The Schentke family farm is a third-generation dairy farm located near Thornpark on the outskirts of East London, a region that supplies 20% of South Africa’s milk production. This father and son team boasts a 250-cow herd with followers on a 52 ha area under irrigation with 42 ha of dryland pastures under development as the operation grows year on year.

Schentke cows are pasture fed in summer, converting to a semi-total mixed ration feeding system in winter to supplement pasture shortages, ensuring that production is maintained at optimum levels throughout the year. As with most South Africans, load-shedding has impacted operations, the irrigation system, in particular, which is essential for wintering challenges with fodder flow (available grass) over the colder months. More stored feed in the form of hay, silage, and haylages is needed to cover the winter herd requirement, which is also driving the need to increase pastures. Cows are milked in a herringbone parlour and milk is supply to Sundale, a local dairy buyer, who make milk, yoghurt, butter, cheese, and more.

Epol first started supplying the Schentke family farm in 1989 and has continued to deliver perfectly balanced precision dairy feed as well as on-farm advice and guidance that has seen the farm grow from strength to strength over more than 30 years. Back in 1989, when Epol first started supplying the Schentke dairy farm, the operation had 35 cows, producing roughly 14 litres of milk per day on dryland pasture. Fast forward to 2024 and the farm boasts a herd of 250 cows, with further growth ambitions. Wayne Schentke attributes much of their success to Epol’s ‘top notch’ feed quality, which ensures their cows and calves are Going beyond feed for over 35 years Wayne and Wesley Schentke posing with their beautiful cows.

Wayne Schentke attributes much of their success to Epol’s ‘top notch’ feed quality, which ensures their cows and calves aresuitably nourished and remain in perfect condition, allowing them to deliver to their full genetic potential. Wayne also appreciates the technical support offered by Epol’s highly qualified animal nutritionists, who sample and analyse pasture nutrient levels, allowing these to be closely tracked and monitored over time. This information is used to quickly adjust protein values by balancing amino acids in rations ensuring cow production is optimised for sustainable future production.

Epol staff are always on hand to assist in all aspects of problem solving to overcome any challenges faced and ensure on-going operations. In the winter of 2023, milk production dropped slightly and Epol was quick to step in and recommend new high-quality customised rations, which were perfectly balanced with available on-farm roughage, thereby quickly returning cows to their optimal production capacity. Along with feed and advise, Epol provides additional services to their clients, including sampling of pastures, silage, and hay, which are dried and analysed in their lab to provide a detailed analysis of nutrient values. These results are used to formulate custom onfarm rations, which are constantly adjusted as required for consistent nutrient delivery. The process takes on around 48 hours. They also offer analysis of milk samples to assist the farmer in ensuring consistent output.: