeds in our Community Enterprise Nursery and can source other varieties including hybrids at your request. Mobile: (04) 7717 8242 Office: (03) 5967 2416 email: nursery@ecoss.org.au Yarra Valley ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, VIC 3799
By DAVID RIZZOLI
K/05D07961/15-15
THIS is the case of the disappearance of the horns from the Highland beef cattle breed. The Highlands, with their majestic sweeping horns – upwards on the females and down on the males – and long shaggy coats, are much admired by all who see them paraded at Royal and regional agricultural shows. But many beef cattle buyers and abattoirs dislike horned cattle because of wastage through bruising. This is why most breeders of horned cattle dehorn their animals or switch to polled breeds such as the Poll Hereford and the Shorthorn - both of which are derived from horned stock. Julia and Kerry Webster have been breeding Highland cattle at their 90 acre Mayfield Highland Cattle Fold at Bungaree, about 15 kilometres east of Ballarat, for 25 years on the lush pastures that grow on the rich red volcanic soil of the Ballarat region. They have been breeding and showing (with much success) Highlands since 1991. Polled Highland cattle are bred from ‘Luings’which are one quarter Shorthorn (another Scottish breed) and three quarters Highland and are regarded as ‘pure’ polls.
HAIRY HIGHLAND: According to Polled Highland cattle breeders Julia and Kerry Webster the breed are gentle, and without horns easier to send off to market when the time comes.
What is seen is good old fashioned genetic modification which has been ongoing since man began domesticating animals. Five years ago the Websters purchased some polled animals derived from the Luing and crossed them with their pure Highland bulls resulting in two polled Highland bull calves and one polled Highland female calf . By using the polled Highland bulls over the traditional Highland cows the progeny, according to Julia, can be half polled and half horned. Otherwise breeders can start
with a polled bull over any other breed and back cross to the polled bulls for four generations to achieve pure Poll Highlands. Now the Websters breed only polled animals which Julia said are a gentle breed, and without horns they are easier to handle and easier to send off to market when the time comes. “The Poll Highlands are very fortunate to have the poll gene already established in the breed,” Julia said. “With increasing demand from other breeds for the poll gene, we feel we are one step ahead.”
Having incurred the ire of traditional Highland breeders, last August a small group of Poll Highland breeders formed the Poll Highland Society Inc, with Julia as its president. The society registers Poll Highlands, horned Highlands and Miniature Highlands. Unregistered cattle can be inspected through an inspection system. The Poll Highland Society launched into showing at the Ballarat Show in mid-November, when two young Poll Highlands were paraded before the judges.
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BEEF WEEK
Page 10, Southern Farmer
January 2016
Beef Week 2016 enters its 25th year
TO celebrate 25 years of Beef Week, south-east Australia’s stud beef cattle breeders are gearing up to provide special displays of their herds and sale bulls from Wednesday, January 27 to Thursday, February 4. Beef Week is the major marketing activity for most host properties that display up to 5000 bulls representing 30 breeds in the nation’s biggest on-farm open day beef industry event. Beef Week now runs for nine days to accommodate the number of properties wanting to be involved and allow more time for visitors to search for the best herd improving genetics. “While the Beef Week formula hasn’t changed much over the years the on-property displays have,
with stud breeders reacting to visitor demand for bigger herd representations,” said Beef Week director Geoff Phillips. The RASV Beef Week Heifer Challenge has added to the broader interest of displays on properties, with pens of 10 two-year old replacement stud heifers competing for the $4500 prize money on offer. The difficult job of visiting the 50 properties with entries in the Heifer Challenge and coming up with the winners will be with experienced beef industry identity Bob Dent from Glen Innes, NSW, who has judged at Royal shows and internationally, and he is also a renowned communicator with skills honed in extension roles with the NSW Department
of Agriculture and Angus Australia. Starting on Wednesday, January 27 in the north-east Riverina, a cavalcade of beef cattle enthusiasts will follow the Beef Week trail for nine days concluding on Thursday, February 4 in the Goulburn Valley-western Riverina. Beef Week is a great opportunity for seedstock and commercial producers to compare breeds and studs within breeds before making buying decisions. “Beef Week allows both big and small operations to display their stock. “Many sell privately on the day and for many studs it is their major marketing day of the year, while others display the bulls catalogued for upcoming on-property
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Limited No Young Bulls and Select Heifers for Sale during Beef Week
Address: ‘Mathoura’ 47 School Lane, Tarrawarra
T/05D08547/0216
www.tarrawarralowlines.com
BEEF WEEK: Cumbria Belted Galloways principal Stan Robinson of Buangor with one of his stud matrons and her calf at last year’s Beef Week event.
Buying back an old favourite proves successful for Kenmere
TARRAWARRA LOWLINES
Jacqui & Richard Feagan 0409 384 077
sales,” Mr Phillips said. As in the past, Herefords and Angus studs make up over half the studs involved with 72 whiteface studs and 59 Angus studs opening their gates. Other breeds with strong representations are Limousin with 15 studs, Charolais with 13, Simmental, including Black Simmental, with 10 studs and Red Angus with nine herds on display. The range of breeds on display includes Lowline, Brangus, British White, Speckle Park and Wagyu. The usual multi-stud display at the Mt Gambier, SA, showgrounds has 11 studs with 10 breeds on Day 8. Details of the studs in Beef Week 2016 are available on www.beefweek.com.au.
KENMERE Charolais Stud specialises in the production of beef genetics that include low birth weight, ease of calving, moderate growth and frame size. Over recent years embryo and AI programs have provided the stud with original Kenmere genetics’ in its female breeders. Today, more than 50 per cent of Kenmere’s breeders come from its original bloodlines. These bloodlines were from cattle imported into Australia in the 1970’s from France via New Zealand. Stud principal Ann-Marie Collins said that Gilman Kristo was the first embryo calf born to Kenmere Kristina 111 in 2008 and after some time the calf was sold off at the all-breeds sale in Albury Wodonga. As this bull held such a soft spot in Mrs Collins heart, she continued to follow the performance of the bull and spoke to the
Our aim is to continue to produce the wide diversity we have in our herd and increase our selection for sale bulls and females.
PO
owners about the opportunity to repurchase the bull when the time came for them to move him on. “After visiting them in early 2015, I made the decision to buy him back so as to be able to collect semen at our Holbrook property,” Mrs Collins said. “Recently, 100 straws have been collected by Holbrook breeders and now he has been joined to our commercial Charolais. “His mobility, feet and rib and rump, EMA and calving ease will now be put back into our own purebred herd. “It is our intention to use this
sire over bigger framed females moderating their calves making them ideal for the style of bulls we sell to our customers,” she said. Many of the stud’s bulls are the product of AI or embryo campaigns. Individual sires are selected to provide the treats for good commercial breeding. Throughout each year hand selected females are used in Kenmere’s AI programmes. “Our aim is to continue to produce the wide diversity we have in our herd and increase our selection for sale bulls and females. “Stud sires at Kenmere are from an individual blend of females and selected AI sires,” Mrs Collins added. The Holbrook-based stud will be open on Day 2 of Beef Week on Thursday, January 28. For more information visit www. kenmerecharolais.com.au.
