Massey University: Dairy 1 research sites

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Dairy 1 is one of Massey's working farms. It borders the Manawatū River, within the city boundary. This research site is grazed by dairy cows and includes 3 farmlets:

  • Farmlet A – standard pasture under contemporary management
  • Farmlet B – diverse pasture under regenerative management
  • Farmlet C – diverse pasture under contemporary management

Update

December has been drier and some parts of the paddocks have been severely affected, developing dry patches. Farmlet A is running a bit short of grass, so we have started feeding silage until pasture growth picks up with the rain this week. Mating will be completed by Christmas and so far we have a good submission rate.

Latest pasture covers

Farmlet data

0-point: 1 June 2024

12/18/2025 Farmlet A Farmlet B Farmlet C
Pasture Standard Diverse Diverse
Management Contemporary Regenerative Contemporary
Total area (ha) 12.2 12.04 12.08
Crop (ha) 0.65 0.7 0.66
Herd size 33 24 31
Days in milk 144 141 138
Daily production (kgMS) 1.51 1.29 1.44
Production - year to date (kgMS/cow) 253 232 227
Production - year to date (kg/ha) 684 462 583
Daily production (l) 15.7 13.7 15.6
Liveweight (kg) 484 507 502
Body condition score 4.4 4.6 4.5
Supplement opening stock (total) kgDM/ha 266 673 820
Supplement purchased in  (kgDM/ha) 177 0 0
Supplement made (kgDM/ha) 708 733 924
Supplement fed (kgDM /ha) 502 568 730
Supplement sold (kgDM/ha) 0 105 104
Supplement in hand (total) kgDM/ha 679 733 924
Nitrogen application year to date (kgN/ha) 104 4 76
Average pasture cover (APC; kgDM/ha) 1860 2230 2100
APC change from previous week (kgDM/ha) -60 -170 -20
Growth rate (kgDM/ha/day) rolling 3 week average 46 41 40
Target rotation length (days) 35 50 35
Residual (kgDmM/ha) 3 day rolling average 1590 2350 1700
Target pasture offered (kgDM/cow/day) 13 16 14
Target supplement offered (kgDM/cow/day) 2 0 1
Crop Offered (kgDM/cow/day) 0 0 0
Soil Temp (°C) 17.2
Air Temp (°C) 17.7
Rainfall - MTD (mm) 59

Other Whenua Haumanu research sites

Massey University: Pasture and Crop Research Unit (PCRU)

The PCRU is one of Massey's working farms. This research site is grazed by sheep and includes 4 farmlets: standard pastures under contemporary and regenerative management, and diverse pastures under contemporary and regenerative management.

Lincoln University: Field Research Centre (FRC)

The FRC is Lincoln University‘s hub for applied plant, soil science and ecology research. This research site is grazed by sheep and includes four farmlets made up of 20 plots each.