No let-up for hard-hit dairy farms

By Philippa Stevenson

Another grim year for dairy farming and marketing is forecast, even before the present disastrous season ends.

Well before the official May 31 end of season, milk flow has dried up on many farms, costing some farmers their entire annual profit and others up to a third.

Now commentators warn that the same poor cow and pasture conditions that have brought an abrupt end to this season will severely affect the next. The Dairy Board also predicts difficulties in global markets weakened by oversupply and low demand.

Livestock Improvement Advisory reported some improvement in cow condition and pasture cover last week, but "unfortunately not fast enough."

Scientist and Waikato Polytechnic agricultural tutor Dr Clive Dalton said the usual autumn pasture flush never really eventuated, and now falling soil temperatures made a late season burst of growth unlikely.

"Average pasture cover is half what it was last year."

Many farmers under economic pressure had milked too long, he said.

"There is no way they will be able to get the lost condition back on cows in time before calving because nearly all the supplementary feed was used up in the drought."

Calving underweight cows raised the potential for metabolic problems caused by shortages of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. As well, calving stress would show up the damaging effects of facial eczema on cows' livers.

Veterinarian Roger Ellison, of Alpha Scientific laboratory in Hamilton, said blood analyses confirmed the poor health of many cows.

"It's vital to make sure cows gain condition before calving, and feed must be found to do this. Otherwise costs of veterinary care will rocket, early lactation production will have to be sacrificed, and mating next spring will be delayed and spread out."

Dr Dalton said clinics run by the polytech showed that most farmers and many consultants who used a common condition-scoring index overrated cows' health.

"They are at least half a score too generous. And the average condition score of the herd is not enough. They need to know where the lower end of the herd is so they are fed enough to get them through winter and calving without added expense."

Meanwhile, Dairy Board spokesman Neville Martin said exporting in the new season would be challenging.

Economic problems in the key South-east Asian market continued to depress demand. In Latin America, a 40 per cent devaluation in Brazil had exacerbated a severe drop in demand, matching similar problems in Venezuela.

Russia, the linchpin of the fat and cheese markets, continued to have difficulties.

Meanwhile, Australia was "pouring out product," and Europe and the United States had raised export subsidies - moves which cut prices.