Pasture Info
Collation of key information on pastures that can help with some of the technical questions you may have.
Typical range of feed values for straw, cereal hay and lucerne hay
| Type |
ME (MJ/kg M)
|
Digestibility (%)
|
CP (%)
|
NDF (%)
|
ADF (%)
|
| Straw |
5 - 6
|
35 - 65
|
3 - 6
|
65 - 75
|
47 - 55
|
| Cereal Hay |
8 - 11
|
35 - 85
|
8 - 14
|
45 - 60
|
30 - 45
|
| Lucerne Hay |
9.5 - 10.5
|
50 - 75
|
16 - 24
|
35 - 45
|
25 - 35
|
Typical feed requirements of lot-fed beef cattle
| Type |
Liveweight (kg)
|
Feed Intake (% liveweight)
|
ME (MJ/kg DM)
|
CP (%)
|
Daily Weight Gain (kg)
|
| Weaners |
150
|
2.6
|
12.0
|
15.0
|
1.0
|
| Yearlings |
300
|
2.9
|
11.0
|
11.5
|
1.3
|
| Steers |
500
|
2.6
|
10.8
|
11.0
|
1.4
|
| Yearling Heifers |
300
|
2.9
|
11.0
|
11.5
|
1.2
|
| source: NSW DPI | |||||
Typical feed requirements of dairy cows
| Type |
Liveweight (kg)
|
Energy required (MJ/day)
|
Feed intake (kgDM/day)
|
ME (MJ/kg DM)
|
CP (%)
|
Daily weight gain/loss (kg)
|
| Cow producing 35 L/day, non-pregnant |
600
|
231
|
21
|
11
|
17
|
-0.5
|
| Cow producing 20 L/day, 3 months pregnant |
500
|
160
|
16
|
10
|
14
|
0
|
| Non lactating cow, 8 months pregnant |
500
|
117
|
13
|
9
|
12
|
0
|
| Growing heifer, 2 months pregnant |
400
|
80
|
8
|
10
|
12
|
0.7
|
| source: NSW DPI | ||||||
FAQ about silage
By Frank Mickan
Every dairyfarmer making silage will be doing so under different management and climatic conditions with a range of machinery and varying levels of operator experience. This article aims to provide answers to FAQ's from farmers.
Ten steps to pasture sowing success
By Frank Mickan
Failed or poor germination of newly sown autumpn pastures can cause many arguments between farmers, contractors and seed companies. So often a below expectation germination is due to one or more errors in the sowing process. The key thing to remember is that pasture seed needs good soil contact.
Understanding why hay heats
By Frank Mickan
Most dairyfarmers have seen or heard of hay stacks that become so hot that they have begun to smoke or even burst into flames. This leads to questions of what causes this heating, why does some hay heat more than others and what is the difference between bale types.
When should silage be tested?
By Frank Mickan
When forages have been harvested and fully sealed, they undergo many compositional changes and this is initially due to the action of plant enzymes. Other chemical and organic changes also occur due to a range of undesirable aerobic (air) micro-organisms.