Devondaler-March-2015

Volume 30 Number 3 Issue No. 349 March 2015
MG $6 MILK
PRICE IS
CONFIRMED
DEVONDALE Murray Goulburn
has announced a solid first half
2014/15 result and confirmed a
full year forecast farmgate price of $6
per kilogram milk solids.
A final price of $6 per kilogram
milk solids will be the third highest
MG farmgate price on record and will
be delivered despite a significant
decline in global dairy commodity
prices since 1 July 2014.
Key dairy ingredients prices globally
have fallen significantly in the past
six months, dragging down farmgate
prices in dairy exporting countries by
up to 40 per cent.
In contrast, MG’s forecast farmgate
price of $6 per kilogram milk solids is
12 per cent lower than the 2013/14
record closing price of $6.81.
“This price is evidence of the success
of our strategy to invest in order
to increase our diversification across
domestic and export markets and
product flexibility across retail, food
service and ingredients, enabling us to
maximise milk price in a variety of
market conditions,” said MG
Managing Director, Gary Helou.
“In the six months to 31 December
2014, we mitigated the impact of
global price movements with cost
reductions and product mix optimisation.
“These efforts have had a positive
impact on the half year result and support
our ability to deliver a farmgate
milk price of $6 per kilogram milk
solids.
“A key focus for MG is to provide
consistently stronger farmgate prices
and a reduction in business volatility
for our dairy farmers,” Gary said.
He said the moderating Australian
dollar, while positive, occurred too
late in the December half to materially
impact the half year results.
“We welcome the emerging benefit
that a lower currency will provide our
export business, particularly in the
value added dairy foods segment
through the balance of the year and
into next year.”
He said sales revenue was $1.3 billion
for the first half, down one per
cent compared to the previous corresponding
time.
“This was a particularly pleasing
result given the decline in prices
received for key international dairy
commodities.
“International sales have benefited
from our strategic shift towards higher
value finished goods such as nutritionals
and the continued growth in international
dairy foods,” Gary said.
“Domestic sales increased materially
compared to the prior corresponding
period as a result of initiatives such as
our entry into the daily chilled milk
market via the 10-year agreement to
supply Coles supermarkets private
label milk in Victoria and New South
Wales as well growth in the Devondale
range of dairy foods products.”
MG has reported a half year net
profit after tax of $12.9 million compared
to $61 million in the previous
corresponding period but Gary said
the two periods were not directly comparable
due to higher input milk price
paid at the beginning of the financial
year, providing a significant cash flow
benefit to our dairy farmers.
MG received just over 2 billion litres
of milk in the six months to 31
December 2014, a 6.8 per cent
increase on the prior corresponding
period.
“Our milk intake continues to grow
at a faster rate than the Australian milk
pool which according to Dairy
Australia, grew by 2.6 per cent during
the six months to 31 December 2014,”
Gary said.
MG’s net debt as at 31 December
2014 was $740 million, compared to
$552 million at 31 December 2013.
“This increase was due to a number
of factors, including growth in milk
intake and normal seasonal inventory
increases during the first half.
“As in prior years, inventories will
be sold down during the second half –
a lower production period.
● Turn to page 3
Craig Dettling shows that milk bottle with the photograph of his family on the label.
Look at what I’ve found!
MORE than 230 suppliers took the chance
to look over Devondale Murray Goulburn’s
Integrated Logistics Centre and Dairy
Beverages Centre at Laverton last month.
South-west Victorian supplier, Craig
Dettling, found a Devondale three litre
milk bottle with a photograph of him and
his family on the label.
● Reports and more pictures on pages
4-5.

2
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
INTERNATIONAL MARKET REVIEW
Prices are up in all product categories
International prices $US/MT FOB
The results of Global Dairy
Trade (GDT) Event 134
which concluded on 17
February produced a GDT Price
Index which was up by 10.1
per cent.
Prices increased in all categories
where product was
offered. This is the fifth consecutive
increase in the Trade
Weighted Index (TWI) on the
GDT platform and the second
major increase following a 9.4
per cent increase registered on
Event 133 which was held on
3 February.
While the improvement in
pricing on the GDT platform is
welcome, we believe it has
been brought about as a reaction
to the drought in New Zealand
and the potential impact that
this may have on the global
supply-demand balance in
dairy.
The recent major reductions in
volume offered through the GDT
platform has been based on
anticipated reduction in NZ milk
The Devondaler is published
by Devondale Murray
Goulburn
Editor: Robert White (03)
9846 5188 or 0427 329 815
tophill@optusnet.com.au
Advertising and classified
enquiries: (03) 9040 5000
Murray Goulburn
Co-operative Co. Limited,
Level 15, 2 Southbank
Boulevard, Southbank,
Victoria 3006
Phone: (03) 9040 5000
MG suppliers and employees
are welcome to submit
photograps and editorial for
consideration. Deadline is the
24th of each month.
The Devondale
Murray Goulburn
Twitter account
is online now at
@DevondaleMG
production which may have been
responsible for price recovery on
the platform.
The medium term response,
however, will depend on actual
milk production statistics and
how this compares to the
expected decreases which have
been widely reported.
The milk production forecast
for the current season in NZ is
expected to be 3.3 per cent
below last season as a result of
the current drought, in combination
with lower milk prices
which discourages supplementary
feeding.
Season-to-date milk volumes
are ahead of last year, although
the rate of growth is slowing due
to the dry conditions.
Daily milk production across
NZ is now eight per cent lower
than the same period last
season.
Milk production in the 23
major States in USA during
January was up 2.1 per cent
compared to January 2014 with
the medium term outlook for
Key results
MAIN PRODUCTS
SMP up 5.7%, average price
$US2744/MT
WMP up 13.7%, average price
$US3272/MT
AMF up 6.4%, average price
$4314/MT
OTHER PRODUCTS
Butter up 1.1%, average price
$US3823/MT
BMP up 1.9%, average price
$US2674MT
Cheddar up 16.8%, average
price $US3054/MT
Rennet Casein up 1.2%, average
price $8US,97/MT
SWP (Sweet Whey Powder) –
No sale reported.
The results of the
next few GTD
auction events
will provide a
better indication
of the global
response to availability
versus
demand for dairy
and the outlook
for pricing over
the balance of
this season.
sustained growth while domestic
demand remains stable.
Milk production per cow in
USA is also at a record high
and bolstered by lower feed
costs.
The recent introduction of
margin protection insurance in
USA is of concern as this will
allow farmers to lock in a
margin and keep producing
even when market prices are
falling, which would normally
be a signal to reduce
production.
European Union (EU) milk
production has slowed as farm
gates prices have dropped and
producers seek to avoid penalties
for producing in excess of
quotas at the end of March.
Post March, the gloves are off
with quotas being abolished.
The question remains as to
how much the EU will gear up
milk production and the impact
of potential surpluses on the
international market.
On a positive note, EU commodity
prices have recently
started to firm in Euro terms
which signals a recovery is
under way.
Mixed messages are coming
out of China regarding the
underlying demand for dairy
once surplus stocks have been
exhausted.
We have received feedback
that there are still exports of
FCMP from China suggesting
that internal stock problems have
not yet been brought under control.
We will continue to monitor
this situation.
The results of the next few
GTD auction events will provide
a better indication of the global
response to availability versus
demand for dairy and the outlook
for pricing over the balance
of this season.
Suppliers’ meetings
across three states
THE first round of Devondale Murray Goulburn suppliers’ meetings
for 2015 will be held in Victoria, New South Wales and
South Australia during March.
DATE VENUE TIME
VICTORIA
March 16 Maffra Football Club Noon-2pm
Yarram and District 7.30-930pm.
Health Services
March 17 Leongatha Football Club 11.45am-1.45pm
Heywood Football Club 7.30-9.30pm
March 18 Camperdown Civic 12.30-2.30pm
Centre
Cohuna Bowls Club 7.30-9.30pm
March 19 Rochester Racecourse 11.30am-1.30pm
Reserve
Cobram/Barooga Sports 7.30-9.30pm
Club
March 20 Kiewa Coulston Park Noon-2pm.
Community Centre
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
March 23 Encounter Bay Football 11.30am-1.30pm
Club
March 24 Nuriootpa PIRSA 11.30am-1.30pm
Building
NEW SOUTH WALES
March 23 Club Taree 11.30am-1.30pm
Singleton Diggers Club 7.30-9.30pm
March 24 Gerroa Boat Fishing Club 12.30-2.30pm
Kiama

DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 3
MG Trading moves into Tasmania
TWO new MG Trading
stores are now open at
Smithton and Deloraine
in north west Tasmania.
Devondale Murray Goulburn
has bought Tasmanian agricultural
services business AgriCorp
Pacific Pty Ltd (AgriCorp) and
as part of the acquisition, existing
AgriCorp locations were
rebranded as MG Trading on
Monday 2 March.
MG Trading’s arrival in
Tasmania will significantly
expand services available to support
dairy farmers, as well as the
agricultural industries and communities
in the state.
MG is working alongside
AgriCorp to ensure a smooth
Tasmania is at the
forefront of
Australian dairy
industry growth
and we saw a
significant opportunity
to support
our dairy farmer
suppliers.
ROBERT POOLE
transition, including welcoming
all team members currently
employed at the Smithton and
Deloraine stores to MG Trading.
The company looks forward to
building on the solid customer,
community and vendor relationships
established by AgriCorp.
MG’s Executive General
Manager Shareholder Relations,
Robert Poole, said the acquisition
formed part of the farmercontrolled
co-operative’s ongoing
commitment to and investment
in Tasmania.
“Through our majority-owned
joint venture, Tasmanian Dairy
Products, in Smithton and our
manufacturing site at Edith
Creek, we’re delighted to play
an active role in helping to
develop Tasmania’s dairy industry,”
he said.
“Tasmania is at the forefront
of Australian dairy industry
growth and we saw a significant
opportunity to support our dairy
farmer suppliers, as well as the
broader agricultural industries
and communities through MG
Trading’s extensive and competitively
priced retail offering.”
AgriCorp’s Managing
Director, Colin Cook, said the
arrangement would benefit local
farmers and both MG Trading
and AgriCorp would ensure customers
were kept abreast of
changes during the transition
period.
“AgriCorp’s mandate was
always to grow farm productivity
through professional advisory
services and a tailored product
offering,” Colin said.
“We leave this legacy in safe
hands through our agreement
with MG whose MG Trading
presence and farmer services are
highly regarded by farmers on
the mainland, not only for their
strength in dairy, but also for
their interests in the broader
agricultural industries.”
The new MG Trading stores in
Tasmania are ideally located to
support farmers in the state’s
north and north-west.
Planning is under way to further
expand the service offering
in the two stores to include fertiliser,
agronomy, nutrition, feed,
fuel, milk machine maintenance,
insurance and finance services.
Top award for
Devondale
Smoothies
DEVONDALE Smoothies has been named the top Chilled
Beverage in the 2015 Product of the Year (POY) awards,
held last month.
Leading research company, Nielsen, surveyed more than 15,000
consumers for the country’s largest independent survey of household
consumer innovation, which reviews new products against
criteria such as trial performance, value for money and overall
satisfaction.
The 44 winning products in their respective categories represent
the most exciting new products on the Australian market today.
Devondale Smoothies won in the Chilled Beverages category.
POY Australia Director, Sarah Connelly, said the annual survey,
which had been running for six years, is the nation’s ultimate consumer
poll.
“Winning Product of the Year is a huge stamp of approval from
the Australian public,” she said.
“To win Product of the Year is a huge honour for any product
because it means that the Australian public has embraced and
loved the product.
“To triumph as the winner is a testament to the time and effort
put in by manufacturers, retailers and their hard working staff to
deliver something truly innovative and relevant to consumers,” she
said.
Details from the award show that one in three consumers
claimed they are more likely to buy new products that won POY.
Other winners included the likes of Coles Ice Cream and
Woolworths’ Made with Jamie products.
MG’s Brand Manager innovation, Joanna Teoludzka with television personality, Lisa Wilkinson, who
was a guest presenter at the awards night.
Pedal power helps charity
THE Devondalers cycling team is off and
pedaling again this year and will take
part in the annual Murray to Moyne
bicycle ride.
The team is made up of members of the factory
health group at the Devondale Murray Goulburn
plant at Koroit.
The annual ride helps raise money for local
health organisations and the Koroit team is again
raising funds for the Hawkesdale CERT
(Critical Emergency Response Team) which
attends accident before ambulances get to the
scene.
It is the fourth year that the Devondalers have
taken part in the ride which this year will travel
from Echuca to Port Fairy.
The ride will be held on the weekend of 28-29
March and about 100 teams with 1600 riders
leave from three towns (Mildura, Swan Hill,
Echuca) and all head for Hamilton overnight
before setting off for Port Fairy on the Sunday
morning.
Those who would like to donate to the cause
can visit the Murray to Moyne website, choose
the Devondalers team, and donate under that
name.
MG $6 milk price
is confirmed
● From page 1
“A component of the increase
is related to our ongoing investment
program including manufacturing
upgrades and the construction
of our new consumer
cheese plant at Cobram,” Gary
said.
“We remain confident of the
long term underlying growth in
demand for dairy foods, particularly
in Asia, where there is a net
reliability on imports to satisfy
rising consumer demand for
dairy foods.”
“The lower Australian dollar,
expected lower production in
some key competing countries
and signs of recovery in global
ingredients prices are all positive
signs for the coming period.”

4
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
SUPPLIER OPEN DAYS
General Manager of the Devondale Dairy Beverages Centres in both Melbourne and Sydney, Colin
Sinkinson, explains the operation of the automatic guided vehicles to suppliers.
Byaduk supplier in south west Victoria, Rick Guye, left, with
Devondale Dairy Beverages Centre Shift Leader, Shaun McCarthy.
Suppliers, John Hateley and Paul Bourke from south west
Victoria.
Suppliers, Cherine and Norm Howard with MG’s General Manager Supply Chain, Russell Abotomey.
during the tour of the ILC.
MG Koroit Field Services Officer, Paul Darcy, left, with Terang
supplier, Helen Bourke.
MG Director, Martin Van de Wouw, left, with supplier, Jarrod Meade and visitor, Charles Lim.
Charles is visiting from Malaysia and working for a short time on the Meade farm.

DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 5
SUPPLIER OPEN DAY
Suppliers praise ‘magic’ tour
MORE than 230 suppliers
took part in a special
tour of Devondale
Murray Goulburn’s Integrated
Logistics Centre (ILC) and
Devondale Dairy Beverages
Centre at Laverton (DDBC) last
month.
The tours were held over three
days and were widely regarded
as a huge success by suppliers.
Tour members were shown
around the ILC and were then
taken on a walking tour through
part of the warehouse to see how
products were stacked and then
into the cool room.
After a lunch break, suppliers
were shown through the milk
packaging plant and watched as
automatic guided vehicles
moved empty bottles into position
for filling and then followed
the bottling process through to a
point where they were placed in
crates ready for loading on to
pallets and then into waiting
trucks.
Executive General Manager
Shareholder Relations, Robert
Poole, welcomed suppliers and
outlined the operations of the
ILC and DDBC.
“Apart from cheese, all of
MG’s products are distributed
through the ILC,” he said.
He said the DDBC, which was
opened in July last year, filled a
gap in MG’s product mix.
He said it also provided an
opportunity for MG to enter a
10-year year arrangement with
Coles Supermarkets to provide
both Devondale branded and
Coles branded milk across
Victoria and New South Wales.
A twin factory provides daily
pasteurised milk to the New
South Wales market.
Executive General Manager
Operations, David Mallinson,
told suppliers that the bottling
plant was as good as anything
currently in operation anywhere
in the world.
He said the plant was producing
up to 400,000 litres of
milk in two and three litre bottles
every day with ample capability
to increase production.
South west Victorian supplier,
Gary Stockdale, was amazed at
the size of the two operations.
He said he was pleased to have
the chance to see where his milk
ended up and learn how the
product was distributed.
Another south west Victorian
supplier, Barbara Wouters, said
the invitation from MG provided
“a wonderful opportunity to
come and see the warehouse and
new milk factory.”
She said the size of the operation
was overwhelming.
Long-serving Leongatha site
employee, Heather Beilby, said
the visit to the new DDBC was
“magic”.
She said she had visited the
It was great to
see that our
dollars have
been invested
wisely and that
everything is
state-of-the art.
Management
certainly seems
to have done
their homework.
ILC soon after it opened but
hadn’t had the chance to see the
new milk factory.
“Every supplier on our bus
was glowing in their praise of
the whole operation and all were
happy that they had taken part.
We have some very passionate
people working at MG and they
are proud of what they do.”
Gippsland supplier, Sylvia
Vagg, said she had not been to
the site since the ILC opened 15
years ago.
“Both the warehouse and the
milk factory are investments
made by suppliers and I particularly
wanted to see how the bottling
plant operated,” she said.
“I was very keen to see how
the robots worked and I could
quickly see how calm and organised
the entire operation was.
Leongatha Field Services
Officer, Jo Duffy, said the tour
of the warehouse and milk
factory was one of the highlights
of her time at MG.
“I was proud of what the company
has created and it was great
to hear all the positive feedback
from suppliers who really
enjoyed being involved in the
day,” she said.
North east supplier, Chris Van
der Weyde, said he would be
first on the bus if another tour
was organised.
“I’d be there at the drop of a
hat. It was a mind-boggling
experience to see how both the
warehouse and the milk factory
operated,” he said.
“Everything operates with
such high precision. Watching
those automatic guided vehicles
loading and unloading was
extraordinary.
“It was great to see that our
dollars have been invested wisely
and that everything is state-ofthe
art. Management certainly
seems to have done their homework.”
Chris said he was sure more
suppliers would be involved in
further future tours.
“I can assure you the next bus
would be full and it would be a
very big bus.”
From left, Executive General Manager Operations, David Mallinson, with south west suppliers, John
and Lachlan Tindall and Gary Stockdale.
From left, MG Director, John Pye, with suppliers, Craig Dettling, Gerard Lloyd and Executive General
Manager Shareholder Relations, Robert Poole.
Site employee, John Goddard, left, with suppliers, Barbara and Frank Wouters.

6
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
BUTTERFLY’S KITCHEN
IT has been an interesting time
of late with lots of reflection
and contemplation.
I think it began with Jack turning
eight and the quiet realisation
that my little boy is growing
up fast.
The growth physically and
mentally has been somewhat of
a battle between the tough exterior
and the soft, kind heart within.
I am now very much a believer
in that philosophical saying,
“show us the boy at seven and
you’ll see the man he will
become”.
Perhaps I’m sounding like an
emotional mum, but seriously it
doesn’t hurt to talk about it. In
fact, I’m sure there are many of
you thinking the same and plenty
a lot further along in this journey
of life thinking. ‘gee Irene,
you’ve still got the teenage years
and then leaving home to start
his own path as an adult’.
Rest assured I am reminded
often not to molly coddle my little
boy and instead prepare him
as best I can for the man he will
become.
In the meantime it’s business
as usual on the farm and my
girls are relishing the fantastic
Italian Apple Cake
Ingredients
800gms apples (Golden
Delicious or farm apples,
(about 7 apples)
juice of 1/4 lemon
100g Devondale unsalted
butter, plus extra tsp
1/3 cup Devondale milk
1 3/4 cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar, plus extra 1 tlbs
for sprinkling top of cake
zest of half lemon
1 tsp vanilla essence (optional)
icing sugar to dust prior to
serving
Method
Preheat oven to 180˚C. Line
and butter an 8 or 9 inch
spring form pan and set aside.
Peel, core and cut apples into
thin slices. Place in a large
mixing bowl and toss with
lemon juice to avoid discol-
seasonal conditions.
They are probably a quarter of
a condition score below where
I’d like them but that’s because
they are pumping out the milk
well above expectations. Along
oration. Set aside.
In a small saucepan melt the
butter over low heat. Remove
from heat, add the milk to the
pan and set aside.
In a small bowl sift the flour
and baking powder and set
aside.
Break the eggs into a large mixing
bowl and add the sugar.
Whisk/beat until eggs and sugar
together until pale and creamy.
Add the grated lemon zest and
vanilla and mix well. Add the
flour gradually to the egg mix,
mixing well between additions
and when all the flour has been
incorporated, add the tepid butter/milk
mixture and beat
briefly until smooth, thick batter
forms without over beating.
Add three quarters of the apple
slices to the cake batter and
fold together until evenly distributed.
Spread the batter in
the prepared pan and level surface.
Neatly arrange the
remaining apple slices over the
top of the batter, fanning out in
a circular pattern over the
entire surface with edges
slightly overlapping. Sprinkle
with completing pregnancy testing
we have freeze branded
heifers and amongst it all, I’ve
been making plum jam and
sauce. The apple trees have also
been abundant with fruit so this
Italian Apple Cake.
the apple slices with extra
tablespoon of sugar and using
the spare teaspoon of butter
place dots of it here and there
over top of cake.
Place in oven and bake for 60
to 70 minutes until the cake
pulls away from the sides and
the surface is golden brown.
month’s recipe is a much loved
Italian apple cake which I hope,
for those with an Italian heritage,
you can reminisce of fond memories
of Nonna’s homemade
apple cake.
The cake is done when it tests
barely moist with a cake
tester/toothpick. Remove from
oven and allow resting for 10
minutes then removing from
pan and cooling on a wire
rack.
Serve dusted with icing sugar
or delicious with a dollop of
Until next month friends:
“Life is a journey and you have
to accept whatever comes and
the only important thing is that
you meet it with courage and
the best you have to give”.
FARMER HEALTH
Protective clothing can help farmers avoid skin cancer
JEANNE
DEKKER
LIVING and working on the
land involves time outdoors
and and with that comes
the risk of skin cancer.
Australia has the highest rates
of skin cancer in the world and
people in rural and remote areas
are at serious risk.
Repeated sun exposure is the
cause of most skin cancers and
given dairy farmers work outdoors,
they are likely to get up to
10 times more sun exposure than
indoor workers.
The skin is the largest organ of
the body and is made up of tiny
building blocks called cells
which normally multiply, die
and regenerate in a controlled
manner.
Skin cancer is a disease that
occurs when the cells of the
body are damaged and cause
cells to grow out of control.
And, in most cases, the damage
is caused by over exposure to
ultra violet rays.
There are three types of skin
cancer:
1. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
is the most common type of skin
cancer.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
(SCC) is less common but grows
faster.
3. Melanoma is the least common
but most dangerous type of
skin cancer.
It is important to understand
sun exposure is the cause of skin
cancer and according to the
National Rural Health Alliance
“the incidence of melanoma is
higher for country than city men,
with farmers having 60 per cent
higher death rate due to
melanoma and other malignant
skin cancers than the general
population”.
This is an alarming statistic
but is largely preventable.
When it comes to skin cancer
on farms, prevention is far better
than cure.
Check your skin for any
changes especially moles and
freckles that are raised, changed
in colour or shape. See your GP
if you are concerned.
Employers and employees on
farms should also consider
personal protective equipment
and clothing.
This includes:
● Wearing a wide brimmed
hat even on cloudy days.
● Wearing long sleeved shirts
and pants.
● Wearing sunglasses.
● Using sunscreen SPF 30+
up to three times per day.
● Work in shade if possible
between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Second phase of energy audits now available
MURRAY Dairy is providing
free energy
audits to help reduce
overall energy costs on dairy
farms.
Round 1 of this program,
which is supported by Dairy
Australia, has ended but there
will be about 100 more free
audits available in Round 2.
A qualified, independent
assessor will complete an onfarm
energy assessment and
will provide a comprehensive
report, along with practical
recommendations for energy
savings.
To take advantage of a free
energy audit, farmers must
provide copies of the last four
power bills for the dairy and the
completion of the expression of
interest form.
The assessor will then make
contact to arrange a suitable
time to complete the on-farm
assessment.
The assessor will need about
15 minutes of time with the farm
owner or manager once they
arrive on site.
The objectives of the project
are to:
● Develop the information
and tools that are needed to
underpin individual farm energy
efficiency assessments.
● Select and, where necessary,
train, trusted industry service
providers to undertake the
farm energy assessments.
● Develop the energy
efficiency plans for 900 dairy
farms – plans that connect individual
dairy farmers with the
options and strategies that are
applicable to their specific situation.
● Share lessons from individual
farms across the dairy
industry.
Farmers who require a free
energy audit can contact
Murray Dairy.
The project has received
funding from the Department of
Climate Change and Energy
Efficiency as part of the Energy
Efficiency Information Grants
Program.

DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 7
Cream cheese brings MG
Asian teams together
DEVONDALE Murray
Goulburn has brought
together representatives
from key product distributors in
China and Japan for a workshop
on cream cheese products.
MG’s Japan office organised
for the Hong Kong-based distributor
for China, Orlando Li of
Foodgears together with a team
of five staff and to meet with
Nosawa, MG’s principal
distributor for cream cheese
in Japan.
“The aim was to provide a
chance for our cream cheese
customers to collaborate
between regions as a novel way
of sharing innovative ideas and
experience to aid market development,”
said Yumie Murata,
Customer Service Manager, MG
Japan.
“We decided to bring two of
our major business partners
together for a workshop to share
market experiences and product
information with a focus on
cream cheese products.
“The exchange was facilitated
through MG’s Japan office and
the feedback we have received to
date supports this collaborative
training approach as an
innovative effective marketing
opportunity.
“The workshop incorporated
market visits as well as product
sampling and evaluation with a
focus on the understanding of
end-user requirements and
expectations.”
Japan is a mature market for
cream cheese with relatively
stable volumes. Devondale
Murray Goulburn’s share of the
cream cheese market in Japan
has grown from a zero base with
our initial entry 15 years ago, to
market leader today with nearly
30 per cent of the market.
This achievement was made in
partnership with Nosawa, MG’s
principal distributor in this market,
through a commitment to
quality, applications development
a training support.
China is a rapidly expanding
new market for MG’s cheese
products where the co-op’s business
partner and distributor,
Foodgears, has helped MG
achieve two consecutive years of
growth of more than 60 per cent
in 2013 and 2014.
“This has been achieved
through a major focus on support
infrastructure with the
development of test kitchens
suitably staffed by qualified
chefs to assist with training and
development programs for sales
teams and customers,” said
Yumie.
“Our cream cheese products
have already been developed
across cultures and countries to
meet consumer preferences,
however further improvement
could potentially be realised
through an expansion of this
collaborative approach to
innovation and market
development.”
A highlight of the Foodgears’
visit to Japan was the sampling
of dishes specifically prepared
by Australian chef, Matthew
Crabbe, at the Australian
restaurant ‘Two Rooms Grill’ in
Tokyo’s dinning precinct known
as Omotesando.
MG worked closely with this
restaurant to create a special
menu using MG cream cheese
products which was incorporated
into many dishes with some
‘Washoku’ (traditional Japanese
food) influence.
Former Governor General
at Farm World at Lardner
MORE than 700 exhibitors will
provide visitors to Farm World
2015 at Lardner Park, near
Warragul, with a comprehensive
range of products to
inspect and to gather the latest
information to make important
buying decisions.
The field days will be held
from Thursday March 26 to
Sunday March 29 and MG
Trading will again have a
pavilion with displays and a
lounge for suppliers to rest and
meet with store managers and
staff as well as Field Services
Officers.
The theme for Farm World
2015 is ‘Farm Productivity’.
This will focus on initiatives
that farmers can take to
improve their own farm productivity
and will enable
exhibitors who have products
or services relating to the
theme to feature them.
‘Women in Agriculture’ is an
important facet of the field
days, recognising and celebrating
the important role women
play in agriculture.
A special luncheon will be
held from 12 pm to 2 pm on
the Thursday in the Lardner
Park Exhibition Centre and
will feature interesting presenters
including former
Governor General, Dame
Quentin Bryce and Natalie
Collard, Chief Executive
Officer of the Australian Dairy
Farmers.
More information about the
2015 Farm World field days is
available at www.lardnerpark.
com.au
Young farmers to have a ball
THE Victorian Young Farmers group is holding a Country Ball in
Gippsland at the Outtrim Hall on April 11.
It has been organised by the South Gippsland Young Farmers
and the age limit is over 18 years.
Dress is neat casual clothes and a barbecue tea is available.
Tickets are $25 if pre-booked or $30 at the door.
Further details are on 0407 476 368 or southgippslandyoungfarmers@hotmail.com

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DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 9
Co-op celebrates 65th anniversary
DEVONDALE Murray
Goulburn passed another
landmark last month as
the co-operative celebrated its
65th anniversary.
MG was registered as the
Murray Valley Co-Operative
Dairy Products and Trading
Company on 20 February 1950
and was opened for business in
May 1951.
The co-operative is now the
largest dairy company in
Australia and processes 37 per
cent of the country’s milk.
Yet it could have all been so
different if it hadn’t been for one
vote at a meeting held early in
1949 at Strathmerton, 15 minutes
west of Cobram along the
Murray Valley Highway.
The interim board of the new
dairy co-operative had recommended
Cobram as the site for
the dairy factory and put it to a
vote at the Strathmerton meeting.
There had been a strong push
by a large group of farmers who
wanted a new dairy factory built
at Strathmerton while there was
also support for it to be built at
Katunga.
In the end, one vote decided
that Cobram should be the site.
And that one vote created a
split within the local dairy community
with those who lost the
vote supporting a later successful
bid by Kraft to build a factory
at Strathmerton.
The story of Murray Goulburn
began as early as 1942 when the
possibility of establishing a dairy
co-operative was discussed by
the Cobram Progress
Association. But it really gained
strength with the development of
the Soldier Settlement Scheme
in the district following the
Second World War.
Returned serviceman, many of
whom had never seen a farm,
had become pioneer dairy farmers
and were concerned that they
were not getting the proper
return for their efforts from local
proprietary dairy companies.
On 18 May 1949 the Murray
Valley Soldier Settlers League
called a meeting at Katunga to
gauge public interest in the
establishment of a new co-operative
dairy factory.
The support was unanimous
and an interim committee was
formed and empowered to find
out all the necessary details
required to establish a new
dairy factory.
Managing Director, Jack
McGuire, was a key player in
the expansion and growth of
the Murray Goulburn Co-
Operative.
And it was this committee that
recommended Cobram as the
site for the plant, mainly because
the size of the town would make
it easier to recruit workers and
its proximity to the Murray
River for water and red gum
logs to fire the boiler.
It was 20 February 1950 that
the co-operative was registered
and from that point on, every
effort was put into building the
factory.
There were substantial delays
in construction with a lack of
materials being the major disruption
to work.
The delays proved costly as it
was expected the new factory
would be up and running by mid
to late 1950. But it was May
1951 before the first milk
arrived.
And on that first day, milk was
collected from only 14 suppliers
and it was not enough to turn on
the equipment. The following
day, when more milk arrived, the
making of cheese could begin
and then more farmers began
sending milk as their cows
calved.
Early financial issues hit the
fledgling co-operative and within
months of it opening the factory
was broke, unable to pay its
farmers nor the firms who provided
the equipment.
The directors went cap-inhand
to the ANZ bank which
agreed to provide a loan to pay
the bills which the directors virtually
guaranteed.
The arrival of legendary managing
director, Jack McGuire, in
April 1952 was the making of
the co-operative.
It was McGuire who drove the
company. He knew how every
piece of equipment operated and
virtually lived at the factory to
ensure everything was in working
order.
When not at the factory, he
personally recruited new suppliers,
further strengthening to new
co-op.
It was Jack McGuire who
drove the mergers and acquisitions
of smaller neighbouring
factories and then led the drive
into merging and buying dairy
factories all over Victoria and
southern New South Wales.
Over its 65 years, the co-operative
played a key leadership
role in Australian dairying with
the use of innovative technology
both on-farm and in the factories.
MG also remains the
benchmark for milk payments to
farmers.
It has grown from a small
band of dairy pioneers in the
Cobram region to now include
farmers throughout Victoria, the
north western region of
Tasmania, South Australia and
an ever-expanding spread into
New South Wales.

