scholarly journals Specialist winter milk production from pasture at No. 1 dairy farm, Massey University

1990 ◽  
pp. 85-88
Author(s):  
G.A. Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Research Problems

Premiums offered by some dairy companies for milk produced in the winter months led No. 1 Dairy Farm at Massey University to explore and instigate alternative options for winter milk production. Options were evaluated in a number of computer models, using information gathered from the farm. Transition to 100% autumn calving began in November 1987. 100% autumn calving improved gross margin from the enterprise and provided opportunities to further research problems inherent to winter milk production. Calving cows in autumn coincides with declining pasture growth. Shortfalls between pasture production and stock requirements in early lactation are filled using conserved pasture. The losses and inefficiencies associated with conserving feed are largely responsible for the lower stocking rate carried and lower total production from the farm. Fertiliser nitrogen and winter-active pasture species assume importance in the feeding strategy on the farm. Keywords winter milk production, grassland management

Addressing on-farm management to enhance pasture productivity and persistence

2013 ◽  
pp. 241-244
Author(s):  
W.N. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Operating Profit ◽  
The North ◽  
The Cost ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Attention To Detail

Following the 2007/08 drought, we experienced poor pasture production and persistence on our dairy farm in north Waikato, leading to decreased milksolids production and a greater reliance on bought-in feed. It is estimated that the cost of this to our farming operation was about $1300 per hectare per year in lost operating profit. While climate and black beetle were factors, they did not explain everything, and other factors were also involved. In the last 3 years we have changed our management strategies to better withstand dry summers, the catalyst for which was becoming the DairyNZ Pasture Improvement Focus Farm for the north Waikato. The major changes we made were to reduce stocking rate, actively manage pastures in summer to reduce over-grazing, and pay more attention to detail in our pasture renewal programme. To date the result has been a reduced need for pasture renewal, a lift in whole farm performance and increased profitability. Keywords: Focus farm, over-grazing, pasture management, pasture persistence, profitability

Rearing dairy beef calves by multiple suckling. 1. Effects of liveweight change, onset of oestrus and post-weaning milk production

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (72) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
AG Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Nutritional Treatment ◽  
Nutritional Effects ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Fourth Experiment

Three experiments were conducted to study the effects of multiple suckling during early lactation on liveweight change, the interval to first postpartum oestrus, and post-weaning milk production of cows. The effects of liveweight change and butterfat production during the first six weeks of lactation on the interval to first postpartum oestrus in milked cows were studied in a fourth experiment. Multiple suckling caused greater liveweight loss in suckled cows during the first six months of lactation and stimulated postweaning milk production in two out of three experiments. Multiple suckling also delayed the onset of first postpartum oestrus. In experiment 4 the correlations of liveweight change and butterfat production with interval to first postpartum oestrus were low and non-significant. As suckled and milked cows received the same nutritional treatment, these results indicated that suckling per se, rather than nutritional effects, was the likely factor responsible for the delay in first postpartum oestrus in multiple suckled cows. A possible relationship between the stimulatory effect of suckling and plane of nutrition, and the application of the multiple suckling system to the dairy farm situation are discussed.

scholarly journals Effects of an individual weight-adjusted feeding strategy in early lactation on milk production of Holstein cows during extended lactation

2016 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 2221-2236 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gaillard ◽  
N.C. Friggens ◽  
M. Taghipoor ◽  
M.R. Weisbjerg ◽  
J.O. Lehmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Individual Weight ◽  
Extended Lactation

Effects of topdressed superphosphate on the sheep and pasture production of dryland lucerne in central western New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (75) ◽  
pp. 475 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Brownlee ◽  
BJ Scott ◽  
RD Kearins ◽  
J Bradley
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Soil Phosphorus Test

Merino ewes at 3.7, 4.9 and 6.2 ha-1 grazed dryland lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Hunter River) topdressed annually with superphosphate at 0, 125 and 251 kg ha-1, from September 1969 until December 1972, in an experiment at Condobolin, New South Wales. Superphosphate increased ewe liveweights, total forage available and phosphorus content of the forage by a small amount but did not increase wool production per head. The Bray soil phosphorus test in the top 8 cm of the soil profile rose from 8 p.p.m. to 48 p.p.m., but most of the phosphorus was concentrated in the 0-4 cm layer, where we consider that dry conditions reduced its availability to the lucerne. As stocking rate increased, ewe liveweights and wool production per head decreased and the sheep required more handfeeding for survival. The treatment with the greatest gross margin was the lowest stocking rate with nil fertilizer.

Resource Efficient Dairying trial: measurement criteria for farm systems over a range of resource use

2005 ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.N. Jensen ◽  
D.A. Clark ◽  
K.A. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Return On Assets ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Land Prices ◽  
Management Processes

