Doug’s Case Study - Dairy: Higher Milk Solids With Less Nitrogen
Doug & Caroline — New Zealand Dairy Farm
System Overview
Farm type: Pasture-based dairy
Approach: Conventional fertiliser programme supported with DCT products
Products used: Turbo N, Lazerhume
Doug and Caroline were looking for a way to improve pasture performance, animal health, and overall efficiency without increasing fertiliser inputs or disrupting their existing system.
The Challenge
Like many dairy farms, the system relied heavily on nitrogen to drive pasture growth. While production was acceptable, they were seeing:
Rising nitrogen costs
Increasing animal health issues
Pasture that struggled to cope with stress periods
Limited confidence that extra inputs were delivering proportional returns
They wanted better efficiency, not more product.
What Changed
Doug and Caroline introduced DCT products alongside their existing fertiliser programme, with a focus on:
Improving nitrogen efficiency
Supporting soil biology and nutrient cycling
Strengthening pasture quality rather than just growth rate
Importantly, no major system changes were made. Stocking rate, management practices, and base fertiliser approach remained largely the same.
Results Observed
Soil & Pasture Performance
Noticeable improvement in soil structure and biological activity
Increased earthworm numbers and deeper root systems
Pasture stayed greener through dry periods
Faster recovery after rainfall and grazing
Animal Health
Animal health costs reduced from approximately $90 to $48 per cow
Fewer cases of mastitis
Virtually no milk fever
Fewer assisted calvings
Stronger hooves and reduced lameness
Doug noted that healthier pasture translated directly into healthier cows.
Nitrogen & Input Efficiency
Nitrogen use reduced by approximately 55%
Pasture performance was maintained — and improved — despite lower N inputs
Better utilisation of existing soil nutrients
Rather than pushing production harder, the system became more balanced and resilient.
Production Outcomes
Milk solids increased consistently over three seasons:
Season 1: 96,000 kg
Season 2: 109,000 kg (+13.5%)
Season 3: 120,000 kg (+10%)
These gains were achieved without increasing fertiliser intensity.
Financial Impact
When combining:
Reduced nitrogen costs
Lower animal health expenses
Increased milk solids
Doug and Caroline estimated an overall ~20% improvement in net profitability.
Doug & Caroline’s Perspective
“We didn’t want to push harder with more fertiliser. The difference was getting more out of what we were already applying. Healthier soil gave us better grass, and better grass gave us healthier cows.”
Key Takeaways
Improved nitrogen efficiency can outperform higher application rates
Soil biology plays a critical role in pasture and animal health
Strong results can be achieved without disrupting existing fertiliser programmes
Whole-system improvements deliver the biggest gains
Products Used in This Case Study
Turbo N — improves nitrogen retention, uptake, and utilisation
Lazerhume — liquid humic and fulvic acids supporting soil biology and root function
Results shown are from an individual dairy farm. Outcomes may vary depending on soil type, climate, and management practices.