What to expect
No two winters are the same and it’s important to respond to the situation in front of you.
- It is likely that you will get above average winter growth rates until soil moisture reaches field capacity.
- Drier conditions also allow high utilisation of feed, less pugging and good opportunity for pasture re-growth.
How to manage
- Aim to match feed supply to demand as best you can.
- Make regular observations and collect good data about what’s going on in the paddocks.
- Get on a long rotation to build average pasture cover. Use supplements to do this.
- Unlike summer, pastures are well adapted to hard winter grazing (down to 1000 DM/ha residuals), providing pugging is avoided.
- Focus on feeding stock that need to improve BCS, especially young and early calving cows. Feed better condition cows only what they need (enough for maintenance and pregnancy). This will focus feed to the stock that need it, and allow pasture covers to build.
- Applying some nitrogen while soil temperatures are above 10oC will assist plant recovery. While soil temperatures are high, nitrogen will be used for growth and low application rates will minimise leaching. Hold off using nitrogen and Gibberellic acid until after calving if pasture covers are still below target. Remember that the dry matter response per dollar spent will be lowest during June and will improve in July and August.
Ask for help if you need it
Looking after yourself, and others on farm is especially important during high stress periods such as drought. DairyNZ, Rural Support Trust and Farmers of New Zealand can answer your questions and provide support.
- DairyNZ Farmer Information Service: 0800 4 DAIRY NZ (0800 4 324 7969)
- Rural Support Trust: 0800 778 667
- Farmers of New Zealand: 09 439 5219
