North Canterbury News: October 28, 2021

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DAIRYING IN NORTH CANTERBURY 20 North Canterbury News, October 28, 2021 DairyNZ supports vaccine DairyNZiscalling on rural communities to getvaccinated. Asocial media campaign launched by DairyNZisstrongly encouraging rural communities, particularly farmers, to get behind thenationwidedrive for Covid19 vaccinations. New data releasedbythe University of Otago suggests vaccinations are around 10 percentlowerinrural areas, puttingour farms, rural communities and supply chains at risk. ‘‘Unfortunately, the biggest push for vaccinationshas fallenright in the middleofthe busiest time of yearon farmwith calving, lambing, then mating,’’ DairyNZ Covid19 response manager Hamish Hodgson says. ‘‘But nowisagreat time to nudge our teams to take the opportunity to get vaccinated.’’ DairyNZ hassupportedfarmers throughout theCovid19 pandemic, providing good practice onfarm information including what would happen if astaffmember got Covid19 onfarm, along with broader advocacy worktominimise the staff shortage. ‘‘With around halfofdairyfarms shortstaffed,it’s critical everyone The Right People andEquipment forthe Bulky Jobs! -6Spreader Trucks, Spreadmark Certified -Conventional, Variable Rate, Farm Mapping -Modern Fleet, 4WD, Double Bin Side Tipper -Grain, Fertilizer, Stock Feeds and Shingle staysingood health andfarm teams canalso help protect the wider community, by being vaccinated,’’ Mr Hodgson says. ‘‘If someone in the farm team gets Covid19,itwillbemuch more disruptive than acoupleoftrips to town. ‘‘Getting vaccinated is thesingle most important thingyou can do to protect your farmbusiness from Covid 19.’’ In addition to pressures onfarm, people living rurallyare usually further from vaccination centres and have unreliable phoneorinternet to book appointments. ‘‘Some rural areas haven’t had easy access to vaccination sites, which makes it difficult when things are busy onfarm,’’MrHodgson says. ‘‘We are encouraging moreruralspecific sites to be setup to help give farmers and theircommunities better access.’’ DairyNZ’s social media vaccination videofeaturesarange of famous Kiwis, from comedianTeRadar, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, political leaders, farmers, farming leaders and theirfamilies. 56 St Leonards Rd, Culverden Livestock -stock@amuritransport.co.nz Ph 03 315 3033 -Fax 03 315 8413 Fertiliser -fert@amuritransport.co.nz Livestock - Golden Bay Cement -Daily Freight Services Freight -freight@amuritransport.co.nz You’ll get the Best Results from the Best Lime! Our High Quality Agricultural Lime offers an outstanding 99.3% level of Calcium Carbonate! We now also mix Lime, Mineral and Seed to Your Specifications. 2197562 Scotching carbon myths By TIM CRONSHAW Scientists now have proof that scotches the widely held belief that intensive dairy farming adds more carbon to stony soils. Afiveyear multiagency study led by Landcare Research is based at dairy and dryland units at Lincoln University’s Ashley Dene Research and Development Station. Climatesmart agriculture principal researcher Dr David Whitehead said they wanted to see if they could help farmers reduce nitrogen losses and secure carbon stocks on stony, shallow soils. ‘‘The impression out there is that if you start with adryland site and irrigate it and supply fertiliser then you will build up soil carbon. Of course, the crop grows much better and there’s alot more animal feed available, but we found if you don’t manage it carefully with grazing and cutting and irrigation, we can lose soil carbon from those sites.’’ Higher carbon levels helped to retain water and nutrients and made soils more resilient to extreme climate events, while absorbing carbon helped reduce the warming effect, he said. Studies included monitoring irrigated and nonirrigated lucerne crops. Large lysimeters —deep columns containing undisturbed soils and crops — were used to capture water and nutrients draining out of the bottom. Sophisticated technology measured the carbon exchange. Dr Scott Graham said they found all the additional plant growth was being fed to animals either on site or elsewhere at the farm. ‘‘The big takeaway message was that the sites were losing soil carbon, not gaining, under irrigation. So where everybody’s perception is that irrigation would increase soil carbon because you go from this dry and dusty place to this nice green paddock, it’s not actually the case.’’ The dryland system was plus or minus one tonne of soil carbon per hectare per year, whereas the irrigated site was losing one to three tonnes per hectare per year. That was aresult of more intensive harvesting. Dr Graham said there were also extra nitrogen losses with irrigated lucerne crops. On the dryland site about 7kg30kg of nitrogen was being lost per hectare each year, compared with irrigated losses of 40kg100kg. Abenefit of lucerne being grazed on site was that the cows left some carbon behind in the crop, whereas more was removed in cutandcarry crops, Dr Graham said. However, animal excrement led to three times more nitrogen leaching when it was grazed, so this was atradeoff, he Digging deep ... Scientists John Hunt (left) and Scott Graham check the instruments at the field site at Ashley Dene Research and Development Station. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDLANDCARE RESEARCH /BRAD WHITE said. Lateseason irrigation was also found to produce more nitrogen and carbon losses when soils were wetter. Scientists suggest this could be reduced by irrigation management, especially in late summer, with better weather forecasting and moisture sensors. Dr Whitehead said farmers took the messages on board at aworkshop that growing irrigated lucerne on an intensive farm wasn’t the best use of the land. The lucerne crops were replaced last year with agrass combination of perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, red and white clover and plantain. Another part of the study looked at different species mixes grown in smaller lysimeters with cow urine added to see how much came out at the bottom. Winteractive plants such as oats and Italian ryegrass absorbed nitrogen in the critical autumn and winter period. Fodder beet in animal diets was also found to reduce leaching. Dr Whitehead said acombination of these could be useful for reducing losses. Plantain was also found to make cows urinate more often, resulting in lower amounts of nitrogen returned to soils and reduced leaching. Scientists hope next to explore if improved grazing management and the use of widely spaced trees in rolling hill country on sheep and beef farms will build up soil carbon and reduce losses. Call the specialists... 022 500 6144 www.amurilime.co.nz Email office@amurilime.co.nz Locally owned &operated in Waiau since 1945 2311837 TRACK ROCK USE WAIKARI TRACK ROCK FOR YOUR COW DAIRY LANES Waikari track rock is lighter and goes further than competing lane rock products GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY HARBOURS NO BACTERIA SO CAN HELP IMPROVE HOOF CONDITION ph: 021 059 5521 |em: scc@unifone.net.nz 2355873v1
DAIRYING IN NORTH CANTERBURY North Canterbury News, October 28, 2021 21 ALLTECH ADVERTISING FEATURE Investment needed ... DairyNZ is calling for more research and development funding to support farmers in meeting emissions reduction targets. PHOTO: FILE Research funding needed DairyNZ is callingfor more investment in research and development,following the release of the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan discussion document. The document, Te hau marohi ki anamata Transitioning to alowemissions and climateresilient future,acknowledges Kiwidairy farmers have the world’s lowestcarbon footprint, DairyNZsays. It also reinforces agriculture needs research and development and extension investmenttobe more sustainable and meet Government targets. ‘‘The approachendorsesHeWaka Eke Noa –the primarysector, Government and Maori partnership–asakeypathway for farmers and growers to play our part in reducing emissions alongside all kiwis,’’ DairyNZchief executive Dr Tim Macklesays. ‘‘It’spositive to see the Government recognising the importance of He Waka Eke Noa. The partnershipisachieving milestones to measure, manage and reduceemissions. ‘‘But we also needadaptable regulations so farmers can start usingnew technologies as they become available. We’re lagging behind other countries in the toolstofight climate changeright now, because the flexibility is not there.’’ DairyNZ is callingonthe Government to start reporting on the warming effect of the differentgases, as well as emissions, which it saysaligns with international climate change science and would improve decisionmaking by being grounded in evidence. ‘‘Addressing climatechange requires an economywide shift. The document sets pathways for all sectors and all greenhouse gases such as longlived carbondioxideand shortlived methane,’’ Dr Mackle says. Under the Government’s Fit for aBetter Dr Tim Mackle THE ULTIMATE SURFACE FOR YOUR LANES AGS compacted Track Lime has cementing properties for strong lane foundations. It provides an even, smooth &durable lane surface that contains calcium &isbacteria free, promoting hoof health &reduces herd lameness. Improve cow flow to &from the shed with a stable &comfortable surface. New lanes &existing lane maintenance, we supply from our own quarries, provide cartage &earthmoving services for your lane work & general earthmoving needs. World Strategy,DairyNZisworking alongside Government, industry,Maori and the science sector to develop ashared research and developmentplan to accelerate new mitigations to reduce methane and nitrousoxide emissions for farmers. ‘‘Our workwith the Strategy will provide guidance on wheretoinvest additional funding to get emission reduction technologies in the handsof our farmers,’’DrMackle says. The new Emissions Reduction Plan document recognisesreducing emissions onfarm is aboutsupporting farmers through change, by increasing extension services and farm planning investment. ‘‘We want to understandthe Government’s extension proposals so we can inputinto how they will bestmeet farmers’ needs,’’ Dr Mackle says. Since 2019, DairyNZ’s nationwide Step Changeprogramme has supported farmers to reduceemissions and improve water quality. Don’tcompromise your cow’sfertility Fertility is acomplex matterthat involves paying attention to body conditionscoring, heatdetection, genetics, AB technique,bull management,transition period, as well as cow health and nutrition. Thisappliesregardless of your farmingsystem. Getting cows off to thebestpossible start in early lactationiscriticalon every dairy farm. It is essentialtoensure thatthe nutrient intake of thecow is adequate to meether needs.Poor managementduring this important stage canleadtoreducedintakesand losses in body condition score (BCS), leading to fertility issues, which can haveasignificant impact on adairy farm’s bottom line. Alltech’sOnFarm Management Programme focuses on animal nutrition, particularly in threedifferentways,that willoptimize dairy cow fertility: 1. Close the energygap In early lactation, cowswill inevitably be in anegativeenergy balance. This means they are notabletotakeinas muchenergy as they requirebecause their peakmilk yield occurs before their peakindry matterintake.Therefore, theywill lose acertain amountof condition. Managing cows appropriately can minimiseBCS loss during this period. Oneway to do this is by feeding adietthatwill encourage intake and provideadequateenergy. Often in early lactation, cows will benefit fromthe use of rumen protected fats thatcan encourage both fertilityand milk production when fed adequately. 2. Maximiseimmunity and health Early lactation is typically aperiod of stress forthe cow,asthere are several physiological and nutritional changes duringthistime. It is criticaltoensure thatcows haveanoptimal immune status duringearly lactation to maximize fertility. Trace minerals, such as selenium, copper and zinc play akey rolein maintaining ahealthyimmune system; if there is adeficiencyineither, the possibility of anoestrus becomes more likely. Research hasproven that feeding Bioplex®and SelPlex®,anorganic formofminerals and selenium from Alltech, leadstothese minerals being betterabsorbed,stored andutilised by the animal. 3. Lookafter therumen Do youwant more from less? • Betterabsorption, less excretion • Optimise animal health and performance • Aids fertility and profitability Energy solutions ... Alltech has options to help you get the best out of your cows. Matt Cassineri Therumenisthe engine that drives thecow. The keytogetting morefrom feed is to ensurethat the rumenis working as efficiently as possible. Therumenisnot designed forabrupt changes. If turned out abruptly,itis likelythat thecow’sintake will not be enoughto meet her energyrequirements.This will have anegativeimpact on herBCS.The increase in starch and sugarlevels in thediet duringthisperiod, will cause a decrease in the pH levels in therumen. The use of YeaSacc® from Alltech hasbeen proven to promoteahigher rumenpHwhen fedtocows on grass in early lactation (AlIbrahim et al., UniversityCollege Dublin,2013). If you wouldliketohave amoreindepth conversation aboutAlltech’s OnFarm Advantage programme,please callme on 027 2084606oremail: matt. cassineri@alltech.com. YOUR LOCAL HURUNUI EARTHMOVING CONTRACTOR &QUARRY SUPPLIES 2370532 The ALLTECH® MINERAL MANAGEMENT programme: • Uses Bioplex® and Sel-Plex® trace minerals which are better absorbed, stored and utilised by the animal • Istailored for New Zealanddairy herds • Safe,well proven, traceableand consistent batch afterbatch • Feed for PERFORMANCE For more information call your local Alltech representative or call 0800 ALLTECH. Email:newzealand@alltech.com alltech.com/newzealand
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North Canterbury News: October 28, 2021

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