Shinagh Dairy Farm Report 12-5-2011
Profitable Science Based Farming
Grass Details
There are 48.24 ha available for grazing now. The farm cover has dropped to 548 kg/DM/Ha. Our stocking
rate on the cow ground is 5.22 LU / ha. We estimate the heifer intake is 14kgs grass DM per day therefore our
stocking rate in cow equivalents (1 Cow Eq = 17 kg of DM intake) is 3.98 cow Eq per ha. Growth rate last
week was 45 kg/DM/Ha. Daily Demand is 68 kg/DM/Ha. We are at a cover per cow of 116 kg/DM/Ha. We
need to fill a gap and get this cover back on target of 140 kg/DM/Ha. Citrus pulp will be fed at 3 kgs per day
(build up over a few days) to reduce the daily grass demand to 55 kg/DM/Ha. When growth exceeds this
demand and we fill the deficient in the wedge and get our cover per cow up the ration feeding will stop. Cows
are getting magnesium in the water to cover for grass tetany. They are also getting Iodine, Copper, Selenium
and a low level of phosphorous added to the water daily. The herd is going into covers of 1400 and grazing to
3.5-4 cm.
Breeding
168 cows were submitted for AI in the first 21 days of breeding. This is an 85% submission rate (168/198 total
cows) Cows are being tail painted for heat detection combined with routine observation.
Milk Solids
Current milk yield is 14.15 litres per cow per day at 3.97% Fat and 3.21% protein (1.05 kgs of milk solids a
day) and an SCC of 89, TBC of 10. On the basis that a herd of heifers milk 75% of a mature herd this is the
equivalent of a mature herd milking 18.9 litres per day (1.40 kgs of milk solids a day) on 0 kgs of supplement.
We are not happy with this milk yield but we can not say why its not a higher yield. Cows are gaining condition
(full results of a total herd weighing and condition scoring will be available for next weeks report), the
submission rate was satisfactory, and cows appear healthy and happy. They are continuously going in to covers
of 1400 and leaving a residual of aprox 50, so they are being fully fed.
Reseeding
The current reseeding was done today (Thurs). Lime was spread per the soil results at up to 4 tonnes per acre on
some areas. This was then worked in with 2 runs of a land leveller. Grass seed was then set with a one pass
powerharrow/ grass seeder combination drill. This is not a corn drill and it gave excellent results in the March
reseed. The grass is growing everywhere in the field and not just in the drill coulter lines. These are the steepest
paddocks on the farm and they were sown with 100% diploid grasses as a result of this steepness to ensure a
dense sward that will stand to damage well.
Blood samples
Before minerals were fed to the cows blood samples were taken to determine their mineral status. We are
waiting for these results. In the meantime minerals are being fed in the water as a safety precaution. A decision
will be taken on future mineral supplementation based on the blood results once we get them.
Discussion Groups
We had 7 discussion groups visit the farm this week.
Pdk P
name
GRASS WEDGE
Cover
Date
10/05/2011
10/05/2011
* Cow DMI(Home
Page)
*Stocking rate
(from Cover Sheet)
Rotation Length
Enter Pre-Grazing
Cover
Select post-grazing
residual
15
4.8
18
AFC
548
10
GR (KgDM/Ha/day)
46
21
Graze Area (ha)
48.2
20
kgDM/hd/day
Stock/Ha
Days
1341
Kg DM/ha*
50
Kg DM/ha
22
No.milking cows
198
12
Milk/cow(kgs)
14.6
6
Prot%
3.21
14
MS Kg/Cow
1.05
3
15
26
16
5
4
1
7
17
13
2
27
8
9
11
18
19
Key Decisions
10/05/2011
23
1 Feed 3 kgs of citrus pulp per day (gradual introduction)
Grass walk farm
2 twice per week
24
3 When cover per cow gets to 140 and wedge deficiet is filling stop feeding meal
28
4
29
5
30
6
31
25
32
*Default Values used in Target Covers 'ideal pre-grazing cover' calculation
33
34