There were about 30 in the herd we contract milked for the previous two seasons. They weren't camera shy and could easily be persuaded to pose for a selfie.
#250 and #225 both featured in our presentation to Dairy Industry Awards judges earlier this year.
The first discussion group we attended was at Rob and Mel van den Brand's.
They 50/50 sharemilk 220 cows on the coast and were the Taranaki Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year in the 2015 Dairy Industry Awards.
It was nice to sit in a warm sunlit barn, out of the icy wind.
The van den Brands are in their seventh season on the property and are an inspiration to other young dairy farmers.
R2 heifers are artificially inseminated for three weeks to help fast-track their herd's genetic gain and they sell surplus high BW heifer calves to generate extra revenue.
It's always refreshing to get off the farm at this hectic time of the year, even if it's just for a few hours.
We're currently milking 340 cows, with only a handful of stragglers left to calve.
#277 has been relishing the extra tummy tickles as the only pet cow left in the springer mob.
Mild weather has triggered above-average grass growth.
The cows are in the house paddock today.
There's not a cloud in the sky and as I write all I can hear are birds chirping, cows eating grass and the sound of #41 scratching herself on the yard fence.
The herd is quite technologically savvy, wandering in from their paddock to the feed pad after an electronic timer opens their gate well before the 5am milking.
As I mentioned in my last blog, I'm studying the NZ Diploma in Agribusiness Management through PrimaryITO.
The final assignment of the Business Planning module was on the topic of risk management.
I had to identify several risks facing our business, then outline strategies we'd put in place to offset them.
One was making sure the herd is well fed. By using a feed budget, we can predict potential shortfalls.
A gap next winter will be partly filled by planting fodder beet for the first time. The crop paddocks have already been chosen and will be cultivated this month.
My tutor, who was a 50/50 sharemilker, told our class how she reviewed her business insurance annually. It's a strategy we've adopted.
I used the downtime over winter to switch insurance providers, which has improved our coverage, while slashing the cost.
As contract milkers, it's vital we have adequate insurance, especially around milk contamination and public liability.
By early October I will have started the next module on Human Resource Planning and Management. Matt and I don't have any employees, but with summer fast approaching we'll be looking to hire relief staff.
The module covers recruitment of staff, writing job ads, selecting the right person and employer responsibilities.
The odd afternoon milking off might give me the opportunity to scale Mt Taranaki. I've already walked the Tongariro crossing, but that was when my ankles were much younger.
We'll see.
