NZ Dairy Winter 2021

70 | nz dairy Doing the basics right key for ‘old school’ farmer Russell Fredric M erv Livingstone has no problem admitting to being a traditional dairy farmer who had a basic education and who is not fond of paper work. However none of this, nor a do-the-basics-well philosophy, has stopped him from farming success- fully for 50 years along with accumulating a large cache of ribbons and top trophies for his Ayrshire cows. Among the prizes Merv received at the Gore A & P Show South Island Championships this summer were the Champion and Reserve category in the Ayrshire section along with a string of other awards. The Champion cow, Inglecorner Kates Violet, is an eight-year-old with an E89 type rating while the Reserve winner, Inglecorner Real Violet who was last year’s winner, is her sister. “(The champion cow) is a very good type cow and we won the All Breeds at Winton A & P show with her too.” Last year five Merv’s entries at the Southland A&P Show won several trophies and 20 ribbons including the top gong, the Supreme All Breeds Dairy Cow Supreme Champion All Breeds Yearling, Supreme Ayrshire Cow, Champion All Breeds Cow and Champion Ayrshire Calf. It was the fourth time Merv has won the Supreme All Breeds Dairy Cow; another cow was the award’s first winner in 1987 and his best Southland A&P Show was in 2012 when he won seven categories. Merv started young and was doing the books for his parents at the age of 15. While winning awards has been satisfying and is validation for his genetic selections, milking ability is still the bottom line. “I like breeding good type cows but they’ve got to be able to milk. I do all my own breeding, I take semen off my own bulls and some semen I sell to cross-breed people,” Merv says. Merv describes the key traits he looks for as “dairyness”. “No matter what breed you have you’ve got to have dairy type; good udders, good legs and feet, ease of milking.” The Livingstone farm is self-contained on 195 hectares and milks 400 cows through a 32 bail rotary shed with automatic cup removers and is now managed by Merv’s son, Daniel and employs one staff member. DAIRY PEOPLE » Merv Livingstone Dairy Diploid Mix In 8 years, trials, 4 Diploids stood out. Dry tolerant grasses with top production. Mixing certain grasses can be very costly to production. Production falls after 4 years plus for many grass types. Dairy Tetraploid Mix Premier growth in Summer and Autumn. Perun/ Shogun: premier short-term grasses. Low cost, high producing perennial Tetraploids available. Grazing Red Clover 5-6 years lasting. Up to 50% increase in production sowing the right ryegrass Livingston Farm Short term Peat Mix to Perennial Dairy Mix Southland Grain & Seed supplied the best to maximise their grass production. 03 218 7326 southlandgrainseed@xtra.co.nz • Log Cartage • Stock / Bulk • PROUDLY SUPPORTING MERV LIVINGSTONE F ertiliser • Gravel • Contracting • ransporting T 0800 22 5899 www.dtking.co.nz 03 225 8356 Otautau 03 225 5899 Pukemaori 03 234 8120 Riverton Robert 027 439 5096 Email: rivertonfarmdrainage@xtra.co.nz About 60 of the herd are a mix of Friesians and cross-breds. The farm runs on a simple grass- based low cost system with cows wintered on the farm, fed on swedes, baleage and hay. Annual production is typically in the 140,000kgMS range; this season is expected to top out at about 145,000kgMS. The farm has supplied Open Country since it was established and is very happy with its track record; he especially likes Open Country’s policy of making four annual payments instead of one. Merv looks back on five decades in the industry with much satisfaction. “I have really enjoyed it, but with the structural changes going on now there’s a huge amount of paper work the enjoyment is not there the way it used to be. I was bought up in the old school. “As long as you do the basics right you will enjoy cows and make money.” Photos: Inglecorner Real Violet E89 , South Island Champion Ayrshire Cow 2021, Supreme All Breed Dairy Cow, Invercargill Show On Farm winner 2020. Winning heifer calves (below), On Farm competition 2021.