Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, April 2016

Finding diversification on the farmPage 6–7

Meeting the challenges

A weddingon a hill

Dealing apair of aces

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Top award to PKW farm

by Denise Gunn

This year’s supreme winner of the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) is a dairy and forestry farm owned by Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW), a Maori incorporation based in Taranaki.

Located east of Hawera, the 159ha property is PKW’s No. 2 Farm. A herd of 325 cows are milked on the farm’s 100ha milking platform. The property also includes 30 hectares of established pines in gullies and on steep contours.

Farm manager Matt Kelbrick and farm supervisor Roger Landers were presented with the award during the recent BFEA ceremony.

Matt, who also took home several prizes at the recent Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards, has managed the farm since 2014. Kaponga farmer Roger Landers also came on board as PKW dairy farm supervisor around the same time.

That year the farm underwent a major development project which included a new effluent system and a 60-bale rotary cowshed.

BFEA judges said this well-planned upgrade, combined with Roger and Matt’s management, has helped the farm achieve almost 32,000kgMS of extra production with just five more cows.

A target of 140,000kGMS is set for this season. The judges said excellent infrastructure allows for future expansion and growth of production.

“The inclusion of an in-shed feeding system and brilliant management has seen production increase dramatically.

“The foundation is set for this property to keep pushing for greater things and maintain a great level of production.”

Judges also noted the passion shown by Matt for this farm and for agriculture in general was inspirational. And they praised the exceptional working relationship between Roger and Matt.

“Matt and Roger have a fantastic relationship where they are not afraid to challenge one another to strive for excellence.

“Matt’s passion for the farm and animals is infectious and this alone motivates others around him to meet goals and targets.

“They have a close working relationship with the wider PKW group and strive to be the best in what they do.”

Biodiversity on the farm reflects PKW’s long-term view of land guardianship. All waterways are fenced, and small areas of the farm are being retired and planted with natives.

BFEA judges said PKW clearly takes immense pride and passion in its business.

From left: Roger Landers, PKW Farms LP farm supervisor and Matt Kelbrick, farm manager

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Putting hand up to helpAs the low milk price continues to bite, record numbers of dairy farmers are putting their hand up to support others as part of DairyNZ’s Dairy Connect service.

More than 420 dairy farmers have volunteered to act as short-term mentors for the support service which facilitates the sharing of information between farmers. DairyNZ Dairy Connect manager, Janine Broekhuizen, says the numbers of farmers volunteering their time for the service has doubled in the past year, from 225 to 420.

“The Dairy Connect service, which was initiated in 2012, has significantly grown. We’ve got farmers who are willing to provide support and advice on a range of subjects from animal management, staff, pasture and feed through to environment, business, adverse events and personal wellbeing,” said Ms Broekhuizen.

“Despite going through tough times themselves, these farmers really want to support others by sharing their experience. Many support farmers have agreed to be part of this because they have received valuable advice in the past.”

The last three months has seen a record number of farmers using the service for advice or assurance.

“We’ve facilitated almost 60 connections over the last three months, this is a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year. Now, more than ever, the dairy industry is showing its biggest strength and that is the

willingness to share information.” Ms Broekhuizen encourages farmers to use the service.

“If it is your first time experiencing an issue, the amount of information out there can be quite overwhelming. A few phone calls to someone with experience can provide a lot of confidence — I really encourage those who need some advice to use Dairy Connect.”

50:50 sharemilkers Siobhan and Christopher O’Malley didn’t hesitate when asked to take part in Dairy Connect as support farmers.

“A lot of people have given us plenty of good advice along the way, which has made all the difference and this was an opportunity for us to give back,” says Siobhan.

The O’Malleys are relatively new to dairy farming. Siobhan was a teacher and Christopher an adventure tour guide before he started in the dairy industry in 2009/10. This is their first year as 50:50 sharemilkers, having progressed from lower order.

“One of the things we absolutely love about dairying is how people are so willing to share information, which is awesome.

‘In tougher times it is also really comforting to share ideas around how to make the most of what little money you have.”

The O’Malleys have already provided information to aspiring sharemilkers who were looking for information around setting up budgets. Both parties found it a positive experience.

“I thought it was great, you are being contacted by someone who is motivated. They were really clear about what they wanted so it was really easy to give them answers or steer them in the right direction,” says Siobhan.

Dair y Connect has been expanded as part of DairyNZ’s Tactics campaign designed to provide a variety of support in response to a low milk price, including specialist events, one-on-one support and sharing of farmer information.

