
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thomas, GW 
A1  - Mathews, GL 
T1  - Comparison of two management systems of dairy farmlets based on conservation of either hay or silage
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 1991
VL  - 31
IS  - 2
SP  - 195
EP  - 203
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9910195 
N2  - Two management systems for dairy farms, early (silage farmlet) and late (hay farmlet) conservation, were compared for milk production in 4 consecutive years, at 2 cowsha. Half of the total silage farmlet area was made to wilted silage in each year. The remaining area was conserved as direct-cut silage in the first year and hay in the fourth year. About 40-50% of the hay farmlet area was made to hay. Over the 4 years, the silage farmlet produced an average of 8.2% more milk and 11.9% more (P<0.01) milk fat per year than the hay farmlet. The improvement in milk and milk fat production averaged 2.7 and 5% (P<0.01) in the spring and 27.4 and 30% (P<0.01) in the period from commencement of supplementary feeding in the summer. On average, the silage farmlet conserved a greater area, but because of high storage losses and greater consumption, it required more brought-in feed than the hay farmlet. 
ER  -

