| 43 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Rahi Partnership Rahi expands its mid-Canterbury footprint Cow numbers on the Rakaia property have been reduced by about 100 to allow mixed age cows to be wintered on farm. Karen Phelps Datona Ltd has expanded its mid-Canterbury footprint with the acquisition of the Rahi Partnership dairy farm at Bankside, Rakaia, a move that significantly strengthens the business’s operational integration and long-term resilience, says equity manager Tony Coltman. The farm, purchased in June 2025, sits around 15 kilometres from Datona’s Dunsandel base and was previously operated under a sharemilking arrangement. It milks 1,050 crossbred cows through a 50-bail rotary shed fitted with Protrack, automatic cup removers and an in-shed feeding system. The purchase coincides with Datona’s acquisition of a 230-hectare support block known as Links, located on South Two Chain Road halfway between the company’s two main farms. The block supports young stock and wintering and plays a central role in linking Datona’s operations into a more efficient and self-contained system. “Purchasing this farm and support block has enabled us to create a fully self-contained hub with our heifers and wintering,” says Tony, describing the acquisition as a key step in consolidating the wider business. Since taking ownership cow numbers on the Rakaia property have been reduced by about 100 to allow mixed age cows to be wintered on farm. A PKE feed system has also been installed, replacing a grain-only regime and improving flexibility around feed inputs and pasture performance. The farm is now run by contract milkers Nav Singh and his wife Drishti, who are in their fourth year working on the property and second year contract milking. Tony says Datona’s focus over the next period is on consolidation rather than expansion, with practical improvements planned for the new farm before any larger system changes are considered. Track upgrades are planned alongside subdivision and longer-term irrigation improvements. The farm currently operates with two pivots and three roto-rainers, with large paddocks and long walking distances identified as areas for refinement over time. These additions complement Datona’s established base farm at Dunsandel, where approximately 2,150 cows are milked across two sheds, along with a nearby 137-hectare support block at Oxford. The Dunsandel farm has previously served as a DairyNZ Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching monitor farm and was recognised with the Canterbury Supreme Award at the 2020 Ballance Farm Environment Awards, reflecting Datona’s emphasis on environmental performance alongside production and financial performance. Tony, who is not from a farming background, moved south to study agriculture at Lincoln University before working in rural banking and for DairyNZ. He now balances farm governance roles alongside operational oversight, serving in his second year as a director on the LIC Board and also sitting on the Central Plains Irrigation Board. “I enjoy governance and want to give back to the industry,” he says. “I’ve been part of strategy refresh work at LIC. Other exciting developments include sexed semen and a beef on dairy product due to current beef prices. There has been a strong focus on consolidation, the long term intergenerational strategy and consenting work at Central Plains Irrigation.” With the Rakaia farm now fully integrated, Datona’s immediate priority is strengthening its systems and infrastructure, positioning the business for sustainable performance and measured growth well into the future. “We’ll continue to consolidate the business and make it stronger. If there’s growth opportunities we’ll look at them but they have to be the right opportunities.” 03 325 4444 | admin@srvets.co.nz | www.srvets.co.nz We offer a full range of dairy herd services along with covering all your companion animal & lifestyle block needs Proud to support Canlac Farming
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