NZ Dairy Winter 2021

| 73 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Bryan Roach Dairy exports ‘absolutely essential’ for the country Russell Fredric T aranaki dairy farmer Bryan Roach has a simple but strong message about the vital role of the dairy industry, agriculture and earners of export dollars. “We are the heart of New Zealand.” A South Taranaki district councillor, Bryan’s com- ment follows the significant lift in the farm gate milk price in recent months. “Exports are absolutely essential to a country. Every time you import something to a country you’re making another country wealthier. You are using overseas labour, you are using overseas products, but generally if you export you are making your country a lot of money.” The forecast payout announced in March of $7.30 to $7.90 will be of “absolutely huge” benefit to dairy farmers, regardless of the part of the life cycle a farm is in, he says. “For some younger farmers that have just started out it’s absolutely crucial that they get this payout.” Other farmers who have been in the industry longer will either be buying new equipment, espe- cially tractors, replacing a vehicle, or retiring debt while those who have little or no debt are likely to purchase lifestyle items. The higher payout will also provide a boost to those still recovering from the low payout years, Mycoplasma bovis and significant weather events. Bryan and his wife Kim own an established 210 hectare farm at Opunake which peak milks 570 mixed-breed cows and employs two full-time staff. The herd typically produces around 295,000kgMS annually against low farm working expenses of $3.80/kgMS. The farm is supported by a 20ha block for young stock and growing baleage; cows are milked twice-a-day throughout the full season through a well-appointed 54 bail rotary shed which has an in-shed feed system, and dried off in May. “Every time you import something to a country you’re making another country wealthier.” Proud to support the Roach family with their feed and animal nutrition requirements There’s always room for improvement The proof is in the progeny. Get more heifers with fresh sexed semen. Get more heifer replacements from your best cows with LIC’s Long Last Liquid fresh sexed semen. As a world-leading provider, our fresh sexed semen has been proven to deliver non-return rates better than frozen sexed semen. To get more heifers from your best cows and reduce calf wastage from your herd, contact your Agri Manager today, or visit lic.co.nz. While Bryan is delighted about the increased payout, he doesn’t feel the same about high cow empty rates which nationally are typically in the range of 10% to 20%. In June last year Dairy NZ published a national empty rate of 15.6%, the lowest in nearly 10 years. With the exception of this year, the Roach’s herd has had an empty rate below 5% for decades and Bryan regards this year’s empty rate of 7.5% as an “absolute blowout”. He has been asked many times by others about his secret for the herd’s low empty rate. “The answer I give is it takes 10 things that have to be right to get a cow in calf and it only takes one thing, if it’s wrong, and a cow won’t get in calf. It’s not a silver bullet fixes all, you’ve got to have everything correct.” Among those ten things are good body condi- tion and gaining weight during the mating period supported by ample feed and adding trace minerals such as cobalt, selenium and iodine during the full mating period, including natural mating following artificial breeding. Following artificial breeding Bryan puts about eight bulls in the herd “to make sure there’s plenty of bull power.” “Another thing is when a cold weather bomb comes over I will double the in-shed meal and double the molasses as well.” Bryan also engages a nutritionist who changes the formula of the meal fed at different times of the season. “He can make sure that my cows are getting exactly what they need.” Jerseyland Farms Chair Julie Pirie with her Jersey herd Joint venture may prove a ‘game changer’ for the Jersey breed T he joint venture purchase of a 215-hectare dairy farm at Makarewa, Southland is a “game-changer” for the Jersey breed, says joint venture Chair Julie Pirie. Farmer advocacy group Jersey Advantage and breed society, Jersey NZ have entered into the joint venture - Jerseyland Farms - each holding a 25% share, along with five commercial investors who each hold a 10% share. “Jerseyland Farms will be run as a commercial operation, providing a sustainable funding source for both organisations. Revenue from the joint venture will be used to enable increased breed promotion and industry representation across key farmer issues,” says Pirie who is also a director of Jersey NZ and a member of Jersey Advantage. “The funding will allow us to deliver commercial advantages for the Jersey breed; namely ensuring a fair payment for Jersey milk, ensuring BW and PW accurately reflect the advantages of Jersey cattle, ensuring emissions modelling captures Jersey efficiency, and supporting industry planning around bobby calf management and pathways for Jersey beef.” The 600 cow farm will be run by a contract milker, targeting around 250,000 kgMS this season from a low-cost, grass-based system. The intention is to transition the existing Friesian-cross herd to Jersey over the next 2-3 seasons. A board comprising representatives from both or- ganisations and the group of commercial investors will provide governance for the joint venture, with the assistance of an external contractor to support the day-to-day operations of the farm venture. The organisations first announced their inten- tion to enter into a partnership back in April at the Jersey NZ conference. “Following the announcement we had huge support for the initiative from members and Jersey farmers,” says Jersey NZ President Alison Gibb. “The venture consolidates the relationship Jersey NZ and Jersey Advantage have built over the past two years and will help secure a positive long-term financial future for both parties.” Jersey Advantage chair Mark Townshend was also positive about the venture. “We have carried out extensive due diligence involving both parties and an external consultant and we believe this venture has the potential to be highly profitable and generate a strong return on equity.” “The intention is that this investment is part of a 10-15 year plan to build a farm portfolio delivering 500,000 kgMS plus,” says Townshend. Jersey Advantage and Jersey NZ will be seeking farmer support to further fund the initiative. “Jerseyland Farms will be run as a commercial operation, providing a sustainable funding source for both organisations. Revenue from the joint venture will be used to enable increased breed promotion and industry representation across key farmer issues.”