Priority 6: Technology & Data Enabled Dairy Farms

Accelerated genetic progress in feedbase and animal breeding

Genetic improvement remains a major productivity driver on farm due to its ability to deliver permanent and cumulative  gains in performance. Further innovation in genetics (including the expanded use of genomics and new breeding methods) will accelerate genetic gain as well as broaden the range of traits and species/breeds that can be improved.

We will deliver new genetic solutions and evaluation that underpin pasture and animal breeding.

Annual gains in genetic merit increase in both pasture plants (increase rate of gain by at least 100%) and dairy cattle (increase rate of gain by at least 50%)

More flexible and agile dairy production systems

Many modern dairy farming systems need to modify their production systems according to  seasonal conditions and changes  in major input costs. These modifications are more extreme in warmer climates and with less reliable access to water.

We will innovate to increase flexibility and agility in dairy production systems.

Development of 20 new feedbase options that increase flexibility and agility

Greater use of high-value technology on farm

Access to on-farm technology is increasing rapidly, while capacity to deliver insights from technology is lagging. Improvement will require a greater understanding of adoption challenges and greater alignment between the technology that delivers insights and farmer preferences for use of insights.

We will accelerate adoption of technology that provides production insights and enables better decision-making on farm.

80% of farm businesses have successfully adopted technology that provides new insights for farm operations

Connected dairy production systems utilising multiple data sources to enhance decision making

A proliferation of data will be of value to dairy businesses when it can be integrated and available for generating insights. This will require integration for both on-farm usage as well as to improve service provision. Improved decision-making will need to account for farmer preferences for use of insights.

We will lead industry initiatives to integrate data from multiple sources.

80% of farms making routine management decisions (e.g. sire selection, irrigation scheduling, culling) informed by multiple data sources