10
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
From bottom to top in BMCC figures
By SUE WEBSTER
PETER and Kate Norris
took a herd with a Bulk
Milk Cell Count (BMCC)
averaging more than 800,000
and within two years got it into
premium band.
Initially ranked in the bottom
10 per cent regionally, their 10-
day average by mid last year was
124,000 – placing them in the
top 13 per cent.
The Inverloch sharefarmers
tackled udder health as the first
focus of the South Gippsland
farm they took over in May
2012.
But then the rain came. And
came. And came. In their first
year, the 155ha farm scored
more than a metre of rain.
Mildura-born Kate couldn’t
believe it.
“I kept saying ‘we’re dairy
farmers, not rice growers!’”
They were determined to send
the cell count southwards and
received a lot of help from Field
Services Officers, Jol Dutton and
Tim Cross from the Devondale
Murray Goulburn Leongatha
factory.
“They could see we were trying
to get the count down and
helped in any way they could.”
So, what did they do? Kate
rattled off the list. Blanket dry
cow treatment with selective
treatment for cows with more
than 750,000 BMCC, blanket
teat sealant, optimum feed management
and mechanical work
such as changing liners twiceyearly.
“One of my favourite sayings
is, ‘Look after the cows and
they will look after you,’” Peter
said.
Over the same period they
eased off their stocking rate,
reducing the herd of 350 milkers
to 300 in the first year, before
lifting the numbers to 320 this
year.
Running fewer milkers and
improving feed saw a 20 per
Inverloch suppliers, Peter and Kate Norris, have have shown that hard work and determination can
get you to the top of the table in milk quality.
cent production lift with 40
fewer cows.
“And with better milk price
increases we saw a 150 per cent
increase in farm income,” Peter
said.
Kate recalled: “For two years
we’ve had to keep our heads
above water – quite literally – to
get the cattle to where we’d like
them to be. Now it’s time to
bring the farm up as well.”
The herd is now “a bit of
everything, Friesian dominant
with a Jersey influence.” In 2014
they had 60 heifers calving and a
herd in-calf rate of 85.5 per cent.
They are breeding for longevity
and for good temperament.
They are milked through a 30-
a-side swingover shed with auto
cup removers.
They are fed 7kg wheat in the
bail and average
1.95kgMS/cow/day at 3.63 protein
and 4.41 fat.
The paddocks are sown to
Crusader ryegrass and they conserve
around 600 rolls of pasture
silage and 103 hay rolls.
Farm financial performance is
fundamental to this enterprise.
The couple has projected next
year’s income and are drafting a
budget.
Peter said: “One of the biggest
influences that I’ve had is a
Dutch farmer who told me the
biggest thing is to know your
costs and know your income.”
Kate added: “Have breakfast
with your budget.”
And Peter added: “Manure.
You’re always in it. It’s just a
matter of degree.”
It’s the sort of insight born of
tough times, and they’ve known
a few.
The toughest period was possibly
when the pair moved from
the Yarra Valley, where Peter
was raised and worked as a
farmhand, to northern Victoria –
via a stint as an agricultural
contractor.
They arrived in the northern
irrigation region to manage a
1000-cow herd during a prolonged
drought. Peter was in
charge of operations.
Kate, holding a University of
Melbourne Agricultural Science
Degree, worked as herd
manager.
She has also acquired a
Certificate IV in training and
assessment since graduation
and is currently completing a
double diploma in management
and human resource
management.
Peter has built his career from
the bottom up and is currently
formalising his knowledge
through the skills recognition
offered by National Centre for
Dairy Education.
Kate said: “Neither of us
could do this job on our own.
We both bring skills to the table
that complement each other and
I love working alongside my
husband every day.”
It’s been a big journey for a
young couple with no dairy in
their upbringing.
The pair was introduced by a
mutual friend when Kate was
looking for work experience.
“I think we were matchmakered,”
she admitted.
And if she hadn’t have met
Peter?
“I probably would have gone
back to Mildura and gone into
beef production.”
But she didn’t. The result?
Two children, Aimee, 9, and
Alasdair, 6.

DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 11
ALLANSFORD FIELD DAYS
Busy time for
MG Trading team
DEVONDALE Murray Goulburn suppliers flocked to last
month’s three-day Allansford Field Days in south west
Victoria and one of their most popular stopping-off points
was the MG Trading pavilion and display.
Farmers had the chance to catch up with Koroit-based Field
Services Officers as well as managers and staff from south-western
MG Trading stores. MG Trading Agronomists and Nutritionists and
representatives of MG Trading’s product suppliers.
Field Services Officers were also busy handing out Moo
flavoured milk to many of the children who attended with their
parents.
Light meals were also served to suppliers who needed a break
from their tour of the field days site.
Both Brock Charles and his wife, Ebony, feature on Devondale Murray Goulburn daily pasteurised
milk packaging. The Larpent couple are pictured with their three-year-old son, Nash.
Milk builds muscles! From left, Hamish Morrow 10, Blair Sextus
9, and Rose Morrow 8. Their dads work for Devondale Murray
Goulburn.
Stewart and Julie McLaren took a break from their farm at
Cooriemungle to visit the suppliers' tent.
MG Koroit Field Services
Officer, Kym Mathew, was a
popular man handing out Moo
milk.
Sienna, 4, Amelie, 2, and Nekoda, 6, Ballinger of Naringal.
Each year Devondale Murray Goulburn suppliers, the Franzenburg family, print a special t-shirt to
give all the family and workers at Christmas. The t-shirts are also popular with the grandparents
Frauke, Kurt and Hans-Albert who come out from Germany every year to enjoy Christmas with the
family who milk 1200-1300 cows on around 1000ha near Koroit. Pictured at the Sungold Field Days
were from left, Daniel Albrecht, Gritje Franzenburg and Brett Noble
Kerrie Howard, wife of former
MG Director, Don. The couple
live at Camperdown.
Busy keeping the food up to
visitors to the MG Trading display
was Meryl Johnson.

