Graham has seen many changes in 45 years

Volume 30
Number 2
Issue No. 348
February 2015
Graham has seen many
changes in 45 years
OBRAM employee, Graham Ashcroft, has
been recognised for 45 years of loyal service
to MG Trading.
Born and bred in Cobram, Graham first started
out as a storeman for W. Adams and Sons.
When the parent company G.J. Coles decided to
sell off some of their country outlets, Devondale
Murray Goulburn bought two stores, one at Cobram
and the other at Numurkah.
Graham had acquired his truck licence and after
the sale from G.J. Coles to MG, he was transferred
from Numurkah back to the Cobram store where he
has been working ever since.
Graham has had a number of roles in the trading
store over the years.
“I started out in the store truck, delivering goods,”
said Graham. “After that, I ran the produce shed
until I was promoted to second in charge of the
store and from then I learned the ropes very
quickly,” he said.
Graham has seen many changes during his time
with the Cobram store, the biggest being the move
from the small premises at the Cobram factory to
the store’s current site 22 years ago.
Graham enjoys his role in the store and being a
part of MG Trading.
“Over the years I have seen many changes, the
most recent being the rebranding and a facelift for
the Cobram store.”
Graham lives in Cobram with his wife, Julie.
C
Further report on employees who received
service awards on page 11.
●
MG Trading Cobram employee, Graham Ashcroft, has completed 45 years of service with the company.
INTERNATIONAL DAIRY
PRICES STABILISE
HE lower value of the
Australian dollar was
good news in helping to
stabilise milk prices for
Australian dairy farmers.
Dairy Australia Industry
Analyst, John Droppert, said the
lower price of the Australian
dollar against the United States
(US) dollar was a positive
move.
The Australian dollar has
dropped from a high of more
than $1.10 against the US dollar
to a current level below 80 cents.
T
Mr Droppert said the lower
Australian dollar value provided
a cushion for dairy exporters
who were paying their suppliers
in Australian dollars and
selling the product in US
dollars.
“It keeps US exporters a bit
quieter and improves our
competitiveness and helps
maintain our market share overseas,” he said.
His comments are in line with
Devondale Murray Goulburn’s
General Manager Ingredients,
Mal Beniston, who is forecasting
a gradual improvement in international dairy prices.
In his monthly column for the
Devondaler, Mal said: “The outlook is for gradual improvement
in US dollar prices as the milk
supply demand balance is
restored.
“The stabilisation of our dollar
at lower levels is an added bonus
which bodes well for future
returns once the recovery gathers
momentum.”
In the meantime, MG has con-
tinued to maintain this year’s
forecast milk price to suppliers
of $6 per kg/MS.
Suppliers will continue to be
kept updated on the co-op’s milk
price on a monthly basis.
International prices continued
to weaken in the last quarter of
2014, driven by increased milk
supply in all the main milk
producing regions.
The most recent Global Dairy
Trade results seem to indicate
that prices have bottomed out,
however the growth in supply
in both the US and Europe
will continue to dampen
expectations for a significant
price recovery in the short term.
A return to normal demand
and product off take in both
China and Russia, the two
biggest dairy import markets, is
needed to deliver a sustainable
price recovery in international
markets.
More details are contained
in Mal Beniston’s column on
page 2.
●
2
FEBRUARY 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
INTERNATIONAL MARKET REVIEW
Latest GDT auction up by one per cent
HE results of Global Dairy
Trade (GDT) Event 132
which concluded on 20
January produced a GDT Price
Index which was up by one per
cent.
The largest movement in
prices was recorded on Whole
Milk Powder (WMP) which
increased by 3.8 per cent off the
back of reduced volume which
T
Key results
MAIN PRODUCTS
SMP up 1.0%, average price
$US2389/MT
WMP up 3.8%, average price
$US2402/MT
AMF down 5.0%, average
price $US4286/MT
OTHER PRODUCTS
Butter up 0.1%, average price
$US3564/MT
BMP down 6.4%, average
price $US2559/MT
Cheddar down 4.3%, average
price $US2961/MT
Rennet Casein up 3.3%, average price $US8159/MT
SWP (Sweet Whey Powder) –
$US1115/MT
was revised down by a further
950 tonnes immediately before
the auction.
It should be noted that WMP
volumes on offer over the next
three GDT Events (133 – 135)
have been reduced by a further
7500mt which reflects dry
weather conditions in New
Zealand.
This could also force a correction in WMP prices given that
this product category is currently
lagging other product mix
options.
Over the past month, feedback
from a number of sources
support our previous contention
that any recovery in dairy prices
will be gradual, reflecting how
well the economies in key
buying regions manage the multiple challenges facing them
in this current economic
cycle.
From a supply point, milk
production is buoyant in most
key producing regions reflecting
the substantial lag that can take
place before price signals back
to producers translate to lower
milk production.
The collapse in oil prices,
due to a combination of
political and economic factors,
will provide a welcome
economic boost to oil importing
countries while placing oil
exporters at a revenue disadvantage which may raise
sensitivities to price increases
with some buyers.
The European Central Bank’s
bigger than expected monetary
stimulus package which was
announced in January has been
welcomed by the market as a
long awaited positive step
towards tackling the threat posed
by deflation within the economic
zone.
The impact of such action is
all the more remarkable given
the discord within the European
Union (EU) over the issue of
economic stimulus through the
mechanism of quantitative
easing.
Given that the unemployment
level is currently at 11.5 per cent
and the economic problems are
deeply embedded, recovery
within the EU will be slow.
The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) has recently cut its
forecast for global growth in
2015 from 3.8 to 3.5 per cent,
largely because of the drag on
growth imposed by the EU.
It should be noted that this
move comes after any benefit to
global growth from the collapse
in oil prices has also been taken
into account.
Currency volatility is also on
the increase as independent
action by central banks around
the world to reduce interest
rates and stimulate growth is
realised.
Growth in China is expected to
slow further as it tackles an
overheated real estate market,
comes to terms with slower
export demand and rebalances
its economy.
It is widely understood that
expectations are firmly focused
on sustainable internal demand
from services and consumer
spending rather than blind
pursuit of GDP growth.
The outlook is for gradual
improvement in US dollar prices
as the milk supply demand
balance is restored.
The stabilisation of our dollar
at lower levels is an added bonus
which bodes well for future
returns once the recovery gathers
momentum.
International prices $US/MT FOB
The Devondaler is published
by Devondale Murray
Goulburn
Editor: Robert White (03)
9846 5188 or 0427 329 815
tophill@optusnet.com.au
MG Trading award proves to be Tru-Test
MG Trading has won the 2014 Tru-Test
Vendor of the Year award.
Tru-Test is a world-leading manufacturer
of agricultural products and is a preferred
supplier for MG Trading with the
Speedrite brand of electric fence and the
Tru-Test brand of weighing and EID
equipment.
The award is based on recognition of a
multitude of criteria including participation
in promotional activities, strong sales
growth, uptake of new products and ongoing two-way communication.
National Marketing and Account
Manager with Tru-Test, Neil Silvester, said
the award was a further testament to the
strong and long standing relationship
between Tru-Test and MG Trading.
Advertising and classified
enquiries: (03) 9040 5000
Murray Goulburn
Co-operative Co. Limited,
Level 15, 2 Southbank
Boulevard, Southbank,
Victoria 3006
Phone: (03) 9040 5000
MG suppliers and employees
are welcome to submit
photograps and editorial for
consideration. Deadline is the
24th of each month.
