Profitable Summer Grazing for Organic Dairy Cows

Martin Johansson in Köinge, Sweden, manages 90 organic dairy cows and 160 hectares of land, with 100 hectares dedicated to temporary grassland. He relies on summer grazing as a key strategy to maximize income per hectare. Using a paddock system with electric fencing, he rotates grazing twice daily, adjusting paddock size to daily grass consumption. Weekly field walks and biomass sampling (0.5m x 0.5m) enable accurate grass growth assessment. The system boosts profitability and reduces labor compared to indoor feeding, though limited peer networks hinder knowledge sharing. Opportunities include improved efficiency and autumn calving to balance workload. Weather dependency remains a major risk.