Dairy Australia (DA) will lead a project to support dairy farmers who want to explore a new feeding and/or housing system, delivering economic and risk analysis of both partial and total mixed ration feeding systems. In Victoria, the project Is co-founded by DA and Agriculture Victoria and in NSW, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is leading the project as part of the collaborative effort Dairy UP between Sydney University and the Department.

According to Agriculture Victoria’s Terry Batey, the collaboration would compile information, data and advice in an Australian context which would support local farmers in their planning and decision-making. His NSW counterpart NSW DPI development officer dairy farm business management Sheena Carter said changing feeding systems requires significant capital expenditure and system adjustment, with insights into operational cost changes much needed. Without the collaborative project which targets technical, planning and strategic support to facilitate farming system adjustment, there is a significant risk sections of the dairy industry might not transition efficiently.

The project is part of DA’s Adapting Dairy Farms Systems program which has been running since 2019 and aims to give dairy farmers information and resources to support decision making.