Dairy Focus October 2012

An Ashburton Guardian Supplement

Ashburton / Methven / Rakaia www.ats.co.nz0800 BUY ATS / 0800 289 287

ATS invites you to join us at the Ashburton A&P ShowFriday 26 and Saturday 27 October

Don’t forget your ATS card for admittance.

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ATS_Guardian_276x150mm_0812.indd 1 17/10/12 10:59:36 PM

Celebrating a dream year

Pages 2-4Photo Kirsty Graham 121012-KG-131

South ISland wIde

October 2012

Dairy Focus October 20122

An advertising supplement of the Ashburton GuardianOpinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Ashburton Guardian Publication date: October 23, 2012 Next issue: November 20, 2012We welcome any correspondence to either:Amanda Wright, phone 307-7927 - email: [email protected] Clarke, phone 307-7971 - email: [email protected] Focus designed by: Denise Fawer

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When award wining dairy farmers Mick O’Connor and Kirsten Wyatt tie the knot this December, it will be the icing on the cake of a dream year.

Mick is actually in charge of organising the wedding cake – it will be a two-tiered round arrangement - but his real skills are more obvious as manager and contract milker of a 980-cow Dairy Holdings farm at north Rakaia.

This time last year, he and Kirsten

decided to enter the Canterbury-North Otago Dairy Industry Awards. It was just for experience, they said, and a chance to pick the brains of some very experienced dairy farmers who judge and organise the event.

“It was our first year as contract milkers and it was a chance to see where we were and how we could improve,” Mick said.

They won the regional farm manager’s title, then went on to win the national title over some serious competition. They were part of an historic win for the Canterbury-North Otago region, with sharemilkers Enda and Sarah Hawe and dairy trainee

Nathan Christian also national winners.

Mick says Canterbury is the place to be when it comes to dairy farming. There is opportunity, scale, water and the chance to make good money from hard work.

Mick and Kirsten are contract milkers for the corporate Dairy Holdings, which has 58 farms around the South Island and 36 in Canterbury; it also operates 15 support blocks. Its north Rakaia property on Heslerton Road is 255 hectares, and cows are milked in a 25-year-old herringbone milking shed twice a day. It is not a high-tech outfit, but an efficient one, with production for last season around 326,000kgMS.

Story continues next page

Linda Clarke,rural reporter, Ashburton Guardian

Photos Kirsty Graham 121012-KG-103

Mick O’Connor believes Canterbury is the place to be when it comes to dairy farming.

3Dairy Focus October 2012

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The couple supply five staff and all the machinery required, from tractor to quad bike. While Mick is hands-on in the dairy shed and around the farm and is on deck most mornings, Kirsten runs the important financial department, producing weekly reports for the farming corporate and making sure everybody is paid.

Their long-term goal is to be sharemilkers and with a national title to their name, there should be no shortage of partners when the time comes.

Mick said the win had opened many career doors for the couple, who had expanded their network of like-minded dairy farmers and mentors.

The limelight wasn’t easy though. “It was definitely not normal for me, getting up in front of large groups of people and talking. But when you are talking about something you know about and are passionate about, it is not too bad. Most people are genuinely interested in what you have to say.”

Mick could easily have been a sheep farmer or a

shearer. He grew up in Fairlie where his parents had a lifestyle block not quite big enough for him to take over.

He left school and worked on beef and sheep farms, just to get some experience on a bigger land unit.

“I was looking at that (as a job) or being a shearer, I had two uncles that were shearers. But mum and dad said it was tough work and to keep my options open.”

A neighbour ran a dairy farm and Mick worked unpaid for two weeks to see if he was suited to the job. Turned out he was.

Not long after he was working for a local sharemilker, where he would stay for two years.

With dairying experiences limited in the Mackenzie, he headed to Canterbury where he worked for sharemilkers Lisa and Stewart Hill on a property they ran with Leo Donkers.

Story continues on page 4

121012-KG-163

121012-KG-095

Mick measuring dry matter.


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Continually learning and improving, he moved two years later to Mid Canterbury and a job with Andrea and Mark Schraeder.

Next rung up the ladder was at Heslerton Road. “There is good money to be made, but like everything, you have to work hard.”

He says there is a huge amount of growth still in the industry, and opportunities abound. Westland has proposed building a new milk powder plant at Rolleston and while the Dairy Holdings farm supplies Fonterra, Mick says competition is good for everybody.

Among challenges on their doorstep are nutrient limits being imposed by

Environment Canterbury as part of its regional Land and Water Plan.

Mick says working with the regional authority is important but balance between practical environmental safeguards and making money for the country was key. “In Canterbury, dairy farming is a huge contributor to the income of the area.”

He said all dairy farmers were trying to be sustainable. “Everyone is mindful of what they are doing but sometimes you feel that people are not well-informed to what people are actually doing.”

Educating town people about what happened on farms was also important. It

helped having Richie McCaw, most trusted New Zealander of the Year twice running, in Fonterra and the dairy industry’s corner.

The Dairy Industry Awards were also important in telling the story of successful, innovative and environmentally-friendly dairy farmers.

The couple will be watching the local 2013 competition keenly and encourage others to enter. The regional awards will be launched in November.

Right now though, the busy calving season is over and mating is on the horizon. Milking is established, with the herd taking nearly four hours to move

through the shed. Mick sometimes wishes for a more technologically-advanced system but says his more labour-intensive unit still compares favourably in the Dairy Holdings group to new conversions with all the mod-cons.

What is their 10-year plan? Mick says the next step for him and Kirsten will be a 50 per cent sharemilking opportunity, ideally milking around 600 cows. Even better if that happened in Canterbury.

Meanwhile, the couple will continue their hard-working ways, with time booked in for a bit of golf . . . and a honeymoon.

121012-KG-100


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The Dairy Women’s Network celebrated a year of growth at its annual general meeting on Wednesday, 17 October including the addition of 700 new members between June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, increasing its total membership from 2400 to 3100.

Special guest Hilary Webber, founding chair of the Dairy Women’s Network in 1998, was at the meeting to pay tribute to retiring trustees Robyn Clements and Marie Marshall. Mrs Clements was the last remaining founding trustee on the network’s trust board.

Dairy Women’s Network Trust Board current chair Michelle Wilson said it had been a year of transition and growth with many achievements.

“The management team has grown from three to five part-time staff and we appointed Sarah Speight to the full-time chief executive role, the number of participants in our Dairy Days training increased by 100 more than last year, we held 112 regional group meetings – 47 more than the previous year, and we created and celebrated the inaugural Dairy Woman of the Year Award which was won by Barbara Kuriger.

Other highlights included new partnerships with AgITO and TBFree, more than 95,000 visits over the course of the year to the network’s website and the addition of Robyn Judd, Sue Lindsay, Leonie Ward and Neal Shaw to its trust board.

Mrs Wilson also acknowledged the many volunteers who continued to support the Network’s Dairy Days, regional events and conferences.

“I would like to thank our members, staff, volunteers and trustees, and the many hours you all dedicate to the Dairy Women’s Network. Without your passion and commitment we would not have the organisation we are all part of today.”

With the retirement of Robyn Clements, the network’s last remaining founding trustee, the AGM also signalled a poignant time in the organisation’s 12-year history. Mrs Clements was with the network from its inception, and was

chair of the board from 2008 to 2010.

Chief executive Sarah Speight said the Dairy Women’s Network was in a very healthy position, with many more opportunities to continue supporting its members through professional development and support.

“Nominations are about to open for the second Dairy Woman of the Year Award, and the 2013 conference venue and line-up will be announced in early November. We are also hosting the first virtual Dairy Days through our website at the end of October.”

She said the network was representing thousands of women who were key decision makers and industry and community leaders in their own right.

“As such, our organisation is an influential voice in the dairy industry.”

about the dairy women’s network

The Dairy Women’s Network began in 1998 following Willy Geck and Hilary Webber attending a Women in Agriculture conference in Washington DC. They came home inspired to use a technology approach to reach dairying women.

With the help of Robyn Clements and Christina Baldwin, the women created an email network, primarily serving dairying women in the Waikato. 2002 was a turning point for the network when it expanded nationally.

In 2008, the organisation rebranded to become the Dairy Women’s Network.

dairy women’s network grows by 30% this year

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Occasionally we hear negative comments about CIDRs. Invariably they state they are an expensive waste of time, and make no difference. Let’s take a look at some of the ins and outs of CIDRs.

What is a CIDR (pronounced seedir)?

CIDR stands for controlled internal drug release. The devices are impregnated with the naturally occurring hormone progesterone which is slowly absorbed across the wall of the vagina after the device is inserted. This progesterone artificially replaces the cow’s own source of progesterone for about one week. After the CIDR is withdrawn, other treatment combinations allow successful ovulation of ovaries so that timed artificial insemination can take place with optimum chances of success.

In all cases CIDR treatment will result in the initiation

of new ovarian activity and ovulation, but not all the ovulations will result in pregnancy. On average 45% of these ovulations result in a successful pregnancy. Untreated non cycling cows have an average conception rate of 35%.

The important point is that cyclic ovarian activity has been initiated early by using the CIDR, and subsequent ovulations by these cows are more likely to be fertile. In turn this means that CIDR treated cows are more likely to become pregnant at a faster rate that untreated cows.

It is accepted that CIDR treated cows will have similar pregnancy percentages as untreated cows at a point six weeks after the start of mating but the difference is the RATE at which the CIDR treated cows become pregnant which is always higher in CIDR treated cows. This equates to more cumulative days in milk from treated cows within the non cycling cow groups.

Why do CIDRs not always work? CIDRs are not as effective in cows less well

conditioned or less well fed. Cows always have better reproductive success when they are in good body condition and are gaining condition when they are mated. CIDRs do not perform well in cows that have had uterine infections, have on going lameness and are in negative energy balance or have inadequate trace element status. CIDRs have better performance in cows that have been calved 42 days, this may be one of the key reasons CIDRs have not performed to expectations in some cases.

Why should you use CIDRs?With the reduction in the ability to use inductions a

tool to maintain a compact calving pattern CIDRs are going to take on a new importance as a tool to ensure non cycling cows have six week in calf rates similar to

untreated cows. The number of pregnancies obtained in the first six weeks of the mating period is critical.

Cows pregnant in this period will calve during August and early September and will have been calved six weeks at the start of mating in the subsequent season. This means the first service conception rate in these cows will be high. This is a truly sustainable reproductive pattern and is one we should all be aiming for.

Which cows should get a CIDR?Deciding which cows should be CIDR treated is

relatively simple and is based on tail painting prior to the start of mating to detect genuine non cycling cows. CIDRs should be used prior to the start of mating so that the final injections, and ovulations, take place as mating starts. Using CIDRs early is the most profitable way to use them because the outcomes are either early

pregnancies or the early initiation of fertile activity in non cycling cows.

Using CIDRs later during mating often results in CIDRs making little difference to the number of early pregnancies in non cycling cows. In fact many late treated CIDR cows will not calve within an eight week calving period. In future there will be little hope for these cows as they may not be able to be induced.

Once you have identified which cows are not showing any signs of cyclical activity (based on tail painting) you can then decide on an approach to using CIDRs in these cows. One option is to have a Vet examine all these cows and put CIDRs in those that are deep in anoestrus. Another option is to CIDR treat the entire group. These decisions need to be carefully considered based on various herd factors, and reproductive targets etc. A consultation with your Vet is highly recommended to help plan out your reproductive strategy for this season.

Can CIDRs add anything to your herd’s reproductive success?Ian Hodge, BVSc. MACVSc.Riverside Veterinary Services Ltd

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9Dairy Focus October 2012An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

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Sebco diesel stations have lifted the bar once again in above ground diesel storage for on farm or industry. This has been achieved by introducing a new 5 micron clear captor water separating filter as a standard feature across the range of Sebco bunded diesel tanks. This new technology filter works perfectly with the pumping equipment offered with the tanks.

Ed Harrison from Sebco explains. “There has been a need for clean fuel supply to vehicles over the last few years, due to the onset of the common rail diesel engine. Our customers are purchasing Sebco diesel stations based on the fact that they offer a very high level of cleanliness compared to an old style above ground steel tank that condensates and can rust. Sebco minimises these problems. We had been fitting a standard diesel filter to our tanks but became aware of this new technology which gives customers an even higher level of protection. This filter has

a 5 micron cleaning ability and water separating properties.”

Sebco has a thorough programme in place for the observation and testing of units for the long term implications of diesel storage. They are tracking a number of tanks through their complete lifespan to observe the performance in the field in relation to UV and stress cracking. “We have just completed full invasive testing on two units that had been used for 5 years in the field. The results from the first round of testing are terrific. There was no water, sediment or dirt build up whatsoever. Also the specialised resin we are using is working well above the standard requirements for housing diesel fuel”

“Sebco owners and potential owners can be rest assured that we are doing all we can as tank manufacturers to ensure quality fuel for their vehicles in the years to come” says Ed.

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10An Ashburton Guardian Advertising featureDairy Focus October 2012

CRT Fuel continued its rapid growth and diversification during the past year which is exciting for the company because it opens up opportunities to deliver more benefits to shareholders and other customers.

CRT Fuel general manager Mark McHardy is pleased with the performance of CRT’s wholly owned subsidiary.

“The company again delivered a solid bonus rebate of 4.25 per cent for the 2011/2012 financial year to shareholder customers of CRT Fuel, so for shareholders not yet taking up our offer, please check the gauge on your current supply agreement to see if you’re really getting the best deal,” he says.

CRT Fuel offers the following benefits to CRT

shareholders:

• Competitive prices with some profits from the operation returned to those shareholders who support it by way of a bonus rebate at the Board’s discretion

• Choices Points in CRT’s loyalty programme are awarded on all shareholder purchases

• Purchase summaries enable shareholders to claim on petrol excise tax

• Deliveries are made throughout New Zealand through a fleet of 35 trucks operating out of 11 ports

• A comprehensive offer is provided on bulk fuel tanks, bunds and equipment, offering specialist advice and bulk fuel storage

solutions

• Easy to understand advice on achieving fuel storage compliance is an important part of CRT Fuel’s offering.

Mr McHardy says that in the year ahead CRT Fuel will have a major focus on the commercial market share of Gulf lubricants. This business is wholly owned by CRT Co-operative, a distribution agreement secured to provide shareholders with a credible lubricants offer where none was available through third party supply channels.

Health and safety is another major area of importance for CRT Fuel.

“CRT Fuel has a total commitment to safe fuel storage options for both our customers

and the environment,” he says.

“Last year we employed an operations and quality assurance manager to manage a comprehensive compliance plan for CRT Fuel’s business. This is an important part of the business and demonstrates our total commitment to safe fuel storage options.”

