14 | nzdairy Attention to detail Karen Phelps “We are breeding this herd towards being in the top 10% of dairy herds in New Zealand on stats. So her real attention to detail around rearing calves really pays off.” Since Daniel Cockery and Andrea Koenen took over as the variable order share milkers of Eastbourne Dairy Farm production has skyrocketed. In their first season they achieved record production of 254,000kgsMS – an increase of 25,000kgsMS. This season they are on track to produce around 265,000-270,000kgsMS. Daniel says the secret has been simple – paying attention to details, maximising efficiencies and getting the basics optimised. “The increase is due to making the right decisions at the right time and fully feeding cows,” he says. “For example watching the weather window to feed cows more in inclement weather, getting the right amounts of metabolic energy into the cows. We actually lowered the yearly tonnage of in-shed feed by half the amount as well. Before there was 450 tonnes of bought in feed and we did more production with only 270 tonnes. We manage grass growth really well with weekly pasture walks, good communication with Ravensdown around fertility and ensuring we are giving fertility to paddocks where it is needed. We try not to make any silage off the dairy platform and feed cows fully. We make the silage off the run off – this year around 370 tonnes.” Eastbourne Dairy Farm is situated in Thornbury, 25km North West of Invercargill, and owned by Roger Dickie (N.Z.) Ltd 92nd syndicated investment property. The 242.1ha farm comprises a 160ha milking platform and 71.2 ha runoff located 500 metres from the milking platform. The farm peak milks a herd of 500 kiwicross cows through a basic 40-bail herringbone shed with in-shed feeding system. It supplies to Open Country Dairy. Daniel says having a trusted team and ensuring everyone is on the same page has been another key Daniel Cockery, Marley Cockery, Andrea Koenen and Mannix Cockery. DAIRY PEOPLE » Eastbourne Dairy Farm - Daniel Cockery and Andrea Koenen to success. The farm employs three full time staff including manager Connar Christie who has been with the farm for two seasons. “We employ people by word of mouth so I don’t need ring previous employers or do background checks. I go off face value when I interview people and explain my standards, goals etc. If I think they fit the bill I offer them the job. It’s worked out well for us.” Daniel’s grandparents owned multiple dairy farms in Southland so he grew around cows. He got straight into it after leaving school working for his father who was sharemilking. He then moved up the ladder and the couple were contract milking 560 cows on a farm in Tokanui in the Caitlins for three years prior to starting on Eastbourne Dairy Farm. Partner Andrea rears all the calves and does an excellent job, along with the bookwork. “They have averaged 10-20kg above target weight when we have weighed them,” says Daniel. “We are breeding this herd towards being in the top 10% of dairy herds in New Zealand on stats. So her real attention to detail around rearing calves really pays off.” The couple have two children - son Mannix, 2 ½ and daughter Marley, 5. Both love the farm and Marley is already helping Andrea rear calves before she goes to school. Mannix likewise loves to help and can usually be seen alongside his Dad on the tractor or digger. Future plans are to sharemilk multiple farms to enable them to go 50:50 sharemilking or buy into a farm. They credit Roger Dickie group farm manager Grant Williams as being an excellent mentor helping them improve and reach their goals. “There is no timeline as we love what we do at the moment bringing up our kids around farming,” says Daniel. “The farming lifestyle is the most important thing to us.” Full Baleage, Cultivation & Aeration Services Call Tom 0272368074 General Engineering Dairy Maintenance Feed Systems Engineering in the Southland region BramFodie 0279647928 bwfengineering22@gmail.com
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