Forage guide 2016

FORAGE AND NUTRITIONGUIDE 2016

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Premier Molasses Co. Ltd.Harbour Road, Foynes, Co. Limerick.Deepwater Berth, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork.

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MOLASSES: IMPROVING SILAGE QUALITY FOR GENERATIONS

Benefits:• Increases dry matter and lactic acid content of grass silage• Stimulates fermentation and facilitates natural silage preservation• Reduces pH and ammonia nitrogen levels of treated forage• Increases clamp storage capacity• Rich source of natural sugar and energy

Premier Molasses 200x283*.indd 1 21/03/2016 11:41

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Editor: Liam de Paor Design: Niall O’Brien Advertising Manager: Brian Murphy Advertising Executive: John SheehanEditorial Manager: Kennas Fitzsimons Chief Executive: Rebecca Markey Publisher: David MarkeyAccounts: Tricia Murtagh Administration & Subscriptions: Sue Nolan Publishers: IFP Media

Forage & Nutrition Guide 2016, 31 Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Tel: +353 1 289 3305 • Fax: +353 1 289 6406 e-mail: [email protected] • www.irishfarmersmonthly.com

Copyright IFP Media 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the express written permission of the publishers.

CONTENTS4 Optimising farm incomes for 2016

6 Product news

9 Pasture Profit Index for grass seed varieties

12 Update on the potential of perennial ryegrass ploidy and clover

15 Land drainage guidelines

18 Making best use of cattle slurry N, P and K

20 Parasite control at grass

22 Livestock benefits from film & film wrapping

24 Quality silage additive is an excellent investment

26 Cubicle housing for cows

30 Farming safely with electricity

32 Taking the hassle out of heifer management

35 Optimum replacement heifer calf nutrition

38 Rearing heifers for lifetime productivity

40 Production systems for dairy calves for beef finishing systems

43 IHFA national open day 2016

44 Accident and sickness support

45 Managing cashflow on farm is critical for success

48 Machinery news and views

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FORAGE AND NUTRITION Guide 2016

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Liam de Paor

OPTIMISING FARM INCOMES FOR 2016 The abolition of milk quotas has focused minds on future expansion. According to the Central Statistics Office, the number of dairy cows in the Republic had increased 10 per cent by December 2015 to 1.24 million.However, much lower milk prices and the threat of future price volatility is also focusing minds on how to improve production while also reducing costs. As regards the beef industry, the reduced value of sterling is making our exports to Britain less competitive. Beef cow numbers have increased by 1.1 per cent to 1.05 million. Most of the increase came from the rise in dairy cow numbers, but there was also a significant increase in cattle aged under one year of age.The number of these cattle increased by 140,000 head (+7.4 per cent) in December 2015, so this rise will result in more cattle coming available for slaughter and could impact on future cattle prices.Indeed, Bord Bia predicts that an additional 60,000-80,000 cattle will come on stream in the second half of 2016. So the bottom line is that all livestock farmers will have to focus on improving technical performance to protect their family farm incomes.The new milk quota will be on land and labour. So livestock farmers will need to significantly improve herd performance if they are to make a decent profit from their significant investment and from their increased production.

Farmers need to optimise production from grass if they are to increase milk yields/ha or to improve live weight gain. Our most efficient farmers are growing, and utilising, in excess of 12 tonnes of dry matter per hectare, yet the national average is only 7.5 tonnes. To improve farm incomes, all livestock producers need to minimise the purchase of expensive concentrates and have extra and better quality silage available for winter feed.According to Teagasc, dairy farmers are losing €300/ha as a result of old pastures and such fields are 25 per cent less responsive to fertilisers. So reseeding with new and improved varieties is an excellent investment.Poor health will impact on busy farmers, livestock performance and farm incomes. So improving the health of your herd or flock will save time, money and, ultimately, will improve livestock performance.For example, the average cost of a case of milk fever is over €300. As regards high somatic cell counts (SCC), Teagasc estimates that net farm profitability was reduced from 5.9c/kg at an SCC of <100,000 cells/ml, to 2.3c/kg at an SCC of >400,000 cells/ml.Many dairy farmers have cows that should be culled for reasons such as poor fertility, lameness, high SCC counts, mastitis problems and low milk solids. This is not a year when producers can afford to carry passengers in their herds.

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FILM VERSUS NETWRAPInnovations in agriculture take time to become established. Some try their best and still don’t find acceptance, others gather interest but may fail to bring a revolution. This applies to the idea – first tried in the early 1990s – of using film to bind round bales, instead of netwrap.In 2015, Teagasc conducted a study which compared combinations of netwrap or binding film to establish comparisons in chemical composition, mould and sealing. Bales were made, using combinations of two wraps, three wraps and four wraps of netwrap, or 3.5 wraps of binding film, then wrapped with either four or six layers. Teagasc’s Dr Padraig O’Kiely, MAgrSc, PhD, said: “The chemical composition results showed that the quality of fermentation was the same for the netwrap bales

and for those made with binding film, for the same number of wrapping film layers.” Silage chemical composition indices of nutritive value and preservation were largely unaffected by netwrap versus binding film. Tested variables like pH, lactic acid and ammonia, had statistically no significant difference between netwrap or binding film wrapped bales.Dry matter digestibility, an accurate and reliable test of forage feeding value used to estimate energy of the silage, as well as expected live weight gains/milk yields, had only 1.5% difference between netwrap and binding film bales, a difference also statistically insignificant. Practical use has shown that the two different binding/wrapping systems offer little difference in forage quality and certain on-costs in using binding film cannot be ignored.

Netwrap Binding filmBinding cost/bale €0.40 (4,500m at two wraps/bale) €1.30 (2000m at 3.5 wraps/bale)Wrapping cost/bale €2.10 (four-layer application) €2.10 (four-layer application)Extra capital cost €0.00 €0.23TOTAL €2.50/bale €3.63/bale (10,000 bales x three years)

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SHORTER CALVING INTERVAL FOR HERDWATCH APP USERSThe national average calving interval for a dairy herd in 2015 was 392 days, according to data from the Irish Cattle and Beef Federation (ICBF). In comparison, Herdwatch users saw this number reduced to 366 days, 26 days less.One of the main reasons for this shorter calving interval is the ability to record pre-heats and set reminders through the Herdwatch app. When a cow shows heat before the start of the breeding season, the farmer can record that information on the spot and the app will keep a reminder for when the cow is due again. This greatly reduces the chance of missed heats which would cost the average dairy farmer €250 per missed heat, according to Teagasc.All breeding information recorded through Herdwatch also gets sent to the ICBF automatically. This year, an estimated 130,000 cows will have their breeding information recorded in Herdwatch, and passed on to the ICBF automatically. This includes artificial insemination, natural serves and pregnancy scans. Declan, one of thousands of Herdwatch users, commented: “It’s great, I can serve a cow and record that straight away through the phone while she is still in the crush and the information gets sent to the ICBF for me, so it eliminates that job too.”The app will also inform farmers of what cows are due to repeat, which means the chances of missing a cow breaking are also reduced. Another Herdwatch farmer, Jim, commented that: “The beauty of the Herdwatch app is that you can just check your phone to see when that cow is due to be served.”

KVERNELAND’S NON-STOP BALER WRAPPER COMBINATION

One machine that took centre stage at Kverneland’s ‘Future of Farming Exhibition’ in February was its newly developed FastBale baler wrapper. Marketed under the company’s subsidiary brand, Vicon, the new baler wrapper is reputed to offer productivity increases and time saving of up to 25% on conventional machines. The fact that the machine is a non-stop round baler wrapper combination that integrates a pre-chamber with a main chamber and a wrapper, should mean exactly that – non-stop baling and wrapping with no downtime for ejecting bales, no wear and tear on clutches and no instances of gears starting and stopping intermittently.

Designed and developed at the Kverneland Group’s baler competence centre at Ravenna, Italy, FastBale has two claims to being truly innovative: it is currently the world’s only non-stop, fixed chamber baler; and secondly, it is the world’s only non-stop, fixed chamber baler wrapper combination.The machine layout is quite novel with two chambers arranged in series, allowing a number of rollers to be shared. Operating as a pre-chamber, the first section of FastBale produces two-thirds of the bale. As the pre-chamber reaches its preset density, crop flow is diverted into the main bale chamber allowing baling to continue.While the FastBale could not be described as a small machine, its relative compactness includes a lot of technology and Vicon says that it is shorter than any other baler wrapper combination on the market.The parent company insists that its new FastBale has come through a significant testing process. It has not undergone extensive fieldwork under Irish grass conditions. That, inevitably, will be a true test of the machine as Irish grass forage conditions are recognised as being amongst the most rigorous in the world. The FastBale won the Machine of the Year award in the balers category at the 2015 SIMA Show.

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A REVOLUTION IN DAIRY HYGIENE

Grassland Agro has recently launched Hypracid One, an innovative non-chlorine, liquid detergent. Hypred, Grassland Agro’s sister company in France, has developed this product to provide a solution to the

ongoing problem of milk residues.Hypracid One is a three-in-one product that will wash, sterilise and descale your milking machine and bulk tank. It is made up of a special formulation of organic acids and surfactants. Unlike conventional detergent descalers, it does not contain phosphates or nitrates.Chlorine residues are of great concern to the dairy industry and can arise at farm level due to an over reliance on chlorinated products in dairy wash routines. The presence of trichloromethane (TCM) residues in milk has negative consequences for its processing. In this context, certain dairy processors, such as Arla a major EU Co-op with 12,000 milk suppliers has banned the use of certain milking machine cleaning products such as chlorine, nitric acid, phosphoric acid and quaternary ammonium compounds (ref: Quality Assurance Programme Arlagarden). This regulation has been in place since January 2016. With Hypracid One, Irish farmers have assistance in removing these residues from their wash routines.

EFFECT OF RESIDUE IN MILK TCM is formed when chlorine, present in chlorinated alkaline detergent, is combined with the milk remaining in the pipelines of the milking machine or tank following an insufficient pre-rinse after milking or the emptying of the tank. There is a risk that the milk could become contaminated during the following milking. This can have a negative impact on dairy products manufactured using this milk as TCM tends to be associated with the oil phase and, therefore, builds up in products which are rich in fats such as butter, cream and infant formula. TCM in dairy products can cause processing problems, which affect the volumes exported and the prices at which the products are sold. For example, some importers of butter, such as Germany, have a maximum threshold of 0.03mg of TCM/kg of butter. Therefore in 2009, Ireland, which is a large producer of butter with a legal limit of 0.1mg/kg, launched a programme to reduce residue to 0.03mg/kg.

EFFECT OF RESIDUE AND WASTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT In addition, these products can cause substantial environmental damage. Phosphates and nitrates: phosphoric acid or nitric acid, which combines both degreasing and scale-inhibiting function are mainly found in ‘white water’ and have harmful effects on the environment.

FARM TRIALSHypracid One has been tested on various farms in Ireland, including Teagasc Moorepark. It has also been tested on over 15 farms in France, achieving excellent results.

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Dr Mary McEvoy, Germinal Seeds

PASTURE PROFIT INDEX FOR GRASS SEED VARIETIESSelecting the best grass seed mixture can be a difficult task. This article examines the traits that are causing the biggest difference between varieties, in order to better understand what is important when examining varieties and comparing mixtures. The 2016 Pasture Profit Index (PPI) was recently released by Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). It is modelled on a spring calving dairy system, but analysis shows that, regardless of system, dairy or otherwise, the ranking of varieties remains constant; the best variety will always be the best, so its worth paying attention to individual varieties in a mixture

Seasonal dry matter (DM) yield is separated into three categories in the PPI: spring; summer; and autumn. Extra grass in the spring is of highest value in the index, followed by autumn, with extra grass grown in the mid-season period being of the lowest value. The reason for this is, in a spring calving system spring grass has the most value, displacing more expensive silage and concentrate from the system, while also improving animal performance. The difference between the best and worst variety for spring growth is €105 ha/year. Compared to summer growth, the difference between the best and worst is only €33 ha/year, and in autumn the difference is €56 ha/year.

QUALITYThe range in quality in the PPI is from €65 ha/year (AberGain) to the lowest variety for quality at –€39 ha/year, a difference of €104. Quality is a hugely important trait, which has the potential to deliver big differences at farm level. In the PPI, €0 indicates a persistent variety, expected to last 12 years or longer under good management. The worst varieties in the 2016 PPI for persistency have values of -€11 ha/year, indicating that they are expected

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FORAGE AND NUTRITION Guide 2016Late – Tetraploids

Variety DetailsPasture Profit Index Sub-indices (€ per ha per year) Total €/ha/year

Dry Matter Production Quality Silage Persistency

Variety Ploidy Heading date Spring Summer Autumn

AberGain T Jun-05 38 44 32 65 25 -5 199

AberPlentiful T Jun-09 44 51 38 30 14 0 177

Solas* T Jun-10 34 45 51 31 14 0 175

Kintyre T Jun-07 28 35 47 33 13 0 156

Astonenergy T Jun-02 7 37 31 61 11 0 147

Xenon T Jun-11 22 39 26 46 14 0 147

Alfonso T Jun-04 13 38 27 51 4 0 133

Aspect T Jun-06 25 41 17 37 9 0 129

Navan T Jun-06 10 39 40 26 9 0 124

Delphin T Jun-02 17 40 19 16 20 0 112

Twymax T Jun-07 -13 44 7 35 16 0 89Late – Diploids




AberChoice D Jun-09 23 47 36 64 8 -5 173

Kerry D Jun-01 34 40 32 0 7 0 113

Glenroyal D Jun-05 29 40 31 2 7 0 109

Drumbo D Jun-07 26 30 24 44 -5 -11 108

Clanrye* D Jun-06 34 42 10 -10 15 0 91

Majestic D Jun-02 39 32 33 -16 -1 0 87

Glenveagh D Jun-02 27 35 20 -10 8 0 80

Stefani D Jun-02 21 27 16 -2 8 0 70

Tyrella D Jun-04 40 18 8 3 -1 -5 63

Piccadilly D Jun-03 26 31 12 -23 15 0 61Intermediate – Tetraploids




Dunluce T May-30 32 42 43 39 23 -5 174

Seagoe T May-28 33 41 29 20 37 0 160

Magician T May-22 53 30 26 7 26 -5 137

Carraig T May-24 46 37 23 -11 30 0 125Intermediate – Diploids


Dry Matter Production Quality Silage

Variety Ploidy Heading date Spring Summer Autumn Persistency

AberMagic D May-31 47 50 63 36 14 0 210

Nifty D May-27 77 50 49 -6 20 0 190

Rosetta D May-24 92 25 33 2 16 0 168

Solomon D May-21 69 29 22 -23 21 0 118

Boyne D May-22 54 29 24 -39 39 0 107


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to last 10 years at farm level. The small variation between the best and worst varieties for persistency in the PPI demonstrates that there are small differences between varieties in persistency terms. Soil fertility and management are actually the biggest influencers of sward persistency.

PERFORMANCEWhen examining mixtures, it is important to look at each variety’s performance across all traits. No variety excels in every trait and it is important to ensure that a mixture contains the appropriate balance of diploid and tetraploid varieties. The general recommendation is approximately 60% diploid and 40% tetraploid; on heavier soils, increase the diploid proportion, but ensure they are high quality diploids that are going into your mixtures. Diploids bring density to a mixture, with

tetraploids generally being higher in yield and quality and this can be clearly seen in the PPI. Tetraploids are also generally more palatable to grazing animals. There is growing evidence from farmers that very dense diploid varieties are difficult to graze, resulting in poor utilisation of mixtures containing these varieties. All diploids will bring sufficient density to a sward. What is important is ensuring that they are high in dry matter digestibility (DMD) or quality value on the PPI. In the late diploid category on the PPI it is easy to see that AberChoice (+€64 ha/year for quality) and Drumbo (+€44 ha/year for quality) are far ahead of the other late diploids in the quality sub-indices. Reseeding is an expensive investment, so it is important to ensure you are using the best varieties available, as by using lower performing varieties will have a negative impact on your subsequent swards.

Opposite page: The 2016 Teagasc Pasture Profit Index, separated according to category.

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Brian McCarthy, Michael Dineen, Clare Guy and Fergal Coughlan, Teagasc

UPDATE ON THE POTENTIAL OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS PLOIDY AND CLOVERThe effect of perennial ryegrass ploidy and white clover on the productivity of pasture-based milk production systems – Clonakilty experiment

INTRODUCTIONIrish dairy production systems are facing an increasingly volatile environment due to fluctuations in milk price and input costs. This will require our producers to increase their efficiency by utilising their competitive advantage over other EU milk-producing countries, which is the ability to grow and utilise pasture over a long grazing season. Previous research has shown that both perennial ryegrass ploidy (ie. tetraploid and diploid ryegrasses) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.; hereafter referred to as clover) have an effect on pasture dry matter (DM) production and milk production per cow. Generally, cows that grazed tetraploid cultivars and grass-clover swards produced more milk than cows that grazed diploid cultivars and grass-only swards. Therefore, there is renewed interest in the use of perennial ryegrass ploidy and clover to increase animal performance and pasture DM production. This has been investigated in Clonakilty Agricultural College over the last few years.The experiment was established in Clonakilty Agricultural College in 2012 and 2013. Seventy-five per cent of the experimental area was reseeded in 2012 and 25 per cent reseeded in 2013. Four separate grazing treatments were sown on the experimental area: a tetraploid only sward (TO); a diploid only sward (DO); a tetraploid with clover sward (TC); and a diploid with clover sward (DC). Four diploid (Tyrella, Aberchoice, Glenveagh and Drumbo) and four tetraploid (Aston Energy, Kintyre, Twymax and Dunluce) cultivars were sown as monocultures with and without clover to create a separate farmlet of 20 paddocks for each treatment. In the clover paddocks, a 50:50 mix of Chieftain and Crusader white clover was sown at a rate of 5kg per hectare (kg/ha). There are 30 cows in each treatment

group and these were stocked at 2.75 cows per hectare (cows/ha), received 250kg of nitrogen (N) fertiliser per hectare, and target concentrate supplementation was 300kg/cow for each treatment. As cows calved in 2014 and 2015, they were randomly assigned to their treatments and they remained on those treatments for the remainder of the grazing season within each year. The four treatments (swards) were rotationally grazed from mid-February until mid-November each year. The objective was to compare milk and pasture production from tetraploid and diploid swards sown with and without clover over a full grazing season. The results presented are from the first two full years of the experiment (2014 and 2015).

PASTURE PRODUCTION RESULTSPerennial ryegrass ploidy had an effect on DM content, post-grazing height and pasture allowance as the diploid treatments (DO and DC) had greater DM content (18.5 per cent vs 17.6 per cent), pre-gazing yield (1,789 vs 1,696kgDM/ha), post-grazing height (4.3 vs 4.1cm) and pasture allowance (17.1 vs 16.0kgDM/cow per day) than the tetraploid (TO and TC) treatments. On average, the clover content was 28.3 per cent and 30.7 per cent for TC and DC swards, respectively, during the two years of the experiment. Clover inclusion had a significant effect on sward DM content as the grass-clover swards had a lower DM content than the grass-only swards (16.7 per cent vs 19.3 per cent). Clover also had an effect on post-grazing sward height as the grass-only swards had a greater pre-grazing and post-grazing height compared with grass-clover swards (9.1 and 4.4cm compared with 8.8 and 3.9cm, respectively). The effect of clover inclusion in the sward on daily pasture growth during the two years

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of the experiment is illustrated in Figure 1. Daily pasture growth rates were greater for grass-clover (TC and DC) swards than grass-only (TO and DO) swards from June to September by an average of 15kgDM/ha per day. As a result, on average, over the two years of the experiment to date, total pasture DM production was 1.9t DM/ha greater on the grass-clover swards (17.4t DM/ha) compared with the grass-only swards (15.5t DM/ha).

MILK PRODUCTION RESULTSOn average, over the two years of the experiment, concentrate supplementation across all treatments was 338kg/cow. Average silage fed during lactation was greater for the grass-clover cows (360kgDM/cow) compared with the grass-only cows (314kgDM/cow). The effect of treatment on milk production during the two years is presented in Table 1.

Figure 1: The effect of sward type (grass only and grass clover) on daily pasture growth rates for each month over two years (2014 and 2015).

Dai

ly g

rass

gro

wth

(kgD

M/h

a pe

r day

)

Grass-onlyGrass-clover

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

Month

Figure 2: Autumn/spring feed budget average farm cover (kgDM/ha) targets and actual values achieved in autumn 2014/spring 2015 for the grass-only and grass-clover treatments.

3967

1

8/25

/08

9/8/

08

9/22

/08

10/6

/08

10/2

0/08

11/3

/08

11/1

7/08

12/1

/08

12/1

5/08

12/2

9/08

1/12

/09

1/26

/09

2/9/

09

2/23

/09

3/9/

09

3/23

/09

4/6/

09

TargetGrass-onlyGrass-clover

Date

Ave

rage

farm

cov

er (k

gDM

/ha)

1300

1075

850

625

400

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Ploidy did not have a significant effect on any of the milk production variables. Clover had a significant effect on all milk production variables with the exception of days in milk, fat and protein content. Cows on grass-clover treatments produced 784kg more milk and 58kg more milk solids than cows on the grass-only treatments, which resulted in an extra 2,156kg and 168kg milk and milk solids yield per ha, respectively. At a base milk price of 29c/L, this would equate to an extra income of €245/cow or €674/ha.

CHALLENGESAlthough the early results for pasture DM production and milk production are very positive with grass-clover swards, we have encountered a number of challenges that require further research. The over-winter growth and spring pasture availability with grass-clover swards can be poor relative to grass-only swards.In Clonakilty, over the winter of 2014/2015, we had a growth rate of 5kgDM/ha per day on the grass-only swards compared with only 1kgDM/ha per day on the grass-clover swards. As a result, we had lower pasture availability on the grass-clover swards (300kgDM/ha lower average farm cover on February 1; Figure 2) which required the grass-clover cows to be housed at night for six weeks in the spring and the feeding of an extra 165kgDM of silage to make up the deficit in pasture supply. However, pasture growth on the grass-clover swards (21kgDM/ha per day) was similar to pasture growth on the grass-only swards (24kgDM/ha per day) from February 1 to April 1. This was achieved by spreading 2,500 gallons/acre slurry on 30 per cent of the area and 23 units/acre of N (urea) on 70 per cent of the area in late January; 2,500 gallons/acre slurry on 30% of the area and 46 units/acre of N on 70 per cent of the area in early March; and hitting the spring rotation planner targets of 30 per cent and 60 per cent by March 1 and March 17. These management practices combined to ensure pasture growth on the grass-clover swards was similar to the grass-only swards. During spring, autumn and periods of very wet weather, grass-clover swards can

be difficult to graze as the soil can be very soft (due to lower tiller densities) and liable to poaching even on dry, free-draining soil types. Careful grazing management is required during these times, with the use of on/off grazing, accurate area allocations and accurate supplementation strategies to minimise pasture damage.Bloat can also be an issue on grass-clover swards as we have had one cow in 2014, and one cow in 2015, die from bloat while grazing grass-clover swards. Bloat can occur at any time of the year but it is more likely to occur in the second half of the year when clover content in the sward is highest. However, there are certain risks/triggers that are indicators that bloat may occur, such as the clover content of paddocks (ie. repeat incidences of bloat in same paddock with very high levels of clover, >60 per cent), weather conditions (high rainfall over prolonged period leading to lower DM swards) and hungry cows going into a paddock with high levels of clover. Dispensing bloat oil through the water in the grass-clover paddocks (from June to September) works well as a preventative measure during dry weather. During very wet weather, changing the grass allocation from a 36-hour allocation to a three-hour allocation reduces the area available for the cows and ensures cows graze all the herbage available, not just clover, and reduces the risk of bloat. Management practices can help to reduce the risk of bloat, however constant vigilance and a high level of management is required to minimise bloat occurrences.

SUMMARY Perennial ryegrass ploidy did not affect pasture DM or milk production over the first two years of this experiment. Despite a number of challenges with incorporating clover into perennial ryegrass swards, significant increases in pasture DM production and milk production (per cow and per ha) can be achieved. The early results from the Clonakilty experiment are very promising, but potentially important issues with clover persistency, spring pasture DM production and bloat require further investigation.

Table 1: The effect of treatment on milk production variables over two years (2014 and 2015).

Treatment1 Significance2

TO DO TC DC P C P*CDays in milk (days) 276 277 277 277 NS NS NSMilk yield (kg/cow) 4972 4994 5783 5750 NS *** NSFat (g/kg) 46.9 46.4 46.2 46.1 NS NS NSProtein (g/kg) 38.2 37.4 37.4 37.4 + NS NSLactose (g/kg) 47.7 47.7 48.2 48.4 NS ** NSMilk solids yield (kg/cow) 420 423 481 478 NS *** NS

Milk yield (kg/ha) 13,673 13,732 15,904 15,814 NS *** NSMilk solids yield (kg/ha) 1162 1145 1328 1316 NS *** NS

1. TO = tetraploid only; DO = diploid only; TC = tetraploid + clover; DC = diploid + clover2. Significance: *** = P<0.001; ** = P<0.01; * = P<0.05; + = P<0.1; NS = not significant; P = ploidy; C = clover

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Pat Tuohy, Owen Fenton and James O’ Loughlin, Teagasc

LAND DRAINAGE GUIDELINESApproximately 49.5% (3.4 million hectares) of the total land area of Ireland is classified as ‘marginal land’, which is affected by natural limitations related to its soil, topography, relief and climate. The major limitation is its poor drainage status, and much is in need of artificial drainage if its productivity is to be improved. In wet years poorly drained soils may never dry out as persistent rainfall maintains high soil moisture content

Grass yields are limited due to the adverse effect of excess water and a lack of air at rooting depth, which limits plant respiration and growth. In cases of prolonged water-logging, plants will eventually die due to a lack of oxygen in the root zone. Furthermore, waterlogged soils are impassable to machinery and livestock traffic for long periods, due to high soil moisture content and reduced soil strength. This reduces the number of grazing days and hinders silage harvesting, thus introducing higher costs related to imported feedstuffs.The purpose of land drainage is to remove excess water from the soil as quickly as possible. How best to achieve this will vary with soil type. There is a need, therefore, for a better understanding of the underlying causes of drainage problems and of the design and implementation of appropriate drainage systems to resolve these problems. We must move away from the short-sighted approach that a broadly similar drainage system can be installed in every wet field, regardless of soil and site conditions.

CAUSES OF IMPEDED DRAINAGEThe difficulties of drainage problems are largely due to our complex geological and glacial history. Soil layers of varying texture and composition have the effect of irregularly distributing groundwater flow, with fine-textured soils acting as a barrier to movement, impeding drainage, and lenses of gravels and sands promoting water flow, transmitting groundwater over large areas with resulting seepages and springs on lower ground. In poorly drained soils the rate of water infiltration at the soil surface is regularly exceeded by the rainfall rate due to:

• Low permeability in the subsoil (or a layer of the subsoil);

• High water table due to low-lying position and poor/poorly-maintained outfall;

• Upward movement of water from seepage and springs.

OBJECTIVES OF LAND DRAINAGETo achieve effective drainage, the works will have to solve one or more of these problems. The objective of any form of land drainage is to lower the water table, providing suitable conditions for grass growth and utilisation. A controlled water table promotes deeper rooting which improves productivity and improves load-bearing capacity of the soil. The potential of the land to be drained needs to be first assessed to determine if the costs incurred will result in an economic return through additional yield and/or utilisation, and also to decide on the most appropriate part of the farm to drain. It is better to drain land which is nearer to the farmyard and work outwards; however, it may be more beneficial to target areas with high potential for improvement. This ensures a better return on the investment.

DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONSWhat exactly is the problem? How good is the existing drainage network (if any)? Is the whole profile made up of poor soils or is the problem caused by specific layers? Is there water movement at any depth?Knowledge of previous drainage schemes in the area, and their effectiveness, will often provide an insight. A number (approximately one per hectare) of test pits (at

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least 2.5m deep) should be excavated within the area to be drained to investigate. These are dug in areas that are representative of the area as a whole; consider digging in wet and dry areas for comparison’s sake. As the test pits are dug, the faces of the pits are observed, soil type should be established and the rate and depth of water seepage into the test pit (if any) recorded. Visible cracking, and areas of looser soil and rooting depth, should be noted as these can convey important information regarding the drainage status of the different layers. The depth and type of the drain to be installed will depend on the interpretation of the characteristics revealed by the test pits.Two principle types of drainage system are distinguished:• Groundwater drainage system – a network of piped

drains exploiting permeable layers; and• Shallow drainage system – where movement of

water is impeded at all depths.

GROUNDWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMStrong inflow of groundwater or seepage from the faces of test pit walls, indicate that layers of high permeability are present. Under these circumstances, the use of a piped drainage system (at the depth of inflow) is advised to capture and remove this water, thereby controlling the watertable. Deep piped drains are usually installed at a depth of 1.5-2.5m and at spacings of 15-50m, depending on the slope of the land and the permeability and thickness of the drainage layer. Piped drains should always be installed across the slope to intercept as much groundwater as possible, with open drains and main piped drains running in the direction of maximum slope. Where groundwater seepage and springs are identified, deep drains – 2-4m deep – can be used to intercept flow. Pipe drains are most effective in the layer transmitting groundwater flow, characterised by high water breakthrough. This issue is very site specific.Clean aggregate, in the 10-40 mm grading band, should to be used to surround the drain pipe. The gravel should be filled to a minimum depth of 300mm from the bottom of the drain to cover the pipe. The stone should provide connectivity to a layer of high permeability and should not be filled to the ground surface. The purpose of a drain pipe is to facilitate a path of least resistance for water flow. In long drain lengths (greater than 30m) a drain pipe is vital to allow as high a flow-rate as possible from the drain, stone backfill alone is unlikely to have sufficient flow capacity to cater for the water volume collected.

SHALLOW DRAINAGE SYSTEMSWhere a test pit shows no inflow of groundwater at any

depth, a shallow drainage system is required. These soils with very low permeability throughout are more difficult to drain. Shallow drainage systems aim to improve the capacity of the soil to transmit water by fracturing and cracking the soil. They rely on soil disruption techniques, namely: mole and gravel mole drainage and sub-soiling. Mole drainage is suited to stone-free soils with a high clay content, which form stable channels. Mole drains are formed with a mole plough comprised of a torpedo-like cylindrical foot attached to a narrow leg, followed by a slightly larger diameter cylindrical expander. The foot and trailing expander form the mole channel while the leg creates a narrow slot that extends from the soil surface to the mole channel depth.The mole plough creates both a zone of increased permeability adjacent to the mole leg (shallower depths) and a channel for water flow at moling depth. The effectiveness of mole drainage will depend on the extent of soil cracking during installation. As such, the ideal time for carrying out mole drainage is during dry summer

Figure 1: Test pit excavation.

Figure 2: Drainage trench excavation.

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conditions, to allow for maximum cracking in the upper soil layers and adequate traction to prevent wheel-spin on the surface.Gravel-filled moles employ the same principles as ordinary mole drains but are required in soils which will not sustain an unlined channel. The gravel mole channel is filled with gravel from an attached hopper which supports the channel walls. Gravel moles require a very specific size range of gravel aggregate to ensure that they function properly. Washed aggregate within a 10-20mm size range should be used. Sub-soiling is used effectively where an iron pan or cemented layer impedes drainage. The effect is to break the layer and crack the soil. A stable channel will not be formed.Collector drains, which are installed across the slope at 0.8–1.0m deep, are required for all shallow drainage systems. Depending on the topography and slope, the collector drains will be at a spacing of 10-40m. A larger spacing reduces costs but results in a much higher chance of failure. The disruption channels themselves are drawn at right angles to the collectors (up-slope) at spacings of 1.0-1.5m and a depth of approximately 0.4-0.5m. Stone backfill for collectors should be filled to within 250mm of the surface to ensure interconnection with the disruption channels when installed afterwards.

OUTFALLS/MAINTENANCEEvery drainage scheme is only as good as its outfall. Cleaning and upgrading of open drains acting as outfalls from land drains is an important step in any drainage scheme. Before commencing land drainage, the proposed outfall should be assessed and, where

necessary, upgraded. Open drains, running in the direction of maximum slope, should be established at the greatest depth possible. Spoil from such works, where suitable, can be spread over the adjoining land-filling depressions and should not impede surface run-off to the watercourse. Unsuitable spoil should be buried and covered with topsoil or removed to waste ground.When a drainage scheme has been completed, the layout should be drawn and noted on a farm map. This map can then be used as a guide when maintaining the works, as well as a record of the works. Land drain outlets should be regularly cleaned and maintained, especially if open drains are cleaned/upgraded, as this will result in blockages at the drain outlets. The use of a concrete or un-perforated plastic pipe over the end of the drain pipe, minimum 1m in length, will protect the outlet from damage and will make locating and maintaining it easier.

Figure 3: Mole plough showing cylindrical foot and expander.

Figure 5: Single leg winged sub-soiler.

Figure 4: Gravel mole plough showing hopper.

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Mark Plunkett and David Wall, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford

MAKING BEST USE OF CATTLE SLURRY N, P AND K Slurry is a valuable source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and effective use on farm can help to control fertiliser costs. To maximise the nutrient value of cattle slurry, a number of decisions should be made over the coming weeks as to where on the farm slurry is required and application should be timed to maximise the nitrogen recovery

Targeted early application of cattle slurry based on soil test results will ensure efficient use of slurry nitrogen (N) and that early-season phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) requirements are satisfied. The typical value of 1,000 gallons of cattle slurry applied by splashplate in springtime has an available N-P-K content equivalent to a 50kg bag of 6-5-30. The nutrient content of cattle slurry will vary with animal type and diet, and especially with slurry dilution with water. Knowing the nutrient content will help to ensure crops receive the planned levels of N, P and K to maximise grass growth for either silage or grazing. Laboratory analysis of slurry will help to estimate the nutrient values for different slurries on the farm. However, in practice this is rarely done. A more practical approach may be to estimate the slurry dry matter on farm using a slurry hydrometer. This is a low-cost and useful tool to estimate the N-P-K value based on the dry matter of the slurry.

PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUMCattle slurry is a good source of P and K fertiliser and should be applied to parts of the farm that have either low soil P or K levels, or to crops with high P and K demands such as grass/maize silage. Targeting these areas will help to reduce fertiliser bills and replenish soil P and K reserves. Research shows that fields around the farmyard tend to have higher levels of both P and K due to more regular applications of manures. Silage fields tend to be the furthest fields away from the yard and tend to have low soil fertility levels plus the largest demand for both P and K.

Slurry is a valuable fertiliser and the extra transport costs in moving slurry to fields further from the farm may offset the extra spreading charges associated with extra transport. Slurry is also a very well-balanced fertiliser (P:K ratio) for grass silage crops. For grazing ground, the P and K demand will be lower and will depend on the stocking rate and the soil test results. The P in organic manures such as cattle slurry is 100 per cent available relative to chemical fertiliser at soil P index 3 and 4. However, if a soil is P index 1 or 2, the availability of the P will be only 50 per cent. A soil test will confirm the P status of the soil and help with targeting slurry to Index 1 and 2 soils for more efficient crop fertilisation and P utilisation.

REDUCTION IN SLURRY POTASSIUM VALUEHigher levels of K content in cattle slurry were assumed in the past compared to the levels shown in Table 1. Recent research surveying nutrient content in cattle slurries has shown that the level of K in slurry has fallen by approximately 25 per cent compared to levels that were previously assumed based on older studies from the early 1990s. This reduction in K content is not surprising given the decline in K fertiliser inputs over the same period.

NITROGEN CONTENTThe form of N in cattle slurry is ammonium-N and is the same as the form of N as urea fertiliser. This form of N is readily available for plant uptake provided soil and weather conditions are favourable. Losses of ammonium-N occur when there are drying conditions such as warm, sunny and windy days.

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To maximise N uptake, apply slurry on cool, overcast or misty days. It is recommended to apply as much slurry as possible in the springtime to maximise the fertiliser N value of slurry. Spring-applied slurry is worth approximately three units of N per 1,000 gallons (worth approximately €2 per 1,000 gallons) extra compared with summer application, due to better N recovery at that time of the year (Table 1). However, irrespective of timing, applying slurry in the right weather conditions (cool, overcast, misty conditions) is advised rather than in hot, dry weather.Dilution of cattle slurry will also improve the N uptake as the slurry will infiltrate faster into the soil compared to thick slurry. Diluted slurry will also be washed off the grass faster, resulting in reduced grass contamination. Remember that dilution will increase the N efficiency but will reduce the P and K content of the slurry, and this needs to be accounted for in balancing crops’ P and K requirements. Many farmers have seen the benefits of diluting cattle slurry with pig slurry rather than water. The available N-P-K value of 70:30 and 50:50 mixtures of cattle and pig slurry are shown in Table 2. Before importing pig slurry, check your farm fertiliser plan to determine the volume that can be imported onto the whole farm. Importing pig slurry is not permitted on farms with a nitrates derogation.

SLURRY APPLICATION EQUIPMENTThe method of slurry application (splashplate or trailing shoe/band spreader) will have a large effect on nitrogen losses. The splashplate technique broadcasts slurry across the full spread width and, depending on timing/weather conditions, high levels of N loss may occur as a result.

The trailing shoe/band spreader places the slurry in a narrow band close to the soil surface/below the grass canopy and thus reduces the risk of N loss. Other benefits include a wider window of opportunity for application in better soil conditions. There is also improved flexibility with application as a result of reduced contamination of herbage leading to quicker return to grazing and the opportunity to apply slurry into larger grass covers. The odours released during and after application are also usually reduced with trailing shoe or bandspreader compared with splashplate.Investment by an individual farmer in a trailing shoe or bandspreader may be cost prohibitive as the savings in N fertiliser may not cover the extra costs associated with farmer-owned equipment. This will depend on the volume of slurry on farm, and the value placed on potential other benefits such as flexibility of timing into taller grass covers, and reduced odours. However, where a farmer is already using a contractor for applying slurry by splashplate, using a contractor with a bandspreader, trailing shoe or shallow injector may be cost effective. The contractor price is usually higher per hour, but the value of slurry is increased by approximately €2 per 1,000 gallons by these methods, so depending on the volume spread per hour, a higher cost per hour of the contractor can be justified for using the modern techniques.The Green, Low-carbon, Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) rewards farmers for the use of low-emission spreading equipment (trailing shoe/band spreader/injection) at €1.20/m2/year. Under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) 2, funding for investment in low-emission slurry equipment is available.

SUMMARY• Slurry is a valuable source of N, P and K; • Target slurry to areas of the farm with large P and K

demands based on soil test results;• Apply slurry on cool, overcast days in springtime to

maximise N recovery;• Switching slurry application with splashplate from

summer to springtime will increase N value by approximately three units per 1,000 gallons;

• Using band spreader or trailing shoe application methods will also increase N value by approximately three units per 1,000 gallons.

Time of application N kg/m3

(units/1,000 gal)P kg/m3 (units/1,000 gal)

K kg/m3

(units/1,000 gal)€/m3

(€/1,000 gal)Spring 0.7 (6) 0.6 (5) 3.3 (30) €4.3 (19.5)Summer 0.3 (3) 0.6 (5) 3.3 (30) €4.6 ( 21)

Table 1: Typical available N, P and K values kg/m3 for cattle slurry.

Dilution N kg/m3

(units/1,000 gal)

P kg/m3

(units/1,000 gal)

K kg/m3

(units/1,000 gal)

70% cattle30% pig

1.1(10) 0.65 (6) 3.0 (27)

50% cattle50% pig

1.3 (12) 0.7 (6) 2.4 (22)

Table 2: Typical N, P and K values kg/m3 for cattle slurry when diluted with pig slurry at different ratios.

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Michael A O’Grady, operations and marketing manager, Osmonds

PARASITE CONTROL AT GRASSThe main internal parasites affecting livestock at grass in Ireland are stomach and intestinal worms, lungworms plus liver and rumen fluke. In recent years, milder and wetter winters and more intense bouts of severe weather throughout the year have increased the conditions suitable for gutworms causing parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE)

Ostertagia (roundworms) and Cooperia are the two main worms that cause diarrhoea and weight loss in young animals. Weather conditions have contributed to the increased presence of lungworm larvae and coughing in stock at grass. This was particularly the case last July and August. Many dairy farms have increased stocking density since the abolition of quotas and this has exacerbated parasite problems at farm level. Another problem has been the increase in pathogenic strains of Eimeria oocysts, causing coccidiosis. The trend from faecal analysis from samples taken from grazing animals over the last few years confirm increasing burdens of these parasites. The most vulnerable group are first-season grazing calves, in particular dairy calves. Cattle in their second grazing season and older adult cattle and cows must be monitored. However, they tend to be immune to Cooperia worms and lungworm if they encountered infection in their first grazing season and may be partially immune to Ostertagia. Spring-born suckler calves have lower grass intakes than autumn-born suckler calves and are initially at a lower risk to these parasites. Their greatest risk is after weaning in autumn when stress levels are high and their grass consumption has increased significantly. Weaned autumn-born calves and spring calves in their second grazing season are susceptible to gutworms and lungworms so close monitoring and strategic control programmes should be considered. All animals should be closely observed and monitored throughout the summer – including older animals.

IMPACT OF PARASITES ON PERFORMANCEIn young cattle, gastrointestinal worms reduce performance by up to 10 per cent bodyweight (ie. 20-

40kg in growing cattle) and can extend slaughter date by up to three months. Losses in a severe outbreak in young cattle could reach €150/head. Similar losses are expected with a severe outbreak of lungworm. Plus, secondary bacterial pneumonia can follow lung damage necessitating antibiotic therapy. The effect of worms on mature cows can lead to poor milk production, reduced reproductive efficiency and greater feed requirements to maintain body condition.Stomach worm is one of the most common causes of diarrhoea in cattle. The rate at which larvae mature depends on temperature and moisture. Warm temperatures will stimulate faster development, resulting in the mid-summer peak of infective larvae on pasture. A considerable number of infective larvae can survive over the winter. As outbreaks of lungworms (hoose) are unpredictable, control by pasture management or through the strategic use of wormers is largely unsuccessful. In spring, the most important sources of infection on pasture are overwintered larvae and larvae in the dung of animals where infection has persisted from the previous year. Clinical signs include coughing, and an increased rate and depth of respiration may appear before larvae are seen in dung samples. Treatment with a wormer, like Flexiben SC dose, Lineout pour-on or Mectaject injection, early in infection, should be effective, but care should be taken as a second dose may be needed.In contrast to roundworms, cattle only develop a partial immunity against liver fluke; therefore, cattle of all ages can become infected with liver fluke. The most common manifestation of the disease in cattle is blood sucking activity of the adult fluke, resulting in loss of condition and longer finishing times. Liver fluke infections in cattle can reduce weight gains by 0.5-1.6kg per week.

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Coccidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract, which occurs most frequently in calves from one month up to six months of age. Infected animals show clinical signs of diarrhoea, have poor growth and body condition, and sometimes die. Damage caused to the animal is never repaired later in life.Infections with all these parasites can build up over the grazing season, and the period of greatest risk of illness and production losses is during the second half of the grazing season. Animals must be closely observed in the time approaching housing. Use appropriate products, such as Osmonds Ridacox oral dose, two weeks after exposure to treat and prevent coccidiosis and to reduce oocyst shedding in cattle and sheep.

FORMULATING A DOSING PLAN TO MAXIMISE PERFORMANCELimiting a calf’s exposure to a large parasitic challenge is the most effective method of controlling stomach worms. Worming strategies include: 1. Dose calves during the spring and summer to

limit pasture contamination (calves should not be treated until three weeks post-turnout). The interval between treatments depends on the product used. For example, it is five weeks for Lineout pour-on and Mectaject injection. It is four weeks for Flexiben SC,

an oral drench;2. Use of ‘safe’ pasture – for example silage after-grass;3. Alternate grazing of pasture with cattle and sheep; 4. Graze young stock ahead of the immune adult stock;5. Weighing cattle ensures you use the correct dose

per animal and this helps to prevent the build-up of resistant worms. Weigh calves at four-to-six-week intervals in the first grazing season. A good target is >0.8kg daily live weight gain from birth to breeding;

6. The use of faecal analysis is essential to monitor the efficacy of the dosing programme and to check parasite burdens. Pooling samples from 8-10 calves in early May will give an early indication of dosing needs. Any result greater than 250 eggs per gram require a dose;

7. Ensure dosing equipment is calibrated to the weight of the animal and also that the seals are working correctly on the dosing gun.

In summary, implement a dosing programme to match the parasite burden; monitor performance by carrying out faecal analysis and also regularly weighing stock to assess ongoing animal performance; graze young stock ahead of older stock; and also rotate the family of dose used to eliminate the possibility of possible disease resistance.

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Sean O’Connor, Silotite Ireland

LIVESTOCK BENEFITS FROM FILM & FILM WRAPPING In July 2013, Silotite commissioned Dr Dave Davies from Silage Solutions Ltd to assess this new wrapping system using a trial on a British commercial sheep and beef farm. The bales were wrapped using a McHale Fusion combi-wrapper fitted to apply either netwrap or Baletite

Silotite arranged for the remaining film & film (F&F) bales to be opened after 13 months. This second phase of the trial concluded that the F&F system offered better protection to silage. Dr Davies found that the F&F wrapping system resulted in an increased average forage yield of 5.7kg dry matter (DM) per F&F bale during phase 2 of the trial. In terms of metabolisable energy (ME) this offers farmers an additional 11.6L of milk or an additional 1.5kg of beef. This second phase demonstrated that the F&F wrapped bales had 54 per cent fewer losses on average, compared to the traditionally wrapped net and balewrap bales. The phase 2 bales were stored for 406 days. The key findings were as follows:• The F&F wrapping system offered better protection

and preservation to silage bales stored for the extended period;

• While the total storage losses for both wrapping systems increased with a longer storage period, the losses incurred on the net and balewrap bales (24.5kg) were more than double those of the F&F bales (11.4kg);

• The average mould losses for the net and balewrap bales of 16.8kgDM were significantly higher than the average mould losses of 6.59kgDM recorded for the

F&F bales;• At 13 months, the F&F bales showed a similar level

of storage losses as the net and balewrap bales had displayed at six months;

• While the longer storage period saw the sugar levels drop in both wrapping systems, the sugar level measured in the F&F bales (48.8g/kgDM) was 21 per cent higher than the sugar level in net and balewrap bales (38.4 g/kgDM).

As with phase 1 of the trial, the reduced losses that resulted through F&F wrapping meant that the farmer:• Gained an average of 5.7kgDM per F&F bale as

1kgDM = 11.8 megajoules (MJ) ME – this means that the farmer gained 67.26MJ ME per F&F bale (5.7 kgDM x 11.8MJ ME);

• To produce 1kg of beef you need approx: 45MJ ME;• Therefore, the 67.26MJ ME gained on average for

each F& F bale could give an additional 1.5kg of beef production.

So a farm using 300 F&F bales during the winter months could potentially add 450kg of additional beef production.

Film & film wrapping. Unwrapped F&F bale.

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• A dairy farmer would gain an average of 5.7kgDM per F&F bale;

• Therefore, the 67.26MJ ME averagely gained for each of the F&F bales could give an additional 11.6L of milk production (67.26 / 5.8 = 11.5L).

Commenting on the findings of phase 2 of the trial, Sean O’Connor, Silotite Ireland, said: “Collectively, the F&F system could provide an overall 387.5L of extra milk or

and additional 49.3kg of beef production across the 27 bales made using the F&F system during this trial.” Dr Davies said: “It is also worth remembering that mouldy silage in a mixed ration not only affects intake but also increases the risk of mycotoxins developing, and the costs of dealing with the effects of mycotoxins consumed by livestock can be significant. Similarly, for sheep farmers, the costs of the mouldy silage can be considerable.”

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Figure 1: Average sugar by g/kgDM per bale type.

Phase 1 Phase 1Phase 1 Phase 1Netwrap NetwrapNetwrap Netwrap

Phase 2 Phase 2Phase 2 Phase 2

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Figure 2: Mould losses by kg FM.

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Pat Cahill, Volac

QUALITY SILAGE ADDITIVE IS AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENTWhile dairy farmers are under pressure due to reduced milk prices in 2016, a well-fermented silage will drive production potential, maintain fertility and deliver higher profits

The Ecosyl silage additive is very cost-effective in maintaining the nutritional quality of silage. Whether clamp, big bale, maize or whole crop, they have all been thoroughly researched and tested, and manufactured to the highest specification. Grass silage, as a sole feed, is often unable to meet the energy requirements of higher-yielding cows during the winter feeding period. Therefore high-cost concentrates are often required to supplement silage and balance the energy demand.

WINTER HERDTake your average 100-cow, winter milk herd on silage over the winter. Assume cows are in good condition and fed to post-mating conditions and the silage is 72 DMD. Good-quality silage was made using a proven silage inoculant. Seventy days are allowed for the winter indoor feeding season. For example, the difference in quality of a 72 DMD silage versus a 66 DMD silage is 1.5kg of concentrate per cow/day to maintain condition (Table 1). The calculation below shows how investing in a quality inoculant can save lots of money.Calculation:100 cows x 70 days x 1.5kg = 10,500kg (10.5t) of meal to maintain cows over the winter if silage quality was 66 DMD.10.5t by €300 per tonne produces a meal bill of €3,500 because of poor quality silage.However, the use of a quality inoculant helped

improve quality and reduce the reliance on expensive concentrate. The return on investment is 3.5%, assuming that the cost of a silage additive is €1,000.

SPRING HERDTake your typical 100-cow spring calving herd on silage over the winter. Assume cows are in good condition and are being fed to post-mating conditions and the silage is 65 DMD. Good quality silage was made using a proven silage inoculant. Allow 45 days for the indoor feeding season. For example, the difference in quality of a 65 DMD silage versus a 55 DMD silage is 1.5kg of concentrate per cow/day to maintain cow condition (Table 2). Again, the calculation below demonstrates the value of a good quality inoculant.Calculation:100 cows x 45 days x 1.5kg = 6,750 kg (6.75t) of a quality dairy ration to maintain cows over the winter if DMD of silage made was 55%.6.75t by €300 per tonne produces a meal bill of €2,025 because of poor quality silage.A scientifically researched additive helped improve DMD quality and reduce the reliance on expensive concentrate. The return on investment is twice to three times the cost of the silage additive.

Table 1: Meal feeding rates (kg) depending on silage quality for autumn calving herd.

Silage quality (60% DMD) (66% DMD) (72% DMD)Cows in good conditionPre-mating 3kg/day 2.5kg/day 1.8kg/dayPost-mating 2kg/day 1.5kg/day 0kg/dayCows in poor conditionPre-mating 3kg/day 2.5kg/day 1.8kg/dayPost-mating 3kg/day 2.5kg/day 1.8kg/day

Table 2: Meal feeding rates (kg) depending on silage quality for spring calving herd.

Silage qualityCows in good condition70% DMD Silage restricted to 85% of intake65% DMD Silage fed to appetite*60% DMD Silage fed to appetite + 0.5kg

concentrate daily*55% DMD Silage fed to appetite + 1.0-1.5kg

concentrate daily**Thin cows offered additional 1.5kg concentrate daily.

Volac 200x283.indd 1 15/03/2016 10:03

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Tom Ryan, Teagasc

CUBICLE HOUSING FOR COWSAt grass, animals have space, rest, feed, air, water and light available to them in abundance. With so many farms renovating or building new facilities, we need to plan for the basic needs of the cow, such as resting, feeding and ruminating

STANDARD LAYOUTSLooking at floor plans of standard designs can help us tease out various options and find a suitable design and layout for your farmyard. A selection of these and other standard drawings referred to in this article are available from Teagasc. There is also a video on www.teagasc.ie entitled ‘Cubicle design for dairy cows’. Standard designs can be used as templates for converting existing buildings. Modifying existing facilities can be costly so you need a layout that is conveniently located, designed to meet animal needs, cost and labour efficient and safe to work in. Other considerations are slurry storage and safe agitation, ventilation, site slopes, etc. The general appearance, colours and roof shapes are also important.

ANIMAL AREACows should have access to a minimum of 6.5m2; with some designs, over 8m2 is available. There must be enough space at the crossover points, too. Space here

will reduce bullying and ensure adequate space for drinking. The crossover point should be the width of three cubicles if it contains a drinker. It can be the width of two cubicles if the drinker is elsewhere.The tendency in the past has been to go for small cubicles, narrow passages, short feed space, few and narrow crossovers and narrow tractor passages. Nowadays, having plenty of space is deemed to be more important. Space allowances and design criteria for cubicle house designs are available from Teagasc.More tanks, longer tanks or different storage systems are needed for parts of the country requiring 18, 20 and 22 weeks storage. Extra storage over the legal requirement is desirable and allows more efficient use of animal manures and reduce the panic around the end of the closed periods.

LAYING SPACEProvide one cubicle space per cow. Cows need to spend 12-14 hours a day lying down resting; she is ruminating

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for six of these. Resting is more important for milking cows. Cows that spend only nine hours lying down yield 3-5L less than cows lying down for the 12-14 hours. Good occupancy and correct lying times can only be achieved if cows are able to lie down and get up with ease. If cubicles are too small, cows will be reluctant to lie down and will not rest for as long as they should. Cows need to be able to stretch their necks straight out in order to cud properly.There will be more lameness because they are standing for longer, especially if they are standing perched with two legs up and two down in the cubicle space. This posture will weaken the tendons in the back feet over time. The back feet will be on hard concrete and in slurry more often also.

CUBICLE DESIGNThe size of cubicle beds will vary according to size but, for dairy cows, it is recommended that beds against a wall should be 2.6m (8’6”) long – this might come as a

surprise to many – but up to 3.0m (10’) is recommended for big cows in some countries. The cubicles should be about 1.15-1.18m (3’ 9” to 3’ 10”) wide with a 5 per cent

Figure 1: Ventilation inlet in a dairy unit.

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slope (one in 20). Increase the width of cubicles beside end walls and walls at crossover points by 10 per cent.When deciding on step height, allow for the thickness of the cubicle mat. Step height should be 150-175mm (6” to 7”). The length of cubicles face to face should be 2.4m long (8’) for each. Each cow in a face-to-face cubicle will be surrounded by five other cows when she is lying down, so it is important that each animal has enough lunging space and space to breathe in fresh air. The main issue is that cows must display natural movement when lying down and getting up. Cows should lie straight on the cubicle bed and stand with all four feet on the cubicle bed.

FEED SPACEFeed space and access to feed are important for good performance. Cows spend five to six hours feeding, in nine to 14 feeds throughout the day. Feeding that takes longer than this will lower intake and leave less time for resting.There are several feed barrier designs and all can work well if installed and adjusted properly. Many straight-rail barriers on farms are restrictive and need adjustment; however, most are never adjusted. Also, many straight-rail feed barriers are too difficult to adjust and lack fine adjustment. Straight-rail feeding barriers should be adjustable and easy to adjust. Adjustment will allow more access to feed. This will increase intake, lessen pressure on the barrier and less silage will have to be pushed in. A reach of at least 1m from the stub wall is a reasonable target. Observe stock while feeding to evaluate your setup. Do one bay initially to see if it improves things.

GOOD VENTILATIONPlenty of fresh air is required for health and performance. Poor ventilation allows corrosion from dust, gases and condensation to weaken and shorten the life of any building.Ventilation is influenced mainly by the size of the openings, the roof slope, drift distance and height difference between inlets and outlets. Building orientation and the effects of surrounding buildings and landscape also have a bearing. You want plenty of fresh air but no draughts. Sizes of inlets and outlets mainly depend on the width of the house. Inlets at each eave equivalent to a clear opening of 450mm, 600mm and 750mm are recommended for house widths of up to 15m, 15-24m and over 24m, respectively. Corresponding outlet sizes are recommended in the roof, usually at the roof apex.

Figure 1 shows an effective inlet where a clear opening under a short (600mm) roof overhang allows plenty of fresh air in. If the side cladding had been lowered even more it would have been better. The vented side cladding on its own would not provide enough fresh air in calm conditions.

