| 37 A lifelong passion Judges were impressed with Ben’s performance tracking. Sue Russell Ben Dawson has been in the business of breeding and selling sheep since the age of 9, when he bought 10 Suffolk sheep from an uncle. This purchase steered his direction in life, which was to breed the best possible terminal sire rams for commercial clients. Today, the 28 year old and wife Molly operate Waihau Terminal Sires, at Patoka, on hill country inland from Napier. Ben has always liked the black face breeds. His association with the breed was further cemented having completed an Agri-Business and Food Marketing degree at Lincoln University, where he met Guy Martin who has an established Suftex stud. “I was able to buy a few more ewes from him and this was great momentum for the Waihau stud,” Ben explains. Ben manages a 550ha commercial sheep and beef lease block for his parents. Four years ago, Molly and Ben were able to take on an additional lease block of their own, extending over 220ha. The success of Waihau Terminal Sires stud has very much come down to doing the basics well and focussing the breeding programme around the singular aim to produce top terminal sires. Good doers who perform, last the distance and deliver real gain in progeny in commercial sheep operations. This attitude to keep it simple and do a good job, sums up Ben’s approach to farming. He’s chosen to concentrate on what he’s good at and to dive deep into genetics and breeding. Asked how the season has been so far, Ben says its been a good one for overall animal health, however he has been keeping an eye on facial eczema. Protecting waterways Karen Phelps Oromahoe Trust has developed a close working relationship with the Northland Regional Council in a long-term commitment to protecting waterways, reducing erosion and improving the health of the whenua. The 1,050 hectares total/727 hectare effective Bay of Islands farm runs a large-scale beef and sheep operation and farm manager Dean Candy says working alongside council has been an important part of the Trust’s approach to sustainable land management. The partnership has included council-supported fencing and planting projects in lowland waterways, with stock excluded from sensitive areas to reduce sediment and nutrient run off. More recently, the focus has moved to erosionprone hill country where the Trust is seeking further funding support to re-grass vulnerable areas and fence off gullies. “The next stage of the project will also involve the local community with two nearby schools participating in planting days. The students will also have the opportunity to learn about the Trust’s water testing programme, which monitors water quality every three months,” says Dean. Environmental kaitiakitanga is central to the Trust’s farming philosophy. The property has 33 fenced wetlands, 183 hectares of native bush and extensive riparian planting. More than 28,000 manuka seedlings were planted in 2022 to help protect erosion-prone land and waterways. These initiatives complement significant farm development work including 14.6 kilometres of new water piping, 40 additional troughs, 30,000 litres of water storage and 3.2 kilometres of roadside boundary fencing. Dean says the improvements have contributed to clearer waterways, reduced sediment and effluent movement, and increased birdlife and tuna (eel) populations. The Trust’s commitment to balancing production, culture and environmental care was recognised at the 2024 Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards where it received the Supreme Award along with several category awards. RURAL PEOPLE » Oromahoe Trust It’s been a blue-ribbon year for Ben in other respects, having just been named Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s 2026 Emerging Achiever Award Winner, from a short-list of three. Graham Johnson from Waikato and Alice Wilson, Wairoa, were the other two farmers shortlisted. Ben and Molly attended Beef and Lamb NZ’s ‘Out the Gate’ event, held in Christchurch 19-21 May where the winners of eight award categories were announced. The event is an opportunity for the sheep and beef sector to share information, celebrate achievements and talk about future opportunities. “Molly entered me in this award, providing background to the judges about what had so far been achieved and what we’re focussing on in the future. It’s great that Beef + Lamb NZ have an award recognising the energy and efforts of the next generation coming through.” Judges were impressed with Ben’s commitment to focusing on performance tracking and utilisng data. Waihau Terminal Sires focuses on high-performing, stabilised Suftex (Suffolk-Texel cross) sheep, with a strong integration of Beltex genetics, to imporove muscle mass and meat yield. Dorper rams are used for hogget mating for ease of lambing. Each year between 100-150 terminal rams are presented for auction in November drawing bids locally and online via the bidr auction platform. It’s a moment Ben and Molly look forward to, offering a fresh assessment as to how the market responds to the rams presented. This year’s sale is scheduled for Thursday 19 November where Ben intends to stand up approximately 100 rams. “This year’s mob are a very consistent line, with good dark faces. I’m looking forward to seeing what we achieve at the sale and its a good moment for me to learn how clients are performing and what matters most to them.” RURAL PEOPLE » Ben Dawson We are proud to be associated with Ben & Molly - Waihau Terminal Sires 100% NZ Owned and Operated - Now with over 100 agents nationwide For all your livestock requirements, contact the team ‘Your Livestock Specialists’ Office 06 8787 535 • admin@redshawlivestock.co.nz Agent: Dean Freeman 027 4451 944 Cheri Henricksen B.B.S., C.A. We’ll help drive your Kaikohe 401 1536 Kerikeri 407 7354 Waipapa 401 6654 Kawakawa 404 0842 Proud to be supporting Oromahoe Trust BAY OF ISLANDS VETERINARY SERVICES The Trust’s environmental efforts sit alongside a highly productive farming operation. It currently runs 1,440 bulls, with 720 purchased annually as 100kg to 180kg weaners before being grown through to around two years of age for supply to a local meat processor. The sheep part of the business focuses on the steeper areas of the farm where cattle are less suited. Around 850 breeding ewes are mated each year producing approximately 1,250 lambs for sale through both processing and store markets depending on seasonal conditions. Dean says improving pasture performance and using inputs carefully have been key areas of focus. “We are focusing on fertiliser and being consistent with re-grassing, which have made a big difference,” he says. “We changed our species of grasses from an annual to an Italian ryegrass and are getting two years out of it instead of one, then following through with a permanent species to make the property more drought resistant.” The change has provided more reliable feed production, particularly through challenging summer conditions. “With the Italian ryegrass we get two years of very consistent growth,” Dean explains. “With fertiliser it is about maximising what we can put on and investing back into the farm.” Animal health management has also been refined with the Trust focusing on targeted treatments rather than routine drenching. “We take bloods off our older stock and do faecal egg counts on the younger bulls so we are only drenching for what is necessary,” explains Dean. “It’s a more sustainable way to manage stock health.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=