| 51 Finishing operation makes best use of short season Tohunga Station finished 11,000 trading lambs and killed 1187 cattle last year. Kim Newth RURAL PEOPLE » Tohunga Station Tohunga Station is a 1152ha (1004ha effective) finishing property near Ohakune in the Ruapehu district where stock and pasture are carefully managed in line with a short growing season. Owned by Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation and managed by Dean Francois, Tohunga Station only hits peak grass growth in December. The station receives stock for finishing from five breeding properties owned by the incorporation. Managing stock for the short season means taking care not to be left with too many trading lambs towards the end of the season. Last year, the station killed 1187 cattle and finished 11,000 trading lambs. Even though the season is late and short, the land pushes up a lot of grass – nine tonnes per hectare. “Lately, we’ve been planting Fescue mixes – we want something that gets out of the ground and is good as gold in spring,” says Dean. “We make a lot of baleage for the Incorporation and for private sale. We’re pretty good at growing red and white clover mixes here too.” This mainly flat to rolling property is also an important winter grazing farm, with 500 dairy cows wintered there as well as 1400 rising 2-year-old cattle. Dean says the dairy cows are broken down into four mobs of 125 with feed managed in line with calving expectations. A 60ha crop of kale is grown to support the winter stock. ‘Toitu te whenua, toitu te tangata, toitu te mana’/’Looking after nature so nature looks after us’ is central to the practice of Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation. Dean also manages Ohotu Station for the incorporation and shares their commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. Under his watch, Ohotu Station won the Farm Stewardship’s regional award at the 2018 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. At Tohunga Station, well over 100ha of native bush has been fenced off, including a special taonga – an area where gardens and artefacts of unique cultural significance have been found. Extensive work has also been done to fence off waterways. As in other parts of the country, the Ruapehu district has had its share of unusual weather this year with Tohunga Station getting only one late snowfall compared to the norm of three good winter snowfall events in past years. In June, 272mm of rain was recorded, almost double the 20-year seasonal average of 149mm for that month. “You’ve just got to work with it. We don’t like seeing cattle in mud and that’s why we cell graze not strip graze as that gives them a reasonable area. We don’t get as much pugging and we find the cattle are happier too.” Cattle are killed every second week year-round while the busy time of year for trading lambs is December through to early February. The goal is to get to 18kg per lamb through the season. Tohunga Station is currently short of a general stock hand. Dean says the role would be ideal for a young person learning the ropes. It’s a role that comes with free life insurance, accommodation and a more than $800 wet weather allowance. Free health insurance is also offered for those who stay for more than six months. “It’s a really good opportunity to gain valuable industry experience.” DA WINDLE LTD Raetihi for all your livestock transport needs phone kerry on 027 222 3431 Proud to support www.foleystransport.co.nz 0800 385 4248 Tohunga Station
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