Dairy News Australia September 2021 by Dairy News Australia

What do you think about extended milking intervals? PAGE 4 GENOMIC BOOST For the first time, DataGene has released ABVs for Australian red dairy breeds. PAGES 14 & 15

AUGUST ABVs

Top bulls, herds and cows. PAGES 23-30

SEPTEMBER, 2021 ISSUE 131 // www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au

EYE ON THE FUTURE Study tour cements Jake's dairy ambitions. PAGE 12

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

MARKETS // 3

Is a wet spring on the way? ELIZA REDFERN, Industry analyst

REWIND TO September 2020, when a

Farmers share how they are part of the climate solution. PG.8

Kickstart for career goal. PG.17

La Niña event in the tropical Pacific Ocean brought above average rain to southern Australia through spring and summer. This resulted in a bountiful but wet harvest period, a time of strong pasture growth and limited demand for feed and water. Input costs fell while supporting a boost in farmer confidence and profitability for some time. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting above average rain for the 2021 spring, singing a very similar tune to a year ago. After a few months of neutral climate drivers, the BOM officially declared a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event in July. Typically, such an event can cause warmer ocean temperatures north of Australia, increasing rainfall over southern and southeastern Australia. When previously active in 2016, it resulted in the wettest May to October period on record. While the BOM does not anticipate this year’s negative IOD to match up to the strength of its predecessor, it is expected to boost the likelihood of above average rain well into spring. On top of this, current climate models suggest around this same time, cooling of water temperatures in the tropical Pacific may reach La Niña levels. Another La Niña event will only support the likelihood of above average rain, as last spring showed a little excessively in some regions.

Irrigation outlook The 2021–22 water allocation year began with a roar in Victoria, supported by the previous month’s rainfall and high carryover volumes from last season. Only two weeks in and the Bullarook system achieved 100 per cent high-reliability and low-reliability water shares. If conditions remain wet over the next few months, which climate signs seem to be pointing towards, seasonal determinations for HRWS could reach 100 per cent for all systems as soon as mid-October. While access to allocations may be in abundance, the strong supply of water will only temper its value, particularly as some farmers and growers feel sustained by r ainfall events alone. Temporary water prices appear likely to follow a similar path to last season, remaining economically justifiable for those looking to capitalise on reduced irrigation costs.

Fodder outlook Currently, the fodder market remains swamped with a substantial amount of hay, albeit of varying qualities. A significant volume of bales has been damaged from the wet hay-making c onditions of 2020, not to mention the recent mouse plague. With demand starting to pick up in some regions, although from a low base, preferences appear set on higher quality varieties. So much so, there are reports of an undamaged cereal hay shortage across most regions. Many growers are now reporting depleted cereal hay stocks, with lucerne and vetch varieties not too far behind. Another wet spring may continue to support pasture growth but could see the Jul-21

Diversity provides benefits.. PG.31

NEWS �� 3-22

fodder market continue to drown in an abundance of hay. The question is whether the upcoming harvest will provide the opportunity to replenish supply gaps with good quality hay, or further add to stocks of wet and damaged bales. Adding to the supply pressure for high quality hay is the increased number of growers planning to take crops through to grain this harvest. Decreased domestic and export demand for hay, relatively favourable growing conditions and rising global grain prices have seen the planted area for crops rise this season. Current grain forecasts suggest the upcoming harvest will produce strong yields, despite a relatively dry autumn start for some regions. While continued rain over spring would support yield estimates, it could cause delays during the harvest period. Despite a somewhat inevitable decrease in demand for purchased feed, mounting international pressure after floods and recordbreaking droughts in the Northern Hemisphere, such as the current event in Canada, are anticipated to support grain prices. As weather outlooks suggest this spring may mimic the last, farmers could have another opportunity to capitalise on benefits brought on by heavy spring rain. With strong water supply and pasture growth anticipated, the demand for supplementary feed is likely to remain subdued while weather conditions support hay and grain production. So, while growers may have to navigate the impacts of another wet harvest, strong feed availability and lowered inputs costs could see some dairy farmers singing in the rain.

5-year average

% change

Cereal hay (av. $/t del north coast New South Wales)

$269

$353

-24%

Cereal hay (av. $/t del Goulburn/Murray Valley)

$190

$231

-18%

Cereal hay (av. $/t del southwest Western Australia)

$300

$268

12%

ABV FEATURE ��23-30

Feed wheat (av. $/t del north coast New South Wales)

$295

$352

-16%

SPRING PASTURE FEATURE ��31-35

Feed wheat (av. $/t del Goulburn/Murray Valley)

$300

$317

-5%

ANIMAL HEALTH ��36-38

Feed wheat (av. $/t del southwest Western Australia)

$338

$301

12%

MACHINERY AND

Irrigation (av. $/ML Northern Victoria)

$122

$256

-52%

$92

$165

-44%

PRODUCTS ��39-43

Irrigation (av. $/ML Murray Irrigation System) Source: AFIA, Profarmer, Victorian Water Register, Murray Irrigation Ltd

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

4 // NEWS

Wanting a free weekend? MILKING COWS is the most labour-intensive

regular activity on dairy farms, but new research into extended milking intervals (EMIs) could free-up time for south-west Victorian farmers. While remaining neutral and not advocating EMIs, the DemoDAIRY Foundation wants to know if farmers in south-west Victoria are interested in learning more about the systems and if they would consider it on their farms. For owner-operators, twice-a-day milking reduces free time available for family and offfarm activities, particularly at weekends. For larger farms, paid labour is required — which has become harder to find over the past 18 months with restricted availability of overseas workers. Recent research based on farmer experiences in New Zealand has indicated it may be possible to extend the interval between milkings without significantly reducing milk production. It can also have benefits for herd health and reproduction. Traditionally, dairy cows are milked twice each day, but there are exceptions to that rule. EMI addresses the disadvantages of once-a-day (OAD) milking, which has been tried in some parts of Australia. Australian and NZ dairy industries have greatly improved the efficiency of milking cows with rotary and robot milking systems. However, these systems still require labour to operate them twice a day. In some cases, particularly in New Zealand in seasonal calving herds, farmers have opted for OAD milking for parts of the year, while others milk 10 times in seven days, or three times in two days. It is understood farmers in south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia are looking at different milking interval options to address labour and lifestyle issues.

Share your thoughts DemoDAIRY Foundation board member Ian Teese said the foundation was keen to hear farmers’ thoughts about the concept. “Some farmers in Tasmania use extended milking intervals and it’s growing in popularity in New Zealand,” Mr Teese said. “We are not actively promoting the system but if local farmers are interested, we would be willing to help them find more information.” Mr Teese said extended milking intervals could have significant benefits in reducing milking labour needs and improving cow health, but there were potential production losses.

“This is only exploratory, but EMIs are ossibly a way to address labour shortages and p improve lifestyles on the farm, particularly on weekends,” he said. If there is interest, DemoDAIRY Foundation could arrange field days, farm visits or Zoom conferences with farmers using the system in New Zealand and Tasmania. EMIs are usually introduced in the last twothree months of lactation and, as farmers understand it more, they extend the period, with some using 10–7 milking spreads all year.

The New Zealand experience DairyNZ survey data from 500 dairy farms in 2018–19 indicated that only 47 per cent of farms milked twice a day for the whole season, 33 per cent of farms milked OAD for part of the season, eight per cent milked OAD for the whole season and 12 per cent used three-in-two (3-in-2) for at least part of the season. DairyNZ is midway through a research program investigating the human, animal and pasture response to milking 3-in-2. The project, Flexible Milking for Healthier People and Cows, started in July 2019 and will end in 2022. It is combining detailed research on the impacts and problems of EMI on one of the Lincoln University dairy farms with a number of EMI focus farms located around New Zealand. It aims to see if the system enhances wellbeing due to less hours spent working on-farm and greater flexibility, or increases e conomic sustainability through improved people and cow health. The third year of the project will focus on modelling to predict outcomes in different flexible milking scenarios. In a December 2020 update, four farmers involved in the pilot project detailed the challenges, successes, benefits and negatives of EMIs. One farmer reported improved empty rates while the business reduced staffing by 12 hours a fortnight. However, it experienced a production drop of about 10 per cent while facing slightly increased animal health costs. Another farmer experienced a drop in cow lameness and improved cow condition scores. Milk production took a hit during the peak but was up at other times of the year. High empty rates were a trigger for another farmer to trial the system. “I see a gain there and we’re happy with the condition of the cows,” he said.

The DemoDAIRY Foundation is keen to hear from south-west Victorian farmers interested in learning more about extended milking intervals.

A survey of staff showed most were happy to have more time with family and friends, more sleep and less stress, and less lame cows to deal with. After the first year, the study found the fullseason 3-in-2 herd produced five per cent less milk solids than the full-season twice-a-day (TAD) herd, with protein production more negatively affected than fat. By early May (near dry-off) average body condition was 0.25 units greater for the full-season 3-in-2 herd relative to the full-season TAD herd, and back-calculated feed eaten decreased with increasing duration of 3-in-2. The results imply it may be possible to maintain or increase both profitability and sustainability with full-season 3-in-2, although budgets need to incorporate farm-specific assumptions — which may vary significantly from farm to farm. Recent NZ experience is that the EMI system can be simplified to 10 milkings in seven days, as this makes rostering of labour easier. It provides the opportunity to milk once per day on Saturday and Sunday to allow farm staff and families more time for weekend activities. Current experience is that one long inter-milking interval per week may not have a major impact on yields. The NZ trials and EMI focus farms are running up to 600-cow herds producing up to 500 kg MS/year under high stocking rates. The herds include the three main breeds in NZ.

Australian findings A south-west Victorian industry representative said one local farmer had started using once-a-day milking and a few others were trialling the system. However, it is not known if any local farmers use other variable milking times, such as 10-in-7. In Tasmania, 18-hour intervals or 3-in-2 are popular, especially in the second half of the season.

“Variable milking is an area people are starting to look at more closely,” he said. “Once-a-day might be a step too far for most Aussie farmers but that is one end of the spectrum; there are a lot of options in between that may work for people that create savings of labour and health improvements. “Some might do a 9 am milking on a Sunday instead of twice-a-day. Dairy farming is not a weekend-centric business, but you can help that by adopting variable milking times.” One of the key benefits could be addressing staff shortages. “We’re crying out for labour and dairy farming is hard enough without having to do the reasonably-mundane task of milking cows twice a day. If you can reduce that it’s going to be a bonus,” the industry representative said. “Some farmers in New Zealand say they might have left the industry 10 years ago if it wasn’t for having this flexibility.” One Tasmanian farmer has used 3-in-2 for several years and says the 16-hour intervals reduced costs but didn’t harm production or adversely affect the cows. “Our shed costs are quite a bit lower, probably 25 per cent,” he said. “The biggest benefit has been in the labour savings and the reduction of hours, but our percow production is the highest it has ever been and the cows enjoy it and seem to have more energy.” The following links provide more information about extended milking intervals. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ucfHJQ6ewpo&t=128s www.dairynz.co.nz/about-us/research/ flexible-milking-research/ People can register interest in finding out more about extended milking intervals by contacting info@demodairy.com.au or call Ian Teese on 0427 358 987.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

6 // NEWS

Joining up dairy’s DNA dots SCIENTISTS FROM Agriculture Victoria, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, have developed a world-first customised single nucleotide polymorphism chip designed with the latest known genes that affect dairy cattle traits. The work involves the customisation of a small piece of plastic — an SNP chip — with 50,000 small dots that bind DNA to detect genetic variations on the bovine genome, with the potential to improve dairy breeding worldwide. Agriculture Victoria research scientist and fellow with the University of Melbourne, Ruidong Xiang, said SNP chips helped breeders select animals with genetics of interest by testing tens of thousands of genetic variants to find the genes for important traits in each animal for the purposes of breeding. “The information obtained from an SNP chip can be used to make genetic predictions for a

trait of interest, such as milk production, so breeders can quickly narrow down which animals they are interested in breeding,” Dr Xiang said. “The new customised SNP chip will have better predictions for a trait of interest compared to existing chips currently used in the industry and ultimately improves breeding decisions.” The research team started with 16 million genomic variants from 44,000 Australian dairy cattle and moved along the bovine genome, picking the next best variant until they narrowed it down to 50,000 genetic variations for inclusion on the customised SNP chip. Dr Xiang said by screening genes of interest to the Australian dairy industry, the team was able to customise the SNP chip to reflect the most up-to-date biological information.

Advertising Max Hyde 0408 558 938 max.hyde@dairynewsaustralia.com.au Editor Fiona Lloyd (03) 5820 3254 editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au Dairy News Australia is published by Shepparton Newspapers Pty Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of Shepparton Newspapers Pty Ltd.

