Their primary driver for making this switch came from increasing not-in-calf rates, particularly in their younger cows. With long walks for cows up and down hills, 3-in-2 was already a tool  the couple had used during mid-late lactation with no loss in production, so it was a natural decision to look at this as an option.

A secondary driver focused on staff wellbeing and the ability to reduce staff hours, particularly over key times of the year such as calving and mating.

Farm facts

Structure: Owner-operators
Location: Stratford, Taranaki
Cows: 460 crossbred cows
Farm Size: 160ha
Production: 390kg MS/cow
Imported Feed: 540kg DM/cow
Irrigation: no
Staff: 3 full time equivalents (153 cows/FTE)
Roster: 12-2
Milking Regime 2020/21: Full season 3-in-2 (second year)