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May 7, 2024
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UK - Livestock farmers told to plan to prevent long-term forage shortages
Livestock farmers facing forage shortages following one of the wettest winters on record are being told to measure and monitor forage stocks and consider alternative cropping options this spring to safeguard feed for the coming winter.
Speaking on the latest Mole Valley Farmers' Podcast, one of the company's Nutritionist and Technical Product Managers, Dr Kerensa Hawkey, and their Head of Grassland and Forage Agronomy, Lisa Hambly, outlined the dire situation being reported nationwide. Hambly said that with only seven dry days since the beginning of December, farmers' ability to carry out their fieldwork has had a massive impact on forage availability, with many looking to fill the gap over the next month before turnout.
They urged all farmers to measure stocks by taking the length, width, and height of the clamp to establish the volume, and then sampling the silage to get the dry matter. From this, farmers can work out how many tonnes of fresh weight are available, and by dividing that by how many tonnes a day are being used, will indicate the number of feed days left. Dr Hawkey said: "Don't just count the dairy cows; what about youngstock, dry cows and those few beef cows in the other shed? If you can reduce those animals, that's less mouths to feed."
Forage shortage solutions: The experts detailed alternative feed options for farmers faced with forage shortages. They included: Buying in silage; Zero grazing grass if equipment is available; Straw- although prices are high; Fodder beet; Forage extender nuts and blends; Sugar beet and soya hulls as a straights; Moist blends; Grazing grass for short periods. Cows can achieve 90% of their daily grass intake in the first three hours after they are turned out post-milking. Any changes, however, should be gradual. Dr Hawkey said, "A cow will take two weeks to adapt to a new diet change, so anything we do change can't be done suddenly."
And with crop yields expected to be down and the quantity and quality of first cut silage looking variable, farmers were advised to take action to safeguard adequate forage stocks for the winter ahead. Hambly said: "A lot of autumn crops didn't manage to get in the ground, and we've been late getting into the spring, so people might want to think about putting an extra field into maize because that's one way of getting a lot of high dry matter yield and good quality energy pretty quickly."
First cut silage worries: The experts also warned farmers that first-cut silage quality may not be where it should be, with possible fermentation difficulties due to low sugar levels and soil contamination. "Fresh grass testing has highlighted many samples with low sugar levels. We're seeing a massive range in pre-cutting analysis from about 5% to 12% on a dry matter basis in terms of sugar. We don't want it lower than 10. The fibre content of those samples is also running higher than we like, and I'm not sure if it's going to come down enough for where we'd like it to be," comments Dr Hawkey.
The experts alerted listeners to the risk of soil contamination when taking the first cut. Hambly added: "Many farmers haven't been able to roll fields because it's been too wet, so the soil levels could be higher than you think. A challenge with some of the older leys is there could be a lot of dead material at the bottom of the sward. If you cut too low, that will be taken into the clamp, and there's the risk of soil contamination.
"Lifting the cutting height could be massively beneficial this year-say 5-6cm for your standard leys, then 7-9cm for hybrids or new leys. Also, think about your chop length and how well it will compact in the clamp."
She added: "Speak to your contractor, tell them exactly what you want in advance and have a plan. Fresh grass testing will help tell you when the grass is ready to be cut." To maximise fermentation in the clamp, the experts also suggested using a silage additive. "Whatever you can do to help achieve a good fermentation will pay dividends," said Dr Hawkey.
Listen to the full podcast at rss.com/podcasts/mvf/1452019/ or for more information on how we can support your farm call the Feed Line on 01566 780261 or email feeds@molevalleyfarmers.com
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UK - Increased liver fluke problems putting cattle at risk of clostridial disease
The current high liver fluke risk1 is also pre-disposing cattle to black disease and farmers should consider clostridial vaccination and appropriate fluke control to avoid potentially serious livestock losses. "Farmers have recently been warned over a later than normal liver fluke threat in 2024 following an unusual weather pattern during 2023," said Dr Kat Baxter-Smith, veterinary adviser with MSD Animal Health.
"Cattle livers are therefore in danger of being rejected because of fluke and in some cases this liver damage could also allow the clostridial bacteria C. novyii to gain a foothold with rapid death often the result. Consequently, associated black disease is emerging as a significant and potentially catastrophic issue.
"The tissue damage caused by flukes migrating through the liver provides an ideal breeding ground for clostridia bacteria. Clostridial toxins kill quickly, and these diseases present few clinical signs before death. As a result, more cattle should be vaccinated with a broad spectrum clostridial disease vaccine such as Bravoxin Suspension."
The rise in liver fluke infections and associated black disease is not the only reason why broad-spectrum clostridial vaccination has become more popular. There was a time that blackleg was the only clostridial disease cattle producers were aware of, but now that additional clostridial bacteria such as C. sordellii and C.perfringens A have also been identified as causes of sudden death on UK cattle farms, it makes sense to broaden cover.
Dr Baxter-Smith explained that clostridial diseases are responsible for a huge number of costly cattle and sheep losses on UK farms.
"Clostridial bacteria take the lives of cattle and sheep on a regular basis and are the cause of a significant proportion of the sudden livestock deaths in the UK. These bacteria share the same environment as livestock and are ever-present - existing in soil, on pasture, within buildings and even in the tissues and intestines of cattle and sheep. Consequently, improved farm biosecurity measures will be of no benefit in controlling this group of diseases.
"The sheep industry already recognises the importance of broad-spectrum vaccination against clostridial diseases, but more cattle producers are recognising the benefit. But over the last few years, there is increased incidence of different clostridial diseases in far from typical circumstances," she said.
Dr Baxter-Smith added that there are also many cattle deaths going undiagnosed and it is likely that many are caused by clostridial species. "As a result, we are now advising beef and dairy farmers to take a broader-spectrum vaccination approach to ensure adequate protection - not only of the cows themselves - but also for their calves. This can be achieved through good colostral transfer, or ideally through the continued protection of youngstock through their own vaccination using Bravoxin Suspension."
MSDAnimal Health
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UK - Three new Strategic Dairy Farms for AHDB
Three dairy farms - from Wiltshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire, respectively - will join AHDB's Strategic Dairy Farm programme and will hold on-farm launch events in May. Over the course of three years, they will share their knowledge and experience to help other farmers learn from one another. The aim is to give farmers the confidence to explore new ideas and adopt change in their own businesses. The farms will be supported by a steering group, made up of local farmers and advisors, who will help them identify challenges and set goals and activity over the course of the programme.
Wolfhall Farm - Launching on 15 May 2024: Herd Manager Anthony Mitchell and Farm Owner Tom Blanchard run a 600-cow, crossbred herd on a split-block calving system, yielding approximately 6,000 litres per cow, at 4.8% butterfat and 3.7% protein. The autumn block is served mainly to sexed semen, with beef semen only used in the spring block. Beef calves are reared to six months of age before being sold as stores.
The 600 ha farm, located in Wiltshire, has a 175 ha grazing platform with grass, maize, fodder beet and lucerne grown to support the dairy. Wheat, barley and oilseed rape are also grown.
At the launch, Anthony and Tom will be discussing the breeding decisions they made for this farm and why the farm is changing from a spring-calving-dominated split block to an autumn-dominated split block system.
We will also be exploring how the flexible approach they have to forage crops has maximised grazing days.
Book your place now
Curtis Hulme Farm - Launching on 21 May 2024: Cheshire farmers Dave and Caroline Williams run a herd of 450 cows on an all-year-round calving system.
The cows are a three-way cross of Holstein-Friesian, Norwegian Red and Montbelliarde cattle. They yield approximately 8,800 litres per cow, at 4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein. The farm is made up of 540 acres, 240 acres of which is owned, 200 rented and the rest is contract farmed, growing maize, wheat, barley and grass with white clover leys.Through joining the Strategic Dairy Farm programme, Dave and Caroline want to look at soil mapping on their farm and increase herd productivity, with the feedback from a steering group and from local farmers that they will be hosting during their on-farm meetings. The launch will offer a great opportunity for farmers to learn about why Dave and Caroline decided to crossbreed their cows and the future of their breeding decisions, calf management protocols and the long-term visions of the farm.
