Episode 135 – A better spring at LUDF
After several tough springs, Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) has had a much better start to the season, with good pasture growth and utilisation, cows calving on the milking platform and milksolids tracking ahead of target. Anne Lee speaks with LUDF Demonstration Lead Antoinette Archer and Farm Manager Peter Hancox about the season so far, the farm’s mating plan and the decisions coming out of its latest focus day.
Host:
- Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
- Antoinette Archer, Demonstration Lead, Lincoln University Dairy Farm
- Peter Hancox, Farm Manager, Lincoln University Dairy Farm
Antoinette explains why the farm has moved from 10-in-7 milking back to a tactical twice-a-day system, and why it is speeding up regrassing to as much as 25% of the platform this season to tackle weeds and lift pasture production. Peter discusses the farm’s all-AI mating plan using collars, sexed semen and beef across the bottom 40% of the herd, plus a run of 21 sets of twins this spring. They also cover how rising feed, fertiliser and fuel prices are affecting the farm’s budget, along with the beef-on-dairy panel at the focus day. That panel looked at Pāmu’s push to rear more of its calves, the development of a finishing value index (FVI), and why strong relationships along the supply chain are key to making beef-on-dairy work.
