Simplified methods for on-farm prediction of yield potential of grazed lucerne crops in New Zealand

Ewe wastage is the combination of on-farm mortality and premature culling. Internationally, there is limited research on actual wastage incidence and causes in commercial sheep flocks. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that reports both lifetime wastage and detailed annual wastage in a sample of commercial New Zealand flocks. This study utilized data collected from 13,142 ewes from four cohorts on three commercial New Zealand farms (Farm A 2010-born, Farm A 2011-born, Farm B, Farm C), during the period 2011–2017, as they aged from replacement hoggets to 6-year-old ewes (Farm A and Farm B) or 3-year-old ewes (Farm C). Data collection visits occurred at three or four key management times each year, namely pre-mating, pregnancy diagnosis, pre-lambing and weaning. At each visit, body condition score (BCS) was assessed and any ewes that were culled or had died on farm were recorded. As this was a lifetime study, each ewe was assigned an outcome and corresponding ‘exit age’. By the end of the study, all ewes that had exited their respective flocks, were classified as either prematurely culled, or dead/missing, or if still in the flock, as censored, and either the exact date or interval in which they exited the flock was recorded. Semi-parametric competing risk (premature culling vs. dead/missing), interval-censored survival models were developed to: 1. describe the association between hogget reproductive outcomes and risk of subsequent wastage, and 2. assess pre-mating BCS as a predictor of wastage in that production year. Of the 13,142 enrolled ewes, 50.4% exited their respective flocks due to premature culling and 40.0% due to on-farm dead/missing, giving a total of 90.4% that exited due to wastage. Annual mortality incidence ranged from 3.5 to 40.2%. As a hogget, wastage incidence ranged from 7.6 to 45.4%. Pregnancy or rearing a lamb as a hogget did not increase risk of subsequent wastage. In all years, pre-mating BCS was a predictor of ewe wastage, with odds of wastage lower with increasing BCS. Therefore, farmers should focus on improving pre-mating BCS to 3.5/5.0 by assessing ewe BCS at weaning, allowing poorer-BCS ewes to be managed to gain BCS before re-breeding.

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The Carbon Footprint of Energy Consumption in Pastoral and Barn Dairy Farming Systems: A Case Study from Canterbury, New Zealand

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11174809 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (17) ◽

pp. 4809 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Ilyas ◽

Majeed Safa ◽

Alison Bailey ◽

Sara Rauf ◽

Marvin Pangborn

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Carbon Footprint ◽

Dairy Farming ◽

Carbon Footprints ◽

Energy Inputs ◽

Study Results ◽

Feed Supplements ◽

Dairy Systems ◽

Milk Solids ◽

On Farm

Dairy farming is constantly evolving to more intensive systems of management, which involve more consumption of energy inputs. The consumption of these energy inputs in dairy farming contributes to climate change both with on-farm emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, and by off-farm emissions due to production of farm inputs (such as fertilizer, feed supplements). The main purpose of this research study was to evaluate energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, the carbon footprint, of pastoral and barn dairy systems located in Canterbury, New Zealand. The carbon footprints were estimated based on direct and indirect energy sources. The study results showed that, on average, the carbon footprints of pastoral and barn dairy systems were 2857 kgCO2 ha−1 and 3379 kgCO2 ha−1, respectively. For the production of one tonne of milk solids, the carbon footprint was 1920 kgCO2 tMS−1 and 2129 kgCO2 tMS−1, respectively. The carbon emission difference between the two systems indicates that the barn system has 18% and 11% higher carbon footprint than the pastoral system, both per hectare of farm area and per tonne of milk solids, respectively. The greater carbon footprint of the barn system was due to more use of imported feed supplements, machinery usage and fossil fuel (diesel and petrol) consumption for on-farm activities.

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A new method of administering local anesthesia for calf disbudding: Findings from a comparative on-farm study in New Zealand

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2018-15033 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 102 (3) ◽

pp. 2492-2506 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A.J. Bates ◽

M.A. Sutherland ◽

F. Chapple ◽

S.K. Dowling ◽

A.P. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Local Anesthesia ◽

New Method ◽

On Farm

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Electromagnetic induction sensing of soil identifies constraints to the crop yields of north-eastern Australia

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr11199 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 49 (7) ◽

pp. 559 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Y. P. Dang ◽

R. C. Dalal ◽

M. J. Pringle ◽

A. J. W. Biggs ◽

S. Darr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Electromagnetic Induction ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Management Options ◽