Staff at CRT Fuel are also working on the installation of Touchstar, an automated system that transfers trip data from the truck to the core system. This is an exciting innovation that will add enormous value to the business, enabling centralised management and streamlining of scheduling processes. The results will be even more efficient services delivered to CRT shareholders.

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As a country dependant on our dairy exports its imperative we pay close attention to milk quality, especially around hygiene with special focus on the cleaning and sanitising of all milk contact surfaces in the farm dairy.

The cleaning programme should follow the chemical manufacturer’s recommendations, which will ensure the milking machine and milk silo will always be left in a sanitised state, following milking.

This coupled with regular plant inspections will definitely improve milk quality and assist in achieving a grade free season.

Teat care and udder health is also important, particularly in early lactation when inclement weather conditions are experienced. Teat spraying plays an important role in mastitis reduction, improved teat condition and the lowering of the BMSCC.

The challengeMastitis is a common and costly disease

affecting New Zealand dairy cows. In 2006 Dairy Insight research estimated that it cost the New Zealand dairy farmer $36.50 per cow and $11,500 for an average 315 cow

herd with the cost to the New Zealand dairy industry an estimated $180 million.

Mastitis is caused by bacteria that are either sourced from the environment or from infected cows. An important form of spread of mastitis bacteria is from an infected cow to susceptible cows during milking, so called contagious mastitis. Bacteria from an infected cow can contaminate the liners and milking cluster, remaining in that cluster for up to the next 5 cows milked by that same cluster. The bacteria can enter the teat canal between milking’s to cause mastitis.

Application of disinfectant onto the cows’ teats after milking to kill the bacteria on the teat skin before they have a chance of entering the teat canal is well proven. This is particularly important in early lactation when cows are milking around their peak production with looser teat sphincters than later in the season. In addition higher risk of infection occurs due to the higher challenge of wet climatic conditions, when environmental bacteria such as Strep Uberis are more prevalent.

The opportunitiesThe recent promotion of the new look

SmartSAMM by DairyNZ has created

another means of motivation for individual herds to improve their Bulk Milk Somatic Cell Counts (BMSCC). BMSCC provides a guide of the level of subclinical mastitis present in the herd and indeed milk quality. NZ trial work from 2001 showed that without an effective teat spray BMSCC can be increased by 40%. In addition it was found clinical mastitis incidence can be increased by 50%, and there were 3 times more teat sores and cracks.

For instance by lowering the BMSCC from 250,000 cells/ml to 150,000 cells/ml milk solids can be increased by approx. 1.5%. The SmartSAMM “Gap Calculator” can calculate the potential gain in dollars. For a herd producing 100,000kg MS per lactation at a $5.85 payout, this could result in an extra $8,775 return. This does not include benefits likely to result from reduced clinical mastitis and culling rates nor other management improvements.

The solutionThe products currently available on the

market based on active ingredient group are:

Iodine, Chlorhexidine, Chlorine based and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QAC)

A recent summary of peer reviewed publications by the US National Milk Council reflected that iodine based products are far and away the most trialled and reputable relative to other actives since 1980.

The main methods for application are manual teat spraying or automatic teat sprayer units. Both have relative pros and cons. While automatic spray units may reduce the labour cost and remove operator error, most automatic teat sprayers tend to provide variable coverage. This compares to the time consuming manual process only needing relatively inexpensive hand held pressurized teat spraying units may requiring an extra labour unit and coverage of all four teats is often dependent on how conscientious the operator is.

For a teat sprayer to be effective, it is necessary to ensure the correct concentration of a reputable approved teat spray is used and clearly that the teat spray covers the barrel of all four teats. Teat spray should be used at a high concentration rate during early lactation and at other times of the season when inclement weather conditions are experienced.

11

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Farmers angry at counterterror tactic in Pakistan Pakistan’s effort to cut off the flow of fertiliser to militants

using it to make bombs in this key tribal sanctuary along the Afghan border has outraged local farmers, who complain the policy has cut their crop yields in half.

The blowback in North Waziristan could prove costly as the army grapples with how to tackle enemies of the state holed up in the remote, mountainous area, a task that is likely to be more difficult if the government is unable to mobilise support from local tribesmen.

“It’s true that fertiliser is being used to make bombs, but the farmers are not the ones doing it, so why does the ban apply to us?” said Mohammad Daraz, a farmer in Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan.

Pakistan has struggled in recent years to avoid offending the population with heavy handed tactics as it battles domestic Taliban militants throughout the northwest.

The US has faced this same difficulty in neighbouring Afghanistan — not least in its efforts to keep fertiliser, most of which comes from Pakistan, out of the hands of militants whose bombs have killed hundreds of American soldiers.

Pakistan first imposed a ban on certain types of fertiliser in North Waziristan and other parts of the semiautonomous tribal region more than three years ago, officials and farmers said.

The government instituted the policy after determining that fertiliser had been used in most of the major bombings in Pakistan, especially those involving vehicles packed with explosives, said a senior government official who worked on the ban.

The ban was meant to apply only to urea and other fertilisers that contain ammonium nitrate because they can most easily be turned into explosives, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.

But security forces have instead simply tried to prevent all fertiliser from getting into North Waziristan, said farmers

and fertiliser dealers.

The problem has gotten worse for the thousands of farmers in North Waziristan with each passing year as authorities have increasingly attempted to cut down on fertiliser smuggled into the area, which has become the main sanctuary for Taliban and al-Qaida militants in the country.

Most of the farmers work plots of only a few acres terraced into mountainsides or nestled in valleys next to their mud brick homes. These fields are becoming less productive because of the lack of fertiliser.

“The ban is affecting farmers, because yield is significantly reduced and crop color is faded,” said Daraz, the farmer from Miran Shah, whose corn and wheat crops have declined more than 50 per cent.

When the government first imposed the ban, farmers were still able to buy smuggled fertiliser on the black market, although they had to pay higher prices, said Samandar Khan, a farmer in Mir Ali, another major town in North Waziristan.

The situation changed last year after security forces opened fire on a vehicle close to the North Waziristan border and wounded two people who were attempting to smuggle in fertiliser, said Rafique Ullah, a driver who has worked as a smuggler himself.

“Since then, the smugglers have almost completely stopped bringing in fertiliser,” said Ullah. “They are scared now because they think security forces might kill them.”

Hamidullah Khan, a farmer in Mir Ali, said there’s very little fertiliser now on the black market. What is available, he said, is far too expensive for farmers because prices have risen six-fold since before the ban.

Khan said he’s tried to use organic fertiliser — a mix of animal waste and rotten plants — but that his wheat crop this spring was about half the yield of most years before the ban.

“We have heard that this fertiliser is used to make bombs, but we use them for our crops,” said Khan. “Those who use it for bombs can purchase it even at these high prices.”

Intelligence officials denied militants were still able to obtain fertiliser in North Waziristan and said the ban has helped reduce the number of bombings in the country. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media.

The spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Ahsanullah Ahsan, claimed the ban hasn’t affected the group.

Dealers said they still managed to smuggle a few 50-kilogram bags into North Waziristan at a time and sell them for very high rates. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted by authorities.

A bag of calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser, used by militants in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, can help produce two to four bombs, depending on whether they are targeting vehicles or foot patrols, according to the US military’s Joint IED Defeat Organisation.

