Abstract:
Some Effects of Farm Management Practices on Production of Dairy Cows BY D. E. POULISEN(1), K. R. POULSEN(l), N. J. DOUGLAS(2) AND H. H. SMITH(2) Description of the Farm: The farm is situated in the Mary Valley district of Queensland and has an area of approximately 320 acres. Approximately 180 acres were originally covered with dense vine scrub. Of this area 42 acres of river and creek frontage are subject to periodic flooding. Thirty-two acres have been sown to irrigated pasture mixtures including Priebe' perennial prairie grass, H.I. rye s grass, paspalum and white clover. A further 26 acres have been prepared for irrigated pastures. The remaining 80 acres of scrub land are grassed mainly with paspalum and white clover which were sown when scrub was cleared over 50 years ago. The remaining 140 acres of the farm is open forest country timbered with bloodwood, ironbark and gum trees. Twenty acres are used for crop growing. Eighteen acres are sown to Priebe' s perennial prairie, H.I. rye and ladino clover without irrigation. Fifteen acres of swamp land are grassed mainly with couch. On the remainder of the area Rhodes grass, paspalum and white clover are the dominant species. In areas where mowing is not practicable blady grass and other inferior species are troublesome. Climatic Conditions : There is a highly seasonal incidence of rainfall with heavier recordings occurring usually in the period December to March, inclusive. However, heavy falls are recorded in some years at other times and serious flooding occurred in June, 1958. Over the period 1954 to 1959, average annual rainfall varied from a minimum of 27in. in 1957 to a maximum of 94in. in 1956. ` The rainfall in 1957 was approximately 50% of average annual rainfall. Over the period 1954 to 1959 damage was caused by floods in all years except 1957. The year 1958 was worst in this respect when floods occurred in February, March, April, June and December. Periodic droughts and heat waves in summer months are also factors which adversedly affect production. Herd Management: The herd comprises both Australian Illawarra Shorthorn and Jersey cows with the former comprising the bulk of the herd. All bulls used are from ,4dvanced Register A.I.S. cows. Mating is practised to have COWS calving throughout the yea.r, with the heifers being mated to calve in spring or early summer. Heifers and cows are run with the milking herd for the last two to three weeks before calving. Production recording of the herd has been practised continuously for a number of yea.rs. (1) ' Beechwood' Comoy, Queensland. , (2) Dept. of Agriculture and Stock, Cooroy, Queensland. 29 Agricultural Programme: There has been a progressive increase in the area sown to crops and pastures over recent years. The areas sown to different crops and pastures and the production data for the herd for the years 1954 to 1960 are shown in Table I. All pastures sown since 1954 receive 2 to 3 cwt. superphosphate per acre per year. All clover seed is now lime coated and inoculated. Maize crops receive 2$ to 3 cwt. of a 5:13:5 complete fertiliser per acre. Feeding Programme: Prior to 1957 irriga.ted pastures were not available for grazing and it was the practice to feed cows during the winter or spring months one or two pounds per day of a mixture of four parts corn and cob meal to one part of cottonseed meal or meat meal. The corn and cob meal was prepared from crops grown on the property, but meat meal and cottonseed meal were purchased. The annual cost of purchase of these latter items was generally in the vicinity of $250. As increasing areas of irrigated pasture and non-irrigated improved pasture have become available only corn and cob meal have been used for supplementary feeding. Seasonal Nature of Production: Under usual commercial conditions on Queensland dairy farms there are marked seasonal fluctuations in dairy production, with production in the first quarter of the year being considerably higher than in the second or third quarters. This is due to the predominance in pasture of summer growing grasses which have high feed value in the period January to April but decline sharply in value in autumn and winter. 30 Table II presents data on the seasonal variation in production on the farm under discussion. TABLE II. It will be noted that in the years 1954 to 1957 production for the first auarter of the year accounts in each year for over 30% of total annual output. However, in 1958 and 1959 there is a marked increase in the proportion of annual output obtained in the third quarter. The large increase in annual production in 1959 is due to substantial increases in output in the second, third and fourth quarters which can be attributed to the feed provided by both irrigated and non-irrigated improved pastures containing species which provide feed of high quality in winter and spring. DISCUSSION (a) Comparative Costs of Irrigated Pasture and Concentrates: Prior to the use of irrigation for pastures purchase of supplementary feed cost approximately $250 per year in most years. In some years this figure was increased considerably by cost of purchase of grain. To date, pumping costs for irrigation have 614 to 9/- per acre. inch, depending on the height to be pumped. An average cost of 7/6 per realistic and at this cost, 660 acre inches could amount of $250 previously spent on purchase of been in the range to which water had acre inch appea.rs be pumped for the feed. It is estimated that pasture comprising grass and ladino white clover require four to five inches per month from rain or irrigation to maintain good growth. From examination of rainfall data the following estimates are made of the amounts of water which would have been required per acre of pasture for the years 1957 to 1959:In 1959, 42 acres were under mixed grass clover pa.stures. It appears that in most years this area could be provided with adequate water at a cost for pumping, less than the cost previously incurred for purchase of fodder. The production increase in 1959 considered in conjunction with savings on feed costs indicate a profit from irrigated pastures over and above costs of latbour, interest and depreciation on capital expenditure and all running costs. 31 (b) Effect on Maize Yields: Adoption of a rotation of three to five years under improved pasture comprising gra,sses and clover followed by one or two years cropping for maize, with use of fertilisers mentioned above, has given an increase in maize yields from an average of 25 bushels to over 60 bushels per acre. (c) Influence of Labour: The only change in labour occurred at the end of 1954. To encourage efficiency a bonus is paid on the basis of production in addition to a regular wage. (d) Effect on Sideline Income: The availability of good improved pastures throughout the year has enabled the early weaning of calves from milk to pasture and permitted the rearing of surplus calves for vealer production. DISCUSSION R. L. Harrison (Qld.).-How can vealer production be incorporated into this type of farm and does this involve extra labour? Answer.-A beef bull is used on the poorer dairy cows. It was found possible to organise the existing labour force to rear vealers. 32