A comparison of liveweight gain of two groups of weaners of
different entry liveweight in an ad libitum fodder beet feeding
system for finishing beef cattle
S.J. GIBBS, B. SALDIAS, J. WHITE, D. WALSH, N. STOCKER,
C. TROTTER, B. FISHER, A. FISHER, B. BANKS and S. HODGE
view more
The use of fodder beet as the primary diet for finishing
beef cattle is a recent New Zealand innovation. A
system using ad libitum grazed fodder beet through
autumn and winter to finish spring-born steers between
12 and 18 months old was developed. Fodder beet is
a high energy yet comparatively low protein content
feed, and the fodder beet system requires high
liveweight gains on the crop and an early slaughter
age for cost effective production. Lower liveweight
weaners have a greater protein requirement for optimal
weight gain, and the threshold entry liveweight for
satisfactory performance in this feeding system was
not yet established. The objective of this study was to
quantify the effect of the entry liveweight of weaners
on liveweight gain in the fodder beet feeding system.
A group of 392 rising 1-year-old beef cattle fed using
this system were divided at entry into three groups on
unfasted liveweight (kg): A, 290–370; B, 240–260;
and the remaining animals. The heaviest (group A:
steer n=67, 316 ±2.7 kg; heifer n=45, 312 ±2.5 kg) and
lightest (group B: steer n=77, 249 ±0.7 kg; heifer n=19,
251 ±1.0 kg) groups were then treated identically on ad
libitum fodder beet to compare liveweight gain across
130 days on crop. The mean liveweight daily gain (kg/
day) for group A was significantly greater than group
B, and greater for the steers compared to heifers in
group A (0.98 and 0.85), but not in group B (0.82 and
0.81). Mean liveweight gain as a proportion of entry
liveweight was greater in group B, and greater in steers.
Both mean daily liveweight gain and mean liveweight
gain as a proportion of entry liveweight were positively
correlated with entry liveweight, but the R2 of both
was low (0.14 and 0.05, respectively). Mean daily
liveweight gain values of this magnitude are greater
than those previously reported for alternative winter
crops, and satisfactory for finishing beef cattle in this
system. This study suggests the use of beef cattle
above 240 kg liveweight as weaners in this fodder beet
feeding system, both steers and heifers, is satisfactory
for achieving acceptable slaughter liveweight before 18
months old.
Keywords: beef production, fodder beet, finishing
cattle, ad libitum fodder beet intakes.
A comparison of New Zealand and overseas white clover cultivars
under grazing in New Zealand
K.H. WIDDUP, J.L. FORD, G.R. COUSINS, D.R. WOODFIELD, J.R. CARADUS and B.A. BARRETT
view more
A large number of white clover cultivars bred both in
New Zealand and overseas are available for use by New
Zealand pastoral farmers. Unfortunately, there is little
published data on the merits of many of these cultivars
under grazing in New Zealand. Data from a series of
trials established in the Manawatu between 1996 and
2005 containing a range of cultivars from Europe,
the Mediterranean, North and South America and
New Zealand were used in a meta-analysis to assess
the general adaptive yield and persistence potential
of these contrasting cultivar types. All trials were
maintained over 2 to 4 years, and revealed significant
cultivar effects. Overall, New Zealand bred cultivars
showed better adaptation than overseas cultivars.
However, overseas cultivars containing Mediterranean
germplasm, particularly from southern France, Italy
and Syria exhibited beneficial features in the trials,
and many recently bred New Zealand cultivars contain
germplasm from these origins. In addition to using
the appropriate parent germplasm when developing
cultivars, it is equally important to evaluate and select
under local conditions, in competition with grass,
under grazing, over multiple environments and years.
New Zealand farmers may benefit from an industrywide
benchmarking system for white clover cultivars,
possibly by incorporation into the DairyNZ Forage
Value Index.
Keywords: white clover, cultivars, germplasm, local,
overseas, adaptation
A comparison under grazing of pasture production, pasture N
content and soil mineral N levels between granular urea and
ONEsystem® on two contrasting dairy farms in New Zealand
B.F. QUIN, A.G. GILLINGHAM, D. BAIRD, S. SPILSBURY and M. GRAY
view more
Field trials under grazing on two contrasting dairy farms
in mid-Canterbury (Site C) on a stony silt loam under
irrigation, and in rain-fed central Waikato (Site W) on a
volcanic ash-derived soil, compared standard granular
urea (4–5 mm diameter granules) with ONEsystem®.
This uses prilled urea (0.8–2.8 mm diameter prills),
passed through a fine water spray (50 litres/ha) that
contains the urease inhibitor nbpt (2 gm nbpt/kg N)
during application. A nil N control and three rates of
each fertiliser were applied to 12 × 25 m plots on four
occasions after rotational grazing during spring/early
summer 2014. ONEsystem® resulted in extra dry matter
(EDM) to N applied compared with granular urea at
Site C. At Site W, the initial advantage to ONEsystem®
in Period 1 (early spring) was not maintained.
To produce EDM of 1250 (±750) kg/ha required
120 and 126 kg N/ha as granular urea at Sites C and
W, respectively (giving EDM factors of 10.4 and 9.9
(± 2) kgDM/ kgN applied respectively). This compares
with 50 and 74 kg N/ha required with ONEsystem® for
higher EDM factors of 24 and 17 (± 5) kg DM/ kg N.
Pasture N concentrations were higher at Site C
following ONEsystem® application, and total N uptake
was increased 3-fold compared to granular urea. At Site
W, increases in EDM with ONEsystem® only occurred
in the first period.
The results of this study have implications for both
the economic and environmental efficiency of fertiliser
urea use on grazed pastures.
Keywords: ONEsystem®, prilled urea, nbpt, granular
urea, N efficiency, pasture, N uptake
A critique: “Potassium requirements of pasture on Pumice soil” by
Morton et al.
D.C. EDMEADES and R.M. McBRIDE
view more
Morton et al. (2014) presented the results from two
rates of potassium (K) pasture trials conducted on
Pumice soils which commenced in spring 2009 and ran
for 3 years. They reached a number of conclusions with
respect to the management of potassium requirements
on such soils, based on the soil Quick Test K (QTK)
samples (0–75 mm) collected in spring and suggested
that the results from these two sites were unique. While
noting that soil samples were collected in the autumn,
they did not include these data in their anaylsis and
discussion of the results. This communication discusses
the implications of this omission.
Keywords: potassium, pasture, pumice, soil tests
A more quantitative approach to pasture renewal
G.A. KERR, J. BROWN, T. KILDAY and D. R. STEVENS
view more
On New Zealand dairy farms the level of pasture
renewal has been estimated at 6% and 8%, with one
analysis suggesting greater levels would benefit the
economy. There is little research on how farmers set
a renewal level, but we suggest five main drivers:
crop requirement, historical, an event response,
development and cost/benefit driven. This paper
presents a case study using a cost/benefit approach to
pasture renewal for Willsden dairy farm in Canterbury,
which has renewed 28% and 38% of the property in
the last 2 seasons. On this farm spray-drilling Italian
ryegrass has shown an estimated 1.7 t DM/ha/year
extra yield in the season of sowing, with a net value
of $1090/ha, suggesting a payback period of around 5
months and a 198% return within the season of sowing.
