Predicting animal production from pasture

K.E. Milligan

Advisory Services Division Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Te Kuiti

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1987, 47: 35-37

Stocking rates and target live weights to optimise profit on a small bull beef unit were determined from the New Zealand Exporters Schedule for bull beef and liveweight gain information.

The targets were to purchase bulls during October or November at 85 to 100 kg live weight and to grow them to between 420 and 440 kg live weight by 1 December the following year.

Using average pasture growth rate data, a simple feed budget model predicted mean pasture cover targets from April to December required to achieve the live weight targets.

Grazing plans were designed and regularly reviewed to test the validity of using mean pasture cover as an indicator of successful management.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Bull beef; liveweight gain; pasture cover

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Last Updated 03-05-1997