Future Farm Systems Update 19 Sept 24
This project compares the productivity, profitability and impact on people and the environment on three farms, being:
- Baseline (Current) Farm – Kikuyu & ryegrass based pastures with up to 190 kg N/ha/annum, 3.1 cows/ha
- Alternative Pastures 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 19th September 2024 | Baseline Farm | Alternative Pastures Farm | Low Emissions Farm |
| Avg Pasture Cover (kg DM/ha) | 2423 | 2446 | 2232 |
| Pasture Growth (kg DM/ha/d, last 2 weeks) * | 69 | 77 | 50 |
| Rotation Length (days, last 10 days) | 27 | 29 | 30 |
| Cows in Milk/Total Cows | 81/83 | 82/84 | 61/62 |
| Production/cow/day (kg MS/cow) | 2.09 | 2.03 | 2.02 |
| Production/ha/day (kg MS/ha) | 5.96 | 5.79 | 4.23 |
| Production/cow season to date (kg MS/cow) | 81 | 85 | 83 |
| Production/ha season to date (kg MS/ha) | 244 | 257 | 189 |
| SCC (‘000) | 29 | 38 | 96 |
| Supplement Offered (kg DM/cow/day) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchased Supplement Fed season to date
(kg DM/cow) |
PKE 212
Baleage 21 |
PKE 196
Baleage 20 |
PKE 82 |
| Homegrown Silage Fed to date (kg DM/cow) | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Homegrown Silage on hand (kg DM/cow) | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| Average Body Condition Score (Milkers) | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| Manager Worry Score (1 = Low, 10 = High) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nitrogen to date – 2023/24 Season (kg N/ha) | 83 | 79 | 0 |
| Rainfall (last two weeks) | NA | ||
*Pasture growth rates are calculated using uncalibrated platemeter readings
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
- Pasture growth had stayed high until the last few days of cool wet weather, we are expecting growth to improve again next week.
- All farms have silage paddocks dropped out for harvesting in late September. Residuals will determine how many paddocks are cut on the day.
- Pasture quality is driving high milk production per cow on all three farms. Crude protein levels are running 15% to 40% higher than last season, with ME levels similar.
- Sustain application at 60kg/ha continues while we are getting good responses. Growth is consistently 20kgDM/ha/day higher on the N paddocks.