Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

DAIRY NEWSLETTER SPRING 2015

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Low stress systems for calves • Fertility for grazing cattle • CASE STUDY: Danish dairy herds - what is the secret?

• Weed control in newly sown leys

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Calves 3

Colostrum management

4

Low stress system breeds success

5

Heatwave Milk Warmer

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Calf Scours: Vets View - Prevention is key

8

Wynnstay hold first UK Calf Signals training day

Fertility & Health 8

The Lean Approach

10 Transition management 12 Making informed decisions when replacing cows will pay dividends 14 Digital Dermatitis Key prevention strategies 16 Bella Ag health monitoring system 17 Looking towards turnout Dairy Hygiene 18 Staphylococcus Aureus The cowman’s curse 19 Tip Top Teats Farm Tour 20 High Yeilding Danish Dairies What’s the “Secret”?

Worming 25 Fewer worms, better growth rates in cattle Weed Control 26 Weed control in newly sown leys 27 Options for wireworm control in maize Fertiliser 28 Nutrient management for grassland 29 Market update 30 Challenge Dairy update 31 GeoGen renewable energy 32 The complete dairy package from Wynnstay Wynnstay Retail - 01691 662690 Wynnstay Arable- 01939 210555 Wynnstay Feeds- 01691 828512 To find your nearest store visit

www.wynnstay.co.uk/locations.html

For the latest information from our dairy team...

NEW DAIRY SPECIALISTS JOIN THE WYNNSTAY TEAM! We are pleased to be continuing with the investment in our Dairy Technical Team with the appointment of four new Dairy Specialists who will cover the following regions; William Astley - Mid Wales Thomas Stephenson - Lancashire Stuart Miles - South Wales Mark Price - Shropshire Our new Dairy Specialists will be enrolled on an intensive training programme which will further enhance their knowledge of the dairy industry and equip them with the knowledge of the products and services Wynnstay can offer dairy farmers. The investment we have made to further enhance our technical team demonstrates our commitment to providing support for dairy farmers to grow and develop their enterprises.

Dairy Team Contact Details Steve Brown - Ruminant Feeds Product Manager m: 07774 855026 steve.brown@wynnstay.co.uk

@sirbilly55

Dr Huw McConochie - Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07771 740857 huw.mcconochie@wynnstay.co.uk @HuwMcConochie Iwan Vaughan - Dairy Specialist m: 07990 578548 iwan.vaughan@wynnstay.co.uk

@maesmochnant

Gill Dickson - National Calf Specialist m: 07971 296702 gill.dickson@wynnstay.co.uk

@Healthycalves

Rebecca Richards - Calf Specialist m: 07881 093633 rebecca.richards@wynnstay.co.uk @richardscalf1 Adrian Morgan - Dairy Business Development Manager m: 07780 683043 adrian.morgan@wynnstay.co.uk Alan Dickson - Business Development Manager m: 07968 177726 alan.dickson@wynnstay.co.uk

EVENTS

CONTENTS

We will be attending a number of specialist dairy events throughout 2015, remember to call by the Wynnstay stand to see the full package we can offer!

BORDERWAY DAIRY EXPO 2015 Saturday 7th March- Borderway Mart, Carlisle LIVESTOCK EVENT 2015 8th and 9th July- NEC Birmingham UK DAIRY DAY 2015 16th September- Telford International Centre THE DAIRY SHOW 7th October, Bath & West Showground WELSH DAIRY SHOW 20th October 2015, United Counties Showground, Carmarthen

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COLOSTRUM MANAGEMENT Colostrum is the foundation of a healthy calf and many people have fine-tuned the art of providing the calf with 10% of birth weight within the first 6 hours of life. Why then do we still tend to find problems with calves scouring and generally not doing so well?

Sam Leadley, Attica Vets US suggests that good colostrum management starts by harvesting ‘clean colostrum’. In this article he advises some simple protocols that can be implemented on any farm.

Feeding Clean Wholesome Colostrum We all want to raise healthy calves. Getting calves off to a good start by feeding colostrum is the foundation on which we can build an excellent calf rearing program.

• QUICKLY Feed colostrum as soon after birth as practical – 4 out of 5 calves within 4 hours is a good goal.

• QUANTITY Feed enough colostrum – best management suggests 200g of antibodies in the first feeding.

• QUALITY Feed high quality colostrum – a minimum of 50g/l is a practical minimum threshold.

WAIT!

What happened to clean and wholesome? Yes, you can follow all three of the best colostrum management practices above (Quickly, Quantity, Quality) and still not have healthy calves? Why? Because the calf’s first meal, colostrum, could be contaminated with bacteria.

What are practical ways to reduce bacterial contamination of colostrum?

1. First, minimise inoculation.

• Clean teats at first milking. The recommended protocol for getting clean teats at first milking after calving is: (fore-stripping may be added as desired) 1. Brush contaminants from teats (for example, straw and sawdust) 2. Dip all teat surfaces with an effective pre-dip 3. Wait – give the dip an opportunity to destroy bacteria – 30 seconds.

4. Wipe.

5. Dip a second time and wait 30 seconds.

6. Wipe giving special attention to the teat ends.

• Clean collection pail or bucket. Regular scrubbing of these buckets (usually stainless steel) will include these steps: 1. Rinse with lukewarm water to remove milk residue.

2. Wash with hot water (always above 50°C) using a chlorinated detergent and brushing thoroughly.

3. Rinse with an acid solution if next use is likely to be more than 12 hours.

4. Turn upside down to dry.

2. Second, minimize growth of the few bacteria that do get into the colostrum.

If we are realistic most of us have to admit that collecting sterile colostrum is not too practical on a dairy farm.

So our next question is how to minimize the growth of these intruders?

The most simple and practical way to prevent bacterial growth is to feed the colostrum to a calf. The conditions in her digestive tract (low pH, digestive juices) are not usually favourable for bacterial growth. A good rule of thumb is to feed fresh colostrum within 30 minutes after it is collected for most favourable bacteria control.

However, if we are going to delay feeding longer than 30 minutes we need to think about some way to slow down the growth process – a simple, inexpensive method would be good. The growth rate of bacteria in colostrum is determined by the availability of nutrients (high), pH (not easy to change), and the temperature (can be changed).

Thus, our least expensive and practical way to slow down the growth process is to chill colostrum. Coliform bacteria will double every 20 minutes at cow body temperature (38.5°C) but this doubling takes 200 minutes at 16°C. Methods to chill warm colostrum to 16° within 30 minutes: 1. Ice-bath method Pour colostrum into containers. Containers holding about 2 litres work well for this purpose. Place them into any kind of tub or bucket with enough water to ¾ cover the containers – avoid water levels that are too high because containers will often tip over and leak colostrum into the water. Maintain enough ice in the water so that it is visible at all times – about 30 minutes should take the colostrum down to 16°C. 2. Ice immersion method Prepare bottles of ice before the need to chill colostrum.

Frequently 1L, 2L or 4L containers are convenient sizes – fill only ¾ full of water and freeze. Always be sure to have the outside surfaces clean.

Place the ice containers into the warm colostrum. Add ice at the rate of 1 part ice to 4 parts of colostrum to chill to 16°C within 30 minutes.

For more advice on colostrum management, please speak to our Calf Specialist

Rebecca Richards Calf Specialist m: 07881 093 633 rebecca.richards@wynnstay.co.uk

@richardscalf1 Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

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CALVES

LOW STRESS SYSTEM BREEDS SUCCESS Adopting a stress free rearing system coupled with good nutrition and calf protocols has paid dividends for the Jones brothers who have developed a successful calf rearing enterprise building up from 200 to 1400 reared calves over a period of 3 years.

1000ft above sea level in Colwyn Bay is a good healthy place for a calf rearing enterprise. However, as with all ‘bought in‘ calves there are inherent disease risks and brothers Arfon and Gerallt Jones at Llindir Farm have had to develop strategies to get their calves off to a good start.

The two brothers started the calf enterprise rearing 200 calves in existing buildings in 2012. The gritting business and sheep also demand time so they invested in a Holm & Laue 100 computerised calf feeder as a way of making sure the calves were fed on time, even when they were away on another job.

Each calf wears a transponder collar which allows the calf to have 750g of milk powder per day. They are allowed 5.2 litres/ day, split into 4 or more feeds throughout the day. The milk is restricted but available in small meals, this simulates natural behaviour, promoting better digestion and less stress. The machine records information and generates an alarm list and a ‘credit’ list which acts as an early warning system, when a calf starts to drink slowly, or doesn’t arrive for a meal, the calf number is flagged up.

“The skim milk base gives a bloom to their coats and growth rates average at around 0.9 - 1kg/day” The calves are around 14-21 days old on arrival so the machine is set to start weaning the calves at 18 days and reduces the amount fed by 0.2 litres/day until 39 days. This slow, gradual weaning onto 18% weaner nuts allows gradual rumen development and a stress free weaning period. The calves are kept in groups of 25 on the machine and split into groups of 12 or 13 after weaning. They stay with the same cohort all the way through to minimise stress caused by mixing groups. The nuts are fed in an auger bucket to speed up feeding time, allowing more time for calf care.

The automated system has been so successful they now have 4 Holm & Laue 100 machines both new and secondhand, each one running 2 feed stalls for 50 calves. Two new sheds have been built in the last 3 years to provide extra accommodation.

The calves are two thirds continental cross and one third Holstein bulls. Since the price of skimmed milk dropped they

Arfon and Gerallt Jones

feed a 22% protein, 18% fat skimmed milk powder and 18% weaner nuts with ad lib straw. The skim milk base gives a bloom to their coats and growth rates average at around 0.9 - 1kg/day.

Calves are around 3 weeks on entry and reach 140-150kg after 12 weeks. Currently there are 200 calves on the milk machines and 230 weaned calves at any one time, with new batches arriving every week.

The calves have their backs shaved and are given a H&L transponder collar/number on arrival. They receive Bovipast vaccine on arrival and a booster at 4 weeks. Covexin is used at the same time as dehorning to prevent Blackleg. The baby calf pens are mucked out every 2 weeks to reduce humidity and at least 2kg of straw per calf per day is used. ‘Plenty of milk and plenty of straw is cheaper than medicines’ says Arfon. An ‘all in, all out’ policy is essential to prevent disease carry over from one batch to another, and it allows the shed to be cleaned down, disinfected and dried before the next batch arrives. A fan system is sometimes used to circulate fresh air if the sheds become muggy.

Trutest scales and electronic tags are used to track the progress of calves through the unit with calves being weighed at 4 weeks old and subsequently at 3 week intervals. Each batch takes 90 days to finish and following a TB test they can then move on to a beef fattening unit. Working with a calf group like Meadow Quality gives the brothers confidence in their future. The calves are already sold before entering the unit, so they are never left with unsold calves.

Gill Dickson National Calf Specialist m: 07971 296702 • gill.dickson@wynnstay.co.uk

@Healthycalves

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HEATWAVE MILK WARMER

There is now plenty of evidence that feeding large quantities of milk solids to calves in the first 60 days of life not only promotes a high daily liveweight gain but also switches on genes in the calf which enhance its metabolism for the rest of its life.

At a recent Nutreco conference in Eindhoven many papers were presented, which can be viewed at lifestart.trouwnutrition.com Martin Kaaske presented work by Maccari et al which showed calves fed ad lib milk would go on to become greedy calves, eating more cake than those following a restricted regime, and this implies a better appetite in later life.

However, for those who are on an economy drive, there is a new affordable system which also offers several small meals and will maximise growth rates. Recently launched by Wynnstay, those who have adopted the system report improved growth, improved health and more contented calves.

Concentrate intake is not suppressed by intensive feeding Starter intake - days 25 - 70 (kg/calf)

Starter intake (kg/day)

CG = Restricted fed group ADL = Adlibitum fed group

Source: Maccari et al, 2014

Lifelong performance is improved when adequate colostrum feeding is followed by an accelerated feeding program. The choice of feeding system depends on housing, staffing and the type of calf being produced, but all the evidence tells us that for the last 30 years, the practice of feeding 400g-500g of milk powder a day is underfeeding the newborn calf, leading to failure to thrive, disease and even death.

There are various ways of putting more milk into the baby calf, but rearers are cautious because very large meals can trigger off scouring. On the continent, it is not uncommon to find 3 x/day feeding. This allows quantities up to 12 litres/day to be fed. The amount is then stepped down to twice/day towards weaning at 8 weeks. Conversely, in the UK there has been a trend towards the New Zealand, once a day feeding system, which gives a moderate daily gain, but on 500-600g/day does not necessarily allow the heifer to reach her optimum genetic potential.

The H&L Urban and Forster technik computerised systems with transponder collars offer a ‘Rolls Royce’ system which is close to nature, with several meals offered daily and individual diet plans generally offering Holstein heifers 900g-1200g of powder per day. This system gradually weans the calf, giving a slow transfer to dry feed and maximising rumen development.

CALVES

Maximise growth rates with the

The Heatwave system simply converts ad lib cold milk into a continuous supply of warm milk at the teat. Calves feed whenever they are hungry and can gain at over a kg/day.

Weaning procedure is similar to the Volac autofeeder where calves are progressively offered more water, less milk and take to dry feed steadily.

Dave Merrett from Oldbury Farm Arlingham sells his bull calves to Meadow Quality calves and has been feeding ad lib Wynngold Stellar through the system. He reports his calves are getting better grades since he moved from restricted feeding to the Heatwave system. It also has the flexibility of feeding waste whole milk to bull calves. Milk Mate preservative must be added to the whole milk to stop spoilage when milk stands for 24hrs.

The Heatwave can handle up to 30 calves. Ben Andrews from Broadward Hall Leominster rears cross bred calves in groups of 10. He mixes Wynngold Thrive powder in a Wydale mobile milk mixer then uses a special adaptor on the outlet which feeds directly into the Heatwave. He reports no scouring as the calves feed ‘little and often’, they seem very content and a lot healthier. On the previous restricted system there was always a feeding frenzy, but with the adlib system there is no competition at the teat and no fighting for food. The daily routine now means checking bellies are full, washing out drums and lines daily, never mixing old milk with new. On any ad lib system its important to choose a shed with good drainage and ventilation, and always use plenty of straw.

Sheep farmers and goat herds are now seeing the advantages of the system which can be converted using smaller teats. It offers high growth, healthier youngstock and flexibility of labour during lambing/kidding time.

Gill Dickson National Calf Specialist m: 07971 296702 • gill.dickson@wynnstay.co.uk

@Healthycalves Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

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CALVES

CALF SCOURS:

Vets View - Prevention is key

Calf scour is one of the biggest health issues in youngstock and there is a seasonal peak in winter. There are several different infectious causes, but often once calves are run down, they suffer mixed infections.

Which type of scour do my calves have?

Scour can also be nutritional - for example from feeding badly mixed or poor quality milk replacer - but usually even nutritional scour has an infectious component, because once the gut is damaged, it is all too easy for the pathogens to take hold. The most common bugs on UK farms are Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium and Coccidiosis, which are probably present on all cattle farms to some degree. Other pathogens include Salmonella and Enterotoxic E coli (a particular strain which causes gut damage) - but these bacteria are limited to certain farms. Table 1 below shows the main bugs and their relative incidences on UK farms.

So, every farm has bugs, whether the calves get disease or not depends on hygiene, management and immunity.

It is not possible to tell which pathogen is the cause of the scour just by just looking at the diarrhoea, which can be very variable, from profuse watery to sticky yellow, to green and mucous.

The one exception perhaps, is coccidiosis which tends to be in older calves and can have fresh blood in it due to straining.

Salmonella will also commonly cause a bloody scour (and a particularly sick calf). Your vet will be able to help you make a diagnosis based on sampling affected calves.

How should I treat my scouring calves?

Most calf scour in the UK is caused by either Rotavirus or Cryptosporidia, or a mixture of both. Neither are bacteria, so antibiotics have no effect. There may be some indication for antibiotics to protect against secondary bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood) and secondary E coli proliferation in the gut, but it is best to seek advice from your vet on this. Many vets are now specifically advising NOT to routinely use antibiotics, as they can interfere with healthy gut bacteria, and there is good evidence that calves can recover better without. However, the diagnosis is important: salmonellosis, for example, does warrant antibiotics.

If cryptosporidia has been diagnosed, treatment options are limited but halofuginone is a licensed anti-protozoal which can be used on veterinary advice. It works better as a preventive though.

The mainstay of treatment should be replacement of lost fluids.

This is normally done with oral electrolytes, which are formulated

to aid water absorption via the intestine. Scouring calves also become acidotic and whilst all electrolytes help them counter this, modern electrolytes usually contain alkalising agents too.

There is a large range of products available and some are more sophisticated than others.

Traditionally, milk feeds were stopped for a few feeds while the calf was fed electrolyte fluids. However, this advice is now largely outdated as calves loose weight very rapidly when not fed milk the energy in electrolytes is for water absorption, not nutrition for the calf, and is far less than is contained in milk or milk replacer. The concern is that by continuing to feed milk, there is more secondary fermentation in the gut and the calf continues to scour. To some extent this is true, but more attention should be paid to the demeanour of the calf rather than what is coming out of the back end. The research evidence is that calves which continue to receive milk in addition to electrolytes (to replace lost fluids) recover faster and lose less weight. Some modern electrolytes can be fed mixed in with milk, although the older types are best fed as additional separate feeds.

As scour is due to an inflamed gut, anti-inflammatories are also useful in the treatment of scour. They make the calf feel better too, and so she is more likely to continue to drink.

Severely dehydrated or collapsed calves will benefit from intravenous fluids (a “drip�) as they lose the ability to absorb fluids from the gut.

How can I prevent scour?

Prevention is the key! Once a calf has scour, the damage is already done. It is useful to think where the infection initially comes from. Most scour outbreaks begin with the calves being infected from their mothers or other adult cows in the herd.

Many adults are symptomless carriers of the common scour pathogens. The calving box/area is therefore one of the key routes of infection. Scour may be occurring at 7-10 days old, but the initial infection is often much earlier than this (7-10 days is the typical incubation period for Rotavirus, for example).

Of course once a batch of calves has started scouring, infection circulates amongst them and can become a continuous cycle.

Some tips to reduce the cycle of infection are: 1. If from a dairy cow, remove the calf as soon as possible after birth into an individual, clean pen.

2. Rear young calves in individual pens, disinfected between calves.

3. Wash and sterilise all milk feeding equipment well.

4. Rotate calving boxes/ clean out well - ideally after every

Table 1: The common calf scour pathogens in the UK

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Pathogen

Type

How common Where it can be found

Typical age affected

Antimicrobial indicated

Rotavirus

Virus

+++

Everywhere

7-10 days, up to 3 weeks

None

Coronavirus

Virus

+

Everywhere

7-10 days, up to 3 weeks

None

E Coli (Enteropathogenic strain; K99)

Bacteria

++

Some farms only

0-4 days (rarely older)

Antibiotics may help

Salmonella

Bacteria

+

Some farms only

Any age from 1 day up

Antibiotics may help

Cryptosporidia

Protozoa +++

Everywhere

3 days to 3 weeks

Halofuginone (Halocur)

Coccidiosis

Protozoa +++

Everywhere

Usually 5 weeks onwards

Deccox; Baycox; Vecoxan

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7. Continue to feed colostrum for as long as possible: antibodies can no longer be absorbed after 24 hours, but will line the gut.

Can the scour bugs affect us?

Finally, be aware that Salmonella and Cryptosporidiosis are zoonotic diseases, and can affect humans. The very young and very old are particularly vulnerable to more severe disease.

The dam or calving box is the initial source of most scour pathogens

CALVES

calf is born. If in a loose-housed calving area, clean out regularly and provide plenty of space.

5. Use appropriate disinfectants: e.g. coccidiosis and cryptosporida are particularly resistant, so require particular disinfectants such as Kilcox.

6. When scour is a problem in suckler herds, a change of environment is recommended. Can the next cows to calve be housed elsewhere, or calve outside?

One reason why scour is most common towards the end of winter may be because the pathogens have built up in the pens and calving areas such that they overcome the calf’s defences.

As well as reducing infection levels (basically, hygiene), the other part of the equation is maximising the calf’s defences, or immunity. For most of the scour pathogens, protection from colostrum is vital. Feeding enough colostrum of good enough quality, and soon enough after birth is well known, but UK research shows that around half of all calves have inadequate antibody levels. Your vet can do a simple blood test on 4-10 day old calves to check antibody levels: if they are low, a review of colostrum management is a good idea. There are some great solutions available now for freezing, storing, thawing and feeding colostrum, such as the ColoQuick or Perfect Udder systems, which revolutionise the ability to smoothly and hygienically implement best practice without having to fumble around trying to thaw colostrum stored in old ice-cream containers, for example.

Vaccination of cows before calving can boost specific colostrum antibody levels for some of the pathogens: for example RotavecCorona boosts antibodies against Rotavirus, Coronavirus and K99 (E. coli). Not only will this raise blood antibodies in the calf against these diseases, but colostrum fed longer will line the gut with protective surface antibodies. In the case of suckler calves, they will continue to receive some protection as they suckle the dam, but in dairy calves the additional benefit is seen if colostrum is fed at least partially for the first 5-6 days or so. The risk of Johnes disease precludes most farms from pooling colostrum, but spare colostrum from an individual’s mother can be stored with a longer “shelf life” using a buffered acid such as MilkMate®.

Cryptosporidiosis can be a particular problem as colostral immunity seems to play a much smaller role. In this case, ensure there is no mixed infection or other factor which is decreasing the calf’s ability to fight off the disease, and redouble efforts on hygiene to break the cycle of infection.

Deep, dry straw allows calves to keep warmer, and reduces stress on their immune system

Scour can cause high mortality - but this is the extreme. Any scour is demoralising to deal with.

Some tips to maximise immunity: 1. Keep calves warm: calf coats are an obvious solution; deep straw bedding allows nesting.

2. Keep calves dry: wet calves are cold calves, and bugs also like the damp.

3. Good nutrition: feed a quality milk replacer, and in good quantities. Top performers are feeding much more than 2 litres twice daily nowadays. Thin calves are more susceptible to disease. Calves need more feed when it is cold.

4. Ensure a good first feed of colostrum: e.g. 4 litres within first 6 hours of birth. Test colostrum quality, and don’t rely on chance.

5. Top up colostrum antibody levels using vaccination of the dam (for rotavirus, coronavirus, K99 E coli, or salmonellosis).

6. Don’t stress the calves: feed consistently and with care.

Calves from dairy cows are best removed as soon as possible after birth from their mothers and put in a clean, dry, individual pen. This calf is just 3 hours old, and has already been licked dry, placed in its own pen and had a 3.5 litre feed of colostrum.

