Helping grow
the country

Pasture and crop silages are an incredible source of dry matter and nutrients for livestock when they need it most, but not all silage is created equally. The amount of dry matter, nutrients and feed energy lost in the silage stack is largely determined by the speed and quality of fermentation, which in addition to several other factors, is influenced by the type and number of fermentation
bacteria present.

Minimising nutrient loss in the silage stack can be well-managed by using a quality inoculant such as Pioneer®brand inoculants. Pioneer inoculants are applied to the crop or pasture at harvest time and provide optimal strains of lactic acid-producing bacteria in ideal numbers to efficiently ferment the pasture or crop.Once a silage stack has been sealed, anaerobic bacteria multiply and convert sugars to acid which preserves the silage. For the best silage, high levels of lactic acid producing bacteria is important. Quality silage inoculants contain strains of the most efficient lactic acid producing bacteria in guaranteed numbers.

This results in:

• Greater dry matter retention: less shrinkage, spoilage and run-off.
• Improved silage digestibility and palatability: higher feed energy levels.
• Increased animal performance: more milk or meat per tonne of silage fed.
  
  Pioneer offers three tested and roven product options that can help improve silage quality: 

• Pioneer brand 1127: (pasture specific inoculant) Improves the feed value andconsequently the milk and/or meat production of pasture silage.
• Pioneer brand 1174: Suitable for all types of silage including pasture, cereal and lucerne silage.
• Pioneer 11H50: (lucerne specific inoculant)

Produces top-quality lucerne silage for high-producing livestock operations. Independently reviewed New Zealand research showed Pioneer brand inoculants improved fermentation speed and qualityand that Pioneer brand 1174 was shown to have a greater rate of pH decline¹. Faster fermentation speed and quality means fewer dry matter, nutrient and feed energy losses. This can translate to increased milk or meat production from every tonne of forage ensiled. For everydollar spent on Pioneer 1127 inoculant, dairy farmers can expect a milksolids return of $4.75².

Ask your PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative about which inoculant is most suitable for your farm system to get the most out of your silage this spring.

SUPPLIED BY PIONEER BRAND PRODUCTS

¹Kleinmans et al, 2011. Using silage inoculants to improve quality of pasture and maize in New Zealand. Proceedings of New Zealand Grasslands Association 73:75-80.

²Return on investment is calculated using a typical 1127 cost and a milksolids payout of $7.00 per kgMS. Dry matter recovery data used in this calculation is based on 16 pasture silage trials conducted at independent European research stations and submitted to the official German silage additive approval scheme (Vaitikunas W. 1992. University Gotteingen, Germany;Yan and Patterson. 1995. Agricultural  Research Institute of Northern Ireland). Milk production per tonne of pasture silage fed is based on three independent dairy cow feeding trials. 

Spring is now with us and as we round off the yearling sales season across the country sheep are achieving exceptional prices in the North. Catch up on all the commentary below.

North Island

As we hit September a weather front hit the North Island and lingered over the East Coast and inland to the Central Plateau. This storm has been devastating for farmers in these areas. 

Although it was a quieter month since we saw exceptional sheep values achieved through the yards, streets ahead of the values achieved at the works. 

Yearling and service bull sales are in full swing with most achieving good clearances and sale price averages exceeding expectations to date.

Most of the North Island has had its fair share of moisture now, and with the days getting longer and the sun out again we should see feed conditions moving again.  At a time when the demand for stock will escalate it may be hard to source.

South Island

October has started with a rush, as dairy bull sales have begun, spring cattle sales throughout the South Island and the last of the last years lambs making their way to the works.

Spring conditions have been ideal, other than the odd cold southerly snap which come with territory in spring. In most of the areas there has been good growth conditions, ideal for shutting up paddocks for supplementary feed and putting condition on stock.

As most districts are well through their lambing’s, coupled with favourable weather, the lamb survival rate has been good. Indications Lamb and Sheep pricing look to remain strong for the coming season.

Dairy

Spring sales activity in dairy has been increasingly influenced by farmers placing a premium on traceability.

