Increase Milk Solids Per Hectare Through Better Pasture & Nitrogen Efficiency
Dairy farm profitability, pasture performance, and fertiliser efficiency systems for New Zealand farms.
Dairy Farm Profitability, Pasture Performance & Nitrogen Efficiency
Improve milk solids per hectare by getting more from your pasture, fertiliser, and soil system
DCT helps New Zealand dairy farmers improve farm profitability by increasing the efficiency of pasture growth and nitrogen use.
Most farms are not limited by potential, they are limited by how efficiently inputs are converted into usable feed and milk solids.
Our focus is simple:
More feed grown. Better nitrogen response. Higher return per hectare.
What This Means for Your Dairy Farm
DCT programmes are designed to help dairy farmers:
Grow more usable pasture per hectare
Improve nitrogen response from existing fertiliser inputs
Increase clover content and natural nitrogen fixation
Improve soil structure, biology, and water infiltration
Improve pasture recovery after grazing
Stabilise seasonal feed supply (especially summer)
Increase milk solids from home-grown feed
Improve overall fertiliser return on investment
Real Dairy Farm Results – West Coast, New Zealand
A commercial dairy platform operating under high rainfall and variable soil conditions.
Using DCT soil and nitrogen efficiency systems over multiple seasons, the farm achieved measurable improvements in production, efficiency, and animal performance.
Pasture & Soil Performance Results
Faster pasture recovery after grazing
Increased soil biological activity and worm population
Improved root development and soil structure
Nitrogen Efficiency Results
Approximately 55% reduction in nitrogen applied
Improved nitrogen utilisation without loss of production
More consistent pasture response to fertiliser inputs
Herd Performance Results
Reduced animal health costs (approx. $90 → $48 per cow)
Improved cow condition and resilience
More stable production through seasonal variation
Milk Production Results
Milk solids increased over three seasons:
96,000 kg MS
109,000 kg MS
120,000 kg MS
Financial Outcome
Estimated improvement in farm profitability of approximately 20%
“More milk, healthier cows, and lower inputs, achieved by improving how the system functions, not increasing inputs.”
— Doug & Caroline, West Coast Dairy Farmers
Farmer Feedback
“We were sceptical at first, but the changes in pasture performance and nitrogen efficiency became clear within the first season. It changed how we think about our whole system.”
— Tristan, Dairy Farmer (Motupiko, Tasman)
How DCT Improves Dairy Farm Performance
DCT works across two integrated programmes that target the key drivers of farm productivity:
🌱 Pasture & Soil Performance Programme
Improves how the soil and plant system works together to grow and sustain pasture.
Focus areas:
Soil structure and root development
Soil biological activity and nutrient cycling
Clover performance and nitrogen fixation
Pasture growth rate and recovery after grazing
Seasonal resilience and water efficiency
Outcome:
More feed grown per hectare with improved long-term soil function.
🌿 Nitrogen Efficiency Programme
Improves how nitrogen is applied, stabilised, and converted into pasture growth.
Focus areas:
Nitrogen retention and reduced losses
Improved plant uptake efficiency
More consistent pasture response
Performance in dissolved and liquid urea systems
Improved fertiliser return on investment
Outcome:
More pasture response and milk production from every unit of nitrogen applied.
Nitrogen Efficiency in Modern Dairy Systems
Nitrogen is one of the largest input costs on most dairy farms.
The key question is no longer:
“How much nitrogen should I apply?”
but:
“How do I get more from every unit I apply?”
DCT focuses on improving:
soil nitrogen efficiency
plant uptake and conversion
biological soil function
nitrogen stability in application systems
How the Two Programmes Work Together
Most dairy farms achieve the strongest results when both programmes are used together:
🌱 Soil & Pasture Programme
Improves how the system grows pasture.
🌿 Nitrogen Efficiency Programme
Improves how applied nutrients are used.
Combined Outcome
More pasture grown
Better nitrogen response
Improved feed utilisation
Increased milk production efficiency
Stronger return per hectare
What Farmers Usually Notice First
Most dairy farmers report early improvements in:
Faster pasture recovery after grazing
More consistent nitrogen response
Improved summer feed resilience
Stronger clover persistence
Improved utilisation under grazing pressure
Learn how to improve fertiliser efficiency and pasture response through our Nitrogen Efficiency Programme.
