@conference {41414,
	title = {Forage intake and feed conversion efficiency in high-producing dairy herds in New Zealand: a case study},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {63},
	year = {2003},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {96-100},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Queenstown},
	abstract = {In 1998 a three-year dairy farm monitoring programme was established on twelve dairy farms in the southern North Island of New Zealand where production policy had changed from a focus on high production per hectare through high stocking rates to a strategy based on high production per hectare through enhanced production per cow. Results of the third year for nine of these farms revealed a range of apparent feed intake (50,669 - 70,135 MJ ME/cow/year), milksolids production (372 - 432 kg MS/cow/year) and feed conversion efficiency (6.0 - 7.4 g MS/MJ ME intake). There was a significant positive correlation (R2= 0.57, P<0.05) between annual apparent ME intake per cow and annual milksolids production per cow, with a regression coefficient equivalent to 2.5 g MS produced per MJ ME intake, but a significant negative correlation (R2 = 0.80, P<0.01) between ME intake and feed conversion efficiency. The apparent ME intakes measured were 21\% and 8\% higher than theoretical requirements for the farms with higher and lower (compared to each other) milksolids yield values, respectively. This suggests that the high-performance farms may have wasted more feed. Implications for management of feed resources to optimise efficiency in high-production systems are discussed. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Salles PV and Matthews PNP and Holmes CW and Hodgson J and Shadbolt NM}
}
@conference {41038,
	title = {The effect of grazing management on pasture and animal production late Autumn to Early-Spring period in a one year Bull Beef Grazing System.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {236-238},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The aim of this trial was to improve pasture growth rate and animal liveweight gains in the late autumn and early spring on a one year bull beef production system. The trial was conducted at the Tuapaka bull unit, Massey University, from 1 April to 30 September 1997. It compared three contrasting managements, operating on a total of 165 bulls stocked at 2.6 bull/ha. Treatment 1 followed a grazing plan based on the average pasture growth rate for the region, the animal requirements needed to achieve performance targets, and pasture mass targets (2700-2800 kg DM/ha and 1500-1600 kg DM/ha for late autumn and early spring, and 3000-3200 kg DM/ha and 1100-1200 kg DM/ha for winter for pre-grazing and post-grazing, respectively). Treatment 2 was managed according to the same pre-grazing and post-grazing targets. In this treatment the pasture targets were monitored daily, and bulls were shifted when the post-grazing targets were achieved. No supplement was used in Treatments 1 and 2. Treatment 3 followed traditional Tuapaka management, based on a 50 day rotation over the late autumn and winter, a 30 day rotation in August, and set stocking in September. Supplement was fed to this treatment as required in the winter. The overall liveweight gain (0.84 {\textpm} 0.02, 0.87 {\textpm} 0.02, 0.74 {\textpm} 0.01 kg LW/head/day for Treatments 1, 2, and 3 respectively) and final liveweight (354.7 {\textpm} 3.54, 359.8 {\textpm} 3.65, and 335.6 {\textpm} 3.27) were similar for Treatments 1 and 2 which were both significantly higher (P<0.001) than Treatment 3. Net herbage accumulation was significantly different (P<0.01) between Treatment 1 (6147 {\textpm} 369.3 kg DM/ha), Treatment 2 (7062 {\textpm} 319.9 kg DM/ha), and Treatment 3 (5277 {\textpm} 334.08 kg DM/ha). It was concluded that it is possible to improve both pasture production and bull beef performance when grazing is based on the management of prescribed sward conditions. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Coutinho HB and Matthews PNP and Morris ST}
}
@conference {40568,
	title = {Effect of contrasting spring grazing management on summer-autumn pasture and milk production of mixed ryegrass-clover dairy swards.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {54},
	year = {1994},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {79-82},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Research at Massey University has shown that a spring grazing  
management laxer than the conventional intensive grazing allowing some 
early ryegrass seedhead development before close grazing at anthesis 
("Late Control") may result in improved summer-autumn pasture production.   
Comparisons between conventional and late control spring grazing  
managements for dairy cows were carried out, on a paddock scale, during  
1992/93.  Late control swards showed enhanced dry matter production before  
(24.5\% increase - P<0.05) and after (32.0\% increase - P<0.10) the control  
grazing in early December.  Concomitant measurements of animal performance  
revealed that the increased pasture production during the summer-autumn  
period could be effectively converted into milk by dairy cows, and resulted 
in an increase in milk-solids production of about 10\% per cow (P<0.10).  The  
implications of these results to dairy management systems are discussed in 
the context of pasture responses to spring management and alternative  
conservation strategies. 
 },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Da Silva SC and Hodgson J and Matthews PNP and Matthew C and Holmes CW}
}
