DairyPod

Genomic testing of heifers can save you money on rearing costs and fast-track improvements in everything from milk production to fertility. In this episode, Daniel Abernathy from Zoetis explains to Dairy Australia’s Steph Bullen how genomic testing can benefit farm businesses and how to get started. In the second part of the pod, Steph talks to South Australian farmer Shane Gardiner about the impact of genomic testing on his herd.

Finding the right milk company to supply to can be a complicated decision for dairy farmers. In the latest episode, Murray Dairy’s Lisa Birrell spoke to Strathmerton farmer Andrew Wilson about how he compares different companies and chooses the right one for his circumstances.

Bruce Manintveld and Fiona Baker are now debt free, just eight years after purchasing their farm. Still in their 40s, Bruce and Fiona have ridden the highs and lows of the past decade, using a low-cost business strategy to smash through their loan repayments.

TMR farmer Brad Fisher reckons his cows are happier since moving into a compost barn system. where they are milked three times a day. The South Australian farmer says the dairy industry and wider public needs to take a fresh look at intensive systems and how they stack up from an animal welfare and economic point of view.

In the latest Situation sand Outlook DairyPod, milk entrepreneur Sallie Jones talks to DA’s John Droppert about building value into dairy products. In 2016, Sallie Jones started Gippsland Jersey with her business partner Steve Ronalds, and has grown the private milk label into a genuine success story – and feelgood story – for the dairy industry. You can read the whole S&O report at dairyaustralia.com.au

Gippsland farmer Stu Griffin, who has been milking once-a-day for five years, shares his thoughts on how it has impacted on pasture utilisation, fertility, cow health, staffing and, most importantly, profitability and lifestyle.

Downer cows can be frustrating, time consuming, expensive and emotionally taxing. For such an important and complex subject, we’re lucky enough to have Australia’s foremost authority, Gippsland vet Phil Poulton, chatting with Steph Bullen from Dairy Australia’s animal health and fertility team about the best way to get your cows back on their feet. For more info on downer cows got to www.dairyaustralia.com.au

Professor Geoff Dahl is a US scientist with a knack for explaining his research in simple terms, which is exactly what he does when talking about the ongoing effects of heat stress on dry cows and heifers. His research indicates that up to four litres per cow could be lost for an entire lactation if dry cows are heat stressed, with further impacts on calf weight, development and milking potential.

In the first DairyPod episode for 2021, we speak to NSW farmer Colin Thompson, who has developed a successful Total Mixed Ration (TMR) farm system after starting out as a pasture-based farmer. Colin’s story has lessons for every farmer, with his insights into how to run a profitable dairy farm making this a must-listen podcast.

Equity partnerships are still rare in Australian dairy, so this episode should interest anyone looking to grow their business or ease out of the industry. Western Victoria farm owners Bruce and Andrea Vallance started an equity partnership with Issac Fynn two years ago. It’s the second time the Vallances have successfully ventured into an equity partnership, so they have a wealth of knowledge to share. It’s a full house for this episode with Issac joining Bruce and Andrea in the pod, as well as farm consultant Angus Drummond who has helped facilitate the partnership. Fiona Smith, who co-ordinates DairyBase for Dairy Australia will lead the discussion.

With the release of the December Situation and Outlook Report we look at how Australian dairy is tracking in Indonesia. In this episode, Ausfine Foods’ Garry Embleton talks to Dairy Australia's John Droppert about the trade opportunities and challenges for dairy in the world's fourth most populous country.

Adelaide Hills dairy farmer Rick Gladigau explains how fire ripped through his local farming community on December 20 last year. Rick, who recorded this episode earlier with DairySA regional extension officer Beck Burgess, shares some of the decisions that helped save his dairy and some mistakes that could have been extremely costly.

For many farmers, antibiotics are a major cost that impacts on the bottom line of their farm business. One farmer recently saved $100,000 in antibiotic costs by changing herd health procedures. It’s also a community-wide issue about protecting life-saving medicines that can be weakened by over-use. In the episode, Gippsland vet and mastitis guru Mark Humphris looks at how prevention and improved drying off techniques can dramatically cut antibiotic usage. In a wide-ranging discussion with Steph Bullen from Dairy Australia’s animal health and nutrition team, Mark explains how dairy farmers can develop systems and procedures that reduce antibiotic usage (and vet bills) and improve herd health.

