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Dairy Reminders For September

By Department of Primary Industries - 22nd September 2004 - Back to News

Pastures
Long term growth rates for rye grass/clover pastures are 35-50 kg DM/ha/day across Gippsland for September. Pastures that are waterlogged, were over grazed during winter or have low fertility will grow at a slower rate.

Ryegrass leaf appearance rates for mid September are expected to be around 12 -15 days for first leaf to appear. Following leaves will appear faster as the temperature warms up. Therefore, a paddock grazed in mid September will need 30-35 days for the three leaves to re-grow, and can be grazed in mid October. When pastures begin to become reproductive and start to send up seed heads, grazing earlier will be beneficial to pasture quality and utilisation.

As leaf appearance is rapidly changing due to temperature increases at this time of year, you should be visually checking the leaf stage of the pasture prior to putting the cows in to graze. If the ryegrass tillers have more than three leaves, you will have long rank pasture and will be losing pasture quality and potential milk yield. If you have less than two leaves, then you are losing pasture production and will be underfeeding your cows (the exception is grazing at two leaves once the plants become reproductive). If your ryegrass has between two and a half leaves to three fully extended leaves, and no dead leaves then you can be confident that the rotation is correct for maximum plant growth without the pastures becoming rank.

Now is the time to start increasing the potential for higher silage and hay yields. Nitrogen fertiliser or a nitrogen blend will boost your silage and hay yields.

Pastures that have been badly pugged through winter will require repairing if they are to continue to be productive in the future. Decide whether the damaged paddocks need to be rolled, harrowed, smudged, oversown or completely resown and be prepared for the right conditions to get the best results.

Cows
Record details of any non-cycling cows and submit them for a vet check early. Don't wait until the end of the mating period.
Try to have cows in a positive weight gain to maximise conception rates. If this is not possible ensure high producing cows have been fully fed to minimise potential condition loss

Young Stock
Talk to your vet and plan a worm control strategy for your young stock.

LOCAL AREA WILD DOG PLANS

The Gippsland Wild Dog Management Group has been conducting a series of public meetings across Gippsland to gain community input into the development of Local Area Wild Dog Works Programs.

Members of the community, Wild Dog Management Group representatives, Catchment Management Officers, doggers, and Public Land managers have taken this opportunity to provide information that will form the basis of each areas unique plan.

The Works Programs will allow community and Government to work together to identify priorities on a ‘local area’ basis for wild dog management. Works Programs will have a life of three years but will be dynamic to allow for changing circumstances and will be reviewed on an annual basis. Once the meetings have been completed draft plans will go back to community for comment and will then be signed off by the Wild Dog Management Group.

Judith Henderson, Chair of the Gippsland Wild Dog Management Group said that the Gippsland and North East Wild Dog Management Groups were established in response to calls from the community.

"In the same spirit of community and Government cooperation we are seeking constructive comment and participation to allow the best use of the wild dog programs resource."

To date three meetings have been held at Dargo, Omeo and Bonang; all with excellent participation. There are five meetings left to complete the Gippsland Local Area Program process.

Further meetings will be held at:

Gelantipy 6^th October
Gembrook 13^th October
Maffra 20^th October
Ellinbank 3^rd November
Orbost 10^th November

For further information on the Local Area Wild Dog Works Program meetings contact Vaughn Kingston, DPI Regional Wild Dog Coordinator, Bairnsdale (03) 5152 0600.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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