Insurgents either grind or boil the fertiliser to separate the calcium from the nitrate, which is mixed with fuel oil, packed into a jug or box and then detonated. Urea is dissolved in water and then combined with nitric acid to make explosives needed for a bomb.

The US has struggled with the challenge of stopping militants in Afghanistan from using fertiliser to make bombs. The problem starts in Pakistan since about 80 per cent of the bombs used against U.S. troops in Afghanistan are made with fertiliser smuggled across the border, according to the Pentagon.

US forces used to have trouble determining which types of fertiliser to seize in Afghanistan and risked needlessly

angering farmers by confiscating more benign varieties. But the military said it has introduced kits in the past couple of years that allow service personnel to test whether fertiliser contains certain chemicals, including urea and nitrate.

Militants in Afghanistan mainly use fertilisers that contain ammonium nitrate, which are banned in that country but still legal in Pakistan and often smuggled across the border. The US has pushed Pakistan to regulate the sale of these fertilisers and has encouraged companies that produce them to use dye so that customs officials can more easily spot them at the border.

Pakistani authorities knew that limiting the flow of fertiliser to the tribal region would be hard on farmers but went ahead with the policy because the threat from bombings was so great, said the government official who worked on the ban.

Pakistan’s neglect of the poor and underdeveloped tribal region over decades is one of the reasons the Taliban insurgency that flared up there has been so difficult to extinguish. The Pakistani military has conducted a series of offensives in all parts of the tribal region except for North Waziristan.

The army plans to step up operations against the Taliban and their allies in North Waziristan in the near future, according to Pakistani and US officials.

If that happens, the army may not want to count on the support of local farmers.

“This fertiliser ban is destroying us,” said Ilyas Khan, a farmer from Mir Ali. “All we can do is pray for the situation to improve so we can resume our normal business.”

- AP

Photo AP/IjAz MuhAMMAdPakistani customers from the tribal area of Waziristan buy fertiliser at a shop in Bannu, Pakistan.

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DairyNZ says the merger of the agriculture and horticulture industry training organisations this month has real benefits for the dairy industry.

AgITO and Horticulture ITO have been merged to form the Primary Industry Training Organisation (Primary ITO).

The new organisation was officially launched last week at a celebration event in Wellington attended by Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Steven Joyce as well as industry representatives. The new ITO, which will also be responsible for water and equine industry training

and NZ Sports Turf industry training, will facilitate on-the-job training for 15,000 employees across the primary industries.

DairyNZ strategy and investment leader for people and business, Dr Mark Paine said the merger would benefit the dairy industry and continue to ensure the supply of skilled and capable people.

“The scale of a merged industry training entity will result in greater efficiencies and the ability to get increased specialisation in some areas,” Dr Paine said.

“As a larger, single body, it will be

a highly valued partner with other education providers, like universities and polytechnics, with more impact in its marketing campaigns promoting training opportunities to young people.

“Scale creates possibilities and opportunities and we want to capture those for the dairy industry, as well as keep what is already good about the current system,” he says.

DairyNZ contributes more than $2 million annually to industry training.

“AgITO has historically worked closely

with DairyNZ and currently has 4160 dairy trainees participating in on-farm training, forming the largest segment of total trainees (62 per cent).

“Over the past year, there has been a 14 per cent increase in the number of trainees in the dairy sector. We are confident the Primary ITO will build on this success and maintain a close relationship with DairyNZ.

“We will ensure, on behalf of dairy farmers, the customisation of industry training services to dairy is enhanced, not diminished, as a result of the merger,” Dr Paine said.

14 Dairy Focus October 2012

Merger to enhance

dairying training

Photo suPPliedFrom left: Primary ITO CE Kevin Bryant, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Steven Joyce and DairyNZ board member Barbara Kuriger

39 Robinson Street, AshburtonPhone 308 8848


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0800 278 583 www.crt.co.nz

Through a single point of contact CRT can provide much of what you need for your conversion.

This includes:

Experienced, credible and independent advice

Specialist knowledge in key areas

A wide range of the most reputable products and trusted brands

Your dairY conversion could be a loT easier Than You Think

Your CRT dairy specialist can arrange everything on your behalf including livestock, farm mapping, stockwater systems, fertiliser, seed, fencing, calving, dairy shed hygiene, bulk fuel, power and communications.

You can use as many of our services as you need - it’s up to you.

To talk to your local CRT dairy specialist call 0800 278 583 today.

Ashburton CRT FarmCentre418 West Street03 307 9140

Henry RossMid Canterbury District Manager

027 248 8068

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

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Pick 200 from 220 very quiet XBD cows. Family owned for 50 years low SCC wet farm BW 101 PW 102 REL 96% Flexible delivery $2,100. Contact Grant Hobbs 027-477-7406

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Quite often the 10 day peak period is mentioned in discussion groups; a peak of 2.4kg MS per cow, or 7.5kg MS/hectare/ day sounds really good. But the challenge is to hang on to this as long as possible and keep the so called ‘post-peak decline to a minimum’, ideally below a 5% drop per month. This is really important for the total production per cow and per hectare for the season.

Dairy farms in New Zealand differ substantially in geographical and individual farming factors. Geographical factors include weather and soil types; farm management differences include farm size, cow numbers, fertiliser application per hectare, cow type and feed inputs. Maintaining pasture quality is the one factor that should be consistent, as this is crucial to ensure that the farm is able to keep riding on top of the peak wave for as long as possible.

The following practices will help achieve pastures of 12+ MJ ME and 20+ % protein

• Maintain grazing residuals between 1500 and 1600kg DM/ha

• Surplus pasture on the milking platform should be taken out of paddock rotation and kept for baleage or silage. Mow these paddocks before they are two cans high (within 10 days after leaving it out of the ground)

• If necessary to get residuals and quality back, top the paddocks or use another stock class to reach target levels

• Applying nitrogen helps tillering and new leaf formation

• Walk around the farm with the whole team and show examples of quality and target residuals so everybody understands what to look for

• Take some pre-grazing pasture samples and get them analysed for feed quality to gain precise feedback on metabolisable energy, protein, fibre and dry matter. Testing for minerals will also give useful feedback for your fertiliser programme

The in-shed feeding system can be a great help to control post-peak decline too, but should not cover up pasture management issues:

• Don’t suddenly drop the feeding levels of grain, dairy meal or pellets. Look at cow condition, milk production and weather conditions before you decide

• Increase the level, for example, from two to three to four kilograms if a bad spell of weather comes through and ease this out when conditions improve. Remember one or two bad spells of weather over the November/December period can cost you a lot of production on a yearly basis, and

can also undermine the results of your herds mating period

• If you run two or more herds, or have a system in which you can favour higher producing and/or lighter conditioned cows, you can use the in-shed feeding tool even more efficiently.

Reliance feedsReliance Feeds has a number

supplementary dairy feeds that have been specifically formulated for the coming season

The feeds are made from only quality ingredients and are part of CRT’s quality assurance program to ensure that they meet their stated specifications.

For more information about Reliance Feeds contact the CRT nutrition team on 0800 278 583.

Letting your cows ride the wave and still get in calf

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature17

Dairy Focus September 2012An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

WE TAKE THE HASSLE OUT OF MOVING

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Handy hints when packing• Discard any unwanted/unused items.

• Pack room by room - start in one particular room and don’t leave until finished.

