December 2014 Vol 21, No. 2
Spotlight on farm health and safety MORE THAN Focus JUST A YEAST on dairy crossbreds Yield cow Health Increases DMI by over Improves milk yield by an 0.60kg/cow/day in early average of 1.18kg/cow/day lactation*1 and reduces SCC*2 Selecting maize varieties Rumen health Reduces acidosis and metabolic disorders*3 and improves fi bre digestion*4 Dairy Crest review Over 400 trials prove works Are you maximising your cow’s potential?
* 1 Poppy et al. (2012) J Dairy Sci 6027 - 6041 * 2 Zaworski et al (2014) J Dairy Sci 3081–3098 * 3 Li et al, 2012. Journal of Dairy Science, 95: Suppl. 1 December * 4 White et al., 2008. Prof Anim Sci., 24: 114 – 119 Freephone technical information 0800 833 675 E: [email protected] bull proofs www.rumenco.co.uk UK distributor for
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December 2014, Vol 21, No. 2 Semex Dairy Conference A & B pricing Semex UK has announced that Contents +HU5R\DO+LJKQHVV7KH3ULQFHVV system now 5R\DOZLOOEHYLVLWLQJWKHWK$Q- 1XͿHOGFRQIHUHQFHUHSRUW niversary Semex Dairy conference on Tuesday January 13th, 2015, in News review—Dairy Crest 10-11 on the agenda Glasgow. “We are delighted that Animal health—scours 12 7KH3ULQFHVV5R\DOLVYLVLWLQJRXU Barry Wilson comments 15 Three months after Farmers For Action leader David Handley conference,” said Semex’s Gordon mooted the idea of introducing ‘A & B’ pricing into their milk Miller. “She has a keen interest in )RFXVRQFURVVEUHGV contracts—to almost universal apathy and derision at the time— agriculture through her patron- Grassland management 22-24 more and more dairy companies are believed to be poised to adopt age of several organisations, is the system, although few have gone public. At the beginning of extremely knowledgeable about 0DL]HYDULHW\VHOHFWLRQ 'HFHPEHULWZDVNQRZQDWOHDVWÀYHZHUHFRQVLGHULQJLWLQIDFW dairy farming, and is a superb Tackling solar ulcers 33-34 Graham’s, The Family Dairy, for example, has introduced a ambassador for our industry.” Spotlight on health and safety 36-37 scheme from February where producers will be allocated a liquid volume and an ingredients volume, based on their supply from Trade balance improves 3DVWXUHWR3URÀWFRQIHUHQFH September 2013 to August 2014. The liquid volume will be 90% 5HFHQW 8. LPSRUWV DQG H[SRUWV of the volume, and the rest the ingredients volume “which will be +HLIHU5HDUHURIWKH BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 3 NEWS DairyCo consultation Help needed for ailing industry A consultation is being held to seek the views of dairy levy payers Ruthless retail milk discounting rebalance the EU market. chain to cover farmers’ relation- and industry organisations on the is not sustainable, and ultimately “We’re also calling on them ships with processors. We believe DairyCo business plan. will damage the future of the to continue their work on seek- this would bring better transpar- The plan sets out DairyCo’s UK dairy industry, NFU dairy ing new export opportunities and ency to the impact of the ongo- strategy and key activities to board chairman Rob Harrison has promoting our high quality dairy ing liquid milk discounting that improve productivity and com- warned. products both within Europe and we’re all seeing in our retailers. petitiveness for dairy farming Giving evidence to the Envi- outside. “The NFU has already written businesses in Great Britain. It cov- URQPHQW )RRG DQG 5XUDO$ͿDLUV “To help push consumption to all the major supermarkets to ers the period April 2015 to March Committee Select Committee on we urge policymakers to improve ask the simple question: ‘What are 2016 in detail with an outline for the current dairy price situation, the labelling of dairy products—to you doing to support British dairy April 2016 to March 2017. Mr Harrison argued that while the ensure consumers are buying Brit- farmers?’ as there are a number of The DairyCo divisional busi- farmgate milk price downturn has ish—and to be more co-ordinated areas that can be improved. ness plan can be downloaded been caused as the twin result of in their health messages. And to “A number of dairy farm- from the DairyCo website at increased global production and help farmers better manage volatil- ers are within dedicated supply www.dairyco.org.uk reduced global demand, there are ity we have called on Government relationships, but using milk as a The deadline for comments on a number of clear things that can to help develop a farm manage- loss leader puts downward pres- the draft plan is Tuesday January be done to cushion the impact on ment deposit scheme and to ex- sure on the whole industry and 13, 2015. Responses should be sent UK dairy farms. WHQGSURÀWDYHUDJLQJWRÀYH\HDUV while farmers’ margins are being to [email protected] “We know that government such as was recently announced by squeezed by global and political can’t step in to the market, but the Irish Government. issues we need our domestic retail- Phoenix Feeds they can support our hard working “We would also like to see the ers to support our farmers more dairy farmers at national and Eu- remit of the Groceries Code Adju- than ever,” he added. (See com- Technical support and feeds sup- ropean level. In Brussels they can dicator extended down the supply ment on page 32.) plies for the Leicestershire-based back the NFU’s call for a review Sandyford herd (Farm story, No- of the intervention price for dairy • Dairy farming in the UK was in a desperate state, MPs were told by vember issue, pages 10-11) are pro- products as well as a targeted re- David Handley, chairman of Farmers For Action. Giving evidence to the vided by William Marsland from opening of Private Storage Aid for Efra committee in the Houses of Parliament, Mr Handley said 400 milk Lancashire-based Phoenix Feeds. cheese—something that can help producers have quit the business so far this year, compared with 200 over the whole of last year. “The situation is getting so serious that in the last nine weeks we’ve passed three individual dairy producers on to the Samaritans because they were in such a desperate state and the full impact isn’t yet being seen.” Slurry Mr Handley said that the money between the processor and retailer EXPERTS IN SLURRY MANAGEMENT needed to be tracked. “We need to have some honesty and transparency. Solutions He disputed claims that the price cuts were down to global markets, say- LQJ ´:HÀQGLWYHU\VXVSLFLRXVZKHQZHDUHEHLQJWROGWKDWLWLVRYHUVXS- Slurry Storage Systems ply when 85% of our milk never leaves these shores.” Automatic Scraper Systems New Stoneleigh headquarters for AHDB & DairyCo Slurry Pumps Slurry Mixers Multiscrapers Automatic Cow Brushes 0% Finance available Screw Press Separators on Automatic Scraper Systems, Separation Systems and Eco Eco-Bedder Systems Bedder Systems. Slurrystore Accessories Service & Parts for most slurry machinery Manufactured in the UK S.England / Wales David Turner 07818 053 159 The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)—which N.England Gary Morland 07919 563 796 includes DairyCo—has completed its move into a newly constructed Scotland / Ireland Robert Wilson 07769 728 128 headquarters building, leased from LaSalle Investment Management, Head Office Chris Richardson 01524 781 900 on Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. 7KHQHZDFFRPPRGDWLRQPHDQVWKDWWKH$+'%VWDͿDW Email: [email protected] 6WRQHOHLJK3DUNDUHLQRQHEXLOGLQJIRUWKHYHU\ÀUVWWLPHVLQFHWKHOHY\ www.storthmachinery.co.uk board was created in 2008—previously they have been spread across three separate buildings on the science park. 4 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 NEWS Cheddar export boost Maize silage analysis encouraging First Milk has secured a deal with D7H[DQÀQHIRRGVUHWDLOHUIRUWKH ,QLWLDO DQDO\VLV RI PDL]H VLODJH Maize silage analysis for 2014 H[SRUWRI0XOORI.LQW\UH&KHGGDU LQGLFDWHVWKHFURSFRXOGEHDZHO- )UDVHU%URZQH[SRUWVDOHVGLUHFWRU FRPHDGGLWLRQWRGDLU\UDWLRQVWKLV 2013/14 average Early 2014 average IRU)LUVW0LONFRPPHQWHG ´'HYHO- ZLQWHUKHOSLQJRͿVHWVRPHRIWKH Dry Matter (%) 32.3 31.2 RSLQJDGGHGYDOXHH[SRUWVDOHVLV FKDOOHQJHVSUHVHQWHGE\WKLV\HDU·V Crude protein (%) 7.9 8.0 DNH\SDUWRIRXUEXVLQHVVVWUDWHJ\ JUDVVVLODJH D-value (%) 72.5 71.5 ´+DYLQJ DQDO\VHG RYHU IRUDJHVZHKDYHDJRRGSLFWXUHRI ME (MJ/kgDM) 11.4 11.3 KRZPDL]HVLODJHVZLOOIHHGDQGLW Starch (%) 31.6 30.6 LVHQFRXUDJLQJµFRPPHQWV7URXZ Starch degradability (%) 67.7 69.2 1XWULWLRQ *% UXPLQDQW PDQDJHU $GDP&OD\ZKRDGGVWKDWDQHF- By-pass starch (g/kgDM) 102.2 94.1 GRWDOHYLGHQFHLQGLFDWHVWKDWPDQ\ NDF (%) 42.0 41.7 IDUPHUVKDYHVHHQDSRVLWLYH\LHOG pH 3.9 4.0 UHVSRQVHVLQFHLQWURGXFLQJPDL]H LQWRWKHGLHW 0DL]H VLODJH LV D YLWDO VRXUFH IULHQGO\ PDQQHU )DUPHUV ZLOO 0U&OD\VD\VWKDWKLJKHQHUJ\ RI VWDUFK LQ GLHWV DQG 0U &OD\ QHHGWRHQVXUHWKH\IHHGVXFLHQW FRQWHQW DQG GU\ PDWWHU FRXSOHG H[SODLQVWKDWWRWDOVWDUFKOHYHOVDUH E\SDVVVWDUFKLQWKHWRWDOGLHWWR ZLWKUHGXFHG1')OHYHOVVXJJHVW ORZHU WKDQ ODVW \HDU EXW DUH VWLOO DYRLGSXVKLQJFRZVWRZDUGVVXE WKDW PDL]H VLODJHV ZLOO VXSSRUW JRRGDWFRPSDUHGWR FOLQLFDODFLGRVLVµ DVZHUHPDLQIRFXVHGRQGULYLQJ LQFUHDVHGSHUIRUPDQFH+HSRLQWV +RZHYHUWKHVWDUFKLVPRUHGHJUD- 0U &OD\ VD\V UHGXFHG 1') PRUHVWDEOHUHWXUQVIRURXUIDUPHU RXW WKDW 0( OHYHOV DUH VOLJKWO\ GDEOHDQGWKLVLVVLJQLÀFDQW DQG LQFUHDVHG VWDUFK GHJUDGDELO- RZQHUV 'HVSLWH WKH GHSUHVVHG ORZHUWKLV\HDUDW0-FRPSDUHG ´+LJKHU VWDUFK GHJUDGDELOLW\ LW\FRXOGPHDQPDL]HVLODJHFRXOG PDUNHWVLWXDWLRQDURXQGWKHZRUOG WR $OWKRXJK RQO\ D VPDOO PHDQV WKDW PRUH RI WKH VWDUFK LV FDXVH DFLGRVLV SUREOHPV XQOHVV 86PDUNHWVDUHSHUIRUPLQJVWURQJ- GLͿHUHQFH LW PHDQV WKDW UDWLRQV XVHGLQWKHUXPHQ7KLVLQFUHDVHV GLHWV DUH FDUHIXOO\ EDODQFHG DQG HU ZLWK TXDOLW\ &KHGGDU VHOOLQJ ZLOOVWLOOQHHGFDUHIXOEDODQFLQJWR WKHDYDLODEOHUXPHQHQHUJ\ZKLFK FRZVFORVHO\PRQLWRUHG IRUSUHPLXPSULFHVDQGGHPDQG HQVXUHWKDWWKHFRZV·WRWDOHQHUJ\ VXSSRUWVPLFURELDOJURZWK ´,W LV DOVR LPSRUWDQW WR UH- LQFUHDVLQJ\HDURQ\HDUµ UHTXLUHPHQWVDUHPHW ´$ PRUH DFWLYH UXPHQ ZLWK PHPEHU WKDW VWDUFK GHJUDGDELO- KLJKHU PLFURELDO JURZWK LV LP- LW\ LQFUHDVHV ZLWK WLPH LQ WKH SRUWDQW DV WKLV GULYHV GU\ PDWWHU FODPS VR WKH ULVN RI GLVUXSWHG LQWDNHV DQG \LHOGV 3URPRWLQJ UXPHQ KHDOWK FRXOG ULVH GXULQJ KLJKLQWDNHVKDVEHHQDQLVVXHZLWK WKH ZLQWHU )RU WKLV UHDVRQ ZH PDQ\JUDVVVLODJHVWKLV\HDUVRWKLV ZRXOG UHFRPPHQG WKDW PDL]H TK dust ZLOOEHDQDGGHGEHQHÀWIURPJHW- LV VDPSOHG PRQWKO\ WKURXJKRXW WLQJPDL]HLQWRGLHWV WKH ZLQWHU DQG GLHWV ÀQH WXQHG ´&RQYHUVHO\ WKHUH LV DQ IRUUXPHQDYDLODEOHVWDUFKOHYHOV Cubicle Disinfectant Powder UHGXFWLRQ LQ E\SDVV VWDUFK ,Q- ´1XWULWLRQLVWV VKRXOG XVH D FOXGLQJE\SDVVVWDUFKLQWKHGLHW IRUPXODWLRQ SDFNDJH FDSDEOH RI Improves hygiene of cubicles and bedded pens LVDQHͿHFWLYHPHWKRGRILQFUHDVLQJ LGHQWLI\LQJ WKH VSHHG DW ZKLFK WKH WRWDO VWDUFK IHG DQG WKHUHIRUH FDUERK\GUDWHVDUHGHJUDGHGLQWKH &RQWDLQVVSHFL¿FPLQHUDOV DQG¿EUHVIRUWKHLUGU\LQJ JOXFRJHQLF HQHUJ\ LQ D UXPHQ UXPHQµ 6HHSDJHV actions Contains DEFRA approved Processors on target Cornwall to host BGS disinfectant that is activated by moisture 3UHOLPLQDU\UHVXOWVIURPWKH &RUQZDOO ZLOO KRVW WKH QH[W YLVLW 'DLU\ 8. (QYLURQPHQWDO %HQFK- RI WKH %ULWLVK *UDVVODQG 6RFLHW\ Cow Cubicles - use at 70g per cubicle “udder region” PDUNLQJ5HSRUWVKRZVWKDWGDLU\ DQQXDOPHHWLQJLQ-XO\ daily or 140g every other day. SURFHVVRUV KDYH DFKLHYHG DQ ¶0HDWLQJ DQG 0LONLQJ WKH Calculate 500g/cow/week LQFUHDVHLQHQHUJ\HFLHQF\VLQFH &UHDPRI&RUQLVK*UDVVODQG·ZLOO Calving boxes, Calf pens, EHKHOGLQ&RUQZDOOIURPWR Lambing pens -100g/ sqm/ every day ,WPHDQVWKH\DUHRQWUDFNWR -XO\ PHHW WKH &OLPDWH &KDQJH$JUHH- &RUQZDOO *UDVVODQG 6RFLHW\ Packaged in 25kg bags on half tonne & tonne pallets PHQWV DQG 'DLU\ 5RDGPDS PDGH XS RI IRXU ORFDO VRFLHWLHV WDUJHWV RI DQG UHVSHF- KDV RUJDQLVHG D GLYHUVH DQG LQ- Please call for WLYHO\ WHUHVWLQJ LWLQHUDU\ WKDW ZLOO WDNH FREE SAMPLES, and 10% off 7KH UHSRUW DOVR GHWDLOV WKH LQ VHYHQ OLYHVWRFN IDUPV DQG WKH À DIRECT PRICES UVWRUGHU SURJUHVVPDGHLQZDVWHPDQDJH- ¶)XWXUH)DUP·UHVHDUFKIDFLOLWLHVDW PHQW 3URFHVVRUV DWWDLQHG D 'XFK\&ROOHJH7KHHYHQWZLOOEH UHGXFWLRQLQWKHDPRXQWRIZDVWH EDVHGDWWKH/DQK\GURFN+RWHODQG VHQW WR ODQGÀOO SHU WRQQH RI PLON *ROI&OXEQHDU%RGPLQ LQSXW 7KH\ DOVR GHPRQVWUDWHG )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ LQ- DLQFUHDVHLQWKHDPRXQWRI FOXGLQJ D SUHYLHZ RI WKH SUR- ZDVWH UHF\FOHG RU UHFRYHUHG SHU JUDPPH YLVLW WKH %*6 ZHEVLWH³ t: 01772 690131 w: www.gshepherd.co.uk WRQQHRIPLONLQSXW ZZZEULWLVKJUDVVODQGFRP 6 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Fullwood Fast. Reliable. Efficient. Pioneering runs in Fullwood’s blood. From generation to generation we have developed innovative solutions to make milking faster, more reliable and more GHƂEKGPV 1WT PQPQPUGPUG CRRTQCEJ JCU CNYC[U DGGP VQ FGNKXGT TGCN DGPGƂVU VQ RTQHGUUKQPCNFCKT[HCTOGTUCPFVJGKTEQYU6JCVGVJQUJCUOCFG(WNNYQQFU[PQP[OQWU YKVJHWNN[KPVGITCVGFVGEJPKECNN[CFXCPEGFCPFRTQƂVCDNGOKNMRTQFWEVKQP 9KVJVJGQTKIKPCN(WNNYQQF/GTNKPTQDQVCPGYGTCKPOKNMRTQFWEVKQPYCUDQTP1WT RCUUKQPHQTPGYVGEJPQNQIKGUJCUUGGPVJCVOCEJKPGFGXGNQRKPVQCVTWGENCUUNGCFGT $WVYGTGHWUGVQUVCPFUVKNN6JG(WNNYQQF/2GTNKPKUVJGPGZVIGPGTCVKQPQHCWVQOCVKE OKNMKPIU[UVGOUCPFKUTGCF[VQVCMGOKNMRTQFWEVKQPVQVJGPGZVNGXGN Fullwood M2GTNKP UGVVKPIVJGPGYUVCPFCTFKPGHƂEKGPVGTIQPQOKECPFGEQNQIKECNOKNM RTQFWEVKQP Welcome to the new era. Welcome to the fascinating, pioneering world of Fullwood. www.m2erlin.uk NUFFIELD FARMING SCHOLARSHIP CONFERENCE Improving business management 'RUVHWGDLU\IDUPHU-DVRQ9LFNHU\UHSRUWHGEDFNRQKLVVWXG\WRXUDWWKH1XI¿HOG6FKRODUVKLS )DUPLQJ7UXVW¶VDQQXDOFRQIHUHQFHLQ.HQWODVWPRQWK0LNH*UHHQUHSRUWV ost control and governance professional approach. ing has become over-technical their attitude to adversity.” Cwere the most important fac- “It was simple and, as I had whereas with careful overall man- In New Zealand he visited 28 tors for UK milk producers to ad- the skill set already, the transfor- agement and an eye on ‘the bigger dairy farms in 20 days—to the top dress to improve their businesses, mation to a spring calving system picture’, a much more down to 1% farm businesses in the country. DFFRUGLQJWR1XHOG6FKRODUDQG and paddock grazing was simple. earth approach would lower costs ´7KHVHZHUHPDLQO\ÀUVWDQG dairy farmer Jason Vickery. By Cow tracks were installed, I cross- of production and be far more sus- second generation businesses doing this they can compete on a bred my cows and put in a new tainable,” he said. “Via my study which were are hungry for success. global market, he argued. water system. The system soon tour I wanted to prove that UK Older businesses tend to rest on In partnership with his wife, EHFDPH SURÀWDEOH 7KLV UHOHDVHG GDLU\IDUPLQJFDQEHSURÀWDEOHLQ their laurels. Nicki, he is a tenant on the Duchy cash, freed up time and gave me a global market.” “We need to reduce costs to Estate at North Lawn Farm, near the opportunity to set up two new His conclusions were: UHPDLQSURÀWDEOH,WLVQRWHDV\WR Gillingham in Dorset where he has partnerships with young farmers 1: Farmers must dis- do but something we built up a herd of 350 dairy cows in two additional farm units milk- cipline themselves to can control,” said Mr on a grass-based system. ing a further 700 cows.” control cost, spend Vickery. “Until I took a trip to Ireland But he wanted to take his wisely and not fall He said it was in 2001 I had a very traditional business to another level and was into the trap of over- evident that the top approach to running my farm DZDUGHG D 1XHOG 6FKRODUVKLS managing and over- producers only dealt using all year round calving,” he which included visits to China, spending on their with the best people explained. “Impressed by the Australia and New Zealand where farms. and it was important OHYHO RI SURÀWV VPDOO GDLU\ IDUPV he was inspired by their business 2: Over spending and for UK farmers to do in Ireland were achieving, I came principals and got an appreciation over managing do the same. “It is im- home and modelled my system RIWKHEHQHÀWV8.IDUPHUVKDYHRQ not necessarily lead portant to get the right on what I had seen in Ireland their doorstep. WRKLJKHUSURÀWVRUHI- people around you. Jason Vickery. which was an altogether more “I believe that UK dairy farm- ÀFLHQFLHV DOEHLW WKH\ You need to get a good FDQLPSURYHWKLQJVDWDVXSHUÀFLDO consultant—but it is better to have aesthetic level. good consultant twice a year than 3: Controlling costs, as opposed average one every month. These to increasing output, is proven farmers were very good at getting to have a much greater chance of the right people around them. LPSURYLQJSURÀW “Grassland farming does not 6HHLQJWKHEHQHÀWVRIDSSO\LQJ get the press it deserves because the principles of governance to the LWRQO\EHQHÀWVWKHIDUPHU,QWKH business has been an important UK we often take advice from the learning curve for me and one sales rep which is certainly bad which enables a tight control over business.” development and costs. Governance was another key 5: Above all, learning from suc- LVVXH´7KHEHQHÀWRIJRRGJRY- cess, that of others as well as your ernance is that it frees up time for own, and adapting the business management and allows you to to emulate successful models and lower your costs and manage the SUDFWLFHV LV D EHQHÀFLDO DSSURDFK business better.” and earns no shame. He concluded: “The UK has a “My study tour has highlight- good climate, we can grow crops ed some simple changes which and have 70 million consumers can be made to my own business on our doorstep. But this means IRUPRUHHͿHFWLYHFRVWFRQWURODQG nothing unless you have got the WKXVJUHDWHUSURÀWµKHVDLG right business model in place.” “In China I looked at their During questions he was also manufacturing industry—produc- given an opportunity to give his LQJ PLON LQ 8. LV QR GLͿHUHQW WR views on EU subsidies. “We have producing a plastic toy in China. a generation of farmers who have They have a skilled work force and IRUJRWWHQDERXWSURÀWEHFDXVHZH work hard—and are expanding have subsidies. EU subsidies have everything they do with resource- EUHGLQHFLHQFLHVµKHVDLG fulness, discipline and attitude. “If we could farm without “In Australia they struggle VXEVLGLHVWKHQWKLVZRXOGEHQHÀW with drought and volatility,” he everyone. I hope my children will said. “It is an eye opener for doing be farming without subsidies in business in this environment and future,” added Mr Vickery. 8 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 PROTECTECEC YOUR HERD AGAINSTAGAG SCOURC U BOOSTO STT colostrumcolo t OPTIMISEIM scourco protection VaccinatingVac dams with Rotavec Corona prevents scour from taking hold of your young stock by BOOSTING the levels of antibodies in colostrum. ‘Use Medicines Responsibly’. Please see: www.noah.co.uk/responsible for more information. Rotavec™ Corona contains inactivated Rotavirus and Coronavirus and E. coli K99 antigens. Legal category: POM-VPS Withdrawal period: Zero days. Rotavec Corona is available from your veterinary advisor from whom advice should be sought. For information regarding side effects, precautions, warnings and contra-indications please refer to the datasheet at www.noahcompendium.co.uk. Rotavec™ Corona is the property of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and is protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright © 2014 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved. Further information is available from MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ. Tel: 01908 685685 Fax: 01908 685555 E: [email protected] Internet: www.msd-animal-health.co.uk 77360 NEWS REVIEW Dairy Crest exit liquid market Dairy Crest announced last month that it is to sell its liquid milk business to Müller Wiseman. Chris Walkland looks at the implications for the UK dairy industry. t was inevitable at some stage that Dairy Crest liquid milk business, which has cost the indus- Iwould look to sell some—or all—of its ailing try millions of pounds in recent years. And the liquid business. It couldn’t continue propping- upshot, surely, will be more long-term single XSLWVSURÀWVIRUHYHUE\VHOOLQJWKHIDPLO\VLO- supplier deals like Asda has with Arla. Factory ver—its depots as it has done in the past. rationalisation will take place and both Arla It was also an ideal in Arla’s and Müller’s DQG0OOHUZLOORYHUWLPHJHWPRUHPLONWRÀOO minds for three large liquid players to become their factories. two. The only questions were when, who, and But those who think it will lead to a substan- whether Dairy Crest would go as a whole, or in tial lessening of competition, which will cure the part. In the end it was the latter, with the an- ‘four pints for 99p’ syndrome among retailers QRXQFHPHQWWKDWLWLVÁRJJLQJLWVORVVPDNLQJ and bolster prices, are likely to be disappointed. liquid and butter businesses to Müller for £80m. That’s because we can expect to see the same The sale is conditional on the approval of thing that happened in bread (when suppliers the relevant competition authorities, of course. reduced in numbers) to happen in dairy—the But both sides are optimistic and will have retailers will help some of the smaller proces- taken soundings from the authorities. Those sors to grow. And rapidly. (Google Warburtons, experienced in takeovers and mergers point to Wikipedia). the ‘failing business test’ element of competition And there are plenty of smaller, capable, law to state that the competition authorities processors for them to choose from. should allow the deal to go ahead. On butter, Müller continues its ascendancy Assuming it does get the green light then, (only branded packet butter to go now); while what will it mean for the industry? Dairy Crest is left with cheese, some spreads and Well there is one less contestant for the infant formula products—which it will actually retailers to play musical chairs with for their sell through Fonterra. )RU&RPIRUWDEOH+HDOWK\3URGXFWLYH&RZV 0DNHKDUGFRQFUHWHEXLOGLQJVIHHOOLNHQDWXUDOSDVWXUHLQVSULQJ 5XEEHU)ORRULQJ 0DWWUHVVHV %DUQ&XUWDLQV x /HDGLQJJOREDOEUDQG x &KRLFHRIPDWWUHVVVW\OHV x &XVWRPPDGH\HDUZDUUDQW\ x )RUSDUORXUVSDVVDJHV x 3URYHQGXUDELOLW\DQGORQJ x 2SWLPXPYHQWLODWLRQDQG FXELFOHDOOH\VDQGZDONZD\V ZDUUDQWLHV ZHDWKHUSURWHFWLRQ &DOOXVIRUH[SHUWDGYLFHRUYLVLWRXUZHEVLWHIRUGHWDLOVRIDOORXUSURGXFWVLQFOXGLQJ /('/LJKWV x &XELFOHVDQG &DOO 9LVLW ZZZLQWHUVKDSHFRP 10 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 NEWS REVIEW As for the farmers, well, 400 supplying Davidstow will stay with Dairy Crest, the rest will join Müller. And, of course, there is one less processor for farmers (outside of Cornwall) to sell their milk to. Sentimentalists may sigh over the further demise of a once great British company, but that argument only applies to scale, and the deal may yet be the best thing that happened to Dairy Crest. For wry or cynical observers of the industry the timing of the deal maybe no coincidence either. That’s because making money out of The Müller take over of Dairy Crest includes dairy plants at Foston (above) and Severnside (left). liquid milk had been a struggle for Dairy Crest for years, and it was putting the whole future of who might be interested. Others from further But even then it might not be enough. the whole company at risk. DÀHOGDQGRXWVLGHRIGDLU\ZLOODOPRVWFHUWDLQO\ There are some big ambitions and bank Its poor performance was dragging the be interested. balances out there, and it is inconceivable that share price down. It was 426p when Müller If Dairy Crest is going to stay as a leading these companies will lose the acquisition bug. made its bid on November 6th, but a month name in the industry, therefore, then it will be Especially when the UK’s best loved cheese before it had been as low as 369p. Also Dairy hoping the share price continues to stay high. brand is the prize. Crest’s poor half-year interim results for the di- vision would almost certainly have sent it down again. At the same time there was some (albeit limited) speculation that if the price dropped to 350p then someone might just swoop in with a take-over bid. Adding to this, of course, was the fact that the Morrison’s contract is currently up for tender. The word on the street was that Mül- ler Wiseman was very keen to secure its busi- ness, and that would mean one thing for Dairy Crest—more pressure on margins. Remember, when the Sainsbury’s contract came up for renewal last year it cost Dairy Crest £10m to keep it. In this tough retail environment it is hard to think Morrisons would be looking to pay Dairy Crest more. Thus the loss of some or all of the Morrison’s contract would have potentially crashed the share price. Maintaining it would have cost it money too and probably put paid to it ever reaching its 3% margin (and credibility) target. Again the share price would most likely have fallen. There would, most likely therefore, have been some interesting conversations in the boardroom at Dairy Crest, with a couple of key questions particularly furrowing brows: “How do we stop the share price falling and get the share price up to reduce the risk of a takeover, and how do we protect Cathedral City?” 7KHDQVZHU"7RKLYHRͿWKHIDLOLQJOLTXLG division, and thus remove all of the uncertainty of the Morrison’s tender. So that’s the dairy industry take on this, be LWVSHFXODWLYHRUSLHRUVRPHZKHUHLQEHWZHHQ Whatever, the deal certainly perked up the share price—it rose from 426p to 490p on the day of the announcement and it is currently tracking above 500p. But has it done enough to protect Cathedral City? Well every dairy company would just love to have the product in their portfolio. Conse- quently this makes Dairy Crest a very lucrative acquisition target for the likes of Arla, Müller and Lactalis—to name just three companies BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 11 ANIMAL HEALTH Prevent scours to optimise performance Scours is the most common disease in young calves and the greatest single cause of death. Managing the risk of disease is crucial to reduce both long-term performance and economic losses. bout half of all calf deaths her colostrum ready for the calf to Aare caused by scours. But, ingest. the consequential economic loss Nia warns that a common from these deaths represents only mistake by farmers using the vac- a small proportion of the total cost cine is to think that the job is then of the disease. done. “However, to get the most “Rotavirus and coronavirus out of the vaccine, the colostrum are two of the most common caus- management programme must be es of infectious scours in calves,” spot on. says Nia Williams, Nettex technical “Roto Corona Plus is therefore manager. a good support to the vaccine and “Treating a single calf for colostrum management plan, or scours, costs on average, £120. But where vaccination is not routinely this does not take into account the used, it is an excellent addition additional time and labour costs to the heifer rearing programme. needed to rear sick calves initially, Reducing risk of exposure to disease will enhance lifetime performance. One 30 gram syringe will help pro- DQGWKHHͿHFWRIDQH[WHQGHGUHDU- vide the complementary resource ing period on future production weaning is the time when calves ies she produces and passes onto for calves to thrive,” she says. and productivity.” DUH PRVW HFLHQW DW FRQYHUWLQJ the calf via colostrum. But she Nia also advises that good hy- Reducing the risk of disease to feed into weight. “Any challenges may not have the necessary anti- giene and calf rearing management young stock is therefore crucial to experienced during this stage can bodies to protect her calf against practices will help limit the risk optimise heifer performance and mean calves are playing catch up rotavirus and coronavirus.” of disease. “Ensuring calf feed- longevity. DQG FDQ GHOD\ WKHLU WLPH WR ÀUVW Therefore, providing the calf ing buckets are kept clean, used service,” says Nia. with an additional boost of energy only for one calf, and thoroughly Research has shown that calv- and active proteins at birth can washed and sanitised before be- Causes and implications ing heifers at 24 months can play a help enhance natural defence ing used for another calf, will help Calf scours can be caused by either VLJQLÀFDQWUROHLQORQJWHUPPLON against disease challenges, such as reduce disease challenges. infectious agents or nutritional productivity and reduce the likeli- calf scours. “In addition to this, washing sources. Infectious scours caused KRRGRIFDOYLQJGLFXOWLHV´7KH The Roto Corona Plus Syringe, down, disinfecting and resting calf by rotavirus and coronavirus cause HͿHFW RI VFRXUV RQ KHLIHU SHUIRU- from Nettex, is formu- rearing buildings, if damage to the lining of the small PDQFHFDQH[WHQGWKHWLPHWRÀUVW lated to provide calves possible, and ensuring intestine leading to diarrhoea and calving. Ultimately this means with a source of concen- adequate ventilation, dehydration. The virus is most rearing costs are not paid back as trated bovine colostrum, are methods that can common in calves from one week TXLFNO\HͿHFWLQJIDUPÀQDQFHVµ DQG VSHFLÀF DFWLYH HJJ help to minimise the RIDJHEXWFDQDͿHFWFDOYHVIURP proteins to help support impact of calf scours. as young as one to two days old. natural defences. “Roto “If a calf is show- Management of scours “Damage to the gut lining Corona Plus does not ing signs of scours means calves can’t absorb nutri- A calf is born with no circulating replace colostrum but they should be iso- HQWV HͿHFWLYHO\ UHVXOWLQJ LQ WKH antibodies and is therefore reliant is administered to help lated from the main clinical symptoms of the disease, on a quality source of colostrum to support the dam’s colos- group and treated to such as diarrhoea,” says Nia. protect against disease challenges. WUXPLQWKHÀUVWKRXUVRI Nia Williams. reduce the impact of “This can predispose calves to Good colostrum management life,” she says. disease.” secondary infection with E. coli or should be a key focus for dairy “The additional intake of ac- Whether or not a calf devel- Cryptosporidium due to the fact farmers, explains Nia. tive proteins helps ensure calves ops scours is dependent on the it’s easier for these pathogens to “Ensuring calves receive at receive the tools they need to help interaction between the calf, its adhere within the gut, and cause least three litres of a quality source ÀJKW LPPXQH FKDOOHQJHVµ VD\V environment and its management. infection. RIFRORVWUXPLQWKHÀUVWVL[KRXUV Nia. Reducing the risk of exposure to ´,I FDOYHV VXͿHU IURP D EDG of birth, followed by a further An alternative practice for disease will help enhance long- or repeated, case of scours during three litres by 12 hours of age, farmers is to vaccinate cows for term performance and optimise rearing, the damage caused has the will mean they absorb the largest rotavirus and coronavirus four to returns. “The value of dairy calves SRWHQWLDOWRVHWEDFNDͿHFWHGDQL- quantity of antibodies available in six weeks prior to calving. The is often overlooked, but putting mals, causing long-term implica- the colostrum. aim of this is to allow the cow to LQWKHHͿRUWLQWKHHDUO\VWDJHVRI tions for health and performance.” “However, the immune status generate an antibody response OLIHZLOOUHDSORQJWHUPEHQHÀWVµ The period between birth and of the cow determines the antibod- which she is able to concentrate in concludes Nia. 12 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 FEED MARKET ANALYSIS TECHNICALLY SPEAKING By ‘Hayseed’ :LWK SURGXFHUV· PLON SULFHV pected to prompt further industry consolidation facing yet another cut from over the next 12 months. Larger players with QH[W PRQWK UXPLQDQW IHHG VXFLHQWÀQDQFLDOUHVRXUFHVDUHNHHQWRJURZ companies are getting in- to exploit economies of scale—especially when creasingly nervous over the EX\LQJUDZPDWHULDOVRQJOREDOPDUNHWVIURPD potential for a more bitter competitive battle small number of multi-nationals. for winter sales. As the capital funds returned to agricultural 'DLU\ FDNH DQG EOHQG YROXPHV KDYH KHOG IXWXUHVPDUNHWWKH\TXLFNO\GHHSHQHGOLYHVWRFN XS VR IDU VLQFH SURGXFHUV RQ SUHPLXP OLTXLG SURGXFHUV·JORRPE\UHYHUVLQJWKHVSRWPDUNHWV· contracts are still able to chase marginal litres. feed protein price slide by covering their short :KLOH RQO\ DFFRXQWLQJ IRU DERXW RI 8. SRVLWLRQV RQ VR\DEHDQ PHDO IXWXUHV PDUNHWV SURGXFWLRQWKH\DUHOLNHO\WRSURGXFHDSURÀW This hoped for temporary boost was supported DWWKHHQGRIWKLVPLON\HDU by unexpectedly high 2.2mt of US exports to Others have responded to potential losses &KLQDODVWPRQWKIURPLWVGZLQGOLQJVWRFNV E\ VWHSSLQJ XS RXWSXW KHOSLQJ WR SURGXFH 'HOLYHUHG +LSUR EXON SULFHV VKRW XS E\ record high volumes—to the resentment of over £30/t during the month to between £348 Farmers for Action activists. and £358/t across the country for spot delivery. %XWZLWKRXWWKHLUFDNHGHPDQGIHHGÀUPV But levels slide by about £5/t next month and would be even gloomier. Overall ruminant sales another similar reduction for the February to ZHUHWRQQHVGRZQGXULQJWKHÀUVWQLQH April run. months of this year. But higher margin dairy Farmers and compounder buying interest in FRPSRXQGVVDOHVZHUHDKHDG IXUWKHUIRUZDUGSRVLWLRQVGLHGRͿLQWKHH[SHF- 1RPLQDOO\IHHGUDZPDWHULDOPDUNHWVKDG WDWLRQRIDQHTXDOO\SUHFLSLWDWHSULFHIDOODFURVV LQGLFDWHGD\HDURQ\HDU WIDOOLQFDNHFRVWV WKHERDUG0D\2FWREHUUXQLVTXRWHGDW But this drop has not appeared on all compa- to £318/t—also £30/t more than early October. nies’ price lists since they were encouraged Yet global production remains on course by their farmer customers’ orders to buy raw to rise by at least 27mt and demand by 14mt materials earlier. WKLV VHDVRQ $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 86'$ RI This meant forward cover on most feed America’s soyabeans were harvested by the FRPSDQLHV·ERRNVZDVRXWE\RYHU WDJDLQVW end of October with traders forecasting an even WKHVSRWPDUNHW+RZHYHUODVWPRQWK·VUHFRY- bigger crop of nearly 110mt. ery in both domestic grain and protein values Brazil’s planting conditions have improved KDVJDLQHGÀUPVVRPHEUHDWKLQJVSDFHDQGPD\ ZLWK WKH UDLQ DQG VWD\V RQ FRXUVH IRU D PW further reduce the eventual price reduction. crop. But its logistical problems ensures its %XWDFRPELQDWLRQRIÀUPVVHHNLQJWRKROG Hipro meal is trading for at least £10/t more sales and the bitter struggle by two major play- than any origin supplies. HUV³0ROH9DOOH\DQG1:)³LVDOUHDG\EHQHÀW- While there is some trader optimism of a ing producers. GRZQZDUGSULFHDGMXVWPHQWIRUWKLVNH\YHJHWD- There are widespread reports of discounts EOHSURWHLQQRQHDUHZLOOLQJWRPDNHVLJQLÀFDQW of up to £30/t to win or hold tonnage by a wider bets. Any origin Hipro for November 2015 to range of suppliers. Rations have also been refor- April 2016 is just under £300/t delivered. PXODWHGZLWKFKHDSHUOHVVHͿHFWLYHLQJUHGLHQWV Imported rapemeal remains at a competitive WRRͿHUORZHQHUJ\FDNHDWXQGHU W RI+LSUR·VYDOXHDW WR WIRUVSRW Poorer beef and sheep farmgate prices are delivery over the country through to January. H[SHFWHG WR NHHS FRPSRXQG DQG EOHQG IHHG )HEUXDU\$SULO LV TXRWHG DW XS WR W PRUH volumes lower. Many have already switched where cover has been bought earlier by rumi- WRVWUDLJKWVZKLOHVLODJHFURSVDUHELJJHUDOEHLW QDQWIDUPHUVDQGIHHGÀUPVIRUXSWR WOHVV XQLPSUHVVLYH TXDOLW\ DQG QHZ IRUDJH PDL]H Rapemeal is also vulnerable to price com- varieties are recording higher yields. petition from Vivergo’s dried distillers’ grain This may chop cumulative ruminant sales as its ethanol plant runs near full capacity—so E\WGXULQJWKLVFDOHQGDU\HDU³HTXLYD- IDU:LWKDVLPLODUSURWHLQFRQWHQWLWLV WR lent to the annual output of about three mills. £180/t for spot delivery from south west Eng- While falling feed costs—and fuel is fol- land to Scotland. ORZLQJ³KDYHRͿVHWVRPHRIWKHPDUJLQSDLQRI 6XQÁRZHU VHHG DW FUXGH SURWHLQ DOVR GHFOLQLQJPLONSULFHVERWKGRPHVWLFDQGZRUOG rose—by about £8/t—to upwards of £180/t PLONYDOXHVUHPDLQXQGHUSUHVVXUH delivered this month. But producers’ negotiating position is 'RPHVWLFJUDLQSULFHVERXQFHGEDFNDVH[- IXUWKHUHQKDQFHGE\WKHQHZWFDSDFLW\ SRUWDQGKRPHGHPDQGWRRNRͿZLWKIHHGZKHDW ruminant compound feed mill at Ayr. A John trading at £128/t plus delivered in East Anglia )HUJXVVRQYHQWXUHSDUWQHUHGE\0ROH9DOOH\LW DQGWKHVRXWK WPRUHRQ+XPEHUVLGHDQG is due on stream next month. Provided it is on up to £140/t further north and into Scotland. VFKHGXOHLWVLPSDFWZLOOULSSOHDFURVV%ULWDLQ·V Feed barley was trading at a £10 to £15/t western ruminant feed industry as surplus price discount in much of England and up to manufacturing capacity grows. £30 in the north and Scotland. +RZHYHUWKHVTXHH]HRQIHHGFRPSDQLHV· 7KLVPDNHVSDOPNHUQHOVDW WR W ZRUNLQJFDSLWDODQGSURÀWPDUJLQVLVDOVRH[- delivered more attractive. BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 13 GOLD CUP COMMENT )HUWLOLW\NH\WRKHUGSUR¿W This month John Taylor, herd manager at 2014 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup winners Worthy Farm in Somerset, reports on heifer performance and explains fertility management in the herd. he cows have settled really these work really well, so well that Twell onto their winter ration I don’t do a late night check any now and although production is more, unless there are cows calv- slightly down on last year, milk ing that is. I thought I was pretty quality is a lot better at 4.0% fat good at spotting bulling cows but and 3.25% protein. We get a small it’s surprising how many it picks butterfat bonus over 3.5% so that up that I didn’t see and it’s also will add 1p per litre—a little way useful for picking up low activity towards the price cuts. cows as well. I think production is down a I carry out all the AI myself as I lot as we have about 33% heifers feel it gives you a good insight into which is high for us, and as we general cow health. Usually the are calving our heifers younger better the bulling string the easier , WKLQN WKHLU ÀUVW ODFWDWLRQ ZLOO to AI and the better the chance drop slightly although lifetime of getting pregnant. I see good dairy yield should increase. This fertility as a top priority to bottom LV FRQÀUPHG E\ RXU HQG RI \HDU Heat detection collars have worked well in the herd at Worthy Farm. OLQHSURÀWDQGVHHHDFKFRZDVD NMR records which show a big- challenge. I operate a simple AI ger gap between cows and heifers be spot on at the moment and long short of maize doesn’t help but system of cow bulling morning— yields. It has been running at may it continue, as it has such a this year has been much better as AI pm, cow bulling pm—AI next DERXW NJ GLͿHUHQFH EXW KDV long-term bearing on fertility. The we had plenty of maize and next morning. jumped to 1,600kg this year. The downside of this is that the cows year looks even better. In 2013 we I take each cow that repeat cows averaged just over 13,000kg are bulling really strongly and actually ran out of maize at the end breeds as a personal failure, even with heifers doing 11,400kg. this is causing a few problems. RI-XO\WKHJUDSKVKRZVWKHHͿHFW more so when we get negative Obviously three times a day We have had three trodden teats on fertility. PD’s because that means not only milking is the next step but I still in the past couple of weeks and We replaced maize with have I not got her in calf, but I’ve feel our cows would be stood up have had to turn a few old girls in crimped wheat and although the also missed a heat as well. for too long and moved about too to the loose yard to recover after a cows milked just as well and milk I did my DIYAI training course much causing more lameness and I rampant night. quality was okay, conception rates about 27 years ago whilst work- think we would only achieve a 7% We don’t usually serve any dropped to about 30% ing at Trewithen Dairy to 8% rise which doesn’t justify the cows until 70 days but I have for three months. This in Cornwall. It’s the extra costs. No doubt the heifers started serving some of the lower year has been much only training course I would probably gain most, but at yielders a bit earlier, it seems a better with conception KDYHHYHUGRQHEXWÀYH what cost to fertility? waste not to when some are on rates staying at well days well spent with I keep getting told I should their third heat at about 60 days. over 45% throughout Mr Tudor-Owen, a fun have a separate heifer group, and We seem to have a lot of cows bull- the year. lecturer. I think perhaps with calving them ing at 21 days after calving which Since switching to We are now only younger, it is an option—but our is unusual for us and the vet is not all Alta all the time our using genomic bulls heifers seem to stand up for them- seeing too many not bulling at 70 fertility has definitely positive in DPR and PL selves pretty well and are far more days. improved and using daughter preg rates and aggressive feeders than our cows. Fertility has always been only easy calving bulls John Taylor. productive life and hope I think the secret is plenty of feed pretty good at Worthy but we helps a lot as we rarely in the future this will space and only 85% stocking rate always seem to struggle when have to calve a cow. I’m a great make our cows even more fertile, in the cubicles. cows are at grass from August to believer in leaving the cow alone easier to manage and last longer. Our transition cows seem to October. Probably always getting and only interrupting when you Sounds too good to be true, but have to. Something you learn with here’s hoping! experience but still get wrong oc- Well 2014 turned out to be a casionally. fantastic year for all at Worthy. As soon as a cow calves we There will certainly never be an- always give them 4ml Oxytocin other like it. Personally I’ve ticked to help them cleanse and all third a few boxes on my bucket list, the calvers get a calcium bolus and a biggest obviously being the Gold bottle under the skin if suspicion Cup. Unfortunately the wife was of milk fever. We do not get very not impressed with a few of the many cows with whites and don’t others, perhaps a few Christmas carry out any post calving checks drinks will change her mind. unless we suspect a cow is dirty. Wishing you all a Merry We have De-Laval heat detec- Christmas and a happy New Year tion collars on all the cows and from all at Worthy. 14 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 BARRY WILSON COMMENTS EU dairy & milk prices none of the City analysts have pointed out that Müller have got a snip. In January 2012 Müller paid £280m for There is something of a contest going on among some Robert Wiseman Dairies, about 19ppl for their liquid analysts at the moment over who can be the most milk business. Today Müller are paying £80m for DC’s bearish in their prognostications, with some predict- milk business, which works out at less than 7ppl. OK so ing that dairy and milk prices will fall below the Wiseman’s assets are better and DC’s business is mak- last collapse in 2009. I don’t buy this. Average EU ing losses—but so were Wiseman last year! farmgate milk prices in December seem certain to ——In the recent past the UK milk industry was striped average under 33c/kg, the lowest since the last half of horizontally like a football jersey. At the top, in Scotland 2012, and more than 7c (18%) lower than they were Wiseman held sway. In the north and Midlands, Express Dairies at the start of the year—but still at least 30% higher than the low were in charge. In the south Unigate and DC slugged it out. But point in the summer of 2009 when prices fell to 24.5c/kg. Today the proposed deal between Müller and DC has turned the stripes average EU butter prices are 40% higher than they were in 2009, vertical. Draw a line from Dundee to Southampton and a near per- SMP prices are 20% higher, WMP prices are 32% higher, Cheddar fect division of the country is achieved: Müller’s operations in the prices are 50% higher and whey powder prices are more than dou- west and Arla’s in the east. The untidy exception to this symmetry ble where they were in 2009. So don’t let anyone talk the market is DC’s Chadwell Heath dairy in east London. At the last count, down more than it is. DC operated a network of 72 depots which will bolt nicely on to the Müller + Dairy Crest Wiseman chain of six transport-only depots and four dairy depots. Some quick wins can be achieved in rationalising these two estates. As the parties to the deal admit, the proposed sale of Dairy Crest’s big &XULRXVO\WKH:LVHPDQQHWZRUNZDVQHYHUTXLWHÀQLVKHGRͿZLWK but chronically loss-making liquid milk division to Müller Wise- no depot for London and the southeast. Perhaps a visionary in East man—which has long looked like a no-brainer—and the 15% in- Kilbride foresaw a time when a very desirable piece of real estate crease in the DC share price between the beginning of October and WRWKHHDVWRI/RQGRQPLJKWEHFRPHDYDLODEOH6WDͿDWWKHELJ6HY- ZKHQWKHGHDOZDVÁDJJHGVXJJHVWVWKDWVRPHRQHJXHVVHGZKDW ernside dairy in Gloucestershire are already anxiously looking over was on the cards—will clearly face some high hurdles at the com- their shoulders over future prospects, halfway between Wiseman’s petition authorities. The OFT has had a long obsession with the heavyweight plants at Bridgwater and Droitwich. UK liquid milk business, even when there were ten suppliers in the 1990s. In 2003, the OFT took six months to review the proposed ³³0D\EHWKHPRVWÁDWWHULQJWKLQJWRVD\DERXWWKHSHUIRUPDQFH takeover of Express Dairies by Arla Foods, which they ultimately of DC since their virtual creation in 1979 is that while DC remain did, “unreservedly”. So will the OFT allow the move from three standing their two main British competitors in the 1980s, Unigate to two? Probably, in view of a number of factors: There are now and Northern Foods, have entirely disappeared from the scene. half a dozen regional operators bigger than ever before: Medina, Back in the 1990s, as the MMB/DC prepared for deregulation, Freshways, Payne’s, Graham’s, Braeforge, Cotteswold and others DC launched a major retrenchment that saw large chunks of their who between them now handle up to 1.5bn litres. Apart from Mark EXVLQHVVVROGRUFORVHG'&ZHUHVXFFHVVIXOO\ÁRDWHGLQ IRU Allen’s obstinate refusal to see the writing on the wall, DC’s liquid £250m. Over the next three years they reversed tack and launched milk business has looked doomed for some time. There are now ten a major buying spree, including Raines and Yoplait UK, and cul- substantial supermarket chains operating in the UK and they are minated in their buying most of the rest of Unigate for £220m. ensuring that customers get low-priced milk. Indeed it could be $SDUWIURPWKHLUEULHIÁLUWDWLRQZLWK6W+XEHUWLQ)UDQFHWKDWZDV VDLGWKDWWKHVHWHQDUHNQRFNLQJVXFKVSRWVRͿSURFHVVRUVWKDWPLON about it for the last ten years, a breathtaking lack of ambition. In SURFHVVLQJSURÀWPDUJLQVDUHSUREDEO\QRZDWDQDOOWLPHORZ WKLV WKHSDVWÀYH\HDUV'&·VVKDUHSULFHLVXSDQGWKH&(2·VVDOD- proposed takeover could give Arla and Müller a bit more clout in ry has doubled to £1.28m. Last month, 200,000 shares were issued the market. Maybe farmers will argue that this proposed merger WRWKH'&H[HFXWLYHVDWSHDFKDSDSHUSURÀWRI threatens their milk price. But would they be any better protected ³³$QGDOOEHWVDUHQRZRͿRQKRZORQJWKHUXPSRI'&ZLOOVXU- by a lame duck DC? vive on its own. Lactalis are hovering. Why did they recruit former ——Maybe because they are so relieved to be shot of a loss-maker, senior Dairy Crest executive Mark Taylor? BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 15 MILK PRICE LEAGUE TABLE MILK PRICE LEAGUE TABLE— MILK PRICE CHANGES—2014-15 September 2014 Monthly Annual April May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan price average Price Average $0&RVWDQGOLTXLG 'DLU\&UHVW0 63UR¿OH $0&RVWDQGPDQXI 'DLU\&UHVW0 69DULDEOH $UOD'LUHFW/LTXLG 0OOHU:LVHPDQ7HVFR $UOD'LUHFW0DQXI 3DUNKDP)DUPV $UOD)RRGV7HVFR $UOD0//ODQG\'LU/LT 0OOHU:LVHPDQ6DLQVEXU\ $UOD0//ODQG\'LUHFW 'DLU\&UHVW6DLQVEXU\3UR¿OH $UOD0//LTXLG 'DLU\&UHVW6DLQVEXU\9DULDEOH 0OOHU:LVHPDQ&RRS $UOD0/0DQXI $UOD)RRGV6DLQVEXU\ $UOD0/10DQXI &UHGLWRQ $UOD6DLQVEXU\ )LUVW0LON7HVFR $UOD7HVFR 'DLU\&UHVW'DYLGVWRZ3UR¿OH 'DLU\&UHVW'DYLGVWRZ9DULDEOH %DUEHU$- 5* $UOD'LUHFW0DQXIDFWXULQJ %HOWRQ&KHHVH %DUEHU$- 5* &UHGLWRQ'DLU\ 3DWWHPRUHV 'DLU\&UHVW'DYLGVWRZ 0OOHU:LVHPDQ0LON3DUW $UOD'LUHFW/LTXLG 'DLU\&UHVW/LTXLG *UDKDP¶V'DLULHV 'DLU\&UHVW0 6 :HQVOH\GDOH 'DLU\&UHVW6DLQVEXU\ 'DOH)DUP*% 'DOH)DUP*% $UOD0//ODQG\UQRJ'LU6HDVRQDO $UOD0//ODQG\UQRJ'LU /LT 'DOH)DUP1, $UOD0//ODQG\UQRJ'LU$ % )LUVW0LON&RPS %HOWRQ&KHHVH )LUVW0LON/LTXLG$ 'DLU\&UHVW/LTXLG3UR¿OH )LUVW0LON/LTXLG%0DQXI 'DLU\&UHVW/LTXLG9DULDEOH *ODQELD/ODQJHIQL )LUVW0LON7HVFR 0HDGRZ)RRGV&RPS/HYHO *ODQELD/ODQJHIQL :\NH)DUPV *UDKDP¶V'DLULHV 0HDGRZ)RRGV&RPS6HDVRQDO 6RXWK&DHUQDUIRQ&UHDPHULHV /DFWDOLV&DOHGRQLDQ )LUVW0LON&RPSRVLWLRQDO 0HDGRZ)RRGV )LUVW0LON/LTXLG% 0DQXISRRO 0:'&RRS $UOD0/10DQXI6HDVRQDO 0:'EDVHOLTXLG $0&R6WDQGDUG0DQXIDFWXULQJ $UOD0/0DQXI6HDVRQDO 0:'6DLQVEXU\ $0&R6WDQGDUG/LTXLG 0:'7HVFR $UOD0/0DQXI$ % 3DUNKDP)DUPV $UOD0/10DQXI$ % 3DWWHPRUHV )LUVW0LON/LTXLG$ $UOD0//RQGRQ/LTXLG 3D\QH¶V 'DOH)DUP1, 6RXWK&DHUQDUIRQ&UHDPHULHV 0LONSULFHVOLVWHGDERYHZLOOYDU\DFFRUGLQJWRWKHDPRXQWRI milk that is required by each retailer; additional milk will be paid :HQVOH\GDOH for at Dairy Crest’s standard liquid milk contract price; the milk :\NH)DUPV price above assumes that all litres produced are sold into the GHGLFDWHGPLONSRROV NOTES TO THE TABLE ABOVE ,QFOXGHG LV D SSO ERQXV ZKLFK IDUPHUV JHW ZKHQ WKH\ 3ULFHVOLVWHGDERYHDUHH[FOXVLYHRI FDSLWDOUHWHQWLRQVDGPLQLVWUDWLRQFKDUJHVIDUPHUJURXSVXEVFULSWLRQVDQG9$7 VLJQHGXSZLWKWKH3URPDUFRVWLQJVVXUYH\ 3ULFHFKDQJHVDUHOLVWHGDVUHSRUWHGE\WKHSURFHVVRUVEXWPD\QRWEHIXOO\UHÀHFWHGLQWKH'DLU\&RVWDQGDUGOLWUHSULFH 3ULFHVOLVWHGDERYHDUHLQFOXVLYHRI 'DLU\&ROHY\VHDVRQDOLW\ 7KHVHFRQWUDFWVZLOOUHFHLYHDWKSD\PHQWWKHIRUHFDVWLV 7KHVHFRQWUDFWVZLOOUHFHLYHDWKSD\PHQWWKHIRUHFDVWIRUWKLVLVFXUUHQWO\SSO FXUUHQWO\SSO )URP$SULO)LUVW0LONRSHUDWHVWZRPDLQPLONSRROVDOLTXLGSRRO WKHH[LVWLQJ/LTXLG$FRQWUDFW DQGDPDQXIDFWXULQJ 7KHUHZLOOEHDGHGXFWLRQIRUEDODQFLQJFRVWVRQDOOOLWUHVDERYH SRRO0LONVXSSOLHGXQGHUWKHH[LVWLQJ+LJKODQGV ,VODQGVFRQWUDFWSOXVDFRPSRVLWLRQDOFRQWUDFWDQGDQHZµ/LTXLG%¶FRQWUDFW \RXU%$'3LQOLQHZLWKWKHPLONEDODQFLQJVFKHPH IRUPVWKHPDQXIDFWXULQJSRRO Milk prices are ranked according to the annual average price that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ecember 2014 MILK PRICES European milk Lely cows prices heading manage their down to 30c own time urope’s biggest dairy co-op Arla amba in Denmark have cut their Efarmgate milk price for December by 2c to 32.3c/kg (33.3c/litre, equivalent to about 25.6ppl). They have now cut their price by 10c (23%) since April. FrieslandCampina, the second biggest European dairy co-op, have not yet announced their December price but they are also expected to cut by around 2c; their November price was 34.5c/kg (35.5c/litre or about SSO 7KHVPDOOHU'XWFKFKHHVHPDNLQJFRRS'2&.DDVDUHWKHÀUVW major European milk buyer to cut their price to under 30c/kg. Arla in the UK have now cut their main liquid and cheese contracts by 1.63ppl to 25.22ppl (for the British Dairying/DairyCo standard litre). They have now cut this price by 7.98ppl (24%) since the spring. Arla have now FXWWKHLUOLTXLGFRQWUDFWSULFHE\VLJQLÀFDQWO\PRUHWKDQ0OOHU:LVHPDQ RU'DLU\&UHVW $UODKDYHDOVRFXWWKHLU$UOD0LON/LQNFKHHVH FRQWUDFWSULFH E\VLJQLÀFDQWO\PRUHWKDQ'DLU\&UHVWKDYHFXWWKHLU 'DYLGVWRZSULFH $VZHZHQWWRSUHVVWKHUHZDVQRKLQWWKDW0: or DC were about to cut their December milk prices. Somerset cheesemaker Wyke Farms DUH WKH ÀUVW PLON EX\HU to announce a price cut for January, down by 1.4ppl, taking their price down to 24.95ppl (for the BD/DairyCo standard litre), down SSOVLQFH-XQH7KLVSULFHLVQRZRQO\DERYHWKH)LUVW0LONDQG 8QLWHG'DLU\)DUPHUVFRQWUDFWV:\NHVD\ ´2XURZQGDLU\IDUPV are investigating all possibilities and will be taking any necessary DFWLRQWRPDQDJHFDVKÁRZLQWKLVGLFXOWSHULRGDQGZHVKDUHWKH unwelcome news with all milk suppliers.” The Dairy Crest formula milk price is to be cut by 0.798ppl for De- FHPEHUWR SSOGRZQMXVWXQGHUSSOVLQFH0D\%\FRPSDULVRQWKH standard DC liquid contract has been cut by 5.6p since June and LTO EUROPEAN MILK LELY ASTRONAUT A4 the formula is now 2.4ppl higher PRICE LEAGUE TABLE than the base liquid contract. • LTO LEAGUE TABLE (c/kg) Sept 12mth Our cows know exactly when it’s time to The average EU September avge be milked. Give your cows this trust and farmgate milk price was 37.47c/ Hameen O. (Fin) 46.34 46.61 kg, down 7% since January, ac- confidence and they will repay you with Granarolo (It) 43.87 44.73 cording to the latest monthly higher quality milk. /72 PLON SULFH OHDJXH WDEOH Sodiaal (Fr) 42.04 37.79 which is compiled by the Dutch Dairy Crest (UK) 41.95 39.87 For more information on the Dairy Board for the European Bongrain (Fr) 40.24 39.61 Dairy Farmers Organisation Danone (Fr) 39.05 38.73 .GN[|#UVTQPCWV#ECNN /72 Lactalis (Fr) 38.48 38.40 There has been a huge vari- QTVGZVVJGYQTF.GN[VQCPF F/C (Neth) 36.96 43.68 ation in price cuts this year as YGYKNNECNN[QWDCEM dairy commodity prices have Müller (Ger) 36.47 38.52 FUDVKHG0LONSULFHFXWVWKLV\HDU First Milk (UK) 36.11 37.79 have been minimal in Finland, Arla Foods (Den) 35.74 41.59 Italy and France; UK prices are DMK (Ger) 35.09 39.18 helped by the strength of ster- Milcobel (Belg) 32.68 39.69 ling; cuts have averaged 10%- 12% in Germany, by Arla and DOC Kaas (Neth) 32.05 40.51 by F/C; but the cuts have aver- Kerry (Ire) 32.02 37.08 aged around 20% in Belgium, in Glanbia (Ire) 30.50 36.80 Ireland and by DOC (Neth). The Average 37.47 40.04 GLͿHUHQWLPSDFWRIZRUOGSULFHV Emmi (Switz) 53.33 51.81 is most tellingly illustrated by Fonterra 26.86 36.88 farmgate milk prices in the US innovators in agriculture and NZ. Prices so far this year in US avge 47.53 39.52 NZ are down 34% whereas they Ranked on September prices. up 25% in the US. BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 17 CROSSBREEDING Italian crossbred performance FRQ¿UPV8.SURGXFHUV¶FKRLFHV $UHFHQWYLVLWE\WZR8.PLONSURGXFHUVWR,WDO\KLJKOLJKWHGWKHSHUIRUPDQFHRI1RUZHJLDQ 5HGFURVVEUHGFRZVLQKLJKSURGXFWLRQ+ROVWHLQKHUGVLQWKH3R9DOOH\,WFRQ¿UPHGWR WKHPWKHDELOLW\RIWKHEUHHGWRFRPELQHJRRGSURGXFWLRQZLWKIHUWLOLW\DQGORQJHYLW\ Crossbreds in the mixed herd of Stefanio Corini in Italy. Crossbred cows on the farm of Bodmin milk producer James Willcocks. he figures speak for them- and Norwegian Red crosses that Typical of herds in the region, their this is likely to fall to around 50c/l Tselves, says David Pettit, farm were managed side by side— ration is based on a TMR with (40p). Stefanio estimates that his manager for Denhay Farms in housed all year round and fed the mainly maize silage and ryegrass cost of production is around 40 Dorset. “The Po Valley is a tra- same TMR. with bought-in lucerne hay and a euro cents/l (31p). ditional Holstein heartland with Stefanio Corini’s 200-cow blend that includes soya, cotton So far he has 71 crossbreds high production herds housed 365 herd 60 miles east of Milan is a seed and minerals. running alongside his 132 Holstein days. Crossbreeding was working good example. He introduced the cows on the 66 hectare unit. His KHUH³WKHÀJXUHVVSRNHIRUWKHP- Norwegian Red to see if he can milk records show production by Milk prices and costs selves. Milk yield and solids were breed a cow that is better suited breed and he is very encouraged similar but the crossbreds had far to his farm than the pure Holstein. A combination of a basic price with just a small drop in yield that better fertility, lower somatic cell While not wanting to lose yield of 28 euro cents/litre (22p) from LVPRUHWKDQRͿVHWZLWKEHWWHUPLON counts and they were stronger and milk quality, he was seeking his local co-op, that produces the protein, lower cell counts and far cows that were easier to manage better fertility, a stronger cow to famous Italian hard cheese Grana better fertility, as shown in Table 1. and had far fewer health issues.” cope better with a housed high Padano, is topped up based on Having considered the third 0U3HWWLWUHIHUVWRRFLDOPLON production system and a smaller the retrospective cheese price. cross options, he has opted for recorded figures in the Italian cow that would bring greater feed This year the price paid has been some Fleckvich to add to the hy- herds he saw with pure Holsteins HFLHQF\ around 60 euro cents/l (47p) but brid vigour and also crossed again The new name in hoof hygiene Contact18 your Progiene hygiene specialists Tel: 0808 178 1010 E-mail: [email protected] DAIRYING December 2014 CROSSBREEDING Stefanio Corini’s milk records for Holsteins XQLW:HQHHGHGWREUHHGVWURQJ and Norwegian Red crossbred cows. fertile cows with good production ZLWKKLJKPLONTXDOLW\DQGORZFHOO Holsteins Crossbreds counts. Cows in milk 132 71 ´7KLV LV ZKHUH RQ SDSHU ZH Milk yield (305 days) 10,913 10,547 thought that the Norwegian cross ZRXOG VXLW XV EHWWHUµ KH DGGV Fat % 4.03 4.07 ´7KH EUHHG KDV D SURYHQ WUDFN Protein % 3.29 3.40 UHFRUG RI LQFUHDVLQJ IHUWLOLW\ E\ SCC (cells/ml) 260,000 160,000 WKDQNVWRPRUHWKDQ\HDUV RIEUHHGLQJIRUKHDOWKDQGIHUWLOLW\ Calving interval (days) 394 375 as opposed to the Holstein where Days open 128 93 VHOHFWLRQIRUWKHVHWUDLWVLVIDLUO\UH- Calving to 1st service (days) 76 65 cent. And it didn’t look as though Insemination per pregnancy 2.6 1.9 ZHFRXOGFRPSURPLVHPLON\LHOGV SDUWLFXODUO\7KH1RUZHJLDQ5HG Head detection rate (%) 48 60 ticked all the boxes. Conception rate (%) 33 49 ´6R ZH FDUHIXOO\ VHOHFWHG Stefanio Corini. Pregnancy Rate (%) 15 31 bulls within the breed and used WKHPRQFRZVDFURVVDOORXU WKHLU IHUWLOLW\ DQG KHUG ORQJHYLW\ Survival to 2nd lactation (%) 82 100 herds in a three month period for WR PXFK KLJKHU OHYHOV DV D UHVXOW Survival to 3rd lactation (%) 52 92 WKHSDVWWZR\HDUV7KHUHVXOWLQJ of introducing cross breeding. Survival to 4th lactation (%) 15 69 crossbreds will form the basis of ´2XUWDUJHWLVWRLPSURYHRXU WKHDXWXPQFDOYLQJKHUGµ FDOYLQJLQWHUYDOIURP GD\VDQG to the Norwegian Red. Both these +ROVWHLQFRZRQDQ\RIWKH'RUVHW 7ZR \HDUV RQ DQG 'DYLG LV PDLQWDLQ RU LPSURYH PLON IURP options secure a better male calf EDVHG XQLWV WKDW VXSSRUW QRZVHUYLQJWKHFURVVEUHGKHLIHUV IRUDJH IURP OLWUHV ZLWKRXW price than the Holstein. He is then FRZV SOXV IROORZHUV WKH VZLWFK WRFDOYHLQ6HSWHPEHU FRPSURPLVLQJ DYHUDJH SURGXF- crossing back to the Holstein. WR DXWXPQ FDOYLQJ FDOOHG IRU LP- WLRQRIOLWUHV:H·GDOVRKRSH $QGORRNLQJDKHDGÀYH\HDUV SURYHG IHUWLOLW\ ´7KH TXLFNHVW WR LPSURYH ORQJHYLW\ IURP WR What cross next? 6WHIDQLRVD\VWKDWPRUHWKDQ ZD\WRHVWDEOLVKWKLVKHUGZDVWR nearer four lactations.” of his herd will be Norwegian pool all the heifers born in a three The imminent decision is where 2QWRSRIWKLV'DYLGFDQVHH Red crossbreds but he will keep a month period and stock the one QH[W" ´:H·YH RSWHG WR FURVV WKH FRVWVDYLQJVLQKHDOWKDQGZHOIDUH small group of Holsteins as a refer- F1 cross heifers again with Nor- DV WKH YHW FDQ WDNH RQ D PRUH HQFH7KH&RULQLVDGPLWWKDWWKH\ ZHJLDQ5HGWRFUHDWHDQ)FURVVµ SURDFWLYH UROH DQG PLQLPLVH ÀUH can’t ignore the contribution of H[SODLQV'DYLG´7KLVPHDQVWKDW ÀJKWLQJZRUN the Norwegian Red crosses to the DOWKRXJKZHORVHVRPHRIWKHK\- VXVWDLQDELOLW\RIWKHLUGDLU\KHUG EULGYLJRXUZHFDQFRQVROLGDWHWKH Crossbreds on Bodmin 'DYLG 3HWWLW LQWURGXFHG 1RU- VXUYLYDELOLW\DQGIHUWLOLW\EHQHÀWV wegian Red sires into one of from the Norwegian Reds. We will Although Bodmin producer James 'HQKD\·V IRXU XQLWV³D XQLW KH then cross back to the Holstein. :LOOFRFNVWRRNQRFRQYLQFLQJWKDW GHVFULEHV DV ¶GLFXOW· ´5RXJK :KHQZHKDYHPDWXUHDQLPDOVRQ crossbred cows can hold their VWRQ\ODQGPDGHFURSSLQJGLFXOW WKHJURXQGZHPD\ORRNDJDLQDW own with the Holstein in terms of VR ZH GHFLGHG WR PDNH WKH introducing a third cross.” SURGXFWLYLW\DQGRXWSHUIRUPWKHP FRZ KDJUDVVEDVHGV\VWHPDQG The figures and cattle that when it comes to health and fertil- VZLWFKWKHKHUGWRDXWXPQFDOYLQJ 'DYLGVDZLQ,WDO\DUHPDNLQJKLP LW\ KH ZDV LPSUHVVHG ZLWK WKHLU WRRYHUFRPHWKHIHHGLQJSUREOHPV WKLQN VHULRXVO\ DERXW XVLQJ WKH YHUVDWLOLW\ DQG VXLWDELOLW\ WR KLJK RQODQGWKDWLVSURQHWRGU\XSLQ Norwegian Red in other herds at SURGXFWLRQV\VWHPV mid-summer.” 'HQKD\´:HVDZWUDGLWLRQDO+RO- James has established a cross- While not running an extreme David Pettit from Dorset. VWHLQKHUGVLQ,WDO\WKDWKDGWDNHQ Continued on page 20. A HOOFCOUNT DIGICUR FOOTBATH AUTOMATIC FOOTBATH • Dual action of glutaraldehyde & surfactants for WITH INSTALLATION rapid acting hoof cleaning with long lasting effect • Highly concentrated and low application cost WIN • Free from QAC, formalin, heavy metals and antibiotics ENTER ONLINE AT: www.progiene-dairy.com BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 19 CROSSBREEDING Continued from page 19. bred herd of 300 cows on the fam- ily’s 304 hectare unit and combines the strengths of the Brown Swiss, Norwegian Red and New Zealand Friesian in a spring and autumn calving system. Cows are grazed as long as possible—typically up to nine months of the year for some cows. He admits that he did make a mistake early on in using Brown Swiss sires that were too big. “We ended up with cows that were too big and not ideal for our extended grazing system,” says James. “The lesson here is to select carefully within a breed—just as you would when selecting a Holstein sire. We seek a lot of help from Geno and this is important.” Despite appearing to be a more extensive system than those seen in Italy, James has similar goals to the Po Valley producers. “We moved from a black and white herd but wanted to maintain yields—our target is 8,000 litres James Willcocks from Bodmin has used Norwegian Red, Brown Swiss and NZ Friesians on his 300-cow herd. plus with half the milk from forage SOXV VRPH EXͿHU IHHGLQJ ZKHQ spent years working within one that produces milk on a fresh and high protein milk from cows fed required. The latest heifers are on breed but overall, there’s no dried forage based diet near Reg- on a silage-free diet. target, producing 28 litres a day, a doubt that the crossbred is more gio Emilia. Despite being one of Now milking 10 Holstein PRQWKLQWRWKHLUODFWDWLRQ:HÀQG HFLHQW DQG KDV WKH SRWHQWLDO WR the leading Holstein herds in the cross Norwegian Reds alongside that this doesn’t drop much—they improve the sustainability of our area, the Donas wanted to breed a their Holsteins, the results are have a fairly level production dairy herds,” he adds. “It might VOLJKWO\VPDOOHUDQGPRUHHFLHQW very encouraging. Yields have re- curve.” be worth them trying a few cross- cow that was easy to manage and mained around 12,800 litres while breds and see how they perform in had good milk quality with low the crossbred group is yielding their own system.” cell counts. Their milk is taken 3.43% protein compared with the Breed strengths And that’s exactly what twice daily to the local co-op for Holstein’s 3.22% and the days While the Brown Swiss provides Iaverio and Renata Dona have Parmesan cheese production open average is 105 days with a excellent legs, feet and yield char- done with their 130-cow herd ZKLFKVSHFLÀHVORZFHOOFRXQWDQG FRQFHSWLRQ UDWH WR ÀUVW VHUYLFH LQ acteristics, James uses the New the crossbreds of 40% compared Zealand Friesian for its grazing with 119 days and 24.3% in the strength. And the Norwegian Holsteins. Red adds great health and fertility EHQHÀWV More Norwegian Reds “Their fertility and conception rates are excellent. They show 7KHVHÀJXUHVDUHJRRGHQRXJKWR strong signs of bulling—often for convince the Donas that crossbreds 24 hours. This makes life a lot are the way forward. They have easier!” 40 more Norwegian Red heifers Equally important is long last- joining the milking herd in the ing, hassle free cows. “Like the next two years and it is likely that Italian producers, we want more more will follow. For them, the ODFWDWLRQVSHUFRZ)RXURUÀYHLV crossbred as enhanced their exist- now fairly normal here.” ing top quality genetics and these James acknowledges that F1 cows will be crossed back to the many producers are sceptical of in- Holstein to maintain the strengths troducing ‘other’ breeds. “They’ve Iaverio and Renata Dona have experimented with crossbreds. of both breeds. 01270 616816 Used by farmers, tanker drivers and processors – the dairy industry’s favourite antibiotic milk test 20 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Protects every cow every milking The Cluster Purge Plus system is proven to reduce the risk of mastitis transfer across your herd, improving udder health and saving you money. State of the Art s .O INTERFERENCE IN EXISTING MILKING SYSTEM s 0OST RINSE WITH FRESH WATER TO PROTECT MILK AND LINER s 0ROGRAMMABLE mUSH SEQUENCES s -ILK SWEEP OPTION TO RETRIEVE MILK s &ROST PROTECTION Please note… ! MAJOR PART OF THE SYSTEM IS FACTORY INSTALLED 4HIS ENSURES A BETTER QUALITY PRODUCT AND MINIMISES DOWNTIME FOR YOU 0LEASE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION Protects every cow every milking For more information call Fabdec on: +44 (0) 1691 627200 or visit: www.clusterpurge.com Fabdec Ltd, Grange Road, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 9DG Fax: +44 (0) 1691 627222 Email: [email protected] GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT Grassland project improves grass yields and quality Following a three-year grassland improvement project, supported by the Grassright Group, Worcestershire dairy farmer Dave Richards is now taking a different approach to managing his leys after seeing a marked increase in productivity. He has adopted new routines which help improve sward yields and quality and is now making better use of inputs. ave Richards, from Ridgend Farm near YROYHG ZDONLQJ DOO WKH ÀHOGV ZLWK PHPEHUV ZLOODOVRKDYHDPXVW\VPHOO:KHUHFRPSDF- DWorcester, has received advice on best RI WKH *UDVVULJKW *URXS DQG DVVHVVLQJ VZDUG WLRQLVOHVVWKDQFPEHORZWKHJURXQGVXUIDFH practice to improve the performance of his leys FRQGLWLRQDQGJURXQGFRPSDFWLRQ it can be resolved by slitting or aerating. Deeper from GrowHow, Limagrain and OPICO—as /LPDJUDLQ·V -RKQ 6SHQFH H[SODLQV ´$OO FRPSDFWLRQZLOOUHTXLUHDVZDUGOLIWHUµ part of a Grassright initiative. JUDVV ÀHOGV VKRXOG EH LQVSHFWHG DW OHDVW RQFH 5HFRUGLQJ VKHHWV IRU ÀHOG LQVSHFWLRQV DUH :KHQWKHSURMHFWÀUVWVWDUWHGLQWKHDXWXPQ D\HDUDQGDVVHVVPHQWPDGHRIJURXQGFRYHU downloadable from the Grassright website— of 2011, Dave was in the process of increasing EURDGOHDYHGZHHGLQIHVWDWLRQVDQGWKHDFWXDO ZZZJUDVVULJKWFRXN KHUG QXPEHUV DQG PLON \LHOGV +H QHHGHG SHUFHQWDJHRISURGXFWLYHU\HJUDVVHVDQGFORYHU 'DYHXVHGWRFDUU\RXWVRLOWHVWVEHIRUHUH- WRLPSURYHKLVIRUDJHVXSSOLHVWRVXSSRUWKLV present.” VHHGLQJDÀHOGRUSODQWLQJPDL]HEXWQRWHYHU\ plans. That year, he had also been disappointed time, and information on soil indices across the ZLWK KLV VLODJH \LHOGV EXW DGPLWWHG KH KDG farm was patchy. On GrowHow’s recommenda- Checking soil structure VNLPSHG RQ DSSOLFDWLRQV RI IHUWLOLVHU %XW KH WLRQRQHWKLUGRIWKHÀHOGVZHUHVDPSOHGLQWKH WKRXJKWWKDWMXVWVSUHDGLQJPRUHIHUWLOLVHUQH[W 23,&2·V1LFN5LGHUVD\V ´$OOLWWDNHVWRFKHFN ÀUVWZLQWHUDQGVDPSOLQJZDVURWDWHGDURXQG time wasn’t the answer. VRLOVWUXFWXUHLVDVSDGH³GLJRXWDVRGRIHDUWK WKHUHPDLQLQJÀHOGVRYHUWKHVXEVHTXHQW\HDUV 7KHÀUVWVWHSWREHWWHUJUDVVZDVWRLQVSHFW DQGWDNHDORRNFORVHXS6LJQVRIFRPSDFWLRQ WREXLOGXSDIXOOSLFWXUHRIWKHIDUP·VVRLOIHUWLO- all the grassland on the farm so that activities DUH UXVW\ VRLO DQG KRUL]RQWDO OD\HUVÀVVXUHV ity. FRXOG EH WDUJHWHG PRVW HͿHFWLYHO\ 7KLV LQ- LQVWHDG RI YHUWLFDO RQHV &RPSDFWHG JURXQG 2YHUWKHWKUHH\HDUVWKH*UDVVULJKW*URXS facebook.com/energynowmag @energynowmag #ENE15 SPONSORED BY The only renewable energy event organised exclusively for the agricultural and rural sectors The Energy Now Expo is a two-day event taking place on the 11th & 12th February 2015 at the IN ASSOCIATION WITH Telford International Centre, bringing together farmers and landowners from all over the UK. The event will consist of an exhibition of over 160 suppliers, a 2 day, multi-streamed conference, a low-emission vehicle zone, an advice clinic and a brand new grid connection workshop. SUPPORTED BY Conference topics for the 2015 event include: • Optimising solar production by choosing the • SolarWall – Using solar heat for Livestock Ventilation right location & crop drying • The on-farm applications & benefits of solar thermal • The latest developments from energy storage • Incentives for Solar – 1) CFDs 2) ROCs 3) FiTs including • The business plan for an AD plant new initiatives on commercial rooftops for farmers • A Practical guide to the grid connection process Free tickets available for Energy Now subscribers and members of Find out where renewable energy is going... the NFU, CLA, Anglia Farmers, Mole Valley Farmers and Woldmarsh Producers Visit www.energynowexpo.co.uk or call 01293 854405 to organise your ticket 22 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT seed—and sow cheap priced seed mixtures following a trial in one dual-purpose mixes. But RIKLVÀHOGVZKLFKVKRZHGDVLJQLÀFDQWGLͿHU- I’ve been shown the errors ence in yields between two grass/red clover of my thinking! mixtures—a cheap one and Sinclair McGill’s “I now buy mix- Colossal Red. WXUHVGHVLJQHGVSHFLÀFDOO\ 7KHGLͿHUHQFHLQSHUIRUPDQFHEHWZHHQWKH for grazing or cutting, mixtures was huge and when measurements depending on what the were taken, the Sinclair Mcgill mixture proved ÀHOGZLOOPDLQO\EHXVHG to be 30% higher yielding and much better qual- for.” LW\$WÀUVWFXWWKH&RORVVDO5HGZDV0-NJ Limagrain’s John ME higher and also more digestible. Spence explains: “Seed Limagrain’s John Spence comments: “Some mixtures for cutting leys grass mixtures can be cheaper because they or grazing leys will in- contain older poorer performing varieties. If FOXGHGLͿHUHQWJUDVVYDUL- farmers want leys to perform well, then they ety types and be tailored should always buy mixtures which contain for optimum performance recommended grass varieties. under those management ´(YHQWKHQWKHUHFDQEHDGLͿHUHQFHLQ From left to right are OPICO’s Nick Rider, dairy farmer Dave Richards systems. But with dual- IHHGTXDOLW\SDUDPHWHUVEHWZHHQGLͿHUHQWYDULH- and Limagrain’s John Spence. purpose mixtures produc- ties, each has both strengths and weaknesses— have made recommendations for improvements tion can be compromised.” there’s no such thing as a perfect variety. For and Dave has consequently now adopted some Dave is also no longer swayed by cheaply Continued on page 24. new management practices. For instance, it is ‘best practice’ to harrow grass leys in the spring to remove trash from the base of the sward, and allow oxygen to get to plant roots and stimulate growth. Dave used to have a chain harrow, but admits: “This was a lot of hassle to set up and I never thought it worked very well so I didn’t do a lot of harrowing.” But his attitude changed when he saw the GLͿHUHQFHWRJUDVVJURZWKPDGHE\WKHWLQHVRI The mark of quality OPICO’s grass harrow he was lent. The tines, designed with triple windings to give maxi- mum oscillation and point pressure, are highly HͿHFWLYH DW ULSSLQJ RXW WKDWFK DQG XQZDQWHG shallow-rooted weed grasses. “The harrow is really easy to use, and doesn’t require a lot of horsepower either,” explains Dave. “It was a no-brainer to buy one for myself and now harrowing is a routine every spring.” 2YHUVHHGLQJEHQH¿WV The initial field inspections showed a low ryegrass content in some of the silage leys, but it was considered too early to reseed them. So Dave was advised to overseed—this was easily achieved using the grass harrow with a seeder A clear winner mounted onto it. “I’d never just overseeded before,” explains Top starch yield, with superb energy and dry matter Dave. “But it saved me from having to take yields, delivering huge quantities of quality silage - ÀHOGVRXWRISURGXFWLRQ,QRZRYHUVHHGZKHQ resulting in reduced bought in feed costs. I think a sward needs to be thickened up, so I get another year or so of production without having NIAB First Choice Variety to reseed. “I’ve been pleased with how well the grass Scan for Creating high establishes using the kit when I’m reseeding further energy feed for information too.” your cows 6HHGPL[WXUHVGLIIHU 'DYHQRZKDVDYHU\GLͿHUHQWDWWLWXGHWREX\- Rothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN7 6DT ing grass seed mixtures. “Before the Grassright Tel: 01472 371471 I Fax: 01472 371386 I Email: [email protected] www.lgseeds.co.uk/maize Group came along, I’d hedge my bets with grass BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 23 GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT Continued from page 23. example, ryegrass varieties which Dave admits: “I have totally are high in sugars tend to be low changed my mindset on fertilis- in protein. The key is to ensure the ers. At the start of the project, I mixtures sown have been balanced couldn’t see why I needed Grow- for both energy—from sugars How to come and tell me about DQG ÀEUH³DQG SURWHLQ 7KLV LV fertiliser. But now I wouldn’t the formulation approach behind want to be without them! Each Limagrain’s new LGAN range.” \HDUPRUHÀHOGVDUHWHVWHGDQG, sit down with Ross and say what crops I’m planning to put where, Soil indices & fertiliser and he uses Encompass to see GrowHow’s regional farm adviser what the nutrient requirements Ross Leadbeater says: “The future are going to be, and how I can use productivity of any grassland my own farmyard slurry and top- begins with what’s in the soil. up the requirement with granular So farmers need to know what fertiliser. WKH\·YHJRWWKHUHLQWKHÀUVWSODFH “And I’m not spending any before spreading slurry or fertilis- more on fertiliser than I was be- ers. A soil test costs around £12, fore—mission accomplished!” To mark the end of the Grassright project, an open day was held on the yet the information it gives has farm in September. This included talks and demonstrations on how to HQRUPRXVEHQHÀWVµ assess soil compaction and how sward-lifting removes it by Nick Rider Change in mindset GrowHow has now completed from OPICO (above), how to distinguish productive ryegrasses from sampling the whole of Ridgend ZHHGJUDVVHVDQGWKHEHQHÀWVRIJUDQXODUIHUWLOLVHUV So, three years after embarking on Farm, taking account of all the the Grassright project, there have crops grown, including the maize, days—it used to be deposited being maintained or raised. Crop EHHQ VRPH VLJQLÀFDQW FKDQJHV LQ wheat, and barley. Across the from the atmosphere by emissions RͿWDNHVDUHIDFWRUHGLQWRWKHUHF- mindset, management practice and farm, pH levels have generally from diesel fuels and industry, ommendation, and the package new use of machinery and technol- EHHQ JRRG³PRVW ÀHOGV EHLQJ LQ especially power stations. But calculates whether the applications ogy. The end result is that Dave the range 6.5 to 7.0. thanks to the Clean Air Act, there are compliant with NVZ regula- QRZH[SHFWVWRJHWIRXUWRÀYHFXWV Ross explains: “Some of the is now less sulphur pollution in tions. Application rates of slurry of silage, from more productive IDURͿ ÀHOGV KDG D YHU\ ORZ 3 the atmosphere. Sulphur is a and bought-in fertiliser can then ÀHOGV ZLWK IDVWHU UHJURZWK DQG index, 0 or 1, and this would have component of some of the amino be calculated by an agronomist, better quality. been really hampering production. acids which in turn are the build- using RB209 and some of their “I’ve evaluated each of the So the main focus has been on ing blocks for protein. own experience, using recommendations for change UDLVLQJWKH3LQGH[LQWKRVHÀHOGV So improving sulphur the soil test result as the made by the Grassright Group be- by encouraging Dave to get slurry levels in the soil will starting point.” fore adopting them, but thanks to out to them where possible. He make nitrogen appli- Dave now receives a *URZ+RZ23,&2DQG/LPDJUDLQ DOVRDSSOLHG0$3LQVSULQJWRKHOS FDWLRQVPRUHHFLHQW folder with comprehen- I’ve now got a system of grassland raise the index. and boost yields.” sive nutrient recommen- management that works really “It’s much cheaper to maintain Ross has been dations for the cropping well and has improved my pro- a soil index at the right level, than helping Dave to target across the whole farm, duction,” adds Dave. WRDWWHPSWDTXLFNÀ[ZKHQLWKDV his fertiliser applica- including a spreading Three years on from the start of fallen. Not only is it costly to load tions using Grow- SODQ IRU HDFK ÀHOG 6R the project, herd size has increased phosphorous onto a field, but How’s nutrient man- he is using nutrients from 150 milking cows to 200, and Ross Leadbeater. there’s also an environmental risk agement programme, LQ WKH PRVW FRVW HͿHF- herd yield has risen from just un- from soil erosion over the winter. Encompass. He explains: “This tive way—applying them in the der 9,000 litres/cow to 9,500 litres/ “In silage leys, the aim is qual- LVLQHͿHFWDEXGJHWLQJSDFNDJH amounts needed to support yields, cow. With better forage supplies, ity as well as dry matter yield. It allows you to see the nutrient and only purchasing the nutrients Dave can now keep high yielders Sulphur is a critical nutrient these balance, and whether the index is required. indoors all year round. PENNANT FINANCE Supplied by farmers for farmers Specialist Agricultural Mortgage Brokers Cheap alternative livestock bedding Are you unhappy with your existing bank? High Lime value helps to reduce cell counts Are you paying more than 1.5% over base on your mortgage, Suitable for most livestock systems Reduced wear/maintenance on equipment loans or overdraft? Reduce bedding storage requirements Are you looking to save money on your finance costs? Reduce vermin Are you looking for an additional borrowing facility? For more information call: 08081 787655 If so, contact Haydn Jones on 01492 580202 or 07768 025440 Email: [email protected] • www.dairybed.co.uk DAIRYBED • PO BOX 447 • ASHFORD • KENT • TN23 9NL 24 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Pedometer based heat detection, fertility advice and genetic progress - all in one Boost your herd’s fertility with Launched over a year ago, Breeder Tag System Breeder Tag System... is now being used by farmers the length and breadth of the UK. You can be sure that it has At Genus ABS we are dedicated to helping you been tried and tested by farmers like you. What’s improve your herd’s reproductive performance. more, these farmers are now achieving increased That’s why we developed Breeder Tag System, an accurate heat detection, driving future milk innovative solution with a unique three pronged production through timely pregnancy creation. approach, including on-going technical support. To find out more, get in touch with us on 0870 162 2000. We can show you how Breeder Tag System can boost your herd’s fertility, or if you prefer, we can put you in touch with one of our many satisfied customers. Genus Breeding Ltd, Alpha Building, London Road, Nantwich, CW5 7JW, Telephone: 0870 162 2000 Fax: 01270 616702 www.genusbreeding.co.uk BEST PRACTICE MASTITIS CONTROL Proactive management cuts mastitis In the third of our series of best practice mastitis control articles with practicing vet Dave Coombes and MSD Animal Health adviser Martin Behr, we review the more important practical management factors that can help to limit risks. aining control of the udder he comments. Gas soon as cows calve and Reducing the time the new paying close attention to cow envi- born calf remains with its dam ronment form the basis to reducing can help farmers get control of the mastitis infection risk. So vet Dave udder and reduce early lactation Coombes of Cedar Farm Practice mastitis rates. If a calf is left on believes the power to control its mother for a prolonged period, PDVWLWLV OLHV ÀUPO\ LQ WKH KDQGV it continues to stimulate the ud- of farmers and how they manage der in between milkings. This cows on a day-to-day basis. means there are repeated episodes “It all comes back to treating when the teat end is open and an mastitis as an active participation increased chance mastitis patho- sport rather than something you gens will be able to enter. Ideally just sit back and watch,” he says. calves should remain with their “All farmers should be aiming dam for six to eight hours up to a to do everything they can to tip maximum of 12 hours. things in their favour.” The transition period and early Milk out lactation are the main risk periods Vet Dave Coombes with Hampshire dairy producer Matthew Cobb. for environmental mastitis infec- Making sure cows are milked out tion and as such should form a key eral balance is not right you won’t seven cows are being introduced fully, every milking is also crucial, part of any control programme. get the teat end closure and that’s to the pre-calving pen, ensure bed- as any milk held in the udder will “This is a time when the cow’s WKHÀUVWOLQHRISURWHFWLRQDJDLQVW ding frequency is also increased increase the chance of mastitis. udder is under maximum stress. infection.” to accommodate higher stocking Any milk leakage in-between milk- Once she’s calved the udder is Mr Behr explains how the risk rates. Post-calving pens should ings will also increase risk. working hard to climb to peak of a cow developing environmen- also be cleaned and disinfected An oxytocin injection can be lactation, while big additional tal mastitis is 3.5 times higher if regularly. a useful tool to promote milk let stresses such as negative energy she has ketosis, nine times higher Although the use of a teat down, but it’s important to ask balance can increase the risk of LIVKHKDVDKLJKHUPLONÁRZDQG VHDODQW DW GU\LQJ RͿ FDQ UHGXFH yourself if there are other rea- mastitis,” Mr Coombes explains. ten times higher if she is housed the chance of bugs invading the sons for poor let down, says Mr Martin Behr of MSD Animal on poor quality bedding. udder during the dry period, Coombes. Health says controlling mastitis is Mr Coombes says regardless of “An older cow, for example just as much about maximising the whether a sealant is being used, it may not be letting down her milk Environment immunity of the cow as managing is still possible to see milk leakage because she’s developing milk fe- the environment. When it comes to maintaining just prior to calving which can add ver. As such, it’s important to have “You need to work on ensuring a clean environment, two of the to mastitis risk. a good overall strategy for calcium the cow’s immune system is good, main areas for attention pre- and “This is where attention to control and good stockmanship to the teat end and udder are in good post-calving are space and the environmental management determine what the problem is,” shape and nutrition is correct,” he amount and quality of bedding and gaining control of the ud- he explains. explains. “For example if the min- provided. When an extra six or der becomes so important,” Udder oedema in fresh calved Offers a major Manage Sand the Easy Way! reduction foot Pack Mat™ is a rubber crumb filled & leg lesions mattress protected by a top-cover. Its yielding surface does not allow sand to compact, resulting in a softer bed. If cows could talk they would choose... Reduces sand usage Maintains consistent 1hr increased resting T: +44 (0) 2870 868430 from 50-80% dimensions between time over 12 inches [email protected] base and cubicle of sand www.wilsonagri.co.uk 26 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 BEST PRACTICE MASTITIS CONTROL FRZVFDQDOVRUHGXFHWKHHFDF\ pre-milking disinfection is also • Wear clean gloves. into teats and infuse—do the teats of normal milk expression. Speak worthwhile to pick up and treat &OHDQHDFKWHDWZLWKGLͿHU- FORVHVWWR\RXÀUVW to your vet about how you can ac- any signs of mastitis early. ent balls of cotton wool soaked in • Put the teat sealant just inside tively manage this with the use of Post-milking disinfection is surgical spirit—do the front teats the teat end to form a ‘stopper’ at 1RQ6WHURLGDO$QWLLQÁDPPDWRULHV a useful tool to help control con- ÀUVW the bottom. or diuretics. tagious pathogens. Mr Coombes • Insert antibiotic tubes fully • Apply a barrier dip to teats. also suggests using a barrier dip on fresh calved cows as this can Farm case study: Roger and Maggie Cobb, Parlour routine help prevent teat infection with Hordle Manor Farm, Milford on Sea, Hampshire Pre-milking teat disinfection is a environmental pathogens. Reducing the time the newborn calf stays with its dam after calving vital part of triggering the milk Yearly parlour testing will has helped ‘stamp out’ early lactation mastitis at Hordle Manor Farm, OHWGRZQUHÁH[DVZHOODVOLPLWLQJ also go a long way to ensuring the Hampshire. the risk of bacterial infection from milking machinery is working at Roger Cobb explains that calves had originally been left to suckle contaminated teat ends. its optimum to promote good ud- their mothers for four days post-calving to ensure “If you disinfect the teats prior der health. For example, if vacuum they received adequate colostrum. However, when to milking you’re less likely to SXPSV DUH ZRUNLQJ LQHͿHFWLYHO\ fresh cow mastitis rates began to creep up, discus- see problems if there’s a situation WHDWHQGYDFXXPÁXFWXDWLRQVFDQ sions with vet Dave Coombes, highlighted this early ZKHUH \RX JHW PLON UHÁX[ IURP increase the risk of milk injection PDQDJHPHQWDVDVLJQLÀFDQWFDXVDOIDFWRU the milking cluster) back into the back into the teats, leading to “We regularly clean calving yards and boxes teats,” says Mr Coombes. higher levels of clinical mastitis. “Increased milking efficacy and bed up on sand with deep bed straw over the from better milk let down will also top, but because the calf was stimulating the udder, Roger Cobb. Drying off reduce the chance of teat damage it was leaving the teats open to infection,” says Mr and the development of hyper- 'U\LQJRͿSURWRFROVZLOODOVRKDYH Cobb who runs 120 Holsteins with his wife Maggie and son Matthew. keratosis on the teat end which can D VLJQLÀFDQW LPSDFW RQ PDVWLWLV Now calves are taken away from their dam within 24 hours of harbour bacteria.” rates in the subsequent lactation. calving. They then move into the calf shed where they receive bottled To maximise milk let down, Mr Coombes suggests the fol- colostrum from their dam. ideally there should be a 90 lowing: “Reducing the time the calf stays on the cows has had a marked ef- second gap between the initial • Milk cows out fully and bring fect and I’d recommend it to anyone. Now the cow is not being hit by contact with the teat and cupping back into a clean parlour when the PDVWLWLVLQWKHÀUVWGD\VLQPLONZKLFKLVFUXFLDOWRWKHVXFFHVVRIWKH on. Stripping twice a day after whole herd has been milked. lactation,” says Mr Cobb. BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 27 MAIZE VARIETY SELECTION Maize choice can cut costs Maize silage is providing a welcome boost on many dairy farms this winter. Limagrain’s 7LP5LFKPRQGVXJJHVWVWKDWDIRFXVRQYDULHW\VHOHFWLRQQRZFRXOGLQFUHDVHWKHEHQH¿WV of feeding maize next year. t was an excellent maize growing year in 2014 Variety ME Yield Difference Potential Milk value Potential Feed cost Iand many farmers have recorded good yields (MJ/ha) (MJ/ha) extra per/ ha at feed saving at with silages generally analysing well. Encour- milk/ha 27p saving/ha £220/t agingly this potential seems to be resulting in Less favourable sites increased production with numerous farmers and nutritionists reporting a positive response Average 181,474 to the introduction of maize into the diet. Ambition 192,898 +11,424 +2,155 +£581 970kg £213 “This is welcome good news for dairy farm- Favourable sites ers looking to reduce costs in the light of the fall in milk prices,” Mr Richmond suggests. “Look- Average 192,800 ing forward every cost will come under scrutiny Emblem 208,093 +15,293 +2,885 +£779 1,298kg £286 DQGWKHDLPPXVWEHWRLQFUHDVHHFLHQF\LQDOO areas of the business. UHTXLUHGLͿHUHQWDPRXQWVRIVXQOLJKWDQGKHDW have often focussed on starch percentage as “Forage production is key to dairy margins to allow the cobs to reach the mature stage when the indicator of energy yield but few appreciate so anything that can increase sugars have been converted to that around half the total energy is in the leaf production from forage should starch. Varieties requiring less and stover. The availability of this to the cow be investigated as a priority. I WLPHWRPDWXUHDUHFODVVLÀHGDV depends on the digestibility of the cell wall. The would suggest that a close focus ‘very early’ or ‘early’ maturing. more digestible the cell wall, the more of the on maize variety choice is one “Earliness can be a key nutrients and energy held there are available.” area which could deliver a posi- consideration as the earlier Mr Richmond says to maximise energy re- tive response.” a crop can be harvested the quires a variety combining high starch content Mr Richmond says that with sooner a follow on crop can be with good cell wall digestibility and the ben- over 50 varieties available to established. It can also mean HÀWVFDQEHFRQVLGHUDEOH7KHWDEOHFRPSDUHV choose from many farmers are harvesting in more reliable con- varieties delivering high energy yields with the overwhelmed when they look ditions. Not every year will be average of the BSPB/NIAB list. at the BSPB/NIAB listing, al- as favourable as 2014 regarding “For farmers in a less favourable site, choos- though it is an invaluable source harvest conditions.” ing a variety like Ambition would result in over on independent data. He says The other factor determin- 11,000 MJ more energy produced per hectare, D VLJQLÀFDQW SURSRUWLRQ RI WKH ing suitability is the site clas- allowing 2,155 more litres to be produced per maize forage area grown every VLÀFDWLRQ ZKLFK LV D IDFWRU RI hectare from forage. At even 27ppl this would year comprises farmers growing location and climate and will be be an extra potential income of £582 per hectare the same variety as in previous LQÁXHQFHGE\IDFWRUVLQFOXGLQJ for no appreciable additional growing costs. Al- years, probably as much as 60% Tim Richmond. altitude, aspect and soil class. ternatively, around one tonne less of concentrate of the total area. Sites are sub-divided into fa- could be fed for every hectare grown. Either “Growing what worked for you last year vourable and less favourable and Mr Richmond ZD\PDUJLQVZLOOEHQHÀW or the year before is a safe base but means you stresses the importance of making your eventual “Similar responses can be seen in favour- miss out on the advances being made in plant choice from the appropriate list. able sites where varieties like Glory, Activate, genetics that are having a big impact on crop Emblem, Ambition, Asgaard and Alfastar will SRWHQWLDO6SHFLÀFDOO\ZHDUHVHHLQJLPSURYH- all yield in excess of 200,000 MJ/ha, consider- Energy content and energy yield ments in energy content and energy yield which, ably above average. Because these varieties are after all should be why farmers grow maize. Once you know you are looking at varieties spread between very early, early and late matur- “I advise farmers that once they identify suited to where you farm and your overall ing it means that a high energy yielding variety the varieties that will grow in their location system, how do you choose the variety of com- can be chosen irrespective of how early farmers and conditions, they should focus on choosing bination of varieties to grow? Data is available want it to mature and be ready for harvest.” the variety with good energy content that will on dry matter yield, agronomic characteristics, “Selecting on energy yield will be one way provide the highest quantity of energy. Maize is starch yield and content, ME yield and cell wall GDLU\IDUPHUVFDQLQFUHDVHHFLHQF\VLPSO\DQG grown for the nutrients it can supply to the diet digestibility. All this can make variety choice a FRVWHͿHFWLYHO\ DQG KHOS PLWLJDWH WKH FXUUHQW so logically the more good quality feed you can bewildering decision. lower milk prices,” Mr Richmond concludes. grow per hectare the better to either boost yields ´7KDWLVZK\VHHLQJPDL]HÀUVWDQGIRUHPRVW or save on purchased feeds. As growing costs as a supplier of energy to cows can help. This is • To help simplify the choice of maize will be basically the same between varieties this why I would advise farmers to select the variety variety, Limagrain have produced the will reduce cost per unit energy from forage.” independently proven to give the most energy 2015 Maize Variety Selection Guide. In- per hectare through a combination of energy cluding data on all the varieties on the content and energy yield. BSPB/NIAB lists it contains easy to fol- Location “The total energy available in maize is in low diagrams and tables to help farmers Mr Richmond emphasises that choosing varie- two forms. First there is the starch found in the identify the best variety for their particular WLHV VXLWHG WR \RXU ORFDWLRQ KDV WR EH WKH ÀUVW FRE6HFRQGWKHUHLVWKHGLJHVWLEOHÀEUHIRXQG circumstances. For your free copy, call selection criterion. He says maize varieties in the stem and stover. Farmers and advisers 01472 371471 28 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 It’s all about you. Livestock farming is a challenging business and we believe that, over the coming years, it will become more so. That’s why we’ve come together to combine resources and expertise. ForFarmers acquired BOCM PAULS in 2012. Now together we have an unparalleled track record in research and development. Experience across international markets has enabled us to develop skills and connections that mean we can deliver the best products and the best value on your behalf. In addition we have incorporated the skills of Dairy Direct, HST Feeds and Wheyfeed, adding to the breadth of what we can offer in our total feed business. To find out more about ForFarmers or our feeds, please get in touch www.forfarmers.co.uk MASTITIS CONTROL Consistency key to control More consistent routines, better staff training and the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) could help reduce mastitis problems and help offset lower milk prices suggests Dr Pamela Ruegg a leading US expert from the University of Wisconsin. peaking at a series of meetings organised by she comments, is a problem of the total envi- why they need to be done consistently. SGenus ABS and supported by Boehringer ronment in which cows live as teats are always ´,WKDVEHHQSURYHQLQPDQ\GLͿHUHQWLQGXV- Ingelheim, Dr Ruegg reminded the farmer audi- potentially exposed to infection. tries that where people understand why they ence that mastitis is, in essence, a simple disease. “We have a wide range of tactics at our QHHGWRGRVRPHWKLQJDQGWKHEHQHÀWVRIJHWWLQJ Reducing incidence can increase milk yield and disposal to help reduce the risk of both con- it right then performance improves. This re- quality while reducing treatment costs, all of tagious and environmental mastitis, quires an investment in training and ZKLFKZLOOEHDEHQHÀWZLWKORZHUPLONSULFHV all of which can work but there is no the production of written routines. “We know what causes mastitis and we ‘silver bullet’. What it is important “If your milking routine contains know how to control it but there are lots of chal- WRUHPHPEHULVWKDWHͿHFWLYHPDVWLWLV the measures that we know can help lenges along the way,” she explains. “We know control is the result of the cumulative reduce mastitis such as wearing that 99% of mastitis occurs when the bacterial effect of adopting consistent best gloves, pre- and post-dipping and exposure at the teat end exceeds the ability of management practices, and many of forestripping, yet you still have prob- the immune defensive system of the cow to deal them. There is no one single thing lems you need to investigate why. with it. Control must focus on keeping bacteria that will give the answer. We need to “In many cases it will be because away from the teat.” do several things, correctly and con- the people carrying out the tasks She explained that the cause of contagious sistently. I tell farmers that mastitis Dr Pamela Ruegg. don’t know how they should do them mastitis is the reservoir of bacteria in an infected control is based on good management and why they are important. The animal—notably cows with high cell counts. of people, cows and the environment. The start- consequence is that they are not done consist- The disease will spread when the teats from ing point has to be the people.” ently and thoroughly. healthy cows come into contact with milk from Dr Ruegg suggests that far too few people “When is the last time you asked a milker unhealthy cows. involved in milking cows really understand ZK\WKH\KDYHWRGRDVSHFLÀFWDVN",UHJXODUO\ Environmental mastitis on the other hand, why the stages in a routine are important and ask people why is it important that every teat is The Award Winning...... The A G Dispenser has been designed to bed cubicles with PRODUCTS sawdust, shavings, chopped straw, paper pulp, gypsum, sand and lime. Users report up to 40% saving on materials. 160 cubicles bedded in eight minutes. Seven models available from walk behind to tractor / loadall mounted. Where EXCELLENCE matters “New PU1011 blades excellent giving clean scrape, far superior to rubber blades leaving yards Designed to work in Grasslands, far cleaner and with no evidence of wear after three months of Fully galvanised Yard Cereal beds and Turf conditions. Scraper from 6ft. A-frame The Spring Tine Harrow can be used constant use.” D & G Edwards and 3 point linkage for tearing out old thatched grass, Brinsea Green Farm, Bristol standard on all models. aerating soil & encouraging new growth, breaking slurry crust, spreading manure and leveling mole hills. It can also be Garnett Farms Engineering Ltd., Tel: +44 (0)1565 722922 used as a weeder in many cereal beds. Fax: +44 (0)1565 723303 [email protected] web: www.ag-products.co.uk 30 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 MASTITIS CONTROL Dr Ruegg recom- clinical cases per month. They can be times such mends all farms have as time from stripping to unit attachment or written routines, even PHDVXUHVRIWKHHͿHFWLYHQHVVRIWHDWGLSSLQJ³DV where only a few people a guide 75% of the skin should be covered on are involved in milk- RIWHDWV'DWDOLNHWKLVZLOOKHOSPRQLWRU ing. She says there will performance and provide the basis for identify- always be times when ing ways to improve.” UHOLHI VWDͿ ZLOO EH PLON- Genus ABS technical services support vet- ing and suggests that the erinary manager, Richard Echeverri says that actual task of writing the while most people understand the importance routine down makes you of teat disinfection, poor technique is still a big think about how you UHDVRQZK\GLSSLQJLVQRWHͿHFWLYH milk and may improve “Post-dipping is a vital weapon in the bat- the routine. tle against contagious mastitis and the aims are “Once people have WRHOLPLQDWHWKHPLONÀOPRQWKHWHDWDQGNLOO been trained and are fol- any bacteria. To achieve this you need to dip lowing the same routine, thoroughly. choose a selection of ap- “Dipping is not something to be rushed. 7KRURXJKVWDͿWUDLQLQJDQGZULWWHQSURFHGXUHVHQVXUHFRQVLVWHQF\LQWKH PLONLQJURXWLQHWRKHOSFXWPDVWLWLVFDVHVDQGERRVWSURÀWV propriate KPIs to moni- Every teat needs to be properly dipped and tor performance. These we would advise ensuring 75% of the teat is at least 75% covered by a post-milking dip after can be numbers such as the cell count or the covered with disinfectant after milking.” every milking and very often don’t get a good answer. Then, when I walk around the cows WKDWKDYHEHHQPLONHG,JHQHUDOO\ÀQGDKXJH variation in the accuracy of dipping which can explain why mastitis problems persist, because dipping is not being done properly.” Dr Ruegg stresses that the provision of ZULWWHQURXWLQHVVWDͿWUDLQLQJWKHDGRSWLRQRI a complete routine and forestripping all reduce the incidence of clinical cases. Consistent routine vital “If you are serious about reducing mastitis make sure everyone involved in milking follows the same routine and carries out tasks in the same ZD\:HÀQGWKDWWKHIDVWHVWPLONLQJVSHHGVDQG lowest clinical incidence of mastitis are achieved ZLWK VWDͿ ZKR KDYH EHHQ SURSHUO\ WUDLQHG WR understand why they are being asked to do VSHFLÀFWDVNV “A comprehensive routine should always include pre-dipping, fore-stripping, compre- hensive teat drying, timely application of the unit and post-dipping. All have a vital role to play and applied consistently and repeatedly can have a big impact. Pre-dipping reduces WKHEDFWHULDRQWKHWHDWÀYHIROG\HW,DPWROGLW extends milking time. In fact, the biggest single IDFWRUDͿHFWLQJSDUORXUWKURXJKSXWLVHQWU\DQG exit times. A good routine has a negligible im- pact on throughput, but short cuts can increase the mastitis risk. %HQH¿WVRIIRUHVWULSSLQJ “Take forestripping for example. It is the only way to identify cows with mild clinical cases. +HUGV WKDW IRUHVWULS URXWLQHO\ ÀQG PRUH of these cases. Finding them early means they can be treated before they go on to become more serious cases. In addition, the milk with the highest bacterial count will be in the teat end, so removing it will help reduce cross contamina- tion. Yet time is commonly given as an excuse not to forestrip.” BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 31 NFU COMMENT Challenges ahead in 2015 Rob Harrison, chairman of the National Farmers Union Dairy Board looks ahead to the challenges for both dairy producers and the NFU next year. his year has been incredibly Ireland our cost of production is same thing on cheese with retail- a union we have to facilitate the Tchallenging for dairy farmers pretty good compared to mainland ers making margins over 50% and debate and make sure our needs across the UK. We have all seen Europe. higher prices causing stagnation in as farmers are well represented. our incomes dramatically cut and consumption? We need to identify There is no single change that the start of 2015 is not looking any KRZ WR GULYH GLͿHUHQWLDWLRQ DQG FDQ À[ WKH SUREOHPV ZH DUH DOO Shrinking retail market better, with milk prices dropping create some value across the dairy facing. We will need a variety of for most and no glimmers of light In the past few months, for the sector. options which enable us as farmers in the next few months. ÀUVW WLPH LQ UHFHQW PHPRU\ WKH With pressure on margins to manage our businesses in the At the NFU our focus will total retail market has shrunk and throughout the supply chain best way on an individual basis. remain on providing a competitive WKHELJUHWDLOHUVDUHÀJKWLQJRYHU we will see further As part of this pack- environment for farmers. 2015 is a declining market share. Con- rationalisation. We age we need to see in- going to be remembered as the sumer habits have changed with have already had the vestment in more British year milk quotas went and a new more frequent top-up shops, more Müller acquisition of dairy products. There is CAP reform implemented which internet purchasing and more eat- Dairy Crest liquids plenty of scope domesti- will be a big step in the direction ing out. announced. I’m sure cally to displace imports of reduced support and continued How can we capitalise on this we will see further and add value to our exposure to free markets. as dairy farmers and get more mergers and acquisi- products in retail stores, Market management is a costly people to consume more dairy as tions at a farm, pro- EXWWKLVLVQRWDTXLFNÀ[ DQG EXUHDXFUDWLF DͿDLU DQG FDQ part of changing habits? cessor and retailer We would also like remove a lot of value from the Retailers made huge margins level. To manage to see the remit of the chain. It doesn’t look pretty now on liquid milk up until a few this and make it a Groceries Code Adjudi- but ultimately as long as markets years ago and then discounters, positive, we do need Rob Harrison. cator extended down the are fair British dairy farmers can willing to take a lower margin, to organise ourselves supply chain to cover compete—with the exception of have muscled in. Will we see the well enough to negotiate and make farmers’ relationships with pro- sure we get a growing slice of the cessors. We believe this would cake. bring better transparency to the Due to this expected trend we impact of the ongoing liquid milk will be investigating more tools discounting that we’re all seeing in and contract options in a bid to try our retailers. «OHDGLQJ/('WHFKQRORJ\ and reduce volatility and to give farmers more choice in their busi- Supermarket challenge /(781,/,*+7/,*+783<285+(5'$1' ness decisions. The NFU has already written to <285&$6+)/2: We haven’t really talked about all the major supermarkets to weather volatility and recent price ask the simple question: ‘What spikes are often due to extreme are you doing to support British weather somewhere around the dairy farmers?’—as there are a world—such as heavy rain in number of areas in which that can Europe or drought in America. be improved. The benign weather of 2013/14 A number of dairy farmers are FHUWDLQO\ ZDV D VLJQLÀFDQW IDFWRU within dedicated supply relation- in the increased production across ships, but using milk as a loss lead- all major commodities last year. er puts downward pressure on the whole industry and while farmers’ /('/,*+7,1*3$&.$*()25<285'$,5<&2:6 General election looms margins are being squeezed by • On the political front, we have a global and political issues we need /ŵƉƌŽǀĞLJŽƵƌŵŝůŬLJŝĞůĚďLJƚLJƉŝĐĂůůLJϭϬй general election next year which our domestic retailers to support • could change the future for Brit- our farmers more than ever. /ŵƉƌŽǀĞLJŽƵƌǁŽƌŬŝŶŐĐĂƐŚͲŇŽǁ ish farmers, with questions about There are also big opportuni- • the future of Europe and disease ties to get consumers to eat more /ŵƉƌŽǀĞĐĂƩůĞĨĞƌƟůŝƚLJ control on the horizon. After years British cheese, butter, and yoghurt, of hard work on bovine TB could as dairy is loved across the UK, • /ŵƉƌŽǀĞLJŽƵƌĐĂƌďŽŶĨŽŽƚƉƌŝŶƚ EHWKH\HDUZHÀQDOO\PDNH but often under appreciated for its some headway? QXWULWLRQDOEHQHÀWV hŶŝͲůŝŐŚƚůĞĚ>ƚĚŝƐƚŚĞůĞĂĚŝŶŐƐƵƉƉůŝĞƌŽĨ> I’ve no doubt Europe will It is going to be a tough year in ůŝŐŚƚƐƚŽƚŚĞh<ĨĂƌŵŝŶŐŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ dominate the debate over the next 2015, but something we can all do six months and with CAP being is get the whole nation supporting ĂůůƵƐĨŽƌĂĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶŽŶϬϭϮϴϱϲϱϮϬϮϴ RQHRIWKHPRVWVLJQLÀFDQWWUDQFK- British dairy products and backing 8QLOLJKWOHG/WG'DUWOH\2IILFH&LUHQFHVWHU*/-+ (PDLO VDOHV-XN#XQL-OLJKWOHGFRPZHE ZZZXQL-OLJKWOHGFRP es of EU expenditure, farmers and British farming as part of our move food will be in the spotlight. As towards a brighter future. 32 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 CONTROLLING SOLAR ULCERS Addressing solar ulcer problems Reducing standing times at milking to under 2.5 hours a day and treating lameness early are the key to successfully controlling solar ulcers, says Somerset vet Sotirios Karvountzis. airy farmers looking to stamp Effect of reducing cow Farms that reduced Farms that did not Dout lameness caused by solar standing times on lameness standing times to the target reduce standing ulcers will only truly get on top of 2.5 hours/day or less times enough the problem by addressing cow standing times at milking, accord- Milking standing time—before (hours/day) 5.5 4.75 LQJWRQHZÀQGLQJV % of lame cows before (mobility score 2 and 3) 38 33 Lameness data collected from Milking standing time—after (hours/day) 2.5 4.25 45 dairy farms in “The Shepton Vets Happy Feet Group”, showed % of lame cows after reducing standing time at 19 28 that solar ulcers were the main milking (mobility score 2 and 3) cause of non-infectious lameness Data from 45 herds in the Shepton Vets Happy Feet Group, ranging from 80 to more than 800 cows, all on farm and were present on milked twice a day. Solar ulcers were the main cause of non infectious lameness on these farms. RIXQLWV7KHIDUPVLQYROYHG UDQJHGLQVL]HIURPWRRYHU discontinuation of the hoof horn, by perching in cubicles as a result bringing cows in for milking in cows and were predominantly either as a result of outside pres- RISRRUGLPHQVLRQV VPDOOHUJURXSVLVWKHÀUVWZD\WR housed systems, all milked twice sure on the foot or pressure inside 0U .DUYRXQW]LV VD\V LI FRZV DGGUHVVVWDQGLQJWLPHV7KLVZDV DGD\ WKH IRRW SXVKLQJ RXW 7KH\ FDQ DUH PDQDJHG FRUUHFWO\ DQG KDYH one of the primary ways farms in 9HW6RWLULRV.DUYRXQW]LVIURP FDXVHVHYHUHODPHQHVVDQGDUHHV- a 7mm thick sole, it the group tackled the XL Vets practice Shepton Vets, says timated to cost dairy farmers about LV SRVVLEOH WR DYRLG SUREOHP those farmers who reduced cow SHUFDVH XOFHUV +RZHYHU “Cows should also standing times before and after problems occur when be able to go straight PLONLQJWRKRXUVRUOHVVDGD\ standing times are too to the feed trough af- Cause of solar ulcers ZHUHDEOHWRKDOYHWKHQXPEHURI long or cubicle accept- WHU PLONLQJµ KH VD\V ODPH FRZV ZLWKLQ D \HDU +RZ- Generally ulcers occur at two dif- DQFHLVSRRU ´,I \RX VKXW XS FRZV HYHU WKRVH WKDW DGGUHVVHG RWKHU ferent locations on the back feet, “Most of the farms after milking, then let areas, but didn’t tackle cow wait- each of which can be an indication in the Shepton Vets them eat, lying time is ing times were only able to drop of the cause of the problem: group had solar ulcers GHOD\HGIXUWKHUµ ODPHQHVV E\ DQ DYHUDJH VHH 1: 90% of ulcers occur on the caused by incorrect About 5% of farms WDEOH outer claw of the back feet in the VWDQGLQJWLPHV,GHDOO\ Sotirios Karvountzis. in the Shepton Vets “The results show you can instep of the hoof near the central standing times around group had solar ulcer PDNHHYHU\HͿRUWWRLPSURYHRWKHU GLVK7KHVHDUHJHQHUDOO\FDXVHG PLONLQJ VKRXOG EH OLPLWHG WR OLQNHGWRSRRUFXELFOHDFFHSWDQFH IDFWRUVDͿHFWLQJODPHQHVVEXW\RX E\ORQJVWDQGLQJWLPHV hours or less a day, but the group 0U.DUYRXQW]LVVD\VDQ\IDUPIDF- will only reduce solar ulcers by so 2: Some ulcers occur on the inner DYHUDJHGWRKRXUVXSWRVL[ ing these issues should assess cow much unless you look at standing claw on the back feet, closer to the KRXUVµKHFRPPHQWV EHKDYLRXULQWKHVKHG WLPHVWRRµKHVD\V heel around the central dish of the 0U.DUYRXQW]LVVD\VSURYLGHG Solar ulcers are caused by a IRRW 7KHVH DUH JHQHUDOO\ FDXVHG labour and space is not an issue, Continued on page 34. WIN our 2015 Your chance to Heifer Rearer of the Year Award The foundation of your future dairy herd £12,000 worth of prizes including a study tour to DCHA conference, USA* Visit www.volac.com/agriculture to download your copy of the entry form or Freephone: 0800 919808 Sponsored by: Supported by: BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 *Study tour includes attendance of the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association 2016 conference in USA for two 33 people, including flights and accommodation. An alternative prize of Volac products available to similar value. CONTROLLING SOLAR ULCERS Continued from page 33. WUHDWPHQWZDVDVLJQLÀFDQWIDFWRU scorer, Clare Maggs. in reducing solar ulcer incidence. “Mobility scoring paints a Results showed that if lame cows picture of the farm and in the were treated within 48 hours of worst case tells you if the bath EHLQJ LGHQWLÀHG DV ODPH LW ZDV LV RYHUÁRZLQJ ,I \RX WKHQ WUHDW possible to reduce overall herd FRZVTXLFNO\LWSXOOVWKHSOXJRQ lameness by 5% within 28 to 45 the bath, but it doesn’t stop the tap days. from running. That’s where you This also shows the impor- have to prevent problems from tance of regular mobility scoring to occurring,” says Mr Karvountzis. identify problems early. All of the • Dairy farmers in England herds in the Shepton Vets group are eligible for RDPE funding to were scored at least twice a year by FRQWUROODPHQHVV7RÀQGRXWPRUH the practice’s dedicated mobility speak to your vet. Case study: The Helliar Partnership, High House Farm, Corsley, Somerset Managing standing time at milking and training heifers to cubicles form Ensuring total dairy waiting times at milking are kept to under 2.5 hours part of an overall lameness control strategy which means solar ulcers is one reason why solar ulcers are a rarity at High House Farm. are a rarity at High House Farm, Somerset. “Look at how many cows are dimensions are set up correctly Herd manager, Roger Mashiter’s ‘passion for feet’ means the 550- lying and perching with their back for the size of their cows. Cubicle cow Holstein Friesian herd has an overall lameness incidence of just feet in the passage way and front FRPIRUWZLOODOVRDͿHFWO\LQJWLPHV 6% (mobility score 2 and 3). feet in the cubicle. Ideally 80% or so assess your setup by dropping Close attention is paid to minimising standing times before and more should be lying, 20% stand- to your knees in cubicles. Cudding DIWHUPLONLQJWRWDNHSUHVVXUHRͿIHHW:LWKWKHKHUGJHQHUDOO\UXQDV ing in the cubicles and no perch- behaviour is also an indication of RQHJURXSDFURVVÀYHVKHGVLQWKHZLQWHULWLVSRVVLEOHWRPRYHFRZVLQ ing,” Mr Karvountzis explains. comfort—ideally 80% of cows ly- manageable groups of 80 to 150 cows. This keeps waiting times prior Generally, perching is caused ing should be chewing. to milking to a minimum. After milking, the same principles apply. by incorrect neck rail placement, Mobility data from the 45 ´,QWZRRIRXUELJJHUVKHGVZHFDQ·WVKXWFRZVRͿWKHFXELFOHVVR so farmers should ensure cubicle farms also showed that speed of they go straight to the feed after milking and then lie down. It’s im- portant to have enough trough space so they can all eat at once,” says Mr Mashiter. ´,QWKHRWKHUVKHGVZHKDYHWRVKXWFRZVRͿWKHFXELFOHVDIWHUPLON- ing while we clean them, but we always try and keep this waiting time to under 20 minutes. This means we average 2.5 hours standing time a day before and after milking.” Farm owner, David Helliar says the key to success is keeping things simple. “Even on farms with one big group, simply not lumping them all into the collecting yard all at once can help reduce standing times,” he says. Mr Helliar and Mr Mashiter believe prevention is key to reducing lameness. At High House Farm, this starts from a young age with FDOYHVUHFHLYLQJDKLJKÀEUHGLHWWRSURPRWHJRRGKRRITXDOLW\+HLI- HUVDUHDOVRWUDLQHGWRFXELFOHVZLWKLQWKHÀUVWWZR\HDUVWRHQFRXUDJH cubicle acceptance and reduce standing times. All milking cows are trimmed twice a year, mobility scored and footbathed regularly. Rubber Attention! mats in the parlour also ease pressure on feet and the need to trim. Dairy Farmers in the South of England Are you looking for a straightforward contract, guaranteed payments, competitive prices and a long term working relationship? Due to the continued growth in sales and expansion of our processing facility just off the M27 in Southampton we are actively looking to recruit new Dairy Farmers in the South of England for direct milk supply. Want to find out more? Please get in touch with our Farm Liaison Manager who will be happy to discuss the opportunities in more detail. Call Brian Leggat on 07721 718174 or email: [email protected] David Helliar, Roger Mashiter and Sotirios Karvountzis. 34 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 UltraCell YEAST UltraCell YEAST FARM SAFETY Out of sight, out of mind? Alex Turgoose, product manager with safety training and equipment company Arco, highlights the dangers of working alone in the farming and agricultural industry. recent ruling against the industry record 29 fatal injuries to A trustees of a Borders country workers in 2012/13 alone, with an estate after a health and safety average of 36 fatal injuries over the breach was reported in connec- SUHYLRXVÀYH\HDUV7KLVLVVLJQLÀ- tion with a gamekeeper’s death cantly higher than the fatality rate brings into focus the dangers of recorded by the HSE for any other lone working, particularly in the industry section and over four agricultural sector. times higher than the fatal injury The 53-year-old gamekeeper rate for the construction sector. sustained serious injuries to his The most common types of in- pelvis when the quad bike that juries recorded in the farming and he was driving overturned on a agricultural industry are as a result slope. However, he was not found of contact with moving machinery, until 52 hours later. His body was injury from moving vehicles and found 200 yards away from the livestock. DFFLGHQWLQDVHSDUDWHÀHOG 7KHGHÀQLWLRQRIDORQHZRUNHU With no means of communica- is: “Those who work by them- tion, the gamekeeper was unable selves without close or direct su- to raise the alarm and summon Have you plans in place to help lone workers in the event of an accident? pervision”. The long hours spent help and there was no risk assess- by farmers working alone mean ment in place for a lone worker to cultural industry. However, the fatal injuries is recorded as part of that they are more vulnerable to report in at the end of a shift. number of fatal injuries recorded an agricultural incident. serious injury or fatal accidents in Just over one in every 100 UK by the HSE is disproportionately The latest figures reported the workplace. If an incident oc- workers is employed in the agri- KLJKHU$URXQGRQHLQHYHU\ÀYH by the HSE for the agricultural curs without a co-worker nearby to Get your pastures ready FEEDS for 2015 now with NWF SUCCESS Ammonium Nitrate AGRICULTURE Buy now... Secure fertiliser tonnage TODAY Call 01829 262294 36 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 FARM SAFETY help or to call for assistance condi- and can work safely? tions can worsen rapidly, leading • What happens if a person be- to serious illness or even death. comes ill, is injured or there is an emergency? Assessing the risk Be alarmed The duty to maintain safe working arrangements in the workplace is Open communication with and governed by the Health and Safety between lone workers provides the at Work Act 1974 and the Manage- reassurance that widely dispersed ment of Health and Safety at Work individuals can quickly and ef- Regulations 1999. These regula- fectively be located and assisted in tions state that it is the employer’s the event of an incident. Of course, responsibility to identify hazards additional workers could be em- found at work, to assess the risks ployed to work alongside each arising from these hazards and to farm labourer on high risk jobs. put measures in place to control However, this is often unrealistic the risks. DQGH[SHQVLYH Employers are also required to Safety devices such as lone make arrangements for emergen- worker alarm systems could pro- cies and provide adequate infor- vide cost effective reassurance mation and training for employees instead. to ensure safe working practices There is a lot to think about and procedures are carried out. when selecting the correct lone Where necessary, suitable personal worker personal protection. Lone protection equipment should be worker alarm systems are selected provided to ensure the safety of workers. Despite this legislation, the industry’s accident frequency rate continues to remain high. Changing attitudes and behav- iour around safeguarding worker safety in farming and agriculture, traditionally an hereditary voca- tion with practices passed down through the generations, poses a challenge. The harvest season also in- creases the risks associated with farming as already heavy work- loads increase while farmers rush to complete work before the autumn rain arrives. Feeling increasingly tired, distracted and stressed, farmers are more likely to have an accident and working Employers are responsible alone increases the potential sever- for identifying hazards found ity of the resulting consequences. at work and putting in place Once lone working has been measures to control the risks. LGHQWLÀHGWKHQH[WVWHSLVWRDVVHVV based on suitability in relation the risks that each worker faces. to functionality, design, layout, This involves looking at the danger LQVWDOODWLRQDODUPQRWLÀFDWLRQVWR that livestock may pose, the local response personnel, electrical work environment and the risks from and most importantly cost. the task itself. Areas to be assessed Arco supplies and provides in relation to lone working, as part H[SHUW DGYLFH RQ D UDQJH RI ORQH of a wider risk assessment, should worker alarm and communication include: systems. This includes GPS based • Can potential hazards of the positioning systems, mobile phone job be adequately controlled by platforms such as apps, and site- one person? based systems which use wireless • Is regular contact by phone or technology. radio possible? Making a small investment in ,VWKHSHUVRQPHGLFDOO\ÀWDQG equipment that’s easy to use and suitable to work alone? requires little maintenance is a • What training is required to reasonable price to pay for saving ensure the person is competent a life or preventing serious injury. BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 37 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Opportunities to cut costs Analysis of the latest results from the Promar Farm Business Accounts (FBA) service show a considerable range in costs of production—but how can we use this information? BA data can give farmers some useful point- Performance of average and top 25% be present, not to indicate a total cost of produc- Fers in terms of the reasons for the range in of FBA farms ranked on operating tion. And the results certainly do that. performance, says Promar managing director SUR¿WSHUFRZ “The year to March 2014 was generally a James Dunn. “This is particularly pertinent favourable year for prices, resulting in encour- Average Top 25% at present with all dairy producers having to DJLQJSURÀWOHYHOVIRUPDQ\LQWKHVDPSOH7KH review their business in the light of the falling Herd size 208 201 current year is going to be more challenging milk price. Milk yield per cow (l) 8,296 8,665 without doubt but the analysis gives some ´:KLOHGHFOLQLQJIHHGSULFHVRͿHUDJOLPPHU Milk price (ppl) 33.2 33.4 pointers about what farmers could look at to of hope, all dairy farmers will have to look at a LPSURYHWKHVLWXDWLRQIRUWKHLUEXVLQHVVµ FRPELQDWLRQ RI HFRQRPLHV DQG HFLHQFLHV WR £/cow £/cow The table compares the technical perfor- RͿVHWWKHLQFRPHGURSµKHVXJJHVWV Milk value 2,752 2,890 mance results for the average and top 25% of To investigate the range of costs, Mr Dunn Concentrate cost 796 761 IDUPVLQWKHVDPSOHUDQNHGRQRSHUDWLQJSURÀW compared the results of the average farm with The herds are of similar size and received an Other purchased feed 116 79 WKH WRS UDQNHG RQ RSHUDWLQJ SURÀW SHU almost identical milk price in the year. The top cow. He says looking at data on a per cow Margin over 1,837 2,050 25% of herds produced around 350 litres per basis removes any distortion caused by herd purchased feeds cow more milk leading to a £140 higher milk VL]HDQGH[SODLQVWKDW¶RSHUDWLQJSURÀW·LVSURÀW Vet & AI 130 116 income. However, they also spent considerably EHIRUHVXEVLG\LQFRPHDQGEHIRUHUHQWÀQDQFH Replacement cost 245 214 less on purchased feeds and generated an ad- and depreciation costs. It includes all the direct ditional £213 margin over purchased feeds per production costs that every farmer has to pay. Bedding 62 49 cow, which was the bedrock of their improved This allows a meaningful comparison between &KHPLFDOVDQGRI¿FH 89 79 SURÀWDELOLW\ systems and between owner-occupied and ten- Forage costs 129 118 Better cost control was apparent on all other anted businesses. The object of this analysis is variable costs with the result that the margin Gross margin 1,337 1,625 to look for trends and opportunities that might RYHUIHHGEHQHÀWLVFDUULHGWKURXJKWRWKHJURVV Interested in making milking more profitable? Contact us for a FREE Info Pack Fast Exit Parlour with Feeding Better cow control Milk each cow up to 1 minute faster Fast loading, fast exit Typically 5% more yield Dairymaster UK Ltd. Call: 01527 878505 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dairymaster.com Milking - Feeding - Cooling - Manure Scrapers - Health & Fertility Monitoring 38 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT between milk sales and feed use and highlights the different response to purchased feeds achieved by farmers in the sample. For exam- ple at a purchased feed use of 3,000kg/cow the range in yield is from 6,500 to 9,500 litres. “How is it that some farmers are producing 3,000 litres more milk worth around £800 per cow at today’s prices from the same feed input, DV WKH HͿHFW RQ SURÀWDELOLW\ ZLOO EH FRQVLGHU- able? We know that a wide range of factors will DͿHFWWKHOHYHORISXUFKDVHGIHHGUHTXLUHGDQG the response achieved. These will include cow KHDOWKDQGIHUWLOLW\IRUDJHTXDOLW\DQGTXDQWLW\ margin level and the gross margin generated per genetics, cow comfort and physical factors af- your own cost base. How do you compare to cow was almost £300 higher. fecting dry matter intakes. The more successful the average and top 25% and where are your op- “The top 25% farmers were more technically IDUPHUVDUHGRLQJPRUHRIWKHWKLQJVUHTXLUHG portunities to improve? How do you go about HFLHQW DQG WKLV UHVXOWHG LQ EHWWHU PDUJLQV and doing them better. realising them? Develop a plan with realistic There will be no one thing they are doing better, “The good news is that every dairy farmer but challenging targets to allow improvement but they will be achieving better performance should be able to make improvements in some to be monitored. Farmers may not be able to in many areas with the margin improvement of these areas to help improve performance and do much about the milk price but many will be probably made up of numerous factors. The VWDUWWRRͿVHWVRPHPRUHRIWKHPLONSULFHIDOO able to make changes to help move them up the WRSIDUPHUVFRQVHTXHQWO\UHWDLQHGRIPLON The starting point is to really understanding RSHUDWLQJSURÀWOHDJXHµKHFRQFOXGHV income as gross margin compared to 47% for the average.” Cost control also extended to overheads. Mr 'XQQH[SODLQVWKDWWKHPRUHHFLHQWSURGXF- ers had lower expenditure across every area of overheads costs from paid wages to machinery repairs, farm electricity to insurance, from water to general contracting, all on basically the same size business. ´7KLV PD\ H[SODLQ WKH GLͿHUHQFH LQ SDLG wages but doesn’t, for example, explain the GLͿHUHQFHLQPDFKLQHU\FRVWVIRUEXVL- nesses with a similar herd size. This suggests WE DO THE that the top 25% are carrying less kit but not at the detriment of performance. What matters is the productivity of the machinery and its suit- PAPERWORK. ability to the system.” While accepting that the farms in the sample are larger than average and are likely to be more HQJDJHGZLWKWKHÀQDQFHVRIWKHEXVLQHVV0U YOU GO Dunn says the key message behind the data is that from a similar milk price and yield per cow, VRPHIDUPHUVDUHGULYLQJDVLJQLÀFDQWO\KLJKHU FARMING. ÀQDQFLDOSHUIRUPDQFH+HVD\VWKHNH\TXHV- tions are why might this be and what can other farmers do about it? “To try and understand the factors driving Bogged down in Farm Assurance? Worried this performance we looked at the impact of about cross compliance? Confused about individual areas of management and cost. It is greening? Remember, inspections start next logical to start by looking at the largest single May and the penalty for getting it wrong cost area—feed. There is a very strong correla- can be up to 30% of your SFP. We know tion between feed cost and gross margin. Every you’re not interested in the paperwork, 1.0ppl increase in feed costs resulted in a 1.0ppl which is why we do it for you. Get in touch fall in gross margin so reducing feed cost per li- for your FREE initial visit. tre should be a key target for all dairy farmers.” 7KHÀUVWJUDSKVKRZVWKHUHODWLRQVKLSEH- tween milk sales and feed cost per litre. At any yield level there is a huge range in feed costs. At 8,000 litres the range in cost is from 6.0p to 16ppl. “One has to ask why that is,” suggests Mr Dunn. “Very little is actually down to feed price but more about feed use and response to that T. 01981 590 514 E. [email protected] WWW.CXCS.CO.UK feed.” . @cxcs1 | Cross Compliance Solutions Ltd The second graph shows the relationship BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 39 PASTURE TO PROFIT CONFERENCE A strong focus on reducing costs of production, a positive long-term market outlook and QHZJHQHWLFLQQRYDWLRQVZHUHDPRQJVWWKHWKHPHVDW/,&¶V3DVWXUHWR3UR¿W&RQIHUHQFH held in Worcester last month. Ann Hardy reports. UK costs of production remain too high he long-term international 7KLV ÀJXUH ZDV VXEVWDQWLDOO\ Comparison of the average New Zealand farmer Tmarket outlook for milk will more than the costs for the UK’s (2012/13) with the average UK grazing farmer (2013) be positive for around 10 years. top 25% at 26.26p/litre, and far UK (p/litre) NZ (p/litre) And there’s plenty of scope for UK more than those in New Zealand IDUPHUVWRLPSURYHWKHLUHFLHQF\ which averaged 21.03p/litre. Milk income 33.66 27.00 of production. These were two ´/RRNLQJ DW WKHVH ÀJXUHV , Total income 39.74 28.04 key conclusions to be drawn from become very nervous that our Purchased feeds 8.32 5.70 New Zealand’s dairy genetics WRS SURÀW IDUPHUV DUH VWLOO LQ WKH Labour 6.80 4.40 specialists, Livestock Improvement danger zone with the lower milk Corporation (LIC), whose confer- prices we are facing,” she said. Vet and breeding 2.07 1.58 ence addressed the issue of making After these costs had been met, Fertiliser/lime/seeds/sprays 2.67 3.03 money from milk. she said that farmers still had to Maintenance and running 6.30 3.21 Costs of milk production in the pay interest, rent, live and draw UK remain far too high and will money from their business. Overheads: admin, water, rates, advice 2.68 1.37 have to be reduced if farmers are “As a country, you still have a Depreciation 1.64 1.71 to cope with volatile milk prices, lot of room for improvement,” she Total 30.48 21.03 according to Alicia Newport from said. “I am not saying we can all £812 £915 LIC. get down to that (20.03p/litre) but &RPSDUDWLYHIDUPSUR¿WKD She described the average we can get closer.” &RPSDUDWLYHIDUPSUR¿WLVGHVLJQHGWRDOORZIDUPVRIGLIIHUHQWW\SH costs of production in the UK as Even the UK’s top 25% she and size to be compared, for example, whether rented or owned or ‘frightening’ at 30.48p/litre, re- said was higher than it needs to be using staff or family labour. marking that production costs are and higher than the previous year. WKHELJJHVWGULYHURISURÀWDELOLW\ Recognising that climatic dif- ferences may play a part, she said However, in order to do so, that New Zealand’s Southland she suggested starting next year’s may be more comparable to the budgets with a clean slate and jus- UK, and production costs here tifying every piece of expenditure. were 21.28p/litre—still substan- ´,QVWHDG RI JRLQJ RͿ ODVW \HDU·V tially lower than in the UK. Aim- ÀJXUHVDQGWDNLQJWKLQJVRXWVWDUW Milk Karts LQJ WR LGHQWLI\ VSHFLÀFDOO\ ZKHUH with a blank slate and add every WKHELJJHVWGLͿHUHQFHEHWZHHQWKH cost to ensure it is required for Supporting Farmers with Innovative Solutions UK and New Zealand lay, she said your business to function. there was no single cost “Start by categoris- MK170 MK170M - 170L Milk Kart with Mixer that stood out. ing your expenditure “There are lots of lit- into three—essential tle costs spread through costs, nice to have and the business,” she said, luxury items,” she said. “and fertilisers are the “Focus on getting the only one where New basics right and the rest Zealand is spending will follow. more.” “Budgeting In the UK she said for next year will be the that machinery, parlour most important thing sundries and mainte- Alicia Newport. you do in preparation nance costs were higher, for a low milk price,” MK170MP - 170L Milk Kart with Mixer & Pump although she accepted that some of she said. • Feeding system that easily transports bulk WKLVUHÁHFWHGDKLJKHUUHOLDQFHRQ 5HÁHFWLQJRQZKHWKHUDFHUWDLQ quantities of whole milk or milk replacer to calves silage than grazed grass. type of herd had lower costs of /DERXU HFLHQF\ ZDV DOVR D production per litre she said: “I • Large capacity allows for a full bag of milk replacer to be mixed factor, and she suggested seasonal EHOLHYHDQ\V\VWHPFDQEHSURÀW- • Allows user to control the amount of milk calving herds tended to stretch able.” dispensed to each calf work over the remaining nine However, she said that the • Twist on lid minimises spillages and months after a busy three months. top 25% were keenly focussed on contamination TB was also accepted as a big their costs of production and they • Castor swivel wheels allow for smooth cost in the UK, but she said it did analysed, benchmarked and didn’t manoeuvrability QRW H[SODLQ D GLͿHUHQFH RI S drift from the key management • 4 ply wheels for transporting on rough terrain litre. principles. “They do the same “It’s very easy to put costs up thing better and better each year Milk Karts available in 125L or 170L capacity and hard to pull them out when rather than changing the entire t: 01691 659226 e: [email protected] w: www.jfcagri.com the milk price falls,” she said. farm system. 40 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Are Mycotoxins costing you money? Contact Biocell Agri today Let us test and evaluate for Mycotoxins The yeast specialists on your For more information call: Biocell Agri Limited Tel: 01885 410336 / 07971 023637 farm Email: [email protected] web: biocellagri.com PASTURE TO PROFIT CONFERENCE Long-term market prospects Grassland needs TLC for milk look good to 2024 armers are often ruthless when just started going backwards. Fit comes to culling cows but “The next option involves LIC chairman, Murray King, be an exporter.” frequently hold back when it’s spending money,” said Mr Duller. believed that despite this year’s He said feed and water would time to replace a pasture. This This could include raising P and K declining milk prices, the general be the main restrictions on the could be costing them three or indexes, liming, increasing nitro- market outlook was good for the growth of China’s dairy industry four tonnes of dry matter/hectare, gen applications, slit aerating or foreseeable future. He said that and there were also challenges which is enough to cover the cost sward lifting. supply of milk and dairy products over animal health. RIUHVHHGLQJLQWKHÀUVWIXOO\HDURI “Poaching can reduce grass would not meet international de- “A lot of feed is imported; production. growth by 45% and some Dutch mand until 2021 and demand was water is under severe pressure; I However, while reseeding data suggests as much as 88%,” he projected to increase don’t believe China was sometimes essential, there said. by 36% by 2024. ZLOOHYHUEHVHOIVX- were many situations which could Depending on the depth of soil “The next oppor- cient,” he said. be remedied by cheaper and easier compaction, he said a slit aerator tunity usually comes A recurring means, according to independent could be used, or sward lifting was from where you don’t theme of the confer- grassland specialist, Chris Duller. more suitable for a deeper (more expect,” said Mr King. ence—that the UK +H VDLG HDFK ÀHOG VKRXOG EH than 10cm) problem. “A 1980s “But LIC’s focus is on had to produce milk assessed on an individual basis study from Aberystwyth showed international.” PRUH FRVWHͿHFWLYHO\ and the cause of poor slitting the soil could For LIC he said to compete in a vola- performance—rather double grass growth in this meant establish- tile world market— than the symptoms— WKHZRUVWÀHOGWKH\FRXOG ing a presence around was summed up by should be addressed. ÀQGµKHVDLG the world, including Murray King. delegate, Karolina Annual grass pro- However, he sat on in the UK, as milk Klaskova, from An- duction of 14 tonnes the fence over whether would have to be sourced from dersons. “The problem is we per hectare should be a aeration was good, as it ‘other places’. are part of a big global trade. target across the whole depended on the situa- Dismissing fears that some If we don’t produce milk for a farm and fields that WLRQ´ 42 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 You can help stop mastitis preying on your hard-earned PROFITS Long-acting treatment Longer-life milkers Use the online calculator at www.mastitiscalculator.com to calculate the savings you’d make by adopting a groundbreaking new treatment plan. Advice on the use of Metacam or other therapies should be sought from your veterinary surgeon. Metacam contains meloxicam. UK: POM-V IE: POM. Further information available from Boehringer Ingelheim Limited, Vetmedica, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YS, UK. Email: vetmedica. [email protected]. Date of preparation: Aug 2013. AHD 7787. Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). www.mastitis.co.uk/products/metacam WINTER FEEDING Rumen key to cow performance Why is it that some herds are struggling to perform this winter? While part of the problem might be the quality of grass silage, it is also important to look at how diets are being utilised in the rumen, according to Trouw Nutrition GB ruminant manager Adam Clay. failure of cows to milk to their potential the driver of dairy cow performance. All feed rumen. What the rumen bugs want is a consist- A seems to be a common occurrence on many LQJUHGLHQWV ZLOO VWLPXODWH GLͿHUHQW FRPELQD- ent supply of protein and energy, not peaks and farms across the country. “Although diets seem tions of the key fatty acids—propionic, acetic troughs. When we get consistency we achieve balanced the milk doesn’t seem to be there and butyric. D KHDOWK\ DQG HFLHQW UXPHQ $V VRRQ DV LW which is a further frustration on top of declining “Most farmers do not appreciate goes out of balance we get problems milk prices,” says Adam Clay. that metabolisable energy, the system including poor rumen function and “Undoubtedly the variable analysis of grass used to calculate energy demand and acidosis, both of which will reduce silage is a major factor driving production, but supply, in theory doesn’t actually ex- production.” in most cases the supplementation would seem LVW,WLVDGHULYHGÀJXUHWDNLQJLQWR Mr Clay explains that Rumenac, to address shortfalls in forage with adequate account, amongst other aspects, di- a new rationing system developed by HQHUJ\DQGSURWHLQDQGVXFLHQWÀEUH%XWSRV- JHVWLELOLW\$VLJQLÀFDQWSURSRUWLRQ Nutreco and being introduced into the sibly this is the root of the problem because we of the energy actually used by the UK, starts to provide a better interpre- also need to look at the ingredients in the diet cow is created by rumen fermenta- tation of how feeds are being used in and how they are utilised in the rumen.” tion. the rumen which in turn allows diets Mr Clay says that most rationing systems “In the same way, protein in the WREHÀQHWXQHGWRPD[LPLVHUXPHQ do not take into account how individual feeds diet is broken down into ammonia Adam Clay. performance, leading to better yields DUHEURNHQGRZQLQWKHUXPHQKRZWKH\DͿHFW which is then utilised by the rumen bugs to and performance. rumen fermentation and the production of vola- produce microbial protein. “What we can now do is look at how quickly tile fatty acids, an essential element of energy “What matters to the cow are two things. feeds are fermented, dividing them into rapidly utilisation and rumen health. 7KH ÀUVW LV WKH DFWXDO DPRXQWV RI 9)$V DQG and slowly fermented based on trials with milk- He says the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) microbial protein produced. The second is how ing cows,” he explains. produced as a result of rumen fermentation are rapidly the raw materials are degraded in the “Wheat, for example, is a rapidly fermented David R. Beech Spinder BARN EQUIPMENT LTD ...for comfort in dairy New! Dairy housing and production systems Livestock Housing Equipment www.davidrbeech.com Waved neck bar makes larger adjustments possible Thinking of building a new barn or refurbishment ? Guiding effect: it forces the cows to stay straight Expert advice including design/installation package available Available for divider width 110, 112,5, 115, 120 and 125 cm. Mounted per 2 divider places • Different models of cubicles • Rotating cow brushes • Latex meadow mattress • Heavy/duty beef gates P.O. Box 22, 9280 AA Harkema • Alanta waterbeds • PE Rope Scrapers The Netherlands • Youngstock cubicles • Stainless Steel Water Troughs Tel. +31-512 - 36 91 73 • Self-locking feed yokes • Waved neck bar Fax: +31-512 - 36 91 70 www.spinder.nl Telephone: 01477 544551 Mobile: 07711 259286 [email protected] [email protected] 44 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 WINTER FEEDING carbohydrate with up to 80% fermented within Drier grass silages Maize silage two hours of feeding. This causes a spike of With dry silages Mr Clay says the problem is He says maize could be a welcome addition to VFA production, particularly propionate, which reversed as these crops are less digestible and rations this winter, as with a balanced source of can potentially lower rumen pH and predispose VR SDVV VORZO\ WKURXJK WKH UXPHQ ,Q WKHVH both rapidly and slowly fermentable carbohy- cows to acidosis. Maize on the other hand is a cases there is a need to supply more rapidly fer- drates and good levels of by-pass starch, yield less rapidly fermented carbohydrate with only mented carbohydrate to drive bacterial growth increases are likely. However, as with grass IHUPHQWHG LQ WKH ÀUVW WZR KRXUV DQG LV and increase rumen function. silages, nutritional parameters vary so regular therefore much kinder on the rumen. “Neither “These silages present less of an acid risk to testing is essential. is wrong as a feed in isolation. The point is the rumen so the cow will tolerate an increased “Maize is a valuable source of starch, but we that we need to know this information as some UDWHRI9)$SURGXFWLRQLQWKHUXPHQ,QFUHDV- PXVWUHPHPEHUWKDWGLͿHUHQWVRXUFHVRIVWDUFK diets will require more rapidly fermentable ing the content of cereals in the diet may well FDQEUHDNGRZQDWGLͿHUHQWUDWHV)RUH[DPSOH carbohydrates, while others may require slower stimulate rumen function.” DGLHWDU\VWDUFKOHYHOPD\SURGXFHJRRGUH- fermentable carbohydrates. Mr Clay says the key message is to under- sults on one farm, but create sub clinical acidosis “The key is to prevent a drop in rumen VWDQGKRZVLODJHVIHGPD\DͿHFWUXPHQIXQFWLRQ on another. S+ VSHFLÀFDOO\ VWRSSLQJ LW JRLQJ EHORZ and to ensure the other components of the ration ´7KLV LV EHFDXVH GLͿHUHQW VWDUFK VRXUFHV Too many rapidly fermented ingredients will PD\DͿHFWWRWDOUXPHQIXQFWLRQ EUHDNGRZQDWGLͿHUHQWUDWHVLQWKHUXPHQWDN- increase the risk of the sharp fall in pH. Only ´,WLVDOVRLPSRUWDQWWRFRQVLGHUKRZFKDQJ- ing account of this in rationing cows could make by understanding how all the ingredients are ing the forage may require a revision of other WKHGLͿHUHQFH fermented can we be sure of maximising rumen components of the diet. For example, if you “The closer we focus or rumen health and performance. move from a drier, less acid second cut to a wet- performance and delivering the necessary bal- “To further help with this we can also as- WHUPRUHDFLGLFÀUVWFXWLWPD\EHZLVHWRUHGXFH ance of nutrients, the better cows will perform sess the direct impact of feed ingredients on the cereal content to avoid excess acid load.” this winter,” he concludes. UXPHQ E\ DVVHVVLQJ WKHLU DFLG ORDG DQG ÀEUH index, which together can infer rumen health. 'HWHUPLQLQJUXPHQKHDOWKFDQEHYHU\GLFXOW The cow will tell us when she has got an upset rumen, but at this point it is often too late. “We know that fermentation acids, while required, can cause acidosis when in excess, par- ticularly a strong acid like lactic acid. Rumenac is able to determine how much fermentation acids are produced from each feed ingredient, so the total amount can then be determined which gives a strong indication of rumen health.” Mr Clay believes that this better under- standing of rumen function can help explain why some diets may not be supporting an- WLFLSDWHG\LHOGOHYHOVWKLVZLQWHUDQGWKDWÀQH tuning the raw materials in the diet to achieve a better balance in the rumen could have a posi- tive impact. Don’t risk it Wet grass silages Many farmers are faced with lower dry matter, Ecosyl it! lower energy and low intake potential silages. These forages have tended to be more acidic, immediately presenting a rumen challenge. The world’s most “With these silages the key is to get the ru- proven silage additive PHQZRUNLQJPRUHHͿHFWLYHO\7RGRWKLVVXS- plementary feeds need to contain less rapidly fermented carbohydrate to reduce the acid load- ing on the rumen and to minimise pH dips.” As the rumen acid load is principally due to Order early starches and sugars in the diet, Mr Clay advises for a chance to WIN that farmers will need to reduce these and intro- GXFHPRUHÀEUH´,QPDQ\FDVHVWKHLPPHGLDWH a Honda Quad response will be to replace cereals with sugar EHHW SXOS WR LQFUHDVH ÀEURXV HQHUJ\ VRXUFHV However, far from easing the problem this can make it worse as sugar beet pulp is molassed and so has a high sugar content, adding a sup- For further information: ply of rapidly fermented carbohydrate.” Mr Clay suggests in these cases it will be Freephone | 0800 590440 EHWWHUWRDGGVR\DKXOOVZKLFKSURYLGHWKHÀEUH while having a lower proportion of rapidly fermented carbohydrate. BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 45 FARM HYGIENE Cleaning and disinfection vital Continuous stocking, more cows and multiple sites for youngstock and dry cows make disease control challenging for today’s dairy herds. But disinfectants and a full cleaning programme can help reduce this challenge, leading to better health and improved youngstock and dairy herd performance, according to DairyCo vet, Nicky Bowden. isinfectants aren’t just for LVWKHPRVWHͿHFWLYHZD\WREUHDN these steps, you are simply wast- So, muck it all out, and don’t keep Dteats or times of crisis—like on-farm cycles of re-infection with ing time and money.” any ‘clean’ straw to save money— foot and mouth outbreaks. They infectious diseases. “Disinfection 7R EH HͿHFWLYH WKHUHIRUH D it may look clean, but could still can help control disease levels on protocols are a hot topic in the pig cleaning and disinfection plan contain bugs. Move feed troughs farm—but only when used cor- industry. BPEX (which VKRXOG IROORZ ÀYH ED- out, clean them separately and UHFWO\DVSDUWRIDÀYHSRLQWFOHDQ- represents pig levy sic steps (see panel), make sure you clean around water ing and disinfection plan. payers and is part of explains Mrs Bowden. drinkers.” Whether it’s keeping bugs AHDB) recommends This starts with remov- Planning cleaning out (such as those found on the that a C&D plan is part ing all organic matter. FDWWOH WUDLOHU OHVVHQLQJ WKH HͿHFW of every veterinary Bedding muck and and disinfection of diseases already on farm (in health plan,” she says. slurry, dust, cobwebs 1. Remove organic matter— the calving box), or getting rid of “The key point to and feed—all reduce take all bedding and muck and disease that has built up (such as remember, however, WKHHFDF\RIDGLVLQ- troughs out cryptosporidium in calf housing), is that disinfectant fectant. 2. Use a detergent—soak all a cleaning and disinfection (C&D) doesn’t work if it is “Research has surfaces thoroughly plan is an important part of bios- simply spread on top Vet Nicky Bowden. shown that, under 3. Clean—use hot water and ecurity, says DairyCo vet Nicky of muck or slurry. It’s low conditions of chal- more detergent Bowden. not a magic bullet. It is only one lenge, most bugs are susceptible to 4. Disinfectant—pick the right Using an approach from the of the steps in an infection control licensed disinfectants,” she says. one, give it enough contact time pig industry, she says that a con- process of cleaning, disinfecting “Contamination from biological 5. Dry—for at least 24-48 hours sistently high standard of C&D and drying. If you don’t follow material reduces this susceptibility. and wait before restocking. FREE SAMPLE PACK 5 Estrotect heat detectors with every inquiry. Call now for further information on breeding tips, price guide and stockists. Award winning range of Herd Fertility, Heat Detection and Embryo Transfer products from the Industry Experts. Estrotect Heat Detectors The No 1 Rub Off Heat Detector worldwide Dairymac Bray Breeding Calendar 40 years of service and production recently acquired by Dairymac. Full range of numbered magnets 1-1000 Insemination Guns, Sheathes and AI Gun Warmer Thaw Units 1HZGLJLWDOÝ& Correct semen handling IMAGO Ultrasound Scanner LQWKHÀHOG Embryo Transfer Supplies ICP Bio and MAI supplies from USA High spec and superb image www.dairymac.com [email protected] 01489 894447 James Mob: 07872 161128 Dairymac Ltd. Lake View. Unit C. Waltham Business Park. Brickyard Rd, Swanmore, Southampton. SO32 2SA 46 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 FARM HYGIENE make sure it is suit- able for the job in hand, suggests Mrs Bowden. “Speak to \RXUYHWDERXWWKLV Then make sure the right disinfectant On the 12th Day of Christmas is diluted correctly. If it’s too concen- GEA gave to me... trated, it costs you money—too dilute, and it won’t do the job that you expect.” She says that disinfectants are EHVWDSSOLHGHYHQO\ under low pres- sure using a knap- sack sprayer—not E T le g T blasted off walls w g v in e g e in e st n in lve rn n t te m an with a pressure rotaries tu echnicians ilk lines cle washer. For best results, don’t apply to surfaces that are soaking wet, as this Disinfection does not work in dirty surfaces. simply dilutes the Next, use a detergent, soaking disinfectant. all surfaces thoroughly. “In the “Read the label and check the same way that washing up liquid WHPSHUDWXUH DGYLFHµ VKH VD\V N E S EUHDNVWKURXJKWKHJUHDV\ÀOPRQ “Extremes of temperature and UV in g e g e tin ig ng v n dishes, this will break down what light can oxidise and break down se or ht pi en oli g gates s teats-a-dip tanks-a-co ZHFDOODELRÀOPRQKRXVLQJDQG disinfectants. Also, be aware of equipment. This is really impor- hard water areas where calcium tant because it’s where bugs hide.” and magnesium salts make dis- Cleaning is the third step, us- LQIHFWDQWOHVVHͿHFWLYH6LPLODUO\ ing hot water plus detergent in a borehole water containing high pressure washer. This gets rid of OHYHOVRILURQDQGPDQJDQHVHR[- WKHELRÀOPDQGPDVVLYHO\UHGXFHV ides can react with compounds in the number of bacteria in an area. detergents.” S ´%3(; UHYHDOV WKDW UHPRYLQJ Perhaps the most important i g x n F s sc pi F ou er OLYHVWRFN IURP D EXLOGLQJ OHDYHV VWHSVKRZHYHUDUHOHDYLQJHQRXJK rapers scra ive MIones r auto feed a bacteria count of 50 million per contact time for disinfectant to square cm. When the building work, followed by enough dry- is then washed down with cold ing time—at least 24 to 48 hours. water, bacteria counts drop to ,W·V DOVR LPSRUWDQW WR KDYH VRPH 20 million per square cm. After ‘downtime’ before restocking, or washing with warm water plus a reusing equipment. “Bacteria and ¶KHDY\GXW\·GHWHUJHQWWKHFRXQW YLUXVHV FDQ SHUVLVW LQ ZHW FRQGL- a r drops to just 100,000 bacteria per tions. Research in pigs has shown n i d a square cm, all before disinfecting WKDW OHDYLQJ EXLOGLQJV IRU ÀYH WR a h T T f c the building.” VHYHQ GD\V EHIRUH UHVWRFNLQJ FDQ hr hs wo es ar rm ee foot bat cow brush mer in an a Washing from the top of a reduce bacterial load tenfold,” says building and hosing down, en- Mrs Bowden. sures that dirty water runs away. “We are all familiar with clean- +RZHYHUSDUWLFXODUFDUHLVQHHGHG ing and sanitising routines for with ledges and corners—as well milking plant, because it’s a hu- Have a very merry Christmas! as rough, pitted and cracked sur- man food production area. But we faces—because this is where dirt should try to apply this approach (QTVJGUGCPFQVJGTUVQEMKPIƂNNGTU FDQEXLOGXS$IWHUFOHDQLQJHYH- to other areas on farm as part of a call us on 02476 692 333 U\WKLQJVKRXOGORRNYLVLEO\FOHDQ herd health plan. Disinfectant isn’t And don’t forget to clean and just something to slosh around www.gea-farmtechnologies.co.uk disinfect equipment—the scoops, and tick the biosecurity box. It’s brushes, and buckets—as well. D UHODWLYHO\ FKHDS IRUP RI LQVXU- Only now should a disin- ance and disease control on your fectant be used. Choosing one farm—and certainly cheaper than GEA Farm Technologies IURP 'HIUD·V DSSURYHG OLVW ZLOO dealing with disease.” engineering for a better world BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 47 MANAGING HEIFERS Colostrum Management Feeding calf vital for heifer development by Dr Jenny Gibbons, DairyCo research and development manager Feeding the heifer calf enough energy and protein during In preparation for spring calving, the most the milk feeding period will help ensure they have adequate important step in a calf’s feeding regime is ERG\ VL]H DW ¿UVW EUHHGLQJ²DQG KDV D EHWWHU FKDQFH RI provision of good quality colostrum. It is vital to the newborn as it contains calving at 24 months, says Volac young animal specialist, antibodies, also known as immunoglobu- Dr Jessica Cooke. lins or IgG to provide immunity and it is also rich in essential nutrients to provide energy for growth. Feeding plenty of clean, oung calves have a great opportunity to age—these are vital for rumen development. antibody rich colostrum as soon as possible Ygrow during the milk feeding stage—and “Weighing calves frequently is an excel- after birth gives a calf a chance to absorb this is a key time to invest in these valuable herd lent way to check that heifers are on target for antibodies directly into her blood. These replacements, says Jessica Cooke. KDYLQJ DGHTXDWH ERG\ VL]H DW ÀUVW EUHHGLQJ antibodies provide temporal immunity until she develops her own antibodies. So what should farmers be looking at? Here and therefore set to calve at the target age at she outlines top tips for feeding milk to calves: ÀUVWFDOYLQJ,I\RXGRQ·WPHDVXUHWKHJURZWK The golden rules for colostrum feeding are 1: Milk quality: Invest in a good quality milk rate—how do you know if it is good or bad?” the 3Qs – Quantity, Quality and Quickly. replacer based on milk—protein 20% to 26%; fat she says. Quantity – Give a first feed of 3 litres or 16% to 20%; ash less than 9%—to give the calf 10% of body weight, this should be the best possible start. If targeting high growth followed up by another similar size feed Tips for measuring calf growth rates, then choose a milk replacer with a higher within 12 hours of birth. protein content, and lower fat content. • Set growth rate targets—aim for up to 0.85kg/ Quality – Good quality colostrum contains 2: Milk temperature: Feed at consistent GD\GXULQJWKHÀUVWWKUHHWRIRXUPRQWKVDQG at least 50 grams per litre of IgG. Colostrum temperatures of 37ºC to 39ºC. Do not use hot WKHUHDIWHUNJGD\XSWRÀUVWEUHHGLQJ,WLV quality varies enormously between cows so important that animals do not grow too slow- only feed good quality colostrum and it water, above 45ºC to mix milk replacer as this must be tested using a colostrometer or a will damage the sensitive proteins which are ly—less than 0.6kg/day, nor too fast, greater refractometer. Any colostrum containing essential for calf performance. Invest in a ther- than 0.9kg/day. less than 20 grams per litre of IgG should mometer to check water temperature. • When?—as a minimum, weigh calves at not be used. 3: Milk volume: Feed consistent birth and again at six months of Quickly – Calves must receive their first volumes daily. For bucket fed age. Alternatively weigh calves colostrum feed as soon as possible after calves, volumes should not vary at time points that coincide with birth, ideally, with two hours to optimise from feed to feed. Changes to existing management practices, immunity but, at the latest, within amounts fed should be introduced for example worming and vaccina- six hours. on a small stepped basis. tion, to minimise additional labour Calves left to suckle their dam are 2.4 times 4: Milk concentration: Milk may requirements. If targeting high more likely to receive insufficient IgG. You be mixed at any concentration growth rates, weigh animals more should therefore feed the calf by nipple between 10% and 15% solids for frequently, for example at birth, bottle as this promotes transit of the feeding calves twice per day, but weaning, six months and breeding, colostrum to the true stomach. If you start, always mix at the chosen concen- to enable adjustments to be made using a bottle and the calf does not drink it tration consistently. How much if required. all, the remainder should be then given by Dr Jessica Cooke. +RZ" :HLJK VFDOHV RͿHU WKH stomach tube to make sure it receives the powder and water to use?—for a full 3 litres (or 10% of body weight). concentration of 12.5% solids, use most accurate, and often easiest 125g of milk powder plus 875ml water to make measure of weight. Alternatively, use a weigh As part of DairyCo’s Research Partnership, one litre of mixed milk. Use scales to accurately band (girth tape) or height stick. Using the same led by the University of Nottingham, researchers at the Royal Veterinary College weigh the milk powder. Remember, if you add measure and being consistent between years is have been working with DairyCo to create 125g powder to one litre of water, the milk key so that you can benchmark. best practice guidance on calf colostrum concentration will be lower, approximately 11%. For a complete guide to weighing calves see management. Training resources and 5: Time of feeding: Feed calves at the same time www.volac.com/agriculture films, particularly on collecting colostrum each day. If feeding twice a day, it doesn’t have hygienically, storing it cleanly and to be at exactly 12 hour intervals; you may feed Heifer Rearer of the Year 2015 preparing it properly to feed to calves, are at 8.00am and 4.30pm but this should be con- currently in production. sistent. If feeding once-a-day, stick to 24 hour If you would like to win a study tour to the Further information on colostrum intervals rigorously. 