Some good rain – Trent Guy

Pregnancy testing

It’s always a nervous time when the vet turns up to do our annual preg test. However, I thought mating had gone extremely well and I had observed very few cows cycling since the bulls were pulled out. I had to keep telling myself though that it isn’t a done deal till the last row is scanned.

But when we got the cows in as the rows flowed through my grin got bigger and bigger. With the last row done it was time for the count up and work out the percentage in calf. A quick calculation and, it’s unbelievable: 95% in calf for the MA cows! Then off to the grazier’s to scan the R2s and that was an even better result: 100% in calf………. Time to celebrate with a drink I think!!!

Development

When we planted our summer crop it was decided that a new lane would be put in for better access to the front half of the farm and to also reduce some of the walks by over 1 km and hopefully reduce lameness. So over the last few weeks we have started the major job of removing a stand of large poplar trees and creating a cutting down a terrace, below are some progress photos!

Rain Rain Rain

Well, one wouldn’t believe it, after only 20 ml in December January hit and so did the rain and we haven’t had to irrigate since. It’s been fantastic and looks like we might end up making some baleage in February, also the summer crops have bolted away giving some impressive yields. Our rape crop has reached 1.25 m tall and we have 4 ha of that still to get through.

Don’t forget

Make sure you bring yourselves along to the SMASH field day here on the 9^th March at 353 Wilson Rd, Parakao. Dairy Number 13317. The topic for the day will be regrassing coming out of cropping, with some expert speakers and plenty of time for all your questions and lots of discussion, plus there will be farmer health checks, morning tea and lunch provided!