18 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Datona Ltd The team lifted production on Canlac Dairy from a previous record of 580,000 kgMS to 719,000 kgMS. Kim Newth Canterbury dairy farm business Datona Ltd has steadily evolved to become a regional heavy hitter that’s leading the way on efficiency, production, staff retention and environmental performance. Datona Ltd is named after Dana Carver and Tony Coltman, who first bought into a local dairy equity partnership in June 2013 when it had just one 1350-cow farm on 335 effective hectares, employing six staff. Fast forward 12 years and the total effective area is 1164 hectares, wintering 3350 cows, with the business now employing 16 permanent staff. Achieving this rate of sustainable growth in little more than a decade is impressive. “Our strategy, along with our business partners Richard and Chrissie Wright, has always been to take one step at a time and build on it,” says Tony. “When we first came on board, we had big boots to fill as we were taking over a Dunsandel farm, managed by then shareholders Russell and Leanne Clearwater, that was already very high performing. We lifted production on that farm [Canlac Dairy] from a previous record of 580,000 kgMS to 719,000 kgMS, which was the record before we added Quantum Dairy [which then lifted the effective area from 335 hectares to a 510ha]. “Along the way we put in Protrack/in shed feeding and added a 600-cow feedpad. Every improvement has been about lifting performance and boosting efficiency while ensuring costs are well-controlled.” This ongoing drive for growth and efficiency led to an opportunity to take on another Canterbury dairy farm in 2019. Tony and Dana were overseeing it as 50/50 sharemilkers for six years before purchasing it this year, [Rahi Partnership Ltd]. “It was 100% funded through borrowings against Datona to get it going, but in six years we’d paid off all the debt and then some. When the previous owners decided to sell, we bought it.” Decisions on acquisitions are made in consultation with Richard and Chrissie, who, Tony says, are very successful farmers and hugely supportive. Ashley Grange (137ha) was acquired in 2023, with all R1yr heifers now grazed there in their first winter. A bare land block - Links (230ha) – was purchased late last year. “Now it’s just a matter of making sure it’s all working and performing to the level we want.” The vision shaping Datona Ltd is aspirational – to lead the dairy industry by excelling with top 5% production, top 5% financial returns, with aesthetically presented farms where all environmental standards are exceeded and staff are happy and healthy. “We have very stable staff now with little turnover. It’s a good roster and there’s good infrastructure; people want to stay. I coach the guys and talk to our unit managers and 2IC’s most days.” Strategic growth, top performance drives success Tony says the Kiwi Cross herd they started out with was good and has only become better through the years. “We put Allflex Collars on last year – that was our first year with the collars and we’ve made that work. We’re now in the process of DNA testing the animals. We’re large-scale and we want an elite herd where every cow is a winner.” Record farm production to date at Canlac/ Quantum is 1,122,511 kgMS, equating to 510MS/ cow. Looking ahead, Tony and Dana see further room for growth - whether in buying more shares or more farms – while continuing to excel in all areas. FERTILISER SPREADING | FARM MAPPING GPS TRACKING | VARIABLE RATE SPREADING LIVESTOCK CARTAGE | DAILY FREIGHT CONCRETE SUPPLIES | GRAIN CARTAGE SHINGLE SUPPLIES | FERTILISER SUPPLIES Leeston: 03 3248 070 | Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz 0 0 FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS PROUD TO SUPPORT CANLAC HOLDINGS youngelectricalltd.co.nz Cow Track Lime Supply & Lay • All Shingle Supplies • Truck & Trailer Hire • Hedge & Stump Removal Direct Drilling • Tree Shearing • Farm Tracks & Driveways • Fodderbeet Planting • Pivot Rut Filling Cultivation • Grader & Digger Work • Reversible Ploughing • Supply & Installation of Irrigation Pipe RD2 Leeston 027 534 9161 e: chris@chrisswanson.nz CULTIVATION & EXCAVATION CONTRACTORS
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