Efficient use of pastures and supplements. Kevin Macdonald

Transcription

1 Efficient use of pastures and supplements Kevin Macdonald 1

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3 Efficient use of pastures and supplements is based around planning and having management rules 3

4 Important factors High quality pasture High quality (energy) supplements Maximising days in milk BCS at calving Cow quality Fully fed cows Compact calving Systems management rules Motivated people 4

5 Factores clave de los sistemas Neo Zelandeses Clima templado, pasturas de alta calidad que crecen y se pastorean 365 días al año. Parición y producción estacional. Más del 90% de la leche para exportación, por cooperativas de productores. Grande explotaciones y rodeos (media 320 Vacas y 100 ha). Baja mano de obra (1 persona c/ 120 a 200 Vacas) Pasturas como principal fuente de alimento: baja producción por vaca, pero se requiere alta fertilidad. Vacas genéticamente adaptadas para estos sistemas de bajo costo y rentables 5

6 Pasture Growth vs Feed Demand Conserved Silage kg DM / ha Mating Drying Off Calving Pasture Growth Feed Demand Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 6 May

7 DIAS AL PROXIMO PASTOREO 20 DIAS ENERO 30 DIAS OCTUBRE ABRIL 30 DIAS 60 DIAS JULIO DIAS DIAS 7

8 High quality pasture 8

9 Ryegrass Plant 9

10 Effect of feed quality on intake Kg DM/cow/day Kuperus

11 Residuals and Intake Cow intake (kg DM/cow) Grazing residual Kg DM/ha) 11

12 Dexcel Spring Rotation Planner Rotation length July 30 July 15 Aug 30 Aug 15 Sep 12

13 Grazing height Graze consistently to 7 clicks on RPM 13

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15 Maximising days in milk 500 kg MS 2.0 Kg MS/day for 250 days or 1.67 kg MS/day for 300 days 15

16 More MS per cow increases cow efficiency (kg MS/t DM) kg DM/cow/year Milk Maintenance kg MS/cow 16

17 Per cow MS production (Strain trial ) MS (kg/cow/) NZ70 NZ CSR (kg Lwt/t DM) 17

18 Effect of closure period on crude protein Crude protein (%) Weeks post-closure 18 McGrath et.al 1998

19 Effect of closure period on ME MJME/kg DM Weeks post-closure 19 McGrath et.al 1998

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21 High quality (energy) supplements Intake - MJ ME Kuperus 2004

22 Silage quality effect on milksolids production 2.0 kg M S/cow /day 1.5 MS (kg/cow/day) 1.0 Spring Summer Autumn MJ ME/kg DM Pasture silage ME 22 Macdonald et al., 1996

23 Pasture Eaten/ha and EFS/ha R 2 = EFS ($/ha) Pasture harvested (kgdm/ha) 23

24 Supplements Grazing fundamentals same for low and high input systems Feedout decisions, have systems in place based on residuals (7-8 clicks) Supplements will increase MS production providing High pasture and supplement utilisation achieved Stocked/managed to increase DIM/ha (CSR 80-90) Supplement quality >2.5 Mcal ME 24

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26 Motivated people Need to have systems in place to keep motivated Retain staff Staff are an asset not a liability 26

27 BCS at calving A cow calving at BCS 2.6 instead of 3.1 will: Take 8-10 longer to start cycling Produce 15 kg MS less Recommendation: Cow calve at BCS 3.1 Heifer calve at BCS

28 BCS Priorities Cow condition non negotiable Average BCS not important Number of cows not at BCS 3.1 at calving High risk 1 st (heifers) and 2 nd calvers 28

29 Condition Score 3.1 Backbone Smooth Ribs Rounded but not visible Hip bones - Rounded Pins - Rounded Tailhead - Even cover, no sharp edges 29

30 Extra requirements above maintenance for 0.5 BCS gain Jersey (kg DM/cow) Holstein-Friesian Pasture (autumn) Pasture Silage (high quality) Pasture Silage (ave. quality) Maize Silage Grain To gain 0.5 BCS in 1 month a cow must eat the amounts shown in the following table over and above her requirements for maintenance. 30

31 Systems Pasture measurement Feed quality feed silage, supplements Dexcel spring rotation planner Reproduction records Dry off on BCS Supplementary feeding rules 31

32 Key Messages - Management Grazing fundamentals same for low and high input systems Feedout decisions have systems in place based on residuals (7-8 clicks) Supplements can increase MS production BCS at calving is important Compact calving Systems in place Utilise cow potential 32

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37 Mean calving date and calving spread Cows/ha Kg N/ha/yr Mean calving date Kg MS/cow to 31/12 Kg MS/cow/day Kg MS/ha to 31/12 Kg MS/ha post 1 Jan Farmlet / Top 10% / Data for 1997/98 season 37

38 Pasture quality and MS production (500 kg cow, 280 DIM) Past. Quality Mcal ME/kg DM Kg DM/day MJME Intake Avg. MS Kg/cow/day MS Kg/year Kuperus 2003

39 Sistema lechero, estacional y basados en pasturas, usado, en diferentes formas, en la mayoría de los tambos en Nueva Zelanda 60 Daily pasture grow th rate 50 Daily herd feed requirements kg DM/ha/day Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Percentage Parto Concepción Secado 0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Apr May Jun Jul 39

40 Responses to supplements g MS/kg DM Spring Summer Autumn Carry over Immediate 40 (Penno & Clark 1997)

41 kg MS/ha/year Total Feed Supply t DM/ha/year 41