Business Rural Winter 2021

14 | Opening the door for next generation Maddison and Sadie Wech take some time out with a bit of clay-bird shooting. Karen Phelps T he next generation is stepping up and taking a more active role in Samara and Chris Wech’s Southland dairy farm. The family has made the decision to no longer employ contract milkers and instead employ a manager so that their children can have the opportunity to get in the shed. Cruze (14), Maddison (16) and Sadie (18) have already been relief milking around the district, so it made sense, says Chris. Jesse (12) is keen to be a farmer and Travis (11) also helps out on the farm. “The weekends are busy as the kids are always wanting to get outdoors and do stuff around the farm,” says Chris with a laugh. The farm milks a herd of 430 friesian cross cows and Chris and Samara have managed to increase production each year in their 14 years on the unit and now achieve around 520 kilograms of milk solids per cow/1620 per hectare. They do this by keeping a close eye on their pasture – ensuring it is optimal height for grazing, grazing to the right residuals and topping pasture as required. A recently installed in-shed feeding system had provided a real boost to productivity and feed efficiency. They are feeding around 1.5 tonnes of palm kernel and DDG and the reduction in feed wastage and increased utilisation has meant savings. They feed through the system all year round but ramp it up at key times such as spring and mating. “The cows are happier and have more energy. If we get a storm I crank it up a bit. Something warm in their tummies means the weather doesn’t bother them as much.” During bad weather cows are moved to dryer areas and there is also an old undercover sheep yard on the farm which has proved useful shelter. They also use this for calving under in wet weather. They are planting shelter belts for stock. Chris grew up in a farming family in North Island. After meeting Samara the couple went contract milking, building up their savings, buying a little dry stock block in the second year and doing some dairy grazing. In 2007 they borrowed from the equity in their drystock block, bought around 400 cows and went sharemilking on the farm they now own. A few years later they converted their drystock block to a small dairy unit with 240 cows and put a contract DAIRY PEOPLE » Wech family • to page 15 N 152 Main Street, Otautau • Phone (03) 225 8516 OTAUTAU TRACTOR AND MACHINERY 2013 LTD • Log Cartage • Stock / Bulk • PROUDLY SUPPORTING CHRIS AND SAM WECH F ertiliser • Gravel • Contracting • ransporting T 0800 22 5899 www.dtking.co.nz 03 225 8356 Otautau 03 225 5899 Pukemaori 03 234 8120 Riverton ELEVATOR SCRAPER, BOBCAT & ATTACHMENTS, LANDSCAPING, TRENCHING AUGERS K J SUTHERLAND GRAVELLING & AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTOR 2475 OHAI-CLIFDEN H/WAY ORAWIA R.D2 OTAUTAU 9682 Ph 0274 367 934 GRADES OF CRUSHED & SCREENED GRAVELS, ALKATHENE LAYING, ROOTRAKING, FARM TRACKS, DAIRYLINES Complete Silage, Baling, Cultivation, Effluent, Spraying & Excavators Contracting Service Mobile: 021 362 766 Rabco Ag Ltd Tel: 03 225 8488 E-mail: admin@rabco.nz Web: www.rabbitt.co.nz