WATERAll animals should have access to sufficient water whenever they need it. Most people assume that flow rate is not a problem for housed animals. However, it all depends on the number of troughs/groups and group sizes of animals that are drawing off the system, possibly all at the same time. Lactating cows need more water than dry cows and the dry feed will also affect their thirst. Use pipe sizes that will not restrict flow rate. Use at least 19mm bore heavy duty water pipe to bring water to various animal houses in the farmyard (25mm bore or more for large units). Narrow bore (12mm bore) water pipes will reduce flow rate. Erring on the high side with pipe sizes will reduce pumping costs and ensure a plentiful supply. Jets in ballcocks can get blocked so frequent checking is recommended.Ensure that water troughs/bowels are secure, have no sharp edges or loose covers and that water pipes aren’t in danger of being pulled loose by animals. A good standard of installation with no joints buried under concrete is desirable. Water bowls should be large enough for a cow’s muzzle. If installed properly, animals will be able to drink without blocking access at a feed barrier, crossovers, etc.

LIGHTINGBoth natural and artificial light are required. Good use of daylight is important for safe working conditions and for animal health. Natural light is normally provided by translucent roof sheets. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine specification for these is S102, and a stronger non-fragile type is now specified. It is recommended that 12-16 per cent the roof area should have roof light sheets.A good level of artificial light is needed also. Fluorescent lamps are ideal for this purpose. A 1.5m, T5 type, twin fluorescent lamp, will give good energy-efficient light for about 25m2 of floor area. Clean windows and roof lights to maximise natural daylight and reduce the dependence on artificial lighting. Anything to do with farm building maintenance and working on roofs is dangerous so take appropriate safety precautions.

• Electricity wires can end up on the ground or resting on a fence.

• Electricity wires are never safe to touch.

• Report any damage immediately.

www.esbnetworks.ie

Phone 1850 372 999 (24 hour/7 day service).

STEER CLEAR OFELECTRICITY POLESDamage to poles puts people and livestock at risk of electrocution.

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Liam de Paor

FARMING SAFELY WITH ELECTRICITYA large proportion of all fatal workplace accidents occur in agriculture, even though just a small proportion of the workforce is employed in farming. The level of farm accidents is not decreasing. Similar accidents occur each year. Research indicates that, in general, farmers’ attitudes to safety only change after serious injury occurs

The age profile of those killed is of serious concern. The old and the young are exceptionally vulnerable to death and injury on Irish farms. The average farmer is getting older and, of course, children live and play around the farm yard so they are at a higher risk than urban children.Early in the year there is an increased risk of electrical accidents due to storm damage, flooding and of course livestock housed indoors may die in fires caused by faulty electrical wiring. And, of course, after the slurry spreading season reopens there have been quite a few incidents when slurry has hit overhead power lines, resulting in damage to the electrical networks.When an electrical current passes through the human body this can result in deep burns that often require major surgery and are permanently disabling. Burns are more common with higher voltages but may occur from domestic electricity supplies if the current flows for more than a few fractions of a second.People who receive an electric shock often get painful muscle spasms that can be strong enough to break bones or dislocate joints. This loss of muscle control often means the person cannot ‘let go’ or escape the electric shock. The person may fall if they are working at height or be thrown into nearby machinery and structures.Some examples of electrical accidents in recent years are detailed hereunder and of course there have been hundreds of near misses when people or their valuable stock could have been electrocuted:• In November 2015, an overhead power cable fell

and electrocuted eight cattle near Lahinch, Co Clare;

• During March 2015, a farmer lost 15 valuable calves in a fire believed to be caused by an electrical fault in a hay shed on a farm near Causeway, Co Kerry;

Charles Gallagher, CEO of IHFA, and Arthur Byrne, public safety manager with ESB Networks, inspect a stanchion damaged by farm machinery.

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• During April 2014, thousands of pigs died in a farm buildings fire in county Armagh. In total, about 500 sows and 2,000 piglets were burnt to death and of course the piggeries were destroyed in the blaze, which was caused by an electrical fault;

• During March 2014, over two and a half thousand residents in north Fermanagh were without electricity for a time due to slurry hitting overhead lines;

• Due to operator fatigue, poor visibility or carelessness, farm machinery often hits ESB poles which may be carrying transformers, and in these cases local electricity supplies will be knocked out. In addition, there is a serious risk of injury or even death to the farmer, farm worker or agri contractor if overhead power lines fall on their machinery.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT SITUATIONSAccording to Arthur Byrne, public safety manager with ESB Networks, since the year 2000, 49 people have died after coming into contact with electricity; some involved the equipment and wiring on the premises or farms. Others occurred when machinery came into contact with overhead electricity wires on the land. Six of those who lost their lives were farmers. Some causes of the tragic deaths include: power washing on a farm (2013); silage harvester contacted an overhead 10,000-volt line (2004); two people electrocuted moving a high pole under an overhead line; milking parlour became live (2000); death after contact with a fallen 10,000-volt wire (2000).

Other electrical accidents on farms have included:• Welding – electric fence connected directly to an

ESB line, milking machine became live; cutting timber too near to a 10,000-volt line; damage to transformer poles causing lines to fall to ground;

• There have been many hundreds of incidents where livestock have perished because of electricity, and where farmers had lucky escapes when trying to rescue stricken animals.

STRAY ELECTRICITY PROBLEMSStray electricity can arise because of poor connections, corroded switches, defective wiring, frayed insulation, faulty equipment or heavily loaded power lines. Voltages greater than 1v may reduce milk yields, increase somatic cell counts, increase mastitis levels and lower live weight gain in cattle. Of all diseases of cattle, mastitis is the disease which costs the most. Cows with mastitis produce less milk, get pregnant less quickly, lose more body condition and

are more likely to be culled early.Animals experiencing even a minor electrical shock may be reluctant to drink from a trough which will impact on their health and performanceIn summary, Arthur says that “working near overhead power lines and having an unsafe or inadequately protected electrical installation are the main causes of electrical accidents on farms.” On a positive note, he goes on to say: “Looking back over the decades, starting in the 1930s, I can tell you that the average number of deaths from electrocution is five. In recent years that has come down very significantly to about two per annum – but it needs to be zero.”

The emergency telephone number for ESB Networks 1850 372 999 is open 24 hours a day at all times.

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Jiska Healy, veterinarian, Dairymaster

TAKING THE HASSLE OUT OF HEIFER MANAGEMENTWhen herd size increases, a lot of animals live in close proximity to each other, making the entire population more vulnerable to various health hazards. As a result, infection risks can increase exponentially

Expanding herd size, if not done properly, can create some challenges. Traditionally, farmers would buy and sell livestock at the mart. Nowadays, more and more farmers opt for internal expansion rather than external. Buying in stock always incurs a risk. This is the reason why many Irish farmers choose to rear extra heifers to expand their herds. The question is: how many heifers one should keep on

for a rapid herd expansion model? The answer, however, is not that simple. It all depends on some preconditions, with the culling percentage as the most important factor. The more cows you cull, the more you will need to replace. Proper health management and early detection of problems with the MooMonitor+ will aid in keeping the farm sustainable, ensuring longevity for your animals. The ideal situation for most profitability

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is to get at least five lactations per cow. The average in Ireland currently is 3.3. This is greatly reducing profitability on farm. The amount of heifers to keep on to break even should always be at least 5 per cent higher than the percentage of animals culled per year. This 5 per cent accounts for the possible losses throughout the raising of young stock period. For example, if 30 per cent of your 100 cow herd is culled (for various reasons) over the course of a year, 35 heifer calves should be kept for replacements only. Since it takes approximately two years before a heifer comes into production, the total amount of replacement heifers (from birth to calving) in this example should be between 65 and 70. Also take into account that it is not always only heifers that are born. Using normal semen will give a 50/50 chance for a heifer calf. Increasing herd size requires even more dedication. You would want to have close to 40 or 50 heifer calves a year to grow your herd at a fast enough rate. This requires craftsmanship as a farm manager and leaves little room for management mistakes.Another factor you should take into account is calving age of heifers. When expanding herd size, one would like to have their heifers calve at around 22 to 24 months of age. This reduces feed costs and heifer numbers needed for replacement, leaving more heifers for growing your herd. Currently, in Ireland, heifers calve between 27 and 29 months of age. Good rearing of young stock management and early breeding can enhance the speed at which your herd is growing. To expand your herd size heat detection needs to be top notch. In order to decrease calving interval of your animals you should aim to have one calf per year per cow at the right time of the year (early spring calving for a grass-based system). Proper calving management, easy calvings and hygiene will influence the fertility status of your cows in a good way. Heifers, and especially cows, should be ‘prepped’ before breeding in order to increase heat expression. This means keeping your livestock healthy and starting recording heats before the breeding season begins. A lot of information is given by the cow well before the breeding season and, if you watch closely, you can pick up on them and flag them for a vet-check in time. Prepping also includes to have cows that are at risk (ie. hard calving, low in energy, skinny or obese animals, milk fever, ketosis, retained foetal membranes or other illness during the transition period) followed-up on and scanned before breeding to see if their reproductive system is ready to conceive. If any problems are found at this stage one can quickly act upon it without losing time. This allows for healthy

animals in the right body condition at the start of breeding which will then, again, increase chances for a quick conception. Of course, all of this is more easily said than done: the MooMonitor+ system is not only an advanced heat detection and animal health monitoring tool, it is the ultimate management tool that gives the farmer accurate information at their fingertips.Other factors that should be considered are the time when a heat starts (the majority of heats happen overnight) and what is the best time to inseminate. The MooMonitor+ has the highest heat detection rates, it follows the full heat event from start to finish, which makes it easier for you to find the right timeframe for insemination, increasing conception rates on farm. In order to maintain a compact calving pattern, maiden heifers should be bred to calve at the very start of the calving period. This is also known as frontloading your calving season with heifers and maximises their chances of staying in the herd for longer, increasing lifetime productive performance.

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Inseminating young heifers can bring some challenges along the way. The heat cycle of a heifer differs from an adult cow. So does the best timeframe to inseminate heifers. This is something to keep in mind while working with any type of system. Too early insemination decreases fertile capacity of the semen. Too late decreases fertility of the egg cell. With MooMonitor+ technology we know exactly at what point in time a heifer is at her most fertile. Insemination within that timeframe increases conception success significantly. In addition, exact timing of insemination and knowing exactly when a heat starts are paramount for success, reducing the number of straws used and eliminating the need for a sweeper bull.

THE MOOMONITOR+ – MORE THAN JUST HEAT DETECTION ALONECan I ask you a question? During those early mornings, late nights and very little sleep… more than 10 calvings per day onwards… How are you coping? Do all animals get the same amount of time you were giving them a few months ago? And what about the fresh cows? It is well known that the transition period (three weeks pre-calving and post-calving) is the most important period for cows health wise, but did you know how important exactly? Over 75 per cent of all disease-related events in the adult life of a cow occur around this time. This puts the importance of transition management into perspective. However, with larger herd sizes and high labour costs it becomes harder for the farmer to keep on top of everything. Consider, then, as well, that good health equals fertility and good fertility equals productivity. If one of the three fails it has an effect on the other two. This is where the MooMonitor+ comes in. The advanced settings in the device not alone allows for very accurate heat detection – daily rumination, feeding and resting times are also measured. Monitoring these behaviours – next to daily activity and restlessness – the smart MooMonitor+ software can tell you when a cow is not behaving as she should, detect illness and other health-related problems. Over 3,000,000 data points per day are collected, which gives you an accurate and real-time view of your herd more so than any other system out there. With data updated

every 15 minutes, all cows are monitored 24x7 and in great detail in a very easy-to-use system. On the system, cows are automatically divided by base of days in milk. Both close-up cows as well as fresh cows have their own specified group, making it easier to quickly browse through their health and behaviour status on a daily basis. Customising groups to your own preferences is also possible. Looking at your entire herd performance or comparing individual cows to the herd is made easy by the use of behaviour scatter graphs. Observing the normal daily distribution of your herd and their behaviours will quickly teach you where the outliers are and which production group could benefit from altered management procedures. It will also show you which animals are starting to get sick and lets you follow the course of health events and the recovery period fully. All of this data and capabilities of the system translates into a management system that saves you a lot of time and allows you to manage each cow as an individual. Animal identification, correct recording of events and other information can be hard at times when it is very busy on the farm and is it often forgotten about or viewed as the least important job. However, having this information is vital when you need to make important decisions that will affect the profitability of your farm. In order to get the most benefits we advise you to put all your events in the system: The more heats are confirmed, the more accurate the device becomes. Entering data such as calvings will prompt voluntary waiting periods for your cattle automatically. For a self-specified number of days they will not show up on the heat list, even though their activity patterns can still just as easily be followed up on. Entering scanning results can aid you in deciding whether to cull the cow or to inseminate her one more time. All information is available on the go on your phone. You have access to it from all over the world and from any platform you may choose. With the MooMonitor+ it is no longer necessary to be sitting watching your cows for hours. In the morning you only need to have a quick look through the well-visualised graphs of animals with an alert and your close-up groups, and you will know what to expect for the day to come.

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Ian Hutchinson, technical manager, Nutribio Ltd

OPTIMUM REPLACEMENT HEIFER CALF NUTRITIONDairy heifer calves represent the future of the herd, and in progressive breeding programmes these calves represent the best genetics in the herd. They are, therefore, a vital resource for a sustainable dairy farm, and must be properly managed in order to reach target weights and achieve the goal of a long productive lifetime in the herd

DRY COW NUTRITIONThe first step along this road begins with the dry cow. The nutritional and immune status of the dry cow has a profound effect on foetal development and colostrum quality. A common issue on Irish dairy farms is selenium-deficient soils, leading to a deficiency in dairy cow diets. In severe cases, this may cause still births, and the birth of very weak calves. Forage mineral analysis or a blood mineral analysis of adult cows will identify any issues, and effective selenium supplementation of late lactation and dry cows will minimise the impact on calf health. Supplementing a good dry cow mineral with high levels of macro minerals (magnesium, phosphorus) and other key trace elements (eg. copper, cobalt, iodine and zinc) will enhance the metabolic and immune function of both cow and calf. Dry cow minerals should also contain high levels of vitamins A, D and E. These vitamins do not cross

the placenta in significant amounts, so the calf must rely on colostrum to obtain these crucial vitamins for immune function. Calves that receive colostrum low in vitamin A, D and E will be at a greater risk of infection, leading to scours, pneumonia and reduced growth rates.

