50 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Terpstra Farming Ltd New feed pad set to improve feed utilisation Kiteroa Cream Payge EX 9-9. One of the picks of the sale cows. Kim Newth Building a feed pad was top of mind for Michael and Sarah Terpstra when they stepped into farm ownership last year for the first time. With the pad completed in February 2026, they are now looking forward to reaping the gains that come with improved feed efficiency. Michael is a dairy breeder who has won a number of Ayrshire and Holstein Friesian accolades since starting Hollipork stud in 2018. Before buying their 146-hectare farm near Te Aroha, he and Sarah were 50/50 sharemilking on 110 hectares near Morrinsville. At Te Aroha, they have lifted their herd size to some 300 cows to match the scale of the larger platform. Their new feed pad has been designed to accommodate the bigger Holstein herd. “We can split the herd in half and have both mobs – the dries and milkers – on the pad at the same time in winter,” explains Michael. “There are big gates and troughs down the middle of it. We can put half at the front and half at the back. We built an access ramp to make it nice and easy for the cows.” Having grown up in Galatea, Michael ended up choosing a Whakatane-based company to build the feed pad, Able Precast Concrete. “They put a lot of time, effort and thought into it, and worked really hard to do everything. They’ve done such a good job. We’re also planning to build feed bunkers with them at the end of this year.” This autumn is a busy time on farm with preparations in full swing for the 2026 Hollipork Sale on 14th April. A mix of R1s, R2s and cows – including Holsteins, Ayrshires and some Jerseys - will be presented at the on-farm sale. With 112 lots in total, there will plenty of quality options available from well-grown calves to capacious cows. “We’re selling all our Jerseys and, while we’re keeping some of our Ayrshire females, we mainly just want Holsteins now to drive our production going forward.” Michael says their production has risen from 600MS/cow in 2024 to 713MS/cow last year and is now sitting at around 780MS/cow. With the feed pad, they will be targeting further production gains in coming seasons. The April sale is set to attract strong interest given the quality lots available, including standouts like Kiteroa Cream Payge – “her EX99 is the highest possible score for an Ayrshire cow and with her high type and good production she’s a cow that everyone admires.” For the family farm team, it will be all hands on deck for the sale. Sarah has been full-time on the farm for the past year doing all the calf rearing and feeding. Michael’s parents live on-farm with his father, Andre, assisting with milking and feeding out. Hollipork recently achieved great success at the Waikato HFNZ-Semex On Farm Competition, with their entry in the six- to eight-year-old age group, Waipiri Mogul Totie EX, winning her class and also being named overall regional winner. Top regional animals progress to the national finals. Looking for an Accountant that has a Personal Approach - Cost Effective Clearly Presented Accounts? Director: Tony Coombe CA Marshall Street PO Box 21 DX GA25011 Paeroa 3640 Phone: 07 862 8669 E-mail: coombeassociates@xtra.co.nz 0508 KAIMAI (524624) Proud to be supporting Terpstra Farming Ltd Michael says their champion cow, which has never been at a show, is now generating a lot of excitement. “We’re planning to provide an opportunity at our sale to let someone flush her for daughters and the buyer would get to pick the bull.”
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