👉 Nitrogen Efficiency Programme
How DCT Is Different
Traditional fertiliser systems focus on adding nutrients.
DCT focuses on:
Improving how efficiently the soil–plant–nutrient system uses what is already there.
We work alongside existing fertiliser programmes, not instead of them.
Who This Is For
DCT dairy programmes are best suited to farms that are:
focused on improving pasture performance and utilisation
looking to improve nitrogen efficiency and fertiliser return
wanting more consistent seasonal feed supply
aiming to increase milk solids per hectare
interested in improving soil function and resilience
Talk to Our Team
If you are looking to improve pasture performance, nitrogen efficiency, or overall dairy farm profitability, we can help assess opportunities on your farm.
We typically review:
current fertiliser and nitrogen use efficiency
pasture performance and constraints
soil function and biological activity
opportunities to improve return per hectare
Contact Us
👉 Book a Dairy Farm Discussion
Choose the simplest option:
Discuss my farm system
Review nitrogen efficiency
Farm performance conversation
Contact Us
More Real results
Improving grass quality leads to healthier animals and greater production.
Better performing soils will be reflected in pasture uptake of nutrients & minerals which are beneficial to animal health and production . Example in these 2 tests is the increase in Magnesium , Zinc , Copper and Selenium levels .
Also improved Dietary Cation Anion Difference (DCAD) balance which can be beneficial for production .
Better clover.
Before: Average % clover over 10 paddocks was 10% (Range 5%-15%)
One year later: Average % clover over the same paddocks had increased to 17% (Range 8-25%)
This increase in clover is the equivalent of approximately 49 units of extra N per hectare or 106 kg of Urea.
Benefits of an Improved Soil Structure.
•The improved soil structure lets air into the soils where bacteria on clover roots plus other bacteria can fix nitrogen which can then be made plant available by Soil Biology.
• The open structure can help drainage and support microbial life to build a working soil which helps to support root growth and quality plant growth.
Improvement in Root Depth.
Early assessment found poor root structure with compacted soils and roots growing sideways creating thatch Average root depth over 10 paddocks was approx 62mm
One Year Later we see the roots growing downward. with the average root depth of 105mm an increase of 43mm
Average root depth increased by over 51%
plant can source more nutrients.
With a better root structure the plant can source more nutrients and replace soil carbon which in turn feed the microbes which convert minerals to be used by the plant.
Carbon helps with water retention in dry periods.
The larger root structure can capture leaching nutrients like nitrate.
This increase in root depth means that the plant has a lot more access to nutrient.
Better utilisation = more income per hec.
Utilisation / Conversion of pastures.
Before: Cows are producing 297 Milk solids off the grass.
After: One Season Later the utilisation has increased to 312 Milk Solids off the same amount of grass.
Increased by over 4.9% in One Season
Results across 3 farms.
•Soil structure scores lifted from an average of 10 up to 24
•Root depth and density improved. Some depths to over 250mm
•Grass utilisation improved by approximately 5%
meaning that the grass eaten by the cows was converted into energy 5% better.
•If growing 16,000 kg Dry Matter per hectare * 5% increase in utilisation = approximately $800 extra income from extra milk solids or reduced purchase of feed inputs.
•Nitrogen input reduced by approximately 100 units per hectare.
Reduction in Grass grub.
Before application there were large numbers of grass grub.
Over the course of treatment we found that the population of grass grub reduced until all that was left were dead calcified grubs.
Increased Organic Matter.
Over 6 months
With treatment of our unique product we saw an increase in organic matter in the soil from:
3.2 to 7.8
an increase of
143.75%
READ More ABOUT DOUG & CAROLINES SUCCESS USING DCT PRODUCTS.
Get in touch now and let's get started!
We are here to assist you on your dairy farming journey, whether it's by providing free soil guidance and fertiliser planning or offering a complimentary quote with no obligations. We are here to support you every step of the way.