, SIDDC - Lincoln University Dairy Farm
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The 186 hectare irrigated property, of which 161 hectare is the milking platform, is a former University sheep farm. It was converted to dairying in 2001 and is managed by the South Island Dairying Development Centre [SIDDC], representing its 6 partner organisations [refer to About SIDDC].  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 4% productivity gain 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 on adjusted capital value to Lincoln University, and a defined benefit to each of the stakeholders.

  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.

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Specific objectives for the season 2007/08

  1. To deliver an Operating Profit of $6,844/ha and Return on Dairy Assets of 15.3% from a $6.40 payout - with budgeted milk solids production of 294,700 kg with Cash Farm Working Expenses of $2.85/kgMS.

  2. To improve water use efficiency for better integrating the technologies currently existing on the farm by ensuring useable decision making data is accessible to the farm management in a timely manner.

  3. To increase the land area that effluent is applied to so that nutrients are better distributed and there is an increased range of contingency plan options.  Also, ensure that nitrate losses are not greater on effluent areas than on non-effluent areas, and that there is no significant microbial contamination of the shallow aquifers.

  4. To manage pastures and grazing so milkers consume / harvest as much metabolisable energy [ME] as practicable, with a target of 200 GJ/ha ME, using less than 200 kg of N/ha applied.  For example, this could be achieved by consuming / harvesting 16t DM/ha with average ME 12.5.

  5. To optimize the use of the farm automation system [Protrack] and demonstrate / document improved efficiencies and subsequent effect on the business.

  6. To achieve an in-calf rate of no less than 88% [i.e. 12% empty] after 12 weeks mating, i.e. 9 weeks of AM mating plus 3 of natural mating.  All AB matings to result in crossbred replacements including replacements from yearlings.

  7. To continue to document and measure LUDF's influence on changes to defined management practices on other dairy farms.

  8. To ensure specific training is adequate and appropriate to enable staff members to contribute effectively in meeting the objectives of the farm.

  9. To actively seek labour productivity gains through adoption of technologies and practices that reduce labour requirements or make the work environment more satisfying.

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Ongoing Research

  • Environmental research

  • Effects of 'eco-n' on nitrate leaching and pasture production

  • Sustainable Productive Support Land for South Island Dairying

  • Pasture species monitoring

  • Application of Dexcel Whole Farm Model to LUDF

  • Monitoring pasture growth, soil moisture and irrigation performance

  • IMBADA Camera Technology for dairy farms

  • The role of nutrition on lameness in Canterbury

  • Real-time, on-line monitoring for animal health and environmental impact monitoring

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SIDDC FOCUS DAYS on the LUDF - see under 'Events'

 

Climate

Mean Annual Maximum Temperature

32 °C

Mean Annual Minimum Temperature

4 °C

Average Days of Screen Frost

36 Days per annum

Mean Average Bright Sunshine

2040 Hours per annum

Average Annual Rainfall

666 mm

 

Farm Area

 

                   Effective Area (ha)

 

2006/07

 

Home

 

161.5

 

Runoff (East Block)

 

18

 

Heifer Block

 

33

 

 

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Soil

Soil Types

% Farm

Free-draining shallow stony soils (Eyre soils)

5

Deep sandy soils (Paparua and Templeton soils)

45

Imperfectly drained soils (Wakanui soils)

30

Heavily, poorly-drained soils (Temuka soils)

20


Soil Test Results

Date

pH

P

K

S

Ca

Mg

Na

Dec 01

5.8

30

11

34

8

23

12

Jul 02

5.8

31

14

35

9

22

12

Oct 02

5.9

35

8

29

8

21

12

Jun 03

6.1

37

12

7

9

23

9

Jun 04

     6.4

   37

   13

    11

   9   

   22

   10

Jun 05

     6.1

   35

   13

     10

   9

   22

    8

Jun 06

6.3

33

15

9

10

27

11

Jun 07 6.3 39 16 17 10 29 13

Target Soil Test

5.8 - 6.2

30-40

5-8

10-12

4-5

20+

5-50

Soil Reserve K = 4.5 (Target = 0.8 - 1.2)

 

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Fertiliser History

Date

Dressing

 

N

P

K

S

Mg

Ca

  Season 2001/02

200

168

-

130

-

94

  Season 2002/03

200

45

-

2

-

90

  Season 2003/04

200

45

-

64

-

46

  Season 2004/05

 

200

 46

   -

 47

  -

  57

  Season 2005/06

Non-Effluent

200

 48

   -   

 76

  -

107

Season 2005/06

Effluent

0

30

-

53

-

67

Season 2006/07

Non-Effluent

200

49

-

89

-

110

Season 2006/07

Effluent

0

20

-

52

-

45

  Season 2007/08 Non-effluent 200 44 - 73 - 96
  Season 2007/08 North Effluent 12 22 - 37 - 48

 

Pasture

  • 70% of the milking platform was sown at conversion [March 2001] in a mix of 50/50 Bronsyn/Impact ryegrasses with Aran and Sustain white clovers, and 1kg/ha of timothy.

