Passionate Pedigree Jersey Breeders
By Nicki Woodlock – NZ Dairy Summer 2025 issue
Read the full publication here: https://www.waterfordpress.co.nz/nz-dairy-summer-2025/
Life on the farm in Okaiawa, South Taranaki, brings true joy for partner and Farm Manager Aaron Tosland.
A devoted family man, Aaron is in his first year of partnership on the farm with his father, Derek. He enjoys the variety of farm life, the connection to the land, and the opportunity to work and live alongside his dad and wife Brenda, as they navigate farm succession planning following the death of Derek’s mother, Aaron’s grandmother, Gloria.
Farming 460 registered Jersey cows across a combined 141 hectares, Aaron leads a small team consisting of a full-time worker and relief milkers. Derek still works part-time on the farm.
Derek’s Jerseys are part of the Derriland Stud, while Aaron’s Jerseys are registered under the Lexland Stud. The Tosland farm produces 180,000 kilograms of milksolids under an all-grass system. Aaron rears 135 milk-fed calves and grazes the heifers off farm.
The Toslands are respected and passionate pedigree Jersey breeders in Taranaki, with four generations of family farming history across two farms.
“The Jersey is the most cost-effective animal in dairying,” Aaron says. “You feed them half as much as a Holstein, yet they’re the most productive. Jerseys have a beautiful, gentle nature, and being slightly smaller cows, they’re easy to work with.”
The Okaiawa Tosland Farm was originally established by Aaron’s grandparents, Alex and Gloria Tosland. Just two kilometres up the road is another family farm, founded in 1922 by Aaron’s great-grandparents, Harry and Pearl Tosland — a property Aaron has recently purchased to serve as a 60-hectare support block for their Jersey herd.
“I’ve wanted to be a farmer all my life. I wanted to carry on the family legacy,” Aaron says. He is proud to continue this legacy with his wife Ella and their three children, Tillie, Rubi, and AJ.
Thanks to the foresight of earlier generations, the Okaiawa farm is in excellent condition with no major projects needed. Aaron and Derek have recently completed re-fencing the new support block.
The farm has used Allflex SenseHub dairy cow collars for two and a half years and found them transformative.
“The Allflex collars have changed things altogether at mating time,” Aaron says. The collars allow for targeted and timely interventions to improve reproduction, health, nutrition, and welfare.
Aspiring to breed a bigger, more productive Jersey cow, the farm follows strict criteria for udders, stature, feet, and milk production. They purchase semen from LIC and CRV.
A passionate advocate for Jerseys, Aaron is a member of Jersey New Zealand and highly recommends it as a welcoming organisation that’s always keen for new members. For the past two years he has served as President of the Hawera Jersey Club — the oldest Jersey club in New Zealand, founded in 1909. The club hosts annual heifer days, open days, and field days that help farmers evaluate young stock, promote best practice, and share knowledge.
The farm has long been involved with the Stratford A&P Show, the Egmont A&P Show, and the Semex National On-Farm Competitions, achieving success and collecting awards along the way. They also take part each year in the On-Farm Club Show in February.
Looking ahead, Aaron plans to build a 60-bale rotary milking shed.
“Long term, my goal is for my kids to continue the family legacy. Hopefully they will have the passion to carry it on.”