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BEEF WEEK
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 11
Plenty on offer at Heatherington Park HEATHERINGTON Park Poll Hereford Cattle Stud will once again be participating in 2016 Beef Week where a selection of the stud’s livestock will be on display for prospective buyers. The Allendale-based stud’s feature sale bulls will be on show and available for sale on the day along with a sample of its breeding females, yearling bulls and heifers, and recently weaned calves. Heatherington Park’s sale bulls are by Allendale Robin Hood D.194 which was purchased at the 2010 Dubbo National in partnership with the Ke Warra stud. He is out of the great Fancy U.5 cow that has produced all the Robin Hood bulls, including a $30,000 Dubbo Senior Champion, and a grandson sold for $22,000 at Dubbo in 2010. A paternal brother of D.194 also sold for $22,000 in 2011 and a son sold for $10,000 in 2012. According to stud principal Philip Gay, the sale bulls are all weaned
in early January each year when they are eight to 10 months old. “The 2013 and 2014 weaning weights of bull calves, sired by Robin Hood D.194, averaged more than 400 kilograms, with a top of 448 kilograms,” he said. “These calves receive no supplementary feeding, prior to weaning, and the 2016 sale bulls average 760 kilograms at 18 to 20 months. “D.194 has excellent Breedplan EBVs with low birthweight and high milk, growth and muscle,” Mr Gay said. The Heatherington Park cattle stud was established in 1991 with its foundation females purchased from Studbrook, Wolbull, Margfred Park and Polaris, with further females from Kenya, Omeo, BRT, Wiranya, Debarry, Studbrook and Burando dispersals. Heatherington Park also has a Bed & Breakfast Cottage which is located on the 300 acre central highlands property called “Lone Hand”.
The property has seen many uses over the years, including gold mining, potato growing, Clydesdale and race horse breeding, grass seed production, cropping and fat lamb production. Mr Gay said that the newest addition to the stud is stud sire Days Brigadier G.101 which won Reserve Senior Champion at the Dubbo National and sold for $40,000. He is by Allendale Waterhouse D.1 and his first calves will be on display on Saturday, January 30 during Beef Week. Mr Gay said Beef Week provides the opportunity for clients to purchase their new sire on the day, gain an insight into the stud’s breeding program and to discuss matters of mutual interest. “All bulls are for sale on the day, so why not get in early and secure a new sire while you are there,” he said. For more information visit www. heatheringtonpark.com. au.
ON SALE: Sale bull K.08 will be ready to be purchased at Beef Week.
Genetic potential the key at Mandayen Limousin
The Halliday family welcome you to Beef Week Open Day Sat 30th January on display will be our new stud sire Moongool Just a Gigolo, calves on the ground by Palgrove Hermes, plus AI calves at foot including Waterford KA BOOM Grand Champion Bull Melbourne Show 2015 at 16 months EMA of 135cmsq., featured in an up and coming mini series on the ABC 2016. Our line up includes cows and calves, heifers and bulls for sale at Whittlesea Southern Breeders Sale at the NEW VENUE Yea Selling Complex Wed March 3rd at 2pm. We would like to thank all our clients for their support.
FREE DELIVERY: Those who purchase one of Mandayen Limousin’s bulls will receive free delivery in South Australia and Victoria. RUNL Xtra Loyal, WZRK Prime Cut, Wulfs Spring Loaded, Hunt Mr Jock and the homebred sires Duracell D1098, Energizer E1338 and Fat Boy F1596. The sale bulls will be DNA tested for homozygous polled and homozygous black, vaccinated and ear notch tested for pestivirus. The stud will deliver the bulls for free in both South Australia and Victoria. The entire bull sale offering will be on display at the stud’s 2016 on-property field day to be held on Tuesday, February 9.
A draft of Angus sires featuring Millah Murrah genetics and Limflex (Limo X Angus) sires will be available for private sale on the field day. “The angus bulls are sired by Te Mania Emperor E343, Vermillion Dateline VRD, Ardrossan Equator A241 and BT Right Time 24J,” Mr Bayne said. “They are out of our foundation Millah Murrah females that we purchased at their record breaking 2013 stud female sale.” For more information visit www. mandayen.com.au.
T/05D08599/0216
MORE than 100 bulls that have been selected for their economic traits, structural soundness, muscle and docility will be up for sale at Mandayen Limousin’s upcoming on-property sale to be held on Wednesday, February 24 at 12.30pm at the ‘Eight Mile’ sale complex, Keith in South Australia. Mandayen Limousin is Australia’s largest Limousin cowherd, having registered 330 Limousin and Lim-Flex calves in 2015. The stud’s 11th annual bull sale will consist of 65 high performance bulls that, according to marketing and stud administration manager Simon Bayne, have had to perform in large contemporary groups. “They possess the genetic potential to improve docility, muscling and softness, giving our clients a great opportunity to secure quality bulls at value for money prices,” he said. Sire lines include Wulfs Zander,
Crystal Clear Choice in Genetics
DEBORAH HALLIDAY - WATERFORD CHAROLAIS PO BOX 1004, MT MACEDON, VICTORIA 3441
MOBILE 0428 605 060
Email: waterforddowns@bigpond.com.au
Sons of ALLENDALE ROBIN HOOD
D.194
H.Robin Hood K.08
are for sale during Beef Week
H.Robin Hood K.21
AVAILABLE FOR SALE BEEF WEEK - SATURDAY JANUARY 30, 2016 FOR SALE
t/12d12153-v6/49-15
Robin Hood D.194, purchased Dubbo National 2010, has outstanding Breedplan EBV’s with a son selling at Dubbo for $10,000 in 2012. He is a maternal brother to the 2013 Grand champion bull at both Melbourne and Adelaide Shows and his sire is by Allendale National W.168 ( Sire of the Year $85,000 ) out of Allendale Musketeer’s ( Sire of the Year $58,000 ) full sister. His excellent rising two-year old, grass-fed, sons are available for sale on the day, along with selected females. Also on display will be the first calves of Days Brigadier G.101 ( Dubbo Res.Senior Champion $40,000 ). All visitors welcome
PHILIP R. GAY, Ph/Fax 03 5345 6167; Mobile 0412 565 292
www.heatheringtonpark.com.au 3832 Creswick-Newstead Road, Kingston 3364 (8.5 kms from Creswick)
H. Robin Hood K.47
BEEF WEEK
Page 12, Southern Farmer
January 2016
Best ever draft as Woonallee fulfils client needs
SENSATIONAL SIMMENTALS: Woonallee’s breeding objectives are clearly focussed on commercial productivity, tested all the time in their own highly productive commercial herd.
WOONALLEE SIMMENTALS For the very best in Simmental .......... whatever the requirement
Dates to Remember Victorian Beef Field Day Tuesday 2nd February 2016 Mortlake SA Beef Field Day Monday 8th February on Property
Woonallee Elite Production Sale Thursday 11th February 100 bulls
Contact: Tom & Lizzy Baker Mob: 0428 475 066
PMB 52 Millicent South Australia
“For the Commercial Edge”
S
www.woonalleesimmentals.com
Featuring: 35 Traditional Simmental 5 Red Simmental 40 Black Simmental 20 SimAngus
SWON0181115
The best draft we have ever presented!
BY letting their cattle and clients do the talking, the stud principles of Woonallee Simmentals are single-mindedly focussed on producing the best quality cattle they can to suit client needs and market feedback. Woonallee Simmentals director Tom Baker said his stud’s beef genetics rate with the best of any breed in Australia based on the evidence of their stud and commercial sales over the past 12 years. This has seen their Furner-based bull sale grow from an initial 16 bulls in a joint vendor sale with Waterfront (32 bulls in total) up to their February 2016 stand-alone offering of 100 highest quality Woonallee bulls. “Not only have the numbers increased, but also the range and quality,” Mr Baker said. “We have searched the world for Simmental genetics that will perform to and beyond expectations off grass in the open range grazing regimes in Australia.” Where they have found them, mainly in South Africa, USA and Canada, they have invested heavily to bring Australian producers highly productive and profitable beef genetics. This has seen the Woonallee herd go from traditional coloured and de-horned Simmentals to a herd that is now multi coloured and about 90 per cent being polled. Tom and Lizzy Baker have always been adamant that while poll cattle is their objective and is highly desirable, any introduced into the Woonallee herd had to also measure up for
high performance and easy doing characteristics. With the dominance of black in commercial herds in southern Australia, Woonallee introduced Black Simmentals a few years ago in association with Lewis Farms in Canada. Earlier this year and to fast track their ability to present the numbers of Black Simmentals and SimAngus that clients were calling for, they purchased the entire Webb Black Simmental herd from Victoria, one of the country’s oldest and most respected Black Simmental studs. This means Woonallee will now have 40 Black Simmentals and 20 SimAngus in their February 2016 bull sale, which is 60 per cent of the offering. “When you add in the option of some all red Simmentals, commercial producers now have a real smorgasbord of selection options,” Mr Baker said. “We are tremendously committed and proud of the quality we have been able to produce on a regular basis. “This is clearly the best draft of bulls we have ever presented,” he said. The 100 bulls on offer will be made up of about 35 traditional coloured Simmentals, five solid Reds, 40 Black Simmentals and 20 SimAngus. Full details and their 2016 sale catalogue will be available on-line where producers can search the many options to find the best bulls to give their breeding program a lift in performance and profitability. For more information visit www.woonalleesimmentals. com.
Yes - these producers all bought Banquet bulls - & they're still smiling! They all sold sale topping weaner progeny last summer in weaner sales
Next Annual Sale Thursday 25th February 2016 4pm Mortlake 100 bulls 3pm - Approx 150 commercial Angus heifers (by Banquet bulls and mated to Banquet bulls)
www.banquetangus.com.au
Private Treaty bulls always available: Steve & Noeleen Branson, PO Box 166 Mortlake, Vic 3272 Ph: 0419 884 839 Email: banquetangus@westvic.com.au
SSBAN0371215
Beef Week Field Day Tuesday 2nd February Inspection Day Thursday 18th February
BEEF WEEK
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 13
Award winning sire on display at Marschay Shorthorns
NATIVE ANGUS: Alto Angus will their Native Angus, herd females and sale bulls available for inspection on Day 7 during Beef Week.
Alto Angus going down the grass-fed beef path Angus sires to produce cattle suited to grass conditions and to breed sires for use in heifer joining. “In recent decades the grain fed feedlot requirements have dominated the genetic aims of many breeders looking for weight gain per day,” Mrs Howley said. “We have always maintained a more balanced approach, breeding for production per hectare. “Using the Native genetics we have been able to lift overall performance considerably while enjoying the benefits of easier management. “From experience, we know the more moderate framed bulls are siring steers from our Australian Angus heifers that calve easily and can finish with a premium, grass-fed carcass by 18 months to 20 months. “The native sired calves can certainly produce arse from grass and their great shaped butt is always an asset. “They are well suited to the task,” she said.
In the UK, to qualify as a Native Bred Angus an animal must have only UK genetics, no imported bloodlines and be traceable to the original Herd Book. Wanting to retain the traits of the traditional Angus in their herd, the Howley family looked to Scotland in 2011, where Geordie and Julia Souter of the Dunlouise Stud at Forfar Angus, have been working since 1995 to preserve the Native Bred genetics and making them available around the world. “The first pure Native Bred Angus calves arrived in 2012 and we are glad we made the choice to look to these easier managed cattle,” Mrs Howley said. She added that running a 100 head, self-replacing breeding herd, producing bulls and (depending on the season) often finishing steers on the 130 hectare property, the cattle are running under commercial conditions and the infusion of Native Angus has proven to be able to increase net return per hectare.
“The future is enormous for grass fed beef; the challenge is how to meet the demand,” she said. “The original Angus offers breeders an easy option, especially for use over heifers, a quick path to grass genetics and for the consumer, a premium product. “We have been carefully breeding sires to fit those demands.” Alto Angus will be open on Day 7 during Beef Week on Tuesday, February 2, with their Native Angus, herd females and sale bulls available for inspection.
The stud supplied a steer to Longerenong College and two steers to a student at Ballarat Grammar both had success in showing and parading their respective steers. “We have entered again in the Beef Week heifer challenge where we will display the style of cattle we are breeding,” he added. “A special feature will be a select number of white bulls which are very suited for cross breeding with Hereford and Angus cows. “We hope people can find time to visit us, as they will be made very welcome,” Mr McKay said. Marschay Shorthorns is nestled about half way between the two towns of Dean and Newlyn, 20 kilometres from Ballarat. For more information visit www.marschay.com.
OUSIN C UR LIM ATT O r p o p a r e r r W a t y L w VIE r Irre (February 2, 2016) on Da E
ou t a
during Beef Week
or any other time by appointment.
L I M O U S I N
y8
S T U D
t/05d08539/0216
AT Caramut–based Alto Angus the Native Angus is gaining attention as breeders seek genetics more suited to the opportunities in the emergent, world-wide, grass-fed beef market. According to stud principals Geoff and Joy Howley, with consumers driving demand and predictions that grassfed beef will make up a growing percentage of all beef produced worldwide, breeders and finishers are looking for grass efficient Angus to meet market requirements. The Howleys established their Angus herd in 1972 with cattle purchased from Gwen Kelly. Their descendants have formed a herd that has long concentrated on fertility, a capacity to finish on grass and return per hectare. Searching for sires to meet their requirements, especially for an easy to manage herd they turned to the pure Native-bred Angus. Their cows are now being used with the Native
MARSCHAY Shorthorns will have its new sire Futurity Juggernaut on display during Day 4 of this year’s Beef Week on Saturday, January 30. Purchased in partnership with the Eloora Shorthorn stud for $19,000, this new sire will be on display alongside the stud’s autumn and spring drop bulls, cows and calves. Stud principal David McKay said last year the stud competed in both the Melbourne and Geelong Royal Shows carcase competitions, gaining a first and third on the hoof and fourth on the hook. Marschay Shorthorns also received the highest shorthorn point score winning the stud the John Crilly memorial trophy. “At Geelong we were awarded second on the hook in the heavy domestic class and the highest pure breed steer,” Mr McKay said.
