CM Jan 2025 : simplebooklet.com

HELPING END THE NIGHTMARE OF CALF SCOUR FOR A FAIRYTALE STARTFENCOVIS®Stimulates immunity against Rotavirus, Coronavirus and E.coli K99 in pregnant cows and heifers, so that calves receive added protection via the colostrum. • Prevents scour caused by Rotavirus and E. coli K99 • Inactivated vaccine with an oil-free adjuvant • 2 ml single dose intramuscular injection • Administered to the dam 12-3 weeks before calving • Ready to use injections available in 1, 5, and 25 dose packs • Available from your veterinary surgeonFencovis® suspension for injection contains inactivated E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin, strain O8:K35; inactivated bovine rotavirus, serotype G6P1, strain TM-91; inactivated bovine coronavirus, strain C-197. Fencovis® is indicated for active immunisation of pregnant heifers and cows in order to stimulate the development of antibodies against bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin and to increase the level of passive immunity of calves against neonatal diarrhoea caused by bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin. Fencovis® has been shown to prevent neonatal diarrhoea caused by bovine rotavirus and E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin, reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal diarrhoea caused by bovine coronavirus and reduce faecal shedding of virus in calves infected with bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus. UK: POM-V IE: POM. For information about side eects, precautions, warnings and contraindications please refer to the product packaging and package leaﬂet. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. UK Tel:01344 746957 IE Tel: 01 291 3985. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. Fencovis® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Nov 2023. BOV-0114-2023. Use Medicines Responsibly. ADVANCING PROTECTION AGAINST CALF SCOURTo ﬁnd out more scan the QR code or ﬁnd us at calfmatters.co.uk and calfmatters.ieFencovis Farm Advert F – Dairy calf A4 297x210mm 2023.qxp_Layout 1 15/11/2023 12:32 Page 1

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1cowmanagement JANUARY 2025David Armstrong:“Free-access system means we have more time to observe our herd”CONTENTspecial maize295548focus technologybreeding bull proofsMartha Twist:“Process gives sta ownership and they’re motivated to make changes”268ON THE COVERFresh start: new life in the new yearCover picture: Emma HibbscowmanagementJANUARY 2025WWW.COWMANAGEMENT.CO.UKFocus on maize to optimise2025’s cropDecember bull proofs: latest ranking reviewDairy technology:automatic options support herd managementSCAN & WIN FEATURES  Cow Talk  TotalDairy Conference report  Roger Evans  ForFarmers nutrition news / Thompsons nutrition news  Karen Halton  National Youngstock Conference  launch  NMR/RABDF Gold Cup  ﬁnalists preview  New products  Events and contacts REPORT  Focus on transition-cow management builds foundations for future success MAIZE SPECIAL  Variety selection key to mitigating risks  Check soil health ahead of  season  Early varieties remain integral to UK’s maize-crop success  Weighing up SFI options  Balancing ’s maize in winter rations TECHNOLOGY FOCUS  Dairy automation gives ﬂexibility to mixed farming business  Dairy-Tech  preview HERD HEALTH  Award-winning vets share lean-management system’s beneﬁts  Winter calf-rearing pointers HERD NUTRITION  Keep heifer rearing on track to calve at  months old / Take steps to prevent mycotoxin problems  Nutrition outlook for  BREEDING  December bull proofs reviewHELPING END THE NIGHTMARE OF CALF SCOUR FOR A FAIRYTALE STARTFENCOVIS®Stimulates immunity against Rotavirus, Coronavirus and E.coli K99 in pregnant cows and heifers, so that calves receive added protection via the colostrum. • Prevents scour caused by Rotavirus and E. coli K99 • Inactivated vaccine with an oil-free adjuvant • 2 ml single dose intramuscular injection • Administered to the dam 12-3 weeks before calving • Ready to use injections available in 1, 5, and 25 dose packs • Available from your veterinary surgeonFencovis® suspension for injection contains inactivated E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin, strain O8:K35; inactivated bovine rotavirus, serotype G6P1, strain TM-91; inactivated bovine coronavirus, strain C-197. Fencovis® is indicated for active immunisation of pregnant heifers and cows in order to stimulate the development of antibodies against bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin and to increase the level of passive immunity of calves against neonatal diarrhoea caused by bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin. Fencovis® has been shown to prevent neonatal diarrhoea caused by bovine rotavirus and E. coli expressing F5 (K99) adhesin, reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal diarrhoea caused by bovine coronavirus and reduce faecal shedding of virus in calves infected with bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus. UK: POM-V IE: POM. For information about side eects, precautions, warnings and contraindications please refer to the product packaging and package leaﬂet. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. UK Tel:01344 746957 IE Tel: 01 291 3985. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. Fencovis® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Nov 2023. BOV-0114-2023. Use Medicines Responsibly. ADVANCING PROTECTION AGAINST CALF SCOURTo ﬁnd out more scan the QR code or ﬁnd us at calfmatters.co.uk and calfmatters.ieFencovis Farm Advert F – Dairy calf A4 297x210mm 2023.qxp_Layout 1 15/11/2023 12:32 Page 1

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The issues faced by producers, indeed all farmers, are set to continue in 2025, but the start of a new year is also a good time to push ahead with plans and ideas. And also to think about the opportunities that the next 12 months may oer. Investing in cost-eective technology and time-saving equipment continues to be a focus for progressive dairy businesses, so this issue’s focus is suitably relevant – not least because it includes a preview of Dairy-Tech 2025, which will be held at Stoneleigh, in Warwickshire, on Wednesday February 5.We look at some of the new products and innovations that will be showcased during the one-day event, as well as the other features and activities that visitors can access. Find out more on page 58.The six ﬁnalists vying to lift the 2024 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup at the event are featured on page 51. Take a look and see why this year’s judges have quite the task, as always, to choose a winner from such a shining lineup.Spring may seem a way o and maize drilling in early May even further away. But now is the time, if you’ve not already, to think about variety selection, soil management and agronomy plans for the coming season. Maize performance left a lot to be desired on many units in 2024 due to dicult growing conditions, so we ask what producers can do to help mitigate the risk of extreme weather and ensure they have a clamp full of top-quality maize silage for winter 2025/2026.Roger Evans shares his thoughts on farm assurance and Tebay services, on page 20. And we introduce the second of our new trio of women columnists, renowned producer Karen Halton, on page 24. She shares a tale about a WI farm visit and a weary husband. Not the best combination for a successful evening, but it turned out just grand.Same challenges, new opportunitiesFROM THE EDITOR3cowmanagement JANUARY 2025COW TALKRACHAEL PORTERRolls of hoof wrap up for grabsCalf jackets and chocolate give comfort and joyCowManagement is oering the chance to win an innovative new product in its ﬁrst prize giveaway of 2025. Progiene’s Adaptarap is a fully bio-degradable hoof wrap designed for cows’ feet after treatment for myriad conditions, including sole ulcer, sole haemorrhage, and white line disease, when additional protection from environmental pathogens may be required.Made from corn starch, the wrap eventually dissolves leaving no residue around the yard and it also saves on labour because manual removal is not required.The product’s non-elastic material means that light pressure can be used when applying it for a close, secure ﬁt, without the risk of pressure wounds. As it adapts to the cow’s hoof it remains intact and, in dry conditions, can oer protection for up to ﬁve days.The product is also more pliable when it’s warm, so producers are urged to keep a roll handy, in their pocket. Unlike other more conventional wraps, the product doesn’t stick to itself. Simply wetting the tail end makes it adhesive, which means that it can be stuck down.Christmas was extra cosy for the ﬁve lucky winners of our most recent front-cover competition.We gave away calf jackets, courtesy of Cosy Calf, and ‘winter warmer’ hot chocolate packs to ﬁve producers drawn at random, from more than 150 entries, in early December.The winners were: Meleah Wells, from Cheshire; James Wright, from Dumfries; Jemma Hargreaves, from Staordshire; Lucy Jones, from Wrexham: and Tom Malkin (pictured with a newborn calf wearing the freshly delivered jacket), who is also based in Staordshire. CowManagement’s front cover competitions to celebrate the publication’s 21st birthday have proved extremely popular with readers during the past 12 months and, thanks to prize sponsors, they will continue throughout 2025. Make sure you scan this issue’s front cover QR code and ﬁll out the short form to be in with a chance of scooping a prize.We’re giving away 100 packs of Adaptarap – each containing three rolls and worth £19 – to 100 lucky readers. For the chance to win simply scan the QR on this issue’s front cover. It takes just ﬁve minutes to ﬁll out the short entry form and answer three simple multiple-choice questions.Entries close at midnight on February 15, 2025, and the competition winners will be notiﬁed either by telephone or email. So scan the code and enter today. And good luck.

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Time to review parasite controlParasite Watch For more information, talk to your vet or animal medicines advisor. Sioned Timothy, Technical Services Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal HealthIVOMEC® Super injection for cattle contains ivermectin and clorsulon. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Prescription decisions are for the person issuing the prescription alone. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. UK Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. IVOMEC® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2024 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Nov 2024. UI-BOV-0138-2024. Use Medicines Responsibly.Winter provides the perfect opportunity to review your parasite control strategy and plan for the next grazing season. Effective management of parasites, such as gutworms, lungworm, and liver uke, is essential to maintain herd health and productivity.Grazing plans: Youngstock and calves are most vulnerable to production loss from parasites. Identify and prioritise clean grazing – pastures not grazed by cattle for at least 12 months, such as silage elds or rested paddocks – for these groups. This will help reduce their exposure to parasites and support healthy growth.Tackle liver uke: Assess liver uke status of cattle and treat appropriately. This proactive approach helps break the parasite lifecycle by reducing egg output in the spring and helps to keep pasture infectivity under control.Vaccinate for lungworm: If lungworm is a recurring issue on your farm, plan vaccinations for youngstock and at-risk animals before turnout. This can be an important step in reducing the impact of this parasite on health and productivity.Prepare to monitor: Use pooled faecal egg count tests to monitor grazing youngstock for worm burdens during the rst few months after turnout. These tests help to guide the timing of wormer treatments, reducing pasture contamination and the risk of heavy worm burdens. Combine this with routine weighing to identify animals falling behind target growth rates – often a sign of gutworm infection. Treating only affected individuals ensures effective parasite management, and more sustainable use of wormers.Taking time now to prepare for next season’s parasite control not only enhances herd health but also reduces the need for reactive treatments, saving costs and supporting sustainable farming. Work with your vet or animal health adviser to ne-tune your strategy and select the most appropriate treatments.When both worm and liver uke treatment is required, IVOMEC® Super is a tried-and-tested dual-active anthelmintic containing ivermectin and clorsulon, proven to control roundworms, liver uke and external parasites. Suitable for use in youngstock, and adult cattle, including dry cows up to 60 days before calving.COW TALKBlindfolding calves reduces disbudding stressVaccine now available in 20-dose vialsDairy calves remained calmer when they were blindfolded during disbudded, reducing the time taken to complete the procedure. And blindfolding calves may also prevent negative associations between humans and aversive procedures being made.These were the two main ﬁndings of a trial, which set out to investigate the eects of blindfolding calves during disbudding. Disbudding is aversive for calves, even with the use of local anaesthetic, so methods to further reduce the stress associated with the procedure are required. “Blindfolding cattle can reduce heart rate and struggling behaviour during restraint, and therefore may be beneﬁcial during routine procedures such as disbudding,” says Harper An early-life intranasal calf pneumonia vaccine is now available in 20-dose vials, oering improved administration ﬂexibility. MSD Animal Health’s Bovilis INtranasal RSP Live can be administered to calves from birth onwards and reduces the clinical signs of respiratory disease and viral shedding from infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and parainﬂuenza-3 virus (Pi3V). No other UK-licensed BRD vaccine can be administered earlier in life. The vaccine also delivers the fastest on-farm protection, with an onset of immunity after administration from the day of birth onwards of six days for BRSV (ﬁve days for calves vaccinated from the age of one week onwards) and seven days for Pi3V. The duration of immunity is 12 weeks for both viruses.“Having this early-life calf pneumonia vaccine available in 20-dose vials gives producers added ﬂexilbility when vaccinating batches of calves around the same time,” says the company’s vet adviser Kat Baxter-Smith. The 20-dose vials complement the single and ﬁve-dose vials already available. Producers should speak to their vet to ﬁnd out more.

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EPRINEX®, a zero milk withhold wormer, is proven to improve the productivity of dairy cows and heifers by removing production-limiting gutworms and lungworms.• Increases milk yield by up to 2 litres per day1• Protects fertility and reduces calving interval2• Protects against reinfection by gutworms and lungworm*1. McPherson WB et al. (2001) New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 49:106-110. 2. McPherson WB et al. (1999) Proc AAVP, New Orleans. Up to 28 days control of reinfection with O. ostertagi and D. viviparus, and up to 21 days control of reinfection with Cooperia spp.EPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle contains eprinomectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. EPRINEX® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Feb 2023. UI-BOV-0025-2023. Use Medicines Responsibly.Proven parasite control, trusted by farmers for generations.Find out more, visit beattheparasites.com5Digital assistant simpliﬁes dairy workloadsAdams University’s Gemma Charlton, who carried out the research and shared her ﬁndings at TotalDairy Conference. The trial involved 28 Holstein Friesian heifer calves. At one day of age calves were randomly assigned to be blindfolded or not blindfolded during disbudding. Disbudding was carried out using a hot iron at 30 days old, under local anaesthetic. The time taken to disbud calves was recorded, as was calf behaviour throughout the procedure.“Unblindfolded calves took almost twice as long to disbud, compared to blindfolded calves,” says Dr Charlton. “And blindfolded calves also showed fewer kicking behaviours during disbudding.”A digital assistant service to help producers prioritise workloads, and improve herd and reproductive health, has been launched. Dairy health system management provider smaXtec says its new service draws on data direct from the herd via its ruminal bolus technology, alongside artiﬁcial intelligence (AI), to create automated management lists and reports for producers and their teams. The bolus technology provides accurate insight into a cow’s inner body temperature, water intake and drinking cycles, rumination, and activity levels by taking continuous measurements directly from the reticulum.The data generated by the digital assistant will help to make herd health and reproductive management easier, according to the company’s Chris Howarth. “The assistant ‘ﬁlters’ all the relevant information and ensures that producers can concentrate on what matters most when it comes to improving health and fertility.”He adds that the assistant creates a to-do list based on a unit’s individual needs so sta know what tasks to carry out ﬁrst – something that is particularly useful on large farms with several employees.cowmanagement JANUARY 2025

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The digital assistant is designed to work alongside smaXtec’s TruAdvice technology, which has been expanded to include alerts for a wider range of health problems.Launched in 2023, this technology uses AI to generate accurate disease indication notiﬁcations for common dairy cow diseases. It initially provided alerts for cases of mastitis, but it can now also highlight potential to cases of milk fever and ketosis.TruAdvice uses millions of data points to generate highly accurate disease indication alerts. This allows producers to act early, before a health situation becomes critical. “When used alongside the digital assistant, producers can respond to each animal in a targeted way,” adds Mr Howarth. “They can easily identify which animals need to be examined and treated – and how.”For more information, visit: www.smaXtec.com. Transition-milk feeding can increase ﬁrst-lactation yieldFeeding transition milk replacer to calves for 10 days following colostrum is associated with increased milk production during ﬁrst lactation. That was the ﬁnding of a study, carried out at Harper Adams University, to investigate the long-term eects of feeding transition milk replacer during the ﬁrst 10 days of life. Transition milk is produced by a cow for between two and three days after calving. It has a higher fat and protein content compared to whole milk and contains many of the bioactive molecules present in colostrum. “Research implies there may be beneﬁcial eects of feeding transition milk but, practically, this can be challenging behaviour,” says researcher Emma Bleach. “So feeding a transition milk replacer is an alternative.”The trial involved 28 Holstein Friesian heifer calves, recruited at birth. These were assigned to control and transition-milk groups, according to birthweight and dam parity. The control group was fed colostrum at birth, followed by a milk replacer (20% protein and 17% fat, and fed at a rate of Supercharged with PATRIOT GOLD Additive PackFor more details contact:TBA Ltd. Unit 3, Pulham Business Park,Pulham, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7DXt: +44 (0)1300 345711e: enquiries@tbagri.co.ukwww.tbagri.comBritannia Advanced Energized Calf Milk (ECM) is fed by many high genetic merit herds to capture youngstock potential. ECM has been designed to support the LifeStart objectives: OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT RESILIENCE TO DISEASE LONGEVITY

