October 7, 2025 • 7 mins
Nathan Nelson offers some tips around negating the slow growth season that is being experienced in the south.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome back to the muster. Nathan Nelson out of Darry
and Z joins us once again. Nathan, how are you good?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
A Andy, Good to be with you as always.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Yeah, good to catch up. Look, we're going to talk
about this straight off the cuff. Is the way that
the weather's changed. We spoke to you, I think about
six weeks ago, and you were cautiously optimistic about the
spring that was ahead, and you seem to be correct
in that thinking.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, I think we talked about back then how things
were shaping up off the back of a reasonably kind
sort of July and even August, and I dare say
things have sort of changed with the weather, that's for sure.
And yep, the last probably four even five weeks have
certainly been certainly been a battle. And yeah, I guess
(00:53):
there's quite a range across the province. But yeah, the
theme would be just that challenge of back to that
challenge of feed utilization and farmers onto their second round,
most of the herd carved down now and quite a
bit of feed demand on the herd, and just probably
just battling the elements would be the fairest way of
saying it.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
So that's the thing to think about at the moment
now feed strategies until we get some growth.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, I think it's fairly universal you and I just
chatting off here. Obviously a discussion group yesterday just north
of Gore, and the farmers that we had there were
you know, sort of fairly widespread across the province, and yeah,
there was definitely a sense of like right on top
of feed and or probably just you know, like not
a lot of feed cover in front of them, and
probably that challenge of what feed maybe is in that
(01:41):
second round is actually the utilization of it without wrecking
paddocks or you know, just making a lot of damage.
So yeah, I think probably just worthwhile touching on some
of those strategies and just things to think about. Probably
caveated by the fact that everyone's farm and system and
options are a bit different, but hopefully just we'll roll
(02:02):
through a few strategies and something in there will resonate
for our listeners.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So that's seems to be general consensus. Feed levels just
well behind where we need them to be, given we
so far through carving.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, I think like most people would be growing probably
like below demand. To be a fair comic to say
average pasture covers are quite variable, but I think general
consensus that that feeder is definitely tight and probably yeah,
just whether you've been able to get a get to
(02:33):
get some nitrogen fertilizer on, or certainly the helicopter guys
are being busy again, you know, trying to flight on
where they can or where there's a gap to be
able to get it on. There's one option to try
and boost that sort of feed supply option. I guess
the other strategy that would sort of encouraging there. I
say that we probably learned a lot of lessons from
(02:54):
last season in the spring that we were out just
as far as you know, if you've got that option
of ensured feeding, then certainly that's the most favorite options,
certainly at this milk price that's on offer at the moment,
to probably just yeah, put feed in that regard because
that's your best return on your investment and obviously you know,
your highest return on feed utilization and trying to keep
(03:15):
cows you know, a little bit full or content before
they head back out to the paddocks. So it'll be
the first first one to sort of really look at
what's possible in shed feeding. Then if you've got options
to you know, have some feed in some trailers, either
the palm kernel or palm kernel dd G mix, either
at the exit race or on a hard surface somewhere,
(03:37):
just another option to get some feed into them, or
vale of bailags or fiber or something, just so they're
going back. When they do go back to those paddocks,
there's a little bit of energy in the system and
a little bit of gut fill before they actually head
back out onto the paddocks. I think the other side
of it again, every farm is different, but clearly if
you've got like standoff facilities or abilities seeing cows off
(03:58):
fishing the worst of those weather events, then yeah, definitely
utilize that. If you haven't, it's probably plan B A
is Yeah, pick one of those paddocks that can become
a bit of a standoff paddock, and yeah, try and
probably contain or minimize you know, that pasture damage or
making muther as much as possible. Obviously acknowledge that all
(04:20):
these shrutities, you know, are quite time consuming, and you know,
people at the end of carving, so there's probably a
fair bit of fatigue around the place as well, and
just that mental fatigue. I think of, you know, sort
of being back to where we were almost the fun
last spring and how much of a challenge that was.
