Schulz Organic Dairy Boosts Milk Output with Fewer Cows

Schulz Organic Dairy, a pioneering organic dairy farm in Australia, has successfully increased its milk production while reducing its herd size. Originally established in 1972, the farm was taken over by Schulz, who reduced the number of cows from 650 to between 430 and 450. Despite the reduction, the farm now produces more total milk, with cows averaging just under 8,000 liters annually.

The key to this increase in productivity lies in the adoption of regenerative pasture management practices, which Schulz implemented after a study tour in the United States in 2018. The farm shifted from high-cost organic inputs to multispecies pastures that naturally fix nitrogen and enhance soil biology. Additionally, a mechanical soil renovator is used to aerate soils in high-rainfall areas, preventing compaction and extending pasture growth cycles.

Schulz Organic Dairy operates an integrated supply chain, which includes milk production, processing, and distribution. Approximately 90% of the farm's raw milk is processed into bottled milk, yogurt, and cheese for commercial sale. The farm is also investing in a $1 million automated robotic dairy system to ensure a consistent year-round supply and improve monitoring of cow conditions, with the expectation of a full labor payback within five years.