A survey of pasture silage making on factory supply dairy farms in the Central Waikato 1977–78

Abstract

Pasture silage making practices on 89 factory supply dairy farms in the Central Waikato were surveyed. Average farm size was 61. 7 ha of which 59.7 ha was effectively farmed with a stocking rate of 2.50 cows per ha. On average silage was made fro~ 8.7 ha pasture (15% of the effective area) yielding 23 t fresh matter per ha (4.3 t dry matter (OM», i.e., 0.25 t OM per cow. Silage was normally made about the second week of November from paddocks closed for 7-8 weeks and was precut for wilting on 78% of farms. Farmers were generally unaware why or how and to what OM content silage should be wilted. Although plastic sheeting was used to cover 60% of stacks, only 17% were covered immediately and only 26% were judged to be adequately airtight. Silage was usually made with the intention of feeding out during drought. Machinery used to make silage, method of ensiling, and method of feeding out are described. The timing of feeding out silage and the use of a crop in association with silage making are discussed.

Pasture silage in New Zealand - targets and current practice

“…A survey of Waikato dairy farmers carried out by 'Haigh (1978) illustrates the variability in New Zealand silage-making practices. Time elapsed between the last time that pasture was grazed, and cutting for silage, ranged from 3 to 10 weeks, with harvest dates ranging from late September to late December.…”