Dairy News Australia West Vic Region June 2022 by Dairy News Australia

JUNE 2022 ISSUE 140

WEST VIC REGION

Transforming cows and lives

Maryke Roux has not only transformed the Yambuk farm she manages, she’s transforming the lives of people she meets. Page 4 EOFY

SALE SALE CAPITAL EQUIPMSAENLE

DALE NEW SCOTTSOPE N STORE NOW sale 1st June – 30th June 2022 BONUS

$250

Speedrite Energiser 46000

BCF Gift Card

$ Cydectin Pour-On Pack - 17L Drench BONUS Gun

1299

EOFY SALE

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2399

- 1Tonne

ATV on sale Trailer - 8’x4’

383001

850

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Bale Up Hayfeeder

each

380425

200108

• Honda GX35 engine • Lightest weight on the market • Includes 4 interchangeable sleeve heads • Comes in a custom carry case. $

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Stallion Mixer Tanker - 1000L - 60 Teat

NEW

2249

• For calves growing out • Holds nearly to weaners wider troughs two bulka bags • Deeper, higher off the ground.

or $55ea

design • Developed assist with theto safety of the customer • 9 feeds 18 headside • Strong & robust design • Rings won't roll away and cause damage when stored.

Norton Cattle Crush Heavy Duty Vet

Feeder

481036

on sale

15999 each

• Split gates on both sides for easy access • Infinite lock head bail locks in any position • Full vet section • All galvanised construction, bottom gates fully sheeted • Anti backing system, front and rear control, rear sliding gate.

With Skirt 350081 $899

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• Made in Australia from Australian steel either an end • Start with long • Extra or centre 4m ends sections available or centre • Build your feed pad feeding needs.to suit your

• Made in Australia from Australian steel • Easily transported

Basic 378877 With Skirt 378893

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820851

• For the prevention & treatment of milk fever, grass tetany & allied mineral deficiency.

Norton Big Square Hay Feeder

9455

Y EVERYDA

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481618

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750154

• Includes high level, microencapsulated probiotics to aid immune function.

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• Increases body weight gain and efficiency • Improves growth performance • Increases dry matter intake of calves post weaning • Supports gut health.

on sale

249 each

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Cobram Cohuna Colac

Corryong Dumbalk Eskdale

Finley Foster Heywood

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2022_12A.indd

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bag

Powder -

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• Contains ionic salts an & ionophore an

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21 95

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6995

F MILK REP

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$ $

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Blundstone Safety Boots #992

Size 6 - 13

199

14995

Calfcare Replacer Milk -

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• Two hand pockets

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125

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Sizes 3.5-14

ulated • 40º thermo-ins than • 40% lighter boots rubber & PVC warranty. • 12 month

Classic Mid Ladies - Rosey 23cm]

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• Easily transport bulk quantities of whole milk • 1½” lever or milk replacer amount of valve to control the milk dispensed • Twist on lid and contaminaminimises spillages castor swivel tion • Braked wheels for manoeuvrability smooth • Non-corro plastic rim sion wheels on rough terrain. for use

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[Height stretch inner d rubber and self-cleaning • Natural hand-laste non-marking, bootie • Non-slip,protection insole • Comfort outsole • Odour or sub-zero conditions. -40˚C rated from

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Available in various colours.

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6995

Ultra Mid Farm Boot

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25cm]

on handles • Easy pull non-marking • Farm grip g sole and self-cleanin farm a great everyday work boot

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Women’s & Men’s King Gee Bamboo Socks

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2 PAIR FOR

se Bamboo AG Warehou - 3pk Work Socks

Size 6-10 500857 500858 Size 11-14

am 4/5/22 8:51

.indd 11

BlueTag 2022_12A

or while stocks last.

For store locations and opening hours go to agwarehouse.com.au

or $14.50pair

8:54 am

Fuel available at these stores.