Owen Atkinson MRCVS Dairy Veterinary Consultancy Ltd Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

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CALVES

WYNNSTAY HOLD FIRST UK CALF SIGNALS TRAINING DAY Following the success of the Cow Signals training programme we are pleased be holding a series of the first UK Calf Signals training days in the UK in association with Dairy Veterinary Consultancy Ltd. What is Calf Signals?

Calf Signals focuses on reading the behaviour of youngstock in their own environment to establish where improvements can be made to maximise their health and performance. Owen Atkinson MRCVS from Dairy Veterinary Consultancy Ltd will share his knowledge and experience to enable you to read the key “signals” from your youngstock.

Calf Signals is designed to help you: • Efficiently manage your youngstock • Keep rearing costs low • Identify tell-tale signs of youngstock discomfort • Broaden your knowledge of youngstock rearing Owen Atkinson Owen Atkinson is a leading dairy vet. He has vast experience of the dairy industry worldwide from practice to consultancy.

Previously a director and joint owner of Lambert, Leonard and May Farm Vets (2005 - 2013), he helped the business grow to become one of the largest and most respected practices in the UK. Following this, he founded Dairy Veterinary Consultancy Ltd which focuses entirely on Strategic Health Management.

Owen’s professional goal is to help cows and farmers lead happier and more profitable lives.

GREAT SUCCESS! We have held three Calf Signals days to date with vet Owen Atkinson providing the training and our own Calf Specialists Gill Dickson and Rebecca Richards also on hand to offer advice.

The twelve places available were quickly snapped up by calf

rearers in each of the three areas and the days have been a great success.

The training days are free to attend and everyone receives a Calf Signals training pack focused on managing the first two years of a calf’s life and a weigh band plus refreshments are provided.

More Calf Signals training days are planned across regions in the upcoming months. Only twelve people can be accommodated each training day so booking is essential. Remember to join our Calf Club as members in each region will receive an exclusive invite to attend!

Would you like more information on the rearing of youngstock?

Then look out for our Calf Club Blog at wynnstaygroup.blogspot.co.uk Our Calf Specialists will be posting regular blogs to keep you up to date with their industry experiences and the latest information on calf rearing.

JOIN !

Y A D O T

Simply visit www.wynnstay.co.uk/calfclub.html to join the Wynngold Calf Club

THE LEAN APPROACH With no turnaround of global milk prices expected until the at least the last quarter of the year, producers need to look hard at their return from their variable and fixed costs. The key to weathering this difficult period will not be finding where to cut costs directly but by cutting costs through dilution, that is improving efficiency. According to leading agricultural analysts, the volatility within the dairy sector is here to stay and three key areas which will allow dairy farmers to maintain viable businesses during the periods of low returns have been highlighted; 1. Maintain a cash reserve generated from profits during the high milk price periods even if this results in paying more tax. Paying tax is an indicator of the strength of your business.

2. Investments designed to reduce your tax bill should predominantly be in facilities and technologies that improve output efficiency, i.e. cow comfort, feeding space, transition facilities, lighting, heat detection technology etc.

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3. Improve technically and monitor the effects of changes using whole farm costings/benchmarking.

Toyota have been the most successful motor company in the history of the industry. So what do they do that is so unique?

Toyota are pioneers of lean manufacturing and the Total Production System, otherwise known as TPS. This approach is wholly responsible for their success in the world motor vehicles industry. One of the reasons is the emphasis that they place on continuous improvement. This is achieved by continually reflecting on their performance and a systematic approach to problem solving called PDCA or Plan-Do-Check-Act. This concept was derived from American W. Edwards Deming and is employed by Toyota to eliminate all waste that adds cost without adding value. Quite simply it revolves around repeatedly making changes to the production system and reflecting on the effect. It works because it is continuous and never stops.

The Lean Approach continued...

Plan

Do

Dairymen who know their costs for each input will be at a distinct advantage as they can see where the most significant opportunities are for reducing costs without affecting performance. More importantly they can continually monitor the effect of the refinements have on their costs.

Response, Repeatability, Research, Return and Reassurance are the 5 most important considerations to take into account when considering the application of new technology on farm. Quite simply any change implemented has to be shown to be repeatedly effective in research trials conducted at reputable institutes and guaranteed to give you a return on investment. At Wynnstay we are strong advocates of the 5 R’s philosophy and for this reasons we have decided to put together a list of products, management regimes and technologies that meet this criteria. Based on the results of the supporting research we have also calculated an expected return of investment.

1. Transition Cow Management. Extensive studies conducted at Wisconsin University’s department of Veterinary Medicine have demonstrated that the difference between a poorly transitioned and a successfully transitioned cow is around 2500 litres per lactation. Sub clinical ketosis which is the main indicator of poor transition management costs around £690 per case. A 100 cow herd with an average incidence rate of 30% would be losing £20,700 every year. The cost of constructing new transition cow facilities with adequate lying and eating space and comfortable surface would be recouped after 1 herd cycle.

2. Improving Fertility. Pregnancy rate or risk is the most accurate measure of how efficiently cows are getting in-calf.

On average one pregnancy rate point has a value of £24/cow/ year. For a 100 cows an improvement in pregnancy rate/risk of 1% is values at £2400. Pregnancy rate/risk can be improved by effective heat detection and increasing submission rates and by improving early lactation energy balance. Early lactation energy balance is affected by transition, diet and dry matter intake. An improvement in pregnancy rate/risk of 2% would return the investment made on heat detection collars in around 2 years. Combine the use of collars with manual heat detection and robust reproductive protocols and the ROI would be less.

3. Lying Times. Time budgets and stall design are two biggest factors affecting lying times. For every hour a cow lies down over 11 hours, milk yield increases 0.9 to 1.6 litres. Long milking times will affect lying times as will a shortage of feeding space when cows have to stand around and wait for a chance to feed. Checking stall dimensions and evaluating and upgrading the stall surface will give a healthy return on investment.

4. Rumen Protected Choline. Protected choline has been shown to have a positive effect on liver function and consequently milk production when fed 4 weeks pre and 8-10 weeks post calving. These results were achieved at a feed rate of no less than 15g/d. The cost of including Protected Choline

Check

Act

in the dry and fresh cow diet for a total of 12 weeks would be £12.00. The extra milk would be worth £31 at a milk price of 25ppl.

5. Yeast. A meta-analysis of 52 production experiments showed that when live yeast was included in the diet of lactating dairy cows both DMI and milk yield were increased by around 2.5%. For a thirty litre cow that would be an extra 0.75litres at 25ppl which would be worth 18.75p. The cost of including live yeast in the diet would be approximately 6p/day.

6. Long Day Lighting. Providing long day lighting throughout the majority of the year for dairy cows has been shown to increase milk production by between 5 and 12% with a concurrent increase in DMI. Taking the lowest reported response of 5% would equate to a return on investment of around 8 months 7. Including Availa chelated minerals in dairy and youngstock diets has been shown to benefit immunity, fertility, mammary health, claw integrity, milk production and milk quality and has been demonstrated in over 50 peer reviewed papers.

The Wynnstay Team can provide the tools for measuring the success of the PDCA approach and can also support the establishment of benchmarking groups. Toyota has built its successful business on the Total Production System and the Wynnstay Team is here to help you adopt these practices to maximize efficiency and profitability.

For more information on the products and services Wynnstay can offer to help you improve efficiency within your dairy enterprise please contact one of our Dairy Technical Team.

Dr. Huw McConochie Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07771 740857 huw.mcconochie@wynnstay.co.uk @HuwMcConochie

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

9

FERTILITY & HEALTH

TRANSITION MANAGEMENT Good Transition Management is the key to good reproductive performance “The majority of dairy cows are normal from a reproductive perspective”, that was the message from Professor Mark Crowe University of Dublin for dairy farmers attending three on farm “Pregnancies for Profit” workshops run by Wynnstay in conjunction with Elanco in November 2014.

Extensive studies of ovarian function have shown that 50-80% of the dominant follicles present on the ovaries post calving will ovulate. More importantly the presence of cystic ovaries is very over reported and in reality only occurs in up to 5% of cows post calving. Pulses of Luteinizing hormone (LH) are primarily responsible for the fate of the dominant follicle and therefore it is important that we understand what affects LH secretion in order to improve fertility in the dairy cow. Professor Crowe highlighted sub optimal Body Condition Scoring (BCS) at calving, declining negative energy balance in early lactation, excessive BCS loss in early lactation and reduced DMI. These effects are directly related to poor fertility in the previous lactation and inadequate transition cow management. One of the most significant changes dairy farmers can make to their management is ensuring that all cows spend at least three weeks on the transition diet. These cows will produce more milk, get in-calf sooner and last longer in the herd as a result.

As one would expect health status also has a significant effect on resumption of ovarian function. Sick cows are less likely to cycle especially those which have suffered from dystocia, retained foetal membranes or a uterine infection. Again good transition cow management is the key. Sub-clinical ketosis is one of the main indicators of poor transitional health and is the gateway for a plethora of diseases that will affect fertility, production and survival.

Effect of SKC on disease incidence rate, fertility and survival Fertility

CI Up 22 Days

Yield Litres

Down 411 litres

LDA’s %

Up 15% points

Metritis %

Up 20% points

Cystic Ovaries %

Up 46 %point

RFM%

Up 5% points

Mastitis %

Up 5% points mild to severe

Culling >60 days

Up 3% points

Culling End of Lactation Up 15% points Extra Fatalities

Up 2 % points

If we look more in depth we can see how poor health in early lactation impacts reproductive efficiency.

“These cows will produce more milk, get in-calf sooner and last longer in the herd as a result”

Figure 1 Effect of different health issues on the number of days between calving and pregnancy

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Fertility in lame cows is severely compromised. As one would expect they demonstrate less intensity of bulling activity but also produce less progesterone, have less frequent LH pulses and produce smaller follicles. In terms of fertility this demonstrates the importance of inspecting feet at drying off and adopting an effective foot bathing regime. Follicle size is also significantly affected by mastitis. The incidence of mastitis in early lactation can be reduced by good hygiene at the point of drying off and in the dry cow housing.

“...transition cow and early lactation diet has been shown to have a positive effect on reducing transitional diseases and lameness...”

Uterine infections were also demonstrated to effect ovarian function. High numbers of pathogens in utero caused slower follicle growth and produced small corpus lutei.

Adequate Vitamin E, Selenium and chelated minerals in the transition cow and early lactation diet has been shown to have a positive effect on reducing transitional diseases and lameness especially when combined with effective transition cow management.

According to Professor Crowe 75-85% of cows will ovulate by day 42 of lactation. Unfortunately a large proportion of these will not be seen on heat and be identified as being non-cycling and requiring intervention unless an effective method of heat detection is employed. Professor Crowe’s recommended strategy is to conduct effective pre breeding heat detection and intervening with cows not seen bulling by 42 days. With good heat detection and fresh cow monitoring the need for the vet to routinely palpate each cow post calving is greatly reduced.

Fresh cow monitoring can be simplified by the use of BellaAg health boluses that measure the cow’s body temperature every

20 15 minutes. These are excellent at identifying the first signs of transitional health issues and negate the need for manual temperature checking. Heat detection rates can be significantly improved by increasing the frequency of observations. However in most herds the time for heat detection is at a premium.

Employing a combination of methods such tail chalking, the use of activity monitors, and manual observations can pay large dividends.

Late gestation and early lactation nutrition, transition management, and introducing a structured protocol to reproductive management including pre-breeding heat detection will provide significant financial benefits from more milk and a reduction in the number of forced cullings.

Transition 80/20 is an innovative approach to transition cow management introduced by Wynnstay which includes recommendations and protocols for successful transition management with associated products to support the cow through this short but key period of the production cycle.

For more information speak to our of our Dairy Technical Team.

Dr. Huw McConochie Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07771 740857 huw.mcconochie@wynnstay.co.uk @HuwMcConochie

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

11

FERTILITY & HEALTH

MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS WHEN REPLACING COWS WILL PAY DIVIDENDS I frequently get asked the following questions; When should I stop trying to breed a cow?

Below what level of production should I replace a cow?

And should I sell this cow even though she is in-calf?

In essence the question that is being asked is how valuable a cow or lactation is compared to the value of a replacement.

Obviously there are a plethora of factors that interact and should be taken into account when trying to determine the correct answer. However, it must also be recognised that there is no one rule that will apply to every cow as each ones age, level of production and fertility status is different. To date the most useful tool I have come across for estimating the value of both lactation and pregnancy is the CowVal and PregVal modules in DairyComp305 software which were developed by Connor Jameson, John Fetrow and Steve Eicker.

The “Cow Value” module in Dairy Comp 305 estimates the value of each cow in a dairy herd relative to an average fresh heifer. A positive Cow Value means the animal is worth more than an average heifer in that herd. A negative Cow Value suggests the animal is worth less than an average heifer. In addition to estimating the value of the cow, the module also calculates the current value of a pregnancy for each adult, to help managers decide if an open animal should be inseminated.

There are two important rules the program uses to estimate cow values: 1. A dairy running at capacity is the most profitable.

2. Less profitable animals should be replaced with more profitable animals.

Every decision made on an animal in a commercial dairy is based on improving the herd’s profitability. You keep an animal because she is more profitable to keep than to replace. You breed animals because they will be more profitable if they become pregnant.

TABLE 1

“You treat animals because they will be more valuable after a treatment than they are before” Cow Value estimates can help the herd manager assign a value to animals more consistently.

When calculating the value of a cow DC305 realizes that a commercial dairy cow’s current value is the sum of her value for beef and the value of the milk she is likely to produce in the future. The value of an animal’s future production is based on; • The amount of milk she is likely to produce in the future • The price of milk in the future • The value of the money you must invest in the animal The amount of milk an animal is likely to produce in the future is based on: • Age - The younger the animal, the longer she is likely to stay in the herd and produce milk.

• Stage of lactation - an animal that is 30 days in milk is likely to produce more milk in the future than an animal that is 200 days in milk • Reproductive status - an animal that is pregnant is likely to produce more future milk, than an animal that is open. An animal that was just inseminated is more likely to be pregnant than an animal that has not been inseminated.

• Production level - a high producing animal is likely to produce more milk than a low producing animal.

The following tables are examples taking from the DC305 software which is why they are in dollars: The future value of a cow is of course, unknown. The module is based on models that estimate the future profitability of a cow based on the parameters listed above. But certainly,

An example of a CWVAL PGVAL report showing the least valuable animals in a herd ID

LACT

DIM MILK

RV

RPRO

DSLH

DCC CWVAL

PGVAL

4224

3

84

26

59

BRED

11

0

-757

-248

1430

3

85

45

70

BRED

53

0

-646

157

6848

1

125

48

72

BRED

27

0

-410

587

32

3

457

47

114

NO BRED 0

0

-330

449

993

3

209

14

85

BRED

0

-330

-325

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CWVAL - Cow Value PGVAL - Pregnant Value

Animal 4224 is the least valuable animal in this herd. Her CWVAL is -$757 relative to an average springing heifer in this dairy.

Further, if she were to get pregnant her value to this herd would decrease another $248 because she may be kept another lactation rather than be replaced with a more profitable animal. This suggests that the dairy will make more money, beginning today, if this animal is replaced with an average, fresh, first lactation animal.

Animal 6848 has a negative CWVAL but her PGVAL tells us that if she turns out to be pregnant to this current breeding (27 days ago) her value will become +$587 + (-$410) = +$147. She will become $147 more valuable than an average fresh heifer in this herd.

Animal 32 has been coded not to breed. The CWVAL shows that she should be replaced and the PGVAL tells us that she would have been $449 more valuable had she gotten pregnant earlier in this lactation.

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TABLE 2

An example of a CWVAL PGVAL report showing the most valuable animals in a herd ID

LACT

DIM

MILK

RV

RPRO

DSLH

DCC

CWVAL

PGVAL

5413

1

0

120

484

DRY

335

274

1782

2789

2579

1

79

130

465

PREG

127

131

1791

1359

2699

1

0

136

332

DRY

246

246

1814

2821

5324

1

82

135

343

PREG

123

91

1912

1426

This report lists the most valuable animals at the end. Animal 5324 is the most valuable. Notice that if she aborts her value will drop from $1912 to $486 ($1912-$1426). If 2699 aborts her value will drop from $1814 to –$1007 and she should be sold. pregnant cows are much more likely to remain in the herd, and higher producing cows are more likely to be more profitable next lactation too. Thus, these predictions should be used as guidelines. They are not meant to replace sound judgment, but to augment it.

The value of a cow is always relative to that of a replacement heifer. Thus, a cow with a negative value is a potential cull. A cow with a value of £150 that is diagnosed with a displaced abomasum may be more profitable culled than treated.

The estimated value of a pregnancy can assist a dairy in deciding whether it is worth the effort to breed a cow.

Likewise, for a pregnant cow, the pregnancy value can help estimate the cost of an abortion. Open cows with negative pregnancy values should not be bred, as spending money on pregnancy will lower their value!

Perhaps the most thought-provoking concept arises when an open cow has a negative cow value, and also has a negative pregnancy value.

ID LACT This means she is worth less pregnant than if she remains open. However, the software 356 1 algorithm assumes that cows that are not 162 1 coded DNB (do not breed cows) are still trying 157 1 to get pregnant, and that a percentage of the time they will. Thus, this cow will have a lower cow value while she is still eligible to

sold once her yield drops below 25 litres. This is because after all costs a heifer will generate around 80-90p profit per day based on a milk price of 28p and a gross profit of 4p.

In order to calculate the cut off yield per day all that is required is the average cull value, replacement rate, cost of a replacement, milk price, milk yield and profit per litre being generated, and is something that can easily be done for cows in your herd by one of the Wynnstay Technical Team.

The power of these prediction models are only as good as the data they use to generate the values and must be interpreted with caution. Take the example below from one of my clients herd.

TABLE 3

be breed. Her value should increase once she is flagged as a DNB. This makes sense - it is sometimes a profitable decision to flag a cow as a DNB cow. Note that a cow flagged as DNB may still have a positive cow value, until her milk production decreases below that cull/cut off value.

The flip side is also of interest. Any DNB cow that has a positive pregnancy value has hopefully been flagged DNB because of some reason other than current milk production. This pregnancy value may be a crude estimate of the cost of culling her.

By necessity, we are modelling the future to predict the future production of each cow. We make lots of assumptions, such as eventually, all cows leave the dairy, and when they do, a replacement enters the herd. Crucial to the model is that a dairy farm will operate to maximize profitability. Again, DNB cows demonstrate some of the fundamental concepts.

Cows flagged as do not breed cows (DNB) or cows which fail to conceive are probably a bit more straight forward and are the cows which dairyman usually want to know at what daily milk yield should I sell this cow.

A cow should be sold once her milk production generates less profit than the daily replacement cost. If we take a rough estimate that our replacement cost for every cow in the herd is around 50p a day and our profit per litre is 5p she should be

DIM MILK

RELV RPRO

DSLH DCC

CWVAL PGVAL

398

21

105

NO BRED

103

0

-537

1049

316

23

96

NO BRED

88

0

-461

750

255

24

97

NO BRED

183

0

-425

1036

Take table 3 for example, cows 356, 162, and 157, all three are heifers and all have negative CWVAL values. This is mainly due to the fact that they have not been bred (NO BRED) are empty (0 DCC) and are well into their lactation (DIM). If they were in-calf however they would have positive PGVAL and would probably not be sold. With these three cows it would be important to ensure that they are actually empty and have been scanned empty or are indeed truly DNB cows. Missing information or inaccurate recording has a profound effect on the information generated by the model.

Wynnstay can offer a CowVal assessment of a customer’s herd that milk record and record reproductive events on their monthly milk records.

For more information on the CowVal system please contact:

Dr. Huw McConochie Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07771 740857 huw.mcconochie@wynnstay.co.uk @HuwMcConochie

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

13

FERTILITY & HEALTH

DIGITAL DERMATITIS

14

Key Prevention Strategies

Judging by the number of dairy farmers who flocked to the lameness workshops held by Wynnstay, there is still plenty of scope to improve cow mobility on our dairy units.

The Digital Dermatitis workshops held at Walford College, Shropshire and at Derimoelion Farm in South Wales were well attended. The focus of the workshops was to provide farmers with a better understanding of the diseases and to discuss nutritional and practical approaches to reducing the incidence and effect of the disease on herd performance.

Digital dermatitis (DD) has become an increasing problem in most UK dairy herds for the past few decades. Blowey (2005), claimed that the prevalence of Digital Dermatitis in the UK dairy herd was in the region of 20%. In reality in many herds it is probably a lot higher. During routine parlour walks it is not uncommon to see over 50% of hind feet affected by DD, and each case of DD is estimated to cost the industry £70/ hd in lost milk. However this estimate is likely to be highly conservative if treatment, early culling and poor fertility are taken into account. It is highly contagious, and can, if left unchecked, cause painful ulcerations that often lead to lameness. Lameness decreases dairy cow milk production and reproductive performance. With such a costly and widereaching effect on animal performance, it’s no wonder that this infectious disease is a serious concern for dairy producers.

Farmers who visited the workshops had an opportunity to hear and debate the latest research on DD from one of the leading authorities on the disease, Dr. Arturo Gomez, Dairy Veterinarian with Zinpro Corporation. David Rowe demonstrated the Dutch 5 step trimming method, and highlighted the importance of maintaining adequate sole depth, improving depth of heel and the correct technique for modelling out the soles underneath the pedal bone. Jonathan Huxtable, UK and Ireland Ruminant product manager for Zinpro presented the results of on farm evaluation of a new mineral formulation designed to reduce DD incidence rates. Dr Huw McConochie, Senior Dairy Specialist at Wynnstay discussed aspects of the cows environment and nutrition that affected the establishment and progression of the disease.

To make any progress, it is fundamental to understand the disease and its cycle. Figure 1 shows the Digital Dermatitis cycle showing how the disease works. M2 and M4 lesions are the most important to understand. The M2 lesion is an acute clinical stage and needs topical treatment, as healing this will change it into an M4, where it can either heal and turn back into an M0 or become reinfected and turn into an M4.1 ,where the cycle starts again. Where there are a large number of M4 within the herd footbathing is the main form of treatment, this is where footbath design is very important.

Regular foot bathing of cows has been the answer on most dairy herds, however there is more that can be done to control the disease. Footbathing is effective at preventing the M4 lesions turning into M4.1

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Images courtesy of Zinpro Corporation.

