This report has two aims: firstly, to show the MDF feed margin performance via a table of figures. These indicators compare MDF grass growing, feeding, and milk production, and resultant margin, to last week, last year, and could be compared to other farms in the MID. The major two drivers of the feed margin are grass consumption (currently 36 kg DM per ha per day) and milk per cow (currently 1.50 kg MS/cow/day). One issue having an effect is that the herd has had a bout of theileria.
The other part of the report is to practically describe what is seen in two paddocks, the paddock about to be grazed, and the paddock just grazed. These places are important to observe; this monitoring can inform the decisions that contribute to the feed margin performance into the future. It is however a very tall order to expect to see best practice on every paddock every day.
Paddock 17 has been grazed very evenly, perhaps leaving a slightly high residue. But the paddock was wet from rain, was bogged a little, so considering that cows do not like muddy grass, allowing the cows to graze lightly was a very good compromise that would have maintained cow grass intake.
Paddock 35 is about to be grazed. The paddock is wet from recent rain; spinner cuts have mostly disappeared. The grass on offer contains both docks (Curled Dock and Mud Dock), both couches (Couch and Water Couch), Nut Grass, Wild Millet, some Paspalum, and some Perennial Ryegrass. Most of the species present highlight the fact that the spinner cuts are no longer doing their job and will need to be reinstated for more effective water movement off this paddock.
| FEED MARGIN PERFORMANCE | MDF THIS TIME LAST YEAR | MDF TEN DAYS AGO | MDF THIS TEN DAYS | Units |
| Ten days to date: | 31,Jan,21 | 20,Jan,22 | 31,Jan,22 | |
| Milker graze area | 63 | 66 | 71 | Ha |
| Milkers | 288 | 295 | 300 | Head |
| Stocking rate | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | cows/ha |
| Average graze rest time | 30 | 30 | 30 | Days |
| Estm’d pasture consmp’n | 35 | 42 | 36 | kg DM/ha/day |
| Pasture consum’d per cow | 7.7 | 9.6 | 8.6 | kg DM/cow/day |
| Pasture growing spend | $5.74 | $7.62 | $8.48 | $/ha/day |
| Estm’d pasture price | $162 | $179 | $233 | $/T DM |
| Conc (incl additives)supp fed/cow | 6.5 | 6.3 | 6.3 | kg DM/cow/day |
| Conc (incl additives)supp avg price | $381 | $430 | $430 | $/T DM |
| Hay/silage supp fed/cow | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | kg DM/cow/day |
| Hay/silage supp price | $267 | $/T DM | ||
| Feed Conversion Efficiency | 101 | 103 | 101 | kg MS/tonne DM |
| Total feed intake/cow | 16.7 | 15.7 | 14.7 | kg DM/cow/day |
| NDF Fibre in diet | 32.3% | 31.5% | 30.2% | % NDF |
| Litres/cow | 22.6 | 21.6 | 19.4 | l/cow/day |
| Fat test | 4.31% | 4.18% | 4.35% | % |
| Protein test | 3.43% | 3.40% | 3.37% | % |
| Milk Solids per cow | 1.75 | 1.64 | 1.50 | kg/cow/day |
| Milk price (less levies)/kg MS | $6.36 | $6.83 | $6.81 | $/kg MS |
| Milk price (less levies)/litre | $0.49 | $0.52 | $0.53 | $ per litre |
| Milk income/cow | $11.13 | $11.17 | $10.21 | $/cow/day |
| All feed cost/cow | $4.56 | $4.42 | $4.72 | $/cow/day |
| Margin over all Feed/cow | $6.57 | $6.74 | $5.49 | $/cow/day |
| MOAF /ha /day | $30.04 | $29.96 | $23.21 | $/ha/day |
| Farm MOAF per DAY | $1,892 | $1,990 | $1,648 | $/day |