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Dairy

Growing, grazing and conserving feed is fundamental to the management of dairy farms. Good management is vital to optimise production and quality and reduce reliance on bought-in feed and exposure to inflated fodder and grain prices.

There are several different species of pasture and crops grown on farms across the dairy farming regions of Australia, with the choice of crop or pasture grown depending on many variables. Environmental factors influencing this decision include rainfall, irrigation availability, soil type, climate, season and temperatures. Other considerations include the class of stock being fed, the length of the feed gap, the specific nutrient profile of the crop or pasture and the availability of farm infrastructure to conserve, store and feed out the crop or pasture grown or conserved. (*Information sourced from Dairy Australia).

Specific considerations for dairy

Dairy operations typically occur where longer growing seasons are possible, either due to geography or irrigation. Maximum value is generated from feed grown on farm. However, the feed needs to be of a high quality to provide the energy required for the herd, and supply the nutrients required to prevent or reduce the incidence of mastitis, bloat, grass tetany and reduced somatic cell counts.

In addition, dairies typically need to manage effluent waste captured from milking sheds or yards. Effluent is typically captured in a pond that emits strong odours. Eventually, slurry is applied to pastures which then suffer a long withholding period.

Core to a productive pasture system is the supply of required nutrients and ameliorant to enhance the growth potential of your pastures. Each summer, soil tests should be taken in order to develop a nutrition plan, and application timings, to support pasture and fodder growth. Attention to macro and micro nutrients will ensure feed and fodder is high in energy and nutrition.

Soil and foliar biostimulants can be incorporated to improve nutrient cycling and nutrient and carbon capture, hasten recovery after grazing or harvest, and boost vegetative growth in cold months.

Effluent treatment biostimulant (Digest It for Dairy) can be applied to shed and yard floors and into effluent ponds. It promotes aerobic digestion of effluents, reducing formation of slime on floors, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide (odorous gases) in effluent, and reduces Biological Oxygen Demand of effluent. Treated effluent provides benefits by increasing the nutrient content, reducing withholding periods, and delivering improved pasture growth.

The BioAg approach

BioAg nutrition programs are incorporated into a growers current nutrition program. Our objective is to make fertiliser and other inputs work better and build and support healthy and balanced soils and plants. Programs are custom-made for each block, using advanced soil and tissue analysis. These integrated programs typically incorporate a range of BioAg solid and liquid nutrients, often associated with conventional inputs. BioAg fertility programs can be developed to meet organic certification requirements.

Soil test

An experienced and Fertcare accredited BioAg agronomist works with you and provides technical expertise on your crop. If you don’t already have recent soil test data, we arrange a soil test for you. The results provide essential information about the soil fertility and soil structure for better performance. Download the BioAg soil sampling procedure here.

A tailored program

Based on the results of soil tests, crop requirements and other factors such as soil structure, climate, history of the block, and targets that you are trying to achieve, we provide a tailored program that aims to improve soil fertility and maximise yield response. We support you through the program to ensure that inputs are applied at the right time, in the right way.

Leaf and tissue testing

Any nutritional program cannot foresee the changes in weather, disease, or pests, that may impact a crop. During the season, growers may observe issues or evidence of stress in their crop. This may be due to greater growth or yields than planned, a trace element shortage or abiotic stresses. An on-farm inspection and associated leaf or tissue tests will promptly identify any issues, which can quickly be addressed by applying the appropriate inputs. Download the BioAg leaf sampling procedure here.

High yielding crops require fertile balanced soils

Key to highly productive crops is the function of soils. Soil structure, chemistry and biology are critical in supporting crops throughout the growing season. By improving all aspects of the soil, crops will benefit from improved access to moisture, due to improved infiltration and water holding capacity, improved access to nutrition through improved nutrient cycling, fixation (for N) and a reduction in loss pathways, improved resilience to abiotic stresses and disease, improved root growth providing access to additional moisture and nutrients as well as improved carbon sequestration and a range of other benefits (click for more on soil health).

Beneficial microorganisms stimulate the plant’s root growth and help protect it from abiotic stresses. This is made possible through mutually beneficial relationships that microbes develop with plants, for example mycorrhizal associations. BioAg products programs supply essential macronutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca), trace elements (B, Zn, Cu etc.), microbial food and metabolites beneficial microorganisms that colonise root systems, improving soil function, plant health and productivity.

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Dairy – key features of a BioAg program

The following table illustrates the cropping process and potential solutions depending on soil test results and other contributing factors. Call your BioAg Area Manager to discuss your individual needs.