This case study shows there is a significant opportunity
for dairy farmers to profit from better use of weekly
pasture cover information to plan pasture renewal,
to better assess the success of any renewal, and for
pasture management software developers to provide
automated analysis options to support a cost/benefit
pasture renewal strategy.
Keywords: pasture renewal, spray-drill, spraycultivate,
perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass
A review of the use of chicory, plantain, red clover and white
clover in a sward mix for increased sheep and beef production
L.M. CRANSTON, P.R. KENYON, S.T. MORRIS and P.D. KEMP
view more
Many farmers are sowing mixed swards containing
chicory (Cichorium intybus), plantain (Plantago
lanceolata), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white
clover (T. repens) (hereafter termed herb and clover
mix). This herb and clover mix has comparable annual
dry matter (DM) production to perennial ryegrass white
clover pasture (rye/wc), however, it has a different
pattern of growth, producing more DM during summer
and autumn. The herb and clover mix also has a higher
nutritive value and is able to support greater rates of
animal production, especially over summer, than rye/
wc in both sheep and cattle. The herb and clover mix is
most suited to a rotational grazing interval of 3–4 weeks
to an 8 cm residual height, with no winter grazing.
When managed appropriately the herb and clover mix
is able to persist for at least 2 years and up to 5 years
under both sheep and cattle grazing.
Keywords: Cichorium intybus, Plantago lanceolata,
Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, legume,
perennial, nutritive value.
Active optical sensing of canopies in pasture management
J. ROBERTS, A. SUAREZ INFIESTA, B. SCHÄBITZ, J. FOURIE and A. WERNER
view more
Commercial units of Active Optical Sensor (AOS)
systems are designed for sensing arable crops to
estimate the required amount of nitrogen fertiliser
and are well established in intensive arable cropping
systems in Europe. A research version AOS (RU-AOS)
of a commercial system was tested as a potential canopy
sensor for New Zealand dairy pastures. To study the
applicability of this sensor a sensitivity experiment
was conducted. Additionally, a plot experiment
investigated the relationship between the spectrometer
and biomass attributes on ryegrass and white clover
canopies fertilised with five different nitrogen amounts.
The pasture plots were sensed with the RU-AOS and
results compared with measured biomass dry matter
and nitrogen amount. For some events a strong linear
relationship between dry matter (DM) and the water
index (WI) was evident (i.e. r2 = 0.80) as well as
between nitrogen (N) amount and simple ratio (SR) (i.e.
r2 = 0.89). The results suggest there is potential for this
sensor to estimate New Zealand dairy pasture attributes.
This could be used to develop a pasture system similar
to commercial arable cropping nitrogen sensor AOSs.
Keywords: Active Optical Sensor; pasture; nitrogen
An on-farm study of late pregnancy and lactation performance of
ewe lambs and their progeny on lucerne or pasture
D.R. STEVENS, L. WRIGHT and P. McGILL
view more
An on-farm demonstration compared the use of perennial
ryegrass based pasture or lucerne as the forage source
for in-lamb ewe lambs from 2 weeks prior to lambing
until weaning in the Te Anau basin. This demonstration,
over 2 years, used 632 and 506 in-lamb ewe lambs in
2013 and 2014 respectively with approximately 50%
being single-bearing and 50% twin-bearing in both
years. Pasture and lucerne were set stocked until docking
at approximately 33 days of age and then rotationally
grazed thereafter until weaning at approximately 110
days of age. Ewe liveweights and body condition scores
tended to be higher when grazed on lucerne during spring
and all ewes were at or near two-tooth mating weights at
weaning (67 kg). Lamb liveweights at 110 days of age
were similar from the pasture and lucerne (33.4 kg).
Lamb losses were greater on lucerne (37%) than pasture
(28%) in both years, and led to a significantly lower
lambing percentage on lucerne. Stocking rate chosen
based on previous pasture growth records and potential
lucerne yield was greater on lucerne (11.7 ewes/ha) than
that on pasture (9.4 ewes/ha). The combined liveweight
gain of ewes and their lambs per hectare was significantly
greater from lucerne (492 kg/ha) than pasture (398 kg/
ha). Scanning data from the second mating was 201%
and 189% in ewes that had grazed on lucerne or pasture
during the previous lactation respectively, while ewes
weighed 67.7 and 65.1 kg at mating respectively.
Lucerne can be used as a forage option to increase the
performance of bred ewe lambs but the grazing of young
lush growth should be avoided to reduce potential animal
health issues.
Keywords: body condition score, ewe lambs, lamb
liveweight gain, lamb survival, reproduction
Benefits and costs of a constructed wetland on a Wairarapa dairy
farm
J. PRAAT, J SUKIAS, T FAULKNER and A. BICHAN
view more
A demonstration wetland was constructed with
community support in what was a “wet” 0.75 ha of a
Wairarapa dairy farm. This has reduced the level of
nitrate-nitrogen leaving the farm, and has also added
biodiversity to the farm and the region. Comparison
of nitrate-N levels of water flowing in and out of the
wetland over three months show this water quality
benefit may reduce farm N loss from 14 down to 13
kg N/ha/yr, which equates to an ongoing reduction
of around 7% for a one-off investment of at least
$55l000. However, other contaminants such as
dissolved reactive phosphate may not necessarily be
reduced, while counts of Escherichia coli increased in
wetland outflow. This project required a range of skills
unlikely to be available to an individual farmer without
wider community support but now that the wetland is
established it will demonstrate what is possible when
more complex solutions are implemented for nutrient
loss mitigation.
Keywords: dairy farm, constructed wetland,
denitrification, nitrate-N, water quality, biodiversity
Can a deep-rooted spring crop recover winter-deposited urine
nitrogen?
G.M. LUCCI, M.A. SHEPHERD and W.T. CARLSON
view more
Grazing a winter forage crop can result in a substantial
increase in soil nitrogen (N) from urine deposition, with
a significant proportion leached below 30 cm during
winter. If a follow-on crop can be used to recover
this soil N before the following drainage season, N
leaching risk could be reduced. We tested if faster
growing, or deeper-rooted, spring-sown crops would
be more effective at recovering winter-deposited N
than ryegrass based pasture. Urea-N (800 kg N/ha) was
applied in June to simulate a dairy cow urine patch and
was subsequently leached down the soil profile. In the
spring, the plots were sown with ryegrass, chicory and
clover, or barley and harvested manually. The following
autumn, the amount of N in the 60–90 cm depth (70
kg N/ha) was significantly less (P<0.05) under chicory
and clover than under either barley (104 kg N/ha) or
ryegrass (107 kg N/ha), suggesting that chicory was
able to access the deep N pool. These data, and earlier
measurements, provide evidence that chicory is a viable
strategy for N recovery after winter grazing.
Keywords: Nitrogen, urine, forage crop, leaching,
chicory
Dairy farm resilence in a variable environment
C. LEWIS, C. STOLTE and E. STOLTE
view more
Clarence and Elise Stolte farm the family Masterton
property as 50:50 sharemilkers. They have made the
285 ha dairy farming business resilient to environmental
and milk price volatility by remaining focussed on
sustainable results and not productivity. Evidenced
through the Dairy Systems Monitoring (DSM) and the
Dairy Farm Business of the Year competition they stand
in the top 10% of elite groups for financial results in
both high payout in a high pasture yield season, and
then in the following low payout, low pasture yield
season. Being able to demonstrate consistent results
comes from a deliberately well considered farm policy,
skilled on-farm management, maximising home grown
feed yields and strong discipline around the farm
budget.