Regional editor news@dairynewsaustralia.com.au

“This method included using more genes associated with 37 dairy traits, which was a huge improvement on the standard chips, as most genetic variants used in the standard chip were not supported by biology,” he said. Agriculture Victoria Research’s high throughput sequencing capabilities and the Biosciences Advanced Scientific Computing facility at AgriBio was used to analyse the vast amount of data. It was also used to develop the methodology and statistical methods used in the research, such as incorporating Bayesian modelling. The research findings showed the customised biology-informed chip outperformed the standard chip in predicting the genetic value of multiple traits across datasets from 90,000 dairy cattle by up to 10 per cent. Publisher Shepparton Newspapers Pty Ltd Printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd Head Office 7940 Goulburn Valley Highway Shepparton, VIC 3630 Phone (03) 5831 2312 Postal address PO Box 204 Shepparton, Victoria 3632 Australia

Dr Xiang said by translating big genomic data, they had been able to develop an industry-usable product that would help farmers select and breed the best animals more accurately and efficiently. “This research has the potential to benefit both the Australian dairy industry as well as other key global dairy regions such as New Zealand and the United States.” The research is part of DairyBio, a research and innovation initiative of Dairy Australia, Gardiner Foundation and Agriculture Victoria Research, and further supported by the Australian Research Council, and in collaboration with Dairy New Zealand. You can read more about the research findings in the open access scientific journal, Nature Communications, at: www.nature.com/articles/ s41467–021–21001–0 Dairy News Australia welcomes contributions from stakeholders in the dairy industry, and particularly from organisations wishing to advance the industry. Contributions and photos can be sent to: editor@dairynewsaustralia.com.au Letters to the editor on topical issues are also welcome. Letters should be concise and carry the name and town address of the author, as well as a contact phone number, not for publication.

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NEWS // 7

Speeding toward unity

Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan.

A GLOBAL pandemic has failed to slow

plans to set up a NSW/Queensland dairy farmer organisation to advocate for fresh milk producers in each state under the single banner of eastAUSmilk. This was the verdict from Dairy Connect Farmers Group president Graham Forbes after reflecting on what he described as “months of negotiations” between Dairy Connect Farmers Group and the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation. “Our two organisations are moving towards forming a single dairy farmer organisation to best represent NSW/Queensland under the name ‘eastAUSmilk’, with the ‘AUS’ standing for Advocacy, Unity and Service,” Mr Forbes said. “Those of us who have been working towards achieving this outcome believe firmly in the themes and culture that we intend to bring to this new dairy farmer organisation. “Subject to the lockdown that COVID-19 has imposed on the industry, it is hoped that we will be able to visit dairy regions so that we can seek producer views face-to-face. “However, if we are not able to do so because of COVID-19 or for some other reason, any dairy farmer will be able to join representatives of the Dairy Connect Farmers Group when we hold a ‘webinar’ to discuss the consultation issues paper.” Dairy Connect chief executive Shaughn Morgan said the consultation paper would be a further opportunity for dairy farmers to ask any questions they may have or issues they may wish to canvas. “Dairy farmer engagement and their taking ownership are vital to the overall success of this merger,” he said. “The systemic issues that the Australian dairy industry is confronting will not go away overnight and indeed we need to ensure that we remain strong and viable with a sustainable dairy industry into the future. “The establishment of eastAUSmilk will provide strong dairy farmer representation and advocacy, as agreed and outlined in the Australian Dairy Plan, for dairy farmers in our two states.” Mr Morgan said he did not intend to go through the discussion paper but rather allow producers the opportunity to read the paper and consider those matters they wanted to raise. “Vitally, the paper provides an outline of matters discussed and some of these issues still need to be settled, but it provides a guide as to how we believe the merged organisation will operate into the future,” he said. Anyone wanting to make comments can contact either Graham Forbes on 0419 448 613 or forbes@exemail.com.au or Shaughn Morgan on 0401 421 214 or shaughn.morgan@dairyconnect. com.au The consultation paper can be found at mcusercontent.com/cf76e1f73d111e21167a3638b/ files/708bc948-b974-c2bb-e854-a744ab1896bf/ QDO_DC_Dairy_merger_member_consultation_document_6Jul21_FINAL.pdf

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

8 // NEWS

Part of climate solution

Tess Butler with partner Ben and son Will at their property near Warragul.

A NEW initiative launched on August 18 is sharing stories of the climate action Aussie farmers are taking while continuing to produce the food and natural fibres we all depend on. Research commissioned by the National Farmers’ Federation measured community sentiment towards agriculture, climate change and sustainability.

Of those surveyed, 21 per cent of Australians strongly believed farmers were committed to improving their environmental performance and adapting to a warmer and drier climate, while 44 per cent somewhat agreed and 17 per cent were neutral. NFF chief executive Tony Mahar said the survey results indicated the community

suffered catastrophic losses in the 2009 Victorian bushfires. In the build-back, Ms Butler transformed the farm so the family could, in its own way, respond to climate challenges. With changes to soil and pasture management Ms Butler’s cows now produce more milk with less methane emissions. She said producing milk that met the expectations and values of Australians was what got her out of bed every day. “Sustainability is extremely important to me,” Ms Butler said. “The way we run this farm is about getting what we need without compromising the land for the future.” Mr Mahar said the actions of farmers like Ms Butler were repeated on farms across Australia every day. “Australian farmers not only produce the world’s highest quality meat, wool, cotton, grain, dairy, timber and more, but they are also a vital part of the climate change solution. “By hearing the overwhelmingly positive stories of our farmers, we want Aussies to continue to enjoy the Australian-grown food and fibres they love with the peace of mind and the confidence that farmers are part of the climate change solution.”

r ecognised farmers were on the frontline of the climate solution and wanted to learn more about what action farmers were taking. “Through Australian Farms — Where REAL climate action happens we’re telling the stories of our farmers, who take seriously their responsibility as environmental stewards of 51 per cent of the Australian landscape,” he said. “The good news is through research, innovation and on-farm management, farmers are world leaders in carbon abatement. In fact, agriculture is one large carbon cycle: generating emissions but also taking a significant amount of carbon from the atmosphere. “Now mainstream practices such as rotational grazing, zero soil disruption when planting a crop, and the conversion of livestock effluent to renewable energy, have seen Australian agriculture reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent between 2004–05 and 2016–17. “Farmers are on a journey and there is more work to do. Through new science and technologies, like feed additives that drastically reduce livestock emissions, agriculture is poised to continue being part of the climate solution.” West Gippsland dairy farmer and veterinarian Tess Butler is one farmer featured in Australian Farms — Where REAL climate action happens. Ms Butler runs 900 Jersey cows with her partner Ben and three-year-old son, Will. The family

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NEWS // 9 The NFF is calling on all farmers to tell their own story by shooting a short video and posting it on their social media channels using the hashtag #realclimateaction Australian Dairy Farmers president Terry Richardson said it would be great to get some more dairy stories in the mix as so many dairy farmers were taking steps to reduce emissions. He said from an industry-wide perspective, the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework had a commitment to “reducing our environmental impact — meeting the challenges of climate change and providing good stewardship of our natural resources”. “In the framework, we set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 30 per cent on 2015 levels, across the whole industry. We are making great progress on this and are looking at setting a more ambitious target,” Mr Richardson said.”Sustainability is also a key focus of the A ustralian Dairy Plan. We recognise that it is essential for gaining community trust, for dairy’s long-term viability and for providing nutritious food for a healthier world.” To find out more about the real climate action happening on Australian farms every day, visit: www.farmers.org.au

Tess Butler believes that meeting consumer expectations in relation to climate change is how the dairy sector will stay ahead, in touch and ‘farm with a conscience’.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

NEWS // 11

New science secures bright future for dairy sector VICTORIAN SCIENTISTS are working on

ways to reduce emissions to create a more profitable and sustainable dairy sector, honing in on the environmental footprint of the A ustralian dairy cow. Earlier this month Agriculture Minister MaryAnne Thomas launched DairyBio21–26 — a fiveyear, $55 million research partnership between industry and government to address many of the issues facing dairy farmers, including how to breed more productive cows that produce fewer emissions. The partnership with Dairy Australia and

Gardiner Dairy Foundation will support scientific research focused on genetic improvements to animals and forage species. The long-term vision is to provide farmers with the tools and information they need to breed and feed cows that produce more milk, healthier calves and less methane in a changing climate. “DairyBio21–26 continues the focus on two of the major drivers of industry success — improving the herd and improving pastures,” Dairy Australia chair James Mann said. “New inventions, matched with real industry needs and support from across government and

commercial sectors, are what excite us at Dairy Australia.” As a result of climate change and other regulatory and trade changes, forecasts suggest that dairy farmers will need to increase their productivity by 1.5 per cent per year to m aintain profitability. DairyBio21–26 will support scientists to meet this challenge, targeting an additional value of $200 per cow each year for Australian dairy herds by 2040. This will be achieved through genetic improvements that will result in cows that live longer and produce fewer emissions — with the

flow-on benefits of reduced costs. “Many technologies and products from DairyBio are already available and delivering significant value to farmers today,” Gardiner Dairy Foundation chair Dr Len Stephens said. “The next five years of DairyBio will bring about a broader range of outputs, including some exciting new forage cultivars, that will deliver sustained value to dairy farmers.” Victoria’s dairy industry accounts for 77 per cent of Australia’s dairy exports — valued at $2.1 billion — with the gross value of milk produced in Victoria worth $2.7 billion (2018–19).

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12 // NEWS

Study tour cements ambitions JAKE SEUREN has just turned 21 and already manages a leased farm at Lang Lang in Gippsland and runs a contracting business boasting gear worth more than half-a-million dollars. But Jake doesn’t plan to stop there. He is a young man on a mission, aiming to own a farm in five years and have three under his belt within 20 years. His participation in the inaugural UDV-Gardiner Dairy Foundation study tour of Victoria cemented his ownership ambitions and opened his eyes to a potential new home in south-west Victoria. But Jake’s determination is not just about growing assets — he wants to pay it forward to his father Michael. When Jake wanted to work on the farm in 2018, Michael gave him the chance. “He’s working off farm so I could have the opportunity, but he still wants to be a farmer so I hope to be able to help,” Jake said. The farm business has been through some tough times. Michael has been on the land for 20 years, originally as a sharefarmer, but the property was sold to a sand mining company in 2007 and only half the land is now used for the dairy operation. The herd of 400 was depleted by a family break-up, the 2016 milk price crash and a salmonella outbreak. When Jake came back to the farm, only 50

cows remained along with one small tractor and some old hay and silage equipment. Since then, Michael has purchased 100 cows and the herd has been built to 180, and Jake bought a bigger tractor to do hay and silage instead of relying on contractors — and then two more and other equipment to start his own contracting business. For the past three years Jake, who took over full operation of the farm at the start of July, has ploughed profits into machinery — now he has his sights set on land. “Now that I’ve got the contracting business established and don’t need more machinery, I can build up enough equity to buy a farm,” he said. “I’ve experienced the real lows of dairying, now it’s all on a high and I hope it stays that way.” He’s not going in blindly. As part of his Diploma of Agriculture, Jake has developed a business plan setting out his ownership targets. Participating in the UDV-Gardiner Dairy Foundation study tour was part of this planning process, not only in learning from other farmers but in forging industry contacts and career development opportunities. The dairy tour started in Melbourne, with visits to the UDV office, Dairy Australia and meetings with bankers and industry leaders, before moving to south-west and northern Victoria to visit farms.

While he got to see farming systems totally different from his Gippsland operation, particularly in irrigated northern Victoria, Jake said the tour’s benefits weren’t about the practical side of farming; they were about helping his career progress and networking. “The key message I got from the trip was the importance of having networks and getting to know people. “When I went to school, I never had any other dairy farmers to talk to, and there aren’t many young dairy farmers out there so this really opened things up for me; not just with fellow farmers but with banks and other leaders in the industry.” Advice from farmers gave Jake insight into what makes a successful farm business and the risks to avoid. “The tour gave me more knowledge,” he said. “I enjoyed going to farms and asking what they’ve done to be successful and what hasn’t worked for them. The farms we visited were very open about it.” The 10-day tour was his first trip to dairy farms in the south-west and north of the state. He had previously been to Tasmania as part of a GippsDairy tour and is also developing industry connections through his involvement in the Young Dairy Network. It deepened Jake’s appreciation for southwest Victoria, which is where he is likely to invest in a farm.

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The inaugural UDV-Gardiner Dairy Foundation study tour of Victoria helped young farmer Jake Seuren increase his dairy knowledge and networks.

