A TYPICAL day at the Boldview Farm dairy operation starts at 5.45am with the first milking, and depending on the time of the year, work can continue into the night.
But that is no problem for Lorraine Braendler, her son and business partner Scott and daughter and co-manager Cheryl Liebich who enjoy what they do.
The farm was started by Mrs Braendler in 1961 soon after her marriage to Don. They gre up on dairy farms in the Adelaide Hills so it was no surprise they continued in the industry.
The Jervois-based farm milks up to 250 cows twice a day, with the bulk Boldview Farm Ayrshire stud cows, owned by the Braendlers, and cows from the Cher-Bar Ayrshire herd, which Ms Liebich owns.
Although registered as two studs, the cattle are run and managed as one dairy.
Boldview Farm also milks cows from small, neighbouring farms that are run with their herd.
Click on the image above to view more photos from Boldview Farm
The Braendlers began their Jervois enterprise in 1977 on about 160 hectares and over time, built that up to about 550ha.
About 70ha is irrigated, and 120ha used for hay crops. The rest is used to grow out young heifers and replacement stock.
In 1998, they upgraded their walk-through dairy to a herringbone setup. This has made milking more efficient, increased productivity and helped long term sustainability.
Milk is sold to the Dairy Farmers Milk Cooperative in Adelaide.
The siblings believe the operation runs smoothly because each of them are responsible for a different part of the business, based on their interests.
Ms Liebich said they were brought up sharing roles to operate the farm, and that had continued into adulthood.
She is the calf rearer, inheriting it from her mother. The siblings equally enjoy milking and are actively involved in that part of the operation.
Mr Braendler manages the cropping side of the business, and the breeding operation.
* Full report in Stock Journal, December 4, 2014 issue.
Elizabeth Anderson
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
