Managing low pasture cover at calving

Know your situation - walk the farm, confirm the size of any deficit and develop a plan on how to fill the deficit.

Share your plan, seek advice.

Managing pastures and feeding

Monitor actual pasture cover at least fortnightly and adjust plan if necessary
Apply nitrogen to boost growth. If soil temperature is low, or high leaching is a risk, apply sulphate
The slower the rotation the quicker average pasture cover will be back on target
Protect future pasture growth - minimise pugging and overgrazing (less than 1100kg DM/ha) by standing-off or use sacrifice paddocks
Ensure effluent is captured when standing-off
Use supplements to build pasture cover, not just for milk in the vat
Cost out whether there are supplements available that are profitable to feed at the payout predicted for the season
Sort a system to feed supplements that minimises waste and is practical. This should be organised prior to calving
Balance cow condition with feed at calving. Aim to get cows to body condition score (BCS) 4.5. Greatest return from lifting the lightest cows
Aim to get average pasture cover at calving to a minimum of 2100kg DM/ha.

Cow requirements

A month out from calving, the priority becomes feed for milking cows. Restrict the dries, especially the late calving cows up to 50% of their target energy requirements (no less than 5kg DM/dry cow)
If you do not have the feed (pasture or supplement) restrict cows at the start of calving to minimise the size of the deficit
At calving the priorities for feeding are colostrum and milkers first, then dry cows
Aim to offer colostrum and milking cows at least 12kg DM Friesian; 10kg DM Jersey
Monitor pasture residuals to ensure cow intakes are being achieved. Residual targets are: colostrum cows 1500kg DM/ha; milkers no less than 1400kg DM/ha, dry cows 900kg DM/ha (no pugging damage)
Where the farm does not have the resources to feed to these levels the milkers can graze lower, but their milk production will suffer
Milkers must be offered a minimum of 10kg DM/cow Friesians and 8kg DM/cow Jerseys. At these low feeding levels subsequent milk production will suffer
The extent of the carry over effect on milk production from underfeeding depends on the length of time cows are restricted. The longer the period of underfeeding, the greater the loss
Feed must be purchased or stocking rate reduced if the above intakes cannot be met.

Other considerations

Avoid creating too many mobs as this increases complexity and has the potential to waste feed
Absolutely ensure magnesium and other mineral supplementation is adequate
Once-a-day (OAD) milking is an option to save time in the spring but it comes at a cost
OAD reduces potential milk production for the season.