Uniformity vital in tending of young dairy stock

The Fox family farm is one of the new heifer-rearing focus farms.

Tony and Megan Fox's 145ha property in Airedale, near Oamaru, is one of five heifer-rearing focus farms which will provide information and a forum for sharing knowledge.

Tony says the project is a good chance for other graziers, especially those new to the business, to gain knowledge and share ideas.

"It gives graziers the chance to talk to like-minded people and build confidence in what they are doing," says Tony.

"It is not easy starting out growing heifers and knowing exactly what is required."

The couple, who farmed sheep and beef, and had a piggery, started grazing heifers to use newly irrigated land.

Now they graze 450-500 heifers, have 200 sheep and operate a 120-sow piggery.

The young stock return to the dairy farmer during their second winter.

Meeting farmers' needsTony and Megan know first-hand the difference in farmers' management styles.

The first farmer they grazed for -- a relationship that lasted seven years -- required monthly weighing and drenching of the heifers.

Other farmers have not required the same level of monitoring.

The project aims to bring some uniformity to how dairy farmers and graziers interact and manage young stock, which is a good thing, says Tony.

"Being part of the focus farm project is a good opportunity to get back to being more controlled, knowing where the young stock are at and whether the feeding regime is enough."

Tony says he's learned a lot over the past 10 years.

"I'm a lot better at growing grass and the cattle have helped that, with the grazing pattern and intensive fencing.

"Since being a sheep and beef farmer, I've sharpened up about how much grass I can grow."

The Heifer Grazing Project is funded by DairyNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries / Transforming the Dairy Value Chain Primary Growth Partnership.