Page 121 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2018

On Farm

Outstanding

conception rates

down to use of

Hereford bulls

WORDS ANNE BOSWELL
PHOTOGRAPHS ANNE BOSWELL / SUPPLIED

PICTURED:
Michael Steiner and Kerrie Owen
with daughter Hayley.

GALATEA DAIRY FARMERS MICHAEL STEINER and Kerrie – going from 20 cows too few to 20 cows too many, as the
Owen reckon the artificial insemination of cows doesn’t stand a conception rate was so large.
chance against the Hereford bull when it comes to outstanding “So that made us quite confident for the coming season. We
conception rates. normally carry a few carry-overs, but we ended up putting them
“When we started using Hereford bulls over our herds two years on the truck or selling them.”
ago, we really didn’t know if it would be better or not,” Michael says. Calving was over in an incredible 16 days.
“But it quickly became apparent that it was, as we had an “With a July 10 calving we expected to be done around August
improved conception rate in the first three weeks; even with no 2; instead, all cows were calved by July 26. It was an intense
AI, conception rate was huge.” time, but it meant the herd spent many more days in milk.”
The couple has recently sold a 54ha family farm at Galatea, The herd, made up of a majority of New Zealand-bred
on which they lived and milked 160 cows; they also have a Friesians as well as Jerseys, had no calving difficulties.
sharemilking job milking 280 cows on 93ha down the road, Most of the calves went to the Reporoa sales at 10 days old,
currently managed by a contract milker. with a small percentage sold at the farm gate or on to the bobby
They bought the 54ha farm in 2013, the year daughter truck later in the season when the prices dropped.
Hayley was born, but Michael had been sharemilking there “We have reared the odd bull calf but last year, with the
since 1997, after his parents bought the farm in 1996. Hereford calves, we thought, ‘just take the money’,” Michael says.
Michael says they have always used Hereford bulls, but The early calving also translates to more milk in the vat.
traditionally they also did three weeks of AI. “On the larger farm we’re supplying milk about 15 days earlier,”
“We couldn’t really ignore the results of the Hereford calf Michael says.
sales,” Michael says. “We always thought that going in without “We’ve seen a massive increase in milk solids, despite the wet
the dairy young stock mightn’t be more profitable, but it would season. Last year we did 52,000kgMS here and 83,000kgMS at
certainly be less hassle.”
The farm’s Hereford bulls, which Michael has used over the
whole herd for the past two seasons, are purchased from the
Curtis family at Riverlee Herefords.
“We wanted premium-looking calves, so we bought premium
Hereford bulls,” Michael says.
“The bulls were relaxed after six weeks; there wasn’t much
more for them to do.”
Using Hereford bulls saw the herd’s empty rate drop from
15% to around 9%.
“We had about 40-odd more cows in-calf across the herd,”
Michael says. “We actually ended up with too many cows

RIGHT: The farm’s Hereford bulls are purchased from the Curtis
family at Riverlee Herefords.
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