14 June 2012

2 minute read

Oceania

The search is part of DairyNZ’s Southern Wintering Systems Initiative, a research project looking into farmers’ winter management decisions.

DairyNZ Senior Scientist Ina Pinxterhuis wants to bring together experiences from dairy farmers who have built a loose-housing system or a feed pad, and started using it in winter 2011.

“If you are in this category, we would like to interview you about why you decided to change your wintering management, how you chose the new system, who helped you with the decision making and how things have worked out,” Ms Pinxterhuis says.

The findings will form a series of case studies of farmers using these systems to help other farmers who are considering a variety of wintering systems.

Ina is part of a team of dairy farmers, researchers and consultants who are bringing together practical and scientific knowledge, monitoring performance and discussing further improvements across a range of wintering systems. She says the case studies will be useful for helping farmers assess what may be required for a change of wintering system.

“People who take part in case studies often find it is a good way of looking back on their situation and assessing how much they have achieved. They are also an important way of passing on knowledge to others, which people find is a rewarding process.”

The Southern Wintering Systems Initiative aims to support decisions around winter management of dairy cows to achieve more profitable farms, good outcomes for animals and reduced environmental impacts. It is a DairyNZ-led research project, with co-funding from the MPI Sustainable Farming Fund and Environment Southland.

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