Farmers Review Africa March/April 2020 Farmers Review Africa March - April 2020 digital ( | Page 18

COVER STORY
Building resilience
in dairy farming
Photo Credit: Getty Images
D
airy farming and farmers are having to
adapt to changing conditions not only at
an economic, but also at an environmental,
socio-cultural and consumer level. Building
resilience at the cow, farm and sector level will
be important for future-proofing this important and
evolving agri-business sector.
It’s estimated that more than 80 percent of the
world’s population regularly consumes liquid
milk or other dairy products. Whether from cows,
buffaloes, goats, sheep, camels, horses or yaks,
dairy-based foods are rich in micronutrients and
an important source of affordable protein, energy
and fat; and overall consumption is on the rise.
On the flipside of this positive nutrition and growth
story are the well-known challenges facing dairy
16 | March - April 2020
farmers: low milk prices and high feed costs;
personnel shortages; changing consumer needs;
increased regulation and volatile weather. Farmers
must balance these with the need to make some
profit, without which they are unable to maintain
their herds.
As more studies on dairy farming conclude,
researchers agree that a combination of improved
feeding strategies, better manure management
and excellent cow genetics can create a more
resilient dairy industry, by reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, while increasing milk production
with less feed. Supported by the right levels of
automation and precision livestock farming (PLF)
tools, dairy managers can win back precious time,
while leveraging data and insights to improve herd
health, performance and overall efficiency.
Feed – getting the right mix
Feed is often the most expensive line item in a
dairy operation, that said, it’s not only farmers
who are impacting feed strategies today. While
grazing still plays a role in many dairy operations,
the intensity and increase in herd size has caused
a decline in the amount of time cows spend on
grass.
The trend is reversing however, given increased
consumer focus on animal welfare, and as a
result, more processors are paying a premium
for pasture milk. Well-managed pastures confer
additional benefits, given they:
• Provide cows with valuable feed and reduce
farmers’ costs
• Become more resilient to drought or wet
conditions when managed properly