2995 pack

on sale

• kick for hands a. • Built in heel apply Tasmani included in the charges may last. Freight shown are not product. while stocks e stated, accessories same June 2022 or or more of the otherwis must be two 1st June – 30th E ALL STORES. Unless Offers valid . ‘2 for offers’ S AVAILABL GST inclusive NOT ALL PRODUCTin this catalogue are price. All prices

32795 AGW

Premium Quality Shirts FlanneletteSize S-6XL

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G 110

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• Easy your Max-Wick keepsslip & feet dry • Non outsole. non-marking

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each

Hard Yakka Brushed Fleece Hoodie

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199

• Double stormflap dome over zip with Safety fasteners • strip for better head visibility • Full Heavy protection • large duty zip • Two

warmer

weather protection sherpa face • Lined with • Unique full with fleece. and collar and hood will Comfortable 5XL to 8XL drawstring • wrist cuffs *Sizes a surcharge attract waterproof internal in sleeves.

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Blundstone Safety Boots #172

Everyday Parka

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each

Parka Sealtex Men’sstorm proof

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on sale each

on sale

pair

same product.

Wonthaggi Yarram

Stormforce Overtrousers

280ml

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DAY

or more of the

On sale 1st June – 30th June 2022 Swan Hill Wangaratta Warragul

on sale

69 95

$ DeltaSEC

795070

• Ultra absorbent bedding conditione r reduces the • Dryer bedding • Pink or black screw-in, or black pull-through bacterial risk styles • Internal collapsing flap-valve holds milk in the teat replicating a cow’s teat • Self-

or more of

4/5/22 8:37 am

Orbost Rochester Simpson

DAY

Everyday Bib Overtrousers

on sale

• 100% waterproof windproof and breathable inner lining • Two large waterproof storage pockets.

BLUE TA

EVERY

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FULL RAN

JFC ATV Milk Kart

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32795 AGW BlueTag

• Medicated ultimate milk replacer • Aids intensive rearing systems • Ideal for automatic feeders • For every calf rearing application • Easy mix formula.

8995

GREAT VALUE Peach Teats - 50pk

• Calves love the taste • Aids treatment of diarrhoea • For a healthy immune system & aids digestion processes • Quick weight gain & wean earlier • BioGro certified input for organics.

label instruction us as each cleaning, and block resistant • Long-lasting s. Offers valid andsame leak-resistant. the 1st product. NOT ALL PRODUCJune – 30th June 2022 or TS price.product. ‘2 for offers’ must be two or more of the same All prices in AVAILABLE ALL STORES while stocks last. Freight this catalog . ue are GST Unless otherwise stated, charges may apply inclusive. ‘2 for offers’ mustaccessories shown Tasmania. be two or more are not included in the 32795 AGW of the same BlueTag 4/5/22 8:53 am product. 2022_12 A.indd 13

must be two

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waists • Elasticated • Great value for money. • Top quality

each

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404814

‘2 for offers’

220

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species.

agwarehouse.com.au TM

ProfeLAC Gold CMR + Bovatec - 20kg

564004

1895

DAY

RE FOR THE

• Easy mix • For lambs, kids, crias and other multi

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SEE IN STO

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1995

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• 40 x 40mm duty frame • SHS heavy 50 x 75mm STRICTLY galvanised mesh 32795 AGW BlueTag skirt WHILE 2022_12A.indd 12 • Full height 120mm STOCKS • All galvanised material used. LAST

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699

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EVERYD AY

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• Improve health and recovery during times of disease, stress, ill-thrift and gastric upset 300ml 565084 $72.95 on sale

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BioBoost Probiotic Paste For Calves - 300g • Multi-strain to promote immunity, recovery and improves digestion. 80g 821031 $37.95

Stormforce Parka

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821030

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380440

flow Newtrou@gh11L/min • 30m steel • Pump pressure 1800psi capacity of 140°C 9 Sided • Hotwash with temp Hay lance (dairy cups Bonus short braided HP hose •Feeder protection Basic 350082 for extra etc.) • Water filter• (external) aft pump 1450RPM. New & • Low revving motor/cranksh Improved

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• Suited for group feeding • Weight 5kg • Fits wooden rails or steel gates.

