Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, September 2015

September 2015 Edition15,060 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Manawatu

Cheesemakers DreamPage 4–5

Fonterra’s largestlower North Island plant opens

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FARMING LifestylesManawatu

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TRACTOR & MACHINERY SERVICE & REPAIRS ON FARM SERVICING AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE, REPAIRS AND HOSE MAKING

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Farmers encouraged to enter

Entries for the 2016 Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) opened nationwide last month with Auckland also signing up to join the competition.

The annual contest is open to all farming and horticultural sectors, recognising sustainable land management, environmental awareness, good business practices, along with social and community responsibility. It has become a major event on the rural calendar. The competition is facilitated by the New Zealand Farm Environment (NZFE) Trust.

NZFE Trust national judging coordinator Andrea Hanna said every farmer, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists, should give it a go.

“Most people enter because they want high quality feedback on how their farming operation stacks up in terms of environmental and economic sustainability.”

The competition is free to enter and requires filling out a form found online at www.bfea.org.nz. Entry forms can also be mailed out.

Mrs Hanna said the competition offers an excellent educational opportunity for any farmer wanting to learn more about how to improve business profitability and environmental management.

“Past-entrants have described their participation as a highly worthwhile experience. It’s not just targeted at top farmers,” she said.

“Every farmer should take the opportunity to enter.”

The judging process is conducted in a relaxed and friendly manner, and judges always take climatic factors into account. A wide range of categories are covered in the awards so farmers who are performing well in one specific area have a chance of picking up a category award.

Supreme winners from each region are honoured at NZFE Trust’s annual Sustainability Showcase, where the prestigious Gordon Stephenson trophy is presented to a national winner.

The supreme title for the Horizons region this year went to Willie Akers and Laura Oughton, and Hugh and Judy Akers of Broadlands Station.

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From left: The 2015 Horizons BFEA winners Laura Oughton and William, Judy and Hugh Akers of Broadlands Station

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Fonterra’s largestlower North Island plant opens

Fonterra’s new milk powder plant near Pahiatua has processed its first milk from the Co-op’s lower North Island farmers.

Whole milk powder from the new plant will soon head to customers in more than 20 markets worldwide, including South America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Fonterra managing director global operations Robert Spurway said the new dryer at Pahiatua is part of the Co-operative’s strategy to drive greater efficiency and value in its product mix.

“This expansion is about more than just turning milk into powder. The additional capacity it brings will help to relieve pressure on processing and give us more choices in the products we make during the peak of the season.

“This means we can be more agile in meeting product trends and changes in customer demand — turning more milk into products that will bring the greatest returns for our farmers.”

Mr Spurway said dryers like this are already among the most efficient in the world by design.

The new dryer, the third on-site, has the capacity to process an additional 2.4 million litres of milk each day.

The building that houses the new plant is also unique among New Zealand dairy plants, and is the first to implement base isolation technology

which would see it withstand a one in 2,500 year earthquake. Fonterra Pahiatua operations manager Bill Boakes said the new plant will also deliver on Fonterra’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

“The plant is the first in New Zealand to reuse its own condensate, significantly reducing the amount of water needed to

Fonterra managing director global operations, Robert Spurway

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Adrian Walcroft started making cheese after attending a cheesemaking course close to 20 years ago

Although he and his wife Jill had thoughts back then about taking cheesemaking to a commercial

level, it wasn’t until last year that they established their own small artisan cheese business Cartwheel Creamery.

Adrian and Jill previously followed careers in scientific research. Adrian, who has a PhD, was working as a plant scientist at Landcare Research, and Jill was employed by AgResearch doing farm systems and social research. However, as the demand for their cheese has increased and the company has grown, they’ve left their careers to devote more time to the business.

The couple have lived on their 12 hectare Pohangina Valley farm for the past nine years with additional income provided through grazing dry-stock and calf rearing.

“At the moment we are grazing dairy heifers,” said Jill.

“The property has good soil, free-draining and fertile.”

Adrian said although they looked at off-farm premises to set up their cheesemaking factory, they settled on building on their farm. We did the numbers and decided to build here,” he said. The on-site plant also enables Adrian to check on the cheeses at any time.

