From the Experts

From the Experts

ABV release prompts sire review

The August release of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) and the upcoming joining season will have dairy farmers around the country thinking about the next best sires to use over their herds. While breeding enthusiasts will delve into great detail...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Sires’ success is proven

THE DESIRE by ABS to make better cows faster has never been more evident than in the August ABV proofs, delivering top sires in both the Holstein genomic rankings and sires with Australian milking daughters. The success of the ABS genomic program is...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Scientists expand genetic horizons

Australia’s geneticists are leading the world in expanding the horizons of genetic selection of dairy cattle. WHAT DO you achieve if you take a team of clever geneticists, give them state-of-the-art research facilities and supply them with...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Trial sparks interest

A TRIAL of sexed semen three years ago ignited one Tasmanian dairy farming family’s passion for breeding and laid a foundation for the business’s future. Stuart and Kylie Nailer milk 215 cows at Ringarooma, in Tasmania’s north-east, with their...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Number one bull for daughters

GENETICS AUSTRALIA have released its August proof update with Calister Maebull the new number one daughter proven bull. Maebull’s stable breeding value has held him in good stead as other challengers have fallen away with refinements to the ABV...

Dairy News
From the Experts

California faces similar dairy issues

MULTIPLE DEMANDS on irrigation water, stricter environmental controls and pressures from animal activists are some of the issues that are similar for Californian dairy farmers and those in Australia. Animal scientist Dr Russ Hovey drew some...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Gippsland reminders for July

Pastures and grazing Aim to grow as much pasture as possible while keeping costs under control. The use of nitrogen and gibberellic acid can increase DM yield, and when combined with good grazing management can increase available pasture to cows...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Designing calf housing

THERE IS no single “right” way to rear calves and no “best” housing system. Good management is essential to the success of any system. However, badly designed and managed housing systems can definitely pose risks to calf health, welfare and...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Hope for new season

DAIRY FARMERS attending an industry update by rural bank Rabobank in Kyabram recently were shown a glimmer of hope. Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey said 2019–20 should be a profit year for dairy farmers. But Mr Harvey also pointed to...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Farmer sentiment challenged

OVERALL 2018–19 has proved to be one of the hottest and driest years on record. Challenging seasonal conditions have been felt across the country and farmers are feeling the pinch as a result. Despite a relatively high milk price, in historical...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Summer heat advice

PROVIDING LIVESTOCK with shade and water during extreme heat is ‘‘paramount’’ according to an owner of a northern Victorian veterinary practice. Keith Fletcher, of Rochester Veterinary Practice, provided some tips on the best way to handle...

Dairy News
From the Experts

March reminders

Hay and silage stocks Check your levels of hay and silage and do your sums on potential hay and silage use for the balance of the year. Allow for milking cows, dry cows and young stock. It’s often a challenge to feed the best feed you can and make...

Dairy News
From the Experts

New tech helps manage cows

A NEW cow ‘fit bit’ is making it easier to diagnose sick cows and influence management decisions around fertility and performance. Cow Manager uses a small ear tag to monitor and record cow activity, temperature, eating, rumination and resting...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Broad range of seminar topics

Eight seminars will be held at International Dairy Week, covering topics from improving efficiency to heat tolerance. Held at the Ballantyne Centre at Tatura Park, the seminars will run over three days with presenters from across the industry...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Bringing new pastures on line

GETTING YOUR grazing rotation right is critical to maximise your pasture production. A well-managed rotation will help not only to boost pasture intake per cow but enable a more effective use of supplements. Establishing a rotation with newly sown...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Genetics may ease heat stress

THE MODERN dairy cow is highly susceptible to the effects of heat and in the Australian climate, the effects of heat stress cause millions of dollars in lost production every year. Temperature and humidity that exceed certain thresholds lead to...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Invest in all aspects of farm capital

There are a number of future choices open to farming businesses. In short those choices are: retire, die, sell (in any order); hand over the farm to one child with the others unhappy; hand over to one child with all happy; build a multi-generational...

Dairy News
From the Experts

Good lucerne needs good management

The Accelerating Change Lucerne Masterclass drew a large crowd of dairy farmers, contractors and service providers to Scott Fitzgerald’s farm at Tongala in December. After a few days of heavy rain, the sun was out, making it the perfect...

Dairy News

Trending stories

News

Your guide to the region’s Christmas lights

Christmas has well and truly come to Shepparton, with homes across the region lighting up. They’re bright, and cheery, and very, very Christmassy. Don’t miss any Christmas lights with our map!

Shepparton News
News

23 with three months to live

“The year looked so promising for me.“ This is how Johnathon Bentancourt saw his future before doctors told him he had just a few months left to live.

Morgan Dyer
News

Hume Freeway closed, near Wangaratta

The Hume Freeway is closed towards Melbourne, just outside of Wangaratta, due to a truck rollover. Emergency services are on site. Motorists are advised to detour at the Great Alpine road exit to get back on to the Hume Freeway. Northbound lanes...

Simon Ruppert
Education

Builder announced for Greater Shepparton Secondary College

Construction on the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College is set to commence next month with a builder now appointed to the job.

Liz Mellino