Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF)

The 186 hectare irrigated property, of which 159 hectares is the milking platform, is a former University sheep farm. Converted to dairying in 2001, the dairy farm is managed by the South Island Dairying Development Centre (SIDDC), representing its six partner organisations.

In 2009-10 season LUDF wintered 683 cows, peak milked 660, 160 yearlings grazed off-farm, giving a stocking rate of 4.15 cows/ha.

The spray irrigation system includes two centre pivots, small hand shifted lateral sprinklers, and k-lines. The different soil types on the farm represent most of the common soil types in Canterbury.

Key objectives

1. To develop and demonstrate world-best practice in dairy farm systems and to transfer them to dairy farms throughout the South Island.
2. To operate as a joint research centre with DairyNZ, where the practical application of new technologies and on-farm forage production systems can be tested and developed.
3. To use the best environmental monitoring systems to achieve best management practices under irrigation, which ensure that the industry’s annual profit from productivity target is achieved in a sustainable way and that the wider environment is protected.
4. To continue the environmental monitoring programme and demonstrate technologies that will ensure that the 3-year rolling average concentration on nitrate-N in drainage water from below the plant root zone remains below the critical value (16mg N/L) that is specified in Environment Canterbury's (ECan) proposed regional rule as requiring reduction (Rule WQL18).
5. To operate an efficient and well organised business unit.
6. To provide a commercial return exceeding the average weighted cost of capital on annual capital evaluations to Lincoln University.
7. To create and maintain an effective team environment at policy, management and operational levels.
8. To assist Lincoln University to attract top quality domestic and international students into the New Zealand dairy industry.
9. To actively seek labour productivity gains through adoption of technologies and practices that reduce labour requirements or make the work environment more satisfying.
10. To use environment best practices (including 'eco-n' nitrification inhibitors) to protect the environment, while enhancing profitability.

Lincoln University Dairy Farm also provides specific seasonal objectives for the 2009/2010 season and ongoing research for both SIDDC and LUDF.

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Staffing and Management
Farm Manager - Peter Hancox
Herd Manager - Andre Scholtz
Farm Assistant - Kenny Oluboyede
Farm Assistant - Brad Turner

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Roster system
8 days on then 2 days off
8 days on 3 days off

Milking times
Morning - cups on 5:00am
Afternoon - cups on 2:30pm

LUDF safety and hazards information

• Children are the responsibility of their parent or guardian.
• Normal hazards associated with a dairy farm.
• Other vehicle traffic on farm roads and races.
• Crossing public roads.
• Underpass may be slippery.

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