Lincoln University Dairy Farm Farm Walk notes

Transcription

1 Tuesday 29 November 2016 Lincoln University Dairy Farm Farm Walk notes LUDF focus for 2016/17 Season: Nil Infrastructure, low input, low N loss, maximise profit. Farm system comprises 3.5 cows/ha (peak milked), Target up to 170kgN/ha, 300kgDM/cow imported supplement, plus winter most cows off farm. FWE of less than $1 million and Target production of over 500kgMS/cow (>100% liveweight in milk production). Critical issues for the short term 1. Increase the rotation length to 24 days to enable higher pasture growth 2. Monitor average pasture cover and pasture quality through the spring period to ensure enough good quality pasture is offered daily to ensure good production and reproductive results. 3. Monitor cow BCS changes through lactation. 4. Continue to focus on submitting cows for AB (Planned Start of Mating, (PSM) 25 th October 2016) Key Numbers week ending Tuesday 29 th November 2016 Ave Pasture Cover 2,650 kgdm/ha Pasture Growth Rate 91 kgdm/ha/day (as per Pasture Coach) Round length 18.2 days (152 ha) Ave Supplement used 1.8 kgdm/cow/day No Cows on farm 552 Ave Soil Temp (week) 14.6 C Kg MS/cow (549 cows) 2.13 SCC 153,000 Milk Protein : Fat ratio 0.82 Protein: 3.96% Fat: 4.81% Herd Management 5. A total of 552 calved cows are on farm as of today. There are 2 milking herds on farm, a small herd of 157 first calvers and low BCS cows and a large herd with 380 mixed age cows. Slight preferential grazing for the small herd has been established as per usual management for LUDF. 6. There are 551 cows going into the vat, with 537 cows on twice a day milking, 14 once a day. 7. There have been 2 new cases of mastitis over the past week (44 clinical cases to date vs 73 cases at the same time last season). There have been 3 new lame cows over the last week, leaving us at 55 cases, season to date (compared with 46 cases at the same time last season). 8. Trace minerals and magnesium chloride are running through the stock water to all cows on the milking platform. 9. Average herd liveweight had remained stable for the week. The monitor group (281 early calving MA cows) this week averages 473 kg/cow heifer replacements have been tagged, and all calves are now outside on East Block. 132 heifer calves were weaned off calf milk replacer to date, remaining on good quality pasture plus calf meal. 11. The herd was BCS on the 17 th November. The average BCS of the whole herd was 4.4 (down 0.1 from late October). Given the overcast, dull drizzly conditions and the slight drop in pasture quality through October, this was not unexpected. Approximately 40% of cows are now at BC 4.0, with 37% at 4.5 and 18% at 5 or above. In late October, the average was 4.5, and in mid July, an average of 5.3. Page 1 of 6

2 BCS as at 17 November % 5.5 3% 6 0% 3.5 5% 4 40% % Mating progress 12. All cows were Metrichecked 5 weeks post calving. 13. Mating started on 25 October (5 weeks ago) with 457 cows mated by day 21. This gave an average of 21.7 cows per day or 82% in the first three weeks, compared to the target of 90%. 14. A total of 503 cows (91%) have been submitted to date since start of mating (5 weeks). 15. The vet palpated all 97 cows that had not been mated in the first 21 days of mating. 15 of these had cysts and have now had a PG. 50 of these cows have subsequently shown a heat and been mated, leaving 47 (8%) having not cycled predominantly later calving cows that were not part of the Ketosis trial and cycled in the last week prior to mating received PG on Sunday 30 th October and were then mated. 17. AB mating started for R born heifers on 11 th October Heifers were AB mated daily on observed standing heats for 6 days. All heifers that had not shown heats within this period (by Sunday 16 th October 2016) received a single prostaglandin injection and continued to be mated to standing heats. A total of 154 heifers have been AI mated and the bulls (Jersey) have gone out with them on 20 th October Bulls will remain out until 12 th December 2016 to give us a total of 9 weeks mating for the heifers. 18. These Heifers were pregnancy tested with preliminary results showing 98 of the 155 heifers in calf to either the AI straw or a bull mating a day later. (63% in calf). Unfortunately 5 free martins were detected (3%) 19. Breeding bulls were purchased over two months ago and were blood tested for BVD. They have also been vaccinated with a 7 in 1 vaccine, a BVD booster, selenium and copper injections and a pour on drench, all in preparedness for mating. Growing Conditions 20. The average 9 am soil temperature for the past week was 14.6 C, 0.6 C above last week s temperature (and 0.7 C higher than this same week last year). Figure 1: Soil temperature history for the last 2 weeks Page 2 of 6

3 21. The farm received 3mm of rain over the past week. Our average evapotranspiration (ET) rate increased this week to 37.2 mm for the week (5.3 mm/day). 22. We irrigated a total of 7 day on both North and South pivots. Soil moisture measures are shown below. We are applying nearly 6 mm/day through the pivots, hence irrigation is meeting daily average ET and soil moisture is holding relatively flat.. Figure 2: Soil moisture history for the last 2 weeks (Paddock N2) 23. N Fertilizer: 55 ha have received nitrogen at a rate of 25 kgn/ha as urea, over the past week. Pasture and Feed Management 24. Paddock S5 was sprayed out for regrassing on Tuesday 3 rd October. The paddock has been cultivated and resown on Wednesday the 2 nd November. It has been planted in a hybrid / diploid mix of Shogun and Trojan with Kotare and Weka clover, and Tonic Plantain. Whilst there is no Forage Value Index for Hybrid Cultivars, we considered the traits of significance for the paddock / farm and the available data in the FVI for Perennials and 12 Month forage types. 25. It looks like it will be ready for its first quick grazing in another 2 3 weeks Page 3 of 6

4 26. The plan was a 24 day grazing round however the average round length achieved for this week was 18.2 days and silage was fed for the last 4 days to achieve this. An average of 1.8 kgdm/cow/day of silage was fed for the week. 27. The last month and half have been challenging in terms of pasture management, with the rising plate meter appearing to overestimate both pregrazing covers and post grazing residuals so that available feed and growth rates don t make sense. 28. Most paddocks grazed this week were pregraze mown in the last round. These paddocks were all of excellent quality with no evident seedhead coming through. On observation and given the round length for the week, it is evident that DM% and NDF% in these pastures was low. The herd grazed these paddocks much faster than the plate meter yield data indicated. 29. This week there has been no pregraze mowing. 30. We are continuing to monitor pasture quality and pasture covers closely as ryegrass reproductive development is now underway. Seedhead remains present in urine patches, mostly is little areas that have not been pre or post graze mown or in paddocks where the mowing has been done 2 rounds ago. 31. Stemmier post grazing residuals continue to be observed. 32. The focus remains on offering a high daily intake of high quality pasture, while achieving a low and consistent residual so that high quality pasture is available again at the next round. 33. Pasture quality from samples collected on 16th November showed an average of 13.2% DM, down from 14.4% DM a week earlier (16.8% DM for the same period this time last year). a. Energy content has remained relativley stable over the last 4 weeks at an average of MJME/kgDM, same as this same time last season. b. Protein levels have increased to 21.9% (lower than this same time last season: 18%). c. NDF levels are now down to 37.1% (37.6% NDF this same time last season). Figure 3: This week s feed wedge 34. The demand line on the pasture wedge graph is calculated as follows: a. 552 cows on 152 ha as paddock S5 is still out of the round for regrassing. b. Planned minimum round length for the coming week is 24 days over 152 ha or 6.3 ha/day c. The dry matter intake for the current level of milksolids production is around 19 kgdm/cow/day d. Total demand: 19 kgdm/cow/day x 552 average cows for the week = 10,488 kgdm/day (69kgDM/ha/day over the 152ha milking platform) Page 4 of 6

5 e. Demand of 10,488 kgdm/day from 6.3 ha /day requires 1,664 kgdm/ha available. f. As the target residual is 1650kgDM/ha, target pregraze covers are as follows: 1,650 kgdm/ha + 1,664 kgdm/ha = 3,314 kgdm/ha pregraze covers required. g. Target APC would therefore be ( )/2 = 2482 kgdm/ha h. The feed wedge above shows a surplus of 28 tonnes DM total. This is roughly 2.5 days worth of feed (demand: 10,488kgDM/day). The surplus is slightly higher than last week (21 tdm). 35. All measurements would indicate that we had plenty pasture cover and growth above demand, which would have allowed us to achieve the extension of the round length from 21 days to 24 days without needing any supplement to achieve this and without challenging milk production. However, the fact that we ve had to feed 1.8 kgdm/cow/day to be able to hold a round of 18 days, and cows have had a small drop in milk production (from 2.19 kgms/cow/day to 2.13 kgms/cow/day) means that the measured covers where not there, and neither was the growth rate measured. 36. Average pasture cover this week is 2,650 kgdm/ha, a small increase from last week (by 38 kgdm/ha). Feeding Management for the coming week: 37. The key objective for the coming week is to get out to a day rotation to achieve the farms target of feeding cows as much high quality pasture as they can effectively eat, every day while holding cow condition, milk production and achieving low and consistent grazing residuals. 38. This should enable the farm to grow more pasture (3 leaf principal). 39. Silage will be fed as required, adjusted on a daily basis to maintain low and consistent residuals and total intakes of around 19 20kgDM grazing 1/24 of the farm per day. 40. Pre graze mowing may be used if required on individual paddocks. 41. Grazing decisions and silage allocation will continue to be influenced by cow behaviour and pasture growing conditions, taking particular note of area grazed per day. 42. Continue to apply fertilizer following grazing. Application rates will be as follows: a. Apply Urea at 25kgN/ha (except in the effluent area) to paddocks already grazed LUDF Weekly report 1 Nov 16 8 Nov Nov Nov Nov 16 Farm grazing ha (available to milkers) Dry Cows on farm / East blk /Jackies/other 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 Culls (Includes culls put down & empties) Culls total to date Deaths (Includes cows put down) Deaths total to date Calved Cows available (Peak Number 560 ) Treatment / Sick mob total Mastitis clinical treatment Mastitis clinical YTD (tgt below 64 yr end) Bulk milk SCC (tgt Avg below 150) Lame new cases Lame ytd Lame days YTD (Tgt below 1000 yr end) Other/Colostrum Milking twice a day into vat Milking once a day into vat Small herd Main Herd MS/cow/day (Actual kg / Cows into vat only) Milk Protein/Fat ratio Milk Fat % Page 5 of 6

6 Milk Protein % MS/cow to date (total kgs / Peak Cows MS/ha/day (total kgs / ha used Herd Average Cond'n Score Monitor group LW kg WOW 281 early calvers Soil Temp Avg Aquaflex Growth Rate (kgdm/ha/day) Plate meter height ave half cms Ave Pasture Cover (x ) Surplus/[defict] on feed wedge tonnes 23 t 33 t Pre Grazing cover (ave for week) Post Grazing cover (ave for week) Highest pregrazing cover Area grazed / day (ave for week) Grazing Interval Milkers Offered/grazed kg DM pasture Estimated intake pasture MJME Milkers offered kg DM Grass silage Silage MJME/cow offered Estimated intake Silage MJME Estimated total intake MJME Target total MJME Offered/eaten (includes 6% waste) Pasture ME (pre grazing sample) Pasture % Protein Pasture % DM Concern below 16% Pasture % NDF Concern < Mowed pre or post grazing YTD Total area mowed YTD Supplements fed to date kg per cow (555peak) Supplements Made Kg DM / ha cumulative Units N applied/ha and % of farm 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 27.3% 17.8% 17.8% 37.5% 37.5% Kgs N to Date (whole farm) Rainfall (mm) Aquaflex topsoil relative to fill point target 60 80% Next farm walk: Tuesday 29 th November 2016 at 9am. Farmers or their managers and staff are always welcome to walk with us. Please call to notify us of your intention and bring your plate meter and gumboots. Phone SIDDC Peter Hancox, Farm Manager, Natalia Benquet, Charlotte Westwood. To view the weekly updates from the DairyNZ grazing / mowing trial at the Lincoln University Research dairy farm: us/research/key projects/pre grazing and mowing trial/?_cldee=cm9ulnblbgxvd0bzawrkyy5vcmcubno%3d&recipientid=contact 548dfc0e4e29e2119d ba000b 549bf4cfc165401b871710bc4f8eff8b&esid=be6dfe97 f3a5 e611 bd ba000b&urlid=0 Page 6 of 6

7 Tuesday 22 November 2016 Lincoln University Dairy Farm Farm Walk notes LUDF focus for 2016/17 Season: Nil Infrastructure, low input, low N loss, maximise profit. Farm system comprises 3.5 cows/ha (peak milked), Target up to 170kgN/ha, 300kgDM/cow imported supplement, plus winter most cows off farm. FWE of less than $1 million and Target production of over 500kgMS/cow (>100% liveweight in milk production). Critical issues for the short term 1. Monitor average pasture cover and pasture quality through the spring period to ensure enough good quality pasture is offered daily to ensure good production and reproductive results. 2. Monitor cow BCS changes through lactation. 3. Continue to focus on submitting cows for AB (Planned Start of Mating, (PSM) 25 th October 2016) Key Numbers week ending Tuesday 22 nd November 2016 Ave Pasture Cover 2,612 kgdm/ha Pasture Growth Rate 102 kgdm/ha/day (as per Pasture Coach) Round length 21.7 days (152 ha) Ave Supplement used 0 kgdm/cow/day No Cows on farm 553 Ave Soil Temp (week) 14 C Kg MS/cow (549 cows) 2.19 SCC 147,000 Milk Protein : Fat ratio 0.79 Protein: 3.91% Fat: 4.96% Herd Management 4. A total of 553 calved cows are on farm as of today. There are 2 milking herds on farm, a small herd of 151 first calvers and low BCS cows and a large herd with 382 mixed age cows. Slight preferential grazing for the small herd has been established as per usual management for LUDF. 5. There are 547 cows going into the vat, with 533 cows on twice a day milking, 14 once a day and 6 on treatment. 6. All cows are being fed pasture with no silage fed out over the past week. 7. There have been no new cases of mastitis over the past week (42 clinical cases to date vs 67 cases at the same time last season). There have been 3 new lame cows over the last week, leaving us at 52 cases, season to date (compared with 46 cases at the same time last season). 8. Two weeks ago, a number of the first calving heifers appeared a little unwell, with one apparently healthy animal deteriorating quickly and dying over that weekend. Autopsy results on that animal have not been able to clarify what the issue has been. The pour on drench for internal and external parasites given to the heifers as a precaution seems to have slowed down the symptoms (coughing) but it has not completely dealt with the problem. No further cases have been identified and no mixed age cows seem to be affected. 9. Trace minerals and magnesium chloride are running through the stock water to all cows on the milking platform. 10. Average herd liveweight had remained stable for the week. The monitor group (281 early calving MA cows) this week averages 471 kg/cow heifer replacements have been tagged, and all calves are now outside on East Block. 132 heifer calves were weaned off calf milk replacer to date, remaining on good quality pasture plus calf meal. 12. The herd was BCS on the 17 th November. The average BCS of the whole herd was 4.4 (down 0.1 from late October). Given the overcast, dull drizzly conditions and the slight drop in pasture quality through Page 1 of 7

8 October, this was not unexpected. Approximately 40% of cows are now at BC 4.0, with 37% at 4.5 and 18% at 5 or above. In late October, the average was 4.5, and in mid July, an average of 5.3. Body condition score distribution for 555 cows scored on 26 th October 2016 BCS as at 17 November % 5.5 3% 6 0% 3.5 5% 4 40% % Mating progress 13. All cows were Metrichecked 5 weeks post calving. 14. Mating started on 25 October (4 weeks ago) with 457 cows mated by day 21. This gave an average of 21.7 cows per day or 82% in the first three weeks, compared to the target of 90%. 15. A total of 487 cows (88%) have been submitted to date since start of mating. 16. The vet has palpated all 97 cows that have not been mated in the first 21 days of mating. 15 of these had cysts and have now had a PG. 31 of the 97 cows that weren t mated in the first 21 days of mating have subsequently been mated predominantly later calving cows that were not part of the Ketosis trial and cycled in the last week prior to mating received PG on Sunday 30 th October and were then mated. 18. AB mating started for R born heifers on 11 th October Heifers were AB mated daily on observed standing heats for 6 days. All heifers that had not shown heats within this period (by Sunday 16 th October 2016) received a single prostaglandin injection and continued to be mated to standing heats. A total of 154 heifers have been AI mated and the bulls (Jersey) have gone out with them on 20 th October Bulls will remain out until 12 th December 2016 to give us a total of 9 weeks mating for the heifers. 19. Breeding bulls were purchased over two months ago and were blood tested for BVD. They have also been vaccinated with a 7 in 1 vaccine, a BVD booster, selenium and copper injections and a pour on drench, all in preparedness for mating. Growing Conditions 20. The average 9 am soil temperature for the past week was 14 C, 0.5 C above last week s temperature (and 1.0 C higher than this same week last year). Of note is the higher day time temperatures this week. Figure 1: Soil temperature history for the last 2 weeks Page 2 of 7

9 21. The farm received 14.4mm of rain over the past week. Our average evapotranspiration (ET) rate increased this week to 27 mm for the week (3.8 mm/day). 22. We irrigated a total of 1 day on both North and South pivots. Soil moisture measures are shown below. Even though the soils were wet through the rainy couple of days, the moisture meters don t seem to have picked up a lot of the rain that has fallen. Figure 2: Soil moisture history for the last 2 weeks (Paddock N2) 23. N Fertilizer: 60 ha have received nitrogen at a rate of 25 kgn/ha as urea, over the past week. Pasture and Feed Management 24. The plan was a minimum 21 day grazing round, with the average round length achieved of 21.7 days. 25. Paddock S5 was sprayed out for regrassing on Tuesday 3 rd October. The paddock has been cultivated and resown on Wednesday the 2 nd November. It has been planted in a hybrid / diploid mix of Shogun and Trojan with Kotare and Weka clover, and Tonic Plantain. Whilst there is no Forage Value Index for Hybrid Cultivars, we considered the traits of significance for the paddock / farm and the available data in the FVI for Perennials and 12 Month forage types. Page 3 of 7

10 26. This week there has been no pregraze mowing, 2 paddocks were mown after grazing as cows struggled to get these to target residuals in a timely manner. Mowing was carried out to ensure a low and consistent residual was achieved to provide high quality feed at the next grazing. 27. We are continuing to monitor pasture quality and pasture covers closely as ryegrass reproductive development is now underway. Seedhead remains present in urine patches, mostly is little areas that have not been pre or post graze mown or in paddocks where the mowing has been done 2 rounds ago. 28. Stemmier post grazing residuals continue to be observed. 29. Regrowth in paddocks that have been pregraze mown during the past grazing round are coming back with excellent quality with no evident seedhead coming through very pleasing to see given our focus from now on is not only to minimise rate of cows off peak milksolids production, and achieve some improved reproductive results. 30. The focus remains on offering a high daily intake of high quality pasture, while achieving a low and consistent residual so that high quality pasture is available again at the next round. This is further challenged by ideally extending the round a little further (22 24 days) to increase available (rather than measured) pregraze feed while current intakes encourage a faster round to offer more feed per cow. 31. The last 3 4 weeks have been challenging in terms of pasture management, with the rising plate meter appearing to overestimate both pregrazing covers and post grazing residuals so that available feed and growth rates don t make sense. 32. Pasture quality from samples collected on 16th November showed an average of 15.2% DM, up from 14.4% DM a week earlier and more similar to 15.7% DM for the same period this time last year. a. Energy content has remained relativley stable over the last 4 weeks at an average of MJME/kgDM, slightly lower than the 12.3 MJME/kgDM this time last season. b. Protein levels hve declined a little and were 18.8 % compared to are 21.9% a week earlier but higher than 17.5% reported this time last year. c. NDF levels are now up to 40%, higher than last week and this time last year. Figure 3: This week s feed wedge Page 4 of 7

11 33. The demand line on the pasture wedge graph is calculated as follows: a. 553 cows on 152 ha as paddock S5 is still out of the round for regrassing. b. Planned minimum round length for the coming week is 24 days over 152 ha or 6.3 ha/day c. The dry matter intake for the current level of milksolids production is around 19 kgdm/cow/day d. Total demand: 19 kgdm/cow/day x 553 average cows for the week = 10,507 kgdm/day (69kgDM/ha/day over the 152ha milking platform) e. Demand of 10,507 kgdm/day from 6.3 ha /day requires 1,667 kgdm/ha available. f. As the target residual is 1650kgDM/ha, target pregraze covers are as follows: 1,650 kgdm/ha + 1,667 kgdm/ha = 3,317 kgdm/ha pregraze covers required. g. Target APC would therefore be ( )/2 = 2483 kgdm/ha h. The feed wedge above shows a surplus of 21 tonnes DM total. This is roughly 2 days worth of feed (demand: 10,507kgDM/day). The surplus is on par with that of last week (24 tdm). 34. Average pasture cover this week is 2,612 kgdm/ha, a small increase from last week (by 28 kgdm/ha). The calculated growth rate for the week was 102 kgdm/ha/day, though in practice with the small increase in APC, the growth rate must be a similar or a little higher than demand. Feeding Management for the coming week: 35. The key target for the coming week remains to feed cows as much high quality pasture as they can effectively eat, every day, to minimise loss of cow condition whilst ensuring postgrazing residuals and per cow and per ha MS production targets are achieved. 36. To achieve this the intention is: i. Given that cows have achieved 22 days round this last week with no requirement for silage, we will be banking on the small excess feed we are carrying to push the round out to 24 days from this week onwards. The reasons for this decision were: It naturally happened this week (22 days) as the farm has started to grow a bit over demand, so we wouldn t require feeding silage to actually get there. Given the excellent growing conditions looking ahead at the forecast for the next couple of weeks, we can push more towards harvesting paddocks closer to the 3 leaf stage, which would give us more options in terms of having silage to harvest to feed back in autumn. With the slightly fast round of the last month (21 days) we return to paddocks faster and thus apply more N than on a slower round. Going a little slower will cumulatively allow the remaining available N to go further through the season. Page 5 of 7

12 ii. Continue to observe cow behaviour and pasture growing conditions, taking particular note of area grazed per day. iii. If growth exceed demand and results in a slower than 24 days round, harvesting silage will again be an option. iv. Pre graze mowing is planned for only a few paddocks where there is a large weed challenge, or where there are paddock sections that require it due to stemmy growth coming through. 37. Continue to apply fertilizer as enough area becomes available. Application rates will be as follows: a. Apply Urea at 25kgN/ha (except in the effluent area) to paddocks already grazed LUDF Weekly report 25 Oct 16 1 Nov 16 8 Nov Nov Nov 16 Farm grazing ha (available to milkers) Dry Cows on farm / East blk /Jackies/other 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 Culls (Includes culls put down & empties) Culls total to date Deaths (Includes cows put down) Deaths total to date Calved Cows available (Peak Number 560 ) Treatment / Sick mob total Mastitis clinical treatment Mastitis clinical YTD (tgt below 64 yr end) Bulk milk SCC (tgt Avg below 150) Lame new cases Lame ytd Lame days YTD (Tgt below 1000 yr end) Other/Colostrum Milking twice a day into vat Milking once a day into vat Small herd Main Herd MS/cow/day (Actual kg / Cows into vat only) Milk Protein/Fat ratio Milk Fat % Milk Protein % MS/cow to date (total kgs / Peak Cows MS/ha/day (total kgs / ha used Herd Average Cond'n Score Monitor group LW kg WOW 281 early calvers Soil Temp Avg Aquaflex Growth Rate (kgdm/ha/day) Plate meter height ave half cms Ave Pasture Cover (x ) Surplus/[defict] on feed wedge tonnes 23 t 33 t Pre Grazing cover (ave for week) Post Grazing cover (ave for week) Highest pregrazing cover Area grazed / day (ave for week) Grazing Interval Milkers Offered/grazed kg DM pasture Estimated intake pasture MJME Milkers offered kg DM Grass silage Silage MJME/cow offered Estimated intake Silage MJME Estimated total intake MJME Page 6 of 7

13 Target total MJME Offered/eaten (includes 6% waste) Pasture ME (pre grazing sample) Pasture % Protein Pasture % DM Concern below 16% Pasture % NDF Concern < Mowed pre or post grazing YTD Total area mowed YTD Supplements fed to date kg per cow (555peak) Supplements Made Kg DM / ha cumulative Units N applied/ha and % of farm 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 21.5% 27.3% 17.8% 17.8% 37.5% Kgs N to Date (whole farm) Rainfall (mm) Aquaflex topsoil relative to fill point target 60 80% Next farm walk: Tuesday 29 th November 2016 at 9am. Farmers or their managers and staff are always welcome to walk with us. Please call to notify us of your intention and bring your plate meter and gumboots. Phone SIDDC Peter Hancox, Farm Manager, Natalia Benquet, Charlotte Westwood. To view the weekly updates from the DairyNZ grazing / mowing trial at the Lincoln University Research dairy farm: us/research/key projects/pre grazing and mowing trial/?_cldee=cm9ulnblbgxvd0bzawrkyy5vcmcubno%3d&recipientid=contact 548dfc0e4e29e2119d ba000b 549bf4cfc165401b871710bc4f8eff8b&esid=be6dfe97 f3a5 e611 bd ba000b&urlid=0 Page 7 of 7

14 Tuesday 15 November 2016 Lincoln University Dairy Farm Farm Walk notes LUDF focus for 2016/17 Season: Nil Infrastructure, low input, low N loss, maximise profit. Farm system comprises 3.5 cows/ha (peak milked), Target up to 170kgN/ha, 300kgDM/cow imported supplement, plus winter most cows off farm. FWE of less than $1 million and Target production of over 500kgMS/cow (>100% liveweight in milk production). Critical issues for the short term 1. Monitor average pasture cover and pasture quality through the spring period to ensure enough good quality pasture is put in front of cows daily to ensure good production and reproductive results. 2. Monitor cow BCS changes through lactation. 3. Continue to focus on submitting cows for AB (Planned Start of Mating, (PSM) 25 th October 2016) Key Numbers week ending Tuesday 15 th November 2016 Ave Pasture Cover 2,584 kgdm/ha Pasture Growth Rate 95 kgdm/ha/day (as per Pasture Coach) Round length 20 days (for 152 ha) Ave Supplement used 0 kgdm/cow/day No Cows on farm 553 Ave Soil Temp (week) 13.5 C Kg MS/cow (549 cows) 2.18 SCC 168,000 Milk Protein : Fat ratio 0.77 Protein: 3.87% Fat: 4.98% Herd Management 4. A total of 553 calved cows are on farm as of today. There are 2 milking herds on farm, a small herd of 154 first calvers and low BCS cows and a large herd with 392 mixed age cows. Slight preferential grazing for the small herd has been established as per usual management for LUDF. 5. There are 546 cows going into the vat, with 534 cows on twice a day milking and 12 once a day. 6. All cows are being fed pasture with no silage fed out over the past week. 7. There have been 3 new case of mastitis over the past week (42 clinical cases to date a good improvement over the 67 cases reported at the same time, season to date last year). There have been 4 new lame cows over the last week, leaving us at 49 cases, season to date (compared with 24 cases season to date at the same time last season). 8. A number of the first calving heifers appear a little unwell, with one apparently healthy animal deteriorating quickly and dying over the weekend. An autopsy has been performed and we are awaiting the results. A pour on drench for internal and external parasites has been given to the heifers as a precaution. 9. Trace minerals and magnesium chloride are running through the stock water to all cows on the milking platform. 10. Average herd liveweight had remained stable for the week. The monitor group (281 early calving MA cows) this week averages 475 kg/cow heifer replacements have been tagged, and all calves are now outside on East Block. 132 heifer calves were weaned off calf milk replacer to date, remaining on good quality pasture plus calf meal. 12. The herd will be BCS this week again. The average BCS of the whole herd on 26 th October 2016 was 4.5 (down 0.1 from early October). Given the overcast, dull drizzly conditions and the slight drop in pasture quality through October, this was not unexpected. Approximately 1/3 cows were below 4.5, 1/3 at 4.5 and the remainder at 5 or above. In early October 2016, the average was 4.6, and in mid July 2016, an average of 5.3. Page 1 of 7

15 Body condition score distribution for 552 cows scored on 26 th October % 0% 4% 5 30% 4 28% % Mating progress 13. All cows were Metrichecked 5 weeks post calving. 14. Mating started on 25 October (3 weeks + 1 day ago) with 457 cows mated by day 21. This is an average of 21.7 cows per day or 82%. The target was (is) 90%. 15. The vet has palpated all 97 cows that have not been mated in the first 21 days of mating. 15 of these had cysts and have now had a PG. 7 of the 97 cows that weren t mated in the first 21 days of mating were on heat and mated this morning % of cows showed heat behaviour at least once during the pre mating heat period predominantly later calving cows that were not part of the Ketosis trial and cycled in the last week prior to mating received PG on Sunday 30 th October and were then mated. 18. AB mating started for R born heifers on 11 th October Heifers were AB mated daily on observed standing heats for 6 days. All heifers that had not shown heats within this period (by Sunday 16 th October 2016) received a single prostaglandin injection and continued to be mated to standing heats. A total of 154 heifers have been AI mated and the bulls (Jersey) have gone out with them on 20 th October Bulls will remain out until 12 th December 2016 to give us a total of 9 weeks mating for the heifers. 19. Breeding bulls were purchased over two months ago and were blood tested for BVD. They have also been vaccinated with a 7 in 1 vaccine, a BVD booster, selenium and copper injections and a pour on drench, all in preparedness for mating. Growing Conditions 20. The average 9 am soil temperature for the past week was 13.5 C, 0.2 C above last week s temperature (and 1.0 C higher than this same week last year). Figure 1: Soil temperature history for the last 2 weeks Page 2 of 7

16 21. The farm received 6.4mm of rain over the past week. Our average evapotranspiration (ET) rate decreased this week to 21.9 mm for the week (3.1 mm/day, typical for this time of the year). 22. We irrigated a total of 2 days (North Pivot) and 4 day (South Pivot). Soil moisture measures are shown below. Monitoring and responding to soil moisture is a critical part of ensuring efficient use of irrigation. Figure 2: Soil moisture history for the last 2 weeks (Paddock N2) 23. N Fertilizer: ha have received nitrogen at a rate of 25 kgn/ha as urea, over the past week. Pasture and Feed Management 24. The plan was a minimum 21 day grazing round, with the average round length achieved of 20 days bringing up again the question whether the grass being measured is actually there. 25. Paddock S5 was sprayed out for regrassing on Tuesday 3 rd October. The paddock has been cultivated and resown on Wednesday the 2 nd November. It has been planted in a hybrid / diploid mix of Shogun and Trojan with Kotare and Weka clover, and Tonic Plantain. Whilst there is no Forage Value Index for Hybrid Cultivars, we considered the traits of significance for the paddock / farm and the available data in the FVI for Perennials and 12 Month forage types. Page 3 of 7

17 26. We are continuing to monitor pasture quality and pasture covers closely as ryegrass reproductive development is now underway. Seedhead is present in urine patches of paddocks where weather has not allowed pre graze mowing during this round (S6 and S2) and cows have struggled to it residuals. 27. Stemmier post grazing residuals continue to be observed. 28. Regrowth in paddocks that have been pregraze mown during the past grazing round are coming back with excellent quality with no evident seedhead coming through very pleasing to see given our focus from now on is not only to minimise rate of cows off peak milksolids production, and achieve some improved reproductive results. 29. The focus remains on offering a high daily intake of high quality pasture, while achieving a low and consistent residual so that high quality pasture is available again at the next round. This is further challenged by ideally extending the round a little further (22 24 days) to increase available (rather than measured) pregraze feed while current intakes encourage a faster round to offer more feed per cow. 30. The last 3 4 weeks have been challenging in terms of pasture management, with the rising plate meter appearing to overestimate both pregrazing covers and post grazing residuals so that available feed and growth rates don t make sense. 31. Pre graze mowing has been applied to a total of ha season to date, 18.5 ha was done during this last week. 32. Pasture quality from samples collected on 3 rd November showed an average of 14.4% DM up from 13.2% DM a week earlier and up from an average of 13.3% DM for the same period this time last year. a. Energy content has remained relativley stable over the last 3 weeks at an average of 11.9MJME/kgDM, slightly higher than the 11.7 MJME/kgDM this time last season. b. Protein levels are 20%, compared with 19.3% this time last year. c. NDF levels are at 39.9%, 0.8% over this same time last year. Figure 3: This week s feed wedge Page 4 of 7

18 33. The demand line on the pasture wedge graph is calculated as follows: a. 553 cows on 152 ha as paddock S5 is still out of the round for regrassing. b. Planned minimum round length for the coming week is 21 days over 152 ha or 7.2 ha/day c. The dry matter intake for the current level of milksolids production is around 20 kgdm/cow/day d. Total demand: 20 kgdm/cow/day x 553 average cows for the week = 11,060 kgdm/day (72.7kgDM/ha/day over the 152ha milking platform) e. Demand of 11,060 kgdm/day from 7.2 ha /day requires 1,536 kgdm/ha available. f. As the target residual is 1650kgDM/ha, target pregraze covers are as follows: 1,650 kgdm/ha + 1,536 kgdm/ha = 3,186 kgdm/ha pregraze covers required. g. Target APC would therefore be ( )/2 = 2418 kgdm/ha h. The feed wedge above shows a surplus of 24.6 tonnes DM total. This is roughly 2 days worth of feed (demand: 11,060kgDM/day). The surplus is slightly lower than that of last week (33 tdm) which supports a decrease in APC 34. Average pasture cover this week is 2,584 kgdm/ha, a small decrease from last week (by 36 kgdm/ha). The calculated growth rate for the week was 95 kgdm/ha/day, though in practice with a small decrease in APC, the growth rate must be a similar or a little lower than demand. Feeding Management for the coming week: 35. The key target for the coming week remains to feed cows as much high quality pasture as they can effectively eat, every day, to minimise loss of cow condition whilst ensuring postgrazing residuals and per cow and per ha MS production targets are achieved. 36. To achieve this the intention is: i. Target a minimum 21 day grazing round for the coming week on 152 ha. The Alternative is push the round out to 24 days by feeding a little silage. In both cases, an average daily growth rate of 73 kgdm/ha/day is required. 21 Day Round Length 24 day round length Area grazed per day 7.2 ha 6.3 ha Available feed required per ha 1540 kgdm/ha/day 1760 kgdm/ha Pregraze cover (at 1650kgDM/ha residual) 3190 kgdm/ha 3410 kgdm/ha Page 5 of 7

19 ii. Considering the slightly slower regrowth observed to date from mown paddocks, and expected high intake of this pasture (following mowing), a 21 day round is anticipated for most of November. iii.regrowth however on this next round will not have the post mowing check and may therefore enable higher pregraze covers and a longer round next time. iv. Continue to observe cow behaviour and pasture growing conditions, taking particular note of area grazed per day. v. If growth exceed demand and results in a slower round, harvesting silage will again be an option (though this seems unlikely at present). vi. Pre graze mowing is planned for a few paddocks where this has not occurred yet. These paddocks are at the top of the wedge, are typically in the + 3 leaf growing stage and are increasingly stemmy in the base. Not mowing these areas will leave low quality residual that will need removing to provide high quality feed required through the summer. vii. By comparison mown areas of the same paddocks are not yet at 3 leaf stage. 37. Continue to apply fertilizer as enough area becomes available. Application rates will be as follows: a. Apply Urea at 25kgN/ha (except in the effluent area) to paddocks already grazed LUDF Weekly report 18 Oct Oct 16 1 Nov 16 8 Nov Nov-16 Farm grazing ha (available to milkers) Dry Cows on farm / East blk /Jackies/other 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 Culls (Includes culls put down & empties) Culls total to date Deaths (Includes cows put down) Deaths total to date Calved Cows available (Peak Number 560 ) Treatment / Sick mob total Mastitis clinical treatment Mastitis clinical YTD (tgt below 64 yr end) Bulk milk SCC (tgt Avg below 150) Lame new cases Lame ytd Lame days YTD (Tgt below 1000 yr end) Other/Colostrum Milking twice a day into vat Milking once a day into vat Small herd Main Herd MS/cow/day (Actual kg / Cows into vat only) Milk Protein/Fat ratio Milk Fat % Milk Protein % MS/cow to date (total kgs / Peak Cows MS/ha/day (total kgs / ha used Herd Average Cond'n Score 4.50 Monitor group LW kg WOW 281 early calvers Soil Temp Avg Aquaflex Growth Rate (kgdm/ha/day) Plate meter height ave half cms Ave Pasture Cover (x ) Surplus/[defict] on feed wedge tonnes 23 t 33 t 26.4 Pre Grazing cover (ave for week) Post Grazing cover (ave for week) Highest pregrazing cover Page 6 of 7

20 Area grazed / day (ave for week) Grazing Interval Milkers Offered/grazed kg DM pasture Estimated intake pasture MJME Milkers offered kg DM Grass silage 2 0 Silage MJME/cow offered 12 0 Estimated intake Silage MJME 18 0 Estimated total intake MJME Target total MJME Offered/eaten (includes 6% waste) Pasture ME (pre grazing sample) Pasture % Protein Pasture % DM Concern below 16% Pasture % NDF Concern < Mowed pre or post grazing YTD Total area mowed YTD Supplements fed to date kg per cow (555peak) Supplements Made Kg DM / ha cumulative Units N applied/ha and % of farm 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 25units/ 21.5% 21.5% 27.3% 17.8% 17.8% Kgs N to Date (whole farm) Rainfall (mm) Aquaflex topsoil relative to fill point target 60 80% Next farm walk: Tuesday 22 nd November 2016 at 9am. Farmers or their managers and staff are always welcome to walk with us. Please call to notify us of your intention and bring your plate meter and gumboots. Phone SIDDC Peter Hancox, Farm Manager, Natalia Benquet, Charlotte Westwood. To view the weekly updates from the DairyNZ grazing / mowing trial at the Lincoln University Research dairy farm: us/research/key projects/pre grazing and mowing trial/?_cldee=cm9ulnblbgxvd0bzawrkyy5vcmcubno%3d&recipientid=contact 548dfc0e4e29e2119d ba000b 549bf4cfc165401b871710bc4f8eff8b&esid=be6dfe97 f3a5 e611 bd ba000b&urlid=0 Page 7 of 7

21 Tuesday 8 November 2016 Lincoln University Dairy Farm Farm Walk notes LUDF focus for 2016/17 Season: Nil Infrastructure, low input, low N loss, maximise profit. Farm system comprises 3.5 cows/ha (peak milked), Target up to 170kgN/ha, 300kgDM/cow imported supplement, plus winter most cows off farm. FWE of less than $1 million and Target production of over 500kgMS/cow (>100% liveweight in milk production). Critical issues for the short term 1. Monitor average pasture cover and pasture quality through the spring period to ensure enough good quality pasture is put in front of cows daily to ensure good production and reproductive results. 2. Monitor cow BCS changes through the first half of lactation. 3. Continue to focus on submitting cows for AB (Planned Start of Mating, PSM 25 th October 2016) Key Numbers week ending Tuesday 8 th November 2016 Ave Pasture Cover 2,620 kgdm/ha (calculated / estimated) 106 kgdm/ha/day Pasture Growth Rate Round length 21.8 days (for 152 Ave Supplement used 0 kgdm/cow/day ha) No Cows on farm 554 Ave Soil Temp (week) 13.3 C Kg MS/cow (549 cows) 2.22 SCC 157,000 Milk Protein : Fat ratio 0.76 Protein: 3.82% Fat: 5.05% Herd Management 4. A total of 554 calved cows are on farm as of today. There are 2 milking herds on farm, a small herd of 157 first calvers and low BCS cows and a large herd with 381 mixed age cows. Slight preferential grazing for the small herd has been established as per usual management for LUDF. 5. There are 549 cows going into the vat, with 537 cows on twice a day milking and 12 once a day. 6. All cows are being fed pasture with no silage fed out over the past week. 7. There have been 4 new case of mastitis over the past week (39 clinical cases to date a good improvement over the 62 cases reported at the same time, season to date last year). There have been 4 new lame cows over the last week, leaving us at 44 cases, season to date (compared with 19 cases season to date at the same time last season). 8. Trace minerals and magnesium chloride are running through the stock water to all cows on the milking platform. 9. Average herd liveweight had decreased a little last week but has returned this week to its previous level. The monitor group of 281 early calving MA cows this week averages 476 kg/cow heifer replacements have been tagged, and all calves are now outside on East Block. 132 heifer calves were weaned off calf milk replacer to date, remaining on good quality pasture plus calf meal. 11. The 155, 2015 born R 2 heifers away grazing were weighed in mid October and at that time were on average 67 kg above their target LW (breeding value). They were also bled for trace mineral status and received a selenium/vitamin B12 injection, additional copper as an oral copper bullet and an anthelmintic drench. They are receiving multi mineral supplementation through the stock water (at half of the milking cows daily rate) as well as additional stock iodine after blood tests showed marginal iodine status. 12. The average BCS of the whole herd on 26 th October 2016 was 4.5 (down 0.1 from early October). Given the overcast, dull drizzly conditions and the slight drop in pasture quality through October, this was not Page 1 of 7

22 unexpected. Approximately 1/3 cows were below 4.5, 1/3 at 4.5 and the remainder at 5 or above. In early October 2016, the average was 4.6, and in mid July 2016, an average of 5.3. Body condition score distribution for 552 cows scored on 26 th October % 0% 4% 5 30% 4 28% % Mating preparedness 13. All cows are being Metrichecked at 5 weeks post calving. 14. Mating started on 25 October (2 weeks ago) with 333 cows mated to date (Day 15). This is an average of 22 cows per day, and on track to achieve around 84% 3 weeks Submission rate. To reach a submission rate of 90% by day 21, we needed to average 24 cows per day and now need an average of 28 cows per day for the next week to get to 90% in 3 weeks. 15. The vet is booked to visit the farm on Day 22 to check all cows that have not been mated in the first 3 weeks cows that had not shown signs of heat by PSM, but some of these have subsequently come on. This meant that 85% of cows showed heat behaviour at least once during the pre mating heat period. 17. There are 16 predominantly later calving cows that were not part of the Ketosis trial and cycled in the last week prior to mating. These cows have received PG on Sunday 30 th October and then been mated. 18. We considered using prostaglandins (PG) for all cows that cycled in the last week prior to the start of mating (why wait programme) but realised this risked interfering with the sub clinical Ketosis trial conducted through calving so instead opted for only the 16 cows not part of the trial. (Part of the interest in identifying subclinical ketosis is its potential impact on reproductive performance). 19. AB mating started for R born heifers on 11 th October Heifers were AB mated daily on observed standing heats for 6 days. All heifers that had not shown heats within this period (by Sunday 16 th October 2016) received a single prostaglandin injection and continued to be mated to standing heats. A total of 154 heifers have been AI mated and the bulls (Jersey) have gone out with them on 20 th October Bulls will remain out until 12 th December 2016 to give us a total of 9 weeks mating for the heifers. 20. Breeding bulls were purchased two months ago and were blood tested for BVD. They have also been vaccinated with a 7 in 1 vaccine, a BVD booster, selenium and copper injections and a pour on drench, all in preparedness for mating. Growing Conditions 21. The average 9 am soil temperature for the past week was 13.3 C, 0.5 C above last week s temperature (and 1.1 C higher than this same week last year). Page 2 of 7

23 Figure 1: Soil temperature history for the last 2 weeks 22. The farm received 5.8mm of rain over the past week. Our average evapotranspiration (ET) rate increased this week to 27.6 mm for the week (3.9 mm/day, typical for this time of the year). 23. We irrigated a total of 3 days (North Pivot) and 5 day (South Pivot). Soil moisture measures are shown below. Monitoring and responding to soil moisture is a critical part of ensuring efficient use of irrigation. Figure 2: Soil moisture history for the last 2 weeks (Paddock N2) 24. N Fertilizer: ha have received nitrogen at a rate of 25 kgn/ha as urea, over the past week. Pasture and Feed Management 25. The plan was a minimum 21 day grazing round, with the average round length achieved of 21.8 days. Whilst feed remains tightly balanced, no silage was needed to hold the target round length. 26. Paddock S5 was sprayed out for regrassing on Tuesday 3 rd October. The paddock has been cultivated and resown on Wednesday the 2 nd November. It has been planted in a hybrid / diploid mix of Shogun and Trojan with Kotare and Weka clover, and Tonic Plantain. Whilst there is no Forage Value Index for Page 3 of 7

24 Hybrid Cultivars, we considered the traits of significance for the paddock / farm and the available data in the FVI for Perennials and 12 Month forage types. 27. Paddock N5 was baled last week and the paddock is back in the round. 28. We are continuing to monitor pasture quality and pasture covers closely as ryegrass reproductive development is now underway. Seedhead emergence is present in N1, an older paddock that contains Bronsyn perennial ryegrass. This paddock is a useful monitor paddock as Bronsyn was an older mid season ryegrass that heads on day zero. In comparison, the remainder the farm is sown to later heading cultivars. Now seedhead is present in N1, we can expect to see seedhead emerging over the rest of the farm. 29. Stemmier post grazing residuals continue to be observed. 30. Regrowth in paddocks that have been pregraze mown during the past grazing round are coming back with excellent quality very pleasing to see given our focus from now on is not only to minimise rate of cows off peak milksolids production, but also to retain a high submission rate, as well as detect as many returning cows as we can during the second round of AB. 31. Pre graze mowing has been applied to a total of 103 ha season to date, 48.8 ha was done during this last week (all paddocks grazed this week). 32. The last couple of weeks have been challenging in terms of pasture management, with the rising plate meter appearing to overestimate both pregrazing covers and post grazing residuals so that available feed and growth rates don t make sense. 33. The focus remains on offering a high daily intake of high quality pasture, while achieving a low and consistent residual so that high quality pasture is available again at the next round. This is further challenged by ideally extending the round a little further (22 24 days) to increase available rather than measured pregraze feed while current intakes encourage a faster round to offer more feed per cow. 34. Pasture quality from samples collected on 26 th October showed an average of 13.2% DM down from 15.1% DM a week earlier and up from an average of 12% DM for the same period this time last year. Energy content has remained relativley stable over the last 3 weeks at an average of 11.8MJME/kgDM, on par with this time last year. Protein levels are 22.2%, compared with only 17.5% this time last year. NDF levels are at 39.9%, 1% pont over this same time last year. Figure 3: This week s feed wedge 35. The demand line on the pasture wedge graph is calculated as follows: Page 4 of 7

25 a. We will have all 554 cows calved for next week and calculations will be based on 152 ha as paddock S5 is still out of the round for regrassing. b. Planned minimum round length for the coming week is 21 days over 152 ha or 7.2 ha/day c. The dry matter intake for the current level of milksolids production is around 20 kgdm/cow/day d. Total demand: 20 kgdm/cow/day x 554 average cows for the week = 11,080 kgdm/day (72.9kgDM/ha/day over the 152ha milking platform) e. Demand of 11,080 kgdm/day from 7.2 ha /day requires 1,538 kgdm/ha available. f. As the target residual is 1650kgDM/ha, target pregraze covers are as follows 1,650 kgdm/ha + 1,538 kgdm/ha = 3,188 kgdm/ha pregraze covers required. 36. Feed wedge information: a. Average pasture cover this week is 2,620 kgdm/ha, a small increase from last week. The calculated growth rate for the week was 106 kgdm/ha/day, though in practice with only minimal change in APC, the growth rate must be similar to demand. b. The feed wedge above shows a surplus of 33 tonnes DM total. This is roughly 3 days worth of feed (demand: 11,000kgDM/day). The surplus is slightly higher than that of last week (23 tdm) which supports an increase in APC. Feeding Management for the coming week: 37. The key target for the coming week remains to feed cows as much high quality pasture as they can effectively eat, every day, to minimise loss of cow condition whilst ensuring postgrazing residuals and per cow and per ha MS production targets are achieved. 38. To achieve this we will: i. Target a minimum 21 day grazing round for the coming week on 152 ha. The Alternative is push the round out to 24 days with silage. In both cases, an average daily growth rate of 73 kgdm/ha/day is required. 21 Day Round Length 24 day round length Area grazed per day 7.2 ha 6.3 ha Available feed required per ha 1540 kgdm/ha/day 1760 kgdm/ha Pregraze cover (at 1650kgDM/ha residual) 3190 kgdm/ha 3410 kgdm/ha ii. Considering the slightly slower regrowth observed to date from mown paddocks, and expected high intake of this pasture (following mowing), a 21 day round is anticipated for most of November. iii. Regrowth however on this next round will not have the post mowing check and may therefore enable higher pregraze covers and a longer round next time. iv. Continue to observe cow behaviour and pasture growing conditions, taking particular note of area grazed per day. v. If growth exceed demand and result in a slower round, silage will again be an option (though this seems unlikely at present). vi. Pre graze mowing is planned for a few paddocks where this has not occurred yet. These paddocks are at the top of the wedge, are typically in the + 3 leaf growing stage and are increasingly stemmy in the base. Not mowing these areas will leave low quality residual that will need removing to provide high quality feed required through the summer. vii. By comparison mown areas of the same paddocks are not yet at 3 leaf stage. 39. Continue to apply fertilizer as enough area becomes available. Application rates will be as follows: a. Apply Urea at 25kgN/ha (except in the effluent area) to paddocks already grazed LUDF Weekly report 11 Oct Oct Oct 16 1 Nov 16 8 Nov 16 Page 5 of 7