The Devondale
Murray Goulburn
Twitter account
is online now at
@DevondaleMG
National Marketing and Account Manager, Tru-Test, Neil Silvester, left, presents the Vendor
of the year award to MG Trading’s Buyer, Luke Johnston, centre, and MG Trading’s Head of
Buying and Marketing, Stuart Himing.
Due to space limitations in this
issue, Robert White’s regular
column has been held over until
the March issue.
FEBRUARY 2015 3
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
Trainee follows in father’s footsteps
By ROBERT WHITE
HIRTY years ago, Jan
Nielson, came out from
Denmark on an agricultural exchange program to work
on a dairy farm at Yarram in
South Gippsland.
Now his son, Christoffer, 23,
has followed the same path and
is working on the farm of
Devondale Murray Goulburn
suppliers, Aaron and Allison
Potter, at Topiram, also in South
Gippsland.
Like his father before him,
Christoffer is spending seven
months with the Potters under
the AgriVenture program which
has been operating through the
International Agricultural
Exchange Association (IAEA)
for more than 45 years.
Over Christmas, Christoffer
was re-united with his parents,
Jan and Annemette and his sisters, Kathrine and Emilie, when
they came to Australia on a
visit which also included a
return to Yarram.
AgriVenture matches young
people between the ages of
18-30 years to suitable farming
enterprises around the world
to gain skills and experience
in international farming
systems.
Christoffer works on a 200ha
dairy farm in Denmark, milking
130 cows which are shedded all
year round.
He has found his work on the
rolling hills of Gippsland to be
a stark contrast to dairy life in
Denmark but has been particularly interested in the grazing
routine of Australian dairy
cattle.
Christoffer said he had
worked on the Danish dairy
farm for about 10 years.
“My parents have a beef farm
and the dairy farm was next
door and I would often visit and
help with the helping when I
was about 13,” he said.
When he left school he took
T
Devondale Murray Goulburn supplier, Aaron Potter, left, is playing host to Christoffer Nielsen from Denmark for seven month under
the international AgriVenture program.
on a full time job at the farm and
said he enjoyed the challenges
that dairy farming provided.
“I have been involved in all
areas of the farm. The owners
have been very supportive,”
Christoffer said.
Allison said Christoffer was
the second trainee that had
worked on the farm and that she
and Aaron would host another
trainee once Christoffer’s seven
months was complete.
She said she had considered
undertaking an AgriVenture
program when she was
Christoffer’s age.
“I knew a bit about the background of the program so Aaron
and I thought we should offer to
be hosts.
“Last year we had a French
girl and although she had no
dairying background, she was
quick to adapt and she was
great.
“I’ve never been to France or
Denmark so we get the chance
to learn about those countries
through our trainees.
“It’s a great cultural exchange
and one day we might be in a
position to visit them in their
country.”
Allison encouraged other
farmers to host trainees under
the AgriVenture program.
“It really is a wonderful experience. We are glad we have
become involved,” she said.
Outbound programs for young
Australians usually depart
between February and April
every year to enable trainees to
gain the full benefit of a
northern hemisphere agricultural
experience.
Trainees become integral
Bushfire risk remains high
in coming months says DA
A RELATIVELY quiet start to
summer has masked the bushfire
dangers that still lurk during
February and early March.
Dairy Australia (DA) has
called on farmers in dairy
regions around the country to
take steps to protect their
properties.
DA has suggested a number of
steps that farmers should take to
tackle the bushfire risk.
They are:
● Identify your refuge paddock.
Where will you move your milking herd and young stock if a
fire is imminent in your area
(can be worth marking the milkers to make it easier to sort the
herd after the fire has passed
through).
The refuge paddock is ideally
a bare field with good laneway
access and borders and minimal
trees/hedges and crop/pasture
growth.
● How will you find out about
fires near you? Are you or is one
of your team responsible for
monitoring the Fire Ready App,
listening to ABC local radio,
keeping a watch on the weather
conditions and wind patterns etc.
● Disc a fire break. Is it safe and
appropriate to run a tractor with
a disc around the key buildings
to form a bare earth fire break to
protect your milking shed, barns
and store rooms (and the
house!)?
● How will you milk and cool if
the power goes out? Can you
test your plan tonight/tomorrow,
just in case?
● Is your inventory up to date.
Take some photos of your stored
feed (and make sure you are not
at risk of spontaneous combus-
tion). Are chemicals recorded
and stored properly and safely?
● Are all your insurance documents, key contact list and farm
records together and easy to grab
if you need to leave quickly and
are you keeping your mobile
phone fully charged?
● Do you have fire fighting
equipment and when was it last
tested/checked? Do you have
fuel and will it be safe to use in
a fire?
● Do you have a back-up plan if
water pumps don’t work. How
will you water the livestock?
members of the farming
family and community, and
immerse themselves in the
local culture.
The organisation is looking
for hosts who can provide full
time work for up to 12 months
in an agricultural environment,
while providing a cultural
experience.
For further information go to
the AgriVenture website:
www.agriventure.com or
alternatively call the Australian
office on (02) 6023 5974
during business hours.
MG Trading
at field days
DEVONDALE Murray
Goulburn suppliers are invited
to visit the MG Trading pavilion at the annual Allansford
Field Days.
The field days run from
February 11-13.
MG Trading representatives
plus Agronomists and
Nutritionists will be able to discuss any issues suppliers may
have while Field Service
Officers will also be on hand to
answer any queries.
There will be a suppliers’
lounge to provide suppliers and
their families with a welcome
break.
There will also be a variety
of displays from many of MG
Trading’s vendors.
4 FEBRUARY 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
Breeding in the red to stay in the black
AREN Moroney knows a
thing or two about good
lineage. After all, the
fourth-generation dairy farmer
hails from what some might
consider part of Australian dairy
royalty.
The Thompson family in
Eskdale, in north east Victoria,
were the first to breed the nowpopular Aussie Red dairy cow in
the 1980s.
“It was my family, and particularly my father Bill Thompson,
who created the Aussie Red.
The idea for the Aussie Red
was born here in Eskdale,”
Karen said.
Tragically, Bill never had the
chance to see just how far his
vision would reach, passing
away suddenly in 1989 at just 53
years of age.
“He was innovative and forward-thinking and I’m sure he’d
be very proud to see how the little idea that he had about combining the genetics of different
red dairy cow breeds has, over
time, developed a commercially
acceptable modern dairy cow.
“The breed is known for its
health and fertility, wide climate
tolerance and excellent workability traits,” Karen said.
“Today, the Aussie Red is
considered the third-major dairy
breed in Australia. That, to us, is
really exciting.”
The Aussie Red’s popularity is
justified, according to Karen,
who with husband Wayne, milks
K
Today, the
Aussie Red is
considered the
third-major
dairy breed in
Australia. That,
to us, is really
exciting.
KAREN MARONEY
200 of the intensely chestnutcoated creatures on 435ha in the
Mitta Valley.
“It’s an excellent cow to use in
a crossbreeding program for the
attributes that it brings,” Karen
said. “In my opinion they have
superior management and health
traits than Holsteins. That’s why
we choose to milk them.”
According to Karen, the
Aussie Red has been developed
through careful selection from
overseas breeding programs,
including fertility, calving ease
and disease resistance, which,
she said, means a more profitable cow for the Australian
dairy industry.
They are known for producing
milk with high protein content
and medium milk fat content.
Karen has continued her
Karen Maroney at the Eskdale farm where she and her husband,
Wayne, milk Aussie Red cows.
father’s vision as a committee
member of the Australian Red
Dairy Breed organisation and
executive officer of the
International Red Dairy Breed
Federation, which includes 20
Devondale
milk is
never far
from
home
Isaac Ward got the taste from home when his mother found
some Devondale milk in a Hong Kong supermarket.
