56 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Terpstra Farming Breeding top Ayrshires a labour of love Kim Newth Michael and Hollipork Payer Jolie at the North Island championship. A group of Ayrshires at home. Michael and Sarah Terpstra regularly exhibit and show cattle. Distinctive Ayrshire cows are a valued part of the dairy herd for 50/50 sharemilkers Michael and Sarah Terpstra, now into their third season on a 110-hectare dairy farm at Kiwitahi, just south of Morrinsville. Michael’s passion for this rugged breed – and farming - goes back to his childhood when he first encountered Ayrshires on his parents’ farm. After leaving school, Michael attended Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre for a year, before landing his first farming job. “Once I’d progressed to being a farm manager, I bought my first two Ayrshire calves from Kiteroa Stud, which is where we used to go every year when I was a kid. I still have the original calf that I bought in 2018.” Michael started his Hollipork stud that year. Today, there are 50 efficient Ayrshire cows in the herd, complementing 180 productive Holsteins and 10 Jersey cows. “What I like about Ayrshires is their versatility and strength. They are smaller than the Holsteins, but they stand their ground. They don’t get sick as easily as other breeds. If it’s raining, they’ll carry on eating the scraps and leftovers in the pouring rain while the Holsteins are getting sulky!” In late May, Michael was honoured to receive the Bell Booth Achiever Award, recognising his dedication to the Ayrshire breed. Ayrshire New Zealand praised him for his commitment and hard work, adding that the Ayrshire breed is fortunate to have a young breeder of his passion and drive. Over the past two years, he and Sarah have started regularly exhibiting and showing cattle and have done very well. Sarah works full-time as a vet technician in Matamata, while also devoting weekends to the farm and attending show events with Michael. They are delighted that Hollipork Player Jolie won first place in her senior yearling heifer class at the 2024 Waikato A&P Show, as well as Ayrshire senior yearling heifer and reserve junior champion at the Rotorua A&P Show, (which was also the North Island Ayrshire championship). Adding to the accolades, she came second in her class at January’s New Zealand Dairy Event in Fielding. Hollipork’s top stud bulls – Ayrshire bull Hollipork Rubi Ruthless and Holstein bull Hollipork Alco Hunter – are also making a big impact in the local dairy industry. “What we’re trying to offer are the best producing, capacious, well-bred animals that we possibly can.” Michael has recently dropped herd size from 270 to 240 cows, following a successful cattle sale. It means young stock can now be kept and grown out on farm. The couple also plan to invest in a new block that will be used to start rearing surplus heifers to support an annual sale of in-calf heifers. With the smaller herd, Michael is not expecting any big drop in total milk production as he has kept his eye firmly on pushing more production per cow. Before moving to Kiwitahi, the couple were sharemilking on an Ohaupo farm that relied on a high percentage of imported feed. The current farm is more of a grass-based, homegrown feed operation with meal supplements to support split calving and year-round milking. “Overall, it is a more affordable approach while still ensuring our stock eat well every day of the year.” Meanwhile, Michael and Sarah are pleased to have an experienced worker on farm, namely Michael’s father Andre who loves being a part of their thriving operation. Looking for an Accountant that has a Personal Approach - Cost Effective Clearly Presented Accounts? Director: Tony Coombe CA Marshall Street PO Box 21 DX GA25011 Paeroa 3640 Phone: 07 862 8669 E-mail: coombeassociates@xtra.co.nz Agricultural contracting company based in the Waikato Grass silage | Maize silage All forms of cultivation Bailing | Digger work 027 450 0125 walling.contracting.ltd@gmail.com @wallingcontractingnz Walling Contracting Ltd 0508 KAIMAI (524624) Proud to be supporting Terpstra Farming Ltd
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