Winter Grazing Plan

Intensive Winter Grazing

Farm: Downland Farms

Person in Charge:  Errol Wills

0274570700

errolwills1@gmail.com 

Property Address:
3169 Duntroon-Georgetown Road, Duntroon

Legal Description:

SECS 28 67 BLK III MAEREWHENUA SD 

Description:

Stock finishing

Farm Size:
233.6ha

Total Wintering Area:
28.9ha

Description:
Winter Grazing on annual crops for mixed age dairy and beef cows and bulls, other 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 2024 Winter Grazing Map. 

• 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 grazed while dry or lifted rather than grazed.

• 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.

• Winter grazing does not occur within 5m of any waterway, or 100m of a water abstraction point. Any crop in these areas is lifted.

• 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.

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.

• 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 typically begins with 30 minutes on the first week from first animal on to last animal off and increases 15 minutes increments.

• Mob sizes are restricted to 300 maximum during winter to limit competition and pressure on paddocks, stock and staff in difficult conditions. 

• A feed budget is used based on square metres and crop residual is monitored.