October 2015 - Irish Farmers Monthly

Transcription

AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH
www.irishfarmersmonthly.com
OCTOBER 2015
POSITIVE
OUTLOOK
AIDAN O’DRISCOLL ON THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE
INTERVIEW: BUS ÉIREANN
CEO, MARTIN NOLAN
IFM_October2015.indd 1
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HAS ITS TIME FINALLY COME?
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OCTOBER 2015
EDITORIAL
A successful origin
AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH
CONTENTS
It is becoming increasingly clear that Ireland’s best hope of
successfully marketing upwards of €19bn of food and beverage
produce within the next 10 years is to continue to advance the
concepts associated with Origin Green. The Bord Bia-driven initiative
has steadily gained traction since its introduction. It is to the credit
of Irish farmers that they have accepted the need for a uniquely
Irish food production standard that would have sufficient credibility
internationally to deliver a real marketing advantage. The fact that
the Origin Green initiative has come about at the same time that
climate change and sustainable food production are also taking
centre stage is no coincidence. If we are to have any advantage in the
production of food on this island it has to be in making a clear and
positive differentiation in how that food is produced and processed.
The way in which many international opinion makers have endorsed
the Irish programme is encouraging. The next step, however, will
be the game changer. The reality is that, less than a year after the
abolition of milk quotas, there is a real and present danger that a
new restriction could be imposed on Irish food producers. A carbon
quota is being openly discussed. It would be an extremely regressive
burden on our food producers and must be fully resisted. This
does not need to be a negative opposition. We have a justifiable
argument for having Ireland placed in the highest category in
terms of sustainable food production. The world’s population is
still growing. People must be fed. The aim must be to do this in as
environmentally sustainable a manner as possible. If recognition of
Origin Green as a unique, durable and fully certifiable programme for
sustainable food production is worth anything, it is that we must be
allowed to optimise our contribution to feeding the world.
Let no one underestimate the complexity of what we are attempting
to achieve in Irish agriculture. Aidan Cotter makes it clear that Origin
Green is a multi-disciplinary and multi-functional programme. It
encompasses biodiversity, sustainability, quality assurance, carbon
footprinting, water conservation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
reduction, and they are all intertwined. As with any endeavour,
getting a head start is important. We have achieved that. Now the
challenge will be to keep ahead of the competition and use our lead
to deliver a real and permanent food marketing advantage.
The first Origin Green annual report will be published this month. It
should set out the achievements that have been made across farming
and food production to date, and Bord Bia’s vision for the future. Far
more depends on the success of Origin Green than many now realise.
We praise the initiative and wish its promoters well in their efforts.
Matt O’Keeffe
Editor
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Up Front
News
Business News
Cover story
OCTOBER 2015
POSITIVE
OUTLOOK
AIDAN O’DRISCOLL ON THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE
INTERVIEW: BUS ÉIREANN
CEO, MARTIN NOLAN
OPEC FOR DAIRY FARMERS:
HAS ITS TIME FINALLY COME?
Aidan O’Driscoll’s address to the ASA conference
15 Interview
Bus Éireann CEO Martin Nolan speaks to IFM
17 Education
Agriculture at UCD
18 Farmview
Do we need an OPEC for dairy farmers?
51 Beef
Performance in the finishing period
53 Tillage
Potential for development of horticulture
55 Management Hints
This month’s hints from Matt Ryan
60 Machinery
68 Farm Safety
Make sure to hedge your bets in cutting season
70
72
75
76
78
ICMSA
Rural Life
Competition
Motor
The Very End
HERD HEALTH FOCUS >
22
25
28
30
34
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41
43
46
21
Innovation in dairy technology
Late season of blowfly strike
Getting ready for Autumn calving
Genetics: breeding out disease
Heifer calf growth to boost yields
Tackling lameness in sheep flocks
Dry cow management and dry cow therapy
Winter feed efficiency and health management
Rodent control to safeguard animal health
Editor: Matt O’Keeffe In-house Editor: Kennas Fitzsimons Sheep Editor: Gerry Murphy Tillage Editor: Jim O’Mahony Motoring: Bernard Potter Contributors: Bernie Commins, Oonagh O’Mahony, Shauna Rahman
Design: Barry Sheehan Production: Ciaran Brougham Martin Whelan Michael Ryan Niall O’Brien Advertising Manager: John Sheehan
Senior Advertising Manager: Anna Douglas Advertising Manager: Brian Murphy Accounts: Tricia Murtagh Administration & Subscriptions: Sue Nolan
Chief Executive: Rebecca Markey Printing: W&G Baird Publishers: IFP Media Subscription: €40 per annum
Irish Farmers Monthly, 31 Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Tel: +353 1 289 3305 • Fax: +353 1 289 6406 e-mail: [email protected] • www.irishfarmersmonthly.com
Copyright IFP Media 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the express written permission of the publishers.
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UPFRONT
OCTOBER 2015
ASA team change
Last month, the Agricultural Science Association (ASA)
held its conference in Kilkenny. It was one of the biggest
events in agriculture this year with nearly 1,000 attending
the conference, where speakers from all over the globe
gathered. Eoin Lowry passed on the presidential baton to
Neil Keane, with Mary Delaney from Glanbia taking on the
role of vice-president. While Neil has big shoes to fill, he is
very capable. Expect them to be a formidable team.
Matt O’Keeffe, Irish Farmers Monthly; Pat Cahill, Volac; and Richard Kirkland, Volac.
Volac teams up with Wilmar
Irish Water at the Ploughing
Tuesday, the opening day of the Ploughing, is always a
busy day. This year, around 77,500 attended the first
day of the show, a huge success for Anna May McHugh
and her team. Irish Water was making its debut at the
Ploughing, joining the other 1,500 exhibitors. The picture
above is clearly a message for the new organisation: while
the public are most welcome, obviously nobody wanted to
dip their toes in the water by visiting the stand!
R
s
W
RDS Gold Medal
awarded to Gary McCann
Congratulations to former Smurfit CEO, Gary McCann,
on being awarded the 2015 RDS Gold Medal Award for
Industry. The event takes place this month, on October
30, in the RDS Concert Hall. The Smurfit Kappa Group
was Ireland’s first multinational in the 1970s and today is
a world leader in paper-based packaging. Gary McCann
was made CEO in 2002. The RDS Gold Medal is awarded
each year by the society to a business leader who has
made a contribution to Ireland, both domestically and
internationally.
02/10/2015 09:54
U
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Richard Kirkland, nutritional adviser with Volac, describes
the new joint venture with Wilmar as one of the biggest
developments ever for the company. “In the animal feed
business, our cooperative initiative will make us one of
the market leaders in terms of the product range on
offer. It allows us the flexibility to provide our customers,
across a range of livestock enterprises, with a variety
of fat supplements based on different fatty acids for
different purposes. It also means that we can build on
the long-established Megalac brand that Irish farmers
are familiar with.” The expectation is that Volac will now
become a major expert on fats nutrition on a global
basis. The ultimate target is to offer specific solutions
for specific animal nutrition problems, such as low milk
fats. It has long been recognised that protected fats can
have a major influence in areas as diverse as fertility and
yield. The introduction of a new range of products under
the Megafat brand, based on a particular fatty acid, is
of particular importance, according to Richard Kirkland.
“It has been proven to increase milk fat percentage,” he
says. Last spring saw a number of farmers with low milk fat
production looking for solutions, Richard says. “One of the
key areas for Irish farmers, in terms of what Volac offers,
is a very specific range of products directly targeted at
increasing milk fat percentage. This should be particularly
useful at spring turn-out when lush spring grass, low in
fibre, results in low milk fats.” The joint venture with Wilmar
allows Volac to strengthen its supply base and tap into
the particular expertise that Wilmar has in the area of
vegetable oils and antimicrobial products.
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6
NEWS
OCTOBER 2015
IFA says Budget must prioritise farm incomes
Following a pre-Budget meeting with the Minister for Finance,
Michael Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure,
Brendan Howlin, Irish Farmers’ Assocation (IFA) president
Eddie Downey has said that Budget 2016 will be critical to
underpin the contribution of farming and the agri sector to
economic recovery across rural Ireland. “Farm incomes are
under pressure this year because of falling prices and volatile
global markets,” said Mr Downey. “Farmers will expect the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney,
to step up at the Cabinet table and deliver a strong package
for the sector when Budget negotiations are finalised in the
coming weeks.” He said that the Government must deliver on
its funding commitment to the Rural Development Programme
(RDP) and that €580m must be provided for farm schemes in
the Budget that will deliver programmes of support for lowincome farmers, agri-environment schemes, young farmers
measures, on-farm investment and farming in marginal areas.
“The Government must also build upon the agri-taxation
review, including the implementation of innovative measures
to encourage intergenerational family transfer, addressing
the discrimination against self-employed and tackling price
volatility. “Agriculture supports 300,000 people in farming,
food processing and the related services sectors and agrifood exports have increased by more than 45 per cent since
2009. Despite farm families’ positive economic contribution,
farm incomes remain low, are increasingly exposed to price
volatility, and are highly dependent on the farm schemes to
maintain their viability,” he said.
International recognition
for Irish food industry
A report in the French trade magazine Lineaires has
given an insight into how the Irish food industry’s
sustainable food production initiatives are received
abroad, as well as its penetration in the French
market and its drive to innovate, according to Bord
Bia. “In Ireland, the future of milk is green,” wrote
Lineaires journalist Agathe Lejeune following her
recent visit to Ireland at the invitation of Bord Bia.
Pointing to Ireland’s ambition to increase milk
production by 50 per cent, to 7.5 billion litres by
2020, she wrote that “although this quantity is just a
splash on a European scale, it represents a fabulous
opportunity for Ireland’s 18,000 dairy farms”. She
noted that scope exists to increase the yield of Irish
dairy cows, with each animal currently producing,
on average, 5,500L of milk per year compared to
a French cow’s 6,800L, and added that “the best
news is that Ireland intends to use a highly ambitious
national sustainability programme entitled Origin
Green to help it achieve its objectives”. She described
Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme as “an impressive
display of national unity”, with its three pillars of raw
materials sourcing, manufacturing processes and
social responsibility. She concluded that although
the initiative may not directly raise export prices, it
is an excellent mark of quality, recognised by leading
organisations worldwide.
02/10/2015 09:54
IRISH DAIRY
FARMERS ARE
Denis, Siobhan,
Barry & Jane
O’Mahony
Bandon
Co. Cork
Barryroe Co-op
FIND OUT MORE AT QUALITYMILKAWARDS.IE
Florence &
Caitriona
McCarthy
Ivor
Smyth
Poles
Co. Cavan
Lakeland Dairies
Ardfert
Co. Kerry
Lee Strand Co-op
John
& Colette
Fox
Oranmore
Co. Galway
Arrabawn Co-op
Gerard
& Marie
Killoran
John &
Margaret
Greene
Ballymote
Co. Sligo
Aurivo Co-op
Owen &
Rosaleen
O’Brien
Enniskeane
Co. Cork
Bandon Co-op
James
Kingston
Clonakilty
Co. Cork
Lisavaird Co-op
Callan
Co. Kilkenny
Callan Co-op
Kieran &
Catherine
O’Sullivan
Goleen
Co. Cork
Drinagh Co-op
John & Ann
Fitzgerald
Thomas
& Marie
Ryan
New Ross
Co. Wexford
Glanbia
Ingredients Ireland
Thurles
Co. Tipperary
Centenary
Thurles Co-op
Dan &
Valerie
Dennehy
Aghabullogue
Co. Cork
Dairygold Co-op
Michael &
Mary Ita
McCarthy
Kilmallock
Co. Limerick
Kerry Agribusiness
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02/10/2015 09:57
02/10/2015 09:54
8
NEWS
OCTOBER 2015
Winning taste of
dairy at NDC dome
Dillon lecture
The ‘Winning Taste of Dairy’ by the National Dairy Council (NDC) at the National
Ploughing Championships this year featured a choice of Irish dairy brands from
around the country thanks to a selection of member co-ops exhibiting. There
were free cookery demonstrations each day by celebrity TV chef Brian McDermott.
Pictured at the NDC dome at the Ploughing were Brian McDermott and Brendan
Courtney, broadcaster and designer. Photo: Dylan Vaughan.
We hear this month that European Commissioner for
Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, will
give the Michael Dillon memorial lecture to the Guild
of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland. The lecture, in
association with Kerry Foods, is a bi-annual event
attended by the agricultural media and industry
leaders. The Dillon lecture takes place on October 23
in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.
Roy Geary wins
ASA Novus award
Roy Geary, a senior executive with multinational animal health company Zoetis, has
been selected as the overall winner of the inaugural Agricultural Science Association
(ASA) Novus award. The hotly contested award, sponsored by Kerry Group, is aimed at
recognising outstanding leadership among graduates working in the Irish agri-food
sector. Roy, who is general manager for the Nordic region and Ireland with Zoetis, was
one of five finalists selected from a field of almost 40 high-calibre applicants from
across the entire spectrum of the agri-food sector. He was presented with the 2015
Novus Award by Frank Hayes, director of corporate affairs, Kerry Group, at the ASA
conference banquet, which was attended by 600 leading agri-food industry executives
in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny, on September 10. Roy is pictured (centre) with Frank
Hayes (right) and ASA president Eoin Lowry (left).
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10
BUSINESS NEWS
OCTOBER 2015
Survey on sustainable
liver fluke control
ASA conference
tackles hot topics
Pictured at the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) conference in September were:
Gordon Hardie, Bunge New York; ASA president Eoin Lowry; and Siobhan Talbot,
managing director, Glanbia. The conference, ‘Building agri – promoting growth in
a climate of change’, was addressed by food industry executives, economists and
scientists from the US, Europe and Ireland. The climate change challenge and the
recently published Food Wise 2025 strategy were among the topics debated.
Dawn Meats joins Minister
on US promotional tour
Pictured at an event to promote Irish beef in Chicago were: Orla McBreen, Irish
Consul General Chicago; Niall Browne, chief executive, Dawn Meats; Simon
Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Richard Clinton, commercial
director, Dawn Meats; and Brian Hyland, food safety and quality director, Dawn
Meats. Senior management from the Waterford-based premium processor joined
Minister Coveney at a number of engagements in Illinois to promote Irish beef in
the US. Minister Coveney’s visit aimed to further promote Irish beef, following the
re-opening of the US market to Irish exports earlier this year.
Farmers in Ireland and the UK have been surveyed
to establish awareness and current practice around
sustainable liver fluke management.
“The objective of the survey was to discover the extent
and impact of liver fluke on farm and identify the reality
of how farmers, alongside vets and suitably qualified
persons, are managing this parasite,” said Eugene Smyth
from Elanco, who has been responsible for coordinating
the survey. “We are aiming to raise awareness of the
issues and increase knowledge around liver fluke and
start to change behaviour to ensure farms are controlling
the right stage of fluke, at the right time with the right
product.”
Chaired by John FitzGerald, secretary general at the
Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance
(RUMA), a panel of industry experts have come together
to drive the campaign forward discussing the findings
in relation to current practices and challenges for the
industry to address. “The respondents were a good
representative sample of sheep farms in the UK and
Ireland,” said Matt Colston, veterinary surgeon at
Elanco. “Looking at the results, there is clearly confusion
about the best course of action and a large requirement
for support from SQPs, vets and the wider industry to
help develop knowledge among farmers.”
In-depth answers from 220 sheep farmers, analysed by
a panel of experts, show the need for better awareness
of sustainable liver fluke management and for this to be
translated into practical action, communicated with clear
straightforward messages, according to the survey.
The survey found: limited understanding of liver fluke
life cycle results in poor treatment choices and higher
impact on farm; farmers are actively seeking advice
but messages are not being delivered in a way to which
farmers respond; there is a good understanding of
timing of peak liver fluke impact but confusion on how
this can be reduced; and there is a need to deliver clear
messages on controlling the right stages of fluke at the
right time with the right product.
The research, initiated by Elanco, is in conjunction with
the Moredun Research Institute, UK, Fiona Lovatt at UK
veterinary consultancy Flock Health, and George Milne,
UK National Sheep Association development officer and
sheep farmer.
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11
OCTOBER 2015
New cereal fungicide on the horizon
Dow AgroSciences LLC has revealed details about its
plans to launch an innovative new fungicide to control
key diseases in cereal crops. Inatreq active, a product
derived from naturally occurring material with outstanding
performance, represents a new market opportunity for
Dow AgroSciences, with expected annual sales to exceed
$200m at maturity, according to the company.
“Farmers are looking for novel fungicides as they fight
resistance to protect important crops like cereals,” said
Toni McEwan, Dow AgroSciences’ managing director for
the UK and the Republic of Ireland. “Inatreq will be the
only fungicide in the industry that represents a new target
site for disease control in the cereals market, which brings
great value to farmers.”
Inatreq provides a unique spectrum of disease control
in cereals, according to Dow AgroSciences. Based on
field trials, key diseases will be effectively controlled by
Inatreq at anticipated label use rates. The new fungicide
will provide strong efficacy in wheat against Septoria tritici
with activity against rust and other diseases.
Dow AgroSciences is seeking to register Inatreq for use
in all major cereal fungicide countries including the UK
and Ireland. Currently in the development process, initial
Inatreq registrations are anticipated in 2018.
Chanelle goes pink for Irish Cancer Society
Veterinary pharmaceuticals
manufacturer Chanelle has teamed
up with the Irish Cancer Society and
turned one of its liver fluke products
pink as part of a fund-raising initiative
for cancer research.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and
the Marine, Simon Coveney, joined
Chanelle’s stand at the Ploughing
Championships to launch Tribex 10%
Pink Pack, where Chanelle is donating
€5 to the Irish Cancer Society for
every special pink pack sold. The
much-needed funds will be used to
support cancer research and essential
services including information, advice
and support services for families
throughout the country who have been
affected by cancer. Tribex 10% is a
product used by farmers to treat liver
fluke, a common parasitic disease of
both cattle and sheep.
The special 7.2L promotion pink pack,
recently approved for dairy cows, will
treat 100 cattle or dairy cows for all
three stages of liverfluke.
Speaking at the launch, veterinary
Launching Chanelle’s Tribex pink pack at the 2015 Ploughing Championships was Caroline Cavanagh, Chanelle; Minister
Simon Coveney; Emma Hayden, Irish Cancer Society; and Howard Pearson, Chanelle. Photo: Susan Kennedy, Lensmen.
sales manager for Ireland, Michael
Holohan, said: “Research is crucially
important in the pharmaceutical
industry.
“Chanelle is honoured to support the
Irish Cancer Society’s work to raise
funds for cancer research, as well as
raising awareness about cancer to the
farming community in Ireland.”
Farmers can support the initiative by
purchasing Tribex 10% pink pack in
local co-ops, veterinary practices or
merchant stores where the product is
now on sale, Chanelle has advised.
02/10/2015 09:54
12
COVER STORY
OCTOBER 2015
The opening address to the
Agricultural Science Association’s
(ASA) annual conference was
delivered by Aidan O’Driscoll,
recently appointed secretary general
of the Department of Agriculture,
Food and the Marine. It was one
of the most positive and dynamic
speeches that Matt O’Keeffe has
heard from an Irish agricultural
policy maker in some time
A DYNAMIC
SECRETARY GENERAL
Aidan O’Driscoll’s opening remarks were perhaps a little
grandiose, but realistic for all that: “Over the past eight
years, our sector has been a beacon of light in the dark
landscape of recession and crisis in this country. We are
now standing on the cusp of enormous new possibilities
with the end of milk quotas.”
The secretary general added that this development has
already generated over €700m in investment by industry,
adding to even greater investment on Irish farms. He
predicted a bright future in terms of economic growth,
social development of rural areas and jobs as a direct result
of these investments. A shot of realism was added with
the acknowledgement that the global fall in dairy prices “is
now deeper and more prolonged than many had expected,
underlining our dependence on factors in global markets
far beyond our control”. Aidan also emphasised that, while
our high food safety standards provide the platform for all
other opportunities, the slightest error on our part could be
fatal. He insisted that this is perhaps the most important
issue for the sector and a major focus of the work of the
Department.
