Key pasture and milksolids production indicators from two Waikato farmlets differing in inputs, stocking rate, pasture allowance and nitrate leaching

Authors

  • C.G. Roach
  • C.B. Glassey
  • K.A. Macdonald

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2016.78.519

Abstract

Two DairyNZ farmlets, differing in nitrogen fertiliser inputs, cow genetic merit and autumn/winter grazing management, with stocking rates of 2.6 ('Future') and 3.2 ('Current') cows/ha, were compared for pasture residual and quality over 4 years. Target intakes for lactating cows were 18 and 16 kg DM/cow/day, respectively, with target grazing residuals of 3.5-4 cm (1500 kg DM/ha in late winter/spring, 7-8 clicks on the rising plate meter) for both herds. Measurement of grazing residuals, pasture quality and botanical composition identified small differences between farmlets. Grazing residuals on the Future farmlet averaged 0.2 cm (0.4 clicks on rising plate meter, RPM) (P<0.01) higher than on the Current farmlet with the difference being 0.35 cm in late spring (P<0.01), 0.2 cm in summer (P<0.05), 0.3 cm in autumn (P<0.05) and not significantly different in winter and early spring. The metabolisable energy (ME) content of the pasture on the Future farmlet was on average 0.2 MJ ME/kg DM (P=0.06) lower than the Current farmlet over the 4 years (11.6 and 11.8 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively), with the difference being significant (P<0.05) in early spring. Despite lower annual pasture production, pasture allowance per cow was higher on the Future farmlet which resulted in higher pasture intakes and milksolids production per cow, though lower production per hectare. The results showed that grazing residuals and pasture quality did not decline markedly with increasing pasture allowance. Keywords: pasture, grazing residual, pasture allowance, pasture quality, milksolids

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Published

2016-01-01

How to Cite

Roach, C., Glassey, C., & Macdonald, K. (2016). Key pasture and milksolids production indicators from two Waikato farmlets differing in inputs, stocking rate, pasture allowance and nitrate leaching. Journal of New Zealand Grasslands, 78, 45–50. https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2016.78.519

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Section

Past volumes

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