Dairy Notes September 2009

Planning winter feeding

Current dairy margins are tight so action should be taken to reduce production costs where possible. Concentrates are the largest expense in milk production with the average producer spending almost 6.25p per litre on concentrates – is this level of expenditure justified?

At the beginning of this decade the average farm was producing 3300-3400 litres of milk from forage. Current figures show a drop to almost 2300 litres – over a 305 day lactation, that’s just over 7 litres per day from forage! A medium quality silage should achieve this low level of production – what about production from grazed grass and high quality grass/maize silage?

Despite delayed cutting, the feeding value of many of this years first cut silage is likely to be high. Cold weather in spring delayed crop maturity and dry matters are likely to be higher than normal (30percent +). Both these factors will increase silage intakes.

With milk price well below last years level, it will be critical to ensure concentrates are not fed above economic levels. Now is the time to have a silage analysis carried out. This will provide an accurate assessment of the feed value of the silage and intake potential, allowing you to select

The correct concentrate level to maximise milk from silage – does a cow producing 35 litres of milk require only 9 KGs concentrate compared to the 11 KGs needed last winter?
The correct concentrate crude protein percent to balance demand – a cow in early lactation requires an overall crude protein of 17-18 percent.
The correct concentrate ingredients to maximise silage intake – high quality silage needs to be balanced with cereals, soya and bypass protein sources.

Grazing management

Grazing conditions have been challenging for a large part of the season in many areas of the Province. However, with grass the cheapest feed available for milk production, every effort has to be made to use it efficiently.

Given favourable grazing conditions, good quality September grazing is capable of supporting a yield of 15 litres of milk without feeding concentrates. If ground conditions are poor then apply the principles of extended grazing to maintain good grass intakes and restrict damage to swards:

Graze as square an area as possible as cows will cut this system better. They tend to walk around more and leave grass behind in long, narrow paddocks.
Use a back-fence to ensure cows are only on an area for one grazing.
Where multiple access points are not available to a grazing area use an electric fencer to create a path along a hedge.

Lameness

Lameness is more common at this time of year due to a combination of factors :

Wet autumn grass
An often unbalanced diet
Walking long distances to all available grazing
Poor road surfaces.

Treating feet problems by paring and/or foot bathing in early autumn gives time for foot condition to improve before housing. Arrange a call by your foot trimmer and start foot bathing now on a weekly basis to harden hooves, in preparation for the full housing period.

Graze square areas to reduce poaching

Remember under the Nitrates Action Programme 14 September is the last day for sowing fertiliser on grassland