Northern dairy feedbase 2001, 5. Integrated dairy farming systems for northern Australia [review]. [Workshop paper]
1993
Ashwood, A. (New South Wales Agriculture, Wollongbar (Australia). North Coast Agricultural Inst.) | Kerr, D. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Brisbane (Australia)) | Charaway, R. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Ipswich (Australia). Oakey Research Station) | Cowan, T. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Ipswich (Australia). Mutdapilly Research Station)
The predominant dairy farming systems used in northern Australia were identified as: pasture-based, unrestricted irrigation; pasture-based restricted irrigation; cropping systems; and feedlot systems. An analysis of the present inputs used in these systems and the associated cost structures was made using real farm data, and estimates of probable changes over the next 8 years. These models show a wide range in the level of use of major inputs such as concentrates, fertilisers, conserved fodder and irrigation. The major constraints in the pasture-based and cropping systems related to the suitability of available forages and their management. In the cropping and restricted-irrigation systems there is scope for using higher levels of concentrates. The constraints to feed-lotting included the regular supply of feeds, difficulties in balancing rations, land suitability and environmental concerns. All large herds shared some constraints in terms of farm layout, heifer rearing and reproductive management. It was concluded that the recent growth in productivity on pasture and cropping farms will be maintained, through the use of higher quality pastures and forages, increased concentrate feeding and the conservation of greater amounts of fodder. Growth in feedlot dairying will be restricted to the large, by-product feeders and a small number of individual units established in favourable cropping areas.
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