Challenging negotiations
The west Cork-born and Dublin-domiciled head of
Agriculture House quickly moved on to outline some of the
challenges facing Irish agriculture, including international
trade policy and climate change negotiations. However,
rather than dampening the expectations and optimism of
his audience, Aidan took a very positive view of possible
developments in this regard.
“In my view we must look to our future optimistically, but
also realistically, and ensure that we develop the resilience
to deal with the challenges that lie ahead. Continuous
adaptation will be required in changing circumstances.”
Aidan was speaking ahead of John Moloney, chairman of
the Food Wise 2025 report, and agreed that it sets out
a vision for the development of the agri-food sector. “We
know from previous experience that this broad strategy
must be matched to an effective implementation process
that involves continuous engagement with key stakeholders,
along with a joined-up and coherent state response.” He
also had a word of caution that this process needs to be
open and adaptable to meet the changing circumstances
on EU and global markets.
Taking a global view
Turning then to global food markets and trade, Aidan cited
the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures showing
exports of €11.3bn in 2014 – a 29 per cent increase on
2010 – with value growth to the UK of 24 per cent over the
past four years and non-EU exports, particularly to Asia,
up 59 per cent in the same period. He pointed to dairy as
the big driver, accounting for one-third of total agri-food
exports, with beef at 20 per cent and beverages at 10 per
cent. “Over 90 per cent of our beef now goes to the EU,
where we have developed strong markets based on our
02/10/2015 09:54
13
OCTOBER 2015
Aidan O’Driscoll, secretary general of the Department
of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
reputation for safety, quality and innovation.”
After that positive statement the secretary general went on
to highlight the fact that we live and trade in a globalised
world with inequalities that cannot be ignored: “Hunger
impacts nearly 795 million people on this planet, with
obesity affecting 600 million people.”
Population growth and increasing prosperity in developing
countries beg two questions that Aidan posed: How poor
or prosperous will those people be? And are they potential
refugees or potential future customers for our food industry?
He quoted figures showing that the first decade of this
century witnessed an historic reduction in global poverty
from 29 per cent of the global population in 2001 to 15
per cent in 2011 – with China accounting for half of that.
At the same time, there has been growth of almost 60 per
cent in middle-income groups. However, the keynote speaker
admitted, the bulk of that growth has been at the bottom
end of the scale – those earning $10-$20/day for a family of
four. The upper-income categories have, he said, grown more
modestly at a rate of around 3 per cent a year to just
over one-billion people in 2011.
Aidan struck a realistic note: “Demand for
dairy and meat products is rising by about
1.5-2 per cent per year, with much of this
requirement met by increased production in
developing countries. So, there is a growing
market but not on a scale that suggests
easy pickings for our industry. We will have
to be competitive and innovative to grow in
this market.”
A cautionary tale
The cautionary tale also extended to
product pricing: “The recent FAO-OECD
outlook to 2025 suggests that while
markets in the medium term will be good
we should not expect that global prices
will increase significantly compared to
recent medium-term averages. They show
dairy and meat market prices returning
to normal levels from their current troughs
and peaks, respectively, and then rising
slightly in nominal terms – and falling slightly
in real terms – over the next 10 years, with
plenty of volatility in that time.” Aidan explained
the rationale for the €500m EU aid package to
alleviate some of the problems of current low prices
and agreed that further thought and action may be
02/10/2015 09:54
14
COVER STORY
needed on how to best cope with market volatility in the
longer term. A key hedge against unstable global markets,
he insisted, is to have access to a wide range of markets
throughout the world, something his Department is working
hard to achieve.
A trading nation
The EU, Aidan pointed out, has a clear objective of
continuing to open trade opportunities globally, adding
that there is reason to speculate that there could be
progress towards a belated, new World Trade Organization
(WTO) deal by the end of the year. According to Aidan,
Ireland favours a balanced WTO deal that takes account
of concessions granted by the EU since 2008 in new
free-trade agreements, the changed picture for EU import
requirements in certain sectors and the substantial changes
made in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
“As a trading country we have a clear national interest
in a strong global architecture for trade. EU trade deals
and economic partnership agreements have been done
with a range of countries, including the recent CETA with
Canada, which removed 99 per cent of tariffs and created
significant new market access opportunities for both sides.”
An agreement with the MERCOSUR countries – Argentina,
Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela – would, however,
have been a trade bridge too far for Ireland, Aidan
admitted.
TTIP – the EU/US trade deal
Aidan pointed to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP) as being particularly important for
Ireland, with the US being a major trading partner and
Ireland having a large and growing agri-food trade surplus
with the US. He outlined opportunities in the US for
branded packaged butter, cheese, powdered milks and
sports products if some regulatory barriers could be
removed. A balance, though, would have to be achieved
with regard to beef. In the long term, any significant
increase in beef imports to the EU could have adverse
effects on the Irish industry. “While US beef prices are
currently at historic highs, long term we have legitimate
OCTOBER 2015
concerns about the size, composition and administration of
any quota offered to the US.
“Of course, we should also seek a significant EU quota for
beef to the US as part of any TTIP agreement. When we get
access for manufacturing beef, we would stand to benefit
greatly from a specific EU import quota in the US and this
can only be achieved through TTIP. “
As to the prospects and timing of a TTIP deal, the secretary
general could not see a deal being concluded before the
end of 2016 at the earliest.
Climate change
Climate change and security of food supply are directly
linked, Aidan insists. He informed the ASA audience
that, in October 2014, the EU’s prime ministers adopted
some important text, largely drafted by Ireland, that
acknowledged the low mitigation potential of agriculture
and the importance of the sustainable intensification of
food production and of carbon sequestration, including
through afforestation. That statement must now be built on,
Aidan concluded. He warned that this does not mean that
Ireland is seeking, or will receive, a ‘get out of jail free’ card
for agriculture. “However, the fundamental point is that a
successful way forward to the parallel priorities of climate
protection and sustainable food production will require a
specific approach, including the promotion of sustainable
intensification of food production, encouragement of
sustainable land management and afforestation and a move
as far as possible to carbon neutrality in cost-effective
terms. The latter point is at the core of Irish national
policy which seeks to move towards carbon neutrality
by maximising carbon sequestration in soils and forests
while minimising emissions per unit of agricultural output.
We must do this without compromising our capacity for
sustainable food production.”
The practical initiatives to drive this policy include, as
Aidan outlined to the ASA conference, the €1.4bn GLAS
scheme, a €350m beef data and genomics scheme, carbon
navigators, well supported advisory services and the allimportant Origin Green programme, providing independent
certification for our producers and processors.
02/10/2015 09:54
INTERVIEW
15
OCTOBER 2015
THE COMMUNITY
CONNECTION
Despite significant funding cuts and the
necessary removal of some rural routes
in recent years, Bus Éireann’s transport
network continues to connect communities
all over the country, CEO of Bus Éireann
Martin Nolan tells Matt O’Keeffe
The sheer scale of the logistics associated with Bus
Éireann’s operations is apparent from the opening remarks
of the company’s CEO Martin Nolan in an interview with
Irish Farmers Monthly: “My role in Bus Éireann involves
overseeing a business that has over 4,500 vehicles on the
road every day, 10,000 people involved in running those
vehicles, about 70,000 trips every day and a presence in
nearly every community in the country.”
The interview took place only a day after a school bus
crashed in county Cork without any serious injuries and it was
noticeable that Martin places great emphasis on ensuring
that everyone on their buses gets to their destination safely.
“We maintain high standards, with regular maintenance
checks,” Martin says. “Inevitably, there is a requirement
for everyone to do their job properly. Our reaction to,
and handling of, the accident in Cork demonstrated these
standards.” This major role in the Irish transport system
means that Bus Éireann has a connection with many
thousands of Irish people on a daily basis. Martin agrees:
“If you look at the services we run, our staff live in the areas
where their customers come from. Our motto, because of
this connection, is ‘in the heart of the community’. Sometimes
that is difficult to fulfil when we run out of money but that is
the essence of our workplace – out there in the community.”
A complex entity
Bus Éireann effectively operates three separate services,
the company’s CEO explains.
“The inter-city services, comprising 23 routes, serve the
main population centres. That used to encompass nearly
every town and village until the advent of the motorways.
Those services operate commercially without any State
subvention. The company also administers a public services
contract for the National Transport Authority (NTA). That
includes 300 routes, involving all of the provincial cities,
commuter services into Dublin and rural and local services
around Ireland. Finally, Bus Éireann administers the school
transport system. Around 112,000 students are carried
twice daily to their schools, including 9,000 special needs
children.” The fleet logistics of this exercise are impressive:
“3,700 vehicles are used, of which 90 per cent are
contracted in to deliver the services.”
Public subventions
Public subvention of transport services is often a
contentious issue. Martin is clear about what is involved
and the rationale for the funding the company receives:
“The school transport scheme is run on behalf of the
Department of Education. That service is fully funded by
Government and users, with no profit in it for Bus Éireann.
The public service contract is about 30 per cent funded
by Government through the NTA. That service is audited
annually and we must prove that we are operating the
service efficiently.”
The Bus Éireann CEO does insist that the current financial
subvention to the company is inadequate.
02/10/2015 09:54
16
INTERVIEW
OCTOBER 2015
The Bus Éireann school
transport service network.
Special Schools
Post Primary Schools
Primary Schools
“It is generally recognised that
Bus Éireann is underfunded
for the services it provides.
Work is going on to rectify that
situation. Over the past seven
years we have had a 30 per
cent reduction in subvention.
We have cut costs, including
staff numbers by 13 per cent, over
the period. That includes 8 per cent
of front-line staff and 20 per cent of
backroom staff. We have increased
passenger revenues substantially
as well.”
Services cut
The removal of some bus
services is a long-standing
cause of anger for rural
communities. Martin
justifies the changes that
have been made: “We do
review and move around some
local services under our contract with the NTA. The
inter-city Expressway services are the ones causing the
most angst. With the development of the motorways, the
strategy has to be to provide transport between the centres
of population as quickly as possible. That’s forcing us out
of the smaller towns and villages where low populations
make some journeys unviable. We have, effectively, been
the last operator to leave these routes in many situations.
The emergence of competition on routes makes this a
greater imperative than ever. It has taken a lot of effort
to get inter-city services back to break-even, financially,
and that must be the target, otherwise we would have to
close routes entirely. These decisions are not taken lightly.
We make every effort where possible, under the publicly
funded transport services we offer, to discuss and consult
with local communities around the services they need.
That’s not possible on commercial, competitive Expressway
routes, for instance.”
A valued service
Martin recognises the value of the free transport scheme to
its recipients.
“The service is widely used,” he explains. “There are knockon benefits to the Irish economy. During the recession,
for instance, it supported a lot of domestic tourism. We
will deliver the service as long
as it is funded. The numbers
are growing annually so there are
negotiations with the Department
of Social Protection through CIE
to reflect that fact.” As a general
comment on any move to limit
the service to non-peak hours,
Martin notes that journeys
made under the service are
often made based on medical
and other appointments – that
are not aligned in any way to peak
or off-peak transport times. That,
he adds, is an even bigger issue for
rural customers who may have to
travel greater distances for appointments.
Long-term commitment
“Right now we provide a backbone transport network
around the country. We deliver linkages to our own local
services along with private operators. Add on the school
transport service and there is a lot of integration resulting
in efficiencies generally. Ireland is a sparsely populated
country with more rural roads than almost any other
country in Europe. With common depots for many of our
services, the overheads are kept to a minimum.”
What does the future hold for Martin’s company? “Bus
Éireann’s 10 Routes to a Better Transport Future document
shows that there is a need for a doubling of public
transport in the main cities to reduce congestion. Transport
hubs involving all transport providers would deliver a
more integrated and efficient system. Ticketing integration
through the Leap card is already well advanced and will
continue to develop. Public transport must have priority
over private options.”
If ever there were a prime example of an historically
integrated transport network, it can be seen outside the
window of Martin’s office on Constitution Hill in Dublin.
“This was the site of an old railway station for the Midlands
and Western Railway Company. It is now a bus station.
The terminus for the canal was also on this site. Right now,
approaching from the city centre is the newest Luas line,
being constructed as part of the developing transport
system for Dublin. Bus Éireann intends to be a key
component of an integrated Irish public transport system in
the years ahead.”
02/10/2015 09:54
EDUCATION
17
OCTOBER 2015
IRELAND’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
University College Dublin is in the top 1 per cent of universities in the world. Research
at UCD addresses the challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future of
Ireland and the wider world, writes Professor David MacHugh, associate dean for
research, innovation and impact, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science conducts
interdisciplinary collaborative agriculture and food research
in areas of national and international strategic importance
by building on existing strengths while valuing individual
research activity. The school has a very active research
programme comprising 58 principal investigators, 184
graduate research students, 46 contract research staff and
an operating research income of €55.3m in the five-year
period from October 2010 to July 2015. The UCD School
of Agriculture and Food Science research programme
is aligned to the four management sections within the
school. There are many examples of collaborations
between these research areas, and researchers operate
in a multidisciplinary environment. The school’s current
research activities can be broadly defined as seeking to:
• Advance efficient and sustainable animal and crop
production to contribute to national targets and adhere to
policy reform;
• Develop and evaluate sustainable land use;
• Advance the economic management and performance of
the food chain and contribute to policies and programmes
in rural and agricultural development; and
• Optimise the quality of foods to enhance the health and
well-being of consumers.
Animal and Crop Science
The core objective of the Animal and Crop Science group
is to advance, through innovative research, efficient and
sustainable animal and crop production to contribute to
national targets and policy reform. This group encompasses
a diversity of expertise to potentially address full-cycle
research in agriculture and primary food production.
Environment and Sustainable Resource Management
The overarching aims of Environment and Sustainable
Resource Management research are: to understand
interactions between land use systems and the wider
environment; to develop sustainable land use systems and
management practices; and to inform the development of
agri-environmental, forestry, horticulture and related policy.
UCD – AT A GLANCE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ranked in top 100 universities in the world in nine subjects by
2015 QS Subject Rankings, including agriculture and forestry
Ranked number one in Ireland in 12 subjects by 2015 QS Subject
Rankings, including agriculture and forestry
26,354 students in Dublin and 5,448 overseas
6,170 international students from 120 countries
36 per cent of researchers from outside Ireland
218,000 alumni across the globe
400 partner universities for student exchange
The proposed ‘greening’ of the Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) and development of associated research programmes
means that future opportunities are likely to be more
strongly focused at EU level.
Agribusiness and Rural Development
The current research activities in the Agribusiness and
Rural Development group comprise four main themes: food
chain economics and management; rural development;
agricultural extension; and humanitarian action.
The principal objectives of Agribusiness and Rural
Development are to: advance the economic management
and performance of the food chain; contribute to
improved decisions on policies and programmes in rural
and agricultural development; understand and support
the factors that influence farmer behaviour in adopting
change technologies; and to deepen understanding of
contemporary humanitarian challenges in order to promote
evidence-based humanitarian response.
Food Science and Nutrition
Food Science and Nutrition research is closely aligned to
UCD’s research strategy with food and health listed as a
major programme within the health and healthcare theme.
The research themes of the Food and Nutrition section
are also strategically aligned with the research priorities of
UCD’s Institute of Food and Health, a virtual institute that
coordinates all UCD’s food and health activities.
02/10/2015 09:54
18
FARMVIEW
OPEC
FOR DAIRY
FARMERS?
OCTOBER 2015
The late Joe Rea, former president of
the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA)
and Macra na Feirme, often spoke of an
‘OPEC for dairy farmers’.
Matt O’Keeffe asks if the time for Joe’s
idea has finally come
Joe Rea believed that the only way for dairy farmers to
take control of their own destinies in terms of securing a
viable income was to form a grouping, along the lines of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), so
that control of output would deliver viable prices to dairy
farmers. Nothing came of Joe’s suggestion then. Perhaps
the time is right to reconsider his thoughts on the subject.
Double-digit price falls
A current president of another Irish farm organisation, John
Comer of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
(ICMSA), recently highlighted some stark statistics to show
the predicament that Irish dairy farmers are in right now.
Average dairy farmer income for the first eight months
of 2015, John says, has fallen to approximately €9,300,
which, he noted, is about €2,300 less than someone on a
39-hour week minimum wage has earned over the same
period. The ICMSA leader said that the reality now was
that the country’s milk suppliers – who work an average
60-hour week – are earning marginally above social welfare
but considerably below the statutory minimum wage, a
fact that he described as a damning indictment of the
conduct of dairy policy at both European Commission and
national level. While he conceded that a degree of global
dairy market volatility was unavoidable in the immediate
aftermath of quota abolition, John noted that the doubledigit price falls had only been applied to the producers.
He said that while milk price to farmers had fallen by
around 35 per cent, the supermarkets had not reduced the
retail milk price by a cent. His demand is for an intervention
price of 28c/L and, longer term, an insistence by the
Commission that all links in the food production chain are
allowed a margin and not sacrificed to the profits of some
of the biggest and most aggressive corporations on the
planet.
Looking for solutions
There’s not a lot to find fault with in John Comer’s discourse
02/10/2015 09:54
19
OCTOBER 2015
on the current situation and the potential remedies. The
only downside of an improved intervention price, or aids to
private storage is that, ultimately, dairy products taken off
the market will, in time, return to that market. ‘Intervention
product hasn’t gone away’ will, at some stage, be the
catch-cry of dairy buyers and will overhang the market,
depressing prices into the future.
Is there another, more radical and practical solution,
that would almost immediately lift both dairy prices
and demand for product without the overhang of stored
product? Let’s return to Joe Rea’s OPEC idea for a
moment. The original OPEC countries had a great degree
of coherence. Oil production was limited in order to
control returns without stifling the buyer’s ability to pay
and consequently causing economic depression and
lower demand. Could such a body be created to control
milk production? With huge numbers of individual milk
producers, even within the European Union, success could
not be guaranteed. It is surely worthwhile putting forward a
proposal for producers to consider. The policy would have
to be effective, immediate and deliver tangible financial
results with minimal cost to the producer.
Power to the producer
Dump the surplus
A permanent option
Consider a proposal to remove 2 per cent of the EU’s
milk production from the market – permanently. A week’s
supply would be the equivalent of taking 2 per cent of
milk production off the market. If – a big if, admittedly –
the majority of producers could be persuaded to ‘dump’
a week’s production the market would come back into
balance. The policy would be even more effective if New
Zealand, and even US, milk producers could be brought
on board. The cost would not be nearly as great as might
be at first thought. Take an average 350,000L production
base. One week’s supply would amount to 6,730L. Valued
at 26c/L, that would cost the producer €1,682. That figure,
however, when spread across annual production, costs
less than half of a cent per litre. Considering producers
have suffered cuts of 13c/L and more on base milk price,
an annualised reduction of a half-cent would be well
worthwhile if it resulted in a restoration of market balance.
The immediate effect would be a lift in prices of several
cents per litre, thus easily wiping out the initial cost. The
merits of such an initiative are clear. It would restore dairy
farm incomes quickly and cost-effectively with no overhang
on the market from temporarily stored product.
The concept of a long-term OPEC-style milk production
coordination body to permanently deliver real market
power to milk producers would require a more nuanced
strategy to intervene in the market at strategic intervals.
A levy (that dirty word) placed on all milk supplies across
the globe would build a fund to ensure that this ‘OMEC’
– organisation of milk exporting countries – milk market
management would be affordable and popular. A 0.1c/L
levy would create a fund to cover the cost of removing
large tonnages of milk from the market as required. The
aim would be to maintain prices at a set level. Could this
be challenged as unfair market management? Unfair on
whom? Certainly not the producer. The consumer would
be guaranteed a regular supply of quality product at
stable prices. Many of the dairy product purchasers across
the globe are already moving, slowly, towards a policy of
sustainability. That includes ensuring a sustainable supply
from financially sustainable production platforms. Those
producers who are in the best position to grow production
sustainably could continue to do so and a balanced market
could be maintained. Has the time for Joe Rea’s proposal
finally come?
