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The Pasture and Crop Research Unit (PCRU) is one of Massey's working farms. This research site is grazed by sheep and includes four farmlets:
- Farmlet A – standard pasture under contemporary management
- Farmlet B – standard pasture under regenerative management
- Farmlet C – diverse pasture under contemporary management
- Farmlet D – diverse pasture under regenerative management.
Update
Lambs have been docked, with ewes and lambs now rotationally grazing. The docking numbers presented in our table for farmlet D, diverse pastures under regenerative management, appears lower than the other groups but this is due to the higher number of ewe losses in this group resulting in more lambs being hand reared. Overall lamb survival across our farmlets was 83% and farmlet D’s survival rate was 86%.
Growth rates are well above demand across all farmlets, which will hopefully allow the standard pastures under regenerative management to build additional cover before weaning. All other farmlets are developing a surplus that will need to be controlled by bringing in additional hoggets.
Latest pasture covers
Farmlet data
0-point: 1 January 2024
| 8/29/2024 | Farmlet A | Farmlet B | Farmlet C | Farmlet D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasture | Standard | Standard | Diverse | Diverse |
| Management | Contemporary | Regenerative | Contemporary | Regenerative |
| Nitrogen - YTD (kgN/ha) | 37 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Scanning % | 195% | 217% | 234% | 224% |
| Docking % | 140% | 147% | 159% | 114% |
| APC (kgDM/ha) | ||||
| Growth (kgDM/ha/day) | 2310 | 2320 | 2760 | 3085 |
| Rotation Length (days) | 70 | 65 | 90 | 90 |
| Residual (kgDM/ha) | 25 | 50 | 25 | 50 |
| 1495 | 1690 | 1600 | 1790 | |
| Soil Temp - MTD (°C) | 15.5 |
| Air Temp - MTD (°C) | 14.4 |
| Rainfall - MTD (mm) | 32 |
Other Whenua Haumanu research sites
Massey University farmlets: Dairy 1 farm
Dairy 1 is one of Massey's working farms. It borders the Manawatū River, within the city boundary. This research site is grazed by dairy cows and includes 3 farmlets: standard pasture under contemporary management, and diverse pasture under both regenerative and contemporary management.
Lincoln University: Field Research Centre (FRC)
The FRC is Lincoln University‘s hub for applied plant, soil science and ecology research. This research site is grazed by sheep and includes four farmlets made up of 20 plots each.
