| 33 nzdairy “I would quite like to not be working this hard, but we don’t really have a choice.” Resilience sees Hayden McDonald prevail Karen Phelps DAIRY PEOPLE » Hayden McDonald and Terry Curtis Hayden plans to extend his milking period this year. Manawatu farmer Hayden McDonald’s recent months have been a testament to his resilience, marked by determination in the face of numerous challenges. He and finance Danielle had a recently purchased run off then the same day as the birth of their daughter Willow, the farm’s main worker on their 50:50 sharemilking position, snapped his patellar tendon at touch rugby, an injury that would see him off work for months. “I would quite like to not be working this hard, but we don’t really have a choice,” says Hayden. “You just do what you have to.” Hayden continued milking before and after hospital visits during his daughter’s birth, demonstrating the work ethic that earned him the 2023 Manawatu Dairy Industry Awards Share Milker of the Year. He also completed Wanaka’s Iron Man Triathlon so is used to tough schedules and long hours. Their support network has been crucial. Their midwife’s school-aged son has been helping on weekends, Danielle’s cousin’s son works weekdays and a relief milker fills the gaps. The couple are in their eighth season on a 120- hectare farm just ten minutes from Palmerston North. They milk 340 Friesian/Jersey crossbreed cows and despite a dry summer production remains strong, helped by irrigation that provides high- quality grass year-round and keeping production equal to last season with the addition of a little added bought in feed. Despite it being an incredibly busy time for them Hayden plans to extend his milking period this year. “This time last year we went once a day but because of the payout, we will milk as long as we can,” he says. Mid-May should see their staff member return, potentially easing some of the current pressures. There has been a silver lining though - the farm has achieved a record-low somatic cell count, ranking fourth among Fonterra’s dairy farmers at one point during the season. With regards to breeding they buy semen from LIC. “We’ll hopefully get most started by 22 October and calf roughly 29 July, with the last calves between 7-10 September.” The 41-hectare block, they purchased just 500 metres up the road, has good soil and will be used for heifer yearling grazing. It complements our 24ha block, just 2.5 km’s away from the farm. “But it needs a little TLC so it’ll be understocked initially.” Olivia Contractors - for all your metal supplies, truck hire, drain cleaning, drainage, cow race work and horse arena construction. Phone - Mike Reid - 0274 431 775 Hayden has been actively involved with the Dairy Industry Awards as a team leader in 2024, a role he enjoyed. “I really loved chatting to the trainees and hearing their stories,” he says. The farm is a family affair with twenty-eight- month-old Arlo is already showing signs of becoming a farm enthusiast, while four-month-old Willow adds another dimension to their bustling household. Danielle, his fiancée, contributes where she can between caring for their young children. With a wedding planned for March 2026 life doesn’t look like slowing down for the McDonalds any time soon. Hayden’s approach to the past months can be summed up simply: “A year older, hopefully a year wiser.”
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