scholarly journals Pasture production gains from strategic winter nitrogen applications on a North Island sheep and beef hill country farm

2008 ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.R. Puha ◽  
W.Mcg King ◽  
V.T. Burggraaf ◽  
A.H.C. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Major Constraint ◽  
Key Words Nitrogen

Inadequate pasture growth from September to November has been a major constraint on animal production at Limestone Downs, Port Waikato. In an attempt to address this, urea was applied by air in two applications per year (late autumn + winter) at rates up to 250 kg N/ha/year for each of 3 years (2004-2007). Key words: nitrogen, slope, aspect, pasture growth, fertiliser response

scholarly journals COMMENTS ON THE GRAZING MANAGEMENT SESSION

1984 ◽  
pp. 207-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Milligan
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Critical Levels ◽  
Research Environment ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Better Than

This collection of papers does four significant things: 1. It concentrates on hill country. 2. Precisely defines the research environment in pasture levels and animal production terms. One can clearly see the consequences in animal production at different times of the year when pre-grazing and residual herbage levels are defined and varied and to see the effects of different grazing systems at these pasture levels. Much better than high vs low stocking rates. 3. Attempts to set pature targets as well as animal production targets. 4. Defines critical pasture DM levels both below which pasture production is reduced, and above which control is lost. The proximity to these critical levels will, for a farmer, more precisely define the grazing management system he should adopt and the levels of animal production he should be able to achieve

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF LATE-AUTUMN NITROGEN APPLICATION ON HILL COUNTRY PASTURES AND SHEEP PRODUCTION

1986 ◽  
pp. 211-215
Author(s):  
M.G. Lambert ◽  
D.A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Research Area ◽  
Nitrogen Application ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
N Use

Effects of late-May/early June application of fertiliser nitrogen (N) on pasture and animal performance from hill pastures, were measured durmg 1982.1984 on four 10 ha farmlets at Ballantrae Research Area near Woodville. Two farmlets had a history of high superphosphate (375 kg/ha/year) application and were stocked at 16.1 ewes/ha and two farmlets that received less superphosphate (125 kg/ha/year) were stocked at 12 ewes/ha. Urea was applied at rates equivalent to 3kg N/ewe, or 50 and 37kg N/ha/year respectively on one high fertiliser and one low fertiliser farmlet. Pasture production responses were large and reliable (range of 17 to 34, average of 28kg DM/kg N), and extended through winter into spring. Average legume content of pastures was depressed from 12 to 8% by N applicahon. Ewes were heavier in winter and spring where N was applied, but not at mating in April/May. Lambing performance was similar across farmlets, but weaned lamb liveweight was 14% higher where N was applied. Nitrogen use resulted in 6% greater ewe wool production and 12% greater lamb wool production. Profitability of N use would have been enhanced if utilisatlon of N-boosted pasture had been greater, more responsive stock classes used, or application of superphosphate reduced temporarily. Keywords: Hill country, North Island, hill pastures, urea, fertiliser nitrogen, sheep production. wool production, lamb produchon, profItabIlity.

scholarly journals Pasture responses to phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers on dry hill country

1998 ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Gillingham ◽  
M.H. Gray ◽  
D.R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Nitrogen Response ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Large Scale Field ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Steep Slopes

In order to evaluate the relative responsiveness of summer-dry hill pasture to phosphate (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilisers, a large scale field trial was established in southern Hawke's Bay in 1995. Pasture growth rates and species, and soil moisture levels were measured on easy and steep slopes of generally north- and south-facing aspects in two pairs of farmlets with either a Low or High soil P status, one of each pair also receiving 30 kg N/ha annually in winter. Soil moisture levels were always higher on south- than on north-facing slopes, the difference being greatest from autumn to spring. However, total annual pasture growth was higher on north aspects because of better winter production, whereas the colder, south aspects produced little pasture at this time. In other seasons, pasture growth was similar on both aspects. Pasture growth was higher on easy than on steep slopes at all times. P responses occurred from spring to autumn especially on south aspects, and on easy north-facing slopes, which showed a large increase in clover growth. N responses were best in winter and autumn especially on steep, north aspects and at Low P conditions. N application depressed clover production, especially in the High P+N fertiliser treatment, where there was no net increase in production compared with the High P treatment. Only tentative conclusions can be made at this time since the pasture is considered to be still in a development phase. However, results suggest that application of P only to south aspects and moist north slopes, and for steep, north-facing slopes to receive N, plus only limited P, will be the most efficient fertiliser policy. Keywords: dry hill country, phosphate response, nitrogen response, pasture production, slope, aspect

Pasture production measurements on hill country

1968 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Radcliffe ◽  
W.R. Dale ◽  
E. Viggers
Keyword(s):  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country

scholarly journals Agroforestry - an opportunity overlooked?