12
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
David’s ready to stake
his claim in dairying
David Ballagh has returned to work the family farm at Alvie in
south west Victoria.
By SUE WEBSTER
WHEN his son, David,
said he wanted to come
back to the farm,
Devondale Murray Goulburn
supplier, Ian Ballagh, decided to
sell half the herd.
The sale meant the 23-year-old
could ease into milking with
only 100 cows and 120 heifers
on the farm at Alvie, just west of
Colac in Victoria’s south west.
About 90 per cent of the herd
has only had up to four lactations.
“A fresh, young herd, that’s
the plan,” said David, who is a
qualified builder. “But it’s going
to be tough breaking in the
heifers.”
Already he’s been making
some changes to the herd.
Previously, the calving period
was very long, stretching from
February to September.
“I started using our own bulls
a lot more, and putting two to
three in with the cows.”
Now, 60 to 70 per cent of the
herd calves in February/March
and the Ballaghs count on 50
replacements from the mainly
Holstein-Friesian herd.
“The cows are bred for good
udders and good type.
Everything else flows from
type,” said Ian.
Milked through a 16-a-side
swingover dairy, they average 28
litres/day at 4.2 fat and 3.4 protein
off the 140ha home farm
and 160ha run-off.
The volcanic soils are watered
by two pivots covering 24ha
with an annual groundwater
licence for 380ML.
The irrigation is used for the
summer crops of turnips and
millet and for the useful stand of
lucerne alongside the pastures of
mostly annual ryegrass.
They cut up to 1500 rolls of
fodder a year, including two
silage cuts.
Initially David had wanted to
start a registered Holstein herd,
but he has since bought 15 stud
Illawarras and is now interested
in making them the basis of his
new stud.
David’s farm work will be a
shared interest with his girlfriend,
Erica Zarb, who is in
the final stages of studying her
vet science degree in Perth and
who is keen to come onto the
farm.
David is not the only family
member interested in animals,
One of his sisters, Erin, is an
elephant keeper at Melbourne
zoo.
The other two sisters, Amber
and Nicolette, work away from
the farm, one as a marketing
executive and the other as a
teacher’s aide in London.
David travelled Australia for a
year after gaining his building
ticket.
“I always liked the farm but I
thought I’d go out and experience
something different,” he
said.
Most of his friends are
builders and cannot understand
his return to the land.
“But one day someone’s going
to realise there’s not enough
food being produced and there’ll
be a big turnaround in attitudes,”
he said.

DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 13
GROWING global market
opportunities and the need
to strengthen supply
chains are creating a thirst for
capital among agricultural cooperatives
as they seek to invest
in their future, according to a
recently released research
report.
In the report Agricultural cooperatives
– quenching the thirst
for capital, agribusiness banking
specialist Rabobank says sourcing
capital is on the agenda for
almost every large agricultural
co-operative, and is rapidly
moving up the list of priorities
for many.
Report author, Rabobank
Research Director, Hayley
Moynihan, says the traditional
source of investment capital for
co-operatives, their member base
and modest debt facilities, may
now no longer be enough to
allow co-ops to fully participate
in an increasingly dynamic global
and local food and agribusiness
market.
“For agricultural co-operatives
seeking to capture value from
the favourable global market
environment, maintaining the
status quo is not a strategy.
“Confronting the issue of
sourcing capital will be required,
alongside tackling increased
market complexity,” Ms
Moynihan said.
The report said that with the
food and agribusiness supply
chain becoming increasingly
complex and global, and with
rising demand for food and
agricultural production, the need
for further expansion of productive
capacity was clear.
“With this, the co-operatives’
operating environment is also
becoming more complex and the
basis for competition is changing,”
said Ms Moynihan.
“Co-operatives are under pressure
to participate in these
changes.
“Playing a greater role may be
necessary to secure the future
survival of the particular cooperative
or to provide members
with flexibility and additional
resources as competition to
secure their production off
take intensifies.”
The report said that this
increasingly complex operating
environment was also creating
the need for dedicated or more
closely-aligned supply chains to
evolve, to reduce or better manage
risk for all parties, the report
says.
“Co-operatives have the potential
to be at the forefront of this
supply chain evolution,” Ms
Moynihan said.
“With the special relationship
a co-operative has with its members,
a degree of integration
already exists.
“However, to fully capture the
opportunities available in the
current environment, co-operatives
will require further investment
and therefore capital.”
Ms Moynihan said
agricultural co-operatives
usually accrue capital from
members over a long period of
time, based on setting aside
contributions from members
transacting with the co-operative,
through retained earnings
or the capital comes from modest
debt facilities.
“Obtaining capital from these
sources alone will limit many
co-operatives’ ability to pursue
the current opportunities and is
unlikely to provide sufficient or
timely funding at the current rate
of change,” she said.
“This is leaving co-operatives
now, in many cases, facing a
quandary of how to access
sufficient capital to tap into the
opportunities before them without
compromising the co-operative
business model.”
Co-operatives are increasingly
turning to external capital
options, such as third party
investors (including pension
funds, hedge funds, retail
investors and end users
seeking supply) and financial
instruments (including capital
notes, bonds, shares and units).
The report said that external
capital was alluring for co-operatives
due to its accessibility
and availability, but brought with
it challenges for the cooperative
model.
“For large agricultural cooperatives,
accessing external
capital in the same way that a
publicly listed or private
company would is not straightforward,”
Ms Moynihan said.
“Strategic and financial
investors typically want the
capability to influence and control
strategy and enjoy the benefits
of ownership and full
recourse in return for their riskbearing
capital.
“For co-operatives though,
retention of ownership and control
strikes at the very core of
co-operative enterprises and is
usually non-negotiable.
“So the challenge is to
accommodate the needs and
additional demands this type of
capital can bring within the
cooperative model and
strategy.”
In seeking to address this
challenge, the Rabobank report
urges co-operatives to ensure
they have a clear vision for the
business, are highly relevant to
their members and that they
have strong member engagement.
Time management is key to success
SUE WEBSTER found
that if you have a job to
do, you find a busy
person to do it.
IF you haven’t got enough
hours in your day, take a
lesson from the Taylor family.
It all comes down to numbers.
Jae and Nyree are parents to
four children. Between them
they hold four off-farm jobs and
still manage to milk 145 cows
twice daily and calving twice
yearly. And last year they
expanded their 80ha farm at
Yarram in Gippsland by 24ha.
How do they do it? Here’s a
typical day. At 5am Jae gets the
cows into the 16 swingover
dairy, with Nyree rising to make
the school lunches. Then she
comes to feed the calves and
help in the dairy.
The pair is finished by
7.15am. By that time the two
eldest children, Ty 11, and Kade,
15, have fed and dressed themselves
and arrive at the dairy to
help with the wash down.
Depending on the season,
there’s also grain to feed to
heifers and fresh cows to
bring in.
Nyree then heads back home
to supervise, feed and dress the
two younger children, Miley, 9,
and Darby, 7.
“That’s it until about 8.15 and
I’m showered and ready to go to
work.”
Work can be either in the
school library, or as an integration
aide at nearby Yarram
Secondary College or as an
emergency worker for
Ambulance Victoria. As an ACO
– a paramedic assistant – she can
be on call at any time.
Meanwhile Jae finishes at the
Jae and Nyree Taylor with their children, Ty, 11, Darby, 7, Kade,
15, and Mylie, 9.
ner stashed into the slow cooker.
A lot of casseroles and silverside
gets eaten at the Taylors.
After dinner there’s reading
for the youngsters and bed by
8.15pm and the home WiFi gets
turned off. The older children do
their own thing and Jae does the
cow records and breeding sheets.
Multi-skilling, multi-tasking
… the Taylor household works
like a clockwork.
How do they do it? Here’s a
few secrets.
Another time saver is the
dairy, returns home and prepares
for his off-farm job.
He also works at the secondary
school, teaching woodwork
and building construction. A
former carpenter of more than
10 years’ experience, he gained
teaching qualifications in a
career that has also spanned
truck driving.
The children are loaded into
the cars and everyone gets to
school by 8.30am.
Before she leaves the house,
Nyree often has that night’s dinproximity
of the dairy to the
house, maybe only 70 metres
away. The couple built the house
after they took on the original
farm from Nyree’s parents,
Graham and Wilma Price, who
still live down the road.
The grandparents are the family
backstops. They collect the
children after school if parents
are held up. They check on calving
or downer cows when Jae or
Nyree are away at work.
And, during the occasional
weekend away, the Prices help
the relief milker, Emma Foat.
And when it comes to getting
children to work, money helps.
“It’s easy because they like
motorbikes, so they get paid in
petrol and spare parts,” said Jae.
“Ty gets $3 per yard wash. He
comes in and signs his sheet to
prove he’s done it that day and
then every dollar he saves we
match him dollar for dollar. But
if they don’t save it they don’t
get it. They don’t get the bonus.
So he’s saving for a new motorbike
- a KX85.”
He’s taken the task over from
Kade, who used a similar system
to acquire his dream set of
wheels, a CRF150.
“He saved for half of it and
then Santa thought ‘oh, he’s
been such a good boy’, You
know how it is,” said Jae.
“We are breeding a self-reliant
batch of kids,” said Nyree.
Already Kade is hoping to
become a mechanical engineer.
And what about the farm?
The new block has been renovated
to prepare for milking. They
are also leasing 18ha last year
and a further 34ha this year
across the road as run-off block
and for silage.
Jae cuts pasture silage off the
farm, aiming for three bales of
silage per cow.
“I like to store 850kgDM in
pasture silage per cow and any
hay after that is a bonus. There’s
also 5kg/cow/day supplementary
feed - a premium grain ration
mixed specifically for the farm
to address low zinc and.
The couple took on the farm
in 2007. It comprised 40ha with
another 40ha leased, and no
house. Now there’s the house,
shed and the growing herd of
Jerseys, Holsteins and some
crosses.
They try to keep a lid on
costs.
“Only put in what you know
you’re going to get a return on.
We’re low input, but the inputs
we do put in, we make sure we
get a return on them.”
“We’re happy with how the
farm is running at the moment,
although we do find it hard to
catch up on fencing and maintenance
around the farm.
“You’ll see little bits and
pieces that we’re going to have
to spend time doing, and then
there’s the paperwork.
“We’ll have to get someone to
do some data entry for us once a
month to send to the accountant.”
Nyree contemplates their offfarm
work life, which seems to
run alongside the push for robotic
dairies that allow farmers to
work off farm.
“We’re doing that already. It’s
busy but it’s great. I sometimes
wonder why are we doing this?
But we do it. This
morning,when I was on call
before I went to the cow shed, I
also had a whole week’s worth
of washing to do. But you just
catch up!”
Capital a priority for co-ops - Rabobank

