6 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Aaron Tosland The Okaiawa Tosland Farm was originally established by Aaron’s grandparents. Nicki Woodlock Life on the farm in Okaiawa, South Taranaki, brings true joy for partner and Farm Manager Aaron Tosland. A devoted family man, Aaron is in his first year of partnership on the farm with his father, Derek. He enjoys the variety of farm life, connection to the land, and the opportunity to work and live alongside his dad and wife Brenda, as they navigate farm succession planning following the death of Derek’s mother, Aaron’s grandmother, Gloria. Farming 460 registered Jersey cows across a combined 141 hectares, Aaron leads a small team consisting of a full time worker and relief milkers. Aaron’s father Derek still works part-time on the farm. Derek’s Jerseys on the farm are part of the Derriland Stud, whilst Aaron’s Jerseys are registered under the Lexland Stud. The Tosland farm produces 180,000 kilograms of milksolids under an all-grass system. Aaron rears 135 milk fed calves and grazes heifers off farm. The Toslands are respected and passionate pedigree Jersey breeders in Taranaki, with four generations of family farming history across two farms. Aaron says: “The Jersey is the most costeffective animal in dairying. You feed them half as much as a Holstein, yet they’re the most productive. Jerseys have a beautiful, gentle nature, and being slightly smaller cows, they’re easy to work with”. The Okaiawa Tosland Farm was originally established by Aaron’s grandparents, Alex and Gloria Tosland. Just two kilometres up the road is another family farm, founded in 1922 by Aaron’s great-grandparents, Harry and Pearl Tosland - a property Aaron has recently purchased to serve as a 60-hectare support block for their Jersey herd. Aaron declares, “I’ve wanted to be a farmer all my life. I wanted to carry on the family legacy”. Aaron is proud to continue this legacy into the future with his wife Ella and three children, Tillie, Rubi and AJ. Thanks to the foresight of his family, the Okaiawa Tosland Farm is in excellent condition, with no major projects needed. Aaron and his father have recently completed re-fencing the newly purchased support block. Passionate pedigree Jersey breeders The Okaiawa Tosland Farm has had Allflex SenseHub dairy cow collars for two and a half years and has found them to be a game changer. Aaron states, “The Allflex collars have changed things altogether at mating time”. The collars allow for targeted and timely interventions to improve reproduction, health, nutrition, and welfare. Aspiring to breed a bigger more productive Jersey cow, the farm employs strict criteria for udder, stature, feet, and milk production, with the farm buying semen from bull companies LIC and FOR ALL YOUR AGRICULTURAL REQUIREMENTS • Pasture Renovation • Round Bales: Hay / Silage • Bulk Silage • Digger Hire • Truck Hire • Metal Supplies Call Gary 0274 483 574 or Daniel 0275 037 747 www.taranaki-vets.co.nz Clinics - Stratford ▪ Manaia ▪ Hawera ▪ Patea ▪ Waverley Proudly supporting the Tosland Family CRV. A passionate advocate for Jerseys, Aaron is a member of Jersey New Zealand and highly recommends it as a welcoming organisation that is always looking for new members. For the past two years, he has served as President of the Hawera Jersey Club - the oldest Jersey club in New Zealand, founded in 1909. The club hosts annual heifer days, open days and field days for farmers to evaluate young stock, promote good practice and share knowledge of Jersey farming. The farm has had an association with the Stratford A & P Show, the Egmont A & P Show, and the Semex National On-Farm Competitions, achieving success and winning awards at each. The farm also takes part annually in the On-Farm Club Show each February. Into the future, Aaron’s plans for the farm include building a 60-bale rotary milking shed. Aaron reflects, “Long term, my goal is for my kids to continue the family legacy. Hopefully, they will have the passion to carry it on”.
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