FOUR-year-old Isaac Ward
wasn’t going to let the fact
that he was living in Hong
Kong for five months stop him
from having his Devondale
milk.
His mum, Amy, bought the
Devondale longlife milk in a
local Hong Kong supermarket.
Amy, who is the daughter-inlaw of Devondale Murray
Goulburn suppliers, John and
Linda Ward from Airly, near
Sale, in Gippsland, is
undertaking an educational
course in Hong Kong through
the Federation University at
Churchill in Gippsland.
Isaac’s father, Alex, works
part time on the family farm
and said his son loved his
Devondale milk.
“It’s great that Amy has been
able to buy Devondale milk so
far from home,” he said.
member organisations from
around the world.
Dairying was not always on
the cards for Karen, but the pull
of family brought her back into
the fold.
“Both Wayne and I had
administrative roles in Albury.
We were given the opportunity
to join a family partnership in
the 1980s with my parents,
brother and sister-in-law. The
chance to raise our family on the
farm was a huge drawcard.”
In 2002, the couple began
farming in their own right and
Karen hasn’t slowed since, making a name for herself in local
industry leadership.
Last year she joined the board
of directors of the Murray Dairy,
Dairy Australia’s local regional
development program in the
region.
“I feel privileged to work with
people who are so passionate
about the industry. It’s very
much a skills-based board. The
majority of directors are dairy
farmers.”
Karen is also a keen contributor to her local community of
the Mitta Valley, holding leadership roles in significant projects
such as ‘Our Valley Our Future’,
a project focused on supporting
the local economy, building
local opportunities and increasing the capacity and skills of the
local community.
The project is a collaboration
between the Mitta Valley
Advancement Forum, Geoffrey
Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s
Strengthening Small Dairy
Communities program, the
Alpine Valleys Dairy Pathways
Project and Towong Shire.
She is also vice-president of
the Mitta Valley Landcare
Group, dedicated to the environ-
mental sustainability of the
surrounding area.
The fact that women play such
an active and substantial role in
industry leadership is pleasing to
Karen, who believes the traditional image of agriculture as a
man’s profession is out-of-date
and counterproductive.
“Women are an integral part
of successful dairy farming. I’m
pleased women are becoming
more involved in the industry at
a board level,” she said.
“It’s a healthy sign and I think
it brings a balance and perspective to boards and to decisions. I
encourage women to contribute
to things they’re passionate
about.
“You have a voice, you have
opinions, and they count.”
The Moroneys’ also have a
vision for growth for their own
business.
“We’re milking 200 cows but
want to cap it at about 270 in the
next two to three years. We have
three grown sons. Two of them
in particular are very interested
in the farm, so succession is
something we have on the drawing board to look at in the next
two years.
“Everything that we’re doing
now is about getting ready to
have a growing business based
on the right innovations it needs
to have going into the future,”
Karen said.
Drought conditions over
recent years made the Moroneys
review efficiencies on their farm,
especially around power, feed,
soil and most significantly,
water use.
They introduced a new irrigation system and are doing more
cropping now because they feel
they can’t rely on regular rainfall. There are also plans to do
more with the waste water
from the dairy.
Resilience is a defining
characteristic of the local
dairying community.
“Over the past 10 years in the
Murray area we’ve had extended
bushfires, drought and floods,
along with the economic challenge of operating in a global
market. The region has shown
great strength and versatility to
get on and do what it does well
– that’s milk production,”
Karen said.
She points to the industry’s
Legendairy communications
platform as a way to highlight
that success.
“Legendairy is an excellent
dairy awareness campaign that’s
not only informative in its content but is fun,” she said.
“It shows respect and it shows
that producing food for other
people is a really important and
honourable job.
“I think the campaign humanises us, and people actually see
more clearly what we do.
“We’re stewards of the
environment, we’re stewards
of our cattle and we’re stewards
of our land. We’re not going
to do anything to jeopardise
that.”
FEBRUARY 2015 5
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
Hot cows
text update
N updated service from
Dairy Australia (DA) to
alert farmers of hot weather conditions that could create
stress for dairy cows has been
released.
The service, which forms part
of DA’s Cool Cows program, can
now be customised to deliver
forecasts to an exact farm location.
“Dairy Australia has listened
to feedback and Cool Cows has
been refreshed and the alert
service updated to include more
options to personalise where and
how often you receive your
weather alerts,” said Catherine
Phelps, Dairy Australia’s Natural
Resource Management Program
Manager.
“The effects of heat stress
include a drop in milk production, reduced herd fertility and
lower milk protein and fat tests.
“During the 2014 January heat
wave the average drop in milk
production across Victorian
herds was 15 per cent, based on
milk tanker volumes, and heat
stress can trigger live weight
losses and create animal health
problems,” she said.
DA’s free, tailored weather
forecast service sends an SMS
directly to a farmer’s phone
alerting of upcoming hot spells
that could impact on the health
and wellbeing of their herd.
Dr Steve Little, who is working with DA to improve the system, said that any dairy farmer
in Australia who registered with
the service on the Cool Cows
website received site-specific
weather forecasts and alerts of
hot weather events specifically
for their own farm.
“They get this by inputting
A
longitude and latitude data
describing their location,” he
said.
DA has suggested a number of
ways farmers can reduce the
impact of heat stress on milk
production. These include:
● Anticipate high risk weather
conditions. These are periods of
sustained high day time temperatures, high overnight temperatures.
Make sure everyone on the
farm can recognise the signs of
heat stress such as cows panting
more than 60 breaths per minute,
a drop in milk production and
what action to take.
● Increase access to cool drinking water, particularly at the exit
to the dairy. In hot weather cows
will drink 200-250 litres per cow
per day.
● Provide access to shade. The
best way to help cows beat heat
stress is to shade them from
radiant heat.
● Adjust milking times to cooler
parts of the day.
● If you have a sprinkler system,
use it. For a sprinkler system to
be effective and cost-efficient,
without raising the risk of milk
quality downgrades, aim to have
the sprinklers on for three minutes then off for eight minutes,
using a moderate to large water
droplet rather than a fine mist.
● Provide cows with the highest
quality pasture available to graze
overnight when they are cooler.
The Cool Cows website has
detailed, practical information
on cooling infrastructure. This
information is also available in a
booklet, Shade, sprinklers and
fans on dairy farms.
Cool Cows website: www.coolcows.com.au
Gippsland to hold
first irrigation expo
EVONDALE Murray
Goulburn suppliers from
the Macalister Irrigation
District in Central Gippsland are
the organising muscle behind the
region's inaugural Irrigation
Expo, to be held at the Sale
Showgrounds on March 18.
Organising committee Chair,
Iain Stewart, said the event could
attract 300 farmers.
The organising committee
comprises other MG suppliers
including Brad Missen, Brad
White and Jason Birmingham.
The expo is free to enter and
will see a pavilion full of
exhibits as well as working
demonstrations. It has been
modelled on a similar expo held
annually in northern Victoria.
“Last year’s event at
Shepparton was an eye-opener
for us. It will be the same again
D
here in Sale,” said Iain.
“The developments in water
technology are astonishing. Any
farmer chasing the best production from their land simply can't
afford to miss this day.”
As well as displays of irrigation technology there will be
some serious hardware offering
better water use efficiency.
Alternative power companies
offering farm-scale systems are
included.
