Macalister Irrigation District (MID) Dairy Farm Productivity Tracker Pilot Project

Herd feed cost is a major driver of profit on farms. The project monitors herd production and pasture and supplementary feed consumption every 10 days over the 2009-10 milking season. The information is presented as graphs to allow easy interpretation that assist feeding decisions. The reporting has been used at the Macalister Demonstration Farm for more than 2 years. Another aspect of the project is the trialling of a new extension model, which is based on emails followed up with small group discussions. The twenty farmers involved receive initial training on interpretation of data and are then emailed data about their own farm every 10 days. Facilitated discussions occur 4 times a year for the farmers to talk about results and different management approaches. The project aims to effect positive changes in management such that pasture consumption of herds increases and therefore so does profitability.

Funding: GippsDairy, Macalister Demonstration Farm
Contact: Frank Tyndall T: 0409 940 782