Check out our Bulls and a good mix of our heifers, cows and calves. Commercial Bulls and Bulls with Stud potential.
You be the judge For an appointment call Chris on 0418 520 574 or visit the website www.pelicanrise.co.au
Mt Ararat Simmentals 126 Mt Ararat North Road, Nar Nar Goon, VIC 3812
NATIVE SCOTTISH ANGUS Rediscover the Benefits Scottish Origin Pure Angus Genetics
Come see us for Beef Week 2016 Day 5 Sunday January 31st
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0421 989 317 www.dunlouiseangus.com www.altoangus.com.au
BULLS
0409 537 445
BULLS
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DUNLOUISE Scotland ALTO ANGUS Caramut, Vic.
Inspections Welcome O Gates open at 8.00am O Light lunch & refreshments provided from 12.00pm O 3 Amazing guest speakers all with a lifetime in the industry O Enjoy our magnificent cattle all within a short walk of each other & all under a marque Contact John- john@leeksplumbing.com.au or phone
BEEF WEEK
Page 14, Southern Farmer
January 2016
Magnificent line up of Simmentals ready for purchase at Mt Ararat stud ON the back of a very successful Beef Week last year, Mount Ararat Simmental Stud principle John Leek is geared up for the 2016 event which will feature three guest speakers at his Nar Nar Goon property. “Beef week last year was great,” Mr Leek said. “I sold 13 Simmental bulls – from polled to horned – which came from the best available genetics in Australia.” Those genetics came from Woonallee Simmentals in South Australia where Mr Leek has been purchasing genetics from the Baker family for quite some time. Mr Leek has been farming cattle his whole life, but it is only in the past six years that he has become serious about pure bred Simmentals for what he describes as their amazing meat and milk output and their low birth weight and calving ease. “About 20 years ago, Simmentals, like a lot of other breeds of cattle, got off on a bit of a bad road, but because of people like Tom Baker things have changed. “Tom has travelled the world to get genetics and I am very fortunate to have bought my first cattle from him
and have continued to do so,” Mr Leek said. Last year Mr Leek purchased the bull, Woonallee Jetstream off the Baker family and at 22 months he weighed 1100 kilograms. “He is the most impressive Simmental bull I have ever seen,” he said. “His calves are now on the ground and they are amazing, to say the least, and his semen is available for purchase.” For the first time, Mount Ararat Simmental will have a heifer for sale on its open day on Sunday, January 31, which is Day 5 of Beef Week. About 40 to 50 pure bred cows, calves, heifers and bulls will also be on display at the stud, which is only a two minute drive off the Princess Highway. Gates open at 8am, with lunch provided during the speakers’ presentations which will take place “under a lovely marquee setting with comfortable chairs and drinks”. “All cattle will be within 100 metres of the marquee as easy access for everybody to look at,” Mr Leek added. For more information contact John Leek on 0409 537 445.
TRAIT LEADER: High Spa Edward E3 is a fine example of High Spa Angus Stud’s bulls which is bred to excel for particular herd and market needs.
Outstanding weight for age at weaning a priority at High Spa Angus
WORKING AGE & YEARLING BULLS, PTIC FEMALES SATURDAY, 30TH JANUARY
DAY 4 BEEF WEEK 2016
Phone Brian or Wayne (03) 5348 2357
Details on www.highspa.com.au
t/05d08505/0216
SALE PERFORMANCE RECORDED
TAKING your time to choose, coupled with no pressure inspections is the way things are done at High Spa Angus Stud situated in the Daylesford region. According to stud principals Brian and Wayne Mobbs, they breed consistent bulls that can be selected for either heifers, cows or with multipurpose functionality within herds or end markets. Their production and sales system has been fine-tuned to offer the best possible outcome for clients no matter their seasonal breeding preferences or markets. A bull that is a fine example of one bred to excel for particular herd and market needs - as a high performing (marbling) and also as a superb first calving heifer bull - is High Spa Edward E3. E3 was a Sire Progeny Benchmarking Bull in Cohort 1 of the Angus Society’s benchmarking program. Recent information regarding this program shows how the sires have performed within the ASBP (Angus Sire Benchmarking Program) for traits additional to Breedplan analysis
such as MSA Marble Score, MSA Ossification, MSA Index and shear force. “E3, as well as coming in equal first among his cohort for birth weight and for gestation length (and he is also an Angus Society trait leader for those traits) was also first for IMF per cent,” Mr Mobbs said. “His actual EBV is more than 2.8. “He also was first for MSA marble score and MSA Index and was fifth for shear force (kg). “It is interesting to note that seven sale yearling bulls for 2016 joining are by KCF Bennet Absolute whose sire, S A V Final Answer 0035, was also E3’s sire,” he said. High Spa Angus will open its gates on Day 4 of Beef Week on Saturday, January 30, in what will be the stud’s 26th production sale and open day. A lucky gate prize of Merial cattle drench, Eclipse will be drawn and everyone who walks through the gate will automatically be in line for the prize. Mr Mobbs said that outstanding weight for age at weaning was a priority for this year’s bull group. Other sires of sale bulls include
Brost Trump, Jindra Double Vision, Coneally Impression and TC Aberdeen. “Sale groups of our yearling bulls, ideal for 2016 joining, and a smaller number of performance recorded working age bulls will be penned on January 30,” he said. “Ease of inspection is always a priority. “Consultation regarding the potential uses and advantages of all sale bulls will be possible at the open day. Detailed pedigree and EBV information on pens and in complimentary booklets is also a feature of all our open days. Mr Mobbs added that the focus this open day will not only be on bulls. “There will also be displays of performance recorded females with sales opportunity for those interested in PTIC cows to replenish or start up herds. “At High Spa we are very conscious that females supply half the genetics for sound, productive progeny,” he said. For more information visit www. highspa.com.au.
Witherswood welcomes visitors with open arms GLENROWAN-based Witherswood Angus will once again throw open its gates during this year’s Beef Week as stud principals John and Joan Woodruff and stud manager Ian Peake look forward to engaging with their visitors to discuss both their own and their clients’ programs. On Friday, January 29 – Day 3 of Beef Week – Witherswood will have a selection of bulls, cows and calves on display, as well as heifers that have taken part in the 2016 Beef Week Heifer Challenge. On sale will be sons of New Zealand sire Maturi Reallity EFC Compliment, Thomas Up River, Broken Bow and the stud’s specialist low birth weight bull,
Booroomooka Astron. Also on display will be Witherswood’s two newly purchased record breaking sires, Millah Murrah Kingdom K35 and Millah Murrah Klooney K45. Witherswood Angus’ breeding herd has been developed using the best genetics, both Australian and imported, and the use of AI and ET has enabled the stud to stay at the forefront of the cattle industry. “We welcome all visitors and clients to see us and talk to us to discuss their programs and also our stud manager Ian is more than happy to talk to people,” Mr Woodruff said. For information visit www.witherswoodangus. com.au.
