Dairy Newsletter - May 2025

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In this month's edition:

• Top five tips for May
  1. Assess grazing stocking rate, excluding areas for silage and reseeding. How much grass are you offering? Mature herds need 19-20kg allocated; therefore, a stocking rate of 3.5 cows/ha requires a growth of 65-70kg to maintain cover. 
  2. Make a plan to apply lime. This is too often put on the long finger and then forgotten, so make this year different. Apply on well-grazed paddocks based on test results.
  3. Have you under-18s working on your farm? If so, you must display and follow the under-18s Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) guidelines. 
  4. Ensure cows calved more than 30 days and not seen in heat are checked and treated based on diagnosis, e.g., cystic, anoestrous, metritis. 
  5. Budget forward for 2025 – it has been a very positive year to date on dairy farms, but the favourable financial situation can reverse quickly. Now is the time to plan and budget forward.
• Keep on top of grass quality 
  May is generally the month when the rate of grass growth reaches its peak for the year. Grass supply can change fast, so how you respond to grass growth is key. Grass grows at a rate of 60-70kg DM/ha/day during May, so a 20-day rotation will result in 1,300-1,400kg/ha of grass growing in this three-week period.
• Clover – nitrogen management
  In the summer when sward clover content is sufficient (≥20%), nitrogen (N) fertiliser application can be reduced. Suggested N application strategies for grass-clover swards with a range of sward white clover content are outlined
• Managing the use of stock bulls
  Stock bulls will continue to be a vital part of breeding plans on many farms in 2025. Managing the transition from AI to stock bull usage is an important factor in breeding success.
• Health & Safety - Machinery safety
  Most injuries on farms are caused by being struck by a farm vehicle. Blind spots exist around vehicles – particularly at close range. Be alert driving and go at a suitable speed. Give consideration to where vehicles and persons may be, particularly children. Implement segregation measures between vehicles and persons.