Most of all, it would deliver pricing power to the producer,
something never before available. Environmental and
consumer concerns would have to be taken into account.
Disposal of the surplus milk could be achieved by storing in
slurry tanks, diluting the milk sufficiently so that it could be
spread on the land in due course, with no adverse effects.
Consumers might consider this to be a waste of food. But,
given that consumers benefit only marginally, if at all, from
low farm-gate prices, this should not be an insurmountable
barrier, especially if done in tandem with a public relations
campaign outlining the very real financial difficulties
being endured by milk producers and the benefits to
consumers and the public purse of a balanced market.
With expectations of growing consumer demand and the
vagaries of production, this is a strategy that would only be
used intermittently.
The alternative to such a radical approach is to endure
the current low prices, watch the havoc being wreaked on
dairy producers across the globe and wait until the financial
hardship become so great that large numbers of producers
go out of business.
02/10/2015 09:54
•
•
•
02/10/2015 09:54
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
02/10/2015 09:54
22
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
Dairymaster’s Swiftflo
Commander took the top
award at the National
Ploughing Championships’
Innovation Awards.
INNOVATION IN
DAIRY TECHNOLOGY
g st
Dairymaster is an Irish dairy company and one of the
world’s drivers of innovative dairy technology. The
company’s focus is on advanced engineering to build better
products, as well as the development and integration of
advanced technologies onto farms by which they aim to
make the farming experience more profitable, enjoyable
and sustainable. Smart sensing technologies in the
MooMonitor+ system, which has won four innovation
awards worldwide, gives farmers improved fertility and
herd health through 24-hour continuous monitoring of six
specific cow behaviours. This should reflect itself in net
profit for the farmer. For example, according to Ryan and
O’Grady, a typical case of clinical ketosis in a high-yielding
cow can cost the farmer on average €190. And a farm with
15 per cent subclinical cases in a 100-cow herd will lose
out on €1,320 due to forgone losses in milk production.
With the MooMonitor+, behaviour monitoring function
problems are spotted in the early stages and allow swift
action by the farmer, meaning these problems can be
addressed accordingly without losing out on production.
Feedback has suggested a significant improvement in herd
1
A DRIVING FORCE
1
By 2020, an increase in milk production of 50 per cent for
the Irish market is expected. In the next few years our dairy
landscape will change towards larger dairy operations,
more narrow profit margins due to a higher milk price
volatility and higher labour input. At the same time, the
consumer’s focus is on a more natural dairy product of
which high quality is assured. This means less antibiotic
usage on farms, more emphasis on dairy cow health and
welfare, and better quality control for dairy products in
general. As a result, an increase in milk production for the
Irish farmer can only be established when continuously
monitoring the individual cow’s health and fertility status.
This, together with the application of excellent milking
techniques and hygiene protocols, remain the major
emphasis on farm. So, when increasing herd size, one has
to decide whether to hire more skilled labour or to invest
in technology. In countries where labour is cheap this
choice is easily made. However, for Ireland, well-skilled farm
labour is hard to find and, according to the Food Harvest
2020 report, Irish farmers strive towards expansion while
maintaining the same labour units. This is where the power
of technology steps in.
3
The abolition of milk
quota last April has
opened the doors
to an accelerated
expansion of Irish
dairy herds. Since
global demand is
increasing by 3-4 per
cent annually, this
herd expansion on
Irish farms is needed
to maintain a steady
market position,
according to Jiska
Healy, veterinarian and
Dairymaster adviser
02/10/2015 09:54
1
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02/10/2015 109:54
26/08/2015 12:51
24
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
health status after installing the system. Another example:
the total cost of a cow fatality here in Ireland is close to
€2,300. If health monitoring technologies can prevent some
of these deaths then the cost/benefit can be quite positive.
OPTIMAL MILKING
Innovative milking equipment and the back-to-basic 4x0
milking technique of Dairymaster’s parlours, in conjunction
with their pulsation and liners, provide the farmer with an
alternative to current milking systems on the market that
milk 2x2. According to Dairymaster, its parlours typically
milk out each cow one minute faster with up to 5 per cent
higher yield than competitors. This is due to more efficient
milk out and the benefits of optimising both milking and
resting phase.
The Dairymaster milking system, allied to to the Kerrybased manufacturer’s in-house designed liner, ensures the
lowest liner slip percentages, the company says. Optional
features are automatic cluster removal, automatic teat
spray and ClusterCleanse. All of these benefit teat health
and milk quality.
TEAT HEALTH
A decrease in long-term teat end damage such as
hyperkeratosis is usually observed after installing a
Dairymaster parlour, figures from the company would
indicate. Teat conformation improves and at the same time
the teat canal barrier will recover.
As a result, the teat’s resistance against new infections
increases. At the other end of the scale, low contamination
risk is established by proper milking protocols and clean
clusters. This benefits both cow health and welfare
and reduces cell counts. Dairymaster’s ClusterCleanse
technology automatically sanitises the liners of each
cluster, reducing bacterial contamination.
Attention to detail on farm goes hand in hand with having
access to key information points at the right place and
time. The most recent product in Dairymaster’s range – the
Swiftflo Commander – includes an advanced milking point
controller system with touchpad technology displaying
information about each individual cow in a compact
and integrated way. The system is robust, easy to clean
and fully water resistant. The Commander’s advanced
pulsation control results in a reduction in energy and longer
equipment lifespan. Simple and easy-to-read visualisations
of cow ID, group numbers, milk yields, milking duration, milk
and wash temperature, somatic cell count (SCC) and SCC
as a percentage of the herd makes it easy for the farmer to
see what is going on at farm level. The system integrates
with other Dairymaster products such as ClusterCleanse,
MooMonitor+, Dairymaster’s milk meter and indicator
technology, Automatic Cluster Removal and diversion line.
With one push of a button there is full control, whether
to draft or retain cows, manage a cow’s feed or withhold
milk for a set withdrawal period. The system automatically
prompts the operator when a cow is in heat, needs to
have a California mastitis test (CMT) or alerts when a
freshly calved cow presents herself for milking. All of this
is controlled from each single milking point in the parlour.
Changes made at the milking point are automatically
saved at source. Dairymaster insists that the Swiftflo
Commander allows cows to be milked more quickly and
efficiently while optimising milk quality. It uses the latest
smart update technology so future updates can be installed
within minutes, making it the obvious choice. Important
management decisions, such as testing a cow for SCC, can
be made on the spot along with decisions of drafting a cow
for a veterinary inspection or insemination, ensuring better
herd health and time management for the farmer and, at
the same time, improving profitability on farm.
02/10/2015 09:54
25
OCTOBER 2015
LATE SEASON OF BLOWFLY STRIKE
Despite a late start to the season, Irish farmers are being warned that recent
conditions were ideal for fast and potentially devastating cases of blowfly strike to
occur, writes Dr Fiona Lovatt, independent sheep veterinary consultant and senior
vice-president of the Sheep Veterinary Society in the UK
Blowfly strike is one of the most familiar and unpleasant
issues affecting sheep in Ireland. Research has shown that
every year there will be cases on more than 75 per cent of
sheep farms, with every case causing pain and distress to the
sheep, as well as a drain on the time and finances of farmers.
As an industry, we now understand more about the factors
which contribute to blowfly strike and the strategies that can
help to prevent its occurrence. However, each year, many
shepherds fail to benefit from that knowledge and suffer the
emotional and economic consequences of failing to act until
after the first cases of strike have occurred.
Veterinarian Padraig Harris comments: “Blowflies have
already been reported on farms across Ireland, and some
cases of strike were even confirmed as early as April.
However, since then, the warm temperatures coupled with
the recent rain have allowed the blowfly population to
dramatically increase. “We usually see a burst of blowflies in
mid-June but the warm and humid weather we’re currently
experiencing has really thrown the strike season up in the air.
These conditions are perfect for blowflies and will impact on
the frequency and severity of blowfly strike.
“Unfortunately, each case of strike will increase the risk to
the rest of the flock by increasing the blowfly population in
the area. Once struck, an animal can die quickly or suffer
a dramatic effect on growth rate as well as damage to both
hide and fleece causing further loss.
“We advise farmers to use a narrow-spectrum preventative
treatment, dependent on the weight of the lamb and
considering meat withhold times. This method of treatment
ensures that once applied the sheep are protected for a
period of time. In this part of Ireland you will never get away
without preventative treatment.”
UNPREDICTABILITY
Dr Lovatt continues: “We are all well aware of the
unpredictability of the weather, seen last year in a very warm
spring compared to this year’s cooler, but still very unsettled,
season. The occurrence of blowfly strike depends on both
soil temperature and air humidity, as well as the presence
of long, wet or dirty fleece. Due to the changeable weather,
getting the timing right for treatment of ewes and lambs
against blowfly strike can be difficult. However, evidence
consistently suggests that early application is the most
cost-effective way to reduce the numbers of both flies and
susceptible sheep.”
THE GAMBLE
Waiting for the first case of blowfly strike before thinking
about treatment is a dangerous gamble to take, and
commonly farmers act too late. A struck sheep can be hard
to spot, having separated itself from the main flock, and, at a
high-risk time of year, apparently clean sheep can be heavily
infested with maggots within a day or so. The results can
be devastating. Each case of strike increases the risk to the
rest of the flock by increasing the blowfly population in the
area. And, once struck, an animal can die quickly or suffer
for a week or so before succumbing. Obviously, the death
of even one sheep has financial consequences, but, even
when an animal does not actually die, there is a dramatic
effect on growth rate as well as damage to both hide and
fleece, causing further loss. Of course there are additional
costs associated with the time and labour required to
catch and treat all affected sheep as well as the medicines
needed for treatment and nursing. The impact can be felt
on an emotional level, too. A severely struck sheep will be
in significant distress, with foul and tender open wounds
caused by the blowfly larvae quite literally eating their way
through both skin and flesh.
STOP PLAYING THE BLOWFLY LOTTERY
The gamble of the blowfly lottery can be significantly
reduced with a simple but effective fly control strategy
discussed in partnership with a vet. Every case of fly strike
on a farm has a significant cost to both finances and welfare,
but cases of fly strike do not have to be inevitable. With the
right strategy and the right products in place at the right
02/10/2015 09:54
150828_
26
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
time of year, the risk of fly strike is dramatically reduced.
Blowfly strike is a disease which should always be controlled
by taking appropriate preventative action and best practice
can be based on a three-tier strategy:
• Arm yourself with the facts on blowfly strike and put in
place a fly control strategy before it is too late. As soon
as possible, you should consult your vet or animal health
adviser as to the most appropriate strategy for your farm.
The most cost-effective strategies involve treating both
ewes and lambs early in the season. Once you see a case
of strike, you have already incurred significant costs and
it is arguably too late. However, at least you can use this
unfortunate case to prompt immediate action to protect
the rest of the flock for this year and to remind you to
treat earlier next year;
• Don’t be fooled by a slower start to the fly season due
to lower temperatures earlier this spring. Breech strike
in lambs occurs irrespective of weather conditions, and
the risk increases as their wool grows and the number of
dirty backsides increase. Unsettled, wet weather in the
early summer can give high humidity and warmth that
will inevitably lead to strike. And don’t take your eyes off
OCTOBER 2015
the ball by the end of the summer. A warm, wet autumn
combined with longer fleece lengths can mean high strike
risk in both ewes and lambs that were not given a longlasting product earlier in the season;
• We know that the timely use of a preventative product
will limit the build-up of flies as well as protect the sheep.
In accordance with SCOPS guidelines, I would always
recommend that, wherever possible, a narrow-spectrum
preventative product is used, and for the prevention
of blowfly strike this means an insect growth regulator
(IGR) is ideal. The active ingredient in these products
halts maggot development in its early stages, preventing
damage to the sheep and subsequent flystrike.
Although the synthetic pyrethroids are essential for use in
the treatment of established cases of strike, they are less
suitable for prevention due to their broad-spectrum nature,
as well as potential residue and efficacy issues if used in
anything other than a recently shorn sheep.
There are enough factors affecting the success of sheep
farming that are out of our control – such as the Irish
weather and the price of lamb – don’t introduce another risk
by gambling with the blowflies that we know we can control.
02/10/2015 09:54
ESB 200
150828_ESBN_HarvestingAd-A4_IFP-Media_Layout 1 28/08/2015 01:07 Page 1
LOOK UP,
IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
Making contact with overhead electricity wires or even coming close puts you
at serious risk of injury or death from electrocution when harvesting.
• The majority of accidents occur through failure to notice the overhead power lines.
• Always take sensible precautions when harvesting cereal crops.
• Electricity can jump gaps so even coming close puts you at serious risk.
• Overhead power lines can be difficult to see in sunlight or at dusk.
Phone immediately 1850 372 999 (24 hour/7 day service).
www.esbnetworks.ie
ESB 200x283.indd 1
02/10/2015 09:54
28/08/2015 09:51
28
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
GETTING READY
FOR AUTUMN CALVING
With autumn calving already taking place on many dairy and beef farms around the
country, correct management of both calved cows and freshly born calves is
essential. Decisions made now can have a direct impact on the health of both cows
and calves and, ultimately, the overall profitability of the farming enterprise, writes
Robert Flynn, product manager, Premier Molasses
THE CALVING PERIOD
The calving period is very important in the cow’s life cycle.
During this time, cows encounter many metabolic and
environmental changes as they transition from the dry
period into early lactation. Reduction in dry matter intake
(DMI) is one such change. In some instances, a dairy cow’s
dry matter intake (DMI) can fall to as low as 6.5-7.0kg per
head per day in the period prior to calving. This forage
depression may not be as severe in suckler cows.
Typically, it can take 10-12 weeks post-calving before DMI
increases and peak forage consumption rates are achieved
once again. However, cows will have reached peak milk
production far earlier than this. This time delay unavoidably
leads to a period of negative energy balance (NEB) for
cows, as energy expended for body maintenance and
milk production far exceeds energy intake through forage
consumption. While this might not be a major issue for
suckler cows, there is a possibility that high-yielding dairy
cows will mobilise some of their own fat reserves which, in
turn, risks leading to a loss in body condition score (BSC), as
the cow is essentially ‘milking off her own back’. Extended
periods of NEB can have an undesirable impact for both the
cow’s health and, ultimately, the profitability of the farm. It
should, therefore, be best avoided where possible.
02/10/2015 09:54
29
OCTOBER 2015
FEEDING FOR FERTILITY
Feeding the cow to maximise both DM and energy intake
should be a priority post-calving. In early lactation,
the autumn calving cow’s diet can range from grass to
grass/maize silage or a formulated total mixed ration
(TMR). Poor cow nutrition at this time can lead to many
unwanted health issues, including ketosis and fatty liver
disease. Additionally, cows can also suffer from reduced
fertility, repeat heat cycles, delayed conception dates
and a reduction in milk production where a low-energy
diet is provided. A diet with a UFL value of 0.95-1.0
per kg of dry matter (DM) and
a crude protein (CP) level of 17
per cent per kgDM should be fed
to dairy cows that are below the
optimum BCS in early lactation.
Whereas for beef cows, a diet with
a UFL value of 0.94+ per kgDM
and a crude protein level of 16
per cent per kgDM should be
provided to prevent any excess
BSC loss. Providing a high-energy
diet supplemented with postcalving minerals and vitamins will
help maintain and increase BCS,
therefore helping to prevent any
negative health issues, while also
improving conception rates during
the breeding season. Increasing the
energy in the diet will also improve
the overall profitability of the farm,
as increases in milk production and
animal live weight gain will occur,
thus leaving more milk in the bulk
tank on dairy farms and better
quality calves at weaning in beef
herds.
Molasses will also help to increase the DMI of the animal
and improve energy parturition while also promoting an
efficient and healthy rumen. Incorporating molasses into
TMRs will also aid in the uniform distribution of postcalver minerals throughout the feed, prevent ration sorting
and improve the overall structure of TMRs. Molasses liquid
feeds can be fed in a range of different methods including
through the TMR or poured on or mixed with dry feeds
and forages.
ADDING MOLASSES TO THE DIET
The addition of a highly soluble
sugar source to the calved cow’s
diet in the form of molasses or
molasses-based blends will also
assist in preventing the negative
energy balance that can occur
post-calving. Adding molasses
to lactating cows’ diets goes far
beyond just increasing its energy
density.
02/10/2015 09:54
30
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
BREEDINGOUTDISEASE
Advances in animal breeding and genetics relevant to disease control in cattle
can now be utilised as part of an overall programme for improved cattle health, as
research by Donagh Berry and others has demonstrated, writes Matt O’Keeffe
A review by Donagh Berry and fellow researchers, published
in the Irish Veterinary Journal some time ago, summarises
the contribution of genetic make-up to differences
in resistance to many diseases affecting cattle. The
following extracts show that significant genetic variation in
susceptibility to disease does exist among cattle, suggesting
that genetic selection for improved resistance to disease will
be fruitful.
Deficiencies in accurately recorded data on individual
animal susceptibility to disease are still hindering the
inclusion of health and disease resistance traits in national
breeding goals.
Developments in ‘omics’ technologies, such as genomic
selection, may help to overcome some of the limitations
of traditional breeding programmes and will be especially
beneficial in breeding for lowly heritable disease traits that
only manifest themselves following exposure to pathogens
or environmental stressors in adulthood. Access to large
databases of phenotypes on health and disease will still be
necessary. This review clearly shows that genetics make a
significant contribution to the overall health and resistance
to disease in cattle. Therefore, breeding programmes for
improved animal health and disease resistance should be
seen as an integral part of any overall national disease
control strategy.
SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES
There continue to be very significant advances in
efforts to control disease in cattle, with the potential
for improvements to both performance and welfare.
These advances have included improved understanding
of disease pathophysiology and epidemiology, as well
as the development of products such as antibiotics and
anthelmintics for improved disease control. Concurrently,
there have been considerable advances in animal breeding
and genetics, relevant to animal disease control. These
advances are of considerable veterinary interest, noting
that observed animal performance is the outcome of the
interaction between the animal’s genetic make-up and the
specific environment it was exposed to. Logically, therefore,
improved genetics has the potential to complement current
approaches to animal disease control. Improvement in
animal health through genetic selection is advantageous,
because genetic gain is cumulative and permanent, as the
genes introduced into a population can persist for many
generations. Unravelling the genetic architecture of health
and disease resistance not only facilitates knowledge
development on potential for breeding for improved
health status but also generates knowledge for biomedical
research in animals and humans including applications such
as vaccine development.
02/10/2015 09:54
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owned by or licensed to Eli Lilly and Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries. For information
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02/10/2015
09/09/2015 10:17
32
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
SELECTING FOR MASTITIS RESISTANCE
Mastitis is one of the most costly diseases in dairy cattle
production systems and is also likely to impact significantly
on profitability in suckler beef production systems. A
plethora of international scientific studies have been
undertaken on the genetics of udder health, including
genetic analysis of Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows.
Heritability estimates for mastitis have been variable across
studies, reflecting variation in a multitude of factors such
as the person undertaking the recording (ie. farmer or
veterinarian) and how they interpret the clinical signs, the
completeness of data recording (ie. some observations not
recorded), as well as the pathogen and the environment,
including exposure, which may influence the expression of
an animal’s genotype. A heritability estimate for mastitis
of 0.05 in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows is consistent
with international research results. The genetic standard
deviation for mastitis varies from 1.2 to 7.0 percentage
units, suggesting that genetic gain can be achieved by
OCTOBER 2015
selecting for clinical mastitis. A reduction in genetic merit
to susceptibility to clinical mastitis is achievable with active
selection of sires of superior genetic merit for clinical
mastitis. After five generations of selection, cows actively
selected for low clinical mastitis had a mean incidence of
less than 5 per cent while the incidence of clinical mastitis
in cows on the selection lines for increased production was
over 25 per cent.
