Maize silage is a good fit with New Zealand systems because the rumen is a microbial environment, full of bacteria, fungi and protozoa which eventually help to produce milk or weight gain.

As a result of the last two seasons’ historically low payouts many farmers have become very cost focussed.

Recently there has been an increased dairy industry focus on getting more out of pasture.

While fodder beet has been grown in NZ for years, it has only recently gained popularity as an important dairy cow winter feed.

An inexpensive autumn feed test can guard against mineral deficiencies in dairy and beef cows that can lead to low growth rates and poor milk yields.

Given the tough financial situation, it is time for dairy farmers to rely more on pasture production and to plan how to get more milk from fewer cows.

It's no surprise feeder wagon specialist Robertson Farm Machinery is offering a beet chopping attachment for its EX and Mega range of wagons.

The application of Gibberellic acid, particularly in winter or spring, is a good way to produce low cost feed in a hurry, a Northland study has shown.

Fodder beet is an increasingly popular winter crop for beef and dairy cattle due to the large amounts of dry matter it produces.

Most farmers are focused on extracting as much milk as possible from home-grown feed.