68 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Lindsay & Caroline Burnell / Logan Kelly Ayrshires prove their worth in all weathers Karen Phelps Lifelong advocates of the Ayrshire breed, Lindsay and Caroline Burnell, believe with climate change Ayrshires will prove their worth. “They are a hardy animal and when things get tough they carry on. We’ve had a harsh wet winter this year and the Ayrshires are calving down nicely,” says Lindsay. Their 125ha effective unit at Ohau near Levin milks a herd of 280 cows. The herd is a mix of Ayrshire (40%), Friesian (55%) and Jersey Cross (5%). Lindsay says the mix ensures a good balance of production and resilience. While Friesians and Jersey Crosses may produce better under good conditions the Ayrshires withstand challenging conditions better, he says. Sons Andrew and Nathan are now running the farm on a day-to-day basis and Lindsay says they have been focusing on tightening up the calving pattern for greater ef ciency. “Andrew and Nathan work together really well. They get things done and I get told what to do now, he jokes. “I’m very proud of them.” Nathan and Andrew are also keen to carry on the family’s passion for breeding Ayrshires. Most of farm’s Ayrshires are part of Holyrood Stud and Lindsay says the aim is to breed a medium sized cow with good feet, mobility, in-calf rates and production. The herd usually has a low empty rate of just 5-7%. The family has been trying Scandinavian genetics in the breeding programme to help increase milk fat and protein components, along with local genetics from Sanrosa Stud and Kiteroa Stud. Per cow production is the focus with the target being 450-500kgsMS and the target for the herd, 120,000-125,000 kgsMS. The cows are milked through a 20-aside herringbone shed and the family favours a simple farming system. There are no feed pads, their system is mainly grass based, and they only buy in 100 tonnes of feed each year fed in the shed in spring and sometimes autumn. About 20-25ha of chicory and plantain is planted for summer feed and hay and baleage is made on-farm for winter. Around 25% of the farm is irrigated by k-line, which helps during dry patches. They have two storage ponds on the farm and ef uent is spread over around 70% of the farm via travelling irrigator. Lindsay was born on a dairy farm a couple of roads over. His rst sharemilking job was on the present farm, which he and Caroline later purchased and added to over the years. Caroline takes on the accounts for the business and Lindsay lls in on farm as needed. Both take an overall view of the business. Lindsay also combines farming with a role as trustee of Electra and has spent 33 years as a county and district councillor and 10 years as a regional councillor. He says it has been gratifying to see farmers and local council working well together on environmental issues. As a skin cancer survivor Lindsay also has an important word of advice for farmers. “Years ago we didn’t worry too much about the sun but I really encourage farmers to remember to wear a hat out on the job.” Enjoying the product, grandkids Max Burnell and Esme Tahir. Part of the Shorthorn herd at the Kelly’s Kaitangata, South Otago farm. Dependability and nature winning Shorthorn traits Karen Phelps Logan Kelly has a busy farming life, running a herd of 165 cows on the family farm he and owns at Kaitangata in South Otago but also sharemilking 475 cows on the neighbouring farm. The home-farm herd has a 60:40% mix of Shorthorn and Friesian. When NZ Dairy spoke with him, Logan said that the quality of winter grazing hadn’t been at the standard it would normally be, due mainly to drought conditions right through to may. “With lack of rain our winter crops haven’t been at the volume we would usually get. We’ve produced eight tonne rather than the usual 14 tonne of crop, so it will still be touch and go. But with good pasture cover at dry off and in-shed feeding we won’t have any issues.” Logan’s had a strong connection to the milking shorthorn breed and his family, who have been farming in the district for a century now, rst began farming shorthorns in 1987. “I was only six years old but I remember really liking the breed.” Logan showed his rst shorthorn at competition when he was 15 years old and by then had a small herd of 10 heifers. In 2020 12-year-old-cow Burness EMP Phil, was named Supreme Cow at the South Otago A & P Show. Sharing in that special moment was the couple’s youngest son Watson, now seven, who, like his dad just loves the breed and farm life. Logan says he’s seen de nite improvement in the genetic gain of the breed. Logan’s interest in the breed extends to involvement in the NZ Shorthorn Breeders Assn. He’s currently vice-president and also manages the process of picking sires for the future. “The breeders around the country send me breeding stats from their herd We look at the father and the mother and then make our selections from there. I’ve been in that role now for three years.” From this information the team gain a good picture of current genetic value and a sense of the type of bull they want to promote to strengthen the genetic quality of future generations. “We’re looking for A2 bulls, roan and white colouring. They produce pretty nice blue calves out of a Friesian cow.” He’s also pleased to see that people, with perhaps just two or three shorthorn cows are becoming more interested in joining the association. “If you have under 20 cows you qualify for free associate membership for one year. It’s an incentive we use to bring more people toward the breed.” The NZ Shorthorn Association, like those governing many breeds, has an annual conference which combines AGM meeting business, such as election of of cers, discussing remits, a bus trip to visit shorthorn farms in the district followed by a dinner where awards are presented for production and the winners of the photo competition are announced. With staff employed on both farms, Logan busy’s himself with AI and is the DIY technician. The smaller home farm has a 22 bail rotary, while the herd on the larger farm is milked through a 50 bail rotary. Logan says he personally ignores BW scores, focussing instead on type, udders and milk production. He likes Shorthorns for their dependability and nature. Fer t i l i ser Spread i ng | Boom Spray i ng Cu l t i va t i ng | Round Ba l age or Hay Farm Race Repa i r s Ema i l : mdpage@farms ide . co . nz PAGE SPREADERS LTD AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTOR For all your agricultural and building requirements contact Gary The team at Davis Contracting Levin Ltd are proud to support Lindsay and Caroline Burnell • Grass & Maize Silage • Round & Square Hay & Baleage • Cultivation • Cartage • Hedgecutting • Tube or Individual Wrapping LUBRICANTS AUTHORISED STOCKIST Martin Darmody P: 027 227 2410 A/H: 03 413 9202 E: martindarmody@xtra.co.nz • GENERAL ENGINEERING • HYDRAULIC HOSE & VALVE REPAIRS • GRAIN & MOLASSES FEED SYSTEMS • FARM MACHINERY SERVICE & REPAIR • ATV SERVICE & REPAIR
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