Pasture-based systems can support a more sustainable way of dairying

Our home is New Zealand, one of the best countries in the world to farm grass-fed cows. Moderate temperatures, fertile soil, plentiful rainfall and abundant sunshine helps to grow lush green grass which cows graze. Our grass-fed*, pasture-based farming system helps New Zealand farmers be amongst the most emissions efficient producers of dairy in the world¹.

While all farming systems require inputs of land, energy, water and nutrients, science shows that New Zealand’s pasture-based system is very efficient from a water and fossil energy use perspective, when compared to other methods (housed/feedlot) of farming². Pasture-based cows get the majority of their water needs from the grass they eat, reducing their drinking needs. Housed cows have a greater proportion of supplementary feed in their diet, which has high fossil fuel requirements to cultivate, harvest and transport crops to the barns as opposed to cows grazing on paddocks.  

Our grass-fed* pasture-based system can also support healthier soil and pasture biodiversity².  Housed systems will often rely on growing single crop species in a monoculture to support feeding cows. New Zealand's mixed pastures commonly have multiple species that serve different purposes and have a range of co-benefits².  For example, legumes like white clover are excellent at capturing atmospheric nitrogen, and converting it to a form that helps other pasture species to grow and provides protein in the cow’s diet. Where pastures have a good clover content this reduces the need for synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.

Diversity of pasture isn’t just found up top, grazed pastures also have more organic matter and carbon content in the soil than cultivated fields². This means that the soil in grazed pastures has a better structure, increasing the amount of water and nutrients it can hold. Pastures also support healthy underground populations of earthworms and microbes, which help to break down the soil, contributing to soil health and enhancing nutrient cycling, making nutrients available through the soil and the pasture^3,4. Nutrient cycling is essential, as livestock can’t access nutrients like carbon and nitrogen directly.

The farm-specific Farm Insights Report provided to all Fonterra farmers at the end of each year includes a Greenhouse Gas module. The calculations allow reporting of emissions on a per hectare basis (absolute emissions metric) and on a per kilogram of milk solids produced basis (intensity emissions metric). This data, along with other key on-farm production and efficiency metrics, provides Fonterra farmers with key insights, performance indicators, and helps to support them with the information required to make decisions and take actions on farm .

Collectively, farmers making efficiency gains in their individual operations will help Fonterra make progress towards its targetted reduction in on-farm emisisons intensity of 30% by FY30 from an FY18 base year.

Fonterra is supporting farmers to achieve good farming practices to contribute to soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and animal wellbeing. And we’re continuing to work toward emissions reductions across our value chain to progress towards our near-term targets and aim to bring our sustainability performance through to every NZMP™ product you purchase.

We are proud that our Fonterra New Zealand milk meets the New Zealand Dairy Grass-Fed Administrative Standard, giving you and your consumers greater trust and confidence in our grass-fed claims. For more information visit NZMP.com/grass-fed for more information.

References:

1. Mazzetto, A. M., Falconer, S., & Ledgard, S. (2022). Mapping the carbon footprint of milk production from cattle: A systematic review. Journal of Dairy Science, 105(12), 9713-9725. https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(22)00585-9/fulltext.
2. AgResearch Internal Report. (2020). Pasture-fed livestock production and products: Science behind the narrative, Report Number RE450/2020/071. Full text​ (AgResearch)​.
3. Dairy New Zealand. (2019-2020). Dairy New Zealand Annual Report 2019-2020.
4. Mee, J. F., & Boyle, L. A. (2020). Assessing whether dairy cow welfare is “better” in pasture-based than in confinement-based management systems. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 68(3), 168-177. DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2020.1721034.

_{*Grass-fed means cows mainly grazing on grass and crops in paddocks where they roam.  Some farmers may include supplementary feed to help support cows’ nutrition. Visit NZMP.com/grass-fed for more information}

_{** SBTi Forest Land and Agriculture (FLAG) is a suite of tools and guidance for companies in the Forestry, Land and Agricultural sector to assist setting science-based targets that can include land-based emissions and removals.}

_{***The target includes FLAG emissions and removals.}