12 | As is so often the case in pioneering farming, the hard work of earlier generations created the platform for future ones to carry on the farming legacy. Nothing is more true than at Hinewaka Shorthorns, which has been home to six generations working the land, and with a seventh waiting in the wings. Hinewaka, located soe 20kms south-east of Masterton, is 780ha of rolling to steep hill country on limestone soils. With an elevation of 1500ft above sea level and an average 800mls rainfall annually, the farm produces top-class shorthorn stock. Given the environment it enjoys, a substantial amount of cultivation occurs annually and each year between 20-30ha is planted in kales, sustaining the stock through summer and winter feeding. Today, David and Pip Blackwood, who have been tending to the home property since 1983, have all-but handed over running the farm to son Mitch, one of four children. David says it’s a pleasure to see the next generation take hold of the challenges and opportunities that farming brings, and to mark its own stamp on how the farming business is conducted. “It can be a tricky time often in farming families when it comes to succession. In our case we realised that the most important thing was to communicate well with all the children. It’s a case of balancing our own needs for the future, with that of our children and the farming business,” David says. Hinewaka is home to 150 breeding cows, run under commercial conditions, 3700 Coopworth/ Romney ewes and 1100 hoggets. Fertility within the ock runs between 130 – 150% and most lambs are fattened for slaughter. David says it is a strong philosophy for the breeding of their shorthorn bulls that the cows have to tough it out to keep their place in the herd. “We’re very strict about the traits I want to see. I’m not producing animals of a particular form dictated by the market; I’m producing animals that suit our environment and if that works for our buyers then well and good. It’s always been our breeding philosophy and it is our strength.” Hinewaka holds an annual sale in the rst week of June, in keeping with all the other studs in the district. Standing up for sale are a mix of bulls destined for commercial farming operations and stud bulls, sold to other studs to add new genetics. David says its critically important to view the commercial farmers purchasing his bulls as just as important, if not more, than the studs. He says the breed here in New Zealand, though small in number, is in a good situation. “I think it’s one of the advantages of a minority breed, that all the breeders know each other. There’s isn’t a sense of competition between us. We just let the buyers decide what they like best.” He laments the fact that there is a whole younger generation of farmer who doesn’t know much about the capabilities and strength of the Shorthorn. RURAL PEOPLE » Hinewaka Shorthorns Building on hardwork of earlier generations Sue Russell Abraham Shearing Ltd Providing shearing services for theWairarapa. Paerata &Cushla 027 748 7259 abrahamshearing@gmail.com Proud to be associated with Hinewaka Shorthorns Call Arron Cook on 027 498 7104 “They were the rst breed to come to NZ and elsewhere in the world they are gaining popularity for their maternal strengths and carcass traits which are gaining premiums in the marketplace. Up until the 1960’s Shorthorn, Angus and Hereford were the three breeds used for crossing and adding hybrid vigour depending on what traits farmers were seeking in their herds. Then the European breeds started to become popular; a bit of a fad.” Today, David says, a lot of farmers are straight breeding with Angus. He says the down-side of this is that they lose out so much on hybrid vigour. Selecting which bulls will stand up for sale in any given year is a case of having a good eye for what looks good. Fertility is a key driver, above other traits. The bulls are split into A and B mobs. Eventually around 25 bulls make it through to sale. Some clients are after bulls suitable for mating to heifers. “The bulls are great performers for 5 or 6 years in a herd. Sale day for me is actually the worst day of the year – I love breeding them but don’t enjoy selling them.” Having a large proportion of repeat clients is always satisfying and David says he encourages clients to keep in touch regarding how the bulls are performing. And looking ahead David is convinced the next evolution for the breed lies in Genomics; the eld of biology that focusses on the structure, function, evolution, mapping and editing of genomes (an organism’s complete set of DNA). “This is an important development for the breeding industry. At the moment through Breedplan we only have EBV’s to work from in terms of animal performance and value. I am using Genomics in my herd and see it as the way of the future.” “Sale day for me is actually the worst day of the year – I love breeding them but don’t enjoy selling them.” Selecting which bulls will stand up for sale in any given year is a case of having a good eye for what looks good.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=