Devondaler-March-2015

10
MARCH 2015
DEVONDALE MURRAY GOULBURN
From bottom to top in BMCC figures
By SUE WEBSTER
PETER and Kate Norris
took a herd with a Bulk
Milk Cell Count (BMCC)
averaging more than 800,000
and within two years got it into
premium band.
Initially ranked in the bottom
10 per cent regionally, their 10-
day average by mid last year was
124,000 – placing them in the
top 13 per cent.
The Inverloch sharefarmers
tackled udder health as the first
focus of the South Gippsland
farm they took over in May
2012.
But then the rain came. And
came. And came. In their first
year, the 155ha farm scored
more than a metre of rain.
Mildura-born Kate couldn’t
believe it.
“I kept saying ‘we’re dairy
farmers, not rice growers!’”
They were determined to send
the cell count southwards and
received a lot of help from Field
Services Officers, Jol Dutton and
Tim Cross from the Devondale
Murray Goulburn Leongatha
factory.
“They could see we were trying
to get the count down and
helped in any way they could.”
So, what did they do? Kate
rattled off the list. Blanket dry
cow treatment with selective
treatment for cows with more
than 750,000 BMCC, blanket
teat sealant, optimum feed management
and mechanical work
such as changing liners twiceyearly.
“One of my favourite sayings
is, ‘Look after the cows and
they will look after you,’” Peter
said.
Over the same period they
eased off their stocking rate,
reducing the herd of 350 milkers
to 300 in the first year, before
lifting the numbers to 320 this
year.
Running fewer milkers and
improving feed saw a 20 per
Inverloch suppliers, Peter and Kate Norris, have have shown that hard work and determination can
get you to the top of the table in milk quality.
cent production lift with 40
fewer cows.
“And with better milk price
increases we saw a 150 per cent
increase in farm income,” Peter
said.
Kate recalled: “For two years
we’ve had to keep our heads
above water – quite literally – to
get the cattle to where we’d like
them to be. Now it’s time to
bring the farm up as well.”
The herd is now “a bit of
everything, Friesian dominant
with a Jersey influence.” In 2014
they had 60 heifers calving and a
herd in-calf rate of 85.5 per cent.
They are breeding for longevity
and for good temperament.
They are milked through a 30-
a-side swingover shed with auto
cup removers.
They are fed 7kg wheat in the
bail and average
1.95kgMS/cow/day at 3.63 protein
and 4.41 fat.
The paddocks are sown to
Crusader ryegrass and they conserve
around 600 rolls of pasture
silage and 103 hay rolls.
Farm financial performance is
fundamental to this enterprise.
The couple has projected next
year’s income and are drafting a
budget.
Peter said: “One of the biggest
influences that I’ve had is a
Dutch farmer who told me the
biggest thing is to know your
costs and know your income.”
Kate added: “Have breakfast
with your budget.”
And Peter added: “Manure.
You’re always in it. It’s just a
matter of degree.”
It’s the sort of insight born of
tough times, and they’ve known
a few.
The toughest period was possibly
when the pair moved from
the Yarra Valley, where Peter
was raised and worked as a
farmhand, to northern Victoria –
via a stint as an agricultural
contractor.
They arrived in the northern
irrigation region to manage a
1000-cow herd during a prolonged
drought. Peter was in
charge of operations.
Kate, holding a University of
Melbourne Agricultural Science
Degree, worked as herd
manager.
She has also acquired a
Certificate IV in training and
assessment since graduation
and is currently completing a
double diploma in management
and human resource
management.
Peter has built his career from
the bottom up and is currently
formalising his knowledge
through the skills recognition
offered by National Centre for
Dairy Education.
Kate said: “Neither of us
could do this job on our own.
We both bring skills to the table
that complement each other and
I love working alongside my
husband every day.”
It’s been a big journey for a
young couple with no dairy in
their upbringing.
The pair was introduced by a
mutual friend when Kate was
looking for work experience.
“I think we were matchmakered,”
she admitted.
And if she hadn’t have met
Peter?
“I probably would have gone
back to Mildura and gone into
beef production.”
But she didn’t. The result?
Two children, Aimee, 9, and
Alasdair, 6.