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Dairy Reminders For July

By Department of Primary Industries - 20th July 2005 - Back to News

Pastures
Pasture growth rates for an average July are estimated to average 10 to 12kg DM/ha/day across Gippsland. Growth rates may be lower than this on dry land farms due to the late autumn break reducing plant leaf area thus restricting potential growth. If all your pastures are short, and your average cover across the whole farm is lower than normal then daily growth rates could be as low as 5 to 8kg DM/ha/day.

To optimise ryegrass based pasture growth during the winter months aim to graze ryegrass tillers at the three leaf stage. This will need the input of supplementary feeds into the herd to fully feed the cows so that they don’t overgraze while extending the rotation.

Aim for a post grazing height of 5cm between the clumps, with 9cm pasture height in the clumps and not more than 30% clumps. This will give the most effective pasture regrowth response.

Ryegrass leaf emergence rate is at its slowest in July due to the cold temperature and could take up to 25 to 28 days for one leaf to emerge. The leaves that are produced in August will be slightly faster emerging so a rotation of 60 to 65 days may be required to grow three leaves prior to the next grazing. Therefore daily pasture allocation for the milking herd needs to be one sixtieth of the effective grazing area of the farm, the rest of the herd’s diet will need to come from grain fed in the dairy or hay in the paddock.

Cows
Check your cows condition score at drying off (5.5 condition score) and again during the dry period and ensure they do not lose condition during the dry period.

If you intend to use a lead feeding program this year make sure you have advice on a properly balanced ration specifically for pre calving dairy cows or purchase a commercially available grain mix or pellets for pre calving dairy cows. Discuss the other pasture or hay feeds you intend to feed with your adviser so that the ration is balanced and cow metabolic problems are minimised.

Fodder
Prepare a fodder budget to get you through to the magic spring day.
Cost out fodder purchases based on a cents per megajoule of energy basis.
Stick with feeds you know or understand, have a feed test certificate and fodder declaration.
Cost out and scrutinise any unusual feeds or by product feeds. The www.target10.com.au web site has some information on various feed options.

Heifers
Don’t neglect your heifers this winter. Supplementing the heifers pasture diet with pellets and good quality hay (9 MJ/kg or better) helps to maintain energy levels in the diet and provide adequate fibre, energy, protein and minerals to the growing animal.

NEW WHITE BLISTER BROCHURE

Australian and New Zealand scientists have collaborated to produce the information brochure 'White Blister in Vegetable Brassicas.'

White blister has been in Australian and New Zealand for many years, with severe outbreaks occurring recently in broccoli crops. It affects stems, leaves and flowers of broccoli, and can severely distort plants. It can completely ruin crops and thrives in cool damp conditions.

The colour brochure developed by Australian experts on white blister Dr Elizabeth Minchinton, Joanna Petkowski and Dr Robert Faggian, and NZ scientist Dr Richard Falloon, focuses on what growers need to know about white blister. The brochure contains several high quality colour pictures of the disease and outlines the life cycle and management options.

For a copy of the brochure contact the of the Department of Primary Industries office in Bairnsdale on 51520600.

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR IRRIGATION UPGRADES

Financial assistance continues to be available to farmers in and adjacent to the Macalister Irrigation District to assist them to make their farms more water-efficient.

A rebate of seventy-five percent is available to assist with the completion of a whole farm plan.

For farmers who already have a whole farm plan and are in a position to spend money on their irrigation layout, the next few months may be an appropriate time to install a re-use system or to change an area from flood to spray irrigation.

Irrigation re-use systems attract a rebate of fifty percent of the cost of construction up to a maximum of $16,600 plus GST each. The costs that can be included when building a re-use include digging the sump, drainage works, pump, motor, suction and delivery lines, a shed, power connection and fences.

Re-use systems in the MID re-cycle between one and two megalitres of water annually for each hectare of flood irrigated and that they collect water off. On the monitored farms this has dramatically improved farm water security.

If land is converted from flood to spray irrigation a rebate of fifteen percent of the cost of construction, up to a maximum of $410 per hectare plus GST, is paid. Any costs that are incurred in making the change will be considered in calculating the rebate.

Landholder experience indicates that converting land to spray irrigation will save around one megalitre of water per hectare due to reduced run off, and depending on soil type, up to five megalitres per hectare due to reduced deep drainage. Again, these savings can dramatically improve farm water security.

Farmers who wish to participate in the Irrigation Incentives Program are asked to contact Ken Slee at DPI Maffra on 5147 0800 for further information.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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