DAIRY
Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra
CANTERBURY FARMING
HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING
When does more becomes less
July 2015
37
Rangiora Landscape & Garden Supplies Ltd Post peeling or sawdust Ideal for calf pen bedding, feed pads and horse stables
A new milking season is looming with some farmers having started milking already! The milk price is not looking too good for this season either, so how do we get the best out of our situation? The answer is quite simple. Make sure you look after your cows. Do not compromise on animal health and do not compromise on their basic needs — things like food, water, rest etc. You may get different advice from bank managers and the like. Some bank managers want you to milk more cows and have less staff. They see some farmers running four or more cows to the hectare and seem to think that that means everyone should be able to do the same. Even though this seems to make sense, I don’t believe that this is the right approach. Milking more cows does not automatically equal more milk. It may do in some circumstances but if milking more cows means underfeeding them then this will not be of any benefit to you and you should not go for it. I have seen too many
examples where people are milking too many cows. So often I drive past a herd of cows not long after milking and there isn’t much grass left in the paddock. If cows are not fully fed they will not produce to their potential, animal health issues will become a bigger problem, and lameness will increase. You may not believe this but it is true. If you or your bank manager wants you to milk more cows then there are other things that will have to change as well. That may be different for each farmer depending on their situation. It may mean you have to upskill yourself in pasture management or you may improve the fertility of the soil or improve grass species. You may need to get better irrigation systems. If you don’t know what you can improve then you should not consider milking more cows. Another way of putting it is that milking more cows should be a result of better management rather than having to improve
Ph 03 313 7337 or 027 313 7338 Delivery Canterbury wide
management because you want to milk more cows. I would say that in many cases farmers are better off milking less cows rather than more. I know that there are many more reasons why cows are under-producing other than under-feeding but under-
feeding is quite a widespread problem. When cows are not producing to their optimum they are not most profitable. If they are more prone to animal health issues they become less profitable again. So be careful when considering milking more cows.
Fresh Feed to your Farm
1.5M please
Stockfeed made fresh onsite or delivered premixed.
Mobile units specialising in Dairy and Calf meal. Large roller mill and hammer mill available. Additives can be supplied and mixed or blended with molasses if required. We fill your silos or supply in bulk. *see website for more details*
FEEDMI Ltd Dave Campion. Ph 03 308 8665 | 027 608 6455 www.feedmix.co.nz
FORREST ENGINEERING
WE’VE BEEN BUILDING FARM BIKES AND QUADS SINCE WAY BACK, SO WE’VE BEEN THROUGH THICK AND THIN WITH KIWI FARMERS. SUZUKIS ARE HONEST, RELIABLE, BUILT FOR THE JOB AND WELL PRICED. BUT WE KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO DIG DEEP AND HELP OUT WITH SOMETHING A BIT SPECIAL. SUZUKI
LTF500XP
SUZUKI
LTF300F
$12,995
$7,995
SAVE $1,051
SAVE $1,301
EXCLUDING GST
EXCLUDING GST
Check out our On Farm Repairs and Maintenance Service and extensive parts department • Dairy farm & agricultural related repair and manufacturing work. • Dairy yard pipe work backing gate and chain gates • On-site welding • Certified welding - transport and structural. • Palm Kernal/baleage & hay feeders. • 3metre guilliotine and brake press for sheet metal and plate work. Grant Forrest 0277381896 03 312 5503
472 Pesters Rd RD5 Rangiora email: grantforrestengineering@gmail.com
But you won’t have long to grab these so get in quick. Conditions Apply. Use your farmlands card:
ARTHUR BURKE LTD AMBERLEY - ESTABLISHED 1935 North Canterbury Suzuki Dealer Markham Street, Amberley • Phone 03 314 0132 James Carr • Phone 027 706 4856