Pasture Harvest Trials

Pasture INTAKE is a major driver of milk production and farm profit

Trial Objectives:Comparison of pasture harvested: Great Land Treated v’s Control

Method:• Paired or Split Paddock trials• Weekly measure of pasture DM/Ha, Treated & Control areas• ‘Rising Plate Meter’ converts height to DM/Ha• Same day every week for main season• Underreporting arises from inability to capture pre and post graze

2015 Dairy Trial Farm Locations

Western Victoria

Gippsland

Southern Riverina

Northern Victoria

Pasture Harvest Trials

Typical Weekly Pasture Reading Chart

Split Paddock

Line charts starts at week prior to first grazing

Pasture Harvest Trials

Regional Summary

Harvested Pasture >> MS Production >> Incremental Revenue Direct to Bottom Line

(due to additional flow through benefits - input costs, animal health, productivity)

REGIONNo.

FarmsIrrigated /

DrylandNo.

TrialsNo.

TrialsControl (Base)

kgDM/HaGL Treat. Gain

kgDM/Ha % Gain Range (%)

North Vic 6 6 / 0 12 9 7,582 2,085 28% 14% to 75%

Gippsland 8 5 / 3 14 12 5,169 1,895 37% 2% to 161%

SW Vic 14 1 / 13 23 14 6,557 1,106 17% 5% to 79%

Sthn Riverina 12 12 / 0 94 69 6,864 807 12% -9% to 25%

OVERALL 40 24 / 16 143 104

Trials Completed and Reported (Average Gain)Trials Established

Pasture Harvest Trials

Other observations beyond pasture harvest gains

• Pasture uniformity, clover content, weeds

• Pastures lasting longer in dry condition (improved soil moisture)

• Grazing pressure and grazing uniformity

• Animal health, calf health (where larger portion of farm is treated)

Fact: 100,000 change in BSCC impacts milk production by 5% – subclinical

7 Day Grazing Trials

Objective:

Measure influence of Great Land treated pasture on Milk Production

Method:Graze nominated pasture for 7 day periods: Control > Treated > ControlNeed at least one third of the farm as treated paddocks Milk data from third party processor

Approx 36 hours Intake to milk output

May-C May-T May-C Jun-C Jun-T Jun-C July-C July-T Jul-C Nov-C Nov-T Nov-C Jan-C Jan-T Jan-C 8,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

7 Day Grazing Trial (2015/16), ‘Great Land’ Treatment Herd Average - Daily Milk Volume (L/Period) Control Treatment

Season Average Volume to End Nov.Grazing Treated Paddocks = Gain 440 L/day (2.8%)

No. Cows Reduced, Drying Off

Source: Murray Goulburn

May-C May-T May-C Jun-C Jun-T Jun-C July-C July-T Jul-C Nov-C Nov-T Nov-C Jan-C Jan-T Jan-C 50

75

100

125

150

7 Day Grazing Trial (2015/16), ‘Great Land’ Treatment BMCC - Herd Average for Period ('000)

Control Treatment

Source: Murray Goulburn

Full Farm - Demonstration CaseTasmania

Conventional Scenario

• Fertilisers dominated by urea (250-350 kg N/yr), super phosphate, muriate of potash

• Pastures not responding to N applications, pastures thin and limited clover.

• Weed problems

Results of Biological Approach Over 5-7 years, with GL in FY15

• Milk & MS production increased• BSCC reduced by > 100,000• Revenue and profit increase• Pastures more even, clover dense

and leaves double in size, root zone much deeper

• Weeds under control• Corby grubs significantly supressed• Cows filling up on pasture more

quickly (nutrient quality), pasture utilisation increased, stocking rate increased,

• Fertility increased, portion of heifer calves increased (consistently)

Full Farm PerformanceTasmania

2013/14 2014/15 VarianceHerd Size 550 610 60 11%Pasture (tDM/ha) 6.8 9.8 3.0 44%Milk price($/kg MS)

6.63 6.22 -0.43 -6%

Milk Production (Milk Solids – MS)Per Cow 368 389 21 6%

Per Hectare 889 1,040 151 17%Dairy ProfitPer hectare $625 $1,121 $496 79%Per cow $259 $419 $160 62%

PastureMT DM/Ha

Dairy Profit+$113,000

DairyRevenue

Herd +60 Head

Milk Solids35,000kg

$142K

$256K

79%

Milk Price-$0.41/kg

$1,343K

$1,477K

10%

$137K

Impact on Dairy Revenue (FY15 vs FY14)

-$83K

$80K

6.8 MT

9.8MT

44%

Revenue FY14 $1,343,100Price Decrease -$83,090Herd Size Increase $137,338MS Volume & Value $79,678Revenue FY15 Total $1,477,026Revenue Increase $133,926

FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15

Using Trial Results

Profit / Workload / Sustainable / Quality

ConventionalSystem

SustainableSystem

Indirect Benefits:• Reduced Input Costs

• Fertiliser/Chemicals/Health• Animal health gains, nutrient balance• Productivity• Cow Fertility• Calf Mortality

Direct Benefits• More grass• More Milk

Nutrients

PastureQuality & QuantityIncreased Growth

Palatability

Mastitis

Mortality

Fertility

Milk Quality & Quantity

Increased Milk SolidsDecreased Somatic Cell Count

Farm InputsDecreased fertiliser

Decreased HerbicidesDecreased feed $

Increased Nutrient Availability

• Improved soil structure• ↓ Nitrogen leaching• ↑Organic matter• ↑Moisture retention• Improved fertiliser efficiency

Lameness

Whole System Approach: Profits & Sustainability