A comparison of conventional and automatic milking system pasture utilization and pre- and post-grazing pasture mass

摘要: Automatic milking systems (AMS) present an opportunity for dairy farmers to not only improve their lifestyle and conditions of work, but also save on labour costs and/or increase the time available focus overall farm management. However, viability AMS will rely achieving high levels pasture utilization. Well-established management principles are implemented many conventional system (CMS) farms utilization achieved; however, ability follow these same is unknown. This study compared pre- post-grazing mass between CMS at site when managed by principles. From 1 March 2007 29 February 2008, compressed height, milk yield composition data were collected two one Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Camden, Australia. Despite differences in post- grazing systems, pre-grazing was predominantly maintained within bounds 2200 2500 kg DM ha−1 1400 1500 kg (5–6 cm height). Similar (mean 13 500 kg ha−1 year−1) recorded farms. These findings highlight established achieve pasture-based