30 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Kyler Pastorals Brayden milking. Karen Phelps Nicole and Brayden Kyle are about to make the leap that every ambitious farming couple dreams of by stepping up to their first 50:50 sharemilking position. The new job is in Rimu, just ten minutes from the Invercargill family farm where they have spent the past twelve years contract milking. Helping ease the transition on the family farm, Nicole’s younger brother Jeremy will step up as manager. “Actually moving and leaving the family farm is an odd feeling, mixed emotions definitely,” says Nicole. “We’ve been here for a long time but we have to chase our own dreams and opportunities.” The new position came about through word of mouth. The Rimu farm had been sold and the couple seized the opportunity to purchase the existing herd, sharemilking for the incoming owners. The property has a 40-aside herringbone shed with an in-shed feeding system and automatic cup removers will be installed. A calving pad will also be built and all the calf sheds upgraded with a new workshop completed as well. Currently Nicole and Brayden peak-milk 560 cows where they have lifted production from 240,000 kgsMS to 290,000 kgsMS. This was one of their proudest achievements as well as lowering empty rates, reducing animal health issues and completing riparian planting along the waterways. At the new farm they will have 1.5 labour units and are targeting 510 kgsMS per cow in their first season milking herd of 425 cows. “We’re being conservative as we don’t know the cows or the land and who knows what the weather will throw at us too,” says Nicole. The new herd is a Friesian-cross mob sitting around F12, bred on an LIC platform. To diversify the couple plan to introduce genetics from CRV, Worldwide Sires and Samen. Their breeding goal is a short, capacious, efficient cow with improved udder conformation and stature. The couple also own a 64-hectare run-off block in Mabel Bush, purchased around eight years ago, Their first 50:50 sharemilking position 0800 SGTDAN (748326) Gorton Street, GORE Ph: 208 3965 E: admin@sgtdan.co.nz Proud to supply veterinary services & Animal Remedies for Kyler Pastorals PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR ALL YOUR GENERAL ENGINEERING NEEDS 0274 EDS LTD E.D.S.LTD2009@GMAIL.COM WWW.EDSLTD.NZ
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