Owl Farm

Farmwatch

Region: Waikato

Growth rates are likely to exceed demand on many farms after receiving good rainfall over the weekend and more is forecast within the next ten days. These conditions provide opportunity to use nitrogen to boost pasture cover and increase the rotation length out to 30 days by the end of December.

Dairy cows are affected by heat stress during summer. The comfort zone for a cow is 4-20°C, much lower than the comfort zone of a human. When air temperature is greater than about 21ºC and relative humidity is greater than 70%, Friesians and Crossbreeds begin to reduce their feed intake, and milk production is reduced. Jerseys are more tolerant of heat, with production losses insignificant until 25ºC.

To minimise the impacts of heat stress, ensure your cows have sufficient water (up to 100 litres/day) and access to shade. Sprinklers at the cowshed yard, milking earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon, or once-a-day milking provide relief. High quality pasture helps as lower quality high fibre feed increases the heat of fermentation in the rumen.

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