When two years turned into 35

08-09-2010 | Not Specified

After 35 years with Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), Christchurch herd test field technician Andrew Garrod says he has no plans to retire.

Andrew sets up sheds for farmers herd testing in the North Canterbury region, and returns to the same farms to collect the milk samples and equipment once herd testing is completed.

Last season he travelled nearly 39,000km and estimates he set up about 1000 metres, "and I reckon I can still go on for a few more years yet".

Originally from rural Suffolk in England, Andrew worked for the Lord Iveagh Estate which covered three villages, Eleveden, Icklingham and Eriswell, when he left school.

Andrew remembers the estate had five dairy herds, two beef herds, two piggeries and grew barley and sugar beet crops.

"Nowadays the estate is still mixed arable and livestock farming but they are no longer doing any dairy farming ...they continue to farm one beef herd, operate two piggeries and in addition to barley also grow potatoes, carrots and onions."

During his time at agricultural college he came across an advertisement to work for Colonel Armitage who owned a farm in Bradfields, St Clare, Suffolk, and milked 40 Jerseys through a four-bale walk-through. It was here that Andrew's passion for dairy farming blossomed.

In 1974, Andrew's brother John went to work in Australia which prompted him to venture out of the UK and to New Zealand. "I thought if he could do it, so could I - of course I came to the better country.

"So in 1975 when I saw an advertisement in the Farmers Weekly for herd testing with the Livestock Improvement Agency (LIA) in New Zealand for two years I decided to apply."

Arriving on September 15, 1975, with about nine others, Andrew trained to become a herd tester at Matamata (in the Waikato). "From there I went to work as a herd tester in the Te Awamutu/Pirongia area.

"In those days we stayed overnight on the farms we were herd testing for. We worked 20 days on and had the rest of the month off. We basically lived out of suitcases but met a lot of great people along the way.

"When self-sampling was introduced in the Waikato (about 1976), I became a herd test field officer and would drive to each farm and set up the shed for herd testing."

When his two-year herd-testing contract came to an end, Andrew says he decided to not only remain in New Zealand, but to continue herd testing. "Why would I leave? I felt that here in New Zealand I had everything.

"The sea and beaches were so close, there was skiing and so many sports to enjoy - then there was the wonderful countryside and great people I had met, dairy farmers, their families and work colleagues."

Andrew met his wife, Marie, in Te Awamutu and they married in 1985. They have two children.

"In 2000 we all relocated to the Christchurch region, where I was to continue working as a herd tester.

"After spending 15 years as a herd tester in the Waikato I found it quite different in the South Island. At farms in Christchurch/North Canterbury the herds are in general much larger and the majority of sheds are rotary - in the Waikato, herds were generally smaller and most sheds were herringbone.

"I am still working as a herd test field technician covering the North Canterbury region and have no plans at the moment to retire - I love the flexibility of the hours, meeting so many great dairy farmers and travelling this beautiful countryside."

LIC held a dinner in Andrew's honour at the Papanui Workingman's Club in Christchurch on July 14, presenting him with a watch in recognition of his service and commitment to dairy farmers and LIC.

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