“If you want to boost production or reduce water or power
use, or if you simply want to
have a good look at what’s out
there, it’s a great opportunity and
it’s here in Gippsland for the
first time,” Iain said.
The Macalister district is the
largest irrigation region in
Victoria's south and 90 per cent
of water is used for dairy.
Sheryn and Peter Cutler with their two children, James, 5, and Lillian, 3, on the family farm at Buln
Buln East in Gippsland.
A dairy farming life that
won’t come to Nhill
By ROBERT WHITE
HILL is a small town on the Western
Highway, near the Victoria-South
Australian border. It is grain country with
wide expanses of crops and storage silos dominating the landscape.
It is also a long way from Buln Buln East in
West Gippsland where Peter and Sheryn Cutler
are partners in a family dairy farm.
But the link between the two areas is important.
Peter and Sheryn first met in Year 11 at school
in Warragul and they then went to Melbourne to
complete university courses. Sheryn’s love was
teaching and Peter studied science.
Sheryn was the first to make a start on her
career and was appointed as a maths teacher at
Nhill High School.
“We both wanted to have a life together in
the country and the position at Nhill became
available,” said Sheryn.
Peter had started his science course with the
intention of becoming a vet.
“But I never really followed that through,” he
said. “I came out of university with a science
degree but that doesn’t have a natural pathway to
a job. So I followed Sheryn.”
The move to Nhill was something of an adventure. While Sheryn had a job, Peter had to look
for one and he started as a farm hand on a broadacre property before joining GrainCorp where he
became responsible for the security and quality
control of the company’s grain storage centres
across the Wimmera.
“We loved it and we stayed for seven years,”
said Peter. “We both enjoyed our jobs and the
lifestyle.”
But family ties are strong and four years ago
the opportunity arose to return to the family farm.
It was a bittersweet option as the couple were
happy with their careers and their first child,
James, had not long been born.
But there were family and friends to consider
and Buln Buln East provided the chance for them
to shape their own destiny.
“It was a tough decision to make. It was a risk
leaving GrainCorp and I did walk away from
something I loved doing. But I didn’t want to
N
regret not taking the chance that I was being
offered and I certainly don’t have any regrets
now,” Peter said.
“I was happy in my career but once the children
came along we both realised that Gippsland was
home.”
Peter had helped around what was then a 36ha
dairy farm as he went through school, so working
with cows wasn’t a foreign subject.
The return to Buln Buln East was made in
2011 and while the farm had grown to 115ha
and the herd now numbered around 110, further
expansion was necessary.
A neighbouring 45ha was bought and the family
has built their holding to 160ha and have
increased cow numbers from 150 to 200.
“When we came home, we needed numbers and
we just kept anything that had four legs and four
teats,” Peter said.
Now, with the help of his father, Rob, and his
wife, Merryn, the family is working to build up
the quality of the herd.
The herd has a number of pure bred Holsteins
and the majority are cross breeds. And there are
an increasing number of pure bred Dairy
Shorthorns.
“It’s not a very popular breed but we like them
because they are good foragers, they are low cost
and low maintenance and their production figures
are very good,” Peter said.
“We are also in a position to have access to
good genetics and that makes a big difference.”
Apart from improvement to the herd, the
Cutlers are also working to improve pastures.
Peter said he had contacted MG Trading
Agronomist, Damien Adcock, at the Warragul
store and he had advised what were the best
pastures to grow to get a better harvest.
“His advice has been great as we have had our
best silage harvest season and the cows are eating
it all,” he said.
“We have no plans for further expansion.
We want to grow more feed, milk better cows
and look for efficiencies to improve our bottom
line.
“We have put together the land that we
need and now we need to develop it and make
it pay.”
6 FEBRUARY 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
BUTTERFLY’S KITCHEN
ASN’T the weather been
crazy? We did see our
pastures dry off after a
few hot days early January and
then down came the rain and
now the grass can’t decide if it’s
to dry off or grow.
It’s a good problem to have,
allowing us a pick of grass for
the girls and extending our
silage out a little further.
There’s no doubting the
challenge each year to firstly
get those spring fodder
reserves and then to ration it to
keep the girls milking all the
way to dry off and that much
talked about and anticipated
autumn break.
While I may be in a safe pocket here at present, I know only
too well how the wheels of fate
can turn.
It’s not that far to my peers
over west of Victoria are
dealing with the high costs, both
financially and emotionally, of
less than ideal seasonal conditions.
School holidays are nearing to
an end fast and I am also realising that time is flying by at a
rapid speed as Jack begins
Grade 3.
H
Zucchini with Herbs (serves 4-6)
Zucchini with sour
cream
Ingredients
(Serves 6)
1 kg zucchini, grated
salt
1 tbsp. Devondale butter
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. fresh basil
1 tbsp. fresh oregano or
marjoram
1 tbsp. fresh parsley
2 tspns lemon juice
Cracked black pepper
Ingredients
Method
Method
Place grated zucchini in a
colander and sprinkle with
some salt, leave to drain for
half an hour. Using hands or a
large flat spoon squeeze out
all moisture.
Heat oil and butter in a frypan.
Add zucchini and cook for 5
minutes until tender, stirring
occasionally.
Chop herbs and add to pan
along with lemon juice. Season
with black pepper, stir well
and serve.
Slice zucchini into 1cm slices.
Cook in boiling salted water
for 5 minutes, drain well
Place zucchini in buttered
ovenproof dish, season with
black pepper and spread sour
cream over top; sprinkle with
cheese
Bake in a moderate oven for
15 to 20 minutes or until
cooked and golden brown on
top
Before serving, sprinkle with
paprika.
These holidays saw hay
requirements harvested and
along with the day-to-day routine of milking, we have spent
time tending my little vegie
patch.
1 kg or thereabouts medium
size zucchini
1 cup Devondale sour cream
Devondale butter to line dish
3 tablespoons grated
parmesan cheese
dried paprika
black pepper
Zucchini with herbs.
We all know how fast and
abundant zucchinis can grow
and thankfully I haven’t had too
many to harvest at once. In the
past we have resorted to anonymous mailbox drop-offs at
neighbours on the way to town.
That’s not to say it won’t
occur yet.
This month I share two side
dishes with zucchini and even if
you have boys that dislike them,
I believe the baked sour cream
dish will win them over.
Until next month, Oscar Wilde
once said, “Have the simplest of
tastes. Always be satisfied with
the best”.
FARMER HEALTH
Safety checklist to avoid child farm fatalities
JEANNE
DEKKER
N-FARM safety is currently all the buzz in agriculture. It aims to provide
a safe environment for all those
who live and work on farms.
This is part of the Australian
Dairy Industry Sustainability
Framework to improve the health
and safety of dairy farmers.
It is driven to reduce the inci-
O
dence of on-farm injuries and
accidents as agriculture is one
of the three most dangerous
occupations worldwide.
Living and working on farm
has its dangers and it is especially dangerous for children and
young people as they continue to
be seriously injured or killed on
farms.
There are significant dangers
on-farm and it is important to
ensure every measure is taken to
improve child safety. Farm dangers include machinery, dams
and waterways, animals, workshops and farm vehicles.
Around 20 children aged less
than 15 years are fatally injured
on an Australian farm every year
and many more are hospitalised
or treated by doctors across
Australia.
This is supported with the
recent study of on-farm fatalities
by the Australian Centre for
Agricultural Health and Safety
(ACAHS) report.
