NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

68 | nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Andrew McGiven Stepping down during lockdown ‘an anti-climax’ Since finishing his role as president of Waikato Federated Farmers, Andrew McGiven has had more time to focus on his own 182ha dairy farm at Waihou. Karen Phelps W hen he finished his term as president of Waikato Federated Farmers, Andrew McGiven had mixed feelings. “The changeover came during lockdown so it was done virtually over computer, which felt like an anti-climax really. There were things that I would have liked to have seen finished in my term, such as Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 and Essential Freshwater, but of course farming is a dynamic environment so often it doesn’t happen like that.” Since finishing his role Andrew has had more time to focus on his own 182ha total dairy farm at Waihou. Andrew grew up on a farm and says he was adamant he’d never go farming but after working in the city for a few years he saw the rural life suited him best. He worked on the family farm for a year before purchasing half the herd and going 25% lower order sharemilking. In 2000 the opportunity came up to lease a 70ha farm at Waihou owned by a family trust. Andrew leased it with his parents and made improvements. Three adjoining farms were added over the years to give the present land holding, although the original farm is still leased. Andrew and wife Jenny, a qualified vet, milk a herd of 510 cows through a 50-bail rotary shed, that they built in 2003, with automatic cup remov- ers, Milk Hub and in-shed feeding system. There is also a covered feed pad, calving barn plus other stand off areas. The farm has a 135ha milking platform and the herd is predominantly Jersey and Jersey/Ayrshire cross. Friesian genetics have been introduced into the breeding programme as the farm winter milks around 200 cows and Friesians, being larger cows, assist with this. Ayrshire genetics were introduced to increase the protein to fat ratio in the milk to capture the pre- mium at the time. Although with renewed interest in the fat content, Andrew says perhaps there will be a greater focus on fat in the future in the herd. Andrew and Jenny’s current aim is to consolidate their business and improve what they’ve got. Their current focus is on improving pasture. They have been using the services of Smart Forage & Pasture in Gisborne and Andrew says it is helping in the aim to increase cow pasture intake and reduce reliance • to page 69 Dairy Plant Distributors Water Pump Sales & Service Allan Oliver Ph (07) 884 7855 - 24 hours 5 Lipsey Street PO Box 53 Te Aroha 3320 E: piakorural@xtra.co.nz 28 Lawrence Ave, Te Aroha OPENING HOURS : 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri | Sat 8-12pm Phone (07) 884 9901 | Email: admin@tatractors.co.nz Service Area: Matamata Piako District and Beyond! TE AROHA TRACTORS & GARDEN MACHINERY 2 0 1 5 L I M I T E D • Tractor Sales - new and used • Services & Repairs of all makes & models • Farm Machinery Sales & Service • Heavy Diesel, Pre COF • Ryco Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings Specialising In: PROUD TO SUPPORT ANDREW AND JENNY MCGIVEN