32 | By reducing ewe numbers from 8,000 to roughly 6,000, they’ve unlocked higher performance. New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards » Bellamy Station Proudly supporting Bellamy Station 027 269 4495 fitzzee@xtra.co.nz They moved to Snowline and Ranger sheep breeds from a traditionally Romney set up around seven or eight years ago. “We sort of plateaued with Romneys,” Roger says. “We were looking for something a little easier care, with finer wool, higher yielding carcasses and weight.” By reducing ewe numbers from 8,000 to roughly 6,000, they’ve unlocked higher performance, hitting terminal lamb weights of more than 20 kilograms on the hooks, a notable increase from traditionally selling them as stores. This improvement is supported by a “regenerative” summer cropping programme, including sunflowers, millet, clover, chicory, plantain, and leafy turnip, which helps finish lambs that previously also would have been sold as stores. Roger traces the big shifts on Bellamy Station through three generations. In the early days, his grandfather James (“Jim”) used the property mostly as a trading base, which was farmed alongside another family property, Waipori Station. Graeme, Roger and Stuart’s father, took over in the 1945s and drove major development: introducing tractors, new pastures, water schemes, fencing and aerial fertiliser application - at one point setting a national record for tonnes spread in a day. Roger and Stuart see their role as making subtler improvements over time. “The big changes were during my father’s lifetime,” Roger says. “We’ve made these other, refined changes, primarily to meet markets and make life a little bit easier.” As the family marks a century on the land, they’ve received a New Zealand Century Farm and Station Award. With the next generation already showing an interest and succession discussions now ongoing, the priority is retaining ownership. “We decided we didn’t really want to sell the land,” Roger says. “I’m a bit of a history buff...we know where we’ve come from, and we think we know where we’re going.” “We sort of plateaued with Romneys,” Roger says. “We were looking for something a little easier care, with finer wool, higher yielding carcasses and weight.” • from page 30 forestmanagement.co.nz We are specialists in: Forest harvesting Domestic and export log marketing Carbon forestry Investment Establishment and silviculture Trusted experts in forestry Maximise your returns with our professional harvesting, planting and ETS management Get in touch Forest Harvest Assessments Neville Hills 027 433 7697 ETS & New Land Planting Matt Cotterrell 021 901 581
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