Speakers from Australia and overseas will look at growth from a variety of perspectives, including Israel’s Professor Ephraim Maltz who will talk about how his country achieves double Australia’s average milk production per cow in an ecologically sustainable way. 

Basil Doonan, from Macquarie Franklin Tasmania, will use real farm data to demonstrate the power of truly understanding a farm’s financial position and using this knowledge.

Organising committee chair, Associate Professor Kendra Kerrisk, said the program also included a variety of farmer guest speakers with diverse pathways to growth.

“The farmers will open your eyes to different growth models that you may not have considered previously,” she said.

Dairy farmer and footy legend, Ian Hindmarsh will reveal his family’s spirit and determination in developing a ‘greenfield’ site in Cowra NSW to build a successful dairy and beef cattle business.

Rob Hortin from Torbay, Western Australia will explain how the family has increased summer feed productivity by 35 per cent without increasing herd size and little increase in grain fed.

Greg Heffernan from Bega will talk about the growth model that captured the enthusiasm and commitment of all members of the family, enabling them to acquire property, milk more cows and invest in improved facilities.

The second day of the symposium will be spent at Sydney University’s Corstorphine Dairy Farm and will incorporate the popular Emerging Scientists Program. 

Topics covered by this year’s young scientists include feeding fats for fertility, links between milk protein levels and fertility and improving disease detection using data that already exists on the farm.

The Dairy Research Foundation has collaborated with Dairy NSW, Dairy Connect and NSW Farmers’ Association Dairy Section in planning the symposium.