Below is a list of 4 things that can be improved on farm to reduce the incidence of DD 1. Foot hygiene is vitally important in restricting the spread of DD, slurry and M4 cows are the biggest reservoir of the infectious bacteria Treponema spp. Hygiene of the lower leg and foot is critical. The target should be a herd leg score around 1 and 2. Higher leg scores indicate a problem with the cows environment and could be related to one of the following; Lower Leg

Little or no manure above the coronary band

Minor splashing above the coronary band.

Distinct plaques of Solid plaque of manure above the manure extending coronary band, but high up the eg. with leg hair visible

Source: Dr. Nigel Cook, University of Winsconsin-Madison Veterinary School

• Stocking rates of the sheds • Width of passageways • How often scraped out-3x, 2x, automatic scrapers • Walkthroughs scraped regularly 2. Correct Trimming of Cows Feet Feet should be trimmed regularly but will vary according to the environment. Cows housed on sand may only require a single trim, once a year due to the abrasiveness of the sand. However in general, functional/corrective trimming should be done at least twice a year, before drying off and 80-100 DIM. Regular trimming will keep the foot angle high and prevent the heal area being exposed to slurry, regular trimming will also give the opportunity to remove any loose horn around the heel where infection take hold.

“Research shows that cows that don’t develop DD prior to calving produce 350kg more milk than those that do..”

3. Parlour Walking- Finding cows with lesions It is important to assess the lesions on hind feet of cows and parlour walks can help to achive this objective. Parlour walks should be done weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the incidence rate within the herd. Parlour walking should be done using a torch to assess the incidence rates of M2 and M4 and treat accordingly. Keep records so improvements or problems can be monitored. The M2 lesions feet should be lifted and a topical treatment used. If bandages are used make sure these are removed within 12 hours of being applied.

4. Treating the dry cows for DD Dry cows and heifers should be included in the herd’s hoof care management plan. Maintaining high levels of hygiene and leg score, regular footbathing, as well as walking the cows and looking for M2s and treating appropriately. These are the cows under the most stress around calving so ensuring good hoof health is a priority to support a smooth transition period.

Research shows that cows that don’t develop DD prior to first calving produce 350 kg more milk than those than do.

Hoof Health in Pre Calving Heifers Heifer foot health is very underrated and there hasn’t been much work done in the UK to prove incidence rates of DD in heifers, however there are a few things that can be done to improve foot health before entering the herd: 1. Heifers should be inspected regularly to see if DD is a problem, inspecting the heifers using a torch and recording incidence rates should be done fortnightly/monthly depending on incidence.

2. Heifers should be put through a well designed footbath on a regular basis, how often and with which product depends on the incidence.

3. Trimming heifers feet before entering the herd is vital, especially heifers over 25 months. Heifers with overgrown horn on the soles could lead to haemorrhaging after entering the herd, due to increased standing times and greater weight on the hind legs which will lead to sole ulcer 60-100 days into lactation.

4. The use of Biotin in the heifers diet, especially if biotin is in the milking ration, will improve the hardness and structure of the feet ready for when the heifers enter the milking herd.

Biotin can be introduced to the diet either through a custom made heifer mineral or the use of Heifer 600 Nuts.

A crucial factor in herd prevalence for digital dermatitis is the rearing period. A milking herd’s success in DD prevention will be determined by the quality of DD prevention during this period. A recent study conducted at the University of Wisconsin, USA, showed that 67% of the heifers that were initially infected with DD during the rearing period also experienced a case of DD during first lactation. However, animals kept disease-free (during the rearing period) experienced a case of DD during first lactation only in 13% of the cases.

“Dairy producers can prevent the development of digital dermatitis, a highly prevalent infectious claw disease, by utilizing a nutritional strategy in heifers,” said Arturo Gomez, Ph.D., dairy veterinarian with Zinpro Corporation.

According to Dr. Gomez, digital dermatitis is an ongoing challenge on our dairies and there are very limited ways to control it. Availa®Plus, from Zinpro Performance Minerals®, currently available in the US and soon to be available in Europe, represents not only a new trace mineral product, but an entirely new approach to foot health management. It was developed specifically for use in cattle. Improving trace mineral nutrition within a well-fortified diet has been shown to help cattle build stronger skin integrity and a more empowered immune system from the inside out. Through the use of AvailaPlus, heifers start their first lactation healthier and with an advantage for a better performance” said Dr. Gomez.

For greater yield and performance Availa-Plus should be considered for feeding in all calf heifer diets.

For more information contact Iwan Vaughan or Huw McConochie.

Iwan Vaughan Dairy Specialist m: 07990 578 548 iwan.vaughan@wynnstay.co.uk @ maesmochnant Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

15

FERTILITY & HEALTH

BELLA AG HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM We are proud to introduce the world’s best dairy cow and cattle temperature monitoring system. Designed for herd managers and vets, the Bella Ag Cattle Temperature System® allows you to monitor cattle temperature wirelessly, automatically alerting consistent high fever or low temperatures.

The system is proven to improve overall herd health, detect illnesses three to five days sooner, increase milk production, reduce treatment costs, reduce mortality rates, improve production efficiency and help maintain your bottom line.

The bolus, which resides in the reticulum of the cow, records the cow’s core body temperature every 15 minutes for 4 years providing an up to date picture of herd health.

BENEFITS Automatic Temperature Alerts Most of your cattle are healthy most of the time; it’s the ones that aren’t that you need to know about. The Bella Ag software analyses the temperature data collected from your cattle and generates a list of only the ones that have problems. Alert lists can be printed out at specific times and sent out via text message or email.

Early Illness Detection Nearly anytime a cow’s immune system is compromised, a change in core temperature can be detected. Whether this is demonstrated by a high fever or consistent low temperatures, monitoring this parameter has proven to be a highly accurate detection tool for cow illness.

• Aborts • Infected abscesses • Mastitis • Respiratory infections • Retained Placentas • Uterine infections (usually within 3 weeks of calving) Reduced Treatment Costs Responding to the temperature alerts enables you to have a head start on whatever it is that’s causing problems. Most treatments work better when administered early in the illness cycle and cows will recover faster the earlier you start treating them. Faster recovery means fewer chronics and less costly treatments.

Reduced Mortality Rates By detecting illness earlier you have the ability to administer treatments sooner and more effectively. Helping decrease animal susceptibility to physiological compromises and maintain a higher degree of over-all herd health. The end result of this is fewer involuntary culls. Users of the Bella Ag system report an average reduction in first lactation fresh cow mortality of 50%.

Increased Milk Production After a cow calves, her milk production climbs at a fast rate for the first few months of her lactation and this is the time when she’s the most vulnerable. High energy rations combined with high conversion into milk means that each of your cows is giving all she’s got and any little hiccup as her production climbs can mean a dramatic crash. Not responding to the issue fast enough she’ll never hit her peak production and won’t produce as much milk through the rest of her lactation as she normally would have.

AWARD WINNING TECHNOLOGY The Bella Ag temperature monitoring bolus, a product which is exclusive to the Wynnstay portfolio won an award for the product which showed the most potential for improving agriculture in Wales at the Royal Welsh Show’s 2014 Tomorrow Today Exhibition.

The Bella Ag Bolus was chosen as one of ten products in the Tomorrow Today exhibition of innovation in agriculture at the show in July 2014, and came out with the top prize of Royal Welsh Award of Merit (Machinery & Trade stands) for new innovation that shows the most potential for improving agriculture in Wales.

For more information regarding the Bella Ag Bolus, please contact our Senior Dairy Specialist, Huw McConochie or call our office on 01691 662690

Dr. Huw McConochie Head of Dairy Technical Services m: 07771 740857 huw.mcconochie@wynnstay.co.uk @HuwMcConochie

Rob Davies of Allen & Partners Veterinary Services in Whitland, Carmarthenshire Vet Rob Davies of Allen & Partners Veterinary Services in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, said his experience with the Bella Ag bolus has shown it helped identify and treat sick cows more quickly and effectively.

“We have a farmer who has used the Bella Ag temperature boluses for several years and they have helped him find sick cows in the very early stages of disease, sometimes even before other symptoms have become apparent,” said Mr Davies.

“Identifying illness quickly ensures the cows better-respond to treatment, meaning less treatment is often required and there are fewer deaths due to infection and toxaemic conditions. In future, taking consistent and regular readings with the boluses will help identify temperature patterns which can be used to diagnose different conditions.”

“As we continue to use the most current boluses we are beginning to see recurring temperature patterns associated with different activities such as eating and drinking. Different ailments show different patterns too, so in future as we learn to interpret these patterns I believe we will be able use them to detect when a cow is bulling.” “We can also use those patterns to diagnose various conditions and target our treatment better too, especially before any symptoms are seen.”

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LOOKING TOWARDS TURNOUT You will still occasionally hear people say that grazing cows is no good for their fertility, but that is to misunderstand the drivers of fertility in dairy cattle. Many spring calving herds achieve excellent fertility at grass, and like so many things the key is to manage your expectations and your cows accordingly.

Grazed grass is the cheapest form of feed available on the farm but just like any other crop it needs to be utilized properly. Aim to maximise yield of grass on your farm by measuring what you grow, feeding it at the right covers and grazing down to the right residuals. This is what the NZ or grassland systems are all about, and done well, this system can maximise grass grown and utilised on the farm, and achieve excellent fertility.

Grass is an excellent feed with crude protein often above 20% and an M.E of above 12MJ. It also is rich in the right balance of oils to produce excellent quality eggs. However the challenge is that it is also a feed with variable dry matter and a low fibre content and occasionally can have extremely high protein levels producing very high levels of urea in the blood stream.

Fertility problems often arise when farms try to pair very high yielding Holstein cows with a New Zealand style grazing system. The reason that things go awry is that if you turn out a high yielding Holstein cow, giving over 40 litres of milk, she is going to struggle to graze for long enough to achieve the dry matter intake to sustain that yield. Initially at least, genetics will win out over nutrition and the cow will still pump out the milk, buoyed by the protein in the grass. However she will be short of energy. This shortfall will be seen in falling milk protein percentages, and she will first of all try to make up this shortfall by taking fat off her back, resulting in the production of NEFA’s in the blood. These are directly toxic to developing eggs and this is probably the main reason fertility in very high yielding Holsteins can suffer at turnout.

On the other hand autumn-calving Holsteins or smaller, more aggressive grazing type animals giving 25 litres or so, will be able to graze enough at grass, on the right covers, to match their milk yield and energy requirements. It is often the case that fertility is excellent in these type of cows. When it isn’t, it is usually because of problems previously (e.g. overfat cows at calving especially after long dry periods in spring calvers)

or over-estimating (or under-measuring!) the covers the cows are on. Not anything damaging in the grass per say. The one exception might be where the nitrogen level on the grass is off the scale, such as newly laid seeds. An excess of protein here can cause potentially dangerous levels of urea in the blood.

Dangers include primarily depression of appetite, pushing cows further into a negative energy balance, and in extreme cases, urea poisoning, where cows become agitated, twitchy and demonstrate signs of abdominal pain, such as repeatedly lying down or kicking at their flanks. Where grass protein levels are high, it is sensible to trap this protein in the rumen, and support the cow’s metabolism by providing a source of starch, such as corn in the parlour, or buffer feeding with maize or wholecrop.

“An excess of protein here can cause potentially dangerous levels of urea in the blood.”

