Productivity, profitability and nitrogen utilisation efficiency of two pasture-based milk production systems differing in the milking frequency and feeding level

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dc.citation.issue4
dc.citation.volume13
dc.contributor.authorCorrea-Luna M
dc.contributor.authorDonaghy D
dc.contributor.authorKemp P
dc.contributor.authorShalloo L
dc.contributor.authorRuelle E
dc.contributor.authorHennessy D
dc.contributor.authorLópez-Villalobos N
dc.date.available2021-02
dc.date.issued2021-02-02
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this study was to model the productivity, profitability and the nitrogen (N) utilisation efficiency (NUE) of two spring-calving pasture-based milk production systems differing in milking frequency and intensification levels in New Zealand. For this purpose, physical performance data from a low-intensity production system where cows were milked once per day (OAD-LI) and from a high-intensity production system where cows were milked twice per day (TAD-HI) were employed. OAD-LI cows were milked once-daily with a stocking rate (SR) of 2.1 cows/ha and fed diets with low supplementation (304 kg pasture silage/cow) with applications of 134 kg N fertiliser/ha and TAD-HI cows were milked twice-daily with a SR of 2.8 cows/ha and fed diets of higher supplementation (429 kg pasture silage and 1695 kg concentrate/cow) with applications of 87 kg N fertiliser/ha. The Moorepark Dairy System Model was used to evaluate production, economic performance and N balance on an annual basis. Despite the higher feed costs of TAD-HI as more supplementation was utilised, profitability per hectare was 16% higher because more cows were milked with a higher milk yield per cow (milking frequency) when compared to OAD-LI. At the cow level, the NUE was higher in TAD-HI (30% vs. 27%) reflecting the better balanced diet for energy and crude protein and higher milk yields as a result of milking frequency. At the farm scale the NUE was higher (38% vs. 26%) in the TAD-HI due to the losses associated with the imported feed being excluded and higher N captured in milk. These results suggest that milking frequency, the use of feed supplementation and application of N fertiliser as management tools on grazing dairy systems affect productivity, profitability and N balance. Further studies are required to find optimal stocking rates in combination with the use of supplementary feed and N fertiliser application that maximize milk production and profitability for OAD and TAD milking production systems but minimize N losses.
dc.description.publication-statusPublished
dc.identifierhttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000624807300001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=c5bb3b2499afac691c2e3c1a83ef6fef
dc.identifierARTN 2098
dc.identifier.citationSUSTAINABILITY, 2021, 13 (4)
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/su13042098
dc.identifier.eissn2071-1050
dc.identifier.elements-id441086
dc.identifier.harvestedMassey_Dark
dc.relation.isPartOfSUSTAINABILITY
dc.rights(CC BY 4.0)
dc.subjectmilk production
dc.subjectintensification
dc.subjectprofitability
dc.subjectnitrogen use efficiency
dc.subjectsustainability
dc.subject.anzsrc12 Built Environment and Design
dc.titleProductivity, profitability and nitrogen utilisation efficiency of two pasture-based milk production systems differing in the milking frequency and feeding level
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.notesNot known
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences/PVC's Office - College of Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences/School of Agriculture & Environment
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