Contented Animals Becomes a Talking Point

We’ve walked through dairy cows in late afternoon two weeks prior to calving and received no special attention.  Most have remained sitting and ruminating, with a small number finishing the last few blades of grass available, and not a sound apart from the steady breathing of content heavily pregnant animals.

This is not an unusual event and from the comments of a number of DoloZest clients; quiet, contented, easily managed animals are now regarded as normal.

Even when stock are receiving little more than maintenance feed (by traditional kg of dry matter measurements) behaviour remains the same.

When let onto a fresh break the following day, there’s no great rush or competition for space. A few steps onto fresh feed then it’s head down and steady grazing, with little if any of the rapid double-speed eating of hungry animals determined to get their fill before others.

At least part of the reason is the energy level of the pasture.  Not all pasture is equal and quite rapid changes in nutrient level and available energy takes place throughout the day depending on temperature, direct sunlight, wind, leaf area, and soil conditions.

The basis of pastoral farming is the conversion of energy from sunlight to food via plant photosynthesis and the energy content of pasture can vary markedly.

Typically here in New Zealand under conventional systems the energy content of pasture is low based on the requirements of rapidly growing or lactating animals, which is why there has been an increase in recent years in the use of high-energy supplement.

Maize, maize silage, molasses, are high-energy supplements and provide some valuable benefits when there is an energy deficit, and allowed free access, large quantities will be consumed.

With the application of DoloZest, and CalciZest later in the season, there is a steady increase in the energy levels of pasture. Properties into their 4^th and 5^th season of regular DoloZest use are finding that the requirement for high energy supplement declines considerably.  It is not unusual for animals in peak lactation to prefer pasture to high-energy supplement, only looking for extra energy during wet windy periods.

DoloZest, the dolomite based biologically active product from Eco-Logic Soil Improvement can be applied at any time.  Developed initially to eliminate calcium/magnesium related metabolic disorders in spring, careful monitoring over 6 years has identified a range of other benefits.

There is a steady improvement in physical soil structures providing better drainage in wet weather and greater moisture retention in summer.  Markedly increased clover growth throughout summer provides increasing quantities of nitrogen fixed naturally with properties now growing more pasture each year with no fertiliser nitrogen input.

Eco-Logic Soil Improvement nutrient programmes may incorporate nitrogen fertiliser to increase early or late season pasture production.  There are a number of options available that ensure a rapid increase in immediate growth whilst still retaining the higher energy and quality.