Basil Doonan Farm Management Group

1. Basil Doonan Farm Management Group

2. Objective “Developing and demonstrating large scale dairy farm practices that are robust, profitable and environmentally and socially sustainable”

3. History • TDDF agreement signed with VDL June 07 • Sharefarmers appointed 26th June • By this time 100 cows had calved • Calving started 1st July • Very difficult to alter the outcome • Our bed was made

4. Two clear objectives Year 1 • Make money • These systems have historically been profitable • We didn’t want to under perform • Cost owners or sharefarmers money • Prioritise profit for future performance • Tying for a quantum leap • Basics might be obvious

5. The Farm

6. Identified issues • Main areas for improvement • Unhealthy herd • Below optimum cow condition (calving) • Below optimum APC • Under-grown heifers and cows • Below ideal soil fertility • Laneways • Ryegrass staggers

7. Always start at the bottom • The most fundamental improvements give the biggest returns • Heifers • Soil fertility • Laneways

8. Year 1 performance Financial Benchmarks

9. Year 1 performance Financial • ROC not too bad • But largely due to milk price (13% higher than budget) • Major achievement was reducing costs by $100k • Labour • Purchased feed • Nitrogen • Other bits and pieces

10. Year 1 performance Production Benchmarks

11. Year 1 performance Production • Small heifers and cows resulted in: • 100 cows herd recorded zero production in February • 100 cows producing less than 6 litres • Despite 15 kgDM/cow • Significant lameness in early lactation • Cows separated and milked OAD • January all cows affected by ryegrass staggers • Missed autumn break by 2 weeks (40-60 lactation days) • $150,000 to this season? • 2 and 3 yo animals • increased weight by 70 kg • Increased condition by 15 kg • $130,000

12. Year 1 performance Animal Benchmarks

13. Year 1 performance Environmental Benchmarks

14. Year 1 performance HRM Benchmarks

15. Training • Pasture management and coaching • TIAR • Lameness workshop • SVS • Calf rearing • TIAR

16. Prioritised spending • Young stock • 95% of terminal weight (Now 465kg Lwt) • Cow herd • Culled all unhealthy and unsuitable animals • Laneways • $60,000 spent • $40,000 capital • Soil fertility • Olsen P 14 to 20 • K from 150 to 200 • $20,000 capital • Calf paddocks • 3 new paddocks • $3,000 capital

17. The year ahead • We have a healthy herd • Adequate genetics • We have fewer undersized heifers • Bigger proportion of pasture to production • They’re in good condition (0.3 CS) • Bigger proportion of pasture to production • Most laneways are repaired • Calf paddocks are in place • Our Sharefarmers are settled

18. The year ahead • Stocking rate still low • Inability to feed much concentrate • Cost control still focus • Herd fertile and short calving spread • Lactation days still concern • Due primarily to pasture growth and staggers

19. Year 2 to date

20. Year 2 to date

21. Summary • Last years performance ok • Much of the performance fixed • Milk price provided a boost • Didn’t bid up cost structure • We have laid the foundation for this year • Fewer small heifers • No unhealthy animals • Better lanes • Better soil fertility • Better trained labour • Lots of good information out to industry • Looking to gain increased relevance