In preparation for setting up Cartwheel Creamery, Adrian and Jill visited several cheesemakers throughout New Zealand to gather information. Jill said all the cheesemakers they visited were very generous with their time and knowledge.

A relocatable portacom-style building houses the couple’s cheesemaking facility and a dual-purpose stainless

**

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Adrian and Jill Walcroft


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steel cheese vat, imported from Europe, is the centrepiece.

Adrian said even with shipping costs, the vat was much cheaper in Europe than to buy in New Zealand.

Milk is purchased from Daniel and Jenny Sproull of Gorge Fresh Organics. The Sproull’s milk 160 cows on their Manawatu farm and sell raw, organic milk directly from the farm gate.

Adrian regularly makes the short drive from Cartwheel Creamery to Gorge Fresh Organics, returning with a stainless steel tanker filled with fresh milk. The milk is then pasteurised using a method that retains the goodness of raw milk. Adrian and Jill make cheese twice a week, producing a range of soft cheeses. This range includes a Camembert-style called Marama and a washed-rind labelled Coppermine, Feta, Halloumi (plain, chilli, and garlic), and a

blue cheese. “Matching our production to meet the demand is an important aspect of the business,” said Adrian. With an increase in demand for their cheese, the Walcroft’s are now struggling to keep up.

Earlier this year at the New Zealand Speciality Cheese Association’s competition, the couple won a gold medal for their chilli Halloumi and bronze medals for their Marama and Feta cheeses. Jill said the results were very encouraging.

As self-described sales and marketing newbies, the Walcrofts’ attended a night market in Palmerston North when starting out selling their products. This experience went well and they then ventured onto the Feilding Farmers’ Market.

Now not only are the couple selling their cheese at various markets

and festivals, several lower North Island businesses are also stocking their products.

With previous science-based careers, Adrian and Jill have found putting themselves in the public eye and talking with customers has been very different.

“We’ve found people enjoy the opportunity to taste the cheese, The positive feedback has reinforced that we are on the right track and repeat customers have become regulars,” said Jill.

The couple are currently working on producing a Farmhouse cheese. They’ve also adapted an old dairy shed on the farm, renovating the vat stand into an on-farm store.

“It’s growing and we are hoping to branch out further in the next few months,” said Adrian.

A cheesemakers dream

Adrian working on another batch of cheese

Cartwheel Creamery cheeses


Agrissentials Real Salt by John K Morris CEO of Agrissentials

Agrissentials takes over the Redmond Real Salt agency for New Zealand and Australia from August 24th, replacing the original New Zealand agents Cyril and Glennis Fausett who over 20 years have promoted and sold Redmond Real Salt as not only the best salt on our planet, but the best salt for plants, animals and people. Redmond Real Salt is the real deal with the ability to alkalise, detoxify, remineralise and rejuvenate all life.

Salt is essential for optimum health. The human body is made up of 72 percent salt water and 28 percent minerals. We need salt and minerals to survive. When admitted to hospital you are usually hooked up to an IV, which feeds saline solution (salt water) quickly into your body. So, the question is not “should I be taking salt?” but rather, “what salt should I be taking? “As many salts are not good for you.

A 2006 study showed that the daily intake of salt, less than 2,300mg was associated with a 37 percent increase in cardiovascular disease mortality (American Journal of Medicine). The best salt is an unre� ned salt; one that has NOT been processed and still has all the minerals and trace elements. Typically a good healthy salt will have colour to it. That is what makes Redmond Real Salt so recognisable, it is � ecked with colour, it is unre� ned and it is as real as it gets.

According to geologists the Redmond Real Salt deposit is the remnant of an ancient inland sea, The Sundance Sea, which places the deposit within the Jurassic Period, 65 million years ago, when the planet was as pure as it could be. Over time the salt that settled at the bottom of the sea was trapped within the earth and then forced up near the surface, close to the town of Redmond, Utah, USA.

Redmond Real Salt is currently harvested about 300 feet (100 metres) below the surface of the earth. From there the salt is screened and crushed to size before being shipped to the food grade facility in Northern Utah, where it is screened again and packaged.

