Ryan grew up on a sheep farm near Bendigo, while Alysha was raised on a snow pea and beef farm in South Gippsland. After completing a building apprenticeship in Melbourne, Ryan moved to Gippsland and launched his own construction business. Alysha spent 10 years in land surveying and civil engineering, and also completed a course in architectural building design. Alongside raising their two boys, James and Lewis, they successfully renovated houses, expanded their building business, raised calves, and established a beef herd. Ryan admits his true passion had always been farming. While their original plan was to focus on beef farming, rising land prices in Gippsland forced them to look further afield.
In late 2023, the couple purchased a 291-hectare dairy farm in southwest Victoria, despite having no prior experience in the industry.
“When we arrived, we didn’t even know how to turn the plant on,” Ryan laughs.
“We had the business and financial management skills, but everything about dairy was new.”
John Hinkley, the previous owner, was just a phone call away. “He mentored us through budgeting, herd management, and seasonal planning, so we felt confident knowing we had his support whenever we needed it”.
Less than two years later, they’re milking 350 cows through a 50-bale rotary in just over an hour – and loving every minute of it.
With grit, curiosity, and a strong support network, they’ve transformed into confident dairy operators. Their pasture-based, low-cost system has helped them weather both tough payouts and ongoing drought conditions.
They’ve embraced technology to boost efficiency, installing a herd management system and adding collars to their herd. “Anything that helps with decision-making, saves time, or increases efficiency is very welcome,” Alysha says.
Learning from the ground up
The couple credits much of their success to the support they’ve received from the dairy community, including the value they get from the levies that fund Dairy Australia. They’re currently enrolled in Dairy Australia’s Feeding Pastures for Profit course, which they both describe as “invaluable”. This program teaches farmers how to maximise profit from pasture-based dairy farming by optimising pasture rotation and supplement use.
In the beginning, advice came from all directions – the key was knowing what to take on and figuring out what worked for them.
They also attend multiple discussion groups, follow the “Once A Day Farmer” on YouTube, and share their own journey on Instagram (@westlinedairy), where they’ve built a community of over 3,000 followers. “It’s my creative outlet,” Alysha says. “And it’s amazing how much advice and encouragement we get from people online.”
Building a better herd
When Ryan and Alysha bought the existing LIC-bred herd of 530 crossbred cows, they weren’t just buying cows, they were investing in over 20 years of LIC genetics. These animals, bred for efficient grass-to-milk conversion, were perfectly suited to the farming systems in their region.
Speaking enthusiastically about the valuable role their LIC District Manager, Mike Waite has played in their breeding decisions, they describe him as an integral part of their team.
Representing LIC in Western Victoria for 13 years, Mike is passionate about herd improvement and helping farmers select the right bulls to build a herd that suits their system.
“Helping new farmers like Ryan and Alysha get started in the dairy industry – sharing stories and answering questions – is one of the real highlights of my job,” says Mike.
Knowing the importance of a top quality herd to farming success, Mike helped the Conlans select the best 300 mixed-age cows and 40 heifers from the original herd.
“As a former local farmer, he really knows his stuff,” says Ryan. “We appreciate his knowledge and breeding advice.
He also knows this herd inside and out – he helped get it to where it is today with the previous owner.”
The herd’s quality is shining through. Averaging around 480 kg liveweight, with improved feeding, grazing management, and grain supplementation, they’ve already lifted milksolids from 380 kg to 450 kg per cow per year. They’re currently feeding 800 kg of grain per cow annually, with plans to increase that to 1–1.5 tonnes depending on conditions. During the drought, they’ve also invested in silage and almond hulls to maintain production.
Alysha takes the lead on breeding decisions, carefully selecting a team of bulls that align with their goals for the herd.
They plan to focus on herd improvement in the future by utilising cow production information. “No herd testing has occurred so far because we are still in the growth phase, but plan to start testing this season,” says Ryan.
Reproduction was a standout in their first year, with 91% of cows and 92% of heifers in calf after a nine week joining period. Their straightforward mating plan included six weeks of (artificial insemination) AI with no intervention, followed by three weeks with Jersey bulls.
Before the collars were installed, they achieved excellent heat detection results using LIC Scratch Patches, which they recommend for their ease of application and accuracy.
They credit much of their success to the invaluable support of their service provider, Ange Wilson from Southern Land Bovine Services, who went above and beyond, teaching them heat detection and guiding them through the entire joining process.
Courage, confidence and the future
Ryan and Alysha’s story is one of bold decisions, hard work, and community support.
When asked about the courage it took to step into a completely new industry, Ryan says,
“A positive attitude is everything. You can do anything – you’ve just got to be willing to have a go, believe in yourself, and get on with it.”
“We hope our story inspires others to consider a career in dairy,” Alysha remarks. “It’s tough, but it’s rewarding”.
With their passion, adaptability, and growing expertise, there’s little doubt they will succeed in whatever they set their minds to.
