
Owl Farm case study - Fertiliser and pasture management
Review how fertiliser and grazing rotations are matched to feed demand.

This page from Owl Farm, the Waikato demonstration dairy farm run jointly by St Peter's School and Lincoln University, reports pasture and crop yield gathered from weekly farm walks, split by top and bottom performing paddocks.
It covers the mix of ryegrass, cocksfoot, plantain and clover sown to lift yield and reduce nitrogen loss, and how yield data guides decisions on fertiliser, pasture renewal and where to grow crops.

Explore how Owl Farm scores body condition through the season to guide feeding.

Learn how to plan, time and target nitrogen fertiliser so more of it ends up as pasture growth.

Find out how brassica crops are grown to fill the summer feed gap.

Check how imported feed is used strategically to lift milk from pasture.

Track how Owl Farm's sexed semen and dairy beef mating plan lifted herd genetics.

Track how a Waikato demonstration farm lifts its 6-week in-calf rate each season.

Explore how replacement calves are reared and grown out to entry weight.

See how Owl Farm builds a seasonal well-being plan for its dairy herd with local vets.

Discover how a North Waikato cropper cut nitrogen and emissions by switching to no-till maize.

Track the native species and planting programme behind Owl Farm's biodiversity.

See how Owl Farm's constructed wetland strips nitrogen and sediment from farm runoff.

Find out how Owl Farm measures and reduces water use in its dairy shed.