Redmond Real Salt is healthier than white salt, because of the things Redmonds don’t take out of it such as trace minerals. Redmond Real Salt is 98 percent sodium chloride and 2

A D V E RT O R I A L

percent minerals and it is these 60+ minerals that make Real Salt REAL. Some of these minerals don’t dissolve in water, but are bio-available through the micro-organisms in your gut — increasing health.

An excellent source of organic sodium, Redmond Real Salt is the key to alkalising, detoxifying, remineralising and rejuvenating your whole body. The combination of 40 percent Real Salt and 60 percent aluminium free baking soda, blended together in a small jar and used as toothpaste, is a magical way to start each day.

Agrissentials wish Cyril and Glennis Fausett a healthy and happy retirement and thank them for the courage and foresight to push forward promoting and selling Redmond Real Salt 100 percent natural products.

Agrissentials will make every effort to maintain the integrity of Redmond Real Salt products, making it another Agrissentials best on earth salt, alongside our Best on earth fertilisers, Seabrew animal tonic and ET250 pest

repellent. Now is the time to make the call and begin working with Agrissentials best on earth products, for a better production unit, healthy farm, family and environment.

So whether you need a salt block, � ne or medium grain salt bags for your livestock feeding program or planet and people friendly Rok Solid fertiliser, Oceans 100 liquid fertiliser, Roketlime, Seabrew animal tonic and ET250 pest repellent — Agrissentials have got it covered.

All these products are BioGro certi� ed to make your production unit a safe, healthy and happy place. If you would like more information on our best on earth range please call 0800 THE KEY that’s 0800 843 539 today for a FREE INFO PACK.

Agrissentials love spring and you will too with the massive sale on all fertilisers this month. Our Manawatu team with Ben Tippins (North Manawatu) 021 738 601 and Lyn Woodcock (South Manawatu/Wairarapa) 021 0204 3028 would love to hear from you today.around road worksPay attention!


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New legal membersCooper Rapley Lawyers are excited to introduce three new members to their legal team — Alexandra Smith, Michael Riordan and Simon Clark.

Michael and Simon were both born and bred on the Manawatu Plains. After studying, Michael has returned to his Feilding roots and is already actively involved in the community, sitting as chairman of the Feilding Cricket Club.

Simon has also returned to contribute to the Manawatu community and being a passionate sports fan, can often be found exploring the local rural golf clubs.

Alexandra hasn’t fallen too far from the tree either, raised just over the Ranges in the Hawkes Bay. In her spare time she instructs spin class and is always keen to pursue any opportunity the Manawatu has to offer. All three will spend time with our friendly Feilding team.

“There won’t be many in the rural community that haven’t come across the no nonsense approach of Richard Howie who is experienced in all areas of commercial law and is ably assisted

by his right hand woman Robyn Annand. Tracy Swensson has a wealth of knowledge with wills and estates, and we have our organised and friendly legal executive Letitia Williams, the creative and bubbly Pauline Clapham who is our legal secretary, and they are all assisted by the lovely Michelle and Deb who are both of� ce administrators,” said practice manager Alli McArthur.

Cooper Rapley is one of the Manawatu’s leading and largest law � rms. We’ve been serving clients for over 100 years and our reputation is based on our experience and dedication to providing high-quality practical legal services.

For any legal needs come and see the team at 19 Manchester Street, Feilding, phone 06 323 4282 — and we are also at 240 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North.


From left to right: Michael Riordan, Simon Clark, Alexandra Smith

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“The tool works as a platform providing a firm, stable surface to hit against while hammering or using a staple gun and it is an easier way to fence because it eliminates the need to physically hold the wood in place.”

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David’s cousin Mark Neal demonstrating how to use Batten King

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Low cost pastureWell volatility may have done its worst, but dairy farmers’ need to grow grass is more important than ever this season.

At a recent farmer meeting an accountant from a large nationwide accounting firm stated that for the last season the two most profitable dairy farmers on his books were those that applied the least amount of nitrogen.

In recent years the scepticism would have been rife, with a likely retort being that they were probably organic and milking fifty cows. However, more recently, we are hearing that an increasing number of farmers are actively seeking alternatives to fertiliser N dependency.

