Gippsland - How Now Gippy Now - May 2010 Edition
Reminders for May 2010 issue of How Now Gippy Cow
Pastures/forages
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Ryegrass leaf appearance rate |
12 to 20 days per leaf (depending on soil moisture and temperature on dryland farms). |
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Estimated grazing rotation length |
36 to 60 days between each grazing. |
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Area of farm to graze today |
1/36 to 1/60 of grazing area in 24 hr. |
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Recommended pre-grazing decisions |
Following good autumn rainfall, it is important to allow pastures to grow to the three leaf stage before grazing. This generates greater leaf area for photosynthesis and increases pasture growth rate. |
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Recommended post grazing decision |
Graze down to 4 to 6 cm residual pasture after grazing. This will ensure a stronger ryegrass plant in the autumn, less soil erosion and less space for weed germination. |
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Seasonal management tasks |
Spray broadleaf weeds in new pastures once the weeds are about 3 to 5 cm in diameter (six to eight weeks after the break). Capeweed pastures will contain high nitrate levels, so do not apply nitrogen to capeweed dominate pastures and watch for nitrate poisoning if capeweed is present in pastures. Monitor blackheaded cockchafers and control if damage is high |
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Average daily pasture growth rate |
12 to 30 kg DM/Ha/day on dryland farms following autumn rainfall. Those with irrigated rye grass pastures can expect growth at higher end of range; less where paspalum is present. |
Establishing and managing new pastures
- May/June sown pasture mixes will be slow to establish prior to the onset of winter. Weed control will be important.
- Inspect emerging pastures for damage from red legged earthmite, crickets or lucerne flea and take action before rather than after the emerging pastures are eaten..
- If winter/early spring feed is required, consider the fit of winter active species such as forage cereals and brassicas.
- Now is the time to control any capeweed/broadleaf weeds in new sown or permanent pastures before they get too big. Lighter rates of herbicides can be used effectively to control the weeds and allow the pasture to spread into the gaps left behind. Use recommended herbicides according to the label directions.
Cows
- Check the condition of your cows after the dry autumn. Thin cows suffer during winter. Also, it is more efficient to put condition on when milking rather than when dry.
- Drying off presents a good opportunity to administer the cows' annual 7 in1 booster. Be sure to accurately record all veterinary treatments administered at this time as many have extended witholding periods.
- Check that young stock are growing well and getting enough feed through the coming winter.
- Use the cooler months to review the farm’s shade and cooling infrastructure, and strategies used during hot weather; and plan what needs to be done before the next hot season.
- Management options such as better placement of troughs, improving trough flow rates, providing shade in the dairy yard or installing sprinklers needed to be done well in advance. There is more information on the Cool Cows website: www.coolcows.com.au
Milking management
- Arrange a milking machine service. The dry period is a good time to do machinery maintenance.
Tracks, feedpads and drainage
- With a run of dry seasons, emphasis on wet season management has probably not been a priority. Review the need for track, paddock and feedpad maintenance or capital works before it gets too wet.
Water Issues
- Clean out your effluent pond to create maximum storage capacity for the coming season’s rainfall.
- Start planning for any dam construction you plan to do this winter.
Financial issues
- Get an early start for the end of the financial year next month. Organise your records of expenditures and income to prepare a cash flow budget for the next financial year as the next season’s milk price become clearer.
- Some of the above reminders may need to be prioritised for expenditure depending on your cash flow budget.
Forward Planning for June
- Tasks for June include calf rearing and end of year financial planning.
