Management decision rules to optimise milksolids production on
dairy farms
K.A. MacDonald and J.W. Penno
Dairy Research Corporation Ltd, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1998,
58: 132-135
A review of grazing management research has provided a series of
decision rules for the management of seasonal calving pastoral dairy
farm systems. These rules have been used at the DRC No. 2 Dairy to
remove subjectivity from the management of farm systems research. Cows
are dried off with sufficient time for second calvers and mixed age cows
to achieve condition scores of 5 and 4.5 by 1 June. Target pasture
average herbage mass at calving is 2200 kg DM/ha. Optimum grazing
management during autumn/winter, spring and summer has been shown to
increase milksolids production by 29, 70 and 41 kg MS/ha, respectively.
Grazing management during late spring must meet the dual objectives of
generously feeding the herd, while maintaining pasture quality.
Conserved pasture supplements should be fed in late autumn/early winter
to meet cow condition, grazing management, and herbage mass objectives.
Substantial increases in animal productivity can be achieved by sound
farm management during periods of feed deficit.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
dairy production; pasture; grazing management; stocking rate;
rotational grazing.
Last Updated 12-09-1998
