WESTVIC DAIRYNEWS WestVic Dairy Newsletter November 2016

Getting ready for summer

More funding available for

Cattle Underpass Scheme

Raising Heifers on Target

It’s raining, it’s pouring

Making money from

effluent

“In this issue”

Introducing the WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Network

Simone Renyard– Chairperson

Kirsti Keightley– Vice Chairperson

Tom Newton– Treasurer

Gemma Chuck– Independent

Tania Luckin—Farmer Rep

Shaun Beard—Farmer Rep

Michael Hawker—Farmer Rep

Mark Billing—Farmer Rep

At the beginning of the financial year of 2015/16 the Young Dairy Develop-

ment Program was aligned with the national Young Dairy Network Australia

to become the WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Network (YDN). Although there

have been a few changes, the fundamental purpose of the YDN remains the

same: to attract and retain young people to the dairy industry, as well as

develop and build capacity of young people within the dairy industry.

The network is targeted at those aged between 18 and 40, but everyone is

invited to get involved.

There are four sub-regions for the WestVic Dairy YDN: Colac, Corangamite,

Warrnambool and Glenelg. Each subregion has an allocated budget to run

events to meet the needs of the local young farmers and service providers.

Events are generally organised with a learning outcome in mind, although

the social side of the network is just as important. Most of these event are

organised by members of the network, with the support of the Western Victo-

rian YDN coordinator Maddie Francis.

Currently the YDN is looking to grow these groups and re-engage young

people. We are running a membership campaign, known simply as “join”.

If you would like to meet other young people in dairy near you and further

your career through learning and development, join today by going to the

website below. OR maybe you know someone that would benefit, why not

tell them about it?

Join here:http://dairyaustralia.tfaforms.net/332893

In recent news, the WestVic YDN has welcomed Elanco on board as a re-

gional sponsor. Elanco Animal Health is a global company that aims to use

science and quality systems to enhance animal health, wellness and perfor-

mance. We look forward to working with them!

If you would like more information and just want to chat about the YDN,

please call Maddie on 0459 227 337.

WestVic Dairy Board members

Dairy Australia and WestVic Dairy are offering resources and workshops to support farmers in these wet seasonal condi-

tions. WestVic Dairy, with the assistance of the Gardiner Foundation, will be running Pasture Plus field days throughout

the region in November and December, which will offer support with feed budgeting and other pasture related questions.

Another useful resource is the Dairy Australia Tactics for Tight Times website (http://tftt.dairyaustralia.com.au/), which contains a video from Steve Little describing the feed budgeting process, as well as a feed budgeting tool. The online tool can help create an individual budget for specific farm situations.

While conditions were good for growing feed so far, it remains a significant challenge to get onto paddocks to get harvest

started without damaging the pastures. The delay in harvesting may cause some or all of the silage to have a higher fibre

content, which will limit intake. The silage is also likely to contain lower energy and protein content than in normal years,

potentially constraining milk production.

Feed test are a good way to determine the base of the diet over summer, so farmers can buy in feed which will comple-

ment their home grown fodder to optimise milk production. A nutritionist or a milk company representative can help devel-

op an annual feed budget after the spring harvest is complete.

For more information about the Pasture Plus field days or the Tactics for Tight Times initiative, please ring the WestVic Dairy office on 5557 1000. To RSVP please contact Amanda on amanda@westvicdairy.com.au.

Getting ready for summer

More funding available for Cattle

Underpass Scheme

Western District Farmers who are thinking of installing a cattle underpass may be eligible to receive a grant for the

works. The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has secured further funding for the Cattle Underpass Scheme

(CUPS). Farmers can apply for the funding by sourcing two quotes and sending them to VFF. After completion of

the works, the VFF will pay the contractor a maximum of $50,000 (plus GST).

For more information, please visit the VFF website http://www.vff.org.au/vff/Industry_Groups/Dairy_UDV/

Benefits_and_Services.aspx or contact the VFF on 1300 882 833.

