28 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Hayden McDonald Hayden McDonald keeps farming smarter Richard Loader Manawatu sharemilker Hayden McDonald expects that a new in-shed feeding system will help boost efficiency and cow health. Hayden and his fiancée Danielle are in their ninth season farming just ten minutes from Palmerston North on a 120-hectare property milking 340 Friesian/Jersey crossbred cows through a 32 aside herringbone shed. The operation employs one full-time worker and one casual staff member over spring. “The aim is to make the farm more efficient so all the cows get the same feed,” explains Hayden. “We also used to drench for magnesium and calcium from the first day of calving to the end of mating. Now we’ll just put that in the feed in the in-shed system so that’s one less job to do. We’re also probably saving 40-60 minutes per day by not following the cows up as much.” The new system will allow the operation to grow more grass along with 4.5 hectares of fodder beet for late summer and early autumn use, alongside 10 hectares of chicory and two hectares of plantain. The in-shed system reflects a strategic shift in how the farm manages its feed resources throughout the season. “We will feed palm kernel through the new in-shed feeding system, which will reduce feed wastage,” says Hayden. “How much we feed and what sort of feed will depend on the payout. At the moment we plan to feed 2-3kgs of palm kernel per day to the end of mating and, through summer, maybe 1kg, which will depend on grass growth. I still need to keep pasture management up to where it should be as well though.” The couple have already demonstrated their commitment to quality, achieving a low somatic cell count that ranks fourth among Fonterra’s dairy farmers during the last season. Around 98 hectares of the farm is irrigated ensuring good grass growth year-round. The farm produced 180,000kgs of milk solids last season, just under 1500 per hectare. This year the couple are targeting similar results. The couple own a 41-hectare block just 500 metres up the road and a 24-hectare block, located just 2.5 kilometres from the main farm. The 42-hectare block is currently used for grazing other people’s heifer yearlings. They have fenced this block and next plan to put in a new waterline and move water troughs to utilise the paddocks better. This will allow them to then use this block to put their own heifers, giving greater control. They will raise bulls on the other block so they can achieve more value-add from their herd. The couple have already demonstrated their commitment to quality. “At the moment we plan to feed 2-3kgs of palm kernel per day to the end of mating and, through summer, maybe 1kg, which will depend on grass growth.” PROUD TO SUPPORT HAYDEN MCDONALD Production Animal Department SOUTHERN RANGITIKEI VETERINARY SERVICES LTD 233 State Highway 1, Bulls & 420 Wellington Road, Marton Email: team@srvs.co.nz . Website: www.srvs.co.nz . Tel: (06) 3222 333 “We offer an extensive range of quality services to maximize efficiency and profitability for your farm” Animal Health Advisory Trained Body Condition Scorers Reproductive Services & Analysis General Medicine & Surgery Welfarm Monitoring & Benchmarking Collar Data Interpretation Dedicated and Experienced Tech Team The couple, who won the 2023 Manawatu Dairy Industry Awards Share Milker of the Year, regard farming as a family affair, with three-year-old Arlo already showing clear signs of loving the rural life while one year old daughter Willow adds another dimension to their bustling household. The couple are presently planning for, and looking forward to, their wedding planned for March 2026.
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