For more information on Dairy Connect visit dairynz.co.nz/dairyconnect.

Janine Broekhuizen, DairyNZ Dairy Connect manager

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YOUNG FARMER MEMBER BLAIR BRISCOE ENJOYS A CHALLENGE AND WORKING TOWARDS A DESIRED OUTCOME.

Blair grew up in an urban environment until the age of 16, when he moved to Samoa with

his father. Although several of Blair’s aunts and uncles are involved in various sectors of the rural industry, Blair’s father is a builder. And on his return to New Zealand, Blair decided to follow his father’s footsteps and became a qualified builder.

Blair moved to Australia in 2011 but regularly travelled back to New Zealand, taking part in a few Young Farmers Club competitions while he was here.

Last year, Blair moved back to New Zealand and started attending the

Coastal Young Farmers Club meetings. At the club’s AGM in July, he was elected chairman.

At the time of the AGM there were no signed-up members in this club. Now there are 14 paid-up club members meeting regularly in Okato.

Blair is enjoying the challenge of getting the club going again and likes the social side of it.

After becoming a father himself, and looking for a career which would allow him to attend his children’s events during the day, Blair decided to go dairy farming. He is currently in his first season contract milking in Okato.

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“I went farming for the lifestyle,” said Blair. The farm covers 200 effective hectares and is currently milking just over 500 Friesian/crossbred cows.

Additional staff employed on the farm includes an assistant manager, a farm assistant, and a part-time farm worker.

Supplementary feed is grown on the farm with four hectares of fodder beet. Deferred grazing of another four hectares allows the pasture to reseed. A thirty hectare stony area of the farm is used to winter the cows and prevents pugging.

Blair said instead of making silage, the cows graze the stony area during the winter.

With the farm receiving a high annual rainfall of 2,600mm, Blair has also worked hard to minimise pugging.

He said production figures, which currently sit at 173,00kgMS, are 23 per cent ahead of January 2015 and 7 per cent higher than last season.

“We are 2,000kgMS ahead of record production and I’m really happy to be where we are. Our target is 184,000kgMS.”

As no paddocks on the farm are the same size, feed allocation has been challenging. “I’ve worked really hard on that,” said Blair.

Blair has also put effort into increasing cow condition through pasture and feed

management. “The production figures are a bonus.”

Blair said his short term plans are to get rid of personal negative debt. He then plans to start building assets through buying cows.

“I have a desired outcome and work towards them.

“I would like to be farm shopping within six to eight years.”

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Hayden was 18 years old when he moved onto the Tikorangi Hills farm. The four Hereford

heifers he purchased around the same time became the base stock for the couple’s herd.

Initially share-farming with his father, Hayden owned the stock and they took a 50 per cent share of the profits. When Hayden and Jacquie married in 1985, they bought the home block. Jacquie had been raised on a sheep and beef

farm in Makahu, and worked in the banking industry. When she and Hayden married, Jacquie left her banking career to focus on working on the farm and later raising their four children. The couple have since purchased two neighbouring farms, improving the access to many of the paddocks.

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some steep papa cliff faces, plateau areas and fertile river flats. Both the Onaero River and Mangahewa Stream run through the property.

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“Hayden is a do-it-yourself farmer so there’s always some new project happening,” said Jacquie. Presently the farm runs 85 Hereford cows and progeny,


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340 rising two-year-old bulls, 50 rising three-year-old bulls and 110 weaners. The farm trades as Tikorangi Hills.

Jacquie said most fat, and a lot of store stock, were sold recently to get the benefit of the good schedule.

The cows are the only animals that stay on the farm year round, cleaning up the hillsides during winter. In spring they are brought back onto the flats to calve.

“We used to have sheep but because that would necessitate having staff, we have been beef only for 20 years,” said Jacquie.

“Hayden will buy anything that he can line up to sell in the paddock.”

The couple also buy a lot of yearling animals, winter them and sell them towards spring.

“Then in later years we have moved into dairy support bulls with Jersey and Herefords all sold to dairy farmers for service bulls.”

The couple sold 200 bulls this past year and plan on having an on-farm sale this year.

“We have many repeat customers returning yearly for the easy-handling bulls we breed.”

A lot of the stock are sold on the store market, through paddock sales or local saleyards.

Jacquie said fat stock are usually sold to Silver Fern Farms.

Although the herd was originally registered, the couple’s market has changed to the dairy industry.

