Extended Lactation Trial Update 29 October 2026
This project compares the impact on productivity, profitability, people and the environment on three farms:
- Baseline Farm – Spring calving, twice-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha
- Extended Lactation TAD Farm – 50% herd calving each year, full season twice-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha
- 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, MPI – PSGF & NDDT
| Update 29th October 2026 | Baseline Farm | EL TAD Farm | EL OAD Farm |
| Average Pasture Cover (kg DM/ha) | 2,359 | 2,402 | 2,328 |
| Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks)* | 77 | 70 | 64 |
| Rotation Length last 10 days (days) | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Cows into vat/Total Cows | 76/79 | 80/80 | 78/80 |
| Average Body Condition Score
(EL = Extended Lactation, NC = New Calvers) |
4.1 NC Cows |
4.78 EL Cows
4.12 NC Cows |
5.24 EL Cows
4.28 NC Cows |
| SCC last 5 days (‘000) | 106 | 131 | 156 |
| Litres/cow/day (5d herd average) | 22.5 | 17.1 | 13.2 |
| Kg MS/cow/day (5d herd average) | 2.08 | 1.75 | 1.42 |
| Kg MS/ha/day | 5.51 | 5.10 | 3.98 |
| Kg MS/cow, season to date | 165 | 189 | 148 |
| Kg MS/ha, season to date | 488 | 559 | 436 |
| Supplement offered (kgDM/c/d) | 0-2 PKE | 0-2 PKE | 0-2 PKE |
| Purch Supp Fed, season to date (kg DM/c) | PKE 300
Baleage 61 |
PKE 382
Baleage 128 |
PKE 362
Baleage 125 |
| Silage on Hand (kgDM/cow) | 127 | 106 | 147 |
| Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rainfall (last two weeks) | 10.5 mm | ||
*Pasture growth rates are calculated using platemeter readings in conjunction with Halter estimates
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
- Low rainfall and cool winds slowed pasture growth and we had to put closed silage paddocks back into the grazing round. We currently have no surplus paddocks and PKE is being fed strategically where residuals indicate under feeding.
- Milk production and BCS have lifted slightly indicating full feeding now.
- Mating is going well with 3-week submission rates of: 85% of Baseline Cows, 97% of EL TAD cows, and 100% of EL OAD cows. We are using only wearables for heat detection and checking the drafting gate each day. The handful of Baseline non-cyclers will be milked OAD for two weeks to try and induce cycling. This has worked well in the past.
- With rain expected early next week we will continue Sustain behind the cows at 60kg/ha.