| 27 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Herewahine Trust Karen Phelps It’s been close to six years since Monica and Kevin Campbell started sharemilking for the Herewahine Trust on 230 hectares under the Horororo Bluffs on the Central Plateau. With about 165 effective hectares for the dairy platform they milk 330 New Zealand Friesian cows on their System 1 farm. They make good use of the remaining 55 rolling to steeper hectares as grazing for their young stock all of which they keep on farm, about 85 each of R1’s and R2’s. Owned by the Herewahine Trust which currently has three trustees actively involved in decision-making: Robyn Bargh, Bill Young, and Kataraina George. It’s a relationship that the Campbells value and actively nurture through regular and consistent communication. “We instigated writing a monthly report so that they can see how we’re travelling against the KPI’s that we’ve set, and to stay in touch in regard to their budgeting and farm improvements,” explains Monica. A key KPI is the kilos of milk solids per cow, in this case 410kgs per cow with no bought in feed. Silage is grown on farm and other than that it’s grass only. Milk production has increased from 395 kgs per cow over the last couple of years which the Campbells largely put down to their careful pasture management and improving fertility. “One of the lease blocks that the Trust has had Olsen P’s of 17 and we’re slowly improving that, which flows onto the amount of grass growing, which flows through to milk production,” says Monica. Olsen P’s are a measure of mg’s of available phosphorus per kilo of soil for plant uptake. The Campbells have increased theirs to 24 and are targeting at least 35. Their strategically slow application of an environmentally friendly phosphate has the additional advantage of reducing phosphate leakage into their pumice soils and ultimately through into the waters of the Waikato. Another focus is their pasture renewal program which they’ve put together working with the Trust, rotating around the poorer performing blocks on the farm. “That focuses on maximizing returns to the Trust from newer pasture species which bring better speed of growth and palatability for the cows,” says Monica. The combination of heavy rainfall and the slope of the land means the Campbells use direct drilling rather than cultivation as they introduce perennial pasture types into the existing pastures. Regular and consistent communication key WE ARE MORE THAN JUST MILKING SPECIALISTS with 24/7 Service Feel free to call in, visit our shop and discuss any requirements you have in regards to your dairy shed. DeLaval Service and Support milking solutions Ph 07 348 3628 19 White Street, Rotorua www.abcmilkingsolutions.co.nz Milking Machines Dairy Consumables Machine Tests Davey Supplier Trenching DeLaval InService (Preventative Maintenance) McConnel Backing Gates Water Pumps & Fittings E uent Systems Bore Lifts Irrigation Services Reid & Harrison Ph: 021 148 0322 | bluffcountry.co.nz | karl@bluffcountry.co.nz like us on Proud to work with Herewahine Trust Agricultural contractors servicing the greater Rotorua region • Round & Square Baling • Loaderwagon Silage • Fertiliser & Muck Spreading • Earthworks & Development • Cultivation & Seed Drilling • Rock Crushing • Vegetation Mulching • Hedgemulching • Feed Supplies • Transport From their previous experience they knew that grasses such as 150 and Prospect were likely to perform better than the existing paspalum and other species. Blocks are identified through a combination of annual soil testing, their weekly plate metering to measure the pasture growth, and ‘Space’, a feed of information from an LIC run satellite. Combining the information from their weekly, manual measuring with that from the ‘Space’ feed, makes for good decisions in their pasture management, and ultimately for nutrition management and feeding cows for the most production. Accurate information lends itself to sustainable farming practices and so too does the riparian planting program that is underway on the farm. Three out of four of the creeks that run through the property have been planted out with natives such as flaxes and manuka with the next one lined up to be completed. There’s already a measurable difference in water quality and a noticeable bird-life increase which Monica also attributes to the big program being undertaken to make the Horohoro Maunga predator free. The Campbells are enjoying helping the Herewahine Trust achieve their environmental goals, underpinned by the System 1 ethos. For them pasture is the key to it all, knowing as they do that what they feed their cows is what makes the milk, and working hard to make that both sustainable and self-sufficient. Kevin & Monica Campbell with their kids.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=