24/08/2025
Dairy farmers, particularly in the southern South Island, are seeking innovative off-paddock wintering options as an alternative to forage crop grazing. A team have been researching alternative loafing surfaces for cows that are both comfortable and cost-effective and can be incorporated into existing wintering infrastructure designs. Surfaces like rubber matting, pour-in-place surfaces, and loose fill bedding have been studied. This initiative is a joint effort between southern farmers, DairyNZ, the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Southern Dairy Hub.
https://www.dairynz.co.nz/research/science-projects/off-paddock-systems/