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Macalister Demo Farm Update Feb 3, 2011

Macalister Demonstration Farm, Dairy Australia, Extension Project
Projects on the farm are funded by Dairy Australia, the Gardiner Foundation, Sustainability Victoria,  DPI VIC,  Department of Agriculture Food and Fisheries, with support provided by GippsDairy. 

Macalister Demonstration Farm Update 285 (Week ending Feb 3, 2011)

The Macalister Demonstration Farm is milking 289 cows grazing 71 hectares, a stocking rate of 4.1 cows per hectare.  Last year at this time, there were 289 milkers, and the stocking rate was 4.0 cows per hectare.  The daily allocation for last week was one 30th of the grazing area, and the actual grazing rest time was 30 days. 

Compared to last week, milk production per cow is the same at 1.77 kg milk solids (MS) per cow per day.  Litres per cow per day are down from 25.1 to 25.0.  Milk fat test has fallen from 3.70% to 3.67% (fat yield is down from 0.93 to 0.92 kg per cow per day).  The protein test is up from 3.38% to 3.42% (protein yield is up from 0.85 to 0.86 kg per cow per day).  This time last year, milk production was 21.7 litres, 1.62 kg MS, 0.90 kg fat, and 0.72 kg protein per cow per day.  It is estimated that the cows are each gaining 0.1 kg live weight per day.  

The daily pasture consumption from the grazing area is down from 39 to 37 kg dry matter (DM) per hectare per day.  The pasture consumption per cow is down from 9.4 kg to 9.1 DM per cow per day.  This time last year, pasture consumption was 39 kg DM per hectare per day, and 9.8 kg DM per cow per day. 

4.0 mm of irrigation water, 1.2 kg of nitrogen element, no phosphorus, 0.05 kg of potassium, $0.19 of pasture renovation, and $0.30 of topping, all per hectare per day, have contributed to the current pasture consumption.  The daily spend on these pasture inputs totals $4.76 per hectare per day, up from $4.56.  Based on those cash inputs only, the consumed pasture price is estimated to be $129 per tonne of dry matter, up from $118.      

Supplementary feed includes crushed wheat, and a pellet containing 25% protein, minerals, Rumensin, Tylan, and Zinc Oxide, totalling 7.6 kg DM per cow per day, at an average price of $329 per DM tonne, and 0.5 kg DM of Palm Kernal. 

The Bulk Milk Cell Count has risen from 85,000 to 117,000.  This time last year the BMCC was 139,000.  The BMCC average for the ten day period to 31/01/2012 was 94,000, which gave the farm a factory ranking of 8th out of 377 farms 

Our milk company announced a price step-up during the week.  The milk price (less compulsory levies) that the MDF anticipates receiving for the week’s milk is $5.23 per kg milk solids, or 37.1 cents per litre.  Milk income per cow per day is up from $9.10 to $9.27, made up of $2.98 for the fat, $6.95 for the protein, and minus 0.65 for the litres.  This time last year milk income per cow per day was $8.53. 

Feed cost per cow per day (including pasture and supplements) is up from $3.58 to $3.81 per cow per day, leaving a Margin over All Feed (MOAF) per cow of $5.46, down from $5.53.  The margin over all feed per hectare is $22.22.  The whole farm feed margin is $1,578, down from $1,601 per day.  This time last year the whole farm feed margin was $1,492 per day.   

Applications for the MDF Travel and Learning Scholarship ($10,000) close on  February 21st

Frank Tyndall      0409 940 782    ftyndall@ozemail.com.au

 

 

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