Increasing milk production from forage: production systems and extension service preferences of the northern Australian dairy industry
R. G. Chataway A B , D. G. Barber A and M. N. Callow AA Agri-Science Queensland (Dairy), University of Queensland – Gatton Campus, John Mahon Building 8105, Lawes, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: robert.chataway@deedi.qld.gov.au
Animal Production Science 50(7) 705-713 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09228
Submitted: 17 December 2009 Accepted: 13 May 2010 Published: 30 July 2010
Abstract
Dairy farms in Queensland were stratified by six regions, three levels of enterprise size (0.25–0.69, 0.7–1.39 or >1.4 ML milk/year) and two rainfall zones (<1000 and >1000 mm/year). Thirteen percent of farmers (89 farms) were surveyed using a prepared questionnaire to ascertain the current production systems, forage management practices and preferences for extension services. Herd size, dairy area, milk production per cow, the use of cropping, pit silage, concentrate input and irrigation input all increased (P < 0.05) with larger enterprises. At the same time the stocking rate on high milk volume farms was almost twice that on smaller farms. The drier zone (<1000 mm/year) was associated with lower stocking rate, higher per cow production and a greater emphasis on cropping and feedpad usage (P < 0.05). The importance of enterprise growth through intensification of the existing farm land resource base is indicated through these findings. Apart from ration formulation, processes used to manage cropping land, irrigation and grazing were primarily based on tradition or intuition.
In valuing extension activities, farmers across all enterprise sizes were in general agreement that information products warranted only a small investment. As enterprise size increased, a more individualised and focussed extension service, delivered through targeted discussion groups and personal coaches was favoured.
Additional keywords: dairy farming, sub-tropics.
Acknowledgements
Funding support was provided by Dairy Australia through project DAQ12538. Thanks to the cooperating farmers who shared their time and supplied data and state agency officers and field staff from the major dairy processors in data collection. Thanks for the assistance given by Dr Mark Paine in the design of the study, Dr Pat Pepper for undertaking the statistical analysis and Dr Tom Cowan in the general preparation of this paper.
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