Greenfield Farm: May protein remains high

The last three tests of the bulk tank at Greenfield Farm have shown the protein percentage up at over 3.7%. They also showed the butterfat percentage over 4.6%.

The combined fat and protein percentage is averaging 8.3% solids at 26 to 27 litres per cow per day depending on the collection, the grazing, the walk, the weather, etc.

So that’s over 2.15kg of milk solids per cow. The diet is grazed grass and 3kg of meal per cow per day.

Nitrogen

Protected nitrogen (Topper N Protect 46% N) landed into the farm the other day. At €428/t, it is working out at 0.93/kg of nitrogen.

According to IFI, this is a granular urea with N protect, the urease inhibitor NBPT recommended by Teagasc.

This reduces the ammonia losses and maximises the use of ureic nitrogen, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

The stocking rate remains at 4.8 cows/ha. There were two farm covers recorded in the last week.

Grass growth

On Monday, the growth rate was measured at 85kg DM/ha/day and then a growth rate of 61kg per day was recorded on Friday.

Farm cover is now at 757kg or 154kg per livestock unit. The herd is going into covers of about 1,400kg.

Silage ground (42% of the farm) is closed and fertilised with 80kg nitrogen/ha, 125kg potash/ha and 12kg sulphur/ha.

The herd somatic cell count (SCC) remains under 200,000 cells/ml for the last 11 test results – the most recent result showed 178,000 cells/ml, with 153,000 cells/ml before that.

A group of 30 heifer calves over five weeks old are ready for sale. These are mostly AI-bred, high genetic merit replacement stock.

Remember, a farm walk will be held on the farm on Tuesday 28 May to meet farm staff, see the herd and analyse performance.

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