• Make sure all boxes are packed with lids closed and well labelled (on the tape is the best place incase you are using second hand boxes. Having lids closed will prevent damage and stack in the truck a lot neater, reducing the chance of movement in transit.

• Don’t underestimate the volume of contents in hidden cupboards, for example kitchen and china cabinets. If these are left to moving day there is a good chance the removal man will have the truck loaded and out the gate before they are packed!

We like to move it, move it!With a fleet of trucks to suit all household and furniture moves, Ashburton Furniture Movers can get you on the road sooner, than later. Reuben Carr can estimate (by the amount of items/ boxlots) which vehicle will suit your shift and what the cost may be. Most movers in the Mid Canterbury area are delighted when they find out how reasonably priced and stress-free relocating with Ashburton Furniture Movers truly is!

Reuben Carr

Born and bred around Mid Canterbury, Reuben has resided most of his life here. So he figures he has a “pretty thorough knowledge” of the area. With a reliable GPS, Reuben has the rest of the country (both South and North Island) sussed. With the love of a good challenge, Reuben enjoys outlaying each client’s move so it all runs to plan. Communication is key when a move is on - and as you will see the phone is never far from Reuben’s reach. The phone plays a vital part of the Ashburton Furniture Movers customer service!

Hayley Carr

A very busy lady, Hayley juggles her busy life around husband, Reuben and their two sons and a career in hairdressing. With Hayley’s

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As a trusted member of the team for almost 3 years, Russell is who your treasured possessions are imparted to, on their journey to a new destination and home. With a friendly face and a caring empathy, Russell makes your moving as stress-free as possible. Russell’s moving experience has been extensive with over 11 years in the industry.

The Ashburton Furniture Movers team can give you a free quote within Mid Canterbury region for packing, moving, storage and delivery.

Just call Reuben on 0800 RELOCATE (0800 735 622) today!

Photo suPPliedHayley & Reuben Carr with apprentices, Layton (7) and Jacob (almost 4) plus family dog Dascha


Talk about Accuflow variable rate control to a member of our friendly staff today for a better irrigation.

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The average price paid by Synlait Milk for milk supplied in the 2011/12 season is $6.22 per kg MS.

This is made up of an average base milk price of $6.14 per kg MS, autumn premiums of $0.01 per kg MS, colostrum and other special milk payments of $0.04 per kg MS, and winter milk premiums of $0.03 per kg MS.

Synlait Milk chairman Graeme Milne said: “This is a solid payout for our suppliers, and demonstrates our continued focus on ensuring we leave our farmers better off than their alternatives.”

The year has very much been a transition year for Synlait Milk following the commissioning of its new state-of-the-art nutritional drier at the start of the season, and the production of its first commercial volumes of infant formula.

Despite this Mr Milne says the company looks forward to announcing a profit for the year following the Synlait Milk Limited annual general meeting to be held on November 16.

“We are pleased with the profit achieved for the 2011/12 financial year given the volatile commodity and currency markets, and the challenges of operating a new plant,” Mr Milne said.

“Securing more milk supply for the coming season is an important step as we continue to grow our business, and so, it’s pleasing to be able to offer solid returns like this to our supply partners while also meeting shareholder expectations.”

Synlait Milk has 150 milk suppliers and is currently looking to procure new milk for the coming season.

Synlait Milk announces milk price for 2011/12 season

Contributed by Synlait Milk


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An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

Before AfterAbnormally dilated varicose and spider veins affect the majority of adults at some time in their lives. Associated symptoms can include aching, throbbing, excessive fatigue, itching, burning, a restless feeling in the legs and cramping. The unsightly nature of the veins can also have a negative impact on self-image. With modern techniques and the use of the latest duplex ultrasound equipment, vein sclerotherapy and laser treatments are a safe and very effective treatment for the full range of varicose veins.

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20 Dairy Focus October 2012 An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

we would like to invite you to our

INDEPENDENT GIRLS’ DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL YEARS 1-8 & CO-ED PRE-SCHOOL 2.5-5 YEARS

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Waihi is a small, family oriented, Independent School with spacious rural grounds and up to date facilities situated north ofWinchester on State Highway 1 in South Canterbury.

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Limited spaces left for boarding in 2013

• Milking machine testing• Preventive maintenance• Turn Key Dairy Packages• Platform & Yard Repairs• Milking Machine installation & Upgrades• Servicing & Maintenance of All Dairy equipment• Complete range of Rubberware & Consumables

Milka-Ware Ashburton also provides the following services:

Call Luke on 021 689 432 or 03 308 833596 South Street, Ashburton

Total Dairy Systems Ashburton

The only local supplier and service centre for Genuine Milka-Ware products

Situated just north of Winchester, South Canterbury on State Highway 1, amongst ten hectares of beautiful grounds sits Waihi Preparatory School. Waihi is an independent boys schools catering for both boarders and dayboys in Years 4 to 8.

Waihi is committed to remaining a school with small class sizes. This enables the boys to receive that all-important individual attention. A positive attitude to learning is fostered within a culture of high achievement.

Professional and committed Waihi staff create a learning environment that presents each boy’s with the opportunity to reach his potential in all aspects of school life. Involving him in academic, sporting, cultural, spiritual and social programmes prepares him for secondary school and beyond.

Waihi provides extensive facilities and a comprehensive sporting programme, which allows the boys to experience competitive, social and recreational play. Waihi recognises the importance of fostering emotional growth, collective pride in being part of a team, as well as a healthy lifestyle. Waihi School competes regularly in both

local competitions and fixtures with other schools throughout New Zealand. Boys like to play to win, and this is encouraged! However, above all they develop ethos of good sportsmanship and fair play, being humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

Boarding provides a friendly affirming environment for boys. Boarders are supported by caring, responsible, involved staff who are deeply committed to the boys’ welfare. The responsibility and independence young boarders experience enhances personal growth and strengthens peer, staff and family relationships. The strong bonds that grow between ours boys, together with the staff and their families who live onsite, really does create a very special atmosphere for all. The Waihi family is a place for all boys to live and grow in a homely environment.

Late 2011 Pyne House, the new state-of-the-art boarding and dayboy complex, was officially opened. Pyne House accommodates 60 boarders in safe and contemporary facilities. During school holidays the complex is available for use by community groups and sports teams.

Individual attention to promote a culture of high achievementHow better to prepare for secondary

school than to begin your life as a boarder with girls the same age facing the same concerns and challenges?

Selwyn House School in Merivale, Christchurch, is a happy and thriving primary day and boarding school for girls aged 5 to 13.

Selwyn House is well known for setting the highest possible standards. We believe that we are the best at what we do and would very much like to have the chance to show you why we are so proud of Selwyn House. Given the opportunity, the girls flourish here, both in and out of the classroom.

Selwyn House girls make friends for life. Are boarders in a ‘home away from home’? We like to think so. We understand that 10 and 11 year-olds are still relatively young, for whom arrival into a large secondary school is a potentially daunting experience. Our teachers and boarding staff seek to create a secure and protective environment.

Boarding is not just for those who need it, far from it. At Selwyn House, we strongly believe it to be a valuable and very enjoyable option for the girls. In some ways, it could almost be regarded as an

extra-curricular activity! Boarding helps develop independence, self-confidence and maturity and it works wonders for their social lives too. Friends, staff and facilities are there 24 hours of the day.

Our boarding girls live in a new, modern building with welcoming bedrooms, ensuites, a well-equipped kitchen where the girls can make their own snacks, with relaxed dining and living facilities. And, we have the best boarding school chef in the South Island ,say our boarders.

