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Dairy Cattle – Milking, Health and Nutrition

Dairy farming practice capabilities related to cattle are underpinned by ethical behaviours with regard at all times for animal welfare, complying with industry animal welfare requirements.

Farm Operations Personnel Farm Managers / Owners
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Milking (including milk quality control and mastitis management)

Follow milking operating procedures and policies of the dairy in cups on, cups off and teat management to ensure safe and effective milking occurs as instructed.

Independently complete the milking process as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the dairy.

Identify any deviations from the standard procedures and report them as appropriate to maintain milk quality and cattle well-being.

Coordinate milking operations, supervising the milking team to ensure safe and effective milking by all team members, minimising the mastitis risk and maintaining milk quality for safe food production.

Report areas for improvement in milking processes to improve milk quality and dairy cattle well-being.

Develop, communicate and evaluate safe and effective milk production plans, standard operating procedures and policies for dairy cattle, maximising milk quality and minimising cattle health issues.

Set objectives for milk quality and production, considering current routines and potential future innovations and technology solutions for improving productivity, milk quality, and efficiency, safety and wellbeing of employees and dairy cattle.

Reproduction including genetics and genomics

Observe calving, castrating, and artificial insemination and assist as directed.

Independently care for calving heifers/ cows as per the standard operating procedures of the dairy farm.

Report any concerns with calving or reproduction health.

Castrate dairy cattle in humane ways.

Assist with artificial insemination as directed and under supervision.

Identify and select animals for breeding using reproduction readiness data such as heat collar detection.

Artificially inseminate and pregnancy test dairy cattle cows as per best practice guidelines.

Supervise natural mating processes for dairy cattle welfare.

Ensure that calving cows receive the required attention for safe and effective birthing.

Observe dairy cattle for fertility management and take action as per standard operating procedures.

Develop, communicate, implement and evaluate best practice breeding plans using genetics and genomics data for decision making.

Set objectives on reproduction and measure achievement of goals for the farm business.

Create and communicate new directions for herd reproduction as business needs change.

Husbandry and livestock handling across the lifespan

Bring in the cows from paddocks to the dairy as directed maintaining a calm environment, as per the standard operating procedure of the dairy and farm policies.

Handle dairy cattle as directed.

Observe handling of bulls and assist as directed.

Rear calves as per protocols maintaining calf welfare and ensuring regulatory requirements of marking/livestock identification are met.

Euthanase livestock in a humane way.

Safely and effectively prepare livestock for transportation.

Monitor others handling of dairy cattle on-farm, ensuring SOPs are followed and animal well-being is maintained, holding team members accountable to appropriate ethical and safe behaviours.

Develop and implement dairy cattle handling standard operating procedures (across the lifespan and for the range of cattle related tasks on-farm), policies and monitor for effective implementation that maintains welfare and allows for productivity and profitability.

Evaluate the impact of current practices of handling dairy cattle on productivity and profitability to ensure the approaches used are positively impacting on farm business outcomes and targets.

Nutrition and Health across the lifespan

Maintain dairy cattle water and feed supply as directed.
Speak out when dairy cattle health is not observed to be normal.

Implement animal hydration and feeding programs, including collecting, storing and administering colostrum for calves. Observe animal well-being and report any concerns immediately. Implement animal health programs as instructed.

Identify and draft livestock. Ensure team are accurately implementing health and nutrition plans.

Assess the herd regularly for health concerns and report as required.

Create, communicate, implement and evaluate dairy cattle health and welfare plans that maximise milk production.

Promptly engage external expertise for advice on health and nutrition concerns when decision making is beyond own capabilities to ensure animal welfare maintained.

Engage external expertise when herd health or nutritional concerns are beyond capabilities of farm business team members to assess and manage.

Evaluate the impact of current practices in dairy cattle management for health and nutrition on productivity and profitability to ensure the approaches used are positively impacting on farm business outcomes and targets.

Dairy Cattle Feed-base Management

Farm Operations Personnel Farm Managers / Owners
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Pasture based nutrition

Ensure dairy cattle are located in appropriate paddock at all times as directed.

Direct dairy cattle to move to appropriate paddock at each milking time. Recommend paddock rotations based on observed changing feed base.

Plan and communicate paddock rotations and pasture plans, and ensure that team members are directing cattle to the correct feed location.

Develop and guide implementation of nutrition plan that considers pasture, fodder and external commodities options, and appropriately provides necessary feed for herd health, maximising productivity and minimising financial costs across different ages and stages of dairy cycle – calves, heifers, dry cows, transition cows, bulls.

Engage external expertise when pasture production concerns are beyond capabilities of farm business team members to assess and manage.

