DairyNZ is contracted to carry out research on the Westpac Taranaki Agricultural Research Station (WTARS) farm by the TARS Trust. There are a number of interesting projects currently being carried out with the milking herd and WTARS facilities, so we thought we’d share a brief update with you.
The TARS Trust owns the 350 cows currently being milked, and leases the 110ha farm from Fonterra. DairyNZ has a team of five farm staff and four permanent technical staff, plus other temporary staff to help – particularly with the Feed Conversion Efficiency trial.
Trial update one: Milking Frequency by Nutrition in Extended Lactation
The objective of this trial is to investigate the immediate and carry-over effects of manipulating milking frequency and nutrition.
This is done during an extended lactation in a pasture-based system on milk production and gene expression in the mammary gland, liver, and adipose tissue of dairy Holstein-Friesian cows.
These cows were not mated last spring, to allow for them to be milked through this coming winter.
There will be four mobs with 30 cows in each (total of 120 cows), and the four mobs will graze in the same paddock separated by electric fences. Sixty of the cows will be milked twice daily – half of these with, and the other half without – concentrate supplementation.
The other 60 will be milked three times a day for a period of eight weeks from mid-July. Again, half with and the other half without concentrate supplementation.
All the cows will be mated during spring 2010 as normal farm practice.
This trial is funded by FRST and DairyNZ.
Trial update two: Feed Conversion Efficiency trial (FCE)
This is an ongoing trial and is aimed at identifying whether feed conversion efficiency is present in dairy cattle as it is in beef cattle, pigs and poultry.
Initially the study is comparing liveweight gain per kilo of intake, and then seeing if this efficiency continues when the cow is milking. This trial is into its third year now.
In January, 224 calves entered the feed facilities and they will have their intake measured continually, plus their liveweight recorded three times a week.
They will be in the facilities for 60 days and then replaced by another 224 calves.
This trial is a collaborative effort between DairyNZ, LIC and DPI (Australia).
Trial update three: Rumen Bacteria
Sixteen of the first group of cows calved at WTARS (2007-born) were enrolled in another trial with the aim of identifying whether rumen bacteria differ between the most and least efficient animals.
This coming season 120 heifers are due to calve at WTARS.
This comprises of the 60 least efficient and 60 most efficient calves that were put through the facilities in 2009.
Of the remaining animals, 310 are being retained for further studies.
This trial is funded by FRST, DairyNZ, LIC and NZ Trade & Enterprise.
