26 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Milkabit: Hamish and Tina Noakes Ten years of experience hones skills Grass is harvested and fed out immediately in the goat housing. Areas that are not suitable for grass harvesting (below) have been planted with native trees by the family and school children through Trees For Survival. Karen Phelps Now in their tenth season Hamish and Tina Noakes from Milkabit say they have learned a lot from their goats and their operation runs like clockwork. “Since Covid we have managed to streamline our business and operate with a smaller team but have maintained our production. We’re grateful to have good reliable staff and support from family when needed,” says Hamish. It was in 1968 that the family purchased the small dairy farm on the Manukau Harbour from a returned soldier who had been settled on it at the end of the war. Hamish returned to the farm with his family in 2003. It was becoming increasingly difficult to make a living from milking cows on the 40-hectare home farm so in 2013 the decision was made to change to dairy goats. The operation now includes a 40ha support block and milks 1400 mixed age goats, which are kidded throughout the year. “That means no break but good quality milk,” says Hamish. He says it took time to set up the operation and finalise the infrastructure including adapting a old 13-bail rotary platform and grazing the goats outside for three years in paddocks designed for cows. “This allowed the escape artists to hone their skills,” he says with a laugh, “but our goats now enjoy purpose built housing but are still known to get into mischief.” The flock is now milked through a GEA 80-bail rotary with a steel table instead of concrete to reduce the weight. Milk is stored in a horizontal vat that has two agitators and is collected every second day. The flock is 80% Saanen, a Swiss breed, with the remainder a mix of Toggenburg, Swiss, British Alpine and Nubian. Now flock numbers have been built up the family is focusing on genetic gain, purchasing bucks from other New Zealand breeders. Unlike feral goats commercial milking goats require shelter, says Hamish. “Goats don’t have lanoline in their skin and can’t shed water, and they don’t handle rapid change of temperature, intense cold or heat. “They hate the cold, they hate the sun and they really hate the rain. If we leave the gates open and they wander outside they’ll turn around and walk straight back in again.” Over the years the management of the farm’s herbal pastures has become easier. “We select the areas to be mechanically harvested with our cut and carry and leave 60mm. The grass is immediately fed out in the goat housing. To maintain our feed quality we make all surplus grass into supplements. “This is all done in-house to ensure the high quality needed for our flock,” explains Hamish. “Areas that are not suitable for the cut and carry operation have been planted with native trees by the family and school children through Trees For Survival.” Hamish says they appreciate the close working relationship they have with New Image Group (NIG), which the farm supplies to: “We have found them to be a very innovative company always investigating alternative products and looking for new markets,” says Hamish. He says that ten years on the goats still surprise him, for example by opening gates and getting into odd places. “They are very clever and always keep you on your toes. They have very individual personalities, for example one likes to wait for me to have a little game before I’m allowed to close the gate. “ Goats are beautiful animals to work with and we’ve found it very satisfying and rewarding.” • Milking Machine Repairs and Servicing • Water Pump Repairs and Maintenance • MPTA Qualified Machine Testing • Maintenance Plumbing • 24/7 After Hours Service Proudly Supporting MILKABIT Scott Vincent 021 547 097 waikatowaterboyz.ltd@gmail.com
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