Week 9 Dairy Pastures

Question 1

Generally describe the different types of dairy systems in Australia and explain what the milk is used for

Answer 1

WA and QLD milk if for fresh milk - constantly milking

Vic is mainly for cheese, butter, powder etc -staggered milking required for production

Question 2

Describe the effect that white clover can have on milk production and list some risks associated with high levels of white clover

Answer 2

Pastures are usually perennial ryegrass with white clover 5-10-20%
Inc. clover content leads to inc. milk yiled due to higher quality
Extra N=inc. rye, dec. clover

Question 3

Describe the reasons why perennial ryegrass pastures is recommended to be grazed between the 2-3 leaf stage

Answer 3

This is when it is of the highest quality with 2500kg/DM/H

If left long than this it will outcompete the clover

Question 4

Outline the important considerations needed to implement the 2-3 leaf grazing system

Answer 4

Need to know the growth rate of the ryegrass. How long it takes for each leaf to emerge to know how long the roation needs to be and how many paddocks are required in the rotation

Question 5

Outline the consequences of high residuals

Answer 5

Waste of feed
Poor utilisation in the next grazing
Reduced tillering- gives more shading
Aerial tillering (new tiller off node ifs useless)

Question 6

Consequences of low residues

Answer 6

Decreased persistence
Inc. weed infestation
Weaker regrowth

Question 7

Determining rotation rate

Answer 7

Need to determin the LEAF EMERGENCE RATE (LER)

watch and see how many days

Question 8

Determining factors of the LER

Answer 8

Temp

Different rotation speed at different times of the year

Question 9

Rotation Lenght

Answer 9

Time to get back to paddock

Question 10

Determining daily allocation

Answer 10

1 Cut pasture
2 Rising plate meter
3 Automatic Pasture Meter (Ellinbank)
4 Rapid pasture meter

Estimate this every 5-10 days

Question 11

Feed Wedge for Beef industry

Answer 11

Producing a beffer of feed in the winter time

Question 12

Describe how to create a feed wedge and how it could be used on a dairy farm

Answer 12

Aim to know the time for the pasture to recover
Estimate the DM vs paddock number
Individual paddock numbers are ranked on pre-grazing covers
Link between pre-grazing cover target and (2600kg) and post grazing target 1500kg
2nd knuckle

Question 13

If lines exceed feed wedge

Answer 13

Cut for hay

Question 14

If lines drop below feed wedge

Answer 14

Increase rotation time so they grow more

Increase supp feeding

Question 15

Outline the advantages to using Tall Fescue on a dairy farm

Answer 15

Higher summer production
Higher drought tolerance
Higher heat tolerance
Higher persistance
Soil requirements
COmpatibility with white clover

Question 16

Outline the disadvantages to using Tall Fescue on a dairy farm

Answer 16

Grazing management - decreased vigor
SLow establishment
Lower winter production

Question 17

Important factors of rye

Answer 17

Graze at 2.5 leaf stage
Consider:leaf emergent rate
Rotation length changes
How big an area grazing required
How much feed available