Dry matter and sheep production of four dryland tall fescue-clover
pastures 4–6 years after establishment
A.D. BLACK and J.L. MOIR
view more
Effects of tall fescue cultivar (‘Advance’ and ‘Flecha’)
and clover species (white and subterranean (sub)
clovers) combinations on pasture dry matter (DM) and
sheep production were assessed in years four (2011/12),
five (2012/13) and six (2013/14) after establishment in
dryland, Canterbury. ‘Advance’ pastures yielded less
total herbage than ‘Flecha’ pastures (13.9 cf. 16.5 t
DM/ha) but more fescue (8.6 cf. 5.9 t DM/ha) and 2.1 t
DM/ha clover in year four, 13.5 t DM/ha total herbage
with more fescue (8.0 cf. 4.1 t DM/ha) and 1.9 t DM/ha
clover in year five, and 11.7 t DM/ha total herbage, 5.4
t DM/ha fescue and 0.8 t DM/ha clover in year six. Sub
clover pastures yielded more total, fescue and clover
herbage (16.9, 8.8 and 3.2 t DM/ha) than white clover
pastures (13.5, 5.7 and 1.0 t DM/ha) in year four, more
fescue in year five (7.2 cf. 4.9 t DM/ha), and more clover
in year six (1.2 cf. 0.3 t DM/ha). Sheep liveweight gain
was greater for sub than white clover pastures in year
four (939 cf. 431 kg/ha) and five (697 cf. 481 kg/ha)
and 689 kg/ha in year six. Therefore, sub clover and
‘Advance’ were generally more productive than white
clover and ‘Flecha’, but both fescues showed similar
persistence after 6 years.
Keywords: cultivar, Festuca arundinacea, grass-clover
mixtures, liveweight gain, Trifolium subterraneum,
Trifolium repens
Dry matter yield and radiation use efficiency of four autumn sown
top flowering annual clovers
H. NORI, D.J. MOOT and A.D. BLACK
view more
Monocultures of arrowleaf (Trifolium vesiculosum),
balansa (T. michelianum), gland (T. glanduliferum)
and Persian (T. resupinatum) clovers were sown on
four dates in autumn and winter 2010. Dry matter
(DM) accumulation was dependent on the duration
of crop growth which was influenced by the time
of sowing. Autumn sown crops which flowered
latest had a longer duration of vegetative growth
and consequently produced the highest dry matter
yields. In the establishment year, autumn sown crops
produced up to 17.5 t DM/ha for balansa, 12.5 t
DM/ha for Persian, 11.0 t DM/ha for gland and 9.4
t DM/ha for arrowleaf at physiological maturity
(P<0.05). Crops that were sown in winter produced
the lowest yield, because reproductive development
commenced earlier and therefore they matured earlier.
‘Bolta’ balansa clover had the highest radiation use
efficiency of 2.1 g DM/MJ photosynthetically active
radiation (PAR) absorbed followed by gland (1.6 g
DM/MJ PAR), arrowleaf and Persian (1.3 g DM/MJ
PAR) clovers. In the second year, regenerated dry
matter production at full flower was up to 11.6 t/ha in
balansa, 8.3 t/ha in Persian, 2.9 t/ha in gland but only
0.5 t/ha in arrowleaf clover (P<0.05). Thus, over the
two years ‘Bolta’ balansa and ‘Mihi’ Persian clovers
were the highest yielding and easiest to regenerate
from seed in monocultures. ‘Cefalu’ arrowleaf failed
to regenerate in the second year due to low population
of seedling emergence. ‘Prima’ gland clover was low
yielding because it flowered and matured without
fully utilising the growing season.
Keywords: biomass, canopy expansion, day length,
light interception, thermal time.
Effects of closing date on seeding and hardseededness of balansa,
gland, Persian and arrowleaf clovers on East Coast dryland
M.J. MACFARLANE, E.W. CROFOOT and P.D. MUIR
view more
Four annual clovers (Arrowleaf (Trifolium
versiculosum), balansa (T. michelianum), Persian (T.
resupinatum) and gland (T. glanduliferum)) were sown
on five East Coast dryland farms and one moist Taranaki
site. Hardseededness was measured at all sites and seed
production and hardseededness was measured at three
sites following different closing dates. There were no
differences in seed size for any species between sites
or closing dates. High levels of seed (500–700 kg/ha)
were set by balansa and arrowleaf clovers after an early
closing date (early September). Flowering and seed
production decreased with later closings. Gland clover
was the earliest to flower and with Persian clover was
very susceptible to early grazing. Gland clover produced
virtually no seed as flowers had already been grazed
prior to the first closing. Arrowleaf clover produced
very high levels (>92%) of hard seed and Persian very
low levels (<1%). Lack of hardseededness led to Persian
clover seed being lost to false strikes, with most seed
germinating in the seed head following January and
February rains. Balansa, when carefully managed,
appears to be the only annual clover which regenerates
in its second season in East Coast dryland conditions.
Keywords: arrowleaf clover, Persian clover, balansa
clover, gland clover, hard seed, seed production.
Effects of fresh forage quality on feed intake and live weight gain
of red deer in spring
D.R. STEVENS and I.D. CORSON
view more
Changes in voluntary feed intake (VFI) and average
daily gain (ADG) of 10- to 12-month-old male red
deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to a range of pasture
morphological development stages of perennial ryegrass
(Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens
L.) pasture in spring were investigated. An intake study in
November 2000 tested responses to pastures spelled for 6,
8 or 10 weeks in a combined indoor/outdoor comparison
over two weeks. This was followed by a 5 week grazing
study which compared 3, 5 or 7 week spelling periods
during November and December in 2001. Pasture
spelled for 6, 8 or 10 weeks had acid detergent fibre
concentrations of 216, 229 and 252 g/kg DM (P<0.001)
and seed head proportions of 145, 364 and 539 g/kg DM
(P<0.001) respectively. As spelling interval increased
from 6 to 10 weeks ADG declined (P=0.003) from 394
g/day to 361 g/day and 221 g/day. VFI also declined
from 2.40, to 2.23 and 1.64 kg DM/day (P=0.016), and
digestibility declined from 786 to 764 and 734 g/kg
DM (P=0.002). The grazing study comparing 3, 5 or 7
week spelling provided a different response to spelling
interval as seed head production was similar regardless of
spelling interval. During the course of the grazing study
voluntary feed intake increased from 1.93 kg DM/day
to 2.69 kg DM/day (P=0.004), while the digestibility of
the forage declined from 719 to 687 g/kg DM (P=0.013).
The energy lost during digestion increased by 4.9% for
every 10% increase in seed head offered (P=0.011).
The coefficient of conversion of digestible energy to
metabolisable energy declined from 0.86 to 0.56 as the
diet offered increased from 0% to 60% seed head.
Keywords: feed intake, forage quality, growth,
digestible energy, red deer, spring.
