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Region: National
Dairy
Date: 2008-11-14 | Category:
OK whats next? First steps
Before renewing pasture it is essential to determine the factors behind the decline of the pasture to be replaced. These need to be rectified, either before establishing new pasture or as part of the management of the renewed pasture... Read full article » |
Dairy News
Moving the focus back to grass
Inglewood dairy farmer David Powell understands the benefits of new grass. After a period of intensification, using high inputs and pushing production to 1350kg MS/ha, he is now moving back to a less intensive regime of mainly grass, with maize silage to fill feed pinches.... Read full article » |
Northland woe – grass quality in late autumn & winter assessed
Low drymatter content in Northland pastures through late autumn and winter may be implicated in poor milk production, especially for autumn-calving herds. Rapidly growing ryegrass and kikuyu pastures can be lush but lacking in drymatter (DM), which means they could be intake restricting, leading to poor milk production.... Read full article » |
Huge scope in new species
Over the past 26 years farming his Taranaki dairy herd, David Powell has increased the production from 20,000kg/milkfat to 46,000kg, most of which he puts down to the effect of new grass species.... Read full article » |
Sow the seed, but also have a plan
Regrassing should be part of a strategic plan, not regrassing for its own sake, according to Waikato dairy farmer Mark Hickmott. “You have to keep in mind what it is you want to achieve, whether it’s growing more grass, or flattening out rough paddocks and achieving better access,” he said.... Read full article » |
Regrassing one way to lift output
The main reason dairy farmers should consider regrassing is to grow more dry matter (DM) to increase milk production, according to Kevin Taylor, operations manager at agricultural contractor Gavin Grain.... Read full article » |
Jersey genetics and good grass
Taranaki dairy farmers Tony and Maureen Luckin are achieving 85,000 kg milksolids per annum from their 240 cows. They put their success down to an annual regrassing programme and long established Jersey genetics.... Read full article » |
New pasture means happier cows
Waikato dairy farmer Phil Swney is in this third season of a pasture renewal programme and believes his cows have never looked better. Phil had been breeding for traits other than production for some time, but found his pastures were letting him down. Now he's started on the pasture renewal programme the quality of the feed is much better than the old with higher metabolisable energy (ME) values. The cows love it and they just deck it.... Read full article » |
Regrass, but do the homework
After the 2008 summer drought many dairy farmers will be looking at renewing damaged pastures this autumn. Planning is needed to make sure the best possible results from their efforts... Read full article » |
New grass to maximise returns
With dairy land values high Rukuhia farmer Kevin Henderson believes pasture renewal is the best approach to maximise production and return on investment. He farms 176 hectares south of Hamilton and renewing pasture at an annual rate of 10-12% per year is his goal. The newer pastures performed much better in the 2008 summer drought than the old ones and Kevin is giving thought to what else he can add to the ryegrass/ clover mix to assist growth during future dry periods
... Read full article » |
Swapping old pasture for new
Fifth generation Taranaki farmer Graeme Harkness has embarked on a pasture renewal programme to replace the old pastures the 160 hectare family property. Prior to beginning the replacement programme Harkness says "The youngest pastures were 35 years old and according to my father, some were as old as 70 years. My goal is to transform the farm over 10 years so I can farm with new pastures and flatter paddocks.... Read full article » |
Replace those depleted minerals
Pasture renewal is an integral part of ensuring best ongoing productivity and to meet the feed demands of your herd. The better quality pasture you can produce, the higher your chances of maintaining a healthy and high producing herd. Even in the driest areas, the newer pastures have tended to perform best," says Sue Macky, a Waikato-based consultant in dairy cattle nutrition and management... Read full article » |
Data makes decision easy
Running a year round, all grass system is the objective of the owners of Acerna Pastures Ltd, a 173 ha dairy farm near Geraldine, South Canterbury. The property was converted and resown for dairying over six months up until early 2007 and was ready for milking to begin in August 2008. "With pasture growth regularly monitored on a weekly basis and a feed production wedge created, knowing which paddocks are the lowest producers is easy," says farm manager Rodney Herrick. Monitoring is the key to maintaining this system and having two centre pivots in operation makes for very effective watering with minimal waste."... Read full article » |
Reap rewards of new growth
Autumn is the key time for renewing pastures on many dairy farms. For farmers considering the option, the first step is being convinced of the economics of doing so. Dairy NZ business developer, Adrian van Bysterveldt and Graham Kerr, technical development manager of NZ Agriseeds, both part of the Lincoln University Dairy Farm's management team, have put forward some figures that will stop you in your tracks. The typical rate of pasture renewal on dairy farms is around 5% annually. But renewal at this rate means you expect pastures to last 20 years, which is not enough to keep up with the natural deterioration of pastures due to dry conditions, weed invasion, pests and pugging. So renewing 10% of the farm annually is a more robust approach. However they stress they don't want to give specific recipes. "It depends on the individual farm situation," Adrian said.... Read full article » |
Banking on the details
Recognising that pasture quality was the weak link in their intensive dairy operation has led to a focus on pasture renewal over the past five years for dairy farmers Greg and Gerry Glover, who farm just west of Hamilton. The Glovers perceive pasture renewal as a vital, long term investment in reaching their goal of producing 400kg MS/cow annually in an operation that is profitable, sustainable and environmentally sound as well.... Read full article » |
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 More frequent pasture renewal is perhaps the most effective way to get significant production gains in a New Zealand farm system
Don Nicolson |
View
all testimonials » |
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 Calculators
Two calculators are available here to help farmers make decisions
to enable the best result from their pasture renewal. The Dairy
calculator has been developed in association DairyNZ and the
Sheep, Beef and Deer calculator has been reviewed by industry
personnel... More Info » |
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