  • Individual paddocks are monitored, and six [30% of area] were renovated to maintain pasture performance. 

  • -   2 paddocks of Tabu Italian ryegrass

    -   2 paddocks of Bealey, and

    -   2 paddocks of Alto perennial ryegrasses [all with Kotare/Sustain white

        clovers and timothy].

  • Pasture consumption for 04/05 season calculated at 15.9t DM/ha, and for 05/06 at 16.1t DM/ha, and for 06/07 at 16.4t DM/ha.

  •   

    To see LUDF Pasture ME for past four seasons - Click Here

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    Irrigation and Effluent System

     

           
     

    Centre Pivots

      127 ha
     

    Long Laterals

      24 ha
     

    K-Lines

      10 ha
     

    Southern Cross Gun

      18 ha
     

    Total irrigated

      179 ha
     

    Irrigation System Capacity

      5.5 mm/day
     

    Length of basic

      pivot 402
     

    Well depth

      901m
           

    Statistics

    • A full rotation completed in 20.8 hours for 5.5 mm [at 100% of maximum speed].

    • Average Annual Rainfall = 666 mm.  Average irrigation input applies an additional 450 mm.  Average Evapotranspiration for Lincoln is 870 mm/year.

    Fertigation Unit

    • Supplying the South Block

    • Automatically dissolves urea to a solution of approximately 14%N.

    • Pumped to the holding tank at the centre of the South Pivot.

    Effluent

    • Dairy shed effluent is held in sump capable of holding 33,000 litres.

    • 100 mm PVC pip to base of North Block centre pivot, distribution through pot spray applicators.

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    Mating Programme 2006

    9 weeks AB mating to Premier Sires followed by 3 weeks with bulls.  Aim is to retain cows that calve within the first 10 weeks.  CIDR resynchrony treatment programme one week before PSM for cows not recorded as cycling.  Yearlings synchronised and mating to commence one week before PSM for main herd.  First three days mating with AB Jersey semen followed by Jersey bulls for 11 weeks.

    Herd Details

    Breeding Worth (rel%) / Production Worth (rel%)
    135/45  -  150/64
    Average weight/cow (Dec) - (30) cows monitored
    470 kg
    Calving start date
    1 August 2007, 27 July 2008
    Mean calving date
    12th August 2007 (12 days)
    Mating start date
    25th October 2007

    Empty rate (nil induction policy) after 12 weeks mating

    after 15 weeks mating

    14% [16% 2006]
    8% [12% 2006]

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      03/04 Season 04/05 Season 05/06 Season 06/07 Season
    Milkers - ave/max/wintered 635/644/660 649/651/675 646/651/672 /680/706
    Total kg/MS 271,971 277,634 286,115 274,965
    Total kg/MS/cow 422 427 440 410
    Total kg/MS/ha 1684 1719 1772 1703
    Operating Expenses/kgMS $2.64 $2.64 $2.63 $2.80
    Economic Farm Surplus/ha $2008 $2768 $2151  
    Payout [excl. levy] $/kg $4.22 $4.56 $4.07 $4.47
    Return on Assets 5.6% 6.9% 5.1% 6.7%

     

    Stock Numbers

    2002/03
    2003/04
    2004/05

    2005/06

    2006/07 2007/08
    1 July cow numbers
    631
    660
    675
    664 702 704
    Maximum cows milked
    604
    644
    651
    651 est 670 670
    No. Yearlings grazed
    On/Off
    0/118
    0/139
    0/140
    0/172 0/172 0/171
    No. Calves grazed
    On/Off
    0/141
    0/143
    0/162
    0/170 0/175 0/175
    Cows wintered off
    No. cows
    500
    520
    500
    500 540 546
     
    Weeks off
    8
    7
    8
    8 8 8
    Stocking rate
    Cow equiv. / ha
    3.75
    4.0
    4.0
    4.0 4.2 4.2
     
    Kg liveweight / ha
    1,838
    1,960
    1,960
    1,960 1,974 1,974
     
    Kg liveweight / tDM
    76
    79
    83
    77  87  
    Supplement
    - Fed to milkers
    [kg/cow]
    550
    385
    300
    315 266  
    - Made on dairy/platform
    [kg/cow]
    0
    98
    220
    365 93  

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    Staffing and Management

    Peter Hancox - Farm Manager

    Neil Jones - Herd Manager

    Conal Harkin - Farm Assistan

    Ryan Moffat - Farm Assistant

    Kris Wilson  - Farm Assistant

     

    Roster System - Spring, 12 days on then 2 days off
      - Rest of the year, 11 days on then 3 days off
    Milking Times - Morning - cups on 5:00am
      - Afternoon - cups on 2:30pm

    LUDF Hazards notification

    • 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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