Business Rural Autumn 2021

58 | Dairy high fliers Kim Newth S outhland diary industry frontrunners Camer- on and Nicola van Dorsten are preparing for a whole new adventure in 2021 with a new herd and a return to their roots in the Waikato. The hard working couple have made a big contribution to the local dairy industry with their high producing herd acknowledged as being among the top 10 per cent for breeding worth in the country. In 2019, they won the Southland- Otago Share Farmer of the Year title. With their productive five year-long 50/50 sharemilking role on Ray Parker and Sharon Corcoran’s 204ha farm in Outram now coming to an end, a fresh start up north is in their sights for the coming season. Both grew up on dairy farms in the Waikato and their respective families are all there too. They are looking forward to having that wider family support and connection for their boys – Lachlan, 7, Edward, 6, Jonty, 3 and Jack, 1. “We want to make the move now so we’re not having to shift too far by the time the boys are older and getting settled with their mates at school,” says Cameron. Rather than taking their herd with them, they decided to sell. As Cameron explains, the cows’ calving dates don’t match up with the Waikato. Similarly, the herd has no resistance to Theileri- osis, a blood-borne disease carried by ticks that is widespread in the northern half of the North Island, (but is not present in Southland). “We plan to carry on sharemilking for another few years, or lease a farm, depending on what we can find. We’ll be looking for a farm that’s right for us with good people to work with.” Currently they milk around 575 cows, but downsizing is now the goal. “We’re looking at the 400-cow mark and plan to diversify by releasing equity into housing or some other business. DAIRY » Jason & Pam Brock / Cameron & Nicola van Dorsten • from page 56 Allflex collars prove worth It’s partly about mitigating risk but also about wanting to ease our workload as we have been farming fairly intensively up until now.” All their mixed age cows have already been sold. “They’re going to a good home with a South- land first-year sharemilker.” Cameron and Nicola started out in Southland in 2008, becoming equity managers on a 260-cow dairy farm they helped convert. It was a difficult start, with the financial downturn resulting in the farm being sold the following year and the loss of their equity. By 2013, they had worked their way back and bought a herd of 320 cows. They leased a farm at Isla Bank for three seasons before mov- ing to Outram. The couple have achieved significant produc- tion increases in their years at Outram, as well as having a strong focus on environmental perfor- mance. Last season, their total production was 295,000kgMS and this season they hope to reach 300,000kgMS. The average per cow milk produc- tion last season was around 518kgMS, well above the national average. Cameron observes that Southland’s consistent grass growth through the year helps fuel the region’s strong production, but their input and feed management has undoubtedly played a keyrole too. “Ray and Sharon put their trust in us to get the job done and hopefully we delivered,” says Cameron. With Nicola’s passion for livestock improvement and breeding, this dairying couple has great com- plementary skills. “My focus is on fattening them and she looks after which bulls we will use!” Meanwhile, last year’s COVID-19 lockdown had no negative impact on their operation apart from slowing up when cull cows went to the works; they wound up carrying those cows through May. “But it worked out well in the end as we had a good autumn and put the milk in the vat.” “We want to make the move now so we’re not having to shift too far by the time the boys are older and getting settled with their mates at school. We plan to carry on sharemilking for another few years, or lease a farm, depending on what we can find. We’ll be looking for a farm that’s right for us with good people to work with.” Corner Dee & Lowe Streets, Invercargill Proud to support Jason Brock P. 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Too easy. 03 214 4467 ean@southernsuzuki.co.nz Phone: 03 489 4444 1 Gracemount Pl, Mosgiel • House Sites • Post Driving • Auger • Driveways • Roading • Farm Work • Supply Rock, Crushed Metal & Screened Top Soil • Eco Mulching • Horse Arena Construction • Trimble GPS Technology Andrew 0274 311 269 Sarah 0274 861 015 Carl 0274 363 820 HYSLOP RURAL TRANSPORT For all your fertiliser spreading, livestock & general cartage needs 28 Bell Street, Outram | Ph 03 486 1777 | hysloprural@xtra.co.nz Encompassing 383 hectares, inclusive of 100 hectares of run-off, which Pam looks after, the farm is predominantly flat land with the Oreti River on its western edge. “We wintered 750, milking 700 predominately Friesian cows through a 50 bale rotary shed with protrack, ACRs and in shed feeding. We milk twice a day — it’s a two person job, one person in the shed and the other bringing the cows in.” Last year crossbreed semen was used for 25% of the cows and a further 25% this year. “I feel the feet of the cross breds are a bit harder and the cows are not quite as big but still good producers.” Last August Jason and Pam introduced Allflex collars as a complement to the Protrack system installed by Southland Demonstrations Farms. “The collars record the cows rumination patterns 24/7 showing any health issues. It will also pick up on cows that are on heat. Short staffed and trying to bring our in-calf rates up, after lengthy discussions and budgets on cost savings, no bulls, less semen, we decided to invest and put the collars on in August, upgrading the Protrack system in November in time for AI.” Jason explains that the Protrack and Afflex computer systems talk to each other, enabling automatic draughting. “This year, by the time we finished milking, all the cows were draughted out in the pen all ready for the AI technician. I still went through and checked that there were no mis-draughts. And I reckon the system was picking up health issues three days before any of my staff would have been able to physically see it. I’ve been pretty pleased with the system, though it took time to learn how to read reports. “ Jason’s father passed away in 2011. He would be very proud that Jason followed his advice, but returned to his roots. Jason and Pam Brock