Dairy systems analysis - M5 Information Series
The Sustainable Dairy Farm Systems for Profit project, undertaken between 2001 and 2005, at Mutdapilly Research Station and on associated commercial farms, investigated the potential impact of intensification of five subtropical dairy farming systems on business productivity, on the social well being of farming families and on the farm environment.
These documents form part of the M5 Project Information Series. Please note that due to the time lag since this research, many of the contact links will be irrelevant.
“Sustainable dairy farm systems for profit” Background info, PDF 300 KB
Dairy Farm Systems in the Subtropics
M1 Farmlet – Dairy farming with raingrown pastures and no irrigation, PDF 600 KB
M2 Farmlet – Dairy farming with raingrown pastures, limited irrigation, PDF 500 KB
M3 Farmlet – Dairy farming with annual crops and limited irrigation, PDF 600 KB
M4 Farmlet – Dairy farming, high use irrigation on crops and pastures, PDF 600KB
M5 Farmlet – Feedlot dairy farming in subtropical Australia, PDF 600 KB
Production
Economics of concentrate feeding, PDF 200 KB
Mixer wagons – some observations, PDF 200 KB
Cross breeding in dairy herds, PDF 200 KB
Batch calving in dairy herds, PDF 100 KB
Reducing the impact of hot weather, PDF 400 KB
Water Use
Steps to making efficient use of water, PDF 300 KB
Water use efficiency of forages on subtropical dairy farms, PDF 300 KB
Estimating annual irrigation water reqirements, PDF 300 KB
Environmental
Strengths and weaknesses of subtropical dairy farming systems, PDF 600 KB
Managing weeds under reduced tillage, PDF 500 KB
Managing the riparian zone on dairy farms, PDF 1 MB
Soil Nutrients – the contribution made by purchased feeds, PDF 200 KB
SOCIAL
The role & experience of M5 project ‘companion’ dairy farms, PDF 500 KB
Social and family aspects of dairy farm expansion , PDF 300 KB
Labour management checklist – a series of questions and answers, PDF 100 KB
Business
Profitable dairying is possible, PDF 200 KB
Flow diagram to help formulate the farms strategic direction, PDF 100 KB
Modeling tools
Dairy Predict
Dairy Predict is a dairy feed base and enterprise planning decision aid for the subtropical dairy industry, which can also be used in temperate regions.
Data for a large number of subtropical and temperate forages are contained in the database included in the program.