| 3 DAIRY PEOPLE » Ashley and Kayla Riley A well-honed breeding programme Supplement feed production this season was a bonanza, despite a wetter than usual summer pushing haymaking from the usual Christmas timeframe to mid-February. Bernadette Cooney Fifth generation Collingwood farmers, Ashley and Kayla Riley of Riverlea Ayrshires in Golden Bay, contract milk the family’s pedigree Ayrshire dairy herd, which has benefitted from a well-honed breeding programme developed by Ashley’s parents Stewart and Marice Riley. Stewart and Marice purchased the family farm in 1998, a holding that stretches back to the 1800’s. The farm spans 200 hectares, with 155 effective, and this season, they peaked at 425 Ayrshire cows, with 92% of the herd being pedigree. Making Riverlea one of the larger pedigree Ayrshire herds in New Zealand says Ashley. A breed well-suited to their dual-purpose system, producing quality milk while also raising excellent steers for beef. The farm remains largely self-sufficient, supported by a 440 hectare (200 ha effective) dry stock farm at Rakopi used for winter cropping and raising stock replacements. Ninety to on hundred dairy beef cross calves are taken through to two-and-a-half-year-olds and sold to the works at an average of 280kg carcass weight. A significant focus for the Riley’s is genetic improvement through sire proving with the overall goal to produce bull calves accepted for Artificial Breeding (AB) sire schemes. Most recently their sire bull, Riverlea Samuel, has been accepted into the AB sire proving scheme and is currently one of the highest Breeding Worth (BW) Ayrshire bulls in New Zealand. “We were quite excited when he made it to be an AB proven bull sire,” says Ashley, “We knew he was a good bull, but to have that all proved is really neat.” “We’ve got a couple of bulls in for proving, but certainly the success of Riverlea Samuel has bought the indexes of the whole herd up quite a bit. We’re quite picky on what we put over the cows, carefully selecting sires to replicate his quality going forward.” This genetic strategy primarily relies on New Zealand and some imported Finnish Ayrshire genetics, with the aim to enhance milk production while maintaining strong, healthy cows suited to their farming system. Milk production has remained strong, projected to reach between 155,00 and 160,000 kilograms of milk solids, potentially their second-best production season, says Ashley. “I think we’re up 3 percent production wise for the season so as long as we can keeping doing that, we should end up around 155 to 160 kg MS.” Supplement feed production this season was a bonanza, despite a wetter than usual summer pushing haymaking from the usual Christmas timeframe to mid-February. “We’ve got more than ample supplements. I think we made 650 odd bales of hay and about 730 bales of baleage.” The herd receive a consistent 2 kg of palm kernel each, per day also. During winter, around 150 cows, are wintered on farm and the remainder, yearling heifers, beef calves, cows and bulls are wintered over in Rakopi 03 525 9843 | www.sollys.co.nz For all your Transport and Logistics requirements Freight | Storage | Bulk Cartage Livestock | Stock Feed | Feriliser PH: 03 528 9065 | 32 KING EDWARD STREET - MOTUEKA • On farm service technicians • Full workshop facilities 42 YEARS IN BUSINESS Proud to support Ashley and Kayla Riley Tristan Strange 027 515 5204 Takaka, Golden Bay strangecontracting@gmail.com Specialising in: · Mowing · Raking · Tedding · Square Baling · Round Baling · Cartage Ashley and Kayla employ one full-time staff member and two casual workers who assist as needed, while Ashley and Kayla manage milking operations and raise the sixth generation of Riley’s together: Lachan, aged 10, Hudson, 8 and Amara, 5 years. Proudly supporting Ashley & Kayla Riley Commercial Refrigera�on Design & Installa�on 24/7 Service Dairy Cooling Supply & Maintenance 1/137 Pascoe St, Nelson Ph: 0800 800 944 mcalpinehussmann.co.nz
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