Controlled traffic for grass silage production
an economic evaluation for dairy farmers
The farm management system controlled traffic farming (CTF) aims to reduce soil compaction by restricting the field traffic from agricultural machinery to permanent traffic
lanes. Literature and empirical findings show that soil compaction and field traffic from heavy machinery may affect crop growth negatively, reducing crop yields. If grass-clover leys are subject to heavy field traffic the botanic composition might be altered, providing a lower
clover content in the forage. Clover as a silage feed is rich in protein providing good conditions for high yielding dairy cows. Grass-clover silage production is generally associated with intensive field traffic. Controlled traffic farming is a way to confine the field traffic to the least possible area and thereby reducing the negative effects of soil compaction and mechanical plant damage in the grass-clover ley. If controlled traffic farming would provide
increased yield and clover content from the grass-clover ley this could reduce the need for grain and expensive protein feed in the dairy cow feed ration. This study examines the possibility of changes in herbage yield and quality in grass-clover ley and the associated economic benefits due to a CTF system.
A mixed integer programming model is developed to evaluate the potential profit of CTF in a dairy farm context. The investment associated with CTF is defined by calculating the
machinery cost for random and controlled traffic systems. Existing field trial data is used to calculate the expected yield outcome of CTF. Three alternative potential yield and quality outcomes are examined that alter the dairy cow feed ration providing quantified values for the changes in silage quantity and quality.
The study reveals that CTF is quite profitable if the silage yields increase due to CTF. The most profitable alternative is found when the clover content is increases. When converting to CTF total machinery costs are subject to increase. However, variable machinery costs decrease from the use of CTF. This study concludes that if a yield increase due to CTF is found the system is profitable despite the major investment due to CTF.