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Dairy Reminders For October

By Department of Primary Industries - 20th October 2004 - Back to News

Pasture

Ryegrass leaf appearance rates for mid October in Gippsland are estimated to be 7-8 days for each ryegrass leaf to emerge and extend to its full leaf length.
To avoid the ryegrass becoming too long and fibrous during seed head emergence the October rotation can be shortened by grazing the 2 ½ leaf stage (15-21 days) during this rapid growth stage of spring. Pasture quality is maintained allowing for greater intakes of less fibrous pasture. Milk output will be higher with less pasture wasted and lower levels of supplements used.
Post grazing pasture height should be 5cm between the clumps and 9cm in the clumps to ensure the regrowth and thus the next round of grazing has quality pasture. Top paddocks where grazing residual is greater than 5cm or the amount of clumps exceed 30% of the paddock area.
Ryegrass growth rates for October range from 55kg DM/ha/day up to 80kg DM/ha/day for high fertility productive paddocks with adequate soil moisture.
For silage, only conserve the genuine pasture surplus while still fully feeding the milking herd.
Skip paddocks with greater than 2 ½ ryegrass leaves, these can go into the silage or the hay bank. Go to the next best paddock with 2 ½ ryegrass leaves and graze so that 5cm residual is left behind between the clumps.

Summer Crops

Book your contractor as early as possible and negotiate a sowing date with them.
Write out a plan for your summer fodder crops, include spraying dates, sowing dates, rates and management tasks, and then stick to the plan!
Select paddocks that need renovation, soil test early, apply lime if pH needs adjustment.
Assess drainage and weed problems, so they can be rectified before pasture is resown next autumn. Have crops in previous years suffered insect damage? If so consider alternative crops or an integrated pest management approach.
Use a knockdown herbicide early to ensure the paddock can be easily cultivated as the soil dries out. Consider a control for Red Legged Earth Mite prior to cultivation.
Cultivate to a suitable seedbed to ensure good soil to seed contact.
Summer fodder crops need to be sown early before the soil becomes too dry for germination, so try to have your turnip or brassica crop sown by the end of October. Some of the other forage crops can be sown later but must have good soil moisture levels.
There has been extra information and new varieties available this season, so discuss your variety selection carefully with your local seed merchant, and seek advice on the merits of an early maturing variety to allow for an earlier grazing.

Cows

Heat detection is improved by observing the milking herd grazing in the paddock mid morning and again in the early evening.
Tail painting with a different colour after each three week cycle will make heat detection easier.

Calves

Reduce environmental stress on calves. Avoid sudden environmental changes (cold, damp, draughty or humid conditions) in the calf rearing area.
Observe ideal stocking densities, as over crowded or cramped conditions leads to rapid disease spread.
At the end of calf season, clean and disinfect all calf pens, sheds, shelters, cleaning tools, veterinary equipment and feed troughs.

Heifers

At 12 months of age, your heifers should be up to their target live weight. Jersey heifers should be 225kg to 270kg live weight while medium framed Friesian heifers should be around 270kg and large framed heifers 300kg live weight.

ACUP TRAINING

To obtain an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP) a person must first complete a farm chemical training course recognised by the Department of Primary Industries, before completing an ACUP application form. Once an ACUP has been granted it is valid for ten years and no further training is legally required during that time. The ACUP costs $38 and allows people to use certain restricted chemical products in Victoria.

Restricted chemicals are:

• dangerous poisons (Schedule 7 poisons) that are agricultural chemicals,
• products containing atrazine,
• products containing metham sodium,
• products containing ester formulations of 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, MCPA and triclopyr.

The Chemical Information Service has received a number of calls recently with people inquiring whether they have to attend a five year refresher course. Whilst there is no legal requirement in Victoria for ACUP holders to undertake a refresher training course five years after completing the original course, some on-farm quality assurance (QA) programs may require additional training. To clarify your QA program training requirements contact your QA provider for further information.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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