Forage Planning Reduces Costs and Boosts Milk Production in Brazil

A forage-based feeding approach has been implemented in Brazil, aimed at reducing the reliance on costly supplements and increasing milk production. Renato Fontaneli, a researcher at Embrapa Trigo, noted that using grains and other concentrates can quadruple production costs compared to forage-based systems. He highlighted that each kilogram of dry matter from wheat can produce approximately 1.8 kg of milk. With appropriate winter pasture management, production levels can reach 20 liters per cow per day.

The program emphasized using pasture as the primary feed source, with conserved feeds serving merely as supplements. This shift in strategy has significantly lowered the average cost of milk production, underscoring the importance of efficient forage planning. To address seasonal pasture shortages, research institutions have developed forage species better suited to the climate of Rio Grande do Sul.

The Mais Forragem RS program, coordinated by the Secretary of Rural Development with support from Emater/RS-Ascar and Embrapa, has played a crucial role in this initiative. In 2025, the program conducted 40 technical visits and 35 field days, trained 200 extension workers, and distributed over 3,000 tons of seeds, including varieties like Sudan grass, sorghum, millet, oats, ryegrass, wheat, triticale, and barley. Approximately 200 municipalities benefited from these efforts.

Despite a significant reduction in the number of dairy farms in the Rio Grande do Sul over the past decade—largely due to production costs and labor shortages—the state's total milk production continues to rise. The state now produces nearly 4 billion liters of milk annually, with the Northwest region accounting for 70% of this production and 7.7% of national output. The number of cows on farms has nearly doubled, with an average productivity of 17 liters per cow per day, compared to the national average of less than 7 liters.

Producers are encouraged to harness the benefits of improved forage planning to enhance farm profitability. By optimizing pasture use and curtailing supplement dependence, farms can simultaneously improve productivity, reduce costs per liter, and enhance economic sustainability. In a climate of tightening margins, increasing on-farm feed production could be pivotal in maintaining competitiveness.