| 17 Lighthouse leads way on farm performance Ruwan Wijayasena with wife Niranjal Gamlath and daughters Senuli (12) and Methuli (11). Their Lighthouse contract milking operation near Hororata was recently named best performing farm at Theland Farm Group’s annual conference. Kim Newth Contract milking has provided a pathway for Ruwan Wijayasena and his wife Niranjal Gamlath to shine in the dairy sector, while remaining true to their Buddhist principals around not owning cows or making decisions on culling. Their Lighthouse contract milking operation near Hororata was recently named best performing farm at Theland Farm Group’s annual conference. It is the latest accolade for the couple, who in 2019 won the Share Farmer of the Year title in the Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards. Theland has 29 farms across New Zealand – 16 in the North Island and 13 in the South Island - all focussed on ‘People, Pro t, Productivity, Asset and Growth’. “The systems we have in place are working well – we try to do the best we can in every aspect of the farm,” Ruwan says. Lighthouse provides A2 milk to Synlait and is Lead With Pride accredited. By establishing clear procedures, guidelines and expectations Ruwan and Niranjal have fostered a positive environment for both people and animals. In turn, this has paved the way to strong performance on sustainability goals, waste minimisation, and effective pasture and herd management. They each have a BSc in Agriculture Sciences from Sabaragamuwa University of Sir Lanka, where they met. The couple followed their dream to grow a farm business to New Zealand in 2005, with Ruwan starting off as a farm assistant and Niranjal as a farm technician. In 2012 the couple formed their own company – DDSM Farms Ltd – to run the 262ha Lighthouse farm at Te Pirita on a contract milking basis, as well as the adjacent 275ha Beacon farm. These have now been combined into one big farm called Lighthouse A and B and the total number of cows being milked has also increased from around 1900 to 2060 cows. Milking switched from twice-a-day to 10-in-7 from January, striking a good balance between production and cow welfare. “We ended up at around 765,000kgMS, or 396kgMS per cow.” Fodder beet, planted last October, has provided the backbone of feed this winter, along with straw and silage. Ruwan says the Friesian cross herd is in good shape in the lead up to calving at the start of August. “In previous years we’ve had to walk them fteen kilometres for winter grazing. This year they’ve stayed on farm, so we’ve been able to bring them to the shed and draft out any cows with animal health issues and take action straight away.” DAIRY » Ruwan Wijayasena The couple encourage their staff to train and progress. Last year, two members of their team left to pursue contract milking positions of their own. Recruiting new staff in today’s tight labour market has been challenging. “Thankfully, we’re sorted now. Apart from one person waiting for a visa, everyone else is on board.” Over the past year, Niranjal has commenced training as a nurse, but remains a valued part of the farm team and continues to lead calf rearing at Lighthouse. Home for the couple and their children – Senuli, 12 and Methuli, 11 – is a lifestyle block in Tai Tapu. The couple also has a rental property in Rolleston. In the longer term, they would like to grow their dairy business by adding a support block or expanding contract milking to a third farm. • Concrete • Fertiliser Spreading - Farm Mapping - GPS Tracking - Variable Rate Spreading • Livestock Cartage • Grain Cartage • Shingle Supplies • Daily Freight Leeston: 03 3248 070 Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz RD2 Leeston 027 534 9161 e: chris@chrisswanson.nz CULTIVATION & EXCAVATION CONTRACTORS • Cow Track Lime Supply & Lay • All Shingle Supplies • Truck & Trailer Hire • Direct Drilling • Hedge & Stump Removal • Farm Tracks & Driveways • Fodderbeet Planting • Cultivation • Pivot Rut Filling • Grader & Digger Work • Reversible Ploughing • Supply & Installation of Irrigation Pipe The preferred milking systems partner for Dairy Farmers Ph 0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz Proud to support Ruwan Wijayasena Proud to support Ruwan Wijayasena
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