Environment and ryegrass genetics – multisite trial of advanced
breeding populations
H.S. EASTON, M.Z.Z. JAHUFER, C. FLAY, J. SCHMIDT, M.P. ROLSTON,
J.A.K. TRETHEWEY, D.L. RYAN and M.J. FAVILLE
view more
Developing a genomic selection (GS) strategy for
ryegrass requires field data for training GS models
and to gain insight into how ryegrass agronomic
performance varies, within and among populations and
across locations. Families from five perennial ryegrass
breeding populations are being evaluated in eight trials
in Northland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and
Canterbury to establish a data set for development of a
genomic selection model. Statistically robust variances
are evident among families within populations, both
for visual scoring of herbage bulk and dry matter
measurements. Multi-trial analysis of data showed
significant (P<0.001) differences among families,
robust across trials, even though interaction with trial
was also significant in some seasons. Patterns are also
evident comparing trials, with relative performance
of families being similar for some pairs of trials, but
radically different for others. Evidence for specific
response of families to severe summer management
was not conclusive.
Keywords: genomic selection, ryegrass, genotype by
environment interaction
Factors determining shrub abundance on uncultivable hill country
G.B. DOUGLAS, A.D. MACKAY, M.B. DODD, C.M. LLOYD-WEST and R.A.J. GRAY
view more
Development of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
and gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a widespread problem
on pastoral hill country and is associated with reduced
fertiliser inputs and grazing pressures. Using mānuka as
a source for specialty products offers a potentially new,
profitable enterprise alongside livestock and forestry.
However, there is a lack of quantitative information on
the optimum soil nutrient status and associated fertiliser
programme to encourage presence and growth of this
species. In a survey across 324 grazed sites, mānuka
had greatest presence on steep slopes (>25o) and
soils with Olsen P <10 μg/ml. Mānuka presence was
three times greater on steep than medium slopes (13–
25o) and 12 times greater than on low slopes (<13o).
Annual fertiliser inputs did not appear to change this
outcome provided Olsen P remained low. Mānuka was
virtually absent where Olsen P approached 50 μg/ml.
At other grazed sites, mānuka and gorse were most
likely to occur where Olsen P was <15 μg/ml. This
study provided insights to underpin a set of nutrient
guidelines for mānuka under grazing conditions to
maximise its establishment and growth. It remains to
be determined what the optimum Olsen P level is for
this plant when managed in regimes without grazing
and treading pressure.
Keywords: mānuka, gorse, soil fertility, hill country
Farming into the future – innovation technology and efficiency
D. McKENZIE
view more
My wife Jo and I are shareholding managers of
Patitapu Station at Alfredton in the North Wairarapa.
It is a family business consisting of 2550 ha (1760 ha
effective) predominately hill country, approximately
half way between the Tararua ranges and Castlepoint. It
runs 17 500 s.u, 75% sheep, 25 % cattle, predominantly
breeding with some finishing. It is highly variable in
terms of contour, aspect, soil type, altitude and climate.
Patitapu was purchased and developed by my father
from 2000. This development has covered all aspects of
the farm. With Wairere as an example on our southern
boundary, the backbone of the development plan was
traditional with the tried and true recipe of fencing/water,
fertiliser/lime and hoof and tooth pasture development.
A 200 ha block was roller crushed and developed
out of gorse and scrub. All of the infrastructure has
been upgraded, flock genetics changed and 120 ha of
cultivatable ground brought in.
Grasslands Legacy – a new, large-leaved white clover cultivar with
broad adaption
J.L. FORD, G.R. COUSINS, Z. JAHUFER, I.J. BAIRD, D.R. WOODFIELD and B.A. BARRETT
view more
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) continues to play a
pivotal role in the Australasian pastoral industry, despite
increased use of nitrogen fertiliser on farms. Improved
white clovers for dairy farming must be well adapted
to the farm systems they are intended for, including
increased rates of fertiliser nitrogen, higher stocking
rates and access to irrigation. The breeding objective
was to develop a white clover cultivar in evaluation
systems that simulate modern farming practices, and
test that cultivar in both New Zealand and Australia for
adaptation and agronomic merit. This included breeding
and early generation evaluation at research farms in the
Manawatu and Waikato, with subsequent evaluations
in these locations and farms in Southland and Victoria,
Australia. This resulted in ‘Grasslands Legacy’, a new
large leaved white clover cultivar bred for New Zealand
and eastern temperate Australian pastures, which has
shown significant (P<0.05) improvement on New
Zealand cultivars including ‘Kopu II’ and ‘Kotare’.
‘Grasslands Legacy’ offers good utility for modern
intensive pastoral systems, particularly through yield,
persistence, and improved adaptation to abiotic stress.
Keywords
Breeding, abiotic stress, Australasia, genotype ×
environment, Trifolium repens
How to optimise pasture production off uncultivatable hill country
D. DANIELL and S. BUCKLEY
view more
Around 70 percent (guesstimate) of New Zealand’s
sheep and beef population is farmed on uncultivatable
hill country. There are large areas where individual
farms have less than ten percent available for cultivation.
Wairere is such a property. Originally the southern
end of the “seventy mile bush”, the soils are poor,
derived from sandstone and clay, with pHs of 4.9–5.2
and phosphorus (P) levels of 1–2. Following initial
land clearing there were several rounds of reversion
to Manuka until the mid 1960s when my father John
embarked on a programme which included large inputs
of lime, at 5 t/hectare, super at 1 t/hectare, and DAP at
100 kg/hectare, all flown on in the first 28 months. This
programme took from 1965 to 1982. I personally spent
nine months cutting scrub—more recently I have been
a shareholder in a manuka honey company planting
scrub, how things go round!
This programme was accompanied by subdivision
and provision of stock water by the construction of
dams. There were invasions of porina and manuka
beetle following development, and porina control is
still required on a regular basis.
Wairere has run performance recorded sheep since
1967, based on a registered Romney stud started by my
grandfather in 1929. We winter around 9500 sheep and
340 cattle on 1070 effective hectares. The 5300 ewes
wean 145 percent average; the 2000 ewe hoggets (all in
lamb) wean around 1700 lambs. All hoggets have been
mated for the past 50 years; the 1800–2000 ram hoggets
are culled lightly in late winter, and taken through to
private sale in November; the 300 cows (replacements
bought in) calve from mid October, with most wearers
sold in April.
Identifying potential heterosis in perennial ryegrass
J.R. O’CONNOR, T.B. LYONS, M.Z.Z. JAHUFER, M. FAVILLE and B.A. BARRETT
view more
Plant breeders aim to develop cultivars of perennial
ryegrass Lolium perenne L., (PRG) that better support
New Zealand farmers through improved genetic
potential for key traits such as seasonal dry matter
yield. Hybrid vigour (heterosis) may be one way plant
breeders can increase dry matter yields, and potentially
lift the long term rate of genetic gain. We report
evaluation of PRG full-sibling progeny for heterosis
expressed under grazing. Parents were randomly
sampled from sixteen cultivars, and for each cultivar
combination within mid-season and late season classes,
six pair crosses were made. In 2013, replicated single
row trials of parent cultivar samples and progeny were
sown at two sites near Palmerston North. For 2 years,
prior to each grazing, growth score (GS) data were
recorded to estimate dry matter yield of each plot.
Progeny GS relative to parent average GS (mid-parent
heterosis, MPH), and better parent GS (high-parent
heterosis, HPH) were calculated on the basis of the
mean GS over years and sites. Significant (P<0.05)
line effects were detected, as were site, season, and
year interactions. For the medium flowering date
progeny, MPH and HPH GS ranged from -19 to 23%
and -22 to18%, respectively. For the late flowering date
progeny MPH and HPH for GS ranged from -9 to 25%
and -15 to 21%, respectively. Some progeny exhibited
significant (P<0.05) MPH and HPH. The five progeny
with highest MPH values ranged from 14 to 23% and
10 to 25% for crosses within medium and late flowering
classes, respectively. The same top progeny exhibited
HPH ranging from 12 to 18% and 7 to 21% among
medium and late flowering classes, respectively. A
moderate, significant (P<0.05) negative correlation was
observed between high GS of the better parent and the
progeny’s level of HPH. However there were notable
exceptions to the trend. The GS of the best progeny
entry was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the GS of
the best parent entry, indicating the potential of hybrid
vigour to lift the yield barrier in PRG. Investigation is
needed of the genetic, wider biological, and economic
context under which a hybrid breeding system may be
justified.
Levy oration – 2014:
Agricultural science and extension
J. D. MORTON
view more
Since this oration is in the name of Sir Bruce Levy,
I took the time to Google his biography and found it
in the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Many of
us are aware of his role as the Father of New Zealand
Grasslands with his message of fertiliser, improved
pasture cultivars and the efficient cycling of nutrients
through grazing. But what interested me was his
extension technique with farmers. This was described
as akin to a sergeant major (Sir Bruce) dressing down
the latest group of raw recruits (the farmers). It was
clearly suitable for those times. Interestingly, Sir Bruce
Levy, in taking his research findings out directly to
farmers, was emulated by other notable scientists such
as McMeekan and Brougham.
Livestock feed intake assumptions in decision support tools; A
stocktake of the current science and assumptions used by livestock
models
P. FRATER, S. HOWARTH and G.J. McEWEN
view more
Decision Support Tools (DSTs) and models are
becoming increasingly important to make informed
decisions. The aim of this review was to understand how
the scientific assumptions behind related pasture-based
DSTs used in New Zealand interrelate. Using modelled
feed intake of grazing sheep as a case study, we
reviewed the metabolisable energy (ME) assumptions
of relevant New Zealand models. Although the DSTs
were largely dependent on a common model, there
were some discrepancies between them. We raise two
concerns:
1. In New Zealand, pasture-based livestock models to
predict ME intake are highly dependent on equations
developed in Australia, not validated in New Zealand.
2. The minor discrepancies between models make
collaboration difficult – this is particularly pertinent
to farmer-targeted DSTs.
Closer collaboration between DST companies and
research institutions is required to agree on consistent,
robust equations aligned with the latest scientific
knowledge.
Lucerne dry matter and N-fixation, when sown with or without lime
and inoculant
S. BERENJI, D.J. MOOT, J.L. MOIR and H.J. RIDGWAY
view more
This paper quantifies the effect of inoculation and
lime on lucerne growth and nitrogen fixation over
the establishment and following season. The field
experiment at Ashley Dene, in Canterbury, had an initial
soil pH of 5.2 and moderate exchangeable aluminium
content (4.2 mg/kg). The 15N natural abundance (δ15N)
method was used to quantify nitrogen fixation. The
pH of the top-soil was increased to ca. 5.5 and the Al
content was decreased to 2.0 and 1.3 mg/kg soil by the
application of 1 and 2 t lime/ha, respectively. In Year
0 the dry matter yield increased from 3 to 4 t DM/ha
with the addition of 2 t lime/ha. The nitrogen content
of lucerne plants was 2.2% (w/w), and was unaffected
by inoculant or lime in Year 0. Similarly, the δ15N was
0.81‰ and unaffected by inoculant or lime. In Year 1,
the N percentage of inoculated lucerne plants was 4.2%
(w/w) compared with 3.6% in uninoculated plants.
The δ15N value was 0.81‰ in uninoculated plants
compared with -0.23‰ in inoculated lucerne plants.
The inoculated lucerne yielded 7.8 t DM/ha compared
with 2.4 t DM/ha when uninoculated. The calculated
proportion of legume N derived from atmospheric N2
(%Ndfa) estimated that 70% of the nitrogen content
in the inoculated lucerne shoots was derived from
nitrogen-fixation in Year 1. There was no effect of
lime on lucerne DM, or δ15N values in Year 1. This
suggests lucerne rhizobia tolerated moderate levels of
Al in acidic soils. The application of lime and inoculant
are therefore recommended for lucerne, particularly
in areas where there is no history of lucerne. The
available soil N was sufficient to meet crop demand
in the establishing year. Lucerne was then reliant on
biological nitrogen fixation for yield in Year 1 which
suggests lucerne preferentially used soil available N in
Year 0, before commencing N fixation.
Keywords: Aluminium, lucerne, lime, Medicago
sativa L., nitrogen fixation.
Mapping nutrient concentration in pasture using hyperspectral imaging
I. YULE, R. PULLANAGARI, M. IRWIN, P. McVEAGH, G. KERESZTURI, M. WHITE and M. MANNING
view more
Hyperspectral sensing using ground-based equipment
has been demonstrated to be successful in determining
pasture nutrient content (N, P, K, S) and parameters
such as dry matter content and metabolisable energy.
This technology needed to be up-scaled so that
large areas could be rapidly covered with adequate
spatial resolution. This paper describes work which
demonstrates a progression from hyperspectral sensing
to hyperspectral imaging which utilises the visible,
near infrared and short wave infrared parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Large scale calibration and
validation field trials were conducted at the same time
as hyperspectral imaging was completed. These trials
demonstrate the feasibility of producing information,
in detailed map form, on pasture nutrient concentration
and other parameters to inform fertiliser placement
decisions as well as other farm management tasks. The
technique effectively produces a forage analysis for
every square meter of any farm.
Keywords: hyperspectral imaging, precision
agriculture.
Measuring the cost of environmental compliance for Waikato dairy
farmers – a survey approach
T.O.R. MACDONALD, J.S. ROWARTH and F.G. SCRIMGEOUR
view more
The link between dairy farm systems and cost of
environmental compliance is not always clear. A survey
of Waikato dairy farmers was conducted to establish
the real (non-modelled) cost of compliance with
environmental regulation in the region. Quantitative and
qualitative data were gathered to improve understanding
of compliance costs and implementation issues for
a range of Waikato farm systems. The average oneoff
capital cost of compliance determined through a
survey approach was $1.02 per kg milksolids, $1490
per hectare and $403 per cow. Costs experienced by
Waikato farmers have exceeded average economic farm
surplus for the region in the past 5 years. As regulation
increases there are efficiencies to be gained through
implementing farm infrastructure and farm management
practice to best match farm system intensity.
Keywords: Dairy, compliance, farm systems, nitrogen,
Waikato
NZGA PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS 2014
W. LISSAMAN
view more
2014: Only a month ago it was Election Year. In the run
up to the election we started to debate what is important
to New Zealand; sadly that moment has long since
passed. Will we ever have the great national debate that
we sorely need? where does New Zealand pitch itself
on the world stage and how we ensure that is possible?
Sustainability in all its facets.
