Farmer case study:Ian and Karen Litchfield

‘Kariana’, Mayrung (southern Riverina)

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Our farm

Our farm business:

400 hectares (37% dry / 63% irrigated)

470 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Milk twice per day

Avg. production: 10,000 litres/cow

Have limited paddock shade

Use irrigation

Ongoing drought and hotter temperatures have prompted us to change to a more flexible feeding system, which is less reliant on pasture and gives us more control over heat stress

Temp. Humidity Index (THI)

Moderate(THI 75)

Cows begin to experience heat stress

In-calf rates drop

Milk production declines

Big losses in milk

Severe heat stress +/- dead cows

Heat load:Heat stress risk level:

High(THI 78)

Severe(THI 82+)

Impact:

Temp. Humidity Index: Deniliquin 2009-10

Our cows are highly susceptible to heat stress (large Holstein-Friesians, high milk production)

We estimated that heat stress was costing us > 200 litres lost milk production/cow/year plus additional losses a.w cow fertility and health (= approx. $75,000 / year)

Aust. dairy farmers use a diverse range of feeding systems

1. Low bail (Grazed pasture + other forages + up to 1.0 tn grain / conc. in bail)

2. Mod.- High bail (Grazed pasture + other forages + > 1.0 tn grain / conc. in bail)

3. PMR (Grazed pasture for most or all of year + PMR on feed pad +/- grain / conc. in bail)

4. Hybrid (Grazed pasture over cooler months + PMR on feed pad +/- grain / conc. in bail over hot months)

5. TMR (Zero grazing. Cows housed and fed TMR)

These are classified into 5 main feeding systems.

We now use system 4 (Hybrid)

5 Feeding Systems

Region by Feeding system

(Dairy Australia Nat. Dairy Farmer Survey, 2010)

30%

19%

41% 39%

15% 14%20% 19%

66%

50%

48%

47% 53%

51%49%

58% 60%

26%

11%

15%

8%8%

15% 20%

12% 8%

6%5%

15%

1%0%

14%5%

3% 10%

1%2% 2% 1%0%

4%

8%7% 0%

0%1% 2% 2% 0% 1% 4%0% 3% 0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

National Nth Vic /Riv

West Vic Gipps NSW Qld SA WA Tas

Other

TMR (System 5)

Hybrid (System 4)

PMR (System 3)

Mod-High bail (System 2)

Low bail (System 1)

We are part of a shift in recent years in Nth Vic. & Sth. Riv. from feeding systems 1 & 2 towards 3 & 4

Our cows are fed pasture plus supplements from April to Oct., and a mixed ration from Nov. to March

Feed troughs

Feedpad 1Shade shed - Single pitch roof, North-South

- Provides 4m² shade/cow

Central drive alley between two feedpads

Water troughsRaised earthen loafing area

Feedpad 2

Cows utilising shade as sun moves across

5% slope to enhance drainage

Manure is scraped from heavily trafficked areas weekly

Compacted clay surface

Rainfall on roof is directed into recycle system

Roof is designed to withstand high winds

Concrete footings protect steel from contact with manure

We also help cows manage their heat load at the milking shed:

- Wet down concrete before cows enter yard

- Sprinkle cows while waiting in yard

- Fans in shed to promote air flow

Temp. Humidity Index: Deniliquin 2009-10

We estimate that our $120,000 investment in cooling infrastructure provides us with greater control over milk production during extended hot weather, and saves us approx. $33,000 to $40,000 / year