Dairy notes November 2006
Dairying Management Notes
Winter Feeding
Are you taking advantage of good quality silage to improve returns this winter? For most producers there is an opportunity to reap the benefits of having high silage quality to increase yields or reduce meal feeding levels. Silage intake potential is very good with high energy levels (11.0 – 12.0 ME) and dry matters (30 percent+DM) common. Crude protein (CP) levels are generally higher than recent years at 12–15 percent but with less concentrates required to achieve the same level of production as last year, there will be little scope to reduce the protein level of the concentrate.
Early checks on the intakes of fresh calving groups of cows on farm confirm that high forage intakes of 11-13 KGs dry matter are being achieved. A 35 litre cow eating 40 KGs of a 30 percent DM (=12 KGs DM) of 11.3 ME, 13 percent CP silage, will need 10 KGs of a 21percent concentrate to support production.
For producers with access to weighing facilities (diet feeders or weighbridges) and feed analysis, a spot check now could be used now to ensure cows are not being over/under fed. Contact your local CAFRE Dairying Development Adviser or feed firm nutritionist to discuss the feed requirements of your herd.
Loss of body condition in freshly calved cows and heifers
Cows reach peak yield at around six to eight weeks post calving. However they do not reach maximum dietary intake until 8–10 weeks. This results in a period of weeks where energy intake is not meeting production demands. Cows losing excess condition in early lactation:
- take longer to regain a normal oestrous cycle.
- have poorer conception rates.
- are more susceptible to nutritional disorders such as ketosis.
- have reduced milk, fat and protein production.
A number of steps can be taken to reduce this period of energy gap:
- Dry cows should be fed a small amount of the lactating ration for three weeks prior to calving to enhance rumen function and ease the transition into lactation. Start at 1 KG /day and build up by 1 KG/week to 3 KGs in the week before calving. Access to an out-of-parlour feeder at this stage would minimize the need to separate cows into several groups.
- Build up concentrate feeding gradually in the two weeks after calving (an extra 0.5 KG/day) for cows fed 8-10 KGs per day
- Check condition score of cows regularly. Pay particular attention to freshly calved cows and heifers.
- Feed high quality silage, preferably offering the best to fresh calving cows.
- Provide adequate feeding space per cow.
- Heifers will perform much better if they can be grouped separately from the main herd.
Grassland – Do you need to apply fertilisers containing phosphates
The Nitrates Action Plan is due to be implemented on 1 January 2007. Farmers wanting to use phosphate fertilisers in future will have to prove there is a crop requirement to do so. Are soil reserves low? Can slurry application not meet crop requirement for additional phosphate?
Soil analysis carried out through an approved laboratory will be required to provide an accurate assessment of soil status. Sampling will have to be carried out every four years. If you have soil sampled in the past four years and the soil has low P status these results can be used to justify the need to apply fertilizer containing P.
Sampling must be carried out at least three months after the last phosphate application (slurry, farm-yard manure or fertiliser). November/December is therefore a good time for sampling. Always use an auger for sampling – these can be obtained from your local DARD office. Take 40 cores at random across the field. Avoid dung patches and areas around gateways, water troughs and headlands where fertility may be abnormally high to ensure you achieve a representative soil sample. If you require further details on soil sampling technique or interpretation of the soil analysis contact your local CAFRE Development Adviser.