January 2016 - Issue 1
Co-Op
NEWSLETTER
Project - Development Farms
We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Dr. Aine O’Connell as a Dairy Advisor, she will work closely with
Teagasc Advisors in our area as part of a joint program aimed at improving the returns from dairying.
One part of this program is to work closely with a small number of farms, these farmers will receive a lot of support to
develop their farm and in return we ask that they share their experience with other farmers through Farm Walks and Open
Days.
We invite applications for these project farms. If you would be interested in becoming a project farm can you please contact
us or your local Teagasc Advisor and we will explain the concept in greater detail. We need a range of different farms to get
maximum benefit from this program so regardless of what your current operation looks like, what soil type you have, what
your current breeding program is if you are interested in developing your farm further in the immediate future you should
contact us.
The closing date for applications will be January 28th 2016.
SCC – CellCheck Workshops
Health Cert Reminder
Arrabawn Co-op is in the process of organising workshops around
its catchment area, starting the first week in February - these
workshops are practical demonstrations by qualified vets, milking
machine technicians and dairy advisors who will show best practice
and give advice on how to control mastitis in your herd.
If you are interested in taking part in a workshop, please contact
your milk advisor or ring Tom Starr 087-6697010.
A valid health certificate is a requirement for your milk to be
collected and a new certificate is required each year. A certificate
signed by your vet in 2015 enables milk collection in 2016.
Have you obtained and submitted your certificate to enable your
milk to be collected this year? If not please attend to this
immediately – All drivers have received instructions to collect milk
only from farms with a current health cert.
Please contact your Vet immediately and arrange for this certificate
to be completed and returned to us so that your milk is not
rejected.
NEWS
Calf Scour Remedy
Calf scour can be a real inconvenience at a busy time of year - isolating the
calf, mixing the electrolyte solution , dosing the calf and then repeating the
process !
Arrabawn Co-op in conjunction with Inform Nutrition have developed a
quick-fix to controlling calf scour - Arralyte+
• Compact electrolyte preparation
• Convenient syringe, inserted into the mouth / back of tongue
• One syringe per dose , repeat if necessary
• No mixing - but milk or water should be available to the calf.
• Fast – no messing can be carried in your pocket!
Ask about Arralyte+ at your local branch of Arrabawn Co-op or contact
Tom Starr (087-669 7010)
Johne’s Disease & Colostrum
Colostrum from neighbouring farms should be avoided to reduce
the spread of disease
• Be very careful when selecting colostrum especially with regards
to Johne’s
• Proper management of colostrum is critical in order to prevent
the spread of Johne’s disease within a herd.
• Feeding colostrum from an infected cow is the single greatest
risk factor in spreading the disease.
• Do not pool colostrum. Pooling colostrum allows infection to be
spread from one cow to a number of calves.
• Feed single source colostrum from the calf’s own dam. In the
absence of their own dam’s colostrum, or if the dam has been
identified as Johne’s positive – feed colostrum from only a single
animal that is Johne’s negative.
Do not leave calf with cow to feed itself. Bottle and teat better, but
slower, than stomach tube for antibody absorption.
TEMPORARY LEASING SCHEME
Calf Management – Hygiene
The knee Test! is the calf bed dry? Ensure calf pens are cleaned and disinfected
regularly, using hot water and disinfectant. Have a separate sick bay for sick
calves. Feed sick calves last to avoid spread. Wear easy-clean clothing.
Colostrum – calf is almost entirely dependent on maternal antibodies from
colostrum. Only the first milking is true colostrum – there is a 50% reduction
in quality between the 1st and 2nd milking. Quality of ‘April’ colostrum tends
to be poorer than earlier or later colostrum. So, 1,2,3, - 1st feed, 3 litres within
2 hours( max absorption within 2 hours) then feed milk replacer(26%) if
Johnes risk . Use or coolstore fresh and clean – fridge for 2 days, freezer for
1 year – bacteria destroy antibodies. Colostrum contains factors that impact
pre and post weaning feed efficiency, e.g. steroids.