Pasture yield mapping: why & how
S.J. DENNIS, A.L. TAYLOR, K. O’NEILL, W. CLARKE-HILL, R.A. DYNES,
N. COX, C. van KOTEN and T.W.D. JOWETT
view more
Spatial variation in pasture yield within a single
paddock can be high. Measuring this variation has
many potential benefits. For instance, cost-effective
targeted treatments could be applied to low yielding
areas resulting in increased pasture yield at a paddock
scale with minimal cost. Understanding pasture
yield variation requires tools that can measure it, and
practical methodologies to guide how and when to use
these tools to obtain useful data. The study reported
here aimed to develop measurement protocols for using
the C-Dax pasture meter to map yields of rotationally
grazed pastures. The general principles should be
applicable to other measurement tools. The pattern
of pasture yield varies throughout the year. Because
growing conditions change with the seasons, areas of
a paddock that perform well in summer may perform
poorly in winter, and vice-versa. Time of year is
therefore an important consideration for measurement
purposes. The recommended protocol developed from
this project to estimate the spatial variation in annual
yield on a paddock is to:
• map 1 month following peak pasture growth rates;
• drive at up to 50 m run spacings, but close enough to
cover all features of interest; and
• map as close to the grazing event as possible within
the final third of the regrowth period.
Keywords: Yield mapping, pasture, precision
agriculture, pasture height, dairy, spatial management
Pasture-tree systems – Modelling potential implications for animal
performance and greenhouse gas emissions
R.E. VIBART, G.B. DOUGLAS, A.D. MACKAY, M.B. DODD, and I.R. McIVOR
view more
The potential animal performance and greenhouse
gas (GHG) abatement benefits from pastures and
wide-spaced poplars on a typical lower-North Island
sheep and beef farm operation were explored using
farm-scale models. The analysis included reductions
in understory pasture production, increased ewe
reproductive performance (i.e., lambing and weaning
percentage) with additional tree shelter and increased
dry matter intake from poplar foliage. The pasture-tree
systems demonstrated reductions in sheep stocking
rates and total meat production, but increases in ewe
efficiency and emissions intensity, reflecting a shift
in feed energy use from maintenance to production.
Inclusion of ewe fecundity and supplementary feed
benefits largely overcame reductions in stocking
rate and meat production due to pasture shading.
An integrated assessment of the multiple benefits of
pasture-tree systems should be incorporated in future
farming scenario testing, strengthening our knowledge
on the impacts of these systems compared with pastureonly
systems.
Keywords: pasture-tree systems, animal performance,
greenhouse gas emissions.
Persistence of dry matter yield among New Zealand perennial
ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars: insights from a long-term
data set
D.F. CHAPMAN, P.D. MUIR and M.J. FAVILLE
view more
Persistence of herbage yield is an important productivity
trait of grass species and cultivars in New Zealand
pastures. However, relatively little is known about
genetic variation in this trait, principally because few
studies comparing yield have continued beyond 3 years.
This paper reports results from a comparison of 25
perennial ryegrass cultivars representing a wide range
of functional types and genetic backgrounds conducted
under sheep grazing in a summer-dry environment.
Dry matter (DM) yield was measured for the first 3
years after sowing, then again in years seven and eight
post-sowing, and in year ten post-sowing. Endophyte
DNA fingerprinting conducted mid-way through year
seven confirmed that, with one exception, ryegrass
populations remained true-to-type in the cultivars
sown with novel endophyte strains. The cultivar
effect on DM yield was statistically significant in all
measurement periods. Differences in yields among
cultivars in years seven and eight were significantly
and positively correlated with yield differences in years
one to three (r=0.685 to 0.831 depending on which year
contrasts were used). Thus, high-performing cultivars
in the early years of the trial were also generally highperforming
cultivars in years seven and eight, and
vice-versa, indicating a high degree of yield stability in
perennial ryegrass cultivars. Yield differences did not
appear to be related to differences in cultivar heading
date, ploidy, endophyte status, or genetic background.
The relationship between yield in year ten and yields in
years one to three was much weaker (r=0.392) than the
relationship in years seven and eight. Possible reasons
for this are discussed.
Keywords: Perennial ryegrass; traits; persistence
Potential for anaerobic digestion of dairy farm effluent in New
Zealand
A. MILET; J.S. ROWARTH and F.G. SCRIMGEOUR
view more
Efficient effluent management allows capturing of
nutrient benefits while reducing potential environmental
impact. In New Zealand research has focussed on
ponds and land disposal, whereas digesters are being
implemented overseas. When biogas produced by
anaerobic digestion is collected, it can be used to
produce heat and electricity; this has been done in
some countries trying to increase their renewable
energy profile (e.g., France), but the cost is not always
offset by the benefits. Analysis of policies concerning
power supply in France and New Zealand revealed
very large differences between the two countries,
which, in combination with differences in population
density, availability of co-digestion products and dairy
shed effluent type, means that the establishment of
biodigesters is unlikely in New Zealand unless there
are changes in policy to encourage greater renewable
energy via implementation assistance.
Keywords: Biodigester, co-digestion, energy
Potential impacts of different spring grazing strategies on lamb
finishing in hill country
D.R. STEVENS, A.J. WALL and B.R. THO
view more
How does the pasture cover at the beginning of
lambing and the grazing strategy used in early spring
influence the ability of a hill country sheep and beef
farm to finish lambs? The results from an intensive
pasture-mowing trial investigating three defoliation
intensities (Lax, Moderate and Intense) starting from
two herbage masses (1200 or 1500 kg DM/ha) during
early spring were used to provide data on potential
pasture consumption and feed quality from lambing
to weaning for a breeding ewe flock. Using simulation
modelling, this pasture data was used to estimate the
potential lamb and ewe liveweight changes from birth
to weaning at each of three different stocking rates
(4.5, 8 and 10.5 twin-bearing ewes/ha) that closely
represented the three defoliation intensities originally
studied in a mowing trial. The impacts of these
early-spring herbage masses and grazing intensities/
stocking rates on subsequent feed requirements and
potential lamb finishing during the later summer
and autumn period in four contrasting geo-climatic
regions of New Zealand were then further investigated
using simulation modelling. Variations in ewe and
lamb weaning weights were evident and reflected
the amount of pasture available through the different
grazing management approaches. For all four geoclimatic
regions studied, the Intense grazing, high
stocking rate strategy generally produced the greatest
gross revenue per ha from lamb sales out of the three
grazing strategies investigated, though not significantly
greater than the moderate stocking rate in summer
dry environments. However, under Intense grazing, a
high pasture cover (1500 kg DM/ha), in comparison
to a low pasture cover (1200 kg DM/ha) at the start
of ewe lactation further improved the gross revenue
received from lamb sales, especially in the Canterbury
and Waikato environments but less so in the Hawke’s
Bay and Southland environments. These variations
demonstrate how iterations based on the same starting
properties impact on weaning weight of lambs and
post-weaning pasture growth and/or feed quality.
Keywords: emergence, feed supply, geo-climatic
regions, iteration, lactation, lamb weaning weight,
pasture quality.
