dairy farm systems for good economic and environmental performance. vicki burggraaf
DESCRIPTION
Presentation from the WCCA 2011 conference in Brisbane, Australia.TRANSCRIPT
DAIRY FARM SYSTEMS FOR GOOD ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
VICKI BURGGRAAF1
IRIS VOGELER1
PIERRE BEUKES2
DAVE CLARK2
1 AGRESEARCH LTD 2 DAIRYNZ
NEW ZEALAND $$$$
How can we farm profitably with a low environmental footprint?
48% NZ GREENHOUSE GAS
OVERVIEW
Model dairy farm with increased efficiency
1. Dairy intensification in NZ2. Causes of environmental issues3. Strategies to reduce negative impacts4. Model effects on production, profit, GHG, N leaching5. Effects of year to year climate variability
DAIRY INTENSIFICATION
DAIRY INTENSIFICATION
Since 1990:• 78% increase in dairy land area• 20% increase in SR (cows/ha)• 85% increase in total no. cows
DAIRY INTENSIFICATION
Since 1990:• 78% increase in dairy land area• 20% increase in SR (cows/ha)• 85% increase in total no. cows
Increased feed intake per hectare• Pasture utilisation• Increased use of nitrogen fertiliser• Increased use of bought-in supplements
DAIRY INTENSIFICATION
Since 1990:• 78% increase in dairy land area• 20% increase in SR (cows/ha)• 85% increase in total no. cows
Increased feed intake per hectare• Pasture utilisation• Increased use of nitrogen fertiliser• Increased use of bought-in supplements
MILK PRODUCTION INCREASED 130%
PROBLEMS OF INTENSIFICATIONMore cows and high N feed: More N fertiliser:
methane
nitrate leached
URINE
nitrous oxide
N fert
REDUCING THE IMPACT1. Fewer animals2. Efficient animals3. Stand-off pasture – less nutrient loss4. Low N feed supplements5. Less N fert use, nitrification inhibitor
Small effects in isolation
STACKED TECHNOLOGIES
PARAMETER BASE FARM EFFICIENT FARMStocking rate (cows/ha) 3.0 2.6Cow genetic merit (BW) 60 120Replacement rate 23% 17%Feed Pasture Pasture + maize grain Stand off pasture No YesEffluent area (% of farm)
20 24
N fertiliser area 180 kg N/ha 50 kg N/ha/yr + nitrification inhibitor
MODELLED DAIRY FARMS
WAIKATO CLIMATE EFFECTS
• Rainfall 1100 mm, temperate climate
• Summer rain: more pasture → milk, profit
• Winter rain: nitrate leaching, nitrous oxide
• Base vs efficient farm:
Low Medium High production Dry Average Wet summer
945 mm 1056 mm 1197 mm rain/yr
WAIKATO SUMMER RAINFALL
Dec Jan Feb Mar0
50
100
150
200
2502003/04
2004/05
2007/08
mm
WHOLE FARM MODEL Pasture production Grain fed Milk production Profit Methane Urinary N
APSIM Nitrate leaching
OVERSEER Total GHG
• Management
• Daily climate
• Management• Annual
rainfall
MODELLING FRAMEWORK
PASTURE PRODUCTION
Dry Average Wet0
5
10
15
20 BaseEfficient
t DM
/ha/
year
TOTAL FEED INTAKE
Dry Average Wet02468
101214
BaseEfficient
t DM
/ha/
year
8% 4% 1% maize grain
MILK PRODUCTION
Dry Average Wet0
200400600800
100012001400
BaseEfficient
kg M
S/ha
OPERATING PROFIT
Dry Average Wet0
50010001500200025003000350040004500
BaseEfficient
$/ha
METHANE EMISSIONS
Dry Average Wet012345678
BaseEfficient
t CO
2 eq
/ha/
yr
TOTAL GHG EMISSIONS
Dry Average Wet0
2
4
6
8
10
12
BaseEfficient
t CO
2 eq
/ha/
yr
N LEACHING
Dry Average Wet0
1020304050607080 Base
Efficient
kg N
/ha/
year
CONCLUSIONSEfficient farm systems:
•Milk production ↑ 8-17%•Profitability ↑ 18-80%•GHG ↓ 23-27%•N leaching ↓ 30-50%
Impact of climate:•Efficient always best•Variability high for leaching, profit
This research was funded by: