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Moving away from Holsteins has delivered herd health and production advantages, with the bonus of lifestyle benefits for their young family, according to Owen. A reduction in mastitis cases has reduced antibiotic use within the herd, trimming on-farm costs, while improved fertility has helped condense the heavy workload during autumn and spring calving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Red cows also better suit the wet conditions of their flat southwest Victorian farm, according to Owen. \u201cThe Reds carry a little more condition and that actually works in their favour when we join in July and August,\u201d he said. \u201cReally, you can\u2019t get any harsher conditions than during those months and they are getting in calf brilliantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharefarming for Owen\u2019s parents, David and Nareda, Owen and Kate wanted a lower maintenance and economical herd. Their breeding goals included an animal with longevity that also produced well from a pasture diet, supplemented with silage and brassica crops during dry months and 1.5 tonnes\/cow\/lactation bail feed. Averaging about 540kg of milk solids per cow per lactation, the Reds have delivered in the vat. But this isn\u2019t Owen\u2019s primary focus. \u201cWe never chase litres, we chase a cow that will look after herself and last for years \u2013 10 years \u2013 ideally,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t spoil cattle; the idea is you are not working for them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AUSTRALIA\u2019S top Red dairy bull is making a mark on one south west Victorian herd, with his daughters delivering in the vat and helping to cut costs. Red sire ONSTAD P is ranked number one in the recent Australian Breeding Values release at 388 BPI$ thanks to his strong production, outstanding management traits and elite…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":337,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-abs-australia-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n