Butterfat Production At 522lb To The Acre

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 8

Butterfat Production At 522lb To The Acre

On the No. 2 dairy farm at the Ruakura Animal Research Station, 42 cows running on 33i acres in the 1959-60 season produced an average of 5221 b of butterfat to the acre. Average production a cow was 4171 b of fat.

These cows were run under a system of controlled grazing with the area in 15 paddocks. Over three Seasons average production a cow was 4021 b of fat and production an acre 4881 b. Explanation At the station field day, farmers were told that this was “at the pail” production off a surveyed area of grass with no young stock being carried on the area. "At the factory” it was likely that the production would be under 4001 b, but they emphasised that this was not good country and was under-fertilised so that the prospects were that a good deal better than 5221 b could be done. Where 42 cows were run under the same system of controlled grazing at a lighter stocking rate —a cow to the acre—butterfat production both per cow and per acre was 4561 b in 1959-60. with the three-season average 4301 b a cow and 4171 b an acre.

Similar light and heavy stocking rates are also being compared where cows run “uncontrolled” with day and night paddocks. Here last season 42 cows on 42 acres gave 4291 b of fat a cow and 4291 b an acre, and 42 cows on 33} acres produced 3371 b of fat a cow and 4221 b an acre. , The three-season average for light

stocking on an uncontrolled basis was 4141 b of fat a cow and 4011 b an acre, compared with 3561 b and 4311 b respectively for heavy stocking on an uncontrolled system.

Under heavy controlled stocking 290 bales of hay are made on average and nine acres are used for silage, with 15 acres being autumn saved. Where stocking is lighter under controlled grazing 302 bales of hay are saved, 12 acres are put to silage, and 17 acres are autumn saved.

On the uncontrolled grazing areas 392 bales of hay are made on th 4 heavy stocking farm and 607 bales on the light stocking unit.

Topdressing is at the rate of 2cwt of serpentine super with copperised super being used on the peat land.

Measurements of pasture production over two seasons show that -in one season production was higher on the uncontrolled grazing farms and in the other on the controlled grazing areas. Farmers were told that controlled grazing did not necessarily mean more grass though it did make pasture rationing, complete pasture utilisation and stock handling easier. “Do not go home and tear up all your fences,” said a member of the station staff, “but do think very hard before you spend more on subdivision.” Stock on the four acres are all artificially bred and seven replacements are brought In to each unit annually at two years of age. All of the cows are given vigorous stimulation before milking.