14 | A lifetime passion for Friesians breeders The farm makes around 200 round bales of sileage each season. Rosa Watson It took until reaching their 60s before dairy farmers Paul and Lesley Grey purchased their first farm, but finding the perfect property was worth the wait. The couple purchased the 77ha property at Atiamuri in the central North Island in 2020 and established a Friesian dairy herd of around 200 cows. Last year’s production was 99,901ms – well above average production - which Paul said could have been even higher. “We could have done 100,000ms but we were a bit more concerned about how that would have affected next year’s production.” The operation buys in 150 tonne palm kernel and 150 tonne of maize each season, which works out at around 1.5 tonne per cow. “But basically, that’s all that’s brought through the farm gate. It’s a fairly fertile farm, so it does produce a lot of grass,” Paul told Rural North. The farm also makes around 200 round bales of sileage each season. “We just try to keep the cows fully fed. Prior to buying the farm, Paul had taken a few years out from dairy farming. He had been share milking 800 cows on a farm near Mangakino. “I was a townie for five years between my share milking venture and buying the farm. “I sat five years out and drove a B-train all over the North Island ... until I could find a farm that we could buy. RURAL PEOPLE » Paul and Lesley Grey
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