It lashed rain for the majority of our time on the Boland farm but it wasn’t just the rain that had washed the farm.

The power hose had been brought out to every yard, shed and piece of steel and there was an absolute shine off the farm.

The rain or washing did not dampen the enthusiasm of David, Niall or Colin as they showed us around. It’s fair to say that land is not limiting for this business.

There are over 70ha available for grazing with the cows and 96ha farmed in total. Milking 130 cows, stocked at 1.85 cows/ha, the farm is primed for more cows.

David explained that if the next generation of farmers wishes to expand, the opportunity is there, and the investment in grassland and infrastructure means they will get a return on more milk.

The Bolands have a liquid quota with Aurivo, so they are milking 365 days a year. A portion of the 110-strong herd calves in September to fill this liquid quota.

Considering there is a fair volume of milk produced indoors, the SCC and TBC results are probably even more impressive. All cows are wiped with a paper towel and if teats are dirty, they are washed and dried. Any cow that has infection is milked last and clusters are flushed with water and peracetic acid once she is milked.

Organisation

All the Boland boys have cleanliness, tidiness and organisation at the top of their agenda and it is clear that the yard was not washed just for the day. There is a correctness about everything around the yard and stock.

Unlike many other farms, the cow roadway out of the yard has been concreted a good lot of the way out to the paddocks.

David likes the fact that it reduces so much of the muck that cows pick up on their feet and legs.

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