NZ Dairy Winter 2021

42 | nz dairy DAIRY AWARDS » Mark Rivers Mark with partner Monique and children Thea (1) and Bodhi (3). Inset: Mark with his Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year award. Returning to farm after OE challenging Feel free to call in, visit our shop and discuss any requirements you have in regards to your dairy shed. with 24/7 Service DeLaval Service and Support milking solutions Ph 07 348 3628 19 White Street, Rotorua www.abcmilkingsolutions.co.nz • Milking Machines • Dairy Consumables • Machine Tests • Davey Supplier • Trenching • DeLaval InService ( Preventative Maintenance ) • McConnel Backing Gates • Water Pumps & Fittings • Effluent Systems • Bore Lifts • Irrigation Services • Reid & Harrison WE AREMORE THAN JUSTMILKING SPECIALISTS - Glass Silage - Maize Silage - Cereal Silage - Precision Planting: - Maize & Fodder beet - Supply & deliver supplement - Direct Drilling - Round & Square - Hay & Silage - All Cultivation - Mulching - Animal Bedding 07 3331 506 - Andrew: 0274 909 417 - Clint: 0272 849 875 A.T. COOK CONTRACTING LTD For all your agricultural requirements Get in touch with the team and get your bulk cartage needs sorted for next season. We can cart your stockfeed, fertiliser and silo deliveries. We can also sort supply-cart for ag lime and farm metals. P 07 873 4114 E nidispatch@bulklines.co.nz W www.bulklines.co.nz Bulk Haulage and Logistics Professionals • from page 40 Returning to the dairy industry after time away was challenging but this is something Mark has relished. He grew up on a system ½ style of farm- ing and the Sterritt’s property is a system 4/5. So it’s further testament to his skills that he helped improve the six-week in calf rate from 69% to 77%. Mark says he achieved this by fully feeding cows and making animal health a priority during calving; using interventions when necessary and ensuring all staff were fully trained and knew what to do in any eventuality. Mark lives with his partner Monique and their children Bodhi (3) and Thea (1) and it is them that drive him to continually push forward with his farming career. He and Monique, who completes all the farm administration, are now contract milkers on a 220ha effective farm milking 630 cows based atNgatira, which is in Lichfield. Mark says he will be looking to use the skills he has gained already to take the farm forward while also growing a herd on the side to pave the way to the next step in his career – 50:50 sharemilking.