Hi there, and welcome to 2024!
As usual the year has kicked off with another successful International Dairy Week.
Congratulations to everyone who made the effort to participate, and to those who supported people attending, it’s a massive undertaking — halter training, selecting entries, washing, feeding and organising.
My personal favourite is the kids’ fancy dress section — whoever organised the spiderman costume (you know who you are) well done!
Inspiring the next generation is so important, and the youth section is certainly a place where memories are made.
Given the incredible humidity and heat we’ve endured this summer, it seems ridiculous to be talking about autumn now, but I’m going to, because I’m big on preparation.
Now is exactly the time to talk with your team about your autumn sowing program to secure seed, calving and joining preparation jobs, and hooves. Don’t forget the hooves!
When you start sowing in autumn, you should start your hoof care program for the winter.
Talk to your consultant, ag store or vet about a plan now to get hooves in good condition and keep them that way into the winter.
The plan is to prevent lame cows, and not treat them. For starters, it’s cheaper. While you’re at it, have a critical look at your laneways.
With rivers and dams full, you’ve got to wonder what sort of issues we may be up against this autumn/winter.
We’ve just endured the wettest El Niño on record, so what does this mean for winter?
If you haven’t already done so, click on over to the Murray Dairy Facebook page and keep in the know about upcoming relevant workshops like Cups On Cups Off 2.0.
The humid and hot weather is unsurprisingly creating some mastitis issues on-farm, and keeping yourself and staff informed and trained is key.
Rachael Napier is the Murray Dairy chair.