FARM OPERATIONS
The objective of Faull Farms is to maximise return and income by
utilising the flat fertile land to harvest a maximum amount of good
quality pasture supported by low cost supplements.
Up till 1996, the Faull farm was a typical 64 hectare 200 cow
dairy farm. Since 1997, the farming operation has been in a rapid
expansion mode and in 2010 milks over 720 cows with an all-year
round system involving autumn calving (200 cows) and spring
calving (520 cows) on 161 hectares with three runoffs totalling
80 hectares giving total land ownership of 241 hectares. The
targeted production is 320,000 KG milk solids for the 2010/2011
season.
Along with the expansion of land area and cow numbers,
considerable investment has been made into large modern facilities
and fully upgrade supporting infrastructure which is leading edge
and to a very high standard. The farm is now recognised as one
of the leading dairy farms in Australasia and is frequented by
government dignitaries, international VIPs and a range of personnel
and organisations that have an interest in the dairy industry.
The modern fully automated 60 bail rotary dairy has been recently
complemented by the construction of a 600 cow feed pad and
installation of a new controlled application effluent irrigation
system which will allow up to 1200 cows being accommodated by
the expanded systems.
The new feed pad and feed bunker design mean that
the cows can efficiently feed all year with 800tDM
maize silage grown on support areas close to the
farm and 700t Palm Kernel feed contracted and fed
in The SuperShed at milking in controlled amounts by
computer based control systems.
Extensive monitoring and modelling of the farm system
is carried out by the Intelact Consultant to ensure that
production targets are achieved and also to ensure
that feed adjustments are made in response to the
season and climatic conditions.
The SuperShed system is based on an all inclusive
Dairymaster system from Ireland involving herd
management, animal health and welfare management,
supplementary feeding systems. Detailed data systems
(for each animal) feed and production management
and analysis, labour efficiency, resource management,
product differentiation analysis integrated into a
sophisticated communication and management system
which allows the owners to monitor from anywhere in
the world, and the sharemilker to manage and monitor
on the farm or remotely.
There is a very clear focus on sustainability, and
the latest effluent system ensures that all waste
nutrients are fully utilised over a large area of the farm,
minimising the need for the purchase of fertiliser and
nitrogen and ensuring the environment is protected
from effluent pollution.
Considerable ongoing investment into the land itself
is occurring with pasture renewal, riparian and native
planting along waterways, new fencing and tracking.
Maximising farm income is largely achieved by a higher
stocking rate and adding in low cost supplements to
ensure maximum production. Milking all year round
also allows for increased cow milking days for the
whole herd and reduces the wastage of stock through
forced culling of empty cows.
These intensive systems require vigilant management
and attention to detail to ensure that targets are
achieved and the farm is well operated. The farm is
operated by very experienced sharemilkers and support
staff. The farm owners and the sharemilker work very
closely together and the sharemilker reports weekly to
the owners and there are on-farm meetings every six
weeks.
The owners are very actively involved in the farm
management. Daily production reports are available
through the Fonterra internet report systems. Video
cam facilities monitor the turntable, yards and outside
areas to a split-screen at cups-on and at automated
cups-off, which allows the plant operator to view status
at anytime.