This report highlighted the
major causes of fatality and serious injuries are:
1. Drowning in dams (mostly
under five years)
2. Quad bikes or four-wheeled
motorbikes, and
3. Farm vehicles (cars, utes).
The report also highlighted 25
per cent of all child deaths were
visitors to the farm, but for quad
bikes, around 50 per cent were
visitors and drowning accounted
for around 35-40 per cent of
child farm deaths.
Farm dams are by far the most
common site for drownings.
These statistics are not great
but there are simple steps that
can be taken to improve child
safety.
The ACAHS provides farm
safety checklists and information
on farm safety risks and controls.
It suggests a safe place to
play, children riding farm motorcycles should wear correctly
fitted helmets with long pants
and sturdy footwear and even
adopting a farm policy of not
allowing children under 16
years to ride quad bikes and
preventing passengers riding on
quads.
To make a start on child safety
contact Farmsafe Australia on
(02) 6752 2818 or email
info@farmsafe.org.au more
information and advice.
MG share buy-back process has now closed
HE voluntary buy-back of
Devondale Murray
Goulburn B and C Class
Preference Shares has now
closed.
The buy-backs, which were
approved by Ordinary
Shareholders at the Annual
General Meeting held on 27
T
November 2014, closed on 12
January 2015.
A breakdown of the buy-backs
shows that 49.84 per cent or
5,931,974 B Class shares have
been sold at $1.25 per share for
a total of $7,414,967.50.
A total of 21,958,606 C Class
shares (59.62 per cent) were sold
for a total of $27,448,257.50.
“The results indicate a positive
response to the voluntary buyback offers, with a number of
B and C Class Preference
Shareholders taking the opportunity to realise the value of their
shares by participating in the
buy-backs,” said MG Chairman,
Phil Tracy.
“The Board is pleased that this
will deliver a simplified MG
share structure before the implementation of the proposed capital structure, as well as reduce
ongoing costs associated with
maintaining B and C Class
Preference Shares.”
The buy-backs are funded by
a combination of available cash
flow and financing facilities.
In accordance with the terms
of the buy-backs, payments
were made to participating B
and C Class Preference
Shareholders on or about
Wednesday 28 January 2015.
FEBRUARY 2015 7
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
Pat played key role in south west for MG
HE Heytesbuty Settlement
in south west Victoria is
now one of the state’s key
dairying areas and Devondale
Murray Goulburn has a strong
and loyal supplier base.
But it could so easily have
been a different story but for
Pat Bourke. A quiet, family
man with a passion for the cooperative ethos, his role as a
Field Services Officer and Store
Manager at Simpson gave MG
the chance to challenge and
then beat the twin adversaries
of the State Government and
various dairy companies.
Pat, 90, died in December but
leaves a lasting legacy for MG
in south west Victoria.
With the help and support of
his wife, Maureen, the couple
visited hundreds of dairy farmers in the Heytesbury
Settlement and encouraged
them to join MG. Maureen also
managed the office at the
Simpson store.
Former MG Field Services
Officer, Ed Hanley, worked
with MG at the same time as
Pat and described his colleague
as “the voice of the south west
for MG.”
Pat was firstly a dairy farmer
and at the age of 23, successfully applied for a Soldier Settler
block at Boorcan, just west of
Camperdown.A caravan was
home for 10 months until a
house was built and Pat started
out with 30 cows.
T
OBITUARY
After 19 years as a farmer, Pat
accepted the role of Field
Services Officer at MG’s Koroit
branch and those tough early
years on his own farm were to
prove a valuable background for
Pat as he met with other new
farmers who were also doing it
tough.
Interviewed for the MG history book, Just a Bunch of Cow
Cockies, Pat said many farmers
wanted to know what was the
difference between supplying a
company like Kraft and MG.
“If I’m coming out to visit
you, I’ll be there to look after
your interests because it’s your
company. If Kraft came out to
see you it would be to look after
the interests of the owners of
their company,” he would tell
them.
By 1967, when Pat joined MG
as a Field Services Officer, an
increasing number of farmers
were joining the co-op but the
small Tandarook factory that
MG had recently bought could
not handle the additional supply
and at that time, it was a long
haul back to the newly acquired
Koroit factory.
As the State Government
opened up even more land for
dairy farmers, MG applied to
build a factory at Simpson.
The government, led by Sir
Henry Bolte, was not keen to see
MG on the settlement and would
not grant the co-operative land
for a factory, preferring to give
the license to Kraft.
Government officials refused
to give Pat a list of the new settlers who were arriving from all
parts of Victoria and in the end,
he and Maureen would follow
the Kraft field officers around
the state to put the co-op case.
MG’s hopes of expansion
looked unlikely until a farmer on
the outskirts of the town agreed
to sell 2ha of his land to the coop because of a friendship with
MG’s then Managing Director,
Jack McGuire.
The co-op built a store on the
site and later added a milk collection depot that solved the
issue of storing milk. It also provided a clear message to local
farmers that MG was in the
Heytesbury District to stay.
Pat then took on the role of
Store Manager and Field
Services Ooficer and MG’s
position in the district was
strengthened further.
In an interview published in
the Devondaler four years ago,
Pat described his time with the
co-op: “In the end I had 18 years
with Murray Goulburn and they
were 18 of the best years of my
life,” he said.
Pat and Maureen had seven
children, children Philip,
Glenda, Gerard, Bernard, Olga,
Maureen and Tim.
The late Pat Bourke was a key player in Devondale Murray
Goulburn’s role in south west Victoria.
Supplier
joins
ADHIS
Board
EVONDALE Murray
Goulburn supplier, Ian
Cobbledick has been
appointed to the board of the
Australian Dairy Herd
Improvement Scheme
(ADHIS).
He joins fellow dairy farmer,
James Neal, from New South
Wales as new members of the
Board.
Ian is a sixth generation
farmer from Nathalia in northern Victoria.
He and his wife, Peta, milk
250 cows with a three-way
cross breeding system.
A committed industry leader,
Ian has had many industry roles
through initiatives run by Dairy
Australia and the United
Dairyfarmers of Victoria,
including six years as Chair of
Murray Dairy.
Ian and James replace
retiring Directors, Stuart
Tweddle and Prof Jock
D
A big prize for a Teeny cow
T
HE Allan/Privitera clan of South Gippsland seem to have got it right when it comes to dairy
cattle breeding.
Tanya Privitera was justifiably proud when Inverlair Heights Jack Teeny won Champion Cow for
Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club from more than over 200 entries in the Great Southern
Challenge seven-year-old class.
The Allan family has been supplying Devondale Murray Goulburn for more than 60 years and they
were out in force to celebrate the success. They are pictured from left (back), Sue Allan, Barrie
Allan, Con Privitera, Tanya Privitera, Brett Allan holding Jordan Allan and Zoe Allan. In front are Ava
Privitera and Levi Privitera.
Ian Cobbledick has been
appointed to the ADHIS
Board.
Macmillan.
ADHIS is an initiative of the
Australian Dairy Farmers to
assist genetic improvement in
the dairy industry.
ADHIS maintains a national
database of performance and
pedigree details for individual
dairy animals and the data base
is used to generate Australian
Breeding Values which indicate
a cow or bull’s potential
genetic merit.
THREE BAGS FULL
OF AUTUMN OPPORTUNITIES
“Winter Star® II has got rapid
growth, especially after
grazing in winter.”
n
ashi toria
C
m
Ti
, Vic
atha
g
n
Leo
“It’s persistent, it work’s for us
and the cows love it.”
Mark Billing
Larpent, Victoria
AVAILABLE FROM
“We’ve grown an extra 30%- 40%
more feed on our farm since
changing to Feast® II.”
