WTARS
Welcome to the DairyNZ WTARS farm (Westpac Taranaki Agricultural Research Station).
 |
WTARS is situated just south of Hawera on the greenbelt surrounding the Fonterra Whareroa dairy factory.
Focus
Commissioned in 2002, the farm focuses on cutting edge farm systems research and small plot trials. The site provides a DairyNZ research base in Taranaki.
Farm Profile
| Farm area | 110 ha effective |
| Milking cows | 350 cows depending on scientific requirements |
| Soil fertility | Egmont black loam |
| Paddocks | 20 (1/2 ha paddocks) 100 (1 ha paddocks) |
| Dairy infrastructure |
40 – bail rotary dairy Automatic cow ID, daily electronic milk weight recording |
| Feed Conversion Efficiency stall |
28 stalls Electronic weighing feed bins |
Current Trials
Feed Conversion Efficiency Trial
160 weaner heifers housed in the feeding stalls for 3 months, detailed measuring of intake and weighing of weaner heifers. It will continue for next two years studying approximately 450 animals through the facilities each year. The outcome is to identify animals that convert feed intake into live weight gains efficiently. The top & bottom 10% will be retained for future farmlet research looking at feed intake and subsequent milk production.
Nitrification Trial
Two 5ha farmlets have been established for a trial examining the effectiveness of nitrification inhibitors on Coastal Taranaki Sixteen cows per farmlet (3.2 cows/ha) will be dedicated to the farmlets for two years. Leachate and urinary samples are being collect monthly. Milk production and also pasture growth will be monitored on weekly bases.
 |
Cup Remover Trial
The focus of this trial is how can farmers save time at milking without negatively affecting production and udder health.
Cups are removed either at 400 ml/minute milk flow as opposed to the normal rate of 200 ml/minute. and a further two treatments, cows will only be allowed to be milked up to fresh hold maximum time from the start of lactation or starting from peak lactation. The trial will run for a whole season. Milk production, somatic cell count and udder health is being monitored.
Other minor trials
- Calibration of the C-Dax pasture meter
- Agriseeds perennial cultivar evaluation
- Nufarm pasture seed additive small trial evaluation
Events
 |
- WTARS conference is the largest farming event in Taranaki held in the autumn of each year.
- There are two WTARS farm open days held each year.
Other Services
There is a laboratory on site used for drymatter determination of trial samples and is available for commercial drymatter analysis of both pasture and maize.
Farm Walks
Find out more about the regular farm walks at the WTARS farm.
