Change is Challenging.

Change is Challenging.

18th April 2011
Peter Burton.

With a reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus leaching required, and regulation imminent, many in the rural community have concerns. Fundamental change in any system when forced by regulation is at best messy. 
 
An acceptance that change is necessary, the resources necessary for seamless change, and a reasonable time frame in which to implement, are prerequisites for fundamental change in our farming systems to occur.
 
This autumn more farmers have purchased DoloZest and CalciZest as part of their autumn nutrient inputs.  A change to a DoloZest/CalciZest based system will help ensure nutrient leaching of all applied nutrient is minimised, and when married to sound management practises total pasture production is maximised.
 
Dry matter measurements from one site on the Berryman dairy farm at Awakeri indicate that in excess of 20 tonne of DM has grown in the 11 months ending 31 March. The other site on the property, which has been flood-affected, has grown less, however the farm total at the end of April is likely to be close to 18 tonne of dry matter per ha.   This is the 4^th season in which less than 20kgN/ha of fertiliser nitrogen has been applied.
 
There are marked changes taking place in pasture composition at present.  With soil temperatures now below 20°C rye grass growth is strengthening as cooler conditions favour them over summer grasses and clover.
 
Clover is still strong in most paddocks with long strong stemmed growth abundant due to relatively high levels of plant available calcium, along with sufficient of all other essential minerals.  Clover growth varies from paddock to paddock influenced by how recently they have been grazed as well as the frequency and hardness of grazing over summer. 
 
Paddocks dominant in clover do not necessarily mean animals grazing them will be affected by bloat.  Where clovers are hollow stemmed bloat is more likely to occur, as is damage by pest and disease.  These are signs that the plants are likely to contain excess potassium relative to particularly calcium and magnesium.
 
Ideally clover stems are solid and leaf size is thumbnail size or larger and where this is the case bloat is seldom an issue.  Where there is sufficient plant available calcium to promote an abundance of long solid-stemmed large leafed clover, sugar levels will also be high and outstanding stock performance can be achieved.
 
Fast growing and lactating animals perform best on clover dominant pasture due also to clover being more digestible.  More feed eaten that contains high levels of calcium and energy necessarily provides better performance.
 
As winter approaches rye grasses start to dominate the sward and are likely to remain dominant until soil temperatures rise toward 20°C in early November. Over winter and spring ensuring stock intake of both calcium and magnesium becomes a focus along with the provision of sufficient fibre and energy for optimum performance.
 
An application of DoloZest, with phosphorus and sulphur as required, helps ensure that pasture grown over winter and early spring contains magnesium levels of between 0.22% - 0.25% with no less than 0.60% calcium.  Pasture energy (brix) levels will be maximised providing the best possible start to next season.