Wiebe notes their production levels remain similar per goat, but the upgrade enables them to milk more goats. He adds that animal condition is better too. “At the start of the season, we had some animal health issues. But since we started in the new plant, those problems disappeared.” Cup slip is a thing of the past and they have had fewer grading issues.
Prepared for the future “We have generally been careful about investing too much” says Wiebe. “But we feel that the (NZ) goat industry keeps getting better, with the market much more positive than it was 20 years ago. The (NZ Dairy Goat) Co-op continues to want more milk and we’re always aiming to better our operation.”
Key Points: • Milking 1,200 goats twice daily used to take 8 hours/day. • Existing parlour was retrofitted with GEA’s double-up herringbone system (80 bails), low line with cup removers, Metatron milk meters and DemaTron 70 control units, PPiD with RFID and DairyPlan software. • With GEA retrofit, milking time has been reduced by more than 2 hours/day. • Other benefits: production data is captured on each animal, less animal health issues, big costsavings.
The Smitstras are well-prepared to increase production with a high-end milking parlour and good information on the herd. They have since built a new barn and will increase the herd size.
New Zealand Boer Goat Breeders Association – NZBGBA The New Zealand Boer Goat Breeders Association was formed in 1989 to maintain a stud registry, with the objectives of promoting the breeding and production of meat from Boer Goats in New Zealand.
REASONS TO CHOOSE BOER GOATS • Meat goats producing a low saturated fat and low cholerestol meat • Improves meat carrying capacity when used as a terminal sire over dairy, feral and fibre goats • Suitable for a wide range of pastoral conditions • Browsing animal – improves pasture management and control of weeds. To contact a Boer Goat registered breeder near you go to www.nzbgba.co.nz/members Find us on Facebook @nzbgba (NZ Boer Goat Breeders Assn)
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Goat & Sheep Milk NZ - Issue 4 | December 2021
The Boer Goat originates from South Africa, with the breed established in the 1950’s specifically to produce meat. The breed was imported into NZ in the late 1980’s and goats created from breeding programs at the Quarantine Stations were released to the farming public in 1993.
