Jude & Chris Stacey | Thriving with the Three-Way Cross - A Story of Teamwork and Innovation

Описание: The Stacey Family of Riddings Farm, located in Korakonui near Te Awamutu, manages a 450-cow operation following a system four farming approach. Led by Chris and Jude Stacey, alongside their children Tom and Stella, and supported by workers Bert and Charlie, their farm spans 155 hectares of milking platform, with additional land dedicated to young stock and native bush.

Previously, the farm faced challenges with their Friesian herd's ability to thrive on steep terrain, especially during calving. In response, they implemented a crossbreeding strategy, initially introducing Jerseys for their resilience. However, it was the transition to a Three-Way Cross from Samen NZ, incorporating VikingReds and Norwegian Reds, that truly revolutionised their operation.

The Norwegian Reds, known for their adaptability to such landscapes, not only maintained a solid 550 kilograms of milk solids per cow but also showed significant improvements in fertility, lameness, and somatic cell count. The Stacey’s have successfully utilised Samen NZ straws over their lower-producing cows, such as Belgian Blues and Black Herefords, improving herd quality and generating additional income.

This strategic breeding approach has not only transformed Riddings Farm into a model of productivity and efficiency but also underscores the family's commitment to innovation and sustainability in their farming practices.