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Bale Up Hayfeeder - Calf

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R8000IE 7.5kw Petrol Generator Digital Inverter

Terragen MYLO • Aids in digestive health of livestock • Increased animal weight gain • Quicker to wean • Liquid product easy to use • For beef, dairy or sheep • No withholding period. on sale 20L AGY00092 $275 200L AGY00097 $2695

383929

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Milk Bar Open Junior 10 Teat Feeder - 60L

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• Manifolds and tank very easy to clean • Fitted with front to rear leveller • Moulded 50L gradient indicators

r Boots

Rubbe • Leather & er Clothing • Wet Weath sories. ng • Acces CHILDREN • Farm Clothi AND LADIES

• Milk Repla cers • Calf Pelle • Electrolyte s • Shed Clean ts & Muesli • Feed ers & Teats ing • Supp lements and more.

each

• Suited for group feeding • Weight 3kg • Pre drilled adjustable aluminium hooks.

850112

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2499

EVERYD

AY LOW PRICE

Working Dog

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WORKWEAR

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ITION

199

$ Milk Bar Classic ea 50 Teat Mobile - 500L EVERYDAY

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Bonnie Varieties - 20kg

Bullmax 4 Stroke Post Driver

Milk Bar 6 Teat Straight Line - 36L

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5650

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Assembled in Australia Honda Australia Approved

EOFY CATALOGUE

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383011

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a Multimin Evolution Platinum and receive Purchase 6 x 500ml On or 1 x 7L Cydectin Offer strictly while stocks last 2 x 17L Cydectin Pour Terms & Conditions apply. $250 BCF Gift Card.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2022

2 // WEST VIC REGION

Dairy keeps moving forward IT’S MID-MAY as I write this report, and I

Chair’s message

watch from my office window as the last of the glorious red leaves cling vainly to the ornamental grapevine covering our pergola — winter looms. Calving is in full swing and we had a terrific run of heifer calves, thanks largely to the use of our herd monitoring program, sexed semen and synchronisation programs. It really is amazing the advances in technology in recent years and the difference that can make to the all-important bottom line. We are very fortunate at WestVic to have Deb Twiss working with us in the animal health and performance space and, together with resources and research via DataGene, this critical component of farm performance has really accelerated. The Silage Wrap Recycling Trial is in full swing and we thank all those who expressed interest in participating in this important trial — which was oversubscribed! It’s a clear indication that farmers are concerned about the environmental impact of their operations, and are very committed to ensuring well researched and implementable solutions are found. I recently attended a session co-hosted by the Central Otway Landcare Network, in association with the Corangamite Catchment

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE FOR AGRICULTURE’S NEXT GENERATION Longerenong College students are set to get a head-start in their agriculture careers through a new partnership between he college and Nutrien Ag Solutions. Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Rafe Bell said the partnership with Longerenong College was focused on investing in the

Management Authority regarding their Small Producers Program. The synergies between the work Dairy Australia/WestVic Dairy, our catchment authorities and the Landcare networks undertake are testament to the importance of merging landscape science, applied agro-ecology and whole farm planning. As land stewardship becomes an increasingly important aspect of both our day-to-day and long-term planning, a weather eye across all sources of information and support would be wise. My grandchildren apparently have taken to referring to me as ‘Captain Cautious’ — I’m sure meant with a great deal of love and affection — all because I am constantly reminding folks to put their helmets on (and fasten them), put the seatbelt on in the side-by-side and report any issues they notice about the farm promptly so they can be fixed. Many years ago, in another work life, a WorkSafe inspector quoted the mantra, “the standard you walk past is the standard you will get” . A powerful statement about a whole lot of things — but when it comes to farm safety, it’s a pretty simple message. I was reminded of this when recently asked

