Dairy News 14 November 2023 by Rural News Group

JUST A BLO0DY GOOD TRACTOR

Fonterra unveils Scope 3 emissions target. PAGE 3

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JV GETS NEW CEO McNee to head to AgriZero Page 15

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Fonterra unveils Scope 3 emissions target. PAGE 3 JV CONFIRMS CEO McNee to head to AgriZero Page 15

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 ISSUE 531

DAIRY GOATS Key trace minerals Page 17

// www.dairynews.co.nz

ROBOTS BRING JOY Farmers Moira and Rob Anstis say robots have completely changed the way they farm . PAGE 8

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

NEWS // 3

Scope 3 target ‘not easy’ SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

Milk chilling partnerships. PG.14

Pain relief for lame cows. PG.16

Shorter chop version of loader. PG.20

NEWS ��3-9 AGRIBUSINESS �� 11 OPINION ��12-13 MANAGEMENT ��14-15 ANIMAL HEALTH ��16 DAIRY GOATS & SHEEP �� 17-18 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS �� 19-20

FARMERS SAY Fonterra’s Scope 3 emissions target, unveiled last week, is “incredibly ambitious” and will require stakeholder support to achieve. Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says he wants to know what support Fonterra will be providing farmers around achieving the Scope 3 target. The co-operative is targeting a 30% intensity reduction in on-farm emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline – reducing emissions intensity by tonne of FPCM (fat and protein corrected milk) collected by Fonterra. Fonterra has divided the target into four buckets: 7% reduction through farming best practice such as feed quality and improving herd performance, 7% reduction through novel technologies, 8% reduction through carbon removals from existing and new vegetation and 8% from historical land-use change conversions to dairying. McIntyre says when broken down into four buckets, the 30% reduction target does sound much more achievable. “Make no mistake though, it’s still incredibly ambitious and won’t be easy by any means,” he told Dairy News. “Fonterra needs to remember they’re the ones taking on this challenge and they will have to really get in behind farmers, along with the likes of DairyNZ, to help them achieve it. “This can’t simply be a case of setting a goal and telling farmers that they must meet it.”

Fonterra shareholders John Acland, Mt Peel (left) and Richard Dampney, Kaikohe at the annual general meeting in Methven last week.

McIntyre is meeting Fonterra this week to raise some questions about “how they plan to support farmers, what tools are in the pipeline, and how they plan to recognise existing planting on farms”. McIntyre says the key focus for farmers will be the 7% from onfarm change – of which farmers have already achieved 2% since 2018. He says Fonterra has set themselves a huge challenge and it is up to them to support and enable their suppliers to achieve these targets. “It’s going to be important that Fonterra brings their suppliers with them. “There are still a lot of questions to be answered in terms of how this will be implemented and exactly what will be asked of farmers in terms of change on individual farms, incentives and potential increases in record keeping and reporting burdens.” Kaikohe farmer Richard Damp-

ney, who unsuccessfully moved remits on reducing the size of the co-operative board, says any moves to improve sustainability on farm must be profitable for farmers. “If it isn’t profitable, it isn’t sustainable,” he told Dairy News. He says for small Northland farms producing an average of 70,000 kgMS per season, the sudden requirement to build a new effluent pond worth $2 million would shave $3/kgMS off the milk price and that’s not sustainable. “I know a farmer in Northland producing 550,000 kgMS who has put his farm on the market and is willing to sell for $2m less than what he could get, just to get out of the industry, because of the growing requirements around sustainability.” Dampney says Fonterra farmers are being forced by major customers like Nestlé and Mars to drive down emissions. “They want to piggyback off

our low emissions dairy product,” he says. “I don’t buy the argument that they will go elsewhere for dairy products: who else can provide them such high quality products day in, day out?” Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the co-op is responding to growing sustainability ambitions from customers and financial institutions, along with increasing market access, legal and reporting obligations for dairy. Hurrell told the co-op’s annual general meeting in Methven last week that it understood the challenging rate of change shareholders are facing. He says Fonterra is here to “assist shareholders along the way”. “Sustainability is at the top of agenda with customers and our competitors are moving with pace,” he says. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

4 // NEWS

New Govt ‘makes no difference’ SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE CHANGE in gov-

ernment following last month’s general elections doesn’t change the need for an on-farm emissions target, says Fonterra chair Peter McBride. He told the co-operative’s annual general meeting in Methven last week that the strongest motivating forces are offshore. Farmers, who have faced an avalanche of regulations under the previous Labour Government, are expecting a more sympathetic hearing from the incoming government, likely made up of National, ACT and NZ First. Both National and ACT favour delaying the agriculture sector’s entry to any emissions trading scheme.

But McBride hinted that farmers shouldn’t expect a change in Fonterra’s sustainability drive because of changes at the Beehive. “I do want to be very clear with you that, respectfully, the need for an on-farm target does not change because of the general election,” he says. “The strongest motivating forces are offshore and, from my perspective, are both geopolitical and commercial in nature.” McBride says being a leader in sustainability is a fundamental part of the co-op’s strategy. He cautioned that sustainability and emissions are also the new trade barriers. “We could essentially be locked out of some of our most valuable markets if we cannot demonstrate emissions reductions.”

CFO’S DEPARTURE FONTERRA AND its former chief financial officer Neil Beaumont mutually agreed to end his employment last month. The co-op also confirmed that Beaumont’s shock departure was not in any way linked to the co-op’s financial performance. He left after just nine months at the co-op, raising shareholder questions. Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell told the co-op’s annual meeting last week that the terms of Beaumont’s exit are confidential. “While the terms of Neil’s exit are confidential, I can confirm that his departure was mutually agreed by both Fonterra and Neil and was not in any way linked to the co-op’s financial performance. “While he was with us Neil created some real momentum in terms of how we set and achieve our goals for 2030, including the Resource Allocation Framework, two additional efficiency metrics and cost reduction targets we have added to our performance framework. “I am determined that this momentum will continue.”

Fonterra director Leonie Guiney chats with a Fonterra shareholder at the AGM last week in Methven.

He noted that the EU is introducing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism that applies carbon tax to certain products imported into the EU. The EU is also looking to impose carbon charges on transport of goods to market, levied on all large ships entering their ports. The other main com-

mercial driver is access to funding and capital – for both the co-op and individual farming businesses. McBride says the main banks and financial institutions have set emissions reduction targets. “Our on-farm emissions and the co-op’s operating emissions are a

large part of their Scope 3 emissions, which they are seeking to reduce.” Some Fonterra farmers could switch their supply to other processors if Scope 3 target becomes financially difficult to achieve. McBride acknowledged that some Fonterra competitors may use this

as a procurement tool in the short term. “But the commercial reality of doing business at scale internationally

will capture all of us in time. They will be late to the table, and presented with an even bigger elephant to eat.”

