Dino Lascalea

• my first Contract Milking job turned out to be a huge challenge given the nature of this big farming operation, with multiple operations happening at the same farm. 800 cows milked thru an old 48 bale internal rotary shed, that has proven to be a handful at times, 40+ years old. Has taken a lot effort, tears and hours of work to get this shed working well and to keep it.

Alongside the dairy operation runs a foster cow program with 500 foster cows taking up to 3 calves per cow, calves coming from all 4 dairy farms within the holding.

There is also sheep running on main headraces on farm.

As contract milker my only focus is the dairy operation, as it is my teams, however multiple times the job requires to make things fit around a bigger picture schedule as other stock permanently being moved thru dairy platform.

First year budget to milk 780 cows with a 290000kg, ended up milking 740 cows with production of 286000 kg with the real difference happened at SCC achieving an average of under 150 SCC for the year with a 65% on Excellence on a farm where historically SCC average has been 200+ and only around 10 days on excellence the year before, mating figures where around 18% empty which it was well on line with previous years and the other 3 farms within the group with larger empty %

Second year milked 790 cows at peak and done 321000kg, with SCC again well under previous year and mating similar to previous.

• 8 years plus of all round experience, 5 years as a manager on farms ranging from 1100 to 1800 cows and all sorts of systems and infrastructures.
• Pivot irrigation, Kline irrigation, borderdyke irrigation, rotorainer, all kind of effluent systems
• Up to 11 staff members
• Training and upskilling staff is one of my strengths
• Managed farm staff efficiently, providing training and guidance for optimal performance.
• Increased farm productivity by introducing modern farming practices and equipment upgrades.
• Oversaw the maintenance of farm machinery, resulting in reduced downtime due to repairs or malfunctions.
• Maintained a safe working environment by enforcing safety protocols and conducting regular inspections of facilities and equipment.
• Established strong relationships with suppliers to ensure a consistent supply of necessary materials at competitive prices.
• Worked closely with employees to improve practices, techniques and safety choices, optimizing performance, and minimizing waste.
• Performed repairs and preventive maintenance on equipment and property.
• Great pasture management
• With a passion for developing and perfectioning routines
• Detail oriented
• Very organized and like putting in place solid plan where every team member knows their part and their worth
• Good communicator
• Great sense of humor
• No drama approach to everything in life