86$WRÀQGRXWKRZWRLPSURYH\RXU\RXQJ- management can be found in Chapter 10 6: Feeding equipment and areas: Store, prepare stock’s performance, then enter Volac’s Heifer Feeding+ of DairyCo’s and and feed milk in clean and hygienic conditions. Rearer of the Year competition. www.dairyco.org.uk/calves Clean feeding equipment between batches and To participate get a copy of the entry form do not use the same utensils for feeding healthy by calling Freephone 0800 919808 or visit and sick calves. www.volac.com to download a copy. 7: Fresh water and calf starter: Provide the The competition is sponsored by Volac calf with fresh ad-lib water, and good quality, and supported by EBVC and British Dairying. SDODWDEOHFDOIVWDUWHUIURPWKUHHWRÀYHGD\VRI 48 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 MANAGING HEIFERS Lifetime performance key issue “However we WZR SHQV HDFK DFFRPPRGDWLQJ EDWFKHV RI had reached the stage calves. Three sides are wooden space boarded, where we had so the fourth a roller windshield, the roof has con- many heifers. The ventional ridge ventilation, and a drain runs shed was suffering around each computerised feeder. from overcrowding “While the shed has removed overcrowd- and the pens were ing, it has also enabled us to introduce an all-in- never empty. Taking all-out system whereby we can steam clean the on a second com- pens, disinfect and then rest them for one week. puterised feeder has Cleanliness is next to godliness. The system has helped us to change removed all opportunities for cross infection all that. and we subsequently haven’t treated a calf for “We have put up VFRXUVLQWKHODVWPRQWKV a second calf rearing “Faster growth rates and healthier calves are shed measuring 75 UHVXOWLQJLQD\RXQJHUDJHDWÀUVWFDOYLQJ³ZH feet by 30 feet, which require fewer replacements and have more heif- allows an average 55 ers surplus to requirements to sell, providing square feet per calf at cash for reinvestment purposes, including high ZHDQLQJµ,WIHDWXUHV TXDOLW\VH[HGVHPHQµDGGV6WHYH The Kirk family: Rob, Steve, Anne and Katie. he Kirk family from Leicestershire were the Twinners of the last National Heifer Rearer of the Year Award. Attention to detail was at If Activate maize were a fuel, the forefront of their calf rearing management practices in their 400-cow pedigree red and it would power performance cars. white Holstein herd currently averaging close to 9,000 litres per cow. So how have they pro- gressed in the last 18 months since they received their award—and a Volac computerised calf feeding system? “A dairy animal’s lifetime performance is KXJHO\LQÁXHQFHGLQWKHÀUVWZHHNVRIOLIHVR our objective is to grow our heifers as quickly DVZHFDQGXULQJWKHLUÀUVWWRZHHNVµVD\V Steve Kirk, who together with his wife Anne, son Rob and daughter Katie manage the enter- prise based at Holt Farm, Walton, Lutterworth. ´$WWKLVWLPHIHHGFRQYHUVLRQHFLHQF\LVDWLWV greatest, otherwise we’d always be on the back IRRW DQG ZRXOG QHYHU FDWFK XS WKDW JURZWKµ explains Steve. Targets for weaning and bulling “We’re aiming to increase birth weight threefold Concentrated goodness at 10 weeks weaning and we’re currently bang on target. These heifers are going on to be suf- Maximises energy density for every kg fed ÀFLHQWO\ PDWXUH WR LQVHPLQDWH DW DQ DYHUDJH in your ration. Improves animal performance 345kg at 13 months which has enabled us to VKDYHRͿDQDYHUDJHIRXUPRQWKVDWÀUVWFDOY- and reduces bought-in feed costs. Rapid cob LQJWRPRQWKV)XUWKHUPRUHKHLIHUPRUWDOLW\ ripening ensures an early harvest. ELUWKWRFDOYLQJLVUXQQLQJDWµKHVD\V “We were already on the way towards Scan for achieving those goals when we won the heifer Creating high energy further feed for your cows. rearing award. We had swapped buckets for a information computerised feeder which had enabled us to increase daily intakes from an average 750gm to 900gm milk replacer fed in six litres. We also had the opportunity to introduce a specialist rearing unit away from the milking herd on a neighbouring farm and pay greater attention to Rothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN7 6DT detail to new born calves resulting in mortality Tel: 01472 371471 I Fax: 01472 371386 I Email: [email protected] www.lgseeds.co.uk/maize IDOOLQJIURPWRLQWKHÀUVWZHHNV BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 49 WINTER FEEDING STRATEGIES Beware of acidic silages When it comes to silage analysis, averages can hide a lot of problems on farms. The analysis results so far have particularly emphasised the low pH values of this year’s grass silages. However, it is clear there are a multitude of issues that need to be taken into account. KH VLJQLÀFDQW QXPEHU RI VL- Example of typical DFXWHRUVXEDFXWHUXPHQDFLGRVLV SRUWDQWWRHQVXUHWKDWIDWVXVHGDUH TODJHVFRPLQJWKURXJKZLWKORZ high acid silage 6$5$ ZLOO OHDG WR D VLJQLÀFDQW UXPHQSURWHFWHG³LQRWKHUZRUGV S+YDOXHVWKLVZLQWHUDUHRISDU- GURS LQ '0 LQWDNH PLON \LHOG WKH\ SDVV WKURXJK WKH UXPHQ IRU WLFXODUQRWHDFFRUGLQJWR'XQFDQ Value GHSUHVVLRQOHWKDUJ\ORZPLONIDWV GLJHVWLRQ LQ WKH ORZHU GLJHVWLYH 5RVHRI&DUUV%LOOLQJWRQ Dry matter (%) 20 UHGXFHGIHUWLOLW\DQGRWKHUKHDOWK WUDFWDYRLGLQJDQ\QHJDWLYHHͿHFWV ´:KLOH WKLV VXJJHVWV WKH IRU- Crude protein (% DM) 14 LVVXHV RQÀEUHGLJHVWLRQDQGULVNRIORZ DJHV ZLOO EH PRUH VWDEOH LQ WKH ´:KLOH WKH QRUPDO FXOSULW RI PLONIDW FODPSDQGDWIHHGRXWLWDOVRPHDQV D-value (%) 69 DFLGRVLV LV RYHU IHHGLQJ RU VOXJ 'U\ WKH GLHW RXW &RQVLGHU WKHVLODJHFRPSRQHQWRIWKHUDWLRQ Metabolisable energy 11.0 IHHGLQJRIFRQFHQWUDWHVWKLV\HDU UHGXFLQJWKHLQFOXVLRQRIZHWPRLVW LVPRUHDFLGLFZKLFKZLOOLQFUHDVH (MJ/kg DM) WKH ULVN LV FRPSRXQGHG E\ WKHVH IHHGVVXFKDVEUHZHUV·JUDLQVDQG WKHULVNRIDFLGRVLVLIQRWSURSHUO\ Neutral detergent 45 KLJKODFWDWHDFLGLFVLODJHVWRJHWKHU FDUURWV+LJK\LHOGLQJFRZVPD[- EDODQFHG ¿EUH 1') '0 ZLWK WKH WHPSWDWLRQ WR RYHUIHHG LPLVH WKHLU '0 LQWDNH ZKHQ WKH ´&RXSOHG ZLWK WKH ORZ S+ ORZHUSULFHGUDSLGO\IHUPHQWDEOH RYHUDOOGLHWKDVD'0RIEHWZHHQ Lactic acid (% DM) 11 LV RIWHQ D ORZ GU\ PDWWHU '0 VWDUFKVRXUFHVVXFKDVZKHDWDQG DQG PDNLQJ WKHVH IRUDJHV HYHQ PRUH PH 3.7 EDUOH\µ 5XPHQ EXͿHUV7KHUHDUHD RIDFKDOOHQJHWREDODQFHµ QXPEHU RI EXͿHUV RQ WKH PDU- $Q H[DPSOH DQDO\VLV LV SUH- IHUPHQWLQJÀEUH7KLVLPSDFWVRQ NHW DQG WKH NH\ IDFWRU LV WR IHHG Solutions to consider VHQWHGLQWKHWDEOH WKHVXSSO\RINH\HQHUJ\\LHOGLQJ HQRXJK7KLVYDULHVGHSHQGLQJRQ ´:HWVLODJHUHGXFHV'0LQWDNH QXWULHQWV PLFURELDO DQG UXPHQ 6R ZKDW DUH VROXWLRQV" 'XQFDQ ZKLFKW\SHLVXVHG²HJJGD\ DQG WKH KLJK DFLG ORDGLQJ LQ WKH E\SDVVSURWHLQµKHDGGV 5RVH DQG 5LFKDUG .LUNODQG VXJ- VRGLXPELFDUERQDWHRUJGD\RI UXPHQVKLIWVWKHPLFURELDOSRSXOD- 'U5LFKDUG.LUNODQGIURP9RO- JHVWWKHIROORZLQJVHYHQRSWLRQV SURGXFWVOLNH$FLG%XI WLRQWRRQHWKDWLVOHVVHFLHQWDW DF FRPPHQW·V ´,I QRW DGGUHVVHG 'LJHVWLEOH ÀEUH )LUVW RI DOO /LYH \HDVW /LYH \HDVWV KHOS FRQVLGHU GLVSODFLQJ VRPH RI WKH E\ VFDYHQJLQJ R[\JHQ DQG ODFWLF ZHW DFLGLF VLODJH ZLWK DQ\ RWKHU DFLGDQGLPSURYLQJWKHUXPHQHQ- 7KH)LUVW GULHUVRXUFHVRIIRUDJHÀEUHRQWKH YLURQPHQWIRUWKHJURZWKRIÀEUH IDUPVXFKDVELJEDOHRUFKRSSHG GLJHVWLQJEDFWHULD DQGWKH%HVW VWUDZ³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¶VFUDWFK·RU PD[LPLVH SURGXFWLRQ +RZHYHU HͿHFWLYH1')(DUO\ODFWDWLRQUD- ZKHUH WKHUH LV D ULVN RI DFLGRVLV WLRQVVKRXOGEHWDUJHWHGWRDPLQL- H[WUDVXSSOHPHQWDU\GLJHVWLEOHXQ- PXP1')DQG HͿHFWLYH GHJUDGDEOHSURWHLQ '83 VKRXOG 1')SHUNJ'0 EH FRQVLGHUHG +LJK'83 IHHGV %\SDVVVWDUFK +LJK\LHOGLQJ VXFKDV$PLQR0D[DUHZHOOSURY- FRZVQHHGVWDUFKLQWKHLUGLHWEXW HQWRSURYLGHWKLVHVVHQWLDOE\SDVV H[FHVVLYHO\KLJKOHYHOVRIUDSLGO\ SURWHLQUHTXLUHPHQW IHUPHQWHG VWDUFK DGG WR WKH DFLG ORDGLQJVRWKLQNDERXWVZLWFKLQJ Key message VRPHWRDVORZHUUHOHDVLQJVWDUFK &DOOXVQRZIRUJUHDWODUJHRUGHU VRXUFHVXFKDVPDL]HUDWKHUWKDQ 'U.LUNODQGDGGV ´7KHNH\PHV- ZKHDWRUEDUOH\ VDJH IRU IDUPHUV WKLV ZLQWHU LV GHDOVEHIRUH&KULVWPDV &DXVWLF RU $ONDJUDLQWUHDWHG WR HQVXUH WKH\ DUH DZDUH RI WKH ZKHDWDUHDOVRVDIHURSWLRQVWKDQ TXDOLW\RIWKHIRUDJHVWKH\KDYHRQ UROOHGRUJURXQGZKHDW IDUPWKLV\HDU :RUNLQJRQIDUPVDFURVVWKH8.IRU\HDUV )DW 3URYHQ IDW VXSSOHPHQWV ´:KLOH DYHUDJH VLODJHV KDYH VXFKDV0HJDODFFRQWDLQRYHU ORZHU GLJHVWLELOLW\ WKDQ ODVW \HDU WLPHV WKH HQHUJ\ RI FHUHDOV EXW WKHUHLVDVLJQLÀFDQWSURSRUWLRQRI ZZZLQWHUVKDSHFRP FUXFLDOO\DUHQRWIHUPHQWHGLQWKH ZHWDFLGLFVLODJHVWKDWQHHGWREH UXPHQ VR VXSSO\ HQHUJ\ ZLWKRXW EDODQFHG LQ D YHU\ GLͿHUHQW ZD\ LQFUHDVLQJWKHDFLGORDG,W·VLP- WRQRUPDOµ 50 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Advertisement Feature GET YOUR FARM ON THE RADAR Get your technical performance on the radar The dairy sector is fast Achieving high technical • Reducing age at first calving moving and businesses performance, by which I of heifers need to move with it. mean achieving top 25% • Ensuring cows culled are performance, is about Whether you plan to the cows you want to cull. understanding how your farm The radar will help you identify expand or want to performs in all the key areas where the pinchpoints are consolidate your which together determine and what you need to do to business the starting gross margins. It is about improve. It will allow you to point should be an Here, consultant Andrew having KPIs and protocols in benchmark your technical honest analysis of your Watson considers the place to identify how to performance and in so doing improve performance areas current business to importance of driving help underpin future technical performance and then developing plans to expansion plans. help identify the best drive performance forward, route forward. management on farm. including: To arrange a free radar The Promar Radar, High levels of technical • Maximising forage analysis of your business production and utilisation call us on 01270-616800 a unique and performance will underpin financial results on all dairy • Ensuring feed usage and or email comprehensive way to farms. Gross margin is the best costs are kept realistic [email protected] assess your business, overall indicator of technical • Achieving high levels of looks at the key performance as it combines the reproductive performance components and how key income and cost areas. Our • Reducing the losses they interact. data shows farms with higher associated with mastitis gross margins generate higher and lameness operating profits so high technical performance has to be the foundation of a successful system. Finance Farmer Technical attitudes performance Technical Forage Facilities performance BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 51 CHALLENGE DAIRY 2015 Progress pleasing at Plasgwyn Sponsors have now been working for six months 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. Mike Green reports. ows have looked better this September 1st on a formula con- blend has also been increased from Csummer than they have in tract. 18% to 22%. the past and milk yields have Expenditure on concentrates “The maximum fed in the increased by 25%—from an aver- has been increased from £12,000 parlour is now 5kg per cow of age 22-23 litres per day to 27-28 per month to £18,500 but initial 18% protein concentrate,” explains litres over the summer. “We have costings are looking positive. Trystan. “Those producing 40 kept the cows in a night over the “Margins have definitely im- litres of milk get 4.0kg, those on 33 summer and they have been hap- proved with the new feeding sys- litres get 3.0kg and those produc- pier—we do not have the ideal WHPEXWZHQHHGD\HDURIÀJXUHV ing 20kg or less get 2.0kg concen- ground here for grazing,” says for a proper comparison, “ says trate.” Trystan. “Cows have been inside Trystan’s father Phil. At the end of October Trystan DOOWKHWLPHVLQFHWKHÀUVWZHHNRI Cows were being fed grass felt the cows were not milking as October.” silage plus 3kg of an 18% blend in well as they should and were one the feed passage and up to 8.0kg or two litres below par. This was of concentrates in the parlour. put down to the fact that there Milk quality Following advice from local dairy were a lot of stale cows in the herd Milk quality has also been good. producer and Wynstay business and third cut grass silage in the ra- In October butterfats averaged development manager Howell tion. Yields are now back up to 27 4.36%, protein 3.44%, cell counts Richards, concentrates were cut litres per day with 70% of the herd 100,000 and Bactoscans 19. Cows back in the parlour and the blend LQFDOIDQGWKHLQWURGXFWLRQRIÀUVW calve all year round and milk has increased in the partial mixed ra- cut silage to the ration. been sold to Dairy Crest from tion to 8kg per cow. Protein in the Autumn 2015 target Salt licks have also been provided Twenty-three-year old at each end of the feed trough. Trystan farms in partnership TEEMORE “The cows seem to like it and it with his parents Helen and has helped butterfats go up to 4.3% Phil. They have three farms totalling 460 acres and rent ENGINEERING LTD although they have dropped back LIVESTOCK HOUSING SPECIALISTS a further 115 acres. This to 4.1% now,” says Trystan. “It has supports a 310-cow dairy helped increase dry matter intakes herd plus followers with and should improve fertility. plans to increase the herd to Rubber Floor Covering “The target is to be selling 500 cows over the next four 9,000 litres of milk per cow by WRÀYH\HDUV7KH'DYLHVGR 3DUORXU3LW&ROOHFWLQJ 52 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 ces pla ning mai t re e las Res of th ity) erve one labil avai ct to (subje EXPERIENCE THE INDUSTRY MILESTONE THAT IS SEMEXXV The 2015 Semex Dairy Conference celebrates 25 years of progressive solutions Come January 2015, Semex will have delivered 25 years of progressive solutions – inside and outside its conference – to enhance your knowledge and profi tability. In that month, Semex will proudly host its landmark 25th dairy conference, entitled SEMEXXV, at Glasgow’s 5-star Radisson Blu Hotel. SEMEXXV will feature a selection of informed speakers from the diverse areas of the dairy business to match this rare occasion. Our conference has become a fi rst-choice forum for practical progress, with a renowned political, economic and technical dimension. Consequently, there are already only a few places at SEMEXXV remaining, sensibly priced at £375+vat. Contact Helen Miller on 0800 86 88 90 or [email protected] to secure your seat at this Semexciting historic gathering! Monday 12 January Tuesday 13 January • Paul Larmer, Chief Executive of Semex; • Liz Philip, Principal of Askam Bryan College; • Ake Hantoft, Chairman of Arla Foods amba; • Sally Wilson, Partner at Evolution Vets; • Neil Kennedy, Interim Chief Executive • John Fetrow, Professor of Dairy Production Medicine of Adams Foods; at the University of Minnesota. • David Handley, Chairman of Farmers For Action; Practical dairy farmer speakers from here and abroad • Gwyn Jones, Chairman of RUMA will complement these speakers, including: (Responsible use of Medicines in Agriculture); • Clay McCarty from the award winning McCarty Family • Danielle Pinnington, Managing Director at shopping Farms, in Kansas. analysts Shoppercentric; • Steve Miller, Shanael Holsteins • Dr Lewis James, Lecturer in Sports Nutrition • David Yates, Castle Douglas at Loughborough University; • David Swale, partner at Joylan Farms 11-13 JANUARY 2015 IN GLASGOW #semexxv CHALLENGE DAIRY 2015 Continued from page 52. dry cow ration and feeding more straw. Before they were on silage- Good preg rate sign of healthy herd based diet and getting too fat.” Genus ABS RMS fertility results at Plasgwyn to date A straw chopper has been purchased but the Davies were Date Eligible for Number bred Heat detection Eligible for Number Pregnancy still waiting for delivery in early breeding rate (%) pregnancy pregnant rate (%) December. They are also waiting 20/07/2014 69 45 65 66 21 32 for a feed bin to store the dry cow 10/08/2014 66 41 62 64 16 25 blend. Straw is currently being 31/08/2014 56 33 59 53 14 26 chopped by the forage harvester and has been introduced to dry 21/09/2014 55 29 53 55 10 18 cow diets. When everything is in place dry cow rations will comprise ntroduced from July 21st has the herd. He marks cows eligible Holstein blood. “We were looking of 5kg chopped straw, 1kg blend Ibeen Genus ABS’ Reproductive for service with orange chalk and for good milk solids, good feet and plus grass silage. “The new ration Management System (RMS) which those that are pregnant with blue to make the Friesian bigger but not should help to increase milk pro- the Davies’ have been very pleased chalk. There is a 50 day voluntary too ‘leggy’,” says Trystan. duction further and improve cow with. waiting period and cows in heat are They discussed the AI sires to fertility,” notes Tystan. Fertility management in the served in the collecting yard or in use on the herd with Genus breed- Other small investments and past was to use natural service bulls the cubicles. ing adviser Gwyndaf James. The improvements are being made on on the herd. “Although fertility With just Trystan and his ÀYHEXOOVWKH\RSWHGIRUZHUH the farms. New tip-over water was good some cows were getting mother and father running the • Coldsprings Ponder troughs have been installed in the in calf too soon,” says Phil. “There herd, labour is an issue and they • Ballycairn Jardin Theodore milking cow housing which should is also a fair cost associated with have found contracting out respon- • UFM-DUBS Dutch ensure a good supply of clean running four bulls. sibility for breeding management • Welcome Gerwyn drinking water. “It is still early days but we very helpful. “The service is a • Morningview Levi At Pencelli Farm where dry have been very pleased with the lot cheaper than taking on an em- Fertility is being monitored cows and heifers are managed a 506VHUYLFHDQGWKHÀJXUHVVRIDUµ ployee,” says Trystan. “The service closely and has improved. “The new footbath is being installed. The Davies’ are now work- is working well, and we are very three-week pregnancy rate in typi- “The aim is to improve locomotion ing with RMS technician Richard happy. We would commend it to cal herds using natural service is and reduce digital dermatitis in the Davies who visits the dairy unit anyone. 8% to 12% but here the average herd,” he adds. at 5:00am every morning to walk “We now have dates for when was about 15% to 16%,” says Ge- FRZV VKRXOG EH GULHG RͿµ DGGV nus ABS sales manager Ceidrych Helen. “On Mondays Richard Davies. “The preg rate has now will give us a list of cows due to gone up to 26% which is a sign of EHGULHGRͿ(YHU\WZRZHHNVKH a healthy herd. Heat detection rate gives us a list of cows to be PD’d currently stands at 60% but this and needing attention by the vet. will improve in future. The aver- We now look forward to Richard’s age conception rate on RMS herds visits.” is about 32% but is currently 40% Since 2009 the breeding policy here. This will probably ease back a has been to move away from a little in future as will the pregnancy British Friesian herd and introduce rate,” adds Ceidrych. Total Solutions • Using their land better and getting more out of it is the target of for New Builds & Challenge Dairy 2015 competition winner Trystan Davies. And he Refurbishments recognises improvements can be made to the dairy unit with the help of the four sponsors of the competition—Wynnstay, Genus ABS, Pentagon Associates and HSBC. They are providing £10,000 of advice, products and services to help drive the business forward. Mayo Mattresses Cubicles, Gates Barriers and Troughs Automatic Hydraulic Scrapers IOM Farm, Meadow Lane, Croston, Lancashire, PR26 9JP MANUFACTURED IN IRELAND E-mail: [email protected] • www.cowcomfort.co.uk SINCE 1988 Telephone 01704 821717 The new water trough and footbath installed for the dry cows. 54 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Tw Ladys-Manor RD De-Su RB Hammer-Creek O Man GOODWHONE GRAFEETI MOONRAY KODY Fertility Index Fertility Index Fertility Index Fertility Index +5.2 +7.2 +3.6 +11.9 Dam: Campogallo Gaia VG86 Dtr: Kings-Ransom Graf Double 2Dam: Sully Shottle May EX90 Dtr: Murph-Ko Kody 4803 GP82 Remember, improvements through breeding are permanent and cumulative from one generation to the next. (DairyCo) Exclusive supplier of Freephone: 0800 783 7258 | www.cogentuk.com ® WORLD WIDE SIRES, LTD ® Cogent Breeding Limited, Lea Lane, Aldford, Chester, CH3 6JQ Cogent breeding abide by the DairyCo and Holstein UK established code of advertising. BREEDING MATTERS UK breeding rises to top Breeding adviser Kevin Lane focuses on the top Holstein bulls to be highlighted in the latest DairyCo bull proof run which has just been published. Northern Ireland-bred sire DQG LV WKH KLJKHVW W\SH Prehen Omen is the new proven VLUHRQWKHWRSWDEOHDWZLWK Holstein number one sire in the XGGHUVDQGIHHWDQGOHJV 'DLU\&R'HFHPEHU3URÀWDEOH/LIH- 6LUHG E\ WKH KLJK ÀWQHVV 2PDQ WLPH,QGH[ 3/, UDQNLQJV VRQ %DGJHU%OXͿ )DQQLH )UHGGLH 8SRQHSODFHDQGXSIURP QHYHUVROGLQWKH8. DQGRXWRID WR WKLVVRQRI2PDQ-XVWLFHLV *ROGZ\QGDP*UDIHHWLXQVXUSULV- DKLJKPLONKLJKVROLGVEXOOZLWK LQJO\DOVRWUDQVPLWV)HUWLOLW\ VWURQJÀWQHVVWUDLWVDQGIXQFWLRQDO /LIHVSDQDQG6&& W\SH:LWKNJRIPLON ,QHTXDOVL[WKDW 3/,LVD IDW DQG SURWHLQ FHOOV bull who crept into the proven list /LIHVSDQ DQG )HUWLOLW\ ODVWWLPHDQGZKRDOUHDG\KDV8. KH RͿHUV DQ H[FHOOHQW EDODQFH RI GDXJKWHUVIROORZLQJKLVXVDJHDV SURGXFWLRQDQGKHDOWK DJHQRPLF\RXQJVLUHGen-I-Beq $GGLQFDOYLQJHDVHDQGKHLV Lavaman IURP 6HPH[ LV D KLJK D EXOO WKDW LV VXUH WR EH SRSXODU SURWHLQVLUHZLWKNJVDW 6ROGE\%XOOVHPHQKHZDVEUHGLQ DQG KDV SRVLWLYH IDW SHUFHQW WRR &RXQW\/RQGRQGHUU\DQGKLVGDP +LVIHUWLOLW\LVDOVRKLJKDW DQG 3UHKHQ *ROGZ\Q )URXNMH (; A daughter of the new top proven PLI sire Prehen Omen. KHLVYHU\HDV\FDOYLQJDW UHFHQWO\FRPSOHWHGKHUIRXUWK -RLQLQJ KLP LQ VL[WK LV GD\ODFWDWLRQZLWKKLJKVROLGVDQG GLFDWLQJWKDWKLVVPDOOHUGDXJKWHUV +HLVOLNH2PHQVLUHGE\2PDQ De-Su Freddie Denim ZKR ZHOORYHUOLWUHV ZLOOEHOHVVGHPDQGLQJLQWHUPVRI -XVWLFHRXWRID*ROGZ\QGDP ZDVMXVWLQWRWKHWRSODVWWLPH In second place is Bullsemen their maintenance requirements (a 6WD\LQJLQIRXUWKEXWZLWKDQ DURXQG7KLVVRQRI)UHGGLHZLOO sire Kings Ransom Erdman XS QHJDWLYHPDLQWHQDQFHVFRUHHTXDOV LQFUHDVHG 3/,LVHammer-Creek WLFNDORWRIER[HVZLWKVROLGSUR- IURP VL[WK SODFH DQG ZLWK DQ LQ- ORZHUFRVWVRIPDLQWHQDQFH O Man Kody, WKH WKLUG 2PDQ [ GXFWLRQ ÀJXUHV SRVLWLYH FRPSR- FUHDVHLQ 3/,IURP WR 'URSSLQJ RQH SODFH WR MRLQW *ROGZ\Q LQ WKH WRS ÀYH .RG\ QHQWV6&&/LIHVSDQDQG (UGPDQVFRUHVZHOOZLWKWKHKLJK- second is VH Tirsvad Goldwyn LVDKLJKSURWHLQVLUHZLWKNJV DKXJH)HUWLOLW\VFRUH HVW/LIHVSDQLQWKHWRSDW *UDÀWZKRLVWKHKLJKHVWIDWWUDQV- DQG )HUWLOLW\6WD\LQJLQÀIWK :LWK DOPRVW GDXJKWHUV DQGFHOOV+HKDVDQH[FHSWLRQ- PLWWHUDW NJDQG+H EXWDJDLQZLWKDQLQFUHDVHG 3/, LQ KHUGV DQG UHOLDELOLW\ DOO\ KLJK IHUWLOLW\ LQGH[ DW also transmits positive protein at is /DG\V0DQRU5'*UDIHHWL+H Continued on page 58. DQGVFRUHVIRUPDLQWHQDQFHLQ- 6&&DQG)HUWLOLW\ LV D KLJK IDW VLUH DW NJV DQG 7RS'DXJKWHUSURYHQ+ROVWHLQEXOOVUDQNHGRQ3UR¿WDEOH/LIHWLPH,QGH[ 3/, 'HF Rank/£PLI/Bull name Rel Milk Fat Ptn Fat Ptn SCC LS FI TM Sire Supplier (%) (kg) (kg) (kg) (%) (%) 1 605 PREHEN OMEN 81 463 27.7 26.2 0.11 0.13 -11 0.3 6.4 1.46 Oman BUL/AIS 2 587 KINGS-RANSOM ERDMAN 81 473 21.9 14.4 0.04 -0.01 -15 0.6 11.4 1.28 Planet BUL/AIS 2 587 9+7,569$'*2/':<1*5$),7 *ROGZ\Q SRL/VIK/DOV 4 563 HAMMER-CREEK O MAN KODY 78 565 16.4 22.1 -0.07 0.05 -8 0.5 11.9 1.93 Oman COG 5 558 LADYS-MANOR RD GRAFEETI 78 267 24.6 11.5 0.17 0.04 -15 0.4 7.2 3.42 Freddie COG 6 543 GEN-l-BEG LAVAMAN 80 215 12.5 18.8 0.05 0.15 -6 0.1 9.7 1.88 Oman SMX 6 543 DE-SU FREDDIE DENIM 77 280 20.1 13.4 0.11 0.05 -20 0.5 16.5 1.09 Freddie BUL/AIS 8 542 LAURELHILL CLASSIC 87 324 11.9 16.8 -0.01 0.08 -18 0.5 14.8 1.11 Oman GEN 9 539 NED-EL MAN-O-MAN BOYOBOY 77 143 3.6 7.4 -0.03 0.03 -15 0.5 17.2 2.33 Oman BUL/AIS 10 537 DE-SU 5212 BOOKEM 85 735 18.6 23.8 -0.12 0.00 -16 0.4 2.1 2.78 Planet COG 11 529 DE-SU ALTAMELHOR 74 307 22.9 14.8 0.13 0.06 -19 0.5 5.5 3.03 Shot Al ALT/GG 12 527 GRAN-J OMAN MCCORMICK 98 -93 18.1 4.3 0.28 0.09 -12 0.3 17.5 1.75 Oman GEN 13 523 D MASON 77 410 22.2 16.9 0.07 0.04 -21 0.4 6.1 1.00 Mascol GNO/DOV 14 519 CO-OP CASSINO YUENGLING 77 232 -4.7 11 -0.17 0.04 -17 0.5 14.2 1.56 Cassino BUL/AIS 14 519 PAZZINI 63 633 25.6 22.7 0.01 0.03 -16 N.A 2.4 1.82 Planet BUL/AIS 16 514 ABS SIMON 86 443 20.8 19 0.04 0.06 -8 0.2 10.7 0.13 Oman GEN 17 512 MORNINGVIEW LEVI 83 346 25.8 17.5 0.15 0.08 -8 0.3 10.3 0.41 Buckeye GEN *8$5,1, *ROGZ\Q %8/$,6 19 507 BEYERCREST RAMOS JOE 84 -57 9.1 4.4 0.15 0.08 -14 0.6 14.4 1.47 Ramos BUL/AIS 20 505 BALLYCAIRN OMAN PELLO 88 844 31.5 26.7 -0.02 -0.01 -23 0.2 5.6 1.19 Oman GEN AIS = AI Services; ALT = Alta; BUL = bullsemen.com; COG = Cogent; DOV = Dovea; GEN = Genus ABS; GG = Global Genetics; SMX = Semex; VIK = UK Viking *HQHWLFV 3/, 3UR¿WDEOH/LIHWLPH,QGH[ 6&& 6RPDWLF&HOO&RXQW,QGH[ /6 /LIHVSDQ,QGH[ ), )HUWLOLW\,QGH[ 70 7\SH0HULW Bull proofs in bold include genomic data 56 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 Number 1 UK PLI Omen Oman X Goldwyn * TOP 100 PLI COMPANY BULLS BULLSEMEN.COM 31 Genus 21 Cogent 17 Semex 10 atlA 7 * Data Source - MDC Breeding - 2/12/14 PTA December 2014 Milk + 463 kgs Fat + 27.7 kgs (+ 0.11%) Daughter: Relough Omen Danna3 Protein + 26.2 kgs (+ 0.13%) PLI 605 Freephone: 0808 202 3230 BREEDING MATTERS Continued from page 56. UK-bred Laurelhill Classic has in- increased his £PLI from £432 to 95% reliability, ABS Simon re- Apples Absolute Red at 3.97. creased his £PLI from £495 to £542 £529 with milking daughters. mains in the top 20, and like many In ninth and tenth are two Se- thanks to increases in Lifespan, It is interesting to see the com- in the top list, transmits positive mex bulls, Bru-Dale Snowden and now +0.5, and Fertility, now 14.8. parison between his last genomic components, positive Lifespan, the popular sire of sons, Amighetti Just below in seventh with proof and his new proven one. a very good +10.7 Fertility and Numero Uno, with 3.85 type but £539 is new entry Ned-El Man-O- His milk is down from 582kg to calving ease. He is also a very low £491 £PLI and the best fertility in Man Boyoboy. This son of Oman 307kg but his fat percent is up from Maintenance sire at -15. the top ten at +10.4. In contrast, Oman out of a Ramos is a moder- -0.01% to +0.13%, with protein Another bull with over 100 UK there are eight genomic bulls with ate milk sire but with positive similarly improving from -0.05% daughters is Ballycairn Oman Pel- a type score greater than the 4.32 of protein percent, -15 SCC, a massive to +0.06%. His SCC is almost lo, who sits 20th and is the highest the proven leader. +17.2 Fertility, +0.5 Lifespan, 0 identical at -19 from -18, as is his milk sire in that list, at 844kg. Pello Genomics continue to move Maintenance, 2.3 very easy calving fertility, 5.7 to 5.5. Lifespan goes transmits a huge 58.2kg of fat and apace. The new genomic list and 2.33 Type Merit, he is sure to up from 0.4 to 0.5 and Type Merit protein, -23 SCC, +5.6 Fertility and shows that the constriction of be popular at Bullsemen. is the same at 3.03 from 2.98. This 2.6 easy calving. the generation interval and the The highest milk bull in the gives further confidence in the The proven sires top type list ever-rising ceiling for the top bulls top ten sits in tenth in the shape of increasing accuracy of the genomic is headed by Butz-Butler Atwood continues at a startling rate. Just De-Su 521 Bookem. Already a sire ÀJXUHV $OWDPHOKRU LV D VRQ RI Brady, top of the pile at 4.32, a few months after we reached of genomic sons and with almost Mr Regelcreek Shot Al, out of an available from King Street Sires, the £600 £PLI mark we now two dozen UK daughters from Oman Justice. although his £PLI is only £98. The smash the £700 £PLI barrier with his own genomic days contribut- Gran-J Oman McCormick is next six are all with Cogent, with a new number one. In top spot is ing to his 91% reliability, Bookem in 12th, rock-solid with a £PLI of Regancrest-GV S Bradnick, next 6DQG\9DOOH\,3HQPDQVKLS from transmits +735kg of milk and £527, and has almost 6,000 UK best at 4.3 and another Atwood son Semex with £745, a huge increase 42.4kg of fat and protein, albeit daughters in his proof. His Fertil- in Mr Atwood Brokaw in third at over the August number one sire with -0.12% fat. 2.1 Fertility, -16 ity score is the best in the top 20 4.15. Bertaiola Mincio retains his Apina Norman, who had a £PLI SCC and only +2 for Maintenance. at +17.5 and he transmits massive KROG LQ WKH WRS ÀYH W\SH EXOOV DW of £635 four months ago. Pen- At 2.78 Type Merit and 2.5 for both components at +0.28% fat and 4.08 along with another stalwart manship is sired by Mr Lookout udder composite, and legs and feet +0.09% protein, allowing for the in Heavenly Golden Dreams with P Enforcer, himself still a genomic composite, he is the third best type fact that he is -98kg on milk PTA’s. the same score. Next with 4.02 is bull by the newly proven Marbri sire in the top 20. Next, on £523, is D Mason, of- the second highest £PLI top ten Facebook (Oman Oman). Penman- In 11th spot is the newly prov- fering positive components, a very type bull in 0RXQWÀHOG66,'&< ship’s dam is by Numero Uno, en De-Su Altamelhor. Ranked at low SCC of -21, +6.1 Fertility and Mogul with £452. who was also a genomic bull until almost 300 position last time in the +0.4 Lifespan. He is also a nega- Completing the Cogent sextet KHUHFHLYHGKLVÀUVWSURYHQÀJXUHV combined proven and genomic list, tive Maintenance bull. is Mr Chassity Gold Chip at 3.98 this time. this now daughter-proven sire has With 87 UK daughters and followed by King Street’s sire In fact, nine of the top ten 7RS+ROVWHLQEXOOVZLWK*HQRPLF,QGH[HVUDQNHGRQ3UR¿WDEOH/LIHWLPH,QGH[ 3/, 'HF Rank/£PLI/Bull name Rel Milk Fat Prot Fat Prot SCC LS FI TM Sire x maternal Supplier (%) (kg) (kg) (kg) (%) (%) grandsire 1 745 SANDY-VALLEY-l-PENMANSHIP 63 587 28.2 26.1 0.06 0.08 -17 0.7 10.6 2.64 Enforcer x Numero Uno SMX 2 682 PES009 BOARDSHOP 62 627 24.2 24 -0.01 0.04 -18 0.6 11.2 2.56 Enforcer x Bookem SMX 3 673 DE-SU-PENLEY 11839 62 685 27.9 22 0.01 0 -32 0.6 6.1 3.69 Platinum x Shamrock COG 4 672 MR MIGUEL 62 311 28.2 15.9 0.2 0.07 -15 0.5 8.4 2.72 Cashcoin x Robust GEN 4 672 DE-SU FIREWALL 62 265 24.5 13.3 0.17 0.06 -24 0.6 10.8 2.81 Altajackman x Shamrock SMX 6 667 MG INSEME POWERPLAY 64 154 18.9 14.7 0.16 0.12 -27 0.6 11.3 1.88 Guarini x Cricket MGN 7 654 MR KOOL 63 724 26.8 24.9 -0.02 0.02 -18 0.4 8.1 2.95 Cashcoin x Man OMan KSS 8 648 SANDY-VALLEY l-PACIFIC 62 289 25.5 16.3 0.17 0.09 -22 0.5 10.6 3.51 Jetset x Numero Uno SMX 9 647 SULLY MICAH 63 722 22.3 26.4 -0.07 0.04 -18 0.4 7.4 3.21 Altajackman x Planet GEN 9 647 MIDAS-TOUCH BULLSEYE 60 411 25.9 13.2 0.12 0 -13 