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.

Focus for 2021/22

  • Implement 10 in 7 milking without comprimising profit.
  • Establishment of 10% of farm in plantain.
  • Improve reproductive performance, lower Replacement Rate.
  • Farm operating costs $4.23 / kgMS (or less).

Season Focus Overview: Integrate 10in7 milking. Achieving savings in labor, improving cow animal welfare outcomes. Cow condition, reproductive performance and lameness. Ongoing focus on environmental foot print, minimizing nitrogen use with good feed monitoring and maintaining pasture cover at 2,300 and round 22-25 days during summer months. Establishment of plantain to drop nitrogen leaching further.

15th December, 2021 Notes

Wet weather and soft feet has seen a spike in lame cows. Growth higher than demand - have topped a little to control cover and quality with the last of the seed head - hopefully!

Key Numbers

Scroll left for more data.

Factors 15th December, 2021 8th December 1st December
Farm Area
Grazing ha available to milkers (Ha) 152 152 152
Re-grassing (Ha) 8 8 8
Stock Numbers
Cows currently milking to vat 551 550 554
Cows currently milking NOT to vat 3 3 1
Total cows on farm 554 553 555
Once-a-day milking cows 16 10 2
Lame cows current 14 10 1
Dry cows on farm 0 0 0
Milk Production
Current bulk milk SCC (tgt below 150) (SCC) 142 136 120
Milk Solids per cow (kgMS/cow) 1.75 1.81 1.83
Protein:Fat ratio (%) .81 .84 .84
Feed Budget
Average pasture cover (kgDM/HA) 2325 2240 2315
Current Pasture Fed - Milkers (kgDM/cow) 18.7 18.7 18.7
Current Silage Fed - Milkers (kgDM/cow) 0 0 0
Current Demand per cow (kgDM/cow) 18.7 18.7 18.7
Stocking Rate - Milkers (Cows/HA) 3.6 3.5 3.5
Current Pasture Demand - Milkers (kgDM/HA) 69 69 69
Pasture Growth Rate (kgDM/HA) 81 81 85
Pre-grazing cover (ave for week) (kgDM/HA) 3210 3121 3178
Residual (ave for week) (kgDM/HA) 1550 1550 1559
Round Length (Days) 22 21 22
Farm conditions
Soil temp average (Aquaflex) (degree C) 16.3 16.0 15.4
Rainfall (MM) 8.8 16.8 17
Irrigation days this week (days) 0 0 1
People
Current Roster 5+2 5+2 5+2
Health & Safety Incidences 10 in 7 nil nil
Milking Routine 10in 6 10 in 7