12. DAIRY FARM MANAGEMENT
12.1 Identifying Problems and Constraints
This manual does not attempt to cover every factor of issue which affects farm performance rather we will cover a broad outline of the factors affecting decision making on the farm and examine in some detail some of the major constraints to production and methods of minimising these constraints.
The first question one must ask is: what is wrong with things as they are?· There is only a problem if the farmer wants or needs to improve:
e.g.
-make more money
-get a better return from labour
-comply with a law or local convention
-other personal reason
-what are the daily activities?
-what amount of land, money and time is involved in producing each product?
-which products are the most profitable?
-how does production of different products inter-relate?· What are the main factors stopping the farmer from increasing performance? [constraints]
Given training, the farmer can decide how and when to adjust the types and balance of crops, pastures and livestock in the farm system, in order to plan and carry out a programme of development.
More appropriate types of plants and animals can be raised which are not affected by the constraints to production.
12.2 Pasture Management for Dairy Farmers
- annual rainfall and its distribution
- whether the pasture is shaded or unshaded
- pasture variety (improved Vs unimproved)
- use of fertiliser
- pests and diseases of the pasture
As an example, the average the carrying capacity (SR) of improved (batiki + legume) pastures is;
Open Pastures -2.5 au/ha
Under coconuts -2.0 au/haThese stocking rates represent the balance at which animal and plant [pasture] production can be sustained.
Assessing the appropriate level of stocking
The farm manager should monitor the feed supply (pasta re) availability of the farm at least twice a week. The purpose of this is to match feed supply (pasture growth) with the needs of the animals. Small fluctuations in feed supply due to short periods without rain can normally be accounted for by a little supplementary feeding with elephant grass or similar. If on the other hand pasture availability is too little or too much, changes in the way the farm is run should be made as soon as possible, as even though it may not be observable, production will be suffering.
If rotational grazing is used, the pasture should be about 30 cm high (mid-calf) when the cows start grazing and about 15 cm high (just above the ankle) when cows are removed. Under set stocking pasture should be of even height, about 15 - 20 cm.Figure 13 and 14.PASTURE AT MID CALF HEIGHT PASTURE AT ABOVE ANKLE
HEIGHT
2 - pasture height uneven , with tall clumps of grass, - SR is too low
This can easily happen, because the area grazed is limited but animals tend to grow and multiply.
Action to restore a good feed supply Should be taken urgently as if a milking cow 5 feeding is reduced for any length of time it is very difficult to make up losses in production later. The farmer has two alternatives,
1 - Increase the feed supply by;
a/ using more fertiliser, which should be spread evenly over the whole grazing area. Price and availability varies from country to country, for the most appropriate fertiliser, consult your local extension officer and Agricultural supplier. should be spread evenly over the whole grazing area. This should be repeated every six months. The stocking of the farm should probably not be raised higher than its current level.
b/ practising supplementary feeding or zero grazing, cut and carry grass and legumes are suitable in this case. To allow the pastures to grow back again, as much area as possible should be closed from grazing for about 3 weeks which given rain should allow it time to recover, after this it should be stocked at the appropriate stocking level by the milking cows. The balance of the stock should be held on the rest of the farm, as small an area as possible leaving as much as possible for milk production. Higher than normal levels of supplementary feeding to the dairy cows is also necessary.
2 - Decrease the stocking rate, either by
a/ increasing the total grazed area, i.e. fencing more land or tethering some cattle outside the fenced area, such as roadsides and cropping land which have been harvested. This will effectively decrease the average stocking rate per hectare.
b/ sell some animals. This is a practice that all farmers must consider, particularly those with only small farms. To ensure the best animal health, production and profits from the farm animal numbers must be limited. This also adds to the farmers income through the sale of unneeded, old and unproductive animals.
1. What is the main purpose of the farm?
2. The necessary animals are:
yearling heifers
2 yr heifers
milking cows
bulls - (1 for every 30 cows)
3 ha open pasture
3@ 2.5 au/ha = 7.5
Table 3 - Stock on the farm at the start of the exercise
Class of Animal | No. Animal | LW | Au/Animal | Au/Class of Animal | |
Calves | Heifer | 4 | 100 | 0.22 | 0.88 |
Bull | 4 | 100 | 0.22 | 0.88 | |
Yearling | Heifer | 4 | 250 | 0.56 | 2.24 |
Steers & bulls | 3 | 250 | 0.56 | 1.67 | |
2 yrs | Heifer | 4 | 450 | 1 | 4.0 |
Steers & bulls | 3 | 450 | 1 | 3.0 | |
3 - 7 yrs | Milking cows | 10 | 500 | 1.11 | 11.1 |
MA steers | 5 | 500 | 1.11 | 5.55 | |
MA bulls | 2 | 700 | 1.56 | 3.12 | |
Old dry | Cows | 3 | 450 | 1 | 3 |
TOTAL | 42 [Animals] | 35.44 [au] |
N.B. MA = Mixed Age
The correct carrying capacity is estimated at 25.5 au therefore the farm is over stocked by 9.9 4 au(35.44-25.5 9.94).
