|
|
|
|
|
Newsletter January 16, 2024
|
|
UK - Investment in correct silage inoculant helps safeguard against changeable weather
Farmers are being advised not to leave silage fermentation to chance next year after a wet spring and variable summer resulted in poor fermentation in clamps across the country. Reports from the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Northern Ireland showed silage dry matters fluctuated from teens to, in some cases, over 50%. Harry Sykes, Area Sales Manager for EnviroSystems, reports a similar picture on many of his clients' farms, with increasingly unpredictable weather creating challenges when silage-making.
He said: "Wet and dry silages create challenges for silage fermentation, leading to spoilage and possible secondary fermentation, negatively affecting intakes and cow health. Whilst nothing can substitute for good silaging-making practices, the extreme weather conditions we are witnessing are making it harder for farmers to produce consistent, high-quality silages." EnviroSystems has been working with their clients to stabilise clamps using a three-strain inoculant, which helps provide an insurance policy when conditions are less than ideal.
OptiSile is a biological silage inoculant designed to treat all types of grass silage. The three strains of lactobacillus bacteria in the inoculant work by outcompeting invasive bacteria or fungi to ensure optimum ensiling of the forage throughout the initial fermentation. The higher concentration of Lactobacillus plantarum in the product provides a more robust buffering capability of the grass, ensuring a rapid pH drop to promote the initial fermentation. This not only helps to maximise nutrient preservation, but it also minimises losses, protects against mycotoxins and can help improve palatability and intake. Most silage additives contain lactobacillus bacteria, but OptiSile has a targeted blend of 3 strains that work together to protect forage from losses.
Sykes explained: "The first strain quickly dominates the forage and secretes large quantities of lactic acid, which provides the driving force behind the rapid pH drop. This creates conditions unfavourable for pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridia and Listeria to survive in. Our second strain produces a mixture of lactic and acetic acid, which is included due to acetic acid's invaluable antifungal activity against mycotoxin producing fungi and yeasts. Finally, once the pH of the clamp has lowered to ~ pH 5, strains 1 and 2 slow down, but this is where our third strain thrives, and continues to secrete lactic and acetic acid. This provides long term antimicrobial protection and enhanced air stability once the clamp face is opened during feed out," he said. By helping produce a better silage, farmers can get their cows eating more forage, an increased nutrient intake, a higher milk-from-forage return, all whilst requiring less bought-in feed, thereby offering a double return on investment. Farmers can read more about Optisile at https://envirosystems.co.uk/products/optisile-extra/ or visit the stand at Dairy-Tech on 7 February, where the EnviroSystems' team will be on hand to answer your queries.
|
|
|
|
|
UK- AHDB AgriLeader Forum 2024
AHDB invites you to the AgriLeader Forum in Manchester on 30-31 January for an opportunity to meet up, network with like-minded farmers and learn from international experts. This exclusive event will provide you with a unique opportunity to explore the power of personal and business networks. Get ready for a transformational experience that will change your perspective and ignite your motivation to grow.
You will hear from inspirational, world-renowned speakers, network with like-minded farmers, be challenged and motivated in equal measure, and be armed with the tools you need to drive your business forward. Headline speakers include Dr. Stephanie Fitzgerald, a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, and neuropsychologist, and Marcus Child, who specialises in personal power, resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity. The event will take place at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.
Izak Van Heerden from the AgriLeader team said: "The Forum is just the shot of energy and inspiration you'll need to tackle 2024 head-on! Join the rest of the AgriLeader family of positive, forward-thinking farmers to network and come away with a different outlook on the possibilities of the future!"
If you're new to the AgriLeader Forum or need a reminder of what it is all about, watch this recap from last year for a taste of what might be in store. Book now to secure your place and take advantage of this unique opportunity to grow your network and gain valuable insights. To book your place, visit: AgriLeader Forum 2024
|
|
|
UK - Award-winning farming enterprise named Down to Earth 2024 host
Award-winning Grosvenor Farms in Cheshire will host RABDF's Down to Earth on Wednesday, 3rd July. Down to Earth is now in its third year and is designed to offer something for everyone interested in profitable farming and transitioning towards more environmentally acceptable systems.
Grosvenor Farms has been chosen as the host due to its ability to demonstrate first-hand the intrinsic benefits of a whole-farm approach. They were the 2023 overall winner of the UK's premier dairy industry awards - the Cream Awards - where they were recognised for reducing the carbon footprint of their activities, improving carbon sequestration and enhancing biodiversity.
Grosvenor Farms produces high-quality, nutritious milk and cereal grains, adopting sustainable practices that benefit animal welfare and enhance the environment. The farm consists of an arable and 2,600-cow dairy operation and is spread across 2,340 hectares, including 800 hectares of arable, 450 hectares of three-year grass leys on a multi-cut system and 350 hectares of maize. Approximately 12% of the land is managed to support greater biodiversity and improve natural habitats.
Visitors will learn how Grosvenor Farm's whole farm approach has driven their strategy for the past decade, benefitting the entire farming operation and the environment. They will detail how they have increased their soil carbon to an average of 3% - almost double the UK average for cultivated soils and an indicator of its health and quality.
They will also outline how their integrated arable and dairy operations allow regular inputs of organic manure before and during the growing season - promoting healthy soil and providing a valuable source of plant nutrients. This is demonstrated in the farm's average soil organic matter on cultivated land at just over 5.25%, a good indicator of a resilient system.
Grosvenor will explain how they use conservation tillage to grow crops sustainably and stop soil carbon from escaping into the atmosphere. Their fields are planted year-round to help protect soils from erosion and recover nitrogen, an essential nutrient for growing. By integrating farming systems, such as recycling manure into organic fertilisers to replenish soils, means more than 80% of their animal feed is grown without artificial fertilisers.
As well as learning about Grosvenor Farm and having a farm tour, visitors to Down to Earth will also hear from industry experts on a range of topics, including biodiversity and animal health. There will also be practical machinery demos taking place throughout the day and a wide range of trade stands.
Show organiser RABDF's Managing Director Matt Knight said: "Grosvenor's approach clearly demonstrates the benefits across the entire farming system that can be had by taking a 360 view. All farm elements are intrinsically linked; they can now demonstrate the benefit to their entire business and the environment." He adds: "Due to the diverse nature of this operation, there are guaranteed to be light-bulb moments for all visitors, whether they are just starting on their regenerative journey or already some way down the route."
More information on the event, including speakers and ticket sales, will be available in due course at projectdowntoearth.co.uk
|
|
|
UK - New study reveals soil health benefits of regenerative agriculture
A study being conducted at the University of Leeds Farm, is shedding light on the benefits of regenerative cultivation techniques. The study compares soil health, crop production, greenhouse gas emissions, and profit of different farming systems across seven 12m x 40m plots.
Some of the plots were ploughed and power harrowed, while others underwent minimal cultivation using non-inversion, shallow cultivation. Cover cropping, living mulches, manures, livestock integration, and herbal leys have also been utilised as part of the trial. Data were collected by state-of-the-art soil stations created by Estonian ag-tech company Paul-Tech, which take real-time readings of nutrient availability, soil water levels and soil temperature at depths of 8cm and 20cm. Each plot received three treatments of nitrogen throughout the trial, with nutrient and water availability measured at both depths after each application.
The stations revealed that the trial plots which had minimal cultivation held more nutrients and water around the root zone for longer than plots that had been ploughed. As a result, the minimal cultivated plots recorded a significantly larger nutrient release after fertilisation and higher nutrient availability at the 8cm mark compared to the ploughed plots, and nutrients were held around the rootzone for longer.
By contrast, water quickly drained through the ploughed soil, leading to a significantly smaller nutrient release at fertilisation and considerably less nutrients available to the plants at 8cm. Soil temperature was also impacted by the cultivation method with the ploughed soil experiencing much larger temperature changes over the course of the trial. The ploughed soil froze when air temperatures dipped below zero, whereas those sown under a minimal cultivation system maintained a much more stable temperature throughout and did not freeze.
Commenting on the study findings, Paul-Tech Chief Executive Mikk Plakk said: "The data from our soil stations clearly shows soil nutrient availability and temperature differences between plots with different cultivation methods. For example, the soil in the conventional ploughed plot froze at root level and showed significant temperature differences while the minimal cultivated plots didn't freeze and temperatures were relatively consistent in the root zone. Also, in the minimal cultivated plots, the soil was much more effective at holding water, which meant far more nutrients were available at 8cm than was the case in the ploughed plots.
"The findings have a significant bearing on how farmers should be treating soil. They strongly suggest cultivation methods have the potential to significantly improve soil and plant health while reducing the amount of inputs they need to apply."
Paul Tech's soil station combines real-time proprietary sensor data with weather and satellite data to produce agronomic recommendations for farmers and growers, which are reported via an online dashboard. This empowers them to make more informed decisions about crop inputs and irrigation, leading to better soil health, plant health, yield and cost savings. The system is in place on commercial farming operations in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe and is being launched in the UK this month.
Paul Tech
|
|
|
|
|
Win an ADF automatic dipping & flushing system worth £30,000
ADF Milking have launched an exciting competition in which one lucky dairy farmer can win a brand new ADF automatic dipping and flushing system worth up to £30,000, plus consumables & servicing included for 1 year.
Enter online now via the ADF website here adfmilking.com/british-dairying or click on the image above. Alternatively you can visit the ADF Milking stand at Dairy-Tech 2024 to complete an entry form and place into the ballot box.
Entries close shortly before 3:00pm on Wednesday 7th February 2024. The winner will be announced exclusively at this year's Dairy-Tech on the ADF Milking stand B56, Hall 2 at 3:00pm.
Automatic Dipping & Flushing
The award-winning ADF Milking System automatically dips each teat directly within the liner, protecting the teat from harmful bacteria in the environment. Liners are then automatically sanitised between milkings to prevent cross contamination between cows.
ADF Milking are the market leaders in automatic dipping and flushing milking technology. The ADF System is the optimal solution for dairy farmers, resulting in efficient milking whilst improving cow health. Their milking technology is accessible to the widest range of dairy farm operations and is compatible with all parlour types.
ADF Milking at Dairy-Tech
See the ADF Milking technology at Dairy-Tech 2024. Visit their stand B56, Hall 2 to learn more about how ADF can save you time, money and bring stress-free milking to your dairy farm. Farmers who are unable to attend the event can enter the competition online now by clicking on the image above or visiting the ADF Milking website adfmilking.com/british-dairying for a chance to win.
|
|
|
UK - There's a future for palm oil in the dairy supply chain, but sustainable sourcing matters
From ice cream to livestock feed rations, palm oil is a common ingredient found throughout all stages of the dairy supply chain. Valued for its unique melting point, mixability and low odour, it has become one of the top global edible oils by consumption since the palm oil boom of the early 1990s, says Catherine Barton, Policy Lead on Deforestation-Free Commodities and Regenerative Agriculture for Chester Zoo.
"Palm is incredibly versatile and allows for manufacturing methods, product properties and extended shelf life that otherwise would not be possible if replaced with a different ingredient," explains Barton. In on-farm dairy production this goes a step further, with palm oil fractions used in the manufacture of many types of rumen-protected fat supplements as highly energy-dense ingredients with unique fatty acid profiles. These supplements are targeted to improve various aspects of dairy production including milk yield, milk fat production and cow fertility, says Dr Richard Kirkland, Global Technical Manager and nutritionist for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients (VWFI).
These rumen-protected feed fat supplements deliver an energy concentration around 2.5-times that of cereals without disrupting rumen function as is the risk with liquid oil sources. Recent research has demonstrated contrasting nutritional effects of palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1), the two major fatty acids in palm oil, when supplemented to dairy rations.
"Palm-based fat supplements help to optimise rumen conditions for improved digestion and utilisation of the entire ration. They also boost milk production outputs, allowing farmers to improve feed efficiency of their herds," explains Dr Kirkland. "While energy supply can be increased with non-rumen-protected vegetable oils or cereals, these ingredients can be incredibly disruptive to rumen function with consequences to animal health and productivity."
