Our “Magic Day” has arrived, well I think it has. The magic day for pasture based dairy farmers is the day in spring when the grass starts grow faster than the cows can eat it (growth is in excess of demand). This day varies from farm to farm depending on the size of the herd and the size of the farm.
This year it looks like we have reached that day about a week earlier than normal. I say this with a touch of caution because our pasture growth rate figures measured around the farm tell me our pastures are growing at 55kg of dry matter per hectare per day but my ‘gut feel’ tells me this is not right.
Mating season has begun at Montrose Dairy, six bulls are now running with the heifers and I’m busy artificially inseminating the milkers.