Future Farm Systems Trial Update 16 Nov 2023
This project compares the productivity, profitability and impact on people and the environment on three farms, being:
- Current Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures with up to 190 kg N/ha/annum, 3.1 cows/ha
- Alternative Pastures Farm – 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 2023 | Current Farm | Alternative Pastures Farm | Low Emissions Farm |
| Area out of Rotation / total eff area (ha) | 12% | 16% | 19% |
| Avg Pasture Cover (excl silage pdks, kg DM/ha) | 2186 | 2226 | 2134 |
| Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks) | 98 | 101 | 72 |
| Rotation Length (days) | 24 | 23 | 22 |
| Cows in Milk/Peak Cows | 82/82 | 82/82 | 61/61 |
| Production/cow/day (kg MS) | 1.70 | 1.61 | 1.45 |
| Production/ha/day (kg MS) | 4.89 | 4.80 | 3.18 |
| SCC (‘000) | 75 | 110 | 46 |
| Supplement Offered (kg DM/cow/day) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchased Supplement Fed (kg DM/cow) | 499 PKE | 468 PKE | 219 PKE
118 Baleage |
| Homegrown Silage Fed (kg DM/cow) | 0 | 46 Baleage | 512 Baleage |
| Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) | 4.15 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Manager Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nitrogen to date – 2023/24 Season (kg N/ha) | 165 | 164 | 0 |
| Rainfall (last two weeks) | 11 mm | ||
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
- Pasture growth has jumped to spring flush with warmer drier soils
- Surplus management is dynamic at present with paddocks being harvested and others being dropped out as residuals rise above target
- Some fescue paddocks are still being topped behind the cows.
- We will continue applying Sustain at 50kg/ha behind the cows on the Current and Alternative Pastures farms, while rain is in the forecast.