While the assumption has been that regular doses of N fert will result in endlessly increasing pasture production, we have found no long term whole farm research to back this up. Rather, many are finding they grow less pasture than some years ago, and have taken to buying in more supplement and grazing off to cover the shortfall. This has tended to mask where the continued high levels of production are actually coming from.

At the start of use of fert N there is a noticeable increase in growth, but as time and use go on, the users have found that it takes more and more N to get even the same result, and often this result steadily diminishes over time.

What many don’t realise is that carbon is most rapidly sequestered under grazed pasture, and not just by forest cover. When soil life processes are working effectively much of that carbon is built into humus, and it is increased humus in our soils that is needed for increasing pasture production.

The horribly low payout will, for most farmers, preclude all but the strategic use of high energy supplement, so pasture will be needed more than ever to keep herds well fed and producing. Using just fert N and expecting it to do the trick won’t work, as other basic nutrients such as calcium will be needed to maintain growth and preclude infestations of pests. There are already long term whole farm examples of steadily increasing pasture growth

without reliance on fert N. Not only is growth increasing year on year, total annual production is at least the equal of any conventionally fertilised property. Applying extra calcium as lime, as soon as cows have calved, is a viable low cost alternative. The current soggy soil conditions won’t last and the hot dry will come again, reducing grass growth, particularly ryegrass.

Clovers have a greater requirement for calcium than grasses, and are better suited to hot summer conditions. Clover is also more digestible, which means animals can eat more kilos, and produce at a higher level. Strong healthy clover is also less affected by flea and weevil and recovers more rapidly from being grazed. Its ability to fix nitrogen free of charge diminishes the requirement for autumn and early winter N fert applications. Lime with added soil friendly fungi and bacteria achieves more benefits in less time and allows the calcium to be released faster, and the ‘extras’ rapidly assist what are already present

PA S T U R E R E N E W A L

Soil Matters with Peter Burton

to simulate pasture growth. Earthworms also get busy and create deep channels to hold moisture and allow nutrients to move downwards, so minimising drought effects. A product containing these good things is CalciZest, from Functional Fertiliser. When applied in the 90 days prior to the end of December an increase in clover and total summer pasture can be expected. For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.

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Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) is part of a Government rollout to provide internet to more rural people, including the small towns & villages of rural New Zealand.

The power of the internet to improve business, especially in isolated places, is a driving force of modern change, and the RBI and is fast growing and getting better every day, says Rob Christiaans of Installer Services Manawatu.

“There are RBI transmitter upgrades done every week, and new site builds are making the outlook for RBI broadband brighter,” he adds, noting that signal strength is growing, spreading the 4g and 3g networks at the same time. The aim city speeds for country folk!

Although RBI will never reach all parts of New Zealand “a good chunk of the country“ is covered, providing better options for rural people. With Rob’s experience of interpreting coverage maps, and a few specialist tools, his business is at the forefront of bringing the digital world to your doorstep.

“When people call us, they are talking to people who have carried out installations and understand how things work from the ground,” says Rob, “which is quite different from phoning a call centre!” NetSpeed NZ

for whom Rob is a preferred installer can transfer existing phone lines across to Voip phone services with features such as call waiting, call minder and call forwarding. It’s a cheaper option than satellite as well, providing a link to commerce, shopping, entertainment and communications.

From businesses using accounting programs like Xero or Cloudfarm, through to school work or maybe purchasing and selling on Trademe, to keeping up with family and friends

on Facebook and Skype all require a fast, reliable connection. Installer Services aren’t about long term contracts or restrictive plans just about people connecting with people.

Alongside this initiative, Installer Services can boost mobile phone coverage to far-� ung places on the farm a new development which will improve safety as well as productivity. Rob is dedicated to keeping ahead of the fast pace of changing technology and bringing it to his customers for less.

Wear a helmet.A helmet is a must while riding a quad bike around the farm.


L I V E S T O C K

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 07 552 5225 or 027 276 9794

We like to let our customers do the talking.To see what they have to say, visit our website www.grandpasfeeders.co.nz

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Want to find the best way to market your wool?Expertise is only a phone call awayPGG Wrightson Wool Ltd handles in excess of 350,000 bales annually through its wool store network strategically positioned around New Zealand and its export company Bloch and Behrens.

