Co-operative Herd Improvement
Gippsland Herd Improvement Co-operative Ltd (GHI).
The
Gippsland Herd Improvement Co-operative has become a major player in
The shareholders of the former Herd Improvement Co-operative (Maffra) Ltd, South Gippsland Artificial Breeders Co-operative Ltd and the South Gippsland Herd Improvement Co-operative demonstrated overwhelming support for the new entity, giving Gippsland Herd Improvement (GHI) a solid basis from which to grow.
GHI
today provides services across the Gippsland region, one of the major dairy
areas in
This
illustrates the importance of a vibrant herd improvement industry to serve the
local industry.
The
merger has enabled GHI to focus on research and development while continuing to provide a wide range of services to its
shareholders, which number about 1200. We service those shareholders from our
offices, situated at Leongatha and Korumburra in the productive dairy country of
.
The
first year of operation is expected to see GHI employ 100 Gippslanders and turn over more than six million dollars in
goods and services to its customers.
The
new Gippsland Herd Improvement Co-operative provides a wide range of services to
its shareholders.
·
Herd
Recording
·
Artificial
Breeding including Sire Selection
·
Artificial
Insemination,
·
Breeding
Management Reports,
·
Farm
Advisory Service Advice that assists with pasture management, supplementary
feeding, fertilisers, stocking rates and calving
patterns.
·
On-Farm
Bookkeeping,
·
Weigh Scales
and Calf Dehorning.
GHI has also
developed and markets the widely-recognised and easy to use dairy farm computer
management programs, known as MISTRO. Not only is this software marketed in
The
stable of software includes Mistro
Farm, Mistro Finance and Mistro Mate, GHI’s mating program.
A new hand-held palm computer, Mistro Farm Hand, is
now also available and offers a high degree of convenience and accuracy for
farmers.
Farmers have
welcomed the Mistro software because it provides
simple access to production and management information for the commercial
farmer.
In
response to shareholder needs, we provide occasional training courses across a
range of agricultural subjects and farming skills. Courses are run for farmers
in such areas as breeding and genetics, farm computers and computer software,
and off-farm investment.
These services are delivered from GHI offices at Leongatha, Maffra and
Warragul.
One of the
great strengths of GHI is the relative strength of each of its member
organisations. Herd
Improvement Co-operative (Maffra) Ltd, South Gippsland Artificial Breeders
Co-operative Ltd and the South Gippsland Herd Improvement
Co-operative were solid,
efficient businesses that merged at a time of their choosing to create
GHI.
This means
that the future development of GHI is based on a strong financial and cultural
base, with each on the foundation groups contributing local knowledge, skills,
experience and a range of services.
The size
of the organisation is such that it can develop a better range of services,
drawing
on the accumulated knowledge of each of the former organisations and their
staff, while meeting the particular needs of customers in
each region.
The larger
organisation also has capacity to lead the industry in use of new technology,
particularly building on our existing strengths in herd recording, data capture
and farm management. This includes a clear goal to continue to develop our farm
computer software, for the benefit of our shareholders and other
farmers.
Of course,
the basis of our future is our staff. We aim to provide an exceptional work
environment to enable employees to continue to develop and enhance our high
levels of service.
Our new
structure will assist this by, for example, allowing greater opportunity for
staff development, then sharing those higher skills
across the whole region.
Most
importantly, all of these activities will allow GHI to provide better services
and an expanded product range to our shareholders, while retaining a strong,
vital and farmer-owned co-operative.
OUR
VISION
§
To assist
shareholders’ to develop their dairy herds to be the world’s most
profitable.
·
To develop
and maintain a sound understanding of the current nature of shareholders’
farming enterprises – particularly their aims, expectations and key
needs.
·
To help meet
the key needs of shareholders through the development and delivery of
well-tailored herd improvement services.
·
To operate a
viable and exciting business that exudes success and confidence, promoting pride
amongst shareholders and within the community, and commitment, enthusiasm and
loyalty amongst staff.
·
To recruit
and provide training, to maintain high levels of skill and competence of staff
and directors.
·
To provide
employees with opportunities to realise their
potential and develop within our co-operative.
·
To be
recognised as a leader in the fields of herd improvement service development and
delivery.
·
To work with
like-minded organisations.
·
To achieve
sufficient profit to permit growth and development of our Co-operative in
keeping with our mission.