56 | nzdairy RURAL PEOPLE » Terpstra Farming Ltd Impressive dairy journey culminates in ownership Kim Newth Michael and Sarah Terpstra have taken a big step this season, moving on from 50/50 sharemilking near Morrinsville to running their own dairy farm at Te Aroha. In New Zealand’s dairy breeding industry, Michael is known as a young breeder of passion and drive who has had considerable success since starting Hollipork stud in 2018. Last year, Michael received the Bell Booth Achiever Award for his dedication to the Ayrshire breed. Adding to the accolades, he was recently awarded the Sherriff Memorial Trophy at the Holstein Friesian Awards, having achieved a remarkable average classification score of 84.35. His commitment to quality and progress in the Holstein Friesian breed has been described as “truly inspiring” by Holstein Friesian New Zealand (HFNZ). The trophy recognises a HFNZ member of less than 10 years who has achieved the highest average classification score for two-year-old heifers in the 2024/25 season. Michael is thrilled with the recognition from HFNZ, saying it shows his breeding is going in the right direction. “I’m trying to breed for the best uddered, most capacious cows I can. Every year my milk production is going higher and higher and it’s only going to get better.” Hollipork’s top stud bulls – Ayrshire bull Hollipork Rubi Ruthless and Holstein bull Hollipork Alco Hunter – are making a growing impact in the local dairy industry too, with Ruthless daughters now calving and the first daughters of Hunter set for first calving next year. Michael and Sarah have also enjoyed great success in recent years exhibiting and showing cattle at local A&P shows and at the New Zealand Dairy Event. The couple first started doing the sums last year on investing in a block to rear surplus heifers for annual sale. Then they thought, why not simply put a deposit down on a farm? At 146-hectares, the farm they chose at Te Aroha is a much bigger platform than where they were milking previously (110-hectares). They have lifted their herd size accordingly from 240 to 300 cows, predominantly Holsteins, and also plan to start rearing beef cattle at the back of the farm as an additional income stream. Sarah had been working as a vet technician but has now switched to being full-time on farm to assist Michael and his father, Andre. “We’ve got 300 cows and all the young stock – we’re pushing 140 calves a year – so it’s way too much for Dad and I. Sarah wanted to join us and we’re grateful for that. Rearing calves is a big job. We have bought a 60-teat feeder with a pump on it that’s helping to ease the workload.” With no herd homes or a feed pad on the farm, the cows have been supported by in-shed feeding this winter but Michael plans to build a feed pad this November. “It’s challenging without the feed pad, but we’re already doing way better production per cow because we’re feeding them so well.” Michael is thrilled with the recognition from HFNZ, saying it shows his breeding is going in the right direction. Michael and Sarah have taken a big step to running their own dairy farm at Te Aroha. 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 Meanwhile, Michael and Sarah are building young stock again this year with a view to having a surplus for their planned Hollipork 2026 sale next April. “We aim to have over 100 quality animals in the sale – watch this space!”
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