Latest news with #Mycoplasmabovis
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Climate resilience high on agenda
Climate resilience is back on the agenda — literally. KPMG has released its 2025 agribusiness agenda which drew on insights from nearly 200 industry leaders and outlined their priorities. Biosecurity remained the number one priority, for the 15th consecutive year, but climate resilience was back in focus — increasing by more than 40% to 18th place, after slipping last year. In his forward, KPMG New Zealand global head of agribusiness Ian Proudfoot said one of his biggest surprises in last year's report was that the need to proactively consider managed retreat and farm system transition to more climate resilient options was ranked in last place. "To me, it personified a 'nothing to see here' mentality that enables leaders to deprioritise something hard when the burning platform only appears to be smouldering — even if it is widely accepted that it's only a matter of time before the flames flare again. "I recognise that initiating conversations that could lead to fundamental changes in people's lives ... is really hard. However, we don't help ourselves or our communities by avoiding these conversations and tolerating continued piecemeal reaction over a planned, strategic response." Among the global volatility, it was critical for organisations to discern what were shocks — unexpected events that had consequences but did not ultimately change the long-term direction of travel — in comparison to deep shifts in the direction of travel for global society that would continue regardless of shocks. He cited climate change as a good example, as nothing had happened that year or in any recent year that had fundamentally altered the inexorable increase in temperatures and resulting weather consequences. "Factual data from credible agencies shows the trends; the deep shift is unfortunately well-established. The shock is the pushback that is occurring against organisations and individuals that seek to initiate and lead difficult conversations," he said. Biosecurity incursions that year — including the detection of the H7N6 strain of avian influenza in Otago and fruit flies in Auckland suburbs — eliminated any complacency that might have crept into the sector, the report said. Progress made on eliminating tuberculosis and Mycoplasma bovis raised the question for a contributor of what could be possible if the same spirit of collaboration extended into other biosecurity risks. People and workforce issues dominated the top 10 priorities, including immigration settings, migrant worker protections and sector career opportunities. The report highlighted the urgent need to attract and retain talent across the value chain — from on-farm roles to high-tech innovation — with a key focus on ensuring fit-for-purpose, on-the-job training was retained. As global markets were in flux, leaders were also prioritising the signing of high-quality trade agreements and the development of resilient, diversified supply chains. The agenda noted growing interest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and India.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Couple's first year on farm working well
PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE Water has been feast or famine for Brendan and Avril Lane during their inaugural season on their first dairy farm. The couple milk about 380 crossbred cows on their more than 100ha effective property Matau Farm at Inch Clutha, a delta between the branches of the Clutha River, downstream from Balclutha. The Lane family supplies The a2 Milk Company, which recently gave them $35,000 to launch a sustainability project. Their project aims to increase water-use efficiency on Matau Farm, including the installation of a system to recycle green water from the effluent pond to clean the yard at the milking shed. Matau Farm gets allocated 51,000 litres of water per day through the Bruce Water Scheme, Mr Lane said. "It is quite a constraint for the number of cows we are running here." A new green wash system would allow them to use less water, which would lower the level of the effluent pond. The project outcomes would make the farm more resilient, he said. "Everything that will help us minimise our water use is going to be of a huge benefit to us." Most of the herd had been dried off and produced more than 141,000kg of milksolids on their first season on Inch Clutha. The couple felt fortunate to have worked for people who have helped them progress in the industry to farm ownership. Brendan and Avril Lane have been given $35,000 from the milk company they supply for a project to increase water-use efficiency on their dairy farm at Inch Clutha. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE Neither of them had a background in dairy farming. She was raised on a sheep, beef and cropping farm in Scottish town Dunbar, on the coast southeast of Edinburgh. Their business name, Dinnae Ken Ltd, a Scottish phrase for "I don't know" was a nod to their Scottish connection. He was raised on a sheep and beef farm in Waimate, South Canterbury and Moa Flat, West Otago. During his teenage years in West Otago, he gained experience working for "exceptional dairymen" Tony Roberts and the late Noel Caulfield. "That's what planted the seed, those guys and what they could do with cows and their passion for the industry." The pair met when she was on a working holiday in New Zealand and they then travelled abroad together. When they returned home, he worked as assistant manager running a milking shed and a crew for Stewart Eden in Riversdale, Northern Southland for a year in the 2009-10 season. They accepted an offer from Peter Templeton to lower order sharemilk about 360 cows in Kelso, West Otago for about two years from 2011. After that farm sold, they went lower order sharemilking for Murphy Farms Ltd in Waimate for five years from 2013. They accepted an offer to 50:50 sharemilk on a farm in Morven, South Canterbury, which had its herd "wiped out" by Mycoplasma bovis. In Morven, they milked 880 of their own cows on a 230ha farm for six years from 2018. Heavy rain flooded about half of Brendan and Avril Lane's dairy farm at Inch Clutha in October last year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Their herd produced more than 2100kg of milksolids per hectare, about 560kg of milksolids per cow, a "huge" milk production, requiring minimal imported feed due to strong pasture management. "It was an amazing place and super efficient and that got us into a financial position to get us to the