Feed projects 2007/08

New Zealand's unique competitive advantage is based on its low cost, pasture-based farming systems. DairyNZ is focused on achieving profitable and sustainable farming systems through improving the quality and amount of feed dairy farmers grow, matching feed supply with demand, and improving efficiency with which feed is converted into milksolids.

Below is a summary of projects carried out during the 2007/08 season in the Feed area.
Note: These were proposed contracted amounts. Actual final paid amounts may vary from these numbers.

Project	Project Number	Description	Partners	Funding (Excl. GST)
Impact of a New Ryegrass Endophyte (AR37) on Dairy Production	FD601	This project is determining the effects of AR37 endophyte on pasture production and persistence, milksolids production and cow health. View Project Summary Report	DairyNZ	$391,111
Improving Water Use Efficiency on Irrigated Dairy Farms	FD602	This project aims to test the Irrigation Calculator in the concepts of both the irrigation scheduling software and the application efficiency protocol 'Irrig8Lite'. With the finalizing of these tools, dairy farmers will be able to make their water go further or produce the same pasture from less water. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$177,904
New Zealand Pastoral Industries Ryegrass Development Programme	FD603	The aim of the investment n Pastoral Genomics is to use modern biotechnology approaches to develop new ryegrass and clover plants that are more productive and persistent.	Pastoral Genomics	$759,110
New and alternative forage species and systems	FD604	This project aims to compare the DM production and nutritive value of perennial ryegrass, continental tall fescue and Mediterranean tall fescue either alone, or in combination with white clover, red clover or chicory. This project complements a major Pastoral 21 programme that aims to grow 25 t DM /ha par year. View Project Summary Report	DairyNZ	$160,444
Increasing feed intake of pasture fed dairy cows	FD605	The objective of this programme is to develop ryegrass varieties with fibre that will break down more rapidly in the rumen, providing the farmer with a means to improve feed intake and productivity of cows on grazed pastures. The project is using two approaches to achieve this outcome, one through conventional breeding in perennial ryegrass and the other applying biotechnological tools to endophytes. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$348,889
Experimental Release of a Clover Root Weevil Biocontrol Agent	FD606	The Irish wasp Microctonus aethiopoides was released in 2006 as a biocontrol agent for the clover root weevil, a serious pest of white clover in New Zealand. Following successful establishment and build up at the four experimental release sites, widespread establishment of the Irish wasp throughout all regions where weevil infestations are causing problems is now being carried out. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$222,222
Enhanced Dairy Nutrition via Herbage Protein Stability	FD607	The rapid degradation and loss of grazed forage nitrogen (N) in the rumen causes economically-significant energetic and environmental costs. These are becoming increasingly important with the rapidly rising cost of fertilizer N to dairy farmers. Improving N utilization from fresh forage will increase productivity while controlling input costs and N losses. This project aims to develop and deliver forage-mediated solutions leading to improved N utilization in the dairy rumen. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$256,889
The Role of High Sugar Grasses in Pasture-Based Dairy Systems	FD608	For 2007-08, this project extended investigations on the role of high sugar grasses in pasture-based dairy systems. Previous studies indicated some evidence for milk production responses in autumn, but not in spring. The importance of differences in physiology between cows in early lactation (spring) compared with those in late lactation (autumn); and seasonal differences in grass composition is being investigated. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$311,111
Brassica SFF project co-funding	FD609	Brassicas are used on a third of dairy farms. Achieving high yields is critical to the economic success of these crops. This project has demonstrated successful brassica management in on-farm trials across NZ.	Crop & Food	$120,000
Pasture Covers using Satellite Technology	FD610	The Pastures from Space program is based on the premise that more accurate and frequent information on pasture cover would allow cows to be better managed throughout the year by optimising decisions on paddock selection, rotation lengths, supplementary feeding, nitrogen fertiliser use and conservation. This project is testing the use of satellite remote sensing to measure pasture cover at farm and paddock scale. View Project Summary Report	Fonterra	$395,384
Pasture quality using satellite and proximal sensing	FD611	The objective of this joint project between AgResearch, Massey University and Landcare is to develop methods for measuring pasture quality (metabolisable energy, digestibility, fibre, crude protein, dead %, dry matter %) directly in the paddock. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$102,394
Standardised feed quality analysis	FD612	Guidance on feed sampling approaches are important if farmers are to make best use of feed testing services. This project aims to achieve more accurate and standardised methods of feed analaysis across NZ feed testing laboratories. View Project Summary Report	Lincoln University	$177,778
Establishing White Clover in High Pest Density Regions	FD614	The aim of this project is to develop best management practice guidelines for re-establishing white clover into pastures with a vigorous grass base in which clover content has been severely depleted by pests and diseases, without incurring the production losses associated with cultivation or pasture renovation. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$71,111
Increased pasture utilisation	FD615	The objective of this project is to increase the adoption of new and existing technologies and practices that profitably increase the amount of home-grown forage (pasture and crops) eaten per hectare (measured as metabolisable energy, ME) and increase the response to supplements on New Zealand dairy farms. View Project Summary Report	DairyNZ	$635,555
Acquiring new germplasm for future dairy systems	FD617	A wider range of plant genes offer wider opportunities to improve pasture plants. This project is acquiring new germplasm from overseas and testing its application to breeding programmes in NZ. View Project Summary Report	AgResearch	$75,000
Integrating 40 tonnes/ha forage cropping sustainably into Taranaki dairying systems	FD701	This trial is aimed at demonstrating the practicality and economics of integrating high yielding crops onto the dairy farming platform successfully. View Project Summary Report	Waimate West Demonstration Farm	$80,000
FRST/P21 Feed programme	FD702	DairyNZ is a co-funder of this joint industry-government research programme. The programme aims to increase the yield and quality of feed harvested on NZ pastoral farms.	AgResearch (involves 7 providers)	$1,133,399