There is a genetic correlation between somatic cell count
(SCC) and mastitis, and this indicates that SCC is a good
genetic predictor of mastitis and can, therefore, be used
in breeding programmes to augment the accuracy of
selection, even where data on clinical mastitis may be
available. Nonetheless, despite the relatively strong genetic
correlation between SCC and mastitis, indicating that they
are both measuring similar genetic characteristics of udder
health, additional genetic gain can be achieved by recording
clinical mastitis, even if data on SCC are available, and used
in genetic evaluations.
02/10/2015 09:54
33
OCTOBER 2015
LAMENESS HERITABILITY
CONCLUSIONS
After mastitis, lameness is probably the next most costly
disease in dairy and beef production systems. Heritability
of lameness varies from 0.03 to 0.096. Using data on
lameness in Canadian Holstein cows, a report showed a
heritability for lameness of 0.16.
The heritability of lameness in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy
cattle based on predominantly farmer-recorded data was
0.04. Heritability estimates for different claw disorders
(interdigital dermatitis, heel erosion, sole haemorrhage,
digital dermatitis, white line disease, interdigital
hyperplasia, sole ulcer and chronic laminitis) varied from
0.01 to 0.10 in Dutch Holsteins. The lowest heritability
estimates were for sole ulcers and chronic laminitis, while
the highest estimates were for digital dermatitis and
interdigital hyperplasia.
There is overwhelming evidence that genetics make a
significant contribution to health and resistance to disease
in cattle, and that the tools for simultaneous selection on
these traits and other performance traits are available.
New developments in ‘omics’ technologies provide a
considerable resource that can be exploited to further
increase genetic gain, especially in health and disease
traits.
Nonetheless, resistance to most diseases will be governed
by a large number of genes, and mutations within genes.
Therefore, absolute resistance is unlikely, and genetics
alone is not the solution to improved animal health.
Rather, it should be seen as an integral part of an overall
programme for improved cattle health, both at farm level
and national level.
IMPROVING TB RESISTANCE
A broad range of other diseases in Irish cattle can
be attributed to bacterial infection. Of these, bovine
tuberculosis (TB) is perhaps the most problematic.
There have been intensive national efforts in Ireland
towards Mycobacterium bovis eradication for many
years. Several studies have attempted to estimate
genetic parameters for bacterial diseases. The
heritability of susceptibility to M bovis infection in
cattle is described in two studies, including one in Irish
Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Heritability estimates
were based on response to the tuberculin test, and on
the presence of TB lesions. These results clearly show
that significant improvement can be made through
genetic selection towards TB resistance.
BREEDING CONCERNS
Several concerns may be raised about the possible
repercussions or limitations of breeding for improved
animal health and resistance to disease, including: the
sustainability of breeding for resistance in the face of
continuous evolution of pathogens; the feasibility of
selection for traits where little genetic variation may
exist; the impact of selection for resistance to a given
disease on the genetic resistance to other diseases;
the impact of selection for disease resistance on
genetic gain in other traits affecting profitability; and
the cost-benefit of developing a breeding programme
to select for improved resistance to disease. There is
some concern that pathogens will evolve faster than
genetic gain in the animal.
02/10/2015 09:54
34
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
Ensuring calves grow to target affects more than
just the chance of getting heifers to calve down
at two years old. And while this is a desirable aim
with significant financial and longevity implications
for cows, heifer calves with higher pre-weaning
growth rates also achieve higher yields in their first
lactation, according to Caitríona Mullin
TARGET HEIFER CALF
GROWTH
SETOIDBOOST
EMYIELDS
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and ultimately less productive once they enter the milking
“Research at Cornell University, New York, has found that
herd,” explains Caitríona.
every 1kg of average daily gain prior to weaning equated
The eventual result of this poor calf management is higher
to a 706kg increase in yield in the first lactation,” Caitríona
than desired culling rates, and heifers and cows which fail to
says. “As all dairy farmers will appreciate, this is a sizeable
deliver any return on the investment made in them.
increase in yield and one which cannot be ignored. It shows
Studies at Cornell have also demonstrated that 22 per
just how important those first few months of life are to the
cent of variation in first lactation milk yield was explained
future productivity and profitability of a cow.”
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“A 45kg calf requires 1.75Mcal/day for maintenance alone.
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weaning growth rates can account for an average 706kg of
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increased yield,” explains Caitríona.
dramatically in colder weather,” says Caitríona.
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yields. “In today’s more volatile milk market, maximising
milk replacer levels should increase to 585g/day, while at
calf growth with a view to maximising yield later in life
0ºC this should increase to 670g/day.
and producing longer-lasting cows is a win:win for farmers,
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02/10/2015 09:54
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02/10/2015 09:55
21/08/2015 10:13
36
HERDHEALTH
HERD
HEALTHFOCUS
FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
TACKLING
LAMENESS
IN SHEEP
FLOCKS
Lameness in sheep flocks is a common
and persistent disease problem.
Welfare concerns aside, lameness in a
significant proportion of the flock has
definite economic effects. Lameness
associated with foot rot reduces the
ability of sheep to graze, leading
to poor thrive. In the case of ewes,
the resulting poor condition score
increases barrenness, poor conception
rates and metabolic disorders, lower
birth weights and poor colostrum
production, writes Gerry Murphy
Teagasc work with discussion groups shows a common
theme of flock lameness that ranged from 1-18 per cent.
The usual suspects caused the problem, with scald and foot
rot representing over 90 per cent of cases and contagious
ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) in some cases.
SCALD
Scald is caused by bacteria that survive naturally in the
environment. Wet weather and abrasion of the skin allows
the organism to establish itself. It is common in young
lambs in spring because their feet are more tender. It is a
painful condition and lambs may struggle to walk.
CODD
Infection occurs at the coronary band where the hoof
meets the hair. It tends to bleed. Normal foot-rot treatment
is ineffective. Work with your vet using antibiotic treatment.
FOOT ROT
Two bacteria are involved, the scald bug and the foot-rot
bug. This second bug is unusual. It will only flourish where
there is moisture, high temperatures (over 10ºC) and
anaerobic conditions, meaning it cannot tolerate air, and
will only survive away from sheep for about two weeks.
Therefore, the most likely source of infection for a sheep is
another sheep.
Symptoms
Constant wetting softens the skin between the toes,
becoming inflamed, moist and painful. Where other
Fusiformis bacteria are present, the condition develops into
nothing more than scald. If Bacteroides bacteria are also
present, there is an invasion of the soft tissue of the foot
resulting in separation of the horn and severe lameness.
If the loose horn is cut away, a black pasty material is
exposed, which has a characteristic smell.
The survival of these bacteria on pasture, in the absence of
sheep, is the key to eradicating foot rot from your flock.
TREATMENT
If control is to be successful it must be dealt with on a flock
02/10/2015 09:55
37
OCTOBER 2015
basis. Infected sheep are the source of infection. Pasture
free of sheep for at least 10-12 days will no longer harbour
the bug. Therefore, a succession of clean pastures needs to
be available to properly tackle this disease. Control requires
a concerted effort over a 20-day period and is more
successful if the weather is warm and dry. Ideally, attack the
problem in your flock post-weaning and pre-tupping.
STRATEGY FOR CONTROLLING FOOT ROT
Foot rot.
Because the Bacteroides bacteria live only on the feet of
infected sheep it is possible to control the disease.
Examine each sheep and separate the flock into healthy and
infected groups;
• Trim and footbath the healthy group and move onto
pasture that had no sheep for at least three weeks (this
will be sufficient to kill any infection on the pasture). If
using vaccination, do it at this point. Footbath again after
10 days and move to clean pasture. This is repeated once
more to hopefully eradicate all foot rot and scald-causing
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OCTOBER 2015
Treatment
Prevention
Zinc sulphate
10.00%
5.00%
Copper sulphate
10.00%
5.00%
Formalin
5.00%
3.00%
Table 1: Foot baths for treatment and prevention of foot rot.
A 10% solution is equivalent to 1kg/10 litres or 1lb/gallon.
bacteria from pastures;
• Isolate and treat animals in the infected group
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
individually by paring, footbathing, vaccinating and
antibiotic treatment for CODD. Repeat footbathing twice
at five-day intervals. Sheep showing no lameness can
then be joined to the main flock. The remaining lame
sheep are foothbathed and moved twice more at fiveday intervals;
Cull any sheep that failed to respond to treatment;
Maintain a self-contained flock or examine and
footbath purchased sheep before letting them mix with
the flock;
While zinc sulphate is somewhat more expensive than
copper sulphate or formalin, it has the advantage of being
safer and non-toxic for the sheep, the shepherd and the
environment;
Allow at least one minute per animal in the bath and
discard the solution after each bathing;
Allow sheep stand on a clean hard surface for a few hours
after footbathing;
Avoid using formalin on sheep with open wounds due to
animal welfare considerations;
Inclusion of washing-up liquid to produce a frothy
consistency in the foot bath will assist with the
penetration of zinc sulphate.
COMMON PROBLEMS AT FARM LEVEL
• Lack of handling units. Inadequate penning, no footbath
and poor access to a handling unit making control
impossible;
• Footbath too small. Many footbaths are in short races.
Sheep usually spend too little time in the solution. A
footbathing pen is a good option, a 10’x10’x3’’ standing
bath allows a larger number of ewes/lambs to stand in the
solution for a longer period.
Foot paring
This should be carried out with care. Avoid over-paring,
which can cause bleeding. This is unnecessarily painful
and may cause permanent damage to the foot. Where
loose horn is present, carefully pare it back. Use a goodquality foot shears with a serrated edge. These should be
disinfected at the end of each session.
Natural foot-rot control: breeding sheep with resistance
Work at Lincoln University, New Zealand, aimed at
investigating the basis of natural genetic resistance to
foot rot in sheep developed a number of key tests. Firstly,
genetic markers (DNA patterns) were found to identify if
a sheep is resistant to foot rot. This built on early work
by farmers who bred sheep with resistance to foot rot. A
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When you get hurt,
the farm feels it.
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OCTOBER 2015
study of the Dichelobacter nodosus bacterium showed
that sheep can have up to eight strains at one time. A
rapid test to identify D nodosus strains was developed,
reducing the time taken to identify foot rot strains from
two weeks down to two to three days.
VACCINES
Footvax, the foot-rot vaccine, can be used in wholeflock vaccination as part of a foot-rot control
programme, providing sheep with an antibody
response to D nodosus. Footvax contains 10 strains
of D nodosus. Vaccination with Footvax provides
treatment, as well as protection to injected sheep.
A single injection of Footvax can be used to treat
foot rot because antibodies are produced against D
nodosus. Peak antibody levels (maximum protection)
occur 14-21 days after vaccination, although the
protection remains effective for four to five months.
Timing of vaccination should ideally allow peak
antibody levels to coincide with the period of
maximum foot rot challenge, although flexibility is
required to avoid using Footvax within four weeks of
tupping and lambing.
MSD animal Health says that a 1ml injection of
Footvax stimulates an adequate antibody response to
treat existing infections and prevent new ones for up
to six months. If one dose is given, boosters may be
required from six weeks to six months.
Where two doses are given four to six weeks apart in
the autumn, it is suggested that one yearly booster
is often enough to keep the incidence of foot rot
at a manageable level. If your flock has no foot rot
problems, then beware of buying sheep which have
foot rot, a source of infection. It is good practice to
keep any bought-in sheep separate from the main
flock for at least two weeks. During that time, pare and
examine their feet and treat any infection.
CONCLUSION
Foot rot and lameness can be a time and profitconsuming scourge. Every effort in terms of research
and advice on prevention and eradication of the
disease must be made. This should be a priority
at Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP)
discussion group sessions. At farm level you must put
a prevention and treatment strategy in place to stop
the rot.
02/10/2015 09:55
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OCTOBER 2015
Teat seal: vital to prevent the
invasion of bacteria into the
udder during the dry period.
As somatic cell count (SCC) increases,
farm profitability decreases. Teagasc
estimates reducing the SCC from 400,000
to 100,000 results in overall returns to
the farm increasing by 4.8c/L, including
the farm and processor-related effects,
writes Michael A O’Grady, operations and
marketing manager, Osmonds
DRY COW MANAGEMENT
AND DRY COW THERAPY
WHY IS DRY COW THERAPY IMPORTANT?
The purpose of dry cow therapy is to reduce the levels of
subclinical mastitis and, of equal importance, to prevent
new infection from entering the udder during the dry
period. This year being the first year without quotas in
over 30 years, means some farmers will milk later, while
others will dry-off early, depending on their circumstances.
It is important when choosing a dry cow antibiotic that it
is suitable for your farm, has a good kill rate and longevity
to match the duration of your dry period. The teat sealer
should remain in the udder for the duration of the dry
period. The two main sources of bacteria involved in
causing mastitis and high SCCs are detailed below.
CONTAGIOUS SOURCES
These are bacteria that are spread from cow to cow
during the milking process. Contagious bacteria include
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and
Streptococcus uberus.
ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES
These are bacteria picked up from the cow’s environment,
such as faecal contamination, bedding and water. This
year, farmers extending their grazing season to maximise
milk output will have to be careful not to have dirty cows
as this is also a source of these bacteria. High numbers of
environmental mastitis bacteria will contaminate teat ends.
Environmental bacteria include Escherichia coli, coliforms,
Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberus.
KEY TARGET AREAS TO REDUCE THESE BACTERIA
Drying-off period
This is a critically important management control period
when mastitis can be controlled. There are 15 key areas
when drying-off:
1. Treat clinical cases correctly prior to drying them off;
2. Cull chronically infected cows with mastitis or
continuously high SCC infections;
3. Use individual cow SCC records and the California
Mastitis Test (CMT) test to identify subclinical mastitis;
4. Carry out bacteriology and sensitivity tests. So far,
test results for 2015 highlight Strep uberus as the
main pathogen cultured and it is now believed to be
contributing to the problem of high SCC in dairy herds;
5. When drying-off, it is best to dry-off abruptly;
6. Wear latex gloves (that have been disinfected in teat dip,
so as not to spread pathogens on gloves) and disinfect
the teats using methylated spirits or teat wipes;
7. Dry cow therapy procedure:
a. Be prepared – have your eight tubes (ie. four
antibiotic DC tubes and four non-antibiotic sealer
tubes) to hand and ensure they are kept free from
any faecal contamination pre-use
b. Treat the teats nearest first, followed by treatment of
more distant teats
c. Insert the antibiotic tube first, massaging the
contents well up into the udder
d. Next, pinch the top of each teat and insert and leave
the teat seal NA in the teat canal;
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8. Note – the emergence of anti-microbial resistance (AMR)
to the active ingredients in dry cow antibiotic tubes is
flagging the essential use of non-antibiotic dry cow sealer
(like teat seal NA) in all dairy herds;
9. Teat dip treated quarters immediately with freshly madeup teat dip;
10. Mark the cows and their udders to eliminate the chance
of them being re-milked in error;
11. Record details of the dry cow product used, the dates
administered and cow ID. Keep a record of the VPA
number and withholding period of the antibiotic used;
12. Allow cows to stay standing in a clean area directly
after dry cow therapy (for up to two hours), to prevent
pathogens invading the udder, prior to the teat becoming
fully sealed;
13. Keep cows in clean and dry conditions;
14. Aim to remove dry cows from the noise of the area
around the milking parlour, to reduce the risk of milk let
down after drying-off; and
15. Check the udders of cows in the days after drying-off
and during the dry period.
Cow housing
Walkways, feeding areas and cubicles should be kept clean
to reduce the bacterial challenge at the teat-end. Make sure
housing is dry, as bacteria tend not to survive and multiply
under dry conditions. Have good ventilation, scrape down
and lime cubicles regularly and, if using straw, always
ensure straw bedding is not damp.
OCTOBER 2015
Maintaining a closed herd
This is a very good way to prevent bringing in infections. If
you are purchasing cows it is good practice to culture milk
before adding them to the herd so you can identify if they
have infections and the type of sources.
OTHER FACTORS IN DRY COW MANAGEMENT
Nutrition
Ensure cows are dried off at a body condition score (BCS)
of 3. There should be no change in BCS over the dry
cow period and cows should calve down in a fit, healthy
condition.
Chopped straw in the diet helps to bulk up the rumen, along
with some concentrate that will be used post-calving to
prepare the cow for high intakes post-calving.
It is essential to provide an adequate balance of minerals,
trace elements and vitamins during the dry period. Proper
levels of selenium and vitamin E (like those in the Elite Dry
Cow, 90-day bolus) have been proven to increase the levels
of selenium and vitamin E in colostrum, along with higher
levels of antibodies in the colostrum which are vital to the
calf immunity. Proper supplementation should help the cow
expel the calf and also remove their cleanings.
It is important to engage with the CellCheck mastitis control
programme and follow their farm guidelines, attend relevant
workshops and work towards a suitable mastitis prevention
and control programme in the dry period for your individual
dairy farm.
02/10/2015 09:55
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OCTOBER 2015
WINTER FEED EFFICIENCY
AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT
The current price pressures on
dairy farming mean farmers
need to consider the efficient
use of nutrients. At a recent
gathering of nutritionists
at Cargill’s feed efficiency
seminars, Aileen Barron of
Green Acre Marketing heard
the latest solutions on farm
efficiency being discussed
When cold weather takes hold and temperatures fall
below 15°C, energy requirements will increase. A good
winter feeding strategy, including nutrition requirements,
should be practised alongside good management and
economics. This begins from the initial stage of calf rearing
as this is the crucial point in the animal’s life for its longterm development and productivity. According to Bianca
Theeruth, calf and heifer specialist with Cargill Animal
Nutrition Ireland: “There is a clear value in looking after
your calf because each day a calf is sick its expected yield
in the first lactation reduces by 126L, with over 30 per
cent of calves born failing to make it to the end of the first
lactation.” In fact, every 5°C drop in temperature means
calves require an additional 50g of milk powder per day to
maintain weight gain, and the viewpoint that extra growth
in the calf means extra milk in lactation must be taken
seriously.
ELIMINATING PROBLEMS
Veterinary consultant Martin Kavanagh matches these
calf requirements to the requirement for good calf
management, citing that there should be a policy of
‘no problems allowed’. Colostrum and calf environment
management are key and within the farmer’s control.
Consistent calf growth is critical for future health and
production and, according to Martin, most calves are
underfed and undermanaged in conventional systems.
Hygiene and cleanliness require greater attention.
Dirty buildings may give fewer problems when they are
understocked, but when stocking density increases hygiene
becomes even more critical.
In volatile markets, feed efficiency is key and farmers must
ensure that every part of their feeding strategy works
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harder for them. Feed efficiency can be defined as kgs of
milk produced per kg of dry matter intake. Utilisation of
forage has been more or less static and the extra milk is
coming from more concentrates. As many farmers consider
their winter feed programme there is the potential to try
harder with forages, balance them accordingly, and, all
round, make them work more efficiently.
MINIMISING ENERGY LOSS
Dr Philip Ingram, Cargill’s ruminant specialist for Ireland and
the UK, commented that only 25-30 per cent of the total
OCTOBER 2015
energy fed to lactating cows ends up in milk – energy is lost
in heat production, undigested matter and methane. An
efficient use of feed eliminates waste and, by incorporating
proven technologies in the feed, it works harder. For
example, including the feed additive Amaferm to dairy cow
diets has been proven to increase feed efficiency by 5.4
per cent on average through better fibre digestion.
Supporting the liver with a liver stimulant in early lactation
is crucial with higher-production cows, as the liver is the
cornerstone of the cow’s energy management. An average
of +270L across published trials is possible when the liver
is primed for transition using
Cargill’s liver stimulant ‘LiFT’.
Use of essential oil-based
products can help increase
nitrogen (N) efficiency and
make better use of protein
while improving milk yields
by an average of 1.1L of
milk. Around 40 per cent N
efficiency is achievable in dairy,
but 20-30 per cent is common.
Dr Ingram stresses that
being focused on nutritional
strategies will help to improve
feed efficiency. When the pH
in the gut falls, bacteria cannot
attach to food particles and
digestion and efficiency will fall.
Management practices that will
encourage good intakes are
required, such as good feed
presentation and ample feed
space. Use of a tried and tested
rumen buffer will provide extra
surety that the digestion is
taking place efficiently.
