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The Advance Party identified that feed quality and quantity was the key opportunity for Robert. Either grow more feed or reduce feed demand. More feed was especially required at key times of the year when weaners needed finishing and hinds were lactating.
 

Tactics/Actions: 

The Group offered these suggestions to help achieve this:

1.Improving brassica yield
Improving brassica yield might be a good way to improve fawning covers. Around 6% of the farm is grown in brassica, half of the crop is able to be second cropped.
Only 3% of the farm is re grassed - although much of the flats have been done in the last 10 years.
Yields 8-10 tonne DM/ha.

a.        Fodder Beet was suggested, however:
- it is expensive to grow and might not result in good yields - high risk
- that will mean only 2% is re grassed per annum
- Should Robert direct drill? - this would conserve the top soil in the top of the profile
- Experience of group indicates better yield on clay soils
- Lower risk of insect damage when resown in grass

2.      Nitrogen on the hill country

But does it stack up, compared to selling weaners?

Store vs finshing weaners comparison

The group were in agreement that Robert needed to grow more feed to achieve a better weaner result, and generally the profit from finishing weaners is good - so hanging on to them and feeding them better is advised. The Advance Party also thought growing them on one mum was a better opportunity than post weaning.

Outcome/Results:

Preliminary results

•  Roberts use of Ammo 31 at 100kg/ha grew an extra 480kgDM/ha of feed over 40 hectares = total 19200 kgDM.
•  The Nitrogen response was 15:1 (ignoring Sulphur contribution)

Costs are still being established, but either way results will be better than previously expected.

Positives

•  Robert is surprised and impressed at the response of using this product on hill country
• The response has reduced the feed pressure on the flat country
• Lactating hinds have more feed in front of them
• Early results appear to show a better margin than expected
• Easier way of growing feed compared to the alternative crop establishment options
• The response will mean hinds stay in the better fawning country for longer
• The sulphur appears to have given the clover a good boost.

Possible issues

The poor season may alter some of our predicted outcomes  

The response is quite evident in the square trial plot shown above. A tarpolan was covering the area with low grass growth during the fertiliser application.

Pasture before fertiliser application

This picture shows the difference between the plots. The treatment plot developed clover where it was typically scarce, adding feed and long term quantity.