From the Regional Manager

WestVic Dairy’s key role is to share research results and industry developments that help you im-

prove the profitability and sustainability of your dairy business. It is about communicating infor-

mation through a range of channels which these days is not confined to phone, print, radio/TV,

websites and personal communications. It includes a wide array of social media platforms that al-

low useful exchanges back and forth. Our websites include tools, calculators, fact sheets, some

video tutorials/case studies and expert advice. Our on-line calendar is the region’s dairy notice

board for extension events. Many of you may not be aware of the considerable resources in the Dairy Australia lending

library that provides a unique information resource collection for dairy farmers and other members of Dairy Australia. (Ph

1800 824 196)

At WestVic Dairy we put a big effort into our communications, because they are crucial in getting our extension message

out to you - the levy-payer. We have a code of practice to go by, so be assured that our messages are independent and

come with the sole purpose of providing you with information to help you with your farming enterprise. We are very

aware of the flood of information farmers receive and as technology improves, we are working hard to ensure that our

communications are becoming more targeted, relevant and timely for our readers. If you have had any changes to your

contact details, be sure to let us know, so we can continue to improve the way we communicate with you.

We hope you find this issue of our newsletter useful as it points to many extension events and contains a number of

‘best-practice’ tips. While we aim to provide you with good quality communications, we would also like it to be two way.

Please contact us if you have any queries, concerns or suggestions, so that we can hold true to our communication ob-

jectives and serve you, the farmer, better.

Make the most of the spring and communicate well.

Lindsay Ferguson, Regional Manager, WestVic Dairy

Goodbye Chris!

WestVic Dairy is sad to say good bye to Chris McNamara

who has filled the role of Community Engagement Officer for

the last eight months. Chris will now be supporting south-west

farmers from the Dairy Australia head office in Melbourne. We

want to thank him for his dedication and hard work and wish

him all the best in his new endeavour.

Raising Heifers on target Dairy Australia’s Heifers on Target provides farmers with important tools to optimise their heifer management. WestVic

Dairy’s Regional Extension Officer Blair Summerville is giving you the low-down on successful heifer rearing. For more in-

formation please come along to the Heifers on Target Field days on November 15 in Woolsthorpe and November 17 in

Nullawarre.

Why have improved heifer management?

Improved milk production

Fertility benefits

Increased longevity

Easier calving

Improved animal welfare

Reduction in herd’s carbon footprint through less culling/wastage

and increased efficiency.

What are the targets for heifer management?

First calving at 24 months of age

Target weight for first calving is 85% of mature live

weight

Target production of >85% relative to mature-cows

Heifer fertility

70% calved by 3 weeks

95% calved by 6 weeks

First calf heifer fertility

60% six week in calf rate

6% 21 week not in calf rate

Longevity

>85% second calvers to first calvers

>50% of cows 4-8 years old

How do we achieve this?

Understanding nutritional requirements

Weaning to nine months - calves need a diet high in energy and protein (>11.5MJ ME/kg dry matter and 17% CP).

Nine months to joining at 15months – protein requirements start to drop to about 15%

Older heifers – protein requirement’s drop again to 14% and growth rates need to be maintained as putting on

excessive weight leading up to calving may increase risk of calving difficulty.

Constant monitoring and weighing is important as they may look alright in the paddock, but you don’t really know

until they are weighed.

Ensure animal health practices are kept up to date i.e. drenching, vaccinations etc.

What are the possibilities?

Heifer liveweight is a better indicator of when heifers commence cycling, so larger well grown heifers commence

cycling at an earlier age. Early preg test results indicate that better grown heifers lead to improved 3-week and 6-week

in calf rates and better calving spread of heifers.

Continued over page

By John Mulvany

Last year we had situations where no fodder was conserved due to lack of

rain, and this season there will be isolated instances of no fodder conserva-

tion because it’s been too wet!

Irrespective of your situation, there are important principles that still apply. In a torrid spring we need to remember them and

take some control over what happens for the rest of the year:

Many herds will have peaked lower this year. But, peak production does NOT determine the annual outcome. The evidence

of this is that there are plenty of autumn calving herds that do not peak particularly high but have very good and profitable

annual production. A commonly used guide is - 250 times the peak production is very achievable annual production. So a

peak at 2 kg MS/cow means 500 kg MS for the season is possible. Just because your cows have reached a lower peak this

year they can still end up with a good annual production. Of course the profitability of chasing this will depend on all the other

variables of pasture availability, milk price and supplement price. Once again, do your figures.

