'Go-to tractors' for dairy farmers

Nick Stubbs owns and runs a large dairy in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and says a reliable tractor is vital to his operation's success.

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Nick Stubbs and his father have farmed in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands for many years. They run a dairy, and grow maize and ryegrass for cow feed. Stubbs is general manager of the Stubbs Farming Partnership, and says the operation is always developing. It recently diversified into avocado production.

Stubbs manages a herd of Holstein cows that ranges between 2 500 and 3000 animals. "Our aim is for high input and output. We are breeding animals of about 550kg, which produce 8 000-litre lactations," says Stubbs.

"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 Stubbs. He sells the operation's milk to a leading private dairy producer in Mount West that, in turn, processes it into a range of milk-based products.

Stubbs recently invested in a Massey Ferguson (MF) Global tractor, which, according to the manufacturer, is defined by its broad utility capability, and ability to fulfil many different tasks on the farm. The MF Global tractor range includes the 4700, 5700 and 6700.