Can a low input system be part of the solution for future milk production?

Feed accounts for the largest share of inputs in milk production and it is therefore justified to explore the possibilities of reducing the need for external inputs.

Larger farms, higher efficiency and increased yields are often seen as the way forward to strengthen the Swedish dairy sector. A low input production system aims to shift the focus from maximising production through high input use, to minimising the costs of external inputs and increasing the use of high quality forage, home-grown cereals and protein crops, and high pasture utilisation. 

Low input systems can contribute to increased self-sufficiency and improved sustainability in Swedish food production. Such a system can also have positive effects on biodiversity, animal health and welfare. Farms that reduce their dependence on external resources such as fertilisers and imported feed can become more resilient to global crises, such as conflicts affecting the availability of key inputs. In this way, these farms may be better equipped to deal with uncertainties in supply chains. At the same time, high-input milk production can often result in higher yields per cow, thanks to the use of inputs.

Reference group:  

• Niels Andresen (Hushållningssällskapets intensivrådgivning i Skåne/SLU Centre for Organic Food and Farming)
• Johanna Karlsson (Växa),
• Camilla Mannich Uggla (KRAV) 
• Rolf Spörndly (SLU Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare ).