28 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Noah Dibble An early fascination with cow genetics Karen Phelps At just 19 Noah Dibble is making a name for himself in the New Zealand dairy industry with pedigree breeding at the heart of his ambition. Growing up on his grandfather Ian’s farm in Te Aroha, Noah developed an early fascination with cow genetics and showing. Ian Dibble, once steward of the largest milking Shorthorn herd in the Southern Hemisphere and a long-standing board member of the New Zealand Shorthorn Association, passed away in recent years, leaving a profound legacy. “I’d spend hours as a kid with my grandad going over pedigrees,” says Noah. That early exposure to breeding and the stud side of farming sparked a passion that has driven him through a rapid progression in the industry. Leaving school just before his sixteenth birthday he began full time farming. By his seventeenth birthday he had moved into sharemilking on a family farm. Noah’s first sharemilking role involved 220 cows, purchased in partnership with his mother Andrea. “I got my first calf as a Christmas present when I was very young so I already had 30-40 cows,” he explains. Now in Orini for his second season on another family farm Noah peak milks 200 cows in a 50:50 sharemilking arrangement, with his mother helping on morning milkings. The herd is milked twice a day with Noah also overseeing day-to-day farm operations. “My mates from school just finished last year. So the biggest challenge has been not being able to go out as much. The social aspect has been the hardest but I do have quite a good group of older mates from showing cows and who are sharemilking as well,” he says. Noah’s first sharemilking role involved 220 cows, purchased in partnership with his mother Andrea. The focus of Noah’s herd is pedigree Holstein Friesians. He runs a stud called Vat Fullers, which he started when he was six or seven. “Little me thought my cows would fill the vat, so I called it that,” he says with a laugh. Noah also has a small group of Shorthorns, a legacy from his grandfather, as well as Brown Swiss, Normandy, Guernsey and Ayrshire. “Everyone refers to my herd as a liquorice allsorts. It’s not your average typical New Zealand dairy herd,” he says. Noah’s dedication to breeding is evident in both production and show results. He sold two top Shorthorns last year for $5,000-$6,000 including a Two Year Old Shorthorn class winner at the Waikato A & P Show. He aims to improve production further, targeting 90,000kgsMS this season up from 86,000kgsMS last year. “I love the pedigree side of it. I don’t want to wake up early to put cups on average cows. I want good cows that can do good production and do well in the showring too,” says Noah. Shorthorns will always have a special place in the herd: “I wouldn’t be here today doing what I’m doing without the Shorthorns. My great grandad and grandad both had Shorthorns so it’s been a big part of the family business.” Holsteins Friesians have recently captured his attention for their broader genetic pool and competitive edge in the showring providing a new Gerard Hansen Licensed Immigration Adviser 021 770 132 gerard@alpinenz.co.nz alpineirnz.co.nz Need help with your employment needs? Get In Touch. For all your Agricultural Requirements give JCL a call today on 07 887 6688 Proud to support Noah Dibble OUR SERVICES: • FULL GRASS & MAIZE SILAGE SERVICES • WEIGHBRIDGE • LOADERWAGON • CROP & PASTURE SPRAYING • MOWING & RAKING • BAILING & WRAPPING • TRUCK & TRAILER CARTING • GROUND CULTIVATION & DRILLING • MAIZE SIDE DRESSING &SPREADING challenge. “My personal aim is to breed a moderate sized Holstein Friesian with good udders, production and fertility. I’ve bought some pretty good cow families and am not afraid to spend on genetics. Everything in my herd is bred to overseas genetics.” Reflecting on his journey, Noah credits his grandfather’s influence. “Everything I know about farming is from my grandad. I grew up very close with him. We worked on the farm together and showed his cows together. I got my passion for breeding cows through him. But I don’t think he’d be too impressed if he saw how black and white the herd is now!”
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