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Pasture Harvest Trials
Pasture INTAKE is a major driver of milk production and farm profit
Trial Objectives:Comparison of pasture harvested: Great Land Treated v’s Control
Method:• Paired or Split Paddock trials• Weekly measure of pasture DM/Ha, Treated & Control areas• ‘Rising Plate Meter’ converts height to DM/Ha• Same day every week for main season• Underreporting arises from inability to capture pre and post graze
2015 Dairy Trial Farm Locations
Western Victoria
Gippsland
Southern Riverina
Northern Victoria
Pasture Harvest Trials
Typical Weekly Pasture Reading Chart
Split Paddock
Line charts starts at week prior to first grazing
Pasture Harvest Trials
Regional Summary
Harvested Pasture >> MS Production >> Incremental Revenue Direct to Bottom Line
(due to additional flow through benefits - input costs, animal health, productivity)
REGIONNo.
FarmsIrrigated /
DrylandNo.
TrialsNo.
TrialsControl (Base)
kgDM/HaGL Treat. Gain
kgDM/Ha % Gain Range (%)
North Vic 6 6 / 0 12 9 7,582 2,085 28% 14% to 75%
Gippsland 8 5 / 3 14 12 5,169 1,895 37% 2% to 161%
SW Vic 14 1 / 13 23 14 6,557 1,106 17% 5% to 79%
Sthn Riverina 12 12 / 0 94 69 6,864 807 12% -9% to 25%
OVERALL 40 24 / 16 143 104
Trials Completed and Reported (Average Gain)Trials Established
Pasture Harvest Trials
Other observations beyond pasture harvest gains
• Pasture uniformity, clover content, weeds
• Pastures lasting longer in dry condition (improved soil moisture)
• Grazing pressure and grazing uniformity
• Animal health, calf health (where larger portion of farm is treated)
Fact: 100,000 change in BSCC impacts milk production by 5% – subclinical
7 Day Grazing Trials
Objective:
Measure influence of Great Land treated pasture on Milk Production
Method:Graze nominated pasture for 7 day periods: Control > Treated > ControlNeed at least one third of the farm as treated paddocks Milk data from third party processor
Approx 36 hours Intake to milk output
May-C May-T May-C Jun-C Jun-T Jun-C July-C July-T Jul-C Nov-C Nov-T Nov-C Jan-C Jan-T Jan-C 8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
14,000
15,000
16,000
17,000
18,000
7 Day Grazing Trial (2015/16), ‘Great Land’ Treatment Herd Average - Daily Milk Volume (L/Period) Control Treatment
Season Average Volume to End Nov.Grazing Treated Paddocks = Gain 440 L/day (2.8%)
No. Cows Reduced, Drying Off
Source: Murray Goulburn
May-C May-T May-C Jun-C Jun-T Jun-C July-C July-T Jul-C Nov-C Nov-T Nov-C Jan-C Jan-T Jan-C 50
75
100
125
150
7 Day Grazing Trial (2015/16), ‘Great Land’ Treatment BMCC - Herd Average for Period ('000)
Control Treatment
Source: Murray Goulburn
Full Farm - Demonstration CaseTasmania
Conventional Scenario
• Fertilisers dominated by urea (250-350 kg N/yr), super phosphate, muriate of potash
• Pastures not responding to N applications, pastures thin and limited clover.
• Weed problems
Results of Biological Approach Over 5-7 years, with GL in FY15
• Milk & MS production increased• BSCC reduced by > 100,000• Revenue and profit increase• Pastures more even, clover dense
and leaves double in size, root zone much deeper
• Weeds under control• Corby grubs significantly supressed• Cows filling up on pasture more
quickly (nutrient quality), pasture utilisation increased, stocking rate increased,
• Fertility increased, portion of heifer calves increased (consistently)
Full Farm PerformanceTasmania
2013/14 2014/15 VarianceHerd Size 550 610 60 11%Pasture (tDM/ha) 6.8 9.8 3.0 44%Milk price($/kg MS)
6.63 6.22 -0.43 -6%
Milk Production (Milk Solids – MS)Per Cow 368 389 21 6%
Per Hectare 889 1,040 151 17%Dairy ProfitPer hectare $625 $1,121 $496 79%Per cow $259 $419 $160 62%
PastureMT DM/Ha
Dairy Profit+$113,000
DairyRevenue
Herd +60 Head
Milk Solids35,000kg
$142K
$256K
79%
Milk Price-$0.41/kg
$1,343K
$1,477K
10%
$137K
Impact on Dairy Revenue (FY15 vs FY14)
-$83K
$80K
6.8 MT
9.8MT
44%
Revenue FY14 $1,343,100Price Decrease -$83,090Herd Size Increase $137,338MS Volume & Value $79,678Revenue FY15 Total $1,477,026Revenue Increase $133,926
FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15
Using Trial Results
Profit / Workload / Sustainable / Quality
ConventionalSystem
SustainableSystem
Indirect Benefits:• Reduced Input Costs
• Fertiliser/Chemicals/Health• Animal health gains, nutrient balance• Productivity• Cow Fertility• Calf Mortality
Direct Benefits• More grass• More Milk
Nutrients
PastureQuality & QuantityIncreased Growth
Palatability
Mastitis
Mortality
Fertility
Milk Quality & Quantity
Increased Milk SolidsDecreased Somatic Cell Count
Farm InputsDecreased fertiliser
Decreased HerbicidesDecreased feed $
Increased Nutrient Availability
• Improved soil structure• ↓ Nitrogen leaching• ↑Organic matter• ↑Moisture retention• Improved fertiliser efficiency
Lameness
Whole System Approach: Profits & Sustainability