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DO YOUREALLY KNOW HER? ExtraUnderstand her potential through genomics and know she’s BVD FREE.Genomic Result£378 PLIBVD POSITIVEGenomic Result£-91 PLIGenomic Result£673 PLIBVD POSITIVE£289 PLI Genomic ResultGenomic Result£184 PLI © Neogen Corporation, 2024. Neogen and Igenity are registered trademarks of Neogen Corporation. All rights reserved.SCAN ME Come and visit our stand at :Dairy Tech 20255th FebruaryStand No. T647cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Farm businesses hit by the ongoing skills and labour shortages in the sector are being encouraged to take advantage of the new group membership on oer at the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH).Developed in response to industry feedback, TIAH says group membership is designed to help farm businesses recruit, retain and develop sta, while easing their administrative load.The institute’s 2022 report found that 63% of UK farm businesses were facing diculties when ﬁlling certain roles, with 39% of these positions sitting empty for more than a month. “To support long-term resilience and sustainability in agriculture and horticulture, we have to address these labour and skills gaps,” says TIAH’s Stephen Jacob, adding that skills and labour shortages are placing signiﬁcant pressure on farm businesses. He says that replacing a member of sta can cost the equivalent of more than a year’s salary. This is based on factors including loss of productivity and skills, and time spent recruiting and training new sta.The online service includes a document management feature, allowing producers to upload and securely store critical documents – such as nutrient management plans, insurance policies, and training certiﬁcates – and set expiry reminders to alert when renewals are due.This streamlines administrative tasks and supports compliance, saving valuable time and money TIAH’s group membership also provides digital tools and resources tailored to the unique needs of farm businesses, regardless of size. Each team member is given a tailored learning journey that aligns with their role and development goals.For more information on TIAH’s group membership oer, visit https://tiah.org. 150g per litre) from day one to day 56. The transition group was also fed colostrum at birth, but this was followed by transition milk (23% protein and 22% fat, at a rate of 150g per litre) between day one and 10. The same milk replacer that was fed to the control group was given from day 11 to 56.Both groups were fed and managed from post-weaning until the end of their ﬁrst lactation in the same way as other replacement and lactating heifers.Liveweight and daily liveweight gain of heifers in both groups were measured from birth to weaning. And the same metrics were recorded for age at ﬁrst calving, 305-day milk yield, milk quality, and lactation length.The study saw no signiﬁcant eects of treatment between the groups on calf weaning weight, liveweight gain, age at ﬁrst calving or lactation length. “But the ﬁrst-lactation 305-day milk yield was higher for the group of heifers fed transition milk after colostrum and before milk replacer,” says Dr Bleach. “And yield of fat and protein was also higher in transition-milk fed heifers.”She adds that the mechanism by which transition-milk feeds inﬂuence future milk production remain to be determined.Group addresses skills and labour shortages

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8 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025TEXT REBECCA BARNINGHAM & RACHAEL PORTERTwo different robotic milking setups are helping one Cumbria-based dairying family to perfect their day-to-day and longer term herd management. David Armstrong manages his family’s 315-cow herd, plus 300 followers and a further 300 head of beef cattle, alongside his brother Andrew, father Harold, and uncle John. The 265-hectare unit, based at Bromﬁeld near Wigton, recently hosted an open day to showcase its two robotic systems.The family ﬁrst made the switch to robotic milking in 2019, installing four GEA robots to milk high-yielding cows using a typical free-access setup. The lower yielders continued to be milked, twice a day, through the unit’s 28:28 herringbone parlour.Two sheds, each with two robots, were converted to house the high-yielding cows and allow the herd to be grouped by lactation while fresh. This free-access system made use of existing buildings, with heifers housed in older cubicles with smaller dimensions. “Grouping heifers separately from cows at the start of lactation helps to reduce competition and bullying, and maintain their production at 82% of the cows’ level.Robotic investmentPleased with robot and herd performance, the Armstrongs invested in a further three GEA DairyRobot R9500’s in February 2024. This required building a new shed with 140 cubicles and presented the family with a different opportunity – to opt for a guided trafﬁc system with a ‘milk ﬁrst’ conﬁguration. In order to reach the feed barrier, cows must pass through a selection gate. If a cow has ‘milk allowance’ she is then milked before being given access to the feed area. “The key beneﬁt of this system is to reduce the labour requirement for ‘fetching’ late-lactation cows in to be milked,” says David. “And it also improves robot-use efﬁciency.”Grouping late-lactation cows together also allows body condition scores to be monitored and managed, and the system has also allowed David to reduce concentrate feed rate, down to just 0.1kg per litre, through the robots.A mix of free-access and guided robot-milking systems is helping to drive dairy productivity on one Cumbria-based unit. So how do the two setups dier and how do they work? David Armstrong:“Both systems are helping to run a more sustainable business”Trac management delivers milk eciencyHERD REPORT ARMSTRONG FAMILY

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9cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Across both systems, cows visit the robots, on average, 2.7 times a day. David says that automating milking has also pushed up average daily milk yield per cow by at least seven litres, to between 37 and 40 litres. “When milking through the conventional parlour, we were unable to push through the 30-litre barrier.”Free-access systemThe all-year-round calving herd is currently averaging 11,000 litres, at 4.50% butterfat and 3.45% protein, with a somatic cell count of 120,000 cells/ml. Milk is sold to Arla on a supermarket contract. Free ﬂow or free access allows cows to move freely to the robot, feed fence and cubicles. All cows have access to the robot whether they are ready to be milked or not. It is a cost-effective conﬁguration that’s easy to install in an existing shed, but directing fresh cows to the robot can be time-consuming.Guided trafﬁc systems direct cows to a sort gate, which either allows or prevents access to the waiting area for milking. This system costs more than the free-ﬂow setup, but cow management can be organised on an ad-hoc basis, without wasting time or requiring additional resources.Wigton,CumbriaHarold, John, David & Andrew Armstrong315 cows, plus 300 followers11,000 litres, at 4.50% butterfat and 3.45% protein 265 hectares120,000 cells/ml2.7 per dayOwners:Herd size: Average yield: Unit size:Somatic cell count: Average number of milkings:So, how do the two robotic systems compare? David says they both have their place on the unit. “Both work well – we have no complaints. The guided system works best for the mid- and late-lactation cows – they’re already in their lactation rhythm and will get up to eat and, therefore, pass through the robots to be milked ﬁrst. And there are no ‘time wasting’ passing visits from cows not due to be milked,” he explains.Conversely, the free access better suits the fresh cows and heifers, and the early-lactation group, which typically comprises around 178 head. “They’re able to visit the robot and then return directly to cubicles to rest, or go and eat – there’s choice.”With free access, cows are able to get familiar with the setup and, if needed, one of the team can step in, when alerted, and ‘fetch’ any cows or heifers needing encouragement to be milked. “Milking through a conventional parlour may have given us sight of every cow, twice a day, but essentially we were just looking at her rear end and udder – not the whole animal. We’ve more time to actually observe the herd, particularly in the free-access system.”And there’s less stress for the herd. “It’s a quieter way to Milking robot: seven units are installed at Bromﬁeld FarmFeed pusher: kit supports higher and more consistent dry-matter intakes

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10 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025HERD REPORT ARMSTRONG FAMILYmanage and milk cows – there’s far less noise and we’re not ‘interrupting’ the cows twice a day to put them through a conventional parlour. In fact, even though we’re handling the cows less, they’re much calmer when we walk through the sheds, and easier to work with.”David has also noticed that even the more timid cows in the herd are still keen to get up and eat or be milked. “There’s less competition – particularly in the guided setup – and fewer ‘bully’ cows pushing their way in, and this means less stress.”Individual-cow managementThe automatic milking system has also beneﬁtted the dairy team by providing more data, particularly on individual cows. “Uncle John wanted to take a step back from the business, and that meant one less set of eyes on the cows. We knew we needed to ﬁnd a way to keep a close watch on individual-cow health, fertility and performance without putting more pressure on our already heavy work load,” explains David.GEA’s herd management system, called Dairy Net, was added in 2019. “Its design makes it easy to use and navigate, and it’s linked to a mobile app for ‘cow-side’ management, which is really handy.“It offers pre-set lists and data analysis tools, as well as performance analysis for robot and milking parameters. There’s a ‘one-click’ cow information page, which we ﬁnd particularly useful, and it also has a ‘multi-animal selection’ feature to help us when planning and performing herd management tasks.”They also invested in a feed pusher – a GEA DairyFeed F4800 – in 2019. “It seemed logical when we invested in the ﬁrst robotic setup, helping to complete the automated management of the shed,” explains David, who says it gets on with its job, unnoticed by the cows.“That said, I’ve seen that when the cows hear the feed pusher whirr into action that they steadily get up and walk to the feed fence – almost on cue. “I’ve been up in the dairy ofﬁce, which overlooks one of the sheds, and seen maybe 10 cows in the feed passage. I can look up again a few minutes later – once the robot has made its pass – and see 30 cows stood eating.”The herd is fed a grass-silage based TMR, which also contains wholecrop wheat grown on the farm.He says that frequent feed pushes – he has it set to push up TMR every two hours – increases the number of cow visits to the feed barrier. This supports higher and more consistent dry matter intake, which also plays a role in increasing milk yields, improved cow health and greater proﬁtability.“It’s also helped to minimise feed waste and feed sorting,” says David. “And there’s not a mad rush to get to the feed, which reduces competition at the barrier.”David says that one of the most asked questions from visiting producers during the open day was ‘which robotic system is better – free access or guided?’. “For us, I’d struggle to choose between the two as both suit particular cow groups. But if I had to pick one I’d go with guided. It saves a little more on labour and robot down time.“They’re both great systems and are certainly helping us to run and build a more sustainable business that will be ﬁt for the future,” adds David.“The next generation of Armstrongs are too young to be thinking about a future in dairying. But we’d like to develop a business that could support them if they decide to take that route.” |Bromﬁeld Farm: dairy business has made a signiﬁcant investment in automation since 2019

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12 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025All available from Dairy Spares stockists.t: 01948 667676www.dairyspares.co.ukWhy pasteurise? To kill o harmful bacteria, improve absorption of antibodies by the calf, and extend the colostrum's 'fridge life'.It takes just 20 minutes for a frozen 2-litre Trusti Colostrum Bag to thaw and warm. Or wait 30 minutes for a 4-litre Trusti bag to be ready.From freezer to calf in 20 minutes!To save time when calving is close, select the Trusti Pasteur Pro’s pre-heating program which heats water to 50°C and maintains this temperature in the highly insulated unit. Storage made easy!Save good quality colostrum into 2 or 4-litre Trusti Colostrum Bags (re-usable up to 5 times).Attach the warmed Trusti bag to the Trusti Tuber and feed the calf: easily, safely and quickly!MANAGE COLOSTRUM:EASILY, SAFELY, QUICKLYPlace lled Trusti bags in the Trusti Pasteur Pro, and pasteurise using one of several automated programs, e.g. pasteurise and cool to feeding temperature, or cool down further to store.Pasteurisation made easy!ADDRESS STRESSwith FerAppeasea new product that provides a simple spot-on application to help increase performance by reducing the impact of stressFerAppease is a synthetic analogue of the Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance, mBAS, a naturally secreted pheromone.This is a non-medicinal product and no prescription is required.Visit the FerAppease stand (P110) at Dairy Tech 2025 to learn more about decreasing stress and increasing performance. You can also enter for a chance to win one of nine 10-dose packs with a built-in applicator, as well as keyrings, hats, coolers, and mugs. www.ferappease.co.ukinfo@ferappease.co.ukUK DISTRIBUTOR

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13cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Climate messaging and a close eye on marginsfood. “The problems we face are big, complex and global. Many producers feel that agriculture is under attack and feel depressed about what they’re facing now and in the future. But there’s plenty to be positive about,” he said, adding that it was time to ‘reframe’ some of the messaging about food production and climate-change targets.Global emissionsCurrently, 40% of land across the globe that can be used for growing food is being used for agriculture. “So there’s more that can be put into use without cutting down trees or clearing forests,” he said, adding that 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from agriculture.Food production is essential and, according to the FAO, the world will need to produce 25% more food by 2050 to feed more people. “The global population is currently eight billion and by 2050 it will have reached 9.5 billion. But the good news is that at this time predictions are that it will have reached its peak. Beyond this point, global population will begin to decline. And by 2100, China’s population will have halved.”How food production systems, particularly in relation to climate targets, are talked about matters and it’s important to add context. “Stories and narratives often focus on agriculture as a ‘problem’ and so this needs to change. Science and tech has all the answers that will ensure that producers can feed the world’s population without further impacting the environment.”The UK’s CO2 production per capita is 5.5 tonnes. The global average is 4.9 tonnes. “That ﬁgure can make people ‘despair’. But it’s important to give it context – it’s a 150-year low. And the rate of decline is exciting and not something to be depressed about. Emissions are currently 40% below where they were in 1990, so that’s a positive and one of many that the Agriculture – including dairying – has a key role to play in mitigating climate change and saving the planet. That was the message at the start of this year’s TotalDairy Conference, held in November in Stratford-upon-Avon, that left delegates buoyed for two days of presentations and workshops on how to make that happen.University of Nottingham’s Jack Bobo, director of the Food System Institute, said it was important to think – and speak – dierently about the future of Jack Bobo:“It’s time to reframe the messaging around food production”TOTALDAIRY CONFERENCE REPORTTotalDairy Conference 2024 set the scene for the dairy industry as we turn the corner into 2025. Keynote speakers addressed a wide variety of topics linked to the event’s theme: ‘Building resilience: for cows, for proﬁt and for the future’.TEXT RACHAEL PORTER

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14 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025TOTALDAIRY CONFERENCE REPORTpublic should be made more aware of.”He points out that the UK is, therefore, in a much better position than it was four decades ago. “So we need to focus on accelerating the improvements and getting people excited about it,” he adds.The challenge is getting to 2050 without cutting down any more forests or draining any more rivers. “The next 25 years will be the most important in agriculture’s 10,000-year history. It’s an interesting time to be farming. We have all the tools to produce more than enough food to feed the population up to its 2050 peak. But the industry must be allowed to use them. So how we communicate about these tools and the possibilities, particularly with consumers, matters.”Break-even priceIn order to deliver these 2050 targets – both in terms of food production and reducing emissions – dairy businesses have to be ecient and proﬁtable. And US-based producer and dairy consultant Greg Bethard underlined that every producer should be striving to lower their break-even milk price. “In a commodity world, it is how we compete,” he said. “In my experience, there’s a 2ppl margin in dairying, on average, in the longer term. There are always herds that lose money and there’s the top 25% that make money most years. And there are many dierent dairy business models that are proﬁtable.”His take-home message for delegates was that most UK dairy business’ proﬁt-and-loss (P&L) accounts require closer attention. “There’s a lot of room for improvement – the majority are ‘pretty funky’,” he said, adding that the P&L is the most important operational document that a dairy business possesses. “It should be completed monthly and be accrual, and ﬁgures should be expressed per litre or per 100 litres.”His biggest concern was his observation that too many UK producers look at their P&L account just once a year. “This means it’s impossible to really know how the business is doing or to take steps to lower its break-even point. It should be generated and checked at least once a month.”He also stressed that heifer costs, including feed and labour, had no place in the P&L account.Denmark-based specialist in change management and LEAN, Vibeke Fladkjaer Nielsen, shared some pointers on keeping sta motivated and promoting permanent behavioural change. Unsurprisingly, she said that anecdotal Engaged audience: delegates were kept busy with a two-day programme of presentations and workshopsevidence and research underlines that happy sta will perform to their best potential. “But there are also barriers to success, such as poor communication, particularly when change is needed,” she said. “We believe that telling people to do something a certain way just once means that they will remember, but that’s wrong. It can take several attempts and that’s more likely to be the case the older people are.”She explained that after the age of 35, our ability to learn new things rapidly declines. “Not only are we ‘too busy’ to make changes or improvements, but our frontal lobes are already fully developed. It’s actually more dicult to learn a new skill or a dierent way to do something. It’s not impossible, obviously, but it presents more of a challenge.”Get creativeShe says the key is not to ‘tell’ but to allow people to ‘learn’. “Present information in a way that’s interesting and get creative. I often use pictures when explaining why, for example, it’s important to prep teats correctly in the parlour, and images showing progressively dirtier wipes to underline why good hygiene is vital.”That said, standard operating procedures showing the best method, order and process, are best drawn up by the person closest to the job. “So get them involved, see what works well for them and why. The trick is to minimise variation in working methods to achieve consistency. And, if something new is introduced or a change is made, this should also be easy to adopt or adapt to. “Ultimately, explain the beneﬁts of any changes, and the possible costs and consequence of not making them, and why something has to be done in a certain way. Make it interesting and relevant and ‘ﬁre some passion’,” said Ms Nielsen.“Remember, behaviour lives in the environment, so if there’s a requirement, for example, for boots to be cleaned before entering a building, make sure cleaning facilities are provided at strategic points. “Sta will easily be able to follow protocols, and herd health, welfare and productivity will beneﬁt as a result.” Greg Bethard:“Too many UK producers look at their P&L just once a year”