“There’s no purpose in the extra cost and paperwork but we still farm it as a pedigree herd, buying registered stud sires.”

Their two sons, Justin and Hilton, are keen to retain the family farm and preserve the lifestyle they grew up with. Justin owns a construction business and Hilton works as his apprentice.

“The boys own properties and see off-farm investment as the way to being

able to finance their share of the farm in the future.”

When the couple’s eldest daughter, Katie, married in 2013, the farm was used as the venue. A campervan shed was upgraded into a larger building to hold the reception and various props were made around the grounds.

Jacquie said due to the success of using the farm as the setting, family discussions began to explore possibilities around opening an event centre on the property.

“Also about that time, as all the children had left school, I was missing the community involvement that having children in school brings.

‘I was looking for some other interest, stimulation, and people contact outside the farm.”

Hayden and Jacquie’s other daughter Nicole was at university at the time and saw the event centre as an ideal summer job. “So we made a website

and launched Avista Heights,” said Jacquie. Nicole is now qualified and working as a teacher.

Katie also works as a teacher in Auckland while her husband finishes his Masters degree in architecture. They both plan to return.

“The children see it as a way to diversify and it also allows us to share the beautiful view we have. We feel it a privilege to be part of people’s wedding day and it allows people to have a non-commercial, relaxed family feel to the day.”

Jacquie said their children are all committed to keeping the farm in the family.

“We realise we are privileged to own a farm with such diverse landscapes but so close to town and the beach.”

The boys at work on the farm

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New markets new opportunitiesby John K Morris CEO of Agrissentials

In my last article I wrote about � xing free nitrogen from the atmosphere to help reduce your on farm cost factors. This nitrogen is completely natural, stores well in the soil for release on demand, has no cost factor, is environmentally friendly and promotes clover growth.

Today, I’m on track to set your farm up for certi� ed natural input production so that you can take advantage of the higher prices being paid for certi� ed food.

This new consumer demand for safe, certi� ed, nutritiously dense food, re� ected strongly during the meltdown in prices for commodity milk powder during autumn last year, with organic milk powder selling at as high as $14,800.00 USD per tonne. This new market for certi� ed milk, meat and produce is here to stay, so your best move is to join the certi� ed system and set your sights on gathering in top money for you and your future. This opportunity will only continue to grow.

Today’s conventional chemical production system has passed its use by date. There is a brand new market out there which is not accessible with chemical production. Chemical production has locked the farmers into commodity markets with low payout. We desperately need to get back on track with a production system that not only enhances your soil like Agrissentials best on earth fertilisers do but also your production, your quality, your farm, your environment and your bank account. Agrissentials have developed a system

that works alongside Mother Nature. Gaining all the bene� ts she provides like sunlight, rain, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon in the form of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, micro-organisms, worms, enzymes and the list goes on. In a live, living soil, your farm will attract more moisture, your healthy pasture and plants will absorb more sunlight (photosynthesis) and your soil will store more mineral and more water. This system transfers on into the environment, increasing the wildlife, bee populations and frog population, that’s when we really begin working with Mother Nature on a full time basis — it’s magic!

The biodiversity of nature is important to each and every one of us cohabitating on this planet. We need to preserve and look after the whole environment, where farms and production units are all part of the whole eco system working with Mother Nature and taking care of all the free natural capital that she provides to make everything sustainable for continuous top quality production.

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A wedding on a hillby Ann Morgan

Carol Davies met Chris Slinger through mutual friends two years ago. On Easter weekend the happy couple ‘tied the knot’ on Chris’s brother’s lifestyle block in Inglewood, at the top of a hill, with Mt Egmont watching over them.

The bride wore a black chiffon shoestring dress and on her feet were her red band gumboots. She rode her green bicycle with a ribbon and bow endowed basket from her home in Inglewood to the farm just down the road to where her family and friends were waiting for the happy occasion to unfold.

A cousin presented the bouquet of wildflowers to Carol when she reached

her destination. The groom wore his denim jeans and shirt with his leather boots. There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen, flowers girls or page boys, just the happy couple and their guests as witnesses.

Carol’s aisle was the paddock and her chariot to the altar with her dad was a quad bike with trailer and hay safely secured as seats. Yearling cattle looked on as the minister started the ceremony.

Her red band gumboot was the place of safekeeping for their marriage licence after the ceremony, which wasn’t complete until the ‘tying of the knot’ was explained.

There is always a cake, and for this day it was naturally the scene of a farm, with hay bales and tractor in place.