Meet Your Local Wool Representative at PGG Wrightson Wool

Loyalty has its own rewardThe resumption of Russian imports of hydrous milk fat, whey and milk protein concentrates from Fonterra sites is good news for the cooperative.

New Zealand is not on the list of Russian-banned countries and in spite of trade minister Tim Groser asking primary exporters not to exploit any possible advantage that Fonterra and others may have in dealing with Russia, the government has stated that it is important not to upset trade talks with the United States through the Trans-Pacific Partnership and also with the European Union.

New Zealand has a history of being a good and loyal trading partner not only to Europe but also the United States, but there are numerous examples where this loyalty has not been taken into account, when Europe and America act in their own self-interest.

For more than 100 years, New Zealand’s butter and cheese had arrived in ports in Britain. During the Second World War, New Zealand supplied its

dairy products under very favourable terms to the so-called mother country. This trading relationship changed dramatically with Britain joining the European Community, forcing New Zealand to look for alternative markets throughout Asia, Russia and latterly China. The then NZ Dairy Board showed commercial enterprise by taking advantage of the then Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s new open ‘perestroika’ (reconstruction) and ‘glasnost’ (or openness) policies giving new trade opportunities throughout the world. Mikhail Gorbachev’s ties stem back to the Ukraine or Little Russia, along with other Russian leaders including Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Chernenko.

The Ukraine has been part of Russia for over 240 years, when Catherine the Great reached a peace treaty with the

Ottoman Empire in 1774. The Crimea Peninsula which is part of the Ukraine came under Russian rule in 1783 and is a major naval base for the Russian Navy. The region’s vast wheat fields have served as the breadbasket of the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union.

The current American and European embargos against Russia are because the Ukraine wants to secede from Russia, with American and European support. An interesting argument could be made — what if Hawaii, a state within America, wished to secede from the United States. Would the Americans be so accommodating if it meant giving up their naval bases there?

Fonterra director Malcolm Bailey who is the Dairy Companies Association chairman, stated in the press last week that the industry had no intention of ramping up trade with Russia as a result of the latest reinstatement of licences or any future relaxation of market access conditions and that the Association supported the Western Alliance led by America.

With the greatest of respect, the facts are that while European and American dairy farmers are receiving between $6.95 and $8.15 per kilogram of milk solids, New Zealand dairy farmers are witnessing our so-called allies dumping their surplus dairy produce caused by their embargo against Russia, into our hard-earned markets in China and

throughout Asia, without a care for our struggling New Zealand dairy farmers, who may receive $3.85 per kilogram of milk solids this year, if they are lucky. In economic terms our situation is ridiculous and completely unsustainable. They profit while we stand naively by.

It is hypocritical that we are told that we shouldn’t take full advantage of our unrestricted access to market our dairy products to Russia.

Scottish-born Tim Groser who has acted as New Zealand’s chief negotiator in trade for many years, once summarised that New Zealand could be screwed in areas of trade. Almost everything New Zealand exported was at the mercy of other countries.

It is ironical that in the book Till the Cows Came Home, Mr Grose reportedly states that to him, the key issues involved getting a framework for international law that would protect New Zealand from what he regarded as outrages.

Wealthy nations had to be stopped from ruining the country’s economic future with their export subsidies — even if a measure of quota constraint and import control might have to be accepted for some time to come.

It is my view that America and Europe should have kept this in mind when they unilaterally decided to place a trade ban against Russia to the detriment of small, agricultural-reliant countries like New Zealand.

Be my GuestBill Guest Farmers of New ZealandMembership Services: 09 439 5219 • 09 430 3758www.farmersofnewzealand.comEmail: [email protected]


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Keeping mastitis at bayA new premium teat spray without the premium price tag, is set to take the New Zealand dairy industry by storm. Lactisan, newly developed by the DeLaval scienti� c team is used for spraying teats post-milking to � ght off mastitis.

“DeLaval as a company has always believed in iodine as the best product for keeping mastitis at bay but many New Zealand farmers were looking for alternative options to further improve mastitis prevention,” said Hamilton based DeLaval Solution manager, Brad White.

“Our mission was to bring something different to the local market and our scientists discovered the use of lactic acid was a winner for killing bugs, but it needed assistance. Some clever chemistry from the team solved the problem and simply unlocked the power of nature. We’ve called this technology LactiSyn.”

