A milking parlour and a beef cattle herd exclusively aimed at profitability, sustainability, and safekeeping for future generations – this requires some ingenuity. At Fenfield Farm near Hogsback in the Eastern Cape the owners were able to successfully integrate these two farming branches, and Stockfarm visited Mike Galloway and his daughter Janice Renton to find out how they achieve this.
The farm has been in the family for 94 years and as a fourth-generation producer, Janice is in charge of the farming operation while Mike jumps in whenever and wherever he is needed. It is a beautiful part of the world with a unique micro-climate which can be challenging at times, according to Janice. However, one of the things that gives them a competitive advantage, especially with the dairy operation, is the temperatures that average between cold nights and mild, but never hot, summer days. This helps them grow energy- and protein-rich ryegrass – an excellent feed source to boost milk production.
“My dad and I are privileged to run the Fenfield Reds beef group’s central herd. The group was founded in 1974 by my grandfather, Walter Perks, and fellow farmer Chappie Evens,” says Janice. “We manage 220 beef cows on 700ha of sourveld, 225 dairy cows on 47ha of irrigated pastures, and 150 dairy heifers and 160 beef bulls on 250ha of rain-fed pastures.”
Distinctive farming features
The dairy cows are bred from New Zealand genetics, chosen specifically because it suits the seasonal pasture-based system at Fenfield Farm. This means all the dairy cows are dried off at the end of May each year, until they start calving again in early August. Mike says this approach helps them to cope with the valley’s weather conditions, which is prone to snow and frost in winter. They monitor the fodder flow quite closely to save on feed costs.
Elaborating on the beef herd, Mike explains that they do not retain heifers on the farm. Instead, they focus on rearing and testing bulls for the group members. “This has helped to improve our business’ sustainability, because we are able to grow out our bulls very effectively here on the farm.
“Another major positive aspect has been the changes we’ve made in our farming practices over the years. In the past, around 26% of the farm was ploughed annually and since moving away from working the soil, we’ve made big strides towards improving grass cover and all that goes with it.”
Farming for the future
An adaptive grazing management approach lies at the heart of their regenerative farming philosophy. By applying intensive, non-selective grazing, they promote high grass utilisation, followed by carefully managed periods of rest to allow the pasture and veld to fully recover. Both father and daughter agree that this has drastically improved the quality of the veld and pasture, as well as increased the diversity of grass species on the farm.
Learn more about regenerative agriculture here.
“We view our veld and pastures as a unique environment and believe the important thing about regenerative and sustainable farming is to regard one’s farm as a whole. Understanding soil health is an integral aspect as it leads to healthy grass which, in turn, produces healthy animals.”
Each year they partner with Trace and Save, a company that does soil sampling for them across the irrigated and dry pastures. “They provide valuable feedback on our carbon footprint and how effectively we are managing sustainability and stewarding our resources,” says Janice. In addition, she and her father assess veld regeneration through the Savory Institute’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) programme. “These tools help us manage our land more effectively,” she adds.
The improvements in pastures and veld quality are especially evident on the drylands, where they have observed a favourable response in the return and regrowth of grasses; species are left to seed naturally, leading to higher density. “This, in turn, has enabled us to graze these pastures more often because of its rehabilitation,” says Janice.
In closing, Mike reflects on their journey: “We are learning as we go. We trust that the work we are doing now will make a difference and ensure the sustainability of our farm well into the future.” – Carin Venter, Stockfarm
For more information, contact Janice Renton at 079 535 3756 or fenfieldfarms@gmail.com, or Mike Galloway at 083 659 8916.
