3 July 2007 |
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| Productivity improves on dairy farms |
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| A new ABARE report that analyses dairy farm management practices has found that Australian dairy farmers have adopted various technologies to improve performance and productivity.
The findings are contained in the report, Australian dairy industry: technology and farm management practices 2004-05, released today by Phillip Glyde, Executive Director, ABARE. "Labour productivity, measured in cows per operator and cows per milking hour, has increased on dairy farms. Farmers have invested in better milking sheds to improve labour productivity, with a significant increase in the number of herringbone and rotary milking sheds," Mr Glyde said. The report presents results for 2004-05 from the dairy technology survey conducted by ABARE and funded by Dairy Australia. The survey investigated improvements in dairy cattle genetics, herd health, shed management, supplementary feeding and pasture management. "Over 60 per cent of dairy farmers now analyse and test the condition of the soil and apply fertilisers accordingly. This has helped increase on-farm production of hay and silage. Also, supplementary feeding of cows on concentrates and grains has increased markedly since 1991-92," Mr Glyde explained. "Dairy farmers indicated that they intended to make further improvements in the following year such as in their use of fertiliser as well as in grazing and pasture management," Mr Glyde noted. |
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| For further information about the report and media interviews, please contact Milly Lubulwa, Regional and Farm Data Analysis and Collection section, on 02 6272 2069 or email milly.lubulwa@abare.gov.au. For free downloads of the report, Australian dairy industry: technology and farm management practices 2004-05, please visit ABARE's website www.abare.gov.au or phone Publications on 02 6272 2010. For general media enquiries, contact Maree Finnegan, Media Coordinator on 02 6272 2260, mobile 0417 689 567 or email mfinnegan@abare.gov.au. |
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