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Find our information on water saving initiatives based on their cost.

Water Saving Options by Cost

Water saving initiatives sorted by costs incurred in their adoption.

  1. Low Cost to Implement
  2. Moderate Cost to Implement
  3. High Cost to Implement

In This Section

  • High cost to implement

    High Cost to Implement

    • Nutrition - Feed adequate fibre
    • Alternative (bore) water supply 
    • Re-use water from effluent ponds 
    • Concrete surface and grooving      
    • Yard slope
    • Gate scrapers and auto-flushing 
    • Flood wash - riser systems
    • Flood wash - tank systems 
    • Store and re-use plate cooler water      
    • Re-use detergent wash
    • Drink from troughs 
    • Stop leakage from dams 

  • Low cost to implement

    Low cost to implement

    • Wake-up cows first 
    • Stock handling      
    • Voluntary cow flow into dairy
    • Reduce the time they spend on the yard 
    • Mud and stone trap at laneway-yard junction 
    • Wash section closest to the shed only 
    • Wash yard less frequently  
    • Hose nozzles  Manual scrapers 
    • Tipping drums  Sprinklers 
    • Dribble bars 
    • Optimise heat exchange  
    • Curb operation of plate cooler water pump
    • Enhance vat cleaning
    • Check plant wash regime  Increase turbulence 
    • Re-use final rinse water 
    • Strategically wash platform
    • Use gloves to clean rubberware and pipework 
    • Use cow ankle straps on pipework
    • Wet surfaces prior to milking 
    • Use low pressure hoses
    • Strategically wash teats
    • Dry wipe teats
    • Use trigger nozzles on udder hoses
    • Fix leaking troughs 
    • Reduce evaporation from water storages 

  • Moderate effort to implement

    Moderate cost to implement

    • Divert and use rainwater from yards
    • Yard drainage
    • Solids trap for re-use systems 
    • Short, high volume hoses
    • Mechanical scrapers
    • Hydrant wash systems
    • Tailor water to milk flow
    • Recycle water for other dairy processes 
    • Install 'non-stick' surfaces in the dairy 
    • Catch rain water from shed roof 

Major Initiatives

Focus Farms

Dairy Australia has established a network of Focus Farms to support farmer decision making.

DairyBase

DairyBase is a web-based tool that enables dairy farmers to measure and compare their farm business performance over time.

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