COLOSTRUM QUALITYNewborn calves are reliant on the passive immunity imparted through the colostrum from the dam, as their own immune systems do not fully develop until four to six weeks of age. Colostrum contains antibodies, growth factors and essential vitamins as discussed above, and should be collected from the cow and fed to the calf as soon as possible after calving. This is for two reasons: the quality of colostrum produced by the cow declines by approximately 3.7 per cent per hour from calving; and the absorptive capacity of the calf’s gut starts to decline within four to six hours after birth. Therefore, in order to get the greatest absorption of high-quality colostrum, calves should be fed a minimum of 3L of colostrum from the first milking after calving, within two hours of birth. A second feed should be given within 12 hours of birth, and colostrum should be fed until the calf is three to four days old. The colostrum should be from the calf’s mother, as the antibodies it contains will be specific to the pathogens present on the home farm. Using only colostrum from the calf’s mother will also reduce the risk of spreading Johne’s disease.

MILKFollowing on from colostrum, calves should be fed 13-15 per cent of the birth weight in milk or milk replacer. This typically translates as 6L per day (depending on breed of

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calf), which should be fed twice a day until four weeks of age, and can be fed once a day thereafter. Waste milk should not be fed as it contains increased levels of pathogens, and also increases the risk of development of antibiotic resistance on farms. Calf nuts should be offered from very early in life, even if calves eat only small amounts, as this will encourage early rumen development. A constant supply of clean water is also very important for rumen development. Small amounts of hay or straw can be offered, though excessive intakes of hay should be avoided as this result in lower intakes of starter ration, delaying rumen development.

ENVIRONMENTRearing healthy calves requires not only excellent colostrum and nutritional management, but also minimising disease pressure from the calf’s environment. Calf housing should be clean, well ventilated, and draught-free. All sheds should be thoroughly disinfected in the summer to prevent the carry-over of pathogens from one year to the next. Calf housing should also be regularly cleaned during the busy spring period, and a deep bed of clean straw maintained.

GROWTH RATES AND TARGET WEIGHTSResearch from Teagasc Moorepark and other institutions worldwide has demonstrated that heifer bodyweight is the most important factor in determining pubertal rates, and that larger, better grown heifers will be more profitable due to superior lifetime production potential. Heifers in the seasonal dairy production system prevalent here in Ireland must be bred at approximately 15 months old to fit in to the system, and calve down around two years old. Figures from Teagasc put replacement heifer rearing costs at €1,500 per heifer, and these costs are not paid back until that animal is halfway through her second lactation. These rearing costs will rapidly escalate if targets are missed and heifers calve down beyond 26 months of age. Target weights have been established for key time points in order to achieve first calving by two years old – heifers should be 30 per cent of mature weight at six months old, 60 per cent of mature weight at 15 months old and 90 per cent of mature weight at first calving. The mature weight will be dependent on the breed of the calf, but can be easily defined for individual farms by weighing third and fourth lactation cows at approximately 150 days in milk.

NUTRITION AND GROWTH RATES DURING THE PRE-WEANING PERIODNutrition and growth rates during the pre-weaning period (first eight weeks of life) have a significant impact on the

lifetime productivity and profitability of heifer calves. Crucial events in the development of both the rumen and the mammary gland take place during these first eight weeks of life, and this point is the single biggest opportunity for farmers to influence development and ensure the genetic potential of these animals is realised. Prior to transitioning from milk to solid feed, early growth and development of the absorptive surface area (papillae) of the rumen is crucial for maximising the absorption and digestion of nutrients, and subsequent protein synthesis and energy assimilation. Enhanced rumen development will lead to greater utilisation of nutrients, and improved growth rates, which will be clearly evident in calves that thrive on solid feed following weaning. It is also essential to maintain the integrity of the lower digestive tract, and maximise the absorption of nutrients from the small intestines. Any factor which reduces nutrient absorption, such as scours and other health events, will have considerable negative effects on growth rates and animal performance. This point is emphasised by research from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), which illustrates the profound effects of health events on calf growth rates. Calves with pneumonia were shown to have a decline in growth rates of 8 per cent; calves with diarrhoea 18 per cent; and 29 per cent reduction in growth rates was seen for calves with both pneumonia and diarrhoea.Further evidence of the critical importance of pre-weaning growth rates comes from research into the effect on future milk yield and survivability to second lactation. It has been shown that for every 100g of additional average daily gain during the first two months of the calf’s life, an additional 225kg of first-lactation milk yield could be expected. This effect is thought to be mediated through an increase in mammary cell growth during the pre-weaning period. It is important to note that the critical time for imprinting mammary gland capacity is limited to the first eight to 10 weeks of life, and there does not appear to be any scope for compensatory growth in these mammary cells after weaning. In summary, the health and nutrition of calves during the first two months of life is a vital component of a successful dairy farm business, and lays the foundations for these animals to have long, productive and profitable lifetimes in the herd. Ensuring adequate, timely intakes of high-quality colostrum is the essential first step, which must be followed by excellent hygiene and nutritional management to ensure optimal development and growth rates.

The grass silage produced on Irish farms varies dramatically in both its feed value and also its chemical composition. This variation, can be due to the different management practices that are implemented on farms at the time of harvesting and also the quality of the herbage entering the silage clamp.

Producing Quality Silage:Crop harvesting date can be counted as one of the most important factors to influence silage quality. In many cases farmers delay the harvest date in order to increase forage yield. This however, has a negative impact on the overall quality of the forage, as a greater proportion of mature crops contain elongated stem which has a low feeding value. As a rule of thumb aim to harvest the crop when it is still in the leafy stage and approximately 50% of ear emergence has occurred. This generally happens from mid-May onwards, depending on grass variety. Weather conditions at the time of harvest also impact on silage quality. Crops, should be harvested after a period of good sunshine followed by a short wilting period of no longer than 48 hours. This should allow for the achievement of a plant dry matter (DM) content of 250 g/kg. Therefore, helping to increase sugar concentration within the herbage and also reducing effluent losses from the forage clamp during storage.

Correct management of the forage clamp during the ensiling process is also very important. Herbage should be well consolidated once it has entered the clamp. This helps expel any excess trapped air therefore promoting an anaerobic environment. The ensiled herbage should be free of contamination from soil and manure in order to prevent any unwanted clostridial fermentation occurring. Moreover the clamp should be sealed immediately

after silage harvesting is completed therefore, restricting any plant enzyme activity and promoting anaerobic fermentation.

Principles of Silage Making:The basic process of silage production can be best described as the conversion of plant sugars to fermentation acids through the rapid achievement of an anaerobic environment. In practice, this environment is achieved by chopping the crop during harvesting, followed by the rapid filling, consolidation and sealing of the herbage in forage clamps. Efficiently completing this process firstly helps stimulate the fermentation process and secondly helps prevent any mould growth from occurring during the storage period.

The overall sugar content of herbage at harvest greatly influences this fermentation process. Generally, a plant sugar content of between 2 and 3 percent is deemed to be sufficient for the production of good quality silage. However, once sugar levels drop below 2 percent production of good quality silage can be difficult and it would be advised that a fermentation stimulant eg: molasses should be applied. Plant sugar levels can be influenced by

many different factors including the dry matter (DM) and maturity of the herbage and also the weather conditions at the time of harvesting.

When to use Molasses:Where plant sugar levels are low the addition of a fermentation stimulant such as molasses is very important. Depending on sugar levels, an application rate of between 9 and 18 litres should be applied to every tonne of fresh herbage harvested. In forage clamps molasses acts as more than just a fermentation stimulant, it also increases lactic acid production, lowers ammonia-N and silage pH, while also improving the overall dry matter digestibility (DMD) of the final forage. Moreover molasses also helps bind the clamp together, reduce air availability and increase the overall storage capacity of the forage clamp. Another major advantage in applying molasses is its flexibility of use. Molasses can be applied accurately to the sward or at the forage clamp, either through the use of a sward applicator or hydraulic molasses pump. For more information on the benefits of using molasses on silage, contact Premier Molasses, Harbour Road, Foynes, Co. Limerick on 069-65311 or visit our website at www.premiermolasses.ie.

Molasses: Improving Silage QualityRobert Flynn, Premier Molasses

Premier Molasses Advertorial.indd 1 22/03/2016 17:00


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Dr Mary Newman, Zoetis

REARING HEIFERS FOR LIFETIME PRODUCTIVITYHeifer rearing is the most important annual investment on dairy farms. Optimising health and growth rates in heifer calves protects the future of the herd’s productivity. This article explores the cost of rearing a heifer for lifetime productivity

The cost of rearing a heifer to calve at 24 months is approximately €1,500, according to Teagasc. When a heifer is calved at this age the cost will be paid off, on average, at 42 months.On the other hand, if a heifer does not calve until 30 months, or older, the cost of rearing her is not returned until 52 months. If these late-calving heifers do not last in the herd for a third lactation, then there is little or no profit from them. Research has shown that heifers that calve at 30 months or older do not last as long in the herd and, therefore, are a poor investment. Growth rates and age at first calving influence how much milk a cow produces over her lifetime and how long she remains part of the herd. Top performing cows have consistent growth rates as calves, excellent fertility as heifers and produce the most milk over their lifetime. The main objective of good heifer rearing is to ensure optimal lifetime productivity: • Heifers to calve at 22-24 months weighing 85-90%

of mature body weight, ie. 500-550kg; and• Heifers to calve at the beginning of the calving

season to maximise grass use and to ensure tight calving pattern in future.

Growth targets:• At six months of age: 30% of mature body weight;

• At breeding (13-15 months): 55-60% of mature body weight; and

• At calving (22-24 months): 85-90% of mature body weight.

To achieve these target growth rates a 40kg calf at birth requires a daily live weight gain (DLWG) of 720g per day, ie. 280kg in 390 days/13 months = 720g per day. In addition, for every 70kg of additional body weight at calving, an average additional 1,000kg of milk could be expected in the first lactation.1

KEY POINTA DLWG of 720g is required for a 40kg calf to be bred at 13-15 months, weighing 340kg.

Three pillars of good heifer rearing are:• Calf health;• Calf nutrition; and• Good breeding programme.

Feeding methods and management practices for heifers influence the future performance and economic returns of dairy herds. Good rearing management is the cornerstone of future herd production and profitability.Feeding proper amounts of good quality and clean colostrum is the first step in managing calf health.

Calving at 24m results in a positive ROI by mid 2nd lactation

Birth 1st lactation

Wea

ning

Bree

ding

Delay 1st calving

Investment periodNegative economic balance Positive economic balance

Delayed AFC extends the time to net profit

Payback period

3rd lactation

Net

pro

fit0

+++

---

2nd lactation

Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

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PNEUMONIAPneumonia is the number one killer of Irish calves aged from one month old to 12 months.2 In addition, it is estimated that pneumonia accounts for over 50% of all treatments on Irish cattle farms. Pneumonia in young dairy calves has been shown to: cost an average of €53 per case at time of disease3 (treatment costs, time etc.); increase age to first calving by two weeks3; reduce first lactation yield by 4%5; and reduce second lactation yield by 8%. Calves with persistent pneumonia (relapses) can have first and second lactation yields reduced by 5% and 10% respectively.8 Reduce growth rates by 3-9% which cannot be overcome by compensatory feeding8 and reduce the number of days in milk for individual animals by an average of 109 days.6

A major herd problem with calf pneumonia is that calves that get sick with pneumonia have poorer growth rates and replacement heifers have delayed age to first calving. In turn, these animals do not last as long in the herd as calves that remain pneumonia free. Calf pneumonia should be avoided at all costs, due to the overall negative impact on herd productivity, and individual calves that develop pneumonia should not, if possible, be selected as replacement heifers, as they offer a poorer return on the €1,500+ investment to bring them to calving.

PNEUMONIA PREVENTION IN CALVESEarly protection against the most common viruses is recommended to prevent calf pneumonia. BRSV and Pi3 have been identified as two of the most common virus pneumonia infections in Irish calves.1 Rispoval RS+Pi3 Intranasal is a convenient and reliable method of boosting immunity and protecting calves from these two key viruses.

KEY POINTS• Calf pneumonia is the number-one killer of animals

less than 12 months of age in Ireland;

• Pneumonia in replacement heifer calves has a long-term impact on their lifetime productivity;

• Protect against virus pneumonia with an intranasal vaccine from nine days of age.

CALF NUTRITIONAchieving a high average daily gain early in life is key to successful heifer rearing. On average, every additional 100g of DLWG during the first two months of life results in about 225kg of additional milk yield in the first lactation.1

KEY POINTS• Feed calves 6L per day in two feeds;• Early introduction of good quality solid feed;• Ensure adequate worm control on pasture.

BREEDING PROGRAMMEHeifers should be 55-60% of their mature body weight at breeding, which equates to around 340kg for HF heifers. Semen should be from bulls of high genetic merit. If you are using a stock bull make sure you get your vet to fertility test him in advance of introduction to the herd.Target outcomes should be a conception rate above 65% and a service rate of 99% (resulting in a pregnancy rate over 60% to first service).

KEY POINTS• Weight more important than age at breeding;• Heat detection is key;• Vasectomised bulls are invaluable.

There are various synchronisation options available. Below are two useful programmes for heifers:• Observe and serve: single dose prostaglandin; and• Fixed time AI; progesterone and prostaglandin

+ GnRH (100% submission rate; no reduction in conception rate).

References: [email protected]

Top performers Average performers Poor performers Worst performersCalf growth rates High Average Poor VariableMaiden heifer fertility Excellent 1.1s/c Good 1.5 s/c Poor 2.5 s/c Very poor >3 s/cAge at first calving 21-23 months 24-25 months 26-30 months >30 months1st lactation yield Over 8,000L Over 7,500L Over 6,000L Less 6,500LFertility parameters 1st lactation Average Good Average PoorAge at second calving 38 months 38 months 41 months 50 monthsSurvival from 1st calving to 5 years 80% 60% 50% 30%Total milk production over 5 years from birth 24,000L 22,000L 17,000L 8,000L

Figure 2: Summary of lifetime performance in relation to early growth and fertility in typical Holstein/Friesian calves (Wathes et al, 2008).

