About Rowan O'Connor

“I started working with Rowan my first year of contract milking in 2021. Rowan was a huge help and big influence on our production and making our business and the farm very profitable. The monthly on farm catch ups were very important for planning and keeping the farm on track to do our targeted production which we exceeded by nearly 100 ms/c our first year.

I worked with Rowan for 4 years with the running of an equity partnership milking 3000 cows over 3 farms. Having Rowan help with the planning and budgeting through out the season took a lot of pressure off and helped keep all the farms and budget on track.

Rowan is also very helpful with price checking and discussion around system changes and new ideas.

Rowan is a huge asset to any farm big or small that I highly recommend and still keep in contact with now that the farms have sold and have moved to the North Island from Canterbury”

“I've had a professional relationship with Rowan for over 14 years. He's been extremely helpful to bounce ideas off especially in regards to financial planning, cow nutrition, feed management and capital projects. His insights on a recent feed system installation were invaluable and steered me in a much better direction. I'd recommend Rowan to anyone looking for an easy to work with, practical consultant.”

“To whom his may concern.

I have known Rowan O’Connor for approximately 10+ years and have had the opportunity to observe his work closely in several professional capacities. Rowan first joined Pannetts Dairies Ltd as Farm Manager of a large-scale operation milking approximately 900 cows. At the time, the business was facing significant financial challenges, lacked clear direction, and was struggling operationally.

Rowan quickly demonstrated exceptional leadership and management capability. He introduced robust management systems, restored operational discipline, and addressed critical herd performance issues—most notably improving reproductive outcomes, which had been a major challenge for the farm. Under his management, the business returned to profitability within a relatively short period, despite a difficult milk payout environment.

Following his success at Pannetts Dairies, Rowan was engaged by Dairy Business Centre (DBC), a consultancy company in which we are shareholders. In this role, Rowan was responsible for managing several farming operations that had effectively been written off by their credit providers. Through his strategic thinking, practical approach, and ability to challenge owners constructively with clear and well-reasoned options, Rowan played a pivotal role in stabilizing and turning around these businesses.

Rowan possesses exceptional analytical ability and a rare talent for quickly identifying the underlying weaknesses in a business. More importantly, he is able to translate that insight into practical, effective actions that deliver measurable improvements in performance and profitability.

In my experience, Rowan stands out as a highly capable, results-driven professional with the strategic insight and practical expertise required to turn around complex farming operations. I would have no hesitation in recommending him.”

Professional and Forward-Thinking Dairy Farm Consultant – Orton, Canterbury

“I have been working with him as my dairy farm consultant for the past 10 years here in Orton, Canterbury, and his contribution to my farm’s success has been invaluable.

One of his greatest strengths is his forward-thinking approach. He consistently advises me on what may happen in the future, rather than simply explaining situations after they occur. This proactive guidance has allowed me to make well-informed decisions and avoid potential challenges before they arise.

Even when the farm is performing very well, he continues to bring new ideas and strategies to further improve productivity and efficiency. He is always looking ahead and identifying better pathways for long-term success. His depth of knowledge in dairy farming is extensive, and whenever I have a question, he is able to provide clear, practical, and well-considered answers.

Over the past decade, his expertise in herd management, farm performance, and strategic planning has helped strengthen both the productivity and profitability of my operation. His professionalism, reliability, and commitment to excellence make him an outstanding consultant.

I highly recommend his services to any dairy farmer seeking knowledgeable, strategic, and forward-looking advice.”

“Rowan delivers a no ‘bs’ answer to a question or problem in your business, an advisor who ‘thinks outside the box’ to get ahead of the game or ahead of oncoming issues, challenges you to set get goals/ targets and holds you to account to give yourself the best chance to them. ie will add value to your business!!”

“Rowan of Braeburn Enterprises has been advising us on our sheep and beef high country station for over 2 years now.

Rowan has good data and good network connections in the agricultural community which means he can provide a data-based answer and draw on his network to provide the grass roots answer. Having such comprehensive advice has enabled us to drive the farm forward with the right information and this has proven Rowan to be a real value-add in our farming operation.

We look forward to continuing to work with Rowan and would recommend him to anyone else who needs well rounded farm advice.”

“We started working with Rowan from the beginning of the 23-24 season. Our previous farm consultant had retired, and we were looking for someone who thought outside the box, would challenge us and push us to achieve higher levels of profitability across the entire farm business as well as our own contract milking business.

Rowan brings a level-headed hands-on approach as a consultant who respects that every farm is slightly different and works with you not against you to achieve the results you want.

I would highly recommended Braeburn Enterprises to anyone looking to take their business to the next level and look forward to continually working with Rowan for the foreseeable future.”

“In my experience, working with Braeburn Enterprises Limited has been straightforward, good feedback, and efficient. That’s exactly the kind of approach we value and prefer to work with.”