Service bull sales are proceeding well, with farmers becoming increasingly committed to securing bulls that are fully traceable. A single origin is preferable, and if not, the least number of movements possible is what the market seeks. That goes for all sales, whether yearling Jersey bulls to two-year-old beef bulls. In fact, for all stock purchases now, including heifers sold prior to mating, farmers are asking the same questions, with the traceability aspect being a non-negotiable.

There is a new “normal”, with the market realising that industry good recommendations are sound advice, and responding accordingly.

Genetics

Yearling bull sales are coming to a conclusion in the North Island and starting in the South Island. Bull prices and sale clearances so far have been strong due to strong demand to source Bulls from reputable breeders and continued strong two year old sales.

As Christmas approaches it’s the time of year to start thinking about ram selection for next season. With the outlook for the lamb schedule looking positive, there is no better time to get in contact with your local livestock rep or genetics specialist for advice when purchasing rams whether your focus is growth rate, fertility or yield to maximise your bottom line.

With the wide variety of rams available at auction or on farm we have got you covered.

PGG Wrightson Real Estate's GM told The Country's Jamie Mackay, "What is encouraging is that volume is up on last year and there is a "strong feeling," that there will be "a lot of activity pushing through to Christmas."  Farm sales volume have dropped, which is a surprise to Peter Newbold, who thought there would be early spring sales.

Mackay also asks about this week's Property of the Week which is a dairy farm in Oxford. Newbold says the fully irrigated dairy unit is "a great one for Canterbury." Peter also gives his monthly report on rural properties including sheep and beef, dairy and horticulture.

Weaning is a period of stress for calves, with scouring common during this time. But it is not always due to worms.

To minimise the transition shock of weaning, a progressive process is recommended where milk intake is reduced and meal intake is increased over  a period of up to six weeks. This allows the rumen and intestines to adjust to the new feed source, reducing incidence of coccidiosis and nutritional scours which are the most common cause of scours.Calf meals containing coccidiostats are important and once intake declines  below 1 kg per calf per day, they become   effective at managing the protozoan parasite. Affected calves often have a tail coated with dark faeces which contain digested blood and mucous.

When symptoms become serious, veterinary  advice including a faecal sample diagnosisis required with specific treatment initiated. Internal worms don’t become a significant issue in calves until grass is the greatest part of their diet for at least a month. Infective larvae are ingested which causes depressed feed intake and subsequent poor liveweight gain. The need fordrenching generally occurs when calves are approximately 100 kg.The take home message is that calves that are kept in sheds and fed primarily milk, pellets and hay do not need drenching for worms when released from the shed as they haven’t taken in any infective larvae. 

The following considerations are crucial for drench use: 

• Ensure all equipment is clean and delivering the correct dose of drench using a measuring cylinder.
• Abamectin is toxic in calves less than 100 kg.
• The safest drench option for the first drench is a BZ/levamisole oral combination, for example VETMED Combomax.
• Don’t drench while the calves are feeding, or mix drench with milk as this can result in toxicity, death or ineffective drenching.
• Drench calves at 28 day intervals through the summer and autumn  using a triple combination oral product, for example VETMED Triplemax.
• Do a 10 day post drench check once during the summer to determine if the drench is working effectively.
• Due to the size of animals in the autumn, changing to either an injectable or pour on product may be considered. Whatever product used, it must contain levamisole to control Cooperia worms. 

Drenching is only part of the parasite control programme. Where possible the following points are equally important to consider:

• Avoid running high stocking rates of  calves on the same paddocks year after year. This results in high infective larvae burdens.
• Nutrition of the calf is paramount to ensure effective immune function. This includes optimal weaning transition feeding, trace element supplementation and preventative vaccinations.
• Incorporate grazing of adult cattle or other species, for example sheep to reduce pasture contamination.
• Stick to regular 28 day drench programme with effective triple combination oral drenches, for example VETMED Triplemax to prevent contamination of pasture.

To put an effective parasite programme in place, talk to your local PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WEANED CALF HEALTH REQUIREMENTS, CLICK HERE.