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 BRITISH DAIRYING December 2014 1 Hoofsure Endurance Footbath Solution Safe Cost-effective Scientifically Proven SPECIAL OFFER Purchase 3 x 20 litre Hoofsure Endurance and receive a 5 litre acid resistant sprayer and Hoofsure Konquest Gel 300g FREEPHONE 0800 3284982 or visit www.provita.co.uk D -HEN-B 3 277 Hoofsure Endurance should be used as part of an overall hoof care programme. Hoofsure Combat spray and Konquest gel available. NEWS 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<HDU data shows that the UK Cheddar paid according to the returns from the ingredients price”. It will Challenge Dairy 2015 52-54 trade balance continues to im- EHFDOFXODWHGXVLQJIXWXUHVUHODWHG$03(ÀJXUHV prove, according to DairyCo. This 'HFHPEHUEXOOSURRIUXQ Other companies like Freshways are also introducing A & B is mainly due to a steady increase W\SHVFKHPHVZKLFKHͿHFWLYHO\DOORZIDUPHUVWRSURGXFHDVPXFK Product News 62-63 LQH[SRUWVRYHUWKHODVWÀYH\HDUV milk as they like, when they like, but in return will be paid market with imports decreasing slightly returns for the ‘B’ portion. FFA’s suggestion is for the ‘A’ price in the past few months. It also BRITISH DAIRYING to be based on the production for each producer at the end of the UHPDLQV WR EH VHHQ KRZ VLJQLÀ- Published by WB Publishing Ltd 2014/15 milk year. If individual producers exceed that base year’s cantly export trends will change www.britishdairying.co.uk production by more than 5% this volume will be deemed to be the IROORZLQJWKH5XVVLDQLPSRUWEDQ B part of the formula, and subject to open market returns. in August this year, they add. Publisher/Advertisement manager: Some processors are almost certain to not adopt A & B, how- Malcolm Bridges ever. Arla Foods, for example, has a pledge to pick up every drop Launch of dairy futures $GYHUWLVHPHQWVDOHV6XEVFULSWLRQVR΀FH of their owners’ milk and also pay the Arla price on every litre. “It 8 Oakhill Drive, is fundamental to who we are,” said a company spokesman. European exchanges operator Welwyn, There is, however, a concern that the introduction of A & B Euronext will launch a range of Herts AL6 9NW could make milk contracts more complicated and opaque. David dairy futures and options next Phone: 01438 716220 Fax: 01438 716230 Handley has called for DairyCo to monitor market returns on a spring to take advantage of what email: [email protected] monthly basis so that producers can hold their processor to account they believe will be a spike in VKRXOGWKH\WU\DQGPDQLSXODWHÀJXUHV demand for hedging and pricing Editor: Mike Green tools after the abolition of milk quotas. Derivatives for butter, (GLWRULDOR΀FH $VKÀHOG5RDG National Johne’s Management Programme launch Chorley, Lancashire, SMP and whey powder will be 35/+ The Action Group on Johne’s has launched a draft National Johne’s RͿHUHG Phone: 01257 232694 Management Programme at a recent conference hosted by Dairy email: [email protected] UK and DairyCo. The objective of the plan is to manage and then FFA target Iceland reduce the incidence of Johne’s disease in dairy cattle and engage UK dairy farmers have recently dairy farmers in Great Britain in Johne’s management activities. Managing editor: Barry Wilson targeted Iceland Foods as they Phone: 0207 228 3674 Commenting on the draft plan, Lyndon Edwards, chair of the continue their protests against email: [email protected] Action Group on Johne’s, said: “International experience dem- retailers in their campaign for fair onstrates that control and the reduction of Johne’s in dairy cattle milk prices. Farmers For Action Production editor: Carolyn Moore LVIHDVLEOHDQGFDQEHGHOLYHUHGFRVWHͿHFWLYHO\7KH8.QHHGVWR said about 200 farmers took part ensure that its performance in tackling the disease is comparable in each of the blockades at Iceland Available free to selected farmers in the UK who to its main international competitors. “We have a responsibility distribution sites in Warrington meet the publisher’s terms of control. as an industry to identify and use every tool available to reduce (Cheshire) and Swindon (Wilt- UK Subscription rate: £56/yr (12 issues), Europe: Johne’s in dairy cattle. We must focus on educating farmers, vets shire). Iceland recently slashed 5HVWRIWKHZRUOG 6LQJOHFRS\ and farm advisers on the risks linked to the disease and develop a the shelf price of four pints of milk coherent and structured way to deal with it. from £1 to 89p. BRITISH DAIRYING does not necessarily ´:HFDQPDNHDUHDOGLͿHUHQFHLQWDFNOLQJWKHGLVHDVH,IZH share the views of contributors. No respon- want a sustainable future for our industry we need to get a grip on Copa re-elect Raymond sibility is accepted for the claims made by Johne’s. A joint approach throughout the dairy industry is the right advertisers. ZD\WRJRDQG,·PFRQÀGHQWWKDWWKH1DWLRQDO-RKQH·V0DQDJHPHQW European dairy farmers have re- This magazine is Copyright © WB Publishing 3ODQZLOOGHOLYHUUREXVWUHVXOWVDQGKHOSXVDFKLHYHDVLJQLÀFDQW elected Welsh dairy farmer Mansel Ltd. No part of it may be reproduced in any reduction of the disease.” 5D\PRQG&RSDGDLU\FKDLUPDQIRU form without prior permission of the publisher. The draft management plan is now open for consultation until a further two years. Copa is the Printed by Warners Midlands Plc January 18 with the objective of launching the plan from April next European farm organisation which year. The draft plan is available on the internet and can be accessed brings together over 60 farming ISSN 1356-1561 at: www.actionjohnesuk.org/news_item.php?id=5 unions. 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.