[ Keith Swinbank ] - [ Tony and Heather Edgar ] - [ Willie and Mary Buchmann ]

Keith Swinbank

Location:
Torunui Swinbank farm Opiki, Manawatu

Herd:
165 ha, 630 cows, split calving

Production:
430ms per cow at 1640 ms per ha.

Comments:
Started working with Hugh Jellie to improve breeding performance in 1995 and have used him as veterinary consultant since that time.

dairyconcepts has helped me move the farm from producing 850 kg ms per ha in seasonal management situation to producing 1630 kg ms per ha in split calving situation. Key changes implemented through this time include
• Improved reproductive performance
• Improved wintering
• Transition management
• Split calving
• Feed pad and ration balancing
• Irrigation

dairyconcepts considers the whole farm operation and assists with: strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting of requirements, feed planning, ration balancing, production and health monitoring and the setting up and management of breeding programmes. Hugh is also available to discuss daily issues as they arise.

dairyconcepts is a key part of our operation.

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Tony and Heather Edgar

Location:
Pukeatua, Waikato

Herd:
1800 dairy cows on 2 properties.

Production:
Producing 320 ms per cow at 1060 per ha on easy to steep country

Comments:
Our initial move into the dairyconcepts programme came from a need to get our empty rate down from 10-15% to 5-7 % without the lengthy mating programme that required following season inductions.

For us the programme is now not only about the mating period but about what we do with the herds during the whole season starting from drying off (cows condition), the calving transition, post calving nutrition and animal health leading up to an effective 10 week mating period. The programme not only deals with the herd but also equally importantly the people and the strategic issues encountered when running 2 large farms.

Hugh runs in house seminars on calving, herd health (most importantly feet & udder) and pre mating to mating requirements.

Along with our farm consultant Hugh and dairyconcepts has become a very valuable member of our management team.

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Willie and Mary Buchmann

Location:
Leerueti Farm, Pirongia, Waikato

Herd:
Owners and farmers of 66 ha farm, medium hill contour farming 213 cows.

Production:
Producing 340kg ms per cow at 1100kg ms per ha.

Comments:
We have been using Hugh and the dairyconcepts programme now for 2 seasons. We were struggling to improve our position and were struggling to achieve 870 kg milk solids per ha.

Hugh spent some time examining our operation and developed a plan which has helped us move from our worst season’s performance to our best in 2 seasons. We are on track to exceed target for the 2005 season.

dairyconcepts provides us with an invaluable planning and operational resource. Hugh also finds time to talk to us about what we want and how to fit our personal goals into our farming business.

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