Soil Constraints ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

North Eastern ◽

On Farm

Salinity, sodicity, acidity, and phytotoxic concentrations of chloride (Cl–) in soil are major constraints to crop production in many soils of north-eastern Australia. Soil constraints vary both spatially across the landscape and vertically within the soil profile. Identification of the spatial variability of these constraints will allow farmers to tune management to the potential of the land, which will, in turn, bring economic benefit. For three cropping fields in Australia’s northern grains region, we used electromagnetic induction with an EM38, which measures apparent electrical conductivity of the soil (ECa) and soil sampling to identify potential management classes. Soil Cl– and soluble Na+ concentrations, EC of the saturated extract (ECse), and soil moisture were the principal determinants of the variation of ECa, measured both at the drained upper limit of moisture (UL) and at the lower limit (LL) of moisture extracted by the crop. Grain yield showed a strong negative relation with ECa at both UL and LL, although it was stronger for the latter. We arrive at a framework to estimate the monetary value of site-specific management options, through: (i) identification of potential management classes formed from ECa at LL; (ii) measurement of soil attributes generally associated with soil constraints in the region; (iii) grain yield monitoring; and (iv) simple on-farm experiments. Simple on-farm experiments suggested that, for constrained areas, matching fertiliser application to realistic yield potential, coupled to gypsum amelioration, could potentially benefit growers by AU$14–46/ha.year (fertiliser) and $207/ha.3 years (gypsum).

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Developing an Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Cows in Extensive Beef Cow–Calf Systems in New Zealand. Part 1: Assessing the Feasibility of Identified Animal Welfare Assessment Measures

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091597 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1597 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y. Baby Kaurivi ◽

Richard Laven ◽

Rebecca Hickson ◽

Tim Parkinson ◽

Kevin Stafford

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Assessment Protocol ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Cattle Management ◽

Assessment Measures ◽

Animal Welfare Assessment ◽

Cow Calf ◽

On Farm

Potential measures suitable for assessing welfare in pasture-based beef cow–calf systems in New Zealand were identified from Welfare Quality and UC Davis Cow-Calf protocols. These were trialled on a single farm and a potential protocol of 50 measures created. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of the measures included in this protocol on multiple farms in order, to develop a credible animal welfare assessment protocol for pasture-based cow–calf farms systems in New Zealand. The assessment protocol was trialled on 25 farms over two visits and took a total of 2.5 h over both visits for a 100-cow herd. The first visit in autumn included an animal welfare assessment of 3366 cows during pregnancy scanning, while the second visit in winter included a questionnaire-guided interview to assess cattle management and health, and a farm resource evaluation. Through a process of eliminating unsuitable measures, adjustments of modifiable measures and retaining feasible measures, a protocol with 32 measures was created. The application of the protocol on the farms showed that not all measures are feasible for on-farm assessment, and categorisation of identified animal welfare measures into scores that indicate a threshold of acceptable and non-acceptable welfare standards is necessary.

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Optimizing Fertilizer Use and Practical Rainfall Capture in a Semi-Arid Environment with Variable Rainfall

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479700021128 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 405-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

M. I. Piha

Keyword(s):

Maximum Yield ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Financial Return ◽

Maize Production ◽

Fertilizer Use ◽

Flexible System ◽

High Yields ◽

On Farm ◽

Semi Arid

SummaryFertilizer use in the semi-arid tropics is considered risky because of the unreliable rainfall pattern. A flexible system of fertilization was devised which allowed for high yields in wet years, and reduced financial losses in dry years. Relatively immobile nutrients, such as phosphorus, potassium and sulphur, were applied at rates determined from generalized soil properties and the total nutrient uptake required for a crop to achieve its maximum yield potential in a season with average rainfall. Nitrogen was applied as a series of split applications, which were adjusted during the season according to the degree of water stress observed. This approach was tested in on-farm trials for maize production on nutrient-poor sandy soils in three regions of Zimbabwe, and resulted in larger yields and profits than current recommendations, providing an accept able level of financial return. Small further yield increases were possible, at acceptable returns, when these fertilizer practices were combined with the establishment of tied-ridges by ox-drawn implements, 30 days after planting. By careful estimation of yield potential, and appropriate adjustments to soil fertility, this system of soil management could be applied to other cropping situations and other areas with variable rainfall.Uso de fertilizantes para condiciones de precitación variable

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Changes in Animal Welfare Views in New Zealand: Responding to Global Change

Society and Animals ◽

10.1163/15685306-12341265 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 325-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alison Loveridge

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Well Being ◽

Global Context ◽

Government Organizations ◽

Consumer Action ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Industry Standards ◽

Welfare Issue ◽

On Farm

Abstract Consumer action is leading to increasing debate over on-farm activities in New Zealand. Both animal welfare activists and government organizations frequently refer to the importance of welfare standards in order to secure overseas markets, as well as in response to local concerns. This article explores rural and urban people’s views of welfare of animals kept on farms for commercial purposes in response to a 2008 survey commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It compares and contrasts these recent findings with those of an earlier (1994) survey, to demonstrate how understanding of—and the impetus for—changing farm practices have developed. The article also looks at the global context of the animal welfare issue and discusses how overseas trends impact the New Zealand situation. The view that animal welfare is purely about physical well-being is among those challenged at home and abroad, and farmers are now forced to defend and amend industry standards.

