| 27 Eyrewell Dairy unit future-focused The breeding programme uses genetically selected A2 bulls through CRV Ambreed and Focus Genetics. Kim Newth DAIRY » Eyrewell Dairy Pamu Having started his New Zealand dairy career with Pamu as a dairy assistant and then 2IC in Canterbury, Mahraaz Hussein is excited to be making an impact in the region again – this time as farm manager at the helm of Pamu’s future-focussed Eyrewell Dairy unit. Mahraaz has made the most of the progression opportunities available within the Pamu portfolio of Landcorp farms. Prior to taking up his current role at Eyrewell Dairy in 2020, he managed one of Pamu’s organic farms in Palmerston North for two years. During his time at the organic farm, Mahraaz managed to make that farm number one within the Pamu group. The Pamu Promise is to care and respect land, animals and people. The Maori word ‘Pamu’ literally means ‘to farm’ but also embodies principles of environmental guardianship (kaitiakitanga). Mahraaz relished the challenge of meeting various environmental targets while working on Pamu’s organic farm and is now working hard to honour Pamu’s guardianship pledge at Eyrewell Dairy. “Pamu is not just about profit; their goal is also to do what’s best for the environment and that means farming in a sustainable manner for future generations,” he says. At Eyrewell Dairy, Pamu is breaking new ground with a hybrid farm system that combines efficient, lower impact dairying with a bull beef system. Mahraaz runs the beef and young stock side of the farm while his 2IC takes care of the day-to-day dairy operation, supported by Mahraaz when needed. The unit employs four full-time staff, plus seasonal calf rearers. Staff receive training to work across both aspects of the farm system. In total, the farm is 450ha in extent with young stock and beef animals run on a 99ha support block. “With the beef and dairy stock on slightly different grazing plans and so on, it would be fair to say that we’re not a typical dairy farm. From my perspective, that’s what makes it interesting.” Moving to a lower emissions system has meant a drop in the size of the Eyrewell dairy herd. Previously peak milking 1000 cows, next season’s peak milking will be around 700 cows. Getting the right balance between dairy and beef is still a work in progress. Young stock – including bobby calves - are kept and reared on the farm. There were 360 bull calves on the farm last season, but that number is dropping back to 180 this season with cow numbers slowly increasing. Mahraaz expects to winter some 730 dairy cows on the farm this year and some 750 next winter. “We’re trying to get that ideal balance and running the dairy farm as efficiently as possible. It’s all about fine tuning, crunching the numbers and doing the trials to get it right.” The breeding programme uses genetically selected A2 bulls through CRV Ambreed and Focus Genetics, with the goal being to achieve a fully A2 herd as well as cows that will be lighter on the environment, producing less nitrogen and less greenhouse gas. Last season’s milk production was impacted by a challenging wet spring and a staff shortage but this season is looking much better. “It looks like we’re on target to get 420430kgMS per cow.” IRRIGATE WITH CONFIDENCE - IRRIGATION SYSTEMS - REMOTE MANAGEMENT - PRECISION VRI 0800 PLAINS www.plainsirrigators.co.nz
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