Winter Grazing Plan

Run-off Block 311.19ha
557 Conlans Rd
Island Cliff
LOTS 2 3 DP 8171 PT SEC 4 BLK I DP 247 SEC 47 PT SECS 9 31 32 35 BLK I MAEREWHENUA SD CLOSED ROAD BLK I MAEREWHENUA SD
Enfield Block 32.28ha
196 Teaneraki Rd
Enfield
Lot 1 DP 394446

Farm Size:
Total 623.87ha contiguous operation.

Total Wintering Area:
623.87ha

Maximum Annual Winter Grazing Area:
36ha

Description:
Winter Grazing on fodder beet, kale and rape for mixed age dairy cows, dry stock and young stock.

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.
Winter Grazing will not occur within 50m of a neighbouring dwelling or bore.

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.
Cows are wintered for 60-80 days, but closer to 65 days usually, and returned to the dairy platform well before calving date to minimise the risk of cows calving in mud.
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.
Typical ration is 15kg dry matter consisting of 5kg of baleage, hay, straw or kale and 9kg of fodder beet.

Monitoring and Changes

The plan is monitored daily when shifting stock. Changes are made to this plan as necessary and consent authority is notified. Version history is available.

This plan will be reviewed for effectiveness prior to planting 2025 crops with previous changes taken into account and results recorded on this site. Review for 2024 resulted in updated crop maps.

Winter Grazing Paddock Plans

Island Cliff Run Off Block

Hilderthorpe Dairy

Enfield Block

Boundaries shown. No crop 2023.