Dry matter yield, botanical composition and nutritive value of diverse and standard pastures under contemporary and regenerative dairy management systems

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of diverse pastures within regenerative dairy systems that aim to emulate the structure and function of grassland ecosystems through increased species diversity and adaptive grazing dynamics, compared with contemporary temperate dairy systems. Over three consecutive production years, three farmlet systems were compared: standard contemporary, diverse contemporary, and diverse regenerative. Annual pasture production differed significantly (P < 0.01), with diverse regenerative systems achieving the highest mean yield [dry mass] (~11 t). Seasonal growth was broadly consistent across systems, with the highest growth rates in spring (53-55 kg DM/ha/day) and minimal growth in winter. Diverse pastures in both systems demonstrated enhanced yield and greater resilience under variable climatic conditions. Botanical composition analysis indicated that diverse pastures maintained more balanced proportions relative to simpler pastures. However, the proportion of legumes and herbs declined over time across all systems. Nutritive values were largely comparable among systems, although diverse pasture systems
exhibited significantly lower fibre concentration and elevated mineral content. Overall, diverse pasture systems, particularly under regenerative management, enhanced both pasture productivity and mineral composition without compromising feed quality over a three-year period. These findings highlight the potential of diversified pastures and altered management to improve the resilience and sustainability of low nitrogen pasture-based dairy systems.