Fraser Tasker has spent the past several years refining a grass-based wintering system on his Mid Canterbury dairy support block, replacing traditional fodder beet and kale wintering for his mixed-age cows. Anne Lee speaks with Fraser about what prompted the change, how the system operates and the practical lessons he's learnt along the way.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country

Guest:
Fraser Tasker, Canterbury farmer

 

Fraser was one of three farmers who spoke at a Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) focus day along with scientists studying pasture based wintering systems for the South Island. Anne and Fraser discuss some of the information shared at the focus day and dig more deeply into Fraser’s dairy operation. He explains how the cocksfoot pastures and separate fescue dominant pastures are managed and the improvements he’s seen in animal health and welfare, simplified management and nitrogen losses. He discusses how he balances multiple stock classes on the support block, costs of the system and why he believes grass wintering works for his situation.

 

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Fraser Tasker has spent the past several years refining a grass-based wintering system on his Mid Canterbury dairy support block, replacing traditional fodder beet and kale wintering for his mixed-age cows. Anne Lee speaks with Fraser about what prompted the change, how the system operates and the practical lessons he's learnt along the way.
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country</li>
</ul>
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Fraser Tasker, Canterbury farmer</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Fraser was one of three farmers who spoke at a Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) focus day along with scientists studying pasture based wintering systems for the South Island. Anne and Fraser discuss some of the information shared at the focus day and dig more deeply into Fraser&rsquo;s dairy operation. He explains how the cocksfoot pastures and separate fescue dominant pastures are managed and the improvements he&rsquo;s seen in animal health and welfare, simplified management and nitrogen losses. He discusses how he balances multiple stock classes on the support block, costs of the system and why he believes grass wintering works for his situation.
&nbsp;
Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: <a href="https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/">https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/</a>

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.

Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our
thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world.

Don’t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the subscribe button now and join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter to get the latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in the
business of dairy farming into the future.

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.
Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world.
Don&rsquo;t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the&nbsp;subscribe button now and <a href="https://dairyexporter.co.nz/sign-up/">join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter</a> to get the&nbsp;latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in the business of dairy farming into the future.