next step," Mr Lane said. They took over Matau Farm on June 1 last year. "Inch Clutha is the jewel in the crown of South Otago for growing pasture — it has incredibly fertile soil." The selection process of which 380 cows to take to Inch Clutha from their herd of 880 included selecting those which produce A1 protein-free milk, so they could supply The a2 Milk Company. Early calving cows were selected to maintain natural fertility in the herd. Cows which could handle being milked once-a-day while maintaining production were selected to protect the business if pressure was put on the herd for any reason. Any surplus cows and heifers were either leased or sold. By breeding an efficient herd with "super-high" production and breeding worths had allowed them to progress quickly in the industry. The selection process had resulted in a herd having an 80% six-week in-calf rate and a 7.5% empty rate. Most of their heifers were set to calve on Inch Clutha about July 12 last year, a few weeks earlier than similar herds in South Otago. The first three months' weather on Matau Farm were "amazing" and calving was finished by mid-September. Then the pressure was put on the herd due to more than 200mm of rainfall in 48 hours in early October last year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED More than half of Matau Farm was flooded, he said. Fortuitously, rubber matting was installed across the milking shed, yard and exit race before the deluge, giving the herd somewhere to stand and eat during the flooding. The cows could be fully-fed and maintain production during a time of pressure by being healthy enough to sustain once-a-day milking rather than a twice-a-day. As the cows had proven they could perform the adverse conditions in South Otago, they could easily sell 90 of them to make the most of strong demand for quality cows and to make room for the heifers coming through. "They are great cows we are selling — it is so hard to do." Mrs Lane said as the cows handled the once-a-day milking so well, the frequency had been maintained for all the season. "We carried on because it was good for them and good for us. The cell count was low and there was no lameness, the cows are really happy so we didn't need to change it." Mr Lane said from once-a-day milking, their herd, on average, produced more than 370kg of milksolids per animal, despite 45% of them being heifers. The average milk production in New Zealand is 400kg milksolids per cow. If the milking frequency was increased to twice-a-day to lift production it could come at a cost, such as the health of the herd's feet or reproduction, especially if pressure was put on again. Other benefits of once-a-day milking include having more time to repair fences and pasture and spend with their three sons Cameron, 14, Fergus, 13, and Robbie, 11. "They are great outdoor boys — they love fishing, hunting and motorbikes," Mr Lane said.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
‘Mooving Day': Farmers Ask Drivers Not To Honk And To ‘Please Drive Slowly' As They Relocate Cows
Article – RNZ For the annual event to relocate cows they also have a plea for motorists: drive slowly., Reporter 'Don't toot your horns, and please drive slowly'. That's the message for motorists as dairy farmers walk or transport their cows to different farms over the next couple of weeks. Moving Day, or Mooving Day as it's sometimes termed, is an annual event in the dairy farming calendar on 1 June. The term 'Gypsy Day' was formerly used – but it has been acknowledged it may be regarded as derogatory. From now until mid June about 5000 dairy farming families, and herds of cows, relocate to new farms – as it's the start of winter and many cows are not being milked. Dairy NZ spokesperson Tony Finch said Moving Day happens throughout most of the country – with more density in the Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty regions. Finch said thousands of people were literally moving households and farms to new sharemilking jobs and starting the new season at the same time. 'It is a really busy time for a lot of people because of the volume of them moving houses, moving possessions, kids, animals, family into a new community. 'It does make a big part of the annual dairy calendar and it can be stressful. There is a lot of planning involved.' Finch said many cows were transported to their new farm in a stock truck, but for those not moving far they will walk on rural roads. He is urging drivers to be patient if they are delayed behind a herd of cattle, or a stock truck on a rural road. 'I suppose the big thing we want to remind people is to be mindful, respectful and patient – that there's going to be a lot of traffic, potentially, and stock moving.' People needed to be considerate as it was a stressful time for the animals and farmers, he said. 'Impatient drivers tooting their horns is no help – for cattle walking on the roads, and cattle in stock trucks being transported to other areas. Please do not toot. Just wait.' Biosecurity protection Finch said there were many rules about safely moving stock on roads, and farmers needed to have a plan surrounding their cows welfare. To prevent the spread of potentially fatal diseases, such as Mycoplasma bovis farmers have to respect biosecurity regulations. 'It is a critical part of any movement that we ensure cows NAIT (ID tags each cow wears) are up to date. We have had some big scares in the past about biosecurity and that was M Bovis so we want all stock to be tracked correctly. And that we secure boundary fencing so cattle don't get into neighbouring farms. All equipment must be clean that's left in the farms, and what is taken to the new farm.' It's not just diseases that have the potential to be spread – it's invasive weeds as well. Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity officer Nicky Oliver-Smith was reminding farmers and contractors that strong biosecurity practices were essential to prevent the spread of pest weeds. 'We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. 'Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation.' Oliver-Smith said Alligator weed and Noogoora buras were two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if eaten. Effluent from moving stock trucks, and cows walking along roads can also cause problems on the roads. To prevent large spillages, farmers are advised to only feed their cows dry food, and not green grass, for several hours prior to transporting them to a new farm. One cow can produce about 52 litres of effluent a day.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
