Low N stacked farmlet study - summary
Last Updated: October 12, 2024
Study objectives
This study evaluates the impact and practicality of a ‘stacked’ set of complementary mitigations to reduce nitrogen (N) leaching on milk production and profitability in a Canterbury dairy farm system. Target N loss reductions are 40 to 60 percent across the whole farm system (milking platform and wintering & support land) compared with a typical farm system.
Background
The farmlet trial began in July 2023 at the Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm and will run for at least two seasons. The study compares a typical Canterbury dairy farm system (‘Control’ farmlet) with a ‘Stacked’ farmlet that incorporates diverse pasture species (Italian ryegrass and Plantain), over 50% less N fertiliser, 6% lower stocking rate and modified wintering practices (grass and baleage compared to Kale and baleage). The research team will monitor how the farmlets perform against modelled expectations.
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Design
Each farmlet consists of a non-replicated ~12 ha milking platform, subdivided into 24 paddocks, and a 5 ha support block for wintering, youngstock and some balage production.
The key features of the farmlets are summarised below. Tactical mitigations include using bulk milk urea to manage dietary N surplus, feeding lower dietary N:ME supplements, extending rotation length and offering fresh pasture allocation in the afternoon instead of the morning.
Control
- 190 kg N/ha/yr from fertiliser
- Perennial ryegrass and clover pastures
- 40 cows
- 3.4 cows/ha stocking rate
- 11.8 ha milking platform + 5 ha support block
- 1.8 ha wintering area
- Kale as predominant winter feed
Stacked
- 80 kg N/ha/yr from fertiliser
- Plantain, Italian ryegrass and clover pastures
- 39 cows
- 3.2 cows/ha stocking rate
- 12.2 ha milking platform + 5 ha support block
- 3.0 ha wintering area
- Pasture and baleage as predominant winter feed
- Tactial N leaching mitigations applied
Results
Animal performance by herd