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

NEWS // 5

Dairy prices take a breather SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRY PRICES ended a two-month golden run last week but it’s not all bad news. While the key whole milk powder prices dipped 2.7%, five other products on Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction recorded price rises. Lactose prices spiked over 19%, while skim milk powder, cheddar, anhydrous milk fat and butter milk powder prices all rose between 2% and 4%. Butter was the other

product to post a price fall – down 1.6%. Westpac senior agricultural economist Nathan Penny notes that the result follows a run of four consecutive price rises, “so in that sense, prices were due a breather”. “During that period, WMP prices had lifted by over 20%, albeit following a very steep fall in August. After the fall overnight, that lift moderates back to around 17%.” Penny also notes that New Zealand spring production has started on

a firm note, so that may also explain the price fall. September production was up 1.3% compared to September 2022. Dairy markets previously had been factoring in drought risk on the back of the El Niño weather pattern, he says. “In our view, this has been overdone as New Zealand water tables are generally very high and most farmers have ample feed on hand. “This will help mitigate or dampen any drought impact. Moreover, we expect ongoing firm production in annual

Nathan Penny, Westpac

change terms over the remainder of spring.” Meanwhile, Chinese demand is hinting at a pickup. Penny says recent economic data has been more positive than expected so this may translate into higher demand over time. “Also, we noticed that WMP contracts 4 and 5 – for delivery in 4 and 5 months’ time – were 8% and 9% higher, respectively, than contract 1. “This is the clearest sign to date that the removal of the 10% tariff from January will boost

Chinese demand. “On balance, we remain cautious. Developments, both positive and negative, since we lifted our milk price forecast have largely cancelled each other out.” Westpac is sticking to its forecast milk price of $7.25/kgMS for this season. Last month Fonterra announced a new forecast milk price range to $6.50 - $8/kgMS, with a new midpoint of $7.25/ kgMS, up 50c on its previous forecast. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

WESTLAND MILK REPORTS POSITIVE SEASON “I’M MORE positive now than I was two or three months ago.” That’s the view of Richard Wyeth, chief executive of Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products (WMP). He says the season has started well for the coast with the milk peak now passed and on farm milk production looking very good. He says so far this season the company is up 100,000 litres of milk on the same time last year which is positive for the dairy farmers in the region. “This is due to good growing conditions and means that farmers are putting plenty of milk in the vat, which is great. We have had some challenging times and it’s good to see the weather playing its part,” he told Dairy News. Wyeth says this news is good and comes at a time when farmers are facing huge inflationary pressure down on the farm with high interest rates and the cost of debt servicing. He says it’s also good to see the milk price lift in

recent Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions, although prices dropped slightly in last week’s auction. One advantage that generally farmers on the West Coast have, according to Wyeth is that they have a slightly lower cost of production compared with those farmers in some other parts of the country. “I think if we can get the milk price a little bit higher by the end of the year they will fare reasonably well. “Remembering right now we are dealing with projections of what might happen in about a years’ time, and a lot can change between now and the latter part of next year,” he says. The West Coast of NZ is unique in that it is long and narrow and the climate ranges from very wet in the south near Fox to dry in the north around Karamea. Wyeth says irrigation is already being used in parts of the region.

He says the word is that El Nino tends to treat the region reasonably well; it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing, hoping that the coast gets sufficient rain at the back end of the season. According to Wyeth, dairy farmers on the West Coast are like other farmers around the country just wanting certainty – especially around regulations. He says they are looking for some commonsense policies around farming that allow them to be clear on what they need to do and how they can move forward. “That is the biggest frustration that I see with farmers. It is that ambiguity they face around any regulatory change,” he says. – Peter Burke

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Richard Wyeth

RICHARD WYETH says 2023 has been a challenging year – especially for some of the protein powders such as casein, but he says they are hoping to see an improvement in prices over time. He says butter prices have been stronger in their main export markets of the US and Australia as well as NZ. He says they have also had good sales of UHT cream to China. “We have been able to sell all our product, it’s just that some of the prices have been subdued. Obviously China has been the main swing and their recent Golden Week Holiday, which is a time when people have a week off to reunite with families and take trips, was quite positive from a sales perspective. So, that sent some good signals and we are hoping that will continue,” he says. On the home front, work has begun on building a new $70 million lactaferin plant at their Hokitika site. Lactaferin is a high value protein derived from milk and is used as a specialty ingredient in infant formula. It is known to have a variety of benefits to adults as well – especially regarding intestinal health. Wyeth says the project is on time and on budget and should be up and running about the middle of next year.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

NEWS // 7

Fonterra, Irish researchers to fast track probiotic potential FONTERRA IS taking another step in leveraging its expertise in probiotics by partnering with an Irish research centre. APC Microbiome Ireland is a world-leading Science Foundation Ireland research centre that is focused on harnessing the power of the microbiome for the health and wellbeing of people and planet. The partnership will focus on the human microbiome and will see the establishment of the Fonterra Microbiome Research Centre at the University College Cork, to be operational by the end of 2023. The centre will help to identify and substan-

tiate the health benefits of Fonterra’s probiotics, with the aim of bringing several new probiotic strains to the market over the next 5-10 years. With an increased awareness of the positive impact probiotics can have on health and wellbeing, more people are looking to include them in their diet. As this awareness continues to grow, the development of probiotic products holds enormous market potential for Fonterra. There has been a dramatic increase in demand for Fonterra’s probiotics recently, with sales increasing about ten-fold over the last few years. Harnessing the exper-

tise of APC Microbiome Ireland will enable Fonterra to fast-track development of new strains to manufacture and sell at a global scale. Leading in dairy innovation and science to create high-quality nutrition is core to Fonterra’s strategy and probiotics are a significant focus. Fonterra is already well positioned in this space: the co-operative is home to one of the world’s largest dairy culture collections (more than 40,000 strains) and has been developing probiotics for nearly 30 years. This will expand Fonterra’s health and nutrition expertise and accelerate our develop-

Fonterra general manager science technology Dr Mark Malone.

ment of new and differentiated nutritional offerings. Fonterra GM Science Technology Dr Mark Malone says the co-operative is looking forward

to working with the APC. “This new partnership with the APC is a fantastic opportunity for Fonterra to collaborate with world leading experts in the field of probiotics and

microbiome research. This will expand Fonterra’s health and nutrition expertise and accelerate our development of new and differentiated nutritional offerings.” Professor Paul Ross, Director APC Microbiome Ireland, is also excited about the opportunities the partnership presents. “This is a significant development for the APC, and we are thrilled to be working together with Fonterra. This latest collaboration with industry underlines the APC’s reputation as a global leader in microbiome research and our expertise in supporting new product development with our

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Irish and international industry partners.” Probiotics (live, beneficial microbes) have long been proven to have a positive impact on our gut health. They can help to balance the trillions of bacteria living in our gut, known as our gut microbiome, and may also help to improve gut comfort and protect us from the bad microbes that for instance cause diarrhoea. However, it’s important to remember that only those strains with a scientifically demonstrated effect on health, such as Fonterra’s Bifidobacterium animalis strain BifidoB 019 (DR10TM) should be called probiotics.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

8 // NEWS

Robots make farmers, cows happy SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

BAY OF Plenty farm-

ers Rob and Moira Anstis says installing robotic milkers three years ago has completely changed the way they farm. Gone are the days of waking up at 4am to milk cows and the robots have removed the equivalent of half of one fulltime employee from the milk shed daily. This allows Moria and Rob to spend time on other jobs around the farm, including growing their kiwifruit business. Milk production jumped about 30% in the first season with robots, compared to conventional once-a-day milking. Moira and Rob installed the Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking system on their Opo-

Moira and Rob Anstis installed three Lely Astronaut A5 robots on their Opotiki farm in 2020, milking 230 cows.