The aim of the Resource Efficient Dairying (RED) trial is to measure the productivity, economic and environmental effects of different feed inputs and management processes on a dairy farm. This is a longterm systems trial located at Scott Farm (Dexcel Research Farm) established on 1st June 2001 and expected to continue until 2006. Trial design was based on six systems that have an allowance of up to 200 kg nitrogen (N)/ha (excluding the low input treatment). They are: low input (no N fertiliser, heifers grazed-on and 2.3 cows/ha); control (3 cows/ha); standoff (3 cows/ha); low supplement input (5 t dry matter (DM) maize silage/ha, 3.8 cows/ha); moderate supplement input (10 t DM maize silage/ha; 5.2 cows/ha); and high supplement input (15 t DM maize silage + 5 t soymeal/ha; 6.9 cows/ha). The last two systems have irrigation available to boost pasture production. All systems were designed to operate at a common comparative stocking rate (CSR) of 85 kg liveweight (LW)/t DM. Two seasons' data have shown that increasing the stocking rate (SR) by 1.5 cows/ha from 3.8 to 5.3 cows/ha, plus extra feed, increased output by 90 and 184 kg milksolids (MS)/total ha in the two years, when the extra area required to supply the extra feed is included in the calculation of kg MS/ha. However the further increase to 6.9 cows/ha plus extra feed produced less MS/total ha than the system stocked at 3.8 cows/ha. Calculations of economic farm surplus (EFS) and return on assets (ROA) reveal that when the payout is $3.50/kg MS the low input system is competitive irrespective of land price ($18000 or $37000/ha) or supplement cost (18 c or 24 c/kg DM). Conversely at a higher payout of $4.50/kg MS the treatment supplemented with 10 t maize silage DM/ha is competitive over the range of land prices and supplement costs tested. Keywords: dairy cows, economic evaluation, maize silage, milksolids, nitrogen fertiliser, stocking rate

scholarly journals CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT TO ACHIEVE HIGHER MILKFAT PRODUCTION ON THE WEST COAST

1981 ◽  
pp. 92-98
Author(s):  
M.C. Wheadon
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curve ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
The West ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Farm

Based on research findings and observation, a dairy farm pasture management system is presented that could result in an increased per hectare milkfat production and profitability. In autumn there should be a change away from milk production towards pasture management and cow condition by using strategic drying off of cows relevant to the individual farm situation. This is probably the most important decision made each year. As winter pasture production is inadequate to meet cow maintenance and pregnancy requirements, cow condition should be at the level required for calving by the start of winter. The use of supplements conserved from summer' surpluses to specifically 'in-' crease cow condition in winter is of marginal economic value. They should be used primarily in autumn to produce extra pasture to be available for later use in winter. The matching of correct drying-off date, calving date and stocking rate to the pasture growth curve for the region, and an appreciation of correct feeding levels at the different stages of lactation are important.

The effect of stocking rate on milk production from kikuyu grass pastures fertilized with nitrogen

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Colman ◽  
AG Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Kikuyu Grass ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Stocking Rates

Dairy production was measured over two lactations on kikuyu grass pastures fertilized with 336 kg N ha-1year-1, at stocking rates from 2.47 to 4.94 cows ha-1. Mean butterfat production per cow was low, varying from 72 to 109 kg, and declined by 6.1 kg per cow (P < 0.05) for a unit increase in stocking rate. Annual production per hectare was high, reaching a maximum of 448 kg butterfat and increasing by 72.6 kg ha-1 (P < 0.01) for a unit increase in stocking rate. A supplement of crushed oats was fed at the highest stocking rate during early lactation. This increased production by up to 20 per cent. The stability of the system is discussed in relation to pasture productivity, soil fertility and animal production.

Hay supplements to overcome underfeeding of dairy cows. 1. Early lactation

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale ◽  
KR King ◽  
IF Patterson ◽  
DT Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Economic Use

Seventy-seven cows of mixed breeds were allocated a range of pasture only or pasture/hay diets for the first 60 days of lactation. The variation in level of pasture intake was achieved by stripgrazing. The average in vitro dry matter digestibility and nitrogen content of the pasture offered was 72.0 and 3.11 % respectively, while those of the hay were 63.3 and 2.24%. The pasture alone treatments examined the effects of underfeeding on dairy cow productivity and the pasture/hay treatments established the extent to which these effects could be overcome by the use of hay as a supplement to limited pasture. After 60 days, all cows were grazed as one group at a stocking rate of 6.0 cows ha-1. Underfeeding in the first 60 days of lactation resulted in a loss of 68.3 kg milk/cow for each kg reduction in daily pasture intake, together with a decline in liveweight and body condition. When hay was offered as a supplement, it overcame the effects of underfeeding to a large extent although milk production still declined by 31.3 kg/cow for each kg reduction in daily pasture intake. There was a residual loss in milk production of 0.6 times the immediate loss for 60 days of underfeeding. The residual benefit gained from feeding hay at any level of underfeeding averaged 0.5 times the immediate benefit. Hay was unable to counteract completely the effects of underfeeding because its nutritive value for production was only half that of pasture, and the cows could not eat enough of it to overcome this. Some possible variations to these results are considered, taking into account the quality of the pasture and hay used. The economic use of hay as a supplement to limited pasture is discussed. Providing hay is used as a genuine supplement, the use of it will be economic as long as the cost of a kg of hay is less than the price paid for 0.049 kg butterfat. The limitations to this calculation are discussed.

scholarly journals Application of a computer dairy model on-farm

1993 ◽  
pp. 217-217
Author(s):  
C.A. Lewis ◽  
B. Garrity
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Actual Season ◽  
Physical Functions ◽  
Grass Growth ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Base Data

For Mr Barry Garrity, Carterton dairy farmer, the spring of 1992 brought a very challenging decision-making process. A computerised simulator (model) of the physical functions of his property had been in use since October 199 1. As a high stocking rate, high performance farm the next step in improving profitability was being sought. The simulator provided a means of reviewing performance, searching out means of more efficient use of pasture and overcoming the limitations to increased production. The software (UDDER) models grass growth and animal performance for an actual season with a gross margin used to reflect the financial component. In this case base data were derived from the 1990191 season, a record year for the property. Keywords: computer, dairy farm, forecast, gross margin, model, simulator

scholarly journals Effect of Stocking Rate on Pasture Production, Milk Production, and Reproduction of Dairy Cows in Pasture-Based Systems

2008 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2151-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Macdonald ◽  
J.W. Penno ◽  
J.A.S. Lancaster ◽  
J.R. Roche
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production
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