Exploitable yield potential of grasslands in the Netherlands

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Cornelissen J.M.R., De Haan M.H.A., Hin C.J.A., Zijerveld E.J.M. and Philipsen A.P.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
The Dutch dairy sector is leading in production efficiency with research and innovation achieving great improvements by focussing on the cow as the central production factor. Grass and soil, while also being essential production factors, have received much less attention. Recent developments mark a turning point for attention to grass production and grazing. While increased focus on grass production and grazing is generally considered as sustainable development, it is centred around the dimensions of people or planet; the profit dimension is under-represented. This paper builds the economic case for an increased focus on grass production and grazing by modelling the exploitable yield of grass production in the Netherlands. The current dry matter (DM) production is assessed at 6.0×106 Mg. The potential production is modelled at 9.3×106 Mg, thus leading to an exploitable net yield of 3.3×106 Mg. This is over 1.5 times the current grass production. Financially, the additional production implies a gain of 500 million euros when taking into account the market price for grass DM. When considering the feed value profits may rise to 750 million euros.