Farm feed study a game changer

Farmers examining the fodder beet crop at NARF late last year. Photo / Supplied

The results of a study into the comparative benefits of feed options at the Northland Agricultural Research Farm (NARF) outside Dargaville were described last week by project science manager Chris Boom as "really interesting," and of national significance.

The study into how farmers might reduce their use of imported feed had been running for two years, and confidence in the results was building.

Mr Boom said dairy farmers were beginning to learn about the fat evaluation index (FEI) of their milk. In some cases they would need to reduce the use of palm kernel expeller (PKE) to avoid exceeding Fonterra limits.

"This is going to result in them having to change their systems. We hope they can learn from what we have been studying at NARF," he said.

NARF was split into three small farms, one using grass only, the second growing crops and the third using PKE to fill feed gaps. This season the PKE farm had the highest production at 1118kg MS/ha, followed by cropping (1053kg) and grass only (965kg).

Last year the cropping farm had been most productive, followed by the PKE property.

"The cropping farm struggled during spring, somewhat due to very soft soils that had been cropped the previous season," Mr Boom said, although all three farms had exceeded their 2015/16 production this season.

The 2016/17 financial results were still being calculated, and would be revealed at a field day on Thursday.

Last season the grass-only farm had been slightly more profitable than the others, despite having the lowest production. Mr Boom warned that it was important to farm for profit, not just production.

"At NARF we measure the extra labour and machinery costs that cropping or supplementary feeding incur. Sometimes the simple systems are the best, though grass-only farming has its risks too," he said.

"The trial demonstrates what we see as best practice in how each of these systems operate, not that we get it right all the time. Getting the grass-only farm through a drought could be challenging; that farm was fortunate it rained in February."

Thursday's field day would cover the results of the study, while Dr Jane Kay (DairyNZ) would present the findings of the Lincoln University pre-grazing mowing trial.

"A lot of farmers have been following this study, and will be interested to learn what they can about whether mowing pre-graze has any merit," Mr Boom added.

Dr John Roche, also from DairyNZ, who would talk about priming the herd for production, was well known to Northland farmers, having presented at other NARF field days over recent years.

Thursday's programme would include a farm walk and discussion about management of each of the three farming systems.

* For more information or to subscribe to fortnightly email updates, email chris.boom@agfirst.co.nz