Parents talk about the safe, friendly and nurturing environment that Mrs Parker, the Boarding House Director creates. She encourages and makes the girls feel special.

Weekends are packed full of activity and fun, and our weekly boarders often choose to stay in school for the whole weekend. They enjoy trips out, theme nights, Sunday brunch, art and craft sessions - all with friends on tap. Girls can read, play, finish prep, email friends and family, swim in the heated, covered pool and use other school facilities all at their leisure. At times, the atmosphere is deliberately relaxed so that they can wind down. Sometimes, girls just want to be themselves. And why not?

Boarding at Selwyn House benefits girls


• Milking machine testing• Preventive maintenance• Turn Key Dairy Packages• Platform & Yard Repairs• Milking Machine installation & Upgrades• Servicing & Maintenance of All Dairy equipment• Complete range of Rubberware & Consumables

Milka-Ware Ashburton also provides the following services:

Call Luke on 021 689 432 or 03 308 833596 South Street, Ashburton

Total Dairy Systems Ashburton

The only local supplier and service centre for Genuine Milka-Ware products

Come see our team today for more details on our calf pens.

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Diesel Generators

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Solid reliability for Kiwi conditions and great value for money.

A shortage of listings is emerging as a serious constraint for potential farm buyers, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).

“Unsettled weather and market conditions have put a dampener on the early spring rural real estate market,” REINZ rural market spokesman Brian Peacocke siad.

“Cold, wet conditions have impacted on feed supplies and production resulting in increased ‘on farm’ stress.

“We are seeing strong demand for quality dairy and larger sheep and beef farms, but the shortage of listings is a serious constraint on buyers. Whilst we are expecting more properties to come to market during October and November,

the anticipated increase is unlikely to be sufficient to meet the increasing demand.”

Latest data released by REINZ shows there were 11 more farm sales (+4.7 per cent) for the three months ended September 2012 than for the three months ended September 2011.

Overall, there were 269 farm sales in the three months to end of September 2012, but that was down compared with 318 farm sales in the three months to August 2012. In the year to September 2012, 1425 farms were sold, 35.3 per cent more than were sold in the year to August 2011.

The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to September 2012 was $18,041; a 2 per cent increase on the $17,694 recorded for three months

ended September 2011.

When it came to dairy farms, for the three months ended September the median sales price per hectare was $19,604 (nine properties), compared to $24,492 for the three months ended August 2012 (21 properties), and $29,668 (19 properties) for the three months ended September 2011. The median dairy farm size for the three months ended August 2012 was 256 hectares.

Included in sales for the month of September were two dairy farms at a median sale value of $33,992 per hectare. The median farm size was 159 hectares with a range of 139 hectares in the Waikato to 178 hectares in Canterbury. The median production per hectare across all dairy

farms sold in September 2012 was 1026kgs of milk solids.

The REINZ Dairy Farm Price Index rose by 1.4 per cent in the three months to September compared to the three months to August, from 1,622.87 to 1,645.63. Compared to September 2011 the REINZ Dairy Farm Price Index fell by 22.8 per cent.

Six regions recorded increases in sales volumes for the three months ended September 2012 compared to the three months ended September 2011. Canterbury recorded the largest increase in sales (+22 sales).

According to REINZ, a shortage of listings is emerging as a serous constraint for buyers.

Listing shortage constrains market


Dairy Focus Situations vacant

Truck & trailer repairs & spares

Due to increased work load and expansion of our workshop, AIS have two vacancies for New Zealand qualified heavy diesel mechanics.AIS perform repairs on medium and heavy diesel trucks and trailers and road construction equipment.Opportunity of overtime with a very competitive remuneration package is available for the right applicants.For a full job description and further details, contact:

Andy Ruck, ManagerAIS Ltd

Ph 03 307 8550 - [email protected]

Heavy Diesel Mechanics Two Vacancies - Ashburton

Experienced Accountant RequiredAt Continuous Accounting the focus of our work is on assisting clients to manage and grow their businesses. Compliance is the necessary evil, but it’s not what gets us out of bed in the morning. We have invested in the latest accounting software to provide an efficient service to our clients and allow us more time for the fun stuff.

We are experiencing a tremendous growth in clients looking for a fresh ap-proach to their accounting needs. This has led to Continuous Accounting being Mid Canterbury’s leading Xero provider.

If you are tired of the traditional accounting firm approach and want to get your hands dirty showing clients some real value, contact us for a confiden-tial chat.

Requirements:◊ CA, ACA or AT qualified◊ Easy going with a good sense of humour◊ Self-motivated and able to work independently ◊ Personable◊ Customer service driven

This role presents a great opportunity for the right person to develop their career with the growth of the business.

Competitive pay, flexible hours, flexible work location, NO TIMESHEETS!Confidentiality assured

Please contactSteve Carr

[email protected] Burnett Street Ashburton

03 308 4218 or 021 180 8722www.continuousaccounting.co.nz

The Gym for Women

Configure Express “The Gym for Women” is New Zealand’s fastest growing gym for women with 33 gyms countrywide. Configure Express Ashburton recently won the 2012 Ashburton Business Association Small Business of the Year Award and this was after only being open for seven months. Configure Express is situated at Level 3, Somerset House in Ashburton.

We have a position available for a friendly female fitness professional to work in our gym for women. While the position is to cover a full-time vacancy we’re happy to fill this via part-time employment as well, giving greater flexibility.

We have high quality facility specialising in women’s health and fitness, not only do we have full gym facilities, we have specialised programmes in nutrition and exercise for women to achieve real results. If you are an enthusiastic and motivated individual with an outgoing personality and love working in a professional team environment seeing ladies achieving their goals - then this is the job for you.

Excellent working conditions in an all women environment are provided.

Please apply to [email protected] accompanied with your CV, for a copy of the job description please call Verity Lydford at 307 7030. Applications close on or before 18 October 2012 or when the right person has been found.

GYM INSTRUCTOR

Gluyas Ag Centre has a proud history as a platinum rated New Holland and a five star Kubota dealership throughout the Mid Canterbury region. We are responsible for selling and servicing a comprehensive range of industry leading brands of agricultural equipment and machinery.Due to an increasing workload and internal transfers, we have a great opportunity for an additional agricultural service technician to join our busy workshop.This permanent position is ideally suited for applicants who are qualified diesel technicians with a proven work history or relevant industry experience. Applicants will need to be enthusiastic and motivated, with a strong customer focus, and able to work unsupervised in both workshop and field service locations.We offer a competitive remuneration package, on-going training, a stable working environment and a variety of interesting work on all types of farm machinery and equipment.Applicants for this position should have New Zealand residency or a valid New Zealand work permit.Please feel free to phone Stewart for a confidential discussion on 3075800 / 027 201 2757, or

If this sounds like you please apply with a copy of your CV to:

[email protected]

Gluyas Ag CentreASHBURTON

Service Technician / Agricultural

Experienced Machinist, Storeman

Stapleton’s, a subsidiary of Luisetti Seed, is a significant provider of Grain and Seed processing in the region including commodities both national and internationally.

Due to excellent growth within the Mid Canterbury region, we have an opportunity to employee a new staff member to our team.

lt is desirable that applicants will have the following skills,

1. Experienced machinist 2. Forklift license 3. Accurate documentation control. 4. Sound knowledge of stores and correct product

identification 5. Good physical fitness level is required as well as full

compliance of our company health and safety policy. 6. lt is important the successful applicant can complete a

variation of duties within our multi skilled team. 7. Truck HT license while not essential, could be an

advantage.

