10 | Cattle breeding, hill Kim Newth RURAL PEOPLE » Glenburn Station On the Wairarapa Coast, Glenburn Station is one of New Zealand’s oldest sheep and beef stations. With a farming history stretching back to 1873, the station has weathered good years and bad to produce sought-after stock long recognised as some of the country’s best. Upholding Glenburn’s reputation today is station manager Lachie McFadzean. His parents, John and Helen McFadzean, purchased the station in 2007 and John continues to have a hand in its operations. Hill country farming and cattle breeding are passions for the family. The McFadzean Family of Wairarapa, have been breeding Angus Simmental cross cattle since 1978. Their hill country weaners have topped the Masterton weaner fair for 35 years or more, and have often achieved the highest price in New Zealand. Lachie’s two brothers, Johnie and Corey, also farm in the Wairarapa. Johnie manages Glenbrae Station, west of Masterton. Lachie returned home to manage Glenburn Station in 2015. Corey manages Valdor, an 1100 hectare property north of Masterton . Glenburn Station has grown in size over the past 15 years and today comprises some 2900ha of which 2400ha is the effective area. Lachie’s father is renowned for his success with crossbred Simmental and Angus cattle. That breeding focus continues at Glenbrae Station, but at Glenburn, a straight Angus herd has been developed. “We inherited a Stabilizer X herd [multi-breed composite cattle] when we took over Glenburn and immediately put a team of Angus bulls over them,’’ says Lachie. “We have used McFadzean Super Angus bulls (7/8 or greater Angus-performance recorded) from Johnie for four years now and have seen another lift in calf size but more importantly muscle and weight. The terrain and variable climatic conditions at Glenburn test the do-ability of cows. The two and three year Super Angus cross heifers are giving us a lift in production, and are proving to be very strong in constitution. Younger brother Corey uses McFadzean Meat Maker bulls over his herd in the lower country. Glenburn winters some 6600 ewes, 2330 hoggets and 535 cows. Also in the mix are 100 hinds. Deer were rst introduced some four years ago for stock diversi cation. Lachie says they are well suited to the station’s higher altitude country at the back of the property. Also situated to the rear of the station is the farm’s lamb nishing block, planted partly in plantain and chicory. “The rst cut of lambs – some 1500 – go to my brother Johnie. We keep the next biggest males; they go to the back to be fattened.” Lachie says the multiplier composite ewes they started out with at Glenburn were “very uneven” and there were issues with foot lameness in the ock. His father brought in as many replacements as possible from Glenbrae to lift ock consistency and performance. Glenburn like Glenbrae has also used Turanganui rams to help fast track productive traits, including superior lamb survivability. Turanganui is part of the Wairarapa Romney Improvement Group; selection is for productive traits under commercial conditions. “Performance is tracking well. This last season is the best we’ve had for some time. One of the mixed age mobs scanned at 197%.”, the overall average was 182% Working with John and Lachie at Glenburn Station are two shepherds, a full-time fencer and an operations manager for cropping and development work, (shared with Glenbrae). While some stock work is still done on horseback, quad bikes are the main workhorse on the station for today’s team. Glenburn provides a fantastic opportunity for young shepherds who also enjoy outdoor recreational activities in the form of hunting and diving. Lambing is due to start on 1st September. Lachie says a very good autumn sets them up well for grass growth and feed, owing through to good stock condition. Meanwhile, demand for Glenburn Station’s range of traditional farm accommodation is holding up well and Lachie says backpackers are starting to return as borders open up again. Glenburn winters some 6600 ewes, 2330 hoggets and 535 cows. Also in the mix are 100 hinds, well suited to the station’s higher altitude country. 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