14
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
MG FarmC@re
Goal Zero policies can work on the farm
GROUP Manager HSE &
Sustainability, David
Hopkins, hopes to build
on the successful Goal Zero
strategy adopted in the post farm
gate side of Devondale Murray
Goulburn, by spreading the
message on-farm.
To kick start this process, a
small group of farmers representing
a cross section of MG
suppliers met recently at
Traralgon in Gippsland.
At the meeting David heard
of the concerns farmers have
around safety on their properties
as well as their safety priorities
and the potential opportunities
for MG support that could help
farmers keep family and staff
safer.
Seven farms represented had a
combined total of 50 people on
them at any one time, made up
of small children, parents,
grandparents and a range of staff
all living and working around
animals and machinery.
When multiplied across all
farms that supply MG, the total
number of people needing to be
A cross section of MG suppliers heard how Goal Zero could work on their farm. From left, Jeanne
Dekker, MG Farmcare Facilitator, Mark Jago, Fred Jonkers, Group Manager HSE and Sustainability,
David Hopkins, Raelene Hanratty, Brad Missen, Neil Gannon, Anthony Cliff and Brad White.
kept safe is significant.
Some of the issues the group
identified that needed assistance
included understanding the relevant
laws, access to training,
hazard identification, knowing
who to contact for information,
signage and safety management
training.
The vision of having a “Happy
and Safe Farm” struck a particular
cord with the group.
Other concepts discussed
included “Safety Champions”
and the development of a
“Safety Start-up Kit” for new
employees.
Farmer engagement was identified
as crucial to success of the
program with thought given to
initiatives that may help get suppliers
on board.
Feedback on ways to foster
engagement included the use of
supplier meetings, incentives
and promotion of the safety
message.
Dairy Australia (DA) is also
embarking on the development
of a Farm Safety Program and
MG has ensured input into this
program with David Hopkins
sitting on the advisory committee
and Mark Jago in a regional
co-ordinator role.
It is envisaged that MG’s work
will dovetail into the DA program
to create greater leverage
to the benefit of all dairy
farmers.

DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN MARCH 2015 15
Build a plan of attack for autumn
MARK
BROOKES
YOU can’t complain about
the summer we have just
had. Very mild temperatures
across most areas with
summer thunderstorms continuing
on a regular basis.
This has kept the summer pasture
growth going, has helped to
keep milk flows up and has
taken the pressure off watering
and feeding fodder.
When writing articles, I am
always thinking 20 days ahead
of myself of what the conditions
are likely to be. Looking at the
Bureau of Meteorology website,
they are still predicting a drier
than normal autumn for most
areas of eastern Australia.
Talking to farmers with years
of experience they often tell you
that a wetter summer means generally
a drier start to autumn. So
given this, what do you need to
think about going into March in
relation to feeding your herd?
1. Do a quick feed budget.
2. Determine if feed needs to
be purchased.
3. Look at the costs of nutrients
e.g. ¢/Mj/me & $/kg CP.
4. Compared all feeds on the
market to find what best suits
your farming needs.
5. Look at your current ration
and fine tune the amount and
type of grain/pellets being fed. Is
the nutrients in the feed, right for
this time of the year?
6. Most importantly when do
you need to sow pasture?
Let’s explore a few of these
further. (see Table 1)
Given a quick snapshot of the
amounts of feed required will
help you plan if any feed needs
to be purchased.
This budget assumes that the
pasture will not change over the
month, so it covers the worst
case scenario if it doesn’t rain.
Feed to be purchased (based
on nutrient value)
You could buy a load of cereal
hay for $200/tonne delivered or
clover ryegrass hay for
$240/tonne delivered. But which
do you buy?
Clover hay is good milker feed
but be mindful that it won’t be
available much longer.
Given the calculations in Table
2, the cereal hay is slightly better
value for energy but the
clover is a better option if we are
chasing some extra protein.
Given this information you can
make an informed decision to
buy fodder that suits your situation.
Compare all feeds on the
market
TABLE 1
Sample of a quick feed budget (on the back of an envelope)
200 cows, 22 litres/cow, drying off late May. Current once a day
feed of pasture, probably 4-5 kg DM.
Herd requirements 22 litres requires around 190 MJ or 18 kg
DM/cow/day.
Current feeding
Kg/cow/day
Tonnes/month of March
Pasture 4 24,800
Grain 6 37,200
Silage 6 (5 bales/day) 37,200
Hay 2 (1 8x4x3 square 12,400
cereal hay)
Total 18 111,600
SOMETIMES there can be good
bargains around for alternative
feeds. The feeding out and set up
costs, plus wastage of fodder,
can make a relatively cheap feed
very expensive.
In the above scenario, if this
farmer had some autumn calving
cows he could buy the cereal hay
as it can also be used as part of
his transition feeding program.
Fine tune your current ration
WHEN visiting farmers this time
of year and discussing their current
feeding program, depending
on the stage of lactation, fine
tuning the ration could be an
option.
Feeding high starch grains
such as wheat to late lactation
dairy cows, could be changed.
Late lactation cows prefer
reduced starch intake as the cow
requires less glucose for lower
milk yields. This means that you
should reduce the feedstuffs that
produce energy that is oxidised
in the liver, like wheat.
The opportunity to increase
the forage intake to the cows is
an option. If you need another
load of grain, consider barley
over wheat for your late lactation
herd. Feeding high quality forages
may be cheaper option than
TABLE 2
Below is a comparison of the two products calculated on nutrient value mj of energy and $/kg crude
protein.
Cereal hay $200/t 90% DM9.4 mj 8.9% CP 2.4¢mj 2.49 kg CP
Clover hay $240/t 89% DM9.6 mj 16% CP 2.8 ¢mj 1.68 kg CP
CLASSIFIEDS
feeding higher amounts of grain.
Check your mineral requirements
and remember your cows
are in late lactation and the
demands on the cows are a lot
lower than in early lactation.
You could save a few dollars
here to ramp up again in early
lactation. Check with your
Nutritionist.
When to sow your pasture
A VERY wise dairy farmer who
I rate as one of the best in the
industry and does a magnificent
job on growing pasture told me
that you need to have your pasture
seed sown no later than the
end of March.
Year after year people who
take the risk and have sown
around this time generally grow
the most grass over the year.
They harvest probably another
tonne of feed for the season, as
the ryegrass has tillered up nicely
before we head into the colder
months.
Obviously every area is different
and when it rains is a gamble.
Conditions at the end of
March are still mild and the
majority of hot weather has
passed. Talk to your agronomist
and develop your plan this
autumn.
Next month we will concentrate
on what makes up a good
transition feeding program for
your dry cows.
● Mark Brookes is MG Trading
Ruminant Nutritionist
0447 500 450
FARMS FOR SALE
315 acres, 250-cow yard,
9000 litre vat, 214-a-side
swingover shed, 30 tonne pellet
silo and feed system. Excellent
water supply.South west
Victoria.
3-bedroom house, school bus
service to all Hamilton schools,
WIWO available.
Phone: (03) 5576 8554
Productive dairy farm for sale.
159ha dryland property in north
east Victoria, currently producing
1.5 million litres of milk and
109,000kg MS.
Phone MG Field Services: (02)
6027 9259
210ha Mywee dairy farm. Two
x 3 bedroom homes, main home
has in ground pool. 25-a-side
swingover dairy with cup
removers and auto dip and
flush cups.
7600 litre vat, 95% lasered
with 776ml Katunga deep lead
bore. Farm has milked up to
500 cows.
Good layout and great location
offering drought protection and
cheap bore water.
200ha Koonoomoo dairy farm.
3 bedroom home, 15-a-side
double up dairy with cup
removers and auto dip and
flush cups.
4500 litre vat, 200 ml turkey
nest dam and 400 ml drainage
license offers cheap water and
water flexibility.
Property well set out and has
milked up to 400 cows
Phone Brad: 0429 422 227
FOR SALE
4 tonne Vic pellet silo, 4-yearsold,
remote lid opener and roof
safety ring, sight glass, access
ladder with lockable ladder
cover and bagging chute.
Price: $2500 plus GST
Phone Michael: 0447 086 599
10,300 litre Barry Brown vat
and 4800 litre Frigrite vat.
Phone Keith Hammond: (03)
5561 1705
Lely Splendimo Classic 3.2m
mower. 8 disc mower in really
good condition, 5-years -old.
Selling due to upgrading.
Price: $5000 ($16,000 when
purchased).
Phone Stuart: 0428 289 515
Elsworth 2 bale feed out trailer.
Kiewa Valley. Feeds out silage
or hay. Very good condition.
Price: $5000.
Phone: (02) 6028 9452
Fine chopped corn silage
pressed into 1000kg bales.
Corn was harvested using a
forage harvester with kernel
processor. Inoculant was used.
ME 11.5, protein 8.
Also available is fine chop
cereal silage: 7.4 ME and 19.4
protein.
Can press a 50/50 ration of
corn and cereal: 9.5 ME and
13.7 protein.
Can deliver in semi or
B-double.
Phone: 0409 394 259
Lucerne hay, large rolls.
Quality hay.
Price: from $240 to $300 per
tonne.
Pasture hay, irrigated rye and
clover. Large rolls.
Price: $150 to $180 per tonne
(Rochester area)
Phone Max McLean: (03) 5484
2297 or 0427 698 139
230 rolls top quality oaten rye
grass. Warragul area. Can
assist with delivery.
Price: $70 per roll incl. GST
ONO
Phone: 0428 507 995
Milkaware 10-unit double-up
low line 3” milkline, complete.
10 electronic pulsators.
20 x 3rd line jetters.
2 x Larsen platform gates.
Alfa Laval VP 78 vacuum pump,
7.5kw motor, three phase.
Flynn 4 head diaphram pump.
Phone: (03) 5436 6382
POSITIONS VACANT
Dairy farm hand for 300-cow
rotary dairy in northern
Victoria.
Must have experience in milking.
House available.
Phone: (03) 5436 6382
Dairy person in the Murray
Valley. Duties include milking
and general farm work.
Preferably a couple. House
supplied.
Phone: (03) 5874 5218 or
0428 141 515
POSITIONS WANTED
29-year-old Scottish male looking
for a farm hand or milker
position.
Some experience with milking
and tractor work.
Accommodation preferred, references
available on request.
Email:
Craig.mcgloin@hotmail.co.uk
Experienced relief milker available
in South Gippsland area.
Phone Joel: 0475 697 045
Relief milking in the Koroit area,
flexible hours,
Phone: 0409 837 104
SHAREFARM OR LEASE
Dairy farm 10 minutes from
Cobden, 15 minutes from
Camperdown.
Prefer 50/50 sharefarmer
or could negotiate with any
motivated experienced couple.
The farm is 600 acres
including 80 acres of permanent
irrigation.
25-a-side HB dairy with Larsen
stall gates & ACRs, a drafting
gate and a 16,000 litre vat with
a concrete feed pad.
A 4-bedroom house included.
School bus passes the gate.
Phone: 0409 007 063.
SHAREFARMER WANTED
Sharefarm position available.
150 cows on property. Can milk
up to 400 cows. 50 unit rotary.
Available now. Port Fairy.
Phone Meaghan: 0408 995 142
AGISTMENT
Quality dairy agistment
available long term in south
west Victoria.
References are available on
request.
Phone: 0438 831 526
Professionally managed 310
acre farm. Cattle regularly
checked and moved. Excellent
feed, good crush, yards.
Phone: 0428 015 331

HOT
PRICE
Stallion Gravity
Feeder 50 Teat
450lt Single Axle
$
3,180
each
388513
WHILE STOCKS LAST
Stock may not be
available in all stores
MG VALUE
MG VALUE
MG VALUE
MG VALUE
Ultravac 7 in 1
250ml
$
185
pack
808220
Peach Teats with
bonus feeder x 50pk
$
199
each
404840
Italian Crusader
Ryegrass
$
5 45
per kg
586446
Deltamax
Pour on 5lt
$
235
each
798040
MG VALUE
Mens
Outdoor Socks
3pk size 6-10 / 11-14
$
25
pack
532393/532395
MG VALUE
ON SALE
Devondale
branded Clutha
Gumboots
$
65
pair
Various sizes
Long Nitrile Milking
Gloves x 120 pk
$
12 50
pack
Various sizes
Waste Not
56 Arch Straight
Feed Pad Starter Kit
$
3,850
each
392680
ORDERS WELCOME
Stock may not be
available in all stores
White’s
Blue Label Standard
Upright Gate 12ft
$
99
each
482341
MG VALUE
Cobram
Cohuna
Colac
Corryong
Dumbalk
Eskdale
Finley
Foster
Heywood
Kiewa
Sale ends 31 March 2015 or while stocks last.
Koroit
Korumburra
Leongatha
Maffra
Numurkah
Orbost
Rochester
Simpson
Swan Hill
Wangaratta
Warragul
Wonthaggi
Yarram
Deloraine (TAS)
Smithton (TAS)
MG TRADING
WELCOMES OUR
NEW STORES
2 East Westbury Place
DELORAINE TAS 7304
03 6362 3099
23 Nelson Street,
SMITHTON TAS 7300
03 6456 2880