For the all year round calving herd the trick is to graze enough of the right cows to get your residuals right for the year, without compromising your highest yielding cows. Remember buffer feeding will alter grazing behaviour and many farms end up with the worst of both worlds, buffer feeding cows enough so that they won’t graze but not enough to supply their energy needs. In many herds you would be best off keeping a small number of fresh cows in and grazing a larger number of cows harder outside.

Aim to match the cows to the system you want to have, either by changing the type of cows you keep or by calving them at a time to maximise their ability as a grazing group.

Tim O’Sullivan Shropshire Farm Vets

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

17

DAIRY HYGIENE

STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS The Cowman’s Curse Protecting your dairy cows from mastitis is easier said than done, particularly when you consider the difficult nature of some very hard to kill bacteria. This is the cowman’s curse. Mention mastitis causing bacteria and a few BIG names spring to mind, Staphylococcus aureus being one of the most prominent in most people’s minds.

Staphylococcus aureus (show in image below) has a round shape and is referred to in mastitis terms as a ‘contagious bacteria’ in that it is recognised that it lives and multiplies in the udder tissue and milk, and it can easily pass from cow to cow in the milking process. Staph. aureus was first identified by the surgeon Sir Alexander Ogston in Aberdeen in 1880, in the pus of an open wound. From these types of infectious sources this bacteria can enter the udder system, sore and cracked teats will be ready made homes for growth. Staph aureus has over the years been treated by the penicillin antibiotic methicillin.

However, it has developed resistance. Now Methicillin Resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) is greatly feared in both the food chain and in hospitals. Methicillin has been superseded

by Flucloxacillin a stronger more effective drug against Staph. aureus. Skin is a great home for Staph aureus, so cross infection from hand to cow’s teats or milk liner to teat becomes simple.

Back flushing, cluster dipping and the wearing of nitrile gloves should be employed.

What makes Staph. aureus particularly difficult to control is the fact this spherical bacteria can produce an enzyme called beta lactase which prevents many penicillin antibiotics working. In addition the bacteria can create a gel like coat which prevents the cows own immune response from recognising it as a threat.

So there you have it, a very well known mastitis causing pathogen, with the ability to hide from the natural immune system (leucocytes) and capable of resisting the effects of antibiotics. The British Cattle Veterinary Association report that up to 35% of known ‘Staphs’ are antibiotic resistant. No surprise then that it can be the cowman’s curse on a high percentage of UK dairy farms.

“Back flushing, cluster dipping and the wearing of nitrile gloves should be employed.”

Break the curse – Good Luck!

“Improved hygiene practices around the dairy will pay dividends” Strangely, Staph. aureus has been found in heifer colostrum at first milking, so no contagious spread cow to cow in the milking process here! Truth is, flies can carry Staph. aureus as well.

It is clear the problem will never go away, but improved hygiene practices around the dairy will pay dividends. Attention to detail in both PRE and POST milking disinfection has clearly shown to reduce the spread of this pathogen. Paying close attention to skin and teat end condition is vital in removing another perfect hiding and breeding place for Staph. aureus.

But Dry Cow management is key as, whilst strong post milking germicidal routines with full teat coverage can wash away and kill Staph. aureus in the milk film, it cannot reach the living and breeding Staph. aureus in milk secreting tissue inside the udder. Therefore, targeted antibiotic treatment and internal/ external sealing which has been proven to impact on Staph. aureus, is a must in dry cow protocols.

For more information please contact:

Adrian Morgan Dairy Business Development Manager m: 07780 683043 adrian.morgan@wynnstay.co.uk

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TIP TOP TEATS Fresh grass and bright sunshine seem to bring that little bit extra out of the cows; they clean up, are easier to see bulling and lose that dull appearance and sad demeanour from winter.

So all appears well – but is it really? The onset of summer brings challenges of its own, one of which is the increase in SCCs always reported by National Milk Records (NMR).

One reason for this is that turnout can lead to a false sense of security. It is often assumed that grazing cows are less at risk of mastitis so hygiene procedures can be relaxed when in fact the opposite is true due to reduced teat condition.

With lower milk prices too there is a temptation to use a cheaper dip or cut out pre dipping but this will be false economy if it results in higher SCCs as maximising milk quantity and quality is even more important when prices are low.

Teat condition is often understated as a factor in mastitis control but it is important all year round, especially in the summer when teats are subjected to the vagaries of the weather – hot, sunny and dry one day then cold, wet and windy the next or, in my part of the world, the whole lot in one day! Typical wet spring weather also leads to muddy fields, increasing soil contamination.

Teat condition soon deteriorates, the skin becoming dry and flaky with small cracks. More severe lesions can be caused by sunburn, allergies and photo-sensitisation and all can be made worse by the cow licking herself.

“It is often assumed that grazing cows are less at risk of mastitis” Poor weather conditions, use of harsh chemicals and poor milking equipment or procedures can all lead to teat end hyperkeratosis in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.

Dry, cracked teats trap dirt and bacteria which are not easily removed by wiping or dipping, increasing the risk of infection, with around 75% of all cases of damaged skin leading to mastitis.

Do you create a summer teat dip for your herd?

So why not just add more glycerine and create a ‘summer dip’?

This may sound like the perfect solution but it’s not. Once the emollient level gets too high the power of the germicide is sacrificed, a common problem with summer dips and sprays.

Failing to combat the likes of Staph. aureus is often the cause of the summer SCC rise.

A quote from Reid & Johnson, Rocky Ridge Vet Service, Wisconsin in their paper ‘Trouble Shooting Herds With Poor Teat Condition’ stated: “There are definite differences in teat dips and their ability to either heal teats that are chapped or cracked or to create issues of teats cracking or chapping. … One class of teat dips that have been very effective in softening keratin are the Chlorous acid teat dips”.

They found that these dips did a better job than most at softening the keratin at the teat end, allowing it to be removed more easily by aggressive action during test preparation.

For more information on how we can help you improve teat condition issues at grass and help keep SCCs low, contact:

Adrian Morgan Dairy Business Development Manager m: 07780 683043 adrian.morgan@wynnstay.co.uk

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

19

FARM TOUR

HIGH YEILDING DANISH DAIRIES Kindly sponsored by Trouw Nutrition GB, Calvex and Holm & Laue, the Wynnstay Technical Team recently undertook a short visit to Denmark to a number of leading dairy and calf units.

There are about 3,800 dairy farmers in Denmark with an average herd size of 150 cows. The milk quota is 1,142 tonnes.

Danish dairy farmers are among the largest and most modern in Europe. More than half of the cows live in new loose-housing systems. Export of dairy products accounts for more than 20 per cent of the total Danish agricultural export. The total number of cattle in 2011 was approximately 1.5 million. Of these 565,000 were dairy cows and 99,000 were suckler cows. The yearly number of beef cattle slaughtered is around 550,000.

The first farm we visited was Fan. Breunese, Green Eye APS, Bolhedevej 14, 6800 Varde. This was a 400 cow, mainly Holstein x Friesian unit producing 10,500kgs of milk on 2 x milking. Dutch bulls are used. Buildings were extremely light and ventilation good - no real difference to a number of UK units.

Grass and maize silage are grown and both are high dry matter.

Silage clamps are rarely filled over the height of the walls and face management was excellent.

Colostrum management is a major priority on the farm and is seen as one of the major factors in the overall herd performance. A ‘Coloquick’ colostrum management machine is used and calves are then fed with a ‘Milk Taxi’. The herd has a 2% calf mortality rate.

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What’s the “Secret”?

The 2nd herd we visited was Hostrup Ostergard, Karupvej 21, 7540 Haderup – a 300Ha dairy again growing maize and grass, the herd numbers 280 cows milked with 4 Lely robots. The herd is currently selling 37 litres/cow/day with an annual yield of 11,400 litres.

A number of years ago milk yield was disappointing and after much investigation stray voltage, effecting dry matter intakes via the metal feed troughs was identified as the problem. Ironically, the electricity excess was coming from a nearby windfarm!

“Ventilation and lighting in all the buildings was superb and clearly helping cow comfort.”

Bente & Ole Vestergaarde at Oster Haerup is a family run farm which regularly opens it’s doors to the public.

The herd houses 200 cows averaging 11,300 litres at 4.14% fat and 3.55% protein and is on target to sell 12,000 litres this year. Milk is sold, like the majority of Danish dairy farmers, to Arla.

FARM TOUR

Colostrum management is a key focus as on the first farm. A Milk Taxi Pasteuriser is used to feed milk, with a phone app being used to measure and monitor the strength of the milk being fed.

We then visited the calf unit belonging to Calvex DK. The unit is used to measure calf performance with different housing and management systems.

“Every dry cow is teat dipped daily.”

A combination of H & L igloos and hutches are used with strategic roofing and penning used to create one of the perfect housing systems for calves from birth onwards.

Milking cows and milking heifers are housed in separate groups.

Feed troughs are as smooth and clean as your own dinner plate.

The TMR is fed automatically with a robot which runs on a rail above the narrow double-sided, yoked feed trough.

A series of H & L 100 computerised feeders are used to feed the calves with an easy to use program to manage and monitor calves at any time which can be situated in the calf building or remotely at the manager’s house.

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

21

FARM TOUR

“Calves get used to eating feed from a clean trough at an early age!�

Like many of the farms we visited, due to herd expansion in recent years, calf housing has come under pressure.

Most of the farms had one or two of these mobile calf buildings which appeared to work extremely well.

The weather when we visited was extremely cold and calves looked in good health.

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Gunner Forum, Prastevej 18, 8832 Skals has 450 cows milked with 7 x Lely robots. The herd is currently averaging 40 litres/cow/day with the rolling herd yield at 12,750kgs at 3.7% fat and 3.46% protein.

A maximum of 8kg of cake is fed in the robots with a 40% DM TMR fed outside the robots. A premix is made up of: Soda wheat; Rape; Soya; Sodium Bicarbonate; Bergafat F-100 and bespoke minerals and mixed with high D-Value, high DM grass and maize silage.

“...main driver for the top performance is a hard working, dedicated team of professional stockmen and women.”

The last farm we visited was Per Andersson, Siggardvej 33, 7800 Skive. 300 cows averaging 13,000 litres.

FARM TOUR

Calves are housed in a new build custom youngstock shed.

Colostrum management is a top priority and again, the Coloquick system is used on this farm. All heifer calves receive 4 litres of identifiable and traceable ‘green’ colostrum within 1 hour of birth. The coloquick bag holds 4 litres, unlike other makes which hold less.

Spotlessly clean stainless steel buckets are used for milk feeding, water and starter concentrate across all the farms we visited……attention to detail!

Finally, the main driver for the top performance is a hard working, dedicated team of professional stockmen and women.

Close up cows are sand bedded. 3 feet of trough space per cow.

100sq feet of lying area per cow.

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

23

FARM TOUR

Calves - 90% of calves get 4 litres of colostrum within 1 hour of birth. Calves are then fed 3 feeds per day of 4 litres of milk each. Daily liveweight gains of 900-1200g are being achieved.

No calves lost to diarrhoea, 2% mortality.

The dairy herd is fed a 40% dry matter TMR of maize silage, 1st cut grass silage, cereals, soya, rape, 150gms of minerals, 7 litres water. Dry matter intakes of over 28kgs are achieved.

Plenty of fresh air

“No calves lost to diarrhoea, 2% mortality.”

In summary, what are the common denominators seen on our visit to some of the successful, high yielding herds in Denmark?

