Milk production off pasture in New Zealand

Abstract

Abstract The management of the predominantly ryegrass‐white clover pastures for milk production in New Zealand is determined by five main factors: the seasonal pattern of dry matter production from pasture, as determined primarily by species composition and the seasonal light and temperature regime; the varying requirements of the pasture plants at different times of the year, as determined by their morphological and physiological condition; the necessity to utilise a large proportion of the dry matter produced if animal production per hectare is to be maximised; late ‘winter calving in over 90% of the dairy herds; and the nutrient requirements of the herd at different stages of lactation. The aims of maximum production per unit area of land are achieved by an integration of these factors in intensive rotation systems in which the size of the daily break offered to the animals is varied to ration intake and control the frequency and intensity of grazing.