Sprunt family’s dairy secret all in the genes
The Sprunt brothers of Kaarmona Holsteins and Jerseys focus on building productivity and ideal type through genetics, while mixing milk in the vat to meet market demands.
KAARIMBA dairy farmers Rohan and Graeme Sprunt have built a productive dairy herd and outstanding breeding operation from scratch over the past two decades, against a backdrop of drought, increasing costs and extreme price uncertainty.
The brothers run Kaarmona Holsteins and Jerseys on 240ha north of Shepparton, with 360 milkers this year and a total of 600 cows.
The partnership began by leasing their family farm in 1994, then purchasing the operation in 2000. The brothers have developed a three-fold approach to breeding and milking success.
They focus on building productivity and ideal type in both Holsteins and Jerseys, while mixing milk in the vat to deliver fat content in line with market demands.
“Traditionally when we first came back in ’94, the operation was 70 per cent Holstein and 30 per cent Jersey,” Rohan said. “Now it is 65 per cent Jersey and 35 Holstein because the industry is paying more for fat.
“Milk in the vat is a mixture between Jersey and Holstein, no different to a crossbred herd, but we are keeping the genes pure to maximise the potential marketing opportunities.”
Graeme looks after the pasture and fodder, while Rohan focuses on dairy and breeding. Supplying bulls to Genetics Australia and correctively mating the cows with World Wide Sires Australia, Rohan has been responsible for producing four Holstein bulls that appeared in the most recent Australian Breeding Values rankings.
Rohan’s aim is to balance efficiency with conformity traits such as udders, to produce cows that are profitable and easy to milk. Mastitis resistance, heat tolerance and poll traits are also on his radar, to improve animal welfare and longevity in the dairy.
“There has been mass exodus, and we are still around,” he said. “I could turn my back on genetics and produce crossbred cows if I wanted to, but this is my way of trying to maximise returns on our asset (herd) while at the same time trying to positively contribute to the dairy industry.”
The Sprunt brothers were able to secure a long-term contract to supply Freedom Foods, along with securing permanent water along the journey. Coupled with improvements in genetic data analysis, it has given them the confidence to invest in their business, particularly genetics.
“We’ve had our ups and downs like any farmer, but we are certainly not scared in continuing to increase our assets,” Rohan said.
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