1. Focus on colostrum management using Coloquick system and accurate, consistent calf feeding practices using modern feeding equipment – “only get one chance to get well grown, productive, long lasting heifers” 2. High quality, high dry matter forages + consistent diets 3. Focus on cow health

a. Clean walkways

b. Comfortable bedding (sand, mattresses)

c. Regular footbathing

d. Excellent ventilation

e. Optimum lighting

4. Team approach – A passion for cows and youngstock, regular meetings with owner/herd manager, staff, vet and nutritionist 5. Simple, usable monitoring systems 6. Making full use of modern technology

Steve Brown Ruminant Feeds Product Manager m: 07774 855026 steve.brown@wynnstay.co.uk @sirbilly55 24

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FEWER WORMS, BETTER GROWTH RATES IN CATTLE

“Over a 200-day grazing season, unseen worm infections could easily reduce growth by 0.1 kg a day”

On good pasture, 1kg/day liveweight gain should be possible, according to Eblex. [Ref 5] But a 10% shortfall from this could mean an additional 20-30 days of feeding next winter to reach a target weight, or selling a 20kg lighter beast in the autumn.

Either way, the likely extra cost is in the region of at least £40/ head, calculates Zoetis vet Andrew Montgomery.

“There are several options available to farmers for season-long protection against worm infestations for growing cattle,” he explains. “So lack of choice is unlikely to be one of the main reasons for cattle being left unprotected.”

Natural Immune Response

Lungworm larvae can stimulate immune reaction when they penetrate the intestine

Lungworm larvae penetrate the intestine to travel to the lungs via the blood stream

One increasingly used option to protect what you value is season-long cover from a single treatment with CYDECTIN 10% LA for Cattle (see graphic, left), given as a sub- cutaneous injection at the base of the ear at 1ml per 100kg liveweight.

The active ingredient Moxidectin is distributed through the bloodstream, so worm larvae need to penetrate the gut wall, thereby stimulating an immune response, before being killed Another option that has stood the test of time is the pulserelease Autoworm bolus. At three-week intervals, a dose of wormer is released (see graphic, below) killing all the common worms that cattle may be carrying. At the same time, this method also offers the opportunity for a natural immune response to develop. The active ingredient in Autoworm has no residual action so cattle are exposed to worm challenge during each 21 day interval between wormer pulses, thereby stimulating an immune response.

WORMING

Making best use of grazing in 2015 is a must for rearers of all types of growing cattle…dairy heifers, suckler beef calves and pasture-based finishers alike. Now is a good time to start planning how to protect what you value.

It is vital to be aware that gastrointestinal worms can reduce summer growth rates long before signs start to show as loose faeces and dirty rumps, according to SAC beef adviser Dr Basil Lowman. “Over a 200-day grazing season, unseen worm infections could easily reduce growth by 0.1 kg a day,” he says.

[Ref 4]

All CYDECTIN brands contain moxidectin, POM-VPS. For further information, please contact your local Pfizer representative or Pfizer Animal Health, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS. Use medicines responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible).

4 - Dr Basil Lowman, 5 March 2007. Interview with author (notes on file). SAC beef specialist. Comments re-validated by Dr Lowman 22 March 2011.

5 - Eblex press release (viewed 27 Oct 2010). Eblex challenges beef producers on grass performance. http://www.eblex.org.uk/news/beef-producers-on-grassperformance.aspx.

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

25

WEED CONTROL

WEED CONTROL IN NEWLY SOWN LEYS Establishing a new ley is an expensive business so it is important to ensure it establishes evenly and rapidly to be as productive as possible.

The key to good even establishment is of course ensuring a good seedbed and adequate pH and nutrient availability, but once the grass is sown, keeping weeds out becomes equally important. Early competition from vigorous weeds such as chickweed and mayweed can rapidly reduce the growth of grass and leave new leys ‘gappy’ and unproductive. An uneven grass ley can take a considerable time to become fully productive.

This is particularly true if the ley also contains clover.

Many grassland herbicide products dictate that grass should be ’established’, i.e. over a year old at the time of treatment. In addition, many cannot be used in clover leys. The number of available herbicides for newly sown leys is limited, particularly where clover features in the sward.

Triad provides control of seedling broad-leaved docks up to a maximum of 4 true leaves. However, it should be noted that adult docks or those regenerating from root pieces may not be controlled.

When to apply: Triad is best applied when weeds are young and actively growing, during a period of warm days and warm nights. The product should be applied from the three true leaf stage of the grass and, if present, when clover is at the three trifoliate leaf stage or later.

Triad

Where grass leys have been established in the autumn and the weed burden is high, Triad in combination with a Phenoxy partner may be the ideal solution. This is for several reasons: • SU chemistry is inherently slow in activity, and a Phenoxy partner will speed up the initial rate of kill • The Phenoxy partner will broaden the spectrum of activity • It will act as an anti-resistance strategy to protect the SU group of active ingredients We would recommend using a tank mix with Headland Spruce.

This mix is clover safe.

Headland Spruce will improve control of annual species such as Sow-thistle, Small nettle, Charlock, Fat-hen as well as improving activity on perennial weeds such as Creeping buttercup, Creeping thistle and Plantain.

To make life easy, and where weeds are still quite small, making a tube of Triad treat 4ha, and a 2.5l/ha dose of Spruce (10 litres) makes the two packs match.

Triad contains 50% w/w Tribenuron, Headland Spruce contains 400 g/l 2,4-DB

Newly sown grass leys, (ie. those under one year old) fall into two distinct types: • Pure grass sward • Grass and clover mixture One of the best options for early weed control in any new ley is Triad. It is safe on pure grass leys and also, importantly, on grass and clover mixes (both red and white clover). Triad can also be used on spring barley undersown with grass.

Triad will control chickweed and is currently the only clover safe product available in the market that will control large chickweed in young leys.

Other species where good control may be expected include: Poppy

Scented Mayweed Fat-hen

Groundsel

Orache

Charlock

Shepherd’s Purse

Redshank

Seedling Broad leaved Dock

“We would recommend using a tank mix with Headland Spruce”

Simon Pope Crop Protection Manager t: 01939 210 777 m: 07990 578 545 simon.pope@wynnstay.co.uk

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Wireworms are the larvae of the Click Beetle. Butter yellow to golden-brown in colour and up to 25mm in length, they have a thin body and three pairs of legs behind the head. Established grassland allows wireworm numbers to increase and when swards are cultivated the pest can pose a significant risk to following crops for up to three years.

The larvae may feed on the germ of maize kernels or completely hollow out the seeds, leaving only the seed coat. This is most often evidenced by gaps in the rows of plants. Additionally, the larvae may bore into the stalk at or below soil level, resulting in affected plants turning purple, wilting and often breaking at the level of the soil surface.

“March-May is a peak period of wireworm activity, which of course coincides with the sowing period for maize.”

March-May is a peak period of wireworm activity, which of course coincides with the sowing period for maize. Damage is intensified when maize is planted early and the weather turns cold (as in 2013), slowing germination and establishment.

Infestations are worse in areas of a field that stay moist for long periods of time. As soil temperatures warm, wireworms move deeper in the soil and eventually a point is reached where they are no longer a threat to growing maize.

There are no insecticidal sprays approved for wireworm control in maize; seed treatment and cultural control are the only tools available.

Given that wireworm pose greatest threat for the first two years after an old ley is cultivated, cultural control techniques are centred on avoiding growing maize in these situations.

An alternative strategy would be to grow winter cereals for a couple of years (perhaps for wholecrop silage?) and rely on the cereal seed treatment Deter to offer a measure of wireworm control.

Neonicotinoid insecticidal seed treatments (such as Poncho) offered a measure of wireworm control but amidst fears over bee safety, this chemistry was removed from the market for a two year period (we are now in the second year).

A replacement for Poncho was found in Sonido, which is available on a limited range of maize varieties. Sonido is slightly less effective against wireworms than Poncho (in trials in France and Germany). Also, significantly, Sonido cannot be applied in conjunction with Mesurol, which acted as an efficient bird repellent. DuPont Pioneer offer Korit as a bird repellent which is co-applied with Sonido on some of their varieties. Limagrain have adopted a different approach and announced that higher rates of the fungicide Thiram appear to deter birds. For the 2015 season they offer Sonido plus Thiram.

Both Poncho and Sonido have been found to affect the germination and viability of treated seed. This effect appears to be intensified when seed is sown into cold, wet seed-beds and therefore special care should be taken to ensure sowing conditions are adequate.

Maize growers must weigh up the risks posed on their farm when considering whether or not to use Sonido treated seed.

Consideration should be given to the age of the sward which preceded the maize crop and also, how many crops of maize have been grown since the grass was ploughed-out.

Advice on seed treatments for maize are available from Wynnstay’s maize specialists or by calling Dr Simon Pope, Crop Protection Product Manager on 01939 2105550.

WEED CONTROL

OPTIONS FOR WIREWORM CONTROL IN MAIZE

Simon Pope Crop Protection Manager t: 01939 210 777 m: 07990 578 545 simon.pope@wynnstay.co.uk

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

27

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR GRASSLAND

FERTILISER

Pointers and reminders for spring Nutrient management is vitally important to maximise both yield potential and quality for the crucial spring growing period. All crops need an adequate nutrient supply from the soil in order to thrive, and feeding grass properly with fertilisers and organic manures is key to achieving the grass growth and quality needed to fit any conventional grass-based system.

The starting point is to have a planned soil testing policy. A testing rotation that captures each field every 3-4 years will give an accurate picture of how fertiliser and manure applications are affecting soil fertility.

Maintaining soil pH and Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (Potash – K) indices at the correct levels are a vital part of making sure that production is optimised.

Table 1: Target Soil pH, P and K indices for optimum grass growth Soil Type Mineral soils

pH

P Index

K Index

6.0 – 6.5

2

2-

high N inputs will achieve high DM utilisation to boost both milk yield, and meat production, and ultimately profitability, provided that paddocks are grazed at 2,700 – 2,900 kg grass DM/ha and grazed down to a residual of 1,500 kg DM/ha.

Sulphur has been proven in many experiments and on-farm trials and demonstrations to boost yield as well as protein and sugar levels in grass, and using GrowHow SingleTop® (27-00+12 SO3) as an early season application can have a marked positive effect on both plant Nitrogen uptake and grazing herbage quality where Sulphur is short.

Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash and sulphur requirements for silage/hay.

Large amounts of K and moderate amounts of P are removed from silage and hay. As a rule of thumb, a tonne of silage fresh weight will remove 1.7kg P2O5/t and 6.0kg K2O/t, whilst a tonne of hay fresh weight will remove 5.9kg P2O5/t and 18.0kg K2O/t. It is essential that these two nutrients are then replaced if yield and quality are not to suffer in subsequent cuts or grazings. Planned use of slurry or FYM can very often supply most if not all of the P and K requirements, but this can only be properly assessed and implemented if soil P and K indices are known and a nutrient management plan based on the Fertiliser Manual (RB209) is in place.

Peaty soils 5.0 - 5.5 2 2Having the correct pH is particularly important in order to allow efficient uptake of nutrients from the soil.

Nitrogen and Sulphur requirements for Grazing.

