The story of their journey from the shearing shed to rotary dairy was one of the highlights of the Dairy Australia's Raising the Roof 2024 event held in Pokolbin in late February.

Their speech at the three day event was titled 'From 10 cows to 700 cows in six years' - an impressive set of numbers for any farming enterprise.

And how they achieved this result, at a time when young people entering the industry from scratch is rare, had the 260 delegates watching their on-farm video and event speech enthralled and impressed.

First up not too many people go from shearing to miking and nor did Reagan or Sherrie when they left school think they would end up owning and working on a dairyfarm.

But the chance to buy a second larger farm once they sold their 300 acres property they had bought in 2017 saw them buy a former dairyfarm with the intention to rear from bull calves to provide extra cash-flow while Reagan kept shearing.

"My one request on the purchase of the farm was for the previous owner to leave 10 milkers behind for our calf rearing enterprise and that is how we got into the dairy industry," Reagan said.

"Then we approached Murray-Gouburn to see if we could supply milk rather than rear the calves.

"So we bought 65 Holsteins and started to supply 500litres/day.

"In three years our herd had grown to 220 cows."

Further expansion was required so the couple sold and bought another farm with a 44 stand rotary dairy which enabled them to increase the herd to 300 cows.

At this time they also became year round milk suppliers and Reagan retired from shearing to become a full time dairyfarmer. Less 18 months later they purchased another property with a 50 stand rotary dairy on a WIWO basis and now they milk 700 cows and crop 3500 acres.

Their next big plans are to build loose housing cow sheds on the farm to improve cow production, health and all-round productivity.

Now the milkers are fed on a feed pad but a changing climate with more severe weather events - more rain and more heat means they too must adopt to a new farming system.

When asked about their success Sherrie said yes hard work played a big role and they were able to capitalise on the sale of each property to invest in the next one.

"We also had some good seasons and we had a vision for our family's future."

But both she and her husband agreed that meeting Brian Crockart. Director, Agribusiness Solutions, in 2020 was a game changer.

"He has made all the difference to our operations guiding us along as we grew," said Reagan.

Brian praised the couple's work ethic but also importantly their ability to take and heed advice.

Both Reagan and Sherrie and Brian all commented on how collegiate the dairy industry was with the Hamilton's adding as newcomers people were very willing to provide advice and assistance to them.

"Dairyfarmers are happy to help fellow farmers and that is something which I think gives the industry its strength and hope for the future," said Reagan.

And although today they are very much a dairyfarm enterprise Reagan, whose family grew rice in the Riverina, planted 100 acres on the farm this season showing skills are never lost and a diversified income is always a bonus.

Now the milkers are fed on a feed pad but a changing climate with more severe weather events - more rain and more heat means they too must adopt to a new farming system.

When asked about their success Sherrie said yes hard work played a big role and they were able to capitalise on the sale of each property to invest in the next one.

"We also had some good seasons and we had a vision for our family's future."

But both she and her husband agreed that meeting Brian Crockart. Director, Agribusiness Solutions, in 2020 was a game changer.

"He has made all the difference to our operations guiding us along as we grew," said Reagan.

Brian praised the couple's work ethic but also importantly their ability to take and heed advice.

Both Reagan and Sherrie and Brian all commented on how collegiate the dairy industry was with the Hamilton's adding as newcomers people were very willing to provide advice and assistance to them.

"Dairyfarmers are happy to help fellow farmers and that is something which I think gives the industry its strength and hope for the future," said Reagan.

Raising the Roof brought together dairyfarmers from every region in the country along with experts from across the globe.

The focus was on technology in particular on best practice in dairy feeding and housing infrastructure and management practices.

Dairy Australia's national feeding and farm system lead, Karen Romano described the event as an outstanding success.

"I loved the way all the information was shared from the global experts to the farmers themselves talking about their experiences on their particular farms," she said.

"In an era of challenges with climate, finances and ensuring best on-farm practices for cow health and well-being the information provided at this event was so important."

The Hamiltons among others noted that farms doing the best were those that were changing by adopting the latest in cow housing and feeding systems.

Cost of the various system ranged from $4600/cow to $10,000/cow for the free stall system.

Among those to have already changed systems were Mark and Kate Walpole, Yielma, Victoira.

They are about to install their third barn and increase the milking herd to 3000 head in an 80 unit rotary. They are also looking to install solar on the barn roofs to increase efficiencies.

Mark said he and his wife went from a pasture based system in the 1990s to a feed pad and then due to wet weather onto a free stall barn in 2022.

"When I left school I was working with my father and brother milking 230 cow," Mark said.

"That increased to 1700 cows in 2013 across three farms and then through succession planning Kate and I took on the home farm and 900 cows.

"I visited the Moxey family's operation in the Central West and later the US to understand the barn systems."

Their barns and dairy were built on a greenfield site, they had bought in 218, not far from the home farm. Since the milking herd has been relocated and operating in the new site production has lifted by 4lt/day/cow.

Also from Victoria Mulcahy, Kyvalley told the attendees their loose housed compost floored sheds which they have used since 2022 has seen conception rates increase by 8 per cent and milk production up 25 per cent.