As dairying moves towards larger herds and more complex management systems, all producers should plan in advance for seasonal fluctuations and for times when feed and water will run short. When such situations arise, thoroughly assess your financial and feed situation, and decide whether to continue milk production at the current level, reduce milk production, or to cease milk production.

Strategies need to be flexible, continually reassessed, and adjusted according to changing circumstances. This Primefact discusses three strategies in detail:

• maintain current production;
• scale back production, that is, milk fewer cows;
• cease production.