“In all cases it was about doing the basics well and focusing on key times of the year when extra feeding is creating productivity gains.
“The group achieved a 26% improvement in productivity over the three years – 8% per year compounding. The profit partnership programme has a requirement for a 5% per annum compounding improvement so the group smashed it.”
Knowles said it was curious to see animal health was not a limiting factor if cows were fed well.
“The main driver was aligning quality feed to times of the year when big production gains can be made.
“Cow body condition scoring and the scales were key monitoring tools.”
One year on, what difference has the partnership made?
Chas and Dietlind Todhunter
Michael Salvesen
Main focus during programme
To increase cattle growth rates.
Changes made as a result
- Increased awareness, monitoring and discipline
- “We’re continuing to ‘tighten up’ on things – for instance, we’ve dropped our calving period from nine weeks to six weeks and still have 88% conception.”
Tim and Fiona Morrow
Bluecliffs Station, Timaru
Main focus during programme
To lift cow reproductive performance and increase cattle growth rates.
Changes made as a result
- “Using genetics that suit our requirements and recently scanned 390 cows with only 12 dry.
“With the growth rates achieved we were able to unload early – 85% of R2 steers went to the Five Star feedlot during November (80 at 497kg, 56 at 480kg and 27 at 440kg) at 14 to 15-months of age.”