for advice about farm safety resources. So check the WorkSafe website, the VFF has some good resources as does the Dairy Australia website, or you can give Matt Wood at WestVic a call. I’m happy to wear the ‘Captain Cautious’ cape because it, too, is worn with great love and affection! Our Great South West Dairy Awards event was held in great style at the new Matilda Room at the Warrnambool Racetrack early in May. Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors, our judging team and the WestVic staff — but most importantly, to the participants who accepted their nominations and followed through with the judging process. What an impressive group of enthusiastic, committed and passionate people we have working in dairy! Congratulations to Mark Billing, Larpent, on being elevated to the honour board in 2022, and thanks to all who came along and supported this important opportunity to celebrate the collective achievements of the dairy industry in the south-west. • Jacqueline Suares WestVic Dairy chair

THE CREAM OF THE DAIRY CROP The Great South West Dairy Awards

after impressing the judges with her

Dairy Farmer’ program which aims to

were held on May 12 at Warrnambool.

dedication, passion and commitment

develop the next generation of dairy

to the industry.

leaders, we believe the industry has a

The first winner announced was Renata Cumming, who won

James O’Brien was awarded

the Young Dairy Leader Award,

runner-up, with the award sponsored

sponsored by Moyne Shire Council,

Suppliers’ Council ‘Proud to be a

4 of this edition.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2022

WEST VIC REGION // 3

Less milking buys more time TIMBOON DAIRY farmer Mike Jamieson has

reached a stage in life where milk production isn’t the only thing driving his operation. Mike has started using extended milking intervals to free up more time for other jobs and will persist with the system next season — with a few modifications. The DemoDAIRY Foundation has been investigating the potential for south-west Victorian dairy farmers to use extended milking intervals (EMI) and the system is starting to gain traction. Mike is one of at least five south-west Victorian dairy farmers now using various incarnations of EMIs. Mike introduced 10-in-seven-days milking (10–7) at the start of December last year but this coming season he plans to use 11–7 and start earlier. He’s learnt a few things along the way and is confident the EMI system will have long-term advantages. “I’d researched it and watched webinars from Ireland and New Zealand and felt that if managed properly you could still get as much production, particularly as milk production was sliding down,” he said. “I wouldn’t do 10–7 or 11–7 in peak production but our milk in November was starting to come back a bit as the grass wasn’t as lush.” Mike’s driving motivation was better use of time. “I have a staff member on 38 hours a week and most of that is taken up with milking,” he said.

“If he’s not doing a few milkings a week, that will free him up to do other jobs around the farm such as fencing or spraying that I was having to do myself.” Mike’s system involved milking twice a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and once a day on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The commonly used times in New Zealand are around 8 am to 8.30 am Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, and to bridge the gap around 11 am to 11.30 am on Saturday, but that meant finishing in the middle of the day so Mike brought it forward to about 10 am. “You need to average the gap to about 20 but we were doing 17 and 22,” he said. “There are plenty who have been milking threein-two for years. I’d hate in the summer time to be milking in the middle of the day, though milking seven nights a week when it’s hot is not much fun.” The initial change to 10–7 went smoothly but Mike soon realised he needed to make a few adjustments. “I was feeding 28 kilos of grain a week so for a start I just pushed the button 10 times instead of 14 so we were back to about 20 kilos a week,” he said. He now realises that was a mistake. “I should have continued to feed 28 kilos and divide it by 10, or continued to feed 14 times; in the future I’ll average the feed out and keep the same level.” There was a slight dip in production, but not enough to deter Mike from returning to the