Insufficient colostrum – delays time to first calving – decreased average
daily gain – decreased milk and fat production in first lactation. Feeding 26%
protein milk replacer helped calves reach weaning weight one week earlier.
Dairy Feed - which one?
Cows will be calving in the next few weeks, so it might be timely to plan ahead
on what ration you are going to feed. Many farmers just order what they have
always used and get away with it! But there are many things within your farm
which are different every year:• Silage protein can vary from 8% to 14%
• Cow condition score
Silage protein is often overlooked in the feeding of cows and weanlings.
Protein has a major role in milk yield in cows and body size in young
weanlings. Choose a ration which will compliment your silage protein. In
some cases this might mean choosing a 20 – 25% dairy nut instead of the
more traditional 16 – 18% dairy nut. With weanlings, if dietary protein is low,
growth will be stunted and heifers will not be able to meet their targets for
either weight or height. We should aim for 16 – 18% protein in the overall
diet.
Cow condition score will have a huge influence on the cow’s ability to last
the pace in the next lactation both in milk yield and quality. Condition score
will also affect the cow’s fertility performance. The silage DMD may not be
able to sustain the body condition of the cow and so may need to be
supplemented with a suitable, high energy, concentrate – even before calving.
Condition score is the real benchmark for cow performance both in milk and
fertility.
Silage analysis takes about 7 working days and can be arranged through your
Arrabawn / Dan O’Connor rep.
Talk to your Arrabawn/Dan O’Connor Sales Rep before ordering your dairy
nuts or ring Noel Kennedy (061-414988) at Dan O’Connor Feeds or Tom
Starr (087-6697010) at Arrabawn Co-op.
Preparing Cows for Calving
This is the crucial period for the use of pre-calver mineral. It is important to use a
suitable pre-calver mineral in the final 4 – 6 weeks before calving. Think back over
the last few years – if you had problems relating to calving, calf vitality or fertility –
the Arrabawn Trace Pak Pre Calver may be able to help.
In some cases where pre calver mineral have been fed there may still be problems.
These problems will becomes apparent in the early part of the calving season and
may present themselves as slow calving, retained afterbirth or milk fever. This may
be related to the silage being fed up to calving and can be easily rectified by feeding
a product called Trace Pak Transition Cow in the 4-5 days pre-calving or by feeding
Eazy Calver ration from Dan O’Connor Feeds for 4-5 weeks before calving. If you
are concerned, contact Tom Starr at Arrabawn Co-op (087 6697010) for more
information.
TIP OF THE MONTH
2016- make it a record year!
IF YOU make just one New Year’s resolution, make it milk recording! Don’t
think of milk recording as a luxury that you can’t afford this year…… you
can’t afford not to! It is the best tool you have to establish which cows
are the most productive in terms of fat, protein and milk yields, and ‘paying
their way’. It also allows you to react quickly to cows with elevated SCCthese may have no visible signs of infection, but they will spread infection
within your herd and raise your bulk tank SCC. Cows with a high SCC
are losing you money. Regular milk recording will give much better
information than ad hoc individual cow testing, and doing it monthly gives
you even more bang for your buck.
1. Start early – do you milk record in the first month of lactation? If not,
start this spring.The CellCheck Farm Summary Report will measure how
effective your dry cow treatment has been, if your cows have a milk
recording within 60 days of calving. It will also highlight if new infections
during the dry period are an issue.
2. Early lactation mastitis is a high risk. An early milk recording will give
you an indication of which cows need prompt attention.
3. Heifers – recent research has highlighted that high SCC in heifers may
be more prevalent than you think. An early milk recording will identify
those that need careful attention. Over 6,500 Irish herds are now milk
recording, generating invaluable data for almost 600,000 cows. Don’t delay
- sign up today! Contact Arrabawn Co-op today.
Further information on milk recording is available in Guideline 23 of the
CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control.
Seasonal Products
With a busy calving season just around the corner, it is a good idea to plan ahead
and get stocked up on some useful products:
• Farmcal cubicle lime – effective against infection on the floor of the cubicle by
creating a dry hostile environment for mastitis causing bacteria.