If you’ve ever wondered about adding a beef component to your breeding program, then this DairyPod is well worth a listen. With beef prices riding high and on-going community concerns over replacement cows, breeding calves for beef is an increasingly attractive option for many dairy farmers. In this episode, Dairy Australia’s Sarah Bolton talks to Charles Sturt University researcher Michael Campbell on the pros and cons of adding dairy beef to your system, how overseas markets view dairy beef products and how the domestic market is growing.

With the release of the October 2020 Situation and Outlook Report, Dairy Australia’s John Droppert chats with Rabobank analyst Michael Harvey about where the industry is placed, where it is likely to be heading and what international markets are telling us about dairy supply in a Covid-19 world. Topics covered include improving trends in farm profitability, the impact of Victoria’s food service restrictions and where the Chinese market is heading.

In a tough year, Justin Walsh made Earnings Before Income and Tax (EBIT) of more than $3.50 per kg of milk solids or around $2000 per cow. It’s an amazing result - and even more so when you consider Justin put in less work last year than he ever has before. There’s no silver bullet behind Justin’s success. Instead, he explains how he picks the brains of good farmers, has reassessed his farm business to get the big settings right and looks for the source of problems, rather than continually dealing with the results. DairyNSW’s Greg Duncan visited Justin on his South Coast farm near Nowra to find out how this young farmer is working less and making more money.

In the second instalment of Frank Mickan’s silage production podcast, the man known as Mister Silage shares his thoughts how to improve harvesting and ensiling of your spring pasture. As anyone who listened to the previous podcast will know, Frank has a wealth of knowledge, and in this episode he discusses a wide range of topics including wilting rates, silage machinery, compaction and density, face management and plenty more.

When it comes to silage, Frank Mickan has probably forgotten more than the rest of us will ever know. For over forty years, the man known as 'Mister Silage' has been turning pasture and fodder conservation research into practical outcomes, helping farmers produce consistently better silage and boost their profit margins in the process. In the first of two podcasts, Frank shares his know-how with GippsDairy regional extension officer Karen Romano.

Don and Jen Stolp, who farm at Mt Gambier in the south east of South Australia, have built a farm business from scratch, moving from farm employees to 50/50 share farmers on one of Chris Proctor’s SA farms. DairySA’s Beck Burgess will guide us through this great story of how smart and bold decision making, surrounding yourself with good people and sheer perseverance have helped carve out a profitable niche in the dairy industry for a young farming couple.

To celebrate the latest Milk Quality Awards, renowned mastitis expert Rod Dyson explains how farmers can improve their milk quality through better mastitis control. Rod, who is considered one of the leading experts on the subject, joins Dairy Australia’s Steph Bullen to drill down into the techniques and procedures that can really make a difference to lowering cell counts and improving what goes into your vat – and your bank account.

Internationally renowned management consultant, Nollaig Heffernan, unpacks the importance of valuing and investing in your people, and how understanding yourself as a person - and an employer - will help you succeed. For more information on becoming a better employer, go to thepeopleindairy.org.au

In this podcast, internationally renowned expert Neil Chesterton looks at how you can reduce lameness through improved cow-flow and better stock handling. Neil has dedicated his career to preventing lameness and is adamant that all farmers can cut their vet bills and improve cow welfare by following some simple recommendations.

In this episode, Dr. James Hills from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and DairyTas regional extension officer Liz Mann will take you through the steps for preseason checks and, once it’s all up and running, how to set your intervals to make every drop count. James is also a lead researcher for Smarter Irrigation for Profit Phase Two, so he’s up to date with all the latest information for boosting productivity on irrigated farms.

Farm consultant Matt Harms guides you through the milk supply contract maze in this must-listen DairyPod episode. With contracts needing to be signed by June 30, Matt drills down into the detail of what is contained in various contract offerings and how you can find the best deal for your farm business. He also looks at the Dairy Industry Code of Conduct and offers his opinion on whether loyalty should still be a factor when farmers sign on the dotted line.

