Productivity lost from slower renewal rate

Lost productivity and a slow uptake of new pasture species genetics and management are a direct result of the low rates of pasture renewal in New Zealand.

This is a clear message of a major review of pasture renewal research by AgResearch on behalf of the Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust (PRCT).

The review highlights the fact that despite rapid gains in the dairy industry's productivity in recent years, most current systems are near to maximising feed utilisation.

The next step is to increase overall pasture production through the genetic gains made in the breeding of both ryegrass and white clover cultivars coupled with improved pasture management.

PRCT chairman Murray Willocks says the trust's challenge is to get the information together and communicate it to farmers and the industry so more investment is made in pasture renewal.

"We want to ensure benefits
for all parties involved in the industry.

"Information on why pasture renewal is a key investment in farming, especially dairying right now, is lacking compared with information on the practices of how to undertake pasture renewal.

"The trust is focusing on the why and increased financial returns are a key driver for farmers re-thinking their approach to pasture renewal timeframes," Willocks says.

The PRCT's goal is to increase that annual rate by 30%. Currently 90,000ha are renewed annually in the dairy sector and a 30% increase in the renewal rate would take it to 117,000ha/year.

Potential for increased profit in the sheep and beef sector is also significant, with an estimated 9.6 million hectares under production in these sectors.

Although the range of variables on sheep and beef farms is much broader and the lead in time for results is much longer than in the dairy industry, the principles of more frequent pasture renewal are still valid, Willocks says.

Additional pasture production increases between 10-30% have been modelled on farms using a 10% annual rate of pasture renewal over a 10 year period (estimated period of pasture reversion), as outlined in the AgResearch review.

A 30% improvement in pasture growth increased total production over the range of 8900 - 14,000kg DM/ha which can realistically be expected on sheep and beef farms modelled in the Central North Island hill country, Manawatu and Southland finishing country, and Otago breeding/ finishing hill country.

The key to optimising the extra feed is grazing management, fertility and stock numbers.

Taking increased stock numbers through the winter using greater areas of supplementary cropping is required as the extra pasture grown is established. Further benefits can be gained by sowing an improved endophtye type to boost lamb growth rates.

Over the next two years the PRCT will run a campaign to raise the awareness of the importance of pasture renewal in all farming systems and outline the benefits.

Published courtesy of Country-Wide - February 2008