Develop, communicate and evaluate all feeding plans of the farm business considering the health and nutritional status of the herd and financial costs of implementation to ensure appropriate nutritional plans for maximising farm production and profitability.

Determine and audit external commodity purchases for maintaining dairy cattle nutrition and health, considering financial implication for the farm business.

Fodder cropping and conservation

Assist with cropping harvest as directed.

Complete harvesting activities at appropriate times and make recommendations for fodder cropping options as invited.

Support creation of fodder crop production plans, and communicate the plan to appropriate team members. Ensure implementation of the plan is completed in a safe and effective manner.

Manage integrated crop and pasture production, determining which fodder to crop, timing of cropping, and best conservation method(s) to maximise fodder production, longevity and nutritional quality.

Engage external expertise when fodder cropping and conservation concerns are beyond capabilities of farm business team members to assess and manage.

External commodities (e.g. hay, grain and pellets)

Mix and mill standard stockfeed as directed. Feed dairy cattle as per routine specified.

Maintain feed pads to standard required for safe and effective feeding, as instructed.

Mix and mill standard stockfeed independently following the nutrition plan for the herd.

Maintain feed locations for safe and effective feeding, considering environmental impacts.

Identify nutritional deficits in dairy cattle requiring the addition of external commodities to the feed base due to fodder and pasture limitations.

Maintain and monitor stored external commodities stockfeed levels and take action to replenish as needed.

Monitor team implementation of nutrition plans, supporting team members to safely and effectively maintain dairy cattle nutrition for wellbeing.

Collect nutrition and health data for dairy cattle and make recommendations for nutrition plans.

Reviewing nutrition and health data, to make recommendations on purchase of external commodities considering financial, productivity and animal well-being contexts. Coordinate purchase, storage and financial activities for external commodities to ensure nutritional plan implementation is seamless. Mitigate risks of herd health associated with nutritional decline when feed base challenges are present.

Design feed locations to maximise safe and effective feeding, with minimal feed loss.

Soils, Water Management and Irrigation

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Properties of soils/growing media

Assist the service provider who will be taking the soil sample as directed.

Assist the service provider to determine best locations for soil sampling and support the accurate and safe collect soil samples for analysis.

Ensure soil sampling processes are completed by appropriate personnel in a safe and accurate manner and the integrity of the sample is maintained.

Coordinate and support the process of soil sampling and analysis to evaluate the properties of the soils and growing media used in pasture and fodder cropping production to create and adapt plant nutrition programs that maximise feed base production on-farm and align with strategic goals of the farm business.

Engage external expertise when soil and growing media concerns are beyond capabilities of farm business team members to assess and manage.

Evaluate the properties of soils and growing media and determine the implications for the farm business strategic plan, shaping farm business goals and operational directions based on the capacity for soils to produce feed base.

Soil moisture for optimal growth

Safely record accurate moisture data and provide as directed.

Make recommendations as to the process for collecting data on soil moisture levels, including technology solutions.

Safely and accurately collect and record soil moisture data as per standard operating procedures and discuss the findings with others. Ensure soil moisture systems are operating optimally.

Plan for when, where and how moisture data is to be collected. Collect and provide soil moisture data, following processes that are valid and reliable, and supported by technology.

Monitor for accurate soil moisture data collection and troubleshoot as needed.

Evaluate the moisture level and water budget data of the soils used in pasture and fodder cropping production to create and adapt irrigation plans that maximise feed base production on-farm and align with strategic goals of the farm business.

Evaluate the trends of soil moisture over time, considering the implementation of the irrigation plan and rainfall, to determine the implications for the farm business strategic plan, shaping farm business goals and operational directions based on the capacity for soils to produce feed base.

Irrigation systems

Lay irrigation and/or drainage pipes as directed.
Ensure irrigation systems are operated as per the irrigation plan, with supervision.

Operate irrigation systems as per standard operating procedures, farm policies and water management plans.

Service and repair irrigation and drainage pipes, bores and windmills.

Observe components of the irrigation system for faults, and report immediately.

Ensure irrigation systems are safely and effectively implemented by the farm team, as per the standard operating procedures, farm policies and aligned with the irrigation plan.

Take action to improve the irrigation system when faults are observed or reported.

Evaluate the implementation of the irrigation plan and make recommendations on areas for improvement.

Create, communicate and evaluate irrigation plans to manage available water systems in a safe, effective and environmentally sustainable manner.

Engage external expertise when irrigation plans and system operation concerns are beyond capabilities of farm business team members to assess and manage. Evaluate the water use and energy efficiency of the irrigation system.

Archive irrigation system plans securely for future reference and refer to over time to understand change in farming practice and farm business outcomes.

