Animal management is a critical component of farm profitability and sustainability. From genetics to herd management and more, this section covers topics that will help guide your decisions.
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Feed allocation should not rely on numbers alone. The herd behaviour, the milk yield and the grazing residual are also important bits of information to use; this is particularly important at this time of year when herd sizes are changing quickly.
If milkers have cleaned up a 12 hour break after 2-3 hours or leave less than 1,400 kgDM/ha, then they are underfed and supplements will be beneficial. If they have 4-5 hour grazing time and leaving about 1,500 kgDM/ha behind they are well fed, if they are leaving more than 1,600kgDM/ha behind they are very well fed, but pasture quality may drop next round.
Cows typically graze for 8 to 10 hours/day, consuming approximately 2kg DM/hr. Cows can adapt their grazing behaviour relatively quickly and increase the efficiency with which they graze. Research data indicate that when cows are offered two 4-hour bouts on pasture, they consume approximately 90% of what they would eat when on the pasture for 24 hours. This is a good rule of thumb to use when using on-off grazing.
Feed allocation should not rely on numbers alone. The herd behaviour, the milk yield and the grazing residual are also important bits of information to use; this is particularly important at this time of year when herd sizes are changing quickly.
If milkers have cleaned up a 12 hour break after 2-3 hours or leave less than 1,400 kgDM/ha, then they are underfed and supplements will be beneficial. If they have 4-5 hour grazing time and leaving about 1,500 kgDM/ha behind they are well fed, if they are leaving more than 1,600kgDM/ha behind they are very well fed, but pasture quality may drop next round.
Cows typically graze for 8 to 10 hours/day, consuming approximately 2kg DM/hr. Cows can adapt their grazing behaviour relatively quickly and increase the efficiency with which they graze. Research data indicate that when cows are offered two 4-hour bouts on pasture, they consume approximately 90% of what they would eat when on the pasture for 24 hours. This is a good rule of thumb to use when using on-off grazing.