PERFORMANCE AND FERTILITY
In the dry cow and transition
period this autumn,
management will have a
massive effect on performance
and fertility. According to
Martin Kavanagh, many cows
are too fat. “Larger Holstein
cows carry a lot of internal fat,
and can put on internal fat in
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OCTOBER 2015
the dry period without appearing to become fatter. With
this in mind, body condition scoring is a crucial exercise
that should be practised more precisely on farms. This can
only be done physically and using proper measuring charts,
as far too many farmers, nutritionists and vets are guessing
and getting it wrong.”
Non-nutritional factors have a huge impact on transition
success. Dry matter intake (DMI) and energy intake in the
dry period are critical.
Controlling energy intakes to approximate requirements
makes the most biological sense. Farmers spend too much
time and effort trying to change systemic problems with
a quick fix – for example, treating sick transition cows –
when we should consider how to change the system to
avoid problems. Milk fever prevention should be a standard
practice across all herds – taking steps to limit potassium is
often important.
Any nutritional technology must be economically viable.
Therefore, it is critical that we understand how additives
will perform in different situations – this will allow us
to truly assess where and when they can be used to
improve efficiency and income over feed cost. Sylvie
Andrieu, Cargill’s ruminant technology lead for Europe,
demonstrated how, with advanced formulation software,
nutritionists could predict the effect on animal performance
and farm income for different additives in a variety of diets.
FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY
According to well-known economist, Jim Power: “We are in
a global market with prices driven by supply and demand
with politics playing a key role and volatile markets here to
stay. It is, therefore, more important than ever for farmers
to focus on what they do, do it well, and do it cheaply.
Focus on efficiency in all animal production systems.”
02/10/2015 09:55
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Rodent control to
safeguard animal health
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“It’s estimated that 50 per cent of farm fires are caused
by rats chewing electric cables,” explains BASF global
rodenticide technical manager, Sharon Hughes. “Equally, we
know rodents consume large amounts of animal feed. But
the amount of feed they contaminate is always far greater
than the amount they actually eat – as much as 25 times
greater. “Rats typically eat 30g of food every day. This
means 100 rats will eat 3kg a day. In doing so, though, they
will contaminate 75kg, which is more than 25 tonnes/year.
This really isn’t surprising as every 100 rats will produce a
tonne of faeces and 500L of urine in that time, while 100
mice will produce 100kg of faeces and 75L of urine.”
tap
Quite apart from the
damage they do to
farm buildings and
electrical wiring,
and the large
amounts of feed
they consume, rats
and mice represent
a serious threat
to animal health
and productivity –
primarily through
feed contamination,
writes George
Chancellor
OCTOBER 2015
Dw
arf
46
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
“In addition to significant wastage through livestock feed
rejection, such contamination represents significant animal
health dangers,” Sharon stresses. “Rats and mice are known
to carry at least 35 diseases – including leptospirosis,
salmonellosis, listeriosis, cryptosporidiosis and Hantaan
virus, as well as fleas, tapeworms and toxocariasis. What’s
more, a recent study has shown rats carrying important
diseases on between 36-100 per cent of farms.
“Rodents transmit disease through shed hair, on their feet
and in their saliva, as well as via droppings and urine. So
they are adept at spreading infections from one area of a
farm to another or, in the case of rats in particular, between
neighbouring farms. And they can drive a coach and horses
through all-in/all-out poultry and pig hygiene controls.”
Figure 1: Proportion of farms with rats infected with key disease-causing organisms.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
The animal health risks associated with rats and mice
make early and effective rodent control vital wherever
there are housed livestock, especially so since their huge
breeding abilities mean a single pair of rats or mice can
become over 2,000 individuals in just six months under
ideal conditions. And even if they only breed at a quarter
of this rate, rodents can build into serious farm infestations
very quickly. This challenge is more difficult because rats
and mice are mainly nocturnal feeders. They only forage
in daylight when forced to by population pressures.“It isn’t
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Sharon Hughes, BASF global rodenticide
technical manager.
hard to spot infestations if you know what
you’re looking for, though,” says Sharon
Hughes. “Rat runs along the sides of
buildings, droppings and hair in and around
stored grain and feed, discarded grain and
feed where they shouldn’t be, and freshlygnawed bottoms of doors, fences and
partitions are all tell-tale signs.
“On the first signs of infestation, treatment
that achieves as close to 100 per cent
control is needed. Otherwise, control
becomes very much more difficult and
costly as numbers grow.” To achieve the
early and complete control required,
Sharon insists it’s vital to understand
how rats and mice behave and to design
and manage baiting programmes to take
advantage of their foraging habits, in
particular.
OCTOBER 2015
KNOW THE ENEMY
Having poor eyesight, rats are very wary of
open spaces. So they travel along walls for
security, guided by their whiskers, following
regular rat runs from their external burrows
to established feeding areas. This means
that baits not placed along these runs are
generally next to useless.
“As a defence mechanism, rats are also
extremely wary of new things, restricting
their initial consumption of new foods
until they feel them to be safe,” Sharon
points out. “This puts the premium on baits
with the greatest possible potency and
palatability. It also makes it vital to place
them in well-designed baiting points that
have been sited along key foraging routes
sufficiently ahead of the main baiting
period to become familiar.
S
a
A
w
S
02/10/2015 09:55
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BASF
Storm. Powerful, fast
and effective.
Pasta
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Available in Secure and a new Pasta formulation.
The fast way to eliminate rodent infestations
Delivers a lethal dose in a single feed
Effective even against resistant strains
Save time and money in application
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OCTOBER 2015
“Naturally inquisitive, mice, on the other hand, are
sporadic feeders,” Sharon explains. “Their survival
strategy is to dart about rapidly, taking small amounts
of food from a variety of different sources in a fairly
restricted foraging area. So, as well as maximum
potency and palatability baits, the key here is to place
more than enough baiting points in the immediate
vicinity of their living accommodation.”
BAIT OPTIONS
Evidence of rodents at work.
BASF’s Storm bait for a typical brown rat, using the
‘blue blocks’, has become a very popular farm bait
across the country. They can be secured in bait stations
to minimise the risk to non-target species from rats’
natural instinct to carry feed back to their burrows,
dropping some in the open along the way. The addition
of Storm Pasta to the BASF range last autumn to
improve effectiveness in dry environments has extended
the rodenticide’s value. It consists of highly palatable
soft blocks in special semi-permeable sachets. The
active ingredient is flocoumafen, which is particularly
effective against strains of rats and mice resistant to
warfarin and other less potent rodenticides.
Whatever bait type is used, Sharon is adamant that
it has to be put down in the right places, used strictly
according to the label so every individual can consume
a lethal dose, and left in place until all signs of rodent
activity cease.
ENVIRONMENTAL CARE
At the same time, the BASF technical manager
underlines the vital importance of taking sufficient
care to protect other wildlife and pets by covering and
protecting the rodenticide adequately, removing all
rodent carcasses and clearing any unused bait away
thoroughly once control has been achieved.
“The serious rodent problems experienced on so many
farms last winter underline the importance of having
sufficient rodenticide bait on hand from the start of the
winter and using it effectively as soon as the first signs
of infestations can be found,” Sharon concludes. “Hit
rats hard before they become entrenched around your
buildings and you’ll save yourself a lot of time, effort
and expense in subsequent baiting throughout the
winter while protecting the health of your livestock and
avoiding significant feed contamination and losses.”
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OCTOBER 2015
Performance in
the finishing period
For beef finishers, precise nutrition and management on arrival is key to
overall performance, writes Richard Dudgeon, beef specialist, Alltech Ireland
Beef finishers recognise that, in order to maximise animal
performance during the finishing period, animals need to
adapt to their new environment and diets as quickly as
possible. Cattle coming home from marts or from grass
that are being housed in sheds for finishing, are subject
to several stress factors such as weaning, mixing with new
groups, new surroundings, as well as changes in their diet.
If these factors are not managed correctly animals will
not reach their full potential, resulting in a longer finishing
period and higher feed costs. The main challenges during
this period are bovine respiratory disease (BRD), lameness
and stomach upsets or acidosis. To reduce these issues,
greater emphasis needs to be placed on nutrition and
management during this arrival period in order to improve
performance, thereby reducing the number of days animals
have to spend on your farm.
How can nutrition improve performance?
Nutritional management on arrival is an important factor
in maintaining animal health. This is one of the reasons
why animal performance over the finishing period can be
poor. Beef finishers should consult with their nutritionist
and put a nutritional programme in place which is tailored
specifically to new cattle arriving on the farm.
Each farm is different and, therefore, the length of time
animals spend on this arrival or adaptation diet will differ
between farms. It can generally take between 20-30 days
before animals are on a full finishing diet. The purpose of
the adaptation diet is the same for each of these farms and
it should focus on:
• Providing good sources of fibre which encourage good
chewing activity;
• Contain palatable feeds to encourage higher feed intakes;
• Include a small amount of the feeds used during the
finishing period which will allow the rumen bacteria time
to adjust;
• Ensure feeds are fresh, not heating and free of moulds
which can upset rumen function;
• The use of a specific mineral package tailored specially for
the adaptation period which contains a high level of SelPlex and Bioplex trace minerals which improve immune
response and ensure cattle settle onto a new diet quicker;
• A new technology called Actigen should also be included
in the mineral package. Actigen has shown that, through
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OCTOBER 2015

12
+10.9%
10
% Improvement over control

6

+7.7%
8
+6.5%

+4.4%

4
+2.4%
2
0
Dry matter
intake
Feed
conversion
efficiency
Live weight
gain
Killing
out %
Carcase
weight
Figure 1: Percentage improvements in performance parameters in beef animals fed a Yea-Sacc
diet compared to a control diet (Fallon R et al, Teagasc Grange Research Centre, 2003).
improved animal health, average daily gain and feed
conversion ratio have increased (Pfenninger D, Kansas,
US, 2011);
• The use of Yea-Sacc from Alltech is proven to help
improve the rumen environment by increasing rumen pH
and, therefore, ensure that the rumen bacteria work more
efficiently.
Research from Teagasc, Grange, has shown that the
inclusion of Yea-Sacc in beef finishing diets can improve
performance by over 10 per cent (Figure 1).
How can management affect performance?
The aim here is to minimise stress as much as possible.
Purchased animals should be kept separate to the main
group until they have settled into their new surroundings.
If possible, once the cattle have settled with a group they
should remain with that group. Mixing cattle encourages
fighting and causes stress. Housing this group in an area
with straw bedding and good ventilation can help to reduce
stress and improve air quality. Keeping groups consistent
and small in size, such as 10-15 per group, is advised.
Allow plenty of resting and feeding space in order to reduce
competition and bullying. A good supply of fresh, clean
water is vital and there should be at least one drinker for
every 10 animals. A good vaccination and animal health
programme is also essential; consultation with a veterinary
practitioner to give advice on this area is crucial. Not all
of the above suggestions are manageable or practical on
some farms; therefore, it is critical for you to speak with
your nutritionist and veterinarian in order to devise a plan
that fits with your system. Working to this plan means your
Richard Dudgeon, beef specialist, Alltech Ireland.
cattle will more likely be in better health, adapt to their
new diet sooner and, subsequently, build up to the final
finishing diet quicker. Managing all of these areas efficiently
will help to promote the overall health status of the herd,
thereby reducing the occurrence of issues such as BRD and
lameness, resulting in a higher level of daily live weight gain.
Cattle should reach target weights faster, saving you several
working days’ feeding, let alone the additional feed costs.
02/10/2015 09:55
TILLAGE
53
OCTOBER 2015
Potential for development
of horticulture
Horticulture has potential for job creation, reducing imports, providing more
local food and improving people’s diets, as Jim O’Mahony, crops and horticulture
specialist, explains in the first of a two-part series on Ireland’s horticulture industry.
The sector includes mushrooms, field vegetables, potatoes, fruit, protected cropping,
amenity plants, bulbs, flowers, cut foliage and honey production
The Irish horticulture sector has a farmgate output of
€395m, of which edible horticulture accounts for 85 per
cent. The remaining 15 per cent is amenity horticulture.
The sector makes a hugely important contribution to
our economy and rural society, with an estimated 6,000
employed full time in primary production, and a further
10,000 employed in downstream businesses.
€1.2bn industry
In 2013, the retail fresh produce market in Ireland was
worth €1.2bn, with vegetables accounting for €500m, fruit
€550m and potatoes €150m. The retail market in Ireland is
characterised by the concentration of
95 per cent of buying power in the hands
of five retail groups, with almost 80 per
cent market share controlled by
Tesco, Supervalu/Centra and
Dunnes, and a further 15
per cent by Aldi
and Lidl. Both in Ireland and
at EU level, it is widely recognised and accepted
that there is a major imbalance of power in the food
supply chain between retailers as price setters at the
top of the chain, and primary producers as price takers
at the bottom. This imbalance of power in the food
supply chain has resulted in a situation where farmers
are sometimes compelled to accept unreasonable
conditions and prices that do not cover their costs or
provide an economic return.
Primary producers
Production levels from the edible
horticulture sector have been
maintained despite the falling
number of producers as
these family businesses are
constantly challenged by their weak bargaining position
in the food supply chain. Producers consider the single
biggest threat to the industry to be the dominant position
of the large retail groups in Ireland which are forcing down
the prices paid to food suppliers, in many cases to below
the cost of production.
SECTORAL ANALYSIS
Mushrooms
The mushroom industry is the largest horticultural
sector in Ireland with a farmgate value of €133m in
2014, of which close to 80 per cent is exported
to the UK. It employs more than 3,200 people
with potential for a further 800
jobs – 500 in production
and distribution plus
300 in added value
developments. The
success of the mushroom
industry is largely attributed to the
entrepreneurial spirit of the key stakeholders
including marketeers, growers, compost suppliers,
the producer organisation Commercial Mushrooms
Producers Co-op Society Ltd (CMP) and the support of
state bodies such as Teagasc and Bord Bia as well as
the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
(DAFM). Bord Bia indicates that the UK market for
mushrooms is growing steadily at about 5 per cent
per year. However, sales of mushrooms in Ireland
have plateaued in recent years at around 13,000
tonnes. Production has stabilised at 69,000
tonnes, with 65 growers. CMP, the producer
organisation, plays an important role
in the mushroom sector. CMP
provides a vehicle for growers
02/10/2015 09:55
54
TILLAGE
to achieve concentration of supply in a competitive
marketplace. It also plays an important role in facilitating
the drawing down of EU development aid. CMP supports
50 member producers and provides a range of services
including training and advice, investment and installation of
equipment, analysis of markets and planning of production
(quantity and quality), investment in R&D, promotion
of mushrooms to consumers, marketing of produce and
increasing the range of products in order to maximise
returns. Teagasc adviser, Dermot Callaghan, has a key
development role with CMP.
The stakeholders/Teagasc made a series of
recommendations to maintain a competitive edge, including
increasing mushroom production to 40kg/m2 by 2020 from
30kg/m2 currently, increased investment in R&D, training
and advice, and product promotion.
Vegetables
Field vegetable production at farmgate is valued at €60m
– carrots account for 19 per cent and swedes 13 per
cent. The total area of field vegetables grown is 4,237ha
– cabbage accounts for 665ha and carrots 618ha. In
addition, there are 163ha of vegetable grown under
protection valued at close on €25m. The field vegetable
sector provides up to 900 full-time equivalent jobs.
Large-scale producers represent a significant, and growing,
proportion of the total production area with the largest
50 growers accounting for 74 per cent of the total field
vegetable production area.
Stakeholders have major concerns about the inordinate
power of the multiples and want a fairer distribution of the
margins from vegetable crops. The indigenous industry is
under threat from low prices, imports, and from an ageing
and declining grower base. The stakeholders have identified
a number of areas where research is needed to help
support the Irish industry in maintaining a competitive edge
within this highly competitive sector.
Precision horticulture and automation and reducing the
cost of production, along with product development, are all
seen as priorities.
Protected cropping
Development in protected horticultural production
is undergoing a quantum leap in terms of glasshouse
technology engineering and plant science technology.
Demand for Irish tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers is
high and current production cannot adequately address
demand.
M
OCTOBER 2015
Fruit
The Irish soft fruit industry in 2013 was valued at
€41.5m at farmgate (96 per cent of which is grown under
protection). Protected strawberry production was valued
at €37m from 210ha, with a further 15ha from outdoors
valued at €600,000. There are about 100 soft fruit
(mainly strawberry) growers – predominantly in Dublin,
Wexford and Meath – providing 700 jobs in the sector with
the potential to double employment by 2020. There is
considerable scope for expansion.
Apples
Approximately 40 commercial apple growers support
112 full-time equivalent jobs in Ireland. The farmgate
value was €4m in 2013. The processing and dessert apple
sectors have considerable potential for expansion. Import
substitution of €30m/annum is possible for dessert apples
alone. It can create up to 1,000 jobs directly and indirectly.
Producer organisation (PO) scheme
This EU-funded scheme is part of the common organisation
of the market in fruit and vegetables. Its objective is
to encourage growers to come together to strengthen
their position in the market in the face of increased
concentration of demand by the multiples. Each
producer organisation (PO) implements an approved
operational programme over three, four or five years. The
programmes have the objectives of improving marketing,
quality, production and demand planning and using
environmentally sustainable methods. In total, 50 per
cent of the cost of implementing actions to achieve these
objectives is refunded on submission of a claim in respect
of each year. There are currently two POs in Ireland
participating in the PO scheme: CMP and Quality Green
Producer Organisation.
Essential elements for success
• Reinvigorate horticulture by formulating a strategic
plan for horticulture with the collaboration of all the
stakeholders, including growers, the input and retail trade,
consolidators, public service agencies and the relevant
ministers;
• Innovate at every possible opportunity in production and
marketing;
• The development of the new Teagasc Horticultural
Technology Centre at the Ashtown campus has the
potential to support the revitalisation of the sector with
the advantage of exploiting the food science dimension.
02/10/2015 09:55
MANAGEMENT HINTS
Messages:
• Take steps to risk manage the consequences of lower
milk prices;
• Plan and strictly operate the last rotation for profit
and spring grass;
Put on body condition cheaply in October;
Adopt good management practices to avoid poaching;
It is critical to check replacement heifer weights now;
Pay all bills so that you can accurately plan next year’s
finances;
• You feed surplus meal to keep others in a job!
•
•
•
•
Matt Ryan
Difficult times ahead
Nobody knows if this blip in milk price will be semipermanent or not. Be prepared to overcome all of the
challenges this poses:
• Stay positive (things always get better);
• Stay healthy by eating and resting well;
• Deal with problems one at a time by having a plan;
• Talk to positive people, such as family, accountant,
adviser, doctor, clergy and definitely be a member
of a good discussion group (this sentence looks very
innocuous but it is very important and I want you to dwell
on which of these or others you should contact first);
• Stay away from prophets of doom who are always
complaining, always sick or ‘in-want’, carry bad news
stories, etc.;
• Remember that the power of positive thinking helps
people to overcome challenges in life. Be very realistic in
your decision-making. As there is no money in cattle or
rearing extra replacements, taking conacre at over €200/
acre for them is madness.
Be very careful going into long-term leases (they’re for the
financial benefit of the land owner); you have no economic
benefit in giving more than €150 per acre. How could you
at projected milk prices that will deliver profits per cow of
55
OCTOBER 2015
€400-600? Don’t carry too many cows if you require to
feed over a half-ton of meal per cow to ‘keep’ them.
But you must keep doing all the correct management
chores:
• Feed cows with a diet made up of over 90 per cent grass/
silage grown on the home farm;
• Have the farm at the best possible soil fertility levels with
best-quality perennial ryegrass;
• Keep your cows in the correct body condition score (BCS)
throughout the year; and
• You must be pro-active in managing your finances – few
are!
October is a very important month in setting up the farm
for the coming year: the grass season begins now, and BCS
correction starts now.