The LactiSyn technology in Lactisan, uses an innovative combination of surfactants and lactic acid that are designed to maximise the bug killing power of lactic acid, while promoting teat conditioning.

“The result is a teat spray that gives broad spectrum bug kill, with a � ve log reduction in less than 30 seconds. This innovative chemistry also ensures that it has minimal residue impact, without sacri� cing its effectiveness. By using lactic acid, the end result is a teat spray product that does not continue to remain germicidal in milk, thus further reducing potential residue issues. Lactic acid is naturally present in milk, unlike chlorhexidine which is a synthetic material.”

The incorporation of � ve percent emollient at its one to three use-rate provides good teat conditioning protection all year round.

“Combine that with the natural exfoliating and moisturising properties of lactic acid, and you have a product that is gentle on teats and harsh on bacteria. This is one of a number of tools that DeLaval provide to help farmers minimise mastitis,” said Mr White.

“It can be applied manually using a spray gun or even a walkover sprayer. Certainly if there is only one thing a farmer does after milking, it should be to use a teat spray. Lactisan, which has been rigorously tested in laboratories and in clinical ef� cacy trials, is the DeLaval

answer to unlocking the power of nature.” The product and the LactiSyn technology are registered in several countries in

North and South America and in Europe. For a free trial of Lactisan, call DeLaval on 0800 222 228.


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Farm-it Sheds is a Manawatu based company specialising in all aspects of farm building construction whether it be a single-bay pole shed to a 100 metre long-plus herd home. We manage the project from start to finish for you! “Farm-it Sheds” draws the plans, drills the holes and builds the sheds, taking all aspects of construction by our own teams. Kitsets are available also and the option of “Farmer Build” with a bit of “Farm-it Sheds” help along the way to save you money

A white line debateI was reading a recent article about a farmer who has overcome their lameness issues. In the article it is explained how white line disease is caused by long distance walking.

“The sole wears thin and when there is pressure applied to the herd little stones will work their way into the hoof and cause infections.” This article again shows me how there are still people out there with a wrong understanding of what causes white line disease and most lameness issues in New Zealand. For one, this theory has no evidence to back it up, two, it doesn’t make sense if you think about it and thirdly there is evidence to show this theory to be incorrect. In a previous article I asked people to show me some indisputable evidence to prove the possibility of this theory. I received some responses but no real evidence was presented. I won’t go into that now but I will on the other two points. One, the theory explained above doesn’t make sense. When cows

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

especially when they have been walking on the tracks for months. However, sometimes we go to farms and all the hooves are soft and thin. This is true, and the question needs to be asked why is that? Why does the corium sometimes not respond in a sustainable manner?

The only explanation I can come up with is that the corium is not functioning properly due to being unhealthy or maybe the thinner soles are not a problem to the cow. To answer the question on what makes the corium unhealthy is a whole article or articles on its own.

If you want to know more you can attend one of our trimming courses and/or seminars to find out.

Second, I also want to show you some evidence of the opposite to be true. Do you notice that white line disease happens more on the outer claw — especially when there is more height difference between the claws? So, white line disease actually occurs more often with a thicker sole rather than a thinner sole. We did a trimming trial a few years ago where we showed that if you trim the outer claw to the same height as the inner claw you end up with less

walk long distances their hooves will wear faster — that is logical, natural, and if the live tissue in the hoof didn’t respond to that faster wear then the cow would end up with major problems. As a matter of fact, the whole herd would end up with worn out hooves and you would not be able to milk cows on big farms. You would need to keep the cows in their paddock because any unnatural wear on a track will cause a problem with worn out hooves.

Fortunately, cows are created with the ability to adapt just like other creatures. Just look at your own hands. If you do more physical work with your hands your body responds to that by growing more calluses. In the same way, the corium (live tissue in the claw) will respond to more wear by growing more hoof —

lameness. So, by trimming the outer claw you make it thinner and yet you end up with less lameness. This goes against the theory that was described in the article that I was referring to. I realise that there is a lot more to the white line disease issue than I can cover in this article. I intend to cover a bit more of that in my next article and you can always contact me if you have questions on this subject.


