WELCH EGG CO LTD
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Coast & Country
A dream come true lets, meaning no extra fittings are needed.” And Devan Tanks’ customer service is second-to-none. “We deliver tanks when we say we will – and our drivers try their best to position them Six Devan tanks site beside the new dairy – exactly where and because Brent likes their durability and farmers want easy delivery there’s more than 20 on-farm. them.” Brent says he sticks with Devan because their excellent. “They’re value for money and I like how they can drop them off as they’re passing on SH2.” Brent plans to have in-shed feeding. “Feed is the only thing that keeps cows flowing through the old shed – give them a lolly and they’ll keep coming in.” Brent’s dealt with Takanini Feed for four years. They’re 10 minutes away – nice and handy. “The mill is just down the road. They supply palletised meal. We give up to 3kg per cow and drop back to about 1.5kg – depending on how AgFirst Engineering’s Waikato director Davieth Verheij, Reporoa Engineering much grass is about.” director John Perrin and GEA North Waikato/Northland area sales manager Takanini Feeds Ltd manuPaul Convery with Brent Welch at his new dairy. factures dairy pellets at its
Driving into the Welch’s, you can tell it’s Devan Tank country. “We’ve always used them,” says Brent, with 20-odd Devan tanks on-farm. Six 30,000 litre Devan tanks stand beside the shed. “We want to catch rainwater because water is the next big problem – Waikato Regional Council’s variation six – so we have to start limiting water use and still do the same job.” Devan Tanks general manager Jamie Lunam says water tanks is their core business with factories in Tauranga and Christchurch distributing products nationwide. “It’s important rural customers know we supply stronger grade tanks people
use to store molasses, whey, colostrum – some even use them to hold liquid fertilisers.” Devan’s point of difference is having the strongest tanks in the market, says Jamie. “They’re moulded with brass out-
ruminant mill at Mangatawhiri. “We provide a pellet containing all the micros, magnesium oxide, vitamins and minerals etc which is balanced to give correct doses at the nominated feeding rate,” says owner Neil Burndred. Nearly 100 per cent of Takanini Feeds’ clients have inshed feeding systems, ensuring total control over feeding rates – and total control over micros added. The feed pellet is changed to reflect seasonal demand for energy, protein and feeding rate required. “We find today’s farmers take much greater interest in what feed contains and we work hard to supply quality products designed for individual farm requirements.”
GEA North Waikato/Northland area sales manager Paul Convery with the Milfos cups on the 60-bail rotary platform.
The Reporoa Engineering milker pit, with GEA Milfos cups which sit off-ground and don’t get tangled in the platform bridge.
Harry’s pride
The dairy’s name hangs on a pink sign: ‘Amy’s Milking Parlour’ No 1. Est 1936. Amy is Harry’s mother and the sign is a tribute to her and his family’s hard work. ‘Albert’s Eggs’ hangs above the family’s egg operation, to recognise his father. “The opportunities we’ve taken are far beyond my wildest dreams – it shows what we can do as a family.” By Merle Foster
Reporoa Engineering director John Perrin, with the milker pit, which sees people walk round-platform at the cows’ level and everything is contained – including cow crap.