• Dairy Hygiene – stock up on soap, teat dip and detergents. Avoid chlorine based
product if possible. Check out solutions for SCC and TBC problems.
• Calf scour remedy – stock up on electrolytes – check out the new
‘Arralyte+’syringe from Arrabawn – easy to apply, no mixing.
• Milk Acidifier – if feeding whole milk to calves a milk acidifier such as ‘Milkshake’
will help stabilise the fresh milk thus reducing the risk of calf scour and sick calves,
very useful during the busy calving period.
• Tapes and markers – for identifying medicated cows
• Stomach tubes and calving aids
All, and much more, available from your local branch of Arrabawn Co-op!
Co-Op
Products for use in late
January - February
January is an important month for getting the basics right and setting
the scene for trouble-free farming during the year.
Listed are a number of products which should make a difference on
your farm.
Ragwort control – if you have a problem with ragwort in your
pasture, the ideal time to apply a control spray is the period
November to March when the plant is in the rosette stage.This year,
weather conditions are perfect for ragwort growth. Cost c. €13/ac.
Cubicle lime – dusting cubicles, reduce mastitis, also useful in
controlling milk fever.
Worms - many cows are showing signs of worm infestation - treat
with Eprizero for zero withdrawal period.
Dry Cow Mineral: use Arrabawn Co-op Pre-Calver/ Tracepak
Mineral for 4-5 weeks before calving. This will have benefits in cow
performance, calf health and milk quality. Alternatively, feed 2kg
EasyCalver for extra energy, protein and minerals and easier calving.
All these products, and much , much more are available from your
local branch of Arrabawn Co-op.
2016 - Silage Quality
This year silage analysis results are very variable with some
extremely low (c.8.5%!) proteins and DMD (58!) results.
Supplementation will be necessary to avoid problems relating to calf
vitality and cow performance, both in milk production and fertility.
If silage protein is low, then it is advisable to feed 2 Kg EazyCalver
for 4 -5 weeks pre calving. This will boost the cows protein and
energy reserves as well as supplying her with a full complement of
minerals and vitamins.
Action plan
 Build up lighter cows and heifers before calving , aim for condition
score 3.5
 Include straw in the diet of heavier cows to reduce the fat load
 Correct any lameness before calving
 Introduce the Arrabawn Co-op pre-calving mineral 5-6 weeks
before calving, 2-3 times per day
 Monitor early calving cows for calving difficulties which may be
silage related and can be corrected with a simple feed supplement
(Transition Cow).
For further information on any of these topics, please contact your
local branch of Arrabawn Co-op or Tom Starr (087 6697010).
Soil Analysis
When did you have some of your farm soil tested last? Most farmers just
order the same fertilizer each year. A soil analysis will put you in the picture
as to which fertilizer is most suitable for your farm.
Over the next few weeks you should take soil samples so that you will have
the results in time for the springtime.
Contact your Teagasc advisor or any branch of Arrabawn Co-op.
Dairy Start-Up Course
Teagasc has organised a course aimed at people who are entering dairying
for the first time.The course is designed to help people plan their enterprise
and it will also allow people to interact with others having the same
experience. The course will run from January to December 2016. Couples
are encouraged to attend. Cost €700.
Please ring Abigail Ryan, Teagasc for more details (025- 42458). Places are
limited.
Top of the range Fertiliser Spreader (Sulky)
• Fully GPS Controlled
• Minimum overlapping
• From 1 bag/acre upwards
Two spreaders
• 7 tonne & 10 tonne
Possible to co-ordinate spreading in Branch Areas.
Contact your local Branch of Arrabawn Co-op for details.
FOR SALE:
400gl Mueller DX Bulk Tank c/w new compressor
Phone 0870671601
KRYPTONITE-C - THE MODERN SUPPORT
FOR CALF DEVELOPMENT
iv. Extreme cases where the disease has progressed too far before
intervention.This animal will at best be stunted and may probably die.There
is hardly any support that can be given to recover the situation.
