NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

| 73 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Hawke’s Bay Pastural: Gerard Boerjan & Marlene Honings Production, longevity key for manager Hawke’s Bay Pastural manager Gerard Boerjan has managed dairy units in Portugal, Brazil and New Zealand over a farming career spanning 30 years. Russell Fredric M ilking nearly 1500 cows twice a day is no small feat, but for Hawke’s Bay couple Gerard Boerjan and Marlene Honings and their staff of six it is an every day reality. As the manager of Hawke’s Bay Pastural, Gerard, with the support of Marlene, has the credentials and experience to deal with the day to day challenges such an operation presents. Gerard took up his present role in 2012, initially milking 1160 cows on a dairy platform of 375 hectares on Hawke’s Bay Pastural’s 595 hectare property near Takapau. The farm includes 56ha for making silage and 95 hectares of gullies. It is not irrigated despite the dry Hawke’s Bay summers and matches Dairy NZ’s system 3 criteria for grazing and feed inputs and system 4 in a dry season. Since 2012 the dairy platform increased to 400ha and its total herd has been increased to 1460, split into two herds; milking takes about three hours through an 80 bale rotary shed. With absentee farm owners, Gerard’s role comes with both responsibility and autonomy, making all day-to-day operational decisions. Born in the Netherlands and attaining a Bachelor of Science degree, he has managed dairy units in Portugal, Brazil and New Zealand over a farming career spanning 30 years. In 2018 he was named 2018 NZ Dairy Farm Manager of the year, following on from winning the regional Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa contest. In 2008 Gerard was a finalist in the Dairy Business of the Year awards. As an environmental mitigation measure, Gerard does not grow winter crops. “We think this is good for the environment be- cause cropping has quite an impact,” Gerard says. “We are very much grass-based; we do put a lot of effort into growing and harvesting pasture. Our herd managers are well trained in this art. We normally top up with palm kernel and grass silage.” Because of drought, last season the farm aver- aged 1335kgMS/ha compared to 1580kgMS/ha in the 2018/2019 season. In a normal year individual cow production is typically close to 100% of their live weight. This has been achieved with a strong focus on feeding them well each day and culling low performers. “It’s very much a mixed herd, friesians, jerseys and cross-breds, although we have been mating more towards friesians for the last couple of years, but we probably want to stick to a more cross-bred cow because they seem to do quite well for us.” Gerard believes longevity and cow wastage are significant factors in a dairy operation. “We are very much focused on PW (production worth). It’s probably the most critical one that we look at - production and longevity.” “Cow wastage for whatever reason is a huge cost.” He believes a good average for a cow’s productive milking life is around five years. Marlene has a key role managing calf rearing each season as well as overseeing the farm staff. Her work includes the general upkeep of several of the farm’s house sections and their facilities which includes two swimming pools and two tennis courts. She also fills in wherever needed. The couple’s strong focus on their staff’s welfare is reflected in Gerard winning a staff engagement merit award in the 2018 awards and Marlene tends to be seen as something of a mother figure and confidant. The staff work a roster of eight days on, two days off and swimming pool and tennis court access as a privilege of working for Hawke’s Bay Pastural. STEVENS ON &TAYLO R LTD info@sntltd.co.nz 2294 Takapau Road, Waipukurau, Hawke ’s Bay stevensonandtay lor.co.nz STEVENSON & TAYLOR LTD 2294 T akapau R ad ,Waipuk r u. www.stev nsonandtaylor.co.nz PH: (06) 858 6041 • E : info@sntltd.co.nz Proud to support Hawkes Bay Pastoral Servicing Hawke's Bay with locations in Waipukurau and Hastings 068588983 & 068783289