Book your place now
Rough Grounds Farm - Launching on 23 May 2024: Farmers Graham and Justine Worsey run a herd of 260 cows on a split-block calving system with their daughter Jess and a recently established equity share agreement with Dan Jones. The cows are crossbred with Jerseys and Friesians to help the cows benefit from better butterfat and protein while maintaining good overall health. They yield approximately 6,500 litres per cow, with 4,500 litres from forage and 550 kg of milk solids from forage. During their launch meeting, we will discuss the story of Rough Grounds Farm, including the share-farming agreement, and present a financial assessment of the farm, highlighting what factors have contributed to their profitability. The day will also include a farm tour and an evaluation from the Worseys on their paddock system, which now contains a substantial herbal ley, and the changes in approach to integrating herbs and legumes into an existing grazing system.
Book your place now
AHDB
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UK - Reduce disinfectant costs with this innovative product
Mole Valley Farmers has been helping Riverford Organic's herd manager Stuart Cock switch to Virus Shield to help reduce plastic waste and increase productivity.
Virus Shield is a pure chlorine-based disinfectant using new and unique microreactor technology, which comes in a 'tea bag' sealed within a pouch. It kills 99.999% of bacteria, reducing contamination of the udder. Stuart switched as part of a drive to become antibiotic free and said: "Since we started using Virus Shield, it seems to be having a positive effect on our cell counts and cases of mastitis."
Virus Shield can be used as a pre or post dip, spray or foam and Stuart has been using it as a teat dip for the farm's dairy herd of 240 cross breeds. He said: "It's proving really good. We wanted to lose the plastic drums which build up quickly and need to be removed and recycled. It's much easier to use. It's also left the teats nice and soft and in good condition, so it's better for the cows too."
It's also set to lower the dairy's energy costs with a planned move towards more cold washes. He added: "That would reduce our electricity bills, making us even more sustainable for our contracts. It's also easy to mix. You don't have to mess around getting the levels of iodine right. So far, every time we test it has remained active and we're up to almost 60 days now."
Once mixed, the Virus Shield concentration can last at least 30 and up to 90 days, reducing disinfectant costs. It dilutes at the same rate as the industry standard of one in 200 litres of cold water, plus as a parlour wash it quickly removes biofilm from the plant. For more information get in touch with Mole Valley Farmers' Agricultural Sales Team or Dairy Hygiene Specialist, Mark Parkin, on 07816 581 264.
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Global - Boumatic partners with Brolis
BouMatic, a pioneer in dairy technology, proudly announces its partnership with Brolis Sensor Technology to combine efforts on integrating the Brolis in-line milk analyzer into the Gemini UP milking robot and other BouMatic milking systems.The In-line milk analyzer is part of the Brolis HerdLine concept.
The in-line milk analyzer continuously monitors fat, protein and lactose. This data will help dairy farmers to improve milk quality, detect early stages of disease and make decisions on genetic selection and feeding strategy. "The Brolis HerdLine delivers greater control and oversight over the dairy herd," remarked Steve Pretz, President of BouMatic. "Efficiency and sustainability of dairy farms depends on data needed to make key decisions. Partnering with Brolis, who is a cutting-edge high-tech company, allows us to be part of that decision-making process for the dairy farms working with us."
Pretz continues: "This milk analyzer is the first of several innovations that BouMatic intends to bring to the market soon as part of the "cow side" technology movement. "These devices are critical to the development of precision farming but will also be a key element in developing cutting edge tools for the world's largest farms. We will provide a unique value proposition to farms of all sizes."
Boumatic
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US - The 'milk supply is safe': Biden administration scrambles to reassure Americans as bird flu spreads
Despite the assurances, the Food and Drug Administration's announcement that 1 in 5 retail milk samples tested positive for viral fragments suggests that the virus may have spread beyond symptomatic dairy herds. The pathogen has now been found in at least 33 dairy herds across eight states since first being detected among Texas cattle in late March. Virologists say it could be much more widespread than that data suggests. To date, however, just one person has been confirmed to have contracted the virus - a dairy worker in Texas who developed a case of conjunctivitis.
Federal officials and industry executives maintain the discovery of inactive fragments of the virus strain, known as H5N1, in milk sold to consumers is not, in and of itself, worrisome - rather, it's evidence that the pasteurization process is working to neutralize the virus. But given that bird flu has never before spread to cattle, public health officials warn there are still many unknowns. And they and some farmers and lawmakers are now urging the government to rapidly expand its testing and research - and to make that data available ASAP.