BEEF WEEK
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 15
Client success dominates Banquet’s focus depending on prices and feed availability. “These types are more efficient feed convertors and we find they are more profitable more often,� Mr Branson said. “It is very pleasing when clients continually verify this.� The number of repeat buyers at their autumn bull sale last year is a very strong endorsement of the results clients are getting. “Our clients are very faithful. “They also realise they get much more than just a bull when they purchase at Banquet,� he said. Long-term client David Geddes from Holbrook
said the strength of his program is the quality of his breeding females. “Too many producers just look at their sale cattle and not the quality of their replacements when assessing bulls for purchase,� Mr Geddes said. “It is the ever-improving quality of our females that is resulting in corresponding improved quality and prices for the young cattle we turn off.� Banquet Angus will take part in Beef Week on Day 7 – Tuesday, February 2 - where the stud’s upcoming February sale stock can be inspected. One hundred big
bold Banquet bulls will be offered for sale on Thursday, February 25 at 4pm, with about 150 commercial Angus heifers
from commercial clients, sired by and mated to Banquet bulls also up for sale at 3pm on the same day.
For more information visit www.banquetangus. com.au.
GLENVIEW -DEL 75$',7,21$/ 32//(' +251(' &$77/(
Breeding Quality Simmentals For 35 Years
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Gina Ryan and Family, Glenburn, Vic 3717. Ph/Fax: (03) 5797 8334
BANQUET BULL: According to Banquet Angus stud principal Stephen Branson the strength of the Banquet females gives Banquet bulls their incredible and sustained growth off grass, coupled with power, softness and extreme docility.
Double the bull power, choice and service after merger THE first combined Welcome Swallow/Alpine Angus bull sale will take place on Wednesday, March 30 beginning at 1pm at Alpine Angus’ sale complex at Rosewhite, with an offering of more than 120 HBR and APR Angus bulls up for sale. Both stud principals promise beef producers “double the bull power, double the choice and double the after sales service� after Welcome Swallow co-principal Suzy Martin and Alpine Angus principal Jim Delany agreed to merge their programs in October last year after the sale of ‘Illalangi’, the property which ran the Welcome Swallow herd and its subsequent dispersal. Mrs Martin said that Alpine and Welcome Swallow are an easy fit as there is a closely shared fundamental mind set about customer service and genetics. Mr Delany said that the merger opens an exciting new chapter for Alpine Angus. “We have revamped our logo to reflect the merger and our joint commitment to it,� he said.
Mrs Martin said that she and her husband, Jim Martin were excited as it gives them both a continued, active involvement in the Angus seedstock industry in general and with their clients in particular. “This is a true merger, not just the sale of some genetics,� Mrs Martin said. This year’s Beef Week will give beef producers several opportunities to preview the sale bulls that will be on display at Alpine Angus on Day 2 of Beef Week on Friday, January 29. Sires represented include Milwillah Gatsby, Booroomooka Frankel F510, Coonamble Gazza and Largo Full House. Welcome Swallow will display 60 HBR and APR Angus and five REG Charolais bulls at Rayner’s Farms, Birregurra on Day 4 of Beef Week on Saturday, January 30 and Day 7 on Tuesday, February 2. Sires represented include powerful outcross genetics with sons by Carabar Docklands, KM Broken Bow, LCC New Standard, Te Mania Gasken, Connealy Earnen, AA R TEN X and KC Haas GPS.
11TH ANNUAL BULL SALE
WEDNESDAY 24TH OF FEBRUARY 2016 ON PROPERTY AT THE “EIGHT MILE� SALE COMPLEX, KEITH S.A. 12:30 pm SA DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME. SA Beef Field Day, Tuesday 9th February 2016.
65 LIMOUSIN & LIMFLEX SIRES WILL SELL! Sons of industry leading sires’ including Wulfs Zander, Mr Jock, Wulfs Spring Loaded, RUNL Xtra Loyal & WZRK Prime Cut.
DAMIAN GOMMERS 0418 824 799
www.mandayen.com.au
t/05d08511/0216
and backgrounders. According to stud principal Stephen Branson, the Banquet type is bigger, wider through the loin and hindquarter and stronger boned than most Angus, having the skeleton to carry the extra muscling that comes with exceptional growth off grass. The two standout features are their power with softness, plus the extreme docility of the herd. The versatility these attributes give commercial beef cattle producers allow them flexibility in marketing and subsequently, to target a range of markets
s iru iV d st ste Pe Te
CLIENT success is a huge focus for the Branson family through their Mortlake-based Banquet Angus herd which is why they have great pride in the many sale topping successes clients are regularly achieving around the country. Their success verifies the Branson family’s belief that their Banquet-type consistently produces young cattle that grow quicker to market weights and that growth rate can be sustained for longer through to heavy weights if desired. This also makes them a favourite for processors
FARMER TO FARMER
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 17
Orchadist just can’t stop farming despite the workload Give our readers a quick snapshot of your farm at Woori Yallock. We are a small, boutique orchard that currently grows more than 450 varieties of fruit. Our farm is also unique in that we have at least eight varieties of fruit every day of the year. We have 25 acres of fruiting plants and about 15 acres of bush. How long have you been a farmer? I originally came off a dairy farm, which I disliked, especially the 3am starts. The reason we started an orchard is when you plant a tree it has two options - it will either live or die and can’t go anywhere else, unlike cows, which have lots of options. If they didn’t like where they were they went somewhere else making a mess along the way and they especially liked dad’s vegetable and flower gardens. And if they didn’t agree with what you wanted them to do you either got kicked, flattened or they went somewhere else very
quickly. We have been farming at Woori Yallock for close to 40 years. My wife and I purchased a bush block; you know the story when we were young we wanted a bit of land, couldn’t afford five acres so ended up with about 40 acres. After spending a small fortune on building, we realised we couldn’t afford the lifestyle so we planted an orchard to make some money. This was the first big mistake as I should have just got a better job. Tell us about your family. We have two sons who are currently working on the farm and three grandkids also working on the farm. Our 16 year-old granddaughter has earned nearly enough money working in the cafe to buy a new car. Both our other grandkids (seven and 10) can drive all of the farm vehicles including the excavator. The seven year
old has trouble driving the farm ute as his legs are not long enough to reach two pedals at once, so he is better with automatics. Best advice or farming tip you have received? When we started farming one local farmer gave me some advice which I ignored (and have sometimes regretted it) Don’t start. You will never make any money, and he was right. That was until we started the tourism operation we now have. We were never going to make money without it, and we still haven’t, but we are definitely getting closer. Unfortunately farming is like a drug. Once started you don’t seem to be able to stop. My dad loved his farm and was a big fan of our orchard. Unfortunately, I love this place also and can’t ever see myself doing anything else or even retiring. Describe your perfect day. Wandering out of bed
around 10am, pottering around for a few hours, talking to a few customers and finishing work at 3pm… a good dream but never going to happen. A good day is starting around 8am picking fruit for a few hours, driving one of our tractors for the fruit tasting adventures until 4pm-5pm, and then
Wednesday and always ask how some of the things we have planted are going. We always have to drive around and look at how the sunflowers and popcorn etc are going while getting a good feed of fruit. What is the worst thing about being a farmer? The grinding hours and
answering emails for an hour or so. What is the best thing about being a farmer? Growing different crops and fruit is very satisfying and sampling a new variety of fruit for the first time is always a new adventure. The youngest grandkids visit at least every
even when you don’t feel up to it, you know you still have to work. If you could be someone else for a day, who would that be and why? The Prime Minister. Perhaps we could actually have some decisions that will benefit farmers and not the noisy minorities.