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Adoption of forage technologies

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2013.75.2917 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 39-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

John Caradus ◽

Simon Lovatt ◽

Bruce Belgrave

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Case Studies ◽

White Clover ◽

New Technologies ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Current Management ◽

Farm Productivity ◽

Farmer Management ◽

On Farm

Pastoral farmers seek to continue to increase on-farm productivity, and to do this they need new forage options that they can adopt into their current management strategies. Four case studies show that New Zealand farmers have rapidly adopted new technologies that include forage herbs, white clovers with improved stolon growing point densities, and novel endophyte technologies. The less disruptive these technologies are to accepted farmer management strategies the greater the likelihood of adoption. Keywords: Forage technologies, adoption, chicory, white clover, endophytes

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Pollination of ‘Hortblue Petite’ Blueberry: Evidence of Metaxenia in a New Ornamental Home-garden Cultivar

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.46.11.1468 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (11) ◽

pp. 1468-1471 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shirley Miller ◽

Peter Alspach ◽

Jessica Scalzo ◽

John Meekings

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Home Garden ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Berry Weight ◽

Pollen Donor ◽

Viable Seeds

‘Hortblue Petite’ (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is a compact, small-statured tetraploid blueberry that was introduced to the New Zealand retail sector as a garden ornamental in 2005. Pollination requirements for ‘Hortblue Petite’ have not previously been investigated and this study was undertaken to better understand compatibility with other blueberry cultivars. Pollen donor effects on fruit weight were significant; pollen from large fruiting cultivars produced bigger fruit in ‘Hortblue Petite’, adding support toward metaxenia occurring in blueberry. Outcrossing with other tetraploids was most successful in terms of fruit set, berry weight, and yield potential. Number of viable seeds per berry was less with self-pollination and with crosses using pollen from a hexaploid rabbiteye type. The data indicated that the best yields would be obtained from using either open-pollinated flowers or a large-fruited cultivar such as ‘Nui’.

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Practices and constraints of tomato production among smallholder farmers in Uganda

African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development ◽

10.18697/ajfand.97.19905 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (02) ◽

pp. 17560-17580

Author(s):

G Ddamulira ◽

◽

O Isaac ◽

M Kiryowa ◽

R Akullo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Infections ◽

Market Access ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Cropping System ◽

Production Costs ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Potential Yield ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Tomato Yield ◽

On Farm

Tomato(Solanum esculentum)is one of the most promising vegetables whose production is being intensified in Uganda. However, tomato yields remain low due to several constraints. The study aimed at identifying production and marketing practices, and constraints affecting tomato productivity in major tomato growing areas of Uganda. A survey was conducted in eight major tomato producing districts using a questionnaire to guide interviews for 240 farmers and 16 key informants. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results revealed that tomato production in Uganda is dominated by males who grow them on 0.68 acres of land on average. Mosttomatofarmers (78.4%) use mono cropping system with varietiesAsilla F1 (35.3%), Tengeru97(21.1%), Rambo (18.1%), NovelaF1(17.7%) and Riogrande (10.3%) dominating. The choice of tomato varieties used by farmers mainly depend on yield potential, pest and disease tolerance and market preference attributes such as long shelf life. In the study area, tomato is mainly fertilized using foliar fertilizers, followed by Diammonium phosphate and cattle manure. The key pests affecting tomato include caterpillars, thrips, worms and whitefly, while bacterial wilt, blight, leaf spots and viral infections are the major diseases. Majority (95.7%) of farmers use chemical sprays(pesticides and fungicides)and 4.3% of farmers used other control methods. The other methods of pest and disease control included rogueing, hand picking, ash, organic extracts, urine and frequent weeding. Average tomato yield was 4,846.3 kg/acre lower than the potential yield of 6000kg/acre. Thirty five percent of farmers market their tomato individually on-farm, 32.8% sell in rural markets, while 32.2% send to the nearest urban markets. The study revealed intensive chemical use accounting for 20% of the production costs, high seed costs (11%) and drought (10%) as the major production constraints impeding tomato production; and price fluctuations, low prices, high transport costs, post-harvest loss on farm, and poor market access as the major marketing constraints. The research findings will aid in the development of new market-oriented, highly productive tomato varieties with improved access to seed and designing initiatives to address production and marketing constraints, which will eventually enhance tomato production.

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