The calf sheds were the reception area, decked out with seats of hay and barbecues. The Slinger Earthworks’ machinery was in the background ready for photo opportunities.

Guests travelled from near and far to be a part of this very unique and special day.

“We wanted our wedding to be a relaxed day without stress and we wanted everything in one place and have it family orientated and low key,” said Carol.

“Our day was about having everyone celebrate with us rather than having flashy cars and sparkly tables. It was important be in a place we really love.

Everyone loved it. It was exactly what we wanted to happen. I highly recommend others do as they want. We think people can put too much emphasis on trimmings and forget it is about the people you care about.”

Carol is an administrator for a local company and Chris is the managing director for Slinger Earthworks, a company he established approximately 11 years ago. They will continue living in Inglewood.

With the Taranaki Bride of the Year competition fast approaching, this is just one example of a wedding with a difference and the organisers are encouraging brides of all types to enter.

“The competition is open to all brides and it would be great to see the different ideas recent brides have been having for their special day,” said convenor Rebecca Askin. Entries close May 6. To enter the competition is free of charge with limited spaces available. Go to www.taranakibrideoftheyear.nz.

Chris and Carol Slinger had a very country wedding in Inglewood

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WHEN TIMES ARE HARD, WHY SPEND MORE ON A BIKE TO DO THE JOB?We have kept the Jialing Farmer 150 at $1985 + GST for a number of years but we are not sure how much longer we can keep it at this amazing price for.

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Want to find the best way to market your wool?Expertise is only a phone call awayPGG Wrightson Wool Ltd handles in excess of 350,000 bales annually through its wool store network strategically positioned around New Zealand and its export company Bloch and Behrens.

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Ace offal cookers for dog and

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Have been in the market for over 30 years.

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The importance of nutritionA four-day seminar for the NTS Certificate in Nutrition Farming is being presented by Nutri Tech Solutions, featuring internationally acclaimed nutrition specialist, Graeme Sait, and leading biological agronomist, Steve Capeness.

Organiser Guy Macindoe offers four days of “life changing discovery of strategies to improve the health of your farm, garden, planet and yourself.

“Graeme Sait is the CEO and cofounder of Nutri-Tech Solutions, a world leader in biological agriculture. He is also an author/educator responsible for over 300 published articles and a popular book, ‘Nutrition Rules!’, says Mr MacIndoe.

“He created the internationally acclaimed four-day course and authored the associated 360 page training manual. Graeme is a sought-after speaker, specialising in soil health, plant health and animal health.”

More recently, that emphasis has expanded to include planetary health, in recognition of the link between humus and carbon sequestration. He is also an expert in human nutrition and his fascinating presentations cover every aspect of wellness.

“Steve Capeness is Australia’s leading biological agronomist. He has helped thousands of farmers with strategies to improve their sustainability and profitability. He is a composting expert, a specialist in plant immunity, and has an unparalleled understanding of working with nature. He is an exceptional teacher with outstanding knowledge and a love for sharing,” said Mr Mcindoe

“This a rare opportunity to hear two acclaimed, inspirational speakers. You will discover an array of profit building tools. NTS has identified multiple strategies to build yield and efficiency, to comprehend key ratios in the soil and plant to build production and resilience.

“Learn to increase your crop and soil monitoring skills and improve yield and quality. Understand the secrets of harnessing soil biology as your hidden workforce and you will be better equipped to handle the impact of peak oil, climate change and economic issues.” An in-depth understanding of

the relationship between nutrition and pest pressure will be gained and they will discuss 10 reasons to attend to soil and plant health including why there is no other alternative for the future.

“Understand the core inputs and why humates, kelp, inoculums and foliars are such important keys. The art and science of composting is explained along with how to create this ultimate fertility builder and bring back your earthworms. This course will help you understand that Nutrition Farming is the shape of the future.”

The seminar will be held at Counties Inn — Rata Room, 17 Paerata Road Pukekohe, at 8am–5.15pm on April 26-29. Bookings are essential. Standard $799.

Morning tea and lunch is provided. Accommodation is available, phone 09 238 9319 or go to www.countiesinn.co.nz. To register contact Guy Macindoe

021 931 182, 07 866 8682 email [email protected]

Graeme Sait, CEO and cofounder of Nutri-Tech Solutions


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Ranger 570 HD has got the lot! It’s our best spec’d Side x Side ever with everything you need in one mid-sized package. Plus there is a massive range of accessories so you can change your Ranger to suit your individual needs.