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FIRE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
Page 18, Southern Farmer
January 2016
How Fire Ready is your farm? Check all of these important questions EARLY not late. YES /NO
YES /NO
❑ ❑ 1. ❑ ❑ 2.
Do you have well maintained slashed or ploughed fire breaks? Are your farm buildings protected by firebreaks?
❑ ❑ 3.
Do you have a grazing plan to reduce fire risk?
❑ ❑ 21. Are fire fighting hoses long enough, kept in safe locations where they will not melt, and with heavy duty wide spray nozzles?
❑ ❑ 4.
Are your chemicals stored safely according to instructions
❑ ❑ 22. Do you talk about and have a fire prevention plan with neighbors?
on the product?
❑ ❑ 23. Do you have adequate water supplies for firefighting should mains water pressures drop? ❑ ❑ 24. Have you installed sprinkler systems in your garden and on your roofing?
❑ ❑ 5.
Are your fuel tanks bonded and isolated from buildings?
❑ ❑ 6.
Are welding and grinding operations done in isolation from flammable liquids and fuels?
❑ ❑ 7.
Do residential buildings on your farm have smoke alarms?
❑ ❑ 8.
Do your have properly maintained firefighting equipment in the workshop, on tractors and other machinery?
❑ ❑ 9.
Can firefighting vehicles safely access all parts of your property?
❑ ❑ 20. Are gas cylinders vented away from buildings?
❑ ❑ 25. Have you gathered metal buckets, mops, spray backpack units, ladders, rakes, shovels in a strategic location for ready access? ❑ ❑ 26. Do you have battery powered torches, radios, medical kits and drinking water available? ❑ ❑ 27. Do you know the radio station to check for the fire’s progress rather than calling emergency services?
❑ ❑ 10. Do you ensure hay is not stacked when it is green? ❑ ❑ 11. Are machinery exhaust systems fitted with spark arresters?
FIRE PRONE: Victoria is one of the world’s highest-risk areas for bushfire.
❑ ❑ 28. Does each person have suitable clothing, including sturdy leather footwear, fire resistant long pants and long sleeves (wool offers the best protection from sparks and cinders) a broad brimmed hat, goggles for eye protection, handkerchiefs to toe over the nose and mouth, wet towels to drape over the neck, and bottles of water? ❑ ❑ 29. Can you access roof and other building cavities to check frequently for embers or other spot fires?
❑ ❑ 12. Do you have a list of emergency numbers beside all phones? ❑ ❑ 13. Is your property’s CFA map reference beside the phone? ❑ ❑ 14. Do you have battery-powered radios handy to aid communications? ❑ ❑ 15. Are your buildings clean of flammable debris and protected from the entry of burning embers? ❑ ❑ 16. Do your buildings provide adequate personal protection against bushfire? ❑ ❑ 17. Is fire prevention part of your whole farm business plan? ❑ ❑ 18. Are you up-to-date with the latest Local and State Government fire restrictions and requirements? ❑ ❑ 19. Do you carefully plan all burning off to minimise the risks?
❑ ❑ 30. Is there a plan for all people on your property to either fight the fire or move to safe locations well before a fire front approaches?
Further information is available from: v/05d08425/45-15
Mornington Peninsula Shire Phone: 1300 850 600 Mail: Private Bag 1000, Rosebud, 3939 Email: customerservice@mornpen.vic.gov.au Web: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au
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Customers with private electric lines must ensure they are maintained and clear of vegetation. Contact a registered electrician or certified tree clearer if required.
Insurer urges farmers to be prepared this fire season VICTORIAN farmers should consider the value of their properties and equipment as they prepare for a fire season that could be one of the worst in recent years warns the RACV. Lower-than-average rainfall during winter and spring has left much of the state tinder dry. With hot conditions forecast for the summer, all areas of Victoria are at risk of bushfire. RACV general manager insurance Paul Northey urged farmers to spend some time to do a stocktake of their business to ensure properties and equipment are adequately insured, well before any fire threat is imminent. “Once a fire starts it is too late to update your policy or take out insurance,” he said. “We encourage property owners to review their cover and discuss any issues with your insurer as soon as possible. “There is research to suggest that underinsurance can be an incentive to stay and defend a property and that’s the last thing we want to see. “As difficult as it is to leave a home early – especially when the property is also your livelihood - it is the only choice that can guarantee the safety of you and your family. “Knowing that your home and contents as well as your farming business, stock and equipment are adequately insured can help offer some peace of mind in a difficult situation,” Mr Northey said. Farm insurance covers not only the farm machinery, tools and equipment but house and contents, fencing and livestock in the event of loss due to bush or grassfire. “Unfortunately, underinsurance is common. People often underestimate the value of their property and equipment and how much it would cost to replace things like outbuildings, fences and machinery after a fire. “Many farm fences were built by hand decades ago and materials and labour costs are much higher now. “We recommend getting a quote from local contractors to find out the true
value of what it would cost to replace fencing and buildings after a fire,” Mr Northey added. Other things to consider are whether any new machinery has been purchased for the farm since the insurance was last reviewed, what the stock levels are and whether you need to be covered for stored feed. “RACV urges Victorians living in fire-prone areas to make sure they have a carefully planned and rehearsed bushfire plan and to enact it as needed,” Mr Northey said. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) provides comprehensive advice on how to learn more about high-risk bushfire areas, how to prepare your property for the bushfire season and how to create a Bushfire Plan to keep you and your family safe. “Victoria is one of the world’s highestrisk areas for bushfire,” Mr Northey said. “CFA is the expert authority and we urge everyone to make use of its resources. “On its website, you can download a free FireReady app for smartphones and tablet computers that provides information about what to do during a fire and weather warnings.” More information about how to prepare for and survive a bushfire is available from CFA online at cfa.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 240 667.
