Huge scope in new species

Date: 2010-04-12 | Category: Dairy News

Over the past 26 years farming his Taranaki dairy herd, David Powell has increased the production from 20,000kg/milkfat to 46,000kg, most of which he puts down to the effect of new grass species.

For several years he was one of few farmers in the district doing any pasture renewal but now many more have cottoned on to the benefits.

“There is huge potential to increase the production of grass by using the new species,” he says.

But farmers who sow new pastures have to be on top of the management of the new sward, he warns.

“I think there is almost a whole new skill set needed to manage the modern high-producing pastures.”

Effectively lifting DM production from 8-12t DM/ha/yr means lifting the stocking rate half as much again, from two cows a hectare to three, he says, which could mean a new shed or more dairy shares as well as a new awareness of grazing management.

“If you are going to spend the money on pasture renovation then you really need three cows a hectare to keep the grass in trim.” It really amounts to how enthusiastic the guy is that is farming it, he says.

He has always been enthusiastic about growing more grass. “If I can make two blades of grass grow where there was one before I will have done more than enough.

“I want to leave the farm a better place than I found it.”

David is enthusiastic about the potential of new grass and shares his knowledge with AgITO students as their tutor.

Top tips for pasture renewal:

• Soil test to make sure the soil is not starving.
• Graze down to a pasture residual of 1600kg DM/ha in February.
• Prepare the seed bed, get in with the disc drill, and get seed in the ground by first week of March. Make sure the drill driver achieves an even planting depth and doesn’t drive too fast – this is critical.
• Broadcast fertiliser.
• First light grazing by the end of April – grass should be 10cm long. Preferably graze with calves as they tend to be selective. This helps to keep the competition at bay.
• Weed spray.
• Early management of ryegrass is aimed at encouraging tillering, allowing the plant to get roots established before grazing. This produces the greatest amount of leaf mass.
• Graze again over the winter, preferably with light cows on dry days to prevent damage from pugging.
• Look after pastures over the winter – don’t let cows mill around to damage pasture and soil. Use stand-off areas or a feed pad out of the wind. Avoid grazing pastures to below 1800-1900kg DM/ha, leave enough leaf to encourage the next growth.
• Should be up to full-speed pasture production by the end of year one. Pastures should last 10 years if they are looked after.

 David estimates the cost of new grass at 10c/ kg DM, at half the cost of PKE (26c/kg) and twothirds the cost of maize silage (at 17.5c/kg DM).

Published courtesy of Country-Wide December 2009

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