Cows and carbon: Exploring sustainable opportunities
DairySA’s Innovation Day will return to The Barn, Mount Gambier next week with a focus on the theme ‘Cows and Carbon Can Be Friends’.
Bringing farmer voices to the forefront has always been a vision for Innovation Day, and this year will be no different.
Father and son dairy farmers Reggie and Lachie Davis are committed to natural and sustainable practices on their family-run operation in South-west Victoria and join an expert panel to discuss carbon as an opportunity in the dairy industry.
The session will be facilitated by Dairy Australia’s Regional Extension Lead, Liz Mann, and will also feature Western Dairy Chair and WA farmer Andrew Jenkins. Together, the panel will share insights into practical steps they have taken – and the motivations behind those decisions.
Guests will gain great value by hearing from the Davis family on how embracing carbon-conscious practices can benefit both the environment and farm productivity.
As fourth and fifth-generation farmers, Reggie and Lachie – together with their family – oversee the growth of the Lilydale Dairy Farms enterprise in the Otways, using regenerative and responsible farming methods. In the last ten years, 50,000 trees have been planted as part of their mission to contribute to a healthy environment.
Since 2023, the operation has managed two active farms, milking 1,000 Friesian Holsteins across 2,000 acres. The adjoining farms operate on a pasture-based system with some irrigation and place strong emphasis on soil health, recognising its direct impact on pasture production, cow wellbeing and product quality.
Today, their large-scale biological compost system serves as the primary method used to enhance soil health. While the formula is always changing, for over 15 years it has contributed to significant improvements across the farm.
Lilydale Dairy Farms are proud milk suppliers to Australian-owned company Otway Pastures, which the Davis’ originally founded and now share with two other multi-generational farming families. Their single-origin product continues to reflect the farm’s carbon-friendly farming practices.
With milk production, soil and animal health as key priorities, the Davis family remains focused on growing the business to support the next generation.
Join the carbon conversation on Wednesday 28 May in Mount Gambier – an opportunity to gain practical, science-backed insights into how carbon challenges can become opportunities for your farm.
Dairy Australia is proud to support the 2025 DairySA Innovation Day – a valuable occasion for industry professionals to connect, see innovation in action, and discover strategies for long-term success.
Register for DairySA Innovation Day now: DairySA - Dairy Innovation Day 2025