10 YEARS MANAGEMENT OF ON FARM DAIRY PASTURE PROJECTS: REVIEW OF METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS H. Kohnen (LTAE), J. Boonen (LTAE), G. Conter (SER) Projects FILL Pasture Project: 2003-2005 & 2006- 2008 “Improve pasture & dairy production” 4 pilot farms National (multi actor: Uni Bonn- herd book- book accounting) Dairyman: 2010-2013; EU Interreg IVB: “Sustainable dairy production” NWE: 7 countries, 10 regions (B, D, F, IR, NI, L, NL) Network of 130 pilot farms (Lux. 6 farms; 3 pasture farms) Autograssmilk: 2014- 2015; EU P7 “Combine AMS & pasture” 6 countries (B, DK, F, I, NL, S, L coop since 2014) 37 monitor & experimental farms (LUX: 4) 20. Dez 14 6. Dez 14 Grassilage 22. Nov 14 8. Nov 14 25. Okt 14 Heu 11. Okt 14 Mais 27. Sep 14 13. Sep 14 Stroh 30. Aug 14 16. Aug 14 SAFT futter 2. Aug 14 19. Jul 14 5. Jul 14 Sonstiges 21. Jun 14 7. Jun 14 KF MW 24. Mai 14 10. Mai 14 26. Apr 14 KF Stat 12. Apr 14 29. Mrz 14 15. Mrz 14 1. Mrz 14 Feed intake (kg DM.cow -1.day-1) Feed and pasture calendar and 4 explicative graphs Feed intake Weide 20 15 10 5 0 Feed & pasture calendar: Feed cost simulation Milk yield (kg Milk/cow/day 0,04 0,06 Pasture cost: 0,05 €/kg DM Feed cost: 0,22 €/kg DM 0,1 0,08 0,12 35 0,14 30 0,16 25 0,18 20 0,2 0,2 15 0,22 0,2 0,24 0,22 10 100 © Kohnen LTA 2012 80 60 40 Pasture (% DM 20 0 Pasture management 2003- 2006: Pasture management by guidelines: Graze early in spring! Graze tight with low pregrazing high! Reduce supplementary feeding! Grass silage Maize silage Concentrates 2006: Pasture management with weekly farm walk Estimate available pasture 2006- 2008: „Pasture days ahead“ (F) 2008- : Feed wedge (NZ) Estimate available pasture: Weekly pasture walk with Grassmaster (2003-04): Electric impedance Herbomètre (F) & Rising Plate Meter (NZ) 2005- 2010 Compressed grass high Estimate available pasture: “Weekly pasture drive” Feedreader Quad & Ultrasonic sensor Evaluate available pasture: Feed wedge Recorded data must be transposed into understandable figures Problems: In time with measurements No autonomous weekly pasture walk (no measurements and data handling by farmers) Impact on farmers decision not evident (simple guidelines are well accepted) Improve tools – improve knowledge transfer– improve knowhow Farm development plan: - Farm specific - Objective driven – Strategy - Indicators FARM DESCRIPTION Pasture intake Selection of objectives OBJECTIVES Grass growth Pasture infrastructure Sustainable improvement Pasture intake STRATEGY Action Indicator target Grass growth Action Indicator Actual target Pasture infrastructure Action Indicator actual target Actual F&P GM HM RPM FR FW FDP Final Evaluation Time consuming ++ -- -- -- - + - Spec. Knowledge (technical realisation) ++ + + + ++ -- --- - -- -- -- -- -- --- ++ + + + - ++ ++ ++ + + + ++ ++ ++ - --- --- --- --- --- --- Spec. Knowledge (data interpretation) Accuracy Acceptance (with technical help) Acceptance (autonomous) Conclusions Pilot farm networks are very appropriate for implementing innovating ideas Exchange platform & knowledge transfer (research- advisory- farming praxis- education) Multi actor network: More actors more time needed for agreement (“slower”) More actors higher implementation of the results Proposed scientific tools not always in accordance with farmers demands and skills (“visual, intuitive” “scientific model”) Time consuming to collecting data specific knowledge to interpret data Farmers have an intuitive understanding of complicated farm process Pilot farm network: Analyse dairy production systems Analyse dairy production systems Explicative data analysis Criteria for success pasture based- indoor- mixed system Settings Great number of divers pilot farms & regions (countries) All farming systems (not only grazing) Homogenous data recording and treatment Create a European reference network Smaller networks can refer to! Great help for small countries with divers pedo- climatic conditions