“I’ve always liked south-west Victoria. With the prices of land, it’s a lot easier to get into dairy compared to Gippsland and it has similar rainfall and soil.” Regardless of where he buys, dairy farming will be in his blood. “I never wanted to do anything else.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

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14 // NEWS

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now use the genomic information from DNA samples of their animals to make herd improvement decisions. For the first time, DataGene has released Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) that include genomics and are applicable for Australian Red dairy animals and their crosses. Aussie Reds, Ayrshires, Illawarras and Dairy Shorthorns have joined Holsteins and Jerseys with genomic Australian Breeding Values, with enough data collected for scientists to generate genomic breeding values for four key traits. Red breed genomic ABVs are available for milk, fat, protein and cell count. These breeding values will be released three times a year — in April, August and December. DataGene stakeholder relations specialist Peter Thurn said farmers could use genomics to help make breeding and culling decisions. “The addition of genomics to the red breed ABVs will give farmers more confidence to be able to identify their better young stock with a greater degree of reliability,” he said. “Genomics will help with the decisions around heifer retention, sales and whether or not they should be joined to a beef bull. Farmers can start to tailor breeding decisions around the genetic merit of their young stock.” Mr Thurn said the introduction of genomic ABVs would also enable artificial breeding cen-

tres to purchase red bulls with greater confidence, while these bulls could be used at a younger age on farm with more reassurance about the genetic merit of their progeny. DataGene has used genomics for the genetic evaluation of Jerseys and Holsteins for the past 10 years. These breeds have more genomic ABV traits than what’s available for the red breed group, because Holsteins and Jerseys have a larger population and more data to draw from. DataGene will continue to work with red breed farmers to collect data to build the reliability and offering of genomic ABVs. It will also collaborate with other countries and bull companies to bolster Australia’s reference population for red breeds by adding their genotypes. Australian Reds chair and Numbaa NSW dairy farmer Sam Graham said the recent breeding development was a great “starting point” to develop a full genomic reference set for the breed. “Aussie Red farmers have been collecting tail hair samples for six to seven years, even longer, and continually herd recording; now, we are seeing the results and it’s very exciting for the breed,” he said. “It will motivate people to keep going because we are seeing the results for the hard work.” Mr Graham said the addition of genomics would also help advance his breed, having seen the impact on genetic gain in Holsteins and Jerseys.

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NEWS // 15 “The other breeds have been able to use genomics to select their best heifers and bulls for use in their herds,” he said. “Those breeders have been shortening the generation gap, using the latest young genetics — and now, thanks to genomic ABVs, we now have the ability to do that with Australian bulls.” Although the red dairy breed genomic ABV dataset isn’t complete, Mr Graham said it would weed out the “stinkers” when it came to bull selection, by making it easier to identify the better sires. “We will have more confidence using young bulls knowing that the lower performers aren’t going to be in the mix,” he said. South Gippsland Aussie Red breeder and Nerrena farmer Paul Cocksedge has already considered breeding his lowest heifers to beef to diversify his income and ensure his replacements are progeny from only elite animals. “Genomic data means I will be able to make more informed decisions, be able to select better quality bulls and it also means I will be selecting the better-quality heifers,” he said. “I will be more certain that I’m making the correct decisions.” For Aussie Red breeder Greg Goulding from Cohuna, Victoria, the addition of genomic ABVs will improve his herd and help to objectively prove the value of the breed.

“Genomics will definitely give our herd a big boost. We’ll be able to genomically test heifers, off-load that bottom end group and use the top end to breed replacements for quicker genetic gain,” he said. For more information, phone DataGene on 1800 841 848 or email enquiries@datagene.com.au or visit www.datagene.com.au

Australian Reds chair Sam Graham says the recent breeding development is a great ‘starting point’ to develop a full genomic reference set for the breed.

South Gippsland Aussie Red breeder and Nerrena farmer Paul Cocksedge says genomic data will help select better quality stock.

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Biogas session goes online BRISBANE-BASED BUSINESS Finn Biogas said it was disappointed it had to postpone its launch into the Gippsland area after the South Gippsland Dairy Expo was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. “We had great hopes the expo was going to be the perfect launching pad into the area for Finn Biogas, as our waste-to-resources and waste-toenergy products and services have great potential for the dairy farming industry,” Finn Biogas managing director Jason Hawley said. “Biogas plants are a great a way for producers and farmers to generate energy on-site utilising their organic waste. “The energy produced can be utilised as baseload or peak power supply behind the meter, without the need for costly electrical infrastructure upgrades.” Mr Hawley said biogas plants were one of the only sources of renewable energy which could cost-effectively provide baseload power to offset grid demand, without the need for costly b attery storage. “This means you can be confident that a plant will supply your needs 24/7, without the need to worry about the wind blowing or the sun shining.” Finn Biogas plants are based on anaero-

bic digestion — a reliable, robust and effective solution, proven to reduce odour emissions, nutrient run-off and on-site energy costs. “A well-designed and operated biogas plant will provide effective on-site waste stabilisation, and also help to meet compliance needs of a planning application process,” Mr Hawley said. “That’s why we are so keen to bring our knowledge and services to the farmers and p roducers of the Gippsland area — there is huge potential to reduce energy costs and pre-emptively manage planning applications and d iscussions with regulators. “By choosing to install an AD Biogas plant on your site, both the environment and your neighbours will thank you for it.” He said Finn Biogas was looking forward to attending next year’s expo and in the meantime would be running a free webinar on September 27. “We realise a webinar is not quite the same as a chat in person, but we hope this will be an effective way to provide information to the community. “Our thoughts are also with the Lions Club of Strzelecki who had put so much work into the South Gippsland Dairy Expo.” To register your interest in attending the free online webinar, email: info@finnbiogas.com

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NEWS // 17

Kickstart for career EMILY WALSH has tried many jobs — from car

sales to being a governess on a Queensland cattle station — but agronomy was always on her mind. Now with the support of a DemoDAIRY Foundation student scholarship for her Diploma of Applied Agronomy at Longerenong College, Emily is forging a career in the field. Emily is just about to start her online course but has already starting working alongside three other agronomists at Webber and Chivell in Cobden, in south-west Victoria. “I’ve gone from working lots of little jobs to the car industry and then to Queensland to work as a governess on a cattle station — but I never lost sight of my agronomist goal,” she said. “I let Webber and Chivell know that I was interested in working with them and was very happy when this job came up. “It’s not common to get a job as an agronomist without having an actual qualification but it’s going well and I’m learning every day from the other agronomists who excel in what they do. “I’m very lucky; we’re very much a team.” Emily was raised on a dairy farm at Chocolyn and has always had an interest in agriculture.

“Someone told me a long time ago that I would make a good agronomist so I did some more research and learnt more about that sort of role and it just seemed right for me.” She now has a clear vision of the role of an agronomist. “It’s an interesting industry that’s gives me the opportunity to help farmers. “You’re starting from the ground and you can help both the farmer and the animal. “A good agronomist is one that supports the farmer and aims to help them become a profitable farmer.” After starting in her new role in May, Emily is enjoying being back on familiar ground. “I’m from a dairying background and I’m glad to be part of it again. “It’s been a good career choice and I’m really excited about starting the study. “The DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarship has been a great help and I’m very grateful.” More information about DemoDAIRY Foundation scholarships can be found at: www.demodairy.com.au

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NEWS // 19

Stellar line-up of top sires HOME-GROWN GENOMIC Jersey sires are

leading the pack, while breed-leading Holstein sires have continued their market dominance in the latest Australian Breeding Values release. This comes as Norwegian Red and farmer favourite Onstad-P has claimed the coveted top spot on the red breed ABV proven sire rankings with a BPI$ of 388. The August ABV release is one of the most successful for ABS, proving its pursuit of quality sires for Australian conditions is paying dividends. With five of the top 10 Australian proven Holsteins, including the record-breaking polled and A2 sire ABS Jeronimo-P at number one and high type sire De-Su 14030 Wrigley-ET in second place, ABS Australia business operations manager Bruce Ronalds said consistency had been the key. “Top Holstein genomic sires have become top proven sires, while big-selling sires such as Rosylane-LLC Spock and De-Su 13530 Seville have held their positions, and it’s nice to see consistency,” he said. “Farmers already milking daughters of these top Holsteins are telling us they have been so impressed with the progeny, that they want more semen.” Describing the Jersey genomic offering as the “strongest breed offering” for up to seven years, with ABS having five of the top 10 genomic Jersey sires, Mr Ronalds said a standout was the highest-ranked single-P bull in Australia, Brookbora Bushfield at 345 BPI$. For red breed enthusiasts, it’s hard to go past Onstad-P. He has been the most popular red sire in Australia during the past 12 months, and now, thanks to the introduction of genomics for red dairy breeds, his sons have a chance to shine. “Two Onstad-P sons are now available in Australia, Storflor and Jo-Onstad, and according to their genomics they are on track to deliver in the vat — just like their father,” Mr Ronalds said. “Genomics isn’t available for daughter fertility, but, given the strength of this vital trait in Onstad-P’s proof at 108, we are expecting big things from the next generation.” Both genomic sires are more than 250 BPI$ which puts them among the best of other overseas bulls. Onstad-P progeny are spread throughout Australia, and this isn’t surprising as he’s ranked 300 ASI — an indicator of extremely high production — and 107 for type, 104 for udders and 108 for daughter fertility. Ticking all the important profit boxes, and available as a sexed genetic product, Mr Ronalds said Onstad-P’s progeny were also pleasant in the dairy. “He’s ranked 104 for temperament, the highest of any sire in the Good Bulls Guide.

Given his ranking is so high, he really is one of the best all-round bulls,” he said. “Add to this a farmer likeability rating of 107, it’s no surprise his semen is in demand.” South-west Victoria dairy farmer Owen Simpson is milking several heifers and young cows sired by Onstad-P in a 640-strong herd, and they are making a statement. “They are fantastic cows, they are real working cattle,” he said. “Onstad-P has fertility, strength, capacity and his production is very good. There are not many sires that are positive for litres and components and have a combination of all those traits.”

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Holstein heaven Australia’s top proven Holstein sire, ABS Jeronimo-P, continues to break records. His rise comes off the back of incredible genomic results driven by phenomenal health traits and high production, but as more ABS Jeronimo-Ps enter Australian herds, farmers are appreciating his other benefits. “Ranked 105 for farmer likeability, now that is telling us something,” Mr Ronalds said. “He sits at 112 for daughter fertility, 107 for mastitis resistance and 111 for survival. When it comes to health traits, he really is elite.” West Gippsland dairy farmer Megan Coster said her four ABS Jeronimo-Ps were a “pleasure to milk” and also had “very good udders”. “We have a further 14 daughters to calve next year and 30 the following year and we look forward to them coming into the herd,” she said. “They are consistent, being predominately black, and the polled gene makes them not only exciting animals to milk but to also breed from.” The highest type sire in the top 10 Australian proven rankings is De-Su 14030 Wrigley, ranked at number two Australian proven 506 BPI$. Scoring 110 for type, 107 for udders and 106 for farmer likeability, demand for the American-bred sire has gone crazy. “Since the ABV August public release, we’ve been inundated with people wanting to use him across heifers and elite cows, thanks to his 104 calving ease,” Mr Ronalds said. “Recording a remarkable 83-point BPI rise, solely thanks to the addition of Australian daughters to his production proof, this demonstrates that he works in our conditions.” Expect to see lots of Rosylane-LLC Spock and De-Su 13530 Seville soon, as these sires have been in demand for spring joining, with most orders for the sexed Sexcel product. At minus 10 days for gestation length, the number eight Australian-proven sire Seville, at 396 BPI$, has been popular with farmers Continued page 20.

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20 // NEWS Continued from page 19 looking to tighten calving intervals, while also providing calving ease, according to Mr Ronalds. Number nine Australian-proven Spock, at 385 BPI$, is one of the highest semen fertility sires in Australia. “Knowing he has been used on those cows which had been difficult to get in calf, yet he is still achieving amazing results, makes his fertility score of +3.15 (up to double of other sires) astounding,” Mr Ronalds said. Z-Happy Winterfell is leading the ABS genomic Holstein offering at 506 BPI$. Used as a sire of sons in the United States and released in Australia mid-August, he’s expected to be popular with Australian breeders chasing daughter fertility and survival. Available in Sexcel, he’s also one of the few genomic sires adding chest width into the breed.

Top-class Jerseys Australian Jersey breeders are taking the spotlight in the recent ABV genomic rankings, with number one sire Gelbeado Park Woodside leading the industry. This bull entered the herd improvement system thanks to the ABS relationship with Central Sires Co‑operative. Bred by Gippsland farmers Paul and Lisa Mumford and carrying a 396 BPI$, Mr Ronalds said he was one of the few Jersey sires who could deliver strength and capacity to the breed. “ABS has put a lot of time and effort into finding elite Australian-bred genomic bulls and CSCWoodside is one of three new additions to our team this month,” he said.

Owen Simpson of Nullawarre, Victoria, says the heifers and young cows sired by Australia's top-proven red bull Onstad-P are fantastic.

“ABS Australia’s Jersey enthusiast Alan Blum has been scouring the country for us. It’s an exciting time for the Jersey breed.” Ranleigh Skyward is the second new Jersey addition to the ABS stable, bred by the Boyd

family in Gippsland. He’s 357 BPI$ and ranked 104 for daughter fertility. Breed outcross sire Forest Glen Craze Tripp has dominated ABS Jersey Sexcel and conventional semen sales for the past six months and

at 366 BPI$, his ABV ranking continues to rise. Another popular sire out of western Victoria, Murray Brook Jamieo 366 BPI$, is an outstanding udder bull at 112, while delivering on health with 106 for mastitis resistance.