flexible system. “It was hard to put a finger on the reason for the drop — whether it was because I hadn’t made allowances for the drop in grain or whether at that time the grass was going from green and lush to harder and drier.” Initially health was good and cell count remained the same, but a few cases of clinical mastitis soon started to break through, which could have been aggravated by a problem with inflations. “In my experience, as it became drier and I had to go to supplementary feed, we’d find the odd cow with mastitis,” Mike said. “Next year, I’m hoping to eliminate a lot of that by going 11–7 and starting earlier.” For 2022–23 he plans Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 8 am to 8.30 am, the rest twice a week. He will start somewhere between mid-October and November 1. “When I changed, at the same time the grass was going from lush to woody; you don’t want to bombard them with too many changes at the same time.” He will also maintain the same grain input. Mike milks 240 Jersey-Holstein crossbreds but isn’t confident enough at this stage to say he will maintain the peak 27 litres and high components output during 10–7, but he has seen plenty in New Zealand who have achieved the same production. But production is not his only influence. “When you’re younger, you’re looking for every kilo, but now in my mid-50s, production

Timboon dairy farmer Mike Jamieson introduced 10-in-seven-days milking at the start of December last year but this coming season he plans to use 11-7 and start earlier.

isn’t the be-all and end-all. “I need other jobs done and was having to do it myself, or the business was having to pay overtime. “In this system, my employee gets two to three milkings off so there’s another six to nine hours’ work that can be put in on the farm somewhere else.” The DemoDAIRY Foundation is keen to hear farmers’ thoughts about extended milking intervals, such as 10-in-7, 11–7 or 3–2. While not actively promoting the system, DemoDAIRY Foundation says it would help interested farmers to find more information if there’s enough interest. People can register interest in finding out more about extended milking intervals by emailing info@demodairy.com.au or phoning Ian Teese on 0427 358 987.

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2022

4 // WEST VIC REGION

Transforming cows and lives BY RICK BAYNE

MARYKE ROUX has not only transformed the

Yambuk farm she manages, she’s transforming the lives of people she meets. Seven years ago, Maryke took over management of the farm and turned it from a struggling enterprise intro a thriving, profitable and tightly managed business. At the same time, she has embarked on a journey of personal growth, studying counselling and now a Diploma of Community Services at South West TAFE after being inspired by a former worker who had just come out of jail. She’s also giving young people with autism new experiences on the farm and is planning a Christmas fundraiser for children in foster homes. Maryke took out one of the premier Great South West Dairy Awards this year — Dairy Farm Business Management. When announcing the award, supported by Dairy Australia and WestVic Dairy, the judges said Maryke displayed an insatiable passion and energy for the business, and demonstrated exemplary performance in planning, delivery, communication and commitment to business management. Maryke’s farm management style is geared towards ease of operation, but she’s not afraid to take a risk with people. She has a passion for farming and helping people, and sometimes the two converge. When a homeless man just out of jail and dealing with heroin addiction asked for a job, she said yes. “I gave him a chance. He worked for me for two years. It was up and down at the start but at the end he could hold the job and look after himself and now he has something on his resume.” Getting workers hasn’t always been easy. During pandemic lockdowns, Maryke spent three months working the farm on her own — including the calving period. She now has three Filipino workers and life is much easier. From her $1000 gift voucher for winning the award, Maryke bought them fishing rods to recognise their contribution. Originally from South Africa, Maryke has been in Australia for 12 years. “I always had a passion for farming, but where I lived near Cape Town was too dangerous for a girl to farm.” When she was 21, she went to an agency and asked for a farm job in Australia and soon found herself in Tasmania on a dairy farm. “I knew nothing about dairy farming; I’d never even driven a tractor,” she said. Within 12 months, at age 22, she was managing a 1000-cow farm. After five years, she decided to move to the mainland and took a job managing corporateowned Yambuk Dairies. “I only left Tassie because it was too cold — it’s a little bit warmer here and a bit closer to everything. “The owners are amazing people … I don’t like to be micro-managed and they trust me. I just talk to the owners every fortnight.” The farm was converted from a sheep operation in 2006 and covers 210 hectares, including 130 under irrigation. With low milk prices and tough conditions, it wasn’t making money during her first years, however, Maryke implemented major changes to turn things around. “I sold 300 Friesian cows and turned them over to cross cows. Some of them were on eight or nine kilos of grain and didn’t want to work for their feed. “We were buying too much product, especially

The calving shed has a new roof after a windstorm last year.

