19. ”Where are my missing milksolids?” Part three - Pasture-based factors that influence post-peak decline in milksolids production

In this, the third of our three part series exploring “Where are my missing milksolids”, we’ll continue on from topics covered in parts one (Episode 16) and two (Episode 18). This time around, we’ll cover off the challenges of ryegrass-based pastures for New Zealand spring calving, pasture-fed cows. Perennial ryegrass is a highly productive, top quality feed for most months of the year. During late spring and early summer, reproductive changes by ryegrass plants cause potential issues not only for reduced feed quality of pasture, but also influences the tastiness of pasture, and the ease with which cows can harvest ryegrass.

This episode will explore the role of ryegrass-based pastures in the post-peak decline in milksolids production, discuss pasture management concepts to help maintain ryegrass quality, as well as longer term ideas to potentially improve the quality of late spring/early summer pastures.