Devondaler-March-2015

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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
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Devondaler-March-2015

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