This tour aligned very well with the interests of all of those on the trip studying animal science, health, biological engineering (my major), and other related subjects. We toured a fully functional dairy production facility. Though they do not further process the raw milk and milk solids, the harvesting process to the farm gate was highly automated and monitored. The farm currently operates with a herd of roughly 1000 productive animals.
The system used to monitor the health and productivity of the herd was quite advanced, with the daily levels of milk production and productive temperatures for each animal being entered into a central computing system and tracked over time. Based on this the animals’ diets can be individually monitored and health concerns could be identified early.
All of the animals on the farm were grass-fed, utilizing a diet largely based on rye grass and sugar beet, with experimental fields looking into lacrene grass. Their diet, while largely based on crops grown on site, needs to be supplemented to enable them to produce the largest quantity and highest quality of milk. During their productive season this means supplementing their water and dusting the grass they eat with calcium and magnesium.
Lacrene grows with a much deeper root system than rye, because of this it uses water more effeciently, potentially reducing use by up to 50%. It also requires no artificial phosphorus fertilization, which could potentially reduce the nutrient pollution from the site. The sugar beet is very high in carbohydrates, serving as a great crop for feeding when the animals aren’t producing milk, leading to their calorie needs being higher but with lower nutrient and mineral needs.
One of the most interesting aspects of this farm is that their entire herd produces only milk with the A2 beta casein protein, while most needs in New Zealand have approximately a 50/50 split with animals whose milk contain the A1 beta casein protein. This protein causes severe digestive issues in many problem, and this sensitivity is often mistaken for lactose intolerance. Their goal is to achieve a herd of roughly 3000 productive animals, which could also be used as breeding stock.
The system used to monitor the health and productivity of the herd was quite advanced, with the daily levels of milk production and productive temperatures for each animal being entered into a central computing system and tracked over time. Based on this the animals’ diets can be individually monitored and health concerns could be identified early.
All of the animals on the farm were grass-fed, utilizing a diet largely based on rye grass and sugar beet, with experimental fields looking into lacrene grass. Their diet, while largely based on crops grown on site, needs to be supplemented to enable them to produce the largest quantity and highest quality of milk. During their productive season this means supplementing their water and dusting the grass they eat with calcium and magnesium.
Lacrene grows with a much deeper root system than rye, because of this it uses water more effeciently, potentially reducing use by up to 50%. It also requires no artificial phosphorus fertilization, which could potentially reduce the nutrient pollution from the site. The sugar beet is very high in carbohydrates, serving as a great crop for feeding when the animals aren’t producing milk, leading to their calorie needs being higher but with lower nutrient and mineral needs.
One of the most interesting aspects of this farm is that their entire herd produces only milk with the A2 beta casein protein, while most needs in New Zealand have approximately a 50/50 split with animals whose milk contain the A1 beta casein protein. This protein causes severe digestive issues in many problem, and this sensitivity is often mistaken for lactose intolerance. Their goal is to achieve a herd of roughly 3000 productive animals, which could also be used as breeding stock.
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| Automated Sprinkler Irrigation Control Panel |
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| Feeding Rye Grass to Dairy Cow |
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| Sugar Beet Feed Crop Before Harvest |
-Eli LaSalle
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Read more from the 2019 Human and Animal Interactions students at https://uarkhumanandanimalinteractionsinnewzealand2019.home.blog/
Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Human & Animal Interaction in New Zealand program.
Get started today! Search for your study abroad opportunity at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
Read more from the 2019 Human and Animal Interactions students at https://uarkhumanandanimalinteractionsinnewzealand2019.home.blog/
Find out more about the U of A Faculty-Led: Human & Animal Interaction in New Zealand program.
Get started today! Search for your study abroad opportunity at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