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17cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Hygiene programmeDeveloping and delivering a strict biosecurity and hygiene programme can play a crucial role in maximising the return on investment from calf rearing and help exploit the value of high-quality genetics. This is the advice of Jonathan Thomas-Nash, Animal Safety Product Manager at Neogen. Young calves have a developing immune system, making them more susceptible to infections, whether it be widespread challenges like pneumonia and scours or speciﬁc diseases including Johne’s disease and BVD.AHDB estimates that more than 50% of calf deaths are a result of poor hygiene, representing an opportunity for a good return on investment in stricter hygiene protocols. Scours and pneumonia remain the most common cause of morbidity and mortality, while pneumonia remains a challenge on many farms.“Infectious pathogens are present in all calf housing,” Jonathan stresses. “As is it impossible to eliminate all pathogens, the objective must be to reduce levels before calves are introduced to housing, ensuring their environment is as clean as possible.“While you can never eradicate all infectious pathogens, adopting strict hygiene protocols can greatly reduce the risks and the impact on calf growth and health,” he points out. “All farms should adopt a combination of an annual deep clean, or after any disease outbreak, of the true genetic merit of the animals already in your herd or being reared as replacements.”Igenity®, Neogen’s genomics platform, provides a detailed assessment of the genetic potential of your animals with results back on farm quickly. It oers insights into approximately 50 traits including production factors such as milk yield, milk component yield and percentage, and £PLI, as well as management traits including Fertility Index, Temperament, Ease of Milking, Somatic Cell Count, Locomotion and Condition Score plus a full set of type traits. For spring-calving herds traits included in the fertility index, maintenance index and those related to feet and legs can be particularly valuable.Tailored index“The real beneﬁt of an Igenity evaluation is that we can provide a tailored index just for you, bringing together the traits that are the highest priority for your business and enabling you to spot the replacements best able to help meet your objectives,” says Rob.“Then, as Igenity is not tied to a semen supply contract, you are free to select the most suitable sire from all bulls available in the market place.”It is also important to ensure that you only rear calves that are Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) negative, because this disease remains a major cause of heifer wastage. Neogen is the only UK company currently able to provide independent genomic and BVD testing from a single sample, making the process as straightforward as possible.“Knowing a calf’s BVD status means you can make informed decisions about which animals to invest in, and Igenity® will tell you the genetic potential of BVD-negative animals. Then the focus must be on rearing faster growing, healthy replacements.”complemented by routine maintenance cleans after each calf or batch of calves moves through the rearing unit.” “To ensure the ﬁrst calves born go into a clean environment, the deep clean should be carried out as close to the start of the calving period as possible. If the unit had been cleaned at the end of the previous calving block, it should be deep cleaned again before the next block.“All calf accommodation should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at the start of the calving block and after every calf or batch of calves, following this three step process: Dirt can disrupt the disinfection process, so remove as much organic matter, dust and debris as possible, brushing out and scrubbing all surfaces. Wet all surfaces before applying an alkaline detergent like Farm Foam EVO or Super Foam EVO, from Neogen, to remove stubborn dirt. Proven ecacyLeave all surfaces to dry before applying a DEFRA-approved disinfectant to kill pathogens that are present. Neogen® Viroxide Super™ and Neogen® Farm Fluid MAX are both DEFRA approved with proven ecacy against a broad spectrum of disease causing-pathogens including TB, Foot and Mouth, Cryptosporidium, Coccidiosis, Rotavirus and BVD. Neogen Farm Fluid MAX is also proven to be eective against Johne’s disease-causing mycobacteria.“A well-deﬁned hygiene programme, using proven detergents and disinfectants at the approved dilution, can help to reduce the pathogen load to which calves are exposed when they move into calf accommodation, and can help in the ﬁght to reduce pathogenic infections,” adds Jonathan.“I would advise all spring-block calving units to review their protocols and schedule a pre-calving deep clean to get calf rearing o to the best possible start, and then to maintain exemplary levels of hygiene until all calves are weaned.”For more information scan the QR code, call us on 01292 525 600 or email neogengenomics@neogen.com. Visit us at Dairy-Tech on stand T64, on February 5, to ﬁnd out more. Neogen’s Jonathan Thomas-Nash

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18 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025TEXT LAURA BOWYERyoungstock with optimal nutrition and management to ensure these young animals’ future health and production.”When it comes to managing heifers, rations must also help to prepare youngstock for their ﬁrst lactation so they can enter the herd in the best health and maximise their performance.Colostrum managementAt the point of calving, close attention to colostrum management is vital. “Colostrum helps to protect calves against the threat from pathogens and disease, so colostrum management requires a strong focus during the winter when there can be greater health challenges,” explains Ms Coombes. “Colostrum quality needs to be tested, using a refractometer or colostrum balls. Only colostrum containing at least 50g/litre of IgG, or more, should be fed to calves at a rate of between four and ﬁve litres in the ﬁrst hour of life.“When feeding calf milk replacer, consistency in hygiene, housing, and nutrition needs to be maintained. And calf performance must be monitored to ensure management is on track.”Calving heifers for the ﬁrst time at 24 months old, or younger, is a key proﬁtability performance indicator for many dairy businesses – reducing rearing costs and increasing lifetime production. Achieving this target requires clear focus and meticulous attention to detail, according to ForFarmers’ Ann Coombes. The life of a future member of the herd starts with close care of the pregnant cow and careful transition management to support the ﬁnal growth and development of the unborn calf.“The close-up dry-cow ration is key to enhancing colostrum quality and quantity,” says Ms Coombes. “At this critical stage, producers must provide cows and Rearing heifer replacements to calve at 24 months old is key to proﬁtability for many dairy systems. And this can only be achieved by paying close attention to detail. The route to 24-month calvingNUTRITION HEIFER REARINGAnn Coombes:“Heifers should be 55% of mature body weight at bulling”

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19cowmanagement JANUARY 2025She adds clear feed intake targets need to be set and achieved at weaning. “Before weaning, calves should be consuming 2kg of concentrate per day, having doubled their birth weight, and should be actively cudding.“After weaning a speciﬁc ration should be provided to fulﬁl calf requirements to achieve target daily live weight gains. These can be met by utilising the forages available on the farm.”Optimal conditionTo achieve the 24-month-old calving target, bulling must be timed and managed precisely, ensuring heifers are in optimal condition. “Heifers should be 40% of their mature body weight at nine months old, and reach 55% of their mature body weight at bulling – typically at between 13 and 15 months old.”Throughout pregnancy, monitoring and managing heifer body condition is also vital, to ensure they remain ﬁt and not overly fat, according to Ms Coombes. “Adjust ration intakes accordingly to maintain optimal health and condition throughout pregnancy.“Carefully managing each phase and following a structured approach will ensure that youngstock receive the optimal care and nutrition needed to thrive and achieve the 24-month target,” she adds. “This, in turn, will beneﬁt the efﬁciency, productivity, proﬁtability and sustainability of the dairy herd.” |Table 1: Increased litres of milk replacer fed per day according to age and ambient temperatureWeighing heifers: close monitoring will help to ensure growth targets are metambient temperatureless than 3 weeks old (50kgLW)more than 3 weeks old (65kgLW)20°C - -15°C 0.5 litres -10°C 0.5 litres -5°C 1 litre 0.5 litres0°C 2 litres 1 litre-5°C 3 litres 2 litresProducers should ensure that their calf-rearing systems are ready to deal with winter’s challenges. This time of year poses unique challenges, with calves facing increasing health and performance pressures as a result of worsening weather and declining temperatures. To help mitigate the negative impact of the winter period, it’s vital to review calf-rearing setups, paying particular attention to feeding, housing and hygiene protocols. When temperatures fall suciently for calves to start suering from cold stress, extra supplementary feeding is key to maintaining good performance. “Cold weather becomes a negative factor for calves when temperatures fall below 10°C,” explains Ms Coombes. This temperature represents the calf’s lower critical temperature (LCT), which is when they start to divert energy away from growth to maintaining their body temperature. This LCT changes with age, with calves up to three weeks old having an LCT of just 20°C. And newborn calves exhaust their energy supplies within the ﬁrst 18 hours of life if constantly exposed to cold temperatures. “Even mature calves can go from strong growth gains into negative energy deﬁcit and declining growth rates in a relatively short timeframe due to cold weather,” she stresses. “To combat this, provide additional energy and protein to calves in the form of extra milk replacer. “This can be achieved by increasing litres of milk fed to calves by 0.5 litres per feed. If temperatures are below zero the recommendation is to feed an extra litre per feed. “But some producers prefer to use an elevated winter feed rate, which they implement throughout colder periods, by increasing the amount of calf milk replacer fed per litre during the winter months. They may, for example increase the rate from 150g per litre to 180g per litre.”Managing calves during winter

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20 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025A FEW WORDS FROM ROGER EVANSIf ever I’ve employed anyone I’ve never asked them to do anything that I couldn’t or wouldn’t do myself. That’s probably why I’ve never been a big fan of farm assurance. That and the feeling that I’ve never liked people telling me what to do – especially if I wasn’t sure that they could do it themselves. Also I had a bad habit of making jokes about it all, but you didn’t have to dig into the jokes very far to ﬁnd some sarcasm. That’s why the family used to keep me well out of sight if we had an assurance visit. I know it’s only surmising but I’ve always thought that if you farmed in the Lake District you’d get a hard time from people who watched what you were doing. Let’s face it, the Lake District is beautiful. So if you could live and work there, why wouldn’t you? What better place to bring up a family? I can remember watching a TV documentary about farming in the Lake District. It showed a farm-assurance group meeting. The room was full of farmers, and this made me think (surmising again) that if you didn’t go to so many meetings per year you would suer ﬁnancial penalties. The atmosphere in the room wasn’t good – ‘sullen’ would be a good word to describe it. Apparently some farmers had been bringing their Herdwick ewes o the fell to lamb in bad weather and keeping them on inbye land using electric fences. Those is charge didn’t want any electric fences, they wanted the farmers to use traditional stone walls. The message was quite clear, if you don’t comply voluntarily we will legislate and make it law. It’s well worth pausing for a moment to look at those taking the meeting. They’d probably never had to fetch ewes o the fell. They’d never had to make the choice between mending a stone wall and erecting an electric fence. They’d never had cold rain or snow down their necks. They were probably not that keen on winding down the windows of their nice warm cars if it was raining. Then we get to the end of the presentation: ‘any questions?’. No one moves. They ask three times and eventually an old man stands up at the back. “If you buggers had been about hundreds of years ago, you’d have stopped us building the walls.” How true, and how eloquent. Doesn’t it just sum up farm assurance exactly?Years ago I was invited to speak to a grassland society in Cumbria. I set o in the early afternoon. My next stop was to be Tebay services, and not because I wanted to see the ducks but because that’s as far as l could get before I needed a pee. These days I’m more of a Charnock Richards man, but I sometimes use Chester services – just to be on the safe side. About three miles from home I had to slow down to pass three Herdwick ewes. Like me, they were heading for the fells. Each one sported a large red ‘E’, which said they were mine. But I don’t recall ever seeing them again.Shropshire-based producer and award-winning columnist Roger Evans ‘surmises’ about farm assurance and an electric-fence farce.Correct assumptions?“… the family used to keep me well out of sight if we had an assurance visit”

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22 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025FORFARMERS FOCUSProduce good silage to reduce inputsYoungstock team expandsForFarmers continues to build its knowledge and oer youngstock services with the addition of three specialist technicians to its team, solidifying its position as a leader when it comes to expertise on this phase of the dairy production cycle.Kitty Smith (South Wales and North England), Olivia Parker (South and South West) and Charlotte Scott (Central), will be helping producers to focus on enhancing youngstock performance, weighing calves and heifers, developing bespoke feed plans, and colostrum protocols.An important aspect of their role will be helping producers to reduce their herd’s carbon footprint by working towards an age at ﬁrst calving of 24 months old.“Calves and heifers are the future of every herd,” says ForFarmers’ Ann Coombes. “They often have the best genetics and, therefore, the greatest potential to drive future herd eciency, proﬁtability and sustainability. “Our youngstock technicians oer a ‘Target 24’ service and can help producers to develop the correct management protocols, nutritional plan and a weighing regime that tracks progress and highlights any issues before they become a problem.”For more information contact ForFarmers on 0330 678 0982 or go to www.forfarmers.co.uk/dairy/youngstock.Delegation learns from Dutch producersA group of 20 producers and ForFarmers account managers visited the Netherlands in autumn 2024 to see, ﬁrst hand, robotic dairy systems and dairy management in action. While some herds were fully housed, others were grazing the cows six hours a day for at least 120 days of the year to qualify for a milk-price premium. Multi-cut silage systems are typical in the Netherlands with grass being cut every four weeks.To avoid signiﬁcant changes in the diet, each cut is layered in the silage pit with up to ﬁve cuts in each pit.The ensiling method leads to a more consistent silage, according to Dutch producers, and results in good cow performance. Maize was also fed to most herds, with dry matters between 35% and 40% and starch levels between 38% and 42%.Robots in the Netherlands tend to oer two or three dierent concentrate feeds. These include ﬂat-rate fed protein concentrate to balance the diet, a feed-to-yield concentrate and, in some herds, a fresh-cow concentrate. Many producers were investing in automation, including robotic milking systems, self-propelled mixer wagons and automatic silage-covering systems.In addition to environmental restrictions, Bluetongue is a major challenge in the Netherlands. Even after vaccination, a new strain has hit herds hard and milk yields have dropped as a result.“Overall, the Dutch producers we met were extremely positive and are continuing to invest in their businesses for the next generation,” says ForFarmers’ Bas van Santen. “The trip was an eye-opener and ‘food for thought’ for the visiting producers.”Producing high-quality forage will help reduce the cost of production and reduce reliance on bought-in feed options. In terms of maize, this means higher energy derived from the starch content. Most early maturing varieties tend to be slightly lower yielding but have a higher starch content. They improve feed quality and are more suited to producing milk at a lower cost per litre.Early maturing varieties require fewer heat units to reach maturity, which gives them a particular advantage in short seasons and allows them to be harvested at the optimum time. Waiting for late-maturing varieties to mature can result in problems at harvest, and the risk of a reduction in feed quality is increased. Delaying harvest to allow a variety to mature increases the risk of silaging in less favourable conditions and could have implications for resulting forage quality and also for management of ﬁelds during the winter period.Sowing the ultra-early variety Temprano, which has been added to the descriptive list this season, will produce high levels of both dry matter yield and starch content. With an earlier harvest, the options for sowing a winter cover crop are greater. With increased environmental pressure it is essential to protect soils and prevent run-o. A delayed harvest could increase soil compaction risks from harvesting equipment, or mean a follow-on crop cannot be established. Selecting the most suitable ﬁeld is a crucial decision, but variety selection can be equally important. By increasing the prospect of harvesting at the optimum time, combined with higher feed values, the use of early-maturing maize varieties should form the foundation of crop planning. Selecting early-maturing varieties can also help to reduce any environmental impact and allow for the sowing of ‘after maize’ crops, which can also be used within the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. From left to right: Charlotte Scott, Ann Coombes, Kitty Smith and Olivia ParkerDo you make maximum use of your robot data? Using ForFarmers OptiRobot our Dairy and Robot Specialists are able to assess whether the interaction between robot settings, nutrition and health is optimal. It often turns out that small changes can make a big difference; Our Robot Specialists can help highlight areas where you can improve with the unique ForFarmers OptiRobot which provides: 9 Greater insight 9 More opportunities 9 Increased returnsFor more information speak to your local ForFarmers Robotic Specialist or visit > 0330 678 0982 info.uk@forfarmers.eu www.forfarmers.co.uk @ForFarmersUK

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24 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025CHAT FROM THE MILK SHACK‘Why is milk so expensive?’ Yes, you read that right. And to rub salt into the wound this was a question asked by a woman attending one of our free on-farm events. Right there in front of us, during our welcome speech, she dared to utter such evil words. Was she brave or stupid?Running a public-facing high-welfare dairy farming business, my husband Tom and I feel we are in a good place to try and show consumers where their food comes from, and are particularly keen to show them what good animal welfare looks like. This is not always something we look forward to after a 4.30am start, a busy day and what may not have been a ‘smooth’ one at that. Two middle-aged producers doing their best to sparkle for 40 people who turn up at 7.00pm to be shown around the farm isn’t always easy. But on this occasion, as the local WI arrived, ‘Farmer Tom’ started to sparkle a little more when he realised not all the ladies in the WI are over 60, in fact some are under 40. So sparkle he did and his mood lifted even more when they produced homemade cakes, all laid out on the straw bales in the big shed where our opening pitch begins. That was until the question of all questions came right at us from a middle-aged woman sat quite conﬁdently opposite us, followed by a sharp intake of breath from 39 other ladies around the shed. I am good at thinking on my feet and monitoring, or shall we say Award-winning Cheshire-based producer Karen Halton oers up her ﬁrst CowManagement column, and shares an amusing and telling tale about a recent farm walk held on her unit. Time to sparkle“The thought running through my head was ‘let him at her’. So I did.”‘restraining’, Farmer Tom in public. But on this occasion the thought running through my head was ‘let him at her’. So I did. He said, quite calmly actually: “So when you go into a bar for a drink with your partner and you pay £6 for a glass of wine or £4 for a pint of beer, do you question the landlord and ask why their drinks are so expensive?”. “I don’t have a partner,” she said, to which he replied: “Why am I not surprised?”. Thankfully the other 39 women had Farmer Tom’s back and all laughed out loud.My reaction was tongue in cheek – tell Farmer Tom o, roll my eyes and announce I can’t take him anywhere. I then hurried everyone to the trailer for the farm tour. Fortunately Tom was driving the tractor, away from the ‘oending’ visitor.By the time we had shown them some cows grazing, others relaxing in the big shed with sand beds and cow brushes, and lots of happy cows chewing their cud she started to ask some more sensible questions. The visitors also had the chance to milk one of our cows, called Midnight, by hand. Midnight is patient and plenty of the group had a go. Gathering back at the feed shed to round up the evening, I was slightly apprehensive because Farmer Tom by this point had been up and working for 17 hours. But the troublemaker had in fact become our biggest fan and was oering to pay more for her milk, her ‘font of knowledge’ had been ﬁlled with the correct information.Our work for that day, at least, was done.