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tiki farm in 2020. Three robots milk 230 cows. Rob told Dairy News that robotic milking was something they were interested in for years. However, it took him two years to convince Moira. “Eventually, Moira was convinced by the good things about it – not getting up early and health reasons for the cows. “Also, she saw the benefits with her own eyes: we visited a few farms with robots and then Moira got fully convinced.” Moira says she has noticed the cows happier

and more independent. Installing the robotic system meant a bit of learning on the part of the cows but Moira says they picked things up quickly. “The very first time

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we put all the cows through the robot, we literally had to push every cow into the robotic stall. One of the biggest things for us is that our shed is on top of a hill, so one of the scariest things

was whether they’d bring themselves to the shed, having to walk up the hill. “The cows did, though, and now they’re a lot happier and quieter.” She says the cows are now happier and more

relaxed in a free traffic system. “They’re 100% free to move around the farm. They’re also free to come and get milked wherever they want. You’re teaching them to be more

independent.” The robots don’t only milk the cows but provide the farmers with information on cell count and health status of each cow. “We’ve got so much information at our fingertips now,” Moira says. “It tells you everything that’s been going on with the cows, how active they are, when they’re coming backwards and forwards from the shed. “The robots also help us daily with information on cell count and breeding. Seeing the quality per milking and animal health, picking up sick and lame cows earlier and treating [them] before it is getting worse. There’s also is a cost-saving.” Moira and Rob will be sharing their success with robotic milking at an open farm day on December 6.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

NEWS // 9

Co-ops – better together than apart GROWING AWARENESS

NICOLA SHADBOLT

ON THEIR second date,

my mother, then 17, told my father that she was a socialist. His response was that he was a conservative, so that would mean that their children would be liberals! I’m not sure how today’s 17-year-olds would take to a response like that, but it worked at the time as they progressed to marriage and children. The influence of their differing beliefs, I think, has helped me understand cooperatives, both as a member, a director, and a researcher/ teacher of cooperatives. When asked to define a cooperative, I say it is a socialist construct in a capitalist skin. The socialist construct is about being a collective, the reason we are in this together and how we work for the benefit of all, not just the individual; it is the democratic voice of the members and the way they control the destiny of the co-op through voting and participation. It is also about supporting the members, their families and their communities when needed, and providing training and education to ensure members are fully up to date with issues that affect them and the cooperative. Without a focus on this core and a respect for the members, the cooperative becomes meaningless and can crumble. A good example of how the members

It was Fonterra members, through the shareholders council, who drove the refresh of the strategic purpose in the co-op a few years back. Below right: Nicola Shadbolt says co-operatives create to address a need to pull together

drive this core was when, quite rightly, it was the members, through the shareholders council, who drove the refresh of the strategic purpose in Fonterra a few years back. The capitalist skin is also essential as it drives the business to ensure that profit is achieved, the business grows and responds effectively to changing market forces and a fair distribution is made to members. Without a strong skin and good business principles the cooperative can fail, examples exist of cooperatives stripping the balance sheet to make payments to members, paying today’s members at the expense of future members and the health of the co-op. When a cooperative grows it needs capital, this is provided from a combination of retained earnings and/ or from the price new members pay to join, or through taking on debt. If cooperatives do not price their membership fee to reflect the capital required for growth, it creates an immedi-

ate ‘free rider’ issue, the shortfall is picked up in debt, and ongoing costs are then carried by all members, sometimes to their detriment. High levels of debt increase the vulnerability of the business and can lead to selling off of assets, as with Silver Fern Farms, or total dissolution of the cooperative, as with Westland. Business efficiency is assisted in co-ops by an unusual tension where management are challenged to, for example, sell product at the lowest possible price, at a profit; in stark contrast to their corporate competitors who will be aiming to charge the highest price they can get away with to bolster profits. I like this tension as it keeps management focused and, when done well, enables the business to prosper and provide healthy returns for the members. Done badly, if pricing of what the coop sells or buys results in poor profits, it means there are no funds for reinvestment, growth or innova-

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tion, and the cooperative becomes less competitive and can crumble. There is a healthy tension between the socialist construct and the capitalist skin, both must be strong to ensure the co-op has an understood meaning and is supported by its members, that it is competitive in the market place and excels with its products and services. Rationale for being Cooperatives create to address a need to pull together, ‘we are better together than apart’. Often termed market failure it is the situation when there is a power imbalance where weaker businesses end up paying more for what they buy or get less for what they sell, so they band together to gain some collective strength to improve their lot. When co-ops have been in place for many years it is easy to forget why they formed, so a test of the counterfactual is necessary: ‘would we be any better off in our business if our co-op did not exist?’ There

are instances where the co-op does no longer have a role to play as markets have evolved and the power imbalance is less of an issue or has been addressed in different ways. For example, worker cooperatives are far less common now as HR legislation and unions have evolved in their place. Similarly, if the co-op benefit is market price and that can be managed and delivered through other means the question then is what else does collective strength provide to justify it still being a cooperative? • Nicola Shadbolt is Professor of Farm and Agribusiness Management at Massey University and a former director of Fonterra.

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RECENTLY THERE has been considerable growth in requests to Co-operative Business NZ for help from groups looking to set up cooperatives. Is there perhaps a growing awareness in the power of working collectively or more obvious market failure to address? New Zealand does cooperatives well, we are well known for it and not just in agribusiness, so our willingness puts us in good stead. Pulling together means pooling resources, funds, skills and assets, to set the cooperative up and, over time, investing retained earnings in further assets to enable the cooperative to thrive. The assets in some of our established cooperatives have been built up over many years so have been paid for by previous generations of members. They controlled distributions to members, not without quite a few arguments I am sure, to enable the co-op to invest for the future. Just like in a family business the current generation of members benefit, or not, from previous members’ investments and can influence what future generations might gain from membership. Similarly, just as family businesses can protect their assets from any one generation’s incompetence or avarice, the wealth inherent in cooperative membership can be inaccessible to current owners, especially if the membership fee does not change over time, the $1 in, $1 out scenario typical of traditional coops. Alternative forms of co-op membership carry redemption risk as current members can remove their ‘share’ of the wealth as they exit. However, the flip side is that they benefit from new members paying the full worth of their share when they join. So how a co-op evolves its membership rules very much reflects whether it is expanding or shrinking and its commitment to future generations. There is no such thing as a typical cooperative in NZ as every co-op has evolved in its own way in response to previous members’ aspirations and market conditions; there are common cooperative principles however that have stood the test of time and they reflect the rationale for being a co-op. To learn about each one it is necessary to be aware of these common principles and then to understand the peculiarities of each co-op. Similarly, if establishing a new cooperative, it is important to be aware of the various options available with respect to ownership, control and benefit distribution, such choices will determine how your co-op and its members succeed. At Co-operative Business NZ we are keen to increase the understanding of cooperatives by the business community, government and society at large and are working with the heads of our business schools to ensure future generations are aware of the role they do and can play in the NZ economy and society.

