Breeding For Profit

WORDS // RICK BAYNE

Tahnee and Scott Wilson with daughter Marley have been share-farming in Gippsland for nearly four years.

SHARE farmers Tahnee and Scott Wilson are keeping things practical with their breeding program, with a strong focus on making money.

About a third of their herd of 250 at Nyora is Jersey and that percentage will increase over time.

They have been share-farming on the 160-hectare farm for nearly four years and visitors to the property as part of the Jersey Australia AGM tour will also see Holsteins and a handful of Ayrshires, reflecting Scott’s farming background.

“When we came here, we needed more cows but we couldn’t buy Jerseys at the time so we got black and whites,” Tahnee, who is also secretary of the local Jersey club, said.

“But Jerseys are definitely our major interests and we’re trying to build Jersey numbers by using sexed semen on heifers and cows.

“I’m from a Jersey background so they are in my heart, but it’s also for their good points; their efficiency, their good nature, workability and ability to make grass into money based on their bodyweight.

They’re easy to handle and quiet in the dairy and produce good quality milk.”

The growth will be achieved by building up their own numbers.

“Everyone loves to go to a special sale and buy a good cow but that’s probably not the most efficient way for us to go about it when we’re trying to build bulk numbers,” Tahnee said.

“In the past we bought lines of Jerseys but now we’ve got enough cow numbers so don’t need to buy a line, we’re just working with what we’ve got to increase numbers gradually over time.”

Their breeding is highly focused on type traits, particularly udders, but they also like bulls with reasonable stature and strength.

While Jerseys only constitute a third of the herd, numbers are gradually increasing as Tahnee and Scott build on their success with a herd tough enough to suit all conditions.

“We’ve got a mixed herd so the Jerseys have to compete, and with the Gippsland climate they’ve got to have a bit of strength to withstand the conditions,” Tahnee said.

They don’t herd test and the overall production picture is skewered because of the Holstein volume, but Tahnee and Scott are happy with their progression.

“We want to stay focused on our fat and protein which are the great attributes of the Jersey breed,” she said.

They supply Bulla, partly because of the simplicity of their payment system but also to take advantage of their autumn and spring calving and a flatter milk supply curve.

“That is what Bulla wants because 90 per cent of their market is domestic and the jersey components suit their products such as ice creams and creams.

“Because we can supply a flatter curve, we’re on a tier one contract which is a good step up.”

As much as they love Jerseys, Jersey genetics and having registered Jerseys, their decisions are made on what’s going to make money or what’s not going to cost money.

“At the end of the day, to get ahead we’ve got to make money,” Tahnee said.

“We run from a commercial point of view. When we came here, we kept a lot of cross-bred calves just so we could build female numbers to increase our milk supply.

“There’s a lot of focus on genomics which is great but it’s far into the horizon for us. We’re focused on breeding a functional cow to make some money.

“We’re breeding milking cows that we enjoy the look of and have good breed traits but we’re not down to the nitty gritty of using bulls just because they’re in the top 10 genomics.”

Another message Tahnee would like to share during the tour is that it’s never too late to start chasing your dreams.

“A lot are lucky enough to get into share-farming in the early 20s, not their early 30s like us; but it’s never too late to start working on your goals and trying to achieve what you want in life.”

... it’s never too late to start chasing your dreams. “A lot are lucky enough to get into share-farming in the early 20s, not their early 30s like us; but it’s never too late to start working on your goals and trying to achieve what you want in life.”

Family Milestones:

John & Margaret Anderson arrive in Melbourne from Ireland (originally from Scotland) on 2nd May 1851, establish a market garden and small dairy farm in St Kilda. Later they move to Glen Eira Road, Caulfield. Anderson Street in Caulfield is named after the family. In 1884 the farm at Lyndhurst is bought and Kings Vale Jersey Stud is founded by Joseph and Christina Anderson (nee Sime) in 1886. After the passing of Joseph, Kings Vale continues with John Sime Anderson and Kate Anderson (nee Knight). John Sime passed away in 1947 aged 52 years. Kings Vale is then carried on by brothers Jock and Bert Anderson until the division of the farm and herd in 1961. Kings Vale continues with David & Sharon Anderson after the passing of Jock in 1988. Kings View was created by Bert and Winsome Anderson (nee De la rue) in 1961. Following the passing of Bert in 1987 the Kings View Stud is divided between the 3 sons of Bert in 1989. Kings Ville is registered by Robert in 1987. Kings Vista is registered by Lindsay and Jacinta in 1989. Kings View was carried on by Ian in 1989. Anvale is registered by Dawn Anderson (daughter of Jock) in 1993. Kayvee is registered by Winsome Anderson in 1993. Westella is registered by Ricky & Melissa Ferris (nee Anderson) in 2014. Kings Veldt is registered by Patrick Anderson in 2019.

My archive includes:

• Private early stud records • Newspaper reports dating from 1912 • photographs of jerseys from 1895 • a complete compliment of A.J.B.S herd books 1901 – 1969 • Jersey journals ( Aus.) and abroad • Melbourne Royal Show catalogues and sales • International Dairy Week catalogues and reports. • Anderson family involvement in Jersey Club Fairs, Local Shows and Jersey Youth club activities • Pictorial albums of my attendance at World Jersey Cattle Bureau Conferences/Meetings 1972-2018 • Collection of mementos from around the world

Come and see my Antique Dairy and machinery. Everyone is welcome at any time.

My farm is 6 kms from Nar Nar Goon and 2 kms from Ian’s Kings View Stud.