2018/19 Season HUB Weekly Farm Update as at 6th July 2018

Week summary:

• Next BCS check due
• Leptospirosis vaccination main herd
• Draft all cows into calving mobs – same size mobs on crop as present just with a different make-up

Tom from AgResearch laying a soil moisture tape to measure soil moisture content last week in a fodder beet crop.

Four different farmlets Feed Wedges 6^th July 2018

Blue = Lower intensity kale

Green = Standard fodder beet

Red/Pink = Standard kale

Yellow = Lower intensity fodder beet

Herd & Production

• Four herds split evenly on age, BW / PW to ensure the herds are as even as possible at the start of the 2018/19 season.
• Each herd allocated a farmlet corresponding to their herd tag colour Green, Blue, Yellow and Pink.
• Farmlets have paddocks allocated so each herd has equal walking distance from the shed and the same proportion of each soil type and equal proportions of pastures in the FVI trial (forage value trial – refer web site section on research).

Comments:

• Culls are still on farm and being used to eat excess fodder beet. They will leave the first week of August

Feed Management

• The four herds are to remain on their allocated farmlets always.
• Decision rules for Cows of BCS 4 or less are that they can be fed extra supplement in the shed as required by the farm team and be milked OAD but will remain in their allocated herds for research purposes.
• The concentrate in the shed is to be determined for the 2018/19 season.

Comments:

• Hub kale crops are averaging 12t/ha so PKE is being supplemented to fill the deficit in the feed budget, fed in feed trailers on the crop paddocks.
• Lower utilisation of the kale crop has occurred with the R2s; options are being explored to increase utilisation and reduce wastage. Considerations include:
  • Splitting the daily kale allocation in half and offering narrower breaks am and pm
  • Reviewing the energy requirements and reducing PKE input
• R1s were leaving fodder beet behind. It was calculated that they were being offered 95 MJ ME compared to their 62 MJ requirement. Because of the mob size and requirement for at least 40% baleage it is not a simple task to reduce the total daily allocation.
• Options will be explored as to how to clean up the left behind bulbs from the R1’s to ensure a successful regrassing and crop planting for next year.

If you are unsure of the feed demand and supply requirements on your winter crop, you can use the DairyNZ winter crop allocation tool: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/feed-management-tools/

Land, Pasture, Crop & Silage Management

• Total area is 327ha(eff), 32.5ha(eff) young stock block and 294ha(eff) platform. Winter crop is grown on both blocks for all stock.
• Crop rotation is two years in crop then re-grass. PGG Wrightson grass cultivars used are Rely, Platform and Excess, all diploids.
• Where target residuals are missed, topping after grazing is the tool the farm team use as needed.

Comments:

• Discussion around which paddocks to select for cropping next year have begun. Factors being considered include:
  • Annual pasture production from 2017-18
  • Previous cropping history
  • Existing pasture species
  • Historical land-use
  • Topography and proximity to waterways
  • The desire to spread winter crop area between the top and bottom terrace’s. The bottom terrace is in a flood plain area and therefore carries some risk and has heavier soils more prone to pugging damage and nutrient loss. If the crop area for each farmlet is split between the terraces each season we will have the ability to mitigate this risk. When soils are very wet we can shift grazing to the top terrace. Flooding risk will mean we may not be able to pre-load winter supplement in these area’s.

Fertiliser & Nitrogen

Stock Reproductive Performance

Research Proposals

The SDH welcome research proposals for any sampling or research on the SDH, these are assessed by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Just send your request or ask for information via guy.michaels@southerndairyhub.co.nz

For more information check out the DairyNZ link:

https://www.dairynz.co.nz/about-us/research/research-farms/southern-dairy-hub/