Dairy Farmer articles from October 2008

Dairy Farmer archives from October 2008

COMMENT: Bated breath.
October 10, 2008... There's a sort of breathless hush as everybody waits for Tesco to step up to the crease and make its autumn price announcement. As our Milk Debate at the Dairy Event showed, producers are, to put it mildly, not best pleased over recent...

NFU moves in to seize high ground after spat over Curry's rapid exit.
October 10, 2008... Dairy UK's declared aim of representing both producers as well as its traditional grass roots processors took a severe bashing this week. This follows the open spat between the NFU and Dairy UK over the abrupt and "undemocratic" sacking of...

Milk Link sells Staplemead.
October 10, 2008... In a move estimated to be worth several millions, Milk Link has sold its loss-making Staplemead creamery to Andros, a privately-owned French food and dairy products firm. Not only does Milk Link receive money for the plant - it refuses to...

First Milk's profit gains.(Financial report)(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... First Milk has significantly improved its financial performance, with group turnover up 24% to #602m from #484m for the year end March 31, 2008. Operating profits are up over #9m to #9.66m. Profit before tax was #3.5m, which compares to a...

Wiseman opens Bridgwater.(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... Although Wiseman's new Bridgwater plant has been operating for the best part of a year now, the formal opening ceremony took place last month, with the firm sending the message to the industry that the plant would be increasing output from 250m...

Producer price delays may be costing around #50,000 each.
October 10, 2008... There's usually a time lag when it comes to farmgate price rises, but according to figures published by DairyCo, the lag between the rises in dairy commodity prices, as measured by AMPE, and the slower rises in farmgate prices, cost British...

Pollution cases decline says environment study.
October 10, 2008... A study detailing the progress and achievements of the dairy industry has revealed the number of pollution incidents to water from dairy farming has reduced by 35%. It states that "significant progress" is being made in the uptake of...

COWMEN COMMENT: We managed to miss the worst of flooding.
October 10, 2008... Apart from all the worry over the importation of suspect bluetongue animals to the south-west, John Trunch is equally concerned about the seemingly unchecked TB which is the fundamental cause of replacement animals being drawn in. This...

COWMAN COMMENT: After TB case public might wonder what is being done.
October 10, 2008... The latest case of a Cornish woman contracting TB has raised fundamental questions about the source of infection and the lack of any attempt to control this disease in the wider environment, as Pat Bird tells us. Three years ago, after we...

Dodging between the showers in an attempt to get silage in.
October 10, 2008... Like everyone else Donald McColm has had his fair share of rain but has been pretty fortunate in being able to snatch the silage and wholecrop between the worst of it. The first week of September has passed without any let up in the wet...

INTERVIEW: Promar fights its corner over Tesco data analysis.
October 10, 2008... Undeniably, Tesco has come in for some stick lately for opening up the latest retail milk price war, with angry producers fearful this would work through to their autumn pricing round. This brought analysts Promar into the line of fire, partly...

It's tin hat time at Dairy UK as Curry is shown the door!
October 10, 2008... Fresh back from the Dairy Event, Ian Potter has been chewing over the latest industry revelations and in particular what is going on at Dairy UK. What did you find to talk about at the Dairy Event? You shouldn't have been short of...

LETTER: Seize power from retailers or we'll just go round in circles.(Letter to the editor)
October 10, 2008... From: Robert Fisher, Ardgillan House, 24 Melton Green, Wath-upon- Dearne, Rotherham, S Yorks S63 6AB. As the song goes "Same as it ever was, same as it ever was". Large retailers do what they want; various groups gather outside supermarket...

LETTER: Holsteins always well ahead in practical farm comparison.(Letter to the editor)
October 10, 2008... From: Wil Willians, Clwch Dernog, Llanddevsant, Anglesey. So Mrs Mead thinks I'm thick but she's probably not the first to think that. I started milking 15 years ago with Holsteins and Friesians. These were kept on the same fields, same...

Somerset champion impresses judges with attention to detail.(Anthony Gothard honored)
October 10, 2008... The winner of the Dairy Farmer of the Future award this year is 35-year old Anthony Gothard who farms the 500-acre Slough Court at Stoke St Gregory, some 5 miles east of Taunton in Somerset. Peter Hollinshead went to see him. Apart from...

DAIRY EVENT: Canadian colostrum now available in UK.
October 10, 2008... The first ever 100% bovine colostrum was launched to the UK market at the Dairy Event, amid claims that it could have a routine place in some high yielding herds or a less regular use for `at risk' animals. "Some of today's high yielding...

DAIRY EVENT: Bankers cast eye over cost of production.
October 10, 2008... Despite the recent tumult in the topsy-turvy world of banking, British milk producers who can make a good case for capital investment are unlikely to have trouble raising the finance, proclaimed HSBC's new head of agriculture Pat Tomlinson. ...

DAIRY EVENT: Supreme inter-breed champion.(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... Supreme inter-breed champion at the Dairy Event came from the Wills family's 1000-cow Willsbro herd in Cornwall. She is one of around 200 cows the Wills family bought from Mark and Sue Nutsford from Cheshire. Second calver Riverdane Astro...