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Best sellers and greatest hitsby Andy Bryenton

The Ford Focus is the world’s top selling car - with one sold every 90 seconds, its popularity even gives the blue oval’s big F150 truck a run for its money.

In Asia especially the Focus is flying the flag for Ford’s global brand, though here in New Zealand the feisty mid-sized car has tough competition from the likes of Mazda3 and Corolla.

All that may be about to change with the release of the new, updated Focus — a thorough overhaul of the standard car which nicely complements the release of the ever-more-powerful Focus RS elsewhere in the lineup. With a lower, wider stance, pared-down lamp clusters and an even more distinctive rendition of the trademark Ford grille — now with a race-style splitter accent beneath — the Focus has never looked more aggressive or striking.

Even the voluminous little station wagon version packs some serious attitude, while the traditional Focus five-door carries a fair amount of its ‘big brother’ RS model’s swagger.

The major overhaul for the new Focus is under the hood, however. The quiet and powerful 2 litre diesel in the wagon provides 370 Newton-metres of smooth torque while delivering 4.4 litres to the 100ks economy, while the old petrol engine has been farewelled in the forthcoming hatch models, making room for a much anticipated EcoBoost

option. The EcoBoost success story just continues to grow for Ford, who have even turned Mustang V8 purists around with their top-end renditions of a technology that seems like witchcraft. As with other EcoBoosts, the new prescription is for less emissions, more power, and better economy from this generation.

But it’s inside that the driver will really feel the difference. Tweaks to

the suspension and traction control feed through the new power steering to provide the engaging driving experience Ford are aiming for with every vehicle in their lineup.

A suite of goodies and gadgets surrounds the comfortable driver’s seat, including a dominating 8 inch touchscreen for the advanced Sync II system, an infotainment and navigation supercomputer in the dash. Finally —

but still able to amaze, even in 2015 — the top-spec Titanium model even has the ability to park itself, both parallel and perpendicular. Add in a host of safety features, and the amount of car you get for your money really begins to add up.

Will it propel the Focus ahead of its rivals through sheer good value, looks and features? Only time, and a test drive, will tell.

The Ford Focus boosts into its latest iteration with the addition of the award-winning EcoBoost engine and bold styling


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One sharp contenderBy Andy Bryenton

In all forms of motorsport, the kind of ‘blue sky’ design and development used to dominate the racetrack fulfills a practical purpose for more prosaic application as well.

Those advances in weight saving, safety, power and handling engineered to provide podium finishes filter through to the workaday vehicles which make up the bulk of any marque’s stable, in turn spurring sales and generating enough company revenue to tackle another grueling year of high-speed autosport.

It’s very much the same for today’s modern off road machines as it is for those road cars which have brand-name brothers in WRC and Formula One competition. Big races can make or break products, and occasionally whole companies. And nothing tests drivers and machines likes the insane Baja 1000, a race which traverses some of the most rugged desert in Mexico.

This race made the names of both Mickey Thompson and Ivan Stewart, and in 2014 it was the proving ground for a field of 19 ‘class 19’ UTVs. Only eight would finish, with a one-two through the gate going to Polaris RZRs. Lessons learned on the anvil of desert sand would be taken back to the lab to create even more powerful, durable machines. So we can now welcome the Polaris RZR 1000 XP ‘White Lightning’, a formidable four wheel drive, 110 horsepower, double overhead cam missile which takes on the turbocharged Maverick at the top of the UTV table.It’s an exercise in superlatives, with

more power, 110 horsepower used to be road sports car territory not long ago. Longer suspension travel, better cooling systems, and more grip to provide what Polaris are calling their smoothest ride ever.

Truly, this is a machine which demands your full attention for a test drive. Beyond the smoke and velocity, the RZR 1000 XP carries a serious message for the rest of the Polaris bloodline. It’s a simple one.

If Polaris can manufacture a machine to conquer the Baja and trails from Canada to Kathmandu putting down

all those horses and taking the tough knocks, then their farming and hunting range just slightly down the power band must share that engineering know how.

That bodes very well for Polaris overall. If you feel the need for extreme off road speed, the evidence of those podium finishes speaks for itself.

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Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, September 2015

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