Gippsland - How Now Gippy Now - April 2010 Edition
GippsDairy Focus Farms
Reflections from Willowgrove Focus Farm
Focus Farm family, Rod and Lyndell Cope are continuing to develop their farm in addition to building on the existing farm structure. An adjacent area previously grazing beef cattle is being incorporated into the dairy farm area. Pasture resowing, fencing, water supply, and tracks, etc, are all required.
Farm Goals
Facilitator Matt Harms believes it is worth remembering the goals of this farm business:
- Herd - Increase to 420 cows, Breed more A1 heifers
- Farm - Future water supply (dams or nearby river), Fully fenced and stock water to all paddocks
- Pastures - Conserve and consume better quality grass
- Dairy - Investigate milk meters for dairy, Investigate solar panels for dairy electricity
- Policy - Preparation for carbon emissions policies
- Labour - More time off for everyone in the business
- Succession and the future - contract milkers, share farmers, lessees?
The Support Group is progressively looking at production and financial issues in the farm business. They have identified a need to lift the genetic merit of the herd and that while it is a long term issue, it should start with the joining of this year’s autumn calvers.
They are going to investigate this further including a sub-group to closely examine the herd test records.
Pasture Silage
Current silage feed test results are shown below:
|
|
Dry Matter % |
Energy (MJ ME/ kg DM) |
Protein % |
NDF % |
Digestibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2009 Good Bales |
37.0 |
10.3 |
13.7 |
58.0 |
69.2 |
The Support Group was happy with the decision to be feeding the old pit first with minimal bales being used. Even with the good bales being fed when the cart was out of action for five days, milk production was under pressure and increased 1.8 litres/cow/day when the pit silage feeding started again.
There was a noticeable amount of silage being left in the paddocks when the pasture growth improved after the rains. It was felt that less silage could be fed when the cows were in better paddocks to minimise wastage. It was a similar situation on many farms in South Gippsland last month.
Pasture topdressing While the soil test results this year compared to 2009 showed a dramatic drop, there was conjecture as to the true drop and its cause. How much is caused by 'not enough being applied' verses concentrated results last year, or 'root mat sampling' on the new area will not be known. There was also discussion about the mobility of nutrient in this soil type (Grey sandy loam) and the implications of being 'skimpy' with PKS fertiliser.
The proposed autumn application, costing $22,952 (budget $28,000) is going to deliver the following:
|
|
N (kg/ha) |
P (kg/ha) |
K (kg/ha) |
S (kg/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New Farm area |
42 |
10 |
23 |
10 |
|
Flats |
39 |
4 |
13 |
4 |
|
Main Farm area |
39 |
4 |
13 |
4 |
It is planned that this fertiliser will be applied as a 'blend' in April/May depending on soil moisture.
All pasture resow areas will receive 2.5t/ha lime and be incorporated in at the soil preparation stage. Some of the 'new' area will receive dairy effluent also.
Pasture Renovation Program
There has been considerable discussion about pasture renovation at the Support Group meetings in recent months. The work is being planned to be undertaken in March and April. In general the following was decided:
On the New farm area 12 ha will be sown to annual ryegrass, and 22 ha to permanent pasture.
On the existing milking area 6 ha to a biannual ryegrass, and 10 ha to permanent pasture.
For the total 50 ha of pasture it was estimated the cost will be:
$8700 for seed (average $174/ha).
$44/ha spray costs.
$180/ha cultivation (The cultivation cost is going to be dependent on how the paddocks work up, particularly those with root mat and/or tight ground),
Summary of current budget for Production and Financial Indicators for 2009/10
Peak cows milked 380
Milking area 173 ha
Turnout area 63 ha
Milk solids/cow 556 kg
Grain Fed/cow 1.65 tonne %
off farm supplement 34.5%
Pasture consumption 9.0tDM/home ha
Milk Income $872,557 $2296/cow
Herd costs $72,378 $190/cow
Shed costs $27,263 $71/cow
Feed costs $400,952 $1055/cow
Overhead costs $212,213 $558/cow
Paid labour/cow $283
Paid labour/kg milk solids $0.51
Total hours - labour on farm 9120
13% empty cows this year, which is similar to previous years.
Greenhouse Emissions on Focus Farms
Each of the Focus Farms is working through the process of determining their contribution to production of greenhouse gas. Once determined, the groups will then consider potential mitigation strategies. These will be incorporated into their whole farm management system in a practical and sensible manner if they have value.
Therefore, it is essential for the Focus Farm family, facilitator and Support Group member to understand the process before making any decisions. This aspect of the Focus Farm project is being supported through a grant from Woolworths Australia. The outcome of this part of the project should be available for the June edition of HNGC
For a copy of the Open Day Farm notes, or if you would like to have your name on the extended mailing list for the Support Group notes contact John Gallienne 0407 863 493,
The Focus Farms Project is an initiative of GippsDairy and supported by Gardiner Foundation and Dairy Australia.
