[ Background ] - [ Programme Outline ] - [ Example Programme ]

Background

Fontera have set a strategic objective of 4% growth in productivity compounding per year. This objective is set at a time when many of the performance parameters of dairy cows are falling, particularly reproductive performance and longevity.

The dairy industry has tended to be insular with stakeholders failing to recognise they are running a business from which they should be achieving certain specific objectives. Basic business tools such as business, strategic, management and operational plans have not been widely adopted by dairy farmers. As a consequence planning is often lacking or incomplete with many farmers struggling to sustain business growth or achieve acceptable return on capital invested.

The skill level of new entrants to the industry is falling while herd sizes are increasing in an attempt to realise greater productive efficiencies. We can no longer expect workers within the industry to have the intuitive understand of stock, pasture management or basic animal health. We need to concentrate more on the packaging of services in a form able to be managed and operated by this new generation of workers. An environment needs to be developed to allow the growth of this skill base. Workers are not prepared to be tied to the farming life as their parents were. We need to review human resource management to allow for better retention of people within the industry.

In delivering advice and animal health services to farmers it is tempting to identify a single issue as the limiting factor. This is seldom the case as farming is a complex biological system where an holistic approach is required to maintain a sustainable system. Experienced dairy veterinarians are difficult to find due to a trend away from rural general practice. The veterinary profession needs to look at ways to improve the delivery of the limited veterinary resources to better meet the needs of farm businesses.

is a unique branded Whole Herd Production Medicine Programme combining strategic advisory services with preventive production medicine programmes plus planned veterinary clinical work. This is an holistic programme that considers all issues which may affect farm productive performance, develops management and operational plans and monitors implementation to ensure objectives are met. It is unique to each client.

Each dairyconcepts programme is developed in consultation with the farmer client and his other professional advisors. It focuses on the achievement of defined farmer objectives. In providing dairyconcepts TM we develop an understanding of the farm to allow us to become part of the managagement team so that plans developed are realistic for the farm. Too often generic advice is provided which is not appropriate for the farm or the farm objectives.

• Focus is on identification and achievement of the farmers goals as distinct to the imposition of goals provided by third party advisors
• Combines business planning tools with the delivery of an holistic preventive medicine programme and planned clinical services
• Takes accountability for the implementation of operational programmes in the most cost effective manner with ongoing monitoring of results
• Considers all aspects affecting productive performance including such issues as RMA, OSH and Human Resource Planning
• Includes training of staff

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Programme Outline

is set up as a 12-month contract generally covering the farming year from 1 June to 31 May with the services and responsibilities of the programme defined within the contract.

The programme consists of three parts:

1. Strategic Management
2. Animal Health and Veterinary
3. Training

Strategic Management

The initial focus is to develop an understanding of the farm and its abilities through evaluation of its two-season history. This includes a review with the farm owner/manager to identify issues of specific concern, but most importantly to develop objectives for the medium term and for the next season.

This information is used to develop a business/strategic plan for the next 12 months and to develop a farm and business model using Udder and Red Sky to assist in the decision making process. Authorities are put in place to allow constant monitoring of performance through direct access to production information and to the Livestock Improvement database.

Following the initial set up, strategic management meetings are planned for the rest of the farming year. These are generally once a month but can be reduced depending on the needs of the client. The meetings take the form of a review of progress against plan, the completion of a plan for the next period and draft plans for future key times. Any issues affecting performance are identified at these meetings with resources required identified and plans to address the issues produced. The meetings include a visual appraisal of the farm specifically including cows and pasture plus discussions with staff.

Other expertise is brought into these meetings to meet specific identified needs.

Animal Health and Veterinary

There are two aspects to this part of the programme

• Planned animal health programmes
• Planned veterinary clinical services

Animal Health programmes are included as part of the programme plan. These include such aspects as

• Nutrition
• Reproduction/fertility
• Mastitis
• Lameness
• Management and treatment of young stock and heifer replacements
• Vaccination/preventive medicine programmes

These are included in the planned regular strategic management meetings.

Veterinary clinical visits are planned as part of these Animal Health programmes. The focus is on planned strategic veterinary visits as this can virtually eliminate the need for fire-brigade services. All planned veterinary work is included in dairyconcepts TM. Non planned veterinary emergencies such as a calving or injured cow are not included in dairyconcepts TM. Planned veterinary clinical work includes for example;

• Monitoring of nutritional and trace element status
• Strategic management and treatment of herd to improve productive performance; for example transitional management
• Examination and treatment of non cycling cows
• Reproductive and breeding management programmes (non cycling cows, pregnancy testing)
• Herd mastitis programmes
• Lameness management
• Vaccination programmes

These visits will vary according to individual client requirements.

Animal Remedies required for treatment or preventative programmes are provided with dairyconcepts TM with policies and procedures for use of such products.

Training

is about improving on farm performance. This requires improved delivery of animal health services as well as education of staff into the specific requirements identified as key issues on that farm and the development of procedures to deal with these issues.

dairyconcepts TM provides planned training sessions to all clients. These include;

Spring management

To make staff aware of the animal health issues which they will encounter over the spring including

• The basics of calving a cow
• Treatment of ‘downer cow’
• Spring mastitis
• Milking management in the spring
• Management of calves

Mastitis management and milk quality

Staff training sessions to help manage mastitis and cell counts. Setting of dry cow programme.

Lameness

Causes of lameness and impact of staff actions on incidence of lameness. How to prevent lameness and examination and treatment of the lame foot.

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Example programme

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