Develop, communicate and evaluate all irrigation plans of the farm business, considering the costs associated with operation and water purchase, to maximise pasture and/or fodder cropping production for farm production and profitability.

Strategically align irrigation plans with farm business targets and (as appropriate) the broader government-initiated water policy requirements.

Plant nutrition programs

As directed, apply fertiliser to pasture and fodder crops with supervision.

Fertilise pasture and fodder crops, as per the communicated plant nutrition plans, safely and effectively using a fertiliser spreader.

Implement plant nutrition programs, with work task allocation across team members.

Make recommendations for adaption of plant nutrition programs based on soil properties and soil moisture levels.

Establish pastures and crops for cattle nutrition through the creation of plant nutrition programs, aligned with irrigation plans (as appropriate).

Communicate and evaluate plant nutrition plans.

Engage external expertise when plant nutrition concerns are beyond capabilities of farm business team members to assess and manage.

Archive plant nutrition plans securely for future reference and refer to over time to understand change in farming practice and farm business outcomes.

Evaluate all plant nutrition programs of the farm business, considering the costs associated with operation and fertiliser purchases, to maximise pasture and/or fodder cropping production for farm production and profitability.

Strategically align plant nutrition plans with farm business targets and (as appropriate) the broader government-initiated environmental impact requirements.

Vehicles, Machinery and Farm Maintenance

Farm Operations Personnel Farm Managers / Owners
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Ride on vehicles, including motor bikes, tractors and side by sides.

Use ride on vehicles in a safe manner as directed at all times. Speak out if the vehicle has any issues or observed concerns.

Follow to vehicle standard operating procedures and farm policies.

Use ride on vehicles in a safe manner as directed at all times. Report hazards and incidents related to ride on vehicles.

Model expected behaviours in the safe and effective use of ride on vehicles.

Monitor for safe and accurate use of all ride on vehicles by all members of the team. Hold people accountable to safe and accurate driving of vehicles on-farm.

Report hazards and assess risk related to ride on vehicles and propose solutions to minimise the risks.

Consistently model a high level of expected behaviours in the safe and effective use of ride on vehicles.

Create, communicate and evaluate standard operating procedures and policies for the use of ride on vehicles based on the risk assessments completed and manufacturers recommendations.

Make recommendations for the acquisition and use of ride on vehicles on-farm to improve farm operations and productivity.

Champion and model safe and accurate use of ride on vehicles.

Determine and acquire the most appropriate ride on vehicles for use on farm, considering cost, safety, ease of use, mechanism to improve productivity for return on investment, farm business operations and goals.

Complete risk assessment and formulate risk management plans for ride on vehicle use. Review incidents and determine course of action in relation to future risk mitigation.

Promptly and visibly act on inappropriate behaviour related to safe and accurate vehicle driving.

Feeding storage and machinery

Safely and effectively use specified machinery to feed dairy cattle and calves, under supervision.

Speak out on safety concerns or when do not know how to complete a task.

Mix and mill safely and effectively using the appropriate machinery as per standard operating machinery.

Safely and effectively use machines to carry feed around farm, as per standard operating procedures and farm policies.

Report all hazards and incidents.

Model expected behaviours in the safe and effective use of feed storage devices and machinery.

Monitor for safe and accurate use of all feeding machinery by all members of the team.

Monitor for safe and effective use of feed storage devices, as per manufacture recommendations, and standard operating procedures and farm policies. Hold people accountable to safe and accurate use of feed storage devices and machinery.

Report hazards and assess risk related to feeding machinery and propose solutions to minimise the risks.

Consistently model a high level of expected behaviours in the safe and effective use of feed storage devices and machinery.

Create, communicate and evaluate standard operating procedures for the use of feed storage devices and feeding machinery based on the risk assessments completed and manufacturers recommendations.

Make recommendations for the acquisition and use of feed storage devices and machinery to improve farm operations and productivity.

Champion and model safe and accurate use of feed storage devices and machinery.

Determine and acquire the most appropriate feed storage devices and machinery for use on farm, considering cost, safety, ease of use, mechanism to improve productivity for return on investment, farm business operations and goals.

Complete risk assessment and formulate risk management plans for ride on vehicle use. Promptly and visibly act on inappropriate behaviour related to use of feed storage devices or machinery.

Fodder, crop, and harvest machinery

Safely and effectively harvest fodder as directed and with supervision. Speak out on safety concerns or when do not know how to complete a task.

Safely and effectively use a tractor with mulcher, raker and baler as per the standard operating procedures, at the appropriate time for maximising fodder crop.

Safely and effectively wrap silage using the appropriate wrap machinery.

Safely and effectively stack and store fodder in feed storage location as per standard operating procedures.

