Start planning for silage

Market report for 2nd and 3rd August 2017 Wednesday Fat Sale 148 head. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 28 bulls, 316 cows

This week’s yarding consisted of less grown cattle and more vealers. Quality in the vealer pens was improved as prices indicated with a good lift in the top prices and the overall average. Bullock, steer and heifer numbers were lighter and remained firm to slightly easier. This week’s yard average rose 11 cents to 295.9, on back of the improvement in the vealer section.

5 bullocks made to 289.2, back 21 and averaged 284, firm.

18 heifers made to 303.6, back 6 and averaged 271.1, back 4.

23 steers made to 300, back 18 and averaged 279.6, back 11.

102 vealers made to 364.6, up 24 and averaged 315.9, up 20.

Cow numbers on Thursday increased by 60 head and sold to firm demand with the average steady at 201.5. The top sale in the cow section was back 3 cents at 265.6. Quality in the beef section was heavier with several good pen lots on offer. Dairy cattle averaged marginally easier in quality with a larger percentage of lighter bodies, 28 bulls sold to a top of 293.6, which was up 3 on last week, but some lack in quality and weight in the back part of the sale eased the average 5 cents to 246.3. This eased the yard average 3 cents to 206.2.

1 LimX 5 Char 1 Lim 1 Lim 5 LimX 1 Char Steers 6 Ang 2 LimX 2 Lim Heifers 3 AngX J Cochrane, NNG 5 Ang Saxton & Waller, Yarragon 1 Lim B&G Garratt, Allambee Export Cows and Heifers 1 Hfd R Foster, Glengarry 1 Ang Durkin Bros, Thorpdale 1 Ang Pullut Invest, Morwell 1 Bld B Repanak, Jindivick 1 M/G C Rayner, Bona Vista 1 AngX T&W Renshaw, Lillico Dairy Cows 1 Frn R&D Miller, Athlone 1 Frn K&E Parker, W/Grove 1 Frn G&T Gardiner, Catani 1 Frn W Colbert, Nilma 1 Frn M&M Briggs, Drouin 6 Frn E&S Williams, Yannathan Bullocks 1 Frn Bulls 1 Lim 1 Ang 1 W/Bl 1 Ang 1 Frn

M Lecerf, Longwarry P Schroen, Tonimbuk I&A Hancock, Poowong R&J Ferguson, Nyora A&H Rhodes, Darnum D&C Beaumont, Modella

M Nowotny, Warragul A&H Rhodes, Darnum B&G Garratt, Allambee A&H Rhodes, Darnum

T&W Renshaw, Lillico 1080 293.6 3170 J Linn & Sons, Childers 1020 290.6 2964 A Furborough, Tynong 710 284.6 2020 J Cochrane, NNG 850 263.6 2240 E&S Williams, Yannathan 940 258.2 2427

1. Landmark, 2. SEJ,

3. Elders, 4. Scotts, 5. Gibbon.

345 410 365 315 318 420

541 553 408

432 541 615

380 475 465 710 615 785

730 650 710 695 650 658

875

364.6 351.6 342.0 341.6 338.0 335.2

300.0 289.2 280.6

303.6 283.2 276.6

265.6 255.6 247.6 236.6 234.6 234.2

230.2 225.6 224.6 222.2 219.2 216.2

230.2

1257 1441 1248 1076 1074 1407

1623 1599 1143

1310 1623 1701

1009 1214 1151 1679 1442 1838

1680 1466 1594 1544 1424 1422

2014

Farmers should begin planning for silage to cut in late September or October.

Silage quality is critical for better production and profit as silage is costed per tonne and higher quality silage means less tonnes to pay for and more energy density.

Consider fertiliser applications with nitrogen included as part of your annual program where conditions are suitable.

It may still be cold enough to get profitable responses to Gibberellic acid. If you need the feed consider using it to grow additional pasture quickly.

If wet conditions are prevailing take to opportunity to repair pugging damage with a roller, if it’s not repairable with a roller consider a spring planted summer crop for some areas.

Don’t forget to manage your milking support area (out blocks) as they can produce valuable feed to be made into silage for feeding later or to feed young stock well.

Feeding Following the difficult milk price in 2016/2017 many people have reduced levels of additive or changed additives for lower cost options.

This practice has been very successful in many cases, although it may be a good time for a review of additives including all contents, their role, rate and cost to ensure cows are well protected for animal health and that it is affordable, meaning you can still have an acceptable margin when feeding.

The opening milk prices for 2017/2018 show a spring milk price range of 28 to 38 cents/ litre for the standard litre 4.15 per cent fat and 3.35 per cent protein depending on the factory you supply and the payment system you opt for.

The current typical grain/pellet prices are between 28 and 35 cents/kg as fed depending on the mix and the additives used.

This is an average ratio of 0.95 meaning if milk averaged 33 cents/litre and grain/pellets average 31.5cents/litre a cow would need to produce 0.95 litres of milk when fed 1kg of grain as fed to break even.

This means grain feeding needs to be considered carefully within the farming system.

Cows Spring calving cows are susceptible to metabolic disorders around calving, this is best avoided with a good transition cow management program, details available at the Dairy Australia web site.

Early lactation acidosis is an issue in most herds in Gippsland, especially in heifers, and should be managed with additives in concentrates fed to cows and additional fibre in the diet if fibre levels are low. Check cows are chewing their cud and cow manure for signs of cow with low fibre diets.

Allow the cows time to walk at their own pace to the dairy, this will reduce the possibility of lameness.

Lame cows should not go with the herd as walking will make them worse a close paddock and good feeding will give them the best chance of recovery.

Plan your spring joining after you have reviewed the results of your autumn joining.

Planning calving date and pattern is done with joining dates and synchronisation and cow type for farm and system is done with semen choice.

Calves/heifers Jersey calves should be at least 75 kg live weight and Friesian calves 100 kg at weaning.

Calves should be eating at least one kilogram of concentrates, straw and drinking fresh water prior to weaning off milk.

The energy in the concentrate and fibre in the straw and water helps in the early development of calves’ rumens thus allowing for early weaning. For more information on calf rearing see http://bit.ly/2tT22EW

Prepare the yearling heifers, ready for joining at 15 months, if possible weigh them to check suitability for joining and growth rates. If they are not ideal joining weight review your young stock rearing process.

Prepare bulls for joining, get them tested before you get them

working and ensure you have enough bull power, (enough bulls for your expected cows on heat after AI).

Business Growing pasture is the cheapest form of feed and you are in control of it, it should be one of your main focuses in business as a dairy farmer.

If you have not already completed and annual budget for 2017/2018 it would be a great way of understanding the likely financial outcomes of the year.