Future Farm Systems Trial Update 30 April 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 30th April 2026 | Baseline Farm | Alternative Pasture Farm | Low Emissions Farm |
| Average Pasture Cover | 2,080 | 1,967 | 2,184 |
| % farm out for regrassing | 9% | 12% | 9% |
| Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks)* | 75 | 58 | 59 |
| Rotation Length (days, last 10 days) | 40 | 32 | 38 |
| Cows in Milk/Total Cows | 81/81 | 82/82 | 64/64 |
| SCC (000’s) | 124 | 105 | 183 |
| Production/cow/day (kg MS/cow) | 1.43 | 1.38 | 1.23 |
| Production/ha/day (kg MS/ha) | 4.10 | 4.09 | 2.86 |
| Production/cow, season to date (kg MS/cow) | 442 | 427 | 439 |
| Production/ha, season to date (kg MS/ha) | 1,309 | 1,257 | 1,024 |
| Supplement Offered Milkers (kg DM/cow/day) | 3.3 PKE
3.2 Baleage |
4.4 PKE
3.2-6.3 Baleage |
2.9 PKE
0-4.1 Baleage |
| Purchased Supp Fed, season to date (kg DM/c) | PKE 793
Purch bale 24 |
PKE 763 | PKE 450 |
| Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) | 159 | 291 | 258 |
| Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) | 170 | 57 | 239 |
| Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Nitrogen to date – 2025/26 Season (kg N/ha) | 170 | 164 | 0 |
| Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Rainfall (last two weeks) | 46 | ||
*Pasture growth rates are calculated using uncalibrated platemeter readings
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
- Nice to have some fine weather but our pasture wedges are dropping off with some cooler days.
- Baseline and Alternative Pastures herds are drying off in the next week. The Low Emissions herd will dry off the following week. Culls are booked in and R2yr heifers came home today.
- There is a lot going on with setting up for our new trial. We will be milking around 80 cows through the winter for our Extended Lactation Trial.
- All new grass paddocks have now been sprayed for broadleaf weeds. We used the drone to reduce soil damage as paddocks were still soft. Our new kikuyu plants are up and competing with Poa Annua.