36 | nzdairy Wins and Challenges of Organics Sue Russell DAIRY PEOPLE » May ower Organic Dairy Unit May ower Organic Dairy Unit is part of Pamu’s (Landcorp) Wairaki Pastoral Estate, a collective of 19 farms near Taupo. Casper Meyer has been managing the farm four years, but his time with Pamu stretches back 17 years now. The farm is home to 680 cows of mixed genetics and milk is produced through a good, basic 54 bail rotary. “We have a very practical, hands-on approach here. It works well for our organic farming practices where monitoring animal health is vital to our success,” says Casper. The decision to turn away from standard farming approaches to take up fully organic wasn’t taken lightly and though its been a big step in a new direction, involving a great deal of change for both the stock and the people on the farm Casper says it has been very worthwhile. “We jumped into full organic farm management right from the start which was four years ago. In the rst two years there is a land management conversion process and this is normally then followed by converting to organic animal management practices but we decided to do the two together, so its been quite a big time for us all.” The farm has been fully certi ed organic The decision to take up fully organic farming has been a big step in a new direction, involving a great deal of change for both the stock and the people on the farm, says farm manager Casper Meyer. through Assure Quality since 10th October which means its been evaluated for all its practices, inputs, farm system and animal health approaches and ticked every box. Being organic comes with constant challenges, mainly around watching out for and treating animals as soon as health issues are noticed. “It means we have to be very vigilant and remove cows who look like they have a problem, or have mastitis or lameness issues as soon as possible. We also have to be more patient, as we don’t use antibiotics, meaning the pathway back to fully healthy can take longer.” When NZ Dairy spoke with Casper mid-October 620 cows were going through the milking-shed twice daily with another 54 out of the milking herd, either being observed, having treatments, with high cell counts plus a handful of cull cows. Mastitis is treated with some homoeopathic remedies but Casper says each cow reacts differently to treatment. Lameness is treated by lifting the cows feet and ensuring there is space for the natural ow of mud by putting them through a daily foot-bath. “We do get the odd case like woody-tongue where we have to use antibiotics and we then look for a buyer for these cows. We transfer these to another farm in the group.” The farm’s history is one of very average performance even under the conventional approach. Casper describes it as a good challenge. Stocking numbers are being reduced to compensate for this history and the shift to organics which seems to be easing the situation somewhat. “We’re still struggling to nd the right fert and we’re trying to utilise our ef uent when we can.” Pasture growth was promising at the start of spring, however since then there’s been wet and cold. Calving went well and Casper is pleased to see that milking fever has disappeared. Working with him are four permanent staff. Finding new workers, when needed, can be challenging as well. Asked why he chose, after so many years managing other Pamu farms, to take on May ower, Casper says he was ready for a challenge. “With all those years of managing, I didn’t want to move into farm business management within our structure, so when the opportunity came to be on May ower and steer its conversion to organics I thought that would be a very good thing and I’ve enjoyed it. I love to do the stuff on the ground with animals and people.” He’s especially pleased with how the farm’s nitrate leaching has been so signi cantly reduced, with the ve organic farms in the organic collective have reduced N leaching by more than 30%’. 2IC on the farm Georgia Cairns has really taken to her role and to organic practice, something Casper says has been great to see. “Georgia has taken over pasture management and is doing a very good job.” Summing up the person-characteristics needed to work on an organic farm Casper says that having a passion for the system is essential. “You’ve got to have that passion there in you day in day out. It’s not just a farm job at all as there is a real investment in time and energy in gaining the best animal-health outcomes and performance from the farm.” AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Miers Contractors(1995) Ltd • Harvesting • Cultivation • Supplements for sale & supply • Undersowing (all pastures & crops) • Earth moving • Truck cartage • Balage & Hay • Effluent Management 198 Butcher Road, RD2, Reporoa P 07 333 8259 | Gordy 021 593 163 | Mark 021 948 472 | Reece 021 240 5090 E mierscontractors@farmside.co.nz “It means we have to be very vigilant and remove cows who look like they have a problem, or have mastitis or lameness issues as soon as possible. We also have to be more patient, as we don’t use antibiotics, meaning the pathway back to fully healthy can take longer.”
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