So definitely encourage just that conversation of chicken in with
your team as well and just have some probably some reasoning,
(04:42):
honest conversations about you know, where energy levels are at
and how people are actually yeah, like managing or coping
given that. Yeah, for the time you get the into carving,
you reasonably sort of tied and where anyway, and then
you've got the challenge of dealing with the weather and
trying to keep cows fit and content. So yeah, definitely
chicken your teams would suggest on that front. And if
you're the farm decision maker or manager or shermock growna,
(05:07):
I think yeah, it's probably that sense of picking up
the phone and having a check to some of those
neighbors that you trust or just get a second opinion
or chew the faton. Yeah, sort of share a bit
of that mental load, and then it would probably suggest Yeah,
like if you're working with a farm consultant, worthwhile just
the second opinion, run some ideas past them, or whether
it's not your consultant, it might be your vet or
(05:28):
their en ZI team certainly always there as your area
manager to just be a sounding board or about some
of those ideas about.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So what a supplement level was like in general, Nathan,
given we had a kind winter.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, I think like the rallies probably as we said earlier,
if you've got that in shed feed when that's your
first priority, just mainly because of the utilization effect. Sounds
like from you know, discussions and regional intel, there is
you know, like good, good sort of supplies of silage
and bailage on farms, but inless you're feeding that on
(06:01):
concrete or maybe a lane or yeah, like that probably
is going to be potentially a bit more variable energy
and or just the utilization of that. But the reality
is for those that probably the covers are a bit
lower on farm or growth rates aren't there, that's just
going to have to be a needs must and to
be fair, you probably need a little bit of fiber
(06:21):
or effect the fiber going into the diet anyway. So yeah,
I think that is you know, probably reasonably favored off
the autumn that we had last year, and subtlements as
far as sologs and vailorgs go able to be restopped.
But Yeah, I think it's just a matter of pulling
on all the levers you've got just to get through
(06:42):
this tight patch. And I suppose in the back of
farmers minds they're thinking, you know, we're sort of three
or four weeks out from plan started mating as well,
so certainly want to be sort of offering at least
what intacts we can to keep couse hitting in the
right direction. Possibly another strategy, if you've got the op
to do that, or the herd size allows, could be
(07:02):
a good idea just splitting those mobs on maybe body
condition score like younger animals, and if you've got the
ability to run two different mobs, just mobbing them up
just to sort of help prioritize that condition and keep
young stock heading in the or not young stock, but
younger animals heading in the right direction to just reducing
(07:22):
the competition with some of those mixtage cows.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, good words, especially given the way the feed situations
tightened up at the moment. Nathan, Always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Thanks Andy, good to chat.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Nathan Nelson of Derry and Z I got rid of
Daniel Beddingfield and put his sister out instead. A lot
more Perichi and that's what we want. On a Wednesday,
right before the end of the year. A Catherine Wright
talking Mental Health Awareness Week. But up next black Cat
Jacob Duffy
Welcome back to the muster. Nathan Nelson out of Darry
and Z joins us once again. Nathan, how are you good?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
A Andy, Good to be with you as always.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Yeah, good to catch up. Look, we're going to talk
about this straight off the cuff. Is the way that
the weather's changed. We spoke to you, I think about
six weeks ago, and you were cautiously optimistic about the
spring that was ahead, and you seem to be correct
in that thinking.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, I think we talked about back then how things
were shaping up off the back of a reasonably kind
sort of July and even August, and I dare say
things have sort of changed with the weather, that's for sure.
And yep, the last probably four even five weeks have
certainly been certainly been a battle. And yeah, I guess
(00:53):
there's quite a range across the province. But yeah, the
theme would be just that challenge of back to that
challenge of feed utilization and farmers onto their second round,
most of the herd carved down now and quite a
bit of feed demand on the herd, and just probably
just battling the elements would be the fairest way of
saying it.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
So that's the thing to think about at the moment
now feed strategies until we get some growth.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, I think it's fairly universal you and I just
chatting off here. Obviously a discussion group yesterday just north
of Gore, and the farmers that we had there were
you know, sort of fairly widespread across the province, and yeah,
there was definitely a sense of like right on top
of feed and or probably just you know, like not
a lot of feed cover in front of them, and
probably that challenge of what feed maybe is in that
(01:41):
second round is actually the utilization of it without wrecking
paddocks or you know, just making a lot of damage.
