Determining the potential gain from improved grazing management decisions in pasture-based dairy production systems

Climate influences pasture-based dairy production systems, underpinning variability in forage production throughout and between years. The potential pasture production lost from sub-optimal pasture management as farmers seek to manage their system in what can be variable pasture growth conditions, is unclear. Understanding potential gains in pasture utilisation from improved management in commercial farm situations could guide future efforts to address constraints. This study assessed how grazing management affects pasture production on south-eastern Australian dairy farms under variable conditions using climate data, a biophysical dairy model, commercial farm scenarios and stochastic simulation. The potential average gain from improved grazing management decisions was estimated to be up to AU$531/ha for a farm located in west Gippsland, Victoria. Even partial improvement could be beneficial given pasture-based dairy farms in the region are typically 100-200 hectares in size. The approach described here could be applied in other dairy production areas using locally relevant information to assess whether pursuing improvements in grazing management is economically worthwhile in different target environments. If the lack of information on pasture availability and likely growth patterns is a barrier to improving grazing management, digital pasture measurement technologies may have a role in addressing this gap.