News -

Life's easier with the wave of a wand

Orini Downs Farm is, says Farm Manager Harry Rich, going through a development stage and he believes if the technology to make life easier is available, then it should be used.

Harry and wife Donna Sharee took on the overall running of the 1030 hectare Waikato dairy farm last year when they purchased the shares from the then out-going Manager.

The 2100, split calving, mixed cross breed milking herd is, says Harry, aging, and for the past three years the farm's strategy has been to breed as many replacements as possible, replace the poor producers and increase production.

"For the past three years we have been concentrating on bringing through replacements. We use six week AB to LIC Premier Sires, Friesian and Kiwi Cross, as we want to generate as many replacements as possible.

"I also see herd testing as essential. I herd test primarily for two reasons, somatic cell count (SCC) and production.

"Herd test results provide the information I need so that I can keep pushing out the bottom end of the herd - we are in that phase at the moment, making sure the lowest producers are going and working on improving the herd from the bottom up."

"We are not yet in a situation where we can worry about who our very top producing cow is. However, accuracy of results is very important to me."

LIC has just launched an EID solution designed to make herd testing quicker and easier. The new product, EZ Link EID, is the first and only product on the market that allows customers to herd test without the need to manually enter data - Harry Rich was one of the farmers to trial the new technology.

"The EZ Link EID promised to reduce the hassle of herd testing, help reduce the time spent in the shed and the risk of input errors and to provide me with more accurate data.

"So when I was asked if I would like to trial it, I was more than happy to test something that could alleviate pressure at herd testing time."

Harry said Herd Testing with EZ Link EID worked really well in one of the farm's herringbone sheds.

"All our spring calving heifers are milked through the 35 aside herringbone shed, it takes the pressure off them and allows us to pay more attention to detail - it ensures they don't get lost in the bigger herds.

"They are our elite herd and we have staff with excellent skills to look after them. This reduces herd wastage we would see with the heifers going through with the aged herd.

Harry says as part of the ongoing strategic plan for the farm he plans on splitting the herd so it has a different code for the herringbone heifers. All milkers are EID tagged and Harry says he plans to continue with his electronic tagging programme and will EID tag all calves at weaning.

"When they have a different code we will be herd testing them more frequently than the rest of the herd. With the younger ones it is more important for us to establish production.

"We also plan on doing the same thing through the second herringbone (smaller 22 aside) with our 2006/07 born animals - these two elite smaller herds will, over time, feed cows through to the large 80 bale rotary."

"Using EID technology there is less risk of a stuff-up in results, it eliminates inaccuracy - it reads the correct cow number and links it to the correct flask.

"I also find that the EZ Link hand-held is a robust piece of gear which is important when you're handling cattle.

"For me EZ Link EID has exceeded my expectations - it was fantastic to use. I no longer have to go along and manually read the tags, it made herd testing a more enjoyable experience and I am more confident in the results.

"I took over from the LIC Herd Test Assist, and found I could just walk down the bale, and ping, ping, ping it read the cow numbers, then I walked back up the row and scanned the flasks. EZ Link EID has eliminated two jobs that can potentially make your herd testing results inaccurate, out of the system.

"You want to avoid annoying or scaring the cows so it is important you practice good stockmanship, just hold the stick reader in one position and hold the button on the stick. I walked quickly down the aisle without looking at the cows, by the time they realized I was there, or even thought about what I was doing, I was at the end of the row.

"And of course with anything the more you do something, the less the cows will take any notice. I would suggest maybe carrying a stick into the shed for a week and by the end of that week it will be routine and the cows will not be scared by it.

He said herd testing was definitely quicker using EZ Link EID.

"I was expecting to spend 30 to 45 minutes longer milking in the smaller shed, but the whole process only took about 15 minutes so I didn't spend much more time in the shed than I would during a normal milking.

‘The staff in the shed with me were more relaxed and happier than they would normally be during a herd testing and we could all see the value in this new product.

"And if we are not punching in numbers the results have to be more accurate - and I like accuracy."

"Utilising the EID technology makes the job more pleasant and easier, I'm all for not having to jump up and down on the rail trying to read numbers.

"I believe technology should be used to make life easier - EZ Link EID has proved it does - and if the technology is available to improve on how thing are done - then use it."

Farm Facts:

Managers: Harry and Donna Sharee Rich

Location: Orini Downs, Taupiri, Waikato

Area: 1030ha, 800ha effective

Milking herd: 2100 mixed/cross breed, Split calving (500 Autumn calvers remainder Spring calvers).

Milking sheds: Two herringbone, 35 aside and 22 aside, both fitted with Protrack automated drafting systems.

One 80 bale rotary.

Staff: 12 permanent staff including Herd Managers and Production Managers, Donna takes the responsibility of calf rearing.

Replacements this year: 100 Autumn with 400 rising two year olds for this coming Spring.

Soil: About 420ha unconsolidated peat with a further 100 ha of lease land also peat.

Contour: Rolling hill country - clay.

Pasture based system with 50ha-80ha maize supplement grown each year.