Future Farm Systems Trial Update 19 March 26

 

 

 

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

  1. Baseline (Current) Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures with up to 190 kg N/ha/annum, 3.1 cows/ha
  2. Alternative Pasture Farm – Tall fescue & cocksfoot based pastures, up to 190 kg N/ha, 3.1 cows/ha
  3. 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 16th March 2026 Baseline Farm Alternative Pasture Farm Low Emissions Farm
Average Pasture Cover with silage paddocks 1,972 1,747 1,937
% farm out for turnips 9% 12% 9%
Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks)* 31 17 17
Rotation Length (days, last 10 days) 29 31 34
Cows in Milk/Total Cows 80/80 82/82 63/63
SCC (000’s) 88 134 174
Production/cow/day (kg MS/cow) 1.41 1.3 1.45
Production/ha/day (kg MS/ha) 4.05 3.84 3.38
Production/cow, season to date (kg MS/cow) 386 371 386
Production/ha, season to date (kg MS/ha) 1,145 1,093 900
Supplement Offered Milkers (kg DM/cow/day) 3.4 PKE 4.9 PKE

3.9 Bale

 2.9 PKE
Purchased Supp Fed, season to date (kg DM/c) PKE 655

Purch bale 24

 PKE 592 PKE 302
Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) 32 66 135
Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) 382 373 460
Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) 4.05 3.93 3.92
Nitrogen to date – 2025/26 Season (kg N/ha) 170 164 0
Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) 3 5 2
Rainfall (last two weeks) 10

*Pasture growth rates are calculated using uncalibrated platemeter readings

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

  • Pasture growth is variable but pasture covers are holding with the supplement we are feeding. All herds are now getting baleage and PKE.
  • We have sown 1ha in a new kikuyu variety imported from Australia. We will be closely monitoring the establishment and performance of this paddock separately from the current trial.
  • Turnip paddocks have been sown into either perennial ryegrass/clover, or tall-fescue/clover. We have used a mix of Tower and Nouga fescue cultivars, with some test strips of pure Nouga, Haven, Tower and Quantica in one paddock for comparison.
  • Mulching and under-sowing Italian ryegrass has also begun into all kikuyu based pastures (behind the cows). We will spread this programme over the next 45 days, aiming to finish early May.
  • Facial eczema spores are still around, so we continue to dose with zinc at full rates.