The glass is full to the rim on the Moscript family dairy

Callum, Chris and Janine Moscript in their new dairy

Like many intergenerational farmers Chris and Janine Moscript have quietly bided their time, working towards the day they could one day take ownership of the family’s Leongatha South dairy.

And in the three and a half years since transitioning through succession planning to fully take over the dairy, the couple has hit the ground running, and at 64-years-old Chris has a renewed sense of energy underpinned by the opportunity their tenure presents.

“The innovation and technology contributing to increased efficiencies and welfare outcomes is astounding, and it feels timely that we’re now in a position to take advantage of this progression – it’s been worth the wait.” 

First on the Moscripts’ wish list were significant infrastructure upgrades, and last year the fourth-generation dairy enterprise embarked on a multi-million dollar milking and calving shed, replacing the previous 60-year-old facility.

Also helping breathe new life into the family business are sons Callum, 32, and Blake, 27.

Young, energetic with a bright vision for the future of dairy - Callum and Blake exemplify the industry’s vibrant new generation.

“I believe in dairy, we know that there are more and more people coming to live in Australia, populations are growing globally, and as producers of a natural, healthy, household staple, I believe there’s enormous opportunity for dairy here in South Gippsland,” Callum said.

The boys returning to the business helps ensure the future of their enterprise and has contributed to its rapid transformation. 

“As multi-generational farmers there’s always been an element of progression, Chris’s father was extremely forward-thinking, and certainly now Callum is opening our eyes to opportunities we may not otherwise have considered,” Janine explains.

The family’s new 60-unit rotary dairy shed, completed just six months ago, has decreased labour requirements, whilst enabling the Moscripts to better monitor cow health – ultimately boosting productivity.

“Our production per cow basis is up, and lameness is well down, to the point that our hoof issues are now negligible,” Callum explains.
 

The new dairy has been a game changer for the Moscript family

Chris – who grew up on the property – admits there’s been a “monumental shift” in time savings thanks to the new dairy.

“The reduction in our physical work in the dairy, and time factor gains we’re achieving is amazing.”

“Being able to have time off when we want is a game-changer, there’s so much more to life than working seven days a week.”

With the new dairy still in its early stages, the family expects these efficiencies to only improve.

“We’re gradually finding our feet, a development like this doesn’t just change how you milk your cows, it alters everything on farm, and I expect it will take a couple of years to figure out what works and what doesn’t, but we’ve been so encouraged by our results so far,” Chris says.

“Although we weren’t in a position to embark on such a development until recently, what we have now is fabulous,” he beams. “Every year there’s going to be new technology and innovation and now we’re in the exciting position of being able to leverage and take full advantage of these industry advancements.”

Developing an efficient enterprise

To help further manage conditions across their high-rainfall property the family has invested in improved drainage, and a new weatherproof calving shed has dramatically improved herd health.

“Ours is quite a wet property, so calving health and hygiene is always front of mind, and since building the calving shed we’ve only had one case of milk fever from over 300 calvings – it’s been so valuable.”

Over the past five years the family has also purchased additional property, and doubled its herd – consisting primarily of Holstein and Jersey cows – to 470.

“New technology has helped us expand our business, it allows us scale to support further growth – already the new rotary dairy has enabled us to go from milking roughly 100 cows to about 300 cows per hour, using one-third of the labour,” Callum explains.

“Our yard can hold 1,000 cows, and people think we’re crazy for building a yard that big, but we know there’s an exciting future of dairy ahead.”

Having recently purchased another neighbouring property, the Moscripts now have scope to milk up to 700 cows, and Callum believes there’s never been a better time for dairy growth.

“The contracting milk pool really excites me – it signifies opportunity for those committed to producing dairy efficiently, and there are a lot of people who have built a lot of wealth in dairy who are now retiring,” Callum muses.

“As a young person in dairy, it feels like an exciting time to take over the reins and help produce the nation’s food and fibre.”

A proud South Gippsland business

Callum admits that the family initially looked to expand through the purchase of a larger dairy elsewhere, and spent years looking, however eventually decided to develop their existing family farm.

“We have real confidence in South Gippsland as a dairy region, and our farm always had the potential to grow through land acquisition and barn facilities, and now we’re very pleased we didn’t move elsewhere.”

With numerous headlines focussed on dairy’s mass exit, Callum is quick to refute the industry’s dire forecast.

While the business navigates tighter margins, he believes this is a challenge not limited to dairy, rather, indicative of every industry,

“Whether it’s retail, hospitality, or ag, many businesses are finding the current economic climate challenging, however there’s a reason for the substantial investment in Australian agriculture, I only hope we can keep getting renumerated in a way that enables us to continue to invest in technology and infrastructure.” 

“Every generation has had its challenges, and it’s the people who make it out the other end who tend to be the ones who've grabbed opportunity – and for our generation technology and innovation represent huge potential.”

“Thanks to our new infrastructure we will be able to invest with confidence, and our ability to consume more grass – whether that’s through land acquisition or internal improvements – and milk more cows, won’t be limited by our milking and calving facilities.”
 

Rabobank’s Hannah Sturgiss, Craig Hoober and Alex Bennett, far right, with Callum, Chris and Janine Moscript.

Having enjoyed a corporate global career before returning home to the farm, Callum credits his parents for their “tremendous support” in enabling him to contribute his ideas to the business – including their recent build’s design and project management.

“Dad and his mother Marion are incredible cow people, and Dad remains a workaholic, he just doesn’t stop.”

“None of us, neither our other siblings Braydan and Chelsea, nor Blake or I, were ever pressured to come home to the farm, but I felt very welcomed back into the business by Mum and Dad, and together I believe we’ve built our dream dairy,” Callum smiles.

Relationships for growth

Acknowledging that “time is precious”, Callum believes it’s important to surround himself with people who inspire, educate and challenge him.

“You can never stop learning, and we rely on a team – which includes our Rabobank manager.”

Having pitched the family’s 20-year vision to a number of agribusiness banks, he said Rabobank’s clear understanding of their future goals and strategy made their switch easy.

“As a bank dedicated solely to agriculture Rabobank understands our long-term vision, and what we need to do to achieve our goals – with a dairy build like this you need a bank manager who is on your side, and Craig Hoober was an asset.”

“Craig, and now Alex Bennett, have been a key part of our growth story, and both Rabobank rural managers are genuinely passionate about seeing us succeed.”
 

Callum runs Rabobank’s Alex Bennett and Craig Hoober through the newly completed dairy

Having returned to the farm just six years ago, Callum admits it was an ambitious five-year plan, yet the family has achieved everything it aspired to – with 12 months to spare.

For Chris and Janine, the redirection of the business is the source of great pride, and Chris smiles that his own late father John would be looking down in delight.

“This has always been a generational family farm, and to know that it will now be handed on in such a strong position is extremely heartening,” Janine smiles.