If you are keen to join a small dedicated team offering variety and work in modern facilities with the view of expanding your industry knowledge we are keen to view your CV. Training will be offered as applicable and remuneration will be negotiated subject to experience.

Hours of work will vary with our team and will require some split shift hours in line with industry seasonal demands. This will be discussed further at the interview.

Applications will close 9.00am Monday 5th Nov 2012 and be treated and viewed in confidence, please send your letter of interest to.

General ManagerStapletons 2009 LtdP O Box 380Ashburton 7740Or email: [email protected]

Media sales position available

We have vacancy for a professional advertising sales consultant to join our newspaper sales team.This position will provide you with great opportunities to be innovative and creative in an exciting team environment. You will have the opportunity to work closely with business owners/managers to develop their own individual advertising strategy and will be responsible for advising, creating and implementing their advertising in Ashburton’s leading media.Ideal candidate will be bright, energetic, with an exceptional people orientated approach and a proven track record. A high level of personal integrity, drive and motivation to succeed is expected as is a commitment to providing the best possible outcome for the client.We will provide you with the training and support to offer your clients a superior professional service, to bring them the results they expect and more. The Ashburton Guardian offers an excellent remuneration package and is a great place to work.If you are an experienced sales professional with a proven history of leveraging the highest levels of client service to achieve your personal and professional goals, then you should apply in writing, with confidence, by 5pm, Friday, November 9, to:-

Desme DanielsP O Box 77, Ashburton 7740Somerset House - Burnett Street, Ashburtonor email [email protected]


Dairy Business of the Year Field Day

To assist with catering please register your attendance by phoning Alanah

at Intelact on 0800 735 588

At the farm of 2012 Canterbury Regional Winner Gary and Val Wright, Longbeach Dairies

233 Poplar Road, Ashburton.

The field day is free and open to the public from 10.30am to 1pm with a complementary lunch.

Friday, November 9

Contact Warren and Gerard to know more! Bremners Road, Ashburton Phone: 0274 192 554 Email: [email protected]

24 Hours a day7 days a week

You can ALWAYS get hold of us

Free on site quoteAshburton Crane Hire

Phone: 0274 192 554

Quality, range, experience & value. That’s Versatile!

From 40 great home plans to sleepouts, garages, workshops and carports, Versatile can build it all! And we’ll take care of everything from consents to driveways. Call us today about an obligation-free quote.

0800 VERSATILEwww.versatile.co.nz

Richie McCawVersatile home owner

364 West Street, Ashburton

Fred HoekstraVeehof Dairy Services

Why is proper hoof trimming so important? What is there to be gained? Whoever answers those questions should include animal welfare and loss of profit. But things like staff morale, loss of time, farming image and management issues can be used in that answer as well.

Different people may have those points in different order of priority. But animal welfare and loss of profit are the most important ones.

I know that most people would agree with me about that and yet a lot of farmers are not willing to spend money and effort to streamline the hoof trimming procedure. We often get comments that people have been trimming cows for many years and know how to do it. I have not yet met anyone who has had no formal training who is good at trimming cow’s feet.

Time in and of itself is not going to produce a good hoof trimmer. There is teaching needed and then practise. That is why many of the people that we have trained better results than what they were getting before they did the course.

Better results translates into less animal welfare problems and faster recovery and therefore more profits. I can guarantee that anyone can get better results in hoof trimming if they spend some time in proper training, no matter how long they have been trimming in their life. I would even be willing to refund any trainee if they don’t

learn better hoof trimming techniques on one of our courses. At the end of the day we don’t trim cow’s feet to make ourselves feel better; we do it so that the

cows feel better. We don’t just want the cow to come right, we want the cows to come right as soon as possible.

Yet often the cows don’t heal any faster when they are trimmed by an untrained person than what they do if they are not trimmed at all. I would even argue that often the problem is made worse rather than better with untrained people. The reason is that if we only hollow out the lesion in a hoof we create a prolapse of the corium. Many people call that proud flesh.

This will take a lot longer to heal than a claw with a lesion that is not prolapsed. If the cost of a lame cow is around $400, you can half that by trimming that cow properly. Then effectively you would earn $200 in the time you trim that cow. Even if it takes you 30 mins you still make $400 dollars per hour- most lawyers don’t even make that sort of money!

Testimonials“A very thorough course! If you want to

learn how to do lame feet properly, this is the best money can buy!”

–Daniel Gardener, Leeston“Great value for money for what you learn,

considering how much lameness costs you!” – James Hartshorne, Tapanui.

Saving you time and money

Photo suPPliedFred Hoekstra shows trainees the correct way to trim hooves.

Gluyas Ag Centre has a proud history as a platinum rated New Holland and a five star Kubota dealership throughout the Mid Canterbury region. We are responsible for selling and servicing a comprehensive range of industry leading brands of agricultural equipment and machinery.Due to an increasing workload and internal transfers, we have a great opportunity for an additional agricultural service technician to join our busy workshop.This permanent position is ideally suited for applicants who are qualified diesel technicians with a proven work history or relevant industry experience. Applicants will need to be enthusiastic and motivated, with a strong customer focus, and able to work unsupervised in both workshop and field service locations.We offer a competitive remuneration package, on-going training, a stable working environment and a variety of interesting work on all types of farm machinery and equipment.Applicants for this position should have New Zealand residency or a valid New Zealand work permit.Please feel free to phone Stewart for a confidential discussion on 3075800 / 027 201 2757, or

If this sounds like you please apply with a copy of your CV to:

[email protected]

Gluyas Ag CentreASHBURTON

Service Technician / Agricultural


The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is asking for members of the public to be its eyes, following the conviction of a North Island farmer for wilful ill-treatment of a significant number of dairy cows.

Forty-year-old Waikino farmer Laurens Barend Erasmus was convicted in the Waihi District Court recently for the wilful ill-treatment of a significant number of dairy cows, and sentenced to 10 months’ home detention with judicial monitoring at three month intervals.

In late February, 2012, an MPI Animal Welfare compliance team entered the property farmed by Mr Erasmus for the

purpose of inspecting the dairy herd.

A MPI investigation found that he had been breaking his cows’ tails (115 of the 135-cow herd) hitting them on the hind legs with a steel pipe and stainless steel milking cups at the dairy shed.

MPI Waikato/BOP compliance manager Brendon Mikkelsen said the inspection revealed serious animal welfare issues with cows on the property showing obvious signs of physical injuries and severe distress.

Twenty-five of the 135-dairy cow herd on the property were euthanised due to

the serious pain and distress they were in. Those injuries included broken legs, swollen hocks, weeping lesions, swollen joints and infections and fractured legs.

“Deliberate abuse of animals such as in this case is disgraceful and simply will not be tolerated by our dairy industry or MPI. This appears an extreme and isolated case,” Mr Mikkelsen said.

Under section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 the charges laid against Erasmus can attract a maximum jail term of five years’ imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $100,000 and disqualification from owning and or exercising authority in

respect of animals.

“Persons in charge of animals have a fundamental obligation for the welfare of those animals. The vast majority of persons in charge of animals on farms take their obligations very seriously,” Mr Mikkelsen said.

