6/09/2021

Week ending 6-9-21 farm notes:

FARM PERFORMANCE

Growth rate dropped to 44kgDM/ha/day and so did APC to 2182 kgDM/ha.  Wedge still looks OK but the gap at the end will start to be grazed within 2 weeks so we really need growth rates to step up now. Tom continues to follow behind the cows with our second round application of N.  We have used an average of 34.5 kgN/ha to date.

We will finish the last of our PK in the next few days with no more due on contract until December and no grass silage left. We are now grazing 6.6ha/day (including colostrum and springers) which is a 22-day rotation.  The training wheels are well and truly off!!! The key is to hold our rotation length pre-mating and ensure that the cows are cleaning up what is offered.  We still have a trigger in place if cows are consistently grazing below 1500 kgDM/ha.  This would indicate that cows are being underfeed and we have the option to purchase PK at spot prices if we can generate a good milksolids response from the supplement and achieve target residuals. With good cow condition and APC to maximise available growth we shouldn’t need this.

Cows are being offered 20.5 kgDM/day of pasture producing 2.25kgMS/cow. The silage finished last week and the PK was feed to the young herd twice for paddocks that were under target at grazing and offered ad-lib to the colostrum cows.

Milk quality has been great with 97% excellence and SCC of 106,000.

Pasture samples were taken and sent off to the lab for testing today. Our first herd test was carried out last night and this morning.

Unfortunately due to supply chain issues our Plantain only just turned up. It is a challenge now to sow it with fertiliser as planned, as some of the earmarked paddocks are not due for an application for another 3-4 weeks. This will be too late for successful establishment with such fast growing ryegrass swards. For these paddocks we will look to apply in Autumn or the following spring if we can safely store the seed.

Last year’s rainfall of 836 mm vs the drought the year prior of 752 mm means that although we have had average rainfall for winter of 317 mm our soil moisture levels are very similar to this time last year. 

Metservice predicts an average to dry September for us. This would indicate that we need to get our crops in the ground early (as planned) and closely monitor rainfall and soil moisture to predict if we will be able to make the required grass silage at home.

ANIMAL WELL-BEING

Heifer calves are still on 50/50 milk replacer mix.  At the moment this equals a 20kg bag which only takes 10 minutes to make up.  The most time consuming process is having to weigh out the milk powder as the quantities increase.  All wagyu calves have gone and we only have 7 cows left to calve.

Second group of cows have been metri-checked with 4 cows from 130 needing metri-cure. None of the previously treated cows needed re-treating.

Tail painted tonight as we enter the second week of pre-mating heats.

Heifers were weighed at grazing with the mob of 75 now at 292kg and the mob of 15 under-weight now 297 (gained 0.6 – 1.2kg/day on silage and PK at graziers).  Only 8 heifers out of the 90 are currently underweight at grazing. Sychrony will start on heifers 11^th September at both blocks with sexed semen used on the mob of 75 and the Forward Pack on the mob of 15.

Cows received their pre-mating BCS on the 1^st Sept.  Herd average was 4.8, heifers were 4.9 and 2 cows were below 4. We are happy with the result which is lower than last year (5.4 on the 17^th August 2020) but only 0.2 down from our July BCS average.

BUSINESS HEALTH

Nothing to report.

ENVIRONMENT

As part of our commitment to the Cooperative Difference we partake in a recycling scheme where all our silage and baleage wrap goes to the Plasback scheme. We purchase the recycling bags from FarmSource which the team fill up thoughout the season – this keeps the plastic cleaner and the farm tidier - and ring for a pick up through Slatterys from Matamata.  Each liner is $22.50 + GST and pick up is $50 + GST each.  More details can be found here: https://slatterycontracting.co.nz/services/silage-wrap-recycling/

QUALITY WORKPLACE

Team all vaccinated this week with a supply of masks when needed as students come back to school on Monday under L2 guidelines.

COMMUNITY

It was great for Tom and I to catchup with some of you last Wednesday on our weekly zoom.  For those of you interested in our journey from 34% to 71% purposeful breeding objectives for our calves – join us at 11am Wednesday 8^th September to chat to us along with LIC as we discuss the pros and cons and next steps for the coming mating. This is also a great chance to ask questions about things you’ve read in our weekly updates.  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86273812669

We will be hosting our Focus Day presentation of wagon wheel KPIs on FB live event – click “going” to the event on Facebook to be kept up to date. More details to come.

PLANNING FOR THE MONTH AHEAD:

• Mating heifers
• Preparing crop ground

Cheers from Jo + Tom