New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
An analysis of environmental and economic implications of nil and restricted
grazing systems designed to reduce nitrate leaching from New Zealand dairy
farms. II. Pasture production and cost/benefit analysis
C. A. M. DE KLEIN
AgResearch Invermay
Private Bag 50 034
Mosgiel, New Zealand
Abstract Nitrate leaching from animal urine is perceived to
be a serious consequence of dairy farming. Previous results suggested that nil
and restricted grazing systems could reduce nitrate leaching by up to 50%. It
is likely that such systems may also increase pasture production. However,
potential disadvantages include reduction in the clover content of pastures and
increase in capital and/or operating costs. This paper examines the economic
implications of nil and restricted grazing systems based on data from an
average New Zealand dairy farm and from a long-term farmlet study. The analyses
suggested that pasture production increased by about 20% and 2-8%,
respectively, compared with a conventional grazing system. Based on the average
New Zealand dairy farm, the costs/benefit analysis of the nil grazing system
suggested a negative return on capital of about -10%. For the restricted
grazing system, the average return on capital was about 9% (range: -4 to 25%)
and depended largely on the efficiency of animal excreta use. On farms where an
effluent application system is already in place, the average return on capital
was 17% (range: 2 to 50%). Based on the farmlet study, the cost/benefit
analysis of both grazing systems suggested a small negative return on capital,
except when the costs of an effluent application system were excluded. It is
concluded that a restricted grazing system for the average New Zealand dairy
farm is likely to be economically viable, on farms where an effluent
application system or a feed pad is already in place.
Keywords cost/benefit; dairying; grazing management; milk
solids production; pasture production
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2001, Vol. 44: 217-235
0028-8233/01/4402&3-0217 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
2001
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1620K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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