Farmers Urged to Challenge the Status Quo of Animal Nutrition this Autumn

Dairy farmers are being encouraged to challenge their thinking around animal nutrition as they transition from peak production to preparing for next season.

SealesWinslow General Manager Grant Jackson says now is the time to ask the tough questions about whether stock are truly reaching their full genetic potential.

“We know farmers put a huge amount of effort into growing pasture – it’s what we do best in New Zealand,” he says. “But are we really optimising its nutritional value? Are our animals getting the best balance of nutrients to maintain production while building body condition for next season? These are the questions we’re encouraging farmers to ask.”

Drought conditions add to nutrition challenges

While some regions have benefited from summer rains, creating the impression of abundant pasture, others have been hit by prolonged dry conditions, with drought declared in Taranaki and further north into Te Kuiti.

“This late in the season, pasture is often high in fibre but lower in valuable proteins and sugars,” says Grant. “In drier regions, the lack of moisture has only made that worse, leaving farmers with feed that looks plentiful but lacks the nutritional value needed to support production and stock condition.

“This means even if your stock are knee-deep in grass, they may be struggling to extract the energy they need, especially in areas experiencing heat stress. If rumen bugs don’t have enough sugar to process fibrous feed, production, body condition, and overall stock health can suffer heading into the new season.”

The case for getting curious

Grant is urging farmers to take a more strategic approach to nutrition, rather than assuming pasture alone will meet their stock’s needs.

“That’s why we’re encouraging farmers to be curious,” he says. “Ask yourself, ‘Why am I seeing the production results I am? What other gains could be made?’ It’s about questioning the status quo, getting the right advice, and making small changes that can deliver big returns.”

Grant says getting nutrition right doesn’t always require a complicated setup.

“You may not have the facilities or setup to feed additional starch supplements. If that’s the case, even simply placing molasses blocks in the paddock can help deliver valuable sugars, giving essential energy to gut bugs to help process the fibrous feed.”

Waiting until the end-of-season production results or kill sheets to assess nutrition outcomes could be too late.

“There’s still time to get it right,” says Grant. “We’re heading into the final stretch of the season, and with higher commodity prices locked in, farmers should be asking themselves, ‘What small changes could I make now to take advantage of these conditions?’”

Getting the most out of pasture comes down to balancing nutrients effectively – combining pasture and supplements to ensure the right mix of proteins, fibre, and sugars.

“Good nutrition isn’t just about boosting production, it’s about running a more efficient farm,” says Grant. “When livestock get the right nutrients, they convert feed into performance more effectively, maximising every kilogram of dry matter eaten.

“It also sets stock up for success. Well-nourished animals head into mating and next season in top condition, ready to perform through their next production cycle.

“At the same time, the environment benefits too. Better feed utilisation means lower emissions and reduced nitrate losses per kilogram of production.”