increase font size
A DairyNZ-led project launched in July is looking into the benefits to farmers of 3-in-2 milking (three milkings in two days). It will run for three years.
Flexible Milking for Healthier People and Cows is funded jointly by the Sustainable Farming Fund ($500,000) and DairyNZ ($306,000) from farmers’ levies.
The project goals are that farmers and advisers will have the confidence to adopt, optimise and support the use of 3-in-2 milking, enhanced wellbeing (fewer hours spent working on farm and greater flexibility) and increased economic sustainability of farming businesses using 3-in-2 milking (through people and cow health).
The first year of the study will focus on learning from farmers already using 3-in-2 strategically. This will help guide development of resources and information. A farmlet trial will also be set up at Lincoln University Research Farm.
Four milking frequency scenarios will be tested:
• Full season twice-a-day (TAD) (the baseline for comparison, i.e. ‘control’ scenario).
• 3-in-2 from March.
• 3-in-2 from December.
• Full season 3-in-2.
The impact on milk production, body condition, animal behaviour, pasture production and grazing management will be measured.
The project will expand to piloting 3-in-2 on commercial farms, including measures to evaluate the effects on people of moving to a 3-in-2 system.
A second trial will investigate the effect of different intervals used with 3-in-2, (as well as TAD and OAD) on milk production.
Originally, 3-in-2 started as milking every 16 hours (16-16-16), but this has a night milking associated with it. It was then adapted to 14-16-18 and now to 12-18-18 (which will be tested in the farmlets) to suit staff.
This second trial will also look at whether milking intervals could be extended to 21-hour intervals once a week. This would enable two milkings, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with one milking each on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The focus in year three of the project will be on modelling to predict outcomes in different flexible milking scenarios.
For example, if a farmer wanted, he could go to once-a-day (OAD) milking during calving (to reduce work at a busy time), then go TAD through peak lactation, then 3-in-2 through mid-lactation, and to OAD near dry-off.
Dairy farmers will be given results from the project regularly and resources will be developed to help farmers make informed decisions regarding the use of 3-in-2 milking.
Trial farmlets
Farmlet set-up
Each farmlet will be managed independently using the same set of decision rules.
Each farmlet consists of 11 paddocks of 0.75 ha and 29 cows, resulting in a stocking rate of 3.5 cows/ha (estimated comparative stocking rate of 81).
Each farmlet will receive 150-180 kg N/ha, applied over seven applications.
Grazing management
Between planned start of calving and balance date the rotation length will be determined by the spring rotation planner.
After balance date a 22 day rotation will be targeted until mid-Feb, meaning each herd grazes a paddock every two days.
Herds will be allocated a fresh break after each milking, so for herds milking TAD there will be four beaks per paddock, and for herds milking 3-in-2 there will be three breaks per paddock.
Paddocks will considered for silage if forecast residuals are above target for more than three days or if pre-grazing cover is above 3100 kg DM/ha (and feed wedge allows).
A 28-29 day rotation will be targeted mid-February to mid-April, and 44 days from mid-April to the end of May.
Milking times
After calving, cows are milked once-a-day for the colostrum period and then enter their allocated herd.
Milking intervals are 12-18-18 for 3-in-2 and 10-14 for TAD.
For 3-in-2 this means milking times of 5am, 5pm and then 11am the following day.
For TAD this means milking times of 5am and 3pm.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
OPINION: It's no surprise that "world-class biosecurity" continues to dominate as the top priority for agribusiness leaders, holding the number one spot for the 16th consecutive year in KPMG's latest agribusiness report.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
OPINION: The dairy sector has been told that it cannot afford to rest on its laurels.
The dairy industry cannot rest on its laurels despite providing one in every four export dollars earned by the country, says DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker.
Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) spent two days in Wellington last week meeting political parties and key stakeholders to press the case for a National Organic Policy and dedicated investment.
Ravensdown has reported a net profit before tax and rebate of $50.1 million for the year ended 31 May 2026.
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
OPINION: The Irish dairy sector is facing a new dilemma - maintaining year-round fresh milk supplies.
OPINION: Could beef cows play an increasingly important role in improving profitability and resilience on hill country farms?
