Ensure paddocks are selected and prepared carefully for renewal. Monitor and manage new grass establishment carefully for long-term results.
TAKING ACTION
What you can do
Have the right nutrient balance
Ensure the pasture and crops have the right nutrients in the right places – not all areas of a paddock will need topping up.
Consistency
Monitor pasture cover and ensure residuals are consistent – these are crucial factors in maintaining pasture quality.
What you can do
Think about how you’re setting your pasture and crop up for success. DairyNZ have collected best practice tips and tricks.
Monitor feed supply and demand
Use a feed budget to identify and plan for surpluses and deficits where there is a supply and demand imbalance throughout the year.
Use supplementary feed strategically
Ensure profitable supplement use by using it as a complement to homegrown feed (remember, the more feed you buy in, the higher your costs and emissions profile will be).
Reduce waste
Harvest, store, and feed supplements in a way that minimises wastage as much as possible (e.g. keep silage stacks well-covered, don’t overfill feed bins, apply supplemental feed on the fence line rather than in the middle of the paddock).
What you can do
A good place to start is by reviewing your feed budget to determine if it’s working as hard as possible to support your decision-making.
TOOLS AND INFORMATION
From other farmers and industry experts
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- On farm experts
- Industry tools
BENEFITS
What's the opportunity for your farm?
Productivity
Cows love high-quality feed. Increasing homegrown feed eaten by half a tonne per hectare can increase production by 50-60kgMS/ha, without additional inputs.
Profitability
Homegrown feed is the cheapest feed. DairyNZ estimate that an extra tonne of pasture and crop eaten can drive upwards of $300 per hectare in extra operating profit.
Sustainability
Production, processing, harvesting and transportation of feed all influences your farm’s footprint. Increased homegrown feed eaten means less imported emissions, and more nitrogen leaving the farm as milk.
Get in touch
Have a question? We’re here to help
Get in touch with your local TSR to find about more about pasture efficiency.
Or call our Farmer Support Team on 0800 65 65 68