Intensive grazing systems such as rotational dairy grazing systems and some sheep and beef rotational systems require significant inputs of Nitrogen and grazing discipline must be maintained in order to utilise the grass Dry Matter (DM) produced. Under-utilisation early in spring can lead to reduced yield and palatability for the remainder of the season, so it is vitally important to monitor grass growth and management in the grazing platform. Under this kind of grazing management,

Dave Mitchell Fertiliser Manager m: 07990 578 543 dave.mitchell@wynnstay.co.uk

Table 2: Recommended application of Phosphate and Potash for silage and hay crops Rate of P2O5 or K2O in kg/ha

Phosphorus Index

Potassium Index

0

1

2

3

3+

0

1

2-

2+

3

Silage 1st cut

100

70

40

20

0

140*

110*

80

60

30

Silage 2nd cut

25

25

25

0

0

120

100

90

60

40

Silage 3rd cut

15

15

15

0

0

80

80

80

40

20

Hay (one cut)

80

55

30

0

0

140

115

90

65

20

From The Fertiliser Manual (RB209) *Apply 30 to 40% of this total in the previous autumn.

For more information or to order fertiliser please speak to your Wynnstay Representative or call our Fertiliser Department on 01939 211266.

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MARKET UPDATE

Foreign Exchange

Raw Materials Markets It has come to that time of year when thoughts turn to summer and perhaps even next winter’s feed prices. In these uncertain times it is difficult to conceive why forward feed should be contracted or not.

The market for the last twelve months has been dominated by large/record harvest both here and in the major producing areas of the world. These factors have resulted in the raw material prices we have now and are all built into the price levels. So why do we think that these levels, and subsequently feed prices will continue to fall?

While arable farmers struggle with grain prices here, do we believe that the rest of the world will continue with high production levels at little to no return? Already acres are being shifted from corn to soya in America as the unit returns are more favourable in the lower yielding soya.

Therefore crops will probably be slightly smaller than last year’s records, but unless we have some production / weather problems then not to the extent of being a concern. World stocks of all feed are historically high now and a small reduction in output next year will not overtly affect this. So what is the market looking at?

All commodities used to make animal feed are affected to a smaller or lesser extent by the exchange rates between the GBP and the USD, and to a lesser extent (mainly rape) the Euro even domestically produced material. Soya obviously from imported beans, but even home produced grain will see an effect. A strong dollar will mainly lead to higher prices here and vice versa, the major reason we have not seen a steeper drop in commodity prices since November is the strength of the dollar against the Euro, and to a somewhat lesser extent against the GBP. Last summer the ÂŁ90 odd drop in soya was approximately 50% due to the independent strength of the GBP. Since then we have seen the rate fall back to the $1.50 area which has limited raw material price drops. Unless something else occurs, as yet not on the horizon, the Dollar will continue to strengthen against the weaker Euro area, and with the GBP position on limited growth and reliance on Europe, it is hard to see an independent pound rallying against the dollar.

So as always the movements in price are following more the machinations of allied markets and the whim of the speculators. Feed prices should still have some give for next summer / winter 15-16 but a close watch on the exchange and the recent re-emergence of the speculator - as other global markets stagnate - our markets needs to be closely monitored.

MARKET UPDATE

What do the markets have in store...

Eric Thomas Commercial Manager - Feeds t: 01691 828 512 eric.thomas@wynnstay.co.uk

Oil Crude oil prices have dropped to pre-2004 levels as production outstrips demand. This is partially caused by faltering growth in the overall world economy, but also by a push by producers to restrict investment in fracking and alternative sources. Low crude prices are favourable for countries with mature economies experiencing growth; although this helps the UK and the pound, the chief beneficiary from this is the US and the US Dollar.

The information included in this article was correct at the time of print and Wynnstay cannot be helf responsible for any changes.

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

29

CHALLENGE DAIRY

Sponsors have been working with Challenge Dairy 2015 competition winner Trystan Davies at Plasgwyn Farm near Carmarthen in south Wales. He and his family are very pleased with the progress so far.

Cows have looked better this summer than they have in the past and milk yields have increased by 25%—from an average 22-23 litres per day to 27-28 litres over the summer. “We have kept the cows in at night over the summer and they have been happier— we do not have the ideal ground here for grazing,” says Trystan. “Cows have been inside all the time since the first week of October.”

Milk quality Milk quality has also been good. In October butterfats averaged 4.36%, protein 3.44%, cell counts 100,000 and Bactoscans 19.

Cows calve all year round and milk has been sold to Dairy Crest from September 1st on a formula contract.

Expenditure on concentrates has been increased from £12,000 per month to £18,500 but initial costings are looking positive.

“Margins have definitely improved with the new feeding system but we need a year of figures for a proper comparison“ says Trystan’s father Phil. Cows were being fed grass silage plus 3kg of an 18% blend in the feed passage and up to 8.0kg of concentrates in the parlour.

Following advice from local dairy producer and Wynnstay’s Howell Richards, concentrates were cut back in the parlour and the blend increased in the partial mixed ration to 8kg per cow.

Protein in the blend has also been increased from 18% to 22%.

“The maximum fed in the parlour is now 5kg per cow of 18% protein concentrate,” explains Trystan. “Those producing 40 litres of milk get 4.0kg, those on 33 litres get 3.0kg and those producing 20kg or less get 2.0kg concentrate.”

At the end of October Trystan felt the cows were not milking as well as they should and were one or two litres below par. This was put down to the fact that there were a lot of stale cows in the herd and third cut grass silage in the ration.

Yields are now back up to 27 litres per day with 70% of the herd in calf and the introduction of first cut silage to the ration.

Autumn 2015 Target Salt licks have also been provided at each end of the feed trough. “The cows seem to like it and it has helped butterfats go up to 4.3% although they have dropped back to 4.1% now,” says Trystan. “It has helped increase dry matter intakes and should improve fertility. “The target is to be selling 9,000 litres of milk per cow by autumn of 2015,” he says.

Housing at night during the summer has allowed them to produce more silage—700 acres were made in three cuts last year while 990 acres were made this year. Having a contracting business which is run with the farm the additional contractor costs were kept down. At a charge of £42 per acre total contact costs would be around £40,000.

They also have the advantage being able to cut the silage at the correct time. On May 4th 220 acres of first cut was made and a further 90 acres on May 15th. “We are grazing the cows on sloping fields and using the flatter fields to grow more silage,” explains Trystan.

“The cows are now drying off in better condition and so are milking better when they calve. We are also making changes to the dry cow ration and feeding more straw. Before they were on silage based diet and getting too fat.”

A straw chopper has been purchased and a feed bin to store the dry cow blend. Straw is currently being chopped by the forage harvester and has been introduced to dry cow diets.

When everything is in place dry cow rations will comprise of 5kg chopped straw, 1kg blend plus grass silage. “The new ration should help to increase milk production further and improve cow fertility,” notes Tystan.

Other small investments and improvements are being made on the farms. New tip-over water troughs have been installed in the milking cow housing which should ensure a good supply of clean drinking water.

At Pencelli Farm where dry cows and heifers are managed a new footbath is being installed. “The aim is to improve locomotion and reduce digital dermatitis in the herd,” he adds.

Keep up to date with Trystan’s progress in maximising the potential of his business: Visit our website www.challengedairy.co.uk or follow us on twitter @cd_dairy 30

www.wynnstay.co.uk

Article formerly published in British Dairying

01691 670341 info@geogen.co.uk www.geogen.co.uk

SAVE USING SOLAR! R Morris & Son, Pant Farm, Meifod, Powys R Morris & Son have invested in a 15Kw Solar PV System installed at Pant Farm, Meifod by Geogen Technologies Ltd. Rowland Morris decided to invest in solar PV to reduce electricity costs and provide an additional income stream for the farm.

Make 2015 the year you get paid to produce electricity

Even though the installation is in a shaded valley it has generated over 9500KWh since April 2014 and is saving Mr Morris £300 per month on his electric bill by using over 75% of the electricity he is generating on site. He has also gained an income of over £1,150 from the feed in tariff scheme so far.

Mr Morris comments; “I decided to use GeoGen Ltd for the solar PV installation as I have dealt with Wynnstay for a long time and was aware of the joint venture between D Jones Electrical and Wynnstay.

Obviously a key part of the decision to use GeoGen Ltd was the competitive quote, but also I felt it was important to use a company I could trust”

BENEFIT FROM BIOMASS Get paid for using your heating & hot water R Morris & Son of Meifod made the decision to invest in a 150Kw Lindner & Sommerauer woodchip boiler through Geogen Technologies Ltd in November 2014.

Generating over 197,000KWh of heat per year, the system is providing the full heating & hot water needs of his large farmhouse & parlour (milking an average of 110 cows per day).

Mr Morris is already saving £500.00 per month on his electric and is estimated to earn £15,000 per year for 20 years from the Government Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.

Geogen Technologies Ltd design, supply and install agricultural, commercial and domestic solar PV and biomass systems throughout the UK.

To enquire about solar or biomass systems, please fill in and return the enclosed form to the address provided. Or alternatively visit www.geogen.co.uk/contact to complete the form electronically.

Wynnstay Group Plc

Dairy Newsletter Spring 2015

31

THE COMPLETE DAIRY PACKAGE FROM WYNNSTAY DAIRY NUTRITION PRODUCTS

TRANSITION 80/20 PRODUCTS

• Compounds

• Prepare 80/20 nuts

• Blends

• Maxammon for wholecrop & grain

• Dry Tec 80/20 nuts

• Straights

• Reviva 80/20 fresh cow drink

• Molasses

• Recharge 80/20 liver function/fertility enhancer

• Minerals

• ProKeto 80/20 ketosis prevention

• Supplements

CALF & HEIFER REARING PRODUCTS

DAIRY HYGIENE PRODUCTS • Pipeline cleaning

• Wynngold Calf Milk Powders

• Bulk tank cleaning

• Concentrates - starters, rearers

• Udder hygeine

• Supplements, Minerals, Boluses

• Sundries

• Equipment, Calf feeding machines, Housing

FERTILITY • Heat detection • Heat time • Tail paint

SERVICES • NMS on farm evaluation and report • Herd ketosis screening • Feed, forage, water & milk analysis • Diet Check ration formulation & monitoring • Diet mineral formulation

ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

• Calf & heifer nutrition, health & housing advice

• Heat detection

• CowWatch®

• Trace element boluses & milk fever boluses • Footbath solutions and footcare products • Anthelmintics and flukicides • Mineral & vitamin drenches • Fresh cow solutions • Fly and lice control • Footbaths

FORAGE PRODUCTS • Grass, Maize & Cereal seeds • Fertiliser • Sprays • Silage Additives

• Dosing and drenching equipment

COW COMFORT PRODUCTS • Cubicles, mattresses and sand bed systems • Bedding material • Fans and humidifiers • Lighting design and installation • Rubber mats for cow passages • Feed barriers • Water troughs

To discuss any of the articles or for more information about any of the products listed in this edition Dairy Newsletter, contact your local Wynnstay representative or ring Wynnstay Sales Support on:

01691 828512 or email: info@wynnstay.co.uk Images are for illustration purposes only.

Wynnstay (Agricultural Supplies) Ltd • Eagle House • Llansantffraid • Powys • SY22 6AQ • Registration Number: 5009019 Part of Wynnstay Group Plc• Eagle House • Llansantffraid • Powys • SY22 6AQ Registration No: 2704051 Telephone: 01691 828512 • Fax: 01691 828690 • Email: info@wynnstay.co.uk • www.wynnstay.co.uk Registered in Wales and England • Vat Reg No. 168 7221 87