0.5 12.2 3.63 Ransom x Shamrock GEN 11 643 CO-OP ROBUST CABRIOLET 65 645 34.7 24.6 0.11 0.04 -5 0.4 5.5 1.85 Robust x Planet BUL/AIS 12 642 DE-SU 11914 HILLIARD 61 311 24.4 19.4 0.15 0.11 -17 0.4 6.3 3.17 Altajackman x Tape GEN 13 636 DE-SU 11690 FANTASMIC 63 786 30.8 25.2 0 0 -22 0.6 5.3 2.98 Galaxy x Bookem GEN 14 635 FARNEAR ALFALFA 63 678 27.6 21.2 0.01 -0.01 -15 0.6 8.7 2.14 Supersire x Freddie GEN 14 635 COOLLAWN-COM AVENTADOR 62 437 25.8 19.1 0.1 0.06 -15 0.4 6.9 3.72 Man-O-Shan x Shamrock GEN 16 632 TOLLENAARS ALTAMICRO 65 493 22.9 20.6 0.04 0.06 -17 0.5 11.3 1.90 Plan x Oman ALT/GEN 17 631 COGENT SUPERSHOT 63 873 27.8 28.4 -0.08 0 -14 0.6 5.2 2.55 Supersire x Superstition COG 18 627 DE-SU 11756 OCTAVIAN 63 602 27.4 22.6 0.04 0.04 -28 0.4 6.8 2.89 Numero Uno x Bookem GEN 19 626 DE-SU Rb MOONRAY 11038 65 666 39.3 27.4 0.15 0.07 -4 0.3 3.6 1.73 Robust x Planet COG 20 625 APINA NORMAN 63 365 24.8 13.4 0.13 0.02 -16 0.6 13.3 2.69 Numero Uno x Ramos AV/AIS professional about your business %XVLQHVVPDQDJHPHQWWHFKQLFDODGYLFHQXWULWLRQSODQQLQJ GLYHUVL¿FDWLRQDQGHQYLURQPHQWDOFRQVXOWDQF\ 7HO _)D[ _ZZZNLWHFRQVXOWLQJFRP 58 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 BREEDING MATTERS Top proven Holstein sires ranked by Type /LIHVSDQ DQG VROLG )HUWLOLW\ VFRUH RI Bull name £PLI Fertility Type Sire Supplier 7KH KHDOWK DQG ÀWQHVV WKHPH Butz-Butler Atwood Brady 98 -5.8 4.32 Maple Downs Atwood KSS continues down the list as the Regancrest-GV S Radnick 172 -2.1 4.30 Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez Cogent remainder of the top 20 bar one (at RͿHULQJ SRVLWLYH SURWHLQ Mr Atwood Brokaw 241 2.5 4.15 Maple Downes Atwood Cogent SHUFHQWDOOEDURQHRͿHULQJRU Bertaiola Mincio 219 -3.8 4.08 Sandy Valley Bolton Cogent JUHDWHU /LIHVSDQ DQG DOO SRVLWLYH Heavenly Golden Dreams 325 3.2 4.08 Braedale Goldwyn Cogent RQIHUWLOLW\IURPWR+RZ ever, the range of bloodlines is not 0RXQW¿HOG66,'&<0RJXO 452 3.1 4.02 Coyne Farms Dorcy Cogent extensive, with many bulls repeat Mr Chassity Gold Chip 297 2.8 3.98 Braedale Goldwyn Cogent edly appearing in the pedigrees, Apples Absolute Red -2 -12.3 3.97 Ladino Park Talent KSS VXFK DV $OWDMDFNPDQ 6QRZPDQ Bru-Dale Snowden 257 0 3.87 6FLHQWL¿F'HVWU\ Semex >E\ 2PDQ@ [ 0DVVH\ &DVKFRLQ 2EVHUYHU >3ODQHW@ [ *ROGZ\Q genomic bulls are sired by genomic their name, which doesn’t make 5REXVW ZKR WUDQVPLWV KLJK IDW 5REXVW 6RFUDWHV [ 2PDQ 1X bulls without daughter proofs, and IRU HDV\ UHFDOO +H LV D VOLJKWO\ SHUFHQWDJH DQG mero Uno (Oman Oman [Oman] this trend is of some concern to the KLJKHU PLON EXOO DW NJ ZLWK /LIHVSDQ DV ZHOO DV )HUWLOLW\ [ 6KRWWOH %RRNHP 3ODQHW [ 5D purists and old school breeders NJ RI SURWHLQ DW 1HZLQDWÀYHLVDe-Su Firewall PRV 6KDPURFN 3ODQHW[6KRWWOH who like to see solid reliability /LIHVSDQ 6&& DQG )HU $OWDMDFNPDQ [ 6KDPURFN DQ 6XSHUVLUH 5REXVW [ 3ODQHW DQG in their pedigrees. Penmanship WLOLW\+HLVDOVRDQ(QIRUFHUVRQ RWKHUZLWKKLJKIDW ORZ 3ODQHW 7DERR [ $PHO PDQ\ RI RͿHUVNJRIPLONNJRIIDW EXW RXW RI WKH SURYHQ 'H6X FHOOV SRVLWLYH/LIHVSDQ which are related to each other or and protein and +0.06% fat and Bookem. DQGDJRRG)HUWLOLW\VFRUH to popular proven sires in current SURWHLQDORQJVLGH6&& In third is the best cell count In sixth is the bull that became use, as can be seen from their own /LIHVSDQ WKH KLJKHVW LQ WKH improver in the list, in the shape available after the last proof run as ancestors in parentheses. WRSDQG)HUWLOLW\+HLV of De-Su Penley 11839 (Platinum a new number one sire, MG Inse- )DUPHUVQHHGWRDGRSWDOHYHO IRUW\SHZLWKXGGHUVDQG [6KDPURFN ZKRUHGXFHV6&&E\ me Powerplay *XDULQL[&ULFNHW of research to ensure that there is IHHWDQGOHJV DQGLVDOVRDKLJKW\SHVLUHDW from new AI company MasterGen. little risk of inbreeding, and spread ,Q VHFRQG ZLWK 3/, LV +LV 3/,LV +H LV WKH RQO\ JHQRPLF EXOO LQ the risk with several bulls, particu PES009 Boardshop, one of a grow In fourth is the previous third the top ten by a proven sire and larly those that are two generations ing list of bulls with numbers in placed Mr Miguel &DVKFRLQ [ KDVD 3/,RI 6&& of genomics. SPERMVITAL NEW REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY – PROLONGS THE LIEFESPAN OF SEMEN UP TO 48 HOURS )OH[LELOLW\DQGIHUWLOLW\ I’ve been using SpermVital for about a year QRZDQG,ORYHWKHÀH[LELOLW\LWJLYHV\RX7KH longer service window means that if I have a cow that is only just “standing” in the morning and needs serving in 12 hours time, I can get the technician to serve her with SpermVital then, instead of waiting until tomorrow, when she might be too far past to hold” - Mark Gould, Sherborne, Dorset. Dairy Farmer, milking 250 cows. Distributor Geno UK (Available on Selected Norwegian Red Sires) Phone: 01244 659 622 Bridge House, Station Rd., Rossett, LL12 0HE WWW.SPERMVITAL.COM [email protected], www.geno-uk.com BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 59 FEED MARKET UPDATE Market uncertainty continues Continuing uncertainty is affecting a number of the key feed markets, and putting the focus for farmers on shorter term supply and forward contracts, explains KW’s Chris Davidson. he North American soyabean week in November, then 2.92mt a will do so eventually. When that to September 2015. Tharvest is now 90% complete, week later, with total exports for will happen is still hard to gauge, and latest projections from the the season currently 17% ahead and maintaining cover at least two Energy trends United States Department of Ag- of last year. Many view the cur- months ahead is the favoured op- riculture (USDA) put overall yield rent strength of demand as merely tion to minimise exposure to that For cereals, most of the recent price slightly higher than previously UHÁHFWLQJDEDFNORJEHLQJFOHDUHG risk. increases have been short-term predicted. The November USDA and the latest USDA export esti- Where soyabean meal require- responses to contract buying by report increased yield estimates mate has increased by just 0.5mt ments haven’t already been fully investment funds, and rising ten- from 47.1 to 47.5 bushels/acre, to 46.8mt. booked for the next few months, sion between Russia and Ukraine, lifting total US soyabean produc- There is also some uncertainty it’s well worth considering alter- rather than any underlying change tion by 31 million bushels (mb) to regarding ongoing demand from native sources of rumen-bypass in supply or demand. 3,958mb. China, with its economy coming protein. The cost of digestible un- European wheat still leads Yet the current tightness of under increasing pressure. Projec- degraded protein (DUP) in Proto- the way in terms of exports, with soyabean meal supply in the US re- tions for the October to December Tec heat-treated rapemeal, for ex- the US struggling to compete due PDLQVDVLJQLÀFDQWSUREOHPFDXV- period show Chinese soyabean ample, costs just 15.3p/100g DUP to the strength of the dollar—US ing one of the biggest single-month imports lower than last year as the for December delivery, compared exports are currently 26% below rallies ever seen—the December current high price also cuts into to 19.4p/100g DUP for soyabean last year—and Russia’s focus soyabean meal futures price rose crush margins. meal—a 21% saving. switching from exports to domes- nearly US$100/ton (US short ton) tic concerns over a potentially poor during October. 2015 winter wheat crop and an 6XSSO\FRQ¿GHQFH Alternative proteins Although forward contracts HFRQRP\IDFLQJGLFXOWLHV for the second half of the winter +RZHYHU FRQÀGHQFH LQ VXSSO\ For general protein requirements, There is some expectation that and next summer continue to re- going forward remains high, and rapemeal itself at around £185/t the upcoming harvest in Australia, ÁHFWWKHH[SHFWDWLRQRILPSURYHG is bolstered by the huge South for December to April delivery is for example, will produce a lower availability, prices are now consid- American soyabean crop currently well priced against soyabean meal, yield than previously predicted, erably higher than they have been. being planted. ZLWKWKHSULFHFXUUHQWO\ÁDWULJKW but there have also been sugges- Most export activity is ex- through to next October. How- tions that the recent European and pected to switch from the US to ever, there is still some expecta- Black Sea crops will turn out to be Soyabean demand South America once harvest starts tion that the price of contracts for larger than previously thought. The main cause is a combination in March or April, although South the summer and next winter will There appears little to suggest of strong pull for exports reduc- American soyabean meal is un- eventually fall as soyabean supply any strong movement in either ing availability for domestic use, likely to reach UK shores until May ramps up. direction, at least until some of plus the failure of rail logistics to or June at the earliest. The price of British wheat dis- WKHVH XQFHUWDLQWLHV DUH FODULÀHG keep up with demand. There are Both scenarios also rely on tillers’ feed also remains broadly The exchange rate is a key factor rumours that some crushers have there being no repeat of the logis- XQDͿHFWHGE\UHFHQWVZLQJVLQWKH DͿHFWLQJ WKH ÀEUHV PDUNHW ZLWK been unable to reach full process- tics problems seen in that region soyabean meal price. Although WKHSULFHRIVR\DKXOOVÁXFWXDWLQJ ing capacity due to soyabean meal for the past two years. imported maize distillers’ feed between £130/t and £135/t over storage sheds remaining full. Overall, the outlook is for is now available, it is the British the past four weeks. Sugar beet Export of whole soyabeans the soyabean markets to remain distillers’ feed that is attracting feed may prove to be the better from the US also continues at a extremely volatile until supply most interest from buyers due to option when looking for digestible fast pace. Volumes hit 2.77 mil- catches up with demand, though competitive pricing and the avail- ÀEUH WR PDLQWDLQ WKH EDODQFH LQ OLRQ WRQQHV PW GXULQJ WKH ÀUVW there is still every indication it ability of contracts right through winter rations. www.dairyelite.com Sign Up Genetic Advancement. Made Local. x 352%&//4t Today! Slip - Resistant Slats x Slats & Cubicle Bases x Above Ground Stores SEARCH BUY SELL Access a 24/7 No commission, Advertise x Prestressed Wall Panels market to see No middlemen your embryos what dairy & livestock x Water Troughs CONNECTING BREEDERS WORLDWIDE farmers have for sale x Feed Troughs x Free Standing ‘L’ Walls First Advert FREE x Bunker Walls x Footbaths WWWMOORE CONCRETECOM x Slurry Channels 4EL 60 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 DAIRY MARKET UPDATE Bird Scarers That Really Work! UK milk production update The latest milk volumes will be published soon but they are going to show # production in November has been 10% above the ten year average, and "!#""$ 9 Humane is around 5% to 5.5% ahead of last year. In real terms that’s equivalent to Effective an extra three million litres per day over and above what processors are 9 BRITISH DAIRYING Inexpensive used to dealing with. Milk volumes have started to increase again. The The magazine is available to view 9 trough day for the year was October 23, when the UK produced 36.83m on-line to registered farm readers and FREEPHONE litres. This is the highest trough day of the last decade. subscribers. You will need to register to access this service. 0800 988 0499 The December issue will be for Brochure Year Trough Date of Peak Date of available to view from 12th December. See BirdGard in action on m litres Trough m litres peak Go to http://www.britishdairying.co.uk/ www.BirdGard.com to register - a password will be www.BirdGard.co.uk 2004/05 34.03 Oct 27 42.40 May 20 sent to you. 2005/06 33.26 Nov 25 41.83 May 13 2006/07 33.91 Nov 19 42.28 May 13 2007/08 33.08 Oct 18 42.00 May 6 AINSWORTHS FIRSTAINSWORTHS NAME IN HOMEOPATHY 2008/09 31.98 Sept 15 40.33 May 9 FIRST NAME IN HOMEOPATHY 2009/10 29.89 Jan 6 39.47 May 4 OUR PRODUCTS HELP TO COMBAT A WIDE RANGE OF LIVESTOCK 2010/11 33.13 Dec 18 40.74 May 22 HEALTH PROBLEMS, BOTH PREVENTATIVE AND REMEDIAL 2011/12 33.68 Oct 11 41.49 May 1 SITUATIONS. MASTITIS (Staph. Aureus. Strep. Uberis), CELL COUNT, RINGWORM, BVD, IBR, LEPTO, JOHNE’S AND 2012/13 31.62 Oct 22 41.30 June 2 CRYPTOSPORIDM (calves) 2013/14 34.47 Oct 2 40.33 May 18 bTB PREVENTATIVE: This product has been offered to livestock owners 2014/15 36.83 Oct 23 43.74 May 3 since 2003. There has been no advertising previously but sales have grown by Farmer to Farmer recommendation. Global and European market update This product is another addition to your bio-security measures. The global and European markets have continued to fall, and with them Call the UK field Agent for Ainsworths to discuss this and farmgate milk prices. The latest Dutch quotations—which largely set the other products further on: tone for the market—fell across every commodity, with butter down €40 Tel: 01271 342077 or Mobile: 07880 742629 to €2,950, WMP down €80 to €2,280, SMP (food grade) at €1,800—just €110 above the €1,690 intervention level, and whey down €20 to €780. Dutch feed grade SMP is at €1,650. These prices have fallen over 30% since August. There are no signs of these prices increasing in the short to medium term. The consensus view is that prices will not start moving up until the back end of 2015. This, of course, means that if things are bad now, they will be a disaster come the spring. Not only is it likely that milk prices will be down further by then unless a miracle happens but seasonality deductions will kicks in too. Brokers bearing the brunt Are you looking for a website that will Loyalty is the name of the game among processors right now. Those make you stand out from the herd? farmers who are dedicated suppliers with direct contracts with processors will be looked after as best as market returns allow—while those who With over 20 years’ experience in the dairy farming VXSSO\EURNHULQJÀUPVDUHVHWWREHDWWKHPHUF\RIWKHPDUNHWDVPDQ\ industry we will create a website to catch the eye of if not all, of the processors are moving away from third party suppliers your potential client, communicate your message en-mass when contract terms end. The reason is simple—the processors effectively and reflect your brand. are losing money on the milk they buy in, and that dilutes the price pay- able to owners, members or suppliers. 01908 644673 It is also known that several very large producers—over 10m litres in www.fionastoreydesign.co.uk one case—do not have a milk buyer at all from early next year. [email protected] Global Dairy Trade (GDT) index trends 'HVSLWHWKHDPRXQWRISURGXFWEHLQJRͿHUHGRQWKH*'7DXFWLRQSULFHV continue to remain low and there is still no sign of the Chinese returning WRWKHPDUNHWWREX\:HDUHQRZHQWHULQJDSDUWLFXODUO\VLJQLÀFDQWWLPH of the year when they could, in the New Year, buy on the back of reduced WDULͿUDWHVEXWLWGRHVQ·WORRNDVLIWKH\DUHPLQGHGWRGRLWMXVW\HW The reality is that current prices would deliver a farmgate milk price in New Zealand of around NZ$ 3.70/kg of milk solids, equivalent to around 15ppl. Fonterra is currently holding its forecast price at NZ$5.50, but many banks and analysts believe it will have to fall unless the auction “Getting across your story” picks up soon. BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 61 PRODUCT NEWS Updated costings book Farming returns will drop in the Fullwood launch new M2erlin coming year and many businesses Fullwood has launched a com- will struggle to make money. That pletely redesigned and updated is one of the main messages from Merlin automated milking system the 79th Edition of the Agricultural WRPDNHLWPRUHHFLHQWHUJRQRP- Budgeting and Costing Book, newly ic and environmentally friendly published by Agro Business Con- with improvements for both the sultants (ABC). cow and operator. “Prices for many agricultural The new M2erlin features commodities has moved down integrated segregation gates to im- sharply since the last edition of the SURYHFRZÁRZDQGDFRPSOHWHO\ ABC Book was published,” says redesigned teat cup attachment editor Richard King. “Although DUP ZKLFK JLYHV VLJQLÀFDQW EHQ- costs have reduced as well this is HÀWVLQWHUPVRIPLONLQJHFLHQF\ JHQHUDOO\QRWHQRXJKWRRͿVHWWKH Fullwood have been selling drop in revenue from lower prices. robots for 17 years and this is the “A less heralded driver of price seventh generation Merlin robot. change is currency which is more “The M2erlin certainly makes the important than global markets, the biggest advancement in technol- weather, politics, supermarkets or ogy compared with the previous other factors determining UK farm launches,” says David O’Hare, farm set-ups.” DOVRWKHFKRLFHRIVL[GLͿHUHQWVL]H SURÀWDELOLW\:LWKWKH8.HFRQRP\ chief executive of Fullwood. The M2erlin features a long of cluster liner. currently outperforming the Eu- “The Fullwood M2erlin is list of upgrades and new features The arm is robust, enabling rozone, sterling has strengthened a completely new machine,” he including: it to cope with the rigours of against the euro, making a testing explains. “Despite being revo- • Segregation: The unique twin- continuous milking, and includes time for UK farmers.” lutionary in its design, it is nev- H[LWJDWHFRQÀJXUDWLRQHQDEOHVWKH force sensing technology which The 79th edition is available ertheless 100% compatible with milking unit to act as a segregation prevents damage or injury to both from ABC for £46. For more details our older robots and can therefore gate. The robot’s herd manage- machine and animal. call 01664 567676. be incorporated into existing ment software controls where each • Software upgrades: The new individual animal is directed after M2erlin also features several key being milked, with cows exiting operating software upgrades via either a side gate or straight which improve and simplify herd ahead once the feed manger has management. The software can Gloucester automatically lifted out of the way. also be viewed via a smartphone By eliminating the need for or tablet application remotely. Animal Feeds additional segregation gates, the The new Fullwood M2erlin is The Complete M2erlin requires less space and is DYDLODEOH LQ WKUHH VSHFLÀFDWLRQV WE WILL PRUHFRVWHͿHFWLYHWRLQVWDOOWKDQ from the entry-level M2 Essential, on Farm Service NEVER BE more traditional, modular systems. to the mid-range M2 Extended and BEATEN ON It is also available in either a side advanced M2 Expert. Each version Bespoke Formulations Need a tailored compound or blend QUALITY AND RUVWUDLJKWHQWU\FRQÀJXUDWLRQWR LVDYDLODEOHZLWKDGLͿHUHQWUDQJH formulation?...... we can help!! VALUE! JLYH IXUWKHU ÁH[LELOLW\ DQG VSDFH of features: Excellent Product Range saving options. —The entry-level M2 Essential has Diets formulated by our experienced • Milking arm: The new milking a straight exit gate only and comes in house Nutritionists using only high quality ingredients. arm does away with out-dated equipped with one feed inlet. On Farm Rationing pneumatic and hydraulic drives —The mid-range M2 Extended Our knowledgeable ruminant and replaces these with energy is equipped with twin-exit gates nutritionists will get the most from your farm. HFLHQWHOHFWULFPRWRUV7KLVQRW and is available with inlets for up Full Costings & Herd Analysis only makes the M2erlin virtu- WR WKUHH IHHGVWXͿV SOXV D IRXUWK Working closely with Interherd+ and DOO\ VLOHQW EXW DOVR VLJQLÀFDQWO\ liquid feed. It is also equipped as Kingshay we can provide full herd performance analysis. reduces energy consumption, and standard with FullQuest—Full- improves animal comfort and wood’s 4-quarter conductivity safety. It also has fewer parts for VHQVRU³DQGDQDFLGFOXVWHUÁXVK improved reliability and service- system. For more information please call ability. —The advanced M2 Expert is also • Cluster attachment: The new ÀWWHGZLWK)XOOZRRG·V&U\VWD/DE milking arm also enhances cluster technology which uses an in-line 01452 720589 attachment speed and attachment sensor to monitor fat, protein, accuracy. There is now the option lactose and blood levels in real- to attach the clusters manually time as the cow is being milked, STER ANIMA CE L FE where required. thereby giving an early indication OU ED L S G Gloucester Animal Feeds, Countrywide House, Asparagus Way, Vale Park, Evesham , Worcestershire, WR11 1GN 7KH DUP LV PRUH ÁH[LEOH DW of any underlying health or feed- Email us at: [email protected] reaching udders and can reach ing issues. This advanced ma- teats 42mm lower and 52mm high- chine is priced at around £86,000. er than the previous arm. There is (Tel: 01691 627391). 62 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 PRODUCT NEWS Bedding conditioner cuts mastitis Ectoparasite treatment Norbrook has launched Spotinor A new dual action bed conditioner from Kingsbridge in south Devon, big problem with high cell counts Deltamethrin spot-on, a new prod- has proven its worth, delivering has been using Bedzorb for a and cases of mastitis. uct which can be used to kill a reductions in somatic cell counts month and has already seen a “We decided to switch from wide range of external parasites and clinical incidence of mastitis, using lime to Bedzorb, and as a that can have economically dam- according to on-farm reports. result we’ve seen cell counts drop DJLQJHͿHFWVRQFDWWOHVKHHSDQG “Damp bedding is a breeding from 260,000 to 150,000 cells per lambs. ground for bacteria, and is a major ml, and clinical cases of mastitis Spotinor treats and prevents a factor contributing to clinical cases have fallen from two to three a wide range of ectoparasitic infesta- of mastitis,” says Alison Clark, week, to just one every couple of WLRQV LQFOXGLQJ OLFH DQG ÁLHV RQ product manager from Progiene. weeks,” says Mr Darke. cattle. Simple dosing negates the “Bedzorb, formulated by “The cows have taken well to QHHGWRZHLJKDQLPDOVÀUVW Progiene, is an absorbent powder the product and, because it’s not as bedding conditioner, containing a dusty as lime, is very easy to use. Defra approved disinfectant. It’s We apply a bucket load of Bedzorb a unique product due to its dual to cover the back of the stalls once ability to keep bedding dry, at the a day on top of the bedding, and same time as providing a line of this seems to do the trick.” defence against all major bacterial, 7KHEHQHÀWVGRQRWVWRSWKHUH viral and fungal challenges.” VLJQLÀFDQW LPSURYHPHQW WR KHUG Mrs Clark explains that the prod- Matt Darke, a dairy farmer health. “This summer we had a uct is non-aggressive to the teats and can help reduce ammonia lev- The product is available in a range DeLaval showcase new products at EuroTier els, making for a more comfortable of pack sizes with convenient dis- DeLaval showcased a number of new innovations at EuroTier, the largest cubical environment. “Feedback pensing—available in 250ml and livestock exhibition in Europe, held at Hanover, Germany last month. we’ve had has been very positive 500ml squeeze neck dispensing • Winning a silver medal for innovation at the event was the DeLaval and highlights the need for a cost packs as well as a one litre and 2.5 InService Remote. Sensors are placed in the vacuum system and pulsators HͿHFWLYHVROXWLRQWRKHOSPDQDJH litre backpack with dosing gun. of milking units to monitor performance 24/7. The data is transferred to a disease challenges at the source,” The product has is zero milk cloud service which can be accessed via a web portal with a desktop com- she adds. (Tel: 0808 178 1010). withhold. (Tel: 028 3026 4435). puter, tablet or smart phone. Any indication of decreasing performance, IRUH[DPSOHSXOVDWLRQRUYDFXXPOHYHOSUREOHPVZLOOEHÁDJJHGDVDOHUWV JLYHQDVDODUPVDQGRUQRWLÀFDWLRQVVHQWWRWKHIDUPHUDQG'H/DYDO • The company has developed a body condition scorer which can be mounted above a sorting gate or robotic milker. It takes a 3D image of Want a healthier herd? cows’ lower backs every time they pass under the camera. It then calcu- Have you considered pasteurising lates the body condition and sends it to DeLaval DelPro Farm Manager where farmers can view graphs of individual animals, groups or the entire colostrum & calf milk? Put a disease herd. Alerts can be set to notify farmers if a cow falls below a certain score. barrier between generations. • DeLaval’s new mini swinging brush has been designed exclusively for calves and goats. It is claimed to improve calf and goat health and to keep them calm and clean. It is adaptable in height to adjust to the size of WKHIDVWJURZLQJFDOYHV7KHEUXVKLVHQHUJ\HFLHQWZLWKLWV9PRWRU Reduce Johnes, TB and other disease Website www.gshepherd.co.uk located in the cylinder. (Tel: 029 2077 5800). with a colostrum & calf milk pasteuriser quality advice & products Blueprint for grass and forage production Colostrometer - measure colostrum Limagrain has developed and published a new grass and forage crops quality - a real issue! handbook for its Sinclair McGill portfolio. 6SHFLÀFVHFWLRQVLQZHHGVSHVWVDQGGLVHDVHWKDWFDQFDXVH Perfect Udder colostrum management problems in establishment and also in established crops have been system - “It’s in the bag!” included to provide growers with a blueprint for successful grass and forage NEW pasteuriser models and production. prices “These are easy to follow DQGZHOOLOOXVWUDWHGPDNLQJ it a much needed very NEW First Thirst Colostrum ¶KDQGVRQ·SXEOLFDWLRQµ Supplement Powder - Calf & Lamb says Limagrain’s grass seed manager Ian Misselbrook. “We’ve also made sure that the handbook encourages growers to identify their requirements from the crop then GLUHFWVWKHPWRWKHPL[WXUHVRUYDULHWLHVWKDWEHVWVXLWVWKHLUQHHGVµ Copies of the new Sinclair McGill handbook are available by calling 01472 370117. Copies can also be found on the Sinclair McGill web site m: 07778 191964 t: 01772 690131 www.lgseeds.co.uk/sinclairmcgill e: RI¿FH#JVKHSKHUGFRXNw: ZZZJVKHSKHUGFRXN BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 63 Diakur® Plus A proven concept Healthy guts produce healthy calves Diakur Plus is a unique oral rehydration solution which can be mixed with milk1. It contains patented citrus fibres that bind and remove pathogens from the intestine2. Ask your vet for more information 1. Constable, Grunberg & Carstensen (2009). J Dairy Sci. 92: 296-312. 2. Bachmann & Larsen (1989). Danish vet J 72, 24 15/12. Advice on the use of Diakur® Plus or other products should be sought from your veterinary surgeon. Complementary dietetic feed for stabilisation of water and abcd electrolyte balance in calves in case of risk of, during periods of or recovery from digestive disturbance (diarrhoea). Diakur Plus contains glucose, dried citrus pulp, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, inactivated yeast and potassium chloride. Further information available from Boehringer Ingelheim Limited, Vetmedica, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YS, UK. Email: [email protected]. Date of preparation: Oct 2014. AHD8281.