NZ Dairy Spring 2021

| 31 nz dairy winter grazing DAIRY PEOPLE » Denise & Ivan Hopper “Some of those paddocks have critical source areas (CSAs) — areas that might channel overland flow of soil nutrients and faecal matter to water, particularly during winter. You just don’t want the risk of using those areas so we don’t cultivate them. Some of the paddocks have drains next to them and so you create a 5 - 7 metre ungrazed/uncropped buffer between the crop and the drain.” Denise says with new regulations that require back fencing the use of portable water troughs are needed and there have been lessons learned this winter. “As we move the break fence forward we also move the back fence forward to limit the ground the cows are walking on, so they are not walking back over the whole paddock. The portable water trough is moved as the back fence is moved. This year we will set up the water system, includ- ing take-off points, in November when the crops go in, so we’re not dragging out portable water troughs through the wintertime when its all muddy.” A passionate dairy farmer, Denise says she loves the intelligence of the cows, and how quickly they learn. “We put a robotic milking system in four years ago and now we get to observe the cows a lot more. They decide when they want to be milked. “The cows walk to the sheds themselves and it doesn’t take long for the heifers to learn what to do either. “Putting the robots in has exceeded our expecta- tions, we’re getting more milk out of the cows and we are not in the shed at 5.30 in the morning every day.” “We will crop a paddock for two years and then put that back into grass for three years before going back into crop. We like to use SovGold kale because it has a later seeding stage and if we still need cows to be on crop in September it hasn’t all gone to seed. Phone 03 231 3315 | Andrew: 021 177 4241 Specialising in dairy shed pipe work and rotary platform improvements. Over ten year experience milling wear strips on rotary cow sheds. We make electric and water glands for continuous rotation and wash on backing gates. We make double load out ramps which can be retrofitted to existing yards to load out cattle. Hydraulic hose repairs Sturdy round bale feeders All types of general engineering VETSOUTHARE PROUDTO SUPPORT DENISE & IVAN HOPPER BALCLUTHA | GORE | WINTON | INVERCARGILL | LUMSDEN | OTAUTAU | CLYDEVALE | TAPANUI 0800 VETSOUTH | vetsouth.co.nz Photos: Southland couple Denise and Ivan Hopper milk 360 Friesian cows near Woodlands. Later calvers stay on the run-off till the middle of October and while there might only be a few outlyers at either end of the season the winter-feed budget still needs to take them into consideration. Product available to be delivered NZ wide. Depots in Auckland and the South Island. Are your feedpads and stand off areas compliant with the dairy cattle code of welfare? Call Gary or Wendy Ph (03) 231 3258 or 027 2047 139 McSTAY CONTRACTING LIMITED We provide the following services • Baleag e 4x 4 Rounds • Fodde r Bee t Planter • Loade r Wago n Silag e • Ful l Cultivation • Aeratin g • Subsoilin g o f Cro p Paddocks • Drai n Ploughin g • Direc t Drilling • M • Strip Tilling uc k Spreading Proud to support Denise and Ivan Hopper