26 Farm grazing ha (available to milkers) Dry Cows on farm / East blk /Jackies/other 5/0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 0/0/0 Culls (Includes culls put down & empties) Culls total to date Deaths (Includes cows put down) Deaths total to date Calved Cows available (Peak Number 560 ) Treatment / Sick mob total Mastitis clinical treatment Mastitis clinical YTD (tgt below 64 yr end) Bulk milk SCC (tgt Avg below 150) Lame new cases Lame ytd Lame days YTD (Tgt below 1000 yr end) Other/Colostrum Milking twice a day into vat Milking once a day into vat Small herd Main Herd MS/cow/day (Actual kg / Cows into vat only) Milk Protein/Fat ratio Milk Fat % Milk Protein % MS/cow to date (total kgs / Peak Cows MS/ha/day (total kgs / ha used Herd Average Cond'n Score Monitor group LW kg WOW 281 early calvers Soil Temp Avg Aquaflex Growth Rate (kgdm/ha/day) Plate meter height ave half cms Ave Pasture Cover (x ) Surplus/[defict] on feed wedge tonnes 23 t 33 t Pre Grazing cover (ave for week) Post Grazing cover (ave for week) Highest pregrazing cover Area grazed / day (ave for week) Grazing Interval Milkers Offered/grazed kg DM pasture Estimated intake pasture MJME Milkers offered kg DM Grass silage 2 Silage MJME/cow offered 12 Estimated intake Silage MJME 18 Estimated total intake MJME Target total MJME Offered/eaten (includes 6% waste) Pasture ME (pre grazing sample) Pasture % Protein Pasture % DM Concern below 16% Pasture % NDF Concern < Mowed pre or post grazing YTD Total area mowed YTD Supplements fed to date kg per cow (555peak) Supplements Made Kg DM / ha cumulative Units N applied/ha and % of farm 25units/ 17.6% 25units/ 21.5% 25units/ 21.5% 25units/ 27.3% Page 6 of 7 25units/ 27.9%

27 Kgs N to Date (whole farm) Rainfall (mm) Aquaflex topsoil relative to fill point target 60 80% Next farm walk: Tuesday 15 th November 2016 at 9am. Farmers or their managers and staff are always welcome to walk with us. Please call to notify us of your intention and bring your plate meter and gumboots. Phone SIDDC Peter Hancox, Farm Manager, Natalia Benquet, Charlotte Westwood. To view the weekly updates from the DairyNZ grazing / mowing trial at the Lincoln University Research dairy farm: us/research/key projects/pre grazing and mowing trial/?_cldee=cm9ulnblbgxvd0bzawrkyy5vcmcubno%3d&recipientid=contact 548dfc0e4e29e2119d ba000b 549bf4cfc165401b871710bc4f8eff8b&esid=be6dfe97 f3a5 e611 bd ba000b&urlid=0 Page 7 of 7

28 Tuesday 1 November 2016 Lincoln University Dairy Farm Farm Walk notes LUDF focus for 2016/17 Season: Nil Infrastructure, low input, low N loss, maximise profit. Farm system comprises 3.5 cows/ha (peak milked), Target up to 170kgN/ha, 300kgDM/cow imported supplement, plus winter most cows off farm. FWE of less than $1 million and Target production of over 500kgMS/cow (>100% liveweight in milk production). Critical issues for the short term 1. Monitor average pasture cover and pasture quality through the spring period to ensure enough good quality pasture is put in front of cows daily to ensure good production and reproductive results. 2. In particular, watch balance between apparent growth and demand compared with change in APC and round length / area grazed per week 3. Monitor cow BCS changes. 4. Continue to focus on submitting cows for AB (Planned Start of Mating, (PSM) 25 th October 2016) Key Numbers week ending Tuesday 1 st November 2016 Ave Pasture Cover 2,579 kgdm/ha (Calculated/ Estimated) 90 kgdm/ha/day Pasture Growth Rate Round length 21.3 days (for 152 Ave Supplement used 0 kgdm/cow/day ha) No Cows on farm 554 Ave Soil Temp (week) 12.8 C Kg MS/cow (531 cows) 2.22 SCC 172,000 Milk Protein : Fat ratio 0.76 Protein: 3.76% Fat: 5.00% Herd Management 5. A total of 554 calved cows are on farm as of today. There are 2 milking herds on farm, a small herd of 157 first calvers and a few low BCS cows and a large herd with 381 mixed age cows. Slight preferential grazing for the small herd has been established as per usual management for LUDF. 6. There are 549 cows going into the vat, with 538 cows on twice a day milking and 11 once a day. 7. All cows are being fed pasture with no silage fed out over the past week. 8. Liveweight of the monitor cows (281 early calving MA cows) had been relatively stable for the past 4 weeks with minor changes week on week of typically 1 kg/week. This week the average liveweight has decreased 3 kg compared to last week, suggesting cows may have stripped a little condition this week (or gut fill at weighing (milking) has coincidentally resulted in a lighter average weight). 9. There have been 5 new case of mastitis over the past week (35 clinical cases to date a good improvement over the 62 cases reported at the same time, season to date last year). There have been 3 new lame cows over the last week, leaving us at 40 cases, season to date (compared with 15 cases season to date at the same time last season). 10. Trace minerals and magnesium chloride are running through the stock water to all cows on the milking platform heifer replacements have been tagged, and all calves are now outside on East Block. 96 heifer calves were weaned off calf milk replacer last week, remaining on good quality pasture plus calf meal. Calves will be weighed again this coming Thursday and decisions made to wean more calves. 12. The 155, 2015 born R 2 heifers away grazing were weighed two weeks ago and were at that time on average 67 kg above their target LW (breeding value). They have been bled for trace mineral status and have received a selenium/vitamin B12 injection, additional copper as an oral copper bullet and an Page 1 of 7