• Ideal for Compartment Troughs/Tanks • High Flow • Top Mount • Detach to Clean • Compact/Robust

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

AGRIBUSINESS // 11

Corporate farmer’s assets top $1 b CORPORATE FARMER

Craigmore Sustainables now has total assets of more than $1 billion, according to its 2023 Impact Sustainability Report. Founded in 2009, Craigmore is the largest diversified rural investment company in New Zealand and its mission is to bring capital into New Zealand’s rural economy to produce quality food and fibre, in a way that benefits rural communities, local ecosystems and the wider climate. Craigmore is now managing 60 properties across New Zealand, with total sector assets of $1.011b – 35% in horticulture, 36% in farming and 27% in forestry. A total of 25,906 hectares, including leases and forestry right areas, are now under the company’s direct management.

Farming is Craigmore’s most mature business, managing 22 milking platforms and one dairy support grazing farm in the South Island, producing 79 million litres of milk annually. As well as majority-owned properties, it has five minority interest investments in dairy farming businesses that comprise an additional 8216ha producing 90 million litres of milk annually. “Over the past 12 months, Craigmore has built steadily through investing and operating land-based productive businesses to become a leader in sustainable food and fibre production,” says Craigmore chief executive officer Che Charteris. “We achieve that through investing in landuse change and in better ways of operating, which

Craigmore Sustainables chief executive Che Charteris.

take into account some of the major challenges facing society including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and social inequity. “This year, we have planted 1.36 million forestry trees, 860,000 apple trees, 140,000 kiwifruit vines, and 491,000 grape-

vines.” Craigmore is also pursuing productivity and sustainability gains through improving everyday production systems. It has set a goal of achieving an independently verified and commercially viable net zero dairy farm by 2035.

“Aotearoa New Zealand’s pasture-based dairy sector can produce among the lowest GHGintensity dairy products in the world,” says Charteris. “We are focused on reducing emissions further. In addition to ongoing changes to reduce GHG-intensity of food production, we have invested in a developing methane-busting treatment that has the potential to eliminate up 90% of the methane emissions from cows, and installed EcoPond, a first-of-itskind treatment that virtually eliminates methane emissions from cattle effluent ponds.” Craigmore continues to create employment opportunities, supporting the commitment to growth of rural communities across the country. It now has 229 direct

employees and, as a key player in rural communities, employs seasonal workers and contractors. It has also developed a network of strong partnerships which Charteris says has been critical to successfully operating in the face of extreme weather events. “Our teams have been able to respond admirably to address damage from flooding and erosion. To be climate resilient, we need resilient teams. Our ability to respond to property-specific crises is aided by our scale, diversification and networks of talented partners.” To date, Craigmore has also placed 2816 hectares of native forest under some form of additional legal or physical protection. It has enhanced these areas with 202 hectares of native planting, and pro-

tected a range of waterways throughout its properties. Results from its biodiversity programme this year have included a large increase in Kiwi sightings at Wiroa kiwifruit orchard in Northland, and critically threatened endemic mudfish observed in a restored waterway on Somerset dairy farm in Canterbury. “Our vision is to be ‘Kaitiaki – Growing the best of Aotearoa New Zealand’,” says Charteris. “We strive to be locally, nationally and globally recognised as one of the best managers of natural assets. “To achieve this, our businesses must deliver long-term financial returns and address industry challenges which are barriers to more sustainable futures for our communities.”

SOMETHING’S

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

12 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Scope 3 target

MILKING IT... Junket?

Sudden departure

Not so vegan

Heard of camels?

IT’S BEEN reported that former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will work alongside leaders from Conservation International to advocate for climate action and better treatment of the environment. Conservation International says Ardern has become its sixth Arnhold Distinguished Fellow and would serve a two-year term to advocate internationally, especially on issues affecting the Pacific and Antarctica. The group said the role was considered part-time and came with a stipend. This is the same Ardern who in her two terms as PM failed to get agriculture on board with her climate agenda. Ardern’s government joined other nations in 2020 in symbolically declaring a ‘climate emergency’. Though the declaration came without any new statutory powers or money, she said at the time that it acknowledged the burden the next generation faces.

THE SUDDEN departure of Fonterra’s chief financial officer Neil Beaumont, just nine months into the job, is raising questions among farmer shareholders. Milking It believes Beaumont departed after both parties agreed to end his employment. It’s highly unusual for Fonterra to lose a senior executive within a year of starting in the role. The press release announcing his departure included none of the usual ‘thanks for everything’ and ‘best of luck’ platitudes. Just three paragraphs: ‘he was here, now he’s gone, here’s his (temporary) replacement’. While Fonterra has kept under wraps the reason for Beaumont’s departure, farmer shareholders aren’t impressed. Some believe the shock departure of Beaumont’s points to the board not taking shareholders into confidence.

NEW RESEARCH has revealed that over a third of food products labelled as vegan in the UK contain animal ingredients, raising concerns about potential dangers for individuals with severe allergies. A recent investigation conducted by Hampshire and Kent Scientific Services found that, out of 61 products labelled as vegan, 39% (24 products) contained traces of egg or dairy. These included 13 dairy alternatives and 48 meat alternatives. Shockingly, 90% of the analysed products were deemed “unsatisfactory” due to the presence of dairy traces or inaccuracies in their labelling and nutritional information. The range of items tested included vegan versions of chocolate truffles, pizza, burgers, muffins, and wraps.

CAMEL MILK could be the next big thing in alternative, especially across the ditch. An Australian company says camels are the next big thing in alternative milk, as it looks for further investment in a new processing facility. Perth-based commercial camel milk producer, Good Earth Dairy, has been awarded an A$4.4 million (NZ$4.8m) grant from the Western Australian government to construct the facility. The funding brings the company a step closer to the A$20 million project, which will be Australia’s first dairy facility dedicated to producing fresh and powdered camel milk products. Set for completion in 2026, the facility will increase Good Earth Dairy’s production capacity to 21.9 million litres a year, expand its distribution to international markets and allow it to enter the infant formula market.

Head Office: Lower Ground Floor, 29 Northcroft St, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone 09-307 0399. Postal Address: PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Published by: Rural News Group Printed by: Inkwise NZ Ltd Contacts: Editorial: sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz Advertising material: davef@ruralnews.co.nz Rural News on-line: www.ruralnews.co.nz Subscriptions: subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz • Printed by Inkwise • Distributed by Reachmedia

FONTERRA FARMERS finally know the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of their co-operative’s much hyped Scope 3 emissions target. A year on from giving farmers a heads up, Fonterra bosses last week revealed the Scope 3 target – a 30% intensity reduction in onfarm emissions by 2030, from a 2018 baseline. Fonterra has divided this 30% reduction into four ‘buckets’: 7% reduction through farming best practice such as feed quality and improving herd performance; 7% reduction through novel technologies like Kowbucha; 8% reduction through carbon removals from existing and new vegetation; and 8% from historical land-use change conversions to dairy. As Fonterra directors and management hold farmer roadshows this week, there will be plenty for farmers to digest. The target is not an individual one. It’s a co-operative wide target. But what each farmer does on his or her farm will help Fonterra reach its target. The co-operative isn’t talking about incentives or penalties at this stage. The plan is to help each farmer through one-on-one support and specific projects on farm to reduce emissions. There is no talk of reducing feed or fertiliser usage on farm. Fonterra isn’t doing this on its own. It’s responding to growing sustainability ambitions from its customers and financial institutions, along with increasing market access, legal and reporting obligations. The co-op’s biggest global customers – like Nestlé and Mars – are already working towards ambitious targets to produce dairy products with a low emissions footprint. Their ultimatum to Fonterra is to join the party or they will take their business elsewhere. Not all Fonterra farmers will be happy paying to go this extra mile to help global giants like Nestlé and Mars. They have more pressing problems on hand – rising interest rates, volatile milk price and weather woes. Fonterra chairman Peter McBride made it clear that the co-op will be working with farmers and not against them in this journey. Fonterra farmers will be watching.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

