The Miller Family of Roslyn Downs

2024 Southland Finalists: The Miller Family of Roslyn Downs – Dairy, Sheep and Beef

Roslyn Downs is going from strength-to-strength under the guidance of the Miller family whose approach centres around teamwork, the land and business. 
 
The 1,034ha Glencoe dairy, sheep and beef operation is led by brothers Jason and Quentin Miller, along with Jason’s son Andrew. Their focus is on both financial and environmental stewardship so it continues to prosper into the future.  
 
The original 149ha farm has been in the Miller family since 1960. When Andrew and his wife joined the business in 2019, they added a dairy farm to the operation. 
 
Today, the business is structured into three separate companies. RDL Ltd is the land–holding company formed to help with future succession, while Roslyn Downs Ltd is predominately sheep farming, focused on achieving high levels of production efficiency. Along with running an average of 4,000 ewes, it hosts a stud sheep–breeding programme and provides dairy support for the dairy farm – Claymore Dairies.  
 
At Claymore, the team is striving toward a five-year target of achieving 500kg of milk solids per cow. The judges were impressed with the overall health of the cows and how the Millers have increased in-calf rate gains over a short period of time.  
 
There’s an overarching focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship – reflected by a significant increase in native species on the property. Large areas have been fenced off for retirement and amenity planting, several wetlands have been created, and predators are actively managed.   
 
The use of independent consultants is crucial to helping the team achieve strategic outcomes. Since 2020, they’ve tripled business revenue and doubled their asset base.  
 
Being data-driven, the Millers have a clear picture of Roslyn Downs’ soils and have tailored farming systems to match. This enables the team to enhance the environment while maintaining a profitable farming system.