Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary IndustriesDeveloping A Fire PlanPlanning can help minimise stock losses Having a fire plan in place to help minimise stock losses should be of high priority considering Victoria is one of the most fire prone areas in Australia. It is vital that farmers be aware of stock safety measures, which can be put into place quickly during a bush or grass fire. One of the key factors in minimising risk to stock is to identify the safest areas on the farm. On days of extreme fire risk, or total fire ban days, stock should be moved to lower risk areas. High fire danger days are generally those with high temperature, strong winds and low humidity. Remember that fires can also occur when temperatures are relatively low but there is low humidity, high winds and plenty of good fuel. You should also listen to weather forecasts and observe your own environment to help you decide when to put your plan into action. Safe areas include fallow paddocks, stock containment areas, paddocks with green summer crops or lucerne, and paddocks that have been closely grazed or trampled by stock. Firebreaks are imperative. This may be a well grazed laneway, a ploughed break, or a paddock with little or no feed. Stock yards and shearing sheds have proven to be effective in holding stock successfully in a fire, provided the surrounds are bare. In the case of horses they should not be locked up in small areas or stables, but rather be moved into an open paddock with little vegetation so they can move freely. Horses are good at moving themselves to safe open areas and suffer minimal burns if left to do so. All equipment including rugs, halters and flyveils should be removed from horses, as the plastic may melt and buckles may burn the animal. If animals do get burnt they should be sponged with cold water immediately until veterinary care is available. It is also important to consider fencing in the event of a fire. Electric fencing may become disconnected and burnt in a fire. More fire resistant materials such as steel or concrete fence posts should be considered particularly for boundary fences, so stock do not escape onto roadways. Never let stock onto public roadways, as in smoky conditions they will be a hazard to vehicles. The development of a plan that can be quickly implemented on high-risk days, or in the event of a fire, will minimise fire risk to stock and the associated losses. WASTE NOT Is dairy effluent a waste product, OR is it a waste not to use it strategically to grow grass or crops? Over the last 6 months the Action on Nutrients for Sustainable Agriculture (ANSA) team have tested the content of about 80 different dairy effluent systems across Gippsland for nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. By knowing the nutrient content of the effluent, you can apply it at a rate to supply the amount of nutrients you want. This way you can provide the needs of the pasture without wasting nutrients by applying your dairy effluent too heavy. Every pond or sump sampled differed in nutrient content and the range of results was very large. For example the range in nitrogen measured was 43 to 2100 kg/Megalitre (ML). It is common to apply a depth of around 25mm of effluent per application, this is the same as applying ¼ of a ML/ha. If all the samples measured for nitrogen were applied at 25mm it would mean that there would be a range of application rates from 11 to 525 kg/ha of nitrogen, equivalent to a range of 24 to 1141 kg/ha of urea. Applying the equivalent to over a tonne of urea per hectare is definitely extravagant and potentially damaging to the environment. At the other end of the scale, applying equivalent to only 24kg/ha of urea is unlikely to generate a reliable response. However, the nitrogen in effluent is not exactly the same as applying urea nitrogen. Some of the nitrogen is tied up in organic matter and will be released slowly as the material breaks down. The more sludge and organic matter contained in your effluent, the more of your nitrogen (and other nutrients) will be released slowly. So to get the best use of your dairy effluent firstly work out your fertiliser or nutrient requirements, then test your dairy effluent and apply it at the appropriate rate. Secondly monitor the area that effluent is applied to with soil tests to ascertain if levels of certain nutrients are becoming well in excess or if others are being mined. For more information on calculating your fertiliser requirements or getting your effluent tested contact Annette Coster at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2222 or Colin Waters, DPI Maffra on 0419 326 993. WHAT IS EXTENDED LACTATION TECHNOLOGY?
