- Where possible, spray out with an appropriate rate of quality glyphosate four to six weeks before the intended planting date. Add an adjuvant or broadleaf weed spike to aid control. To target perennial weeds, do not compromise the dose rate of the glyphosate.
- If you are not direct drilling, then lightly cultivate one week before drilling, creating a false seedbed to encourage weeds to germinate. These can then be sprayed with a light rate of glyphosate 24 hours before final cultivation and drilling of the seed. This allows the seeds to grow in as weed-free an environment as possible. If using a pre-emergent herbicide, it will work better being sprayed onto the soil rather than on plant matter from the previous crop.
- Pre-emergent herbicides work best where large clods are at a minimum. If present, these clods break open with weathering and release weed seeds that cannot be controlled by a pre-mergent herbicide.
- Once crops have been planted, monitor growth, and keep an eye out for any nutrient deficiencies.
- Herbage testing of clover and spring-sown crops should be undertaken to complement soil testing. This is an ideal way of identifying trace element deficiencies, which cannot be identified by soil testing alone.
- Nitrogen and sulphur are soluble nutrients, prone to leaching over winter. Spring pastures respond extremely well to fertilisers containing these nutrients.
- Primary strike flies in New Zealand require warm, humid weather.
- Eggs develop via larval stages (maggots) which then drop off the animal and burrow into the soil as pupae. In soil temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius, the pupae complete their development, and the adult flies emerge. This lifecycle is completed in three weeks.
- Flies are attracted to sheep by smell, particularly dermatitis, fleecerot, urine stain, and dags.
- Female flies live for one month laying up to 200 eggs every four to eight days.
- Flystrike inflicts significant pain and suffering resulting in weight loss and death in severe cases.
- Flystruck sheep need individual treatment with a product different from the one used for fly prevention.
- Prevention of flystrike requires targeted application of the correct chemicals plus incorporating farm management practices, such as crutching, and effective worm drench programmes.
- There is significant resistance to insect growth regulatory chemicals from the BPU family (triflumuron and diflubenzuron) throughout New Zealand. They are no longer recommended for use.
- Dicyclinal spray-on products give the most consistent protection. Cyromazine-base products are cost-effective but are prone to washing out in heavy rain.
- Choose combinations of more than one measure when deciding to wean. Consider weight, size/shape of rumen, age, and the amount of meal being consumed.
- Ensure calves are consuming at least 1 kg of calf meal per day for three or more consecutive days.
- If feeding higher levels of milk, slowly reduce the milk-fed over 10 to 14 days when weaning. This increases calf meal uptakes and supports rumen development.
- Minimise growth check at weaning by continuing to feed a quality calf meal for four to six weeks after milk feeding has finished.
- Meal is more energy dense than pasture, so offering a meal allows the weaner to get the nutrients it needs to grow, without being limited by physical rumen space.
- The risk of coccidiosis is high during the weaning phase, so choose a meal containing a coccidiostat.
- Store meal securely away from pets and working dogs, as coccidiostats can be fatal.
- Clean troughs prior to weaning so that water on offer is fresh and clean. Maximise water intake to ensure optimal feed intake and growth rates are achieved.
- Trace minerals are important for calf health and growth. An injectable mineral product is an option to use at weaning.