With the shadow of COVID-19 looming over the world, global markets – including dairy – have been more difficult than ever to analyse and forecast. In the latest DairyPod episode Dairy Australia’s Industry Insights and Analysis Manager, John Droppert, will shed some light on the factors that have driven a significant recovery in national milk production and boosted dairy farmer confidence in many regions. John will guide us through the highlights of the June 2020 Situation and Outlook Report and also take a look at some of the market forces from around the globe that influence your farm gate milk price. If you want to more from the Situation and Outlook report go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au

The pre-calving 3 week transition period is critical to improved herd health and reducing milk fever risk. Gippsland vet and dairy farmer Jakob Malmo has over 6 decades of experience in the industry, and in the latest Dairypod he outlines his simple but effective approach to transition cow management (TCM). Jakob has shown on his farms that by implementing some simple interventions to his transition feeding approach, you don’t always have to feed an expensive transition diet to still see real benefits.

If you’ve ever thought of installing a feedpad or upgrading your current system, this is a must listen podcast. WestVic Dairy’s Peter Gaffy caught up with AgVic’s Scott McDonald to examine the pros and cons of feedpads, including the hidden costs that catch out many farmers.

In the latest episode of DairyPod, Riverina farmer Ruth Kydd talks about the exceptional herd fertility results she and husband Neville have been able to achieve. By matching their calving pattern with availability of homegrown feed, the Kydds have been able to build their farm from a modest size to a large-scale operation. It’s a great story of how ordinary farmers have been able to achieve extraordinary results through a focus on fertility improvement. Joining in the discussion is breeding consultant Leo Bydevaate who has helped shape fertility decisions on the Kydd farm.

Farm consultant Phil Shannon talks to Dairy Australia's Ruairi McDonnell about increasing profits from grazing management and maximising home-grown feed on your farm - particularly from direct grazed pasture. If you follow Phil's advice, you could be leaving less money in the paddock and putting more in the bank.

In the latest DairyPod episode, Down to Earth Advice Ltd consultant and former DairyNZ scientist Dr John Roche gives his thoughts on some of the main challenges facing Australian dairy farmers in the future, and how decision making can be the difference between a successful or struggling farm business. From marginal milk to production costs, the internationally renowned dairy consultant provides a fascinating insight into how the best farmers approach decision making and how good choices can improve your balance sheet and lifestyle.

Northern Victorian dairy farmer Dehne Vinnicombe, who has tested positive for COVID-19, speaks to Murray Dairy’s Lachie Barnes about operating a farm under the threat of coronavirus spread and how he has adapted his farm business to minimise the potential damage that can be caused by the virus.

This episode looks at how markets, both internationally and domestically, are shaping up in the post COVID-19 world. Dairy Australia’s Industry Insights and Analysis Manager John Droppert caught up with Fresh Agenda director Steve Spencer whose analysis of the food industry, especially dairy, is always worth a listen.

Gippsland dairy farmer Andrew Perry talks us through the critical steps he's taken to protect the people on his farm and the farm business itself from COVID-19. Andrew, who is also a highly respected vet, believes dairy farmers need to treat COVID-19 seriously or risk damage to their business – as well as their health. Steph Bullen from Dairy Australia’s animal health team caught up with her fellow vet to find out what exactly he’s doing to fight COVID 19 on his farm.

Steph Bullen from Dairy Australia’s animal health team and DA’s technical and innovation manager John Penry will take you through some of the fundamentals of how to deal with the threat of COVID-19 on your dairy farm.

Still unsure which perennial ryegrass variety to choose for sowing this autumn? Hear Dairy Australia’s Ruairi McDonnell chat to Prof. Kevin Smith from the University of Melbourne about the Forage Value Index, including how to use it on your farm to select the most profitable cultivar.

