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FERTILISER UPDATE New season UK fertiliser prices were launched on the 20th of May this year. As a result of this we saw a decrease in the UK nitrogen price to levels lower than those seen since 2009. Whilst this represents a significant drop in price (13%), and a welcome reduction in input costs, the tradition of new season prices being the best time of year to buy cannot always be relied upon. As demonstrated in the graph below, 4 out of the 7 years since 2006 have seen only a small increase or even a decrease in prices the following spring. That said, in the other 3 years the gains of buying early were significant. So what is the best time of year to buy? With the volatility in the world markets making price predictions very difficult, splitting your fertiliser purchasing into several blocks to average out the price may be an option worth considering. 200% 180% 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% UK AN price variance (%) between Jone and following March Source : Farm Brief 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 Dave Mitchell Fertiliser Manager, M: 07990 578543, dave.mitchell@wynnstay.co.uk cereal seed UPDATE Autumn Cereal Varieties for Dairy or Mixed Farms for 2013 The principal requirements for a cereal variety on a dairy farm can differ slightly from the purely arable scenario. Assumptions are made that the soils are generally in better order with a higher fertility resulting from longer rotations and wider use of FYM. It is also assumed that the wider demands on the mixed farmer’s time can mean that accurate spray timings may not be as much of a priority as the arable man. With these assumptions in mind (we accept that they may not correct in all cases) the main requirements for cereals are as follows. Yield Whether grown for grain or wholecrop a top yield is always required. Straw Strength With higher fertility, plant growth regulators are essential but a variety with inherently stiff straw is important. Long straw Yield of straw is just as important as grain yield to most mixed farms so taller varieties are preferred. Disease Resistance A more fertile soil often leads to a thicker crop with higher disease levels, where yield losses can be severe if spray timings are not accurate. Recommended Varieties Winter Wheat Winter Barley Diego Cougar Relay Kielder Invicta Leeds Grafton Cassia Matros Glacier Grain Yield % 103 104 103 106 103 106 100 104 104 107 Straw Strength 7 + 7 7 + 8 7 + 8 7 + 8 7 + 8 7 + 7 9 + 9 8 7 7 Length of Straw (cm) 88 86 82* 83 90 88 76 87 93 81 Disease Resistance Mildew 5 6 6 4 5 3 7 4 7 4 Yellow rust 8 8 9 4 8 7 6 5 5 7 Brown Rust 4 9 7 7 6 5 3 7 7 6 Sept. Tritici 5 7 6 5 5 5 5 - - - Eyespot 5 4 4 7 5 5 8 - - - Fusarium 6 6 6 6 6 7 5 - - - Rhynco - - - - - - - 4 7 6 The UK’s No 1 wheat. Can be grown on a range of soil types One of the top yielders and very good disease resistance, (the best for Septoria Tritici) *Shotish straw but high tiller numbers will produce a high straw yield. Good all rounder Huge grain yield though quality is not great. Best on heavy land A useful alternative to Diego. Very long straw but late to mature Excellent grain quality coupled with a huge yield potential. New for 2013 Lowish yield and short straw but very stiff so suits high fertility fields The most popular variety. Weak on Rhynco but stiff straw Same yield as Cassia with longer straw and excellent Mildew and Rhynco resistance New variety for 2013. Huge yield potential and early maturity 16 www.wynnstay.co.uk Richard Torr Seeds Sales and Marketing Manager, M: 07990 578551, richard.torr@wynnstay.co.uk
Transition cow housing that will improve your bottom line It is quite noticeable as I travel around the country that a lot of dairy farmers are investing in dry cow accommodation. What is disappointing however is that very few are actually taking into consideration the overwhelming body of evidence to what equates to effective transition cow accommodation. Basically there are three main concepts which should be taken into consideration when planning new or renovating existing buildings. Dry and transition cows respond to being kept in socially stable groups, having excessive lying, loafing and feeding space, and adequately sized cubicles with a functional bed. These criteria form the basis of the transition cow accommodation design recommended by Transition 80/20. £110 per cow per year in extra milk alone Fig 1. Social turmoil profile of a pen Weekly entries into pen Daily entries into pen One-time entry into pen etc. Socially stable groups and effective grouping strategies can only be