Free-stall barn system commended
Tribute to fifth-generation farming family
Aprogressive dairy system has seen a Hamilton farming family win the Regional Supreme Award at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Hamilton last week.
Anjena, Arjun, Amreeta and Daljit Singh of Lawwal Holsteins were announced as the joint supreme winners.
Their journey began when Karamjit Singh migrated from India to New Zealand in 1969, and in 1972 bought his first herd of 65 jersey cows with his wife, Mindy.
Their late son, Aman, and his wife, Daljit, were focused on feeding cows to their potential, looking after the environment and increasing production per cow.
Aman’s quest for knowledge about free-stall barns took him around the world and, in 2018, a final design was selected and built on the property.
It houses 1000 cows and is run today by his three children, Anjena, Arjun and Amreeta at Whitikahu, near Morrinsville.
The free-stall barn system enables cows to be provided with a fresh total mixed ration that ultimately means they produce less methane than outdoor, fresh-pasture-fed cows.
Producing high-quality maize and grass silage is a critical part of the farm’s production because it ensures the cows get plenty of digestible energy. Computer software enables the team to cleverly tailor recipes to suit each herd.
In awarding the Regional Supreme Award, the judges commended the fifth-generation farming family’s resilience and commitment to honouring their legacy, and their passion for progressive dairy systems. The Singhs continually modify their farm system to ensure sustainability over the long term.
The judges also noted that staff well-being is a clear priority, with long tenure being testament to an excellent workplace culture.
Reflecting on their move from pasture to free-stall barn farming and the business model they now operate, the Singhs stress that it is not just about the animals, the environment, or their employees. It’s about how all parts of the business connect and complement one another to ensure it is sustainable.
Anjena, Arjun, Amreeta and Daljit Singh also won the following awards:
Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
Dairynz Sustainability and Stewardship Award
Rabobank Agri-business Management Award
Other Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Award winners include: Chris Pellow — Pellow’s Produce
Ballance Agri-nutrients Soil Management Award
Hill Laboratories Agri-science Award
Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
Graham and Tess Smith — Miraka Farm
NZFET Biodiversity Award Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
Megan and Phil Weir — Stonyford
and Harapepe
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Tom, Carrie and Luke Andrews — Wholly Cow
NZFET Innovation Award
The awards also served to showcase three local catchment groups: Western Firth Catchment Group Trust, King Country River Care, and Taupō Lake Care Incorporated, with Taupō Lake Care Incorporated receiving the Waikato Catchment
Group Award.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are run by the NZ Farm Environment Trust and champion sustainable farming and growing.
The Supreme Winner from each of the 11 regions involved in the awards will go through to be considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the Trust’s National Showcase at Te Papa in May.
The recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy then become the 2023 National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing.