The role of forage management in addressing challenges facing Australasian dairy farming

Cranston, Lydia M. and Pembleton, Keith G. and Burkitt, Lucy L. and Curtis, Andrew and Donaghy, Daniel J. and Gourley, Cameron J. P. and Harrington, Kerry C. and Hills, James L. and Pembleton, Luke W. and Rawnsley, Richard P. (2019) The role of forage management in addressing challenges facing Australasian dairy farming. Animal Production Science, 60 (1). pp. 26-35. ISSN 1836-0939

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Abstract

Forage management underpins the viability of pastoral dairy systems. This review investigated recent developments in forage research and their potential to enable pastoral dairy systems to meet the challenges that will be faced over the next 10 years. Grazing management, complementary forages, pasture diversity, fertiliser use, chemical restriction, irrigation management and pasture breeding are considered. None of these areas of research are looking to increase production directly through increased inputs, but, rather, they aim to lift maximum potential production, defend against production decline or improve the efficiency of the resource base and inputs. Technology approaches consistently focus on improving efficiency, while genetic improvement or the use of complementary forages and species diversity aim to lift production. These approaches do not require additional labour to implement, but many will require an increase in skill level. Only a few areas will help address animal welfare (e.g. the use of selected complementary forages and novel endophytes) and only complementary forages will help address increased competition from non-dairy alternatives, by positively influencing the properties of milk. Overall, the diversity of activity and potential effects will provide managers of pastoral dairy systems with the best tools to respond to the production and environmental challenges they face over the next 10 years.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Current - Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment - Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems (1 Aug 2018 -)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences (1 Jul 2013 - 5 Sep 2019)
Date Deposited:	17 Jan 2020 05:04
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2020 00:35
Uncontrolled Keywords:	alternative forages, feedbase, fertiliser, intensive grazing, pasture, system efficiencies
Fields of Research (2008):	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070306 Crop and Pasture Nutrition 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070304 Crop and Pasture Biomass and Bioproducts 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070302 Agronomy 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070305 Crop and Pasture Improvement (Selection and Breeding) 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0703 Crop and Pasture Production > 070308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	B Economic Development > 83 Animal Production and Animal Primary Products > 8304 Pasture, Browse and Fodder Crops > 830405 Non-Cereal Crops for Silage/Green Feed B Economic Development > 83 Animal Production and Animal Primary Products > 8304 Pasture, Browse and Fodder Crops > 830402 Lucerne B Economic Development > 83 Animal Production and Animal Primary Products > 8304 Pasture, Browse and Fodder Crops > 830406 Sown Pastures (excl. Lucerne)
Identification Number or DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18570
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/36817

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