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Ag News

Wednesday 24th December, 2008

By Department of Primary Industries - 24th December 2008 - Back to News

DAIRY COWS GET GROOVY

A dairy yard must provide confident footing for cows under all conditions.

Department of Primary Industries Research and Extension Scientist and CowTime Manager, David Klindworth, says simple grooving in the cement can make a difference to cow flow into the dairy as well as improving safety for cows and workers alike.

"Some dairy yards become very slippery when wet," Mr Klindworth said. "Injury is inevitable when cows (and even workers) slip. A slippery yard surface affects cow flow into the dairy because cows become fearful and hesitate. It’s just not worth the risk because it’s so simple to fix."

Both existing and new yards can have grooves cut into the surface. For best results have an experience contractor create textured concrete or diamond pattern grooves. The diamond pattern is the easiest and provides good traction.

For best results:

• Use an experienced concrete contractor
• Make diamonds 12mm wide and deep on 75mm to 100mm centres
• Have the points of the diamond up and down the slope to help with washing
• Make sure the surface is not too rough as it causes lameness. Test by walking on the yard in bare feet. If it’s uncomfortable it’s too rough for your cows

For more information refer to the CowTime Guidelines available at www.cowtime.com.au or contact Darold Klindworth on 5624 2269 or darold.klindworth@dpi.vic.gov.au.

DAIRY ACTIVITIES FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Dairy Extension Centre (DEC) is delivering a range of extension activities for dairy farmers, students and service providers.

Target 10 core programs

Feeding Pastures for Profit, Feeding Dairy Cows and Fertilising Dairy Pastures will be delivered in various locations throughout 2009. These core programs consist of two or four theory days, a series of on-farm days and a one-to-one visit from a dairy extension officer to assist in tailoring the information to your farming system.

* Plus on-farm days as arranged with participants

The extended lactation project is entering the extension phase and there are plans to work with small groups of farmers interested in investigating how they might apply the research findings from the Extended Lactation project to their farm situation.

For more information call Greg O’Brien at DPI - Ellinbank on 5624 2288.

Shed Shake-Up

CowTime is presenting Shed Shake-up sessions across Gippsland to make life easier in the dairy. Call Darold Klindworth on 5624 2222 for more information.

The Nutrient Team at DPI - Ellinbank is completing:

• Nutrient management plans, including aerial photography, fertiliser budgeting and half price soil testing.
• Effluent management plans, including pond sizing’s and assisting with the design of your effluent storage and application system.
• Water management plans – assisting to identify ways to reduce your water use on farm.

Call Barrie Bradshaw on 5624 2235 for more information.

Dairy Extension Centre

DEC has three regional extension committees where dairy farmer and service provider input is required to design and tailor the extension services for the region. For more information call Colin Waters on 5624 2273.

The team is also undertaking extension informing farmers and service providers on unbundling regulations in the Macalister Irrigation District and dry land regions of Gippsland. For more information contact Jason McAinch at DPI Maffra on 5147 0800.

Julie Williams at DPI Ellinbank is currently scoping the issues around shortages of water for stock and shed use and promoting options for more efficient water use within the dairy. Notes are available from the South Gippsland farm field days ‘saving water, time and money. Contact Julie on 5624 2285 for information notes from the day.

Greg O’Brien and Frank Mickan are looking at generating more forage from the whole farm operation as part of the 3030 project. This includes building on the ryegrass base common to most Gippsland dry land dairy farms. They are experimenting with complimentary forages. For more information contact them at DPI – Ellinbank on 5624 2222

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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