Hectic spring winds met the Buchan Better Beef group in mid-September, making farmers a little uneasy about their drying effects so early in the season.
The meeting at the Sutton family’s farm, Quire Station, Buchan South, allowed local farmers to come together to discuss an animal health plan session, which encompassed a number of topics.
The paddock walk showed excellent results from rotational grazing and super each year.
Andrew Sutton said fertiliser and grazing were the two tools they had used to “get rid of paddocks full of bent grass”.
Tidbits of information about each farm were exchanged, with Dr Gunn addressing a number of questions.
One farmer had Angus calves that were a ‘bit red in the coat’ which Dr Gunn said was a copper and selenium deficiency, while another mentioned scouring calves which she said would most likely be the calf receiving too much milk or a change in feed.
Topics also included the use of drones; genomics and estimated breeding values for heifers; the use of selenium injections, as well as anti-inflammatory methods when marking calves.
Drenching stock was debated with Dr Gunn advising not to drench calves at marking as they’re too young, however heifer’s calves may need it, and it was advised to drench those at the second dose of five-in-one.
Artificial insemination was also discussed with Dr Gunn saying the normal range of conception was anywhere from 30 to 70 per cent.
“Nutrition has a massive influence on the results, much more than the program and the timing of drug doses,” she said.
She also mentioned of EBVs, the milk and fertility figures had low heritability, while growth and birthweight were highly heritable.
SPRING FIELD DAY THIS MONTH
The Gippsland Agricultural Group’s annual Spring Field Day will be held this October, giving participants a chance to see research in action, discover new solutions for their farms and connect with producers and industry partners.
The free, hands-on event brings together leading researchers, agronomists, and local farmers to share the latest practical insights to boost productivity on farm.
The program is divided into four session times, and people can choose which topics interests them the most.
The topics include Lucerne – finding the best fit for dryland farms with variety trials on display; pastures and the selection of perennial mixes for year-round growth; containment areas, their design options and feeding lambs in containment; as well as a session on the Weighty Weaners project, what’s missing to maximise weight-for-age in livestock.
In the cereals section, variety and disease management for grain and livestock enterprises will be covered; there will also be a session on faba beans – how, what and when to grow such a valuable protein source, plus a hay and silage session covering making quality feed for high livestock performance
In the soils department, the Soils and Lime topic will include a liming rate demonstration as well as using ‘LimeAssist’ for accurate applications, and there will also be a tractor demonstration with McCormick tractors incorporating poultry litter into the soil.
The Gippsland Ag Spring Field Day will take place Thursday, October 23, from 8:30am–4pm on the Bengworden Road, near the Bairnsdale Airport
The event is free, but places are limited, with registrations essential.