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26 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025TEXT RACHAEL PORTERfrom Dorset-based Friars Moor Livestock Health, says that Optimax is a process that’s worked well and has paid dividends for one of her dairy clients who had a signiﬁcant calf pneumonia problem. “We physically walked through the entire process, from dry-cow management through to calving, colostrum feeding, calf housing and feeding,” she says. “Following the calf’s journey from birth to understand where the weaknesses and inefﬁciencies of the process lie allows the team to work as a group to identify common goals and set achievable targets. Team discussion“The inefﬁciencies and targets are discussed within the team so the process leads to a more realistic and focused set of expectations to work towards. The format makes it easy to review and track positive changes after a set amount of time.”On the unit she visited, the Optimax process revealed that the automated milk feeders needed calibrating more regularly, as inconsistent feeding was ‘stressing’ calves. “The Optimax process highlighted that team members needed additional support and conﬁdence to positively ID any potential cases of pneumonia, so steps could be taken to treat early. This increases recovery speed and reduces losses and mortality.”Calf scour and pneumonia are the two key causes of mortality and losses on UK dairy units and both can be prevented by following strict calf-rearing protocols. These begin with the dry cow.With that in mind, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has developed Optimax – a lean-management framework designed to enhance calf health and farm productivity by encouraging discussions between dairy staff and vets, and agreeing actions. The company also ran a competition among Optimax-trained vets in 2024 to see who could make best use of the tool on farm.Put simply, Optimax is a calf-health framework that allows producers and vets to review calf management from close-up dry cows to calf weaning. The process encourages open discussion to identify areas of inefﬁciency and scope for improvement. The 2024 award winner Becca Price, a practicing vet We spoke to the winners of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s global Optimax Award to ﬁnd out how the tool has made a real dierence on-farm for producers looking to prevent and tackle calf-health issues.Highlight pinch points to ﬁne-tune processHERD HEALTH LEAN MANAGEMENT Becca Price:“Team identiﬁed the pinch points in calf-rearing system”

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27cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Dr Price has been working with the team to carry out thoracic ultrasound scanning on calves, aged between two and three weeks old, to help them identify cases of pneumonia more quickly. Calves are scored on a four-point scale. “Identifying cases is an on-going challenge. But the thoracic ultrasound scoring is helping and the staff are quickly getting to grips with the scoring system and seeing results. They also have a better eye for the detail after the walk-through and have identiﬁed the pinch points in their system – and the solutions to make improvements,” she explains.In control“And, more importantly, they feel like they’re back in control and enthusiastic for change. Motivation is key to the success of all calf-rearing systems. Producers and their teams need to feel empowered because, ultimately, it is down to them to iron out and resolve any issues in their calf-rearing system.”Vet Martha Twist, who is based at the same Dorset-based practice, and was this year’s runner up in the competition, agrees. She carried out an Optimax ‘walk through’ on a local unit that was struggling with an acute outbreak of calf scour. “Mortality rate from birth to 42 days old was greater than 25%, and the producer was, obviously, keen to give the process a go to not only help tackle the problem but also prevent further cases.” Faecal samples and post-mortems on dead calves revealed that the scours outbreak was the result of cryptosporidiosis, rotavirus, and E coli. “So clearly there was a lot going on – or going wrong – throughout the rearing system. Using the team walk-through, we set about getting to the bottom of it.”As is usually the case, there’s rarely one issue or one ‘weak spot’ in a calf rearing system that’s at the root of a problem. It’s usually a culmination of small pinch points that, when added together, create the perfect conditions for disease to get a foothold. In this case, several pathogens were overwhelming the calves.“The management of older calves is important, but we felt it was vital, in this case, to go back and look at the ﬁrst 24 hours after birth, and even look back to dry-cow management. If close attention is paid to all areas of management before the calf is even born, then they get off to the best possible start,” says Dr Twist.Given the nature and severity of the scour problem that this herd faced, the Optimax process revealed several weak spots. “The dry-cow environment was good, but the calving pens were under too much pressure. There were not enough of them and sometimes there were two cows in one pen – and cleaning between calvings needed to be more thorough.“This ‘overcrowding’ issue also meant that often newborn calves stayed with their dam for too long and stafﬁng issues meant that colostrum feeding also required improvement. Targets for the three Qs – quality, quantity and ‘quickly’ – were not being met. And protocols for cleaning feeding equipment were also reviewed.”Once all these issues had been identiﬁed, it was possible for the team to come up with workable and practical solutions that they could implement. Figure 1: Mortality rate in calves from birth to six weeks oldMartha Twist:“Targets for the three Qs were not being met”Feeding equipment, which was previously ineffectively washed and dried, is now scrubbed and washed thoroughly and hung up to dry on a special rack that the team made.One of the biggest changes made was switching from rearing calves ‘off site’ on a neighbouring unit, where calves were housed in straw pens in a shared airspace with older cattle, each pen had direct contact with the next, and there was limited protection from weather. Calves are now reared on the main farm, where they are born, and housed in calf hutches with up to four calves in each. There is good separation between pens and improved hygiene and disinfection protocols. Hutches are steam-cleaned and then treated with a licensed ‘crypto’ disinfectant and all bedding is changed between each set of calves.Possible solutionsIdentifying waste in the system, such as time spent traveling between two sites, old equipment not being used, and problems with surveillance where calves were off site, led to a discussion of possible solutions. These including reinstating calf hutches and creating space at the main farm.Colostrum is now harvested sooner after calving and dry cow dietary protein levels increased to produce better quality colostrum. This is fed to the calf within a few hours of birth, at a rate of 10% body weight, followed by a second feed later that day.All dry cows are also now vaccinated with a scour vaccine three months before calving.It’s early days, but already the herd has seen signiﬁcant improvements. Calf mortality rates peaked in October 2024 and there was a marked decline in November to 6% (see Figure 1). The team, having made use of the Optimax process, has driven this improvement, according to Dr Twist. “This process gives them ownership – they’re motivated to make the changes and improvements required to make the system more streamlined and effective,” she says. |mortality ratefeb-24 mar-24 apr-24 may-24 jun-24 jul-24 aug-24 sep-24 oct-24 nov-24rolling three-month average

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MAIZE SPECIALAfter two very wet harvests, selecting a ‘do-it-all’ maize variety that reliably and consistently meets the needs of each units’ speciﬁc system, location and climate is more critical than ever.That’s the advice from ProCam’s Simon Montgomery, who highlights some key considerations after a second consecutive maize harvest has been hampered by cold and wet weather.“As every producer in the UK will know all too well, weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable and volatile in recent years, with long periods of intense and persistent rain only brieﬂy broken by similarly testing periods of drought,” he says.As a result, 2024’s maize crops struggled to meet their true potential, with late drilling, a lack of summer heat units, and a wet harvest resulting in some clamps remaining only partially ﬁlled and, in other cases, containing a crop less nutritionally valuable than hoped.“A brief but signiﬁcant cold snap in September further exacerbated harvesting problems for some growers, with affected crops suffering frost damage and a subsequent loss of valuable sugar and starch potential,” he adds.Understandably, some producers and their agronomists are questioning how they can ensure greater success in 2025.Maize strategies“We can’t control the weather, but we can take steps to mitigate its effects,” says Mr Montgomery. “Ensuring crops are drilled into a well-prepared and free-draining seedbed, and that they receive the required nutrients and crop protection, are obvious strategies. But this could all be for nothing if an inappropriate variety has been drilled.”There has been a noticeable shift towards early-maturing varieties that, thanks to their ability to Select maize varieties to mitigate risks Simon Montgomery:“Lodging and brackling was an issue in 2024”29cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Producers are being urged to refocus on maize variety selection considerations after two seasons fraught with pollination, lodging and harvesting issues. We spoke to an agronomist to ﬁnd out more.p32 | Check soil health ahead of 2025 season p36 | Early varieties remain integral to UK’s maize-crop success p40 | Weighing up SFI options p42 | Balancing 2024’s maize in winter rationsTEXT PAUL JENNINGS

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30 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025MAIZE MITIGATING RISKsubsequently returning sub-par starch and dry matter yields,” says Mr Montgomery.It paints a fairly gloomy picture, but some crops did perform pretty well all things considered. He says that the main lesson is that, as with any rotation, a lot comes down to luck rather than judgement and that there’ll always be winners and losers in a tricky season.“But one thing growers can do is to ensure they select a suitable variety. The temptation may be to choose a premium variety that offers the promise of an extra 1% or 2% of starch or an extra few kilogrammes of dry matter. Or to save a little money by drilling a variety that sits at the bottom end of the price range. “But if the reward of the extra performance promised by an expensive variety, or the money saved by choosing a bargain-basement variety, is offset by the risk of the crop not performing or not being ready to be harvested at the optimum time, it may be worth reconsidering options.”Where the risk–reward ratio is poor – for example on marginal land in a less than favourable location, or for growers with limited maize-growing experience – Mr Montgomery says that the safer option may be to select a proven all-rounder with no potential weaknesses, instead of one that requires a more speciﬁc set of circumstances for it to perform.‘Do-it-all’ variety“A good ‘do-it-all’ variety, such as Rodriguez, which provides appropriate levels of disease resistance, stays green when ripe, is naturally more resilient to lodging and brackling, and has the potential to do well even in another cool, wet year could be the better option for most growers.“Modern seed-breeding programmes are constantly producing better-performing varieties, but it’s important to remember that not all will be suitable for a speciﬁc set of circumstances,” he adds. “The best course of action is, therefore, to take advice from an experienced maize or forage crop agronomist to ensure a variety is selected that, as far as is possible, will allow producers to mitigate any unfavourable conditions that 2025’s growing season may bring.” |produce excellent starch and dry matter yields within a much shorter growing window compared to older varieties, are able to offset some of the impact of wet spring and autumn conditions.For example, Duke, which is classiﬁed as extremely early thanks to its FAO rating of 140, produced some fantastic crops which were ready to be harvested signiﬁcantly earlier than many early (FAO between 170 and 190) and late varieties (FAO 200+). “However, as the wet autumns of 2023 and 2024 have clearly illustrated, there’s no guarantee that even these very early varieties can be harvested in favourable conditions,” says Mr Montgomery.Waterlogged soilsWhere conditions turned wet at the wrong time, some ready-to-harvest crops were left standing in waterlogged soils and, by the time conditions improved sufﬁciently to allow harvesting, had lost a signiﬁcant amount of green material and were below their optimum feed value.“Duke remains green for longer than many of its competitors, so it wasn’t too badly affected and still went into clamps in good condition,” he says. “But not all varieties have such tolerant genetics. And, in the worst affected areas, some crops were left unharvested in the wettest corners of ﬁelds.” Instances of crops affected by brackling and lodging were also more typical in 2024. “This was the result of a combination of factors,” explains Mr Montgomery. “The wet spring meant plants didn’t put down extensive roots to ﬁnd water, which meant they were more susceptible to lodging when the wet weather returned in the autumn. Windy conditions in October also made plants more susceptible to lodging, particularly those that lacked root mass – either due to the wet spring or poor genetics.”Crops not pollinating fully, and therefore having small or only partially ﬁlled cobs, were also more commonplace in 2024. Some early varieties, which were ﬂowering during a cold snap in June followed by a hot spell in July, were affected the most.“Even varieties at the premium end of the spectrum were affected by this anomaly, with crops Poor pollination: cobs only partially ﬁlled due to 2024’s weather Wet spring: root development was limitedpush up feed efficiency with Pushing up feedDe-facing the clamp02ANAEROBIC CONDITIONSFIBRE DEGRADATIONpHOPTIMISED RUMEN PHMICROBIOTA BALANCEJOIN US ON STAND B114AT DAIRY TECH1CLAMP MANAGEMENT Aim to feed a consistent quality mixed ration every day. If you have two clamps of dierent silage cuts, open both and feed them together. Feed top to bottom of each clamp so there is the same mix of silage in every feed, while at the same time moving across the face in less than 3-4 days, taking partial grabs if needed, to prevent silage quality deteriorating. Using a condition-specic inoculant increases the shelf-life and palatability of silage. three ways to Get more from clamp to cowScan the QR code to nd out more or call our expert team on 07827 228161 for help and advice2RATION PRESENTATION Stimulate cows to access the ration formulated for them throughout the day. Feeding between milkings and not at milking increases feeding bouts and can improve feed eciency by as much as 7%. Feeding twice a day increases the time spent feeding, reduces sorting and leads to higher milk fat. Pushing feed up regularly cuts down on cows waiting to feed, increasing lying times and rumination. 3FEED ADDITIVE CHOICEAdd the rumen-specic live yeast, Levucell SC, to rations to improve rumen function.Levucell SC is proven to both increase feed eciency and consequently milk production by up to 6%. When fed during the dry period it increases dry matter intake and reduces body weight loss post- calving, with positive consquences on fertility - contributing to sustainable milk production. Paying close attention to how cows are fed can make a real dierence to farm eciency, proﬁtability and ultimately sustainability.Mark McFarland, feed additive product manager for UK & Ireland at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, discusses three important areas where you can make a dierence. increases feed efficiency by6%up tolallemandanimalnutrition/en/united-kingdom-ireland Cow Management_LSC Winter Feeding Advertorial_Jan 2025.indd 1Cow Management_LSC Winter Feeding Advertorial_Jan 2025.indd 1 19/12/2024 16:02:5419/12/2024 16:02:54

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push up feed efficiency with Pushing up feedDe-facing the clamp02ANAEROBIC CONDITIONSFIBRE DEGRADATIONpHOPTIMISED RUMEN PHMICROBIOTA BALANCEJOIN US ON STAND B114AT DAIRY TECH1CLAMP MANAGEMENT Aim to feed a consistent quality mixed ration every day. If you have two clamps of dierent silage cuts, open both and feed them together. Feed top to bottom of each clamp so there is the same mix of silage in every feed, while at the same time moving across the face in less than 3-4 days, taking partial grabs if needed, to prevent silage quality deteriorating. Using a condition-specic inoculant increases the shelf-life and palatability of silage. three ways to Get more from clamp to cowScan the QR code to nd out more or call our expert team on 07827 228161 for help and advice2RATION PRESENTATION Stimulate cows to access the ration formulated for them throughout the day. Feeding between milkings and not at milking increases feeding bouts and can improve feed eciency by as much as 7%. Feeding twice a day increases the time spent feeding, reduces sorting and leads to higher milk fat. Pushing feed up regularly cuts down on cows waiting to feed, increasing lying times and rumination. 3FEED ADDITIVE CHOICEAdd the rumen-specic live yeast, Levucell SC, to rations to improve rumen function.Levucell SC is proven to both increase feed eciency and consequently milk production by up to 6%. When fed during the dry period it increases dry matter intake and reduces body weight loss post- calving, with positive consquences on fertility - contributing to sustainable milk production. Paying close attention to how cows are fed can make a real dierence to farm eciency, proﬁtability and ultimately sustainability.Mark McFarland, feed additive product manager for UK & Ireland at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, discusses three important areas where you can make a dierence. increases feed efficiency by6%up tolallemandanimalnutrition/en/united-kingdom-ireland Cow Management_LSC Winter Feeding Advertorial_Jan 2025.indd 1Cow Management_LSC Winter Feeding Advertorial_Jan 2025.indd 1 19/12/2024 16:02:5419/12/2024 16:02:54

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32 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025MAIZE PROTECTING SOILTEXT RHIAN PRICE“Healthy and resilient soils have never been more important, particularly because we are dealing with more extreme weather as a result of climate change.”During a recent webinar hosted by Germinal to mark World Soil Day, Dr McEvoy explained how producers could improve soil health by addressing three fundamental properties that all work together: biological, chemical, and physical.Chemical health“More than 80% of soils lack good chemical soil fertility,” she said. “Yet it is one of the easiest aspects of soil health to measure.”She urged producers to regularly test soils and use the results to check that they are applying ‘the right nutrients at the right amount in the right place and at the right time’.“Lime is the most important and lowest cost fertiliser,” added Dr McEvoy. “It helps correct deﬁciencies and plays a critical role in improving soil health.The optimum soil pH for growing maize crops is 6.5.The optimum pH for grassland is between 6.2 and 6.5, Soil is the most important asset on farms, yet farmers have been overlooking soil health in recent decades. This was the message from Germinal’s Mary McEvoy, who said this has been happening for two reasons: ﬁrst, there is a relative lack of understanding about soils due to the complicated ecosystem it is. Secondly, grass and forage crops, including maize, grow above ground, and producers often don’t see what’s happening below. She added that across England and Wales, four million hectares are at risk of compaction, and a further two million hectares are at risk of erosion. She added that soil degradation costs £1.2bn annually.Regular assessment of soil’s three fundamental properties is key to improving its health and resilience and, of course, optimising fertiliser use and forage yield and quality.Test, testing – one, two, three…Mary McEvoy:“One gramme of soil contains more than one billion bacteria”

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MAIZE PROTECTING SOILand this range increases to between 6.5 and 7 if clover is added.“At these pHs, soil nutrients are most available to the plants. At lower levels, nutrients will become locked up,” she explained. “Rainfall signiﬁcantly impacts lime levels, and up to 625kg of lime per hectare can be lost or ‘washed’ from the soil, depending on rainfall across the year.”Nitrogen also signiﬁcantly impacts lime status: every 1kg of nitrogen applied as CAN or urea requires 2kg of lime to neutralise the fertiliser’s acidifying effect.Biological healthSoil is a living material that hosts around 25% of the planet’s biodiversity. “Soil organic matter is the living or once-living material in the soil, and it’s a source of nutrition for many living organisms. It also improves the structure and health of the soil,” said Dr McEvoy.“One gramme of soil contains more than one billion bacteria, and it’s crucial that we work to maintain the biological activity of soil.”There are several ways to improve organic matter including reducing tillage and applying farmyard manure to stimulate biological activity and increase microbial biomass. Slurry is also beneﬁcial, but releases more ammonia.Increasing pasture diversity by using clover and multispecies also supports soil organic matter, as does crop rotation. SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comDelivers extreme earliness in short growing windows while providing class leading dry matter and starch yieldsAlways ﬁnishes on time!SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comKWS TEMPRANO FAO150A perfect combination!A winner for multi-use production on mainstream sitesKWS REO FAO170KWS PORTABELLO FAO160/170 Delivers excellent starch to drive ruminant productionKWS PASCO FAO170/180Excellent for all modern TMR feeding systems, AD or grain maizePAPAGENO FAO190Your solution for silage, grain or biogas – all in one!Scan the code to download the latest KWS Maize Variety PortfolioKWS Maize Varieties 2025n Dedicated breeding programme for the UK climate, delivering high dry matter and starch yieldsn Outstanding varieties; from ultra early (130 days) through to mainstream and late varietiesn Providing the right variety options for your farm and rationn Excellent choices for forage, grain and biogasSEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comSEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comThe yield champion on favourable sites!Suited for the highest inclusion rates in rations and a clear choice for ADKWS GRANTURISMO FAO2204550 KWS_1:2pageDPS_CowMan.indd 14550 KWS_1:2pageDPS_CowMan.indd 1 05/11/2024 08:5705/11/2024 08:57Forage maize: harvesting in less-than-ideal conditions can impact soil structure

