Testimonials
A silage experiment that paid off
“We really only started growing maize because bought-in feed had become too expensive” says Jack Sands, who farms alongside his parents Kevin and Lisa, sister Ellen, and his f iancée Mikayla. “Seven years ago, we planted 10 hectares as a bit of a trial, just to see if it would stack up”.
It did.
The family runs 550 cows in a split-calving operation across two properties totalling 284 hectares. Their system five dairy platform comprises a herd of 75 per cent pedigree Holstein Friesians and 25 per cent pedigree Ayrshires, producing around 400 kgMS per cow.
Alongside the dairy unit, the Sands family operates dry stock properties at Okere Falls (165 ha) and TaupÅ (230 ha). Around 450 calves are reared each year, and none are sold as bobbies.
“All of our dairy and beef bull calves are shifted onto the dry stock blocks after weaning and grown out to kill weight at about two years old” Jack explains.
The dairy heifers are kept at the dairy unit for most of their lives, with half sent to the dry stock property for mating to avoid overstocking the dairy platform.
Last year, a total of 23 ha of maize was planted in VPMAXX® hybrid VP321, 18 ha on the dairy unit, which provides 650 kgDM per cow of maize silage and 5 ha of maize at Okere, to supplement the 140 breeding beef cattle, a mix of pure Angus and pure Charolais.
Both properties sit at a higher altitude and the cooler conditions make hybrid choice and maturity crucial to ensure maize fits the Sands family’s pasture-based system.
VPMAXX® Account Manager Barry Smallridge helps with hybrid recommendations and general crop advice.
“We go with a short-season option so we can get re-grassing done in good time. It has to complement our pasture programme – timing is critical” says Jack.
All maize is harvested in-house by Jack with his CLAAS chopper, which he also uses for his contracting business, which services other local farms.
What started as an experiment has become an integral part of the Sands family’s farming operation.
“Cow condition and production have improved as a result of feeding maize silage” says Jack. “It helps provide a more well rounded diet for the cows”.