WHEN Mick and Catherine Shepard made the decision to completely overhaul management on their Macorna dairy farm by changing to once a day milking, they were understandably nervous and a little apprehensive.
Two years later they couldn’t be happier.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing and it has involved a whole lot of relearning, especially when it came to managing the herd but essentially they have gone from a split calving 250 cow herd, milked twice a day, to around 210 spring calving cows milked once a day.
The Shepards have never chased high production instead focusing on a grazing system with home grown fodder across their 560ha platform.
The grazing platform consists of lucerne, rye and shaftall and the out blocks are sown down to vetch and barley for hay.
This year the herd peaked at 22 litres with only six cows not in calf.
“We have basically lost a third of our milk production and halved our costs but for the first time in a very long time I can honestly say we can pay all our bills and really is a great feeling,” Catherine said.
Both Catherine and Mick agree the biggest hurdle they had to overcome was what people thought.
“We moved from a traditional twice a day milking system and of course we did get a lot of negative feedback, especially around the issue of mastitis, but two years later we wouldn’t go back,” Mick said.
“It’s certainly not for everyone but it suits our farm and what I am doing. If I was to be completely honest, it will keep me in the industry longer than if I was still milking twice a day.”
Mick said the first year was all about learning how to look after the cows and transition them to once a day.
“Any of the big old cows that couldn’t handle it were sold along with the high cell count cows and we bought in heifers,” Mick said.
He said consequent heifers have all performed really well under once a day milking because they don’t know any difference.
Milking time is still 6am but it does take around 30-45 minutes longer.
“The cows have to be completely milked out and I do have to take a bit more care but that is okay because I don’t have to turn around and do it again at 3.30,” he said.
The first year Mick found the cows were a bit too fat which resulted in quite a few pulled calves, caesareans and a rather stressful calving period while this year things have been a lot easier.
Mick said he can’t remember noticing a drop in production over the summer months, something he attributes to the cows remaining comfortable in the paddock not having to walk back to the dairy in the heat of the day.
“Every afternoon I go down and move the strip fence just to give the cows something new to graze in the afternoon, you certainly don’t have to do this but I just like too.”
Rather than use AI they reverted to rotating bulls through herd but Mick thinks he will return to using some AI in the future
One of the biggest savings the couple have found is reduced labour costs. They now do all the majority of work themselves except during hay season, and because the cows are dried off for six weeks, they were even able to take a family holiday to Darwin this year (in between COVID lockdowns).
It has taken the family a bit of getting used to having no income while the cows are dried off however they have overcome that be setting aside all the money from cattle sales.
They are also planning on rearing some beefies to help the get through.
“Cashflow is an issue but it is manageable. We have the land and we now have the time to rear a few extra animals,” Catherine said.
Mick said the imploding of Murray Goulburn a few years ago taught them both some hard lessons and was the catalyst for them to really look at their own business and what suited their farm and their own management.
It has also allowed them to invest in their own family farm stay called Shepo’s Whey where guests are treated to country hospitality, cows and dogs of course, and Mick and daughter Tiarna’s amazing, welded sculptures dotted around the garden.
“We might be on the same ship but not everyone is in the same storm. You need to make a choice for what works for you and don’t worry about what anyone else has to say, just go for it,” Catherine said.