Last rotation for profit and grass next year
Every day extra cows graze in autumn delivers €2.10 per
cow per day extra profit. Every extra kg dry matter (DM)
cover left at closing increases grass availability by 12kg
DM in the spring. Hence the need to get autumn grass
management spot on:
• Have grass in the cows’ diet as long as possible; and
• Ensure at closing, be that early November on wettish land
or late November, that adequate grass, between 550650kgDM/ha, is left for the springtime.
As the last rotation will be 45-50 days from start to finish,
you must decide on your closing date. If it is November
20, then the last rotation should start on October 5. Too
many farmers are completing the last rotation too early and
losing significant profits. This is particularly so for farmers
who have wet land and are not well informed on wet
weather grazing techniques and haven’t the wherewithal to
inform themselves.
The last rotation must begin on October 1-16, earliest in
wet land:
• If that doesn’t happen, you won’t have grass next spring;
• Spring is when you need grass most as you will be trying
to maintain milk yield and increase body condition as
cheaply as possible;
• Therefore, plan your paddock grazing strategy now.
02/10/2015 09:55
MANAGEMENT HINTS
56
OCTOBER 2015
The first paddocks to be grazed next spring must be dry, be
near the milking parlour and have 1,200-1,400kgDM/ha of
grass cover. It is crazy having the most grass on paddocks
furthest from the milking parlour next spring.
Therefore, they must be the first paddocks to be grazed on
the last rotation. If they haven’t enough grass on them, skip
other paddocks so as to graze them in early October. This
is a simple exercise but it will save you a lot of hassle next
February.
You are now on the last rotation, to finish on dry land on
November 20-25 (two to three weeks earlier on wet land).
Each paddock must be well grazed out to 3.5-4.0cm (if you
leave too much grass it will result in poor pastures next
year because of lack of tillering).
You must have at least 60 per cent of the grazing block
grazed by November 1 (dry land); otherwise you will be
short of grass next February. The following target covers
(kgDM/ha) are suggested for different stocking rates.
Table 1.
Date
Stocking rate (cows/ha) on milking platform
2.5
3.0
3.5
October 1
400
330
280
October 15
450
375
320
November 1
375
300
250
November 15
300
250
200
Closing Cover AFC
550
600
650
If you don’t hit these covers in early October, then you
will have to house earlier than November 20, which would
cause a disappointing loss as you will make €2.10/cow/day
extra profit by being able to graze grass.
Sell off cull cows now – it’s a financial waste feeding meals
with cull cows eating grass (see September Management
Hints). Destock by drying off thin cows and heifers during
the month and moving away from the milking platform.
Donal Patton, Ballyhaise, corresponded the following to me:
• We peak cover at 1,100kgDm/ha (380/cow) on
October 1;
• Closing cover on November 10-15 is 650; to achieve this
we carry a few heavy covers, over 1,500kg;
• With compact calving and stocked at 2.5 cows/ha, we
need 750-900kgDM in spring to minimise meal input;
• We start closing on October 1 and must have 70 per cent
of the farm grazed by November 1;
• Some paddocks we carry over will be grazed on
September 25, depending on October growth so as to
meet the AFC target of 650kg;
• Wet farms should not peak above 900kg (maybe
1,000kg, if operator is good with good access), while dry
farms could go as high as 1,250kg.
Management to avoid poaching
Soil compaction results in the soil not being able to grow
as much grass as it can or should. This results in loss of
money.
You know that a poached field takes ages to recover. How
can a 4-5 inch diameter ‘pug-hole’ in the ground grow grass
in subsequent rotation?
Soil structure is made up of soil, air and moisture. By
poaching you squeeze out the air, so it cannot grow grass.
After the rains of this year in some regions, a fair degree of
poaching and compaction damage has been done:
• In October, as soils are retaining more moisture, it is vital
to graze carefully;
• Do not graze damaged fields in the wet, as it will
compound the structural damage;
• Some fields may have to be ‘rested’ until March or April;
• Practise on-off grazing, ie. three hours grazing after each
milking and then remove to the house. Cows will eat 95
per cent of their grass allowance in this period if they
come out with a ‘sharpness’ to their appetite;
• Follow all other extensively recommended practices for
grazing in difficult conditions.
Some farmers say this is laborious and adds to the
workload. But it doesn’t:
• You still only bring in the cows twice per day, but at a
totally different time (three hours after let-out);
• This ‘bringing-in’ time can be made sociable by milking at
7.30 in the morning and again at 3.30 in the afternoon;
• This means that the cows will be able to be brought in off
the paddocks at 7.30-8.00 in late evening. They will just
have finished that ‘bout’ of grazing and won’t have done
any walking damage.
Never, ever let cows out when it is raining very heavily and
02/10/2015 09:55
57
OCTOBER 2015
Table 2: Target weights (kg) for replacement weanling and in-calf heifers in October.
always bring them in when
it starts to rain very heavily.
They do a lot more walking
in the rain, and therefore a
lot more poaching.
I am not a fan of spreading
slurry with a vacuum tanker
because of the wheel
compaction damage it does
to the soil. Use the umbilical
system with a ‘trailed and
shoe’ spread.
This is necessary because
with the ‘new’ grazing
wedge system there is
always grass of varying
heights on the farm.
Spreading slurry on grass
greater than 2-3 inches
causes huge losses due to
rotting.
Cow type
Mature weight
Weanling wt (37% cow wt)
In-calf heifer (77% of cow)
Holstein
580
215
445
Holstein X Nor Red
550
205
425
Holstein X Jersey
530
195
410
Achieve replacement target
weights
Breeding stock weighings
and condition scoring are
the vital chores this month.
Table 2 shows the target
weights for October for the
various mature weights of
the breed.
Replacement heifer calves
should get 1-1.5kg meal
(pulp or barley) so as to
meet target weights on April
1. All animals below target
weights must be taken away
from the main mob and
given priority treatment.
For every 20kg animals
are below target, they will
need to be fed an extra
100kg meal (16 per cent
phosphorus [P]). This will
be a profitable investment.
Small in-calf heifers need
02/10/2015 09:55
MANAGEMENT HINTS
58
1-2kg meal (12-14 per cent P). Otherwise, they will calve
down too light, resulting in 450L lower milk yields for every
50kg below target weight at calving. Fewer of them will go
in-calf during the first three weeks of breeding in 2016.
Have you injected cows and heifers for Salmonella to
prevent abortions? If any weanlings show symptoms of
hoose (coughing), stomach worms (sticky dung on tail head)
or fluke (scouring and other signs), have them treated as
they will not maximise weight gain.
Put on body condition cheaply
OCTOBER 2015
they will calve down in the same condition as dried off.
• Cows with a BCS of 2.75 or less now must be ‘earmarked’
for special attention;
• As she has a deficit of 0.5 BCS, she is at least 25kg below
target condition, therefore she will have to be fed an extra
130kg meal;
• This means feeding 2kg ration/hd/day for 10 weeks;
discount the first two weeks after drying off and the last
two weeks before calving;
• Therefore, she needs 14 weeks dry.
You must set out to save money on this task this winter. You
must assess cow condition early this month. Why?
• If cows calve down thin they will not readily go back in-calf
and neither will they milk well next year;
• For every 50kg (1 condition score) below target, a cow will
milk 450L of milk less than her potential.
If you have thin cows identified in October you have a few
management options:
• Dry off now to allow her have a long dry period to put on
weight;
• With 120 days to calving for February calvers, no meals
will need to be fed unless cows are very thin; and
• Feed meals now, so as to have her in good body condition
at drying off.
Which cows should be dried off from October 15 on?
Cows in BCS less than 2.75;
• First-lactation cow calving in January/February;
• Cows milking less than 7-8L;
• Cows with SCCs greater than 400,000.
•
Silage should be analysed now both for dry matter
digestibility (DMD) and minerals. The DMD will inform you
now as to your feeding programme for the year – this will
save a lot of money.
The mineral analysis will identify the mineral status of 4050 per cent of the grass on your farm in May/June, and will
alert you as to the minerals that may be deficient in your
silage for winter.
Consult your vet as to the necessary animal test; but they
will be dung samples, blood samples and milk samples so
that you can plan the various dosing programmes. Take soil
samples, or a representative quantity, from many fields/
paddocks, so that you can build up soil indices to 3 and 4.
If you wait until November to deal with thin cows you have
only one option, that is feed a lot of meals during the dry
period which is inefficient.
This is the year to dry off early to put on body condition
without meals. Put all cows through the cattle crush to
handle cows so as to be more accurate in assessing cow
condition at this time of year.
To body condition score (BCS) a cow, examine the fat
cover on:
• Tail head;
• Ribs;
• Short ribs; and
• Back bone.
If you don’t know how to do it or need an update, get your
adviser or discussion group to show you. Each BCS is about
50kg. The target BCS at drying off is 3.0-3.25. Generally,
All of these cows should either be housed, sold or moved
to outside blocks, but off the milking platform to allow all
available grass for milking cows. Remember, the only way
to improve the body condition of high genetic merit cows,
which are thin the whole year, is to give them a long dry
period, starting now.
Tests to be done
You want to feed meal?
It’s a habit! First things first, no animal should get meal that
doesn’t need it.
No animal should get meal that doesn’t give an economic
02/10/2015 09:55
59
OCTOBER 2015
response to that extra cost. Don’t feed meal just because
you always did it – times are very, very different now.
Therefore, question seriously who, what and how much
meal you feed this October. Every €1 spent on meal should
return you at least €1 or it should prevent the loss of €1.
Replacement heifers, weanlings and in-calf heifers less
than target should get 1-1.5kg meal (pulp or barley) so as
to meet target weights on April 1. No other weanlings or
heifers need meal.
Meals to cows – yes or no? First, let us outline what
research says:
• Every 1c/L spent on meal results in farm costs being
1.6c/L higher – imagine 60 per cent more than the cost
of the meal;
• When grass is adequate, for every kg meal (=25c) fed
you get 0.77kg milk (=23c). Is that justified? Merchants
benefit!;
• When building up grass, for every kg meal (=25c) fed you
get 0.96kg milk (=29c).
However, these are averages. Some farmers’ cows will do
worse than these. Research also shows that responses at
farm level are worse than these.
The message is pretty clear! It is more economical to take
other courses of action to build up grass this year than
feeding extra meals.
These have been spelt out above.
Some farmers are feeding soya hulls to cows and doing
well. It makes the venture more economic.
Autumn calvers should get 3-4kg meal, if grass is plentiful.
Feed 7-8kg meal, if grass is scarce and you wish to keep
grass in the diet until November.
Costs you must pay
When money is tight it is easy enough to ‘neglect’ paying
some bills or not to do some things you should do. The
consequences of not paying/renewing some contracts, for
example, insurance, can be disastrous. Families are crippled
with such hard luck stories.
Bills you must pay:
• Public liability insurance;
• Home/property insurance (obvious);
• Medical insurance (medical bills can be massive);
• Death policies (if you don’t want to leave huge problems
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
on your death);
ESB bill;
Car/tractor insurance;
Car tax (keep the law off your back);
Car/tractor oil change, plus tyres (don’t let them seize up);
Income tax (you don’t want the hassle);
Dry cow mastitis tubes for all cows (high cure rate);
Personal medical expenses; and
Home food (obvious).
I’m not saying not to pay other bills, because you must.
Brief notes
Use soiled water and/or slurry at 1,000-1,500 gallons
per acre up to October 15 to get grass growth from the
nitrogen (N) contained therein. If short of silage, it will
probably pay you best to feed a little extra meal during
October/November so as to avoid going near the silage pit.
The following choices may help:
• At current prices for barley and soya bean meal, if you
can buy the following at cheaper than these prices they
are good value for money: citrus (€165); soya hulls
(€178); palm kernal (€238); gluten (€167); fodder beet
(€32); 72 DMD silage (€26); 72 DMD baled silage (€23);
maize silage (€42);
• It will also keep the lactose levels high.
I’m pretty sure you should get the Farm Relief Services
(FRS) to treat your herd for lameness, particularly if you
have a history of it. At the very least, walk the cows through
a footbath for three consecutive days once or twice per
month. While most farmers will, and should, cut back on
maintenance work, you should at the very least do a check
on what should be done.
If maintenance work is not done, what are the
consequences? Then decide you may have materials on
hand, without any spending, to repair some things.
Be assembling your cash income and payments for 2015
so that you can plan your tax bill and plan your financial
year 2016.
02/10/2015 09:55
60
MACHINERY
Massey mowers,
rakes and tedders
Designed and built at AGCO’s Feucht facility in Germany,
Massey Ferguson has introduced a comprehensive line-up
encompassing a wide array of high-quality mowers, rakes
and tedders for next season. The addition of this new range
is part of Massey Ferguson’s strategy to introduce a full
line of equipment across Europe, Africa and the Middle
East. Interestingly, the new ranges will first be introduced
on the Irish and UK markets and then be rolled out further.
Campbell Scott of Massey Ferguson explains the strategy:
“We will be looking closely at each country to identify the
possibilities for selling these new products. We will then put
in place a detailed introduction plan, with customer support
at the forefront, to ensure that these new products deliver
the straightforward, dependable performance that Massey
Ferguson users rely on the world over.”
The new range includes a wide range of disc mowers, six
OCTOBER 2015
Massey Ferguson DM
306 TRS mower and
conditioner.
different tedders, as well as single, twin and four-rotor
rakes. The Massey Ferguson DM Series disc mower range
offers a number of choices, including light, mounted disc
models, front and rear-mounted mowers, centre drawbar
machines, as well as trailed mower conditioners and
‘butterfly’ folding combinations with ISOBUS control.
The Massey Ferguson TD Series tedder range encompasses
six models to suit a wide range of crop types and
applications. Available in working widths from 5.2m to
12.7m, each model offers easily adjustable spreading
angles of 15°, 18° and 20.5°, allowing them to be set to
match all crop conditions.
A big array of single, two and four-rotor rakes in the new
Massey Ferguson RK Series include a choice of mounted or
trailed models so users can select exactly the machine that
suits best for their crops, area and tractor power.
Two new Deutz-Fahr combines
As part of its combine development programme, Deutz-Fahr has introduced another combine series to the market. After the launch of the C9000
Series in 2013 and the C7000 Series in 2014, Deutz-Fahr has now introduced a new range of combine harvesters for the third consecutive year.
The C6000 Series consists of two compact models for farms that prefer to rely on their own machinery and resources when it comes to harvest.
Deutz TCD L6 T4F 6.1L engines are the power source for the new range. These engines are rated at 230hp, which can be upped to a top-out power
of 250hp. The C6000s, in keeping with the basic concepts of Deutz-Fahr’s combine technology, have five straw walkers. Just like larger models,
the compact C6205 offers the high levels of driving comfort and ease of use, as well as a wide range of standard cutting headers equipped with the
Schumacher Easy Cut system and Varicrop variable headers, a thresher with an optional turbo separator and a cleaning system with the Deutz-Fahr
double grain return (DGR) system. An EVO 2 Commander cab delivers in terms of comfort, visibility, low noise and plenty of space. The controls
for the transmission and main equipment functions are built into in the new joystick, which makes operation extremely simple and intuitive. The
Combine Control Management (CCM) system allows the operator to verify the quality of work at any time, presenting key information about the
combine’s activity at a glance. The C6000 replaces the existing 6040HTS series and the two new models are classified as the C6205 and the
C6205TS. The market segment is firmly at the medium-sized grain grower in the 250-350-acre range.
02/10/2015 09:55
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OCTOBER 2015
New John Deere W and T-Series combines
John Deere’s new W and T-Series combines have undergone
a comprehensive redesign for the 2016 harvest. A number
of components have been changed to improve straw-walker
combine performance. The combination of the largest
active separation area on the market and an enlarged
cleaning shoe area should enable grain growers to achieve
an increase in output of up to 15 per cent. The result of
this redesign means that, in this class, these combines
have: the largest active separation area and larger cleaning
shoe area; the fastest unloading rate and crop conversion;
40kmph top speed and tracks; access to online John Deere
applications; and more power with Stage IV engines.
On the T-Series models, the main threshing drum diameter
remains at 660mm but the concave wrapping angle has
been increased by eight degrees, to expand the threshing
area and machine throughput. To ensure straw quality, the
overshot beater’s diameter has been increased to 500mm,
so it maintains the same angles and tip speed in the
crop flow. The rear separator drum diameter is increased
to 800mm. Together with a new separator grate, which
features more openings, this allows better separation. The
active separation area has been increased by 41 per cent
to 3.3m2 and 4m2, respectively, for the five and six-walker
combines. The new W-Series straw-walker combines keep
the same large 660mm-diameter single threshing drum
with 10 rasp bars, which is now paired with redesigned
walkers featuring a larger area and steeper steps for
increased separation capacity. The cleaning shoe area on
both ranges features a completely new design. The use of
aluminium has enabled John Deere’s engineers to increase
the shoe size, while retaining the weight of the previous
unit. With a sieve area of more than 6m2, the cleaning shoe
is now among the largest in its class. To make the shoe
easily adjustable, the fan has also been redesigned and all
air inlets provide an even air intake and air distribution.
Faster operations
On the new W and T series, a faster unloading rate of up
to 125L/min enables an 11,000L capacity grain tank to be
emptied in less than 90 seconds. To speed up necessary
combine adjustments, John Deere has developed a quickengage booster bar. This is a rasp bar that can be swung
into the crop flow in less than three minutes in situations
where more aggressive threshing is required, for example
in barley. The booster bar eliminates the use of de-awning
plates to close the concave, which reduces the overall
active separation area. Additionally, as no filler plates are
needed, the new 600X header can be converted from
barley to rape harvesting in just three minutes. The rape
knife also features a quick coupler for faster conversion.
With top combine speeds of up to 40kmph, operators
can move between fields more quickly. In addition, tracks
enable an operator to act more independently of weather
conditions and travel on ground unsuitable for wheeled
machines. With a footprint 1.7 times larger than that of
an 800mm tyre, tracks reduce compaction. On tracks, the
maximum width of the five and six-walker combines stays
below 3.3m and 3.5m, respectively.
John Deere W550i.
John Deere T-Series.
02/10/2015 09:55
62
MACHINERY
The future is ISOBUS
Communication between tractors and
implements is constantly becoming more
sophisticated. ISOBUS is recognised
as the means by which this electronic
communications technology is carried out.
So what is ISOBUS? Agricultural equipment
manufacturers around the world have
agreed on ISOBUS as the universal protocol
for electronic communication between
implements, tractors and computers.
The ‘ISO’ bit refers to the International
Standards Organisation, while ‘BUS’ refers to
a specialised wiring network that connects
components within a vehicle and is designed
for rapid exchange of data. ISOBUS should
not be confused with CANBUS, which is
the name of a wiring network designed
according to a particular set of protocols.
CAN (controller area network) is the protocol
most commonly used on agricultural
vehicles because it’s designed to cope with harsh
environments.
The primary goal of ISOBUS data technology is
to standardise the communication that takes place
between tractors and implements while ensuring full
compatibility of data transfer between the mobile systems
and the office software used on the farm. The basis is
the international ISO 11783 standard – ‘Tractors and
machinery for agriculture and forestry – serial control and
communications data network’.
Not all farmers are familiar with the word ISOBUS, but the
chances are that they soon will be. These high-tech tractorimplement control systems are bringing new features,
increased flexibility and the compatibility that farmers want
when they’re hooking one machine up to another. This last
point is of huge importance. The fact that ISOBUS offers
communication commonality across almost all agricultural
equipment using interactive technology is of the utmost
importance to the end user. Compatibility is one of the
big bugbears of all electronic systems, so manufacturers
agreed a common protocol under a new body called the
Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF). This
body has brought together more than 100 tractor and
equipment manufacturers, as well as electronics software
specialists and technical organisations from across Europe,
OCTOBER 2015
ISOBUS terminal with camera plug contact.
North America and Japan. It aims
to encourage the development
of ISOBUS features useful to
farmers; create a standard for
ISOBUS device licensing; and help
manufacturers produce devices and
software that are fully compatible
with each other.
