Improved efficiency in temperate grass based dairy systems

Abstract

Over the coming decades, population growth, urbanisation and income growth, especially in developing countries, will result in a significant increase in demand for food. Increasing production should be obtain with an increased efficiency and respect for the environment. Grasslands cover a significant part of the earth and provide an important source of global food supply particularly for ruminants. In this context, animal production from pasture-based systems will be well placed to provide foods for human consumption while also providing a wide variety of ecological services. In that regard, there has been considerable progress in the management of pastures, which can deliver both high productivity and quality food production. The importance of the grass allowance and the post grazing height have been quantified and the management rules at the paddock level have been defined with the objective to satisfy the compromise between grass grazed at cow and hectare levels. At the grazing season scale, the success conditions depend of a rigorous management and of daiy cows, with genetic characteristics, notably a high fertility, are better known. The challenge for dairy farmers is always to make more efficient use of pastures through improved management and decision-making. In this regard, the development and the distribution of decision supports for efficient pasture management is a key objective for pasture based research and development agencies worldwide.