“MPI’s animal welfare compliance team cannot be everywhere so it is vital farmers, industry, associated on-farm service providers and the public maintain vigilance and report alleged Animal Welfare Act breaches on our hotline – 0800-008-333. Calls can be treated in-confidence if necessary.”

Be vigilant; report animal abuse


0800 278 583 www.crt.co.nz

Through a single point of contact CRT can provide much of what you need for your conversion.

This includes:

Experienced, credible and independent advice

Specialist knowledge in key areas

A wide range of the most reputable products and trusted brands

Your dairY conversion could be a loT easier Than You Think

Your CRT dairy specialist can arrange everything on your behalf including livestock, farm mapping, stockwater systems, fertiliser, seed, fencing, calving, dairy shed hygiene, bulk fuel, power and communications.

You can use as many of our services as you need - it’s up to you.

To talk to your local CRT dairy specialist call 0800 278 583 today.

Ashburton CRT FarmCentre418 West Street03 307 9140

Henry RossMid Canterbury District Manager

027 248 8068

250 Frsn/FrsnX cows BW 106 PW 113 REL 98% high country herd will shift very well $2,200. Contact Mark Howells 027-702-9988

Pick 200 from 220 very quiet XBD cows. Family owned for 50 years low SCC wet farm BW 101 PW 102 REL 96% Flexible delivery $2,100. Contact Grant Hobbs 027-477-7406

180 Strong and tidy Jsy cows low SCC and farmed well on testing property. BW 73 PW 57 REL 96% flexible delivery $2,100 young stock available as well. Contact Stephen Sutton 027-442-3207

100 LIC Frsn cows. Faithfully farmed by owner for over 35 years BW 109 PW 124 REL 99% $2,200. Phone Simon Payne 027-241-4585

Pick 20 out of 80 Jsys content of herd Cream of the crop. Established herd BW 126 PW 130 REL 99% Immediate delivery. Phone Stephen Sutton 027-442-3207

Must see 120 XBD milking heifers all two years old great buying BW 124 PW 136 REL 95% $2,400. Phone Jeremy Newell 027-664-8832

Very tidy even line of 30 XBD in calf heifers BW 144 PW 143 May 1st delivery 2013 Forward contract $1,600. Phone Chris Hay 027-602-4454

TARANAKI HERDS FOR SALE NOW.MORE TO COME

Dairy CoordinatorTim Hurley 027-445-1167


Quite often the 10 day peak period is mentioned in discussion groups; a peak of 2.4kg MS per cow, or 7.5kg MS/hectare/ day sounds really good. But the challenge is to hang on to this as long as possible and keep the so called ‘post-peak decline to a minimum’, ideally below a 5% drop per month. This is really important for the total production per cow and per hectare for the season.

Dairy farms in New Zealand differ substantially in geographical and individual farming factors. Geographical factors include weather and soil types; farm management differences include farm size, cow numbers, fertiliser application per hectare, cow type and feed inputs. Maintaining pasture quality is the one factor that should be consistent, as this is crucial to ensure that the farm is able to keep riding on top of the peak wave for as long as possible.

The following practices will help achieve pastures of 12+ MJ ME and 20+ % protein

• Maintain grazing residuals between 1500 and 1600kg DM/ha

• Surplus pasture on the milking platform should be taken out of paddock rotation and kept for baleage or silage. Mow these paddocks before they are two cans high (within 10 days after leaving it out of the ground)

• If necessary to get residuals and quality back, top the paddocks or use another stock class to reach target levels

• Applying nitrogen helps tillering and new leaf formation

• Walk around the farm with the whole team and show examples of quality and target residuals so everybody understands what to look for

• Take some pre-grazing pasture samples and get them analysed for feed quality to gain precise feedback on metabolisable energy, protein, fibre and dry matter. Testing for minerals will also give useful feedback for your fertiliser programme

The in-shed feeding system can be a great help to control post-peak decline too, but should not cover up pasture management issues:

• Don’t suddenly drop the feeding levels of grain, dairy meal or pellets. Look at cow condition, milk production and weather conditions before you decide

• Increase the level, for example, from two to three to four kilograms if a bad spell of weather comes through and ease this out when conditions improve. Remember one or two bad spells of weather over the November/December period can cost you a lot of production on a yearly basis, and

can also undermine the results of your herds mating period

• If you run two or more herds, or have a system in which you can favour higher producing and/or lighter conditioned cows, you can use the in-shed feeding tool even more efficiently.

Reliance feedsReliance Feeds has a number

supplementary dairy feeds that have been specifically formulated for the coming season

The feeds are made from only quality ingredients and are part of CRT’s quality assurance program to ensure that they meet their stated specifications.

For more information about Reliance Feeds contact the CRT nutrition team on 0800 278 583.

Letting your cows ride the wave and still get in calf

WE TAKE THE HASSLE OUT OF MOVING

THE ASHBURTON FURNITURE MOVERS DIFFERENCE

From packing, clean-up, storage and moving your whole household to delivering a recent large purchase, we do it all. Call today for a quote.

Houselots - nationwideNew furnitureOffice relocationInsurance availableFully lined and equipped trucksFull packing serviceHousecleaners & rubbish removal available

Secure and alarmed storageLocally owned and operated in Ashburton since 1994Range of truck sizes to suit load and locationFree quotes in Mid Canterbury

Handy hints when packing• Discard any unwanted/unused items.

• Pack room by room - start in one particular room and don’t leave until finished.

• Make sure all boxes are packed with lids closed and well labelled (on the tape is the best place incase you are using second hand boxes. Having lids closed will prevent damage and stack in the truck a lot neater, reducing the chance of movement in transit.

• Don’t underestimate the volume of contents in hidden cupboards, for example kitchen and china cabinets. If these are left to moving day there is a good chance the removal man will have the truck loaded and out the gate before they are packed!

We like to move it, move it!With a fleet of trucks to suit all household and furniture moves, Ashburton Furniture Movers can get you on the road sooner, than later. Reuben Carr can estimate (by the amount of items/ boxlots) which vehicle will suit your shift and what the cost may be. Most movers in the Mid Canterbury area are delighted when they find out how reasonably priced and stress-free relocating with Ashburton Furniture Movers truly is!

Reuben Carr

Born and bred around Mid Canterbury, Reuben has resided most of his life here. So he figures he has a “pretty thorough knowledge” of the area. With a reliable GPS, Reuben has the rest of the country (both South and North Island) sussed. With the love of a good challenge, Reuben enjoys outlaying each client’s move so it all runs to plan. Communication is key when a move is on - and as you will see the phone is never far from Reuben’s reach. The phone plays a vital part of the Ashburton Furniture Movers customer service!

Hayley Carr

A very busy lady, Hayley juggles her busy life around husband, Reuben and their two sons and a career in hairdressing. With Hayley’s

supporting role in the business, ensures Ashburton Furniture Movers runs smoothly and efficiently.

As a trusted member of the team for almost 3 years, Russell is who your treasured possessions are imparted to, on their journey to a new destination and home. With a friendly face and a caring empathy, Russell makes your moving as stress-free as possible. Russell’s moving experience has been extensive with over 11 years in the industry.

The Ashburton Furniture Movers team can give you a free quote within Mid Canterbury region for packing, moving, storage and delivery.

Just call Reuben on 0800 RELOCATE (0800 735 622) today!

photo suppliedHayley & Reuben Carr with apprentices, Layton (7) and Jacob (almost 4) plus family dog Dascha

Documents

Dairy Focus October 2012