However, Southland dairy chairman Graeme McKenzie said there were plenty of options available for calf rearers in the south.
«From what I am aware no one’s run short to the point of having to take drastic measures.»
McKenzie said he was aware of a one to two week shortage of premium milk powder for calves a fortnight ago, but it may have been a bit longer in Southland.
Calf rearers could still get lower protein milk powder «pretty much straight away», he said.
The silo failure at the Edendale plant had given Southland dairy farmers some respite from the shortage, he said.
«A lot of dairy farmers got told they had to dump milk and they could turn that milk into feeding their calves rather than buying milk powder.»
Other options were available for non-dairy farming calf rearers, he said.
They could contact a nearby dairy farmer about getting some milk or wean the calves off the milk early given there was plenty of grass available.
The milk powder for calves came from Fonterra’s waste streams, McKenzie said.
However, he understood Fonterra had been more efficient this year, so there had not been as much product going into waste streams, meaning less milk powder was available on the market.
Fonterra director farm source stores Jason Minkhorst said there had been been a big increase in demand this year for calf milk powders with sales for premium calf milk replacer nearly double what they were last year.
This was driven by higher than normal numbers of bull calves being reared, as well as the powder being a cheaper option for farmers than providing calves with milk from the vat.
To help meet the unprecedented demand, all of Fonterra’s premium milk powder production had been diverted into the local market.
Fonterra had also made food-grade whole milk powder available as a calf milk replacer.
«We’re encouraging farmers to use milk from the vat as an alternative to calf milk replacer and we’ll continue to prioritise calf-rearers’ access to calf milk replacer stock and keep them informed of available volumes as the season comes to an end.»
Federated Farmers Southland president Allan Baird said he had heard talk of a shortage for calf rearers who purchased calves from the sales and didn’t have a herd to take milk from.
Southland farm product firms contacted on Sunday were closed.
Source: Stuff
Link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/85390896/calf-rearers-dealing-with-shortage-of-calf-milk-powder