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NEWS // 21

Exciting times ahead for Jerseys THE AUGUST 2021 ABV release has boosted the status of Australian Jerseys. Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said there was stability in the Jersey proofs and a welcome emergence of young genomic bulls graduating to the Proven lists with enhanced proofs. There were 14 new-release Australian young genomic bulls sourced from nine studs and marketed by five AI companies, which Mr Barrett described as a positive for the Australian Jersey breed. “This is the biggest new release of domestic bulls for many years, which is a strong sign,” he said. “Breeders should be congratulated for maintaining faith in their breeding programs. With growing global interest in Australian Jersey bulls, there are exciting times ahead for the breed.” Jersey bull proofs have improved as new daughters joined herds across Australia, with bulls such as Douggan and Invincible adding 91 and 51 daughters respectively. Douggan, marketed by Genetics Australia and bred by White Star Jerseys, was the number one bull on the August ABV, improving his proof by 38 BPI to 431 with a high jump in daughters flowing from autumn calvings into his proof. Invincible was another big mover, adding 68 BPI points to 394 BPI. World Wide Sires’ Australian bulls Jiminy (BPI 387) and Matt (BPI 347) were second and third, with White Star bred bulls Publican with a BPI of 319 marketed by Agri-Gene and Valenblast in the GA stable with a BPI of 317 rounding out the top five bulls. Cscwoodside - Gelbeado Park Woodside, a Matt son from the Central Sires Co-op/ABS Global Australia stable, is a new bull on the market and tops the young genomic list with a BPI of 396. GA bulls Invincible (Loxleigh Hatman VInce 5963) and Pickle (Wallacedale Pickle) with a BPI of 387 round out the top three on the young bull lists. Rob and Sandra Bacon’s Brookbora Jerseys retained the number one herd spot with a herd BPI of 191. Con and Michelle Glennen’s White Star Jerseys was second with a BPI of 176 followed by John and Marg Cockerell’s Warrain Jerseys with BPI of 166. The top young heifer in the August ABV release was Langdale Matt Naomi 2, owned by Darien and Alex Matthews and with a BPI of 392. John and Margaret Cockerell’s Warrain Irwin Love Lies was the top cow with a BPI of 491 up from 477. Top cow on conventional proofs was Jackiah Valentino Primrose 3000 owned by Simon Reid with a BPI of 500.

Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett says there’s growing global interest in Australian Jersey bulls.

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22 // NEWS

Red bull delivers top traits AUSTRALIA’S TOP red dairy bull is making a mark on one south-west Victorian herd, with his daughters delivering in the vat and helping to cut costs. Red sire Onstad P is ranked number one in the recent Australian Breeding Values release at 388 BPI$ thanks to his strong production, outstanding management traits and elite score of 108 for daughter fertility. Onstad P’s rise doesn’t come as a surprise for Nullawarre dairy farmer Owen Simpson. He and partner Kate McCosh have several heifers and young cows sired by the long-time farmer favourite, polled bull in their 640-strong herd and they are making a statement. “They are fantastic cows, they are real working cattle,” Owen said. “Onstad P has fertility, strength, capacity and his production is very good. “There are not many bulls that are positive for litres and components and have a combination of all those traits.” ABS Red sires, including many sexed genetic REDX bulls, have featured heavily in Owen and Kate’s breeding program as the sharefarmers turn their Holstein herd into Reds. “We switched to Reds chasing fertility and a more moderate-sized animal and Onstad P gives us that,” Owen said. “His daughters have a lot of strength and capacity for their size, and they are obviously

South-west Victorian dairy farmer Owen Simpson and ABS general manager Marcus Rees.

very good fertility-wise and that was something we wanted to improve on.” Moving away from Holsteins has delivered herd health and production advantages, with the bonus of lifestyle benefits for their young family, according to Owen. He and Kate have a fourmonth-old son, Ethan. A reduction in mastitis cases has reduced antibiotic use within the herd, trimming on-farm costs, while improved fertility has helped condense the heavy workload during autumn and spring calving.

Red cows also better suit the wet conditions of their flat south-west Victorian farm, according to Owen. “The Reds carry a little more condition and that actually works in their favour when we join in July and August,” he said. “Really, you can’t get any harsher conditions than during those months and they are getting in calf brilliantly.” Sharefarming for Owen’s parents, David and Nareda, Owen and Kate wanted a lower maintenance and economical herd.

Their breeding goals included an animal with longevity that also produced well from a pasture diet, supplemented with silage and brassica crops during dry months and 1.5 tonnes/cow/lactation bail feed. Averaging about 540 kg of milk solids per cow per lactation, the Reds have delivered in the vat. But this isn’t Owen’s primary focus. “We never chase litres, we chase a cow that will look after herself and last for years — 10 years, ideally. “We don’t spoil cattle; the idea is you are not working for them.”

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

ABV FEATURE // 23 August 2021 Australian Breeding Values The latest Datgene results have revealed the top herds by BPI, top cow ABVs and top active bulls in the country. See some of the results over the following pages. For full results, visit datagene.com.au

Good Bulls Guide for Holstein — Balanced Performance Index (BPI) — Australian Proven only Indices Rank

Bull ID

Bull Name

Source

BPI $

BPI Rel

Production Traits HWI

ASI Rel

ASI

No. Dtrs

Conformation Traits

Survival

No. Survival Herds

Rel

Daughter Fertility

Workability

Over Type

Mam Syst

Type Rel

Milk Spd

Temp

Rel

Dtr Fert

Rel

Mastitis Resistance Mas Resist

Rel

29HO18698

ABS JERONIMO-P-ET

ABS

525

513

213

111

106

104

105

112

107

29HO18726

DE-SU 14030 WRIGLEY-ET

ABS

506

447

258

114

111

110

107

104

103

106

106#

103

WESTCOAST PERSEUS

SEM

473

490

205

145

107

102

101

103

113#

108

SXT

447

450

148

525

113

106

101

104

112

109

0200HO10777

CBCONTENDER MR SUPER CONTENDER

29HO18093

BRABANTDALE DRAKE-ET

ABS

407

362

155

147

109

104

105

102

109

DELISHDELTA

MR MOGUL DELTA 1427 - ET

AGR

404

350

181

118

111

106

108

104

102

108

103

107

JSSUPERHERO

ENDCO SUPERHERO-ET

GAC

397

392

107

141

113

108

104

106

108

109

106

29HO18490

DE-SU 13530 SEVILLE-ET

ABS

396

388

185

108

103

104

107

109

105

29HO18182

ROSYLANE-LLC SPOCK-ET

ABS

385

347

195

136

109

108

103

102

101

104

110

105

CHAIRMAN

ST GEN DIRECTOR CHAIRMAN-ET

AGR

382

331

229

202

104

101

103

104

107

105

Good Bulls Guide for Jersey — Balanced Performance Index (BPI) — Australian Proven only Indices Rank

Bull ID

Bull Name

Source

Production Traits

BPI $

BPI Rel

HWI

ASI

ASI Rel

No. Dtrs

Conformation Traits

Survival

No. Survival Herds

Rel

Over Type

Mam Syst

Daughter Fertility

Workability

Type Rel

Milk Spd

Temp

Rel

Dtr Fert

Rel

Mastitis Resistance Mas Resist

Rel

7JE01344

WILSONVIEW IF MATT

WWS

347

304

262

110

108

103

104

112

ALGERNON

BROADLIN HILUX

GAC

289

229

169

182

109

108

110

103

104

101

7J1038

ALL LYNNS LOUIE VALENTINO

GAC

286

100

208

100 3,126

259

114

113

103

106

108

102

VALIN

KINGS VIEW VALIN 4697

GAC

284

235

392

112

106

105

103

105

101

103

7J1219

DUTCH HOLLOW OLIVER P

GAC

266

245

585

113

108

112

106

107

101

14JE00670

STEINHAUERS SAMSON LEMONHEAD

WWS

264

242

1,433

187

110

102

105

103

104

105

7JE05004

RIVER VALLEY CECE CHROME

WWS

257

266

238

108

105

104

102

103

104

102

108

011JE01150

DEERVIEW VALSON

ALT

257

322

-78

321

114

109

108

102

104

109

CSCBALENTI

KAARMONA BALENTI

ABS

251

226

110

109

105

107

102

106

101

29JE3830

SUNSET CANYON DAZZLER-ET

ABS

242

303

145

110

100

101

109

108

Good Bulls Guide for Red Breeds — Balanced Performance Index (BPI) — Aust Proven only Indices Rank

Bull ID

Bull Name

Source

BPI $

BPI Rel

Production Traits HWI

ASI

ASI Rel

No. Dtrs

Conformation Traits

Survival

No. Survival Herds

Rel

Daughter Fertility

Workability

Over Type

Mam Syst

Type Rel

Milk Spd

Temp

Rel

Dtr Fert

Rel

Mastitis Resistance Mas Resist

Rel

252NR11819

ONSTAD P

ABS

388

322

304

105

107

104

102

104

107

108#

VIKRTOKYO

VR MALBACK TUOMI TOKYO

VIK

337

203

246

109

105

104

100

101

105

ARBCYGNET

BEAULANDS SWANNIES — ET

GAC

279

281

161

103

VFOSKE

V FOSKE

VIK

269

192

183

100 3,245

AXBBLACKWOOD

BLACKWOOD PARK BLACKWOOD

AXB

255

196

193

150

105

103

106

107

203

107

102

107

102

105

100

101

105

107

102

103

105

Good Bulls Guide for Brown Swiss — Balanced Performance Index (BPI) — Aust Proven only Indices Rank

Bull ID

Bull Name

Source

BPI $

93SBJ03

HERCULES

GGI

262

GGHEGALL

HEGALL

GGI

173

BPI Rel

Production Traits ASI Rel

No. Dtrs

Survival

No. Survival Herds

HWI

ASI

210

206

108

171

143

Daughter Fertility

Workability

Mastitis Resistance

Rel

Milk Spd

Temp

Rel

Dtr Fert

Rel

Mas Resist

101

100

101

103

100

101

102

Rel

ASSAY

GGI

135

106

100

101

105

100

103

GGPAYLENG

PAYLENG

GGI

127

130

102

100

105

100

GGPARAY

PARAY

GGI

126

102

100

106

100

Good Bulls Guide for Guernsey — Balanced Performance Index (BPI) — Australian Proven only Indices

Rank

Bull ID

Bull Name

GUACTION

BROOKLEIGH BQ ACTION

AUSFAYSBOO

KOOKABURRA FAYS BOO

7GU00472

WALNUT RIDGE PRINCE CHARMING

CROSBYBEAR

NAVARRO

Source SEM

BPI $

Production Traits

BPI Rel

HWI

ASI

Survival

Conformation Traits

Daughter Fertility

Workability

No. ASI No. No. Over Mam Type Milk Dtrs 1st Survival Rel Rel Dtrs Herds Type Syst Rel Spd Cntry

Mastitis Resistance

Temp

Rel

Dtr Fert

Rel

Mas Resist

Rel

125

209

-38

107

102

103

104

108

101

105

107

117

107

102

101

103

101

GAC

100*

101

101*

102*

106

SUNNY VALLEY YBEAR CROSBY

AGR

101

103

101

LANG HAVEN ALSTAR NAVARRO

AGR

99*

101*

100*

101

104

70 41

11 53

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

24 // ABV FEATURE Top 5 Australian Red Breed Herds National Herd ID

Herd Owner

Curr. Cows

No. Cows

Age Group

BPI Rank

HWI Rank

4U0758F

WAIKATO FARM

N00555U

GRAHAM, RW & BC

ABV BPI $

HWI

ASI

Prot kg

Prot %

Milk L

Fat kg

Fat %

185

126

170

0.19

591

0.01

663

2,295

130

115

0.14

361

0.06

656233A

CLARK RD & VD (MOWF5)

127

116

0.21

138

0.13

4I0025F

HOEY DM & L (2) (MOFW5)

182

127

124

0.19

213

0.16

B21447R

HUMPHRIS TB (EASYD)

527

114

104

0.15

273

0.05

HWI

ASI

Prot kg

Prot %

Milk L

Fat kg

Fat % -0.02

Top 5 Illawara Herds National Herd ID

Herd Owner

Curr. Cows

No. Cows

Age Group

BPI Rank

HWI Rank

BPI $

ABV

Q00390G

WIECK, B & J

771

-0.02

219

Q00203D

CHELMONTE FARMING

1,551

-4

0.04

-227

0.33

B20708B

PARKER RW & SA (EASYD)

210

-0.02

214

-0.10

NT0025S

MCLENNAN, RT & VO

4A1868T

WILLIAMS GP & RC (MOFW5)

-0.01

0.05

304

1,845

0.04

-3

-0.07

BPI $

HWI

ASI

Prot kg

Prot %

Milk L

Fat kg

Fat %

Top 5 Guernsey Herds National Herd ID

Herd Owner

Curr. Cows

No. Cows

Age Group

BPI Rank

HWI Rank

ABV

460005P

GALLUS MR I

108

774

-2

0.12

-224

-1

0.23

S00376B

CLEGGETT LF & JM (EMAIL + 104)

438

2,035

0.05

0.09

T41OHFD

Smith J

-0.01

-1

-0.13

N01749P

GRAY, MD & PM

168

-3

0.01

-103

0.27

N00021N

CLARK PARTNERSHIP

112

1,060

-7

-0.02

-2

-0.08

Fat %

Top 5 Brown Swiss Herds National Herd ID

Herd Owner

Curr. Cows

No. Cows

Age Group

BPI Rank

HWI Rank

BPI $

HWI

ASI

Prot kg

Prot %

ABV Milk L

Fat kg

C00871I

RESTDOWN PASTORAL (EASYD)

387

2,350

0.10

0.11

C01047A

GOVETT BEN (EASYD)

132

867

0.08

156

-0.13

B21285J

BALFOUR PE & SM.

252

779

0.11

0.01

B20613H

MCCARTHY T & S

0.02

0.24

4K0080C

BROWN E & FISICARO S (HERDDATA APP)

162

315

0.12

-61

0.08

leading bpi 260x186 ad aug21.indd 1

25/8/21 2:18 pm

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

ABV FEATURE // 25 Top 10 Holstein herds

National Herd ID

Herd Owner

Curr. Cows

No. Cows

Genomic Cows

Age Group

Breed

BPI Rank

HWI Rank

BPI $

HWI

ASI

Prot kg

ABV Prot %

Milk L

Fat kg

Fat %

1,692

956

Holstein

263

250

115

0.16

190

0.19

N00544Q

PARRISH, TJ & LR

2V0034R

Wagner G

Holstein

258

246

105

0.13

291

0.08

4U0759I

WAIKATO FARM

Holstein

252

255

160

0.37

-58

0.26

H00060I

VALA HOLSTEINS (EASYD)

456

Holstein

246

247

0.08

257

0.09

W00248F

KITCHEN FARMS

487

2,657

765

Holstein

209

195

0.11

309

0.07

8M0171R

WINTER BL

145

243

216

Holstein

201

203

0.08

198

0.06

540597R

ANDERSON WR & BL

271

1,734

369

Holstein

199

182

0.15

171

0.11

C00155U

HOGG AL & JM (EASYD)(GINFO)

292

1,294

633

Holstein

195

142

0.22

206

0.20

C01125S

SPRUNT RG (EASYD)

190

765

409

Holstein

192

160

100

0.09

399

0.03

850441U

DICKSON BJ & JL (EASYD)

1,519

4,846

3518

Holstein

191

163

110

0.16

235

0.11

Top 10 Jersey herds

National Herd ID

Herd Owner

Curr. Cows

No. Cows

Genomic Cows

Age Group

Breed

BPI Rank

HWI Rank

BPI $

HWI

ASI

Prot kg

ABV Prot %

Milk L

Fat kg

Fat %

383

2,318

789

Jersey

190

145

-0.01

420

-0.12

C00859H

BACON RLG & SL . (FULL DIF)(GINFO)

850588C

GLENNEN C & CO (IDARY)(GINFO)

585

3,279

1214

Jersey

175

128

125

0.24

0.30

4A1535V

COCKERELL JR & MA (PCF)

404

2,095

584

Jersey

168

147

-0.01

324

-0.11

C00527M

SPRUNT GC & RG (EASYD)(GINFO)

283

1,000

581

Jersey

160

122

0.05

303

-0.05

260037W

BALNAGEITH JERSEY STUD

275

1,585

Jersey

156

116

106

0.15

155

0.21

240699A

HOEY DM & L (MOFW5) (EMAIL)

202

1,250

387

Jersey

155

103

116

0.21

106

0.22

740031D

CARSON AG & JA

350

1,555

329

Jersey

154

120

0.06

105

0.13

D80928G

ANDERSON RG & KL

286

1,933

628

Jersey

153

120

0.09

110

0.10

4H0077N

BUCHANAN FAMILY TRUST 2.(MOFW5)

113

626

Jersey

148

110

0.15

186

0.07

240684H

BROAD LL & LM

333

1,622

255

Jersey

144

101

0.10

261

-0.01

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BPI

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7HO13981

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14HO15445

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518

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486

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Bull Name

RRP

BPI

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JIMINY

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387

7JE01344

MATT

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347

7JE01750

SRIXON

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319

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351

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

26 // ABV FEATURE Top Holstein females with ABV(g)s on Balanced Performance Index (BPI) Production

Indices Long Name

Owner

BPI $

BPI Rel

HWI

ASI

Conformation

ASI Rel

Overall Type

Mam Syst

Survival

Type Survival Rel Rel

Fertility

Mastitis Resistance

Dtr Fert

Fert Rel

Mas Resist

Workability

Mas Milk Like Rel Spd

FeedSaved

Heat

Temp Work Feed FS Heat HT Rel Saved Rel Tol Rel

IVYHURST MYSTERY3

SEBIRE AP & CM (EASYD)

520

517

321

104

115

106

101

PERSEUS JO

HENRY TW & TC (GINFO)

520

459

329

106

108

107

103

104

101

ILLAWAMBRA RIVER SLEEPY 3950-CNF-DP

PARRISH, TJ & LR

514

546

220

110

115

109

101

102

101

6160

NUMERALLA DAIRY COMPANY PTY LTD

508

450

293

102

105

109

108

106

101

105

103

•66

V2 JERONIMO TIFFANY

JONES KW & HL

506

470

265

102

104

109

110

105

102

105

103

•41

ILLAWAMBRA LAWSON DALLAS 3914-CNF-D

PARRISH, TJ & LR

505

507

207

106

102

111

114

109

102

105

102

•100

VALA 331-ET

VALA HOLSTEINS (EASYD)

503

514

196

102

105

112

113

107

103

106

104

•69

VALA 460-ET

VALA HOLSTEINS (EASYD)

502

537

188

100

105

111

113

107

102

105

104

7182

TRACY S (GINFO)

499

557

152

104

105

110

116

112

100

104

103

•29

DILEE CASH OLLIE 551 ET-ET-CNF-DPF-

WHITE KL & DM & RL

498

478

199

103

108

111

108

110

103

105

103

•63

Top Jersey females with ABV(g)s on Balanced Performance Index (BPI) Production

Indices Long Name

Owner

BPI $

BPI Rel

HWI

ASI

Conformation

ASI Overall Mam Rel Type Syst

Type Rel

Survival Survival

Fertility

Rel

Dtr Fert

Mastitis Resistance

Fert Mas Mas Rel Resist Rel

Workability Milk Spd

FeedSaved

Heat

Temp Work Feed FS Heat HT Rel Saved Rel Tol Rel

IRWIN LOVE LIES 5

COCKERELL JR & MA (PCF)

491

380

229

112

111

112

110

104

107

104

-65

VALENTINO DAISY 11

CARSON AG & JA

486

362

299

110

113

110

104

101

105

-55

MATT TREASURE 3

COCKERELL JR & MA (PCF)

456

399

206

108

109

103

109

104

105

-26

CRAIGIELEA GAY 5588

COCHRANE W & K (EASYD)

449

331

248

106

112

107

102

105

103

-73

WHITE STAR 6130 VG88

GLENNEN C & CO (IDARY) (GINFO)

448

255

327

112

110

108

101

104

107

106

-128

DAVID LOVE LIES

COCKERELL JR & MA (PCF)

442

335

267

104

110

106

102

105

102

-24

CAIRNBRAE DIMENSION DAISY 3

CARSON AG & JA

433

346

260

102

108

103

107

101

104

102

-53

VALENTINO ROMA 4

COCKERELL JR & MA (PCF)

424

330

230

106

108

112

102

106

105

-92

BROOKBORA LOVE LIES 736 EX-92

BACON RLG & SL. (FULL DIF)(GINFO)

423

330

186

107

109

115

108

102

107

105

-31

100

CHROME DAISY 3

CARSON AG & JA

421

341

218

109

111

108

100

106

103

105

104

-20

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

ABV FEATURE // 27

Genomics boost breeding WHEN IT comes to breeding dairy cows, most decisions on the Haddon family’s dairy farm involve genomic data. West Australian dairy farmer Elaine Haddon uses the information from the DNA of each animal to inform breeding, culling and mating choices. According to Mrs Haddon, using data to underpin farm business decisions provides more certainty. But most importantly, she said making the most of this data ensured the business received the maximum return for its investment in genomic testing, heifer rearing and breeding. “It costs a lot of money to rear a heifer, it costs a lot of money to AI them, and we do synchronisation programs and that’s not cheap,” Mrs Haddon said. “It’s a big job milking cows, so if you are going to keep a heifer you need to make sure she is a good one. It costs the same amount of money to rear a good heifer as one that’s average or below average.” Mrs Haddon, her husband Neville and son Garry milk up to 1400 cows at Yoongarillip near Busselton. Their Holstein herd produces a total of 12 to 12.5 million litres a year, or about 9000 litres/cow. Operating a dryland farm, they are especially conscious of feed costs throughout summer and autumn as the need for supplementary fodder means it is uneconomical to retain additional stock. Genomics, combined with a visual evaluation of heifers, determines which will remain on-farm. Generally, the bottom 10 per cent of each group of heifers, based on their BPI — a breeding index generated by DataGene — are sold to export markets at six to eight months old. “We want to put our effort into our best heifers, make sure they keep growing and we can feed them properly,” Mrs Haddon said. Up to 1800 of the Haddons’ animals have been genomically tested. During the first few years of testing, DNA was taken from heifers just before mating. But now, ear notch samples are collected when calves are six to eight weeks old, at the same time they receive vaccinations and are disbudded.

Insight into the breeding direction Thanks to genomics, Mrs Haddon was able to identify areas of her breeding program which needed improvement. “Looking through my DNA results, I picked up that I had been focusing on fertility, mastitis and teat length and had taken my eye off milk production,” she said. “I hadn’t realised that until I started getting genomic results back.” Now, the Haddons use genomics, in addition to a computer breeding program, to guide individual mating. “For example, if a sire has short teats and a heifer’s DNA has come up with short teats, well I’m not going to use that bull on that heifer because I don’t want short teats,” Mrs Haddon said. “I pick out the worst couple of traits according to the genomic test results and then I make sure that the bull that is going over can correct those faults. We are just trying to correct the traits we have issues with, basically correct the worst limiting factor, and all the cattle are different.” The Haddons’ top BPI heifers, determined by genomics, are mated to sexed semen with the remainder of the herd joined to conventional semen.

number of calves born at once, some calves are mis-tagged at birth. Parentage verification is a standard inclusion in Australian genomic services, enabling the H addons to accurately rectify any parentage errors when the calves are still young. With the goal of using genomics to ensure they breed and retain their best heifers, the technology will remain a mainstay of the H addons’ business. Helping them make informed decisions, Mrs Haddon said the most productive choice

they had made was to use the information derived from genomics across as much of their business as possible. “It is costly to do it, there’s time collecting the ear notches and packing them up and sending them away,” she said. “Farmwest are great; they help us do that and we know that in the long run it will be worth it. “After all, there’s no point in doing genomic testing if we don’t use the data.”

Neville and Elaine Haddon use genomic results to inform breeding, culling and mating choices.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

28 // ABV FEATURE

Crossbreds may reduce methane ACCORDING TO a recent study, The impact of

crossbreeding and feed efficiency on methane emission led by SimHerd, crossbred cows can reduce methane gas emissions by up to six per cent compared to pure Holstein cows.

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The study was conducted using the simulation model SimHerd, and is part of the DairyCross project founded by Green Innovation and Demonstration Foundation in Denmark, in which other key institutions are also participating. SimHerd consultant Ruth Davis Kring said that in the simulation model they had plenty of different specifications to measure heterosis and breed differences. “All those parameters were put into the model so that when we run it the model can predict what the effect would be in the herd going from a pure-breed Holstein to a crossbred herd with given breed combinations,” she said. “Some of those effects may be related to methane emissions.” She said the main driver of the decrease in methane was the reduction of youngstock. “The primary reason is that crossbred cows live longer, so you don’t need as many replacement animals, resulting in a smaller youngstock herd. “When you have fewer animals, you lower methane emissions at herd level.” She said the reason why crossbred cows lived longer was that they were more robust, healthier, and were more fertile so there was no need to replace them as quickly as the pure Holstein cows. A case herd was modelled in the study, with 200 purebred Holstein cows.

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The replacement rate for pure Holstein was 40.7 per cent; for the different crossbreeding strategies, this was reduced to -6.3 per cent for the two-way cross with RDM, -7.7 per cent for the breeds under the ProCROSS concept, and -7.8 per cent for the breeds marketed as VikingGoldenCross. Ms Davis Kring said she was convinced of crossbreeding’s ability to reduce methane gas emissions at the farm level. “It can be part of the solution to face climate change and global warming challenges,” she said. The breeds in the study: ■ Two-crosses between Holstein and VikingRed; ■ The breeds under the ProCROSS system: Holstein x VikingRed x Montbeliarde; and ■ The breeds known as VikingGoldenCross: (Holstein x VikingRed) x VikingJersey. Read more at www.vikinggenetics.com

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

30 // ABV FEATURE

A bull for every goal AUGUST ABVS have delivered great results

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of genomics can clearly be seen in each of the Holstein, Jersey and Australian Reds breed tables released by DataGene.” The number one ranked BPI Holstein genomic sire in August is Hindlee Tommy Dee 2010-ET. At 558 BPIg, he is some 30 BPI points clear of his nearest rival and is a standout sire at the top of the Holstein genomic list. Tommy Dee, an exciting young sire, was bred in the competitive herd owned John and Vicki Lillico in north-west Tasmania. Sired by GA genomic sire Endgame 9 (447 BPIg), he descends from the ‘Hindlee Royal’ cow family and will soon be available. His overall ABV offers exactly what the industry is seeking with top ABVs for HWIg (579) 223 ASI, 104 mammary, 114 for daughter fertility and 111 mastitis resistance with 104 calving ease, and he is A22. Other Holstein young genomic bulls joining the elite of 500+ BPIg are Talking (Keeper P x Kingtut) 521 BPIg, Karat (Complete x Slam Dunk) 517 BPIg, Sondalo (Jeronimo x Main Event) 506 BPIg, and at 508 BPIg is new Holstein Cinderman (Fedora x Supershot). “The depth and quality of the Holstein team has never been greater and there is a wide range of options available for mammary improvement, shorter gestation, and calving ease,” Mr Shelly said. Australian Jerseys continue to forge an excellent reputation worldwide and recent exports to North America and Europe of ASKN will ensure demand continues to grow well into the future. Adding over 90 milking daughters to his August ABV, Douggan (David x Murmur) becomes the number one Jersey bull for BPI at 431, HWI 346, ASI 283 and the number one bull for reliability over 80 per cent. The good news for Jerseys continues with Invincible (Hatman x Valentino). Adding over 50 daughters in August to see him lift by 68 BPI points to 394 BPI and 79 in HWI to an impressive 257, and when added to his 111 for overall type and 112 for mammary it makes him a standout total performance sire. “The new Jersey team is unsurpassed in its quality and represents a number of young bulls from leading cow families and top Jersey breeders in Australia,” Mr Shelly said. Genomics were added to the Australian Red breed bulls for the first time in August and the team overall was further strengthened. Coming into the number two and four positions on BPIg were Arbprimestad P (Onstad x Uudin) and Aarbcaesar (Aotearoa x Kenneth), both bulls bred by the Waikato Aussie Red stud. Also joining these bulls in the top 10 genomic red sires and new for 2021 are Arbbooboo (Wiking x Tokyo) at 322 BPIg and Arbblitzon (Tokoyo x Arbbonjovi). Mr Shelly said the August 2021 bull team was stronger than ever. “Now with genomics contributing to each breed, the future of local standing bulls has never been brighter,” he said. “Demand on young bulls both in Australia and internationally as well as the use of sexed semen has never been greater, so I encourage all farmers mating cows between now and the end of the year to order early to avoid disappointment.”

Douggan is the number one BPI, HWI and ASI Jersey.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

SPRING PASTURES // 31

Diversity offers benefits BENEFITS OF multi-species pasture swards are

not a new occurrence, however there’s renewed interest in what diverse swards can offer modern production systems. Well-designed multi-species seed blends have diversity that can increase overall yield, diet composition, beneficial companion plants and reduce the risks of a range of environmental challenges. On the flip side, things to be aware of when using diverse crops include optimising establishment and limited weed control options. Peter Notman, dairy farmer and owner of Notman Pasture Seeds, said some producers added different varieties of seed to their standard winter and summer pasture stands to provide more forage diversity and drought hardiness. “At the dairy, for our spring plantings we aim to achieve a good balance of fibre and protein with the likes of millet, forage rape, leafy turnip, chicory, plantain and legumes,” he said. “Multi-species blends like these give us more summer feed than traditional rye-grasses, reliability in drier conditions and most importantly our animals milking well off it. “We continue to learn more on the interactions of different species, what works and what doesn’t, and carry this knowledge to our dairy farmer clients.”

Understanding the right composition can be complex as every farm and paddock is different, so Notman Pasture Seeds has carefully designed multi-species blends for dairy farmers who are looking for an alternative to standard rye-grass and legume pasture blends. “These blends generally produce good quality forage year round, with a range of different root systems, including legume species, different flowering plants and species that will add organic matter to the soil surface and in the soil as root mass,” he said. “You’ll see different plants prosper at different times of the year. This plant diversity provides for a more balanced diet of protein, fibre, energy, and minerals, and these mixes seem to have extra soil benefits. “Certain species are highly competitive with other species, so we have suggested sowing rates to ensure all species are well-represented in the seed blends.” Mr Notman said it was best to start on small areas and work out which varieties prospered on your property. Then, observe the results and adjust the species and seeding rates as necessary. Spring/summer forage planting options include millet, forage sorghum, forage rape, kale, turnip, leafy turnips, chicory, herbs, clovers, lucerne and maize.

Summer multi-species blend at Walcha Dairy.

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For technical enquiries contact your local Cropmark Seeds agronomist. Eastern Victoria, Northern NSW, QLD: Adam Sheedy – 0428 132 096 Western Districts, SA, Tasmania: Bruce Hume – 0427 607 375 Northern Victoria, Southern NSW: Sven Koljo – 0429 375 452 For further information please contact Cropmark Seeds Australia. Freephone: 1800 889 039 Freefax: 1800 889 037

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

32 // SPRING PASTURES

Researchers need NSW farms DAIRY UP researchers are looking for NSW dairy businesses with good records to join its network of monitored dairy farms. Program leader Yani Garcia said information collected on the monitored farms would contribute to Dairy UP’s two biggest projects that aim to unlock the potential of kikuyu pastures and unlock the potential of the dairy cow in intense feeding systems. “We are very keen to build a network of NSW dairy farms to be part of two major projects,” Professor Garcia said. The project, Unlocking the Potential of Kikuyu, will explore the application of remote sensing for managing pastures, the genetic diversity of kikuyu, key anti-nutritional factors, environmental impacts and the value of real-time predictions of pasture nutritional changes. The other project, Unlocking the Potential of the Cow, led by Dr Ian Lean, will help farmers increase productivity and wellbeing in commercial farms through improved nutrition, environmental and health management. Participating farms will receive regular visits from a project officer, as well as real-farm data insights captured using innovative monitoring tools and support with data management, interpretation and use. Interested farmers are invited to fill out an expression of interest form at: www.Dairyup.com. au/how For more information, go to: www.dairyup.com. au or email: info@dairyup.com.au

Professor Yani Garcia is looking for NSW dairy farms to join two research projects.

Sow leading brassica varieties this spring with seed from the largest dedicated forage brassica breeding programme in the world. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VARIETIES THAT HAVE BEEN BRED UNDER THE FORAGE INNOVATIONS LIMITED (FIL) BREEDING PROGRAMME AND DISCOVER THE ON FARM BENEFITS YOURSELF. TITAN FORAGE RAPE THE TASTY MULTI-GRAZE FORAGE RAPE Titan combines early maturity, high dry matter yields and exceptional palatability to deliver a high quality summer/autumn/winter feed option. Strong regrowth potential offers multi-graze options for all grazing systems. Titan provides very good aphid and virus tolerance.

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Pasja II – the brassica to choose when fast, high quality spring/summer/autumn feed is needed for your stock. Pasja II combines early maturity with yield and the option for multiple grazings, providing quality fast feed you can rely on.

Barkant turnips produce high quality feed with a high metabolisable energy (ME) value, meaning greater animal performance can be achieved. It is a high performance feed for lactating dairy cows, supplying the energy required to boost milk production. Barkant offers proven performance.

Make it homegrown feed today Contact us for more information on PGG Wrightson Seeds varieties. Visit pggwrightsonseeds.com.au or call us on 1800 619 910

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

SPRING PASTURES // 33

Fuelling the summer dairy platform increase the costs associated with chicory crops. When it comes to production, responses by cows are similar when cows consume the same amounts of chicory or turnips. As such, decisions around which crop to plant should also reflect feed budget decisions such as, which crop will yield the most DM to best match herd demand when pasture supply is limiting.

CHICORY AND brassica are excellent sources

of high-quality and high-performance summer dairy feed. They can improve animal productivity and fill feed gaps when pasture quality has declined in summer. PGG Wrightson Seeds says choosing a suitable species this spring (brassica or chicory) to supplement your dairy operation can provide you with nutritious feed over the summer and be part of your future plans. For example, combining a chicory or brassica crop as part of the programmed approach to pasture renewal is a great tool to clean up paddocks through the use of selective herbicides. It also provides a break from pasture pests and allows time for soil fertility issues to be addressed before planting a high-performance perennial pasture like Base AR37 or Platform AR37.

Chicory or brassica? So why choose Puna II chicory over a brassica like Barkant turnips? First, consider when the feed is required. Puna II is beneficial when a lower daily amount of summer crop is required over an extended period. However, it may not be suitable in drought years as slow chicory regrowth (due to reduced moisture) may not adequately match feed demand. In contrast, Barkant turnips are helpful as the crop accumulates before late December (before

Which variety is best? So why choose Puna II chicory and/or Barkant turnips?

Puna II chicory if rotationally grazed has a fast regrowth after grazing.

Barkant turnips are a high-performance feed for lactating dairy cows.

moisture may become limiting), pushing feed ahead to be eaten for a shorter period during mid to late summer. In relation to feed quality and availability, Puna II chicory will supply a high protein feed from December until mid-April, while Barkant turnips, depending on the sowing date, will provide a bank of feed over six weeks (usually mid-January to the end of February) and

will produce a protein and carbohydrate-rich feed option. Next, consider your budget and the area you have available for sowing. A relatively larger area is needed for Puna II chicory compared to Barkant turnips when it comes to supporting your herd’s feed demands. Costs associated with returning relatively larger areas of Puna II chicory to pasture will

Puna II chicory: ■ is ideally suited to dairy pastures and finishing systems due to its semi-erect growth habit; ■ if rotationally grazed it has a fast regrowth after grazing; and ■ has high nutritional quality, improved regrowth after grazing and improved persistence. Barkant turnips: ■ produce high-quality feed with a high metabolisable energy value, meaning greater animal performance can be achieved; ■ are a high-performance feed for lactating dairy cows, supplying the energy required to boost milk production; and ■ offer proven performance. For more information, go to: www.pggwrightsonseeds.com.au/

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For summer feed, there is nothing better than Chico chicory – the perfect summer feed.

Chico – the drought buster

Chico’s metre long tap root is able to mine soil moisture and minerals from deep within the soil profile, providing insurance against summer drought. Its leaf is succulent, high in energy and minerals, and is very palatable. Chico won’t cause grass staggers or facial eczema, and is tolerant of diamond back moth and white butterfly.

“For a summer-safe, multi-graze summer crop, providing flexible grazing management, there is nothing better than Chico chicory.”

Chico – rocket fuel for livestock CHICO IS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL SEED MERCHANT OR FARM MERCHANDISE OUTLET

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

34 // SPRING PASTURE

Fodder project to help Murray region farmers RIVERINE PLAINS is partnering with Murray Dairy in the delivery of the Fodder for the Future project, which is designed to help dairy farmers, as well as hay, silage and grain producers, optimise the quality and yield of a range of fodder species. The project is a $1.6 million investment over three years funded by the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, through the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program to help agricultural communities adapt to a water-limited future. “With less water available for pasture production in dairy systems, the use of silage and hay has become an increasingly important aspect of dairying across the region,” Riverine Plains p roject officer Jane McInnes said. “There is a science to making good quality hay and silage, and a really important part of the project is helping build the skills and knowledge of dairy, hay and grain farmers to increase both the quality and yield of fodder produced on-farm.” To help do this, six demonstration trials have been established across the Murray region of northern Victoria and southern NSW to look at the performance of a range of fodder types, including wheat, barley, oats, triticale and vetch. “One of these sites has been sown by Riverine Plains at Boorhaman in north-east Victoria, with the trial evaluating an oats/vetch mix sown at two different sowing rates and dates,” Ms McInnes said. “Results from the Boorhaman demonstration, along with results from the other demonstration

sites, will provide farmers and service p roviders with an opportunity to look at the performance of different fodder species under a range of climatic and market conditions.” Establishing long-term relationships between dairy and fodder producers to increase risk management options, the diversification of income and resilience in business management is another key part of the project.

