Jersey cattle
FOR Wayne Kuhne, taking part of in the Royal Melbourne Dairy Show is a rewarding experience and an opportunity to market his family's dairy operation.
The third-generation dairy farmer from Koonwarra farms with his wife Lisa and parents Keith and Pat.
They milk 350 Jersey cows on the property with 50 Holstein registered cows.
This year Mr Kuhne will take four milkers to the Royal Melbourne Show.
"One of the milkers has been shown before but it will be the first time the other three have entered the show ring," Mr Kuhne said.
"Showing at Melbourne is a good opportunity to promote our stud and also our on-property sale in March next year."
The milkers are two, two-and-a-half, three and six years old and are all daughters of cows which have a successful run in the show ring.
Bushlea Farms Stud was formed in 1945 and has had nine champions at Royal Melbourne.
The stud has also won three supreme jersey cow classes at International Diary Week and numerous reserve and interbreed champions at various shows.
The family started milking on the Koonwarra property in 2002 after moving from Leongatha.
The farm is producing 6500 litres rolling average and 550 milk solids.
Mr Kuhne said he enjoys being part of the industry because there's a constant challenge to improve the operation.
"The dairy industry is a great industry to be a part of and the challenge is to be as successful as I can.
"I grew up with registered cattle and this gives me the chance to work on things from a breeding perspective and constantly improve the herd.
"On the farm side, I want to grow pasture and better feed.
"There's no ceiling on farming, there's not many restrictions in the industry."
The Kuhnes run annual and bi- annual pastures, which work well on their the red volcanic soil.
At the moment the biggest project the family is working on is the on-property sale in March.
"We will have 50 cows aged from six months to rising two-year-olds on offer," Mr Kuhne said.
"All the animals will be out of excellent 90-point cows and all cwill have had at least one lactation of more than 7000 litres."
All four milkers shown at Royal Melbourne will have maternal sisters offered at the on-property sale.
Source: farmonline.com.au