“We work as a team.” Maryke Roux with staff members Grenito Fostanes and Ayvon Martin.

South African-born Maryke Roux has transformed the Yambuk farm she manages and is now changing the lives of people around her.

Above and below: More than half the farm is under irrigation, allowing Maryke to concentrate on more home-grown feed.

feed. I said let’s go with a safer approach, let’s change the herd into cows that don’t need that fancy stuff. “We’re mostly crossies now and the Friesians are LIC and slightly smaller. We’ve gone from 500 to 540 cows and still have some big cows, but not as many. “They were the wrong sized cows for the farm. Now they don’t pug the paddocks and we get hardly any milk fever or many lame cows.” The conversion led to a financial windfall. “We’re selling big Friesians for $2300 but buying cross cows for $1700 when they’re about to calve. Eventually I’ll get the herd evened out — I’m still getting rid of the bigger cows.” Maryke used a variety of crosses and says the herd now “looks like a Smartie bowl”. She also sells calves for export and buys replacement heifers at a lower cost. “As long as you can source heifers and be sure they won’t bring in disease and are good quality, it makes absolute sense to sell to export.” With the herd changes, feed has been cut to four kilos of grain for most of the year, six when they peak. “Every cow that produces on four kilos of grain deserves to be here,” Maryke said.

“We started making money by dropping the expensive input costs, such as vetch and canola. All the fancy feeds are out. “Instead of canola, now I use fertiliser in the paddock and that has pushed the protein up in our milk. “Milk production is still really good, the same as when they were putting in eight to nine kilos. “People try to sell things you don’t need, which just over-complicate farming. We’ve gone back to basics with mainly home-grown grass in the diet. “This farm can look after itself. The only thing I bring in is hay for fibre when it’s wet.” A new roof was added to the calf shed this year after the old one blew off in a windstorm, and a feedpad is on Maryke’s wish list. Previously all dryland paddocks were being replanted every year but a change to permanent pastures has meant a big saving, with cocksfoot and balansa clover and some base rye-grass working well. “Half of the farm is fescue under irrigation, the other half is rye-grass,” Maryke said. “A lot don’t like fescue grass because it influences production but cross cows’ fibre intake is higher. “When it comes to calving time, I can use fescue so they don’t get milk fever. In spring

when grass is growing freely, in mornings they go to fescue and nights to rye-grass.” The farm has split calving, all through AI. “If a cow doesn’t get pregnant in autumn but is still producing enough, I will carry her over. If she doesn’t get pregnant in spring, she’s gone. “That has helped the farm a lot — as has our three strikes you’re out policy with mastitis. I’m not going to keep problem animals.” While she loves working on animal health and growing grass, Maryke sees an opportunity to blend her studies with her farm work. “I’m not necessarily looking for another career, but there’s an opportunity of mixing the two together. “I’d like to work with people who have come out of prison and help them to find a job and learn skills. In two weeks, you can milk by yourself. “I can pick up when people are struggling. I’m the person that walks up to a homeless guy and sits and have a chat. I don’t care what people think about it.” Farm ownership is on her agenda, but one day Maryke wants to retire to “the middle of nowhere” and live a self-sufficient life with her dogs, horse and chickens. “I love the quiet.”

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DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2022

6 // WEST VIC REGION

Simple fix solves problem

The shelter has been expanded after doubling as an effective calving area.

The Cups Up Jigger has made life easier in the dairy, and earned Jamie Vogels an inaugural Dairy Innovation Challenge local farm award.

