Pasture growth curves and grazing management

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (30) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
FHW Morley
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Optimum Number ◽  
Optimum Length ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Financial Survival ◽  
Rapid Relief

Growth curves, published by Brougham (1956), of pastures growing in winter at Palmerston North, New Zealand, were analysed. The mathematical models were examined by computer runs in which the various parameters were varied within likely limits. The results obtained suggest that the following principles may be applied to the management of pastures similar to those studied. The average rate of regrowth increases to a maximum after removal of grazing animals, but this maximum is not sharply defined. The optimum number of subdivisions in a rotational grazing system is probably less than ten, unless considerations other than pasture growth are important. The optimum length of intervals between grazings, and of grazing periods, for a given level of subdivision, are not sharply defined. Following dry autumns, management should generally aim at maximum pasture production rather than most rapid relief of present stress, provided this policy does not endanger animal or financial survival. Systems of grazing management may therefore vary within fairly wide limits, without serious loss of pasture production, provided pasture stability and animal welfare are not jeopardized.

scholarly journals TechnoGrazing™ a new grazing concept

2001 ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F.L. Charlton ◽  
J.H. Wier
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
The Past ◽  
Quantum Leap ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Labour Input ◽  
Sustainable Grazing

The Technosystem intensive grazing system, now called TechnoGrazing™, was developed by Rangitikei farmer, Harry Wier, during the past 25 years and is being adopted successfully on New Zealand pastoral farms. The TechnoGrazing concept is a most effective advance in subdivision and grazing management, achieving very intensive and efficient pasture utilisation, with a quantum leap in animal production. It requires only a minimum investment in plant and equipment, a low labour input, and is a sustainable grazing system when practised properly. Pastoral farmers using TechnoGrazing systems in different regions are now achieving greater profits and impressive results, especially for dairy beef and sheep finishing, and several examples are described. Keywords: controlled grazing, intensification, liveweight gains, pasture utilisation, Techno- Grazing

scholarly journals Agricultural innovation in East Otago: helping to shape New Zealand's farming industry

2006 ◽  
pp. 25-31
Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
K.A. Cousins
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Land Reforms ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Sheep Breeding ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Genetics Research ◽  
Farming Industry

The East Otago region has been at the forefront of agricultural advancement in New Zealand with key people leading the way in creating a culture of innovation. Rural technology developments are traced back from the emerging new biotechnology industries, through animal genetics research, improvements in hill country and pasture production, soil and fertiliser research, the introduction of deer farming and sheep breeding, to the frozen meat shipments, agricultural organisation restructuring and land reforms of the early settlers. Keywords: deer, genetics, grazing management, history, innovation, sheep, soil classification, soil fertility, technology

scholarly journals HILL COUNTRY GRAZlNG MANAGEMENT

1976 ◽  
pp. 47-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.E. Smith ◽  
A.D. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Systems

Conditions that warrant the development of a new approach to hill country grazing management are outlined. The effect of three grazing systems on pasture growth and species composition is discussed. Livestock feed requirements are related to pasture production. An action calendar shows the modifications to the grazing system which allows better exploitation of the pasture and stock potential. Finally, results of the adoption of the recommended grazing systems are given.

Effects of grazing management and stocking rate on pasture production, ewe liveweight, ewe fertility and lamb growth on subterranean clover-based pasture in Western Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lloyd Davies ◽  
I. N. Southey
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Border Leicester x Merino ewes joined to Dorset Horn rams were grazed for 3 years on subterranean clover-based pastures established on virgin ground at Bakers Hill, Western Australia, at 3 stocking rates and 2 systems of grazing management (viz. continuous grazing compared with a deferred grazing system which was designed to ensure that pasture availability met the nutritional requirements of breeding ewes at critical phases of their reproductive cycle). Both stocking rate and grazing management affected pasture availability: there was always a greater amount of pasture available on offer under the deferred grazing system. However, this extra pasture rarely increased animal production; the effect of the deferred grazing compared with continuous grazing was inconsequential for ewe liveweight in late pregnancy and for lamb growth rate. The deferred grazing system promoted grass dominance at all stocking rates whereas there was only 24% grass under continuous grazing at the high stocking rate. Stocking rate on some occasions affected ewe liveweight at joining but always affected the prelambing weight. The highest stocking rate on some occasions reduced twinning rate. Stocking rate (particularly in 1966) affected lamb growth rate. The combination of the effect of stocking rate on twinning rate, lamb survival and lamb growth rate resulted in a lower proportion of lambs achieving 30 kg liveweight per lamb marked at higher stocking rates (3-year mean low stocking rate 106% lambs marketed; medium stocking rate 95% and high stocking rate 80%). In 1966, total plasma ketones were lower and plasma glucose (measure of ewe metabolic status) was higher on the deferred system than on the continuously grazed system.

