Our latest farm walk notes include the key numbers we’re seeing on the farm. We update walk notes every week during the milking season. During the off-season this may occur monthly.

See below for LUDF Dairy Systems Monitoring (DSM) Report links

Key Numbers

Scroll left for more data.

Farm Area
Factors	15 May	8 May	1 May
Grazing ha available to milkers (Ha)	151.72	151.72	151.72
Re-grassing (Ha)	8.28	8.28	8.28
Stock Numbers
Cows currently milking to vat	439	436	469
Cows currently milking NOT to vat	5	2	2
Total cows on farm	444	438	471
Once-a-day milking cows	42	39	6
Lame cows current	2	4	6
Dry cows on farm	4	3	0
Milk Production
Current bulk milk SCC (tgt below 150) (SCC)	181	187	178
Milk Solids per cow (kgMS/cow)	1.17	1.38	1.34
Protein:Fat ratio (%)	0.82	0.81	0.8
Feed Budget
Average pasture cover (kgDM/HA)	2251	2361	2382
Current Pasture Fed - Milkers (kgDM/cow)	16.5	16.5	13.05
Current Silage Fed - Milkers (kgDM/cow)	0	0	3.45
Current Demand per cow (kgDM/cow)	16.5	16.5	16.5
Stocking Rate - Milkers (Cows/HA)	2.95	2.9	3,47
Current Pasture Demand - Milkers (kgDM/HA)	40	40	45
Pasture Growth Rate (kgDM/HA)	38	58	43
Pre-grazing cover (ave for week) (kgDM/HA)	3152	3162	3331
Residual (ave for week) (kgDM/HA)	1550	1600	1600
Round Length (Days)	30	29	41
Farm conditions
Soil temp average (Aquaflex) (degree C)	11.55	13.41	11.6
Rainfall (MM)	20.8	1.2	7.6
Irrigation days this week (days)	0	0	0
People
Current Roster	5+2	5+2	5+2
Health & Safety Incidences	nil	nil	nil
Milking Routine	10 in 7	10 in 7	10 in 7

Focus for 2022/23

See full season details

15 May Notes

LUDF Dairy Systems Monitoring DSM Reports

Dairy Systems Monitoring (DSM) is a benchmarking tool used by farmers to measure performance between other farms in the same region. It has been an effective way to demonstrate new technologies and generate change in farm systems as well as improve productivity and profitability.

FARMAX Dairy is used to generate the report with input information such as milk production from the milk processor and monthly farm data including areas, stock numbers, supplements, crops and nitrogen.

The tool is used on an ongoing basis to simulate and compare different operating strategies, as well as the ability to compare similar farm systems. There are currently over 60 farms are involved in across Canterbury, North Otago, Southland and Golden Bay.

DSM is a joint venture between two agricultural consultancies: MacFarlane Rural Business and Baker & Associates, for more information contact Jeremy Savage. (See details in Meet the Team)