Comparative Stocking Rate
Use this tool to assess your optimum farm stocking rate.
Stocking rate is a measure of the carrying capacity of a dairy farm unit. It is a crude measure of annual feed supply and demand. Stocking rate has traditionally been measured as cows per hectare. When this measure was introduced it was a good way to benchmark farms as the majority of farms operated under similar farm management practices. Over the past twenty years dairy farm systems have evolved significantly and now follow very different farm management practices, so a universal system of measuring stocking rate is more efficient.
What is the Comparative Stocking Rate (CSR)?
CSR is defined as kg LWT/tDM and the optimum level for per cow production, per hectare production and profitability is between 80 and 90.
CSR can be used to compare across dairy farms, dairy farm systems and regions.
CSR is not 100% accurate but is a much better indicator of the match between feed demand and supply than cows per ha. The accuracy of the calculated CSR is dependent on the information used. Farm monitoring of annual pasture production, quantities of imported feed and cow live weight will lead to a more accurate result than using generic local data.
Calculate the CSR for your farm, and determine the effect stocking rate has on your milk production and farm efficiency.
