All the right moves

Continued from page 1

The farm is a gross of 445 dryland hectares, at Won Wron, on a mix of steep and flat country. Paul and Lisa own 235ha and lease the remainder.

The lease blocks enable them to harvest fodder.

“Pasture growth averages 7.5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare,” Paul said.

“We harvest to produce enough silage and hay to feed 1tonne/cow per annum.

“Over the last three years we’ve built up a reserve of one year’s silage and hay.”

The first cut of silage is pit-stored, and any ongoing excess is made into round bales.

Contractors are employed to harvest fodder.

The self-replacing milking herd is 450 registered Jersey cows, under the Gelbeado Park prefix.

“Historically it’s been 400 head, producing 180,000 kg of milk solids,” Paul said.

“But we decided to increase milking numbers this year.

“We’ve always chosen to understock, but the numbers have always indicated 450 is our optimum milking number.”

Between 2016 to 2018, the Mumford’s Won Wron farm was a Focus Farm, and Paul credits that participation as a key factor in the growth of their business.

“Being a focus farm was the best thing for our business,” he said.

“We were a Focus Farm when we and the district were deep in drought. We were in financial distress.

“We had to lay everything on the table, for others to peruse and comment about.”

The couple owned two dairy farms at the time. Ultimately, being a Focus Farm caused them to reduce their holdings to one farm.

“We were trying to keep both farms afloat, to the detriment of this one,” Lisa said.

“Being a Focus Farm taught me to get your farming system right for the farm you own,” Paul said.

“This farm was subsidising the other farm. Labour was also an issue.”

The Won Wron farm is spring calving, and was being used to winter-graze the other herd when the second farm got too wet. That wasn’t helping with fodder management either.

A 50-stand rotary dairy plant was installed in December 2002, and renovated 18 months ago as part of Paul’s intention to step back from milking.

All cows wear collars to manage feeding, health and fertility.

The dairy includes auto-drafting and automatic cup removers.

“It’s now a one-person dairy,” he said.

“Before the renovations, we always needed to be two labour units in the dairy.”

Although the milking herd is entirely registered stud cows, Paul principally breeds for production.

“This season we produced 2.2 million litres of milk.”

He will continue to focus on breeding the best Jersey genetics.

The herd is joined in a nine-week period using artificial insemination.

An empty cow will be carried through for one joining period, so long as she maintains her productivity.

While the historical production numbers indicate a 2.4 labour units, Paul and Lisa have always employed above this number.

As well as themselves, they employed three equivalent full-time labour units including Aaron.

Aaron has been with them for 16 years, beginning as a farm labourer, then progressing in his career and participating in dairy and farming courses.

“The numbers say we should employ 2.4 labour units, but we have a group of employees who work well together,” Paul said.

“So we’re prepared to pay to keep them.”

As well as the additional EFT labour, the couple pay above-award rates and offer flexible workplace conditions.

They also ensure an atmosphere at team meetings where everyone can contribute. Roles and responsibilities are allocated across the team.

“We identify who has an aptitude for certain tasks and responsibilities,” Paul said.

“Some people like to feed out, some like to milk, others are interested in animal health.”

Under the new arrangement, where Aaron is employed as a contract manager, he takes over the financial responsibility and management of labour.

Paul and Lisa, as owners, are financially responsible for all other inputs to the farm and managing the farm.

“The new system is going to challenge us, but we can now choose what jobs we want to do on the farm,” Paul said.

“We also have opportunities to do other things outside of farming.

“And the new structure gives Aaron the opportunity to achieve more.”

Establishing gut health and development in calves is essential for building a foundation of performance and profitability in the future herd. ACTIGEN focuses on supporting animal performance by promoting good bacteria, building defences and maximising growth and efficiency.

Wednesday

Is the grass greener on the other side or does dairy offer a longterm financial reward that compensates for the hard work and volatility?

Join Facilitator Matt Harms, from ONFARM Consulting and panel members Mark and Trish Hammond (Labertouche dairy farmers), David Linda Brumby (recent entrants to dairy farming at Leongatha), Luke Wallace (Poowong North dairy farmer with recently installed robots), Nick Leppin (Wattlebank) and Matt Colwill (Nerrena) (both former dairy farmers), to discuss whether dairy farming is improving with age or is it on the nose? Come along and listen to a passionate range of views and experiences, to really determine whether dairy farming is improving with age.

Why Gippsland is Australia’s premier dairy region! Panel Discussion, Jersey Milky Cocktails, Beverages & Snacks by Matty Wilson.

Date: 3pm Wednesday 6th (Football Clubrooms)

Tickets: $30 members, $50 non-members includes Expo entry from 10am Booking: https://diaa.asn.au/events

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