Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary Industries

Ag News

29/03/2007

By Department of Primary Industries - 29th March 2007 - Back to News

DAIRY REMINDERS FOR APRIL

Pastures

Long term pasture growth rates for April are 15 - 25 kg DM/ha/day on dryland farms across Gippsland following the autumn rainfall. The irrigated pastures of the Macalister Irrigation District are also expected to be 20 - 40 kg DM/ha/day.

Ryegrass leaf appearance rates for mid-April in Gippsland are estimated to be 12 - 14 days depending on soil moisture and growth conditions, therefore pasture rotations should be around 35 - 40 days to allow ryegrass to reach 3 leaf stage.

Following good autumn rainfall it is important to allow pastures to grow to the 3 leaf stage before grazing. This generates greater leaf area for photosynthesis and increases pasture growth rate.

If possible maintain the current diet by continuing feeding supplementary feeds until the new pastures have reached the 3 leaf stage. This may mean providing the herd with a small portion of their diet in pasture and the remainder as fodder crop, palm kernel extract, silage, hay, pellets or grain until a 35 - 40 day pasture rotation can be achieved.

Nitrogen fertilisers have risen in price this year, but will still be economic on actively growing ryegrass pastures which have adequate soil moisture and good phosphorus levels of 14 Olsen P or greater. Apply nitrogen about 4 weeks after the true autumn break.

Fertiliser after a drought

Shop around for fertiliser prices and ask for the best value. For example, some of the MAP or DAP fertilisers may have increased in price, so do your sums.

Nitrogen only maybe a good option on high fertility soils which have had minimal growth in recent months.

Low fertility soils will have good responses from P,K,S fertiliser in addition to nitrogen providing the plant species are suitable.

Establishing and managing new pastures

Try to get pasture seed in the soil before the end of April.

If you have had concerns with ryegrass staggers then select one of the new ryegrass varieties with the AR1 endophyte which has less effect on cattle.

Grazing with young stock can be undertaken once the new pasture will not pull out of the ground when pulled up by hand. For example, the leaves tear off rather than the roots pull out of the ground. Ideally the ryegrass seedlings should have 3 emerged leaves prior to the first grazing and ensure the stock do not over graze.

Get prepared to spray capeweed and other broad leaf weeds in new pastures once the weeds are about 3 - 5 cm in diameter. Remember you must read the herbicide label and follow the instructions for the stage of growth to avoid damage to desirable plants such as clovers.

Irrigation

Make a note in your diary of irrigation trouble spots that need maintenance. Farm channel maintenance, irrigation stop maintenance and pump maintenance need to be planned ready for the next irrigation season.

Ensure reuse dams and effluent ponds that are used for irrigation are empty (or as close to empty) now, ensuring that ponds do not get over full through the winter months.

Environment

To arrange purchase of Foxoff baits you need to ring 1300 10 1080 to book an appointment.

Be prepared for the weeds that could germinate when the break comes. Many of these weeds will have come in with any brought in hay and most will be easier to control when in the seedling stage. If you have fed your hay in certain paddocks on the farm this will assist in reducing their spread.

STRATEGIC WORM DRENCHING SAVES MONEY

Strategic drenching of all sheep with a double summer drench (November/December and January/February), with a move to 'low risk' pastures has been recommended for many years. This is to take advantage of pasture drying and the consequent destruction of worm larvae by lack of moisture and exposure to ultra violet light. Worms occur either on pasture or in the animals. The drench fixes the animal problem and the environment the pasture problem.

In drier climates, a second summer drench may not always be necessary. There is, however, no clear guideline as to whether a second summer drench is, or is not, required. This is because poor nutrition, summer rains and other management factors can result in higher worm burdens than might be expected.

The only way to decided on whether to give a second summer drench, is by doing a 'WormTest'. The test counts the average number of worm eggs that are present in each gram of faeces passed by sheep in a particular mob. This is used as a guide as to whether or not to drench.

Mobs with less than 100 eggs per gram don't require drenching. Egg numbers of 200 - 400 per gram could indicate the need to drench but, in some situations, drenching may be put off for another 4-6 weeks, when egg counts can be re-checked.

WormTest kits are available from most DPI offices and private veterinarians. Results are usually available on the same day that the samples arrive at the laboratory.

Samples can be collected for WormTest by running a mob of sheep into the corner of a paddock, holding them there for 10 minutes, collecting 10 samples of freshly deposited droppings and placing them in the container provided. Sampling early in the morning, when it is generally a little cooler, may make it easier to pick out the fresh droppings.

If a second summer drench is to be given, then each sheep must be given the correct dose. The biggest sheep in the mob should be weighed and the dose rate calculated for the heaviest sheep. The drench gun should also be checked to see that it is delivering the amount that it is set to deliver.

Reducing feed intake, but not the water intake, for 24 hours before drenching can increase the effectiveness of certain drenches (ie -mectin type drenches and the white -bendazole drenches). This is not recommended for heavily pregnant sheep, stressed sheep or sheep in poor condition.

After drenching, sheep should be moved to 'low risk' pastures. Typically these are paddocks previously grazed by cattle, older wethers or dry ewes.

Further information can be obtained from your local DPI District Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Officer or from your local veterinary adviser.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com