OPINION // 13

Capitalise with natural capital BALA TIKKISETTY

ONE TEASPOON of soil

contains more living organisms than there are people in the world and New Zealand loses about 192 million tonnes of soil to the ocean every year. Without this “biological diversity” there would be no terrestrial life on earth. In addition to providing habitat for billions of organisms, soil acts as a water filter and growing medium. It contributes to biodiversity, solid waste treatment, acts as a filter for wastewater and supports agriculture. Unlocking the secrets of this complex chemical, physical and biological powerhouse – a powerful source of “natural capital” – has had a huge impact on human life. The transformation of this type of natural capital into resources that people value and use is generally called ecosystem services. It is a concept gaining more attention as we see environmental pressure increasingly applied to the health of resources, such as soil, we once took for granted. Functional land management is a resource management framework that seeks to optimise the cropping and environmental returns from land. It focuses on soil functions related to agricultural land use: primary production, water purification and regulation, carbon cycling and storage, functional and intrinsic biodiversity, and nutrient cycling. Building on that good work, some areas still need improvement. Good practices needed include optimum cultivation and avoiding overgrazing and heavy grazing under wet weather, both of which can damage the soil’s structure and lead to compaction. Others include carefully matching fertiliser applications to suit soil and crop requirements, practicing appropriate use

of pesticides and other agrochemicals, managing pasture to maintain complete soil cover and careful application of farm dairy effluent to avoid saturation and to optimise organic matter and nutrient status. Minimising humaninduced erosion and maintaining good soil quality are essential for maintaining soil ecosystem services such as nutrient and water buffering, productive capacity, assimilating waste and minimising impacts of sediment and other contaminants on water bodies. Protecting sensitive areas on farms also benefits production. For example, wetlands deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as improving water quality, flood regulation, coastal protection, and providing recreational opportunities and fish habitat. Waikato Regional Council’s soil quality monitoring programme measures soil properties such as soil compaction, nutrient status, biological activity, soil carbon and organic matter at about 150 active sites (some sites are lost due to urban expansion etc, but new sites are added to keep the total number of 150). About 30 sites are sampled each year, so it takes five years to get around all 150 sites. The sites covered include the major land uses and soil types within the region. The results show issues such as compaction and excessive nutrients and a variety of trends, such as to an improvement in some indicators like macroporosity (a measure of the proportion of large pores in the soil that provide the air supply to roots). The latter is most likely attributable to good land management practices undertaken by our farming community. The council is committed to working with farmers, the wider agriculture sector and other stakeholders to increase

the understanding of soil issues and to provide advice on sustainable agriculture practices that decrease impacts on our natural capital.

Soil is one of the most valuable assets that a farmer has. It is our collective responsibility to make use of soils without damaging either the soil

Soil is one of the most valuable assets that a farmer has.

or any other part of our environment, protecting them for our own use and use by future generations.

pal sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council. Contact him on 0800 800 401.

Let us name this decade as “Save Soil” decade. • Bala Tikkisetty is princi-

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

14 // MANAGEMENT

Milk chilling partnership SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA FARMERS

can now lease next generation milk chilling technology and enjoy the many benefits that come with it. An innovative new project dubbed Pay-AsYou-Save (PAUS) was launched last week on a Timaru farm. The initiative offers Fonterra farmers the option to lease new cutting-edge systems rather than having to purchase them as they’ve typically done in the past. Fonterra has teamed up with chilling systems manufacturer Cool Group and New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF). PAUS has been set up as a subsidiary of Cool Group. NZGIF is providing the necessary financing for the leasing of these chilling systems. Jason Patrick, chief investment officer NZGIF, says by financing this initiative they’re championing a transformative step in sustainable farming practices. “The $10m asset finance facility from NZGIF should assist Cool Group to offer low emission chilling infrastructure to over 200 farms in the next three years,” says Patrick. Cool Group chief executive Allan Steele says PAUS is more than just a product offering. “It’s a commitment to supporting sustainable dairy farming, reduc-

The new initiative offers Fonterra farmers the option to lease new cutting-edge milk chilling systems rather than having to purchase them as they’ve typically done in the past.

PAUS PAYS OFF FONTERRA SAYS there are several benefits for farmers as well as the environment, including: ■ Hassle-free maintenance: full servicing of the chilling units overseen by Cool Group as part of the lease agreement. ■

Cost effective: farmers have lease payments deducted from their monthly milk cheque from Fonterra, with the option to extend the lease when it rolls over or buy the unit at any point.

■

Electricity savings: the units generate hot water, unlike most existing systems where heat is wasted. Farmers can use this for cleaning the milking shed and make significant savings on their electricity bill. This feature, combined with how efficiently the system itself runs, mean that dairy shed power consumption can be reduced by up to 30% on average.

■

Reduced emissions: the leased units use what’s known as fourth generation refrigerants instead of HFCs. They have shown a reduction in CO2e of up to 80% compared to older systems.

■

Milk quality benefits: milk snap chilling to 6°C or below to comply with milk chilling regulations. Older systems can struggle to achieve this, particularly as they age.

■

Improved technology: the units deliver transparent data and allow real-time remote monitoring.

ing our collective carbon footprint, and enhancing the efficiency of milk

production. The environmental and economic advantages of the PAUS

project have been fieldproven, marking a significant stride in the journey

to more sustainable milk production. And we are excited to be working with all our partners in making a difference.” Fonterra says milk chilling systems are critical in ensuring milk gets to the required temperature of 6°C or below within two hours of milking, but the units represent a significant capital investment for farmers and can become increasingly costly as they age. Older units also use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which is a coolant gas that is being phased down in New Zealand and across the globe and are much more limited in terms of their technology and features. Anne Douglas, group

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director of Fonterra Farm Source, says the co-operative was keen to be involved given the project brings both short and long-term benefits. “We’re delighted to be part of this collaboration because it delivers value to Fonterra farmers through things like improved efficiencies while also helping lower on-farm emissions. It’s an exclusive deal that we can offer in large part because of the scale of our cooperative and strength of our partnerships.” Fonterra supplier Bruce Murphy of Timaru, an adopter of the technology, believes the PAUS will be beneficial to farmers. “After years of wres-

tling with rising repair costs and aging chilling systems, the PAUS initiative will be a gamechanger for Fonterra suppliers like me,” says Murphy. “The hassle-free nature of the scheme means I have more time to do other things on the farm and its leasing model eases the financial burden. The benefits of extra hot water, lower power bills and the environmental aspects really help sustainable farming and improve milk quality.” Furthermore, Purpose Capital, NZ’s largest private sector impact investment fund, has entered into a strategic alliance with Cool Group by investing equity to foster business growth. Bill Murphy, executive director, says collaborating with Cool Group Limited and being part of the PAUS project is an exciting venture for them. “Traditional refrigerants are a considerable contributor to global warming, and their proper management and substitution represents one of the most effective climate solutions available. We’re committed to investments that drive positive change with measurable positive impacts, and this initiative is a testament to that commitment. We’re thrilled to be working alongside all the partners in this venture.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

