20 | Big operation with a lot of moving parts Friesian bulls being counted by stock agents Jamie Haywood and Rob Fergus. Sire bulls purchased from Ratanui and Tangihau studs. Russell Fredric RURAL PEOPLE » Iwinui Titirangi Stations Hauiti Station general manager Chris Torkington describes the four farms it comprises as a big operation with a lot of moving parts. The station incorporates Iwinui Station, Titirangi Station, Pukemaewa Station and a recently purchased block, Seaview, in Tolaga Bay. Combined, the properties support beef, sheep, cropping and a small citrus orchard. “In the past they’ve been four separate properties, but they are now merged together and run as one; all four of them make quite a big unit now,” Chis says. Chris has been in his present position for six months, but worked on the station for three years as the second-in-charge to the previous general manager. Hauiti Station employs nine full-time staff and covers 2751ha of which 2529ha is effective. Of the total area about 690ha is steep hill, 1072 medium rolling and 693ha flat. About 75% of Titirangi lies on the coast, has good carrying capacity and works well as a breeding unit in conjunction with the other blocks. “I really enjoy it, it’s a good block, there’s lots of different things going on, there’s a lot of different policies with the stock, variety between the stock and the contour and the layout of the land.” The station carries 5000 breeding ewes, 1650 two tooths, breeds 2100 replacement ewe hoggets each year and trades from 15,000 to 20,000 lambs a year. “We have a maternal flock that’s run on the Titirangi block and on the hills blocks of Iwinui, and on some of the rolling country we have terminal ewe flocks, which produce lambs for finishing.” This system provides a lot of flexibility. “Depending on the season that we are having we can alter in that trading area without affecting any of our capital stock.” On the cattle side the station supports 600 mixed age cows. Of these Angus are mated to a Hereford while white faced ones are also mated to an Angus. “With our trading system our cows have quite a big job preparing pastures for finishing stock so we need quite a hardy cow that can work hard and give us good production so we’re looking for fast growth rates and we finish all the bulls.” Additionally the station buys in and finishes 500 to 600 Friesian bulls. The scale of the station provides a lot of learning opportunities and promotional for its staff, of which 50% are in various stages of training across the range of technology, systems, infrastructure, machinery, stock and pasture management. and the ability to have dogs. The station employs five stockmen who each have a team of six to eight dogs. “They all hold quite a bit of responsibility compared to your typical farming industry. It’s a big operation, there’s a lot of moving parts and there’s a lot of variety in the different blocks so they have to carry a lot of responsibility and decision making compared to what you’d normally expect from a shepherd.“Luckily I’ve got guys that are more than capable and just chomping at the bit to have the opportunity and they’re taking it. I can rely on them, they are accurate with their information, they’re trustworthy, hard workers.” IWINUI & TITIRANGI STATIONS PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH
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