18 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Ballyberg Farm Equity partnership working a treat The partnership put in a new effluent pond last September which was completed in December. Sue Russell Nearly three years ago Bernard and Jo Kelly’s farm working life took a new course when they entered into an equity partnership with Noldy and Bev Rust. Noldy is a well-known rural real-estate agent in Pirongia who suggested to Bernard that they go into a 50:50 equity partnership, Ballyberg Farm Ltd, on the farm at Te Pahu, between Pirongia and Hamilton. “The process went very well. We laid all our cards out on the table and the deal was signed. Noldy gives Bernard and Jo full attonomy to operate the 59ha (52ha effective) farm but is always there for advice and discussion. Jo and I had always aspired to our goal of farm ownership and this took us that much closer,” Bernard says. The pretty property is home to 180 predominantly Friesian cows. Tree-planting is an ongoing well-loved activity by the couple who want to create the very best possible environment for themselves and the herd, however when NZ Dairy caught up with Bernard in March, about a year since the first conversation, he said that tree-planting had been put on the back-burner somewhat given a very wet 2022/2023 season. Well over the peak of milking, the plan is to dry off on the 31st May and Bernard says he’s been pleased with the season and is happy with the current conditions underfoot, describing it as a very green summer with plenty of pasture coming on. “The wet spring and summer has made us question the feed requirements of our cows in particular the fibre content of the diet during wet periods” says Bernard. Lameness was a serious concern during the 2020/2021 season on farm. “Our vet suggested adding biotin to the cows diet and we have provided it to the herd once a day since November 2021 and our lameness issues have reduced significantly even during this wet season. Biotin – a water soluble B vitamin also known as Vitamin H – is fundamental in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, hooves and hair. Bernard has found that it hardened the hooves significantly but took 6 to 8 weeks to be effective and needs to be added consistently to the feed to maintain results. Toward of the end of the milking season about “The wet spring and summer has made us question the feed requirements of our cows in particular the fibre content of the diet during wet periods.” Office (07) 825 9870 Mace 0275 397 602 Graeme 027 451 8143 Email: admin@gcl.net.nz 525 Te Pahu Road, RD5, Hamilton Goodwright Contracting Ltd is pleased to be associated with Ballyberg Farm Diggers • Bulldozer • Truck & Trailers • Tractor & Trailers • Effluent Ponds • Feed Pads Ground work • Ag Lime & Fert Cartage • All Grades of Metal • Sand SPECIALISTS IN DESIGN/SUPPLY/BUILD WATER & EFFLUENT Proud to be Ballyberg Farm’s preferred effluent system supplier 30 cows are grazed off-farm, going to a small block some 10 minutes away from the farm. Calving is scheduled to commence 15th July. Calving extends over a nine-week window. Bernard administers calcium boluses to all cows over 4 years old directly after calving. This practise has worked exceptionally well in the last 2 sessions for us, with less incidences of milk fever in the herd. This last calving period, Bernard also adopted once a milking for the colostrum herd. This was implemented to help cows recover faster post calving and to reduce subclinical milk fever. This practice will continue on farm in the future. On the farm development front, the partnership put in a new effluent pond last September which was completed in December. “Now there’s nothing more than we need to do at this stage and there’s no money to do it anyway,” Bernard chuckles. A winter barn is a pipe-dream at this stage and Bernard says overall the farm is standing up very well. “Once we can get back to planting a few more trees and see them grow, it will really take on a special character. It’s a small farm, but we’ve always liked the idea of farming a small block of land, using simple farming practices and with a small herd that is enough to make the operation financially viable.” Both Bernard and Jo are proud of what has been achieved, and this Journalist, who lives not too far away, has been invited for a visit in the not too distant future – one she intends to take up.
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