MANAGEMENT // 15

Ag emissions reduction JV confirms McNee as CEO AGRIZERONZ, THE public-private joint venture helping farmers reduce their emissions, has appointed Wayne McNee as its chief executive. Major agribusiness companies ANZCO, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms and Synlait own 50% of AgriZeroNZ, with the other half owned by the Crown through the Ministry for Primary Industries. It was setup to deliver a step-change in investment aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for farmers. McNee was initially appointed the JV’s interim executive director

to support its establishment after being instrumental in setting up the world-first public-private partnership, says Sir Brian Roche KNZM, AgriZeroNZ board chair. “The board is pleased to appoint Wayne as chief executive to lead the company through its next stage of development, leveraging his deep industry knowledge and relationships across the agricultural sector and the broader market. “The appointment will provide much needed certainty as we approach the important and challenging task of getting affordable and effective emission reductions tools into farmers’ hands,” said

Wayne McNee was initially appointed the JV’s interim executive director to support its establishment after being instrumental in setting up the worldfirst public-private partnership.

Roche. McNee says he is excited to take AgriZeroNZ forward beyond its start-up phase and address the critical challenge of reducing emissions from ruminant animals in New Zealand

pastoral farming. “AgriZeroNZ is unique because of the breadth of its sector expertise and commercial focus, along with our collective ambition and advocacy to help farmers reduce their emissions while main-

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taining profitability. “We have a great Board and supportive shareholders committed to this long-term partnership, and I look forward to working with them, other funders, the Government, and the compa-

nies we are investing in, to get tools into farmers’ hands and deliver on our ambition to reduce agricultural emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.” McNee says agriculture is the backbone of the New Zealand economy, but global customers of our milk and meat products are setting ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets which means New Zealand farmers will need to reduce emissions over time. “AgriZeroNZ is committed to getting farmers the tools they need to meet the targets of our international customers, so they can continue to be the backbone of our

economy, help New Zealand achieve its climate goals and lead the way in sustainable pasture-based farming.” Funding to the JV from agribusiness shareholders is being matched by the Government dollar-for-dollar, to provide around $165 million for the JV’s first four years to 2026. Since being stood up eight months ago, AgriZeroNZ has made four high-impact investments to bring emissions reduction tools to the market for New Zealand farmers worth over $12 million. Other board members are Jessie Chan, Sir Neville Jordan, Greg Murison, and Fraser Whineray.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

16 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Pain relief for lame cows is a game changer SAMANTHA TENNENT

THE TRADITIONAL

method to approach lameness involves corrective trimming of the affected area. For moderate to severe cases, applying a hoof block to the opposite claw is common practice. Strangely, though, the use of pain relief is often overlooked, even though lameness is undeniably a painful issue for cows. Lameness ranks among the most agonising conditions experienced by dairy cows. You can easily spot a lame cow as it limps down

the track, experiences an immediate drop in milk production, rapidly loses body condition, and faces fertility issues. The primary goal should be to accelerate the recovery of these cows, enabling them to return to normal and regain their productivity. Doing so not only benefits the farm but also minimises the welfare concerns for these cows. A recent study shows the effectiveness of different treatments for lame cows. This study showed a drastic improvement of cure rates when adding pain relief on top of the standard treatments. Newly lame cows were

Lameness ranks among the most agonising conditions experienced by dairy cows.

given one of four different treatment regimes, they were then assessed to identify their cure* rates 35 days post the initial treatment.

The following cure rates were observed: corrective trim only (25%), corrective trim + hoof block (36%), corrective trim + 3 days of pain

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will improve their productivity, condition and fertility faster, and be more profitable in the long run. This is particularly important with lame cows early in the season or during mating. And as consumer awareness regarding the production of dairy products continues to grow, including pain relief into lameness management not only enhances cow

OSPRI TAKES OVER M.BOVIS WORK

PROBIOTICS VS CELL COUNT AND CLINICAL CASES THIS AUTUMN I STOPPED USING ANTIBIOTICS FOR MASTITIS AND DOSED 25 COWS THAT HAD A CELL COUNT OVER 900,000 AND FOLLOWED UP WITH RUMICELL IN THE HERD..

relief (29%), corrective trim + hoof block + 3 days of pain relief (56%). This shows the most successful treatment by a large margin is adding a hoof block and three days of pain relief on top of corrective trimming. And compared to corrective trimming alone, it more than doubles the cure rate. When the treatment period shortens the cow

welfare but also aligns with the ethical standards expected by consumers. To incorporate pain relief into your farm practices, begin by consulting your veterinarian for guidance on selecting the most appropriate pain relief options for your cows and to aid in decision-making for your team. Ensure that your team members receive thorough training in pain relief administration, understand when and how to use it, and can proficiently identify signs of lameness in cows. Next time when treating lame cows consider using some pain relief to get better and faster cure rates, this is going to become the normal treatment regime over time. Have a yarn to your vet about which type of pain relief is best for your farm systems. • Samantha Tennent is general manager of WelFarm.

Matt 021 234 1713

FROM THIS month OSPRI took over day-to-day operational and disease control functions of the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) programme. This means OSPRI will now be responsible for testing farms, the two background surveillance programmes, managing the current active confirmed property and any newly detected farms, depopulation of infected farms, or trace animals and supporting affected farmers. Programme partners, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Beef + Lamb New Zealand, and DairyNZ, will continue to govern and monitor the programme’s progress. MPI will retain non-operational aspects of the programme, including compensation, and any necessary compliance action. OSPRI says the change does not affect farmers and M. bovis levies will not change. The programme is now more than halfway into an estimated 10-year plan to eradicate M. bovis. The number of infected properties has fallen to very low levels and the major activity of the programme in coming years will be national surveillance of New Zealand’s cattle herd. Moving operations

from MPI to OSPRI at this stage of the eradication effort is said to provide the best value for the programme funders and farmers. OSPRI says its proven regional management model reflects its experience in surveillance and disease control. “The natural synergies between the M. bovis programme and our NAIT and the TBFree programmes will help us achieve operational efficiencies. “A significant portion of our M. bovis team is coming over from MPI, bringing invaluable programme knowledge to our organisation.” The M. bovis programme is being administered under a Government Industry Agreement (GIA) between the three partners. A proposal is under way to change the administration model to a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) — the same model used for bovine tuberculosis (TB). The proposal nominates OSPRI as the lead agency to deliver the programme for the remainder of the eradication plan. Public submissions on the draft proposal closed in October 2023. The final proposal is expected to be submitted to the Government for review in 2024.

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

DAIRY GOATS & SHEEP // 17 Goats require high levels of copper and seriously suffer when they are copper deficient.