Tim
Leon Kooloo
s
gath
a, Vic
toria
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL PGG WRIGHTSON SEEDS ON 1800 619 910
LET’S GROW TOGETHER
FEBRUARY 2015 9
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
MG FarmC@re
New facilitators to support suppliers
EVONDALE Murray
Goulburn has appointed
two new FarmC@re
Facilitators for positions in
South and West Gippsland and
Northern Victoria.
Both are existing employees
who have taken on the new
roles.
Donna Gibson started in
Leongatha and Warragul in early
January and will cover the South
and West Gippsland supply
regions.
Scott Jardine, a Dookie college graduate, also started in
January and has been working in
agronomy since graduation and
says he is excited to bring the
experience gained in the field to
his new role in northern Victoria.
Donna’s work will be predominantly on the More from Less
project, helping farmers with
farm efficiency gains while lowering their farm Greenhouse Gas
emissions.
Donna brings to MG her experience in the dairy industry as a
dairy farmer, researcher and
milk supply officer.
Donna has been involved in
D
Donna Gibson is the new
FareC@are Facilitator for
South and West Gippsland.
Scott Jardine is the new
FarmC@are Facilitator in
northern Victoria.
the dairy industry for her entire
working life and grew up in a
dairy farming family.
After completing a certificate
in agriculture and beginning a
dairy career in the Hunter Valley
of New South Wales, Donna
returned to Gippsland to com-
plete a dairy traineeship on a
dairy farm at Labertouche in
West Gippsland, then went on to
sharefarm, manage large herds
and complete a Diploma in
Agriculture (Dairy).
Moving on from dairy farming, Donna worked for the
Department of Primary
Industries (DPI) in research and
has been involved in many
projects around soils, nutrients
on farm (feed, fertiliser, animals
and soil), biodiversity and
water.
While working at DPI, Donna
completed a degree in
Environmental Science with a
focus on land and water.
In her most recent role Donna
worked as a Milk Supply Officer
with Longwarry Food Park,
liaising with suppliers on milk
quality. In her spare time Donna
enjoys spending time with her
family, relief milking, reading a
good book and keeping fit.
Donna is the president of the
Wild Dog Triathlon Club in
Warragul and regularly competes
in long course triathlon.
Scott was an agronomist for
MG Trading, servicing the
Leongatha, Korumburra and
Wonthaggi stores and before that
was an agronomist in
Rockhampton in Queensland.
While in Rockhampton, a
large portion of Scott’s work was
based around GPS farm mapping
and weed management, however
the role also involved work on
tropical pastures and cropping.
In South Gippsland, Scott
carried out agronomic services
for MG Trading stores
including soil testing, pasture
and crop planning and developing soil fertility management
plans.
Away from work, Scott enjoys
cycling, swimming and taekwondo.
“I have a lovely, although
sometimes overzealous son,
Mannix, who is starting prep
this year and is quickly learning
to share my passion for cooking
and cycling,” Scott said.
At MG Cobram, Scott’s role
will include working with suppliers who access factory water
for irrigation as well as continuing the More from Less project
delivery previously carried out
by Angela Stead.
The More from Less project is
supported by funding from the
Australian Government.
Donna can be contacted on
0409 178 624 and Scott can be
contacted on 0488 350 911.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
Farm has century of family history
By SOPHIE BRUNS
HERE wouldn’t be too
many families who have
been dairy farming on the
same property for more than 100
years but current custodian and
suppliers, Matt and Kellie,
from Gunbower, are the fourth
generation of the Spittal family
to do so.
Both Matt’s dad, Gary and
nan, Edna Spittal, are delighted
Matt has taken over the reins of
the family business which was
first settled when Thomas Dun
Spittal returned home from
fighting in the First World War
in 1916.
The farm has come a long way
from the original 28ha block and
old walk-through dairy that supported a 40-cow Guernsey herd.
Today its incorporates a 200ha
dairy farm and 250 cows.
Nan Spittal moved to the dairy
farm as a newly married woman
in 1949 and she fondly recalls
her years spent milking and raising her family of six children.
“They were good years but
they were also hard years. My
husband, Jock, was on a wage
and he had been working with
his father (Thomas) since he was
young.
“When we married we moved
onto a half share as Thomas
eased back and we milked
around 70 cows,” Nan said.
“I think in our time we got to
see the best of the dairy industry
through the 1950s. We had good
prices and good weather except
for 1956 where it just rained
and rained and rained. The cows
got black spot that year and I
had family members sick, but
like anything, you just keep
going and cope with things
T
Four generations of the Spittal family. Matt, his father, Gary,
grandma, Edna, and Matt’s son, Judd.
the best you can.”
Nan recalls milking the cows
in the old walk-through by hand,
leg roping each cow so they
didn’t kick, putting the chain up
so they couldn’t back out and
getting up to open the door so
they could exit after they were
milked.
Milking used to take three
hours and she remembers separating the milk and the cream
then sending the cream to the
factory and feeding the leftover
milk to the pigs.
The family were paid six
pence (five cents) for a pound of
butterfat and it cost four shillings
and sixpence (45 cents) to purchase a broom to sweep out the
yard.
The biggest change in Nan’s
dairying career was the arrival of
electricity in 1963.
“The farmers were the last to
get it as it went to the town people first. I remember having to
put money into a fund for the
town electricity and then what
we paid was taken off our bill
until the debt was repaid. We
could then pump the milk to the
pigs and boy, did that save some
work.”
Even though Nan is in her mid
80s she still has an interest in
farming and is proud of Matt.
“There are not too many generational farms left and I am
very proud of Matt and his pop
would be too. (Jock passed away
in 2008). It’s a good life but it is
a hard life and no matter what
year it is one thing has stayed
the same, the money comes in
and the money goes out,” she
smiles.
Now at the helm Matt is keen
to make his own mark on the
farm. He is about to embark on a
pipe and riser irrigation project
in February and has renovated
the dairy yard and installed a
backing gate to improve milking
times.
“I have always loved dairying. I love the cows, the outdoors and the people and I see a
real future in dairying,” Matt
said..
Matt has plans to weed the
cross breeds out of the 250-cow
herd and milk a full Friesian
herd.
“If I am going to milk every
day then I want to milk something I like looking at and I find
the Friesians have a better temperament in the dairy.”
The herd will stay at its current split of 60 per cent autumn
calving and 40 per cent spring
because that suits the farm with
the pasture growth curve.
While Matt has always loved
dairying, he did make the decision to move away from the
farm when he left school.
“I finished year 12 and got an
apprenticeship as a plumber
(even though I was still milking
too.) Five years later I came
back home to the farm but when
things got tight due to the
drought I went back plumbing
for another four years.
“That really helped because I
had something else to fall back
on and an income stream that
wasn’t related to the dairy industry. In 2011, I came back to the
farm full time as a sharefarmer.”
Matt is looking forward to the
future and the chance of running
his own farm and making all the
decisions.
His dad plans to stay on working for a few more years but
Matt laughs and reckons he’ll
ship him off before then.
Honour for
silage guru
THE 2015 Australia Day honours list included a man known
to most Devondale Murray
Goulburn suppliers.
Frank Mickan was awarded
a Public Service Medal and
while he is based at Ellinbank
Dairy Research Institute, he has
conducted field days on many
MG supplier farms.
His specialty is silagepreparation and production.
A Dairy Extension Officer,
Frank is considered “a national
expert in fodder conservation”
according to his award citation:
“His ongoing work in this area
has led to an improved quality
and quantity of hay and silage
being made on Australian dairy
farms.
