Off pasture structures

What

Winter can be a critical time for soil erosion and several off-pasture structures have been used in New Zealand. These systems include wintering sheds, loafing pads, and feeding pads and provide farmers with options for keeping stock off wet soils which contributes to reduced nutrient leaching.

Off-pasture facilities include the following:

• Permanent feedpad: A permanent feed pad is a specifically designed area with a hard surface used to feed out supplements or loafing.

• Loose housed barn with soft bedding material: A fully covered facility, usually built with plastic or steel roofing. The base is a soft bedding material such as straw, sawdust or woodchips, which will absorb some effluent.

• Compost barn: A type of soft bedding barn. In a compost barn the cows lie on the compost under a covered roof. In a well-managed compost barn, the manure generates considerable heat, keeping the cows warm and dry. The compost beds need to be tilled at least once a day for aeration (twice is better) with straw added every few days and wood chips weekly.

• Loose housed barn with slatted concrete: A fully covered facility, usually with plastic film over a frame roof and a concrete slatted floor covering an effluent holding bunker, large enough to hold effluent for extended periods. To improve comfort for the cows the concrete is covered with bedding such as straw or rubber matting.

• Freestall barn: A fully covered facility usually built with steel roofing. Usually have a concrete floor area and a softer surface area that provides individual spaces (freestall) where cows lie down. Free stall barns are often the best option if stock are housed for a long time.

• Stand-off pad: A stand-off pad is a purpose built, drained loafing area where stock can be held for long periods when it is not suitable to have them on pasture. They are not typically a place to feed stock.

Why

The traditional all-grass wintering system where cows are block grazed at high stocking rates is environmentally hazardous because it concentrates nitrate leaching and leaves soils vulnerable to structural damage. Likewise, wintering systems (barns, feed pads) that concentrate livestock in one place for extended periods of time are a potential point source of nutrient loss similar to in the paddock. Management of manure produced within these areas is very important to avoid environmental damage and contain nutrients.

The advantages of shed or pad wintering systems are reduced pugging and compaction of soils, better pasture growth and better stock condition. Disadvantages may include requirements to upgrade effluent management systems to cope with more concentrated waste streams. Research has shown that pasture production can be increased by withholding stock from soils during sensitive periods. Advantage of this can be taken to fully feed stock in specialised facilities. Cow welfare and effluent management must be prioritised to maximise the wintering benefits.

DairyNZ has a tool to find out which off-paddock facility best suits your needs. Click here to go to the tool.

Things to consider

• Improved animal welfare in wintering systems.
• Improved water quality outcomes.
• Reduced effect on soil compaction over winter.
• Reduced nutrient leaching.
• Cost.
• Check with your regional council about any regulatory requirements, such as minimum standards if a resource consent is required, prior to planning any off-paddock infrastructure.

References