Evaluating the benefits of restricted gr

Many dairy farms in the Manawatu and Southland regions of New Zealand have poorly drained soils that are prone to treading damage, an undesirable outcome on grazed pastures during the wetter months of the year. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of restricted grazing on pasture soil health and operational profitability. A comparative analysis was conducted between full grazing restriction and partial grazing allowance, measuring operating profit alongside pasture yield. The results indicated that full grazing restrictions led to lower operating profits in both regions, primarily due to high feeding expenses in Southland and a combination of lower pasture yield and high feeding expenses in Manawatu. In contrast, allowing partial grazing resulted in higher pasture yields in Manawatu, suggesting that controlled grazing, especially during winter, maintained optimal growth phases. This study concludes that while reducing damage to pasture soils is crucial, full grazing protection may be less profitable than a balanced approach that incorporates some grazing hours, as the costs associated with full restriction overshadow the potential benefits of reduced soil damage.