Following a visit to the Western Cape department of agriculture’s Outeniqua research farm, minister Ivan Meyer highlighted the importance of ongoing research for the province’s dairy sector.
Located outside George, the Outeniqua farm is renowned for its focus on dairy production using planted pastures. Their research on both pasture and concentrate feed components helps guide Southern Cape producers.
“Science is the foundation of agriculture,” said Meyer. “Our research is designed to propel the agricultural sector forward, empowering producers to grow their businesses and create jobs. By providing high-quality scientific support, we collaborate with producers to find innovative solutions that ensure the sector thrives.”
Sustainable dairy production
Professor Robin Meeske, a dairy research specialist at the farm, emphasised the challenges facing dairy producers due to rising input costs, particularly impacting profit margins. Consequently, research at Outeniqua prioritises sustainable and profitable dairy production from pastures.
“Profitability hinges on maximising pasture yield per hectare, cows per hectare, and milk production per cow,” explained Meeske. “High-quality pastures provide the bulk of a cow’s daily nutrients. However, meeting their energy needs often requires expensive concentrates, typically three times costlier than pasture.
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“Our pasture research explores optimising yields from established species, particularly ryegrass varieties. Animal research focuses on supplementary concentrates, investigating potential ingredient substitutions to lower feed costs per kilogram without compromising milk yield or quality,” he added.
Maintaining close ties with industry stakeholders ensures the research conducted at Outeniqua directly addresses the needs of dairy producers.
“Findings from the Outeniqua research farm contribute to improved pasture quality and yield on farms,” concluded Meyer.
“Additionally, more efficient concentrate use, including adjustments to composition and feeding levels, are key to maximising profitability in pasture-based milk production. The annual farmers’ days hosted by the research team keeps the industry informed of our latest discoveries.”
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