There is a website that includes a
database of all the ISOBUS devices
available – tractors, implements,
terminals and software. Apart from
providing a comprehensive buyers’
guide, the site helps users to check
compatibility and find out whether
software updates are available
for their devices. It also provides
feedback on technical issues to help
manufacturers refine software and devices,
and assist service personnel in diagnosing
faults.
So, what are the benefits of adopting this
ISOBUS technology on farms? It allows the
fingertip setting and control functions seen on
an increasing number of tractors, harvesters and other
farm vehicles. It also allows automated features such as
headland management, which can only work by linking
sensors and actuators on such things as the diff locks, lift
linkage and power take-off (PTO) clutch to a computer on
the tractor.
Tractors and implements can be factory-fitted with ISOBUS
technology or it can, in many circumstances, be added on
at a later date. An ISOBUS-ready implement carries a small
computer containing all the data needed to operate its
various functions electronically using an ISOBUS-compliant
terminal in the tractor cab. It lifts and lowers the pick-up
on a baler or forage wagon, for example, or opens and
closes the hopper slides on a fertiliser spreader. Many
farmers have stand-alone electronic technology already
installed on some of their equipment: switch-operated
fertiliser spreaders, sprayers or feed wgons, for instance.
With ISOBUS versions of these implements, one terminal
will operate them all. The beauty of ISOBUS is that one
terminal can operate any ISOBUS-ready implement.
Plug in a fertiliser spreader and the display automatically
02/10/2015 09:56
Teagasc
Innovation Partner for the
Innovation
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Innovationand
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the
Agriculture
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Teagasc researchers partner with the industry to drive innovation in the agriculture and food sector. The Teagasc
advisory
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advisory network assists farmers to combine environmentally sensitive technical innovation with prudent
advisory
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management, and Teagasc education courses equip future farmers to become lifelong innovators.
Sustainable Agriculture
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Maintaining Clean Water
Grass based Livestock Systems
Breeding New Potato Varieties
Satellite Mapping for Precision Farming
Sexing semen for Animal Breeding
High Quality Gluten Free Breads
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New Product Development
New Technologies
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Technology for the Food Sector
www.teagasc.ie
www.teagasc.ie
www.teagasc.ie
Teagasc 200x283.indd 1
02/10/2015 09:56
18/12/2013 11:45:31
64
MACHINERY
shows the spreader functions; swap it for a baler and the
display changes accordingly as it picks up the data from the
implement’s on-board computer. ISOBUS terminals have a
common format for the display screen – they use the same
style to show an implement’s settings, they are adjusted in
the same way and the graphical representation of various
functions has the same layout and style on every terminal.
Displays for different machines have different content but
the common features ensure ease of operation.The common
protocols adopted by the AEF means that the likes of the
five-pin plug and socket are standardised and there’s a single
cable that carries power to the implement computer and
data between the implement and terminal. Just plug it into
the socket on the back of the tractor. An external socket can
be connected to an ISOBUS universal terminal in the cab
and operates implements quite independently, though it is
useful with machines like spreaders and sprayers to connect
the terminal to the tractor’s speed sensor, which may need a
bit of extra wiring work. A major benefit of having an ISOBUS
tractor is that it makes it easier to connect a portable
terminal and use the tractor’s speed and other sensors and if
there’s a fixed terminal supplied with the tractor it will usually
operate extra functions related to the tractor itself, including
steering guidance. Not all portable terminals can do that. It
also opens up possibilities for the implement to control the
tractor – regulating its working speed, for example, according
to how fast or slow the implement needs to be driven to get
the job done efficiently and effectively at optimum output.
The mobile terminal can be moved onto whichever machine
needs it at a particular time so it can be interchained onto
a silage harvester or combine if not required on the tractor
at the time. At this stage of ISOBUS development the
technology has moved far beyond implement control to
include steering guidance, variable rate fertiliser or spray
application and section control using a GPS connection
or the terminal’s own GPS receiver if it has one. A remote
camera video feed is also quite common at this stage.
A whole range of information can now flow from the
technology to improve management and planning. This can
be stored in-cab on cards or memory sticks or sent to the
farm office or even the machine manufacturer or service
provider. The level of sophistication of the technology
depends on how much you want to spend. But the reality
is that degrees of sophistication unheard of a decade ago
is now commonplace on farm machinery. This technological
progression will continue as agricultural machinery moves
towards greater levels of automation and ever-improving
operational efficiency.
OCTOBER 2015
T
A
Y
M
Ploughing with ISOBUS
Kverneland has developed a plough that is controlled
using ISOBUS technology. The Kv 250 i-Plough
enables up to four different and distinct operations to
be carried out with ISOBUS connectivity. Ploughing,
transport, field marking and parking can al be
controlled from the cab. When ploughing, the in-cab
screen easily facilitates plough adjustment. The 2500
range encompasses a selection of ploughs in the four,
five and six furrow models. A 280hp tractor would be
well able for the top of the range model. Not only does
the ISOBUS technology make it easy for the operator
to adjust on the move, it also speeds up the entire
ploughing operation as it is no lnger necessary to
dismount in order to make adjustments.
Fertiliser spreading with ISOBUS
Kverneland has also adopted the latest
interconnective technology for use with its fertiliser
spreaders. The latest range from the company, the
Exacta CL GEOspread, runs from 110L to 2450L
capacity. It allows manual or automatic variation of
the spread width using an ISOBUS system. Again, the
benefits are clear: the operator can make adjustments
on the move; spreading accuracy and volume are
improved; and wastage in terms of time and fertiliser
is reduced.
Spraying with ISOBUS
Looking at a sector of the sprayer market that is
growing and not currently serviced by the company,
Kverneland has introduced a self-drive sprayer with
two models on offer initially. The iXdrive range will
have working widths available from 27m to 40m HSS
booms and 24m to 30m HSA booms. The HSS boom
is a three-part structure. Tank volume capacity has two
options of 18,000L or 22,500L.
Le
Le
hir
hir
a
a rr
02/10/2015 09:56
BOI F
Talk To Us Today
About Financing
Your Farm
Machinery
07662 34900
www.bankofireland.com/finance
Finance
Finance
Lending
Lending criteria
criteria and
and terms
terms and
and conditions
conditions apply.
apply. Finance
Finance is
is generally
generally provided
provided by
by way
way of
of a
a fixed
fixed rate
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unregulated business
business
hire
purchase
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or
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business
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The
credit
provider
is
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of
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hire purchase agreement or a fixed rate business lease agreement. The credit provider is Bank of Ireland Finance
Finance which
which is
is
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trading
name
of
Bank
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Ireland.
a registered trading name of Bank of Ireland.
65
BOI Finance 200x283.indd
1
02/10/2015
21/08/2015 09:56
10:19
66
MACHINERY
OCTOBER 2015
SCENES FROM
Minister Simon Coveney and Marguerite Sayers, managing director,
ESB Networks, present a farm safety award to Teagasc student
William Brogan from Castlethird, Carrigans, Lifford.
Case IH.
Massey Ferguson.
Claas.
02/10/2015 09:56
OCTOBER 2015
67
THE PLOUGHING
New Holland.
Massey Ferguson.
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA)
celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
McHale.
02/10/2015 09:56
68
FARM SAFETY
OCTOBER 2015
Ireland’s hedge-cutting season is in
full swing. From September until next
March, farm contractors all around
the country will be out and about
trimming back the abundant summer
growth. But, like anything that involves
the use of heavy machinery, hedge
cutting can be a hazardous activity, for
farmers, contractors and the general
road-using public, writes Bernie Commins
Make sure to
hedge your bets
Although currently under review, Ireland’s existing Wildlife
Act allows for a six-month timeframe during which hedges
can be cut. Protection of wildlife and hedge habitats are
the reasons for this. According to the Health and Safety
Authority (HSA), hedge cutting has many associated
dangers that can lead to serious injury of the operator, or
people in the vicinity of the machines.
“Users of hedge cutters must always be vigilant and
follow safe work practices to prevent accidents and
serious injuries. They must also carry out risk assessment
to identify the hazards associated with this machine,”
according to the HSA.
The risks to the operator can be serious, whether it is a
hired contractor or a farmer who might have the capability
to do the work. These risks, according to the HSA, include:
being struck by flying objects, ie. machine parts or debris;
getting caught up in the power take-off (PTO) shaft or other
moving parts; being hit by the cutting head or machine arm
in motion; contact with overhead power lines; becoming
trapped between tractor and machine when hitching or
unhitching; tractor overbalancing and overturning when
machine arm is extended; and damaged hydraulic hoses
causing injection of oil leading to skin and tissue damage.
Peter Farrelly, general secretary of the Association of Farm
Contractors in Ireland (FCI) – contractors’ representative
body – says that safety for its members is a big concern
for the association. There are a number of practical things
that contractors can do to ensure that the activity is safe
for them and members of the public, he tells Irish Farmers
Monthly.
“We need to see more signs on roads when hedge cutting
is in progress, the signage needs to be correct, and
contractors need to ensure that beacons are working,” he
says.
“As well as that, if contractors are working on a dangerous
road, or a bend, they must have someone directing
traffic who must be wearing high-visibility clothing and
safety goggles.” Peter says that the FCI encourages all its
members to avail of safety training courses. But, he adds,
there is a black market in contracting where anyone can
call themselves a contractor without any training at all. This
is a concern for the FCI.
Apart from the obvious safety risks, there are other
considerations regarding the current hedge-cutting season,
according to Peter, and the FCI is seeking changes to be
made to the Wildlife Act, for a number of other safety
reasons. It is calling on Minister for Arts, Heritage and the
Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, to allow hedge cutting to
02/10/2015 09:56
69
OCTOBER 2015
TWEET YOUR TIPS
Tweet your tips #IFMfarmsafety
Irish Farmers Monthly wants to keep the farm safety
conversation flowing by encouraging you to share
your farm safety tips with each other. Knowledge
transfer and discussion groups supported by the
Department of Agriculture have shown that peerlearning and support seems to work. So, if you have
made successful safety changes on your farm, why
not share them with your fellow farming colleagues?
Also, if you experienced a danger or risk of any kind,
why not highlight that too? You never know, you
might help save a life! What to do: Tweet your safety advice to
@farmersmonthly, using the #IFMfarmsafety hashtag.
The top tweet will feature in the print version of Irish
Farmers Monthly each month!
take place outside of the current period, and for
that current period to be extended by two weeks
at spring and autumn, in order to support better
farming practices. In its official submission to the
Department, the FCI said that hedge cutting on
public roadsides should not just apply to dangerous
bends, but to all sections of public road to improve
visibility. But, it adds, a safe level of road visibility
must be maintained during the summer by hedge
cutting machines operated by farm contractors.
Peter says that just 6 per cent of hedges in Ireland
are roadside and that most birds do not nest in
these hedges any longer. He argues that safety
should come before wildlife in this regard.
However, Birdwatch Ireland, in its submission to the
Department, says that data indicates that “a date no
later than March 1 remains an appropriate time to
stop hedgerow cutting for nesting birds. Additionally,
it is clear from the data… that many hedgerow
species nest well into August”. It opposes any change
to the duration of the season. The argument has also
been made by Teagasc, that the current legislation
allows for hedges to be cut if there is a health and
safety issue.
HSA’S KEY SAFETY POINTS
YES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Make sure the operator is fully trained and competent;
Make sure the operator follows the instruction manual;
Make sure the rear and side of the tractor are fitted with a suitable
mesh or sheet guarding to protect the driver from flying debris of
objects;
Make sure all guards are fit for purpose and in place;
Make sure all guards and safety devices on the machine are correctly
fitted and maintained;
Make sure only recommended flails and fixings are used on the hedge
cutter;
Make sure hydraulic pipes are protected against damage;
Take care when hitching and unhitching;
Check all fittings and couplings and keep in good working condition;
Make sure the tractor is suitable for the hedge cutter in use;
Always inspect the hedge before work commences and remove debris
and foreign objects such as wire, bottles or cans;
Always use warning signs to alert others that work is progressing;
Take your time – operate at a sensible speed taking account of working
conditions;
Be aware of overhead power lines and operate safely;
Protect operators from noise, flying debris and objects;
Use ear protection and keep the tractor windows and doors closed;
When leaving the tractor practice the SAFE STOP and remove the keys;
Keep the working area tidy and remove unwanted debris;
Take particular care if working on roadside hedges;
Erect appropriate warning signs correctly positioned on the roadside;
and
Stop cutting if any person approaches or if debris could hit passing
traffic.
NO
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Don’t use a hedge cutter unless you are fully trained and competent;
Don’t use a hedge cutter unless you are fully familiar with its controls;
Don’t use a poorly maintained machine;
Don’t use if any guards are missing;
Don’t use if hydraulic hosing is damaged;
Don’t use a hedge cutter unless the tractor is fitted with mesh or sheet
guarding at the side and rear;
Don’t operate the machine if there are people nearby who may be at risk
of injury;
Don’t operate the tractor controls from any position other than the
tractor driving seat;
Don’t carry out any maintenance while the tractor engine is running;
Don’t carry out any maintenance on the hedge cutter with the cutting
arm raised unless the arm is fully supported; and
Don’t allow children on or near the tractor or hedge cutter.
02/10/2015 09:56
70
ICMSA
JOHN COMER
OCTOBER 2015
The ICMSA delegation that met Minister for Finance Michael
Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Brendan Howlin to discuss farming issues in relation to the
upcoming Budget.
expressions of optimism notwithstanding, the
intervening year has been very challenging – to
put it mildly. Farmer milk price fell by in excess
of 35 per cent.
I say ‘farmer milk price’ because, naturally, the
milk price charged by retailers to consumers
didn’t fall by so much as a cent. Not for the
first time, the retail corporations, which have
been allowed to develop an almost swaggering
dominance within the EU’s food supply
chain, took advantage of the over-supply that
preceded and accompanied quota abolition.
They simply cut the price they paid all the way
backwards to the cow while fixing their own
retail price and just ‘eating up’ everyone else’s
lost margins. The losses involved are astronomical
and ICMSA has calculated that, up to the end of August,
the loss to the state in terms of direct lower milk price and
the wider dairy-related ‘spend’ into the rural economy
between 2014 and 2015 was certainly in excess of €1bn.
In the face of this kind of crisis, we have to say that the
response of both the Government and, more specifically,
the Commission has been distinctly underwhelming. The
three most recent global dairy trade auctions have seen
significant rises and we will expect to see farmer prices
adjusted accordingly and as quickly as possible. But that
notwithstanding, the Farm Council meeting on September 7
illustrated graphically what is wrong with the EU’s attitude
to its own indigenous farm and food production sector.
A total aid package of €500m where Ireland’s share will
amount to approximately €13.73m? A promising-but-vague
commitment to setting up a ‘high-level’ group to investigate
the dominance and margin-grabbing of the handful of
multi-billion euro corporations which have been allowed
effectively to dictate price ‘backwards’ to the producers
and ‘forwards’ to the consumers for decades? We should be
well past these kind of token gestures.
In fairness to Minister Coveney, he has signalled that he
is unhappy with the absolutely unfair structure of our
food-supply chain and we note that Ireland voted for the
institution of the investigating group. But it’s really past
the time for yet more ‘reviews’ and ‘reports’. It’s time to
confront what is a systematic abuse of farmers and primary
food producers by some of the most powerful retail
corporations on the planet which have been allowed hide
behind the Commission’s favoured ‘cheap food’ policy for
decades now.
TIME TO END THE
TOKEN GESTURES
Another Ploughing Championship gone. This is the third
successive year that the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers
Association (ICMSA) has joined with the Irish Examiner to
conduct the ‘What’s Troubling Irish Farmers’ survey. We
are satisfied that this revealing survey of Irish farmers is
conducted on the most geographically, demographically
and sector-by-sector basis possible. Quite often suspicions
are confirmed but very frequently glib assumptions about
what farmers might think on a given subject are challenged
by the data. This year is no different. The survey showed,
on one hand, how farmers’ attitudes to the idea, for
instance, of a gay Taoiseach have moved in tandem with
wider society. Put bluntly, a person’s orientation is not
seen as a decisive or disqualifying aspect of the person.
Then there are other issues. For instance, on repossessing
family homes, we saw an overwhelming disagreement
with the suggestion that even being a year in arrears
justifies evicting the family concerned. ICMSA understands
perfectly that perhaps it is the socio-cultural data that will
attract the most media attention. Pundits and analysts
will pore over the answers and percentages and make – or
revise – their calculations, even more so than usual as the
shadow of a General Election looms. But ICMSA is, first and
foremost, a farmer organisation with a special emphasis
and relationship with the state’s family dairy farms. That,
in turn, means that our core principle is the delivery of an
income to family dairy farms that is consistent with the
skill, capital investment and long hours (an average of 60
hours per week) that full-time milk production involves.
On that front, the difference in mood between the 2014
Irish Examiner-ICMSA survey and this year’s is very striking
and noticeably more downbeat and anxious. Tentative
02/10/2015 09:56
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“At the age of 8 an x-ray uncovered a
tumour in my knee. Cappagh Hospital
saved my leg and I can now walk
pain-free”- Eimer Pigott, age 19
Cappagh Hospital, Ireland’s
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Changing lives
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02/10/2015
27/08/201509:56
15:59
72
RURAL LIFE
OCTOBER 2015
Putting the
pieces back
together
One in Four was established in Ireland in 2002 by wellknown campaigner, Colm O’Gorman, who is the current
executive director of Amnesty International.
“Originally, One in Four’s clients would have been survivors
of clerical sexual abuse and of the institutional abuse
that emerged around that time,” explains Maeve Lewis,
executive director of One in Four. Maeve was appointed in
2007, when Colm stepped down from the charity.
“At that time, we offered counselling and advocacy
services to those clients, such as practical supports that
people might have needed including help in reporting the
crime to gardaí, notifying the crime to child protection
services, court accompaniment, housing and welfare.” In
the intervening years, the organisation has evolved as its
clients’ needs changed.
Research has shown that, in Ireland,
approximately one in four people (27
per cent) will experience sexual
violence. One in Four. This sobering
fact also lends itself to the name of a
hugely important support service for
survivors of child sexual abuse.
Incorporating therapy, advocacy and
prevention, the charity, One in Four, has
been a lifesaver for many and plays an
important role in current child
protection measures across the country,
writes Bernie Commins
Family heartbreak
Today, almost all of the people who engage with One in
Four have been abused by family members, or by someone
in their community, according to Maeve. In 2010, 45
per cent of One in Four’s therapy clients had suffered
familial abuse while 27 per cent of clients experienced
clerical or institutional abuse. Members of the community,
professionals and strangers comprised the remaining
offenders. Familial abuse has devastating and enduring
effects on the whole family, according to Maeve.
“Very often there is denial and disbelief in the family. Sadly,
the person reporting the abuse can be ostracised within
the family – there is such shame, especially in a tight-knit
community – whether that is in a rural or an urban setting.
People are terrified that others will find out.”
While focusing mainly on helping the survivors of sexual
abuse, through counselling and other supports, One in
Four also does a lot of work with families, helping them to
understand how the abuse could have happened. Working
with the family is extremely important, according to Maeve,
because a family in denial poses a huge child protection
risk. For the survivors of childhood sexual abuse, life has
been very challenging, says Maeve.
“People who come into us for counselling often have
depression, anxiety, many have attempted suicide or have
very strong suicidal ideation. One of the saddest things for
me is that, in the past four years, we know of at least three
people who have taken their own lives while they were on
our waiting list before we ever got to see them.
02/10/2015 09:56
73
OCTOBER 2015
Maeve Lewis is the executive
director of One in Four.
“Sexual abuse of a child is an abuse of power and
somebody who has been sexually abused will say that they
just felt like an object, that they didn’t matter, that they
felt dehumanised. People abused as children will generally
grow up with very low self-esteem. They often feel that they
did something to encourage the sexual abuse and that will
be absolutely encouraged by the abuser.
“So people describe feeling contaminated, disgusting, evil
and, generally, they feel like they are the only ones that this
has happened to.”
If there was one glimmer of positivity to be taken from the
church and institutional abuse revelations, it is that abuse
survivors saw that they were not alone, that others had
been through the same, and that it was not their fault.
