58 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Milkyland / Alan Hendersen (Cranleigh) Keen to build further Contract milker Tharanga Senavirathna and family. Russell Fredric Contract milker Tharanga Senavirathna and Dromore Dairy’s team are strongly focused on building on gains made in recent seasons. “Last season was much better than the previous season, production-wise, mating wise, financially and pretty much everything,” Tharanga says. This season Dromore Dairies is peak milking 1585 cows on its 405 hectares/389 hectares effective farm near Ashburton and has set a target of 830,000kgMS, an increase of 7.5% on 20242025. To achieve this, measuring and managing a range of key metrics includes a strong focus on improving pasture utilisation, reducing imported supplement and improving pasture quality, Tharanga says. “We are more concentrating more on technical farming to get the production; to keep doing things better, and also for growing pasture we’re spreading urea in front of the cows just before they go onto the grass and graze on it in three days ahead and get the nitrogen to work more and reduce the supplement cost. “We strictly stay of the round length and don’t go any faster than 21 days during the peak.” The focus on pasture production includes an ongoing programme of regrassing 15% of the pastures annually. The farm has a high stocking rate of four cows to the hectare and runs a system five operation. Supplementary feed comprises palm kernel extract, distillers dried grain (DDG), straw, molasses, canola blend, vegetable waste and silage, but this season the amount of palm kernel that will be fed is targeted at 77% lower than for 2024-2025. “We feed quite a bit of supplements, so we are trying to utilise pasture more and minimise wastage, feeding the cows right.” This season’s pasture utilisation is set at 77% compared to 67% for 2024/2025; during spring pastures are measured weekly with a plate metre. In June the farm changed to supplying Synlait and, following an audit, has achieved Gold Plus certification under Synlait’s Lead With Pride programme which recognises and rewards suppliers who achieve farming best practice by paying a premium. The four pillars of the programme are environment, animal health and welfare, milk quality and social responsibility. “We have worked really hard to get that certification as soon as possible.” One of the benefits of the programme is that many of the recording and compliance aspects also meet the requirements of regulators with most of the information stored on a bespoke FarmIQ system developed for the programme, Lead with Pride Live. The focus on continuous improvement to both reduce costs and improve production along with the Gold Plus certification follows a major upgrade to the dairy milking shed in 2023 in which automatic teat spray, automatic cup removers and automatic drafting was installed. Providing good working conditions for the six staff, who work a five-on two-off roster, is also an important part of the mix and for retention. “I think they are quite grateful on a 5/2 roster. With it being a large farm there’s a lot of work, so they have a reasonable time off and also, they get one sleep-in a week.” Tharanga was the 2021 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Canterbury North Otago Dairy Manager of the year runner-up. Taken a step forward Karen Phelps Waikato farming couple Buddhi and Chamila Alankarage have taken a step forward in their farming career, moving to a larger contract milking position managing 770 cows for experienced dairy farmers Alan and Joy Henderson. The couple relocated to Cranleigh Farm in the Paterangi district, northwest of Te Awamutu, on 1st June this year, taking on peak milking of 750 cows across the 215-hectare effective property. The move represents progression for the Alankarages, who previously contract milked a 520-cow herd on a 153-hectare property in Waitike Valley for Zoetermeer Agriculture Ltd, owned by Greg McCullough and Jose Franco. “Cranleigh Farm is well set up with good facilities which have made the job easier,” explains Buddhi. “We have a good relationship with the farm owners. They have been very helpful. I want to learn from their farming knowledge - it’s a great opportunity for me and my staff.” The farm has a 60-bail rotary shed equipped with automatic cup removers and Protrack technology. Buddhi has identified key areas for improvement, including weed control, particularly thistles, and is working towards production targets. “The farm target is 290,000 kilograms of milk solids this season but I am working towards 315,000 kilograms,” says Buddhi. To help reach targets a significant focus has been on improving reproduction rates. “We achieved 84 per cent submission rate in three weeks of artificial insemination, whereas previous years that was 80 per cent and less,” explains Buddhi. “The farm started calving on 20th June and the aim is to have more cows calving earlier in the season.” Strategies to improve cow health heading into mating have included multi-mineral injections, B12 and selenium supplementation, metrichecking cows and using CIDRs on approximately 45 cows. Buddhi says these different tools will help improve reproduction. Managing the operation with a team of three fulltime staff, Buddhi recognises the importance of training and teamwork, particularly with two staff members new to both the farm and New Zealand, having recently arrived from Sri Lanka. The couple’s expertise in staff management has been nationally recognised. At the 2023 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, Buddhi and Chamila were runners-up in the Central Plateau Share Farmer of the Year category, claiming four merit awards including the DairyNZ People and Culture Award, Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award, Sustainable Pasture Award and Farm Dairy Hygiene Award. They maintained their success at the 2024 awards, placing third in Share Farmer of the Year for Central Plateau and securing two additional merit awards. “Our staff work really hard and have a great attitude and commitment. It’s all about teamwork,” says Buddhi. “I train my staff and look after them well. When they are happy, they enjoy their work. I encourage and engage all the staff to learn Primary ITO and help them with this.” Buddhi says that farm owner Alan Henderson has fostered an environment of innovation and opportunity. The property is currently participating in a mastitis trial, conducted by a local vet company, to test a new drug. Also Alan is opening the farm to young veterinarians to train in the treatment of lame cows under the supervision of a senior veterinary. Buddhi and Chamila’s success is very much a family affair. Chamila works as a preschool teacher in Papamoa and lives in Tauranga during the week with their children, Senuka, 17, and Seneli, 11. The family reunites on weekends and holidays, when everyone pitches in on the farm. The Alankarages have clear ambitions. “Our plan is to be sharemilkers, then work towards farm ownership,” says Buddhi. “We’re looking for opportunities.” A fresh approach to Accounting & Advisory Our Services Professional accounting and advisory services tailored to meet the unique needs of your business. 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