A FIELD DAY FOR DAIRY FARMERS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 10

A FIELD DAY FOR DAIRY FARMERS

COUTH Island dairy farmers from far afield and local districts attended in force the 16th Lincoln College farmers’ conference-dairy field day Talks and discussions took place on the properties of Mr C. Bailey, of Springston, and Mr D. McArthur, of Brookaide.

The subjects discussed were all basic to dairy fanning and related to feeding and management for increased production. Two officers of the Inland Revenue Department also made a most useful contribution in explaining the workings of the various tax incentives now available to farmers and the operation of the new income tax equalisation scheme.

Mr D. Botting, adviser to the Leeston Farm Improvement Club, outlined the history of Mr Bailey’s farm and commented on the rapid development of his town supply unit since being subdivided from the original family farm three seasons ago. Mr Peter Nuthall, of the farm management department, Lincoln College, explained the results obtained from a survey of low, medium and high quota dairy farms. From this, actual case studies were presented all of which were considered to be average for the district The field data after processing was fed into a computer to find out the most profitable way of combining feeding system, calving, pattern, replacements, labour, end alternative activities, the objective being the highest gross margin per acre under circumstances where the quota was fixed. This was a most interesting study and while everyone present may not have been in full agreement with the findings, it was nevertheless the first time a computer had been used in Canterbury with the aim of solving management problems of town supply dairy farmers. The next speaker was the Dairy Board’s consulting officer, Mr H W. Mclntosh, who stated that over the last decade butterfat production from tested herds in New Zealand had increased from 291 lbs per cow to 330 lbs per cow. Better feeding, breeding and management techniques had all contributed to this satisfactory result The important part played by improved feeding systems such as loafing barns, cubicles and concrete platforms with troughs and hay racks to prevent wastage of feed was stressed by Mr Mclntosh. Not only was a lot of expensive hay wasted by trampling and shaking but a major loss occurred every season by cutting hay at an advanced stage of maturity when digestible nutrients were at a low level while fibre or the least digestible material was at a high

The following table compares the effect of type of hay on lactating cows from information obtained in American feeding experiments (concentrates were fed with all hay treatments):

(9 June) N. 8.: Mixed pasture contained approximately equal proportions of lucerne, red clover and timothy. As can be seen, cows ate less of the more mature hay, produced less milk on it and gained less body weight. While not strictly comparable for New Zealand conditions, in the particular association of species used, these species are nevertheless widely grown here, mainly in association with ryegrass. The effect of over mature hay on milking cows is quite disturbing when the common practice of sacrificing quality for quantity and possibly better haying weather is considered.

From hay quality interest turned to the old problem of bloat with an address by Dr. A. T. Johns, AssistantDirector General of Agriculture. He made particular reference to results of current research and its application to the control of this costly metabolic disease. Remarkable progress has been achieved by research workers at Plant Chemistry Division, Palmerston North, in identifying organisms, always associated with feed in the cow’s rumen. These organisms called protozoa have been linked with the increase in foaming (gas production) and hence the degree of bloating. In other words, the greater the number of these organisms that were present the more severe would be the degree of foaming, causing bloat. While current research was concerned with minimising the buildup of protozoa in the cow’s stomach, much work still remained to be done before a satisfactory method of control]

was developed as a result of this recent discovery.

In the meantime farmers were advised to continue with the pasture spray method, carried out according to instructions. This would result in complete control of bloat In reply to a question Dr. Johns thought that the oil on the flank method was not nearly as reliable as spraying, but would be worthwhile applying to cows likely to bloat when grazing difficult hill country where boon spraying would be impracticable. The last speaker for the morning session was Mr D. M. Phillips, a scientific officer, who outlined the results of recent experimental work at Ruakura concerned with udder stimulation and its relationship to total milk production per cow. The importance of treating cows as individuals was stressed. Those cows that required stimulating to promote milk let down should be stimulated, otherwise they would become passengers in the herd, putting it on their backs instead of in the bucket. Such cows were wasting good milk-producing feed, as well as consuming the raw material on which the farmer’s profits were based. Current work had indicated that warm water was more beneficial than cold and this supply must come from a separate hose installed for udder washing. The old bucket and rag method, not only gave poor results, but was one of the major causes of spreading mastitis. After buffet lunch at the Doyleston hall put on by the milk supply authorities and the Tai Tapu Central Dairy Company, proceedings were continued at Mr McArthur’s butterfat and pig raising unit at Brookside. Mr Gerald Frengley, of the farm management department, Lincoln College, gave an account of what would inevitably happen to the farmer who refused to take account of the cost-price squeeze. He referred to several North Island producers who had to sell out because they failed to progress—rising costs had caught up with them. To avoid this possibility, farmers only had two alternatives, either to cut costs or increase production. The only realistic solution was to increase production. The next three speakers, Mr Hugh Clifford, New Zealand Dairy Board, Wellington, and Messrs P. R. Barrer and D. J. G. Davies, farm advisory officers of the Department <rf Agriculture, Christchurch, then outlined some of the steps to be taken in attaining the goal of increased milk or butterfat production. Mr Clifford described how a re- | volution in dairy farming had

already taken place in many parts of the North Island. This encouraging result had been achieved through the increased use of topdressing, coupled with high( stocking rates and the use of herringbone sheds. On some farms, stocking rates were approaching two cows per acre. The need for close subdivision and the use of electric fences for maximum utilisation of pasture were not proving to be as important as was at first thought A number of farmers were producing at very high levels with only 12 to 14 paddocks, the essential point being that sufficient stock were being carried to harvest the grass when it was ready for grazing. Mr Barrer presented the fertiliser requirements for the local soils. He emphasised that on this property the soil type was a Windemere peaty loam, a soil of low natural fertility, which responded markedly to dressings of 3cwt per acre of superphosphate a year. To date, Mr McArthur’s stocking rate, now approaching one cow per acre, had not yet caught up with grass production. It was expected that a total of up to 6cwt per acre of phosphate would eventually give the most economic return. Such high dressings would, of course, apply only to the peats and the Motukarara sands.

Mr Davies commented on the most suitable pasture species for summer and winter production. Every dairy farmer should alm to include in his pasture mixtures of the most productive, palatable and permanent varieties. A strong vigorous pasture was the basis for profitable dairy farming and these pastures should be treated with the same importance as any other crop. This meant grazing before herbage became too rank, spelling when grasses were seeding, or conversely topping to promote vegetative growth. Any surplus growth during October should be converted into silage or hay while the food value of the grass was at the highest level. The field day concluded when Messrs E. J. Kirkeby and J. Graham, of the New Zealand Pig Producers’ Council, briefly reviewed the economics of pig production on butterfat supply dairy farms. The future for South Island pig producers with a supply of relatively cheap grains and an expanding market was a very favourable one and should continue to expand. If the costs of foodstuffs were over 80 per cent of the expected returns, such pig enterprises were unprofitable. From 70 per cent downwards they became increasingly more profitable.

Hay Fed Average dalily fat corrected mblk/cow Average dally changes lai body weight £2 a si © U > ° < o. lb lb lb 1. Mixed pasture (25 May) 40.4 +1.4 2.92 2. Mixed pasture 15 days later (9 June) 37.1 +0.9 2.83 3. Mixed pasture 30 days later (24 June) 32.8 +0.8 2.24 4. Cocksfoot pasture (25 May) 34.3 0.0 2.29 5. Cocksfoot pasture 15 days later 31 4 —0 5 1.69