28 | Bounty Dairy Unit a top performer Russell Fredric “It’s pretty dry land with being pumice, we want to milk less cows doing higher milk solids per cow so we are looking for a bigger animals over the next few years.” RURAL PEOPLE » Bounty Dairy Unit Located at Reporoa about 20 kilometres from Lake Taupo, Pamu’s Bounty dairy unit is one of the corporation’s highest performing dairy farms in New Zealand. The 650 hectare/620 hectare effective, 1500 cow farm is managed by Bevan Samuel who is in his ninth season with Pamu, but this is his first season on Bounty. The farm was converted from plantation forestry eight years ago and employs six staff, excluding Bevan and calf rearers, who work an attractive five on, two off roster. “Pamu effectively run it like a five day a week job so everyone gets 104 rostered days off a year, plus the four weeks holidays and sick days,” Bevan says. “It’s very much staff orientated compared to the days I started farming in 1983, 28 days on, two days off. That was the norm.” The cows are milked into two herds through a 60 bail rotary shed, with the goal of milking twice a day through the full season. Last season’s total production was 623,000kgMS. Because of the corporate nature of Pamu and Bounty being part of a much larger regional business, there is a high degree of reporting, accountability and benchmarking, but this is matched by excellent support in-house and from external advisors and consultants. Before Bevan took on his present role, a high somatic cell count among some cows was problematic and costly in terms of a reduction in the quantity of milk that could go into the vat. “We did a herd test and found all the high cell count cows and we separated them and we put them in a herd on their own to be milked at the end. A: 220 Reporoa Rd, Reporoa P: 07 333 8170 www.reptec.co.nz Agricultural Engineering Specialists offering Practical Engineering Solutions AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Miers Contractors(1995) Ltd • Harvesting • Cultivation • Supplements for sale & supply • Undersowing (all pastures & crops) • Earth moving • Truck cartage • Balage & Hay • Effluent Management 198 Butcher Road, RD2, Reporoa P 07 333 8259 | Gordy 021 593 163 | Mark 021 948 472 E mierscontractors@farmside.co.nz SPECIALISTS IN DESIGN/SUPPLY/BUILD WATER & EFFLUENT Proud to be Landcorp Bounty Dairy Unit’s preferred effluent system supplier 16 Miro Street Taupo office@mainlandeng.co.nz • Dairy shed milking plant and water systems • General engineering for the agricultural sector • Feeding systems for herringbone and rotary sheds FARM & INDUSTRIAL PUMPING ROTORUA IN BUSINESS SINCCEE 11998844 ALL WATER PUMP & FILTRATION SALES & SERVICE • BORE TESTING 32 White Street, PO Box 1176 Rotorua | Russell West 027 492 6082 | email of ce@r pumping.nz Ph 07 347 8552 www.r pumping.co.nz i | ll | il i By two months in we only had one case a month because we eliminated the cross-contamination of the cows.” Along with dealing with the problem at a clinical level, eliminating human factors was also important and training provided to staff by the farm’s veterinarian also contributed to reducing the cell count. Despite this challenge and a slightly higher empty rate than Bevan would prefer of 18%, Bounty has the second highest economic farm surplus (EFS) of any of Pamu’s dairy units in New Zealand. Genetically there is a strong focus on breeding in a higher percentage of Friesians into the cross bred cows which have become smaller over successive generations. “It’s pretty dry land with being pumice, we want to milk less cows doing higher milk solids per cow so we are looking for a bigger animals over the next few years. We can do similar production, but have less environmental impact. We really want to work on our profit per hectare with less animals.” The environmental focus is based on Pamu’s goal to be a New Zealand leader in managing its operations. This includes having high standards in relation to cropping and winter grazing and is underpinned by external measuring and monitoring of nitrates, effluent application and leaching in the sensitive Taupo catchment where the Bounty and its sister farms are located. Pamu conduct environmental impact assessments (EIA) annually on each farm and findings from these assessments inform annual business planning objectives and goals for each farm, enabling the improvement of environmental performance and ultimately productivity on a continual basis. The farm was converted from plantation forestry 8 years ago and employs six staff. Agricultural Engineering Specialists Manufacturing - Repairs - Servicing - Parts & more. 220 REPOROA RD, REPOROA www.reptec.co.nz facebook.com/reptecreporoa instagram.com/reptecltd/ 07 333 8170
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