Austasia’s ZinMet Supports Stronger Hooves & Stronger Partnerships with Oakhampton Dairies
Austasia’s ZinMet Supports Stronger Hooves & Stronger Partnerships with Oakhampton Dairies
Oakhampton Dairies prioritise consistent production and minimal health disruptions within their 1,300 Holstein herd.
Operated by husband and wife team, Greg and Kim Wilson, Oakhampton Dairies places a strong emphasis on hoof health to maintain the overall performance of their herd throughout the year.
“Maintaining optimal hoof health is key to ensuring herd productivity and meeting our production goals,” says Kim. “Maximising cow health is at the centre of everything we do.”
Based in Irrewillipe, South West Victoria, the cows are exposed to cold and wet conditions for a large part of the year. These challenging conditions make robust hoof health and proactive management essential for sustained herd mobility and consistent milk production.
“We strive to prevent lameness so our cows can comfortably walk to the dairy every day,” says Kim.
Oakhampton Dairies have been incorporating ZinMet Dairy into their herd’s feed mixes for over seven years. ZinMet Dairy is an organic trace mineral additive, containing a unique combination of Zinc and Chromium, bound to Methionine.
“We use ZinMet primarily for prevention and have it in our rations all year round,” says Kim. “We include a normal rate from November to March and then double the rate from Autumn through to Spring when the environmental conditions change.”
ZinMet Dairy is proven to reduce hoof problems caused by wet grounds and harsh surfaces, and is extremely effective in building stronger hooves. The preventative benefits of ZinMet Dairy have made it a key nutritional staple at Oakhampton Dairies.
“ZinMet is definitely one of the successful ingredients that go into making our ration,” says Kim. “We believe it has a noticeable benefit in hoof health in our cows.”
Greg and Kim have three young children and want to showcase the positive and sustainable side of the dairy industry. A key part of this is adopting proven nutritional strategies into their overall management practices.
“By focusing on herd health and incorporating proven nutritional products like ZinMet, we can ensure our herd remains productive,” says Kim. “We love dairy farming and want to highlight that positivity to the next generation.
Kim has also seen firsthand how well ZinMet has worked for other dairy herds. In her previous role at a stockfeed mill, Kim observed numerous clients incorporating ZinMet into their feed mixes with positive outcomes.
“It was an obvious choice for inclusion into our ration after seeing positive results in other herds,” says Kim.
The stockfeed mill was also where Kim initially met John, Austasia’s Dairy Business Manager, and since then, they have had a very strong professional relationship.
“John is very good to deal with,” says Kim. “He taught me a lot about ZinMet and is a genuinely nice person in the industry.”
Leveraging the support from Austasia and the confidence in ZinMet’s performance in their herd, Greg and Kim have been able to optimise their herd health, enhance operational efficiency and reinforce the long-term sustainability of their dairy herd.
“ZinMet is a highly effective product,” says Kim. “It’s demonstrated benefits on hoof health provides us with an essential tool in our pasture-based dairy system.”