“He is well regarded for his
work to improve the growing
and grazing management of
dairy pastures, helping many
dairy farmers across Australia
to run more productive and
profitable businesses.”
FEBRUARY 2015 11
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
Long service
awards
presented to
employees
LOYALTY service awards have
been made to eight MG
Trading employees.
Graham Ashcroft from the
Cobram store has achieved 45
years of service.
Graham started out the the
Numurkah store before being
transferred to Cobram.
Others to receive awards
were: 35 years, Rodney Rayner
(Orbost); 20 years, Peter Fallon
(Cohuna); 15 years, Stephen
Kennedy (Wonthaggi), Stephen
Bolitho (Rochester), Haydon
Wilson (Eskdale), Jacqueline
Thornton (Heywood) and
Robert Collins (Numurkah).
Loyalty service awards were
also made to employees at
Devondale Murray Goulburn’s
head office at Freshwater Place
in Melbourne.
They include: 35 years, Alida
Martiniano; 25 years, Gloria
Ind, Danny Wilson; 20 years,
Mick O’Dwyer, Janet Harvey,
Paul Dixon, 15 years, Shaun
Stow, Peter Breakwell,
Michael Wischer and Rista
Brkovic.
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR SALE
Hay for sale, 5x4 net wrap
bales of local rye grass
Korumburra/Leongatha area.
Price: $50 each
Phone: 0403 481109.
27 young autumn calving cows
in excellent condition. PTIC to
Friesian bull, some with sexed
semen (FF Bosmorstrong), due
to calve 10 April 2015 onwards.
25 years of AI breeding.
Price: from $1950 plus GST.
Phone 0403481109 or (03)
5658.1680. (Korumburra/
Leongatha area)
2 Friesian bulls. Located at
Heywood.
Price: $1500 each
Phone Peter: 0408 027 436
Pump set on wheels, 6354
Perkins engine, 116 hp direct
coupled to Grunfos 400 pump.
Engine rebuilt 1000 hours ago,
new radiator pump in near-new
condition. Will run traveller or
70 laterals.45 litres a second @
100 psi. Bairnsdale area
Price: $4400
Phone: 0488 505 395
Lucerne hay, large rolls.
Quality hay.
Price: from $240 to $300 per
tonne.
Pasture hay, irrigated rye and
clover. Large rolls.
Price: $150 to $180 per tonne
(Rochester area)
Phone Max McLean: (03) 5484
2297 or 0427 698 139
Elsworth 2 bale feed out trailer
for sale in Kiewa Valley. Feeds
out silage or hay. Very good
condition.
Price: $5000.
Phone: (02) 6028 9452
FARMS FOR SALE
Productive dairy farm for sale.
159ha dryland property in
north east Victoria, currently
producing 1.5 million litres of
milk and 109,000kg MS.
Phone MG Field Services: (02)
6027 9259
210ha Mywee dairy farm. Two
x 3 bedroom homes, main
home has in ground pool. 25-aside swingover dairy with cup
removers and auto dip and
flush cups.
7600 litre vat, 95% lasered
with 776ml Katunga deep lead
bore.
Farm has milked up to 500
cows.
Good layout and great location
offering drought protection and
cheap bore water.
200ha Koonoomoo dairy farm.
3 bedroom home, 15-a-side
double up dairy with cup
removers and auto dip and
flush cups.
4500 litre vat, 200 ml turkey
nest dam and 400 ml drainage
license offers cheap water and
water flexibility. Property well
layed out and has milked up to
400 cows
Phone Brad: 0429 422 227
POSITIONS VACANT
Experienced relief milker,
morning and afternoon milkings
for approximately 2 1/2 - 3
weeks end of March onwards,
with the opportunity of
permanent relief milking if
wanted. Must have plant
knowledge. Wages negotiable.
Outtrim area.
Phone 0427 144 235
SHAREFARMER WANTED
Sharefarming opportunity negotiable from April 2015.
This dairy farm is situated in
south-west Victoria, 10 minutes
from Cobden and 15 minutes
from Camperdown.
Prefer a 50/50 sharefarmer or
could negotiate with any motivated experienced couple. The
farm consists of 240ha, approx
160ha for milking and 80ha for
young stock , silage etc.
There is 32ha of permanent
irrigation.
The farm will milk between
250-300 cows.
The dairy is a 25-a-side
swingover herringbone with
Larsen stall gates plus ACRs, a
drafting gate and a 16,000 litre
vat with a concrete feed pad
beside the dairy.
The use of the owner’s
machinery and sundries is
available by negotiation.
A large four bedroom house,
with open plan kitchen/lounge
adjoining an undercover deck is
available and the school bus
goes past the front gate.
Phone: 0409 007 063.
AGISTMENT
Quality dairy agistment
available long term in south
west Victoria.
References are available on
request.
Phone: 0438 831 526
34ha ideal for young stock. Ten
minutes from Leongatha.
Phone: 0400 061 732
12 FEBRUARY 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
NATIONAL ALL-BREEDS YOUTH CAMP
New dairy generation
shows off its skills
Reports and pictures by
IMOGEN WILKINSON
HE annual National All
Dairy Breeds Youth Camp
was held for the 23rd year
at the Royal Melbourne
Showground last month.
The program is conducted
over five days and is aimed at
post-secondary participants.
It aims to support young
people as they develop their
interest in the dairy industry.
T
The camp started in 1992
with the goal of encouraging
young people from all backgrounds to foster their interest in
the dairy cow and the dairy
industry.
The camp committee
consists of young volunteers,
many of whom are past camp
participants.
Throughout the five days,
participants covered such
topics as breeding, nutrition,
communication, showmanship
and judging skills. Sessions
involved farm walks and a
variety of team events.
Participants have the chance to
care for a heifer calf throughout
the week and are involved in the
daily feeding, watering and
monitoring of the heifer as well
as preparing it for Exhibition
Day.
The recommended age for
participants is from 16 to 20
years and young people from all
backgrounds can apply.
Camp debut for Brie
BRIE Bratfield was a first-time participant in the camp and said the
event helped her explore different aspects of her interest in bovine
nutrition.
She’s currently studying her second year of Agribusiness at the
University Of New England and hopes to become a herd nutrition
consultant.
Her parents are Devondale Murray Goulburn suppliers at Stroud
Road, on the New South Wales central coast and the family runs an
80-head herd of mostly Holsteins.
KATIE Anderson, 16, left, from Sunvale Holsteins in Yaroweyah in northern Victoria was the winner of
the Experienced Handler prize.
The veteran of many shows, including International Dairy Week and the Sydney Royal Easter Show,
she celebrated her win with her sister, Renea, 14. The girls’ parents are Devondale Murray Goulburn
suppliers at Yarroweyah in northern Victoria.
On the
road again
JONTE Berryman, 17, from
Leongatha said the camp
helped him understand points
to look for when buying cows
for his future herd.
NATIONAL All Dairy Breeds
Youth Camp stalwart, Brian
Anderson, supported this
year’s camp by trucking half
the loaned livestock into the
Royal Melbourne
Showgrounds and then taking
them home at the end of the
event.
The Devondale Murray
Goulburn supplier from
Bundalong Holsteins at
Kongwak returned the 25
heifers to the Inverloch farm of
Alex Walker and Darian
Matthews who are also MG
suppliers.
FEBRUARY 2015 13
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
NATIONAL ALL-BREEDS YOUTH CAMP
Cameron returns as leader
C
AMERON Yarnold, left,
from Wingham, on the
New South Wales central
coast is a familiar Devondale
Murray Goulburn face.
