Extended Lactation Trial Fortnightly Update 24 July 2026

 

 

 

This project compares the impact on productivity, profitability, people and the environment on three farms:

  1. Baseline Farm – Spring calving, twice-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha
  2. Extended Lactation TAD Farm – 50% herd calving each year, full season twice-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha
  3. Extended Lactation OAD Farm – 50% herd calving each year, full season once-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha

This project is funded by DairyNZ.

 

 

Update 24th July 2026 Baseline Farm EL TAD Farm EL OAD Farm
Average Pasture Cover (kg DM/ha) 2,345 2,170 2,117
Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks)* 22 28 27
Current Rotation Length (days) 100+ 59 61
Cows in milk/Total Cows 39/81 57/82 55/82
Average Body Condition Score

(EL = Extended Lactation, NC = New Calvers)

 5.2 Dries

4.8 Milkers

 4.3 EL Milkers

4.6 NC Milkers

 4.5 EL Milkers

4.7 NC Milkers
SCC (‘000) 176 176 218
Litres/cow/day 14.7 11.6 10.5
Kg MS/cow/day 1.69 1.34 1.26
Kg MS/cow, season to date 1 35 31
Kg MS/ha, season to date 2 103 91
Supplement offered (kgDM/c/d) Dries 3.8 PKE

Dries 3.8 bale

Milkers 2.4 PKE

 Milkers 4.6 PKE

Milkers 2.6 bale

Dries 2.6 PKE

Dries 1.3 bale

 Milkers 4.7 PKE

Milkers 2.7 bale Dries 2.4 PKE

Dries 1.3 bale
Purch Supp Fed, season to date (kg DM/c) PKE 168

Baleage 36

 PKE 188

Baleage 72

 PKE 187

Baleage 69
Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) 4 6 6
Rainfall (last two weeks) 13 mm

*Pasture growth rates are calculated using platemeter readings in conjunction with Halter estimates

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

  • Pasture growth rates have continued to remain low relative to previous years. However, drier soil conditions have improved pasture utilisation and assisted in holding rotation lengths resulting in a slight increase in pasture covers.
  • Calving cows are in great condition. The extended lactation cows that are not calving this year have started lifting body condition, especially the once-a-day herd.
  • The Baseline Farm has good pasture covers, supplement inputs will drop to a minimum to just get extra magnesium into the cows.
  • Nitrogen continues behind the cows at 80 kg/ha urea.