| 11 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Chris and Pauline Prattley Prattley’s have high regard for Ayrshires Another development on the farm has been through a three year soil health improvement programme. Karen Phelps Canterbury dairy farmers Chris and Pauline Prattley have a high regard for the Ayrshires, first coming into contact with the breed when they were working for a couple who bred & milked Pedigree Ayshires. From this opportunity the couple purchased their first pedigree heifers when sharemilking for Tasman Agriculture Ltd and over subsequent years grew the Ayrshire number to 200, a2a2 milk producing cows, which now form part of their 740 strong herd, milked on their 196ha property 20km from Lake Ellesmere. Some of the Ayrshire cows have been purchased at auction from North Island breeders who have a2 tested them. To support the farm’s overall operation, two other blocks form part of the business. At 24ha and 54ha these provide room for raising young stock and growing crops. The couple have worked hard to develop the farm’s infrastructure with the addition of eventually three herd homes, used for sheltering cows and for yearling heifers about to transition to puberty. “We were very aware that extreme heat isn’t good for dairy cows, especially if it doesn’t cool down sufficiently at night, so the herd homes play an important part in animal health and welfare and pasture management,” Pauline says. NZ Dairy spoke with the couple in early December at a time when the province was experiencing hot and windy conditions. A very wet winter/spring however impacted pasture production somewhat, however Pauline says there’s been a noticeable increase in milk production each month. Both say the herd is in good condition. The Prattley’s supply Synlait with a2a2 milk produced by using a2a2 semen plus using some Viking Red genetics over the Ayrshires, also a2a2. Through an initiative between Synlait, Farmlands and the energy supplier, the farm has now adopted a solar energy system. The system consists of 216 panels producing approx. 604kwh/hr, supplying energy for 2 pivot irrigators and the dairyshed, with battery storage. Any surplus is sold to the grid, with the option of being able to supply the grid in times of emergency from our batteries. “This also gives us certainty of supply in the event of a power outage.” While Chris and Pauline look after the grazing and animal health of the young stock and wider farm management development, the day-to-day milking operation is the domain of their variable order sharemilker, Gordon Lu, who is a Lincoln University graduate. The farm has supplied Synlait since the milk producer established a2 supply. “There’s been a lot of research undertaken on the benefits a2 milk delivers to consumers and this was something we were interested in right from the start.” Another development on the farm has been through a three-year soil health improvement programme, funded an a2milk farm sustainability grant. “We’ve been pleased with the results thus far. We’re currently growing three different clovers which are proving good for heavy soils, along with plantain varieties.” The farm, like many in the district, is part of the Selwyn Land Drainage system, with quite deep drains, carrying water through it toward the lake. Ensuring water quality is very good has long been a priority. “We’ve gone away from hard fertilisers and now apply fish fertiliser and minerals. We bought a tow and fert machine in order to try to keep the fert in the top couple of inches of soil, where it’s needed for pasture production. Making sure our drains are fenced off has been a priority for us. Over the last 8 years we’ve been fencing off a section at a time,” Pauline says. A planting programme towards the edges of the drains has made another major positive environmental improvement. Synlait are providing plants to support this important initiative. For the past eleven years, the Prattley’s have been part of Synlait’s Lead With Pride Programme. The programme, established in 2013 and Australasia’s first internationally accredited ISO dairy farm assurance system, recognises and financially rewards suppliers who achieve dairy farming best practice. All in all, looking back on their time farming in the district both Chris and Pauline say they’re pleased to have taken up opportunities to add value to the business. “We have a strong connection to this farm and want to see the very best environmental, animal health and business profitability outcomes arise.” FERTILISER SPREADING | FARM MAPPING GPS TRACKING | VARIABLE RATE SPREADING LIVESTOCK CARTAGE | DAILY FREIGHT CONCRETE SUPPLIES | GRAIN CARTAGE SHINGLE SUPPLIES | FERTILISER SUPPLIES Leeston: 03 3248 070 | Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz hello@plainsirrigators.co.nz
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