25/10/2021

Week ending 25-10-21 farm notes:

FARM PERFORMANCE

Average Pasture Cover has dropped slightly again this week with daily demand greater than current pasture growth rates of 65 kg DM/ha/day. At 2287 kg DM/ha we are still comfortably within our target range of 2000-2400 kg DM/ha.  Our shut-up silage paddocks have moved to the high end of the wedge between 3100-3600 kg DM/ha with only another 1.4 ha added this week to the current 13 ha. Our rotation length on the remaining area in grazing is 22 days.

Ideally silage should be made 35-40 days after last grazing.  In reality our paddocks were last grazed between 14-30 days ago by calves or a lax milker grazing.  Our priority with silage is as a tool to improve the quality of feed remaining for the milking herd. These paddocks are due to be cut next week.

Encouragingly, daily milk production has lifted again back up to 2 kgMS/cow/day.  We have produced 500 kg MS/ha to date with the aim of achieving 850 kg MS by the 31^st December (70% of our season’s total production goal). Last year this was achieved on the 10^th January.  This ensures we continue to aim for a tight early calving to make the most of spring pasture production and reduce the risk of summer weather variances. We require 5.2 kg MS/ha/day to the end of the year or 1.8 kg MS/cow/day for the remaining 408 cows. It’s a lofty goal!!!!

Spring fertiliser is due to go on with 25 units of N. We will apply over half the farm next week then the remainder including the harvested silage blocks next.

Crop monitoring continues.  Paddock 13 which has a lot more shade trees has had a second broadcast of slug bait, and all other brassica crops have had slug bait re-applied around the outside perimeter.

Since the crops were sown they have received 54mm of rain; but in the last 7 days we’ve only had 1.6 mm. We have found early signs of leaf miner and spring tail damage.  The damage at the moment is not critical so we will try and hold off for more rain and continued seed germination for plants to reach the critical 3-4 leaf stage.  This allows us to combine an insecticide with the grass weed spray (SeQuence) to reduce the amount of passes through the crop and spraying costs at $42/ha for the contractor.

Chicory crops have not required any more slug bait yet, however they will require Valdo/SeQuence herbicide to control wireweed and grasses.

ANIMAL WELL-BEING

The handful of cows that were being monitored for signs of Theileria have now returned to their herd mates after being checked and being within normal limits against the F.A.N.I. card. They will continue to be observed for improved health status before returning to Twice a Day milking frequency.

Two more cases of lameness this week.  The majority of cows are being diagnosed white line, a bit of footrot and stones getting stuck in claws.

We have just finished our first full week of Wagyu-only mating, with only ten cows left to be mated.

The first mob of calves were weaned last week at weighing.  Calves weighed an average of 103 kg (range 83-138 kg) on the 20^th October. They have gained an average of 767 g/day since their last weighing 42 days ago. They require gains of 580 g/day until PSM to reach their goal of 303 kg (end goal 484 kg at PSC).  Seven calves are underweight, and one calf is in the action mob.  Calves received boosters for 5n1 and lepto along with Arrest C worm drench today. 30 calves over 105 kg have been weaned now.

The next mob of 30 was created weighing 95-105 kg and they will be weaned at 115 kg in approximately two weeks’ time after their next weighing.  The remaining mob of 85-95 kg will be weaned in mid/late November, or whenever we finish the last of the milk replacer!

The calves will get one more Arrest C worm drench before going onto chicory.

BUSINESS HEALTH

Cashflow updated to the end of September can be found here:  https://www.owlfarm.nz/financials/farmbudgets

Cash surplus after finance costs is tracking $66k ahead of budget. While we are still behind in production compared to budget, income is $98k ahead of budget. Milk income is $66k over budget, and $27k in cattle sales which is just timing relative to budget. Farm working expenses are $306k to the end of September. Genuine unbudgeted expenditure includes milk replacer for calves of $5.7k, increase in fertiliser costs approx. $6-$10k by year end, extending silage bunker $4.7k, cycleway re-fence projects $1.7k and increases in water charges. With the increase in payout mid-point to $8.40/kg MS from Fonterra and the bulk of our seasonal purchases being made in the next 5 weeks we will look to revise the budget at the end of November to allow informed decision-making through summer and autumn.

ENVIRONMENT

Planting checks continue to salvage plants that the pukekos have been pulling out alongside the drains.  Approximately 5-10% require replanting, along with some that just need to be heeled in to secure them nicely while the soil is still moist enough.

QUALITY WORKPLACE

Total hours worked this week by the team was 187 hours. It has been feeling a bit like ground hog day in L3 lockdown without things to look forward away from the farm on days off. Currently the team are happy to carry on at work (where there are people to talk to) with extended lunch breaks to catch up on town jobs. With annual leave being accumulated this will have implications for ensuring the team get extended periods off the farm when Covid restrictions allow.

COMMUNITY

Nothing to report this week.

PLANNING FOR THE MONTH AHEAD:

• Revise cashflow with $8.40 payout announcement
• Cut silage
• Spray crops
• Apply spring fertiliser

Cheers from Jo + Tom