High-sugar grass a hit

One of the best things about putting in high-sugar rye grass, was it held up really well under the drought conditions experienced in 2008, says Kiwitea dairy farmer David Scott.

He has about 30 hectares of the 275ha Homeview jersey stud in AberMagic, which is a high-sugar grass, and said they are using the ryegrass in paddocks, as they need replacing. The farm is 1400 feet (427 metres) above sea level, Mr Scott said.

"It's the same price as the more expensive grasses – $7 a kilogram.

"In the drought of 2008, we were taking our cows to the dam on the next-door farm to get water, but the AberMagic paddock was the best of all on the farm," Mr Scott said.

He included cocksfoot grass for summer growth and white-and-red clover in the mix. "Cows find it palatable. Look at the even-ness of this paddock. The cows were only in here a week ago. They eat it down, leaving no clumps."

Mr Scott said the pasture translated into milk in the vat.

"The high-sugar pasture is going in because the milk vat goes up by an extra 100 to 200 litres whenever the cows come in off AberMagic." He estimated the additional milk is worth up to $100 a milking.

Apart from a small ration of grain meal offered as an incentive for the cows to walk into the dairy, the herd is entirely fed on grass, hay and baleage.

- © Fairfax NZ News