Nigel Corbett is milking 101 cows on his 40ha grazing block. The farm has moved from a spread calving profile over an eight-month period to a five-month calving period from September to January.Calving will start on 5 September with 75% of the herd calving before the end of December. This includes 15 replacement heifers which will also calve in this period.
Nigel Corbett is milking 101 cows on his 40ha grazing block. The farm has moved from a spread calving profile over an eight-month period to a five-month calving period from September to January.
Calving will start on 5 September with 75% of the herd calving before the end of December. This includes 15 replacement heifers which will also calve in this period.
A lot has been done on this farm already to improve the fertility situation within the herd.
Heavy culling in 2016 and improved heat detection have had an immediate effect, coupled with a focused sire selection on delivering longer-term improved fertility performance.
Cow type
The cow type on the farm is moving towards a robust Holstein Friesian cow type capable of delivering high milks components and volume.
In 2016, the herd produced 7,400 litres per cow at 4.07% fat and 3.29% protein delivering 560kg of milk solids per cow.
Comparing the first six months in 2017 with that of 2016, the herd produced 7% more volume and milk protein also increased.
Volume is up 28,000 litres and protein has lifted by 0.12%. From a total output perspective, the increased milk sales projected for 2017 potentially will increase farm output by £17,000 for the year.
Grass growth
Maximising grass growth on this farm is key.
Yes, weather conditions play a major role in grass growth but soil fertility must be correct, or at least attempting to correct it in order to capitalise on the grass growth.
Soil analysis for the farm revealed significant shortfalls for key nutrients on the farm in 2015 with only 22% of the grazing block optimal for grass growth based on soil pH, phosphorus, and potash.
Based on 2017 soil analysis soil fertility has improved with 62% of the grazing block now optimal for grass growth with this filtering through to increase average grass growth on the farm.
Last year, this platform had an average growth of 9.5t DM/ha, but, this year growth will improve further with 6t DM grown this year already.
Nigel Corbett and family,
Banbridge, Co Down
I now measure every week, and use the information to improve the quality of grass cows are on. The last few weeks have seen growth around 70kg/day on the farm.
I have second-cut silage in the pit, so this means I can now increase the grazing area available for the cows.
Cows are eating 17kg grass DM per day and 3kg concentrate. Condition score at the moment is good and the first of the autumn-calving cows will be dried off towards the end of July.
The topper has been out last week to clean paddocks and remove any stem.
Grazing area is getting 27 units of nitrogen per acre on this rotation. Cows are on 24-hour grazing blocks.
Silage was cut this week in ideal conditions with no additive used. Slurry will go on at 2,000 gal/acre and I plan to use 24-6-12.
A compound will be used again on the grazing block at the end of July to help improve soil P and K. Despite the improvement in soil fertility on the farm, we still have paddocks which require reseeding and based on grass measurement they’re not the paddocks I expected.
The best paddocks on the farm seem to be those established the longest, and grazed early in the season.
Cow fertility
Cow fertility and getting cows back in calf has been our primary focus. We have tightened the calving profile from over 31 weeks in the 2015/16 season down to 20 weeks this autumn.
There are now 101 cows in the herd with 75% due between September and December this year. The remaining 25% will calve in January 2018.
Our plan is to move to 100% autumn calving with all cows calved by the end of December. Sires used have been selected on milk components and fertility.
We used pren-omen, YAB, FR2351, FR2056, FR2385, WLY and all the EBI sires have fertility sub-index greater than €100.
Development of the grazing infrastructure is in progress with 500m of farm track laid down last month.
Ten new water drinkers have been purchased and these will be positioned in paddocks with a 32mm water pipe feeding into them.
Historically, half of the land block was grazed with the other half cut continuously for silage. We plan to take silage but we will have an increased flexibility on the grazing front with improved access and water in all paddocks.
The thinking is to capitalise on the dry land currently used for silage in the early spring and autumn, allowing an early turnout and ultimately pushing up milk produced from grass.
Additional cows
Cow numbers have increased with the purchase of 20 additional cows in April.
All Investment this year is targeted at stock and infrastructure on the farm with more new track and improvements to existing tracks needed.
To achieve any improvement in milk from forage and capitalise on grass growth on the farm, we need to make access in and out of paddocks much easier for the herd. Electric fencing and drilling for a water well on the farm is required.
This work, along with some drainage and open drain maintenance, will significantly improve the grazing block on the farm allowing us to capitalise on grass at either end of the season.
Also, with multiple access points to paddocks, grazing management will improve with less labour required.
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