Calthorpe Holsteins & Jerseys 3.74

Calthorpe was originally founded as a registered Jersey herd supplying a local milk run in 1925 by Val and Venetia Perkins. Their son, Kem, later worked to import North American Holstein genetics via New Zealand and established the Calthorpe Fresian Stud on the property in 1948. Both breeds continue to co-exist on the property, although the Holsteins are by far the dominant breed in the herd. The stud was awarded its second Master Breeder award by Holstein Australia in 2002.
The studs and property are currently managed by Kem and Geraldine's son Michael, and his wife Judy. Their eldest son, Brett, returned to the farm full time in 2006 after finishing school and their daughter, Shanae, also began full time in 2009. Their middle son, Marcus is a carpenter and construction project manager by trade.

Calthorpe remains located on the original property, on the southern boundary of the Latrobe township on the picturesque island state of Tasmania, Australia. It is a ten minute drive from both the Spirit of Tasmania terminal and the Devonport Airport.
The property is comprised of approximately 250Ha of alluvial river flats and the terraces above them on the Mersey River. The production system is primarily pasture-based, with a mixture of pasture hay and silage, and oaten-pasture hay being produced each year through the local harvest season from October to January. The cows are also fed between four and eight kilograms per day of a wheat-based pellet supplement in the dairy to support and augment production and general animal health.
We currently split calve 280 milking-aged cows and all replacements are raised on the property, with an adjoining leased block used to supplement young stock throughout the year.
The local climate is cool-temperate, with overnight Winter temperatures as low as -6 degrees Celsius and peak Summer highs up to 40 degrees Celsius. The property averages around 775mm of precipitation per year.