29 anthelmintic drench three weeks ago. They are receiving multi mineral supplementation through the stock water (at half of the milking cows daily rate) as well as additional stock iodine after blood tests showed marginal iodine status. 13. The average BCS of the whole herd on 26 th October 2016 was 4.5 (down 0.1 from early October). Currently, the herd has approximately 1/3 cows below 4.5, 1/3 at 4.5 and the remainder at 5 or above. In early October 2016, the average was 4.6, and in mid July 2016, an average of 5.3. Body condition score distribution for 552 cows scored on 26 th October % 63 0% 3.5 4% 5 30% 4 28% % Mating preparedness 14. All cows are being Metrichecked at 5 weeks post calving. 15. Mating started last Tuesday (25/10/2016) with 176 cows mated by this morning (Day 8). This works out to an average of 22 cows per day. To reach a submission rate of 90% by day 21, we need an average of 24 cows per day, so are 12 cows (2%) behind target. 16. There were 78 cows that had not shown signs of heat by PSM. This meant that 85% of cows showed heat behaviour at least once during the pre mating heat period. 17. Last week we noted the intended use of prostaglandin (PG) as part of a Why Wait program to help tighten the calving pattern next spring. Cows observed with a heat during the last week of Pre mating heat detection were to receive PG this past Sunday and would have been mated early in week 2 rather than during week 3. The programme would however have impacted the reproduction results of the subclinical ketosis investigation DairyNZ conducted at and following calving at LUDF. Part of the interest in identifying subclinical ketosis is its potential impact on reproductive performance, therefore rather than jeopardise these results, we have decided not to carry through with this PG program. 18. There are 16 predominantly later calving cows that were not part of the Ketosis trial and cycled in the last week prior to mating. These cows have received PG on Sunday 30 th October. 19. AB mating started for R2 (2015 born) heifers on 11 th October Heifers were AB mated daily on observed standing heats for 6 days. All heifers that had not shown heats within this period (by Sunday 16 th October 2016) received a single prostaglandin injection and continued to be mated to standing heats. A total of 154 heifers were AI mated and Jersey bulls then went out with them on 20 th October Bulls will remain out until 12 th December 2016 to give us a total of 9 weeks mating for the heifers. 20. Breeding bulls were purchased two months ago and were blood tested for BVD. They have also been vaccinated with a 7 in 1 vaccine, a BVD booster, selenium and copper injections and a pour on drench, all in preparedness for mating. Page 2 of 7

30 Growing Conditions 21. The average 9 am soil temperature for the past week was 12.8 C, 1.4 C above last week s temperature (and 0.9 C higher than this same week last year). Figure 1: Soil temperature history for the last 2 weeks 22. The farm received 19mm of rain over the past week. Despite this rainfall event, our average evapotranspiration (ET) rate remained the same as the previous week at 23.5 mm for the week (3.3 mm/day). This is a little higher than this time last year when the weekly average ET was 3.0 mm/day. 23. We irrigated a total of 2 days (North Pivot) and 1 day (South Pivot) this week before stopping again with the weekend rain (29 th October). Soil moisture was briefly was at field capacity. We will monitor and start irrigation again later this week if rain forecast for tomorrow does not eventuate. Figure 2: Soil moisture history for the last 2 weeks (Paddock N2) 24. Nitrogen Fertilizer applications continue on the non effluent area of fully grazed paddocks ha have received nitrogen at a rate of 25 kgn/ha (urea), over the past week. Total average N applied year to date is 59kgN/ha. Page 3 of 7

31 Pasture and Feed Management 25. The plan for the week was to achieve a 21 day grazing round which has been achieved without the use of silage (average round length 21.3 days). 26. Paddock S5 was sprayed out for regrassing on Tuesday 3 rd October. The paddock has been cultivated and top worked ready to be roller drilled. Rain followed by windy conditions has delayed the sowing of this area to date. For this paddock we don t want any further rain delaying our contractor. 27. In addition, paddock N5 (8.2 ha) was mown for silage on Sunday 30 th October and is currently still down. Hopefully this will be baled before the rain forecast for tomorrow. Last week (25 th October) it had an average pasture cover of 3,186kgDM/ha. Assuming a further 5 days growth at 90kgDM/ha/day, put this paddock at an estimated pregraze cover of 3650kgDM/ha. 28. Pasture quality from samples collected on 19 th October showed an average of 15.1% DM up from 13.3% DM a week earlier and up from an average of 12.5% DM for the same period this time last year. 29. Energy content has remained relativley stable over the last 3 weeks at an average of 11.8MJME/kgDM, slightly lower than at this time last year (12.0MJME/kgDM). Protein levels are 22.3%, compared with only 16.5% this time last year. NDF levels are very similar to this time last year, at 39.4%. (Round length was 4 8 days longer this time last year) 30. We are continuing to monitor pasture quality and pasture covers closely as ryegrass reproductive development is now underway. Seedhead emergence is present in N1, an older paddock that contains Bronsyn perennial ryegrass (a mid season ryegrass that heads on day zero ). In comparison, the remainder of the farm is sown to later heading cultivars. As seedhead is now present in N1, we can expect to see seedhead emerging over the rest of the farm over the next 2 3 weeks. 31. Visually, the pasture this week appears to continue to be of moderate quality. Stemmier post grazing residuals continue to be apparent, and as discussed last week, stem elongation is occurring in a number of ryegrass tillers within fertility patches on the later heading ryegrasses. Cow dung consistency has firmed up slightly over the last two weeks suggesting that the quality of pasture is starting to change. 32. The last couple of weeks have been challenging in terms of pasture management. Decisions are being made daily around which tools to use (cows, pre graze mowing or taking areas out for silage) to achieve appropriate post grazing residuals, and therefore high quality regrowth. a. The current stemminess of the pasture and ongoing relatively low DM% of the pasture seems to result in the rising plate meter over estimating the amount of pasture on offer with cows not finding as much pasture in the allocated daily breaks as the Plate meter / feed wedge might suggest. Are the surpluses estimated by Pasture Coach and shown in our weekly pasture wedge actually there? b. Similarly, pre graze mowing has been required as cows were struggling to hit post grazing residuals in pastures beginning to go reproductive. Is this a function of more feed being present in the daily allocation, or cows not being able to reach target residuals in a timely manner with the declining feed quality of pasture during seedhead emergence? 33. Regrowth in paddocks that have been pregraze mown during the past grazing round are coming back with excellent quality very pleasing to see given our focus from now on is not only to mimimise rate of cows drop from peak milksolids production, but also to retain a high submission rate, as well as detect as many returning cows as we can during the second round of AB. 34. Pre graze mowing started two weeks ago with a total area of 70 ha mown season to date, either for silage or pre graze purposes ha has been pre graze mown this week out of a total grazed area of 50.2 ha. The ability to use this tool remains highly weather dependant. Rainfall events seem to be happening every 3 7 days this season, which means that pre graze mowing is not always possible even if paddock would ideally be mown. Page 4 of 7

32 Figure 3: This week s feed wedge 35. The demand line on the pasture wedge graph is calculated as follows: a. 554 cows in milk. Calculations are based on 152 ha as paddock S5 remains out of the round for regrassing. b. Planned minimum round length for the coming week is 21 days over 152 ha or 7.2 ha/day c. The dry matter intake for the current level of milksolids production with no change in liveweight (CS) is around 20 kgdm/cow/day d. Total demand: 20 kgdm/cow/day x 554 average cows for the week = 11,080 kgdm/day (72.9kgDM/ha/day over the 152ha milking platform) e. Demand of 11,080 kgdm/day from 7.2 ha /day requires 1,538 kgdm/ha available. f. As the target residual is 1650kgDM/ha, target pregraze covers are as follows 1,650 kgdm/ha + 1,538 kgdm/ha = 3,188 kgdm/ha pregraze covers required. g. Target APC is therefore 2419kgDM/ha 36. Average Pasture cover this week is 2579kgDM/ha, down 68kgDM/ha from last week 37. The feed wedge above also shows a surplus of 23 tonnes DM total a relatively small surplus of approx. two days feed given that the herd daily demand is around 11,000kgDM/day. This is effectively the difference between the current APC and the target APC. ( = 160kgDM/ha x 152 ha = 24.3 tonne DM some rounding is occurring within this calculation) 38. Harvesting N5 for silage was expected to decrease APC by 108kgDM/ha, however the surplus of growth over demand should have offset this by the same amount if growth was 90 and demand was 73. a. 8.2ha x 2000kgDM/ha = 16,400kgDM. b kgDM/ha / 152 ha = 108 kgdm/ha (estimated decrease in APC from harvesting silage) c. Difference between growth and demand: x 7 = 119 kgdm/ha increase in APC for the week. d. Confounding these numbers, if average liveweight has decreased, demand may have been reduced by 1.4 kgdm/cow/day or 5 kgdm/ha. 39. To mitigate this discrepancy in backcalculated analysis, the farm continues to monitor APC and round length as a guide to feed supply, along with actual vs target pregraze covers (hence harvesting N5 for silage that was well above its target pregraze cover). Feeding Management for the coming week: Page 5 of 7