Pasture plants in wet conditions go into survival mode. They stop tillering at the base, go stalky and reproductive and provide

very little quality feed. They will not start producing vegetative tillers and leaf again until any stalky aerial tillers and stem have

been removed after the wet. Nitrogen will have been leached from the soil and additional nitrogen will assist tillering. Low top-

ping and nitrogen will be a given post wet. Yes, it is all work and money, and to some extent a “punt”, but we know cows can

drop very dramatically between November and December and it can only be caused by quality or quantity or both. The “flat

peak” is really an inability of cows to eat enough pasture of the right quality from wet paddocks.

Feed characteristics and cost comparisons always drive sensible decisions. This year the lower price of grain (2.2c/MJ or

$250 per tonne) will mean that grain might replace some fodder demand, and might profitably produce more milk than the

fodder as well.

All dairy farmers will have a “guide” amount of fodder they like to have access to, either home-made or bought in, to get to the

end of the year. This year’s fodder making season might end up being as late as after Christmas - it has definitely happened

before, but it will still be important to re-assess that guide and see if numbers are still on track. At least the feeding of fodder

will be later.

Cheap feed is the key word - in situations where fodder is short and paddocks trashed, then late sown opportunistic crops of

rape and millet or sorghum and brassica can be sown.

Yes, the wet spring has been another test of resolve, along with a low milk price, after a tough 2015/2016, but normally there

is some balancing between seasons within a year. Let’s hope it happens this year, but, equally, let’s ensure that everything

that’s within your control has been set up for a better second half of the production year.

Prepared by John Mulvany, OMJ Consulting.

It’s raining, it’s pouring

Cont.

There is a strong correlation between mature-cow liveweight and average milk production target or potential with maximum

benefit achieved if heifers are at least 85% of their mature weight.

If a heifer calves 50kg heavier than her herd mates there is an increase of 1041 litres of milk and 81kgMS over her

first 3 lactations. This may equate to an extra $400-$500 in milk income per heifer. The cost of achieving an extra 50kg

live weight at 3c/MJ is likely about $70 and the energy cost of producing this extra milk is about $160.

Longevity in the herd is also an indicator of success in the heifer rearing system as at least 85% of well grown heif-

ers should make it through to calve for a second time.

Dairy grants give farmers a welcome boost

Premier Daniel Andrews joined dairy farmers in the Echuca area last month to announce grants to

help producers affected by the milk price downturn.

Thanks to funding from the Andrews Labor Government, eligible farm businesses can apply for a

grant of up to $5,000 to invest in fixed infrastructure to improve their farm.

Farmers can use the funding to support operational improvements like irrigation, install better permanent milk vats or

fodder storage, undertake pasture renovation, purchase improved sensor technology and upgrade on-farm infrastruc-

ture.

Access to the grants is not limited to Murray Goulburn and Fonterra suppliers given the challenging seasonal and eco-nomic conditions impacting all dairy farmers.

The $1.8 million grants program is part of the Labor Government’s comprehensive $13.5 million Dairy Assistance Pack-age.

The development grants will remain open until 30 June 2017, or until the program funds are fully allocated.

The Labor Government is supporting dairy farmers through targeted assistance including:

$1.4 million for dairy farming families to receive 15 hours of free kindergarten

$1.5 million for camps, sports and excursions so no child misses out

$750,000 for Rural Skills Connect employment program for farmers

$600,000 for targeted dairy technical support

$320,000 to extend Rural Financial Counselling services to small busi-nesses

Support for retraining through the TAFE system

Rural Finance will deliver the grants program and farm businesses can check the eligibility criteria by contacting Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or by visiting www.ruralfinance.com.au/Industry-programs.

To access the grants, applicants will need to have an ABN, be registered for GST and derive at least 50 per cent of their primary income from farming.

A minimum dollar for dollar co-contribution from the farm business is required to receive the program’s support.

The following media release from the state government on October 19 provides information

on funding opportunities.

Making money from effluent

As spring rolls to an end, our focus should turn to boosting summer feed. Effluent can be a great option to provide extra

feed and is a resource worth using.

Effluent from a 400 cow herd typically contains the nutrients equivalent to seven tonnes of single super phosphate, four

tonnes of urea and three and a half tonnes of potash. This is worth thousands of dollars, so why not use it, modify your

fertiliser inputs and save money?

One way to get a great return from effluent is to use it on your summer forage crops. Using effluent to germinate summer crops is not recommended because of the high potash (potassium) and salt content, which can burn seedlings; however at four to eight weeks after germination an application of effluent can give a significant boost to overall crop yields.

