RESULTS FROM THE SPRlNG 1986 BLOAT SURVEY: SOUTH AUCKLAND-WAIKATO

Abstract

A bloat survey of 312 North Island dairy farms carried out in spring 1986 by Ruakura staff showed that farms with moderate to severe bloat tended to have larger herds, higher stocking rates, a greater proportion of clover in pastures and higher soil potassium, levels (Carruthers et al. 1987). However, these 4 factors together accounted for only 22% of the variation in bloat severity between farms. In an attempt to highlight further factors important in bloat, a comparison was made of nil and severe bloat farms in South Auckland-Waikato.