Adapting farm systems to a drier future

Avery, Dennis T.; Avery, F.; Ogle, Graeme; Wills, B. J.; Moot, Derrick J.

doi:10.33584/jnzg.2008.70.2710

Cited by 34 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…For example, in a farm system, which cannot easily increase the stocking rate, the greater forage production of the T350 grazing strategy could be conserved to increase resilience. This situation is consistent with results from sheep grazing lucerne on‐farm in New Zealand (Anderson et al., 2014; Avery et al., 2008; Moot, Anderson, et al, 2019; Moot, Smith, et al, 2019). In both countries, changes in animal production were achieved through changes in grazing management to align crop growth and development with animal production (Moot et al., 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…These grazing recommendations have been implemented on farms in New Zealand and transformed animal production systems. However, the animal production data are based on sheep (Anderson, Anderson, Moot, & Ogle, 2014; Avery, Avery, Ogle, Wills, & Moot, 2008; Moot, Anderson, Anderson, & Anderson, 2019; Moot, Smith, & Mills, 2019). It remains to be seen whether these general recommendations hold for other animal production systems in different parts of the world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Animal and forage responses on lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures under contrasting grazing managements in a temperate climate

Berone

Sardiña

Moot

2020

Grass and Forage Science

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This study determined the impact of a change in grazing system on beef production from lucerne pastures in Argentina. One system (T500) used the traditional recommendation to commence grazing in spring when lucerne was near to 10% flowering. The grazing interval was ~ 500 growing degree‐days (GDD; above a base temperature for growth of 5°C) from mid‐spring to mid‐autumn. In contrast, the T350 system commenced grazing 11–15 days earlier at ~ 1,000 kg DM/ha and the grazing interval was ~ 350 GDD from mid‐spring to mid‐summer, and from mid‐summer to mid‐autumn, it was ~ 500 GDD. Total live‐weight production was ~ 30% or 185 and 115 kg/ha higher in T350 than T500 in Years 1 and 2 respectively. This was due to a higher live‐weight production per head and a higher stocking rate, because T350 produced 1,600 kg DM ha−1 year−1 more forage. Plant population (~70 plants/m2) and perennial biomass (root plus crown) at the end of the second year did not differ between treatments. This suggests that lucerne persistence was not affected by the more intensive spring grazing of T350, because an adequate period of autumn recovery was allowed. This work quantified the live‐weight gain (+30%, +150 kg/ha) when the grazing management of lucerne during the spring–summer period was based on crop growth status (i.e. standing biomass, canopy height) rather than on crop phenology.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal and forage responses on lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures under contrasting grazing managements in a temperate climate

Berone

Sardiña

Moot

2020

Grass and Forage Science

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“…Changes in recommendations for lucerne (Medicago sativa) grazing management (Moot et al 2003) have led to transformational change on some dryland farms (Avery et al 2008). In 2008, the owners of Bog Roy Station (in the Upper Waitaki region) sought advice on how to adapt a lucerne grazing system to their extensive high-country farm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal performance changes over 11 years after implementing a lucerne grazing system on Bog Roy Station

Moot¹,

Anderson²,

Anderson³

et al. 2019

Journal of NZ Grasslands

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In 2008, Bog Roy was run as a typical high-country station with merino ewes and lambs set stocked for long periods of the year, with 60 ha of lucerne grown for hay. Over the next 7 years, the lucerne and ryecorn areas increased by 30 ha per year. Total lamb meat weaned increased from 91 to 130 t in the first three years direct feeding of lucerne commenced, which improved ewe and two-tooth performance at lambing (% and survival). In the second phase, ewe numbers and pre-weaning lamb growth rates increased. Lambs were weaned earlier and ewes returned to higher pasture covers on hills, which improved their condition score and weights at mating and lambing. In 2016, a change from flood to pivot irrigation resulted in a further production increase to 160 t weaned lamb. By 2018, the mixed age ewes had 141% lambing (to tailing), and pre-weaning lamb growth rates of over 270 g/hd/d which allowed weaning after 80 days. The lamb weaned per ewe mated has increased from 25 to 37 kg over the decade despite increased feed demand from 900 more ewes. These animal performance indicators quantify the transformational change achieved through a focus on grazing and increasing the area of lucerne. This was followed by lucerne and red clover based pastures being established under pivots. The ability to record and quantify changes in stock performance has given the farmer confidence to trust and embrace the transformational change.

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“…This results in lamb finishing competing with ewe mating and a system highly vulnerable to poor autumns. We were aware of how farmers in other dry regions (Avery et al 2008) have adopted a lucerne grazing system and reduced the dependence on late season feed. We could see legume-based pastures would greatly benefit our farm but lucerne does not thrive on our soils due to an impervious pan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the benefits of mixed plantain/chicory/clover pastures in a Hawkeâ€™s Bay sheep breeding and finishing farm

Spall¹,

Ogle²,

Muir³

2019

Journal of NZ Grasslands

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Farming in the inland Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand with traditional pasture is limited by pasture quality in summer and early autumn. Low lamb growth rates in spring/summer pushes lamb finishing into the late summer and early autumn when feed demand competes with sheep mating and compromises pasture cover entering winter. We discuss our process for investigating and adopting high legume herb-based pastures that thrive within the constraints of our soils. This process involved learning from other farms and trials, small-scale on-farm trials and farm-system modelling. We gain considerable confidence from observing plantain, chicory and clover pastures within a learning group run by Massey University. Our on-farm trial measured by On-Farm Research showed favourable forage production (+20% greater than ryegrass-clover pastures for spring, autumn and winter) and longevity (4–6 grazing seasons). From this we modelled our farm using Farmax software. Farmax calculated an historically poor performance in February, March and April from ewes (-65, -45, -15 g/day respectively) and lambs (55, 0, 35 g/day respectively). Based on six key assumptions, we have calculated the profitability of herb-based pastures. These are compared with the performance we are currently achieving on herb-based pastures. For each value we are achieving better than assumed, i.e. ewe weaning weight 64.0 versus 62 kg, lamb weaning weight 33.0 versus 31.3 kg, ewe lamb growth rate 132 versus 100 g/day, male lamb growth rate 253 versus 235 grams/day and ewe hogget scanning percentage 144 versus 130.

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Adapting farm systems to a drier future

Cited by 34 publications

References 2 publications

Animal and forage responses on lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures under contrasting grazing managements in a temperate climate

Animal and forage responses on lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures under contrasting grazing managements in a temperate climate

Animal performance changes over 11 years after implementing a lucerne grazing system on Bog Roy Station

Evaluating the benefits of mixed plantain/chicory/clover pastures in a Hawkeâ€™s Bay sheep breeding and finishing farm

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