Forage intake and feed conversion efficiency in high-producing
dairy herds in New Zealand: a case study
P.V. SALLES, P.N.P. MATTHEWS, C.W. HOLMES, J. HODGSON AND N.M.
SHADBOLT
Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag
11222, Palmerston North
E-Mail:
NZSAP 2003 Abstract No. 24
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production
63: 96-100
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.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
dairy systems; pasture utilisation; animal performance; feed
conversion efficiency
Last Updated 8/07/2004
