The MDF is using an IoT co-contribution grant to upgrade part of its flood irrigation by laser grading and then installing irrigation automation through Padman stops. The MDF will also determine whether the addition of amendments such as lime, compost, gypsum and multispecies cover crops helps … [Read more...]
MDF Fortnightly Update 533
Analyzing the drivers of profitability. The MDF is milking 290 cows, a little below target, and the lowest number for many years. Milk solids per cow (now 1.93 kg) is falling, is below the December target, and below last year. However, pasture consumption (58 kg DM per hectare per day) is above … [Read more...]
MDF Fortnightly Update 532
The importance of grass in the diet. Let us compare the MDF with another dairy farm. At the moment, our litre production is lower than target, but milk solids per cow is on target, because the fat and protein test are up. Litres are less relevant, when talking about milk production, especially … [Read more...]
MDF Fortnightly Update 531
Monitoring inputs to optimise outputs Calving is now completed at the MDF, milking 295 cows, with 4.2 cows per hectare. There were 291 cows at the same time last year. The grazing allocation is set at 1/30th of the farm and the actual grazing rest-time is 30 … [Read more...]
MDF Fortnightly Update 530
The Perennial Ryegrass is now seed-heading strongly. Clumps that were grazed to 12 cm at the previous grazing have a lot of well-developed seed-heads, whereas the patches that were grazed to 4 cm have far less. Presumably the shorter grazing removed a lot of rising, but not obvious, heads … [Read more...]
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