S/C = straws per cowDecreasing performance

40


Robert Prenderville

PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR DAIRY CALVES FOR BEEF FINISHING SYSTEMSWith the onset of another calving season for dairy farmers, many dairy calf to beef producers are debating the type of calf they should buy this spring

Currently, approximately 60% of calves born are bred from dairy sires, 25% are from early maturing sires (Angus and Hereford) and the remainder are from continental sires and other breeds (Figure 1). While the breed of calf does generate a lot of discussion, even more consideration needs to be dedicated to the production system that the calves are going to be managed under. A range of production systems are available to Holstein-Friesian bull calves alone that have significant implications on investment rate, stocking rate, housing facilities, labour, concentrate input, grass and silage requirements and farm profit. Very often, the projected sale date of the animals for dairy beef producers depends on their performance during the first season at pasture and coincides with the decision to castrate bull calves in autumn. This has significant implications for the carrying capacity of the farm as the projected sale date may not be possible due to inadequate animal performance. The planned sale date should be established before calves are even purchased. Comparisons of a range of production systems have been carried out at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, for male dairy calves and Angus and Hereford dairy crossbred calves over the last number of years. The research has clearly demonstrated the strengths and weaknesses of individual production systems. The blueprints and profitability of the systems are outlined below. It is essential that attention to detail with regard to calf rearing, animal health and pasture management is carried out to ensure that optimum performance is achieved.

CALF PERFORMANCE IN FIRST GRAZING SEASON Optimising calf performance during their first season at pasture is critical to ensure that the targets set out

in the blueprints below are achieved. The management and performance of male dairy calves and early maturing, dairy crossbred heifer and bull calves are identical. Following the calf-rearing stage, calves are supplemented with concentrates until mid-May, remain on a pasture-only diet until early September and are again supplemented with concentrates until housing. Average daily gain during their first summer at grass is 0.80kg/day with a live weight at housing of 230kg. Male dairy calves in the 15-month bull production system require an average daily gain (ADG) of 0.90kg/day during this period to ensure that the target carcass weight is achieved. For the other systems outlined below, the animals are carried through their first winter on a grass silage, ad-libitum diet supplemented with 1.5-2kg of concentrates.

BLUEPRINTS FOR DAIRY CALF TO BEEF SYSTEMS Previously, the majority of male dairy cattle were finished during the second winter in a steer production system. In this system cattle are offered good quality grass silage with 5-6kg of concentrates daily. Holstein-Friesian steers were slaughtered at 24 months of age. The target carcass weight was 320kg. Early maturing steers were slaughtered at 23 months of age and the target carcass weight was 300kg. With the shift from steer to bull beef production for many beef producers, particularly for Holstein-Friesian animals, it is essential that the market requirements are understood from the outset. Age at slaughter, carcass weight, conformation and fat scores are critical issues for bull beef production. A wide range of bull, steer and heifer production systems have been evaluated at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle and Grange in recent years. The 15- and 19-month bull production systems that are described below are applicable to Holstein-Friesian

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calves only. These systems are broad variations of the following blueprints:15-month bull system: calves are housed in late October/early November, remain indoors, and are finished on concentrates ad-libitum with a limited proportion of roughage or excellent quality silage. Bulls are slaughtered in May/June. Concentrate input during the finishing period is approx. 1.8t. The target carcass weight is this system is 275kg with conformation scores of O=/O+ and fat scores 2=/2+. Meeting these targets at less than 16 months of age is necessary for this system to satisfy market specifications in Britain. Results from Teagasc, Johnstown Castle over the last number of years have shown that the target carcass weight for this system was difficult to achieve and the system is highly vulnerable to increases in concentrate input costs. 19-month bull system: bulls are turned out to pasture for the second grazing season for 100 days in early March, housed in June and finished on concentrates ad-libitum over a 100-day period with a concentrate input of 1.2t during the finishing period. Target carcass weight for this system is 320kg. Given that these animals are greater than 16 months of age at slaughter, the market outlet for these carcasses is more limited. Therefore, very close communication with meat processors is essential for this production system.21-month steer system: for spring-born calves (Holstein-Friesian and early maturing dairy crossbred calves), winter finishing can be avoided by slaughtering cattle at a lighter carcass weight at the end of the second grazing season. Steers are finished at the end of the second grazing season having been supplemented with concentrates for the final 60 days. Concentrate input during the finishing period for this system is 350kg. Calves must have good lifetime performance and have an early birth date for this system (Jan/Feb born). Target carcass weight is 280kg. For Holstein-Friesian steers conformation scores are predominately P+ and O- with fat scores of 2=. Early maturing steers typically have conformation scores of O+ with fat scores of 3-.26-28 month steer systems: in this system animals are at pasture for the second grazing season. They are then housed on a grass silage-only diet for the second winter. During this period, animal performance is typically 0.50kg/day. Steers are then turned out to pasture in late February/early March and slaughtered in June. In this system, Holstein-Friesian steers are slaughtered at 28 months of age and achieve a carcass weight of 350kg. Conformation scores are predominately O= with fat scores of 2=/2+. The target carcass weight for early maturing steers is 320kg with conformation and fat scores of O+ and 3-, respectively. This system is well

suited to late-born calves as a large proportion of live weight gain is achieved from grazed grass.Early maturing heifer production systems: after their first winter, heifers are turned out to pasture in early March and slaughtered off pasture at the end of the second grazing season, between September and November (19 to 21 months of age). Target carcass weight for this

Figure 1: Sire breed profile of calves generated from the dairy herd (AIM, 2015).

FRAAHEOTHER

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system is 235kg to 250kg. Carcass conformation for heifer production systems were predominately O=/ O+ with carcass fat classes of 3-/=. Results from Johnstown Castle have shown that all spring-born heifers should be slaughtered before the second winter.

PROFITABILITY OF DAIRY CALF TO BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEMSFigure 2 shows the net margin of the production systems described above on a 20ha (50 acre) farm model. Price assumptions were: male Holstein-Friesian calf purchase price €100; early maturing heifer calf €240; early maturing bull calf €270; an R3 steer beef price €4; and a finishing concentrate price of €255. Actual beef price payable depends on carcass grading, seasonality (beef price being highest in May and lowest in September) and eligibility for quality assurance bonus. The breed bonuses were also included for the early maturing production systems and the impact of a 30c/kg discount on the 19-month bull production system was also investigated. Results clearly indicate that huge variation in profit exists across production systems. The 15-month Holstein-Friesian bull system has a very modest land requirement, although it is important to bear in mind the organic nitrogen and slurry contribution of these cattle with regard to the stocking rate and slurry capacity limitations of the Nitrates Directive. This system was the least profitable on a per head and hectare basis.Although the traditional production systems for male dairy calves and early maturing heifer and steer production systems are profitable, grass-based

production systems (21- and 26-month, early maturing and the 21-month Holstein-Friesian steer production systems) were the most profitable systems. While the 19-month Holstein-Friesian bull is one of the more profitable systems, the impact of a discount in beef price has the potential to render it one of the least profitable systems. Therefore, close communication with meat processors is required. From a farm management (utilisation of grazed grass, silage and availability of housing) and cashflow perspective, beef producers normally operate more than one production system. Even with the most profitable production systems operating a single system can be a challenge. For example, if a beef producer operates steers in a 21-month production system, grass demand in the spring is low because the yearlings will be approximately 320kg at turnout and spring-born calves will have a low grass requirement. In addition, because these steers are slaughtered before the second winter, the requirement for grass silage is significantly reduced. In this scenario, having a proportion of steers carried through the second winter and slaughtered during their third season at pasture, complements the 21-month steer system.Results from this clearly show that systems where high levels of weight gain were achieved from grazed pasture were the most profitable. The success of these systems is highly dependent on excellent grassland management to optimise animal performance from pasture. It is also critical to realise that farm profit varies depending on the production system that is carried out and not the breed of the animal that is purchased.

Figure 2: Net profit of dairy calf to beef production systems based on a 20 hectare farm.

HF= Holstein-Friesian and EM= early maturing (Angus and Hereford dairy crossbred animals).

20,000

16,000

12,000

8,000

4,000

0 15 19 24 23 19-21 19 26 21 21 month month month month month month month month month HF bull HF bull HF steer EM steer EM heifer HF bull EM Steer HF Steer EM steer price discount

5,3606,930

8,880

11,30012,390

13,650 14,08015,550 16,380

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Charles Gallagher, Irish Holstein Friesian Association

IHFA NATIONAL OPEN DAY 2016 The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) open day will be held for the first time ever on July 6 in Co Galway, hosted by Tommy and Orla Screene, and children Aoibhínn and Rónán

The family’s ‘Windfield’ Holstein Friesians exemplify how progressive breeding using IHFA services help the establishment of an efficient, productive, and robust herd, built on the strength of cow families. The Windfield herd has 65 pedigree registered Holstein Friesian cows with a further 60 young stock. The farm of 90 acres owned and 60 acres leased is located near Menlough.The family has been farming there since the 1890s. Tommy’s father JP ran a mixed farming enterprise with some Shorthorn cows. Key catalysts for progress have included milk recording, herd grade-up, pedigree registration and IHFA classification, all of which have played a major part in developing the Windfield herd. Current herd average production is 1,870 gallons, 3.83 per cent fat, 3.5 per cent protein. There are now 22 ‘Excellent’ (EX), 33 ‘Very Good’ (VG) and five ‘Good Plus’ (GP) animals in the herd. Longevity is a key aspect borne through with mature cows making up a significant proportion within the herd. There are two IHFA Diamond Award (over 3,000kg of protein produced) cows of note: Windfield Merci Mary EX94 7E, now in her 10th lactation; and Windfield Wade Rosina EX93 5E, heartily in her 12th lactation. Careful sire selection, aligned with regular type

classification, has delivered positive results in terms of both production and functional type conformation, and 100 per cent AI usage continues to this day. Breeding emphasis is focused on strong functional cows, with wide capacious bodies to optimise grass and silage DM intakes. Well attached udders with good legs and feet are a priority due to long winters on concrete.Selection for functional traits allows longevity potential to be expressed. The family has surplus breeding stock for sale, and Tommy notes that repeat buyers return to source heifers and breeding bulls.Cow families are predominantly home-bred with a few select purchases along the way. The uptake of milk recording and grade-up through IHFA Herdbook services put in place a foundation for cow family recognition. Cow families of note include Kate, Irene, Mary, Rosina and Aoibhinn.Windfield Wade Rosina EX93 5E has a lifetime production to date of 123.8 tonnes of milk. She is in her 12th lactation, with an average calving interval of 309 days. Many of the prominent cow families descend from purchases made by JP Screene. One such is the ‘Irene’, established by Windfield Com Irene by Galtee Combat. The Katie family represents impressive depth of breeding and fertility. There are over 23 members of this family in the herd. Windfield Katie by Blakemore Bursar is the family matriarch. Her daughter, Callow Willow, was among the first cows in the herd to classify EX. The economic efficiency of milk production from the Windfield herd facilitated additional farm development over the years through the purchase of land and quota, new and revamped farm buildings, and investment in modern technology. Both manufacturing and liquid milk is supplied to Arrabawn Coop. Herd health is of paramount importance and forms a major plank of overall farm management. Tommy recognises and takes on board the good advice from his local veterinary group.

Rónán, Tommy and JP Screene.

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Jane Marks, FRS Network

ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS SUPPORT Farming is the most dangerous occupation in Ireland, with 30 people having died in 2014 and 18 in 2015, four of these being children. Although there has been a 40 per cent improvement in the statistics the average over the past 10 years stands at 18 fatalities annually. However, the majority of the non-fatal farming accidents that happen on a daily basis go unaccounted for

Research by Teagasc, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and University College Dublin (UCD) indicates that almost one in every 10 farmers suffers a musculoskeletal injury annually, with over 80 per cent of injury victims being unable to work for three days or more.Accidents occur every day, often leaving farmers unable to tend to the work on their farm. All this brings about the question: If I had an accident tomorrow, who would look after the farm for me?

WORK DONE WHILE YOU RECOVERFarm Relief Services (FRS) looked into this issue in depth and developed the membership benefit scheme which supports farmers in the event of an accident or sickness that renders him or her unable to work on the farm. Farmers are more vulnerable in this area than PAYE employees as they do not have the safeguard of social protection payments or sick pay entitlements from their employer to fall back on. The scheme is designed for farmers to have a fallback in place, as an FRS operator will take over the work while the farmer recovers with peace of mind. Thousands of farmers have already availed of the scheme, which also covers farmers who become sick or need to undergo operations. NORMAN AND MICHAEL’S STORIESAfter being injured by a calving cow, Norman Alfred, from Adare, Co Limerick, was unable to work for three months after the accident so he called FRS to take over the work.Norman said: “My relief worker, Dan, was sent out to me the next day. He was a good worker. If I wasn’t able to avail of the scheme I would have had to get a few of the locals to help me out.”

Michael Byrne, Greystones, Co Wicklow, had to get a replacement knee so he had to stop working on his farm. The thought of the work not getting done worried him, but FRS came in and looked after everything. “The guy I got was quite good. He wasn’t familiar with all the work but he adjusted and learned fast. I would have had to try to get somebody else to help me out if I had not had the membership. That was where it was all so convenient.”The scheme is there to make life easier for farmers like Michael and Norman. It puts their minds at ease if they ever have an accident or get very sick. Michael said: “I would not hesitate in recommending the scheme to other farmers. It did benefit me, no doubt about it. It was well worth it.”The savings these farmers made on their labour needs was just one side of it. In addition, they could concentrate on recovering, knowing their farms were being looked after. Having a good, trained, reliable operator to step in, when required, is what FRS is all about.

DETAILS OF THE SUPPORTSickness and Accident Support entitles members to the services of an experienced FRS operator for up to 12 weeks at only 25 per cent of the regular cost (75 per cent off). Maximum benefit is €500 (including VAT) per week (the first week is excluded and must be paid by the member). Membership costs €295 annually – that is peace of mind for only 81 cent per day. For more information on the scheme and to watch the TV special on farm safety and the supports available visit www.frsfarmrelief.ie/membership or contact your local FRS office.

