Starting out as a dairy assistant just two years ago, Paul now manages a 265-hectare dairy farm in the Waikato, using Halter to effectively manage 350 cows. The introduction of Halter on the farm means that Paul now has more time and visibility across his team to ensure the best decisions are made for the farm, the cows and the land.
Future farming
“Farming has finally joined every other industry in terms of tech efficiency. We’ve been stuck doing the same thing for too many years and it’s not sustainable anymore.
Halter not only saves time and gives us the opportunity to learn, the tech is really interesting. It’s only a matter of time before more modules are introduced and I can’t wait for that. Halter is the way of the future. Achieving a work life balance for farmers is not going to happen otherwise.”
Paul’s favourite features
Virtual fencing feature and Remote Shift feature
“Getting fences up and down, being able to hold stock in virtually and move remotely works 100% of the time. I can shift mobs from one break to a new break, in another paddock even, on my own.”
GPS live-tracking feature
“Rather than checking every single ear tag, we can find the exact location of who’s calved and who’s calving … Once they’ve calved, you can just pause their collars, and they’ll take themselves and their calves over the break line onto fresh grass.”
Key results with Halter
Significant time savings
“It’s been a massive time saver for us. We still go out every night at 10 pm to check the cows, but now rather than going around with a torch, we can just go to the cows that are highlighted on the app. During calving, we’re usually too busy to be doing anything else apart from just that. But now I’ve got just one person checking the cows and the others tidying up and fixing fences.”
Improved animal care
“The biggest benefit I see of Halter is the improved care … They’re relaxed and walk at their own pace. In other words, their interaction with humans is far less stressful. Pete, the owner of the farm, says our cows are in the best condition he’s seen during his 32 years in the industry. Their coats are good and shiny, they’ve got fat on their bones and their demeanour is good.”
Paul’s wrap up
“Ultimately, Halter has made farm decision making easier and more manageable. We’re saving time and labour, which means I’m freed up to make the best decisions for the farm, the cows and the land.
Halter allows you to reserve the right to change your mind. Often when you set up a break fence, you wonder whether you should have made it bigger or smaller but after hours doing it, it’s pretty hard to change what’s done. Halter makes it so easy.
From a manager or owner point of view, Halter allows for a work/life balance. You’re still very much in touch but you also see the farm from afar, a bigger picture if you like.
Calving is still really busy but through the rest of the year, over summer, I’m milking once a day, I can go to town and move them when I’m there. I can have lunch with my parents!”
