Humates add to good grass growth

Andrew and his wife Clare farm in an equity partnership with Andrew's parents David and Glenis on both sides of the Pokuru Road, west of Te Awamutu, on the slopes of Mount Kakepuku. The farm has 313ha and 285ha each side of the road and a 56ha run-off 3km away.

"Our total farm is a third rolling and the balance flat and has three road underpasses, two river bridges and one road crossing to get stock to all paddocks," says Andrew.

The 840 Friesian-X cows are milked in a 50-bail rotary. He runs a split herd system with the younger cows (2- and 3-yr-old) getting a better start away from bullying older cows at feed time, drinking and in the yard.

They have a feed pad adjacent to the dairy shed and grow 17ha of maize annually which is fed on the pad from April-September. "We also use the feed pad for holding cows on wet days because when it gets wet here it really gets wet."

Fraser employs two full time staff and casual staff early spring. The dairy has automatic cup removers.

Last winter for the first time Fraser sent 225 cows to Hawke's Bay believing the season would be very wet. This proved correct and he was well satisfied. "It worked out well. They were away 10 weeks and came back in excellent condition as well as giving us here a little more room to move."

When feeding cows on the feed pad he adds some of Fertco's Mineral Boost, PKE and 50gm/cow/day of humates. And he adds humates 8% by weight to his bulk fertiliser. "I'm convinced adding it to the mix helps the fertiliser work better in the soil and it makes plant roots go deeper."

Fraser says adding humates to the total feed ration has many benefits including improved cow condition, fewer cleaning problems or metabolic troubles, and better cycling enabling him to further shorten the calving period for the following season.

"The farm has a low cell count – all part of feeding our cows better."

www.humates.co.nz

Tel: 027 275 5949