Where to now for forage productivity in dairying?

There is no serious dispute that farmer profitability and national milk production are underpinned by grazed pasture. DairyNZ data shows that the amount of homegrown pasture and crop consumed is the best predictor of profit per hectare (Macdonald and Roche 2023). National feed consumption data shows that approximately 75% of dairy cattle diets are from directly grazed forages (DairyNZ Economic Survey). The importance of high genetic merit cows and management skill in turning the inherent competitive advantage of grazed pasture into profit and production are also well documented (e.g. Macdonald and Roche 2023).