Young offenders
Many abusers are older, married men, with children. And
many have abused those children, says Maeve.
“About half of the offenders have been sexually abused
themselves. About half of them haven’t, but most have
had some fairly serious traumatic experience in their past.
The common feature across all is that they have very poor
ability to engage in healthy intimate relationships with
people their own age,” says Maeve.
Over the past few years, however, there appears to have
been an increase in offenders from younger age groups.
Access to online pornography and online exposure to child
sexual abuse are contributing factors.
“One of the common themes at that young age is that they
have begun downloading porn as very young teenagers
and then have gone on to download images of children
being sexually abused. They have become sexualised by
those images and some have started physically abusing
younger siblings, or younger cousins, or younger nieces
and nephews.” The easy access to this online material is
something that parents must be aware of, says Maeve.
Although she acknowledges the challenges parents face in
this regard, she urges parents to be watchful.
Parental guidance
Parents need to communicate with their children from a
very young age, according to Maeve. “Tell your children
that if anything happens to upset them, they should always
come and tell you and that you will never be cross.” She
also gives advice about how to spot any tell-tale signs that
something might be wrong. “Keep an eye out. Adults who
were abused as a child will always say that they changed
after the abuse. So, if a child is withdrawing, acting out,
bed-wetting, or if a child says they don’t want to go to that
house, you really need to listen to that.
“Again, adults who were abused as a child will tell us that at
some point, when they were young, they would have said
that they didn’t want to go to a particular house but were
made to go anyway.
“Be careful where your children are having sleepovers – do
you know the parents? Do you know what is going on in
that house? And keep an eye on what they are looking at
online, that is a key thing.”
Phoenix programme
One in Four developed the Phoenix programme in 2008
which works with sex offenders, their families and statutory
services to help offenders realise the devastation they have
caused, as well as helping them to live without sexually
harming another person. But, in essence, it is a child
protection measure.
“We estimate that probably one out of 20 people who
sexually abuse children actually ever gets convicted,” says
Maeve.
“So we think that our service, which deals mainly with
non-convicted sex offenders, is really, really important.
We help the sex offender manage their behaviour. We also
work with their families and that is really important for
child protection matters. So if we can get their partners or
parents to engage, that means that other children and their
families are safe.
“At our core, we are a child protection agency, even though
we are working with adults all the time, but our primary aim
is for this to be a country where children are safe.”
One in Four is an appointment-only service. Contact: 016624070, Monday – Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm or
email [email protected]
Alternatively, you can post a letter to One in Four, 2
Holles St, Dublin 2, D02 FP40.
FUNDRAISING
One in Four would be delighted to hear from you if you
have a fundraising idea to help raise money for this
important service. Organise a walk, a run, or table quiz.
If you have an idea, please contact One in Four on 016624070 or [email protected]
02/10/2015 09:56
74
RURAL LIFE
OCTOBER 2015
Prizes galore
Who’s saying what on
Twitter? A snapshot of
our favourite tweets
over the past few weeks
Model Village @railvillage
Well done to Clonakilty for
winning gold in the Tidy Towns
& being shortlisted for the
Fáilte Ireland Tourism Awards.
Cloghans Hill NS
@ScoilAnClochain
Padraic is showcasing the
http://www.farmsafety4kids.
net website at the #ploughing2015 today
@FarmSafety4Kid
Embrace.Farm
@EmbraceFARM
#Herdie come and find him
and tweet...
Marita Kelly @TheMaritaKelly
@TheAlPorter #ploughing15
#positivementalhealth
@MacranaFeirme
NationalDairyCouncil
@NDC_ie
Remember it’s all about a
#WinningStart for your kids.
See our great ‘Get Active’ tips
http://goo.gl/7CHgLV
Irish Co-ops BXL @ICOS_BXL
ICOS and @IFAmedia at
beginning of #farmaction
protest.
KCLR 96FM @kclr96fm
Kilkenny caller to #KCLRbreakfast spotted this in a
Tipperary bookshop.
She wasn’t happy.
What do you think?
Don’t forget to follow the Irish Farmers Monthly
twitter feed @farmersmonthly
This month we are giving away copies of Six Nations, Two Stories, The Women, and
Windharp: Poems of Ireland since 1916. To be in with a chance to win a copy of one of
these books, answer the questions below. Send your answers to: Competitions, Irish
Farmers Monthly, 31 Deansgrange Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Answers must arrive by October 19.
Six Nations, Two Stories
By Kate Rowan and Peter O’Reilly
Relive, game by
game, the key
moments in Ireland’s
historic 2015
RBS Six Nations
campaign, which
culminated in a
nerve-shredding
final weekend when
both the women’s
and men’s titles were still up for grabs.
Through interviews with players like
Johnny Sexton, Niamh Briggs, Nora
Stapleton and Robbie Henshaw – as
well as members of the backroom staff
– journalists Kate Rowan and Peter
O’Reilly provide a unique glimpse into
the mindset of the two camps. This book
offers unrivalled depth of coverage of a
breakthrough Six Nations season: the
first time that Ireland won both senior
tournaments in one year.
What year of the RBS Six Nations
does the book cover?
The Women
By Alice Taylor
Best-selling author
Alice Taylor returns
with The Women,
an engaging and
heart-warming
series of portraits
of very special
women from Alice’s
life. Alice Taylor
lives in the village
of Innishannon in Co Cork, in a house
attached to the local supermarket and
post office. Since her eldest son has
taken over responsibility for the shop,
she has been able to devote more time to
her writing. Alice worked as a telephonist
in Killarney and Bandon. When she
married, she moved to Innishannon
where she ran a guesthouse at first, then
the supermarket and post office. She and
her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly
passed away in 2005, had four sons and
one daughter.
In what village does Alice Taylor live?
Windharp:
Poems of Ireland since 1916
Edited by Niall MacMonagle
The Easter Rising
of 1916 was a
foundational
moment of the
independent Irish
state; but while
that insurrection
continues to divide
opinion, there is no
disagreement as
to the majesty of Yeats’s ‘Easter 1916’,
or about the excellence of the Irish
poetic tradition over the past century.
Windharp is an anthology that follows
the twists and turns of Irish history,
culture and society through the work of
its remarkable standing army of poets.
Edited by Niall MacMonagle, Ireland’s
most trusted poetry commentator,
Windharp is an accessible and inspiring
journey through a century of Irish life.
In what year did the Easter Rising
take place?
LAST MONTH’S BOOK WINNERS
Aine Roche, Mitchelstown, Co Cork; Mary Hennessy, Abbeyleix, Co Laois; Catherine Murphy,
Portlaw, Co Waterford; Margaret Lynch, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan; Matthew Morrissey, Kells, Co
Meath; Una Quigley, Nenagh, Co Tipperary; Marion Shanahan, Bandon, Co Cork; Maura Caulfield,
Ballinlough, Co Roscommon; Anna Twomey, Blarney, Co Cork; Sally Dodd, Ardfert, Co Kerry; Alma
Cooke, Thurles, Co Tipperary; Helen Tarmey, Ballymote, Co Sligo.
02/10/2015 09:56
COMPETITION
75
OCTOBER 2015
ENJOY LUXURY
AND CULINARY
EXCELLENCE
AT FAITHLEGG
HOUSE HOTEL
An AA Rosette holder for the past six years and
a proud member of Good Food Ireland, Faithlegg
House Hotel in Co Waterford has just been
awarded two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence
in 2015, with head chef Jenny Flynn also winning
the AA Delicious Dish of the Year.
To celebrate, one lucky winner will experience the
award-winning cuisine by head chef Jenny Flynn
at Faithlegg House Hotel with the AA Rosette
Celebratory Gourmet Package. You and a guest
will enjoy a luxurious two-night stay with a full Irish
breakfast on both mornings, an a la carte evening
meal in the newly refurbished Roseville Rooms
Restaurant and a gourmet gift homemade by
Jenny Flynn especially for you to take home.
Head chef Jenny Flynn’s delicious cuisine
showcases all that is best and finest from local
1
1
2
3
4
4
5
artisan producers. Jenny is passionate in her quest
to source foods from the finest local artisans and
producers, bringing guests and diners at Faithlegg
on a foodie trip from the beaches of the county,
along the coast and then up inland.
If you’re not lucky enough to win on this
occasion, you can book the AA Rosette
Celebratory Gourmet Package by calling 051
382 000 or visit www.faithlegg.com for more
information.
Last month’s winner:
Bernard Griffith, Dublin 9
5
6
7
7
8
8
9
10
11
10
11
14
14
12
15
19
23
13
15
16
18
18
12
22
20
17
19
21
24
22
25
26
SEPTEMBER 2015 ANSWERS
ACROSS: 1. Black. 4. Detroit. 7. Bails. 8. Robin. 9. Iseq. 10. Qatar. 13. Fatima. 16. Lumbar. 19. Quinn. 22. Glut. 23.
Kayak. 24. Happy. 25. Gherkin. 26. Table. DOWN: 2. Llama. 3. Callan. 4. Dress. 5. Torquay. 6. Iris. 10. Quill. 11. Lir. 12.
Damon. 14. MMR. 15. Bangkok. 17. Guyana. 18. Luton. 20. Nepal. 21. Bach.
To be in with a chance of winning this prize,
simply text IFM1 and the answer hidden
in the red boxes, along with your name
and address to 57003 or reply by post
to Crossword Competition, Irish Farmers
Monthly, 31 Deansgrange Road,
Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Entries must arrive by
Monday, October 19.
ACROSS:
7 Dublin-born celebrity gardener. (8,5)
8 Name shared by newspapers from Sligo and Clare.
9 “Vorsprung durch Technik” is the motto of which company?
10 Name given to the raised space in front of Leinster House which is often the
scene of photocalls.
12 People hired for crowd scenes in a film.
14 Which word, meaning uproar and confusion, comes from the name of the
world’s first psychiatric hospital?
16 What is the largest pharmacy chain in Ireland?
18 State-owned bank formed by the merger of Irish Nationwide and
Anglo-Irish, currently being investigated. (1,1,1,1)
20 Where is St Mel’s Cathedral?
22 What is the popular name for area of California that is home to many of the
world’s biggest high-tech companies? (7,6)
DOWN:
1 America’s First Lady.
2 Which US president ordered the dropping of nuclear bombs on Japan?
3 First name of the first man in space.
4 Irish competitor on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
5 The Giant’s Causeway is formed from what kind of rock?
6 Name of tough outer layer on cheese, bacon etc.
11 Which RTÉ sports commentator also presents a show on Lyric FM?
13 Whose many fairy tales include the Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina?
15 Which adjective describes something related to milk?
17 Who prevented Kerry from winning five in a row in 1982?
19 Which British aristocrat bought Russborough House as a home for
his art collection?
21 ____ Scotia: Canadian province.
Terms & Conditions: 18+. €1 per entry incl VAT. Network charges vary. Lines close midnight October 19, 2015. Entries made after the closing
date will not count and you may be charged. SP Phonovation Ltd, PO Box 6, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Helpline 0818217100.
02/10/2015 09:56
76
MOTORING
Is a significant
upgrade and
attractive pricing
enough to make
the Rexton a
realistic 4x4
option, asks
Bernard Potter
OCTOBER 2015
Old-school Rexton
bets on price appeal
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
The SsangYong Rexton is an old-school 4x4 that makes
few concessions to prettified modern SUV design trends
but despite – or because of – that, it still looks impressive
and exudes a classic aura with its wide runner boards and
sturdy roof rails.
Behind the wheel
That classic look continues inside with a well-appointed
cabin, black leather seats, new centre console and new
steering wheel design. Unfortunately, the wheel is so big it
tends to obscure the dials.
The driver’s seat is adjustable and has a tilting head-rest
which means you can mitigate the problem somewhat.
Comfort-wise, the Rexton is more than satisfactory with
heated seats, plenty of legroom for driver and passengers
and minimal road noise.
The 1,998cc engine gives reasonable power and, according
to SsangYong, the Rexton has 2,000kg towing capacity. On
country roads, it handles well, although the steering can
feel undefined. Overall, it lacks the more refined drive of
some of its more expensive rivals, but that’s probably to be
expected at the price point it offers.
commercial), the Rexton also is available in a business
edition (five-seater commercial utility) from €39,995
manual and €42,995 automatic (the model under test
here). In addition, there’s a seven-seater available from
€48,995 on the manual version and from €52,995 for the
automatic version. When you could be paying in the region
of €75,000 to €80,000 for many of its competitors, that’s
a considerable saving. A five-year warranty and five-year
roadside assistance package makes it look a very attractive
proposition. Against that, though, you have to weigh hefty
fuel-consumption figures and emissions that take it into
the band F category. Overall, the Rexton’s success hinges
on whether its old-school 4x4 design values and attractive
pricing will counter its dated performance in relation to fuel
consumption and carbon emissions, as far as Irish buyers
are concerned.
CMY
K
Fact file
Model
Price
Engine
Fuel consumption (manufacturer’s combined figures)
CO2 emissions (manufacturer’s figures)
Rexton Business Edition five-door auto
€42,995
1,998cc
7.8L/100km
206g/km
Price is right?
And price is one of the Rexton’s key selling points. Starting
at €35,695 manual and €37,995 automatic (two-seater
Bernard Potter edits Irish Motor Management, the official
magazine of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.
02/10/2015 09:56
BE_Student_Scarf_Advert_200x283 copy.pdf
1
30/09/2015
12:10
We’ve got you covered
Great value fares
Leaving you with plenty of change to rattle
round your pocket.
Ireland’s most extensive travel network
From UCC to WIT, Trinity to NUIG, no matter where you
study this year, we'll get you there.
C
M
Comprehensive timetables
Y
With the greatest choice of departure and arrival
times, you’ll never be late for a lecture again!
CM
MY
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CMY
K
Total convenience – buy online at buseireann.ie
You can even use your smartphone to
display your ticket.
02/10/2015 09:56
78
VERY END
OCTOBER 2015
After the Ploughing
The Ploughing is all over for another year. If it’s not the greatest show on
earth, then it’s certainly one of the greatest from a farmer’s perspective.
This year’s gathering at Ratheniska had an added element of interest as it
is the last before the General Election. Politicians were thick on the ground,
pressing the flesh and conjuring up suitable sound-bites to entice would-be
voters to their cause.
Though not strictly an Irish politician anymore, European Commissioner for
Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, arrived early on the final
day and swept across the site with his entourage, which included his heavyhitting henchmen Tom Tynan and Michael Treacy. Big Phil took on all comers
at his press conference at the European Commission stand. He held firm on
the decision not to change the reference price on dairy intervention: “Rather
than kicking the can down the road by waiting for legislators to change
intervention rules, I went for a more ambitious Aids to Private Storage (APS)
scheme to come into action by December.” He also signalled his intention
in the mid-term Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) review in 2017 to look
at proposals for the next CAP in 2020. The Commissioner will surely want
to put his own stamp on the future of European agriculture, just as his
predecessor Ray McSharry did in his time as agriculture commissioner.
Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó’Cuív took centre stage beside his party leader
Micheál Martin to launch the organisation’s agriculture policy. Eamon
outlined Fianna Fáil’s core farm policies including the retention of family
farms, the avoidance of land abandonment and a fair CAP. The agriculture
spokesman was particularly scathing on the issue of farmgate prices: “It is a
ridiculous situation if you wind up in farming, that the more you produce the
lower net profit you have at the end of the year. That is not a sustainable
position to be in. The primary producer has to get a fair return. We need
fair trade for Irish and European farmers. There is a problem with the power
of the retail multiples. For example, a dairy farmer gets 11 cents less out of
every euro spent by the consumer than he received in 1995.” ‘Young Dev’
put the onus on the European Commission to rebalance the strong buying
power of the supermarkets against the weak selling power of the food
producer. Sinn Féin avoided causing any negative reaction among potential
farming voters by minimising discussion on taxation. Still, the party will have
to persuade landowners that Sinn Féin would not introduce a wealth tax
on farms valued above €1m if it gets into government. Sinn Féin’s website
clearly states that ‘working farmland’ would be excluded from its wealth
tax proposals, but still the asset-rich, income-poor, 80-acre farmer will fret
at the prospect of any form of ‘land tax’. Taoiseach Enda Kenny was clearly
intent on holding onto the majority of farmers’ first preferences when he
threw everything, bar the kitchen sink, at agriculture when he attended
the Ploughing. His Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon
Coveney, continues to walk on water with farmers, claiming a 61 per cent
‘satisfaction’ rating among the farming community. He must wonder whether
he commands the same loyalty within the Fine Gael parliamentary party.
FBD back on track
What a roller-coaster few months FBD
Holdings has endured. We expect the
appointment this month of former
financial director, Fiona Muldoon, as
CEO. After a turbulent few months, her
appointment would be an indication that
the company is back on track. Indeed,
you only had to call to the FBD stand at
the recent Ploughing Championships to
see the support the farming community is
giving FBD. FBD has stood by the farming
community over the years, investing and
partnering in education and community
initiatives. FBD has had to endure an awful
lot of criticism from the media and other
organisations in recent weeks which, quite
honestly, it did not deserve.
Timing is everything in business and
the swift appointment of Fiona, if it
is confirmed, as well as the recent
investment of €70m from Fairfax Financial,
looks like good news for the company and
its future!
02/10/2015 09:56
IFAC 2
IFAC 2
Farm Business
Farm
Business
& Taxation
&Advisors
Taxation
Advisors
Farm
Tax
Specialists
Farm
Tax
Specialists
Founded by farmers to work for farmers
Founded by farmers to work for farmers
Local
-- National
Back-up
Local Service
Service
National
Back-up
23 Branches Nationwide
23 Branches Nationwide
23 Branches
Nationwide
www.ifac.ie
www.ifac.ie
www.ifac.ie
•SuccessionPlanning
•SuccessionPlanning
•Annualincometaxplanning
•Annualincometaxplanning
•Limitedcompanyplanning&set-up
•Limitedcompanyplanning&set-up
•Collegegrantapplications
•Collegegrantapplications
•Financialaccounts
•Financialaccounts
•On-sitebook-keepingservices
•On-sitebook-keepingservices
•Loanapplications&banknegotiations
•Loanapplications&banknegotiations
•Pre-yearendtaxprojection&advice
•Pre-yearendtaxprojection&advice
•Managementaccounts&profitmonitor
•Managementaccounts&profitmonitor
•Revenueauditsupport
•Revenueauditsupport
•TaxPlanning-includingfarmtransfers
•TaxPlanning-includingfarmtransfers
•Specialistback-upservices
•Specialistback-upservices
Fr e e C o n s u l t a t i o n C o n t a c t
Fr e e C o n s u l t a t i o n C o n t a c t
1
18
80
00
0 3
33
34
44
42
22
2
IFAC 200x283.indd 1
IFAC 200x283.indd 1
02/10/2015 09:56
17/07/2015 11:35
27/04/2015 12:23
vaccine range
Protect your weanlings
from IBR
BOVILIS IBR MARKER LIVE
®
IE/BOM/1114/0002 September 2015
The Only One-shot IBR Marker Vaccine either Intramuscularly or Intranasally 1
USE AT THE SAME TIME AS BOVILIS® BOVIPAST RSP.
Bovilis IBR Marker live contains live, attenuated IBR marker vaccine BHV-1 strain GK/D (gE- ).
For the active immunisation against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Withdrawal period: zero days.
Legal Category: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .
Bovilis Bovipast RSP contains inact. BRS strain EV908, PI-3 strain SF-4 Reisinger and Mannheimia haemolytica
A1 strain M4/1. Withdrawal period: Zero days. Legal Category: ROI POM(E) NI POM-V .
Use Medicines Responsibly
For further information see SPC, contact prescriber or MSD Animal Health,
Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.
Tel: +353(0)1 2970220. E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.msd-animal-health.ie
1. First vaccination ≥ 3 months of age.
MSD IBR Marker 200x283.indd 1
02/10/2015 09:56
01/10/2015 12:51

October 2015 - Irish Farmers Monthly

Transcription

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