Talking Dairy: Insights on maximising your homegrown feed | Ep. 110

Want to make the most of your homegrown feed? This episode of Talking Dairy is a chance to catch up on what was shared at our recent Progressing Dairy events focused on maximising homegrown feed. If you couldn’t make it along – or want to hear another farmers’ and scientists’ perspective - this episode brings the event to you. In this episode hosted by Area Manager Mattes Groenendijk, Waimakariri contract milkers Will and Sarah Gard share how they lifted pasture harvest and milk production by focusing on the basics. You’ll also hear how they plan their grazing rounds, manage residuals, and what tools they use to make informed decisions. DairyNZ’s Dawn Dalley talks about the science behind pasture allocation and mowing, while Sarah also shares insights from the DairyNZ Improved Forage Gains programme in her other job as Senior Project Manager and Programme Lead. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 2:40 - Pasture targets, covers and decision-making 5:45 - Difference of pasture management at scale 6:39 - Lifting repro performance 8:48 - Taking smart risks 9:45 - The science of grazing frequency 13:40 - Improved Forage Gains programme: Key projects 15:32 - Tools for measuring pasture 18:26 - Mowing vs topping 23:51 - Fertiliser use across the season 26:00 - Final thoughts 27:52 - Episode summary