By Graeme Pitman, Farm Management Consultant
COLD May weather resulted in poor pasture growth and an increasing feed budget deficit on the Stratford Demonstration Farm and most other farms in Taranaki.
While June has been more average, the hard frost has not improved the situation, and there is still a lot of winter left to go, although the days are now getting longer. The feed deficit is not too bad on the Demonstration Farm and extra purchased feed has not been planned for yet, but it may come into the equation later in July as some pastures required for grazing in August are well behind target covers.
Weather
May was very cold with most temperature levels being around two degrees below average. Rainfall levels were just below average in total but there were 21 days of rain in a row. Pasture growth at 16km DM/ha/day was below average even with nitrogen fertilizer use so in effect was near 30 percent or 10kg DM/ha/day below expected levels. On the 31 days of May this means 310kg DM/ha less grass, which is about the level many farms feed budgets have increased by. The first half of June has been more average but hard frost recently has again severely limited pasture growth.
Stock
The stocking rate on the farm is a few cows higher than planned, due to some difficulty deciding who to cull or sell, which is not the best for a slow growing winter. Cow weights and condition at the start of June were dead equal for both herds. The levels are a little lower than desirable especially the weights while the average condition score looks good, it is boosted by having fat holdovers and good condition heifers. The levels are unlikely to improve much now for the rest of the winter.
Pastures
Pasture covers on the farm are below target by about 300kg DM/ha but are still better than many others I have seen in the district. Both farmlets have equal average covers in mid June at near 2500kg DM/ha. The current grass cover cows are grazing is quite good with some almost being too long, but this situation will not last a lot longer. Supplement levels are good and are on target but do not make up for the lower grass cover so the current feed budget deficit of 320kg DM/ha is near equal to the loss from poor May pasture growth. Pasture growth in early June was around average to a little low but later June growth will be lower as a result of the hard frost. However, we don't budget on a lot of growth over late June and early July anyway. The new pasture farmlet has grown around 20 percent better than the old pasture farmlet so far for the winter. This is expected but not quite enough to cover the lower level of supplements available on the new pasture farmlet, but it is close. Our paddock of early March planted new grass is growing well, but a paddock under sown with Italian ryegrass has so far been quite slow to get going and produce. The high winter growth rates expected.
Feeding and management
Current feeding levels are quite good with both herds getting similar total levels, but the old pasture herd is on less grass and more silage compared to the new pasture herd. There have been some pasture pugging problems with last week's wet weather but it hasn't been too bad, while the current drier weather is good for pasture utilisation but not so good for growth. Management will continue at the same levels for July but the grass length ahead of the cows will be no longer and possibly less so we cannot improve feeding levels pre-calving as desirable unless July growth is very good. At this stage the farm will be a bit light on pasture cover for August feeding, although the deficit at this stage is not sufficient enough to look at buying extra feed yet, but the situation will be monitored closely.
Other activities on the farm involve a few winter repairs and maintenance jobs, plus setting up the calf rearing facilities and dairy shed for the start of spring and calving.
Stratford Demonstration Farm
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