86 | nzdairy RURAL SERVICES » Aztech Buildings Kelly Deeks For more than 25 years, Aztech Buildings has worked alongside dairy farmers across New Zealand, designing infrastructure that improves cow comfort, supports staff wellbeing, and gives farmers control of their outcomes in increasingly unpredictable farming conditions. Aztech Buildings regional sales manager Billy Gibbs says the company’s role goes far beyond supplying buildings, with a long term focus on how infrastructure fits into the wider farm system. “We are not there for a quick sale and then gone,” Billy says. “We are looking at the whole farm operation, supporting the transition to a barn, and how we can help farmers control outcomes long-term” Each project begins with a detailed understanding of how a farm operates, including herd structure, production systems, reproduction systems, feeding programs, existing infrastructure, and staff roles and pressures. “We are always looking at how we can improve efficiency for both cows and staff,” Billy says. “How can we utilise feed better, improve feed conversion efficiency, reduce stress, and make the whole system easier to manage? It is about helping farmers gain control.” A major focus for Aztech is the growing uptake of composting barns as farmers respond to environmental compliance, labour constraints, and animal welfare expectations. Billy says the barns deliver value across multiple areas, particularly cow comfort and production consistency. The barns provide shelter from both winter weather and summer heat, which Billy says has a greater impact on production than many farmers realise. “As soon as a cow experiences stress, it is noticed in the vat. We’ve done a lot of work with Dr Sue Macky who says if you can drop a cow’s temperature by one degree in the summer, it equates to one liter of extra milk in the vat.” He says farms using Aztech composting barns are maintaining production through summer when milk output would typically drop, with many farmers avoiding having to switch to once a day milking. An increase in milking days has also been achievable which also increases the seasons profitability. Across projects, Aztech Buildings reports milk solids increases of 15 to 30 percent, without increasing cow numbers or changing feeding systems. Infrastructure that improves cow comfort Volckman composting barn. “We are not changing the cows,” Billy says. “We are improving comfort and consistency, and that shows up as performance.” One Waikato farm lifted production from 380kgs milk solids to 590kgs per cow over four years, while another increased from 440kg to 530kg in their first season in the barn. Billy says improvements are also seen in reproduction, lower somatic cell counts, lower calf mortality, and decreased vet costs. “We are seeing cows come into calving inbetter condition and higher in-calf rates,” he says. Compost produced in the barns is reused on farm as a natural fertiliser, providing a higher nutrient value than anything off the shelf, reducing synthetic input use, and supporting soil health. Billy says barn design is critical to performance, with airflow, ventilation, roof pitch, overhangs, ridge vents, and orientation all carefully engineered to maintain passive airflow through the barn which removes moisture and pathogens in the bedding to create a nice environment for the cows to lay down on. “We have spent over 15 years refining these barns with dairy specialists , Consultants and agri nutritionists,” Billy says. Aztech’s work also spans across other dairy infrastructure, feed storage, animal shelters, industrial buildings, and hangars, supported by a nationwide builder network. Billy says the focus remains firmly on helping dairy farmers create more resilient and sustainable farming systems. “We have created an online nationwide community for farmers using our barns,” he says. “They share ideas, learn from each other, and support each other. That is one of the great things about the dairy industry. Everyone can work together to improve.” Get the structure right from the start Planning a composting barn? the farm system, support cow comfort and help create better day-to-day control. aztechbuildings.co.nz | 0800 298 324 Composting Barns FROM $1,750 per cow, constructed Feedpad Covers FROM $650 per cow, constructed
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