At a focus day late last week about 200 farmers and industry professionals heard how production is 11% ahead of last year and on course for 350,000kg. That smashes the 319,000kg budget and last year’s 318,000kg output on the 259ha milking platform at Wallacetown, just outside Invercargill. Prior to last year 290,000kg was the highest, achieved in 2007-08.
While a proportion is down to a good season, cows calving in better condition and better management of pasture, body condition score and supplements thereafter have been key drivers.
Controversially, the farm has, for the first time, supplemented with barley and sometimes topped paddocks before grazing. Facing flak on such practices, farm consultant Howard de Klerk stressed there was no one “silver bullet” to achieve the gains. “It’s the three legs of the stool, not just any two. If it’s only two, you are going to topple over.”
The underlying principle is ensuring the herd is better fed, as demonstrated by the milk protein content. “It’s something that’s really worth monitoring.”
SDFs had started to rise in November, whereas in the previous two seasons it had bumped along just under 3.6% until early January. That augurs well for this year’s mating results and in turn, next season’s production.
The farm has had an expense over-run of $88,000 above budget to date but about $50,000 of that is caused by timing of operations. Higher wintering costs, administration, animal health, breeding, fertiliser and repairs and maintenance (R&M) are the main categories with over-runs to date.
“Like all farms we’ve found repairs and maintenance difficult to control,” commented Stacy McNaught, presenting the farm financial data. “Sometimes stuff breaks down more than you expect.”
However, assuming the farm achieves 350,000kgMS, expenses will be 9c/kgMS under budget at $3.91/kgMS.
