The farm is BRUCKNELL NORTH (South is actually closer to the Apostles).
Based on the 2014 Prosoectus, BRUCKNELL 1 and 2 were to be consolidated then separated out, divided by Moreys Road, as between BRUCKNELL NORTH and SOUTH. As a result, NORTH became 257 hectares in size (635 acres) and SOUTH became 277 hectares in size (685 acres). Can't therefore see it as being SOUTH because if so then the land utilisationwould be considered very inefficient.
That said, the remainder of the farms - 3 & 4 + Heywood (+ SOUTH) - seem to be supporting upwards of 2700 - 2800 cows or more (going on AR17). If so, then it's doubtful that the 1/1 ratio per acre can be replicated elsewhere (not without there being a serious sell off or reduction in stock). For example, Heywood is~1000 acres whilst together, BRUCKNELL 4 came to 250 acres and BRUCKNELL 3 came to 346 acres. That's a total of 1596 acres plus BRUCKNELL SOUTH (685 acres), for a total of 2281 acres supporting
At F17, the herd size was 3504. So unless Peter was talking about one milker per acre as opposed to one cow per acre, the remainder of the properties (excluding Ignatios as the feeding farm) would be supporting 3000 cows (assuming nil change in herd size since 30/6/17. If so, then that's 1.32 cows per acre or 0.75 acres per cow (assuming 100% of land use). With actual land use (due to structures etc) occupying upwards of 20% of the land area, the actual pasture area reduces back to 1825 usable acres and so the intensity increases to 1.65 cows per acre or 0.6 acres per cow. If so, then this doesn't take the "free range" concept much past being a single farm concept (range bound in production to between 3.5m/l and 4m/l (before loss, waste or spoilage). Yet that wasn't the impression being given by the article / interview. If so, then what's happened to the he d size since Jun17 (down or up????). Presently therefore "free range" is more hype than substance unless there have been big downward changes in herd numbers, of the 1/1 concept is for millers only (not the actual herd). Broadly, the millers to herd ratio is between .65/1 and .7/1.
AHF Price at posting:
12.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Not Held