With lots of farmers around the country focusing on Autumn calving, it’s a good time to have a listen to Dairy Australia’s Ruairi McDonnell speaking with Dr Bob James, a dairy consultant from the US who's had a long and productive career in extension, teaching and research, specialising in dairy calf management and rearing. In a thought provoking discussion, Bob spoke about several aspects of calf rearing, including: - How much milk should you feed your calves each day - Target weight gains pre-weaning - Long term effects of how heifer calves are reared on their milk yield as mature cows - Pros and cons of automatic calf feeders - Antibiotic use in calves - Role of “secondary” or transition colostrum in calf performance

Western Australian farmer Jacqui Biddulph talks dairy life with northern Victorian farmers Peter and Susan Wearden who’ve seen the highs and lows of dairying over almost three decades and have developed strategies for staying optimistic even in the toughest times.

Gippsland dairy farmer and vet Andrew Perry recently caught up with Ruairi McDonnell to discuss his approach to management and rearing of heifers on his farm, including: - What is the true cost of heifer hearing on dairy farms? - Key targets to aim for when rearing heifers to enter your herd - What the ideal number of heifers to rear each year? - The role of the export heifer market in Andrews farm system

Dairy farmer and CFA captain Mark Billing speaks to WestVic Dairy regional extension officer Peter Gaffy about how to protect your farm and animals in the event of bushfire. Mark has great tips on preparing for fire season, what to when the fire front is on its way and how to recover once the flames have died down.

Renowned farm consultant Ian Gibb has seen the highs and lows over decades in the dairy industry. In the first DairyPod from northern Victoria, Murray Dairy regional extension officer Lachie Barnes talks with Ian about resilience during tough times and where he sees the industry heading.

Nitrogen expert Professor Richard Eckard is warning farmers that they may only have a small window to maximise the potential of N this spring. In the latest DairyPod, Richard talks about how to make the most of your nitrogen budget to put grass in front of the cows and into the silage pit. He also discusses broader issues of how to strategically use N to make the most of growing conditions. If your farm business relies on growing grass, then spend half and hour listening to this podcast.

Veteran contractor Duncan McNeil has seen and done just about everything in the world of silage production. In this episode of DairyPod, Duncan discusses changes in production methods, the habits of the best dairy farmers he has dealt with, the best way to identify good contractors and how to maintain a relationship when you’ve found a contractor that suits your needs.

With many farmers currently selecting their AI bulls for the spring joining period, how important is it to consider daughter fertility? GippsDairy’s Ruairi McDonnell spoke with vet Dr Ee Cheng Ooi in the latest DairyPod episode where she explained why it really is worth selecting for high daughter fertility and also explained a recent study where she validated the daughter fertility ABV and proved it does work to improve herd fertility on Australian farms.

With feed prices still high and many regions experiencing long term changes to rainfall patterns, GippsDairy’s Ruairi McDonnell spoke to PGG Wrightson Seeds agronomist Darrel Rowe about the pros and cons of various cropping options and how these crops may fit into your farm system.

If you listen to one farming-related podcast this year - make it this one. Dairy farmer Aaron Thomas’ story of how he self-destructed and then rebuilt his life is both inspiring and educational. He shares his warts and all history with GippsDairy’s Karen Romano in the latest DairyPod episode. There’s some mild swearing and we advise that, if this podcast raises personal issues for you, go to www.beyondblue.org.au, speak to your local doctor or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. And please, share this through your networks so as many people as possible can hear Aaron’s story.

What is the ideal dairy farming system to optimise profitability in southern Australian pasture-based dairy farms? In the latest episode of DairyPod, Maffra based Vet and Consultant Dr Richard Shephard discusses this question and outlines the key areas that he feels farmers should target on their farms in order to be profitable and manage risk.

In the third DairyPod episode, Gippsland vet Steph Bullen shares her tip and tricks for better drying-off of cows and Dairy Australia's Jo Coombe talks about antibiotic resistance and what it means to animal and human health.

Consultant John Mulvany features again in the second episode of our new DairyPod podcast, this time discussing how dairy farmers around the country are tracking financially and how farmers themselves are assessing their level of financial performance. You can now subscribe to DairyPod on iTunes or listen on Soundcloud.

In the first Dairy Pod episode from GippsDairy, legendary farm consultant John Mulvany explains how dairy farmers can use marginal milk as a driver of profit.