1990 ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
M.F. Hawke ◽  
J.P. Maclaren
Keyword(s):  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country

Agroforestry is defined, and shown to be a very profitable option for hill country farmers. It is suggested that agroforestry should be part of a normal farm portfolio of investments. A 30 to 50-hectare woodlot can be worth a million dollars to the grower, and thus be worth more than the rest of the farm combined. Research on agroforestry by combined forestry and agricultural scientists has been extensive, and many potential useful discoveries have been made. Worthwhile pasture production can be achieved for half of the tree rotation and good livestock performance is possible under low tree populations. Nevertheless, this technology has not been taken up by farmers, possibly because profit from trees is not considered to be an important use of trees, as two surveys indicate. Keywords agroforestry, profitability, opportunity, potential, hill country

scholarly journals General Development Strategies

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
A. Anon
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
General Development ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Young Stock ◽  
Stock Feed

Having briefly described the high country in terms of its environment, potential pasture production, and suitability of particular pasture species, we need to consider development strategies for sustainable animal production. Important points are: Type of animal Provision of winter feed Land and management requirements to grow young stock Subdivision of land into its various natural units to firhi the year round stock feed requirements Efftcient use of fertilisers General strategies of pasture development using legumes, grasses and nutrient cycling.

scholarly journals CRITICAL INPUTS INTO GISBORNE HILL COUNTRY

1984 ◽  
pp. 27-37
Author(s):  
M.J. Fitzharris ◽  
D.F. Wright
Keyword(s):  
East Coast ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Management Study ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
The Future ◽  
Farm Profit ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Practical Implications

The results of an analysis of four years data, 1975/76-1978/79, from a farm management study of Gisborne-East Coast hill country farms were presented at the 1980 Grasslands Conference. Analysis of three more years data, 1979/80-1981/82, essentially confirms the association of fencing and fertiliser with high levels of animal production. Recent escalating costs of fertiliser have cast doubts on its profitability. High stocking rates (usually beyond 12 su/ha) and high proportions of cattle (usually up to 50% of su) have emerged as other factors consistently associated with greater productivity and frequently with profitability. It is suggested that manipulation of these factors would be worthy of farmers consideration. The practical implications for the future of these findings are discussed. Keywords: Farm production, farm profit, Gisborne hill country

ESTIMATING BODY COMPOSITION OF LAMBS USING BOMB CALORIMETRY

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. DEGEN ◽  
M. KAM ◽  
R. W. BENJAMIN ◽  
R. KÖNIG ◽  
K. BECKER
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Bomb Calorimetry ◽  
Total Energy Content ◽  
Body Energy

Chemical composition and body energy content of animals are important measurements in studies of animal production. However, determinations of fat and protein contents are laborious and time consuming. In this study, we describe a method in which fat and protein contents can be estimated in lambs by measuring ash contents and energy yields of samples. Errors in estimating total energy content of a sample were within 1.22%. With certain modifications, this method should be applicable to all animals. Key words: Body composition, bomb calorimetry, body energy content, fat, protein, ash

Seasonal and fertilizer effects on the organic cycle and microbial biomass in a hill country soil under pasture

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Perrott ◽  
SU Sarathchandra ◽  
BW Dow
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Sodium Bicarbonate ◽  
Organic Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
Inorganic Phosphorus ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Soil Microbial

A two year investigation of soil phosphorus and the soil organic cycle was carried out on a typical hill country site in the North Island, New Zealand. This included investigation of changes in soil phosphorus, as well as seasonal and fertilizer (superphosphate) effects on soil microbial phosphorus and sulfur, sodium bicarbonate extractable phosphorus and calcium chloride extractable sulfur. No net utilization of soil organic phosphorus occurred when application of phosphate fertilizer was withheld. On the contrary, accumulation of organic phosphorus was found in both fertilized and unfertilized plots. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus into organic forms appeared to be a significant factor in fertilizer phosphorus requirements at this site. It was also a significant cause of the decline in the soil phosphorus status when no fertilizer was applied. Despite declining pasture production, there were no effects of withholding superphosphate on the soil biological cycle as measured by soil microbial phosphorus and sulfur, total organic phosphorus and sodium bicarbonate extractable organic phosphorus. However, seasonal variations occurred indicating storage and release of phosphorus by the soil organic matter and microbial biomass. Release of phosphorus occurred during periods of rapid pasture growth and could account for phosphorus uptake by the pasture at those times.

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