The improved production efficiency achieved on dairy farms translates into a similar picture of why sustainability discussions around palm oil aren't so black and white, says Barton. Compared to other vegetable oil crops, the amount of oil produced on 1 hectare of land growing palm would require up to 8 hectares of land from a different vegetable oil crop such as soya or rapeseed oil.
"When looking at what makes one commodity more sustainable than another, it must be both economically and environmentally feasible. When grown sustainably, palm checks those boxes," explains Barton. "From an environmental point of view, we need less land to produce the greater volumes of oil that are required for global consumption. The high yield also hits business targets for increased efficiency."
Chester Zoo is one of several independent organisations collaborating on on-the-ground conservation efforts in Indonesia and Malaysia to safeguard wildlife populations and prevent deforestation while working with local communities to create sustainable palm production systems and improve working conditions. Alongside this work, many major palm industry suppliers have implemented their own sustainability programmes and policies. These include Wilmar International, the world's largest palm oil trader, with the implementation of its No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy in 2013.
Food industry sustainability certifications
While major commercial influencers in the industry have been active in palm production reform, third-party work has largely been led by the industry's flagship independent certification programme, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, commonly referred to as RSPO. Founded in 2004, the RSPO takes a multi-stakeholder approach, working with environmental organisations, palm oil producers, processors, retailers and investors to provide fully-certified and traceable sustainable palm oil products. The RSPO also provides full transparency on members, with annual palm usage reports and sustainability targets published for individual members on its website.
VWFI is a partnership company between animal nutrition company Volac International and Wilmar International. A global leader in feed fat research and product development, VWFI's policy is to only use palm oil derivatives in products from sources that fulfil NDPE sustainability criteria or RSPO principles and criteria.
Looking ahead to the future of sustainable food production, Barton says so-called "no-palm" policies are not the answer. Instead, sustainable palm production needs to remain part of the food chain, with significant environmental and economic consequences if it does not.
Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients
Palm-based supplements in dairy rations improve milk yield, milk fat production and cow fertility, says Dr Richard Kirkland, Global Technical Manager and nutritionist for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients.
|
|
|
UNIFORM-Agri and NMR recently celebrated their 1000th / 2000th customer
Dairy farmer Chris Britton, who farms near Ripon, is not only the 1000th UNIFORM / NMR customer, he's also UNIFORM's 2000th UK customer!
NMR customer Chris, said he chose UNIFORM as he wanted something which was quick and easy to use.
He was inspired to consider UNIFORM by a variety of sources, including the farm's NMR milk recorder, his vet and other local farmers who already use the platform!
Chris particularly likes how he can share his farm data with his consultants such as vets, breeding advisors and nutritionists, via UNIFORM. "It made sense to use a program where everyone can sing off the same hymn sheet and share our data" he added.
"The mobile app is huge plus - it means you have all your data to hand wherever you are on your farm. This is particularly helpful when you're down the side of a crush during a fertility visit," he laughs.
Installing UNIFORM represents a huge cost saving benefit too. He is in control of his herd treatment plans in just a few clicks. With fertility, lameness, mobility, health all in one place it's likely that the day to day running of the herd will become more efficient and the health of the herd will improve.
Contact the NMR customer services team on 03330 043043 or by email, to book a demonstration of UNIFORM Agri and understand how it can help you on your farm.
|
|
|
UK - How data is bringing intel to UK dairy farms to improve animal welfare, profitability, and sustainability
At Dairy Data Warehouse (DDW), our comprehensive dairy farm data, reports and modelling help farmers to make the best decisions for their farm. Our powerful tools give clarity to complex issues, so you can take your farm into new levels of long-term profit and sustainability. DDW uses artificial intelligence (AI) and data on farm to help dairy farmers. Dairy farmers know the challenges of tight margins, environmental responsibility and demanding regulations. So how can dairy farming be profitable and sustainable? The answer is that data and artificial intelligence can help dairy farmers too.