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Dealing a pair of acesBack in the early 1980s, there would have been few people in the world who knew what a ‘sport utility vehicle’ actually was — let alone how to design and build one. The English gentry had their land rovers for grouse hunting, the army had their off-road vehicles for the pursuit of — at the time — communist militias, and Joe Citizen drove a sensible big saloon car or station wagon.

The change came at the start of that tumultuous decade of big hair and leg warmers. Toyota’s FJ, the original Range Rover, and Mitsubishi’s Pajero changed the way we looked at off-road travel. Soon would come the leather seats, mini bars, school run specials and faux-wheel-drives. But in the springtime of the SUV, Pajero was a big name. Now it’s set

Smooth operator — the Pajero Sport rounds out the hard lines of its bigger brother, but still conquers mud and snow

to become so again. This year sees the relaunch of the badge from Mitsubishi, replacing the outgoing Challenger with two variants, in much the same way that Mercedes has achieved with their GL-E class. The Pajero returns with a solid, angular look, backed up by the power of a 3.2 litre intercooled turbo diesel. Combine the over 400Nm of torque from this power plant with acres of grip, and you can appreciate how the Pajero achieves its rated three ton towing capacity. Inside, we are reminded that the modern driver demands more comforts than his 1980s counterpart — it’s all here, but so too, is a convenient space for a second battery under the hood, and everything in place for the fitting of bars, winches, lights and other off-road necessities.

This is the marque which monstered the Paris to Dakar for ten years. The only small complaint — the colour palette doesn’t match the presence of the Pajero’s design, with only ‘high resale value’ neutrals and metallics available. One of these in hot orange would turn more heads than the second coming. Sitting next to the Pajero in the new Mitsubishi lineup is its slick and aerodynamic little brother, the Pajero

Sport. If the big bruiser above is all about power and capability, then this offering is more of a crossover into the realm of comfort and connectivity.

Don’t get us wrong — the pair of Pajeros blur the line nicely, and the Sport is still no slouch when the going gets rough. But it puts style and sophistication to the fore, for the driver who will only rarely venture off the beaten track. When you do need to test

the mettle of the Sport, it proves it’s no show pony. A very clever off-road mode selector juggles power, grip and torque to handle everything from sand to ice. So, a pair of competent and stylish new machines, worthy of their predecessor’s name tag. The hard part here will not be deciding if they are a contender against the likes of Toyota and Ford — but which one to pick. Where to find a suitable shade of candy-orange paint.

QUAD BIKESAFETY

Concentrate on the riding.Look where you’re going, not where the stock are going.


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Air tools and jacks are also protected from corrosive elements especially in work shops close to the sea — a cost saving boon for company accountants as well as keeping equipment on-line at all times.

Salt and sulphur can get into the tools with the air through the compressor and � lters causing costly damage that may be further fuelled with condensation and heat. Changing air tool lubrication to CorrosionX gives the workshop manager and the accountant a break at the same time.CorrosionX stops rust and also provides

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S o l i d F o o d f o r S o i l s

Don’t focus on things you cannot changeThe current dairy farming situation

is a disaster. It is time to get serious. There are some things happening around us which are outside our control: • The weather • The payoutAlthough there is a lot of daily

discussion about these two points, there is little we can do to change them. Anyone can allow themselves to be completely overwhelmed if they focus on the disaster itself and how it is affecting them.

One factor which is true in today’s payout is that there are many farmers feeling the same way.

It is of paramount importance to stop worrying about what can’t be changed and focus on the things that can.

During 35 years of farming, similar to many longer term farmers, I have been challenged by floods, droughts, earthquakes, family upheavals, and plenty of times when there is too much MONTH left at the end of the MONEY.

What I have learned, is your family and friends are the most important units which will help you through so focus on a plan ahead, utilising help from experienced people willing to share it. Never underestimate the counsel from the old boys who have long since put their gumboots away. This is not a short-term problem so we can not have a short-term plan. There are times where drastic action can be taken which could be detrimental to long-term farm performance.

Signs of a short-term plan which can end up costing you include:

• Long-term contracts and high use of palm kernel should be avoided. PK should be used strategically unless this can be proven to be cost efficient relative to your system;

• High and regular use of urea nitrogen in any form. This practise over time will burn off the humus in your soil, strip out calcium and block copper — restricting the soil’s ability to grow nutrient-rich grass; Analysing your complete system from

and including; soil, grass, feed, stock, effluent, finance, and family are needed before a plan can be made.

