14 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Glenalla Farm Ten years and counting for Michael Aimee Wilson Glenalla Farm won its first Supreme Champion award for a Holstein Friesan this season, adding onto its Jersey and Ayrshire titles at 2026 NZ Dairy events. Michael Gilbert has been on the family farm near Rakaia for 10 years and 50:50 sharemilks 650 cows for his parents Anne and Peter. This year Glenalla also won Intermediate Champion for another Holstein Fresian, Intermediate Champion for an Ayrshire and Reserve Intermediate Champion for a Jersey. The Supreme Champion Holstein Fresian Glenalla Unix Maple-ET EX94 was picked amongst 100 other breeders, and came from an imported embryo in the USA. Glenalla Farm has predominantly Jerseys (450), along with 230 Fresians and about 20 Ayrshire cows. “Jerseys have been the main breed for our family,” he said. Michael’s great-grandfather Reg Gilbert established the Glenalla Jersey Stud back in the 1920’s and his parents have passed on to their three sons a keen interest in breeding. “We’re increasing the use of embryo transfer and IVF to speed up the rate of genetic gain,” Michael said. The family has a policy that any good cow can do well, regardless of the breed. “We don’t aim for a set portion of the herd to be any specific breed,” he said. “Whatever cow is producing well we breed from, regardless of the breed.” The aim of all of the studs is the same: to breed high producing cows with good conformation, particularly udders and cows that can last the distance. All of the cows have TOP classification and Michael uses technology to fast track genetic gains, particularly Afimilk collars. He said it helps him to make better decisions as well as make things easier for himself and staff. Using AI with the collars has enabled him to have full control the whole mating season rather than bringing in the bull at the end. This season they have also introduced calffeeding robots to save labour and to help with performance. The technology gives farmers notifications about weight and alerts for sickness, and the $80,000 robot can take care of 150 cows. “Our plan is to put another one in later in the season. It’s starting to take off a bit now.” Family shot taken at NZDE. The preferred milking systems partner for Dairy Farmers Ph 0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz Proud to support Glenalla Farm Milking Machines Rotary Platforms Engineering Pumping & Plumbing Chemical Installing and servicing Canterbury dairy sheds since 1980. 70 years of Combined Electrical Experience You Can Trust. 726 East Street, Ashburton 7700 Ashburton | Rolleston | Geraldine | Temuka This past winter has been pretty mild for some Canterbury farmers - Rakaia missed all of the heavy inland snowfalls - setting them up well for spring with some strong growth. The Gilberts are interested in eventually purchasing more land to increase the herd size, but rising on-farm costs are always the biggest challenge. Compliance and environmental regulations will continue to be front and centre for farmers, but Michael believes dairy farmers are making better decisions with their farm practices. “Farmers are getting better at those things, and will continue to do the work, but technology is a big part of that. “The biggest thing you can do is be more efficient, which is better for the environment.”
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