Case Study · Regenerative Dairy Transition

From Stressed Soils to
Regenerative Leader.
$484/ha Saved. Zero Fertiliser.

Miah and Jenny Smith transformed their 260ha Atiamuri dairy farm from a high-input, financially stressed conventional system to a profitable biological model - saving $50,000/year in fertiliser while improving every metric that matters.

535 Jersey CrossAtiamuri, NZ260ha Effective6-Year TrialMiraka Supplier

$484/ha

Saved vs Conventional Fertiliser

128k SCC

Down from 250,000

3.5% Empty

Down from 24% | 0.2% Death Rate

The Problem: A Farm Under Stress

Wilith Farm was converted from forestry with minimal topsoil. Despite applying 150 kg/ha of nitrogen annually plus DAP, superphosphate, and potassium, the Smiths were trapped in a cycle of diminishing returns - high costs, poor pasture, degraded soil, and stressed animals.

$756/ha

Annual fertiliser cost

150kg N/ha + DAP, super, K

10t DM/ha

Pasture production

2-inch root depth

24%

Empty rate

20% down cows

"We were always chasing our tails and running out of grass. It was stressful."- Miah Smith

The Turning Point: Soil First, Not Cows First

After attending an AgriSea workshop led by soil ecologist Dr Christine Jones, Miah had a fundamental shift in thinking. Instead of forcing pasture growth with more fertiliser, the goal became fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem by feeding the soil biology first.

"The change in thinking to looking after soil biology first and foremost was like a light coming on. It's about starting with the soil first, not your cows first. It's how to feed soil biology."- Miah Smith

But the Smiths didn't take it on faith. They designed a rigorous on-farm trial to prove it on their own land - deliberately choosing their worst block for the AgriSea treatment to give it the toughest possible test.

The Trial: Biology vs Fertiliser

A six-year, side-by-side comparison on three paired sites with similar contour, aspect, and history.

	AgriSea Biostimulant	Conventional Fertiliser
Inputs	3 annual applications of AgriSea liquid seaweed	N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg (124kg N/ha)
Fertiliser	Zero - cold turkey for 6 years	Standard rates maintained
Cost per hectare	$272/ha	$756/ha
Saving	$484/ha cheaper with AgriSea
Test conditions	Farm's worst block selected	Standard-performing paddocks

What Happened: Soil & Pasture

Metric (2015-2018)	AgriSea Change	Conventional Change
Soil pH	+0.33	-0.2
Potentially Available N	+25	+15
Grass Grub Incidence	-18	-9

Root Depth: 2 inches to 1 metre

Pasture roots grew from just two inches deep to up to a metre in some areas - creating resilient swards that access deeper water and nutrients and don't dry out in summer.

No Gap in Pasture Production

By year 3, AgriSea paddocks matched conventional paddocks for pasture growth - with zero fertiliser input. Clover was actually fixing more nitrogen than the synthetic paddocks.

Grass Grub Gone

Severe grass grub populations died off in biostimulant-treated paddocks while remaining a problem in conventionally managed areas.

Topsoil Building

On a farm that started with bulldozed-off topsoil from forestry conversion, visible topsoil began to build as soil biology recovered.

"There is more available N in our AgriSea paddocks, where clover is actually fixing nitrogen, than the paddocks that had N fertiliser put on."- Miah Smith

"When I went to put standards in my AgriSea paddock after the summer I was surprised that they went straight in as the soil was pretty hard - no bent standards. The paddock under conventional management was like a bloody rock - I couldn't get the standard in."- Miah Smith

What Happened: Animal Health

The soil and pasture improvements flowed directly into dramatic animal health gains across every metric.

Somatic Cell Count

Before

250,000

High

After AgriSea

128,000

-49%

Empty Rate

Before

24%

Critical

After AgriSea

3.5%

-85%

Down Cows

Before

20%

Severe

After AgriSea

0.75%

-96%

Calving Losses (cows per season)

Before

50 cows

After AgriSea

5-6 cows

-90%

What Happened: The Money

$484/ha

Saved per hectare vs conventional fertiliser

$50,000

Annual fertiliser savings across 250ha

4.6%

Return on Capital (2021 season)

Cost per Hectare Comparison

Conventional

$756/ha

AgriSea

$272/ha

64% less

"Having AgriSea alongside me taking measurements and recording data gave me the confidence to make changes on my farm. I just wouldn't have started this transition without them."- Miah Smith

2022-23 Performance Scorecard

Wilith Farm's performance is now quantified through Te Taiao Scorecard and OverseerFM modelling - excelling across productivity, environment, and animal welfare.

23 kg/ha/yr

Total Farm N Loss

Excellent

30 kg/ha/yr

Soluble N Use

Excellent

6,117

GHG (kg CO2e/ha)

Excellent

0.2%

Adult Cow Death Rate

Excellent

93.7%

In-Calf Rate (11-wk)

Excellent

82%

MS per Cow (% BW)

Mid

Environmental Trajectory (OverseerFM)

Consistent improvement since transition began

N Loss 2017

31 kg/ha

N Loss 2025

23 kg/ha

-26%

GHG 2017

7,623 CO2e

GHG 2025

6,156 CO2e

-19%

What Came Next: Multi-Species Pastures

Having proven the soil-first approach, the Smiths went further - establishing diverse multi-species pastures across 100% of the effective area.

+300 Litres/Day Milk

When the herd first grazed an 18-species "salad paddock," daily milk production jumped by 300 litres compared to conventional pasture.

3x Higher Brix Levels

The diverse pasture's brix levels (sugar content and nutrient density) were three times higher than conventional ryegrass - meaning more energy and nutrition per mouthful.

100% Multi-Species

The entire effective area is now managed as diverse, multi-species pasture including herbs, legumes, and brassicas that work together to build soil and feed cows.

Regenerative Grazing

Pastures grow to 4,000 kg DM/ha before grazing down to 1,500-1,800 - the longer recovery accelerates soil building, carbon capture, and pasture quality.

Three Lessons for Every Farmer

Soil First

Feeding soil biology is the prerequisite for healthy pastures and healthy animals. Everything else follows.

Test & Measure

Don't take a leap of faith. Run your own trial, collect the data, and let the numbers guide the decision.

Profit = Planet

Ecological and economic goals aren't mutually exclusive. Reducing inputs and enhancing natural cycles lowers costs and footprint simultaneously.

"I came into this with an open mind. I had to be prepared to try some things, be disappointed at times, and learn more about observing and how to adapt. I am far more adaptable and less prescriptive in my farming style."- Miah Smith

"Change is coming whether we like it or not and we feel we are ahead of the game."- Jenny Smith