BY RICK BAYNE

JAMIE VOGELS is always looking for ways to

make things easier at the Scotts Creek dairy farm he shares with his brother Andrew. His invention of a milk hose steadier — or Cups Up Jigger, as he calls it — won the local farm award in the DemoDAIRY Foundation’s inaugural Dairy Innovation Challenge and is living up to expectations in helping cows in the dairy. DemoDAIRY Foundation judges said the innovation was something that many farmers could use to prevent cup slippage while milking cows. “The beauty of this innovation is in its simplicity to address an everyday issue for farmers,” the judges said. For Jamie, it was just a simple way to solve a problem and his three home-made jiggers continue to come in handy during milking. “Some cows might suck a bit of air and you need to support the cups; previously we would use whatever was handy depending on height needed but when the cow moves, they’d throw it off,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘how can I hold the cups up instead of messing around with different things?’.” The simple rope, magnet and hook contraption that connects to the retention bar has solved the problem. “I needed something that’s not solid or attached because if things go wrong, it will just come off rather than pull everything to bits,” Jamie said. “I’ve made three and that’s enough because not every cow will need it — we only put it on if the cow is slipping a bit to help her and then take it off and because of the magnet it stays handy where you put it for next time.”

Like most farmers, Jamie is adaptable and innovative. “We use a lot of things off-script — not for their intended purpose — and I also made a reclamation unit on the exhaust from the vacuum pumps to heat water for the first wash. “Everything we do is to make things easier and user-friendly” The Vogels brothers were among the first in the region to install a dairy shelter and now they couldn’t live without it, having recently completed a 25 per cent expansion. “Feed can be a phenomenal cost and that’s why we built the shelter and why we’ve extended it from roughly 3000 square metres to 4000,” Jamie said. Originally, they built five bays to fit half the herd over the bleak winter months. “If you feed them in the paddock in winter here at Scotts Creek, you’re probably wasting 50 per cent,” Jamie said. “With the shelter we probably waste one per cent. It paid for itself in three years and has worked out to be the best thing for calving and so we stole a bay for that.” The extension will allow the front two bays to be used for calving and the rest for the milkers. The feed savings have been huge, and Jamie and Andrew no longer buy in any feed except for grain pellets, and production is strong on the back of better feed utilisation. It has also helped herd health. “We don’t have issues with cell counts, we get silver or gold awards every year, and mastitis has remained minimal. The cows are living the dream,” Jamie said. Jamie has been back on the family property for 25 years after working as an electrician. They have 404 ha on the home farm and 202 ha on the other side of the Cobden-Port Campbell Rd.

“When I came home, we were leasing land at Lismore. Over the years we bought closer to home and consolidated,” Jamie said. “You never buy land and look back and say I shouldn’t have done that. You do it hard at the time but as land prices go up, we get more equity and can be in a better bargaining position with the bank.” The herd is mainly Holstein and while it’s a closed herd, with just Jersey bulls brought in for ease of birthing for heifers, they’re not purebred. “About 10 years ago when it was hard to get cows in calf and the cows were getting taller, we started using Viking Genetics to concentrate on herd health — firstly using Swedish Reds and then we moved to Swedish Holsteins because they had better health traits than the North American genetics,” Jamie said. “We had good production but we couldn’t get them in calf; now we’ve gone from not having enough heifers to hold numbers to having too many and exporting quite a few to China, which is really good. “We also have maintained production while increasing milk solids.” They will milk 700 this year and expect to rear 280 heifer calves, bringing about 200 through as replacements. “Having too many is a good problem to have,” Jamie added. The farm has significant natural bush areas, which are home to loads of koalas, kangaroos and native birds. The brothers are doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint with 30 kW of solar on the roof, a heat reclamation system on the vat, a few solar pumps and a VSD on the vac pump. Jamie is serving his first term as a Corangamite Shire councillor, following in the footsteps of his father John who went on to become a Victorian MP for the Liberal Party.