'Mooving Day': Farmers Ask Drivers Not To Honk And To 'Please Drive Slowly' As They Relocate Cows
"Don't toot your horns, and please drive slowly". That's the message for motorists as dairy farmers walk or transport their cows to different farms over the next couple of weeks. Moving Day, or Mooving Day as it's sometimes termed, is an annual event in the dairy farming calendar on 1 June. The term 'Gypsy Day' was formerly used - but it has been acknowledged it may be regarded as derogatory. From now until mid June about 5000 dairy farming families, and herds of cows, relocate to new farms - as it's the start of winter and many cows are not being milked. Dairy NZ spokesperson Tony Finch said Moving Day happens throughout most of the country - with more density in the Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty regions. Finch said thousands of people were literally moving households and farms to new sharemilking jobs and starting the new season at the same time. "It is a really busy time for a lot of people because of the volume of them moving houses, moving possessions, kids, animals, family into a new community. "It does make a big part of the annual dairy calendar and it can be stressful. There is a lot of planning involved." Finch said many cows were transported to their new farm in a stock truck, but for those not moving far they will walk on rural roads. He is urging drivers to be patient if they are delayed behind a herd of cattle, or a stock truck on a rural road. "I suppose the big thing we want to remind people is to be mindful, respectful and patient - that there's going to be a lot of traffic, potentially, and stock moving." People needed to be considerate as it was a stressful time for the animals and farmers, he said. "Impatient drivers tooting their horns is no help - for cattle walking on the roads, and cattle in stock trucks being transported to other areas. Please do not toot. Just wait." Biosecurity protection Finch said there were many rules about safely moving stock on roads, and farmers needed to have a plan surrounding their cows welfare. To prevent the spread of potentially fatal diseases, such as Mycoplasma bovis farmers have to respect biosecurity regulations. 'It is a critical part of any movement that we ensure cows NAIT (ID tags each cow wears) are up to date. We have had some big scares in the past about biosecurity and that was M Bovis so we want all stock to be tracked correctly. And that we secure boundary fencing so cattle don't get into neighbouring farms. All equipment must be clean that's left in the farms, and what is taken to the new farm." It's not just diseases that have the potential to be spread - it's invasive weeds as well. Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity officer Nicky Oliver-Smith was reminding farmers and contractors that strong biosecurity practices were essential to prevent the spread of pest weeds. "We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. "Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation." Oliver-Smith said Alligator weed and Noogoora buras were two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if eaten. Effluent from moving stock trucks, and cows walking along roads can also cause problems on the roads. To prevent large spillages, farmers are advised to only feed their cows dry food, and not green grass, for several hours prior to transporting them to a new farm. One cow can produce about 52 litres of effluent a day.
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Climate resilience high on agenda for agribusiness sector
Climate resilience is back on the agenda — literally. KPMG has released its 2025 agribusiness agenda which drew on insights from nearly 200 industry leaders and outlined their priorities. Biosecurity remained the number one priority, for the 15th consecutive year, but climate resilience was back in focus — increasing by more than 40% to 18th place, after slipping last year. In his forward, KPMG New Zealand global head of agribusiness Ian Proudfoot said one of his biggest surprises in last year's report was that the need to proactively consider managed retreat and farm system transition to more climate resilient options was ranked in last place. "To me, it personified a 'nothing to see here' mentality that enables leaders to deprioritise something hard when the burning platform only appears to be smouldering — even if it is widely accepted that it's only a matter of time before the flames flare again. "I recognise that initiating conversations that could lead to fundamental changes in people's lives ... is really hard. However, we don't help ourselves or our communities by avoiding these conversations and tolerating continued piecemeal reaction over a planned, strategic response." Among the global volatility, it was critical for organisations to discern what were shocks — unexpected events that had consequences but did not ultimately change the long-term direction of travel — in comparison to deep shifts in the direction of travel for global society that would continue regardless of shocks. He cited climate change as a good example, as nothing had happened that year or in any recent year that had fundamentally altered the inexorable increase in temperatures and resulting weather consequences. "Factual data from credible agencies shows the trends; the deep shift is unfortunately well-established. The shock is the pushback that is occurring against organisations and individuals that seek to initiate and lead difficult conversations," he said. Biosecurity incursions that year — including the detection of the H7N6 strain of avian influenza in Otago and fruit flies in Auckland suburbs — eliminated any complacency that might have crept into the sector, the report said. Progress made on eliminating tuberculosis and Mycoplasma bovis raised the question for a contributor of what could be possible if the same spirit of collaboration extended into other biosecurity risks. People and workforce issues dominated the top 10 priorities, including immigration settings, migrant worker protections and sector career opportunities. The report highlighted the urgent need to attract and retain talent across the value chain — from on-farm roles to high-tech innovation — with a key focus on ensuring fit-for-purpose, on-the-job training was retained. As global markets were in flux, leaders were also prioritising the signing of high-quality trade agreements and the development of resilient, diversified supply chains. The agenda noted growing interest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and India.
