Cowra dairy farmer Colin Thompson, the NSW Farmers Dairy Committee chairman, will host a webinar on May 6 as a part of QDO's future focus project.
Colin milks 320 cows which produce 4.8 million litres annually and consistently maintain a cell count of 80-100. The herd is housed inside of a free-stall barn and fed a total mixed ration (TMR) comprising silage, hay and concentrate. All the silage and hay used in the TMR is grown on-farm. Colin places a high importance on resource management to maximise production while also maintaining a high degree of efficiency.
Colin will present on his farming practices and techniques with the hopes that it will provide insight to Queensland producers about what practices may and may not work in their operations. In particular, Colin will discuss feed quality and what management techniques can be used to ensure that feed quality is maximised. He will discuss what investments, both large and small, can be made to improve feed quality.
Colin will also outline how he manages cell count in his herd. He will explain practices he has implemented that allow him to maintain a consistent cell count. He will also explain how he manages effluent to ensure that it is stored correctly and used as efficiently as possible.
Colin will present on the most important points that he believes have allowed him to create a highly productive and efficient dairy operation. Many producers have already found Colin's experience helpful and have moved to implement new practices on their farms, whether large or small.
This webinar follows on from Colin's tour of Queensland in the last week of February where he presented at QDO's Future Focus Workshops. The webinar is a result of QDO's commitment to continue servicing its farmers despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
If you are interested in hearing Colin speak about his operation and question him regarding his experience with feed quality, cell count, effluent management and overall herd management, contact Torrie Harrison or Jacob McHugh at QDO.