Using data in dairy farming for a more sustainable future
The dairy industry is crucial for the future of our planet and human society - to significantly increase its production to provide high quality food. The dairy industry must ensure growing global demands are being met by farmers. At the same time, producers need to be cautious of demands to feed the world more efficiently both in a sustainable manner as well as economically. What do we mean when we say more sustainable? Resources are used most efficiently, energy is not wasted and carbon footprint kept as low possible. Data is key in achieving this and the technology of Big Data can provide the necessary insights. There are numerous examples how this can be achieved on dairy farms:
- AI tools can forecast milk production of individual animals and the whole herd. It identifies animals with the highest future production and predicts the quantity of milk that will be produced by the farm. That way, the herd can be steered towards optimal use of resources, shortages and costly overproduction is avoided.
- Big Data helps to plan reproduction and foresees the herd dynamics. The farm only raises as many animals as are actually needed. AI can steer your replacement policy, tell you which animals you need to inseminate and how many. Precious labour, feeding and emissions are saved.
- Udder health should be optimal and watched carefully in real time, as mastitis means production loss. AI helps us watch out for mastitis before it appears, identifies risk animals and brings treatment down. Thus, AI allows us to intervene long before mastitis negatively affects production.
- Diseases of livestock should be prevented rather than treated, as treatment is just a repair of damage that has already happened. The tools of AI analyse individual risk factor and predict whether an animal is likely to experience transition cow disease even before the dry period. That way real prevention can be applied, feeding adapted and animals being managed accordingly. This increases animal welfare, reduces treatment and ensures sustainability.
PredictaGUARDIAN can help
Read the full article: How data is bringing intel to UK dairy farms to improve animal welfare, profitability, and sustainability - British Dairying
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
Line-up revealed for new Food & Drink Festival
The first Bath & West Food & Drink Festival takes place 23-24 March, the Royal Bath & West Society announces.
Also hosting the 28th British Cheese Awards, the event will feature demos and presentations on everything from pairings and baking to cooking on a budget, with entertainment on offer for all ages. Highlights include a cheese and cider pairing session with Thatchers and Wyke Farms. Judging for the British Cheese Awards will take place on Friday 22 March, as over 60 of the most respected names in cheese assess the best of Britain and Ireland. www.bathandwest.com/food-and-drink-festival.
The British Cheese Awards 2024 is open for entry until Monday 19 February www.britishcheeseawards.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LAA Market Prices platform now officially live following launch event
Free trial of enhanced services and breeding price sales data now available. The new Market Prices platform is the new destination for live cattle, sheep and pig prices from across the livestock markets of England and Wales. "Our demonstration video runs through the key features of each of the subscription plans, helping to clarify exactly what is available to users," explains LAA development officer Zanna Dennis. "This includes continued free access to daily prices for mart customers, updated daily at 12 noon. Users simply need to select the market they use and include their unique buyer/vendor code on the Daily Prices sign-up form, and free access will be enabled," she adds.
LAA Market Prices o Manage. Monitor. Maximise
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance to WIN a years supply of SlurryBugs - proven to cut crust by a third
Dairy farmers can win a free year's supply of the newly formulated SlurryBugs slurry inoculant worth up to £1,000 - found to reduce crust formation on slurry stores by almost a third.
Just go to Dairy-Tech 7 February and visit EnviroSystems on stand E30 and fill out your details to be in with a chance of a win. You can also apply at info@envirosystems.co.uk. Winners will be drawn 28 February. In exchange for a year's free supply of SlurryBugs and SlurryBugs Maintenance, entrants must provide data on products throughout the year. Spaces are limited.
|
|
BRITISH DAIRYING
ENSURE YOU RECEIVE EVERY COPY
British Dairying is available by subscription at £70.00 posted to UK addresses,
£90.00 for Europe, £115.00 for the Rest of the world
or £30 +VAT for British Dairying Online only
|
|
| |
QUOTE
"Goals determine what you are going to be."
Julius Irving
"Goals transform a random walk into a chase."
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
". . . If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else."
Yogi Berra
|
|
| |
|
|
|
You are receiving this email because you are a registered reader of British Dairying and we are pleased to send you extra information to supplement the journal.
|
|
|
|
|
British Dairying,
WB Publishing Ltd
Priory Cottage, Eastbourne Road Ridgewood East Sussex TN22 5ST
WB Publishing Ltd is registered in England and Wales, Registration No 2951727
|
|
