Future Farm Systems Trial Update 14 November 2024
This project compares the productivity, profitability and impact on people and the environment on three farms, being:
- Baseline (Current) Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures with up to 190 kg N/ha/annum, 3.1 cows/ha
- Alternative Pastures Farm – Tall fescue & cocksfoot based pastures, up to 190 kg N/ha, 3.1 cows/ha
- Low Emissions Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures, designed to reduce methane emissions by 25% and nitrous oxide by 50%, no nitrogen applied, 2.3 cows/ha
This project is funded by DairyNZ, MPI (Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures) and Hine Rangi Trust.
| Update 14th November 2024 | Baseline Farm | Alternative Pastures Farm | Low Emissions Farm |
| Avg Pasture Cover (kg DM/ha) | 2,245 | 2,133 | 2,014 |
| Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks) * | 91 | 84 | 84 |
| Rotation Length (days, last 10 days) | 26 | 26 | 27 |
| Cows in Milk/Total Cows | 82/83 | 83/83 | 61/61 |
| Production/cow/day (kg MS/cow) | 2.03 | 1.84 | 2.05 |
| Production/ha/day (kg MS/ha) | 5.68 | 5.61 | 4.64 |
| Production/cow season to date (kg MS/cow) | 191 | 192 | 197 |
| Production/ha season to date (kg MS/ha) | 581 | 580 | 445 |
| SCC | 55,000 | 32,000 | 48,000 |
| Supplement Offered (kg DM/cow/day) | 0 – 3.6 | 0 – 3.6 | 0 |
| Purchased Supplement Fed season to date
(kg DM/cow) |
PKE 240
Baleage 21 |
PKE 223
Baleage 20 |
PKE 82 |
| Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) | 212 | 160 | 228 |
| Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) | 4.15 | 4.08 | 4.20 |
| Nitrogen to date – 2023/24 Season (kg N/ha) | 145 | 134 | 0 |
| Pasture ME (MJ ME/kg DM) | 11.8 | 11.2 | 11.9 |
| Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Rainfall (last two weeks) | 29 | ||
*Pasture growth rates are calculated using uncalibrated platemeter readings
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
- Current rainfall will keep pasture growth rates up. We will continue to drop paddocks out of the rotation for silage as surpluses arise.
- Some PKE was fed during the last week on the Baseline and Alternative Pasture Farms due to a hole in the feed wedge, the result of silage cuts and paddocks taken out for cropping. This feeding has stopped now.
- Bloat oil is being added to the troughs on the Low Emissions Farm due to the high clover levels.
- It has been a good season to date, especially on the Low Emissions Farm where milk production is 19% ahead of the three year average. Production on the other farms are 2 – 5% ahead of the three year average.
- Sustain application at 60 kg/ha continues around rainfall.