NZ Dairy Winter 2021

24 | nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Jason & Michael Treder Hardy shorthorns are here to stay Russell Fredric Stock being judged by Issac Kelson for the Central Districts Milking Shorthorn On Farm competition. Calves (middle) and heifers grazing at the Treder farm. “adding value to your business” Transport Ltd 4 Short Road, Pahiatua • Phone: 06 376 8128 • Fax: 06 376 6644 Dean’s Mobile: 027 444 7413 • Email: fitsy.trans@xtra.co.nz We are proud to work with Jason and Michael Treder and congratulate them on their achievements. www. wollandcontracting . co.nz rvices / Spraying • Cultivation Se • Grass & Maize Silage vation • Exca • Solid Muck / Slurry Spreading • Hay & Balage • General/Livestock Cartage 027 444 2000 027 446 0087 Maurice: Jamie: 06 376 8857 Office: AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS PAHIATUA O nce a nearly forgotten breed, Shorthorn cattle are quietly finding favour among farmers who are awakening to their hardiness and favour- able Jersey-like milking traits. For the Treder family, Milking Shorthorn’s have been the mainstay of their dairy farm for more than a century. The family’s 240 hectare farm at Mangamaire near Pahiatua was originally bought as a 40 hectare block by the brother’s great grandfather, John Treder in 1915; and straddles the watershed between the Mangatainoka and Mangahao river catchments. The farm is now owned and run by brothers Ja- son and Mike Treder, sons of Margaret and the late Bernard. Jason and Mike are the fourth generation on the property. Today, the home farm carries 120 registered Shorthorn cows and 80 Jersey cows, plus 200 beef cattle and 200 breeding ewes with the support of a 120ha property across the road, purchased two years ago from the Mahoney family who are likewise multi-generational farmers. “It’s not a flat (home) farm – we are rolling to steep on the dairy side so that’s why we want a hardy animal that can handle the conditions. They have proven the fact that they are really good so that’s why we’ve kept with them.” The hardiness of the Shorthorns is especially highlighted during cold, windy weather. “The shorthorns are still out eating when the Jerseys are cowering in the corner.” The farm runs on a self-contained low input sys- tem and the cows are milked through a 15 a-side shed which takes about two-and-a-half hours. After buying the block across the road, Mike and Jason changed to once-a-day milking to reduce their workload while aiming to create a better work/ life balance. “The first year we were only about 5% down on normal production and this year we are only 200 kilos of milk solids behind where we were last year so we’re about even again.” Mike and Jason had predicted a drop of 10% to 15% in the first year, so were very pleasantly surprised. Annual production for the past season was 58,000kgMS. The configuration of the long, narrow farm requires the cows make a four kilometre return trek over undulating terrain for milking; this especially took its toll during summer when milking twice-a- day. The Shorthorns milk solids production is usually slightly higher than jerseys, with the herd averaging 290kgMS per cow per year. The brothers are aiming for a medium framed cow well suited to the hill terrain which produce high fat and high protein milk, low somatic cell counts “and a good once-a-day cow these days”. Smaller udders that don’t drop over time and that have good teat placements are also important and contribute to low somatic cell counts. Following their introduction to New Zealand by missionary Samuel Marsden more than 200 years ago, Shorthorns were the breed of choice and the cornerstone the dairy industry until artificial insemination resulted in other breeds predominat- ing, Mike says. Despite a very small national herd today, he is encouraged by a resurgence of interest in shorthorns at auctions around New Zealand and is confident they are here to stay. John Treder (great grandfather), George Treder Snr (grandfather). Francis Conner (front left), Margaret Treder, Bernard Treder (father) and George Treder jnr taken in the early 30s.