76 | nzdairy ‘Don’t procrastinate - talk to your stock agent’ Lindy Andrews The big wets, the big drys and large snows - Dairy Stock Solutions’ Dave Marsh has weathered them all in his years as a farmer and, latterly, as a stock agent. This season, New Zealand farmers are wrestling with highly variable weather conditions ranging from torrential rains to drought. Farmers in some areas are proactively destocking, with one Hawke’s Bay farmer disposing of 1100 of his 1600 ewes. With 25 years as a farmer, 15 years as a stock agent and plenty of lived experience, it’s an approach that Ashburton- based Dave whole heartedly supports. “As a born and bred dairy farmer, originally from Northland and nine seasons at Mt Hutt in mid Canterbury, I understand the droughts and the big wets. I like to think I assist farmers to make decisions by looking through their lens. “My advice to farmers who are potentially facing drought is to be proactive. Don’t procrastinate - talk to your stock agent, who can tell you what the markets are doing. “If you’re in a super-drought, every morning get out of bed and make a decision. Now is a good time to be acting if your area is facing potential drought.” Early destocking means farmers can take advantage of prevailing strong stock prices. Dave’s primary aim, he stresses, is to add value to farmers’ businesses. As an independent stock agent, his networks span the length and breadth of New Zealand. “My networks include independents and agents from the majority of other livestock companies throughout the country and I’m talking with them weekly,” he says. “A lot of my deals are done with other leading livestock agents with whom I have forged strong relationships” Currently, Dave says, the New Zealand market is in the unusual position of being quite short of big cattle, dairy beef and Friesian bulls so there is a challenge to find alternatives for farmers where they can still make a margin. Dairy farmers are trending towards using sexed and more Kiwi cross semen which means fewer bobby calves, he says, but leads to improved dairy herd genetics, allowing farmers to benefit from a consistent supply of high genetic worth heifers from their best performing cows. “Often the bottom percentage of their herds are now being mated to Wagyu, Charolais and Belgian Blue to give them options for potential higher calf sale income through four-day-old and 100 kg calf sales. The results of this shift will mean that there will be less straight bred Friesian bulls being bred.” The focus for the remaining season is the buying and selling of in-calf heifers and dairy herds. “Understanding what the customer wants and quoting them the right stock is critical,” he says. “As a stock agent I work with buyers and sellers, so I know what the market is doing and can help them weigh up their options and make good business decisions.” Dave Marsh has weathered floods and droughts in his years as a farmer and, latterly, as a stock agent. Dave’s primary aim, he stresses, is to add value to farmers’ businesses. ON FARM » Dairy Stock Solutions David Marsh LIVESTOCK AGENT 027 492 0875 davem@dssl.co.nz
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