Farmers still adjusting to the concept that once-a-day milking can be as profitable as the usual twice-a-day have been thrown a new curve-ball.
A trial conducted at Dexcel's Lye Farm near Hamilton by Dr Eric Kolver indicates there may be many benefits from extended lactation for certain types of cows.
The trial compares New Zealand and North American high breeding-worth holstein-friesians that calved in July 2003 and have been milked continuously ever since in a bid to determine if extended lactations are profitable in New Zealand.
Kolver, the scientist in charge of Dexcel's research into dairy cattle nutrition, says indications are encouraging for the trial, which runs for the rest of the 2004-05 season.
The trial could produce a range of extended lactation options, including milking a proportion of the herd through for a second year, calving the whole herd every second year, calving half the herd every year with two-year lactations, split-calving with 18 or 24-month calving intervals, or once-a-day milking for the winter months of a two-year lactation.