January 2016
FIRE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
Southern Farmer, Page 19
Fire restrictions in place for south east THE ďŹ re danger period has begun across the entire south east of Victoria, spanning from Dandenong to Mallacoota. CFA South East region assistant chief ofďŹ cer Trevor Owen said fire restrictions have been introduced across all municipalities in the south east because of current conditions. Mr Owen said there was still a short window of opportunity to clean up your property if you haven’t already done so. “Out of control burn-offs and unregistered burn-offs have been a major headache for brigades,â€? he said. “You should avoid burning off when high winds are forecast – not only on the day of your burn but for the days afterwards.â€? Mr Owen said this fire season CFA would be taking a zero tolerance approach to any ďŹ res resulting from negligent behaviour. “Expect any ďŹ re you start to be fully investigated by police. “Even if you have a permit to use ďŹ re over the ďŹ re danger period, make sure you read the conditions carefully. “Failing to follow just one of those conditions can still leave you open to prosecution.â€? Mr Owen said recent warm and dry conditions and rapid rate of grass curing meant the ďŹ re danger period and the ďŹ re season started earlier this year than in 2014.
GRASS FIRE: CFA South East region assistant chief officer Trevor Owen said the CFA would be taking a zero tolerance approach to any fires resulting from negligent behaviour.
“So far all indicators are pointing to a challenging ďŹ re season ahead,â€? he said. “While CFA does everything it can, we look to the community to use common sense and take responsibility for preventing ďŹ res.â€? During the ďŹ re danger period ďŹ res cannot be lit in the open air without a written permit from CFA or a Municipal Fire Prevention OfďŹ cer. Fire danger periods are based on local conditions and take into account fuel moisture, fuel loads, grassland curing,
weather and rainfall. Victorians can ďŹ nd out ‘Can I or Can’t I?’ information at cfa. vic.gov.au/can or by calling 1800 240 667. All burn-offs should be registered with the VicFire Burn-off notiďŹ cation line on 1800 668 511. The ďŹ re danger period applies to all municipalities in CFA’s South East Region, including: s "ASS #OAST 3HIRE #OUNCIL s &RENCH )SLAND s #ARDINIA 3HIRE #OUNCIL s #ASEY #ITY #OUNCIL
s &RANKSTON #ITY #OUNCIL s 'REATER $ANDENONG #ITY Council (Those portions not included in the Metropolitan &IRE $ISTRICT s +INGSTON #ITY #OUNCIL (Those portions not included in THE -ETROPOLITAN &IRE $ISTRICT s -ORNINGTON 0ENINSULA 3HIRE #OUNCIL s "AW "AW 3HIRE #OUNCIL s 3OUTH 'IPPSLAND 3HIRE #OUNCIL s ,ATROBE #ITY #OUNCIL s 7ELLINGTON 3HIRE #OUNCIL s %AST 'IPPSLAND 3HIRE Council.
Mr Owen said it was important for the community not to rely on one source of information during the summer season. Victorians can get information by tuning into ABC local radio, or other emergency broadcasters including radio, 3+9 46 BY DOWNLOADING THE FireReady App, visiting emergency.vic.gov.au or phoning the Victorian BushďŹ re Information ,INE ON OR FOLlowing VicEmergency or CFA’s Twitter and Facebook accounts. Fire danger period information:
s ! WRITTEN PERMIT IS REQUIRED to burn off grass, undergrowth, weeds or other vegetation during the FDP. This permit may be issued by the Municipal Fire Prevention OfďŹ cer or the CFA District OfďŹ ce. Please check with your municipality in the ďŹ rst instance. s ,IGHTING A lRE IN THE OPEN without a permit is an offence and can bring a penalty of more than $18,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment. Barbecues and ďŹ res for cookING AND WARMTH DO NOT REQUIRE a permit, but must be lit in properly constructed ďŹ replaces (to view complete conditions visit cfa.vic.gov.au/can). s 4HE USE OF AN INCINERATOR chainsaw/lawn mower, weldING GRINDING EQUIPMENT AND vehicles that come in contact with vegetation and machinery with an internal combustion/ heat engine are permitted provided conditions are followed. s &ARMERS CAN FIND LEGAL guidelines and practical advice at cfa.vic.gov.au/farming – this information is important especially for new farmers, bush block owners or hobby farmers. s ! 4OTAL &IRE "AN DECLARAtion means no ďŹ res can be lit for the declared district for that day unless there is a speciďŹ c exemption or special permit issued. This applies irrespective of the Fire Restriction status for a given municipality.
NEWS
Page 20, Southern Farmer
January 2016
Kioti’s new range of tractors proving to be time savers Instead of trying to do too much and lift too much by yourself, now we work smarter and we do everything with the Kioti.
EFFICIENT MACHINE: The designers of the latest Kioti CK tractor range have continued to invest in leading edge technology and first class facilities.
SALES of Kioti’s new compact CK range of tractors continue to rise since their introduction into Australia late last year. PFG Australia became distributors for Daedong Kioti tractors in 1999 and developed a solid national dealer network, well supported by PFG’s national parts and service centre. The South Korean Daedong Co Ltd has continued to invest in leading edge technology and first class facilities, securing a strong reputation for product reliability and durability. The new generation 37 horsepower (hp) Kioti CK3710 and 42hp CK4210 compact models have foldable roll over protection structure (ROPS) and fuel efficient, three-cylinder Daedong diesel engines. Terry and Ann McClounan recently bought a 4WD Kioti CK4210 with hydrostatic transmission and four-in-one loader from McGregor Farm Machinery in Wangaratta. The McClounans have a freerange egg farm on 130 hectares with about 1500 hens.
They also have 25 breeding Angus cows and 50 first-cross ewes, and they share farm 40 hectares of canola. Mr McClounan said the CK tractor has opened his eyes to how much easier and safer work can be. “We’ve worked hard to get where we are today and you have to work hard, but the Kioti is changing the way we think about work,” he said. “Instead of trying to do too much and lift too much by yourself, now we work smarter and we do everything with the Kioti. “It’s not just a great timesaver, it’s a marriage saver. “I was very surprised at how much torque it has. “We use it in the sheds, in the paddocks and in the garden. “It’s very efficient and easy to operate with no clutch, whether you’re moving a hay bale or a pot plant. “Ann’s been having a field day with it. I come home from making deliveries and she’s out there on the tractor getting things done,” Mr McClounan said. The McClounans’ Kioti CK4210 has a heavy duty hydrostatic drive and three-range transmission with a smooth twin
pedal operation. Standard power steering and single lever joystick operation provide easy and comfortable control. It has three-point linkage, draw bar and four hydraulic remotes, with a fuel tank capacity of 34 litres. Mr McClounan said they use the new Kioti to load wool packs onto the ute, to spread and level gravel on the tracks, pull out steel posts, spread straw bedding in the chook pens, clean up around the farm, remove thistles from the paddocks and stack timber. “It might not be the biggest tractor, but it gets through a big amount of work. “Being so versatile, it’s ideal for small acreage farmers like ourselves and it would also be great for cleaning yards and sheds on big properties – and it’s small enough to stick on a tandem trailer and tow somewhere else,” he added. Kioti CK compact tractors can be teamed up with slashers, carryalls, grader blades, ripper pipe layers, post hole diggers and four-in-one loaders. For more information, visit www.kiotitractors.com.au.
