| 9 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Anchor Jerseys Anchor Jersey calves. Family support has been massive for Aleasha Sue Russell FARM REFRIGERATION SPECIALISTS Mike: 021 94 2120 | Chris: 021 94 2121 | Phone Office: 07 871 9565 e: agreymer@gmail.com | www.reymerag.co.nz | 768 Pirongia Rd, RD 6, Te Awamutu • BALING • CHOPPING • DRILLING • CARTAGE • GROUNDWORK • CROP SPRAYING • LIQUID FERT SPRAYING With an absence of nearly two years between interviews it was a great opportunity late March to catch up with Aleasha Shaw, from Ohaupo-based dairy farm, Anchor Jerseys Stud and to find out how the farm has developed in that time. Anchor Jerseys Stud was estabished in 1926 and Aleasha proudly is the fifth generation of the family to be tending to the farm. She’s not alone in that endeavour though, with Mum Judy playing an intergral part in the successful operation of the 102 effective farm at Ohaupo, just South of Hamilton. “Mum has been really important for me through me taking over running of the farm. She’s helped with looking after children and still rears the calves and looks after planning around pasture management.” Judy also looks after all the maize and deals with the contractors, leaving Aleasha free to concentrate on the dairying operation. The family feel to the operation goes beyond Aleasha and Judy to Aleasha’s grandfather Don, who works for many decades with CRV Ambreed and has been integral to decisions around the most suited genetics to use on the herd of 380 pure Jersey cows. Asked what the breeding programme is based around, Aleasha says she’s looking for certain key attributes when bulls are chosen for breeding. “I want great udder capacity, strength and production. We want big Jerseys and ones that get in calf easily, produce strong healthy calves, and do so year in year out, while producing a very good milk yield through a season.” And to provide that those decisions have proven correct, Aleasha says the herd on average is 7 years old, meaning there are some very good long-term performers within its ranks. “We’ll keep a cow in our herd for as long as she’s producing. I really love the older cows we have.” In terms of farm management practice, there’s been a move away from a two-herd Autumn calving regime, Aleasha introduced 5 years ago. Half the herd, back then would calve one year and carry over to the second following Autumn to calve again, with the other herd, calving in the intervening year, every two years. “Our reasoning to do this was to ensure the cows didn’t peak milk at the same time they were being mated and went into mating in the best possible condition, however we discovered that while we obtained excellent milk volumes in the first year, with the extended lactation, some cows struggled after that time, so we’ve decided to go back to a 70% Autumn, 30% Spring, split calving system.” Aleasha says this past summer has been quite different from what usually happens, and there’s subsequently been plenty of grass about for the herd to enjoy. Pedigree heifer calves are raised and kept on the farm, rather than being sold at annual sales. “We would have some stock good enough to sell but that’s not our main purpose,” Aleasha explains. The farm is mainly flat with a smattering of peat land, common to the district, where several peat Lakes are located. Helping Aleasha on a day to day basis is Sarah Guise. Aleasha met Sarah when her son was at kindergarten and Sarah said at that time she was looking for some part-time work on a farm. So between Aleasha and Sarah, days on the farm are busy. “We don’t have anyone coming in and relieving but that’s just fine. I’m very involved in this farm and want it to be the best it can possibly be. I’m hoping, in time, my daughter Elouise will want to carry it on.” Aleasha also has a son Nate, who is 8 years old. The children attend local Paterangi Primary School, a good country school which services many farming families in the community. When asked about production expectations this season Aleasha says its been a fairly average year and she’s not expecting record volumes. “I’ll be happy is we get between 190,000 – 200,000 kg/MS.”
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