Selwyn Times: November 07, 2017

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday November 8 2017 31
News
Reducing nitrogen
through genetics
MAKING IMPROVEMENTS: Leeston dairy farmer
John Tanner is working on reducing nitrogen output
on his farm.
LEESTON DAIRY farmer
John Tanner has been
working hard to improve
sustainability on his farm,
Dunlac Dairies Ltd.
The farm is located in the
Selwyn Waihora catchment
and is 20km from Lake
Ellesmere/Te Waihora,
which is considered one
of New Zealand’s most
important wetland areas.
On either side of the
catchment are the Rakaia
River and the Selwyn River.
“In Canterbury we have
to lessen our nitrogen
footprint on the farm,” Mr
Tanner said.
He milks 730 dairy cows
during the peak of the
season on 260ha.
“In our catchment, we
farm on environmentally
sensitive land,” he said.
Mr Tanner is one of
many farmers turning to
genetic solutions to help
him farm well.
In recent years Lake
Ellesmere/Te Waihora has
been plagued by water
quality issues related to
intensive farming practices.
Nitrogen leached from
farms on the Canterbury
Plains will eventually make
its way into the lake therefore
farm activities in the
catchment are regulated by
Environment Canterbury,
with set nitrogen limits per
farm.
The Canterbury Water
Management Strategy,
introduced in 2012, aims to
rejuvenate and restore the
ecosystem of the Selwyn
Waihora catchment.
It requires dairy farms
in the catchment to reduce
their property’s nitrogen
limits by 30 per cent by
2022.
Mr Tanner is making
an effort to reduce Dunlac
Dairies’ environment
impact, and has made
significant improvements
with water management
and fertiliser usage.
The farm was a finalist
in the Dairy Business of
the Year 2016, and Tanner
takes pride in doing his bit
for the environment.
However, like many
farmers in the region, he is
feeling the pressure.
“We are trying to milk at
our current numbers, but
lessen our nitrogen footprint.
So you are trying to
do the same, but with less
environmental impact,” Mr
Tanner said.
He believes science will
offer a solution for farmers.
When he heard about
CRV Ambreed’s genetic
discovery, and its LowN
Sires bull team, Mr Tanner
was very interested,
purchasing more than 200
straws.
In March, CRV Ambreed
announced a genetic
discovery, thought to be a
world-first, which could
reduce nitrogen leaching
on New Zealand farms by
20 per cent within 20 years.
CRV Ambreed identified
and selected bulls genetically
superior for a new
trait related to the amount
of urea nitrogen in milk.
Farmers are now able to
breed cows using straws of
semen from CRV Ambreed’s
LowN Sires, and
those daughters will have
reduced concentration of
milk urea nitrogen.
Cows bred for lower
levels of MUN are expected
to excrete less nitrogen in
their urine which will, in
turn, reduce the amount
of nitrogen leached from
grazed pasture.
This could potentially
save New Zealand 10 million
kg in nitrogen leaching
a year, based on the
national herd number of
6.5 million dairy cattle.
“When CRV Ambreed
came up with their LowN
bulls, we thought ‘we’ll
have a go.’”
“We have 730 cows and if
we can lessen the nitrogen
from the herd by 20 per
cent, then that makes a big
dent,” Mr Tanner said.
He is interested to see
how his herd’s genetics will
improve over time.
“I know it’s going to take
a few years, but if it’s something
that does improve
nitrogen leaching from my
cows, I will probably buy
more straws in the future,”
he said.
Tanner was also pleased
with the other traits.
“We wanted the best in
genetics, and CRV offered
that,” Mr Tanner said.
Canterbury regional
councillor John Sunckell
was also a big fan of CRV
Ambreed’s LowN Sires
programme.
Mr Sunckell is a thirdgeneration
farmer from
Leeston.
“Technology and information
is vital; that’s why
I’m so excited about (CRV
Ambreed R&D scientist)
Phil Beatson’s work and
CRV’s work,” said Mr
Sunckell.
Mr Sunckell said dairy
farmers in his catchment
are required to reduce their
nitrogen loss by 30 “which
equates to getting rid of
every third cow.”
Kim’s
Fashion Quarterly
from Kim Taylor —Viva La Moda
Casual Summer Dressing
The sun is out at last and with the warmer
weather comes the inevitable
question – what shall i wear?
There is plenty of casual everyday
wear on offer now and no one does
it better than the Australian label Elm.
They offer well made, well priced, stylish
casual wear and their fit is relaxed and
on the generous side, so Elm is a great
label to start with.
We have pictured the Elm Harmonise cotton blend
long cardigan in stunning block colours ($149.95).
This is an easy casual garment to throw on over
jeans or the new 7/8th pants length which is
prevalent this season. This length of pant has
come into vogue over the ¾ length as it is
more flattering to most women giving the legs
a more streamlined silhouette.
Also by Elm are the ever popular Amalfi pants
in navy & white stripes ($79.95).
These pants are ultra comfy and look great
when worn with a tee shirt, styley flats and a
denim jacket.
A must have in the wardrobe for those hotter
summer’s days is the Elm Poolside Trapeze
top ($89.95). This is fun, bright and cool. We
need to be more like European women who
are not self conscious about their arms!
Ketz Ke is a fab New Zealand label which
also does casual extremely well. We have
pictured the Ketz Ke Envy top in tangerine print
($125) – which is also available in cobalt. This is a
pretty and flattering style to wear with jeans, skirts
or pants of any length.
We have a great range of casual shoes to
team up with all of your summer wardrobe and have
photographed a selection here.
Navy patent leather with punch holes – mollini $179.90
Funky White/ silver summer
booties – minx $189.90
Rose gold slingbacks
– Rollie $189.90
Black & white slip ons
– minx $185
stunning navy with patent navy toes
– mollini $189.90
Edgy black with white soles T-bar
sandals – minx $195
Come on in to Viva La moda and
get your summer wardrobe
underway. see you soon.
-Kim Taylor
All of the fashion featured in the images
is available from Viva La Moda Rolleston
Shop 12, Rolleston Square, Rolleston. Phone 347 1151