| 19 nzdairy DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS » Leah Murray Leah has been successfully buying and selling young stock as a means of building equity. While she did not scoop any awards at the Dairy Industry Awards national event held in Mt Maunganui mid-May, she was not at all disappointed. “A whole lot of networking with a lot of likeminded people is so cool. You can’t underestimate that. You felt like celebrating even though you didn’t get an award.” Leah grew up on the farm, but after leaving school she initially worked on a sheep, beef and arable farm. When the previous farm manager moved on, the opportunity arose for Leah to work on the farm on a three year contract until the end of the 2025 season. She has been using her wider industry experience and knowledge to good effect, including in the farm’s seasonal feed regime. “We’ve just started doing summer turnips. We started that when I came home. I saw other farmers using it when I was out delivering in the grain truck when I worked at Gardyne’s Grain.” Her father agreed to trialling the crop with one of the herds. “We saw an increase in milk so we’ve done it with all the cows this year so we’ve done it with all the cows this year and it’s helped us push out our round length as well because we go into quite a long rotation.” In addition, this season Levucell yeast was trialled in the cow’s grain. It is claimed to assist the pH in a cows gut, reduce the rumen acid load, improve fibre digestion and increase milk yield. “It’s looking at different options to get the most and maximise our cows utilisation of the grass we are growing on-farm.” Leah has been successfully buying and selling young stock as a means of building equity. “I sold 100 head of rising three year-olds and just bought 88 R2’s to sell as R3’s.” With strong demand for these driving up prices, Leah was “not complaining” about how much she sold them for. “The dream is land ownership.” Richard +64 27 677 3985 richard@gardynes.co.nz Domestic Grain: Wheat (crushed or whole) Barley (crushed or whole) Oats Tic Bean Meal Imported Feeds: PKE DDGS SBM SoyaHulls Macro Minerals Trace minerals Vitamins, etc Calf Meal: 20% or 16% Protein New Homes & Alterations • Dairy/Wintering Sheds Digger & Machine Hire • Concrete Work • Roofing Call Grant: 027 544 5791 Phone / Fax: 03 231 3165 Email: gtchamberlain@xtra.co.nz Your Local Rural Builder We are committed to delivering cost-e ective, friendly and e cient service throughout Southland & Otago. 022 646 1959 www.hargestagri.com • ROUND BALING • SQUARE BALING • CULTIVATION • DRILLING Your Local Transport Specialists Proud to be associated with Leah Murray 03-2039-010 | www.hokonuirural.co.nz
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