Steve and Deanne Hore's farm near Leitchville in northern Victoria has been a good breeding ground for top quality cows, as well as footballers.
It's also a relentlessly hot farm and their latest investment is part of a long-term plan to manage seasonal variability, with animal welfare and risk management at the heart of the move.
The Hores have constructed a 150 metre by 45m shed to house the herd providing the cows with shelter, fans and a sprinkle of water when needed. The shed is part of a move to a total mixed ration system, which is part of their strategy to better manage their feedbase to respond to climate and water variability. It's a big investment but it has revolutionised the farm
As he nears 50, third-generation farmer Steve hopes innovations like the shed will ensure a fourth generation continues to farm the land.
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Their oldest son Marty has recently made his debut for Melbourne in the AFL after a successful VFL career at Collingwood but likes to get back on the farm when he can. Younger son Brady, also a top footballer locally and in the TAC Cup, works on the farm and has been heavily involved in building the new facility.
Both follow in the footsteps of Steve who won local league and club best and fairest awards. "The two boys have more natural talent than me," Steve said.
Daughter Kelsie also works in the dairy industry with Genetics Australia and helps on the farm and promoting the family's Elmar Holsteins stud.
Elmar Holsteins showed five cows at International Dairy Week this year. All finished in the top 10, including a two-year-old that won the best udder in her class and was reserve intermediate champion. The stud has previously won four champion cow titles.
The new shed evolved out of plans for a concrete feedpad. The heatwave last summer prompted them to go further.
"After last year's hot spell, we realised we needed to better house the cows, so we added the shed to the concrete feedpad to improve cow comfort," Steve said.
The shed has a concrete centre alley and the cows live on either side on a compost pack.
The cows moved in at the start of January and the Hores are already noticing the benefits. "They now have sprinklers, fans and shade and they're happy and comfortable," Steve said.
Along with animal welfare benefits, Steve and Deanne hope the new shed will lead to better production and feed utilisation.
"Weather plays a big factor in production loss, especially the heat but the wet can also affect us," Steve said.
Steve has noticed the weather becoming hotter in recent years. "The seasons seem to be changing a bit; the hot weather seems to be coming later and lasts a bit longer, and the wet is more unpredictable," he said.
As part of the move, the farm's grazing strategy will also change.
"The cows might get out in the autumn, but we'll use the land for growing fodder and the cows will be housed 24-7 in the new facility avoiding the heat. We'll grow more crops and harvest more silage," Steve said.
"We'll use water in a different way by growing more dry matter per megalitre by not grazing paddocks and growing more forage crops, such as maize, vetch and cereals."
He expects increased production to justify the cost of their infrastructure.
Steve and Deanne did extensive research before greenlighting the investment.
"There are other farms in Australia using the system and most of North America is the same," he said. "We're using their resources and knowledge to do it out here.
"We love what we do; we're passionate about it and still young enough to want to be farming.
"We're always trying to improve things and make it easier for us and the cows."
This story first appeared on Australian Dairyfarmer
