farmer case study: ian and karen litchfield, southern riverina
TRANSCRIPT
Our farm business:
400 hectares (37% dry / 63% irrigated)
470 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows
Milk twice per day
Avg. production: 10,000 litres/cow
Have limited paddock shade
Use irrigation
Ongoing drought and hotter temperatures have prompted us to change to a more flexible feeding system, which is less reliant on pasture and gives us more control over heat stress
Temp. Humidity Index (THI)
Moderate(THI 75)
Cows begin to experience heat stress
In-calf rates drop
Milk production declines
Big losses in milk
Severe heat stress +/- dead cows
Heat load:Heat stress risk level:
High(THI 78)
Severe(THI 82+)
Impact:
Temp. Humidity Index: Deniliquin 2009-10
Our cows are highly susceptible to heat stress (large Holstein-Friesians, high milk production)
We estimated that heat stress was costing us > 200 litres lost milk production/cow/year plus additional losses a.w cow fertility and health (= approx. $75,000 / year)
1. Low bail (Grazed pasture + other forages + up to 1.0 tn grain / conc. in bail)
2. Mod.- High bail (Grazed pasture + other forages + > 1.0 tn grain / conc. in bail)
3. PMR (Grazed pasture for most or all of year + PMR on feed pad +/- grain / conc. in bail)
4. Hybrid (Grazed pasture over cooler months + PMR on feed pad +/- grain / conc. in bail over hot months)
5. TMR (Zero grazing. Cows housed and fed TMR)
These are classified into 5 main feeding systems.
We now use system 4 (Hybrid)
5 Feeding Systems
Region by Feeding system
(Dairy Australia Nat. Dairy Farmer Survey, 2010)
30%
19%
41% 39%
15% 14%20% 19%
66%
50%
48%
47% 53%
51%49%
58% 60%
26%
11%
15%
8%8%
15% 20%
12% 8%
6%5%
15%
1%0%
14%5%
3% 10%
1%2% 2% 1%0%
4%
8%7% 0%
0%1% 2% 2% 0% 1% 4%0% 3% 0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
National Nth Vic /Riv
West Vic Gipps NSW Qld SA WA Tas
Other
TMR (System 5)
Hybrid (System 4)
PMR (System 3)
Mod-High bail (System 2)
Low bail (System 1)
We are part of a shift in recent years in Nth Vic. & Sth. Riv. from feeding systems 1 & 2 towards 3 & 4
Our cows are fed pasture plus supplements from April to Oct., and a mixed ration from Nov. to March
Feed troughs
Feedpad 1Shade shed - Single pitch roof, North-South
- Provides 4m² shade/cow
Central drive alley between two feedpads
Water troughsRaised earthen loafing area
5% slope to enhance drainage
Manure is scraped from heavily trafficked areas weekly
Compacted clay surface
Rainfall on roof is directed into recycle system
Roof is designed to withstand high winds
Concrete footings protect steel from contact with manure
We also help cows manage their heat load at the milking shed:
- Wet down concrete before cows enter yard
- Sprinkle cows while waiting in yard
- Fans in shed to promote air flow