@conference {40658,
	title = {Monitoring wool fibre diameter and length changes using gel emulsion autoradiography},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {55},
	year = {1995},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {28-30},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The ability of New Zealand cows to achieve high milksolids  production has been well documented, but less than 1\% of New Zealand  dairy herds consistently achieve more than 350 kgs milksolids (MS) per  cow per season. A survey was undertaken to characterise seasonal dairy  farms in the lower North Island that had achieved an average production  of at least 348 kg MS per cow over three seasons (n=31 farms from 1162  suppliers). Thirty of these farmers were interviewed.    The farmers averaged 51 +/- 11 years of age and had 31 +/- 10 years of  dairy farming experience. The average herd size of 164 (range 52-515)  cows was milked on 66.5 hectares (2.48 cows/ha). Milksolids production  of 386 +/- 28 kg per cow was achieved from an average lactation length  of 274 +/- 10 days. Peak MS production ranged from 1.16 to 2.09 kg/day.  Production equated to 881 kg MS/ha and 56,800 kg MS/farm. Friesian and  Friesian x Jersey cross cows predominated (87\% of herds). Hay, silage,  nitrogen, and grazing young stock off the milking area were used to  increase the feed available to the milking herd. In pasture equivalent  terms this equated to 315 kg DM/cow as hay, 342 kg DM/cow as silage and  198 kg DM/cow from nitrogen-boosted pasture. Concentrates and summer  crops were each used by nine farmers to provide additional feed to their  herds. There was a significant correlation between total feed inputs  and days in milk )r+0.49, P<0.01). Per cow production was associated  with soil fertility (r=0.48, P<0.01), and peak milk production (r=0.68,  P<0.001). A wide range of management systems were used to achieve high  per cow production, but a common aim was to feed cows as well as  possible.   },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Friend MA and Robards GE}
}