Model expected behaviours in the safe and effective use of fodder crop harvest machinery.

Monitor for safe and accurate use of fodder crop harvest machinery by all members of the team.

Monitor for safe and effective use of fodder crop harvest machinery, as per manufacture recommendations and standard operating procedures. Hold people accountable to safe and accurate use of fodder crop harvest machinery.

Report hazards and assess risk related to fodder crop harvest machinery and propose solutions to minimise the risks.

Consistently model a high level of expected behaviours in the safe and effective use of fodder crop harvest machinery.

Create, communicate and evaluate standard operating procedures for the use of fodder crop harvest machinery based on the risk assessments completed.

Make recommendations for the acquisition and use of fodder crop harvest machinery to improve farm operations and productivity.

Champion and model safe and accurate use of fodder crop harvest machinery.

Determine and acquire the most appropriate fodder crop harvest machinery for use on farm, considering cost, safety, environmental impact, ease of use, mechanism to improve productivity for return on investment, farm business operations and goals. Determine whether purchase or hire is more appropriate.

Complete risk assessment and formulate risk management plans for fodder cropping harvest. Promptly and visibly act on inappropriate behaviour related to use of fodder crop harvest machinery.

Milking plant maintenance Maintain milk plant with cleaning routines as directed.

Safely and effectively implement standard operating procedures to maintain the milking plant to standards required for safe food collection and storage, maintaining milk quality.

Model expected behaviours in the safe and effective milking plant maintenance procedures.

Monitor for safe and effective milk plant maintenance by all members of the team, as per and standard operating procedures. Hold people accountable to safe and accurate milk plant maintenance.

Report hazards and assess risk related to fodder crop harvest machinery and propose solutions to minimise the risks.

Create, communicate and evaluate standard operating procedures for maintenance of the milking plant based on the risk assessments completed.

Troubleshoot milk plant faults, and support team members to maintain safe food collect and storage.

Determine and acquire the most appropriate milk plant devices and machinery for use on farm, considering cost, safety, ease of use, mechanism to improve productivity for return on investment, farm business operations and goals.

Evaluate the milk plant maintenance procedures to ensure milk quality of maximised through hygienic processes.

Audit the milk plant maintenance processes and provide data as required on the accurate and safe use of the milk plant for food safety.

Complete risk assessment and formulate risk management plans for milk plant maintenance.

Agrichemicals

Safely and efficiently apply and store agrichemicals under supervision. Speak out when unclear on what steps to take in using agrichemicals on-farm.

Safely and efficiently prepare, apply and store agrichemicals.

Safely transport agrichemicals.

Report any hazards or near misses in the use of agrichemicals on-farm.

Supervise the safe and effective preparation, application, storage and transportation of agrichemicals.

Report any hazards and near misses in the use of agrichemicals, making recommendations for risk assessment processes and mitigation in standard operating procedures.

Maintain accurate recording of the use of agrichemicals as required.

Determine the required agrichemicals for farm operations and ensure they are available for safe and effective use at all times.

Create, communicate and evaluate the standard operating procedures, in accordance with manufacturing guidelines, for the safe and effective storage, application and transportation of agrichemicals.

Ensure all risk mitigation processes for the use of agrichemicals have the necessary materials to implement the processes (e.g. personal protective equipment).

Complete, communicate and evaluate risk assessments for the safe and effective preparation, application, storage and transportation of agrichemicals.

Fencing – electric and conventional. Temporary and permanent

Safely and effectively maintain and repair fencing as directed.

Plan and construct fencing as observed to be needed for immediate improvement in dairy cattle wellbeing.

Implement and monitor quality assurance on fencing to enhance dairy cattle wellbeing and safety.

Identify what fencing changing could be made to enhance farm business productivity or reduce risk of livestock loss and formulate a plan for completing the work.

Prioritise fencing changes with other farm strategic activities to determine return on investment. Evaluate the implemented change for future decision making.
Property improvement, construction and repair

Safely and effectively complete all property improvements as directed, using appropriate equipment such as chainsaws, construction tools, and vehicles.

Safely, effectively and independently address property improvements, construction and repairs using a broad range of equipment, as per the farm business’ plan.

Report property improvements, construction and repair observed to be needed, and complete as directed to.

Coordinate the team to complete safely and effectively implement property improvement, construction and repair.

Implement pest monitoring and management plans.

Identify what improvements, constructions or repairs will enhance farm business productivity and formulate a plan for completing the work.

Create, communicate and evaluate pest monitoring plans, considering the cost benefit in management of pests on-farm.

Prioritise property improvements, constructions or repairs with other farm strategic activities to determine return on investment. Evaluate the implemented change for future decision making.