Farmer shares his feeding plan info

The grass is growing faster than his 250 milking cows can eat it on Peter Ayles' 80 hectare farm at Tarata Rd, Inglewood.

"The last eight days' growth rate was 45kg DM per hectare," he told a DairyNZ-organised field day yesterday. "It's the best I've ever seen and for the first time we are growing more than the cows are eating."

He's cut back on palm kernel and is giving the cows as much as he can without affecting the autumn pasture requirements. If it gets dry, he'll use palm kernel to save pasture.

He thinks the urea he applied earlier is responsible, along with perfect growing conditions. The grazing round has been extended from 22 days to 26.

It's also perfect conditions for facial eczema. His preventive measures are twice-daily zinc doses for the milkers, in-calf heifers were bullet dosed a week ago and zinc has been added to the water troughs. "It must be working because there are no signs of eczema yet," he said.

His autumn fertiliser spread has started, with nine tonnes/ hectare of NPKS last week and six tonnes yesterday. He applied 300kg/ha of 30 per cent potash earlier to beat a rumoured price rise.

Fertiliser application is based on a nutrient budget.

"I start feed budgeting in March, based on how many cows I want to milk next season and work back from there. I start extending the round this month, depending on grass growth and how the cows are milking. I don't try to wring the last drop out of them, I'd rather see the pasture saved." He's on track to produce 84,000kg MS this season, up from 77,400 in 07-08.

Calving is planned to start August 4 and he pregnancy tests in groups of 10. The Jersey herd has 100 per cent recorded ancestry, a BW of 126 and PW of 132.

Mr Ayles breeds for fertility, size, protein and udder.

He aims for a condition score of 5 at drying off and likes to get a second opinion, "because I'm with the cows so much I don't always see small changes in them."

Consulting officer Johanna Deutz-Ebeling said: "Yes, farmers often think the cows are fatter than they are."

Fifty cows are winter-grazed elsewhere to reduce pugging, extend lactation and fill the winter feed deficit.

To cope with the low early season payout forecast, he cut supplementary feed, animal health, R and M and some fertiliser. He's a great believer in palm kernel to fill feed deficits, because it is easy to store and feed out.

Mr Ayles made big square bales of hay for the first time this year, and they'll also make good seats for the in calf-heifer sale that Jersey NZ is staging there on May 4.

- © Fairfax NZ News