Dairy farm systems to aid persistence

This manuscript reviews fundamental pasture management principles relevant to pasture persistence. We first note some points of context, within which the debate on pasture persistence is occurring: the release of new pasture cultivars, the debate about climate change, and the effects of newly introduced weeds and pests. We then examine trends in farm practice. The critical management period (of most concern to farmers) has shifted from winter/autumn to summer. It is essential that farmers have and use sets of decision rules to govern when and how hard to graze, when to supplement and when to remove cows from pasture to allow pastures to be grazed appropriately to aid pasture persistence. Adaptations available to improve pasture persistence include: the use of nitrogen fertiliser to increase feed supply going into the summer, the use of crops or other feed supplements, stocking rate and on-off grazing to ensure the pastures are appropriately grazed in the summer. New pastures must be treated with care in their first year of life to ensure survival. The response of farmers to these variables to aid persistence of pastures is discussed. Keywords: climate, insect pests, pasture growth model, pasture renewal, weeds