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goats need specialised nutrition to have them functioning at their best. When it comes to trace mineral levels – specifically copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, and cobalt – goats have very specific requirements that differ from cattle and sheep. Managing these is crucial for optimum rumen performance and overall health. Copper Goats require high levels of copper and seriously suffer when they are copper deficient, but their storage ability for this mineral is poor. Through decades of experience in building mineral supplements, we’ve found dairy goats respond best to highly-efficient chelated forms of copper to meet their high demands. Chelated copper allows better utilisation of each body cell’s natural storage capacity without the increased risk of toxicity. We recommend chelated minerals as they bind to natural amino acids which allows for better absorption, translocation, and efficient storage throughout the body. Zinc Zinc is second-most important to goats (after copper) and follows the same principle. We ensure the efficient translocation of bioavailable zinc to each cell in the body by utilising che-

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Dairy goats need specialised nutrition to have them functioning at their best.

lated forms that work well with copper. Good levels of bioavailable zinc are integral to increasing immunity, reproductive performance, and hoof integrity. Selenium Goats also require high levels of selenium, due to their high metabolic rate, yet much of the selenium that is supplemented is poorly used in the rumen. Selenomethionine yeast delivers high levels of very bio-available selenium in a form that can be more efficiently utilised and stored by the body. Ensure any selenium supplement you use is in an efficient form. Iodine Iodine drives energy and metabolism, working alongside selenium to form essential thy-

roid hormones. Due to tight limits allowed in goats milk, iodine is often excluded from dairy goat mineral, or dosed at very low levels. Supplying more efficient forms of selenium can maximise synthesis of thyroid hormones while not exceeding iodine levels in the milk. As long as there is a minimum level of available iodine in the diet, good levels of selenium in the correct form ensures adequate levels of these hormones are available. Cobalt Cobalt is the final critical trace element for dairy goat performance. Cobalt aids in the formation of vitamin B12, which is vital to good rumen function. Goats have good tolerance to high levels of cobalt and extract it from feed effi-

ciently. Due to this, we recommend higher levels of cobalt in mineral blends. When it comes to less critical trace elements (iron, manganese, chromium), goats also have high tolerance so it’s good practice to underpin mineral blends with these. While there are some similarities between mineral requirements in goats, cattle, and sheep, due to their high-performance, goats have very specific trace element requirements. By understanding mineral levels in your feed, and investing in blood tests, you’ll ensure your herd is receiving accurate mineral supplementation for optimal performance. • Article supplied by Agvance Nutrition

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Ideal for trimming cow tails, shearing sheep, alpacas, or goats.

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1400gms means 100-200gms lighter than standard handpiece.

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Variable speed from 2600-3500 rpm.

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Latest brushless motor technology means minimal heat build up

At 2800 rpm the 12-volt lithium battery will crutch up to 400-500 cows tails or 300-400 sheep.

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Auto reset fuse for overload or lock up

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GOAT & SHEEP HANDLERS Fast versatile goat handler ideal for feet trimming, ear tagging and all handling requirements

• Manual & air operated • No adjustment needed for different sized animals • Stock held in a comfortable position with full access to underside of animal • No heavy lifting required • Easy on back • Safe and efficient Email: info@hecton.co.nz Visit our website www.hecton.co.nz for a full list of products Call in & see us at 73 Preston Street, Invercargill Phone: 03 215 8558

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

18 // DAIRY GOATS & SHEEP

How to handle CAE CAPRINE ARTHRITIS

Encephalitis (CAE) is a disease of goats caused by a virus. It is present in many herds throughout New Zealand and tends to develop into clinical disease when goats are under stress, for example in dairy goats kept in relatively intensive

conditions. There is no cure for CAE. How do goats become infected? The most common way for infection to spread is from infected does to kids via colostrum or milk. The milk from one infected doe going into

bulk milk can infect all the kids drinking it. After infection, it can take a long time for the first signs of the disease to appear. In fact, some infected goats show no signs, although they may have reduced productivity, and they can spread the virus to kids and other goats.

What are the signs of CAE? The clinical disease takes two main forms: Encephalitis (brain inflammation) is the most common form of the disease in kids. Signs are first seen at one to four months of age. Affected kids can be

The most common way for infection to spread is from infected does to kids via colostrum or milk.

bright and alert but they develop a stilted walk and then become increasingly weak in the back legs until they can’t walk (over a period of 2 weeks to 2 months). Older goats can sometimes get the nervous form too, and this form of the disease can look like another brain disease – cerebral listeriosis – with aimless circling and a head tilt. Chronic arthritis is the most common form of the disease in mature goats.

This form of CAE usually develops later – at one to two years of age. The knees and sometimes other joints swell and the goat becomes lame, often grazing on its knees. The joint pain and stiffness increase over time. Again it’s important to distinguish between lameness caused by CAE and lameness caused by other problems such as foot rot. Occasionally CAE causes mastitis, pneumonia or wasting disease.

GET ON TO A VET IF YOU think you might have affected goats or if you’d like to make sure you don’t have the disease on your farm, the first step is to get your vet to arrange blood tests. Accurate diagnosis is important because there are other diseases that cause very similar signs. Generally, it’s best to repeat testing after a year or so, as some infected goats take some time to give a positive result. In commercial herds, any test-positive goats should be humanely culled. Then with the help of your vet, there are further steps you can take to get rid of the disease. Run two herds – one negative and one positive and manage them carefully to prevent infection from spreading from the positive goats to the negative ones. Prevent spread from blood-test positive does to their kids via the milk by separating the kids from their dams before they suckle and raising them on bovine colostrum and milk substitutes or milk from known CAE-free does. If you have a CAE-free herd, it’s wise to make sure it stays clear by having a ‘closed herd’ policy. This means that any goats you introduce should be sourced from CAE-free herds, or they should be blood-tested before joining the herd. • Article first appeared on lifestyleblock.co.nz and has been reproduced with permission.

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DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 19

New applicator spreads seeds, granules far and wide MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

COMPLEMENTING THE

firm’s turbo Jet range, the new Stocks Ag Maxi

Jet pneumatic applicators can spread seed and granules to widths of 15m and at rates from 1 kg/ha and 200 kg/ha. Able to apply material at rates of up to 200

kg/ha on machines up to a 6m spreading width, alternatively, it can be used to spread material at more conventional application rates to distances up to 15 metres, making

FRONT-END LOADER WITH BETTER REACH FRONT END loaders have become the mainstay of on-farm material handling, probably since Quicke released the first drive-in/detachable machines in the early 1960s. Since then, operators have always been looking to solve that familiar problem when working with front loaders – just a few more centimetres of reach – especially when units are fitted to the increasingly popular 4-cylinder medium class tractors. German manufacturer Stoll seems to have addressed the problem with an interesting concept that has been awarded a silver medal at the recent Agritechnica event, with a loader equipped with a telescopic swing arm and an ‘extendible joint’. Designed for use with the already noted 4-cylinder medium class tractors, the swing arm can be extended 700mm

that, working in combination with the extendible joint, enables the horizontal reach to be increased by 1m and the overall lifting height by as much as 1.5m. The manufacturer suggests that the format could prove to be particularly interesting for farms that handle round and large square bales, but do not have enough work to justify a telehandler. The overall electro-hydraulic actuation of the front loader can be used to oversee safety functions, including, automatic shut-off of the master cylinders in the event of excessively loads when the swing arm is extended. In addition, the joint means that the front loader is movable, which can help to improve visibility while in operation.

German manufacturer Stoll has produced a loader equipped with a telescopic swing arm and an ‘extendible joint’.

it the widest-spreading Stocks applicator to date. A key feature is the use of external distribution heads located along the toolbar, meaning the length of small-bore pipework is kept to a minimum, with the result that air and material flows are restricted as little as possible. Two or four-outlet metering units are available to supply the standard eight-outlet distribution heads, meaning it is possible to have up to 32 spreader plates across the working width of the machine to which the applicator is attached. If even wide set ups are required, there is the option for larger bespoke distribution heads, with up to 20 outlets each. Usually, the company rec-

A key feature is the use of external distribution heads located along the toolbar, meaning the length of small-bore pipework is kept to a minimum.

ommends the two-outlet Maxi Jet 2 for working widths of up to 8m. Twin high-capacity electric fans are standard, while there is an option of a hydraulically driven unit, fitted as standard on the four-outlet Maxi Jet 4, which is designed for machines up to 15m wide. During the design process, the Stocks engineering team developed a

novel solution to ensure that any material being spread is distributed to the furthest reaches of a 15m toolbar, at the same rate as those in the centre of the machine. Spiral risers fitted within the 63mm supply hoses to the distribution heads create a vortex effect in the airstream to ensure material is evenly dispersed before

it reaches the head, with the result that there is a uniform supply to each of the eight outlets. As with all Stocks applicators, material is metered out of the hopper by fluted feed rollers, and the new highcapacity versions make it possible to handle large and small seeds at high rates and high application speeds. The Maxi Jet is also said to be able to meter difficult flowing seeds at much lower rates. The feed roller can be configured to use just one segment to meter product to each secondary distribution head, then dividing the flow to the delivery hoses and out to each of the spreader outlets. www.norwood.co.nz

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Technology for the Future

DAIRY NEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2023

20 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Shorter chop version of loader MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

GERMAN MANUFACTURER Strautmann is

launching a shorter chop

version of its Magnon 10 loader wagon that was launched in 2019. While the 10 is equipped with 48 knives for a 35mm chop, the new Magnon 11 has a total of 84 blades,

allowing it to chop material down to as short as 22mm. The maker suggests that demand is being driven by dairy farms that want a precision har-

The new Magnon 11 has a total of 84 blades, allowing it to chop material down to as short as 22mm.

vester shorter chop that is comparable to that of a self-propelled harvester but would prefer to operate a forage wagon. To deal with the extra forces created by chop-

SIP has a SILVERCUT mower to suit every farming situation

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If the rear mower happens to encounter an obstacle, the design of the hinge enables the mower to move simultaneously backwards and upwards to ride over the obstacle. Once the obstacle is cleared the mower automatically returns to the cutting position.

The unique solution of four brass shear pins protects the cutter bar gears from impact and subsequential damage. This effective but simple solution enables the mower to be repaired easily and cost-effectively in the field, often by the tractor driver.

The advanced suspension system ensures that the ground pressure is consistent across the entire cutterbar, resulting in a precise and clean cut.

The SIP SILVERCUT range of mowers come standard with a full Two-Year Warranty, plus an additional third year of warranty subject to regular dealer servicing, resulting in worry free operation.

ping shorter, the driveline is rated for 3000Nm of torque, around 40% greater than the Magnon 10), with the gearboxes getting increased dimensions and extra metal. Said to need around 20% more power than the Magnon 10, the manufacturer recommends 220hp or more, to deal with the loadings created by a range of body capacities from 42m3 to 52m3, without the dosing beaters. Alongside the chopping system, the new wagons also feature an updated Flexi-Load pickup that deviates from a traditional tine band to scrapers at the rear

of the assembly to guide the material delivered by the polyurethane tines. The main benefit of this design is direct access to the tine fasteners, making replacement a much simpler and quicker operation. The new Flex-Load will be fitted to all Magnon 11 pre-series wagons for next season, while a limited number of Magnon 8 and 10 wagons fitted with the system, before it is eventually made available for the Super and Giga Vitesse wagons at some point in the future. The short chop machines will be fully available in 2025.

Global satellite navigation technology leader Hemisphere GNSS has been sold for US$175m.

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the global satellite navigation technology leader Hemisphere GNSS (Hemisphere) for a total price of US$175 million, following on from the initial intention signalled earlier in the year. This acquisition is said to solidify CNH’s in-house precision, automation and autonomy technology, allowing the group to continue its “Breaking New Ground” initiative for the agriculture and construction industries. It should also offer improved vertical integration efforts to deliver core technologies to customers’ fleets for top performance, combined with a smooth and seamless user experience. With the addition of Hemisphere’s expertise and network, CNH also hopes to accelerate a strategic plan to attain leadership in automation technology, expedite delivery of a fully autonomous farming cycle, and extend and enhance automation and autonomy across a broad range of agriculture and construction applications. Marc Kermisch, chief digital & information officer at CNH, says bringing Hemisphere’s talent and resources into CNH reflects the energy and momentum of their investments in tech innovation. “From 2024 onwards, we will bring notable value to customers through significant advancements in our journey from automating certain tasks to fully autonomous operation,” says Kermisch.

7 STEPS to reduce the

risk of leptospirosis on farm

A robust vaccination plan will provide the most advanced protection. Your vet can advise on how to implement this on your farm.

Avoiding contact with urine is vital. Always wear PPE and avoid eating and drinking, smoking or vaping in the milking shed. PPE should be worn when hosing down, assisting with calving as well as handling afterbirth, aborted foetuses, kidneys or bladders.

Ensure all staff and visitors (including family) are given a robust induction on lepto risk factors and how to minimise them. Visible signage around the shed and property can act as a reminder and ensure preventative steps are consistently implemented.

Lepto bacteria from infected urine can last for up to 6 months in wet conditions. Fencing of effluent ponds and waterways as well as strict control surrounding effluent spreading is paramount.

Rodent urine can be a source of lepto so control is vital and its ongoing implementation is key. Keep records of bait stations and maintain them regularly. It is also important to ensure potential food sources such as calf meal and silage are rodent proof.

It is essential to ensure all new stock are fully vaccinated prior to entry on arrival on farm.

If there are sheep, pigs or deer on farm, it is important they are fully vaccinated to prevent them becoming infected with lepto which could spread to your herd. Your vet can best advise on how to implement vaccination programmes for all classes of stock.

Vaccination

Hygiene and personal care

Staff and visitor training

Effluent and waterway

Rodent control

Introducing new stock

Other stock

Ask your vet for Lepto 4-Way™ | Lepto.co.nz

S, Wilkinson DA, Angelin-Bonnet O, Paine S, Cullen K, Wight J, Baker MG, Benschop J. Diverse epidemiology of Leptospira serovars notified in New Zealand. 1999-2017. Pathogens. 2020 Oct 14;9(10):841. doi: 10.3390/pathogens9100841. PMID: 33066613; PMCID: PMC7602385.

Yupiana Y. Leptospirosis in dairy herds: a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Restricted Veterinary Medicine. Available only under a veterinary authorisation. ACVM Registration No. A012030. Copyright © 2023 Virbac New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. Virbac New Zealand Limited, 26-30 Maui Street, Pukete, Hamilton 3200.