66 | nzdairy Barnan Dairy is lifting the benchmark Tracey Edwardes DAIRY PEOPLE » Barnan Dairy Farm Darrell and his wife Julie have 440 Holstein Friesians on 190ha,170ha effective. Farms such as Barnan Dairy Farm lift the benchmark, and for second-generation farmer Darrell Wendelgelst, it’s about running with the challenges.” “We make the improvements, and then take it as it comes. Our split milking system is a high input system, but it’s the road we’ve gone down - and I quite enjoy the challenge.” Darrell and his wife Julie have 440 Holstein Friesians on 190ha,170ha effective. The family started out dairying at our 50ha farm in Kaitangata, but were locked in with no opportunity to grow, so they sold and bought the Waiwera South farm 30 years ago, converting it from a sheep farm. The 50-year-old gained a Diploma in Farm Management from Lincoln, before returning to the family farm, located half way between Dunedin and Invercargill. “My father, Bart still has an interest in what’s going on. Even though he’s essentially retired, he comes down every week or two and gets involved.” Son Ashley, 19, works full time on farm, while 16-year-old Hayden helps out. “Julie really enjoys the calving rearing side of things and generally helps with the boys’ sports - football, hockey and she is a Scout leader. I haven’t time for sport these days, but I’ve been involved in the local fire brigade for 27 years, and joined the local Lions Club a few years ago. The four valued full-time staff have a healthy balance of five days in three weeks off. Darrell is hands on everywhere but the milking shed, and looks after the technology side of things. “For example, its mating time which is all AI, and during the pregnancy tests I’ll be doing the recording. We use only A2/A2 bulls, but we don’t necessarily focus on it. Our cows would all be at least A2/A1, if not full A2/A2. We are aiming for 295,000kg of milk solids from 440 cows this year. Calving starts in Autumn, so we are transition feeding the cows to get the rumen going. I’ve started genomic testing our heifers each year, to make sure we’re only breeding from our very best heifers - and we know their genetics. The higher import farm is a System 5, so 30% of the diet is supplemented. They grow grass, cereal barley and wheat, and buy in palm kernel, and canola meal for higher protein. He says last Spring the weather was diabolical - wet and cold. Barnan Farm fortunately had all the facilities to take in 30 extra cows for their friends, who were badly affected in the Clutha floods. Brad Hosking - 027 754 6075 - 24 hours | office@highlinedairy.co.nz Specialising in: • Complete Dairy Shed Maintenance • New Dairy Shed Builds • Platform Repairs and Maintenance • Water and Effluent Management • General Engineering • Registered Milking Machine Technician • South Otago's Read Service Agent MILKING SYSTEMS ead “We are upgrading the cow sheds this season and putting in some new milk meters. Between those and the GEA CowScout smart collars, we’ll know if there are any problems. “Currently, we are selling our 150ha run off, so we can purchase a larger 280ha block. Among the benefits, it’s closer to us, and you don’t have to cross the main road. It’s then possible to grow cow numbers up to 480 for the season. Around 12 months ago we were milking 400. It’ll be a bit of work but, by growing in area, we can lift the cow numbers.” For second-generation farmer Darrell Wendelgelst, it’s about running with the challenges.
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