Summary:
The Dairy Cattle Research Unit (DCRU) was established in 1959 due to the developing awareness that the existing dairy facilities were insufficient to support the expanding role of the University in servicing the dairy industry. On August 1, 2001, DCRU began the “Organic vs Conventional Dairy Farm Systems Trial”, funded through Dairy Insight (nowadays DairyNZ). Half of the farm (20 ha) was converted to organic production, beginning the first year of its three year organic conversion period (using AgriQuality as the certifying agency). The remaining half of the farm continued to be run based on ‘conventional’ farm management strategies, acting as a control for the study. 46 organic cows and 52 "conventional" cows are farmed, milking through a 10 bale walk-through dairy shed with Westfalia milk meters and automatic cup removers. A concrete feeding pad (100 cow capacity) and a bark feeding pad (60 cow capacity) are used to feed supplements at times of feed and nutritional deficit.


Farm objectives:

• To compare organic and conventional dairy farming systems.

• To profitably farm a commercial seasonal supply organic dairy farm.

• To develop alternative methods of farming to the benefit of all New Zealand farmers.

• To provide scientifically sound information to dairy producers, to stimulate the emergence of a new organic dairy sector and its associated supply chain.

• To provide a link between the University and Agribusiness.

Articles and reports related to the comparison trial:

• Annual Reports: 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008

• Articles:
  Organic-Conventional Dairy Systems trial in New Zealand: Four year's results http://orgprints.org/4392/
  Mineral composition and Nutritive Value of some common pasture weeds http://www.nzpps.org/journal/59/nzpp59_261.php
  Weed cover unaffected after converting a dairy farm to organic production http://www.nzpps.org/journal/61/nzpp61_116.php
  Comparisons between Organic & Conventional Pastoral Dairy Farming Systems: Cost of Production and Profitability