NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

| 13 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Oete Goat Farm: Matt Bolton Email: office@kbs2018.co.nz Mobile: 0274 844 083 Phone: (09) 232 5804 0800 241 501 Email: office@wehale.co.nz Phone: (09) 232 5834 • Lime & Fertiliser Spreading • Orchard Spreading • Organic Spreading • Consignment Store - Bulk and Bags • North & South Lime • Spreadmark Certified • GAP Verified • Bark • Animal Bedding • Garden Media • Metal • Drainage Metal • Aggregate & Decorative Stone • Compost • Govt Certified Weigh Bridge • Stockfeed Cartage • 868 Coalfields Rd, Maramarua, RD1, Pokeno 2471 • P hone 09 232 5834 • KIWI OWNED STOCK FOOD SOLUTIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND FARMERS. Darren Edwards had been in the stockfood industry for several years when he was offered an opportunity to join a new business. The result is Grainhub - based in Tuakau in north Waikato, it’s two hectares of machinery and storage dedicated to providing quality food to the dairy industry. “We bought the plant and everything with it,” says Darren, “but not the business. Grainhub’s been going for three years now, manufacturing specific feed types for the New Zealand dairy market.” Dairy in this instance includes both cows and milking sheep but Grainhub has found a growing market with dairy goats, as Darren explains. “With our location the dairy cow market is already quite heavily subscribed, and we thought there were alternative markets that could be better serviced.” Their focus on this growing market has paid off and now a substantial part of their business is supplying kid and customized dairy goat pellets to farms such as the Oete Goat Farm through- out the Waikato region as far south as Taupo. Dairy goats have specific nutritional requirements that vary from farm to farm and Grainhub is in a position to meet those needs. “Their nutritionists are ringing us because we can provide customized in-shed feed to the specific goat farm. We’re not one product for all farms, it really is a customized option,”says Darren. Working on site they can control which ingredients and how much of them go into the pellets, following the recipe provided by the on-farm advisor. “We knew from the start that we wanted to service the goat market,” explains Darren.” “It felt like they were an add-on to the standard dairy market, with people not necessarily using ingredients specific to goats. By doing this we’re making the most of our pelletising mill and giving the goats what they need at the same time.” Dairy goats need something highly palatable in the shed. Something that has what they need for performance with a good balance of protein to carbohydrate but also tastes good. “To be fair they’re not foraging on farm for their feed to stay alive,” says Darren, “ and they can be very finicky animals. They have specific mineral and trace element requirements as well which may be sent in by the on-farm nutritionist or, in the case of Oete Farm, we work in with Agvance for that side of things.” There’s plenty of positive feedback to Grainhub from goat farmers pleased to be serviced specifically to their needs; and from Darren’s point of view Grainhub is proud to be a New Zealand owned and operated company achieving their target of supporting New Zealand farmers. “We’re big enough to add value, but small enough to care,” he says with a smile. Dairy Goat focus pays off Manufacturers & Suppliers of GrainHub Tri Starch Pellet GrainHub Mineral Feed Pellet GrainHub Calf GrainHub Kid GrainHub Lamb GrainHub Goat Pellet GrainHub Sheep Pellet GrainHub Custom Blend Maize Grain | Barley | Wheat Tapioca | Proteins For more information contact us 0800 GAINHUB www ,grainhub.co.nz info@grainhub.co.nz