NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

| 69 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Bob Lawson Ayreshires that bring a little sunshine Sunshine Ayreshires’ showstoppers : Sunshine Burdette Dale, Sunshine TSB Penny, Sunshine Bur Oakleaf and Sunshine Burdette Deb. – Dean Malcolm Photography Sue Russell • from page 68 on bought in feed. The McGiven’s have been favouring direct drilling and pastoral cultivation methods to protect soil profile and reduce topsoil organic matter loss to the atmosphere. Around 8ha of turnips are planted as summer crop on the farm and 8ha of maize. Another 26ha of maize is planted on a leased run off located around ten minutes drive from the farm. Andrew says as cow numbers have been reduced from previous 550, it is even more important to get the best out of each animal, ensuring they are fully fed and utilizing feed efficiently. Andrew and Jenny’s roles are now reduced from in the past as they employ a contract milker leaving them free to largely take care of the run off, which is used as a grazing block and to rear calves from birth ready to be taken to the farm when they are ready to milk. Jenny of course puts her skills as a vet to good use looking after animal health. As to the future, they plan to take a wait and see approach as to how government regulations will pan out and affect farmers before making any further decisions about their business. Wait and see approach W oodville dairy farmer Bob Lawson says the 32ml of rain that fell late February is going to be a great help. “We get dry pretty quick here and the water table had dropped a little,” Bob explains. Bob and wife Nikki have been on the farm five years now. The farm carries a total size of 132ha which is dairy farm with runoff backing onto it “We’re lucky we have very good soil here. It’s been well looked after over the years.” Prior to the move to Woodville the couple had four years at Bulls and when they left that farm they took 130 of their own cows with them and then leased cows for two years. Bob’s proud of the increase in milk production of the herd that has oc- curred since taking over leasing the farm. Sunshine Burdette Dolly has produced 8217 litres of milk, 298 kgs of fat, 270 kgs of protein = 568 milksolids in 272 days to date this season as a four-year-old. “We’re going to have a record season this year since we’ve been here,” Bob says. The herd of 180 Ayrshire cows has a lot of qual- ity to them, proving this at Shows. Bob’s been involved with the breed since 1964, with his first calf club calf and has owned cows since 1980. He recalls a heifer he bred in 1984 Greenbank Highland Fame EX going through to be Royal Show Ayrshire champion in 1991 as a seven- year-old. He’s proud of his herd, with one cow still per- forming well at 19 years of age. “They are a great all-round producer. I’ve milked jerseys, black and whites and the Ayrshires come through hands-down from my experience. Over recent years we’ve had good success showing our animals.” Sunshine Burdette Dale has been junior cham- pion Ayrshire at Carterton A&P where her paddock The Sunshine Ayreshire herd grazing at Woodville. mate got reserve champion. “Dale’s success has carried on in her milk career where we entered photos we had taken of her in an Alltech Ayrshire photo competition, which she won. That then got her entered into the world Ayrshire photo competition where she got third in the world. Following that we took her to Stratford A&P show 2019 where she won the four-year-old class, Senior best udder and north island reserve champion Ayrshire.” Sunshine TSB Penny was taken to Stratford show 2019 & 2020 winning both years in the Ayrshire section, as a two-year-old old she placed first in the Ayrshire North Island Champs, then as a three- year-old placed first in her aged class, best udder and Royal show intermediate champion Ayrshire. “Sunshine Proud Mary was third at NZ Dairy Event which is awesome as she is by my own bull Sunshine Le Proud. We also put up a pick of our 2020 Ayrshire born calves and sold Sunshine Burdette Dales full sister for $ 6250.00. We are very proud of the animals we have bred, even more so when I have bred both the dam & sire, like Sunshine Reality and Sunshine Le Proud.” With a long history with the breed, and in dairy- ing, Bob has also been a show judge since the age of 15. Asked what significant changes he’s seen in composition Bob talks about the ‘dairyness’ of cows these days. “We have increased some of the cows in size and we’ve gone to cleaner bones and more dairy- like.” He sources his genetics from here and overseas and Bob says he especially likes the overseas genetics. Come Spring, Nikki takes care of the calves and Bob says they work together well as a team with Nikki picking up any odd jobs necessary to keep the farm ticking over well. The heart of milk production is a 20 aside her- ringbone shed that Bob says performs well. Milk is produced twice a day 365 days a year. Woodville has a mixed-bag of farming, with the majority in dairying. As for the future Bob says he’s in good health and still keen to be actively farming. “I always think when people step back they still have to have something to do. I’m a person who likes to be busy.” And looking back over a farming journey extend- ing decades Bob says he and Nikki are happy with their current lease farm and intend to stay Dairy Farming for some years to come. Capper Contracting &Mulchers (1981)Ltd For all your Contracting Requirements Proud to support Andrew McGiven McKinley Road, RD1, Te Aroha Trevor: (027) 496 2370 Steven: (027) 596 2370 www.advancedaccounting.co.nz Sincere congratulations on your hard - earned success Bob! We are absolutely thrilled for you. WOODVILLE SERVICE CENTRE Lower McLean St - Woodville | 065 376 5232 | Alister - 027 248 3282 W.O.F, Engineering Tractors & Parts, Mowers Diesels, FarmMachinery & Parts RURAL ENGINEERING DAIRYSHED SPECIALISTS - GENERAL ENGINEERING • COWSHED STEEL WORK • FEEDPADS • ROUND & SQUARE YARD • BACKING GATES • ONSITE WELDING 1st Ave Waihou- Phone 07 884 4306 - Fax 07 884 4506 Mobile Brad 0274 480 649 - Neville 0274 741 529