An evaluation of a strategic de-stocking regime for dairying to improve nitrogen efficiency and reduce nitrate leaching from dairy farms in nitrate-sensitive areas

2000 ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Cecile De Klein ◽  
Jim Paton ◽  
Stewart Ledgard
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrogen Efficiency ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Sensitive Areas

Strategic de-stocking in winter is a common management practice on dairy farms in Southland, New Zealand, to protect the soil against pugging damage. This paper examines whether this practice can also be used to reduce nitrate leaching losses. Model analyses and field measurements were used to estimate nitrate leaching losses and pasture production under two strategic de-stocking regimes: 3 months off-farm or 5 months on a feed pad with effluent collected and applied back to the land. The model analyses, based on the results of a long-term farmlet study under conventional grazing and on information for an average New Zealand farm, suggested that the 3- or 5-month de-stocking could reduce nitrate leaching losses by about 20% or 35-50%, respectively compared to a conventional grazing system. Field measurements on the Taieri Plain in Otago support these findings, although the results to date are confounded by drought conditions during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. The average nitrate concentration of the drainage water of a 5-month strategic de-stocking treatment was about 60% lower than under conventional grazing. Pasture production of the 5-month strategic de-stocking regime with effluent return was estimated based on data for apparent N efficiency of excreta patches versus uniformlyspread farm dairy effluent N. The results suggested that a strategic de-stocking regime could increase pasture production by about 2 to 8%. A cost/ benefit analysis of the 5-month de-stocking system using a feed pad, comparing additional capital and operational costs with additional income from a 5% increase in DM production, show a positive return on capital for an average New Zealand dairy farm. This suggests that a strategic destocking system has good potential as a management tool to reduce nitrate leaching losses in nitrate sensitive areas whilst being economically viable, particularly on farms where an effluent application system or a feed pad are already in place. Keywords: dairying, feed pads, nitrate leaching, nitrogen efficiency, productivity, strategic de-stocking

Grazed pasture parameters. I. Pasture dry-matter production and availability in a stocking rate and grazing management experiment with dairy cows

1966 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Matter Production

1. Net pasture dry matter production and available pasture dry matter were measured over 3 years in a small-scale replica of the study of the effects of dairy cow grazing management and stocking rate reported by McMeekan & Walshe (1963).2. The four treatments were(i) Controlled rotational grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(ii) Controlled rotational grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).(iii) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(iv) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).3. The pasture measurement technique employed measured net pasture production (gains through new growth minus losses from all sources). It is argued that this parameter, rather than absolute pasture production, governs the changes in the dry matter feed supply to the grazing animal.

scholarly journals Effects of the MaxP (TM) endophyte in tall fescue on pasture production and composition, and the sheep grazing preference in a dryland environment

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 259-262
Author(s):  
K.N. Tozer ◽  
S. Ates ◽  
N.R. Mapp ◽  
M.C. Smith ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Annual Grasses

Pasture growth, botanical composition and sheep grazing preference were measured over 20 months in tall fescue (cultivar Advance), without endophyte (Nil) or infected with AR542 (MaxPTM) endophyte, and clover pastures sown into a dryland soil, Canterbury, New Zealand. Pastures were rotationally grazed with sheep, with grazing preference for the two endophyte treatments measured in late autumn and early spring. Annual dry matter production from April 2004 to April 2005 was not significantly different between AR542 (6293 kg DM/ha) and Nil (5864 kg DM/ha) tall fescue. The number of tall fescue plants/m2 and their basal diameter was greater for AR542 (35 plants/m2, 7.5 cm diameter) than Nil endophyte tall fescue (28 plants/m2, 6.8 cm diameter). AR542 endophyte tall fescue pastures had fewer weeds, mainly annual grasses, than Nil endophyte pastures throughout the trial. Grazing preference, measured by the number of sheep grazing each plot, and decline in pasture height did not differ between Nil and AR542 tall fescue. Keywords: tall fescue, novel endophyte, AR542, botanical composition, weed, grazing preference

scholarly journals Diplazium esculentum (vegetable fern).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Vélez-Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
North America ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Rate Of Spread

Abstract Diplazium esculentum is a herbaceous fern native to Asia. It has been introduced into a number of countries in Africa, Oceania and North America as an ornamental and as a food source. As it produces a large number of spores it can easily escape cultivation and rapidly spread into new areas. The species is reported as having escaped cultivation and become invasive in Hawaii, USA, New Zealand and Australia. In Hawaii, D. esculentum grows abundantly in wet valleys and in sheltered moist areas at dry sites. It is also a frequent volunteer in gardens. In New Zealand it has escaped from cultivation, spreading rapidly and aggressively in riverbanks at an average rate of spread of 1 m per year. In Australia the species is widely cultivated for food and as an ornamental, naturalising in swampy areas of Queensland. Its impacts on other habitats or species are unknown.

Value of chicory crops to pasture-based dairy farms in the Waikato region of New Zealand

2014 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. ROMERA ◽  
G. J. DOOLE ◽  
E. N. KHAEMBAH
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Linear Optimization ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Increase Milk Production ◽  
Broad Variation ◽  
Milk Solids ◽  
To Receive

SUMMARYChicory (Cichorium intybusL.) crops can increase milk production on New Zealand dairy farms through providing high-quality feed in late lactation. Non-linear optimization models of three Waikato dairy farms, differing in the degree to which imported supplement is used, were employed to evaluate chicory crops in this environment. At a baseline milk price of $NZ 7/kg milk solids, it was only profitable for chicory to be used on a farm where no imported supplement was fed. However, even then, only 0·04 of the farm area was planted and profit only increased by $NZ 30/ha (0·006 of baseline profit), relative to where it was not used. It was not optimal to plant any chicory on farms where imported feed was available, at the baseline milk price and cost of establishment considered here. This was evident because imported feed is more flexible than chicory for filling temporary feed gaps; also its use does not displace pasture production. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the unprofitability of chicory is robust to broad variation in calving date and the relative growth of chicory and pasture. Overall, results indicate that farmers are unlikely to receive adequate reward for the additional complexity arising from the utilization of chicory crops, especially when imported supplement provides more flexibility.

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