A research project to investigate the feasibility of using extended lactation with pasture based dairy farming is being developed by the University of Melbourne and Department of Primary Industries (formerly NRE). Extended lactation is simply a planned shift from the normal 300-day lactation (12-month calving interval) to a longer lactation for a dairy herd. For example, a 390 day lactation, resulting in a 15 month calving interval. Extended lactation should not be confused with unplanned extended lactations, where farmers 'milk through' cows that didn't get ‘in calf’ at the required time. Farmers using extended lactation technology will:
There are a number of challenges currently facing the dairy industry. On many farms, reproductive performance is less than desired resulting in high cull rates, with the use of induction and or many carry-over cows in the herd. Seasonal calving patterns also create a large peak in the workload at particular times of the year. For some farms, this is difficult to manage. Efficiencies are needed to reduce the costs per unit of milk produced, milk quality must meet minimum standards for optimising its value to processors, and environmental and animal welfare issues need to be addressed on-farm. Extended lactation technology has the potential to address these and many other issues, but it is recognised that it won't be the preferred strategy for everyone. To find out farmer reaction to the use of this technology a market research company (Down To Earth Research) will be conducting a telephone survey on behalf of the Department of Primary Industries with a sample of dairy farmers across the state. The telephone survey (funded by GippsDairy) will be done over a two-week period at the end of January, so if you are contacted about this survey please assist by providing open honest and forthright feedback about how you see the use of extended lactation technology. As well as helping us understand farmer needs and expectations this survey will assist in directing the research and the development of potential extension messages. For further information about this project contact Greg O'Brien or David Cole at the Ellinbank Research Institute on 5624 2222. CHOOSING AND REVIEWING TEAT DISINFECTANT Teat disinfectant helps keep your cows’ teat skin healthy and reduces the number of bacteria likely to cause mastitis. It is important to choose the product you use carefully. Don’t make a snap decision to change at the moment you purchase a new drum. Factors to consider are: · Effectiveness: The dairy industry relies on the National Registration Authority’s registration process to ensure that all products are effective in Australian dairying conditions. However, some may be better suited to your particular situation. · Suitability given your farm water quality: Water that’s hard, alkaline or contains chlorine may reduce the effectiveness of different active ingredients in teat disinfectants and may form solids in the solution, which block spray equipment. Testing your water enables you and your adviser to work out which teat disinfectant is most compatible with the water quality you’re using. · Occupational health issues: Skin reactions on the hands of milking staff may be the result of an allergic response to a product. It may also result from heavy exposure due to faulty settings on spray equipment or poor operator technique. Assess how the disinfectant is being used and whether the type of disinfectant should be changed if any staff member has an adverse reaction. A review is appropriate when new staff begin milking. · Teat skin reactions: Teats should be regularly checked to ensure the skin is supple and in good condition. It is important to closely monitor changes when a new product is used. · Visibility: You can more easily assess whether you achieve good teat coverage if you use products, which are visible on the teat skin. · Price: Teat disinfectant products vary considerably in price. To compare it’s helpful to calculate the cost per cow per milking. To get good coverage Countdown recommends using 20mLs of solution per cow per milking. For example: Product X is an iodine concentrate (Iodine 20g/L) in a 20 litre drum which costs $110 including GST, and must be diluted 1 part to 3 parts water to make up 80 litres of final solution. Net cost = $100. Cost / litre of final solution = $100/80 = $1.25 If you would like to attend a Countdown Downunder farmer short course and learn more about how you can improve your cell count and mastitis control, gaining more $ in you pocket then bookings can be made through South West TAFE on 1800 777 530. For any enquires contact Carol at DPI Ellinbank on 56242257 or 0427 865002. The six day course will cost $174 to FarmBis eligible dairyfarmers and includes course materials and lunch. Course days start at 10. 30 am and finish at 2.30 pm. Dates for coming workshops: Maffra: 28 & 29 Jan, 4,5,11,12 Feb. Wonthaggi: 29 & 30 Jan, 5,6,12,13 Feb. Foster: 3 & 4 Feb, 10,11,17,18 March. Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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