ROSS BURNETT
NZ Dairy / Summer 2012
11
Owner expands way out of a job Kelly Deeks Manawatu dairy farmer Ross Burnett is looking for a new project. With the recent amalgamation of his run-off block into his dairy platform, he has been left at a loose end as manager Shane Robinson and his two employees tackle the day-to-day running of the dairy farm. Burnett has expanded the farm in three stages. He started by buying the farm next door; he hired a manager to run it, while he continued to milk on the home farm. The two farms were supported by a leased run-off block across the road, where Burnett grazed young stock and about 40 beef cattle. Three years ago he built a new dairy shed,
merged the two units into a 450-cow herd on one farm, and appointed Robertson to run the whole thing. Burnett looked after the run-off and calf feeding Last February he bought the run-off and incorporated it into the dairy platform, building an underpass for the cows. The additional land has pushed the dairy platform to 240 hectares, and allowed cow numbers to rise to 600. Robinson is now milking three herds of 200 cows through the dairy shed which is central to all three blocks. Burnett has set up new graziers for the calves and yearlings, but says the disadvantage of incorporating the run-off block into dairy platform is that he has to find another lease block to give himself something to do. He is looking for a lease block close by, where he can graze young stock, and maybe a few beef cattle: “We’ve been grazing beef for the past five years on the block across the road. With in-shed feeding, the focus of dairy-support land is more important for growing good young stock, he says.. Target production this season is 230,000 kilograms of milksolids. Burnett says that’s based on what the farm achieved last season with 450 cows. A fantastic season for growth, with grass growing all year round, saw the farm produce 173,000kg milksolids. They continued milking through winter as a way of increasing the herd from 450 to 600. Burnett bought 100 empty cows and milked them through the winter with the idea of them getting in calf this season and milking them with the rest of the herd.
in cutting empty rates
Having completed a three-stage development and putting a manager to place to run his dairying operation, Ross Burnett (far left) is pondering his options for a new project.
Richard Algar Ltd • Agricultural • Earthmoving • Drainage
Unit 10 Avon Street Rongotea, Manawatu PO Box 154, Rongotea 4865 Phone / Fax: 06 324 8828 Mobile: 027 443 2202 Email: ralgar@xtra.co.nz
Northcote Office Park Unit 11, 80 Grey Street PO Box 28, Palmerston North Tel: 06 357 5793 Fax: 06 357 5773 Email: office@larsenassociates.co.nz
Specialising in Farm Accounting Proud to support the Ross Burnett
LA
LARSEN & ASSOCIATES
Barber Groundspray Ltd David Axtens’ ‘We knew we knew we needed to do something to improve our empty rates.’
Axtens is on target for 230,000kg milksolids this season, up 10,000kg from last season, with an additional 30 cows. The 220ha milking platform is supported by a
100ha block for young stock and winter grazing, and a 28ha block used for supplement. He says the pumice ground grows awesome grass and can handle 1000mm of rain with no mud.
For All Your Quality Earthmoving Requirements
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Pedley
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