Milk Price Tracker

[frederick]

I make sure they graze it tight but never let them run out either, aiming for residuals of about 1800 and seem to be achieving them

Residuals of 1800 so your planning for a milk yield crash in 3-5 weeks when the quality of the grass goes to pot.
Main reason your only achieving 1800 is because your giving them to many alternatives.

 

[LTH]

Im

Just wondering if because the fat has gone up it's meant the % of my milk that's water would have gone down and therefore bought my fpd up?

Mine have always had grass, they're in my silage field so have had access to ad-lib grazing since I've been here, theyve got absolutely loads of the stuff and have done for the past 21 days that theyve been in there?

A different cake?

 

[Jdunn55]

Residuals of 1800 so your planning for a milk yield crash in 3-5 weeks when the quality of the grass goes to pot.
Main reason your only achieving 1800 is because your giving them to many alternatives.

What's wrong with 1800? I thought that between 1600-1800 was about right, I was aiming for on the high side because it was so dry

 

[betweenthelines]

Bit of fibre will, some haylage or nice hay to pick over in the yard whilst in milking.

Yes, get them to eat some 9.5 ME hay to replace 12.5 ME grass, that makes sense.

Cows always nibble hedges. Tastier than all that farmed grass.

 

[Sid]

Yes, get them to eat some 9.5 ME hay to replace 12.5 ME grass, that makes sense.

Cows always nibble hedges. Tastier than all that farmed grass.

Yep the same as adding straw into a TMR mix?

There must be a reason why your cows prefer hedges than the grass you present to them?

 

[Farmer Keith]

What's wrong with 1800? I thought that between 1600-1800 was about right, I was aiming for on the high side because it was so dry

Just explain what you’re doing? Are you giving them an allocation of fresh grass daily or every 12 hours, or are they just let loose in a big silage field? A residual of 1500 maintains quality throughout the season an 1800 is in reality some grazed to 1500 and other bits sitting at 2100, at this time of year the bits at 2100 will be shot in 3 weeks time and will crash your milk production or leave you with some substandard silage. You may be ok at a 1600 later in the season but aim for 1500 now and you’ll not go far wrong.

 

[Jdunn55]

Just explain what you’re doing? Are you giving them an allocation of fresh grass daily or every 12 hours, or are they just let loose in a big silage field? A residual of 1500 maintains quality throughout the season an 1800 is in reality some grazed to 1500 and other bits sitting at 2100, at this time of year the bits at 2100 will be shot in 3 weeks time and will crash your milk production or leave you with some substandard silage. You may be ok at a 1600 later in the season but aim for 1500 now and you’ll not go far wrong.

I see, that's makes sense thankyou. I'm strip grazing a 15 acre field (theyve been in there for 21 days and got probably 7 days left) 12 hour shifts

 

[lazy farmer]

Residuals of 1800 so your planning for a milk yield crash in 3-5 weeks when the quality of the grass goes to pot.
Main reason your only achieving 1800 is because your giving them to many alternatives.

Really ? As you know well if I’ve grazed to 1800 I’ve got my allocation wrong. We are not irrigated NZ. PRG roots shallowly enough as it is without making things worse.

Just explain what you’re doing? Are you giving them an allocation of fresh grass daily or every 12 hours, or are they just let loose in a big silage field? A residual of 1500 maintains quality throughout the season an 1800 is in reality some grazed to 1500 and other bits sitting at 2100, at this time of year the bits at 2100 will be shot in 3 weeks time and will crash your milk production or leave you with some substandard silage. You may be ok at a 1600 later in the season but aim for 1500 now and you’ll not go far wrong.

It’s a wonder I’m still in business if the above was true

 

[coomoo]

Tasty bit in here today

 

[betweenthelines]

Yep the same as adding straw into a TMR mix?

There must be a reason why your cows prefer hedges than the grass you present to them?

Yeah straw in a TMR is daft as well.

And do you like a bit of salt on your chips? Or onion in your pasty?

 

[Jdunn55]

Right now I am confused

Is 1800 right or wrong?
Is 1500 right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

Is hay right or wrong?
Is silage right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

On a separate note, which way is up?

 

[Sid]

Yeah straw in a TMR is daft as well.

And do you like a bit of salt on your chips? Or onion in your pasty?

I'll stick with the fibre is required sometimes option.

Perhaps if you steered away from the barren plains of monoculture grazing and let some herbs or clovers into the sward the cows wouldn't have to go looking for what it is lacking?

 

[Sid]

Right now I am confused

Is 1800 right or wrong?
Is 1500 right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

Is hay right or wrong?
Is silage right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

On a separate note, which way is up?

Watch your cows and grass.
Build up your own knowledge and experience. Learn from your f**k ups, we all make them.
If you have hay and no silage sometimes that will have to do.
Go with the flow

 

[frederick]

Right now I am confused

Is 1800 right or wrong?
Is 1500 right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

Is hay right or wrong?
Is silage right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

On a separate note, which way is up?

The quality grass you had in that picture you should be below 1800.
The silage I have no excuse for feeding now.
A bit of hay in the yard for them to pick at may help butterfat but it won't do a lot.
Feeding grass is never a constant it's always a balancing act and you could get more output by housing feeding silage and concentrates. That is why grass is a compromise of costs and output.

 

[Friesianfan]

I always go to 1500 but question if I'd get better regrowth from 1800. Never had enough grass though!

 

[Homesy]

18kg dm grazed grass will supply loads of fibre

Getting them to eat 18kg DM of grass is another matter. Might do it with dry grass on a perfect day but when it's pishing down or bone dry and hot or frosty and cold no chance.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Really ? As you know well if I’ve grazed to 1800 I’ve got my allocation wrong. We are not irrigated NZ. PRG roots shallowly enough as it is without making things worse.
It’s a wonder I’m still in business if the above was true

why?

 

[betweenthelines]

Watch your cows and grass.
Build up your own knowledge and experience. Learn from your fudge ups, we all make them.
If you have hay and no silage sometimes that will have to do.
Go with the flow

Do all the above @Jdunn55 and the TFF know-it-alls will still tell you what you've done wrong. LOL

 

[lazy farmer]

why?

Because I do exactly what you say I shouldn’t.

 

[frederick]

Right now I am confused

Is 1800 right or wrong?
Is 1500 right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

Is hay right or wrong?
Is silage right or wrong?
If both are wrong what is right?
If both are right what is wrong?

On a separate note, which way is up?

The best thing is to probably find a local discussion group to join and have these discussions in the real world and see what others are doing.
I admire you in how you open yourself up for discussion on here but it will never result in the real benefits of a face to face discussion.