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NEWS
January 2016
Southern Farmer, Page 21
Plan for biosecurity threats in case of natural disasters animals can be easily identiďŹ ed and returned if they get lost in an emergency. “Having emergency agistment arrangements in place with someone outside your district means you can move animals off burnt ground quickly and reduce the stress on you and your animals. “However, livestock mixing with animals of unknown health status creates a perfect environment for disease to spread. “If animals have been away on agistment or stray off the property, be sure to monitor their health closely and consider treating them for parasites upon their return,â€? she said. Ms Rooke said that strays from neighbours can also be a biosecurity risk as far as introducing parasites and weeds to your property. Following a ďŹ re, fodder drives of donated hay and grain are very common, or you may need to buy in stock feed from outside if your animals aren’t agisted. “Imported feed can be riddled with unfamiliar weed seeds and carry a risk of spreading new weeds to your property. “The key is to restrict external feed to a ‘sacriďŹ ce paddock’ where you can monitor the area for
signs of pests or weeds regularly,â€? Ms Rooke said. Correctly assessing injured stock after a ďŹ re is also vital to minimising the suffering of unsalvageable stock. For dead animals, it is
vital that carcasses are disposed of correctly to prevent contamination of water and soil, and keep them out of reach of scavenging animals. “Emergencies are a good reminder of the im-
portance of ensuring good biosecurity practices and systems are in order. “Talk to your state LBN ofďŹ cer if you need any information or support for on-farm biosecurity planning,â€? Ms Rooke said.
“Have G We’ll o ate? pen�
j/05d07629-v4/15-15
BE PREPARED: Livestock Biosecurity Network officer Emma Rooke said that emergencies are a good reminder of the importance of ensuring good biosecurity practices and systems are in order.
AUSTRALIAN farmers are familiar with preparing for bushďŹ res, oods and droughts, but with natural disasters they can also bring the possible threat of introduced pests, weeds and diseases. Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN) regional ofďŹ cer Emma Rooke said that managing these biosecurity threats needs to be considered when planning and preparing for natural disasters. “To start with, identify the low-risk areas where you know you can leave stock safely,â€? she said. “These are places that are green and wet, or areas that are bare or have been prepared for bushďŹ re season through slashing or hard grazing. “If a ďŹ re is imminent, don’t cut fences – straying animals are dangerous to road users including emergency services personnel, but do open all the internal gates to allow animals to move to safer ground,â€? Ms Rooke said. She added that making sure that all your cattle, sheep and goats are identified with a National Livestock IdentiďŹ cation System compliant tag and linked to the property identiďŹ cation code is very important and means that
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WATER
Page 22, Southern Farmer
January 2016
State Govt. commits $20 million to irrigation project AFTER spending many hours lobbying for the modernisation of the Macalister Irrigation District, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the State Government’s $20 million of funding for the next stage of the project, however, it is conditional on the sale of the Port of Melbourne lease. Announced by Victorian water minister Lisa Neville, VFF water councillor for East Gippsland Neil Gannon said that it is excellent news for farmers in the region. “Replacing the old channels with pressurised pipes and automated channels means we will get quicker, more efficient delivery of water to our farms,” he said. “At the moment, we need to give three days lead time to order water, with the new system we expect this to be cut to just 24 hours. “If we can get the water on when we need it then we can grow more pasture. “And with the efficiencies gained it will give us more water to use.
“This will be a boon for farm businesses in our region,” Mr Gannon said. He added that it was a vote of confidence for the region, helping it deliver on the demand for quality dairy products. “Water is an economic multiplier. “We produce milk, the dairy companies process it, and then it gets trucked to market. “This creates local jobs across the entire supply chain. “We have been lobbying for this project for some time and we have constantly maintained that this project is a winner,” he said. Mr Gannon said that the lobby group is concerned that the project commitment is subject to the sale of the Port of Melbourne lease and that the funding should be unconditional. “We need the Federal Government to come on board with the last $20 million and show us they are as equally committed,” Mr Gannon said.
DAM DROUGHT: Water levels in dams are much lower than normal due to the lack of spring rain.
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Manage summer water now to ensure your stock survives THE Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) is urging farmers to assess water levels in dams now to ensure they have enough for livestock during what is already proving to be a hot, dry summer. In Victoria there has been no significant run off for the past two years and according to DEDJTR
land management extension officer Heather Field, water levels in many dams are much lower than normal for this time of year, with some already dry. “Farm water storages need to be designed to cope with several years of little or no run off and landholders should now be assessing their water needs for this summer and autumn,” she said. “Calculating the total water available and the total water required by stock over this dry period will help you plan how many stock and of what class you can carry through. “Landholders need to make decisions early by assessing water levels in their dams and putting plans in place to ensure that stock can be maintained in a fit and healthy condition,” Ms Field said. She added that there are a number of factors that influence how much water animals consume, including age and condition, seasonal conditions, type of terrain, dry versus green pasture, saltiness of water and access to shade. An online Farm Water Calculator can be found at
www.agriculture.vic.gov. au that can help farmers to work out how much water is required by different classes of stock. “For example lactating ewes on dry feed in summer require up to 14 litres per day, mature sheep on dry pasture up to 9.8 litres per day and beef cattle up to 98 litres per day,” she said. “Once you know how much water you require, you then need to work out whether existing water resources will meet this demand. “To calculate dam storage you need to know both the surface area and the maximum depth of the dam. For a square or rectangular dam the surface area is calculated by multiplying the length by the width. The volume can then be determined by multiplying the surface area by the depth of the dam and a factor of 0.4 can be used to account for the batter slope on the sides of the dam. Ms Field added that if water availability is at a critical level, look for ways to reduce water losses and become more efficient.
“Reticulating water around your property not only puts you more in control but can increase your storage capacity to make use of rainfall events and minimise evaporation. “The use of troughs will expand your grazing options, improve water quality and maintain dam structure by excluding stock from waterways.” Ms Field said landholders can also minimise evaporation by pumping water from small shallow dams to larger deeper dams or into tanks. “A three metre deep dam can lose half its total volume to evaporation each year. “Water quality can be maintained by fencing out dams and reticulating water to troughs in adjoining paddocks. “Better quality water means your livestock will be healthier and require less water,” Ms Field said. Other ideas include fencing off dams to prevent stock access which can cause pugging, vegetation removal and water contamination, fixing leaking pipes and troughs and making the most of your roof area by capturing water in tanks.
She also suggested landholders can reduce current water use by providing shade for stock, de-stocking and using stock containment areas. “Water quality should be monitored, particularly if levels stay low and/or there is potential for pollutants such as manure and soil to enter water sources. “Remember dry conditions can lead to water quality issues such as high levels of salt. “Evaporation increases the salt concentration while a flush of water dilutes salts but may increase sediment and manure or nutrient runoff,” she said. Ms Field added that monitoring should be done regularly and more frequently in summer or in periods of prolonged moisture stress. Water samples can be tested for salt content at your local DEDJTR office or with do it yourself salinity meters. To access farm water information and use the online farm water calculator visit www.agriculture. vic.gov.au and type ‘farm water solutions’ into the search bar.
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