achieved in practice if the accommodation is designed appropriately. When this is achieved social turmoil within a group of cows will be reduced. Social turmoil in close up dry cow’s effects feed intakes, lying times and access to water. Effective transition management is dependent on achieving high dry matter intakes and therefore situation’s which have a negative effect are detrimental. Figure 1 graphically illustrates the social turmoil that occurs in different grouping systems. Ideally the best system would be to have a group of cows for every week of the dry period. Practically however this would be impossible in most situations. The best compromise would be to have a far off group and then three groups of cows 3, 2 and 1 week before calving (Figure 2). The cows would then remain in these groups through to calving. Once grouped social stability is achieved in around 5 to 6 days and effects on DMI and lying times are reduced. Excess space is also an important consideration as it reduces the stress of competition for lying, feeding, and drinking space. A cow’s ability to move away from dominant and aggressive cows in the group is also important. This can be facilitated by the absence of dead ends in the building layout and wide passages around water troughs, feeding areas and cubicles. Figure 3 gives a guide to space requirements for dry and transition housing. Overstocking is a common problem and can have a detrimental effect on health and performance post calving. Cubicle design and bedding material directly influences lying times. Around the time of calving fat mobilisation and increased blood levels of the hormone Relaxin can cause sole ulcers to develop in situations where lying time is inadequate. Relaxin is associated with relaxtion of the pelvic girdle around calving time, but also causes relaxation of other muscles in the body. Most importantly the muscles which hold the pedal bone in Fig 3. Space allowance for transition cows Groups Number of Cubicles Area of Deep litter yards (m2) Feeding space Far off dries Close up dries Average calvings per week in calving period x 140% (Average calvings per week in calving period x 140%) x 1.1 Average calvings per week in calving period x 9.2 x 140% (Average calvings per week in calving period x 140%) x 11m2 the foot in position. This can allow the pedal bone to drop and damage the hoof. If cows are mobilising excessive body fat as a result of energy deficiency, some of the fatty tissue which acts as a cushion between the pedal bone and hoof is also lost which can exasperate the condition. A combination of correct nutrition, high DMI and adequate lying times can help to alleviate the situation. Lying times can be increased by the installation of correctly sized and constructed cubicles or the provision of straw yards. Deep litter beds such as sand or recycled manure solids and high quality mattresses will increase lying times. Cows on rubber mats will struggle to achieve the lying times achieved on deep litter systems, but if they are used it is important to ensure that at least 5cm of bedding material is provided. The concept of how this type of housing design and management protocol makes you money is quite simple. Increased pre-partum DMI, less stress, less negative energy balance, less calving problems, less disease, less lameness, better fertility and more milk! But just how much is all this worth? Unfortunately the only figures available are those from the States where they found it to be worth in excess of £110 per cow per year in extra milk alone, and that’s before taking into account the value of improvements in health and reduced drug use. 0.5m per cow 0.75m per cow Calving box N/A Calvings per day x 11m2 0.75m per cow Fresh cow Average calvings per week in calving period x 120% Average calvings per week in calving period x 9.2 x 120% Fig 2. The Transition 80/20 dry cow accommodation design 0.5m per cow Feeding trough Far off Cows - 3 weeks - 2 weeks - 1 weeks Feeding trough Calving Pen Dr. Huw McConochie Senior Dairy Specialist M: 07771 740857 huw.mcconochie@wynnstay.co.uk Wynnstay Group Plc Dairy Newsletter Summer 2013 17
Page 1 and 2: Dairy N e w s l e t t e r SUMMER 20
Page 3 and 4: An introduction to Transition 80/20
Page 5 and 6: SOYCHLOR - A NEW APPROACH TO REDUCI
Page 7 and 8: COOLING & FAN SYSTEMS 50” and 70
Page 9 and 10: Got worms? Kill worms. More milk. R
Page 11 and 12: Helping British Farmers To Benchmar
Page 13 and 14: MAXAMMON WHOLECROP A Rumen Friendly
Page 15: Keep an eye on milk quality at gras
Page 19 and 20: Renewable Energy GeoGen Technologie

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