What is the Biden administration telling consumers about drinking milk? USDA, FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement reiterating that "the commercial milk supply is safe." And the agencies emphasized that pasteurization is key to preventing milk from transmitting the bird flu virus to humans. The pasteurization process, they noted, "kills harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time to make milk safer. Even if the virus is detected in raw milk, pasteurization is generally expected to eliminate pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health."
Politico
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Algeria - Country signs USD3.5B deal with Qatari firm to develop world's largest dairy farm
A Qatari food giant announced a USD3.5 billion agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop the world's largest integrated dairy farming and production project in the south of the African country. The pact is for the establishment of a vast cattle-breeding farm for powdered milk and meat in southern Algeria, the Algerian Agriculture Ministry said. Baladna is Qatar's largest milk and dairy production firm, which started trading on the Qatar Stock Exchange in 2019 and has a market cap of around USD2.5 billion. It produces fresh and ultra-high temperature milk.
The project will cover a 170,000-hectare area in the Adrar province and be split into three hubs, each comprising an arable farming operation, a dairy and beef farming operation, and a powdered milk manufacturing facility. Baladna said the herd on the site will reach 270,000, producing around 1.7 billion liters of milk a year.
Baladna said it will hold a 51% share in the complex, with the remaining 49% held by the Algerian state through its National Investment Fund.
Milk is an important industry in Algeria, and the country has seen shortages of the product in recent years. As a result, the North African country heavily relies on powdered milk imports - in 2022, Algeria imported USD1.62 billion of concentrated milk, according to Observatory of Economic Complexity data. By those metrics, Algeria that year was the world's second-largest concentrated milk importer.
Recent local reports say that queues have become commonplace in Algerian cities to received rationed and subsidized powder-based milk. Many Algerians have protested on social media about having to wait hours to pick up milk. In past years, huge numbers of cows and other livestock have been smuggled across borders into Algeria. For example, in October 2022, authorities announced the seizure of 20 cows that smugglers intended to cross into Algeria from Tunisia. Some of the reasons for this are the high costs associated with feedstock in countries where droughts are common.
al-monitor.com
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Amendments to permitted development rights in England from 21 May.
CLA Deputy President Gavin Lane responds: "The CLA has long argued for permitted development rights to be extended, to grow the rural economy. We welcome the news that farmers and landowners will now be able to convert agricultural buildings into a higher number of dwellings, and of a greater size, and that buildings can be more flexibly re-used for other commercial uses, boosting diversification. There is a chronic lack of rural housing and without it, the sustainability and vibrancy of communities up and down the country is under threat.
"But it is bitterly disappointing to see Class Q permitted development rights won't be expanded to National Parks and Landscapes. Allowing the use of Class Q within these areas would enable much needed development and help stimulate growth in the rural economy . . ."
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UK - Welsh dairy farms sought for national programme
AHDB is seeking Welsh dairy farms to join its Strategic Dairy Farm programme. Successful applicants will be appointed for three years and will have the opportunity to collaborate with a team of experts to drive positive change on their farm. A steering group comprising AHDB representatives, peers, and industry experts will offer a network of support and assist in identifying goals and developing a tailored plan for each farm. The experiences of participating farms will be shared with other farmers, enabling them to learn from your insights.
Farmers who are interested in driving innovation, sharing best practices, and are confident in hosting on-farm and virtual events are encouraged to get in touch. To express your interest in becoming our next Strategic Dairy Farm, please contact Jamie McCoy at jamie.mccoy@ahdb.org.uk or James Hague at james.hague@ahdb.org.uk before Sunday, 30 June.
Find out more
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Farmers: Are you paying the correct minimum wage?
The minimum wage has increased, but employers who are paying salaries rather than hourly rates could be unknowingly offering less than the minimum wage.
"With the increase in minimum wage, farmers who are paying salaries and expecting people to work 50-60 hours a week are in serious danger of paying that person below the minimum wage," explains Paul Harris, CEO at staff specialist, REAL Success. And there could be serious fines if employers are found to be doing this. "For someone working a 55-hour week, which is common in the agricultural sector, the minimum wage for someone over 21 years old would be £32,718.40," he adds. "But for someone working 37.5 hours a week, which is more of a standard week, the minimum wage would be £22,308."
However, if accommodation is provided with the job, there could be an accommodation offset. For more information visit www.real-success.co.uk.
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