Dairy NZ

Calving to balance date (when feed supply equals demand)

Deal with feed deficits

• If average pasture cover is low (less than1800 kg DM/ha) slow the rotation to prevent pastures being grazed before 2 ½ leaves to maximise pasture growth rates
• Do a feed budget and plan how to fill the feed deficit
• If cows have to be held tight, do so early at the start of calving to minimise
  the impact
• Base supplement use on grazing residuals (feed to maintain how long the feed deficit will last as well as the price you are able to secure
  the supplement).

Tip: Use the DairyNZ ‘Spring milksolids response to supplement table’ (DairyNZ Facts and Figures, page 32) to determine the likely response to supplement.  Review weekly.

Other resources: DairyNZ Farmfacts: Strategies to manage low APC at calving (1-36); Practical solutions to manage spring feed (1-46); Wet weather management (1-41 and 1-42).

Maximise pasture grown

• Apply N at 30-50 kg N/ha
• Aim for no pugging damage - back fence, on/off graze (DairyNZ Farmfact: Wet weather management 1-42).

Control of grazing residuals

• Target ryegrass/clover pastures - 7 clicks RPM or 1500-1600 kg DM/ha) for milkers on ryegrass/clover pastures
• Be objective - use the platemeter and monitor pasture cover weekly.

Utilising supplements

• Stop supplement use in anticipation residuals increasing (use the feed wedge)
• Do not feed supplement when residuals are above 1500 kg DM/ha or 7 clicks on the RPM
• Minimise wastage and pasture damage when feeding out.

Balance date to summer

Maintaining pasture quality

• Keep residuals 7 - 8 clicks (1500 -1650 kg DM/ha)
• Monitor pasture cover weekly. Use the feed wedge and target pasture cover line to predict when to leave paddocks out for silage.  If you don’t
  have time to walk the whole farm employ someone else or monitor the 6 shortest and 6 longest paddocks to estimate average pasture cover
• Plan for silage harvest. Target time to harvest from last grazing 35-40 days

Tip: Refer to DairyNZ FarmFact: Surplus Management - identifing a surplus(1-37) and DairyNZ FarmFact: Surplus Management - Options to manage a surplus (1-38) and DairyNZ Technical Series September 2011: Pasture silage – maximising the return on your investment for more information.

Set up for the summer

Develop a summer management plan that has dates as to when decisions are to be made e.g. culls; OAD; supplement use for winter; rotation length; nitrogen going into summer.

Tip: Order your copy of the DairyNZ Dry Summer Management Guide and Summer Action Plan from the DairyNZ Farmer Information Service or download here.