Regrass, but do the homework

Date: 2009-02-23 | Category: Dairy News

After last year’s drought, many dairy farmers will be looking at renewing damaged pastures this autumn. But planning is needed to make sure of the best possible return for the effort.

DairyNZ development team leader Rob Brazendale said farmers who stitched annual ryegrasses into existing pastures last autumn would have few options other than renewing them.

Others could have incorporated a crop rotation into their milking platform to provide extra summer feed and to renew pastures.

They should identify paddocks most in need of renewal and reasons for their poor performance, using grazing records and pasture monitoring data.

DairyNZ has a pasture renewal calculator – with guidelines to assist in the analysis of the best option – on www.dairynz.co.nz.

Farmers also need to research the best species and cultivar for their property, and AgResearch’s Forage Master is able to help them decide on the right option.
 
They should take particular note of endophytes and the levels of insect protection required.

They need to have sufficient feed on hand to fill feed gaps arising from renewal as, at best, paddocks will be out of their grazing rotation for six weeks.

“It’s important to do a feed budget and evaluate options such as feeding supplements, using nitrogen or culling early,” he said.

Ideally new grass should be in by 1 March, as every week delayed from the end of March adds one month to the time of first grazing.

For more information on regrassing visit www.dairynz.co.nz, contact your local DairyNZ consulting officer.

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