Volume each year depends on climatic conditions and spring rainfall. The cows' main fodder is pasture which they graze. Surplus pasture is conserved as hay or silage for use as a supplement when pasture growth is reduced by cold or dry weather. Most farmers give their cows additional feed in the bails. This is usually rolled grain, either barley, oats, wheat or triticale.
Pastures require regular applications of fertilisers containing phosphate and potash.
When extra feed is required, nitrogen fertilisers give pastures an extra boost. A. Many farms are irrigated during periods of low rainfall. Water sources are rivers, streams and farm storage dams. A. Independent contractors collect the milk from the farms and deliver it to the Co-op in stainless steel road tankers. Tankers have capacity to carry up to 27,000 litres.