208-309 Dairy Production

208-203 Ecology and Management of Grazing Systems.

The objective of this subject is to enable students to:

• understand the structure and nature of the Australian dairy industry in its global context and the influence of the global environment for the marketing of Australia's milk products on producers;

• understand, and have working experience with, the physiological and management concepts underpinning the efficient production of milk of high quality in pasture-based production systems; and

• analyse and evaluate biological, technological, economic and industry factors affecting management decisions at the farm level.

The subject will focus on efficient and profitable management systems for pasture-based milk production and will include:

• the scale and structure of the Australian dairy industry;

• the major dairy-producing regions of Australia, and their distinctive features;

• the basis of the Australian dairy industry's international competitiveness, and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats;

• genetics and breeding including analysis and interpretation of Australian breeding values in the dairy industry, and the economic value of improved animal genotypes;

• nutrition of the dairy cow, including principles and practice of supplementation and ration formulation for pasture-based systems, and pasture x supplement interactions;

• pasture and grazing management for efficient milk production;

• factors influencing the intake of the dairy cow;

• whole-farm feed management;

• reproductive technologies and breeding management in the dairy industry, including the principles and practice of achieving desired conception and calving patterns in pasture-based systems;

• animal health;

• basic lactation physiology;

• milk harvesting; and

• aspects of sustainable resource management in the dairy industry, in particular the efficient use of water.

The analysis of topical industry development, technology, and national and international socio-political issues, and the appropriate industry response to change in these areas, will be an integral part of the subject.

One three-hour exam (60%); two assignments equivalent to 3000 words (20% each).