Extended Lactation Trial Update 11 June 2026

 

 

 

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

  1. Baseline Farm – Spring calving, twice-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha
  2. Extended Lactation TAD Farm – 50% herd calving each year, full season twice-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha
  3. Extended Lactation OAD Farm – 50% herd calving each year, full season once-a-day milking, 3.0 cows/ha

This project is funded by DairyNZ.

Update 11 June 2026 Baseline Farm EL TAD Farm EL OAD Farm
Average Pasture Cover 2,251 2,204 2,254
% farm out of rotation – – –
Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks)* 23 29 27
Rotation Length (days) 66 49 52
Cows in milk/Total Cows 0/81 40/81 40/81
BCS 4.7 D 4.8 D

4.35 M

 4.95 D

4.35 M
kgMS/cow/day – 1.55 1.30
Litres/cow/day 13.0 11.3
kgMS/cow, season to date 15 13
kgMS/ha, season to date – 22 19
Supplement offered (kgDM/c/d) Dries 4.4 PKE Dries 4.5 PKE

Milkers 4.5 PKE

Milkers 3.3 bale

 Dries 0

Milkers 4.5 PKE

Milkers 3.3 bale
Purch Supp Fed, season to date (kg DM/c) PKE 32

Baleage 7

 PKE 32

Baleage 20

 PKE 32

Baleage 20
Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) – – –
Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) – – –
Managers Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) 3 4 4
Rainfall (last two weeks) 80mm

*Pasture growth rates are calculated using platemeter readings in conjunction with Halter estimates

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

  • Our mobs are all settled into their new trial groups including heifers. It has been interesting watching their behaviour over Halter and tracking their gradual integration amongst the herd.
  • All dry cows are well on track to reach BCS targets at calving on 10th July and supplement use will drop accordingly.
  • Milk production is higher than expected, with OAD cows only dropping around 15% when moved onto OAD. These cows have all been milking since last spring.
  • We have been following the herds with N at 70kg/ha Sustain since 1 June, avoiding wetter days and paddock areas. We have kept 6 paddocks as no-N pdks (2 per farm) and will report growth rates with and without N through the season.
  • Blood tests and cull livers have been checked and mineral levels were good. We have started Mg going onto supplement and through the Dosatron in preparation for spring.