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35cowmanagement NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024better able to sequester carbon and access nutrients.Earthworm counts can be carried out simultaneously, but only adults, identiﬁed by the ‘saddle’ (reproductive organs), should be counted. “There should, ideally, be between 10 and 15 earthworms in each spade of soil dug,” she added.CompactionIt is also important to understand and identify the types of soil texture, because these inﬂuence the workability and ‘trafﬁcability’ of ﬁelds. Traveling on soil at less than ideal times can cause compaction and waterlogging, which negatively impacts worm countsand root structure.“Compaction should be avoided at all costs by limiting trafﬁc at high-risk periods and minimising bare soils,” stressed Dr McEvoy.Where remedial action is required, producers must identify the depth of compaction so they can choose the correct method of mechanical intervention, such as ploughing or aeration, for example.“It’s vital to break the soil pan, and ensure that work goes deeper that just the top soil. It can be all too easy to do more harm than good on compacted ground.”For more on soil health and to watch the webinar in full, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE48GDMpZuI or scan the QR code.“Earthworm counts are a good indicator of biological health,” she said. “These worms mobilise nutrients in the soil and as they burrow in the soil they create channels, increasing air movement and water inﬁltration.“An earthworm can eat its bodyweight in food every day. They feed on decaying plant roots and leaves, soil, manures, nematodes and bacteria. They break these down and recycle them back into the soil. The casts left behind are higher in nutrients than the soil around them. “And we can positively impact earthworm numbers by adding organic matter and optimising soil pH,” she added. Physical attributesTo assess soil’s physical attributes, Dr McEvoy suggested digging three widths of a spade of 20x20x20cm and leave the fourth side undisturbed to observe the proﬁle.Producers can use a visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) card to score root depth, distribution, pore structure, and smell. “This should be carried out when the soil is moist but not wet – ideally during late spring or early autumn. “A healthy soil has a pleasant, earthy smell. A sulphur or rotten egg smell, which indicatesanaerobic activity, indicates a problem.”A greater abundance of roots means that the soil is SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comDelivers extreme earliness in short growing windows while providing class leading dry matter and starch yieldsAlways ﬁnishes on time!SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comKWS TEMPRANO FAO150A perfect combination!A winner for multi-use production on mainstream sitesKWS REO FAO170KWS PORTABELLO FAO160/170 Delivers excellent starch to drive ruminant productionKWS PASCO FAO170/180Excellent for all modern TMR feeding systems, AD or grain maizePAPAGENO FAO190Your solution for silage, grain or biogas – all in one!Scan the code to download the latest KWS Maize Variety PortfolioKWS Maize Varieties 2025n Dedicated breeding programme for the UK climate, delivering high dry matter and starch yieldsn Outstanding varieties; from ultra early (130 days) through to mainstream and late varietiesn Providing the right variety options for your farm and rationn Excellent choices for forage, grain and biogasSEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comSEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856www.kws-uk.comThe yield champion on favourable sites!Suited for the highest inclusion rates in rations and a clear choice for ADKWS GRANTURISMO FAO2204550 KWS_1:2pageDPS_CowMan.indd 14550 KWS_1:2pageDPS_CowMan.indd 1 05/11/2024 08:5705/11/2024 08:57

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36 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025MAIZE CLIMATECHANGE POINTERSTEXT PHILIP WINSTANLEYplastic, and weather analysis suggests that, on average, this has been achieved during the past 10 years.“In fact, the average for East Anglia during the past 30 years has been 1,390 MHU and even in the East and North East regions of the UK it has been 1,136 MHU, with this increasing by between 10 and 15 MHU each year during the past 10 years,” explains Ms Pick. “Three years out of the past 10 have actually seen in excess of 1,400 MHU, on average.”Sunshine hoursLooking at 2024, the average for the UK still exceeded 1,300 MHU. “But this is misleading in terms of the year’s potential to drive maize yields and forage quality. It was actually a wet and cold year, with one of the coolest summers since 2015 and some of the wettest months recorded, particularly during the key maize-growing period.”Rainfall persisted throughout the summer and when it was dry there was heavy cloud cover. “In the critical May-to-September period, overall sunshine hours were actually down 3.4% against the 30-year average,” says Ms Pick.“High rainfall also led to soil nutrient leaching, which impacted crop development. Many growers used bagged fertiliser or foliar feeding to optimise yields.”Met ofﬁce data for the past 30 years shows temperatures increasing steadily, meaning there’s a greater number of heat units available for maize production. So why are breeders so ﬁxed on producing varieties for the UK that require fewer heat units with potentially less yield?“A warming climate should mean we can start using more productive, later maturing maize types and beneﬁt from the resulting higher yields,” says Grainseed’s Emily Pick. “But that’s not the case in the UK.“The UK’s climate trend can be seen in the past three decades of weather data, but what it fails to show is what’s happening in individual years,” she adds.Forage maize requires a minimum of 1,200 maize heat units (MHU) between May and September for the earliest varieties to reach full maturity, without growing under Global warming is reducing the popularity of ‘heat-loving’ maize varieties in the UK. We spoke to two forage maize specialists to ﬁnd out why.Emily Pick:“Early varieties remain the best option for UK growers”Early maize dominates, despite climate change

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All things considered after the dicult growing season, Shropshire-based farmer Mark Fitton is pleased with how his maize silage has turned out.Yields might have been down compared with his bumper 28-30 t/acre 2023 maize crop, but Mark Fitton is pleased with his 2024 maize silage.After the season’s high rainfall and lack of heat, the decision to harvest his maize when there was a break in the weather at the start of October proved a good one.Although land was wetter than ideal, cobs were ripe and the leaves were still green – a factor that is important for digestibility. “We had a decent crop given the year and the weather,” says Mark, who milks 250 Procross Swedish Red x Montbéliarde x Holsteins near Whitchurch. “It was ripe. It was early. And the timing of harvest was bang on.“The tonnage was down on what it should be. I reckon we averaged about 23 t/acre. I’m not complaining, but we want at least 25 t/acre on our land if we have the weather. So I’m being careful about how much maize I feed. I don’t want to run out.”Less wasteAs well as trying a packer roller to aid clamp consolidation, 2024 also saw the additive Ecocool used for the ﬁrst time to conserve the farm’s maize silage. A dual-acting additive, research has shown Ecocool to both reduce fermentation dry matter (DM) losses and DM losses caused by aerobic spoilage (heating).“I’m very impressed with Ecocool. There’s very little waste. In previous years I’ve always had to scrape some waste o the top. I can’t fault it. The silage stays cool. Normally it goes bad so quickly.” Mark adds.An early analysis revealed the maize silage to be 33.8% DM, 11.3 ME, 72.1% D value and 28.6% starch. With the tonnage potentially tight, a 50/50 ratio of maize silage to grass silage is ““I’m very impressed with Ecocool. There’s very little waste,” says Mark FittonFollow the maize – how is it feeding?being fed in the TMR, along with a protein blend. This compares with some years when maize inclusion can reach 60% or 70%.Although milk yields are slightly down, Mark partly attributes this to the dicult growing season also impacting the grass silage crops. However, with some milk sold into the powdered market, it is not only about litres; milk solids are also key. “The cows are doing 5.4% butterfat and 3.7% protein which are both very good, and about 25 litres/cow/day. Ideally we want to be at 27 litres, but the more litres, the more the fat and protein would drop anyway. So it’s swings and roundabouts,” Mark adds.Maize preparationsPreparing for the 2025 maize crop, soil testing will be carried out in January or February ready for potash application, with maize seed ordered in February. A new slurry separator is also being installed on the farm, which will provide plenty of solid muck for the maize, Mark notes.

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38 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025MAIZE CLIMATECHANGE POINTERSand the change from one to another can occur quickly. This is a challenge for growers and breeders alike.“Drought is a particular issue for maize crops and we’ve have been selecting hybrids with developmental characteristics that minimise the impact of low water availability.”The company’s ‘Hydro Master’ and ‘Cactus’ ranges comprise water-efﬁcient maize hybrids, for example, and these varieties have proved popular. “But we have also been looking at ways of combining improved earliness with high yields,” adds Mr Ducreux.The result is Hi Corn options that combine two hybrid varieties with complementary earliness to increase the number of days for pollination and, therefore, reduce the risk of hot weather impacting the viability of the pollen and ultimately yields. He adds that many countries are able to use their warmer weather conditions to grow even-later-maturing varieties. “For grain-maize production we are primarily breeding varieties with FAOs between 350 and 450, which are in high demand in France and the southern regions of Europe.“But our breeding priorities for the UK are different, with a target FAO range of between 150 and 200 exclusively for silage.”Rotational ﬁt Grainseed’s Neil Groom says that rotation ‘ﬁt’ is another key reason why early-maturing varieties will continue their dominance in the UK.Early and ultra-early maize have seen performance improvements in recent years, with names like Faith and Myrdal more than capable of matching the yields of established, later maturing high yielders, but with higher starch yields and energy. “As well as providing more reliable crops, they have also opened up a greater area of the UK where maize can realistically be grown. This means that producers can grow and access the best quality forage for their herds,” he says.“An early maturing variety also offers producers more options when it comes to reseeding for grassland in the autumn or getting a cover crop drilled in time to work to its best advantage.“And maize is increasingly seen as an attractive break crop for arable and mixed farms. The earlier the maize matures, the greater the options for what follows next in the rotation and the less risk there is of potential soil damage.“Earlier varieties also give wider parts of the UK the opportunity to take maize through to full maturity for grain production, and that is deﬁnitely an area we saw increase in 2024.“While on the face of it our warming climate should favour later maturing varieties in the future, there are many compelling reasons why early varieties will continue to be the mainstay of UK maize production. So it’s little wonder they remain the key focus of breeders,” adds Mr Groom.“As the UK continues to feel the impact of climate change, crop resilience is becoming increasingly important. Earlier maize will always have the upper hand with regard to this compared to later-maturing varieties.” |While overnight temperatures in May helped increase early season MHU accumulation, in reality only July experienced more MHU’s than the long-term average, with the key months for accumulating yield and starch being below average.“There were many extremes of weather during 2024 and these conditions, and the swings between them, are increasingly becoming more important than traditional temperature accumulation.“Earlier varieties, those typically in maturity groups 8 and above or with FAOs less than 200, require fewer heat units to reach maturity,” explains Ms Pick. “So these are the best option when growing maize in seasons with signiﬁcant weather changes.”Early-maturing varieties are more resilient than those in maturity group 8 or below or above 200 FAO, and more able to cope with growth checks created by episodes of adverse weather.“In most seasons these early varieties will still reach maturity within an acceptable growing period,” adds Ms Pick. “Later-maturing varieties still have a role to play in more favourable areas, but with these can also be impacted by sudden and often extreme weather changes and are becoming an increasingly risky option.”UK requirementsAccording to maize breeder Remi Ducreux, from Lidea in France, the UK’s requirements are somewhat at odds with the rest of Europe, where high yields and high FAOs are the priority in most countries.Lidea markets more than 100 high-performance maize varieties, and climate change is very much on the company’s breeding agenda. “In addition to global warming, growers across the world are dealing with increasingly diverse and problematic weather conditions,” says Mr Ducreux.“These range from excessive rainfall to drought stress, Self pollination: plastic bags transfer male pollen from the tassel and cover the female maize ear Neil Groom:“Earlier maize will always have the upper hand in the UK”Limagrain Field SeedsDUKE FORAGE MAIZEThe quality ultra early maize variety with a touch of class!lgseeds.co.uk/dukeCONSISTENT HIGH-QUALITY AND Wayne Bean, Newcastle upon TyneLGAN Accredited

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40 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025MAIZE SCHEME OPTIONSTEXT WENDY SHORTpollution and low nutrient retention. “That said, achieving an early harvest has been challenging during the past few years,” says Mr Turner. “A late harvest can leave a very narrow window for sowing a cover crop mix. So close attention should be paid to site and maize-variety selection, matching choices to suit the individual farm situation. This will load the dice in producers’ favour, greatly increasing their chances of success.”Early varietiesHe adds that early or short-season maize hybrids offer ﬂexibility for many producers because they can require as little as 130 days to reach the point of maturity, compared with an estimated 150 days for mainstream varieties. “And early varieties have the potential to equal, or even exceed, mainstream variety performance.”Mr Turner sets out the guidelines for the SOH4 and CSAM2 (multi-species winter-cover crop) options.“Some maize growers may prefer the higher-paying SOH4 option, at £203 per hectare per year. Producers have the choice of either continuing with an existing companion crop programme or planting a winter-cover crop following maize harvest.“If a companion crop is sown alongside maize crops at the six-leaf stage, it is important to minimise physical damage to the vulnerable young plants,” he adds. There are Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme options that could slot in well for maize growers. But their impact on overall productivity, as well as the three-year commitment that applies to most of the schemes, means careful evaluation is required by producers before any commitments are made.So says KWS’ Tom Turner, adding that the SOH4 (winter cover following maize crops) element of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme has many of the features outlined in the SW5 option in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. “It is based on cover crop establishment post maize harvest, or maintaining a previously established companion crop, with an aim for mid-October establishment,” he explains.As a post-harvest sowing option, SOH4 relies on early maize cutting, in order to achieve favourable establishment for the following crop. It has been introduced to mitigate the issues of bare soils during the winter, to reduce the risk of soil erosion, water Several Sustainable Farming Incentive options could be a good ﬁt for maize rotations on dairy units. An agronomist weighs up the pros and cons.Tom Turner:“There are also options to fund professional advice”Grab SFI opportunities when growing maize

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“On mixed farms, which include an arable rotation and traditionally plant a winter cereal crop for July/August harvest, the CSAM2 option offers £129 per hectare per year. It represents an opportunity to protect soil during the winter and provide a good entry for maize in the spring.”Further considerationsTwo other options within SFI are also worth considering. PRF1 (variable rate application of nutrients) covers maize, with a payment of £27 per hectare per year. And PRF2 is for camera or remote-sensor-guided herbicide spraying, offering £43 per hectare per year. “These options should produce a return on investment, even after a contractor fee is included, and are worth a look,” says Mr Turner.The options to fund professional advice also have the potential to beneﬁt dairy businesses. “Producers can include CNUM1 in their agreement. It comes with a £652 annual payment for a FACTS-qualiﬁed adviser to review the farm’s nutrient management programme. The aim is to support the targeted and efﬁcient use of fertiliser, including slurries and manures, to meet crop requirements and promote good soil health. “And producers can also take up the CIPM1 integrated pest management (IPM) plan option, which comes with £1,129 in annual support for bringing in a BASIS qualiﬁed adviser. This option is particularly applicable to producers with multiple crops in the rotation,” he says.Mr Turner also urges producers in high-risk areas of the 41cowmanagement JANUARY 2025● SOH4 – post-harvest winter cover option.● CSAM2 – post-harvest option for stitching in or establishing a multi-species seed mix (originally called SAM2).● PRF1 – variable-rate nutrient application for maize. ● PRF2 – camera or remote-sensor-guided herbicide spraying.● CNUM1 – nutrient management review.● CIPM1 – IPM plan.SFI options:country to be vigilant against pests, particularly where they adopt min-till techniques that leave maize residues. “The 2024 season saw an increased risk of maize-crop damage due to the European corn borer, an insect pest that can cause devastation to maize crops in the worst-case scenario. Even a mild infestation will depress yields.” This pest was ﬁrst recorded in UK crops in 2010 and populations have, typically, been conﬁned to Devon, Dorset and Kent. “But signs of crop damage were also spotted in Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire in 2024,” he adds.The insect leaves a series of small holes in the maize stem, and closer inspection will reveal a sawdust-like residue. Resulting stem damage can lead to snapping. “The main preventative measure for tackling corn borer is to destroy and thoroughly bury trash, as it is an overwintering environment for larvae. Leaving maize stubble is a high-risk factor in some parts of the country.” |

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42 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025MAIZE BALANCING RATIONSTEXT PHIL EADES“The growing season has certainly impacted many crops,” says Ms Bonnick. “While the average analysis is similar to recent years, we are seeing a greater proportion of poorer forages, indicating some feeding challenges. But regular analysis during the season will allow nutritionists to compensate for this by ﬁne-tuning diets.”Dry matterThe average dry matter of maize silages sampled is down 3% compared to 2023, at 30.7%, with fewer, drier silages (see Figure 1). Ms Bonnick says maize silages typically average between 33% and 34% dry matter (DM) and this year’s reduced level shows that younger, less mature crops have been harvested. “The lower dry matter will have an impact on inclusion rates in diets and management of forage stocks during the winter,” she says. “The slightly lower digestibility and higher NDF content must also be considered when formulating winter rations.”Average starch levels are marginally improved at 28.4%. The range of data shows fewer high starch crops were harvested and ensiled in 2024 compared to 2023, which is another indication of immature crops. Ms Bonnick explains that starch in maize is digested in The consequences of 2024’s challenging maize-growing season will be an issue throughout the winter-feeding period, but can be managed by paying close attention to the ration and, particularly, energy sources.According to Trouw Nutrition GB, the results of the 2024 maize silages it analysed clearly demonstrate the effect that the growing season had on feed quality. While many good forages have been made, there is greater variability than usual and this indicates that careful balancing will be required.Trouw Nutrition’s Nacia Bonnick says that many maize crops were drilled later in 2024 – a consequence of the wet spring. This, combined with the cooler summer, increased the risk of a higher proportion of immature crops being harvested, or of a delayed harvest.Diets containing maize silage will need careful monitoring this winter, not least due to its poorer quality – the result of a dicult growing season in 2024.Fine-tune rations to make more from maizeNacia Bonnick:“Maize-silage clamps must be analysed at least monthly”

