| 15 Reducing cow numbers streamlines business Dannielle Kelly, aged 10, with her pet calf Snow White. Sue Russell DAIRY » Logan Kelly With the decision to cut back cow numbers on the home farm, Logan and Nicky Kelly are rationalising their dairying business to work better. The couple are busy, not only tending to the herd on their own farm but sharemilking 470 cows on a neighbouring farm. This season they’ve reduced the count on the home farm back to 85 cows, 40 Milking Shorthorn and 45 Friesian. Logan says eventually freeing up the home farm to act as a platform for young stock makes sense. “It will be a run-off for the big sharemilking farm and it means it is much more manageable for one person. As it stands, a milking herd of 85 cows doesn’t justify a labour unit and it means I can concentrate on the sharemilking side of the business where the biggest potential lies.” The couple farm at Kaitangata in South Otago. The connection with Milking Shorthorns goes back a fair way in the family which has been farming in the district over a century. Milking Shorthorns were introduced in 1987 and Logan has been showing the breed competitively since the age of 15. “The Milking Shorthorn was the first breed of cow to be farmed in New Zealand and today there’s a small but very passionate group of breeders doing their bit to promote the benefits of these great cows.” Reducing costs is a priority in the business, with a third less meal provided in-shed to the herd on the large farm and no fertiliser added. On the larger farm 160 hectares is currently on a 16-hour milking regime with the hope of milking through to 20th May. Some of the lighter cows will be dried off earlier. On the home farm milking continues twice a day and the stock are in good condition given there are fewer of them and plenty of pasture to go around. Logan says the plan is to transition the herd on the sharemilking block on to fodderbeet. Contract milkers Dave and Katrina Carr have been working for Logan and Nicky for six seasons. Asked about the benefits of Shorthorns Logan says they have better feet for the conditions underfoot and they produce a higher fat to protein ratio. “We’re also enjoying a better run on fertility. The modern milking shorthorn is very different from those first introduced into dairying in New Zealand. The’ve blended with the red genes from all over the world. The population once was so small that you had to blend from other countries.” A highlight of the yearly cycle is calving time, when breeding decisions come to fruition. To see which cow produces a white, red or roan calf is exciting. “They are also a very well-tempered breed. We breed for temperament.” Having made the decision to cut numbers on the smaller farm by 50% Logan says its gratifying to see how that herd is actually producing more per cow than it did when numbers were higher. The farm has been part of an on-farm breed judging competition, which Logan says has pitted all the herds in the south island against each other. “We had a judge from the North Island who started judging on farm in Invercargill and went all the way up to Nelson. Every second year we try to run an on-farm competition.” With the little farm ‘flood free’, and soon to be empty of milking cows, Logan says the land will certainly come into good use, when stock need to be moved off the wet paddocks on the big farm. “It’s just going to mean that the costs of dealing with any adverse weather that would impact the large farm and herd will be removed. When the big farm floods we’ve got a viable option for the stock which is easy to manage.” “It will be a run-off for the big sharemilking farm and it means it is much more manageable for one person. As it stands, a milking herd of 85 cows doesn’t justify a labour unit and it means I can concentrate on the sharemilking side of the business where the biggest potential lies.” • General Transport - Big or small • Livestock Cartage - Inter Island & Local • Wool Cartage • Rock, Gravel, Bark & Sawdust Suppliers • Bulk Cartage • Fertiliser Cartage & Application with Proof of Placement • Otago’s only stockist of Golden Bay Dolomite Eddystone St, Kaitangata | 03 413 9735 | cranleighhaulage@xtra.co.nz Proud to support Logan Kelly , e Our team of competent xperienced and certified staff can help you with all your freight and fertiliser needs. We have a diverse range of well maintained trucks and guarantee a professional job no matter how big or small. We aim to complete jobs within time restraints and will always be competitive on pricing.
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