Future Farm Systems Update 31 Oct 2024

 

 

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

  1. Baseline (Current) Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures with up to 190 kg N/ha/annum, 3.1 cows/ha
  2. Alternative Pastures 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 31st October 2024 Baseline Farm Alternative Pastures Farm Low Emissions Farm
Avg Pasture Cover (kg DM/ha) 2,203 2,146 2,480
Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks) * 83 78 72
Rotation Length (days, last 10 days) 23 21 23
Cows in Milk/Total Cows 82/82 83/84 61/61
Production/cow/day (kg MS/cow) 1.89 1.88 2.08
Production/ha/day (kg MS/ha) 5.68 5.61 4.64
Production/cow season to date (kg MS/cow) 166 169 170
Production/ha season to date (kg MS/ha) 503 509 385
SCC 40,000 60,000 49,000
Supplement Offered (kg DM/cow/day) 0 0 0
Purchased Supplement Fed season to date

(kg DM/cow)

 PKE 215

Baleage 21

 PKE 199

Baleage 20

 PKE 82
Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) 0 0 28
Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) 166 140 105
Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) 4.21 4.00 4.30
Nitrogen to date – 2023/24 Season (kg N/ha) 129 123 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) 33

*Pasture growth rates are calculated using uncalibrated platemeter readings

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

  • The excellent spring conditions continue with regular showers maintaining high pasture growth.
  • Quality is just starting to fall with seedhead emergence on the Italian ryegrass beginning. We are harvesting more silage today and have dropped a couple more paddocks out for harvest in 2 weeks. Proactive surplus management is our key to maintaining quality and milk production in the next month.
  • High clover levels on the Low Emissions Farm have boosted energy intakes, with these cows milking at over 2 kg MS/c/d since early August.
  • Chicory crops on the Alternative Pastures Farm were sown on 25 October, and pest management is vigilant with high populations of springtail and caterpillars around this season.
  • Calves are all weaned and gone to grazing.
  • Sustain application continues at 60 kg/ha while there is enough moisture.