Family thrives on diversity

“It’s not an easy life, and it is pretty busy, as we have a diverse production, growing grain, cutting hay and silage and running the dairy and a beef herd, but it certainly is rewarding,” David said.

The family, along with two full-time staff and a part-timer, run the business as a fully self-sufficient closed operation.

“We don’t want to rely on volatile markets,” David said.

“It’s a lot of work, and we won’t be able to do it forever, but while we are young, and we have the energy, we will keep going — we are fortunate to run a feed positive system.”

Memories of drought years have been a significant driver behind the push to conserve as much feed as possible, and part of that includes burying 500 tonne of oats and 270 tonne of vetch in one of the sandy hills on their property, along with conserving as much pit silage as possible.

Fodder growth is supported by around 420ha of irrigation, but the business is heavily reliant on the temporary water market and price per megalitre is certainly cause for concern.

The 260-cow mixed herd is joined exclusively to Holstein, with David aiming for a smaller framed 650kg cow.

“We run a closed herd on a pasture-based system, and our cows do have to do some walking, so the smaller frame is better for the animals and better for the pasture.

“We have put a lot of work into breeding for sound feet and legs, fertility and cell count.”

The split calving herd is joined for six weeks in autumn and nine weeks in spring, which includes two rounds of AI and a mop up with the bulls.

David said they were looking into heading down a 400-day lactation path in the future rather than the traditional 305 days due to several different factors.

In March this year, they installed Allflex collars.

“We were able to put these in with the help of a connectivity grant,” he said.

“We believe they will help us improve fertility and move down the extended lactation path.

“I am not in the dairy as much these days either, and along with the easy dairy program and auto draft, they will definitely help with management and make the job a bit easier for our staff.”

David said this season was looking a little questionable at the start of June, but a total of 60mm of rain for the month, and an application of urea at the right time, made for a more positive outlook.

“Growth is slow, but it does look good, and the cows are still managing to graze twice a day, so we have a bit of feed in front of us.”

Lucerne is grazed, and the cows are supplemented with silage over the summer months.

“A feedpad is very much on the future wish list because the cows do struggle in the heat,” David said.

But as with all management decisions on the farm, it will only happen when the budget allows.

“Yvonne does the business side of our operation, and we couldn’t do what we do without her,” David said.

“We like to stick with the budget and then we know what we can comfortably spend,” Yvonne adds.

The family is happy with the way its business is heading, although David’s proposed retirement in 10 years’ time from the dairy side of things might be put on hold, with daughter Laura showing a lot of interest in the cows.

She was recently awarded a Youth Excellence award at the Victorian Winter Fair.

She has also established her own registered stud — Ottreys Bridge Holstein.

“Laura is a natural stock woman, and she is great with the cows, so we will keep going for as long as we can.

“And we will add a few fancy registered cows to the herd now there is a possibility our farm will go on for another generation,” David laughed.