Regular estimates of paddock pasture mass can improve
profitability on New Zealand dairy farms
P.C. BEUKES, S. McCARTHY, C.M. WIMS and A.J. ROMERA
view more
Paddock selection is an important component of
grazing management and is based on either some
estimate of pasture mass (cover) or the interval since
last grazing for each paddock. Obtaining estimates
of cover to guide grazing management can be a time
consuming task. A value proposition could assist
farmers in deciding whether to invest resources in
obtaining such information. A farm-scale simulation
exercise was designed to estimate the effect of three
levels of knowledge of individual paddock cover on
profitability: 1) “perfect knowledge”, where cover per
paddock is known with perfect accuracy, 2) “imperfect
knowledge”, where cover per paddock is estimated with
an average error of 15%, 3) “low knowledge”, where
cover is not known, and paddocks are selected based on
longest time since last grazing. Grazing management
based on imperfect knowledge increased farm operating
profit by approximately $385/ha compared with low
knowledge, while perfect knowledge added a further
$140/ha. The main driver of these results is the level
of accuracy in daily feed allocation, which increases
with improving knowledge of pasture availability. This
allows feed supply and demand to be better matched,
resulting in less incidence of under- and over-feeding,
higher milk production, and more optimal post-grazing
residuals to maximise pasture regrowth.
Keywords: modelling, paddock selection, pasture
cover
Response to Edmeades and McBride critique
J.D. MORTON, A.D. STAFFORD and M.A. HAWKE
view more
This will be considered under the topic headings that were submitted.
Seed development of arrowleaf, balansa, gland and Persian clover
H. NORI, D.P. MONKS and D.J. MOOT
view more
The development process from floral bud formation to
seed maturity of four top flowering annual clovers was
quantified from a field experiment across 10 sowing
dates at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.
For each species, a numeric reproductive scale was
created as a field guide to document morphological
changes as the bud progresses through reproductive
development. The duration from bud visible to open
flower was 341 °C days for ‘Cefalu’ arrowleaf, 215
°C days for ‘Bolta’ balansa, 196 °C days for ‘Prima’
gland and 186 °C days for ‘Mihi’ Persian clover. The
inflorescence then required a further 274-689 °C days,
185 °C days , 256 °C days and 425 °C days for each
respective species to reach physiological maturity. This
was indicated when 50% of seeds had turned red/brown
for ‘Cefalu’ arrowleaf, 100% pods turned yellow for
‘Bolta’ balansa, 100% of seeds were yellow and hard
for ‘Prima’ gland, and pods turned brown with the first
sign of colour change in seeds for ‘Mihi’ Persian clover.
These results can be used to facilitate on farm decision
making in relation to grazing management or seed set
for subsequent regeneration.
Keywords: floral development chart, harvest maturity,
peak flowering, pollination, seed filling, thermal
time, Trifolium vesiculosum, T. michelianum, T.
glanduliferum, T. resupinatum
Selecting farm practices and preparing farm plans for land-use
consents in the Manawatu-Wanganui region
T.G. PARMINTER
view more
Throughout 2014, the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional
Council and DairyNZ worked with 10 farm consultants
assisting dairy farmers preparing farm plans for
the regional OnePlan and reducing their risks of
contaminating local waterways. Twenty-three farm
plans that had been produced with the support of five
farm consultants were examined. Starting with average
annual leaching losses of 23–71 kgN/ha, these plans
included a range of mitigation practices to achieve
reductions in nitrate losses of 5–15%. Although they
had been developed independently, similar practices
were bundled together in the plans to match the needs
of each farmer’s circumstances and particular farming
systems. This work suggests that although a short list
of mitigation practices may be able to be selected for
application on farms, the impact of those practices upon
each farm business will each need to be determined
in order to reliably enhance farm sustainability and
viability across a catchment.
Keywords: consultancy, OnePlan, consents, farming
systems
Selection of sub clover cultivars for New Zealand dryland pastures
R.J. LUCAS, A. MILLS, S. WRIGHT, A.D. BLACK and D.J. MOOT
view more
New Australian-bred cultivars of subterranean (sub)
clover with high levels of hardseededness are being
promoted in New Zealand based on their superior
performance in Australia. These new cultivars may
not be suited to cooler New Zealand conditions. The
“soft” seeded sub clover ‘Denmark’ dominated the
hardseeded cultivar ‘Rosabrook’ in the second year of
a dryland grazing experiment near Lincoln (630 mm
mean annual rainfall), but in autumn of the third year the
‘Rosabrook’ population recovered to contribute 30%
of total sub clover plants. A second field experiment,
sown in March 2014 at Lincoln University, compared
10 sub clover cultivars sown with cocksfoot. ‘Antas’,
‘Narrikup’ and ‘Woogenellup’ were most productive at
the September 2014 harvest. ‘Antas’, ‘Woogenellup’
and ‘Leura’ had the highest dry matter yields at the
November 2014 harvest. In autumn 2015 ‘Narrikup’
re-established most seedlings and ‘Antas’ the least.
Until we have better knowledge of the production and
persistence of “new” sub clover cultivars under New
Zealand conditions, farmers are urged to sow binary
mixtures (50:50) of a “new” plus an “older” cultivar.
Keywords: cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata, grazing
experiment, hardseededness, re-establishment,
Trifolium subterraneum
Sheep performance on perennial ryegrass cultivars differing in
concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate
G.P. COSGROVE, P.S. TAYLOR and A. JONKER
view more
High-sugar perennial ryegrass cultivars (HSG) selected
for higher concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrate
may enhance animal production and reduce emissions
of methane and nitrogen. Assessing the effects on
economic output and environmental footprint is most
robust when related to production per unit of land.
Average daily gain (ADG) and liveweight gain per
hectare (LWG/ha) of sheep grazing a high-sugar
perennial ryegrass cultivar, a diploid perennial ryegrass
and a tetraploid perennial ryegrass were compared
during measurement periods conducted in spring (84
days duration), autumn (99 days) and late springsummer
(160 days). Continuous variable stocking was
used, and stocking rate adjusted to maintain a target
sward surface height of 6 cm. Average daily gain was
higher (P=0.003) on the HSG than on either control in
late spring-summer and higher on the tetraploid control
than on the HSG or the diploid control in autumn
(P=0.04), but the higher ADGs did not translate to
significantly higher LWG/ha. These results can inform
farmers on cultivar choice and support analysis of
methane and nitrogen emissions on an intensity basis
for inventory and regulatory purposes.
Key words: water-soluble carbohydrate, perennial
ryegrasses, high-sugar ryegrass, average daily gain,
liveweight gain
Sustainable perennial pastures in Northland
G.R. USSHER and D.E. HUME
view more
In the northern half of Northland, perennial ryegrassbased
pastures have exhibited poor persistence.
Nineteen tall fescue and ryegrass pastures in the region
infected with either MaxP or AR37 fungal endophytes,
respectively, had high levels of endophyte-infected
tillers and low levels of contamination from wild
endophytes. On surveyed farms, MaxP-infected tall
fescue pastures had good contents of sown grass, which
were higher than sown grass contents in AR37-infected
ryegrass pastures, but on two far-north monitor farms
these temperate grasses failed to compete with summer
active C4 grasses such as kikuyu and carpet grass. For
tall fescue and perennial ryegrass to form productive
pastures in this region, sown seed should have high
levels of viable endophyte, soil fertility should be
adequate for good grass and legume growth, and
pastures should be well managed. Summer droughts
may still be too severe in some years for these temperate
grasses to persist in the face of C4 grass competition.