Every aspect of the entire system needs efficient management. Every area of management needs to be measured, if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

The cheapest and most important asset you have is your grass, your most important investment is the fuel to grow it. There are several points which I have

observed which can be applied for a long — term sustainable plan: • Soil audit and apply fertiliser custom blends prioritising where any deficiencies lie;

• Don’t waste money on generic blends which will increase nutrients already adequate,

• Don’t guess. A good soil audit will save you money.Obviously this column does not allow

coverage of the whole system, yet most problems related to feed quality, animal health, effluent, positive cashflow

and profitability all originate from the soil. Soil is the engine room of your entire farming operation. A balanced approach will not only increase quality grass growth, it will reduce reliance on buying in feed, improve animal health and reduce crusting problems in your effluent pond.

Forward Farming Consultancy offers a service which seeks solutions to help farmers and includes specialists in soil fertility, grazing management, ruminant nutrition, effluent management and financial assistance.

Uncommon sense David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy


TARANAKI FARMING CLASSIFIEDSPhone 0800 466 793

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How much does it cost?How much are you willing to pay to minimise your lameness cost? I guess the answer would be ‘as much as it takes as long as the benefits exceed the cost’.

Lameness costs a lot of money even in a low payout year. It is difficult to give money away if you haven’t got any to give away. In a low payout year the cost won’t be as high as in a high payout year due to lower cow prices, and the loss of milk production is less costly because of lower milk prices. However, the cost is much more critical. You simply just cannot afford to have your cows under-performing in a financially difficult year. The trick is to get as much out of your cows with the least amount of cost. In order to do that the basic needs of the cow must be met. This way she will be producing well and have the least amount of problems, including lameness. Many people don’t know or don’t appreciate the importance of this fact, yet it is quite observable when you look at cow behaviour.

Most farmers that move to a 16-hour milking schedule towards the end of the season report that their cows move faster back to the paddock, milk production stays the same and they have less lameness. What has changed for the cows when they are only being milked every 16 hours instead of every 12 hours? Well, the short answer is that you are giving your cow more time in the paddock. This means that the cows are getting more time to behave in a natural manner. Look at a well-fed herd in the paddock. What are they doing? How are they behaving?

They graze, lay down, drink and do some socialising. This is obviously normal, natural behaviour or at least as close to it as the cow can get in the environment in which we put them.

What do cows do in the yard? They just stand there waiting. It is quite a different behaviour from what they are showing us in the paddock. If cows are spending a lot of time just standing in the paddock and doing nothing other than standing, then there is a problem. If we force our cows to take on a different

behaviour pattern to what they would choose themselves then you can expect problems. That sounds reasonable doesn’t it?

You could argue that cows would get used to a different behaviour as they are creatures of habit. However, if it is true that the forced behaviour is not an issue for the cows then why are they improving so quickly when that forced behaviour is reduced? So, what is my point? I am not saying that we should cut out all forced behaviour. A cow needs to be milked and the farm needs to run practically.

What I am saying is that the forced behaviour should be kept to an absolute minimum. If you don’t think this is a big deal, just ask your cows. See if they will change their behaviour when they get more paddock time. The aim should be to let the cows behave as naturally as possible for the most time possible. That may mean milking every 16 hours, having smaller herds, being more efficient with milking or anything else you can think of, but it does not need to cost much to minimise your lameness cost.

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

around road worksPay attention!

Calf Milk PowderAPRIL RATE for Milk Powder. Brytec NZ Calf Milk Powder made in Matamata. $2875 included GST. N.I. delivery rate depends on location. S.I. add $150/tonne. 18% fat, 35% protein. No imported or poor quality milk used. Guaranteed to curd. Ted 020 4061 9534. [email protected]. www.facebook/calfmilkpowder.

Animal Health ProductsHIGH CELL Count? Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic & Manuka Honey 20L $49.95, 200L $450 or 1000L $2,000 +GST with free delivery. Black Type Minerals Ltd. Phone 021 185 1501. blacktypeminerals.co.nz.

For LeaseWE ARE leasing a large pole shed in the Inglewood-Lepperton for storage. The shed is 6.8m wide, 12m long, 5m high. Concrete floor. Two roller doors and one side door for access. Parking outside. Price by negotiation. Please call 06 756 8319 any day.

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Read the paper onlinefarminglifestyles.co.nz


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Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, April 2016

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Transcript of Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, April 2016