Choosing the right supplements for your situation | Ep. 91

What’s your game plan when pasture growth slows down or a dry spell hits? Do you know which supplement will give you the best value for money? And how do you balance cost and risk when planning for the future? 

In this episode of Talking Dairy, DairyNZ’s Mark Williams, and Rakaia dairy farmer, Enda Hawe, discuss how to choose the right supplements for your circumstances. They cover the concept of marginal milk and how it can be used to ensure your feed strategy is financially sound. And they discuss the how to make the most of DairyNZ’s Supplement Price Calculator and the FeedChecker to guide decision making. 

Find out what steps you can take now to minimise the impact of future feed shortages. 

Find out more:

Summer Smarts | DairyNZ

Summer management - DairyNZ

Supplement Price Calculator - DairyNZ

FeedChecker calculator - DairyNZ

Using supplementary feeds profitably - DairyNZ Facts and Figures

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 5:25 How have farm systems changed in the last 10 years
• 7:30 Does a farm system influence how likely a deficit is and what options are available
• 8:57 Making cost-effective feed decisions
• 11:28 Using the marginal milk concept for a sound feed strategy
• 15:07 Feed tools
• 16:52 About the Supplement Price Calculator and the FeedChecker tool
• 20:26 Proactive planning for the future
• 24:08 First steps in a feed shortage
• 27:00 How does it differ for split or autumn calving farms?
• 29:17 Episode summary