Class of Animal | No. Animal | Au/Class | |
Calves | Heifer | 5 | 1.1 |
Bull | 5 | 1.1 | |
1 yr | Heifer | 4 | 2.24 |
Bull | 0 | ||
2 yr | Heifer | 4 | 4.00 |
Bull | 0 | ||
Milking | cows | 13 | 14.43 |
Herd | Bulls | 1 | 1.56 |
1 yr | bull | 1 | 0.56 |
Old | Cows | 0 | |
TOTAL | 24.99 |
So a farm with about 25.5 au could be structured as follows:This maximises the number of productive animals [milking cows] whilst balancing the stocking rate with the carrying capacity.
Actions taken to make the change were
2. Sale of excess bulls
3. Sale of all bull calves as weaners
4. Sale of one weaner heifer (keep the best)
5. Sale of 3 yrs steers
Sale of 3 2 yrs steers
Sale of 5 mixed age steers
The following increases are made
1. purchase of a 1 year bull (to avoid inbreeding)
2. Increase in milking cows
3. Increase in calves
Before | After | Diff. | Diff. [au] | ||
Calves | H | 4 | 5 | +1 | +0.22 |
B | 4 | 5 | +1 | +0.22 | |
YR 1 | H | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
B | 3 | 0 | -3 | -1.68 | |
YR 2 | H | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
B | 3 | 0 | -3 | -3 | |
Milking | Cows | 10 | 13 | +3 | +3.33 |
MA | Steers | 5 | 0 | -5 | -5.55 |
Herd | Bulls | 2 | 1 | -1 | -1.56 |
Old | Cows | 3 | 0 | -3 | -3 |
Young | Bulls | 0 | 1 | +1 | +0.56 |
Net reduction off 10.46 au. (4.33 - 14.79)
By restructuring the herd, the farmer has simplified the operation and been able to increase the number of productive animals i.e. cows by 3.
This will increase the milk production. Production increases as a result of better feeding would be expected to be in the order of:
2. Milk production per lactation would increase by approx. 100% or more per cow.
2. Whilst beef animals are to some extent able to rely on compensatory growth to even out low production of beef caused by periods of poor or low quantity feeding, dairy cows cannot so easily recoup lost milk production, after poor feeding.
12.2.3 Grass-Legume BalanceThe pasture should ideally contain at least 20% legume (leaf) on a DM (dry matter) basis High legume content increases the protein content and per cow intake of the pasture.
High legume content can be encouraged by:
2. good management of newly planted pastures/legumes encouraging their spread in the pasture, during the first 12 months especially.
3. strategic heavy grazing in the early wet season to encourage germination of aruinal legumes such as Glenn jointvetch,
4. the use of phosphate fertilisers.
- Pasture Growth Stage
The grass tends to be the dominant plant in an improved pasture. Whilst tropical grasses are highly effective at photosynthesis and thus compete well for space and light they tend to be very low in crude protein. Tropical grasses tend to have decreasing levels of protein and as they mature (leaf age). The critical crude protein level is 7% by DM of the diet. Below this feed intake is depressed as the cow can't digest feed quickly enough in turn production is depressed. As an example, batiki is the major pasture grass in Samoa and tends to have a low CP% which falls quickly with leaf age (and increasing stem). Grasses should be kept young and leafy with a short grazing interval.
12.2.5 Rotational GrazingThis type of grazing will allow the farmer to graze the pasture and then leave it to recover. Portable electric fences are an effective, low cost method of controlling the grazing area and daily pasture allocation.The length (in days) of the rotation may have to vary a little
e.g. Shorter when the grass is tending to seed, this should help to promote vegetative growth.
If conditions are dry, the rotation may have to lengthen a little so that, when the cows enter a new paddock they are offered the same amount of feed i.e. 25-30 cm high. This will mean leaving them on the paddock a little longer and therefore the "residuals' (amount of pasture left) will be less than usual. This is only recommended for a short time and supplements should be increased in this case.
Worm burdens tend be less under rotational than continuous grazing.It is widely accepted internationally that to achieve high production levels over the long term, fertiliser inputs are necessary. The basic idea being that something is being removed from the agrisystem i.e. coconuts, meat, milk, - then something must be returned i.e. essential nutrients N,P,K,S (+ micro nutrients) otherwise the productive capacity (soil fertility) will decline overtime. Perhaps this is best described as land stewardship: ensuring that you are able to hand the land to your children in at least as good a condition as you received it from your parents.
12.3.1 Maintenance Fertiliser
The principle of maintaining the productive capacity of the land should be followed, fertiliser policies which farmers can apply for pasture development and maintenance in all cattle raising areas need to be prepared, your MAF may be able to advise you on this.
12.3.2 Strategic Use of FertiliserFertiliser can be used to boost pasture plant growth in order to overcome (quickly) problems such as short term feed shortages and weed problems.Banana fertiliser (NPK: 12-5-20) has been shown (Lee SD 1995) to be highly beneficial in controlling mintweed (H capucita) and navua sedge (K polyphylla) in pastures. Spread at 100kg/ha, the fertiliser boosts batiki grass growth, enabling it to compete more strongly and thus smother (exclude from light) the 2 weed species. Note: Mintweed should be slashed to the ground at the time of fertiliser application. Also the cattle should be excluded from the area for about six weeks to allow the grass to grow.
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