CASE STUDY 1
Russell & Charlotte Heald reduce
vet costs by nearly 60%
Russell & Charlotte Heald began transitioning their Norsewood dairy farm in 2017. There have been mindset adjustments along the way, but the results are bringing them greater fulfillment, better work-life balance and less stress. They’ve seen pastures recover quicker after drought (which is important for the Manawatū-Whanganui region), and have maintained profitability even through a shift to once-a-day milking.
The prioritisation of health and wellbeing of people, cows and land, and a holistic approach led the couple to regenerative farming. They milk 430 friesian and friesian-cross cows in a predominantly System 3 at Norsewood.
They are in the process of converting to organic and focus on having diverse pasture species – nine or more – to give cows a mix of nutrients, grasses, legumes and herbs.
“We call it our cow salad. As humans we don’t eat the same thing all the time and cows need a balanced diet as well. They eat intuitively and know what they need” says Charlotte.
Russell & Charlotte Heald | Tararua
Dairy
Operation322 ha
Total Farm area2017
Transition start dateMilestones
9+
Planting this number of species100%
Planting those species over this % of the effective farm30days plus
Grazing rounds50%
Leave behind this % of drymatterto
0
Kilos per H of Nitrogen0
Kilos per H of Phosphorus0
Kilos per H of Potassium0
Kilos per H of Suplhurby
100%
Insectides reduction100%
Herbicides reduction100%
Fungicides reductionYes
Certification2018
Date
The Heald’s are focused on animal health, as well as the health and wellbeing of staff.
In year one of transition, the Heald's dropped $200k off of their feed bill, they’ve been more profitable through a shift to once-a-day milking, and the cows are less stressed because they don’t have to walk so far. Empty rates are down from 14% to 5.5%.