FROM THE FARM REPORT: WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FARM

This past summer was a busy one for all of us. With students on the farm there was a lot of activity and learning taking place each day. Now that the season has ended and our students have returned to school, we’re taking the opportunity to step back and look for areas of improvement. It’s important to identify areas where small changes can make a big impact. I think one of the most important things to work on is good communication between staff. Every now and then it’s good to hold team meetings where we can refresh protocols, talk through changes and make sure everyone has a chance to share input. Whether it’s a small detail or tackling a bigger decision, good communication between staff, although challenging at times, is vital to keeping the farm moving in the right direction.

A few weeks ago we made some important changes in cow comfort. Grooved rubber mats were added in the return lanes from our 2004 barn to the parlor, as well as in the parlor holding pen. This upgrade provides cows with better traction, reducing slips and helping them move more comfortably and safely.

We just wrapped up our fourth cut of alfalfa which will go toward feeding the lactating herd. The past couple months have been dry with very little rain. These weather conditions put stress on alfalfa, especially going into fourth cutting. Drought stress on alfalfa can cause it to enter a dormant state, leading to short, stunted plants and a significantly smaller yield. On the quality side of things, drought stress can significantly change what the cows are getting from the haylage. When alfalfa is short and dry it often grows with more stem and less leaf; this increases the fiber levels and makes it harder for the cows to digest it. Energy levels also decrease when the alfalfa is more stemmy and this will affect milk production. There is not a whole lot we can do about our dry alfalfa thanks to Mother Nature, but there are things we can do to help our cows get the best out of their feed. For the herd that means we might be expecting some TMR adjustments in the future. Nutritionists will often add more corn silage or other sources of energy to balance out the diets. Without that adjustment cows may eat less, milk less, and components can drop. Inconsistent quality from field to field can also make it tricky to keep the rations steady.

In short, the drought stress on our fourth cut alfalfa will reduce both tonnage and feed value. Testing the forage and working closely with our nutritionist to fill energy gaps in the diet will be our best line of defense to keep our cows milking strong through the winter.

On the production side of things, our cows are milking well, averaging over 100 lbs of milk per cow per day. And our rolling herd average has climbed to 32,000 lbs., which is something we are proud of. At the same time we know that there’s always room to grow and progress, so we’ll keep looking for ways to make improvements where needed.

— Mackenzie Abbati

mabbati@whminer.com