58 | Interest in genetics dates back to 1927 The Irelands bought and converted 156 hectares of sheep farm to dairy and have a 99-hectare runoff five kilometres away on the coast north of Timaru. Virginia Wright Steve and Nina Ireland set up their Jersey Lynbrook Stud when they were 50/50 sharemilking in Tokoroa in 1989. They brought their herd, their machinery and various household effects with them when they moved south to sharemilk in Hinds in 1996, but it wasn’t until they had converted the sheep farm they bought out of Temuka in 2003 that they really started to focus on their genetic gains. The Irelands bought and converted 156 hectares of sheep farm to dairy and have a 99-hectare runoff five kilometres away on the coast north of Timaru. It was the opportunity to own their own farm that brought them to the South Island where land was cheaper than further north, and they knew they needed to farm at scale. By the time they ended their sharemilking career in Hinds they had grown their herd to the 780 freehold cows plus young stock that were the key to buying their own farm. “We were quite motivated and both Nina and I were very hands on so we always ran a very profitable business with good cashflow,” says Steve. The Ireland family interest in Jersey genetics dates back to 1927 when Steve’s grandparents ran shorthorns and jerseys in Tokoroa, Steve explains. “They started the Lone Pine Jersey Stud. Then most of my father’s brothers were farmers (there were six brothers and a sister), and they all bought their own farms and created their own Jersey Studs. My father Linsay started the Lynbrook Jersey Stud in 1959. My older brother took over that stud but we were both able to carry on with the Lynbrook prefix by having different herd participant codes to separate out the two herds.” Getting on for 40 years later Steve thinks the two herds probably share a lot of similar genetic traits given that he and his brother Kevin share a similar breeding philosophy. Nina shared Steve’s interest in genetics, and in making sure everything was recorded properly, with the ancestral data about different cow families that resulted. Then, with their goal of farm ownership achieved, the Irelands stepped up their breeding and started doing embryo work on their best cows which allowed them to multiply the genetics from their best cows year on year. RURAL PEOPLE » Steve and Nina Ireland Ph: 03 684 8410 www.plunket-electrical.co.nz EcoSmart Plunket Electrical – Your one stop shop for all your electrical needs including Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Heating and Ventilation, Data and Security Member Electrical Contractors Association of NZ MASTER ELECTRICIANS Pleased to be involved with Steve and Nina Ireland New Zealand Certified Builders Association CB Phone Regan on Mob: 027 241 6395 Email: joycebuilding@hotmail.com FOR ALL YOUR REQUIREMENTS CONSTRUCTION • Houses • Renovations • Maintenance & Repairs • Architectual • Design & Build • Cow Sheds • Farm Buildings • Concrete Work Steve Ireland: 021 214 1613 | lynbrook13@hotmail.com LYNBROOKFARM SUSTAINABLE JERSEY EFFICIENCY
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