10 | Jason and Kaylene build on a legacy Added to the dairying aspect to the farm, the couple now present stud bulls for sale. Sue Russell DAIRY PEOPLE » Jason and Kaylene Bennett Beach Valley Dairies Ltd is the farming business of Southland Jersey Stud farmers Kaylene and Jason Bennett. Their farm is a family farm, with the original, smaller footprint purchased by Jason’s grandfather back in 1959 . Located west of Invercargill at Tuatapere, travel much further west and you have the beginnings of Fiordland National Park. Through Autumn the farm was somewhat challenged by an incredibly wet May and start of June. “We’re certainly a better dry farm,” comments Kaylene. The connection to Jersey also stretches back to granddad who, in the day, had about 90 pure-bred cows, milked through an 8-bale walk through, a building that is still standing on the farm. “For its time, having that number of cows was considered a large herd,” Jason says. Today, the couple milk between 430-450 cows on a property extending over 190ha (150ha effective). A 79ha run-off some 3 km’s away from the home block is a useful additional block, for grazing young stock and growing grass silage. “It means we’re fully self-sufficient in terms of feed which is a great position to be in.” Added to the dairying aspect to the farm, the couple now present stud bulls for sale, putting up 30 bulls in their inaugural bull sale last year. Last year 60 bulls were reared, this year 62. Of last year’s bulls, a reserve of $1600 was put up on each animal. “It was a totally new experience for us, in terms of the process and what people were looking for. We’ll probably stand up 30-40 bulls again this year. At the last sale our best bull sold for $3175 to a farmer in Balclutha. Jason just wanted one bull to go over $2000, so that was a nice surprise,” Kaylene says. Jason adds that rearing bulls for sale was always an ambition and he’s very much looking forward to the next sale on 3 October. Acknowledging also that he’s ‘old-school’ when it comes to using pen and paper for recording stock details, he was thrilled to receive best wishes for the next sale from Rodney Dobson, who supplies his bulls for mating their herd. This is the 8th season the couple have been on once a day milking. Jason says that when they first made the decision to go OAD, they were committed to trying it for 3 or 4 seasons. That decision definitely paid off. “Your breeding focus changes when you decide to go once a day. You’re breeding for strong animals, large capacity udders.” Beach Valley Jerseys seems a good name for the stud, given its proximity to the coast and the farm’s positioning in a valley. Grandad’s original stud name was Elmsbrook Jersey and today, Jason’s sister Linsey runs her own Jersey stud with this same name today. “I’m just so passionate about the Jersey breeds. I like their mannerism. They’re usually content and happy and for their live-weight their milk production is fairly efficient. With our farm being a little bit wetter the smaller Jersey, compared to other breeds suits our situation well,” says Jason. Asked about how long a good Jersey, well looked after who keeps in good health, might expect to produce calves, Kaylene says the family pet Jersey, Susie, retired at 15 years old. “She’s a real hard case. She loves cameras and lots of attention. We’ve probably got about 37 cows over the age of 10. We don’t carry over empty cows at all,” Kaylene explains. Jason says his children are also keen on farming. The couple have 5 children ranging from 19 to 9 years of age. “Actually two of our daughters I reckon are trying to push me out so they can take over,” Jason chuckles. This season heifers are due to calve from 5 August, with the main herd from the 10th. The mating cycle is relatively short, with a six-week in-calf rate of 85%. Standing off the herd over winter is an important part of the farm’s management practices. A large concrete slab with rubber matting provides the girls with comfort. “We can put over 450 cows on it for overnight and we can winter 200 cows there where the herd receives silage.” The couple admit to being heavily invested in their community with Jason on the local A & P Complete Silage, Baling, Cultivation, Effluent, Spraying & Excavator Contracting Service Phone: 03 225 8488 Rabco Ag Ltd E-mail: admin@rabco.nz Web: www.rabbitt.co.nz 77 CLYDE STREET, INVERCARGILL, PH (03) 214 4254 www.southlandhonda.co.nz SOUTHLAND HONDA For the best Parts, Sales & Service in the south committee and volunteer fire brigade, coaching cricket and indoor bowls. “Kaylene is involved in just about everything in the community. We run an adopt a calf programme and last year had 9 school students involved. They love it and its something we enjoy doing. They often follow the progress of their calf on once they join the herd,” says Jason. All in all both Jason and Kaylene are happy with what they’ve achieved, the condition of their prized herd and the journey so far of their farming business.
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