Advancing the Southern Dairy Industry via Value-Added Product Opportunities and Management Innovations

Commodities

Practices

Dairy production in the Southeastern United States is declining despite increasing national milk production, largely due to environmental stressors, economic constraints, and limited region-specific research. This decline raises additional concerns for food security of this regional dairy supply chain. The proposed SARE project aims to improve the profitability of Southeastern dairy systems by integrating producer surveys, cow health assessments, milk profiling, and targeted outreach. First, a region-wide survey of dairy producers in both dairy-declining states (AL, AR, MS, LA) and more productive states (FL, GA, TN, TX) will primarily characterize management practices, breed distributions, awareness of research-based innovation strategies, and key production and economic challenges affecting farm viability. Second, milk, fecal, and hair samples will be collected from a subset of farms in Mississippi and Georgia to evaluate milk composition profiles, including beneficial metabolites, as well as indicators of animal health and stress across different breeds and housing systems (pasture-based and freestall systems). These analyses aim to identify potential value-added dairy product opportunities and improve understanding of biological and management factors associated with production efficiency, animal health and welfare. Survey and biological data will be integrated to identify key drivers underlying variation in dairy system performance. Finally, findings will be translated into practical, science-based recommendations through on-farm outreach, stakeholder engagement, and extension activities. Collectively, this project will generate regionally relevant strategies to enhance dairy productivity, improve animal welfare, strengthen supply chains, and support the long-term economic viability of Southeastern dairy farms.

The overall aim of this project is to identify the biological and management drivers of productivity, health, and adaptability in different Southeastern dairy systems and translate these findings into feasible strategies that support long-term profitability of the dairy industry.

Objective 1: Develop state-specific profiles of Southeastern dairy systems by conducting a region-wide survey of dairy producers in both dairy-declining and more productive states. This objective will identify producer needs, characterize management practices, update breed distributions, and quantify environmental and economic constraints affecting dairy production and farm viability.

Objective 2: Assess biological and management drivers underlying variation in animal health and milk production on Mississippi and Georgia dairy farms, and identify breed- and management-specific opportunities for value-added dairy products to enhance productivity and profitability across different production environments.

Objective 3: Disseminate research-based, feasible, and innovative management strategies and deliver recommendations to Southeastern dairy producers based on findings from Objectives 1 and 2, translating results into actionable management and marketing strategies. These will include value-added opportunities, producer-consumer engagement, and approaches to strengthen local dairy supply chains, supported by targeted outreach activities such as workshops, field days, and extension programs.