Volume 27, 180

Tropical Grasslands (1993) Volume 27, 180–211

Northern dairy feedbase 2001.
4. Feeding systems during winter and spring

A.G. KAISER¹, E.J. HAVILAH², G.D. CHOPPING³ and R.G. WALKER⁴

¹NSW Agriculture, Agricultural Research Institute, Wagga Wagga, and
²Pasture Research Unit, Berry, NSW, Australia;
³Queensland Department of Primary Industries' Rockhampton, and
⁴Kairi Research Station, Kairi, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The problem period for milk production in northern Australia is early autumn–late spring. Any change to the feedbase that improves the quality and quantity of the diet over this period will increase farm milk production by allowing increases in herd size and production per cow. Farmers will use a range of feed resources which must be integrated effectively to increase productivity (milk output/unit input) and profitability. These new farming systems must be sustainable in the long term.
Forage resources available to improve the feed supply during winter–spring are reviewed. Those with the greatest potential to increase farm productivity are irrigated temperate pastures and forage crops, and high quality silages produced from maize, grain sorghum and legume crops. High quality legume silages have a special role to play in increasing the protein supply on dairy farms. It should also be possible to produce silages of acceptable quality from the surplus growth from tropical- subtropical pastures. Integrating silage cutting with grazing management should significantly improve pasture utilisation and quality. Feeding this silage in combination with concentrates would allow an increase in stocking rate while maintaining production per cow.