Present economics dictate New Zealand dairy farmers either increase producton or reduce expenditure to maintain net farm income. Costs associated with present feed conservation practices,are high and so cheaper alternatives for bridging a winter feed deficit are considered. Making no conservation would mean generating additional feed energy by foregoing some milkfat production. Lower cow conversion ratios of milkfat from pasture in late lactation means it is more economic to create additional feed at the end of the season by drying-off earlier rather than calving later. Utilising additional cow liveweight as a store of energy has high metabolic inefficiencies. At today's prices, grazing cows off to overcome the deficit is the most economic and practical solution. Economically, alternatives to traditional supplement systems requre a massive reduction of capital farm machinery to be viable. Management strategies, both to control the spring feed surplus and to increase average farm herbage masses in early winter without loss of growth or quality, need to be developed.