Objective
Activity
BioAg Product
Planning
Establish any macro or micronutrients needs as well as needs to address soil structure through application of ameliorants.
Perform a soil test and develop a nutrition program.
Summer application
Supply key nutrients and ameliorants.
Spread fertilisers and ameliorants.
BioAgPhos®: 100 – 250kg/ha
Summer application
Supply key nutrients and ameliorants.
Spread fertilisers and ameliorants.
PotPhos with SoP®: 150 – 350kg/ha
Prior to rainfall or irrigation
Enhance nutrient supply to grasses.
Apply a liquid soil innoculant to improve microbial activity and nutrient cycling, and supply.
Soil & Seed®: 2 – 4L/ha Apply 24 to 48 hours before event.
Winter
Maximise the return from applications of nitrogen fertiliser or giberillic acid.
Combine a liquid plant biostimulant to increase growth, quality of feed and nitrogen efficiency.
Balance & Grow®: 1 – 3L/ha
Post grazing or harvest
Promote additional growth and recovery.
Apply additional fertilisers and growth stimulants.
Balance & Grow®: 1 – 3L/ha
Effluent treatment
Improve nutrient recovery reduce environmental impacts.
Incorporate aerobic stimulant in your shed and pond treatment program.
Digest-it for Effluent®: rate dependent on size of operation.

Dairy resources

  • Organic dairy case study, Sunnyside TAS

    Accidentally organic. Mark and Roslyn Lambert, along with their nine children, are certified organic dairy farmers from Sunnyside in north west Tasmania. Although their transition from conventional farming to fully certified organic practices was completely unintentiona...

    Read more
  • Nutrient Management Planning – Dairy focus

    The dairy industry is amongst the highest nutrient fluxes (inflows and outflows) for any agricultural production system and therefore has relatively low nutrient use efficiencies. The ongoing intensification of the industry also means these nutrient fluxes are continuin...

    Read more
  • BioAgPhos™ suits low rainfall zones

    Interim results from BioAg field trials undertaken in low rainfall high-country pasture demonstrate that BioAg applications significantly increased dryland pasture production and positively changed species composition.

    Read more
  • Building a feed wedge

    While this season’s rainfall has extended pasture growth; it is traditional that livestock operations start to run short of good pasture any time from late summer through to late winter. Spring reserves are grazed down, while cold weather reduces the amount of new vege...

    Read more
  • Capital P in Broadacre Cropping and Pasture

    In broadacre cropping and pasture, the last two seasons in Victoria and New South Wales have been exceptional. As a result, when considering your fertiliser requirements for 2022, it is important to consider the amount of nutrients your crops or livestock have removed. ...

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  • Pasture case study, Springhurst VIC

    The Humphry family’s mixed farming operation in northeastern Victoria is ample proof that biological farming can be an efficient and sustainable method of agricultural production. The Humphry’s have successfully implemented and refined biological farming techniques for ...

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  • Dairy case study, Calivil VIC

    The owners of northern Victoria dairying operation, Calmo Farms, have significantly improved the vigour and persistence of their pastures since they adopted a biological farming program four years ago. The Clymo family, Jade and Belinda, and Trevor and Jan, milk about 5...

    Read more
  • Dairy case study, Merrigum VIC

    The creation of an active and stabilised microbial population in an effluent pond on one northern Victorian dairy farm has all but eliminated a half-metre-thick, stinking surface crust and significantly increased its operating capacity. Kevin Fitzsimmons and his wife, F...

    Read more

Recommended products

bag of BioAg Phos solid fertiliser

BioAgPhos

Solid Fertiliser

Highly reactive phosphate fertiliser made from high-grade reactive phosphate rock combined with BioAg’s microbial digesting agent.

BioAg Biostimulant product Soil & Seed

Soil & Seed

Biostimulant

Formulated to improve soil microbial activity, natural soil fertility and moisture and nutrient utilisation.

BioAg Biostimulant product Balance & Grow

Balance & Grow

Biostimulant

Formulated to increase vegetative growth, root development and soil microbial activity. Ideal for broadacre, pastures and horticulture.

BioAg product shot of PotPhos with SoP

PotPhos with SoP

Solid Fertiliser

Incorporates BioAgSoP and BioAgPhos in a blend ideal for soils that need phosphorus, sulphur, and calcium, such as pastures and grazing.

BioAg Digest-it product for Effluent

Digest-it for Effluent

Digester

Formulated to improve the breakdown of solids and the retention of nutrients in captured animal effluent. Provides a range of food sources and metabolites that promote aerobic digestion in effluent streams.

bag of BioAg Phos solid fertiliser

Committed to organics

With a core range of natural fertilisers and biostimulants, BioAg can offer an extensive range of products certified by Australian Organics, suitable for use in organic systems.