“Dairy businesses and grain and hay producers can all benefit from working together to produce higher yields of good quality fodder in the local region, and we look forward to helping farmers achieve this as the project progresses,” Ms McInnes said. For further information, or to learn how to become involved, contact Jane McInnes on 5744 1713 or email jane@riverineplains.org.au

An oats/vetch trial has been sown at Boorhaman to look at the effect of sowing rate and sowing date on performance.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

SPRING PASTURES // 35

Wanted: pest encounters from the front-line THE RED-LEGGED earth mite is one of the

most destructive pests in broadacre crops and pastures in southern Australia. Independent research and extension company Cesar Australia is calling on growers and advisers to share their experience dealing with the redlegged earth mite to guide future management of this pest by completing a short survey. The information gathered from this survey will help to update management recommendations, improving the best management practice advice and resistance management strategies for red-legged earth mite.

Insecticide resistance in red-legged earth mite Control of red-legged earth mite is complicated by increasing resistance issues to key chemicals in Australian populations of the mite. There are five chemical groups registered for use against red-legged earth mite in Australian grain crops: organophosphates (Group 1B), fiproles (Group 2B), synthetic pyrethroids (Group 3A), neonicotinoids (Group 4A) and diafenthiuron (Group 12A). Of these, growers rely heavily on organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. These chemicals are often applied prophylactically to safeguard against damaging infestations, creating strong selection pressures and driving the evolution of resistance. Resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in redlegged earth mites was first detected in Western

The red-legged earth mite might be a lover of a variety of plant crops, but they are certainly not beloved by farmers.

Australia in 2006, followed by the detection of organophosphate resistance in the state in 2014. Since these discoveries, resistant populations have been detected in new regions, including in South Australia and in 2019 in Victoria to organophosphates. Further, there is significant concern regarding the potential for neonicotinoid resistance to evolve in this pest given the high selection pressures from widespread use of seed dressings in grain crops. While luckily there has been no recorded cases of neonicotinoid resistance for red-legged earth mite so far, the importance of this insecticide

in control of mites (and other key grain pests) should spur caution towards practices that could drive neonicotinoid resistance evolving in the future.

New research Participation in this latest survey is v oluntary and should take less than 10 minutes. Participants also receive early access to Cesar Australia’s RLEM online training modules. The initial training module covers: ■ red-legged earth mite and other pest mite identification;

red-legged earth mite distribution and reporting; and ■ host preferences and damage characteristics. The survey is being led by Cesar A ustralia in collaboration with Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the University of Melbourne and CSIRO. The survey can be found at: melbourneuni.au1. qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MukvN7s4n12VJs Read more about the project at: cesaraustralia.com/blog/new-redlegged-earth-mite-project/ ■

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Advantages of this are: Less time out of grass production Two Marco crops in one season are possible Can be used for late sowing, or where crop failure occurs MARCO IS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL SEED MERCHANT OR FARM MERCHANDISE OUTLET

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

36 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Prevention is best medicine LUCY COLLINS

BOTULISM IS a paralytic neuromuscular

isease caused by the ingestion of potent neurod toxins released by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria grow in decomposing animal carcases or decaying plant material, and during peak toxicity ingesting only a few grams of infected material can be enough to kill a cow. Toxins are not contained to carcases and can leach into surrounding feed or water. Not all carcases will carry botulism, but in the right (or wrong) circumstances a single carcase can cause a huge amount of damage. There are two main ways in which cattle are likely to ingest botulinum toxin: 1. Protein or phosphorus deficiency can result in carrion eating or bone chewing, particularly in cattle in northern parts of Australia during dry seasons. 2. When stock feed or water is contaminated with the toxin, large numbers of animals can be exposed. Carcases in water sources can cause outbreaks, as can feeding mouldy spoiled silage, hay made during rodent plagues, or poultry litter.

Clostridium botulinum thrives best in warm, moist, anaerobic conditions, which can make silage the perfect environment for growth. When cattle are fed bales in the paddock for instance, they are unlikely to ingest a contaminated section as they can see, smell and selectively avoid it. At worst, a small number of animals may ingest a toxic dose. Mixer wagons, however, amplify the risk of outbreaks significantly. A small area of contamination within a bale or stack can be chopped and dispersed through an entire load and become undetectable to cattle. Botulism can affect cattle of any breed or age. Regional climate is not considered a risk factor. Signs and severity of botulism depend on the amount of toxin ingested, but can include: ■ Sudden death. ■ Progressive muscle weakness leading to complete paralysis, respiratory failure and death. ■ Weak down cows (often unable to raise their heads). ■ Flaccid paralysis of the tongue and jaw (tongue will often hang out). ■ Inability to eat, drink or swallow.

An animal with botulism. Note the flaccid tongue. Image source: https://www.anipedia. org/resources/botulism/951

Paralysis of the tail. Restlessness, incoordination. ■ Reduced appetite. ■ Dehydration and sunken eyes. ■ Constipation. ■ Weakness. After ingestion of the toxin, signs can occur within as little as 12 hours but can also take up to three weeks to present. If you suspect the disease in any of your livestock, contact your vet immediately. Diagnosis is usually made based on history and typical clinical signs. Specific tests to detect ■ ■

Spring vaccinations vital DR JEFF CAVE

SPRING IS here, which is often the busiest time

on a farm, and it can be easy to neglect important preventative steps for your livestock that will save you later. During spring, losses due to clostridial diseases such as pulpy kidney, blackleg and black disease become a distinct possibility. Little can be done to treat an animal affected by these clostridial diseases, the first sign is often discovering animals dead in the paddock. Therefore the emphasis should be on prevention, and the key to prevention is to vaccinate your livestock. To be effective, vaccines need to be given strategically. Most vaccines give up to 12 months of protection and should be given at least annually. As with any vaccination program, adult cows should be vaccinated about one month prior to

calving to give their calves ‘maternal’ or ‘passive’ immunity through the colostrum. Passive immunity lasts for about their first six weeks of life. After this, calves must be vaccinated twice to gain ‘active’ immunity. This should be carried out by two injections four to six weeks apart. The first vaccination is often given at marking and the second vaccination is given four to six weeks later. The enterotoxaemia vaccine is known for having a short duration of immunity, with only three or four months of protection. Therefore a booster dose should be given strategically before a high-risk period, that is, before the beginning of spring. Hopefully all farmers will benefit from good spring conditions — without being vexed by the problems that spring may bring. For further advice, contact your local veterinarian or agriculture department veterinary or Dr Jeff Cave animal health officer.

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the presence of botulism toxins are currently expensive, complicated and unreliable. There is no treatment specifically for b otulism. If cattle are affected so badly that they cannot stand or signs progress rapidly, death is inevitable and they should be humanely e uthanased as soon as possible. Mildly affected cattle require gold-standard nursing to avoid secondary complications. Prevention is possible through annual herd vaccination. Your regular veterinarian will be able to help you determine your herd’s level of risk. All farms using mixer wagons should strongly consider vaccination. There are several vaccines available, so it’s best to speak with your vet to determine the optimal product and strategy for your farm. The author has no affiliations (financial or otherwise) with any botulism vaccine m anufacturers. •Lucy Collins is completing her Dairy Residency with The University of Melbourne. She works as a dairy veterinarian for Apiam Animal Health and alongside her partner on his family’s dairy farm in south-west Victoria. She is a 2021 Nuffield Scholar supported by Gardiner Dairy Foundation.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021 ™

ANIMAL HEALTH // 37

Duty of care to bobby calves ANYONE RESPONSIBLE for bobby calves

must ensure calves under their care are adequately supervised and prompt action must be taken to address any animal welfare issues, according to Agriculture Victoria. Livestock Welfare Compliance program manager Rachael Holmes said bobby calves being transported for sale or slaughter must be at least five days old, have been adequately fed milk or milk replacer within six hours of transport, and must be in a fit and healthy condition. Bobby calves must also be adequately protected from the cold during transport. They should be transported in a trailer or crate that has at least an enclosed front for protection and ideally have appropriate bedding or material on the floor of the trailer to reduce the risks of slipping. All calves must be able to lie down on their chest during transportation. Dr Holmes said everyone along the supply chain — including producers, transporters, scale operators, livestock agents and saleyard and abattoir staff — were responsible for the welfare of bobby calves. “During cold weather, extra measures should be taken to ensure that calves are protected from rain, wind and temperature extremes both on-farm and during transportation,” she said. “It is also essential that calves are handled with care, they must not be lifted by their head, ears, tail, hair or by a single leg.

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“Calves may also become easily fatigued, so it is important that anyone handling calves is patient. “Anyone handling calves should also note that it is prohibited in Victoria to use an electric prodder on calves, regardless of whether or not the electric prodder is active. “Anyone who uses or places an electric prodder on a bobby calf can face an infringement penalty of $545 or prosecution. “The use of any dog, including muzzled dogs, to move bobby calves is also prohibited.” For further information regarding bobby calf welfare, visit the Agriculture Victoria website, phone 136 186 or consult with animal health and welfare staff at your local Agriculture Victoria office.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

38 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Digital tool to track mastitis SCIENTISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, retailers

and farmers are teaming up, using AI and creating the equivalent of My Health Records for dairy cows, to better manage clinical mastitis. The collaboration aims to reduce the use of antibiotics in the milk supply chain and improve the health and management of dairy cows with mastitis. The Clinical Mastitis Decision Support Tool Project is a $3.5 million, three-year collaboration between Dairy Australia, Coles, DataGene, Food Agility CRC, University of Sydney, University Technology Sydney and Charles Sturt University. Together they will create a digital tool for dairy farmers and vets that details the mastitis history of each dairy cow, just as My Health Records are digital records of people’s medical history to support individualised healthcare. Then, using model-driven AI, the tool will provide management advice to farmers and vets based on the history of individual animals and the source of infection. Advice will include which antibiotics to administer, if any. “There are a lot of factors that influence how we can best manage a cow with clinical m astitis, including cause of infection, the history of the animal and the different types of antibiotics,” Dairy Australia animal health and fertility lead Stephanie Bullen said. “This digital tool will draw together a range of data, including individual cow history and information on the cause of the mastitis to give a more accurate management recommendation,” Dr Bullen said.

“Ultimately, it will mean healthier, happier cows, more targeted use of antibiotics and less milk down the drain.” Coles’ Charlotte Rhodes said the project was one way the supermarket was working with the industry through the Coles Sustainable Dairy Development Group to improve animal welfare outcomes, optimise farm productivity and help ensure a sustainable future for Australian dairy. Food Agility CRC chief scientist David Lamb said the project was “true industry-led, multi-disciplinary research at its best”, with farmers and retailers working alongside animal health specialists, data analysists and technology developers. “What’s really exciting is that the tool will use artificial intelligence to constantly learn and update based on new information about the animal, infection source and available management options,” Professor Lamb said. Mastitis is the number one health issue in dairy cows, costing the industry $150 million annually, and is responsible for two-thirds of antibiotics supplied to dairy farmers by vets. Currently, the most common method of diagnosis is through a visual assessment of the milk. However, research shows that not all cows displaying signs of clinical mastitis need antibiotics. The project team will conduct research and trials on dairy farms across NSW, south-west Victoria and Tasmania, with a prototype tool to be tested on-farm within 18 months. The final tool will be released more widely to Australian dairy farmers, via DataVat, the Australian dairy industry’s central data repository.

A digital tool is being created for dairy farmers and vets that details the mastitis history of each dairy cow, with the aim to reduce the use of antibiotics in the milk supply chain and improve the health and management of dairy cows with mastitis.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

MACHINERY // 39

New generation of robots WITH A series of optimisations, GEA is launch-

ing a new generation of the DairyRobot R9500 and DairyProQ automatic milking systems, which bring significant enhancements to the milking technology module, the In-Liner Everything milking process and the MilkRack milking unit. A new service concept also ensures improved serviceability, lower maintenance costs and minimised system downtimes. Rounding off the new-generation systems is a comprehensive software package to optimise the milking process. GEA says dairy farms benefit from increased availability, more milkings and milk per day, and reduced operating costs of up to 35 per cent compared to the predecessor model, for greater profitability. For existing DairyRobot R9500 or Monobox and DairyProQ systems, appropriate upgrade packages can be purchased to take advantage of the new features.

Innovations bring economic and ecological benefits

As a result, the dipping agent disinfects the teat skin as well as the teat cup. This can eliminate the need for intermediate disinfection with peracetic acid. These process improvements not only shorten the box time for more milkings per day, they also protect the environment and reduce operating costs.

New separation mode saves time and resources With the new software package 1.5, GEA brings another important innovation to the DairyRobot R9500: with just one click in the MView control, a convenient separation mode is activated. This allows animals whose milk is being separated to be milked as a group without intermediate rinsing or cleaning after each individual cow. This saves time and significantly reduces water, detergent and energy consumption. It also means that milking systems are ready for use again more quickly for the following cows.

Maximum availability and greater The proven In-Liner Everything technology per- durability forms every step of the milking process — stimulation, cleaning/pre-dipping, pre-milking, milking and dipping — in just one single procedure. The dipping agent in the In-Liner Everything process is applied to both in the teat cup and teat, which means the teat rubber surface is also wetted.