In cases i., ii. and iv. the animal will lose condition and the gut lining may be
damaged.The animal will have a reduced ability to absorb nutrients.This will
result in future loss of growth rates and the inefficient digestion of food.
Clearly the effective rearing of calves requires us to take every precaution
in order to ensure the adequate growth of the animal.
Introduction
The growth and development of the young calf is one of the most
important, underestimated, tasks on a modern farm.
Whether the calf is being reared for the crucial role as a Dairy Replacement
heifer or for rearing for beef - the correct growth rate and development of
the young animal is essential.
The challenges to achieving these goals are varied and include:
i. Quality of the calf- genetics, etc.
ii. Management of the calf- adequate airspace, space, etc.
iii. Ensuring that the health of the calf is supported at every opportunity
If we examine point iii.We can see that point i. and ii. will greatly contribute
to it.
The various challenges that may affect a calf are normally divided into a few
distinct areas.
Viral diseases:
Such as respiratory- these need to be dealt with clinically when they occur.
Digestive Problems:
These can come from different sources, what they all have in common is
the fact that if left unchecked they will have any one or more range of effects
on the calf;
i. Mild cases- calves stop eating for a few days
ii. Medium cases- calf may get very sick and need electrolyte salts. A serious
check to growth can occur if not dealt with promptly.
iii. Severe cases where there is blood loss and the animal is very sick. IV
drips may be needed.
For any further information or advice
on any subjects or products mentioned
in this newsletter
Please ring 087 669 70 10
E: [email protected]
Check out our website:
www.arrabawn.ie
Courier Delivery Service
For certain items up to 30kgs, a Delivery Service is available by
Courier for next day delivery.
Please contact your local branch, or Tyone Mills Nenagh 06741886.
Sources of Digestive Problems:
Viral – see above. Effective vaccination of a herd is crucial to help reduce
the problems which will not respond to treatments on farm.
Nutritional Problems – Such as diarrhoea from excess consumption of milk.
These can be supported by the use of an effective Milk Additive such as
Milkshake. This is widely used to help the calf curdle and digest milk. As the
milk is curdled effectively, together with the other nutrients in Milkshake
the calf can digest the milk and thrive.
Other Problems of the Gut – Calves suffer from a range of other gut issues
including parasites such as Coccidiosis and Cryptosporidium. Good hygiene
will greatly help reduce the incidence of these diseases. There are clinical
treatments for these conditions when they occur.
Clinical Situations require clinical intervention:
There is a new approach that will be useful on many farms.
Kryptonite-C has been successfully used on Irish farms to help support
calf health and maintain appetite. It is an approach worth examining.
The Role of Kryptonite-C:
Kryptonite-C is a blend of naturally occurring essential oils and activated
clay type components and vitamins.
It acts to help the calf stabilise its gut and absorb some of the undesirable
chemicals that may be produced during bouts of Diarrhoea from any of the
sources of diarrhoea mentioned here.
These activated clays also absorb Mycotoxins that may be present.
This results in the animal being able to maintain its appetite and thus
supports the animals’ health.
The essential oils and the Vitamins E and C also support the animals’ ability
to develop a natural defence.
The use of Kryptonite-C has resulted in calves being able to maintain their
normal health and growth rates during periods of challenge.
How is Kryptonite-C used?
At times of challenge it is fed to the calf at a rate of 60ml per calf per day.
It is a dark coloured liquid and will cause the animals dung to go dark in
colour- this is normal.
If a farm has traditionally had a diarrhoea problem at say, 7 days old then
Kryptonite-C should be administered at day 5 and continued up to days
10 to 12.
Dairy Herd Health Seminar
Teagasc Centre, Dromin Rd., Nenagh
Thursday 21st January 7.30pm
Main Speaker: Doreen Corridon Vet.
Dairy Grassland Farm Walk
Sean Daly’s, Coolfin, Banagher.
Thursday 4th February @ 11am
Focus: Spring grass utilisation
All are welcome