So yeah, I think probably just worthwhile touching on some
of those strategies and just things to think about. Probably
caveated by the fact that everyone's farm and system and
options are a bit different, but hopefully just we'll roll
(02:02):
through a few strategies and something in there will resonate
for our listeners.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So that's seems to be general consensus. Feed levels just
well behind where we need them to be, given we
so far through carving.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, I think like most people would be growing probably
like below demand. To be a fair comic to say
average pasture covers are quite variable, but I think general
consensus that that feeder is definitely tight and probably yeah,
just whether you've been able to get a get to
(02:33):
get some nitrogen fertilizer on, or certainly the helicopter guys
are being busy again, you know, trying to flight on
where they can or where there's a gap to be
able to get it on. There's one option to try
and boost that sort of feed supply option. I guess
the other strategy that would sort of encouraging there. I
say that we probably learned a lot of lessons from
(02:54):
last season in the spring that we were out just
as far as you know, if you've got that option
of ensured feeding, then certainly that's the most favorite options,
certainly at this milk price that's on offer at the moment,
to probably just yeah, put feed in that regard because
that's your best return on your investment and obviously you know,
your highest return on feed utilization and trying to keep
(03:15):
cows you know, a little bit full or content before
they head back out to the paddocks. So it'll be
the first first one to sort of really look at
what's possible in shed feeding. Then if you've got options
to you know, have some feed in some trailers, either
the palm kernel or palm kernel dd G mix, either
at the exit race or on a hard surface somewhere,
(03:37):
just another option to get some feed into them, or
vale of bailags or fiber or something, just so they're
going back. When they do go back to those paddocks,
there's a little bit of energy in the system and
a little bit of gut fill before they actually head
back out onto the paddocks. I think the other side
of it again, every farm is different, but clearly if
you've got like standoff facilities or abilities seeing cows off
(03:58):
fishing the worst of those weather events, then yeah, definitely
utilize that. If you haven't, it's probably plan B A
is Yeah, pick one of those paddocks that can become
a bit of a standoff paddock, and yeah, try and
probably contain or minimize you know, that pasture damage or
making muther as much as possible. Obviously acknowledge that all
(04:20):
these shrutities, you know, are quite time consuming, and you know,
people at the end of carving, so there's probably a
fair bit of fatigue around the place as well, and
just that mental fatigue. I think of, you know, sort
of being back to where we were almost the fun
last spring and how much of a challenge that was.
So definitely encourage just that conversation of chicken in with
your team as well and just have some probably some reasoning,
(04:42):
honest conversations about you know, where energy levels are at
and how people are actually yeah, like managing or coping
given that. Yeah, for the time you get the into carving,
you reasonably sort of tied and where anyway, and then
you've got the challenge of dealing with the weather and
trying to keep cows fit and content. So yeah, definitely
chicken your teams would suggest on that front. And if
you're the farm decision maker or manager or shermock growna,
(05:07):
I think yeah, it's probably that sense of picking up
the phone and having a check to some of those
neighbors that you trust or just get a second opinion
or chew the faton. Yeah, sort of share a bit
of that mental load, and then it would probably suggest Yeah,
like if you're working with a farm consultant, worthwhile just
the second opinion, run some ideas past them, or whether
it's not your consultant, it might be your vet or
(05:28):
their en ZI team certainly always there as your area
manager to just be a sounding board or about some
of those ideas about.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So what a supplement level was like in general, Nathan,
given we had a kind winter.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, I think like the rallies probably as we said earlier,
if you've got that in shed feed when that's your
first priority, just mainly because of the utilization effect. Sounds
like from you know, discussions and regional intel, there is
you know, like good, good sort of supplies of silage
and bailage on farms, but inless you're feeding that on
(06:01):
concrete or maybe a lane or yeah, like that probably
is going to be potentially a bit more variable energy
and or just the utilization of that. But the reality
is for those that probably the covers are a bit
lower on farm or growth rates aren't there, that's just
going to have to be a needs must and to
be fair, you probably need a little bit of fiber
(06:21):
or effect the fiber going into the diet anyway. So yeah,
I think that is you know, probably reasonably favored off
the autumn that we had last year, and subtlements as
far as sologs and vailorgs go able to be restopped.
But Yeah, I think it's just a matter of pulling
on all the levers you've got just to get through
(06:42):
this tight patch. And I suppose in the back of
farmers minds they're thinking, you know, we're sort of three
or four weeks out from plan started mating as well,
so certainly want to be sort of offering at least
what intacts we can to keep couse hitting in the
right direction. Possibly another strategy, if you've got the op
to do that, or the herd size allows, could be
(07:02):
a good idea just splitting those mobs on maybe body
condition score like younger animals, and if you've got the
ability to run two different mobs, just mobbing them up
just to sort of help prioritize that condition and keep
young stock heading in the or not young stock, but
younger animals heading in the right direction to just reducing
(07:22):
the competition with some of those mixtage cows.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, good words, especially given the way the feed situations
tightened up at the moment. Nathan, Always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Thanks Andy, good to chat.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Nathan Nelson of Derry and Z I got rid of
Daniel Beddingfield and put his sister out instead. A lot
more Perichi and that's what we want. On a Wednesday,
right before the end of the year. A Catherine Wright
talking Mental Health Awareness Week. But up next black Cat
Jacob Duffy
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