28 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » John and Wendy Allen - Matriarch Genetics Farming ‘Ferrari’ cows in Manawatu Kim Newth John and Wendy Allen, now in their ninth season as dairy farm owners just south of Palmerston North, are living life in the fast lane when it comes to breeding and feeding to get the best out of their holstein friesian dairy herd. “My breeding philosophy is that I like to have very good cows – I term them ‘Ferraris’ because you may as well drive at 350km/h than 100km/h,” says John. “To do that, you also need to be giving them the right high octane fuel. We recently updated our mixer wagons with Strautmann Hopkins, so that we know when we feed our cows, they have a very consistent, very palatable and very high energy feed going into them. We’re thrilled with how well our cows are going. We produce up to 650kg MS per cow in the season.” Through the season, stock are fed maize and grass silage, dried distillers grains (DDG), palm kernel and soybean meal along with essential mineral supplements. Barley and clover silage grown on the farm is also part of the feed equation. “It is all about optimising cow health and wellbeing. Our vet, Fraser Abernathy [The Dairy Vet Ltd], is also our nutritionist and farm advisor. We have a holistic approach to the whole farm [178ha], including what we grow, how we grow it and when it is fed. We’re totally self-contained too, so we have all our young stock on the farm and all the bulls used here are born and bred on the farm as well.” With its high-performing bloodlines, this dairy farm could also be described as a Ferrari on dairy genetics. Every year, they rear around 35 bull calves, with some top bulls taken up by AB companies. The ones left are used over the herd. “Over the years, I’ve had some exceptional cows bred from those ‘leftover’ bulls,” John observes. Four years ago, John joined Matriarch Genetics, which was launched by a group of dairy farm breeders seeking to accelerate genetic gain in their industry by providing another proving pathway for top bulls. “I’m now a board director with Matriarch. From the start, I’ve been on the genetic selection committee that goes through all the nominated bulls to find the best ones to suit New Zealand farmers. It is so exciting to see the new bulls coming through and the progress we’re making in our industry.” Matriarch Genetics’ current team includes a high proportion of bulls sired by bulls from overseas Major Gwen S2F VG88. She is the dam of Gymboy at Matriarch. markets, where the rate of genetic gain has been more rapid than in New Zealand. John notes that three of their own bulls have been selected by Matriarch Genetics over the past three years, with one now fully proven. In turn, he is using bull genetics from Matriarch over his young cows to breed superior stock. Meanwhile, following an Industry Working Group (IWG) report, the Animal Evaluation Governance Group formed in 2024 and is now working on ways to help strengthen animal evaluation for the purpose of accelerating genetic gain in the dairy sector. John says Matriarch Genetics is pushing for all parties with vested interest to be involved in the solution to accelerating genetic gain, including other AB companies and breed associations. Proudly supplying John&Wendy Allen, LightburnHolstein Friesian Studwith qualitymachinery Proud to support Dairy Farmers with their feed and animal nutrition requirements www.bhlfeeds.co.nz
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