Argentine dairy farm thrives with innovative 'dry lot' system

The Monzoni family, operating a generational dairy farm in Porteña, Córdoba, Argentina, has successfully transformed its business model by adopting a "dry lot" system. This intensive farming method involves confining cattle in pens where they are fed, rather than allowing them to graze on pastures.

Marcos (48) and Fabio Monzoni (52) manage the family's 800-hectare operation, which combines grain production with a dairy herd of approximately 620 cows. The dry lot system allows for exceptional productivity, with an average of 38 liters of milk per cow per day, achieved through three daily milkings. The farm also produces corn and soybeans, which are used for cattle feed and sold commercially.

The family's journey began in 1889 when their Italian ancestors settled in Argentina and started the dairy business. Fabio and Marcos returned to the farm in 2007 after their parents' separation, inheriting a smaller operation. Facing limited production capacity with the traditional pasture system, they realized the need for change. Initially, they supplemented pasture grazing with concentrated feed and introduced sexed semen to accelerate herd growth.

Their significant shift to the dry lot system was driven by the need to overcome the inherent production ceiling of traditional grazing. This confinement method increases individual cow production by minimizing energy expenditure on foraging. It focuses on providing high-performance feed and ensuring efficient reproduction for genetically capable cows. This strategic adaptation has allowed the Monzoni family's herd to grow to 520 milking cows across their 800 hectares, ensuring the farm's continued success.

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It was very little to support three families, and that led us to seek new systems that would allow us to increase turnover.