Farm Details
100 Friesian-Jersey cows from 2009-2011, 190 cows from 2011.
33 ha from 2009-2011 then 56 ha from 2011.
Fully irrigated farm with lateral and wiper picot irrigation.
Templeton sandy soils.
Advanced milking system with cow identification, herd management system, individual milk flow recording and sample collection facility.
Feed yards, feeding stalls and animal handling facilities for small herds and individual cow indoor feeding.
80 soil lysimeters on farm for nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas research.
Cows wintered off farm of forage crops at Ashley Dene.
Research areas
Research on LURDF is conducted by postgraduate students and Lincoln University staff in collaboration with research partners in the following key areas:
- Nutrition, health and welfare of large herds fed on high quality pastures.
- Efficient use of water and nitrogen for pasture, forage and milk production.
- Use of supplements in high quality pastoral systems to enhance milk production and reduce environmental impacts.
- Mitigation of the environmental impacts of dairying through soil, plant and nutrition approaches.
- Grazing behaviour, intake and rumen function on different forages and grazing management practices.
- Novel grasses, legumes and systems for increased milk solids production and reduced environmental impact.
- Nutrition and performance of dry cows on different winter forages and utilization systems.
Postgraduate research opportunities
The LUDRF plays a key role in facilitating postgraduate research (PhD, Masters, Honours) in dairy production systems. Research is conducted under supervision of Lincoln University academic staff, mainly from the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
There are opportunities for postgraduate studies in soils, pastures and animals to support dairy production sytems. Students interested in research on LURDF should contact Professor Grant Edwards to discuss opportunities.