High dairy payouts fuel record milk production across NZ

James Allen of AgFirst says production overall is slightly ahead of last year, but the use of supplements is driving the high production.

He says the Waikato is in good shape with the grass really starting to move and paddocks are being closed off for silage, while others are being sprayed out for the planting of maize.

He says for farmers who are now in the phase of transitioning to an all-grass system, there is a problem.

“In the Waikato, while the grass is lush, the dry matter in it has tended to be quite low. It’s down to around 15% whereas we would expect it to be at least 20%. As a result of this, farmers are having to continue to feed out supplements,” he says.

Allen says while it is not unusual for what could be termed ‘waterery grass’ at this time of the year, it seems that it is slightly worse than in the past.

However, the good news is that prices for supplements are reasonable.

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Elsewhere around the country, the season so far is reasonable.

Allen says the colder weather has had an impact in many areas such as south Waikato, the Manawatu and the Wairarapa, but pasture growth is now picking up and production, fueled by supplements, is up. But he says he’s heard reports that Hawke’s Bay is drying out and that may be a potential problem.

Allen says the other issue that has surfaced this season is an increase in the number of calves getting sick.

He says there is no definite reason for this and ponders whether the increase in the number of sick calves is due to an increase in calves being raised.

“The good season, reasonable supplement prices and production slightly up; it seems most people ae in pretty good spirits,” he says.