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in the small intestine,” she explains. “Too little bypass starch means there will be a shortage of energy for glucose production which, in turn, drives milk yield. But too much bypass starch in the diet runs the risk of hindgut acidosis and of undigestible starch passing through the cow, which is wasted energy.“The only way producers can maximise the value of maize silage and optimise the diet is to analyse clamps at least monthly, so they know the actual quality of maize being fed and can balance it correctly. The time invested in taking samples will be far outweighed by the beneﬁts of a more precise ration.”Monitor clampsFinally, she urges producers to monitor clamps for signs of mould, as many crops will be at increased risk of mycotoxins this winter. “Although mycotoxin challenges can be difﬁcult to quantify, the effects can be detrimental to milk yield and performance,” says Ms Bonnick. “Feeding a mycotoxin binder, like Selko Toxo, as standard practice in diets containing maize silage will help minimise the risk.” |two ways. A proportion of the starch is rumen degraded, which contributes to the energy supply required by the rumen microbes, while the balance is bypass starch that is digested in the intestines. “With typical dry matter silages, starch degradability increases with time in the clamp, pushing up the proportion that is rumen degraded,” she says. “This is due to the action of fermentation acids breaking down the protein matrix surrounding starch granules, making them more readily accessible by rumen bacteria.“As a result, those crops at between 33% and 34% DM will need regular monitoring to ensure diets are balanced to reﬂect the more available energy and allow steps to be taken to mitigate any acidosis risk.”Given the notable range in maize silage dry matters this year, Ms Bonnick expects there will be signiﬁcant variability in starch degradation within clamps this winter. Acid load“Initial starch degradability is slightly higher this year that, combined with increased levels of fermentable carbohydrates, results in a greater acid load than in 2023. Acid load is an indication of how feeds may impact the rumen and can be used in conjunction with ﬁbre index to optimise rumen health. “High acid load can indicate potential issues with rumen health, but the higher ﬁbre index, a consequence of higher NDF, should reduce problems,” she adds. “The good news is that this year’s maize should complement this year’s grass silages.”Maize silage ME has remained static and the trend in increasing NDF contents seen during the past three years has continued, with NDF in the dry matter increasing by 2.1% (see Table 1). However lignin levels have reduced, reﬂected in slightly higher energy content shown by an increase in dynamic net energy (DyNE) – the energy actually available to the cow for milk production – highlighting the need to use additional parameters in forage analysis to get the most from the crop.“This is good news for producers and nutritionists,” adds Ms Bonnick. “By rationing to DyNE and accounting for the higher propionate yield from the increased fermentable carbohydrates in this year’s maize, producers can utilise more of the energy coming from maize silage.”She adds that when including maize silage in diets it’s vital to avoid overloading the rumen with starch to minimise the risk of acidosis. “The increased energy availability may allow cost savings, particularly as starch degradability increases. Regularly reviewing rations will allow this opportunity to be realised.”Ensuring the rumen microbes have a continuous source of energy will also ensure that microbial protein yield is optimised. If the rumen microbes are satisﬁed then rumen efﬁciency will increase, which will encourage higher dry matter intakes.Ms Bonnick adds that the inclusion of slowly fermentable carbohydrates, such as rolled cereals or maize grain, may be necessary to maintain performance, particularly as starch degradability increases, which leads to a reduction in the proportion of bypass starch.“A degree of bypass starch is important as it is required 43cowmanagement JANUARY 20252022 2023 2024average average averagedry matter (%) 33.9 33.6 30.7crude protein (% DM) 7.9 7.9 7.9D value (%) 72.4 69.9 70.9ME (MJ/kgDM) 11.4 11.0 11.1starch (% DM) 35.0 27.8 28.4starch degradability (%) 77.5 79.7 80.8bypass starch (g/kgDM) 77.6 55.4 53.5NDF (% DM) 38.8 40.0 42.1lignin (g/kgDM) 23.2 40.1 34.2pH 3.8 4.0 3.9rapidly fermentable carbohydrates (g/kgDM)212.7 205.6 209.7total fermentable carbohydrate (g/kgDM)510.6 498.3 504.7DyNE (MJ/kgDM) 6.9 6.5 6.7Table 1: Maize silage analysis 2022-2024 (source: TNGB)Figure 1: Maize silage dry matter distribution in 2023 & 2024 -500501001502002503000 10 20 30 40 50 60sample numbersdry matter (%)2024 2023

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44 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025New venue, new programmeThis year’s National Youngstock Conference will be held on July 16 at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre. The third National Youngstock Conference (NYC), held in July 2024 in Exeter, was a resounding success, attracting close to 400 producer, vet and trade delegates. They travelled from across the UK to listen to leading dairy and beef professionals share a wealth of knowledge and expertise on calf and heifer rearing. Sell-out eventAnd demand for tickets was such that there was a waiting list, just as there was in 2023. The packed one-day programme, which ﬁlled two lecture halls, delivered 17 technical presentations to a sell-out audience. The event also included 40 trade stands, which offered delegates the opportunity to network, catch up with conference speakers, and ﬁnd out more about the latest products and services on offer.Moving the NYC to Birmingham allows the organiser, CowManagement, to realise its long-term plan of alternating the event between a base in the southwest and a central/northern venue.The NYC will be chaired, again, by the event’s clinical director Tim Potter, and will also involve other leading dairy and beef industry professionals. Discussion forumProviding a forum for producers, vets, researchers and other dairy and beef professionals, the NYC aims to promote best practice and facilitate the exchange of ideas relevant to all stages of youngstock rearing.The event’s ‘actionable insights’ competition will be repeated this year. Delegates are encouraged to make notes about the key things they’ve learned during the day and plan to put into action when back on farm. For further information and to book tickets please scan the QR codeThis year’s National Youngstock Conference is moving to a new venue where it will, once again, oer a wealth of technical information for all delegates, regardless of rearing system, or level of experience or expertise. RevivaThe orange energyboost for recoveryafter calvingtrouwnutrition.co.uk Platinum sponsors Birmingham’s National Conference CentreJuly 16, 2025RevivaThe orange energyboost for recoveryafter calvingtrouwnutrition.co.ukNATIONAL YOUNGSTOCK CONFERENCE EVENT LAUNCH

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HERD HEALTH WINTER HOUSINGBoehringer Ingelheim Animal Health vet adviser Peter Howard shares some timely calf-care pointers to keep health and welfare on track this winter.Top tips for winter calf-rearing periodThe winter housing period offers producers greater control across all elements of the herd environment and, with careful planning and attention to detail, is an opportunity to also improve calf health and welfare.Common neonatal calf diseases, including rotavirus and cryptosporidiosis, are picked up from the calving environment and the cows. Although navel dipping calves with a suitable product can help prevent some infections being transferred via this route, producers are unable to control what the calf puts in its mouth while it remains with its dam. This leaves the calf open to many of the pathogens. So maintaining scrupulous levels of hygiene with stocking densities kept as low as possible in the calving area are essential. Four QsColostrum is important too. It is vital to provide newborn calves with sufﬁcient colostrum within a speciﬁc timeframe. Ideally, 10% of the calf’s bodyweight should be fed within two to four hours of birth, followed by another similar feed within 12 hours. Delivering this efﬁciently means looking at the goals of colostrum feeding together with the source of colostrum and hygiene around harvesting and feeding colostrum. The four Qs – Quickly, Quantity, Quality and sQueaky clean – are a helpful reminder and following them is key to success.Looking to nutrition, producers must remember that feed efﬁciency is at its highest during the milk-feeding period, which not only helps calves reach their growth potential but also supports their immune systems, enabling them to thrive and survive pathogen challenge. Consistent feeding times and milk temperature, coupled with scrupulous cleanliness, are essential during the milk-feeding phase.When it comes to the calf environment, areas to focus on include hygiene, ventilation, moisture and temperature. Good hygiene means clean and dry bedding, washing feeding equipment thoroughly with warm water and detergent to remove bioﬁlm, and changing teats regularly. Optimal ventilation provides fresh air and removes moisture while avoiding draughts. Natural ventilation relies on the stack effect but young calves do not produce enough heat to create this in calf housing. It is still important to have adequate air inlets but draughts must be avoided in order to maintain temperature. Positive pressure ventilation can help with airﬂow.Wet bedding creates an environment for pathogens to thrive. Excess moisture can also lower calf temperature, which means they divert energy to keep warm and this impacts their growth and immunity.The lower critical temperature (LCT) for a calf under Deep bedding: straw should be clean and drythree weeks old is between 10°C and 15°C (air-speed dependent) so calves need to be fed an extra 50g of milk replacer, or 0.33l of whole milk per day, for each 5°C drop below 15°C. For calves older than three weeks of age, LCT is between 6°C and 10°C (again air-speed dependent) and the same increase in feeding level is required for every 5°C drop below 10°C. Preventing draughts, and using calf jackets or external heat sources, can help to reduce the impact of low temperatures.45cowmanagement JANUARY 2025The Bovalto Respi range of vaccines is easy to integrate into calf-rearing systems, and a beneﬁt of using intranasal and injectable vaccines from the same Bovalto range is that calves show a boosted immune response. Calves can be given Bovalto Respi Intranasal from 10 days of age, followed by Bovalto® Respi 3 injections from nine and 12 weeks old. A booster at six months old, or ahead of speciﬁc risk periods such as housing, can further prolong immunity. Using Bovalto Intranasal as the ﬁrst step in a vaccine programme, followed by a full primary course of Bovalto Respi 3, gives rapid onset of immunity as well as extended protection.

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INDUSTRY OUTLOOK FORAGE 202546 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Independent dairy consultant Paul Robinson underlines why making early preparations for silage making will be key in 2025, after two challenging years.Prepare for an early start to silagingFor the second year in a row, there has been no consistency in grass silage quality. So, with 2025’s season just a few months away now is the time to ask what lessons can be learned. Unpredictable weather patterns may be here to stay, so how can producers better prepare for another potentially challenging season? The weather, farm location and soil type cannot be controlled, but producers can, to some extent, inﬂuence the timing of cuts – if they are well prepared in advance of the season.Grass silage analysis results show the beneﬁts of being prepared to cut silage earlier in the season. It’s no coincidence that producers who were ready to go early with ﬁrst-cut silage – at the end of April or early in May – are those feeding better quality silage this year. The past two years show that producers who delayed taking ﬁrst cut made wet, high-ﬁbre, and poorer quality silages. Producers should look at taking advantage of an early weather-window opportunity, if and when it arises – and that may be earlier than expected.Start nowSo getting ready to go early starts now. Ensure fertiliser and slurry are applied early enough, if conditions allow, because leaving it until April will reduce yield potential.The difference between making good- and poor-quality silage – and something that is certainly inﬂuenced by how soon ﬁrst cut is taken – is more milk in the tank. Talking purely in energy terms, 1MJ of ME is worth an extra couple of litres of milk per cow.Early start: planning is key to mitigating weather challengesUsing the correct inoculant, to ensure quick fermentation and to produce good-quality silage, also helps when it comes to maximising milk from forage. Using a condition-speciﬁc inoculant compared to a ‘one size ﬁts all’ product is vital.Inoculant selectionSelecting an inoculant that has been speciﬁcally formulated for speciﬁc silaging conditions – wet or dry – will support producers looking to take greater control of silage quality, despite weather challenges. Another area to focus on in 2025 is soil management. Soil contamination has been a signiﬁcant problem, not only as a result of weather winter conditions but also from issues between cuts caused by wet weather. These show up as high ash levels when silage is analysed. As part of efforts to be ready to go early with silage, tackle any mole issues and wheel ruts from the previous year.Producers also need to ask themselves if they are re-seeding frequently enough. Regular reseeding will result in more vigorous grass growth, particularly early in the season. Cutting grass silage more frequently can also be beneﬁcial. Some of the most efﬁcient producers are cutting grass every four weeks, and the quality they are gaining offsets any additional costs. Increasing the number of cuts made each season by just one cut can make a signiﬁcant difference to silage yields and quality. |

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48 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025TEXT RACHAEL PORTERhe’s still up there – he’s got staying power. So I will be using him again,” adds James.Bomaz Platt is a new entry in fourth position, having graduated from the genomic young sire list with a PLI of £779. Just one point behind, Hul-Stein Cowboy climbs into ﬁfth place (PLI £778) with strong udder health features (-28 SCC, -3 mastitis). Moving from just outside the top 10 and into sixth place is Winstar Graziano (PLI £762), a bull with high milk fat (+0.34%) and good daughter fertility (12.5). “But neither Cowboy or Graziano make it onto my list. They’re OK for type, but they don’t blow me away – there are better sires to ﬁt our herd on the list,” he says.Stand-out sireIt’s not until tenth-place sire Denovo 16219 Aladdin that James’ interest is piqued again. Aladdin holds this joint position with Denovo 14744 Ginetta, with PLIs of £722 and £723 respectively. Both offer strong production credentials, but James is drawn to Aladdin’s +14 for SCC and +1.43 for type merit. “He stands out a little more for me and I’ll be looking at him a little more closely.”Milk-solids improver, Bomaz Kettle, has climbed to the top of the Holstein daughter-proven proﬁtable lifetime index rankings, published in December by AHDB. And though he’s clearly an impressive sire, boasting among the highest milk components in the breed ranking, Lancashire-based breeder James Tomlinson says he fails to make his wish list. This son of De-Su 14222 Kenobi stands out for his combined fat and protein of 93.6kg, which is backed by +0.29% fat and +0.21% protein. Now with 208 UK milking daughters and many more internationally, his proﬁtable lifetime index (PLI) has risen to £847. So it’s certainly ‘full steam ahead’ for many producers. “But he’s minus on fertility and type, so there’s no way I’d use him,” says James. He is considering Genosource Captain, who drops into second position, with an updated PLI of £799. “Our old friend Captain is still hanging about and I am giving him a second look now,” says James. This sire has 1,274 UK daughters that have help earn him the accolade of being the highest milk transmitter in the top 20, now with a predicted transmitting ability (PTA) of 1,235kg. “That’s an incredible ﬁgure – not to be ignored. And he also has positive fertility, but I still have an issue with some of his other traits. So I’ll mull him over some more.”Established bullWestcoast River, an established bull at the top of the £PLI rankings and now ranking third with a PLI £782, remains James’ favourite on the list. “I’ve already used him. He’s a good ﬁt for our herd – an all-out winner. And I have calves by him due in early 2025.”River is one of the best health transmitters for the breed, with a HealthyCow index of £326, not least due to superb udder health (-34 SCC, -4 mastitis). “And We ﬁnd out which sires caught the eye of renowned pedigree breeder and two-time NMR/RABDF Gold Cup ﬁnalist James Tomlinson, as he makes his top selections from the latest bull-proof rankings.Staying power and British breedingBREEDING BULL PROOFSJames Tomlinson:“It’s great to see a British sire in the ranking”Eye-catching sire: Genus’ Denovo 16219 Aladdin

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49cowmanagement JANUARY 2025James also has an eye on Plain-Knoll Renegad Trooper, in eleventh place. He offers 756kg of milk and is +4.3 for fertility, with 2.29 for type merit. “He’s one to watch and check out in more depth. I’ll be making some enquiries.”Looking to the Holstein genomic rankings, James notes that there are ﬁve Leeds sons in the top 10. “That’s unusual, so he must be an exceptional sire – there’s no doubt about that.”Genomic leaderFormer top-10 sire, Denovo 20893 Harmony, has edged his way into the number-one position, and is the ﬁrst of ﬁve sons of Denovo 2776 Leeds. With a genomic PLI of £928, Harmony excels for production, with a PTA of 1,109kg milk, and 57kg (0.13%) fat and 41.8kg (0.05%) protein. “But, despite that, he’s not a sire for me. I’m looking for higher type.”The new entrant in second place is T-Spruce Denovo Zest, a paternal half-brother of number-one sire Harmony. Zest transmits good udder health (-14 SCC, -1 mastitis), a high lameness advantage of 2.8 and a PLI of £920. He also has the equal highest type merit of the top 20 bulls at 1.24. “And that’s why he’s a strong ‘maybe’ for me. I’m thinking about him – he’s my kind of bull.”Sixth-position Cogent B Advantage, with a PLI of £890, is the next sire to leap out of the list for James. He offers exceptional daughter fertility (13.1) and high overall health, giving him one of the top indexes for HealthyCow of the breed at £251. “He’s interesting. His fertility is the highest in the top 10 – it’s outstanding. And he’s also a Cogent sire, which is a big tick for me. He’s out of a Larcrest cow and from the Northern Ireland-based Boghill herd – he has a good pedigree.“And it’s great to see a British sire in the ranking – it takes something special to get on the list. So, yes, I’m going to buy some straws.” |TABLE 1: Top 20 Holstein sires ranked on proﬁtable lifetime index (£PLI) December 2024£HC = HealthyCowname siresupplier GB/NIkg milkkg fatkg protein% fat% protein£PLI£PLI Rel%SCClifespanfertility£HCfeed advantageenvirocowtype meritproven siresBomaz KettleKenobiGEN 665 52.6 41 0.29 0.21 847 88 -10 73 -2.4 58 144 4.5 -0.5Genosource CaptainCharlCBL 1235 49.4 35.6 0 -0.06 799 96 3 92 5 146 274 4.3 2.08Westcoast RiverGuaranteeSMX 745 31.8 28.4 0.02 0.04 782 95 -34 128 12.5 326 57 3.1 1.33Bomaz PlattPrinceGEN 518 46.6 31.5 0.29 0.16 779 85 -22 82 13.5 172 57 3.5 0.68Hul-Stein CowboyCrimsonCBL 709 48.9 28.5 0.22 0.05 778 82 -28 92 6.3 194 108 3.5-0.48Winstar GrazianoAltazazzleSMX 352 43.7 23.5 0.34 0.13 762 78 -25 104 12.5 230 103 3.4-0.55Fb Kenobi TargaryenKenobiGEN 933 30 41.2-0.080.11 750 92 -30 104 -1.2 138 89 3.6 0.67Progenesis WimbledonAltarobsonSMX 129 32.5 23.9 0.32 0.23 741 92 -21 95 19.1 278 -50 2.6 0.16Denovo 14744 GinettaGuaranteeGEN 968 49.2 38.8 0.11 0.07 723 95 -6 49 4.2 86 18 3.3 -0.19Denovo 16219 AladdinAcuraGEN 961 50.5 36.1 0.13 0.05 722 83 14 61 0 44 164 3.9 1.43genomic siresDenovo 20893 Harmony Leeds X Modelo GEN1109 57 41.8 0.13 0.05 66 -6 113 928 2.3 120 300 5.2 0.04T-Spruce Denovo Zest Leeds X Gameday GEN976 56.7 38.4 0.19 0.06 66 -14 110 920 3.3 176 205 4.7 1.24Denovo 20723 Columbia Leeds X Lift O GEN1187 51.1 42.2 0.03 0.03 66 -16 110 902 2.7 159 245 4.8 1.06Denovo 20771 Segment Leeds X Mendel GEN100554.2 37.6 0.15 0.05 66 -9 140 901 4.9 188 203 4.7 1.24Badger Siemers Day Trip Sheepster X Upside WWS960 49 33.6 0.11 0.02 66 -20 180 895 5.2 225 228 4.7-0.03Cogent B Advantage Altaalanzo X Captain CBL853 40.2 36.6 0.06 0.09 66 -9 137 890 13.1 251 167 4.3 0.66Denovo 20668 Hierarchy Venom X Mendel GEN864 58 33.6 0.25 0.05 66 -18 110 879 7.2 199 138 4.2 1.23Badger Ssi Elvin Penarol Elvin X Rashan WWS755 56.2 32.9 0.28 0.09 66 -9 122 873 5.5 177 188 4.5 0.58Winstar Reggie Heisman X Mendel GEN627 47.8 28 0.25 0.08 66 -16 131 864 7.2 217 280 4.5 0.78Bomaz Lambert P Leeds X Mendel GEN1281 50 40.6-0.02 -0.0266 -7 110 862 5.5 142 245 4.6 0.13Top pick: World Wide Sires’ Plain-Knoll Renegad Trooper

