In 1982 my family purchased "Spencerfield" which was an 89 ha traditional market-milk dairy farm milking 130 cows on a year-round basis. Since that time we have progressively increased our holding to 308 ha, running 280 cows and 140 head of young stock with all animals grazing on. The cows produce 1.4 million litres of milk or 106 400 kg milksolids, with the emphasis on the production of a minimum 2000 litre per day quota. The stocking rate may seem low; however, we farm in a dryland sheep and cropping district. A water-short catchment means we have only 80 ha of irrigation which is subject to restrictions in an 550 mm average rainfall area. Rainfall ranges between 400 mm and 950 mm.
