Future Farm Systems Trial Update 27 Nov 2026
This project compares the impact on productivity, profitability, people and the environment on three farms:
- Baseline (Current) Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures with up to 190 kg N/ha/annum, 3.1 cows/ha
- Alternative Pasture 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 27th November 2025 | Baseline Farm | Alternative Pasture Farm | Low Emissions Farm |
| Average Pasture Cover with silage paddocks | 2,546 | 2,683 | 2,669 |
| % of farm closed up for silage | 16% | 17% | 22% |
| % farm out for turnips | 9% | 12% | 9% |
| Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks) * | 102 | 92 | 87 |
| Rotation Length (days, last 10 days) | 25 | 27 | 29 |
| Cows in Milk/Total Cows | 81/81 | 82/82 | 64/64 |
| SCC (000’s) | 66 | 152 | 156 |
| Production/cow/day (kg MS/cow) | 1.71 | 1.79 | 1.90 |
| Production/ha/day (kg MS/ha) | 4.99 | 5.27 | 4.37 |
| Production/cow season to date (kg MS/cow) | 209 | 205 | 205 |
| Production/ha season to date (kg MS/ha) | 628 | 611 | 479 |
| Supplement Offered Milkers (kg DM/cow/day) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchased Supp Fed season to date (kg DM/c) | PKE 482
Purch bale 24 |
PKE 409 | PKE 246 |
| Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) | 0 | 0 | 128 |
| Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) | 177 | 128 | 0 |
| Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) | 4.13 | 4.14 | 4.15 |
| % cows below BCS 4.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Nitrogen to date – 2025/26 Season (kg N/ha) | 162 | 157 | 0 |
| Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Rainfall (last two weeks) | 103 | ||
*Pasture growth rates are calculated using uncalibrated platemeter readings
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
- Rain last week has boosted pasture growth again. Pre-graze pasture covers and residuals have risen again on some paddocks, so we have dropped more paddocks out for silage, effectively speeding up the round length.
- Most of the calves have left the farm for grazing.
- Turnip paddocks were sown a few weeks ago but are showing poor germination in wet areas, with paddocks looking patchy. We will drill more seed into these areas, hoping to fill in the holes.
- We have stopped nitrogen applications, however if we see substantial rain coming in the next week or so then we will put some on behind the cows to grow a bit more leaf.