Winter Grazing Plan
Intensive Winter Grazing
Owner:
JDO & CJ Thelning
RD7O
Oamaru 9495
Property Address:
56 McLeans Rd, Herbert
Bowalley Rd, Herbert
Lots 1 3-4 DP 453924 Sec 120R Pts 74 78 Blk V Otepopo SD Lot 1 DP 8670
Farm Size:
97.1ha
Total Wintering Area:
97.1ha
Maximum Annual Winter Grazing Area:
9.5ha
2023 Wintering Area:
4 paddocks totalling 8.7ha.
Description:
Winter Grazing on fodder beet, kale and rape for dairy and beef young stock, bulls and sheep.
Critical Source Area Management
Critical Source Areas are areas that collect surface water and can transport nutrients to waterways or groundwater. Critical Source Areas (CSA's) are marked on the winter grazing maps.
Winter grazing does not occur in CSA's in wet conditions from 1 May to 30 September each year - these areas are left in grass, and upper reaches in crop grazed while dry or lifted rather than grazed.
The only CSA's grazed are swales within the paddock which have grass buffers before reaching waterways. A CSA is dry enough to graze if no pugging results. However, where no alternative exists to feed stock it may be considered dry enough if there is no surface water in it at the time, it only runs in the rain, any resulting pugging is no more than ankle deep on average. However, wherever possible CSA's should be grazed where there is no pugging resulting at all.
Stock are excluded from CSA's with a buffer of 5m, or up to 20m if steep. These buffers may be in a grass paddock lower down the CSA and may be supplemented by a temporary bale detention dam.
Bales are placed on higher areas of crop paddocks away from CSA's in areas where tractors can safely access.
Slopes are grazed top to bottom toward CSA's and waterways if possible.
Backfences are used to protect previously grazed areas and they are replanted as early as practicable.
Crops are sown along the contour where safe to do so.
Wet Weather Planning and Animal Welfare
During wet weather when the paddock is becoming pugged beyond ankle height stock are run off to a sacrifice paddock with a large break to minimise damage and this is typically next years crop paddock.
Pugged paddocks are renovated with full cultivation back to grass including ripping if necessary.
Stock are given extra feed in wet, snowy or cold conditions.
Bale positions are moved daily to leave straw beds for stock to lie on.
Pregnant heifers are returned to the dairy platform in May ahead of an August calving date to prevent birth on the runoff.
Stock are consciously monitored daily for animal health issues such as acidosis, lameness, mastitis, condition loss, slowness, bagging up or calving. These animals are monitored, treated and separated as required.
Transition (where relevant) typically begins with 30 minutes on the first week from first cow on to last cow off and increases 15 minutes increments.
Mob sizes are maximum 300 during winter to limit competition and pressure on paddocks, cows and staff in difficult conditions.
A feed budget is used based on square metres and crop residual is monitored.
Monitoring and Changes
The plan is monitored daily when shifting stock. Version history is available.
This plan will be reviewed for effectiveness prior to planting 2024 crops with previous changes taken into account and results recorded on this site.
2023 Paddock Plans
Paddocks have CSA's which drain 1230m across grass and cereals to a creek.
The pond paddock is grazed from the front to the back where the pond is and is protected by a mimimum of 5m grass buffer.