Top dairy farmers share key to success at DairyNZ

Top dairy farmers share key to success at DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum

Three of the Waikato’s top dairy farmers will bare all at next week’s DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum at Mystery Creek, as they reveal the impact of imported feeds on the profitability of their operations.

The panel discussion is part of the DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum, being held at Mystery Creek on May 5 and 6. The Forum is free to all levy-paying dairy farmers and their staff.

The farmers participating in the panel will discuss how they’ve been able to maintain profitability under very different farm systems. They will also share the challenges they are facing in maintaining their success and sustaining their systems.

Farmers participating in the DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum panel include: Sharon Moss of Tokoroa, who implements System 1; Tony and Louise Collingwood of Te Awamutu, who implement System 3; and David Bennett of Walton who implements System 5.

Hamilton dairy farmer, Gaynor Tierney, will moderate the panel discussion and says, “each one of these farmers has been extremely successful implementing very different types of farm systems.

“However, they do have some similarities as well. They are all very knowledgeable about their finances and cost structures. Each also has a very good handle on good pasture management principles. And, curiously enough, none of them has made profitability their number one aim. Rather, profitability has been the outcome of their successful farming practices.”

Traditionally, the dairy industry has grouped farm systems into high and low input systems. There are five types of production systems, which are grouped based on the time of year that imported feed is used. Characteristics of the five dairy farming systems include:

System 1: Self contained – no imported feed
No supplement is fed, except supplement harvested off the effective milking area. There is no grazing off the effective milking area.

System 2: 4 – 14% of total feed imported
Feed is imported, either supplement or grazing off and fed to dry cows.

System 3: 10 – 20% of total feed imported
Feed is imported to extend lactation (typically autumn feed) and for dry cows.

System 4: 20 – 30% of total feed imported
Feed is imported and used at both ends of lactation and for dry cows.

System 5: More than 30% total feed imported
Feed is imported for use all year, throughout lactation and for dry cows. Split calving is common to this system.

The theme for this year’s DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum is ‘Toward 2020: the next decade in dairying.’

Gaynor says, this panel discussion ties in nicely with the theme because, “each of these farmers is one step ahead of the average New Zealand dairy farmer. And, that’s because they are constantly looking toward the future. They are projecting into the future, seeing what lies ahead and making changes now to stay ahead in the industry.”

This year’s DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum features some of the best thought-leaders in the dairy industry and a range of international experts in a range of fields. The two-day Forum will also be a great place for farmers just getting started in the industry to brush up on the basics such as: calf rearing, improving reproductive performance, supplemental feeding, preparing for extreme weather events, and more.

Registration is essential prior to the conference and can be done online at: www.dairynz.co.nz/farmersforum or by phoning 0800 4 DAIRYNZ.

ENDS

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