Jacob’s learning the ropes

In this, he has followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, Gerard and Luke. Gerard went on to buy his own dairy farm in northern Victoria, and Luke works in another role in the agriculture industry.

Jacob was already the relief weekend milker and had a regular role milking on Wednesday afternoon after school.

For this, he completed the cups on cups off course offered by Dairy Australia.

Prior to taking up his new full-time role, Jacob was at school. He began working on the farm on July 1 this year, just as the herd was dried off, prior to calving.

The timing meant he has continued playing football on the weekend and training two nights a week.

But he thinks it will be a challenge to learn how to balance his sport obligations when calving begins, and he starts milking twice a day.

“He’ll be learning life skills as well as dairy farming,” Raelene said.

“He’ll have to learn how to balance his responsibilities and work here on the farm, with what he wants to do in the community.”

Fortunately for Jacob, his parents support community involvement, as they lead by example.

But one of his frustrations is already showing itself – he can drive a tractor on the road between the Hanratty farm’s paddocks, but is underage for holding a car licence.

When he was at school, stopping at football training on Tuesday and Thursday was convenient for Jacob.

Until next year, he will rely on his parents for transport beyond the farm gate.

“After the local football season ends, I’ll be milking Tuesday to Sunday,” Jacob said.

“I’m working in the milking shed because we all want Dad to get out of the milking shed.

“I’m already worried about how that will affect training next season.

“But on Tuesday, I was laying pipes with Dad and he reminded me that footy training starts in half an hour.

“I told him: No Dad, let’s continue and get this job done. When Dad and I work together, we get things done faster.”

In the first six weeks of his new job, Jacob has been working out in the paddock alongside his father, learning how to lay irrigation pipes.

“Our next job is to build a new ringlock fence along the laneway to the dairy,” he said.

He has been given the responsibility of feeding heifers on the out-block. This involves driving the tractor, with hay onboard.

Jacob has also been part of the twice-daily checks on the dry cows.

“I don’t know how to tell if they’re getting close to calving,” he said.

“We’ve been drafting springers from the later-calving cows, and checking those two herds daily.”

Jacob knows he has a lot to learn.

“Dad knows just by looking at a cow if she is okay or not,” Jacob said.

“During milking, I can recognise mastitis and other signs of sickness.

“Working alongside dad, I’m learning animal health is very important and the welfare and wellbeing of the cattle is a big factor in the stress of farming.”

Jacob recently completed a calf rearing course, offered through the Macalister Research Farm.

It has given him the knowledge to work alongside the farm’s calf rearer when calving begins on August 1.

“I did the course with her and I can already see the advantages for animal welfare in employing women on dairy farms,” Jacob said.

He wants to study business management and is helping Dennis and Raelene to develop a plan that incorporates Dairy Australia courses to help build his skills.

“He’s already learning how to order fencing materials and equipment,” Raelene said.

“Working with us, he’s learning a lot about planning the time around jobs and how long they take.”

When the Burra Foods field officer visited to negotiate the supply contract, Raelene and Dennis invited Jacob to sit in on the meeting.

“He learned about the legalities of the contract,” Raelene said.

“We believe it’s important he knows the farm’s liabilities, in case the worst happens and Dennis and I are no longer here.”

Jacob has also been attending events organised by the Young Dairy Network, including a hoof care workshop.

Read about the family farm at: https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/news/sustaining-a-dairy-legacy/