Sub-tropical forage systems
Background:
Milk produced in QLD is mainly processed for local milk consumption. A constant and predictable supply is needed by processors, any surplus milk is of low value. It is difficult for farmers to maintain a constant supply when climate variability has such a big impact on forage production.
Currently, the industry has an over-supply of milk, and farmers are likely to incur a decline in farm-gate price as their contracts expire. Farmers need more resilient and flexible production systems to respond to changing market and climate demands.
To maximise profits, farmers must identify the production system that uses their farm resources most efficiently. Implementing these changes on-farm requires knowledge and support, often provided through group learning activities and on-farm demonstration.
Project objective:
To develop and implement flexible tropical and subtropical dairy farm production systems to meet market and climate driven demands.
Project scope:
This is an integrated RD & E project, driven through QLD DEEDI in collaboration with industry. The feedbase ingredients available to QLD dairy are unique - this project will be the major contribution by DA into RD&E that will develop forage & animal nutritional management strategies to improve feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in QLD.
The R&D component will investigate the dry matter yield and forage quality response of tropical pasture and cropping based systems under different levels of water availability. The FCE of milk of selected tropical PMR based production systems will be evaluated.
Extension activities and information will be developed using existing & new knowledge/resources. They will form the basis of an extension program tailored to the specific knowledge of dairy farmers and service providers in each of the 6 QLD dairy regions.
Outcomes/benefits:
An increase in farmer confidence to implement flexible tropical feedbase systems that increase forage production & utilisation, subsequently increasing FCE by at least 10%. A 10% increase in FCE for QLD equals an extra benefit of more than $10M. Specific outcomes include:
- Build capacity in dairy farmers & the service sector to deal with market & climate volatility
- Increased production & economic opportunities through access to information & improved flexibility of farm systems
- Capacity to understand whole farm business systems, & how intervention may impact on all parts of the system so that more informed decisions can be made
More information:
For more information, contact Dave Henry, Dairy Australia Feedbase Program Manager.