NZ Dairy Winter 2021

76 | nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » David Fullerton / Jordy & Shani Mullin Ownership process Richard Loader T o say Jordy and Shani Mullin’s entry into farm ownership has been something of a whirlwind is a significant understatement. With the assistance of his parents, Patrick (Paddy) and Philomena (Philly) Mullin, Jordy and Shani have been able to take on a lower order sharemilking position on the family’s 188 hectare effective, 630 cow home farm. The couple also purchased an 80 hectare farm across the road on Lower Kahui Rd, Rahoutu, on the seaward side of Mt Taranaki in 2018, while Paddy and Philly also own a dairy farm nearby at Pungarehu. Growing up, Jordy gleaned invaluable knowledge from his father about the home farm’s day to day operation and although he says they now have the best of both worlds, the journey has not been easy. After gaining a Bachelor of Commerce, Agricul- ture, in 2006 and working in banking until 2010, Jordy went overseas for a year and returned home and met Shani, an Australian, the same year. Shani has a background in retail and banking. Following a stint working in Australian mines, the couple returned to New Zealand and Jordy worked as a rural bank manager before going back to the farm seven years ago. After working as a herd manager, primarily on the home farm, Jordy became a manager when the bottom fell out of the farm-gate payout in the 2002/2003 season. “At that stage we asked if we could be the lower order sharemilkers on the farm. At that point there wasn’t much income; it was an easier time for us to negotiate and to show we were keen because everyone our age group were running away from being dairy farmers,” Jordy says. ‘Slick’ gene allows cows to perform in hot climates • from page 74 are able to better regulate body temperature while maintaining milk yield under heat stress. David has bred such cows on his own farm and he says he can clearly see the difference on a hot day. “The slick cows will be in the sun hap- pily chewing their cuds while the rest will in the shade. It’s the next exciting thing in the breeding game. There has been a lot of interest internationally,” he says. While historically Kiwi farmers have been slow on the uptake when it comes to genomics he sees a change in the younger generation and says Kiwi farmers in certain dry, hot and humid parts of the country, for example Northland, could also benefit from the slick gene. David is a fourth generation farmer and his operation also includes two drystock/cropping blocks. He has always focused on international genetics and his clientele, who hail from New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, Australia, South America, Africa, China and the Middle East, seek out his Waipiri Agriculture genetics.Waipiri Agriculture deals in all facets of genetics selling live bulls and heifers, embryos and semen. The aim is to keep the size of the cattle reasonable as well as focusing on fertility “It’s not cheap rearing replacements so you want to keep that cow in the herd for as long as possible. Fertility is particularly important in New Zealand as in most cases we have to calve in spring and for the grass curve. Overseas where cows are indoors or partial grazing this is not such an issue but of course still important.” David’s business is multi faceted and he also has interests in Synlait, HSS Genetics, a joint venture, which sells Holstein Friesian semen, bulls and embryos, and the ABEA - East Africa Breeding Company, an AI unit national livestock improvement programme in Tanzania. “The slick cows will be in the sun happily chewing their cuds while the rest will in the shade. It’s the next exciting thing in the breeding game. There has been a lot of interest internationally.” BRIAN ROBINSON LIVESTOCK Congratulate David, Pip, Alex and Dean Fullerton on the outstanding result at the “A Taste of Waipiri” sale held 17th June 2021 It was great to have been involved STgenetics New Zealand Ltd are proud to support the Fullerton family in their successful farming business. with Breed with Certainty ASK FOR IT BY NAME! Chief Daughter Altitude-Red Dam 21/35 Illinois Drive | PO Box 86008 | Rolleston West 7658 www.stgenetics.co.nz | 0800 764 363 | admin.nz@stgen.com Profile your business with the NZ Dairy Publication FARMLANDS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT JORDY & SHANI MULLIN AT JS FARMS. 0800 200 600 www.farmlands.co.nz For expert advice in-store and Farmlands team today. FAR_098376 Maize and Grass Silage | Hay and Haylage Bulk Cartage and Quarry Metal Groundwork and Cropping | On Farm Jobs 3 ton and 16 ton Diggers Proud to be supporting JS Farms “We thought that was our opportunity to start at the bottom and at least acclimatise at its worst.” Incredibly, a tornado ripped through the farms on April 10, 2018, passing over his parents farm while Jordy and Jake Corrigan, a herd manager, were in the shed. The tornado hit two months before Jordy and Shani finalised the purchase of their farm. It destroyed 12 buildings on the home farm, two buildings on their own farm and 500 trees on both properties. “It was a bit of a pressure cooker for us.” Despite this, Jordy and Shani were determined not to defer the farm purchase, a decision they do not regret in hindsight despite the stress involved. In addition to the structural damage, the farms suffered damage to 70% of their fencing. Fortu- nately most cows suffered only minor injuries. They have two young children and Shani handles their farm’s calves with the help of Biddy Hamilton, and controls and runs the accounts, payroll and GST. Shani is studying towards a qualification in horticulture with the aim of gaining a better un- derstanding of the biological aspects of the farms’ operations. During the past season the farms produced 283,000kgMS and 106,000kgMS respectively. Despite coming from a banking background, Jordy and Shani are not overly fixated on budgets and financial reports and highly rate the continuity of staff, family life and time out. “Farming is a great life, but also, you’ve got to get away too and keep healthy, motivated and inspired and have awesome relationships with our spouses and our kids.” “At that stage we asked if we could be the lower order sharemilkers on the farm. At that point there wasn’t much income; it was an easier time for us to negotiate and to show we were keen because everyone our age group were running away from being dairy farmers. We thought that was our opportunity to start at the bottom and at least acclimatise at its worst.”