@conference {41009,
	title = {Management decision rules to optimise milksolids production on dairy farms},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {132-135},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {A review of grazing management research has provided a series of decision rules for the management of seasonal calving pastoral dairy farm systems. These rules have been used at the DRC No. 2 Dairy to remove subjectivity from the management of farm systems research. Cows are dried off with sufficient time for second calvers and mixed age cows to achieve condition scores of 5 and 4.5 by 1 June. Target pasture average herbage mass at calving is 2200 kg DM/ha. Optimum grazing management during autumn/winter, spring and summer has been shown to increase milksolids production by 29, 70 and 41 kg MS/ha, respectively. Grazing management during late spring must meet the dual objectives of generously feeding the herd, while maintaining pasture quality. Conserved pasture supplements should be fed in late autumn/early winter to meet cow condition, grazing management, and herbage mass objectives. Substantial increases in animal productivity can be achieved by sound farm management during periods of feed deficit. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {MacDonald KA and Penno JW}
}
