Table 5.

Farmax model economic output (in New Zealand dollar) for lower input ryegrass and plantain-based (LIRG + PL; perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, white clover, and plantain diverse mix, and plantain–white clover mix sward, 3.5 cow/ha and herbage received 150 kg nitrogen/ha), lower input ryegrass-based (LIRG; perennial ryegrass–white clover mix sward, 3.5 cow/ha and herbage received 150 kg nitrogen/ha) and higher input ryegrass-based (HIRG; perennial ryegrass–white clover mix sward, 5 cow/ha and herbage received 300 kg nitrogen/ha) irrigated diary systems. The model financial outputs are based on actual production input data collected from each farm system over two lactation years, 2017/18 and 2018/19, and at milk price of NZD 6.5 per kg of milk solids (sum fat + protein).

Lactation Seasons	Farmlet	Farm Revenue			Farm Working Expenses			Farm Profit (Before Tax)
		NZD/ha	NZD/cow	NZD/kg Milk Solid	NZD/ha	NZD/cow	NZD/kg Milk Solid	NZD/ha	NZD/cow	NZD/kg Milk Solid
2017/18	LIRG + PL	10,390	2960	6.58	6230	1780	3.95	3740	1060	2.37
	LIRG	10,540	3000	6.58	6150	1750	3.84	3950	1130	2.47
	HIRG	14,090	2810	6.64	9470	1890	4.46	4200	837	1.98
2018/19	LIRG + PL	11,140	3170	6.53	6310	1800	3.70	4400	1250	2.58
	LIRG	10,800	3080	6.52	6060	1730	3.66	4320	1230	2.61
	HIRG	14,160	2820	6.61	8900	1770	4.16	4830	962	2.25