Local research has shown that for every inch (25mm) of effluent applied you can expect increases of 1 - 2 tDM/ha with some yield increases as high as 4 tDM/ha. This is consistent across a range of different summer forage crops including turnips, chicory, forage rape and millet.

Important tips to keep in mind when applying effluent:

Ideally, test the effluent before application. Nutrient levels vary from pond to

pond and year to year.

The effluent application rate should be based on the nitrogen and potassium content of the effluent and the crop re-

quirements.

If you have sown a single graze crop (such as turnips) then apply the entire effluent application in one go. If you plant-

ed a regrowth crop, such as forage rape or pasja, then split the effluent application.

For turnips, effluent application is recommended approximately six to eight weeks after sowing when the plants are in

their rapid growth phase.

For regrowth crops apply half the effluent approximately three to four weeks before the first grazing and the remaining

immediately following this grazing.

Effluent contains large amounts of nitrogen, so care should be taken to avoid nitrate poisoning. Crops shouldn’t be

grazed for at least three weeks following effluent application. This will also reduce the risk from pathogens that could

be in the effluent.

Young cattle (under twelve months of age) shouldn’t have access to effluent treated areas.

If using a travelling irrigator wait until turnips are established to ensure there is limited bulb damage.

Adjust your fertiliser program as appropriate to compensate for nutrients in the effluent applied.

Agriculture Victoria can assist you to develop an effluent use plan for your farm. This includes a visit by a Dairy Ex-

tension Officer to conduct a stocktake of the effluent available for use. It will assist to take an effluent sample and

identify options to use effluent to save on fertilisers and keeps nutrients on farm.

For more information on effluent use plans, please contact Rachael Campbell, Agriculture Victoria, Ballarat on 03

5336 6868.

Michele Jolliffe, Agriculture Victoria, Warrnambool

Effluent from a 400 cow herd

typically contains the nutri-

ents equivalent to seven

tonnes of single super phos-

phate, four tonnes of urea and

three and a half tonnes of potash.”

Contact Us

Editor: Alex Lenehan

WestVic Dairy

214 Manifold Street

Camperdown VIC 3260

(03) 5557 1000

media@westvicdairy.com.au

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www.westvicdairy.com.au

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WestVic Dairy Staff

Contacts

Regional Manager:

Lindsay Ferguson—0418 545

580

Extension Officers:

Laurie Hickey – 0439 833 484

Madeleine Francis – 0459 227

337

Peter Gaffy– 0438 345 712

Blair Summerville – 0438 336

500

What's on November

NOVEMBER 9 AND 16

EVENT: Mental Health First Aid Training (Colac Area Health) TIME: 9am to 3pm WHERE: COLAC CONTACT: Ruth Payne on 5232 5369

NOVEMBER 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17,22,23,24,29

EVENT: Tactics Pasture Plus– Summer Days TIME: WHERE: Various Locations CONTACT: Amanda at WestVic Dairy on 5557 1000

NOVEMBER 17

EVENT: Heifers on Target TIME: 11am to 2pm WHERE1351 Moreys Rd, NULLAWARRE CONTACT: Amanda at WestVic Dairy on 5557 1000

NOVEMBER 30

EVENT: The Men’s ‘Mo-Off’ TIME: From 6:30 (for 7:30 start) WHERE: Terang Harness Racing Club CONTACT: Amanda at WestVic Dairy on 5557 1000

NOVEMBER 15

EVENT: Heifers on Tar-get TIME: 11am to 2pm WHERE: 391 MT Taurus Rd, WOOLSTHORPE CONTACT: Amanda at WestVic Dairy on 5557 1000

NOVEMBER 15, 22

EVENT: Cups on, Cups off (NCDE) TIME: 9.30 am to 3pm WHERE: Midcity Hotel COLAC CONTACT: Hugh McLar-en at NCDE Terang on 5592 224

Thanks to Dairy Australia and the Gardiner Foundation, the following pocket

guides are now available from the WestVic Dairy Office.

Ryegrass– spring management grazing

(paddock guide)

Quality pasture silage– 5 easy steps

For a copy of either, please call the office on 5557 1000 or drop in to 214 Manifold Street Camperdown. Or download a copy from

tftt.dairyaustralia.com.au/

For the latest WestVic Dairy events head to

www.westvicdairy.com.au/NewsandEvents/EventsCalendar