fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 29 October 2014 07:54

Lift profit during tough times

Written by 

Dairy farmers are being told that there are opportunities to increase profitability even when times are tough.

 

Consultant nutritionist to animal feed producer SealesWinslow, James Hague says with the pressure of a lower payout this year, farmers are now on the hunt for strategies to cut costs.

But Hague says it’s all about finding the most effective and efficient way of turning feed into milk.

“As a part of Ballance Agri-Nutrients we are focussed on helping farmers with this process so they can achieve the best results for their farm.

“We have access to a range of tools which help us to compare a farmer’s potential milk production to their actual production, identify the gaps and then then come up with the approach for filling those gaps so that production and profitability are optimised.”

SealesWinslow have analysed over 500 herds using a milk prediction software programme, which compares a farm’s actual production to its target production to identify any deviations as the season progresses. They have found that the average farm could achieve an additional 30,000 kgMS based on their peak production.

The results are noteworthy, says Hague. “At a $5.00 payout, that’s an additional $150,000 worth of gross income.”

Any gains to be made are not just down to adding purchased feed into the mix. Ballance offers a full package, which includes maximising the benefits of home grown feed in combination with looking at where improvements could be made so that a balanced diet is on offer.

“There is a good amount of forage already grown on the farm that gets wasted. The waste isn’t underfoot, it’s within the cow. Some purchased feeds do little to improve the utilisation of grass and silage, so we look at balancing the diet to help extract as much feed value as possible from the whole diet.”

SealesWinslow offers a free vice to help farmers to crunch the numbers using their expertise and a range of different tools. To ensure that the diet is profitable the team looks closely at returns on dollars invested in feed. Margin is a key measure and needs to be sufficient to translate down to the bottom line and fit in with cash flow.

Farmers looking for help with balancing their herd’s feed supply with demand to maximise production and profitability can call the SealesWinslow team on 0800 287325.

More like this

Plan now as El Nino summer lifts facial eczema risk

The anticipated El Niño summer is expected to heighten the risk of facial eczema (FE) and SealesWinslow consultant Nutritionist Paul Sharp says getting a preventative plan ready now will help protect animal health and bottom lines.

Plan for dry summer, keep cows in milk

As a dry summer looms, dairy farmers need a plan for their herds’ nutrition now to keep their cows in milk, protect their cashflow and secure long term business profitability.

Calving cows need starch, energy

While most dairy farmers are heading into spring calving with lush grass cover, cows may need more starch and energy to compensate for pasture deficiencies this season.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.