18 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Harakeke Farm Now in his fourth season milking 720 cows on 204ha at Culverden, Jaspal originally moved to New Zealand in 2014. Karen Phelps For Canterbury contract milker Jaspal Singh, success is measured by far more than the kilograms of milk-solids produced each season. As his career has progressed, he has come to value the growth of his operation, the development of his leadership skills, and the strength of the team working alongside him just as highly as on-farm performance. Now in his fourth season milking 720 cows on 204ha at Culverden, Jaspal originally moved to New Zealand in 2014 to pursue postgraduate studies in IT. However, a visit to a friend’s dairy farm in Southland saw him take a different path. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a dairy assistant and later a farm manager for farms in Mossburn and Waimate. During this time, he married wife Ruby in India, had two children (now aged 7 and 3), and also entered the NZ Dairy Industry Awards twice, winning the Canterbury/ North Otago Manager of the Year and then National Manager of the Year in 2022. He moved to the Culverden farm in 2023. Jaspal says since moving into contract milking, the journey has been about more than just increasing production or managing cows. “It has been a period of real personal and professional growth,” he says. “Looking back, the biggest achievement is not only what the farm has produced, but how much we have developed as operators, leaders, and team.” He says over the past four seasons, he has gained a much deeper understanding of what it takes to run a successful dairy business. “It is not just about daily farm work, but about planning ahead, making consistent decisions, managing people, and staying calm under pressure through all parts of the season,” he says. Come to value the growth of his operation hello@plainsirrigators.co.nz Call us on: 022 500 6144 • High quality agricultural lime • Capping lime for dairy lanes • 3 grades of chip • Established in 1945 www.amurilime.co.nz Change your backing gate to think like you, with complete automation control: how long it runs for, how much the gate gives, how fast the gate travels, how frequently the gate can be moved. Guardian 1 or 2 gate systems include: Making your Backing gates smarter Phone: 07 849 2122 Email: sales@mcconnel.co.nz mcconnel.co.nz • Yard Sensors, Automated Wash Control, and gate forward movement timed to suit your milking operation. Guardian Backing Gate Controller “I now see myself as a more confident and structure farm operator compared to when I first started. Earlier, the focus was mainly on getting through each day, but now the focus is on systems, efficiency, and long-term performance. “This shift in mindset has been a key part of my growth.” Jaspal says one of the biggest gains has been building a strong and reliable team around him. “Today, I work with people who understand the system, take responsibility, and contribute to consistent results. Developing this team culture has been just as important as any production milestone. “We have also learnt how to adapt to each season – improving feed planning, lifting animal health performance, and tightening cost control.
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