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FARM SERVICES » Richard & Sharon Grayling
NZ Dairy
Investment for better productivity Karen Phelps Matamata-based farmers Richard and Sharon Grayling have continued to invest in their dairy business despite the down turn with one proviso – any investment has to help them to better control costs and improve their overall productivity. For example, the couple has just purchased a 71ha run off block, located two kilometres from the farm, which will help them to keep certain costs associated with operating their farm in-house. They will use the land for growing feed including maize, grass, silage and hay as well as to graze calves and heifers. They will also winter the herd there saving on wintering costs. The Graylings’ 120ha effective unit at Te Poi milks 340 kiwicross cows. They have been focusing on reducing costs as much as possible, which has been challenging as they already run a low cost system with total farm costs including wages sitting at $3.26 per milk solid. They have been steadily reducing their reliance on bought in feed. They used buy in around 120 tonnes of dairy meal each year to feed through an in-shed feeding system and aim to reduce this to 50-70 tonnes this season. Everything else will be grown on the run-off, which they will focus on bringing up to speed – removing weeds and installing drainage as their budget allows. The couple upgraded their effluent system on the farm several years ago installing a two million litre concrete tank and a series of sand traps prior to when the effluent reaches the tanks so only liquids are pumped on the pastures. The system includes a pump operated through a variable speed drive by King Electrical. This has allowed them to spread over an additional 20ha of the farm taking the total area effluent is spread over up to 50ha. They expect to grow grass is a result over time but the immediate benefit has been greater control over when and where they apply effluent to their farm. The couple purchased the farm in 1999 and have invested a lot of time and money into the unit including a new shed, races, fences, houses and waterlines. When they built their 36-aside herringbone dairy shed they sought to build a shed that would be sustainable, fit in with the land and weather conditions and be low maintenance. The shed is a distinctive ‘sail’ shape and has a curved roof to take advantage of the prevailing winds. The milk room was positioned so that summer west winds blow in, which helps to keep the milk cool saving around 25% on the farm electricity bill. The bail area takes advantage of the winds blowing from the east in winter, which come straight over the Kaimai Range, and this helps to move the cows into the shed as it blows from behind them. The shed is built from steel with no timber components. It has a Waikato Milking Systems
Richard Grayling with contract milkers Rob and Lisa Dunn. Right, Richard Grayling checking on young stock. Richard and Sharon Grayling have been steadily reducing their reliance on bought in fedd.
loop line milking system and a Read slide pulsator system. The Graylings employ contract milkers Rob and Lisa Dunn, leaving Richard free to take care of the run off. They are aiming to increase cow numbers to 360 within two years. Last season, the farm achieved 136,500kg of milk solids and the Graylings are aiming for 145,000 to 150,000kg this season due to feeding cows better in the summer months from the run off.
Blue Grass enjoys working with the Grayling family Call 0800 497 2842 • 191 Benson Road, Te Awamutu • Phone 07 870 6328 Fax 07 870 6329 • Mobile 021 933 136 • Email wayne@theconcretepeople.co.nz
Brook 027 471 9765 www.bluegrasscontracting.co.nz