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50IMPROVE HERD MOBILITY WITH STRIDEcowmanagement JANUARY 2025environments as cow-centric as possible to reduce both infectious and non-infectious causes of compromised mobility. Areas to consider include:● Keep passageways clean. More frequent removal of slurry will reduce the time cows are standing in conditions conducive to possible hoof infection, and reduce the impact of moisture on foot condition.● Improve cow ﬂow. Are cows able to move round buildings easily with minimal risk of slipping? Are passageway surfaces in good condition or do they post a risk of damaging hoof horn? Can turning areas be made less of a hazard, perhaps by using rubber matting? Can cows return to lying areas quickly, reducing standing times?● Get cows o their feet. Cows need to be lying down for at least 12, or ideally 14-plus, hours per day. As well as boosting milk production, this reduces the risk of sole bruising and minimises solar ulceration. Check for: ● Adequate lying space in straw yards ● At least 1.1 cubicles per cow ● Cubicles are the correct size and design to allow cows to lie down and stand easily, with minimal risk of injury ● Bedding areas adequately bedded, whatever material is usedPrevention better than cureTo help reduce foot problems when herds are housed, producers should implement strict ‘routine’ protocols for regular foot bathing, mobility scoring and foot trimming. All are required to optimise hoof health, so set targets, and react – measure, manage and monitor.The Stride national mobility survey, carried out in the ﬁrst half of 2024, was established to identify pinch points and improvement opportunities for foot health and mobility. Of particular interest was the inﬂuence of housing system and whether any setups were identiﬁably better or worse in terms of their impact on hoof health.The survey showed that levels of hoof health issues were not signiﬁcantly inﬂuenced by housing system, with many producers experiencing signiﬁcant mobility challenges both in cubicles with a variety of bedding material, and straw yards.This may reﬂect similar levels of investment in footbaths and trimming crushes, with producers appreciating the need for routine intervention to maintain better foot health.No real system eectThere was no dierence in the types of problems being faced. Digital dermatitis, sole ulcers and white line disease were reported across all housing systems. Interestingly, the length of time cows were housed each year had no marked eect the types of problems seen.The survey results suggest that routine foot care increases during housing, with a higher proportion of cows footbathed when they are housed for a greater proportion of the year. This may be because it is easier to carry out footbathing, or because it is felt that housed cows needed more frequent footbathing due to the challenges inside the building.If housing system has no signiﬁcant impact on foot health, then the opportunity must be taken to make all To what extent does dairy housing system impact foot health and what steps can be taken to improve mobility in housed cows?Housing for better hoof health50cowmanagement NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024Stride is the major industry-wide initiative, committed to helping to reduce the consequences of compromised herd mobility, improve productivity and reduce losses. Representing a broad range of companies involved in helping improve hoof health and mobility, Stride’s partners are: Ceva, HerdVision, Hoofcount, IVC Farm Vets, Neogen, NoBACZ, Teemore Engineering and Zinpro. Stride is supported by CowManagement.www.stridemobility.co.uk

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Top herds vying for Gold Cup titleWe ﬁnd out more about the six ﬁnalists hoping to take the top spot in the 2024 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition.PJ & PE Ashley & Son, Condover, ShropshireHarper Adams University Future Farm, Newport, ShropshireE A Lovatt & Son, Broughton Astley, Leicester51cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Stephen and Ruth Ashley have taken big strides to introduce innovations during the past decade. The husband-and-wife team took on the 162-hectare dairy unit, with support from Stephen’s parents, Pat and Peter.Farmfacts• Herd size: 125 cows, plus 100 followers and 86 beef cattle• Average yield: 14,601kg at 3.96% fat and 3.36% protein• Milk from forage: 3,203kg• Somatic cell count: 84,000 cells/ml• Mastitis rate: four cases per 100 cows per yearKate Robinson and her ﬁve-strong team manage the 400-cow Holstein herd. The dairy unit is involved in research and teaching activities, and is expected to perform commercially and achieve exceptional industry-based standards, as well as demonstrate best practice. Farm facts• Herd size: 400 cows, plus 195 followers • Average yield: 12,248kg at 3.85% fat 3.19% protein• Milk from forage: 3,864 litres• Somatic cell count: 123,000 cells/ml• Mastitis rate: 12 cases per 100 cows per yearMark Lovatt, with his father Edwin and wife Saffron, run a 220-cow herd, plus 140 followers and around 230 head of beef, on their 268-hectare unit. Farm facts • Herd size: 220 cows, plus 140 followers and 300 beef cattle• Average yield: 13,413kg at 3.89% fat and 3.28% protein• Milk from forage: 4,437 litres• Somatic cell count: 107,000 cells/ml• Mastitis rate: three cases per 100 cows per yearLeft to right: Mark Price, Dave Beckett, Steve Ashley, Ruth Ashley and Alex GwytherMark Lovatt Left to right: Chris Ruey, Kate Robinson and Alice SaultGOLD CUP COMPETITION FINALISTS50www.stridemobility.co.uk

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GOLD CUP COMPETITION FINALISTS52 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025The winner will be announced at Dairy-Tech on February 5. Presentation of the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup, along with other breed-speciﬁc and lifetime-yield award winners selected from 2024’s entries, will take place on the NMR stand at 4pm.Newley Farm, Bishop’s Hull, Taunton, Somerset The mix of 550 Holstein and 140 Jersey cows in the Newley Farm dairy herd is run by fourth generation family member Will Venn, and his team.Farm facts • Herd size: 690 cows, plus 550 followers • Holstein average yield: 10,132kg, 4.48% fat and 3.58% protein• Jersey average yield: 7,224kg, 5.48% fat and 4.17% protein• Somatic cell count: 146,000 cells/ml• Mastitis rate: 16 cases per 100 cows per yearTim Venn (fourth from left), son Will (centre) and wife Kate, with the farm teamG E Oakley & Sons, Whitchurch, CheshireFather-and-son team John and Ben Oakley manage a herd of 195 mainly Holstein cows, plus a few crossbreds, and 115 followers, with the help of one full-time staff member. The unit comprises 100 hectares, which supports summer grazing and forage production for the autumn-calving herd.Farm facts• Herd size: 195 cows, plus 115 followers • Average yield: 9,046kg, 4.63% fat and 3.58% protein• Somatic cell count: 122,000 cells/ml• Mastitis rate: eight cases per 100 cows per year• Calving interval: 390 daysJohn (left) and Ben OakleyTredinnick Farms, Two Waters Foot, Liskeard, CornwallThree generations – Joe, son Matthew and grandson Andrew Rowe – run a 450-cow cross-bred herd, plus 250 followers, as well as a 300-head beef enterprise, forage crops and renewables on this 370-hectare unit. Farm facts• Herd size: 450 cows, plus 250 followers and 300 beef cattle• Average yield: 9,630kg at 4.17% fat, 3.23% protein• Somatic cell count: 193,000 cells/ml• Mastitis rate: 15 cases per 100 cows per year• Calving interval: 419 daysLeft to right: Andrew, Matthew and Joe Rowe

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Solihull, Birmingham July 16, 2025This year’s National Youngstock Conference will oer presentations to meet everyone’s interest and needs. Have you booked your ticket yet?Building on the sell-out success of the 2024 conference, preparations are well underway to design an exciting new programme for 2025. And there will be plenty to interest all calf rearers, whether they’re beef or dairy producers, regardless of management system or breed.Tickets cost just £49.50, plus VAT and include entry to the lectures with a full day’s presentation programme, trade area, tea/coee and lunch.To book tickets click on the QR code or for more information visit: www.cowmanagement.co.uk and click on the conference tabThank you to our platinum sponsors• Premium Halo LED High-bay with 20W Red Night Light• Provides 200Lux simulated daylight for indoor dairy lighting• Durable, designed for harsh environments• IP66 rated for dust and humidity• Resistant to dust, water, and corrosion• Handles temperatures from -40°C to 55°CHalo Dairy200W LED withintegrated red night lightFor a no obligation quote or more information please contact:Scotland/N.England07591 833853Wales/Midlands/S.England07762 800149N.Ireland/R.O.I07803 124235info@cowcaresystems.comwww.cowcaresystems.com07732 34822553cowmanagement JANUARY 2025

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UNIQUE BOLUS TECHNOLOGYsmaXtec’s bolus technology delivers insights directly from within your cow’s reculum. It measures the most reliable indicator of cow health – inner body temperature – with unrivalled accuracy (0.01°C), while also tracking drinking cycles, water intake, ruminaon, and acvity. This invaluable data allows you to detect potenal health issues long before visible symptoms appear, enabling early intervenon, reducing treatment costs, and maintaining stable milk yields. smaXtec also improves heat detecon, enhances reproducon rates, and opmises the calving process.PROVEN RESULTS FOR DAIRY FARMERSsmaXtec has already made a signicant impact on dairy farms. Robin White, who manages a 170-cow farm in Scotland, says: “Having that early warning of an issue, before there are any visual signs, allows us to treat the cow, keeping her healthy, keeping milk in the tank, and money in my pocket. With a reducon in anbioc usage of nearly 66%, this alone has made the cost of buying the system well worth it.” Robert Spiller, a dairy farmer from Somerset, adds: “It’s like a third eye watching the cows. Our herd is much healthier and it’s generally a lot more ecient with the smaXtec boluses. We’re a more protable business with this installed – without having to employ a third person.”DIGITAL ASSISTANT AND TRUADVICE™smaXtec’s prevenve health management is now enhanced by our latest innovaons: the Digital Assistant and AI-based TruAdvice™ technology, oering tailored soluons to streamline operaons and ensure long-term success. Acng as your new virtual team member, the Digital Assistant provides automated lists, helping larger farms eciently organise tasks and resources. Meanwhile, TruAdvice™ provides early disease indicaon nocaons for mass, ketosis, and milk fever by analysing millions of data points to calculate disease probabilies before clinical signs appear.SMAXTEC AT DAIRY TECH 2025Join us to experience smaXtec’s technology.5th OF FEBRUARY, NAEC STONELEIGH PARK, HALL 2, B156Come and see how smaXtec can transform your dairy farm. The future of dairy farming starts here – and we can’t wait to share it with you.FUTURE-PROOF YOUR DAIRY FARMCONTACT US TODAY & LEARN MORE!T+44 1629 380 780 E INFO@SMAXTEC.COMTake your dairy farm to the next level with smaXtec’s unique bolus technology, developed to improve herd health, reproducon outcomes, and protability.

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55cowmanagement JANUARY 2025TECHNOLOGY FOCUSApplying cutting-edge robotic sorting technology to his equestrian warehouse gave Robert Patton the conﬁdence to invest £1m in a robotic dairy unit. The County Antrim-based businessman and ex-amateur jump jockey established Old Mill Saddlery, an online equestrian retail business that employs 40 staff, four decades ago. There are nine autonomous mobile robots that pick and sort orders in the company’s warehouse, and adopting this technology, and witnessing the labour efﬁciencies, encouraged Robert to convert his beef unit to dairy in April 2024 and build a fully robotic setup to manage the 114-cow herd on the 85-hectare farm, based near Ballycarry. Prior to this switch the farm was home to 80 beef Shorthorns and he ﬁnished their progeny.“The move to dairy was purely ﬁnancial,” he says. “I loved the beef Shorthorns, but I’m a businessman and have to run the farm commercially – it has to make money.”The whole dairy herd was purchased from school friend Alan Hill, from Islandmagee, who was exiting the industry. Robert later employed Alan’s herdsperson, Chelsea Sloan, to manage the herd.“We thought transitioning the herd from milking through a conventional parlour to robots would more difﬁcult than it was,” says Chelsea. “But within a week, the number of cows we needed to fetch to be milked was low. The cow-house design and setup certainly helped – cows have to pass through the milking robot to access feed.”Closed herdRobert adds that buying the herd from one unit was also beneﬁcial. “Not only did it mean that we were able to produce milk straight away, but the herd had been closed for 40 years. So there are also advantages in maintaining and managing herd health.” The shed that houses the cows and robots, which was completed in April, comprises three rows of back-to-back cubicles totalling 126 places, with mattresses that are bedded with sawdust.Cutting-edge tech triggered dairy switchConverting from beef to dairy and investing in robotic technology has given one Northern Ireland-based family greater ﬂexibility to manage other enterprises. We visited them to ﬁnd out more.p58 | Dairy-Tech 2025 previewRobert Patton: “Flexible working hours were a key requirement”TEXT RHIAN PRICE

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TECHNOLOGY FOCUS ROBOTIC SETUP56 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Milkers are currently fed 35kg freshweight of second- and third-cut silage, as well as 6.5kg of a 20.5% protein blend, plus minerals. Total dry matter intakes are averaging 25.6kg daily.The herd’s nutritionist David Kwasniewski says that cows are fed a ration that supports maintenance plus 25 litres through the Vector, and are fed a maximum of 12kg via the robots. Any concentrate not eaten inside the robots is offered to individual cows through a Lely Cosmix out-of-parlour feeder. Dairy rationsFresh calvers are given a low-protein, high-energy 17% concentrate, and once cows reach 100 days in milk they switch to a high-protein, lower-energy 20% blend. The feed rate averages 0.39kg/litre and margin over concentrate is £10.98, based on a milk price of 42ppl.The robotic technology being utilised by both of the Patton family’s businesses offers greater ﬂexibility for Robert, his wife Kerrie, and sons Thomas and Will, to be ‘hands-on’ across the two enterprises.When he leaves school, Thomas hopes to attend Ulster University to study part-time and is planning on working four days a week in the saddlery, learning the ropes. But he also has a keen interest in the dairy. Robert believes robots hold the key to attracting the next generation by making the job more interesting and ﬂexible. Chelsea is a testament to this. In her previous position she worked 14 hours a day – from 5am until 7pm – but now starts work at 6.30am, ﬁnishes at 11am and returns to the unit at 3pm for another three-hour shift.“Flexible working hours were a key requirement for me when I started milking as I have other businesses to run and needed to avoid working-time restrictions. The Lely robots are meeting that requirement,” says Robert. “Someone still needs to be at the unit, but they want to start work at 9am on a Sunday, for example, then they can.” |Robert opted for Heatguard transparent roof sheets, which let in natural light, and their polycarbonate material limits heat build-up.The shed is fully automated. Cows are milked through two Lely A5 Astronaut robots and are fed using Lely’s Vector mixing feeding robot. A Lely Discovery Collector C2 is used to keep the ﬂoor clean. Cows are currently averaging 35.5kg at 4.45% butterfat and 3.56% protein from 3.1 milkings daily and are on track to produce 841kg of milk solids (10,500 litres) annually. Herd average somatic cell count is 150,000 cells/ml, and milk is sold to Aurivo. At the end of October 2024, somatic cell counts averaged just 51,000 cells/ml, with Bactoscan counts hitting 10.Early detectionChelsea credits this ﬁgure to Lely’s Horizon’s somatic cell count report. It detects any udder-health issues early, which allows the team to be proactive when it comes to preventing mastitis.“The robot milks each quarter individually and detects changes in conductivity. If a cow’s somatic cell count rises above 500,000 cells/ml, I get a notiﬁcation via my smartphone and will strip that quarter and apply Uddermint.”The herd has an autumn-calving bias with 40 cows calving between August and September, but the aim is to level the milk proﬁle within the next 15 months. Robert says his favourite machine is the Lely Mixing Feeding Robot (MFR), which he believes will pay for itself within ﬁve years. Vector is unique to other automated feeders because it scans the feed fence and supplies to demand.The unit’s feed fence runs down each length of the shed, with one indoor fence and side curtains to protect against the prevailing wind. Dry-cow and milking rations, totalling 6 tonnes per day, are fed out ‘little and often’ either 11 or 12 times daily. Feeding accuracy, measured by the ‘feed requested’ versus what is loaded, is hitting 96%.Text notiﬁcation: system alerts team to potential problems

