Ambitious new goals set by Dairy Australia are a positive step for the industry, according to dairy farmers.

The research and development corporation last week set out four shared goals for the majority of dairy farms by 2030, in its latest strategic plan.

They include increasing earnings before interest and taxes by 30c per kilogram of milk solids; increasing homegrown feed utilisation by one tonne per milking hectare; increasing genetic gain by $90 per cow entering the herd; and growing the number of heifers reaching third lactation and beyond by 12 per cent.

The Weekly Times asked a number of dairy farmers what they thought of the goals.

Perrin Hicks of Hicks-Jacobs Dairies at Mount Compass in South Australia said the goals “seem achievable”.

“Genetics and genomics will play a big part in all of those, and already we have seen a big gain in our animals (as an industry) with genomics, but I don’t think we have seen the same genetic gain with our pasture varieties,” Mr Hicks said.

“There isn’t much a farmer can do about getting a better price at the farmgate but Dairy Australia has to work closer with processors, as well as put investment into research and development and marketing.  “Technology is in the hands of farmers and we are getting better at trying new things. I think the feed utilisation goal is achievable as we have seen improvement just with voluntary milking. Virtual fencing will be the next thing to come in South Australia and that has a proven 9 per cent increase in pasture utilisation.”

Karrinjeet Singh-Mahil runs a 150ha dairy operation at Crossley, near Warrnambool, and thinks the goals are “awesome”.

“If dairy farmers aren’t profitable, the industry can’t worry about anything else,” she said.

“I think there is a lot of room in the feed and animal space for the industry to improve, so the fact they are addressed in these goals is awesome.

“These are the sorts of goals we have for ourselves on farm.”

Ms Singh-Mahil said she was pleased with the goal of more heifers reaching their third lactation or beyond because the “longer a cow is in the herd, the more profitable she is”.

“I like the fact the goals are measurable and have targets.”

South Australian Dairyfarmers Association president Robert Brokenshire, from Mount Compass, said a strategic plan needed to be proactive and push the boundaries.

“Dairy farmers want and need an increase in farmgate profits and that is done by better milk prices and efficiencies like heifers reaching three lactations and beyond,” Mr Brokenshire said.

“The challenge is for Dairy Australia to work with the dairy industry to get the best possible outcomes for these strategic goals.

“We (SADA) need to further study the plan, but it is important, wide consultation is important and the fact they are looking at growing the industry is positive.

“Clearly as an industry we have challenges, and with that, also opportunities. We will work with DA to get the best possible outcomes.”