Keywords: Endophyte, Epichloë, Neotyphodium,
Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, soil fertility
The effect of perennial ryegrass sowing date on endophyte
presence and dry matter yield
J.R. CORKRAN, W.E.J. HENSON and G.A. KERR
view more
The effect of perennial ryegrass sowing date on dry
matter (DM) yield and endophyte presence in the
resultant pasture was investigated in 2014. ‘Trojan’
perennial ryegrass with NEA2 endophyte was sown on
three separate occasions (20 February, 20 March and 27
April 2014) into a Kaipaki peat loam soil in a replicated
plot trial on a dairy farm near Cambridge, Waikato. The
first two sowings were in dry conditions and neither
showed any sign of germination until after 45 mm of
rainfall on 4 April (43 days and 15 days after sowing,
respectively). Endophyte infection in established plots
was measured on 17 December 2014. Yield was also
measured from sowing until no difference was seen
between treatments, in October 2014. Percentage
endophyte infection was not affected by sowing date.
Establishment was significantly faster in the February
and March sowings, prior to rain, and these produced
ca. 2 t DM/ha more than the April sowing giving an
estimated total profit advantage of $646/ha.
Keywords: endophyte, Epichloë festucae var. lolii
(formerly Neotyphodium lolii), perennial ryegrass,
Lolium, seed storage, sowing date, NEA2
The evaluation of a controlled release nitrogen fertiliser
D.C. EDMEADES
view more
Experiments in the laboratory, glasshouse and in the field
assessed the chemical and agronomic characteristics
of four polymer-coated urea products manufactured
to different specifications, by altering the number and
chemical nature of the coatings. (The chemical and
physical nature of the coatings and the coating process
are the property of the New Zealand distributor, Eko
360 Ltd.) They are claimed to be controlled release
nitrogen (N) fertilisers. The N release characteristics
of the experimental products were measured, relative
to water soluble urea, in the laboratory in the absence
of soil. These results confirmed that the N release rates
were consistent with the distributor’s specifications and
were slower than urea. A glasshouse experiment was
designed to use N uptake by ryegrass as a proxy for the
N release rate in a soil. These results confirmed those
from the laboratory, indicating that soil had little effect
on the relative N release characteristics of the fertilisers.
The experimental product with the slowest release
rate was selected for evaluation in the field. In three
field experiments the effect the experimental product,
applied once at two rates, on pasture production was
compared with the same rates of N applied once as
urea, over 5–6 months. The experimental product
tested increased N use efficiency (NUE, kg DM/kg
N applied) by between 5–50% depending on the site
and rate of N application. Thus it is concluded that
the products are as claimed – contolled release N
fertilisers, relative to urea – and that this characteristic
is expressed under field conditions. Proof-of-concept
was therefore established.
Keywords: fertiliser, nitrogen, nitrogen use efficiency,
pasture, SmartFertTM, urea
The role of plantain (Plantago lanceolata) on East Coast dryland:
results from three farm case studies
M.J. MACFARLANE, P.D. MUIR and E CROFOOT
view more
Three on-farm sites where plantain was sown with
legumes and/or perennial ryegrass were monitored for
2 years post-sowing. On two cultivated sites in Hawke’s
Bay, newly sown plantain/clover pastures produced
20% and 22% more dry matter, respectively, than newly
sown ryegrass/clover or established pastures. On an
uncultivatable site in coastal Wairarapa, aerially oversowing
of plantain and clover resulted in 282% more
dry matter than resident pasture on north faces. Plantain
pastures had higher clover contents and lambs had
faster growth rates and higher dressing-out percentages
than lambs finished on traditional ryegrass/clover
pastures. Plantain and a mix of annual and perennial
clovers offer a promising alternative to ryegrass-based
systems in dryland. As with lucerne, plantain and erect
annual clovers need to be rotationally grazed to prevent
damage to the crown and growing points. The success
of these alternative forages in dryland farming systems
will depend on farmer willingness to embrace new
grazing management techniques.
Keywords: forages, plantain, arrowleaf clover, Persian
clover, balansa clover, white clover, red clover oversowing,
live weight gain.
The true cost of maize silage
B.J. FAUSETT, J.S. ROWARTH and F.G. SCRIMGEOUR
view more
The New Zealand dairy industry has increased
significantly in size in over the last two decades. One of
the drivers that has made this intensification possible is
the use of maize silage as a feed supplement. Growing
maize on farm imposes production and opportunity
costs on the farm business. Opportunity cost was
calculated using data from DairyNZ as the profit
foregone due to not milking from the maize-growing
hectares. Opportunity cost was added to Pioneer’s
calculated cost of maize silage production to represent
the cost that is incurred for each hectare of maize silage
that is planted on farm. The true cost of maize silage
grown on farm at differing milksolid (MS) payout levels
and farm systems was estimated. The findings indicate
the economic appropriateness of growing maize silage
on farm depends upon the farm system, the value of MS
and the cost to purchase maize silage in a given year.
Keywords: Maize, milksolid payout, opportunity cost
The Wairarapa region
J. FALLOON
view more
Wai’ra’rapa – The place Maori called “Land of
Glistening Waters”. Wairarapa is a region of big skies,
wide valleys rolling hill country and rugged coastline.
It has a total land area of 8423 square kilometres. The
region is named after Lake Wairarapa, which situated
at the bottom of the Wairarapa Plain, North of Palliser
Bay. Wairarapa is located on the South Eastern Corner
of the North Island bounded by the Pacific Ocean in
the East, Tararua district in the North and the Tararua
Ranges in the west.
Valuing on-farm investments
J. M. RENDEL, A.D. MACKAY and P. SMALE
view more
The challenge of maximising the value of an onfarm
investment is dependent on two factors: first,
ensuring the full potential of the investment is realised
by adjusting current practices to capture the gains;
and second, the challenge of isolating, quantifying
and valuing the contribution that investment makes
to the whole farm business. A new generation farm
optimisation model (INFORM) addresses both these
issues. Two distinctly different on-farm investments,
planting of a forestry block and sowing a multi-year
forage crop, both on a hill country sheep and beef
operation, are presented to illustrate the capability the
model has for first optimising the investment and then
using this information to conduct a farm system capital
investment investigation. The investment analysis
includes consideration of the capital requirements, and
also calculates the maximum amount that can be spent
on each of the investments to add value to the current
business.
Keywords: farm system analysis, investment, NPV,
optimisation, INFORM
Which rhizobia nodulate which legumes in New Zealand soils?
M. ANDREWS, D. JACK, D. DASH and S. BROWN
view more
Recent work which genotypically characterised rhizobia
of native, crop and weed legumes in New Zealand and
examined their cross-nodulation ability is reviewed
and related to earlier work with focus on New Zealand
pasture systems. The New Zealand native legumes
were exclusively effectively nodulated by novel strains
of Mesorhizobium which did not nodulate crop or weed
legumes. Clovers, lucerne, Lotus and grain legumes
were effectively nodulated by different genera, species
and biovars of rhizobia primarily originating from
inoculum. Rhizobial symbionts of white clover have
established over wide areas in New Zealand. Weed
legumes are effectively nodulated by different genera/
species of rhizobia depending on species. Bradyrhizobia
that cross-nodulate lupins, gorse, European broom and
tagasaste are widespread in New Zealand.
Keywords: Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia, Ensifer,
Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium
Download
(401 KB)