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Sean Farrell, head of agriculture, Bank of Ireland Business Banking

MANAGING CASHFLOW ON FARM IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESSThe Irish agricultural sector is at an important crossroads as it seeks to ensure it remains internationally competitive and yet resilient to volatility. As a significant exporter of food, Ireland is ideally positioned to leverage its competitive advantages and optimise the opportunities which exist

The abolition of milk quotas across Europe since April 2015 has opened up a world of global opportunities for our farmers. And yet as the door of opportunity opens, it also leads to increased risk, macro-economic dependence and the requirement for sound financial planning.Over the past few years we have seen significant investment and development by farmers, as dairy farmers geared up for the milk quota changes, and beef and grain farmers continued to grow their land bases. Banks have seen an increase in farm buildings and development requests, in particular from the dairy sector, as we seek to play an active part in supporting farmers to increase their outputs and capitalise on post-quota opportunities to expand their businesses. As Irish farmers invested in their businesses, the market has been mixed. Milk prices fell by almost a quarter last year, driven mainly by over-supply on the global market. Dairy farmers incurred an EU super levy for the final time in 2015, with the national bill of €69m payable over three years. Beef and lamb prices increased by 8 per cent and 2 per cent respectively during 2015, while a bumper global cereal harvest led to increases in grain stocks and similar grain farmer incomes to 2014. Pig farmers in general had a difficult 2015, with prices 11 per cent lower and supplies 6.5 per cent higher than in 2014. While pig feed prices also decreased, the reduction was not proportionate to the reduction in finished pig prices and margins fell in this sector. A volatile environment for farmers, in general, with commodity price fluctuation and the weakened euro shaping the sector.

46


And how will the future shape up? We know the short-term milk price outlook remains challenging and, with an increased supply of finished cattle likely to come onto the market later this year, beef prices are likely to come under pressure also. Looking beyond the current year, and with regard to price volatility, our view is that there will be continued peaks and troughs similar to those being experienced now, by the dairy sector in particular. Milk production from Irish dairy farms will continue to grow during 2016, despite the current trough in commodity prices. We anticipate that dairy markets will recover from current levels, but acknowledge that it will be late 2016 at the earliest before this is likely to happen. Average farm incomes are strongly influenced by what happens within the dairy sector. With over 40 per cent of Irish food and drink exports going to Britain, and a further 28 per cent going to non-EU markets, the strength of the euro to sterling, the US dollar and other international currencies, as well as Brexit uncertainty, will continue to play a key role in determining the competitiveness of Irish exports during 2016.Last year, Bank of Ireland sponsored a Teagasc research

report which identified an investment requirement of €1.5bn for the dairy sector to achieve Food Harvest 2020 targets. Aligned to the findings of the research, we continue to anticipate ongoing investment in the dairy sector. We have a €1bn investment fund in place to support development and expansion at farm level. Irish dairy farms have historically low borrowing levels relative to our European counterparts and have lower average costs of production, in our view positioning the sector well to grow output and compete on the international export market. While some farmers have turned to banks for assistance in developing and expanding their business, others have relied on existing cash reserves and grants. The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) opened for applications in 2015 and this will encourage on-farm investment. The scheme has a budget of €170m to be utilised by 2020 and offers the standard grant rate of 40 per cent on a wide range of projects up to an investment ceiling of €80k. Investment by farmers, wherever the funding originates, will be necessary for many as they compete in the global

47


marketplace. However, the need for effective financial management and cashflow planning is now more critical than ever. With expansion comes risk and business sustainability stresses.Cashflow management is even more important when significant farm development, expansion or diversification is underway. Our team of agri-managers have met with over 800 farmers nationwide since the start of the year to explore issues such as farm development and land purchase funding and their impact on cashflow. Dairy farmers, in particular, don’t tend to have significant cash reserves in place, having invested significantly in facilities and stock in recent years. In general, however, overdraft utilisation levels remain low, at less than 25 per cent of overall permission levels on average, but those farmers who have invested most heavily are the ones most likely to be in need of cash flow support this year. Funding aside, one of the other main concerns voiced by farmers in discussions with our managers is the lack of availability of skilled workers to help them grow their respective businesses. Cashflow management is a key element of making any business a success, and farming is no different to any other enterprise in this regard. Planning helps farmers to predict the inflows and outflows of their farm business cash and is essential when they need to make an application for a bank loan or credit facilities. It also makes the credit application process as simple as possible, and a completed cash flow planner is something your bank manager will appreciate when it comes to discussions about future funding needs. Effective cashflow management also helps considerably when trying to set targets for future growth. Most farms across Ireland are family enterprises, so other considerations such as domestic mortgages, personal loans and family living expenses should also be incorporated into the planning. So what’s the best way to start? A simple spreadsheet is one of the most effective cashflow planning tools. Forecasting grain, milk and livestock sales and both fixed and variable costs, including feed, fertiliser and contractor charges, is essential and should be mapped out over the course of the year and ideally over a minimum three-year period in the case of a significant farm expansion. Agri-specific business plan templates and cashflow planners are available from Teagasc, and Bank of Ireland has developed a cashflow planning tool which can be downloaded from our website and is a key financial planning platform to assist farmers.With regard to cashflow supports, there are multiple options for farmers, from bank support through an

overdraft facility or a stocking loan. At Bank of Ireland, ‘AgriFlex’ features have been introduced to our farm loan products and include the potential to avail of interest-only repayment periods in difficult situations and to accelerate repayments during times of surplus farm cashflow.It is important for farmers to get in touch early with their suppliers or bank in relation to any cashflow issues. For our part, the banking sector will be best served by supporting our farming customers through good times and challenging times, whether through quick decisions on loan applications or providing short-term cashflow assistance. Similar to how we supported farmers during the fodder crisis in 2012 and 2013, and during the 2009 dairy market downturn, our sector will look to support viable farm businesses and farm families as necessary. While farmers previously intent on investment may be currently considering whether to press ahead or not, given current commodity prices, our view is that current price volatility should not of itself be a reason to suspend development plans, as those working within agriculture are fully aware of the cyclical nature of the sector, whether through seasonal troughs and peaks or price variation. We understand that financial ups and downs are part of farming today and we know that many farmers are looking to expand or change their farm businesses, but are also looking for the flexibility needed when faced with the challenges of fluctuating prices, variable weather patterns and increasing costs of doing business. Current prices should, of course, be taken into account and factored into business plans, but it is more important that farmers set clear objectives for themselves as to why they should engage in a particular development, define their short and medium-term goals and identify what actions they need to take to meet these goals. The sector will continue to face ongoing challenges, which it is well equipped to deal with. Agriculture is the largest standalone sector within our business banking portfolio, comprising over 50 per cent of all front book business lending through our nationwide branch network last year. Cashflow support requests from farmers are currently not much higher than this time last year, however we would anticipate an increase in the coming months. We take a medium-term view on farm incomes and will play our part in helping farmers manage the impact of sudden price shocks, whether through falls in output prices or increases in input prices. Irish farmers are some of the most progressive and talented worldwide, and through effective financial and cash-flow planning they can compete and win in the global marketplace.

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NEW ORBITAL MODEL UNWRAPPED BY MCHALEOver two decades, McHale has developed a name for the design

and development of quality, bale wrapping solutions, delivering

better reliability and higher output. The latest addition to the wrapper

range is the McHale Orbital high-speed, round bale wrapper. Since the turn of the century, McHale has firmly established itself as the top producer of integrated baler wrappers, with the McHale Fusion range fast becoming the machine of choice for contractors and farmers all over the world. Harnessing the vertical wrapping technology used in the Fusion range, McHale has delivered a new, high-output bale wrapper capable of keeping up with multiple balers. This wrapper helps to achieve optimum levels of fodder preservation and quality when wrapping bales of fodder from 3 foot 3 inches or 1m, up to 4 foot 8 inches or 1.45m. The McHale Orbital Bale Wrapper is a unique machine that uses two McHale proven patents: McHale Patented High Speed Transfer System; and McHale Patented Tip Roller.

PATENTED HIGH-SPEED TRANSFER SYSTEMAs the lift arm moves the bale towards the wrapping ring, the wrapping roller closest to the tractor pivots out of the way, reducing the height distance that the bale has to travel to get to the wrapper. This

MACHINERY NEWS AND VIEWSThis article reviews the McHale Orbital Bale Wrapper, the latest addition to the McHale range, and looks at the claim made by Sixty-5 Technologies that 15% can be saved on fertiliser

49


movement allows the bale to move from the ground to the wrapping platform in a smooth, quick manner which is stress free on the machine. This clever system saves time, as the patented system moves the bale quickly, ensuring the McHale Orbital Bale Wrapper delivers the highest output possible. PATENTED TIP ROLLERThrough the use of the patented tip roller the McHale Orbital Bale Wrapper can wrap bales from 1m up to 1.45m with ease. The patented tip roller adjusts its height in line with bale size to ensure that the wrapping ring always applies the plastic to the centre of the bale, regardless of the bale diameter. This ensures the correct overlap is always achieved.Once the bale is loaded onto the bale wrapper, the high-speed vertical wrapping ring can apply four layers of film to a 1.25m bale in 18 seconds, or six layers of film in under 25 seconds. This high-speed wrapping performance is delivered by two 750mm dispensers and ensures an even overlap of film even if the machine is working on difficult or bumpy terrain. The high-speed wrapping ring design ensures greater wrapping accuracy and overlap over what can be achieved with twin dispenser machines where the dispensers tend to bounce, which can often cause plastic breakages.Integral to the wrapping process is the cut and hold system which quickly and neatly gathers the film together at one point where it is cut and held. This system ensures better grip and provides a more consistent, superior performance, even in wet and windy conditions. The Orbital Bale Wrapper has been designed with in-built film break sensors, which immediately detects if the film breaks or runs out on either dispenser. The machine alerts the operator in the cab and automatically switches to single dispenser mode. Film loading can be carried out from the left hand side of the machine and when the first roll is loaded and the access door is closed, a button can be pressed, which will index the second dispenser to the loading position.James Heanue, Irish sales manager for McHale, said: “We have a number of machines already at work around the factory and both farmers and contractors are very happy with them. The Orbital Bale Wrapper provides an unrivalled high-speed wrapping solution.”

McHale Orbital Bale Wrapper is the latest addition to the McHale range.

UP TO 15% SAVINGS ON FERTILISER?

Sixty-5 Technologies, a spin-off from existing precision farming business, Progressive Agriculture Solutions, has been successfully distributing Leica Geosystems since 2011. It claims that its Grass-Guide GPS field guidance product can save up to 15% on fertiliser.

Northern Ireland finance minister, Mervyn Storey, pictured with CEO of Sixty-5 Technologies, John Arrell, announcing a recent £1.4m investment by the company, which aims to create 23 new jobs with the support of Invest Northern Ireland.

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Sixty-5 Technologies, founded by CEO John Arrell in mid-2014, was born out of his passion for combining technology and agriculture. John was joined by his technical co-founder, Colin Mitchell, a few months later. Both shared the belief that farmers need easy-to-use technology with data availability to aid decision support for greater farm profitability.John recalls receiving a phonecall from a progressive dairy farmer who asked him to demonstrate a GPS

system. The customer had heard from other farmers that this type of GPS technology pays for itself many times over. John quickly set up the demonstration unit on the farmer’s tractor, he explains.“The farmer knew that savings could be made with the technology but he was unable to utilise it,” says John who came away from the demonstration with two questions: is there a better way of providing the GPS guidance?; and how many farmers are not adopting technology because of complexity? Research and development carried out to answer these questions resulted in the Grass-Guide.

UNIQUE FEATURESGrass-Guide’s number one feature is its ease of use. When installed on a tractor, and the implement width is entered, the user has one button to press and the software takes care of everything else: the coverage map; guidelines; and predicted direction. Along with the simple one-button operation, there are a number of other unique Grass Guide features. It is built on an Android platform and is supplied with a state of the art seven-inch Samsung tablet. This has a number of benefits for the farmer. The tablet can be used for other tasks such as email, weather forecast and favourite farm-related apps. The guidance software itself is an app, which means it can be easily updated to ensure the user has the latest version, all free of charge. If the tablet breaks, its replacement is easy. Grass-Guide uses the latest NovAtel GPS/Glonass Agstar satellite receiver which has been tried and tested in the Irish market over the last number of years. The NovAtel receiver is easily mounted via magnets and is supplied complete with a mounting plate should the tractor have a plastic roof, connection to the tablet is via bluetooth and a GPS output is also available to connect to modern machinery with simulated radar for external speed control of fertiliser sowers.

15% SAVINGAccording to John, the 15% saving on fertiliser claim is dependent on how inaccurate the driving was beforehand. A number of tests were carried out and it was found that the further away the operator went from a fixed reference point, such as a hedge, the more inaccurate the driving became. “The worst we measured was on a 15m spread pattern. We measured a 12m pass-to-pass accuracy giving an overlap of 20%, which is a massive overspend on fertiliser. Using Grass-Guide helps to eliminate this overspread but it all depends on the accuracy to start with as to the percentage improvement,” explains John.He recommends everyone to measure their tracks in the field to see just how inaccurate they are. When they work the percentage inaccuracy out and multiply the percentage by their annual fertiliser bill, this will give an indication of possible yearly savings.

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Forage Guide 2016.indd 1 14/03/2016 16:48:10Teagasc 200x283.indd 1 14/03/2016 17:12

Bovilis Bovipast RSP contains inact. BRS strain EV908, PI-3 strain SF-4 Reisinger and Mannheimia haemolytica A1 strain M4/1Bovilis IBR Marker Live contains live, attenuated IBR marker vaccine BHV-1 strain GK/D (gE_ ).For the active immunisation against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus.

Use medicines responsiblyWithdrawal periods: zero days. Legal Categories: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .For further information see SPC, contact prescriber or MSD Animal Health,Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.Tel: +353(0)1 2970220. E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.msd-animal-health.ie* Mannheimia haemolytica# GFK sales data July 2015§ Anon 2014. AFBI/DAFM, All-island Animal Disease Surveillance Report 2013.IE

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Why vaccinate with Bovilis Bovipast RSP?• Reduces the use of antibiotics• Increases productivity and in turn, the profitability of your farm

• Protects against Pasteurella* & Viral Pneumonia (RSV and PI3) - among the most common causes of pneumonia in young stock§ (<12 months old)

Reduce the risk of pneumonia striking down your calves this spring

Licensed for concurrent use with Bovilis IBR Marker Live.

The ONLY vaccine to protect your calves against Pasteurella* & Viral Pneumonia

Pasteurella*

RSV

PI3

For more information visit

bovilis.ie

MSD Bovipast RSP 200x283.indd 1 22/03/2016 11:27

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