For the new generation of automatic milking systems, GEA has fundamentally revised the regular service intervals and service packages. Longer-lasting materials and extended service intervals result in significantly lower service costs.

With a series of optimisations and a software update, GEA is launching a new generation of the DairyRobot R9500 and DairyProQ automatic milking systems.

In addition, the milking technology modules have been improved. With the milking technology modules, which contain the sensors for milk analysis and metering, GEA’s Automatic Milking Systems follow a unique service concept. Optimised technical components in these modules now ensure a significantly longer service life. They have also been redesigned. Improvements in the extended installation space allow better accessibility to the module components and faster replacement of control service parts for continued milking and m inimised downtime. The new generation milking systems also feature an optimized MilkRack — new cup segments increase the service life of the round belts and enable the cleaning position to be adjusted with less maintenance. And thanks to

The individual components of the replaceable milking technology modules are more accessible for maintenance in the new generation of automatic milking systems.

fewer gaps, the MilkRack is now less susceptible to contamination.

Future-proof and flexible Up to four milking robots can be connected to the supply unit of the DairyRobot R9500. This not only enhances the energy efficiency of the operation, but also provides sufficient flexibility for future expansion. Optional empty space modules have been developed accordingly for the DairyProQ m ilking carousel. These can be used to reduce investment costs and increase throughput capacity at the appropriate time by retrofitting additional milking parlour modules.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

40 // MACHINERY

Get more crop for your drop THE SMARTER Irrigation for Profit 2 project,

By using a range of apps, dairy farmers can make better irrigation decisions.

in its second year, is delivering the latest in innovative tools and technology for dairy farmers to enhance their irrigation efficiency. It builds on the research developed in the three-year Smarter Irrigation for Profit 1 project and tests those findings at Dairy Optimisation Sites across all dairying regions in Australia. These sites are dairy farms that are set up to test the latest in innovative irrigation technology and measure how effective it is in ensuring

optimal water efficiency. To deliver the project, Dairy Australia has partnered with a range of agricultural sectors, as well as the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program. “More dairy farmers than ever are taking advantage of irrigation to increase their production in drier months,” Dairy Australia managing director David Nation said. “We want to ensure dairy farmers have access

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to the latest information to increase pasture and crop yield from their water, to get more crop for their drop. “The technologies used in the Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 project help farmers make better irrigation decisions, thereby improving water efficiency and creating more profit.” Technology like soil moisture monitoring probes and apps have been tested on Dairy Optimisation Site farms across Australia, and are available for dairy farmers to use. Dairy Farmers like Will Russell from Bega, in NSW, have found the technology useful. By using soil moisture monitoring and weather forecasting apps like SWAN, he has modified his irrigation scheduling to ensure it is more efficient. “It’s made the decision-making process easier,” Will said. “The technology we use tells us in black and white ‘we need to irrigate now’.” In Will’s experience, using this technology resulted in an increase in dry matter yield, to more than 10 tonnes of dry matter per hectare for the six-month irrigation season. “There is no doubt in my mind that knowing when to start irrigating is helping us to produce more feed than before and keep our soil moisture at the right levels. “We are growing more feed off the same area, and because of that we’re milking more cows than ever before too.” For the latest tools, resources and information visit the Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2‑page on the Dairy Australia website at: dairyaustralia. com.au/SIP2

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Above: Scott Charmley applying Urea and Giberilliac Acid with the Tow and Fert Multi 500. Model shown with additional option of electronic actuation. Prices do not include gst or delivery.

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A NEW business says it can offer a more environmentally friendly, safer way for dairy farmers to tie down silage stack tarps. Tyresing owner Pete Singleton said the main aim of the tyre recycling business was to focus on eco-friendly ways to recycle and reuse an otherwise wasted product. “We’re keen to help make our silage dairy farmers’ lives just that much easier,” he said. “Up until now dairy silage farmers have been using whole tyres to act as weight to hold the plastic silage tarp down. “Tyresing is promoting the use of sidewalls or our newest sidewall rollout mats rather than whole tyres. Research already shows that whole tyres, due to their weight, can create higher risks of raceways in your silage, which will increase risks of spoilage. “The labour and health and safety risks associated with using the heavy whole tyres on silage stacks is also something that needs to be considered.” He said farmers’ labour resources could be decreased by over half if they used sidewalls: Tyresing’s sidewall rollout or rollup mats had been designed so one person could cover a silage stack in about two hours. “Using sidewalls also addresses the mosquito breeding-ground problems associated with whole tyres due to them collecting and holding water.” Tyresing also offers a mobile tyre-cutting service and can dispose of the treads, at a small additional cost, to be broken down and recycled into other products. “We take pride in working towards creating a better, brighter, cleaner future for our younger generations.” For more information contact Pete Singleton on 0417 581 424 or 1fensingking@gmail.com

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

MACHINERY // 41

Automation can reduce load DEMAND FOR reliable, easy-to-use automation technology is likely to increase as Australian dairy farmers look for production growth during the new 2021–22 season. Dairy Australia’s monthly outlook for June forecast a modest production lift over the next year, following a challenging few seasons in drought weather. Higher opening milk prices had pushed up confidence and would perhaps encourage farmers to revisit on-farm investments. The outlook said while most regions would see lifts in production, the lack of available workers remained a concern across the country. Waikato Milking Systems business development manager for Australia Rob Spencer said the situation would encourage farmers to look for ways to automate the milking process. “Automatic cup removers would have to be the best option for a milking system to gain immediate efficiency and productivity improvements,” Mr Spencer said. “(Our) ECRs eliminate one labour unit from the milking process, which means you can direct that person to work elsewhere on the farm for other important tasks.” Waikato Milking Systems use a precise, proprietary shut-off valve which accurately detects the end of milking to remove the cups. “But the operator also has the option of using our robust and time-proven user switch

that can manually remove the cups with ease,” Mr Spencer said. “Our range of automatic cup removers, ECR-S and ECR Plus, can be programmed to detach at a predetermined time, or fixed place in platform rotation, to avoid over-milking the herd.” The adjustable retraction speed means the ECRs detach gently from the udder, avoiding any damage to cows’ teats at the end of milking. “Our platform positioning system ensures that any of our ECRs will operate without a hitch on any platform,” Mr Spencer said. He said both ECR options can be mounted vertically in rotary and inline milking systems. “The ECRs can also be mounted in our Waikato Swing Arms for inline systems. “The swing arms improve cluster alignment and reduce pull on the cups during milking.” The robust stainless steel chassis and cylinder lasts longer while the swing capability creates a clear space for operators to move along the pit The cylinder has a pulley to make cluster removal smooth and gentle. “It’s very easy to clean and maintain,” Mr Spencer said. “All the milk and pulsation tubes are housed inside the main chassis.” The Waikato Swing Arm includes AutoSTART as a standard feature. “All the operator has to do is lift the cluster and attach to the animal. The rest is completely automated.”

Waikato Milking Systems' automatic cup removers can be programmed to detach at a predetermined time, or fixed place in platform rotation, to avoid over-milking the herd.

The adjustable retraction speed means the ECRs detach gently from the udder.

Waikato Milking Systems' ECR Plus.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

42 // MACHINERY

Ross has field days at heart THIS YEAR spells the end of era — the retire-

ment of former chairman and Yerong Creek farmer Ross Edwards after a 55-year involvement with the Henty Machinery Field Days. Mr Edwards stepped into the chairman’s role in 2007 following the retirement of Cookardinia farmer Colin Wood after 33 years in the position. It has been a 40-year progression up the ladder for Mr Edwards, who started as a volunteer car park attendant at the 1966 field days. He was appointed as a board director of the co‑operative on March 21, 1988. The number of field day directors was reduced from 12 to seven in 2007, signalling the start of a new succession plan.

Mr Edwards wrote in his chairman’s welcome message at the time: “One of our key objectives is to maintain the broad community involvement that has contributed to Henty’s success over many years. “For most of us, the field days are not a job, but a genuine interest — our hearts are in it.” The HMFD brand is now powerful and farreaching — the original field days song was one of rural Australia’s most recognisable TV advertising jingles. Market research indicated a staggering four out of every five farmers in southern NSW were able to sing the chorus. Still embroiled in drought, Henty 2008 welcomed an Austrade-sponsored visit by a North

Yerong Creek farmer Ross Edwards has seen the Henty Machinery Field Days grow over 55 years into a first-class exhibition venue.

American trade delegation, and was named as the host of the 2009 biannual conference of the Association of Agricultural Field Days of Australasia. With water efficiency and management high on every farmer’s agenda, Henty formed ap artnership with the Water4Food Australia program in 2009. The Machine of the Year Award even featured a desalination machine, reflecting the drive to conserve fresh water reserves. The global financial crisis continued to bite so Henty banked on the Federal Government’s 50 per cent investment allowance designed to help primary producers in bringing forward machinery buying decisions. Wider community issues such as drugs and alcohol, hearing loss, glaucoma, foster carers, retirement and Angel Flight now headlined on the Country Lifestyle program. 2010 marked a year of achievement for the HMFD board. The field days were graced with a visit from Governor General Quentin Bryce and the board signed a formal agreement with Charles Sturt University to create research programs. The new Farm Gate Produce Market was introduced to showcase farmers value adding to their own fresh, regional produce. On the downside, Henty’s signature jingle Going To The Henty Field Days was ditched in

favour of a modern song written by Albury singer and songwriter Paul Gibbs. The phone and media ran hot with a public backlash over the loss of the famous Henty jingle. Mr Edwards was quoted as saying people regarded the jingle as a sacred song, while the press described it as “Riverina’s version of Waltzing Matilda”. Negotiations with the copyright owner proved fruitful and the jingle was restored. The 2012 field days built on the jingle’s popularity with it being a consistent promotional theme. Balancing the mix between the field days’ core business of machinery and broader interests, the program featured MasterChef celebrities, the inaugural Telstra Road to Discovery talent show and Meat & Livestock Australia’s Lambassador Sam Kekovich. As Mr Edwards continued to steer the ship, site numbers jumped 50 per cent on the previous year to 1200, with more than 800 exhibitors and a record crowd of 60,000 people soaking up the atmosphere. When the field days celebrated 50 years in 2013, Mr Edwards said the team would not be resting on its laurels but would take the event forward for the next 50 years by showcasing new technology and keeping the field days at the cutting edge. The skills shortage in agriculture rang alarm bells for Mr Edwards and he regularly visited the theme in his annual chairman’s messages.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2021

MACHINERY // 43 “It is great to see the level of students entering university to study agricultural-related courses has increased in recent years. There is certainly a need to recruit, maintain and develop staff for farms, and service and supply firms in the production chain,” he said in 2015. When the field days celebrated 50 years in 2013, Mr Edwards said the team would not be resting on its laurels but would take the event forward for the next 50 years by showcasing new technology and keeping the field days at the cutting edge. In 2016, Mr Edwards oversaw a long-held dream — the construction of the permanent Country Lifestyle Pavilion. This building not only serves the field days but other events during the year. 2018 marked the last year Mr Edwards would deliver his chairman’s message from The Stump. He was pleased to see the strength of HMFD evident at the annual general meeting when more than 50 members attended, the majority being aged from 20 to 35. “Most importantly, we promote HMFD not only as an event for the exhibitors to showcase to potential buyers, but as an annual pilgrimage for family and friends to catch up, or have a few days away from the farm,” he said. “Forty years ago, the field days were being promoted as the agricultural supermarket to 14,000 rural properties. “Today, it is a first-class exhibition venue hosting the nation’s biggest single agricultural and outdoor event, and drawing 60,000 national and international visitors.”

Mr Edwards handed over the chairman’s reins to Nigel Scheetz in 2018 but continued on the board as a director until stepping down at the annual general meeting in 2021. In receiving a certificate of appreciation from the HMFD board and staff, Mr Edwards paid tribute to the event’s founding fathers Milton Taylor and Ernie Howard. “This field day has been great not only for Henty but for the whole of southern NSW. “I’ve always treated everyone the same, whether they are the youngest kid through the gate or the oldest fellow who has been involved. “The field days will survive — we will go through some tough times but what is in our favour at the moment is the high commodity prices.” HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson paid tribute to Mr Edward’s long contribution to what has grown into one of the nation’s most prominent agricultural events. Mrs Anderson said the impact Mr Edwards had on the field days and wider community simply could not be measured. She was initially encouraged by Mr Edwards to take on a new career with the field days in 2011. “The passion that Ross has had for this organisation along with agriculture is something we should all embody,” she said. “If we did, who knows how great this country could be? Ross has always had a soft spot for the younger members making sure they were comfortable and welcome among their peers. “This has made certain that these members have a safe and supportive environment to begin their involvement at HMFD.”

When the field days celebrated 50 years in 2013, Mr Edwards said the team would not be resting on its laurels but would take the event forward for the next 50 years by showcasing new technology and keeping the field days at the cutting edge.

Henty’s signature jingle Going To The Henty Field Days is instantly recognisable.

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