At the MDF, milk per cow has lifted since previous report, as has grass consumed per hectare and grass consumed per cow, but all indicators a little less than this time last year. The feed margin is higher than last year, mainly influenced by a higher milk price, but also cheaper grass. The grain price is much higher this year.
The farm was irrigated recently for the first time this season. No water has been included in this report’s cost of current grass, but will be included in the next report’s grass cost.
Urea is now being applied at 80 kg per hectare which equates to 1.2 kg N element per ha per day. Only part of this increase of N has been included in the current grass cost.
Observations:
- The cows are currently grazing the bike shift irrigated part of the farm, which is due for irrigation and pasture upgrades in the next few years. In the currently grazed paddock are large patches of long Meadow Foxtail, which is growing in the wetter areas of the paddock. Cows do not like Foxtail so these parts of the paddock are not being grazed.
- The recently lasered paddocks, sown to annual ryegrass in the autumn, are reaching the end of their usefulness and have been sprayed out and will be sown down to millet as part of the trial plan.
- One drop of grain was weighed at 3.5 kg, so the cows are probably getting more than 6.5 kg per day.
- No silage has been made at this stage, and is unlikely to be so, due to extensive pasture renovations this year reducing the milking platform area and limiting the ability to conserve fodder.
| FEED MARGIN PERFORMANCE | MDF THIS TIME LAST YEAR | MDF TEN DAYS AGO | MDF THIS TEN DAYS | Units |
| Ten days to date: | 10-Dec-20 | 30-Nov-21 | 10-Dec-21 | |
| Milker graze area | 66 | 68 | 68 | Ha |
| Milkers | 290 | 295 | 295 | Head |
| Stocking rate | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | cows/ha |
| Average graze rest time | 30 | 30 | 30 | Days |
| Estm’d pasture consmp’n | 54 | 47 | 49 | kg DM/ha/day |
| Pasture consum’d per cow | 12.2 | 10.9 | 11.4 | kg DM/cow/day |
| Pasture growing spend | $5.58 | $3.02 | $4.02 | $/ha/day |
| Estm’d pasture price | $104 | $64 | $82 | $/T DM |
| Conc (incl additives)supp fed/cow | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | kg DM/cow/day |
| Conc (incl additives)supp avg price | $353 | $447 | $447 | $/T DM |
| Hay/silage supp fed/cow | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | kg DM/cow/day |
| Hay/silage supp price | $/T DM | |||
| Feed Conversion Efficiency | 109 | 111 | 112 | kg MS/tonne DM |
| Total feed intake/cow | 17.9 | 16.6 | 17.0 | kg DM/cow/day |
| NDF Fibre in diet | 34.3% | 31.4% | 32.6% | % NDF |
| Litres/cow | 27.4 | 25.9 | 26.9 | l/cow/day |
| Fat test | 3.92% | 3.85% | 3.78% | % |
| Protein test | 3.29% | 3.36% | 3.40% | % |
| Milk Solids per cow | 1.97 | 1.87 | 1.94 | kg/cow/day |
| Milk price (less levies)/kg MS | $5.90 | $6.55 | $6.89 | $/kg MS |
| Milk price (less levies)/litre | $0.43 | $0.47 | $0.50 | $ per litre |
| Milk income/cow | $11.65 | $12.23 | $13.33 | $/cow/day |
| All feed cost/cow | $3.34 | $3.31 | $3.54 | $/cow/day |
| Margin over all Feed/cow | $8.32 | $8.92 | $9.79 | $/cow/day |
| MOAF /ha /day | $36.54 | $38.72 | $42.49 | $/ha/day |
| Farm MOAF per DAY | $2,411 | $2,633 | $2,889 | $/day |