Owl Farm case study - Paddock performance

Owl Farm case study - Paddock performance

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.

Open LinkOpen Kete

Fertiliser

Productivity

  • Owl Farm case study - Feed budgets

    Enterprise
    Dairy
    Farm planning
    Productivity

    Learn how feed budgets keep pasture cover and cow condition on target.

  • Farm Source guide - Optimise pasture and crop

    Enterprise
    On-farm actions
    Productivity
    Profitability

    Discover ways to grow, manage and use pasture and crop for healthier, more efficient cows.

  • Owl Farm case study - Milk production

    Enterprise
    Dairy
    Productivity
    Profitability

    Compare season milksolids results against Owl Farm's production targets.

Soil

  • Owl Farm case study - Soil health

    Whenua
    On-farm actions
    Soil
    Sustainability

    Discover how Owl Farm tests and protects its soil's physical, chemical and biological health.

  • Onions - Potential yield

    Enterprise
    Horticulture
    Productivity
    Soil
    Water

    Explore how much onions the whenua in your rohe could produce each year.

An alternative perspective

Explore related content

Owl Farm case study - BCS profile

Enterprise
Livestock
Productivity
Wellbeing

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

Farm Source guide - Optimise nitrogen fertiliser

Climate
Fertiliser
On-farm actions
Sustainability

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

Owl Farm case study - Summer crops

Enterprise
Arable crops
Dairy
Productivity

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

Owl Farm case study - Imported supplements

Enterprise
Dairy
Productivity
Profitability

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

Owl Farm case study - Breeding programme

Enterprise
Innovation
Livestock
Productivity

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

Owl Farm case study - Herd reproduction

Enterprise
Dairy
Livestock
Productivity

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

Owl Farm case study - Youngstock rearing

Enterprise
Dairy
Livestock
Productivity

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

Owl Farm case study - Animal well-being plan

Enterprise
Farm planning
Livestock
Wellbeing

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

Chris Pellow, North Waikato

Climate
Arable crops
On-farm actions
Soil

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

Owl Farm case study - Biodiversity

Whenua
Biodiversity
Conservation
On-farm actions

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

Owl Farm case study - Wetland performance

Climate
Biodiversity
Regeneration
Water

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