
Owl Farm case study - Feed budgets
Learn how feed budgets keep pasture cover and cow condition on target.

This page from Owl Farm, the Waikato demonstration dairy farm run jointly by St Peter's School and Lincoln University, sets out the pasture renewal, grazing rotation and fertiliser programme used to grow enough high-quality feed.
It covers annual soil testing by management block, nitrogen and other nutrient rates applied through the season, and how weekly farm walks and the Spring Rotation Planner set residuals and pre-grazing covers.
Photo: “Dairy cows grazing with visible graze line” by Halter, licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 4.0

See what keeps Owl Farm's alert, grade and demerit counts falling.

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

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

Read how genetic selection keeps Owl Farm's herd among the nation's best.

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

Learn how to manage nitrogen fertiliser use for better pasture growth and environmental outcomes.

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

Learn how Owl Farm cut biological greenhouse gas emissions over a ten year period.

This guide explains effective forage cropping management for livestock.

See how susceptible your soil and climate are to nitrogen loss each month.

Learn how Owl Farm halved its lameness rate by changing yard flow and race care.

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