DairyNZ consulting officer and Heifer Grazing Project manager Sarah Dirks said discussions would centre round five focus farms – one each in King Country, Manawatu and Otago, and two in Northland. Focus farms were selected based on three key criteria: having good relationships with the dairy farmers they work with, being good farmers who could be examples in the community, and having good environmental practices.
The project will focus on key heifer grazing areas of: relationship management, knowledge (farm systems and stock management), and economics.
Dirks said the dairy industry was striving to increase the number of cows that become in-calf during the first six weeks of mating. Growing young stock well was one of the contributing factors to achieving that.
Focus group research found many graziers did not feel valued as part of the dairy industry. While there were many field days and discussions for sheep and beef, and dairy farmers, knowledge extension and support for dairy heifer grazing was lacking, Dirks said.
Weighty issue
LIC recently did a study of heifer weights entered into the dairy industry national database. Of the animals reviewed, only 27% were within at least 5% of their target weight at 22 months. The industry aims to lift this to more than half in three years’ time.
“When it came to heifers there wasn’t a platform for farmers to share ideas and learn from technical experts and each other.”
She said farmers were the best people to showcase what worked well, what didn’t and what was practical onfarm.
Attendees at the first heifer focus farm day in November were an even mix of dairy farmers and graziers.
“It was great to see dairy farmers there with the graziers they work with, so they’re both getting the same information.”
For heifer focus farm dates and venues go to www.dairynz.co.nz/events.
