56 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Wilcock and Thompson Journey into sharemilking has been carefully built A shift from RotoRainers to pivot irrigation across 220 hectares has significantly improved pasture performance, while cow numbers have grown from 760 to 800. Alexia Anderson Continued growth and a steady focus on efficiency have shaped the past five years for Bradley and Meagan Wilcock. The couple are 50/50 sharemilkers, at Stoneleigh Park in Oxford, Canterbury. Alongside farm owners Neville and Linda Thompson, the couple oversee 280 hectares of irrigated land, milking 800 cows. They also run a 200 hectare lease block, where all young stock are grazed and external heifer grazing is provided. Their journey into sharemilking has been carefully built. An early opportunity to grow equity proved pivotal. “Before that, we got the opportunity to buy cows into the herd on another farm. That gave us the equity growth to be able to get into the sharemilking position.” Bradley and Meagan began at Stoneleigh Park in 2020 through an equity partnership arrangement, eventually buying out their partner, with the final shares secured last year. Production growth has followed similar success. “From the start, we’ve had good production increases,” Bradley says. “When we took over the farm, the best season they had [previously] was 316,000 kg of milk solids. In our first season we did 353,000 and are on target for 400,000 this season.” Bradley admits that level of gain came sooner than expected, but it has set a benchmark they are keen to keep pushing for. Part of that lift has come from infrastructure investments. A shift from RotoRainers to pivot irrigation across 220 hectares has significantly improved pasture performance, while cow numbers have grown from 760 to 800. Taking on the lease block in 2023 has also strengthened the system, allowing greater control over young stock. All stock are wintered on the farm, with crops grown to support the system. Inside the dairy shed, efficiency has been a key driver of change. The 40-aside herringbone shed has been upgraded with technology designed to ease pressure on both people and the animals. “We’ve tried to make it as efficient as possible, which now includes automatic teat sprayers. The cattle also have Allflex collars, which will soon be switched to Halter to help enhance efficiency.” An automatic drafting gate has also been introduced, alongside automatic cup removers on the final 20 sets of cups. The upgrades mean that if only one person is in the shed, the workload is more manageable and less stressful, while also preventing over-milking by ensuring cups come off in time. Bradley says the aim is to make it efficient both inside and outside the milking shed. The farm relies solely on AI for mating, removing the need for bulls and reducing health and safety risks. For Bradley, however, the biggest gains are not only measured in kilograms of milk solids, but in the working environment created around the team. The farm employs three full-time staff members, two of them who have both been with the team for more than five years, while a former full time employee continues to assist in a relief capacity. Bradley and Meagan are always looking for opportunities, but admit they never know what they could be or when they will present themselves. However, one thing is for certain, expansion and innovation is already proving its worth, driven by their willingness to adapt, invest and welcome growth. Dar f ield Oxford 03 318 8516 03 312 4016 www.frewstransport.co.nz • GENERAL FREIGHT • STOCK• LIME & FERTILISER • GRAIN • LOG CARTAGE • BLOWER TRUCK FARM WATER SPECIALISTS We provide a variety of quality water services & products to farms, lifestyle blocks and residential properties. We are your Water Specialists covering the wider Canterbury Region – We have service trucks so will travel. 03 4233162 office@canterburywaterservices.co.nz www.canterburywaterservices.co.nz Pump Sales, Service & Installations | General Farm Water Services | New & Existing Dairy Shed Water Reticulation | Sales, Design & Installation of Secondary Irrigation Lifestyle & Domestic Water Pumping Systems | General Irrigation
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