West Coast Monitor Farm

Westland has some unique challenges such as high rainfall and seasonal dry peroids which are variable across the region. Westland has now been collecting data for 10 years and continues to building on the information currently available.

This project funded by Westland Milk Products, DairyNZ, CRV Ambreed, ARL-Ravensdown and Rabobank aims to generate reliable pasture growth and quality, and soil temperature information, over the next 12 months, on two commercial dairy farms in Westland.

Farm walks schedule for this season are weekly from August to May, and monthly over the winter period.

Each week we will provide a Weekly Summary of information from the following regions:

Buller: Mawheraiti (Stu and Deb Bland), Westland: Kowhitirangi (Anna and Jeremy Hart).

Expanded farm summary for the week ending 15 January 2020

CO comment

Early aged pregnancy diagnosis (EAPD) is a good tool to be using shortly to provide you with a lot of valuable information. Getting pregnancies aged means you will know exact conception dates. This will accurately illustrate how your cows got in calf over the mating period.

The reproduction information available on MINDA can help you to plan for dry off and into next spring. MINDA Reproduction’s Pre-Calving tab can be used to develop a more accurate indication of feed demand through the calving period and estimate how many calves will be filling your sheds. By having an accurate indication of when cows will be calving, this information can be used in conjunction with body condition scoring to determine when cows will need to be dried off to be at their target BCS at calving.

With accurate expected calving dates, you can better identify the late calvers for potential culling, make dry-off decisions based on body condition score and expected calving date, and know when any cows wintered off farm need to be off the wintering blocks.  EAPD produces in-calf and conception rate information through the mating period, which means you are better able to identify who the problem cows were, when the problem period was and help modify the mating plan to achieve the desired results next season.

EAPD is something that you should discuss and plan with your vet. There can be a high demand for EAPD, so it is best to talk to the vet early so they can plan the best time to complete this is and secure your space.

Farm Summary

 NB: pasture quality data are for 1 sample collected from each farm

 Previous Weekly Summaries

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016