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Understanding how each individual cow, heifer or calf is performing in terms of its health, reproductive status and milk quality is key to ensuring herds are performing to their maximum potential. What was once reliant on the expert eye of experienced herd managers, skilled milking sta and regular milk recording, can now be achieved quickly and precisely by using a herd monitoring system to provide real-time insights into a range of key performance indicators. In addition to monitoring the usual array of fertility and health related indicators, the latest generation of the SenseHub Dairy Ecosystem, from MSD Animal Health, provides additional herd-management beneﬁts by combining in-parlour identiﬁcation, milk-quality analysis and automatic segregation-gate operation in one easy-to-use package.Herd monitoringSenseHub neck tags and ear tags constantly monitor the behaviour patterns and activity trends of dairy cows, heifers and calves to identify the tell-tale signs of fertility, stress, health, and diet-related issues. And, whenever a heat event or change in behaviour that may signal a potential problem is detected, the SenseHub app automatically sends an alert to key members of sta so informed decisions can be made to safeguard the health and welfare, productivity and fertility of the aected animal(s) as quickly as possible.AutomationSenseHub also reduces the potential for human error to disrupt the herd’s daily regime: in addition to monitoring fertility and health parameters, SenseHub tags can also be used for in-parlour identiﬁcation and to operate an MSD Animal Health sorting gate. This removes the need for separate parlour ID tags and ensures that every animal is segregated for insemination at the optimum time or for treatment at the earliest opportunity.SenseHub is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease in cattle. For the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of disease in cattle, producers should consult their veterinarian. The accuracy of the data collected and presented through this product is not intended to match that of medical or scientiﬁc measurement devices.To ﬁnd out how more about how the SenseHub Dairy Ecosystem could improve the performance of your herd, please call the SenseHub team on 01207 265840, or email us at sensehubGB@msd.com.Find out moreHERD MONITORING TECH57cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Milk monitoringThe SenseHub Ecosystem also includes in-parlour sensors which analyse milk quality as each cow is being milked. The SenseHub Dairy In-Line MilkPlus Sensor measures yield, fat, protein, lactose, blood content and conductivity, while the SenseHub Dairy In-Line Somatic Cell Count Sensor provides individual SCC results within two minutes of the start of milking.Data from these sensors, which can be installed alongside any milking parlour type or brand, is then automatically displayed as easy-to-understand graphs and reports in the SenseHub app. These make it simple for herd managers to keep a close watch on the milking trends and milk quality of individual cows. Cattle can also be monitored on a group basis to guide longer-term planning for the herd.Third-party integration To keep things simple when it comes to record keeping, the SenseHub Ecosystem is compatible with more than 35 herd management programmes. This reduces paperwork and time spent inputting data, giving you more time to focus on the health and productivity of your herd. And, with a dedicated team of SenseHub support sta, we are here to help producers get the most from their investment in herd monitoring.System provides real-time insights into a range of key performance indicators.Monitoring technologies improve herd management

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58 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025DAIRYTECH 2025 PREVIEWon key industry issues, such as managing volatility, improving efﬁciency, meeting the Net Zero Challenge. The organiser, RABDF, says it will continue to deliver content that recognises the pressing needs of modern dairy professionals, regardless of their system size or type, providing exposure to the latest ideas and concepts relevant to dairy businesses. And, as a result, this year’s event sees the addition of a new hub, a new hall and more exhibition space.New hubThe Down to Earth Hub is a new speaker area that will focus on sustainability and the concepts and tech that can be used on dairy units to ensure the industry is in line with future legislation surrounding reducing the carbon footprint. This hub, sponsored by Kingshay, will host four panel sessions covering carbon, soil, biology and plants.The Dairy and Innovation Hubs will also return in February. This year’s Dairy Hub theme will focus on future-prooﬁng and cost of compliance, with sessions looking at perspectives when it comes to lending, politics and Catchment Sensitive Farming. There will also be panel debates from Kite Consulting and AHDB, both looking at future compliance and how producers’ levy is being spent on this.There will be plenty to interest all producers at this year’s Dairy-Tech – regardless of herd size or system. The one-day event, set to be held on February 5, at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, will not only showcase the latest innovative products and services to help producers improve dairy management and efﬁciency, it also offers panel debates and seminars Innovative ideas and a wealth of dairy expertiseFull capacity: busy crowds enjoyed the 2024 event’s Dairy HubHave you booked your ticket for Dairy-Tech 2025? We take a look at what visitors can expect at this year’s event.

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59cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Packed programme: one-day event has plenty to interest all producersHealth and Welfare Pathway, the show’s Healthy Feet Zone will also return this year. It will be led by Eko Hoofcare and the National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers, on stand P146 in Hall 3. Hall 3 will also house a training area, where training provider LANTRA will cover topics on cow signals, mobility scoring, and farm health and safety.The Innovation Hub has a leading line-up of speakers who will cover topics including data and how to use it to inform business decisions; how producers are making progress when it comes to improving mobility, the practical use of genomics in breeding, and the beneﬁts of using blood and milk analysis for early pregnancy diagnosis; looking at labour solutions and what can be implemented to alleviate the pressures around staff shortages. The hub will conclude with a session on the role of microorganisms in dairying, explaining how biological products work and asking if they offer a good return on investment.Product launchesAlso comprising more than 80 trade stands, the event will host a portfolio of new launches with a wide variety of products, services and concepts being showcased for the ﬁrst time. As improving mobility continues to be a priority on many units, and a focus of DEFRA and its Animal All tickets booked in advance are sold at a discounted rate of £20, with free tickets and further concessions for RABDF and Women in Dairy members. Tickets purchased on the gate are £25. Discounted tickets are also available for students and YFC members. Further information is available at www.dairy-tech.uk or email oce@rabdf.co.uk.Dairy-Tech 2025 – how to book

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60 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025NEW PRODUCTSA DEFRA-approved disinfectant, proven against a wide range of pathogens including bovine TB and foot-and-mouth disease, also oers increased protection against disease in the calf-house environment.Neogen Farm Fluid MAX is a dual-action disinfectant and its formulation includes two biocides and other supportive ingredients, including a solvent for increased solubility and a surfactant. This makes it an ideal solution for helping to maintain calf-unit cleanliness, according to the company’s Jonathan Thomas-Nash.“Young calves face signiﬁcant risk of pathogenic disease in early life, which can reduce growth rates and long-term development, and increase mortality,” he says. “So achieving high levels of hygiene and cleanliness is a key priority when rearing calves.”The disinfectant has proven ecacy against a broad spectrum of disease-causing pathogens including cryptosporidium, coccidiosis, rotavirus and BVD. And it is also now proven to be eective against Johne’s disease-causing mycobacteria.The product can be used in a variety of applications for the disinfection of both indoor and outdoor livestock housing, as well as in wheel and boot dips with minimal degradation by direct sunlight. It should be applied to pre-cleaned, dry surfaces, and producers should always following the label instructions.The recommendation is to use Neogen Farm Fluid MAX as a third step in a cleaning programme, after washing all surfaces with Farm-Foam EVO and an initial application of Neogen Viroxide Super disinfectant. To ﬁnd out more visit Neogen’s stand (T64) at Dairy-Tech 2025.Disinfectant tackles calf-disease pathogensA block and bandage function has been added to a popular lameness detection device, designed to allow producers to treat signs of compromised mobility as early as possible.Hoofcount’s PediVue features a high-speed camera ﬁtted to automatic footbaths, which captures crucial moments of moving hooves, enabling an intelligent ﬁltering algorithm to assess the images using AI.Camera system adds ‘block and bandage’ optionSnap shot: camera IDs cows with blocks and bandagesA data-driven resource designed to bring a new level of precision to group feeding, and, to herd management, has been launched by HerdVision. Called HerdNutrition, the precision-feeding function builds on HerdVision’s individual body condition score (BCS) and mobility data by tracking real-time BCS trends for individual groups of cows and heifers within the milking herd. These real-time insights are transferred to an online application.Any collective changes to BCS within each group are reﬂected in the data, which has been built into a new metric designed to enable producers and their nutritionists to ﬁne-tune diets to match the precise requirements of each group. This will not only help to maximise feed conversion eciency, but will also replace previous estimations based on diet formulation and management, or environmental factors.“The function oers producers and nutritionists a group-level clear view of body condition scores across their herds, so they are able to monitor and subsequently implement smarter, more strategic feeding plans,” says the company’s James Vaughan.To ﬁnd out more visit stand B110 at Dairy-Tech 2025.Next-level precision for group feedingOnline application: function oers producers real-time insights

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NEW PRODUCTS63cowmanagement JANUARY 2025A larger-capacity random wrap hose reeler, which can accommodate 1,400m of ﬁve-inch diameter or 1,200m of six-inch diameter drag hose, has been launched by Tramspread.This latest addition to the company’s range will be shown for the ﬁrst time in the UK at LAMMA 2025.“Slurry-handling kit is steadily getting larger, and we had already increased from 600m to 1,000m, so 1,400m was a natural progression,” says Tramspread’s James Peachey. “We’d had requests from the continent, and the ﬁrst ﬁve o the production line have already been sold to France, but the larger reels are now also available in the UK.”To accommodate the larger diameter spools the main frame has been enlarged and strengthened. The three-point linkage frame is also heavier, and the linkage brackets have been lowered to give additional lift height. The heavy-duty twin hydraulic motor drive system from the 1,000-metre reeler has been retained.An optional light bar can now be ﬁtted above the reel and encompasses side lights and indicators, which operate with the tractor’s lights. And a remote-control fob is used to switch main beam and dip beam headlights and a central work-light bar. This bar also serves as a safety device to stop couplings from potentially damaging the tractor if the reel is operated too quickly. This feature will also be available for the 1,000-metre reeler.Slurry-hose reeler unveiledThe latest development involved training PediVue, using AI, to identify when a block or bandage has been applied to a treated hoof, to monitor it, and subsequently remind the producer of the agreed time to remove it and avoid any further hoof-related issues which could lead to more complex mobility problems. A topical product to mitigate stress in healthy calves and adult cattle will soon be available in the UK. FerAppease is a synthetic analogue of a pheromone called maternal bovine appeasement substance (mBAS), which reduces the impact of stress and the production of cortisol – also known as the stress hormone – in cattle.It is widely used in US dairy and beef production systems, with more than 15 million doses sold during the past 12 months. The cost-beneﬁt of using the pheromone has been proven when used at high-stress events and also when cattle are being handled during routine tasks.The product is applied topically to the skin above the muzzle and in the area between and behind ears, from where it is then inhaled to deliver the same comfort to the animal that they would have had with their dam. This helps to mitigate stress. There is a response within 30 minutes of application and this persists for at least 14 days. Studies consistently show that stress in cattle results in reduced productivity, weight loss or poor growth rates, leaving them more susceptible to disease, with a reduced immune response to vaccines. Many routine on-farm tasks, ranging from weaning, dehorning, castration, branding, transportation, regrouping, vaccination, calving, drying-o and breeding, can increase stress levels in cattle. Visit stand P110 at Dairy-Tech 2025 to ﬁnd out more, and enter a competition to win one of nine 10-dose packs.It works by updating images of the blocks and/or bandages on a daily basis. These are collected and saved in a cloud-based database that then translates them to a simpliﬁed report or list. This can then be downloaded to a producer-friendly dashboard for viewing on the farm’s PC web browser, or mobile phone app, and added as a prompt to the treatment/action list.PediVue has achieved more than 100% accuracy in identifying hooves, and 90% accuracy detecting blocks and bandages.To ﬁnd out more visit stand B142 at Dairy-Tech 2025.Pheromone reduces stress in cattle Topical application: product is sprayed onto the muzzle

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• Saves work time and eﬀort• Single person operation• Hand sized remote control• Spans up to 20 metres wide• Low maintenance costs• Optional slurry scraper can be addedCowcare AutomatedBacking GateManufacturing & installing dairy housing for over 25 yearsFor a no obligation quote or more information please contact:Scotland/N.England07591 833853Wales/Midlands/S.England07762 800149N.Ireland/R.O.I07803 124235info@cowcaresystems.comwww.cowcaresystems.com07732 34822564 cowmanagement JANUARY 2025NEW PRODUCTSA smart feeding system that makes it easier for producers to manage and monitor total mixed rations has been launched by Topcon Agriculture. Available in the UK via LH Agro, the Topcon TMR Flex Pro system provides feed metrics and is compatible with all mixer wagons ﬁtted with load cells. The system, which the company says oers producers a detailed, real-time understanding of the key aspects of the daily feeding regime, including ingredient tracking, feed out and dry matter weights, and feed wastage rates, comprises a Digi-Star FD1 tablet, a Topcon CL-55 Cloud Connectivity Device, and a subscription to Topcon’s TAP FEED Pro/Feedlot cloud-based platform. “Feed inputs make up between 50% and 60% of the variable costs on dairy units, with a signiﬁcant proportion of this investment lost as a result of poor feed conversion rates or wastage at the feed barrier,” says LH Agro Richard Reed. “So improving feeding accuracy and reducing wastage will allow producers to make signiﬁcant cost savings.”Topcon’s modular TMR Flex Pro system has been developed as a result of feedback from producers to make it easier for them to monitor exactly what their cattle are eating, as well as making the mixer wagon loading a little simpler and less time-consuming.The TMR Flex Pro system is compatible with all existing Digi-Star scale systems or load cells on any brand of TMR feed wagon. It also features a self-explanatory interface that’s easy to navigate and allows multiple users to access the various data ﬁelds during the loading and unloading.The CL-55 Cloud Connectivity Device automatically sends data from the mixer wagon to the TAP FEED platform, which allows producers to share feed data with their nutritionist, vet, feed supplier and any other applicable third parties so that further herd eciency improvements can be identiﬁed and implemented.TAP is a cloud-based agricultural system designed to provide real-time monitoring and data analysis for decision-making during every phase of the dairying cycle. TAP is designed as a modular solution with integrated third-party plug-in options. For more information about TMR Flex Pro visit www.lh-agro.co.uk. TMR smart feeding system launched

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DisclaimerCowManagement does not necessarily share the views expressed by contributors. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made by advertisers. No responsibility can be accepted by Davies Porter Media Ltd for the opinions expressed by contributors. While every eort is made to obtain reliable and accurate information, liability cannot be accepted for errors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher.Printer: The Lavenham Press Ltd.Phone: 01787 247436ADVERTISERS’ INDEXSHOWS AND EVENTSCowManagement is published 10 times per year by Davies Porter Media LtdEditorial teamEditor Rachael PorterPhone: 01394 270587E-mail: rachael@cowmanagement.co.ukDesign and production David Tokeley & The Lavenham Press LtdContributing writers Rebecca Barningham, Laura Bowyer, Phil Eades, Roger Evans, Charlotte Grime, Karen Halton, Paul Jennings, Allison Matthews, Rhian Price, Wendy Short, Philip Winstanley, Karen WrightPublishers Jason Davies and Rachael PorterCONTACTSJanuary  to  Semex International Dairy Conference, Radisson Blu Hotel, GlasgowJanuary  to  British Cattle Breeders Conference, Telford Hotel & Golf Resort, Telford, ShropshireFebruary  Dairy-Tech, Stoneleigh Park, WarwickshireApril  to  British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) Conference, Galway Bay Hotel, Galway, IrelandJuly  National Youngstock Conference, International Conference Centre, BirminghamAdvertising salesSales Director Jason Davies Phone: 07813 603179E-mail: jason@cowmanagement.co.ukIllustrations/picturesEmma Hibbs (front cover)CowManagement onlineFacebook: www.facebook.com/CowManagementUK/Twitter: @cowmanagementWebsite: www.cowmanagement.co.ukCirculationCowManagement is published 10 times a year. Copies are sent out free to owners and managers of dairy farms in mainland UK and Northern Ireland. If you think you are eligible, or if you no longer wish to receive CowManagement, please email jason@cowmanagement.co.uk.Animax Boehringer Ingelheim IFC , Cosy Calf Cowcare , , Dairy Spares Dairy-Tech DP Agri , Farmplus FerAppease ForFarmers Galebreaker Kersia Kingshay KWS -Lallemand LG , MSD Allﬂex National Youngstock Conference Neogen , , -NMR smaXtec STRIDE TB Agri Thompsons Trident MicroNutri Trouw Volac World Wide Sires OBCZoetis cowmanagementJANUARY 2025WWW.COWMANAGEMENT.CO.UKFocus on maize to optimise2025’s cropDecember bull proofs: latest ranking reviewDairy technology:automatic options support herd managementSCAN & WINFebruary 14 – we take a timely look at grassland management and forage production, ahead of this year’s growing season. And this issue also focuses on breeding and fertility.FEBRUARY 2025 GRASSLAND & FORAGECOMING UP65cowmanagement JANUARY 2025Dear Reader,For data protection purposes it is important we have the correct mailing address for all our readers.To continue receiving your free copy of CowManagement magazine, please enter the link bit.ly/cm-subshttp://subs into your browser and complete the short form.It will only take 30 seconds to complete and means you will continue to receive the UK’s progressive milk producers’ magazine for free.Thanks for your support.

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