“Entering politics is not on my agenda and it is best politics is kept out of local government,” Jamie said, but he was keen to ensure farmers were represented at a local level. “Representation in politics has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. “Most are career politicians who have worked their way up the ranks. Farmers used to have a decent percentage in parliament; now it’s about four per cent. “This is my first time on council and I’m learning a lot and finding out where I can poke the bear. “I wanted to make sure there was farmer representation to highlight the importance of food and fibre to our region. I’m there for agriculture. “It’s hard to forget food and fibre when there are farmers in the room. The shire relies on farmers and we need them to be represented.” Jamie is a big supporter of Food and Fibre Great South Coast, a major sponsor of the Dairy Innovation Challenge. “They’re doing wonderful stuff and would kick even more goals if they had more funding.” While prices and conditions are good and he sees a positive future for dairy in the region, Jamie has some reservations. “Milk prices have come up but so have input prices,” he said. “I’m putting down urea at the moment at $1600 a tonne; at the start of COVID I was paying $480 thinking that was dear. “We just have to take the hit being hopeful that it’s only short term.” “Currently we’re trying to catch up on infrastructure and technology but we’ll keep welding the dairy to keep it together for now because we are keen to reduce some debt.” Read more about all the award winners on page 7.

DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA JUNE 2022

WEST VIC REGION // 7

Dairy innovation rewarded THE WATER Rat trough and tank sensor, entered

by Nick Seymour of Farmo Group Pty Ltd, has taken out the top prize in the inaugural SouthWest Victorian Dairy Innovation Challenge. It eclipsed 18 other entries in the competition and also took out the local SustainabilityEnvironmental award. The challenge is an initiative of the DemoDAIRY Foundation in partnership with Great South Coast Food and Fibre and Elders, and the winners were announced on May 11 in Warrnambool. Judges said the simplicity of the Water Rat addressed a real issue for farmers that had significant consequences. “The Water Rat was designed primarily as an alert to let farmers know when there is a problem with the water supply to their cows,” Mr Seymour said. “But we’ve had people report that the historical data has revealed some troughs were going empty for a couple of hours every day, and that they never picked this up during a morning water run. They can then use that information to make sure the cattle have sufficient water supply.” The Water Rat includes an accelerometer tilt sensor to detect movement, an NB-IoT chip to send data, and GPS to report location. The Sustainability-Environmental award for outside the south-west was won by Geoff Schaller of Arcoflex Pty Ltd, Boronia, for an

energy monitoring system to improve efficiencies of farm energy use. An encouragement SustainabilityEnvironmental award was given to Lisette Mill, from Basalt to Bay Landcare Network, for a Pop-up Puddle diversity survey kit. A magnet, a length of cord and a hook were all that Scotts Creek farmer Jamie Vogels needed to come up with an award-winning dairy farm innovation. Mr Vogels’ milk hose steadier won the local Farm award. DemoDAIRY Foundation judges said the milk hose steadier was something that many farmers could use to prevent cup slippage while milking cows. “The beauty of this innovation is in its simplicity to address an everyday issue for farmers,” the judges said. The Farm award from outside south-west Victoria was won by Anna Norgen, from STgen in Albury, with a precision map for dairy cow breeding with a customised herd audit that shows genetic trends. Judges said it was a good use of digital and technical advancements to streamline breeding and semen use decisions for farmers to achieve ‘fit for purpose’ cows. The Farm encouragement award to further develop an idea was won by Peter Crothers of Wangoom for his ‘robodog’ concept The fully autonomous robotic dog would be

Nick Seymour’ s Water Rat trough and tank sensor won top prize in the inaugural South-West Victorian Dairy Innovation Challenge.

set on a ride-on lawn mower body with a robot GPS tracked from a central computer at the dairy. “We encourage the creativity and aspirational reaches of this concept to harness the potential of digital technologies to improve the efficiencies across the dairy farm,” judges said. DemoDAIRY Foundation chair Ralph Leutton said the challenge had demonstrated the positive outlook of dairy farmers.

“Farmers are the most inventive people you come across and dairy farmers are a prime example of that,” he said. “The DemoDAIRY Foundation Innovation Challenge has helped to bring some of their innovations to the fore and I thank the entrants and the judges for their contribution.” The winners share more than $8000 in prize money.

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