Outeniqua Information Day 2022 Milk from pasture

by Prof. Robin Meeske, Sigrun Ammann and Janke van der Colf

TThe Outeniqua Information Day was held in September 2022 at the Outeniqua Research Farm. The previous two years the Information Day was presented virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Founded in 1953, the Outeniqua Research Farm was established for agricultural research, providing science-based solutions in response to challenges faced by farmers in the area from the Tsitsikamma to Caledon.

The 2022 Information Day was well attended by 215 delegates. The audience consisted of farmers, industry representatives and students.

Researchers of the Outeniqua Research Farm presented their research findings of the past two years. Data on alternative pasture systems incorporating combinations of forage herbs, tall fescue, red clover and lucerne was presented. The inclusion of these systems was shown to hold the potential to improve the yield of pastures and animals, particularly during the challenging summer months in the region. Results of extensive cultivar trials on perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass and tall fescue were shown in the presentations and more detail provided in the booklet.

This information helps farmers to make informed decisions on what species and what variety to plant to improve their fodder flow on the dairy farm.

Results were also given for forage quality comparisons in late summer of forage herbs, ryegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot and combinations of these to explore options for improved yield and quality for summer pasture production. Supplementing Aspergillus oryzae to dairy cows grazing ryegrass pasture in spring resulted in an increased 4% fat corrected milk production, higher milk fat and milk protein content.

Milk fever can be a major metabolic problem in Jersey cows around calving. Milk fever was controlled by supplementing a pre-partum concentrate containing a calcium-binder while cows were kept on high quality irrigated pasture before calving.