Bonus Tydskrif AUTUMN 2024

necessitates alternative sources. Maize silage is commonly employed to bridge this gap, but its effectiveness depends on proper ensiling and fermentation processes. Addressing the decline in milk production demands a comprehensive approach. Sustainable, long-term strategies that encompass adjustments in nutrition, management practices, and overall herd health monitoring are key. The question then: How do we navigate the autumn slump? From experience, I can propose the following strategies: • Replanting for autumn: Focus on replanting irrigated rye and clover early to ensure availability and quantity during autumn. • Grazing choices: Opt for younger, less fibrous kikuyu for better quality and digestibility. • Diversify pasture species: Incorporate tall fescue, plantain, chicory, and lucerne to supplement kikuyu, ensuring quality protein availability. • Maize silage management: Plan to safeguard enough maize silage from the previous season. Ensure correct DM content (32-35%) and proper kernel processing for energy- dense and digestible silage. • Digestible fibre options: Explore options such as soy hulls, lucerne hay, and brewers’ grains to fill nutritional gaps, ensuring their quality is known before incorporation. While the autumn slump is an inevitable challenge for every dairy farmer, including pasture or total mixed ration (TMR) system, these strategies offer a proactive and informed approach to mitigate its effects. With the looming El Niño, effective roughage management becomes increasingly critical not only for autumn but also for the upcoming year. By adopting these practices, dairy farmers can navigate the seasonal fluctuations and sustain milk production levels, ensuring the wellbeing of their herds and the success of their operations. Contact your local De Heus technical advisor to help identify potential weak points in your fodder-flow management and prepare for the autumn season. Visit www. deheus.co.za/meet-our-team/ to find out who your nearest De Heus advisor is. www.deheus.co.za | 031 785 1575 | infosa@deheus.com • Balanced rations: Feed the correct meal in the parlour, complementing the roughage menu to optimise cow performance. • Stocking rates: Review and adjust stocking rates, focussing on the correct age at first calving to manage greenfeed availability for milking cows. • Strategic pasture use: Utilise excess pasture during spring or early summer by wrapping or baling roughage sources to maintain low costs and ensure a reserve for times of need, such as autumn. www.agribonus.co.za Autumn / Herfs 2024 BONUS 39