Dairy NZ

Pasture growth can decline over time due to a number of factors. Pasture renovation methods describe how to improve the long-term production and persistence of poor performing paddocks. The most successful approach is often complete pasture renewal.

Benefits of pasture renewal:

• Increased total pasture yield (1.0 - 8.0 t DM/ha/yr)
• Increased milksolids production (if the extra growth is eaten)
• Improved pasture quality
• Can make pasture management easier by using late heading varieties to minimise the drop in pasture quality as seed heads appear in late spring
• Reduced animal health problems.

Should you renovate pasture?

To get a return from investment in pasture renovation requires the identification of underperforming paddocks and estimating the potential extra pasture production.  For example, where the yield can be increased by 2t DM/ha the return is around 130kg MS/ha. The return will be greater if the extra growth occurs at a time of the season when animal demand exceeds pasture growth.

• Choosing a ryegrass cultivar (variety), seeding and sowing rates
• Pasture Renewal Calculator

Pasture Condition

Many New Zealand farmers are managing pastures that have less than desired density of ryegrass and clover as a result of insect and drought conditions incurred during the previous summer or treading damage this spring.

A DairyNZ led industry group comprising researchers, seed industry and contractors have agreed on an approach for farmers faced with this situation.  This group recommends farmers carry out a paddock by paddock assessment of the damage by ranking paddocks one to five based on the extent of damage. They should then use the tools suggested actions to establish a plan for each paddock.

• Pasture Condition Score Tool

Pasture Renewal Guide

Download or order this handy guide for the establishment and management of persistent, producing pastures.

• DairyNZ Pasture Renewal Guide View PDF (976 kb) I Order now