Priority must be to minimise drops in yields

Achieving high peak milk yields in April or May is a very important aspect of achieving high milk yields; this is well recognised by farmers.

However, holding high yields for a long grazing period is even more important, and this is not widely achieved on farms.

Very often, milk yields and milk protein start dropping too rapidly in June, and while the protein recovers in July, yields never fully recover. Co-op milk protein percentages dropping in June proves that cows are generally under fed, coinciding with the time of year when it is usually very difficult to maintain grass quality. Milk protein has been good so far this year, no doubt due to good quality grass.