DAIRY EVENT: Seed treatment available in UK.(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... A maize seed treatment launched by Bayer CropScience is said to improve forage maize returns by as much as #72.50/hectare. Called Poncho, the product is licensed to protect against wireworm - the UK's biggest maize pest - as well as frit fly...

Producers urged to allow for retirement in costings.(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... A RABDF survey into pensions presented at the Dairy Event has found that despite the general acceptance that the average household needs at least 50% of its final salary to live comfortably in retirement, most farmers are on course to achieve...

Concerns grow over reduced fertiliser usage.
October 10, 2008... GrowHow UK has expressed concern at farmers' `knee-jerk' reaction to high fertiliser prices and believes that reduced fertiliser usage could cost more than it saves. Announcing research at the Dairy Event which showed that 42% of grassland...

Importance of foot care.
October 10, 2008... Strong, healthy feet are an important forerunner before turning to other things like fertility, according to John Parker from Biocell TendaHoof, who recommended a proper structured foot care programme to target herd lameness. "Farmers are...

First ADF trial results to be published.(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... The first UK trial results for Automatic Dipping and Flushing will be launched at a mastitis conference this month, and indications are that the system is living up to early expectations. Although the system - which automatically disinfects...

Gold Cup winner claims it's all about having a dedicated team.
October 10, 2008... Nick Cobb from Dorchester is this year's NMR/RABDF Gold Cup winner. A finalist last year, he was awarded the top prize at this year's Dairy Event. Gold Cup winner Nick Cobb, who oversees the management of the 700-cow Chalclyffe pedigree...

Silver salver for runner up on the Antrim coast.(Iain and Joyce McLean honored)(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... A first for Northern Ireland - the Gold Cup runner up and winner of the NMR Silver Salver is Iain and Joyce McLean from Priestland Road, Bushmills on the Antrim coast. They have developed a modern system that is geared to maximising the return...

The Chris May Memorial Award.(Chris Simmons honored)(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... The Chris May Memorial Award was made for the first time this year to the Gold Cup qualifying herd with the highest average lifetime daily yield. Taking the title was Chris Simmons from Folly Farm, Kingswood, Wotton-under-edge, Wiltshire. His...

FERTILITY: What's PD result really telling us?
October 10, 2008... Most producers would want to PD cows that may fall outside normal patterns, but what is it exactly that you want to know? Vet Chris Watson explains. A pregnancy diagnosis is probably one of the most important fertility examinations you can...

FERTILITY: Take close look at sire data if wanting to boost fertility.
October 10, 2008... Poor reproductive performance is a complex problem largely influenced by nutrition, health and management, but there is also a genetic factor which shouldn't be ignored. Fertility can be a key contributor to the bottom line of any dairy...

FERTILITY: We need to try lot harder to improve heat detection rates.
October 10, 2008... Vet John Cook, UK technical services director with Genus ABS, believes the inappropriate use of some assessment measures can send confusing messages about herd fertility and urges a greater focus on heat detection accuracy in the first place....

FERTILITY: How BVD can wreak havoc in herd if left unchallenged.
October 10, 2008... Initial BVD infection in a naove herd may be obvious and devastating with abortion storms and the birth of deformed or unthrifty calves, but there is an even bigger effect in long-term poorer herd performance. Shirley Macmillan reports. ...

FERTILITY: Norfolk and Suffolk BVD Eradication Campaign.(Brief article)
October 10, 2008... * Dairy and beef herds in E Anglia includes Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. * Project overseen by Prof Joe Brownlie at RVC. * Testing by SAC. * Initial subsidised funding from EBLEX and Holstein UK. * Aim to...

FERTILITY: Using pedometer as way for detecting those bulling cows.
October 10, 2008... Dairy farmers can reduce calving intervals and save time and labour costs by incorporating pedometers as part of their heat detection system. Increased milk yields, larger herd sizes and a shortage of farm labour have resulted in a slow...

MILK PRICES: Hartington goes on transitional pricing.
October 10, 2008... Following the farmer-owned Stilton and speciality cheese business, Long Clawson, acquiring Dairy Crest's Hartington creamery last month, Dairy Crest has agreed a package of transitional pricing measures. These are designed to encourage its...

MILK PRICES: Arla Foods to raise volume bonus for larger producers.
October 10, 2008... Arla Foods has confirmed it will increase its volume bonuses to larger producers from Oct'08 for those whose milk price is based on the Arla Foods standard litre (including the Non-aligned and Asda price). The increase is to be scaled...

WORKSHOP TIPS: Slurry from 70 cows can satisfy your energy needs.
October 10, 2008... Two particular things on dairy producers' minds are the cost of energy and the disposal of slurry. Mike Donovan tells us how to solve both these problems simultaneously. Here's a dairy farmer who for the past 20 years has been creating gas...

GOOD EVANS: I never dreamt cow shackles could present such a threat!
October 10, 2008... Farmyards can inevitably be dangerous places and if it isn't the bull then it's something else - in this case it's one of Roger Evans' heifers wearing shackles that poses a somewhat surprising threat. It's August Bank Holiday Monday and I...