Business Rural Winter 2022

12 | DAIRY PEOPLE » Chris Reilly & Laura Murdoch Meet Lou Lou’s friends: Flossy, Munchkin and Big Filly Laura Murdoch, Southland/Otago Dairy Manager of the Year with Sweet Pea. Karen Phelps Winner of the 2022 Southland/Otago Dairy Manager of the Year category Laura Murdoch’s cow herd is so “people-friendly” it has led to it being involved in some interesting opportunities including featuring on Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt’s Christmas card and Tik Tok. Unsurprisingly Laura, also known as ‘Lou Lou The Cow Whisperer’, has nicknames for many. Patsy (aka number 97) is so “pat oriented”, says Laura that she sometimes walks 20 metres and stops for a pat before moving another 20 metres and stopping again. Sweet Pea (number 107) is the gentlest cow Laura has ever come across and Big Filly (number 182) is like a horse and doesn’t mind people jumping on her back for a ride (Laura calls her a “grass fuelled quad”). Munchkin, Ginger Ninja, Flossy and LB (Little Bum) are some of Laura’s other favourites in the herd. “I just love cows, I love their faces, they’re the cutest things,” gushes Laura. “They’re like friends with their own traits. It’s cool to bond with them. Most people don’t give them the credit they deserve; they’re actually very intelligent.” So what happens when they must move on from life in the dairy herd? Laura admits that’s not a fun day but is also pragmatic. “At the end of the day I know I’ve provided them with a really cool life full of fun, friendship and excitement. The boss gets stuck with the job of putting them on the truck,” she says with a smile. Laura Murdoch with Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt. Farm owner Chris Reilly hitches a ride on Big Filly. Cow number 97, nickname Patsy, stops for an obligatory pat. Boss is Chris Reilly, owner of the 83ha, 230-cow Mokotua property. Laura says Chris is likewise as cow mad as she is, which was a prerequisite for the job. They came into contact when Laura posted on Facebook looking for a new opportunity. Thirty eight year old Laura came to farming later in life. She started her career as an accountant before deciding to pursue her rst love – cows – entering the dairy industry in 2017. Her passion for learning, progression and animal welfare has seen her move through the ranks quickly, culminated in her dairy industry award win. “I wasn’t brought up on a farm and started this career path quite late. I absolutely love what I do and can’t know enough so I’ve done a lot of courses. I entered the awards to see where I’m at and I was over the moon to win. It was something that I can now tick off my bucket list.” The Friesian and Kiwi Cross herd produces around 500kgs/MS per cow. Laura is trying to compact mating and improve the beef characteristics of the herd with three weeks of Friesian/sexed semen for the top cows in the herd, Friesian for the rest and short gestation Hereford on the low producing cows. The following three weeks she uses Speckle Park straws and some Wagyu and then Murray Gray bulls. The empty rate was slightly higher for this particular season but this methodology will mean they hopefully don’t have to send too many bobby calves to the works – something both Laura and Chris hates doing. Laura’s accountancy brain (she still runs her own small accountancy business on the side) kicks in to target PW and BW as well to increase the asset value of the animals. It will also feed into a business plan that has seen Laura and Chris exploring the option of purchasing a block where Chris can raise beef, drystock and carry overs as well as make baleage from surplus grass. It will mean that Chris can move off the farm to live on that block so Laura has a place to stay on the farm (she currently has her own home in Invercargill and drives in each day) that will accommodate her as well as her three pet sheep, goat, two cats, dog, three chickens and pet pigeon. Future plans also include continuing to showcase all the bene ts of the dairy industry and help others where she can. “The dairy industry is quite unusual in that it’s more like a big family. People are very willing to share knowledge and help each other and I love that. It’s also very rewarding for me to see the cows progressing and doing well. In the dairy industry I feel like I’m doing really good things.” mmca.co.nz Congratulations Laura Murdoch Otago/Southland Dairy Manager of the Year 2022 Our chartered accountants & business mentors can help grow and strengthen your farming business. Talk to us today to Calf Dehorning Pregnancy Scanning Pre-mating Scanning Certified Technician No Mileage Charged Allan & Kerri Clark | Scanning & Dehorning are our primary focus 021 0293 8477 clark@ultra-scan.co.nz www.ultra-scan.co.nz Proud to supply veterinary services & Animal Remedies for Chris Reilly & Laura Murdoch For the best Parts, Sales & Service in the South

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