29 April 2010 Farmer-scientist collaboration helps agriculture and the environment

Farming for profit while remaining sensitive to the impact that commercial imperatives can have on the environment, requires close understanding between research and practice.

In the dairying sector, the new Dairy Research Farm at New Zealand's specialist land-based university, Lincoln University, is playing an important role in this cooperation.

The farm has been operational since August last year and research links with farmers, such as through the levy-funded DairyNZ organisation, are central to its mission.

One of the first examples of work on the farm has been a joint project between Lincoln University and DairyNZ to evaluate and improve the nutrition of cows in a way that reduces environmental impacts. Improved nutrition can mean a boost in milk production and that in turn can link to an enhancement of profit margins.

A key challenge is to produce higher yields of high quality feed with a better balance of nutrients provided within the entire lactation and reproduction cycle, says Lincoln University's Professor of Dairy Production Grant Edwards.

Current work is exploring how grazing and fertilizer management practices may improve cows' utilisation of nitrogen in plants, thus boosting milk production while at the same time reducing the excretion of nitrogen with its consequent environmental impacts - nitrate leaching into groundwater and nitrous oxide emissions into the atmosphere.

One particular study, with investment from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, DairyNZ and Lincoln University, has begun looking closely at plant composition changes throughout the day in a typical ryegrass pasture, and at changes associated with different stages of leaf development. Researchers will be evaluating the impact of these alterations on milk yield and nitrogen excretion in the cows' urine.

Among useful questions to be investigated is whether putting cows onto fresh breaks at night, when soluble carbohydrate levels have been shown to be high, will see the stock utilising protein more efficiently, with an associated reduction in urine volume and nitrogen content.

Research at the new Lincoln University facility which will be valuable to farmers keen to maximise profits and minimise environmental harm, covers the fields of soil science, plant science and animal husbandry.

"Soils, plants and animals make up the fundamental mix that all dairy farmers work with," says Professor Edwards, "and our job as scientists is to seek the best possible understanding of the interaction between the three so that farmers can farm for profit in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner."

Lincoln University's Dairy Research Farm is a 56-hectare property on university land across the road from the central campus with a dairy herd which will rise to 180-200 by next year.