12 | ‘Life too short not to milk good cows’ Unbeaten: Charbelle Tatoo Pix. (L-R standing: Braydon Schroder Dyanne Osborne, Stephen and Annabelle (handler) Scherer, Charlotte Osborne, Luke Gilbert, Wayne Osborne. Kneeling: Charlie and Gabrielle Scherer. Photo: Photo Laurens Rutten. Dianna Malcolm RURAL PEOPLE » Charbelle Holsteins Breeding cattle is imbedded in Annabelle Scherer’s DNA, and she is working hard to bridge the gap between commercial and registered Holsteins and Jerseys within New Zealand. Annabelle and her husband, Stephen, milk a 180-cow split-calving herd (33% in the autumn) on 75 hectares near Hamilton in a blended business model with Annabelle’s parents, Wayne and Dyanne Osborne. In the last six years this couple has become competitive in the showring at the New Zealand Dairy Event (NZDE). However, for the 18 years preceding that they deliberately quieted that passion while they sharemilked and leased different properties allowing them to build equity – for Annabelle to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Science (with honours) from Waikato University – and to welcome four children, Charlie now aged 16, Gabrielle 14, Henry 10, and Archer 6. The return to registered Holsteins and Jerseys within a family operation – along with a second generation within this family to work as breeding consultants for World Wide Sires New Zealand (WWS) – is the culmination of everything Charbelle Holsteins and Sherborne Jerseys stands for. Annabelle is a WWS breeding consultant for North Waikato/Thames Valley. She follows her mother, Dyanne, who was acknowledged globally in 2022 for 33 years of service with WWS. Dyanne’s name features on the entrance wall to the headquarters of the world’s largest genetic company, Select Sires, in Plain City, Ohio. At the time WWS’s well-known US Director of Marketing, Brian Albertoni, said, “It is simply impossible to record the positive impact Dyanne’s knowledge and passion for genetics has had on the New Zealand dairy industry.” Having an impact nationally Dyanne was responsible for bringing a number of sires into New Zealand. One of them, Mapel Wood Brewmaster, was added to New Zealand’s import list after Dyanne returned from a trip to North America in 2015. Charbelle used Brewmaster intensively. One of Brewmaster’s daughters, Charbelle MWB Prancer EX, today heads up Charbelle’s formidable “P” family. Prancer was the first four-year-old at the 2022 NZDE, but more than that, her daughter, Charbelle Tatoo Pix VG87 (who was unbeaten in 2022) was the Intermediate Holstein and All Breeds Intermediate Champion at the same event in the same year. Pix was also the Holstein Friesian New Zealand (HFNZ) Semex On-Farm Champion twoyear-old in 2022, an All-New Zealand photograph winner (2 years) and the Supreme North Island Champion. Prancer’s granddaughters are also now showing, and this family has not only underscored Charbelle’s triumphant return to the showring, it is also its highest production family. Annabelle – who is into her second three-year term on the board of Holstein Friesian New Zealand – says their “P” family carries an important message for her. “I don’t think there should be any difference between the commercial and registered cow,” Annabelle said. “We all want to milk moderatesized cows that put milk in the vat, and Prancer is a perfect example of that. She wasn’t super big, but we still showed her, and she won classes. “She will produce close to 800kg of Milk Solids this season. They leave heifers and we are now showing the third generation. When you see results in the paddock and in the show ring, I think that’s good. For us, we’re about getting that balance and breeding cows that can do both.” Collaboration going forward She continues to press for more collaboration and understanding between the registered and commercial dairying world. “I love going to farmers and chatting to them about what they want to achieve in their breeding programmes,” Annabelle said. “We have the WMS (WWS mating programme) to help refine that [more than 9.5 million cows in 60 countries are mated through the WMS programme every year]. “Life is too short to not milk good cows isn’t it? If you’re in the dairy twice-a-day every day of the year you want to be looking at decent udders carrying plenty of milk.” She knows Charbelle’s recent success suggests they should be selling animals to cash in on the results and the investment. However, for now they are building. Annabelle gives mountains of credit to Stephen for holding the fort when she’s away for work and HFNZ commitments, and her parents for sharing their passion for registered cattle, along with their unflagging support. While they would love to have a high input operation, Annabelle describes Charbelle and Sherborne as a system 3, with a 20 a-side herringbone dairy that feeds 3kg per cow per day in-shed, along with hay, pasture, and minimal silage. “I love my girls and I couldn’t imagine not being on the farm and not seeing cows every day and picking calves up in the mud,” Annabelle says. “It’s all part of it and seeing the new generations of calves hitting the ground and wondering if they are going to be a great one. “I’m so lucky with Stephen because he wasn’t raised on a registered dairy farm, and he’s super supportive of his ‘cow-crazy wife’.” The family legacy is not only reserved for their cow families. The third generation of Charbelle includes Annabelle and Stephen’s children, who are now busy showing and excelling within the HFNZ youth programmes. In between their busy schedule, Annabelle says they proactively plan for downtime and a work-life balance. “The kids all play sport, we’re both coaching, and we play a bit of social beach volleyball together. As much as we love the cows, we have to make sure we get off the farm.” But when it’s all said and done, they hope to own Charbelle outright one day. Annabelle says, “Goals are there for a reason.” 183 Mangaotea Road, Ratapiko | 022 050 7119 Breeders of quality stud Angus, Murray Grey & Hereford cattle. A family owned and run farming operation. 2 year olds and specialist yearling heifer bulls available. WAIKATO HOOF TRIMMING Hoof Trimming Service Hoofit is proud to be associated with the success of the Charbelle Herd Got questions? Call Stuart on 021 278 8278 info@hoofit.nz www.hoofit.nz Kintail Transport Specialised livestock transport KenWalker 027 887 5050 ken@kintailtransport.co.nz . .
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