He is one of the farmers
depicted on some Devondale
product packages.
“Yes, I do get recognised
when I’m out in public,” he said.
“Once it happened when I was
in Sydney.”
He won the $2000 scholarship for top student at last
year’s camp and returned in
2015 as a camp leader.
“The social aspect of the
camp is helpful for the
participants to meet other
people in the dairy industry,” he
said.
Cameron milks 100 Holsteins
sharefarming for his father, as
well as running his 60-head
Arrallik Holstein Stud.
The stud name, he explained,
was simply a reversal of his
dad’s stud name Killarra Park,
with one big exception.
“I wasn’t game to reverse the
word park,” he laughed.
Judging results recorded
SOUTH Gippslanders, Alex
Walker, 27, left, from
Inverloch and Sarah Tilburg,
25, from Newry ran the
computer desk at the judging
ring.
Alex was also a key player
in the success of the youth
camp by providing 27 heifers
for camp participants to use
as a hands-on example to
understand feeding and management routines. The heifers
wer also prepared for judging.
14 FEBRUARY 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
INTERNATIONAL DAIRY WEEK
Twenty years of showing
EVIN and Sharon
Whatman have visited
International Dairy Week
(IDW) since it first began and
have been showing their dairy
cattle in the prestigious event
since 1994, winning the award
for Grand Champion Holstein
Cow in 1997 and again in
2004.
Originally from New South
Wales, the Devondale Murray
Goulburn suppliers grew up on
their respective family farms
near Bowral, “just across the
swamp from one another.”
When they got married they
moved to Victoria where they
have been farming for the past
20 years.
Kevin and Sharon dairy farm
on 400ha at Muckatah, in
northern Victoria, with their
sons Phillip and James.
One herd of 500 cows is
milked three times a day and
the other 200 cow herd is
milked twice a day. Their
daughter, Renee, works offfarm.
“When choosing which cows
to show at IDW, each family
member gets to pick their
favourite,” said Sharon.
“We started with 20 cows for
this year’s show and then
decided on a final eight in-milk
cows to take into the show
ring” she said.
Phillip has been involved
with showing cows since the
age of six and admits that it is
a great passion of his.
“Once chosen, our show
cows are then shedded 24/7
where they are fed a special
K
Jessica and Ashley Wright from Katunga, Northern Victoria
enjoy being a part of the team preparing cattle for the
Worldwide Sires Evolution Sale at IDW
Sisterhood of dairying
ISTERS, Jessica and
Ashley Wright, love nothing better than being on
the land and looking after dairy
cattle.
Jessica, 18 and Ashley, 16 are
part of the team of young people who look after and prepare
the dairy cattle for the
Worldwide Sires Evolution Sale
at International Dairy Week.
Daughters of Devondale
Murray Goulburn suppliers,
Andy and Teresa Wright from
Katunga, in northern Victoria,
Jessica and Ashley have been
showing cattle at various shows
in northern and western
Victoria since a young age.
Jessica was head-hunted to be
part of the special International
Dairy Week (IDW) team four
years ago and got her sister
involved a year later.
“We arrive at Tatura on the
S
Friday before the start of IDW,”
said Jessica.
“There are seven people in
our team this year and we are
responsible for looking after 39
heifers. We wash, feed and give
them water,” she said.
“Most heifers that are entered
into the sale do not lead, so we
have a week in which to prepare them to do that,” said
Ashley.
Jessica has completed a
Certificate III in agriculture and
is working on a large dairy
farm near their family property.
Ashley has just finished
school and is studying towards
her Certificate III in agriculture.
“We like being involved in
IDW and we enjoy the social
side,” said Ashley.
“We love it on the land, this
is what we know,” said Jessica.
Phillip Whatman with entry Shevron Braxton Marion
‘show diet’ of cereal hay, pasture
silage and a wheat and canola
mix.
“A week later the final cows
are chosen on milk production
and body capacity.” he said.
Phillip teaches the cows to
lead and clips them in the final
preparation for the show ring.
“I really love showing cows
and enjoy the friendships made
at IDW, “ he said.
Preparation is key to good results at IDW
R
Anderson girls, Meg, Holly and Emily from Drouin West with Kingsville Lassie and Kingsville Tinkerbelle.
OB and Kerry Anderson are Devondale
Murray Goulburn suppliers and milk 220
cows on their 128ha dairy farm at Drouin
West in West Gippsland.
Preparation for International Dairy Week
(IDW) starts four weeks in advance. After Rob
and Kerry choose which cows to show, they are
separated from the main herd on the farm and put
on a transition diet from green feed to hay and
forage.
“They still get fed grass but not at the same
rate as the remainder of the dairy herd,” said Rob.
“By doing this we find the show cows are
adjusted to their new diet prior to the show,” he
said.
Daughters, Meg, Holly and Emily, enjoy being
involved and they are responsible for teaching
the show cows to lead.
Rob and Kerry have been showing at IDW for
18 years and this year they brought three in-milk
cows and three heifers to the show ring.
“It is always good fun and we have made some
great friends over the years,” said Kerry.
“Farming can be quite isolated at times and it’s
nice to meet up with people each year who are
in the same industry and have a fun time,”
Rob said.
FEBRUARY 2015 15
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
INTERNATIONAL DAIRY WEEK
IDW attracts
935 cattle
Reports and pictures:
SHARON CAIN
IT was another great week for
one of Australia’s leading dairy
events at Tatura in January.
International Dairy Week
(IDW) is the largest dairy cattle
expo in the Southern
Hemisphere showcasing the
best quality dairy cattle with
judges from Australia, England
and the USA.
This year there were 180
exhibitors highlighting 925
head of cattle competing in six
national breeds and one youth
show.
The Boyd family, Devondale
Murray Goulburn uppliers from
Finley in the southern Riverina
of New South Wales, received
the award for Premier Breeder
and Exhibitor for the 13th successive year.
Their Supreme Champion
Jersey Cow of 2014, Brunchilli
Sambo Priscilla, won ‘Reserve
Champion’ in her class and was
also awarded ‘best udder’.
Jerseys join the Timbs’ show team
P
AUL and Vicki Timbs
have been entering mainly
Ayrshire cows at
International Dairy Week (IDW)
since they first started showing
in 2005.
“We show Ayrshires which is a
passion that comes from Vicky’s
grandfather,” said Paul.
However, after winning
Intermediate Champion in the
On-Farm Challenge with a
Jersey Cow in October last year,
Paul and Vicki decided to enter
her at IDW this year for the first
time.
“She was placed second in her
class in the New South Wales
Jersey Show and other breeders
suggested that we should bring
her to IDW,” said Vicki.
Paul and Vicki milk 230 cows
on 225ha on the New South
Wales south coast at Jaspers
Brush.
Vicki is a Field Services
Officer for MG and has been
involved in sourcing new farm
supply along the New South
Wales south coast.
Vicki and Paul Timbs with Jordan Gregory and their three year old entry Tara Tbone Lorna
Assisting the Timbs’ at IDW
this year is 13-year-old Jordan
Gregory who is attending
Hurlstone Agricultural High
School in Glenfield, New South
Wales.
It is the only high school in
Australia with an operational
farm and a working dairy.
“This high school engages students into the dairy industry.
Vicki and I have a passion for
embracing this and like to
encourage young people into
dairying by being part of our
farming life and our team at
IDW,” said Paul.
Paul and Vicki achieved a
fifth placing with their three
year old Jersey cow, Tara T-bone
Lorna.
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