Displaying items by tag: feed
High-quality in, high-quality out
High-quality silage is a stable feed made from high-quality pasture.
Pickle it now, don’t let it rot
Making high-quality pasture silage should not be difficult, but it must be viewed as a supplementary feed, rather than just a necessity to manage pasture.
The art of making silage
Making silage is a balance: when a paddock is closed, yield increases but quality declines.
Maintaining nutrition as pasture quality drops
At this stage of the season, levels of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) rise very rapidly in typical NZ pastures as ryegrass starts to form seed head.
Make hay while the sun shines
Many regions are experiencing an early spring. The collective sigh of relief is almost audible as we exit a winter and spring very different from last season.
Feed options in early lactation – quality trumps price every time
The old policy of filling gaps with PKE from September comes with its very own headache this season – the FEI issue.
Caring for cows on crops
Wintering cows on crops is a common strategy to help keep them in good condition, but it may result in them getting sick.
Maize can make the difference
Maize is a vital crop that consumes a lot of farmers’ time and money, says DairyNZ.
Make a good move to fodder beet
Fodder beet, while having been grown in New Zealand for many years, has only recently gained popularity as an important part of dairy cow winter feeding systems.
Make it a successful harvest
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.
