64 | nzdairy Closed system ‘good for our bull sale’ Russell Fredric DAIRY PEOPLE » Lynrich Jerseys Owning two dairy farms and a supporting grazing block has allowed Lynrich Jerseys to operate a closed system that has created advantages in the aftermath of Mycoplasma bovis. Lynrich Jerseys is a family dairy business owned by Richard and Christine Lansdaal and run with the support of their children, Megan and Simon, who work as managers. Their other daughter, Natalie, works at AgResearch and is the decision maker for which sire is the best for each cow, as well as the best pair of extra hands for rearing their 300 calves. In addition to having a closed herd, the farms as a system 1/2 operation are also fully self-contained. “M.bovis just made us more determined to be a closed herd,” Richard and Christine say. “That’s when we went and purchased a stock truck to carry our own stock to the grazing property. Being a closed farm is also good for our bull sale, farmers today can buy with con dence that M.bovis will not come from the bulls we have for sale.” The farms operate under a family trust, with the 100 hectare home farm near Morrinsville having been owned by Richard and Christine for 29 years. “We were lucky enough to purchase neighbouring farms to add to our rst 100 hectares and built it up to 240 hectares where we milked 740 cows in one unit as we felt we had to let the staff do the milkings.” With milking 740 cows becoming harder during the hot summers it was decided to split the farm into two units. This meant less walking for the cows and less time in the shed, so a 36 a-side herringbone shed was built and a 21% sharemilker taken on eight years ago. This also allowed Christine to continue to milk her cows. For feed, the farms grow 3ha each of fodder beet for the dry summer and 3ha of maize silage, while grass silage stacks are also made. The milking shed at night. Inset: Lynrich Jerseys’ Richard and Christine Lansdaal. • to page 23 Ace Electrical Services Ltd 71 Anderson Street Morrinsville www.aceelectrical.nz Phone: 0800 889 6123 For all your farming electrical requirements: • Milking systems • Water pumps • Effluent systems Ace Electrical Member MASTER ELECTRICIANS
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