A local dairy farming operation in KwaZulu-Natal is benefitting from the cost effectiveness and wide application of the Massey Ferguson tractor range. Nick Stubbs and his father have farmed in the Midlands for many years, starting from scratch and facing such challenges as rising interest rates and operational and input costs.
The dairy operation plants maize for cow feed as well as ryegrass, Midland mix, and Kikuyu, explains Nick, who is General Manager of Stubbs Farming Partnership.
Stubbs maintains a herd of about 2 500 to 3 000 Holstein cows, predominantly with American genetics.
“With cattle feed at a premium, our biggest challenge is trying to find a balance between using expensive feed to drive production versus feeding pasture-based grasses that give us production at a more affordable cost and drives the profitability of our operation,” says Nick.
The MF Global tractor series (MF 4700, 5700 and 6700) is defined by its broad utility of fitting into many different tasks at any farm. In this South African example, the Global series fits the 60kW to 98kw range used predominantly by Stubbs for loader work. These tractors load everything from silage and bales to fertiliser and lime, as well as picking up rocks, mowing pastures, and burning firebreaks. The MF 6711 (83kW) provides sufficient power to pull some of the heavier feed wagons, while its affordability has seen the largescale adoption of the MF tractor range in the Stubbs’ operation. “It has become our ‘go to’ tractor,” explains Nick.
Tractors and technology in a dairy application
In addition, the MF 6711 front loader with guidance is used for precision work such as spreading fertiliser and lime on pastures. The higher horsepower MF 7614 and MF 7615 tractors with guidance equipment are used for the larger tasks. Nick says the move to MF at the Nottingham Road operation was accompanied by adopting Trimble technology. “I think the user platform is a lot easier for drivers to get to grips with because it is similar to using a cellphone.”
Another major benefit of MF is its fuel economy.
Nick highlights that smart farming techniques adopted at Stubbs are regular grid sampling of all soils on the lands, which help him determine where and what corrective measures to apply in terms of fertilisers and lime to boost growth productivity, which then drives milk production. Using all the technologies available from tractors to land and animal management have resulted in him running a highly successful dairy operation.
As much as it is about the MF tractors and the technology and benefits, it is also about the support and backup service Stubbs receives from its local MF dealer. Nick notes that the combination of MF technology and dealer support makes for a high return on investment at the end of the day.
