Dairy update

The Dairy Farm at a Glance as at 17th June 2008

1. Pasture Cover; Since the recent rain pasture cover has increased at a steady rate.
   
   
2. Cow Condition; this has held and has even shown signs of a small gain on a few cows.
   
   
3. Rotation Length;  the cows are now being break fed through the established paddocks at a rate of 1.8 to 2.0 hectares per day. This runs out to a 61 day rotation, which will come back to a 40 to 35 day rotation as the new pasture paddocks come back into play.
   
   
4. Dry Matter Intakes; these are presently around 24kgs DM/cow, which would equate to 4% of bodyweight. This is a sound result, with the goal being to maintain intakes at this level over the next month.
   
   
5. Pellets; the feeding rate for pellets has been maintained at 5kg per cow and should stay at this rate . Silage; the present feeding rate of 6kgsDM/cow will be maintained. It is anticipated that at these feeding rates the silage should last until the end of June, mid July.
   
   
6. Hay; Rye/Clover hay has been purchased to supplement the silage being fed to the Milkers. Oaten hay has been purchased for the Springer cows. Dry cow type hay has been purchased for dry cows and young stock. It is anticipated that we shall only purchase hay as it is required.   
   
   
7. Rising 2year olds; these animals are now running alone at North Farm and are easily meeting 8-9kg feed requirement.
   
   
8. Calves; these continue to be well looked after by Staff. They really are looking good.
   
   
9. Dry Cows & Springers: As calving continues these two mobs of course keep chopping and changing in numbers. This is a good thing as it means calving is moving along nicely.
   
   
10. Fertilizer and Seeding: The first fertilizer application is well out of the way. I know the farm will respond well to this, thank you. All pastures sown have struck well and have really enjoyed the resent rain. Fourteen hectares have been sown down to Oat and Balansa clover on North Farm. A further seventeen hectares is to sown down with TRIT & Balansa clover within the next month. Both crops will be harvested for Silage.

                                              

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