NZ Dairy Summer 2020

| 11 nz dairy A: 193-195 HIGH STREET PH: (06) 374 7021 E: dannevirke@vsdvk.co.nz Proud to support Hennie Verwaayen DAIRY PEOPLE » Tony Landers/Hennie Verwaayen 6x4 jennings d ltd (tony landers) Farming with a breeding focus • from page 10 breeding and dairy farming with a breeding focus is that you have more involvement with the individual animal and you can see certain cow families develop over time. “We keep track of individual families in our herd, which we can trace back four, five, six generations to cows we milked when we first started up in New Zealand. “Over time, I can see whether my breeding deci- sions have improved the cow or gone backward by making the wrong decisions.” Hennie and Kerri have been proactive in remov- ing cross bred cows from their herd and believe cross breeding in New Zealand has been detrimen- tal to the national herd. “The only way you can successfully cross breed is to keep the breeds pure in order to give people who want to cross breed the opportunity to cross backwards and forwards between the pure breeds. That way you get the best possible hybrid vigor.” B rought up on a farm just out of Manaia in South Taranaki where his parents farmed Jersey cows and following completion of a Bachelor of Agricultue at Massey University and a few years oversea Tony Landers returned to the family farm. “I progressed to 50:50 sharemilking and eventu- ally obtained an equity partnership enabling me to by the farm next door to the home farm. We have also bought some of the old farm as well,” Tony explains. His herd of 350 Jersey milk over 128 ha, of which Tony and Lesley own 102ha. The couple are passionate about the jersey breed, siting its good nature, efficiency in turning food into milk, with approximately 12-14% more efficiency per kilo of live weight and high fat and protein percentages. Their Glenui Stud produces outstanding cows and bulls, something the Landers have worked hard to achieve. “Back to when Dad was farming he used bulls for mating and I was always fascinated in the pedigree bulls and developed a keen interest in the breeding side of things.” When Tony took over the herd he became a member of Jersey NZ, an association he has main- tained ever since. “I was just really interested in getting information about my herd. We herd-test five times a year and I started using AB in the herd back in the 1990’s, to improve the genetics and production of the herd” Typical of those passionate about the quality of their herd, Tony says he’s never satisfied that he’s attained the very best out of the herd. Glenui Stud is one of the highest BW ranked herds in the country. Given his affinity with the breed, it was only a question of time before Tony became involved in Jersey NZ governance, a role he has participated in these past five years as a director on its board. The Jersey NZ board meets about six times a year and through the busy spring period these meetings tend to be over the computer. “Our biggest issue is to get our message out about how good Jerseys are. They out perform National herd needs more Jersey input Sue Russell Jersey NZ director Tony Landers wants to see more Jersey influence in the national herd. The Taranaki farmer says Jerseys “out perform all breeds from a per hectare, milksolids and fat perspective.” all breeds from a per hectare, milksolids and fat perspective.” Another benefit the herd brings is that two-thirds of this country’s Jersey cow population has the A2A2 gene, pitching well above Holstein Friesian and crossbreeds. ‘Jersey Future,’ a joint programme between JNZ and LIC aims to improve genetic gain from one sea- son to the next. Annually up to eight bulls enter the Jersey Future programme having been put forward for proving by JNZ members and subsequently selected by a joint JNZ, LIC selection panel. The first crop of daughters sired by these selected bulls are being milked this year. “LIC has put a lot of resourcing into the Jersey, evidence of the value they hold for the breed. We are hopefully selecting bulls that are a bit more diverse and if they are good enough will be taken up by LIC,”says Tony. He says the sad decline of Jersey in the national herd is a situation that is slowly changing. “It’s not about changing the herd from black and white to brown, but using more jersey influence in the national herd. Currently the Jersey population is about 12% of the national herd.” On his farm, calving extends over a nine-week period getting underway from 1st July each year. As the farm tends to be summer-dry there’s a need to have calves delivered early on, and six weeks after AB is underway he switches to using a short- gestation semen, ensuring those cows calve a good 10 days earlier. “We have four farms in our immediate area and none of them use bulls any more,” says Tony. He and Lesley work the farm themselves with the help of a young farm-worker Luke. Milking happens twice a day through a 44-bale rotary, set up to operate with one person if necessary. This season, for the first time, GEA collars have been used to alert when each cow is in heat and provide other health data. “Our biggest issue is to get our message out about how good Jerseys are.” Jennings Engineering • specialists in pipework for cowsheds and yards • High Lift Gatemanufacture and installation • Backing and Top Gates • Flood wash Systems • All cowshed requirements. alterations and repairs. 66 South Road, Manaia, Taranaki Ph: 06 2748563 or 0274454653