Pasture systems for milk production in northern Australia

Substantial increases in milk production can be achieved using improved pastures. When grazed at lenient stocking rates ( <1,6 cows/ha) milk yields of Friesian cows was ca. 4000 L/lactation. Productivity per unit area is increased when fertilizer nitrogen is used to maintain grass pasture. Rye-grass (Lolium spp) and clovers (Trifolium spp) have been successfully used to boost milk production in winter. These pastures support stocking rates of  ca. 6 cows/ha over this period and average levels of milk production of 14,5 L/cow/day. Alternatively, the tropical grasses can be supplemented with either molasses or grain.