88 | A very wet winter for Waikuku Farms They are focusing on increasing production and presently lambing percentages are 135%. Slips and slumps in the land have made access around the property challenging and now summer is approaching they will be in repair mode to reinstate tracks. Sue Russell ON FARM » Waikuku Farms Ltd Cyclone Gabrielle didn’t do too much damage to the Beech family’s Surreydale farm but it did mark the start of the wettest winter they have experienced for a long time. Slips and slumps in the land have made access around the property challenging and now summer is approaching they will be in repair mode to reinstate tracks. There has been pugging damage so pastures are more open than normal and the grass this spring has been slower coming. Simon and Kelly Beech and Simon’s parents Martin and Philipa own the 2000ha farm. The farm has 8400 ewes and 400 cows, and all the progeny is sold to store. The family runs a Romney- Coopworth flock because they like combining the fertility and mothering instincts of the Coopworth with the structure and size of the Romney. The ewes are rotated most of the year and then at weaning they get rid of a third of the lambs, with another third going a month later and by March- April all those store lambs have gone. They send them all out the gate at an average of 30 kilograms. They are focusing on increasing production and presently lambing percentages are 135%. They would like to see this rise to 140% and are grazing the bottom third of hoggets off to help them reach that goal. With regards to cows they are aiming for a moderately framed animal that produces a quick growing calf at a sale-able weight. Subdividing paddocks to reduce them from 10-15ha to 4ha has helped wintering and growth rates in cattle. With shifting seasons due to climate change the family is putting more dams in on the farm, some of which are fed by natural springs. Some waterways now dry up seasonally so it’s important to be proactive to ensure water continuity, says Simon. The family is also slowly extending the reticulated gravity fed water system, which presently covers holding paddocks and around the yard. There have been a couple of other changes to the operation recently. When a neighbouring farm was sold to forestry this enabled the Beeches to swap around 150ha of their harder country for easier land. “Going forward gives us easier country so we can increase the stocking rate slightly and get better performance. This land has also come with more infrastructure - a wool shed and yards. Now we have three wool sheds and yards on the farm so this will make weaning and shearing easier as there will be no need to get animals 3kms to the original shed and yards,” explains Simon. The family is also keen proponents of Growing Future Farmers. Student Charlie Heard has been on the farm for two years and is just finishing his course. Another student will start on the Beeches farm in January. “It’s been a good fit training up young people. info@tumekefarming.com tumekefarming.com Simon Carthew 027 226 2262 Pascale Carthew 027 226 2261 Mindful genetics for meaningful results ARE YOUR RAMS PERFORMING? ROMNEYS COOPWORTHS COOP ROMX FE COOP (0.6 TESTED) LANDCORP LAMB SUPREME (HOGGETMATING SPECIALIST) &SUFTEX Specialising in livestock cartage & general freight transport in the lower North Island region 61 Short Road, Pahiatua, New Zealand, 4982 brandfmurdoch@xtra.co.nz PH. 06 376 7181 MOB. 0274 778036 It’s rewarding seeing students develop skills etc. We’ve seen Charlie grow a lot in the two years he’s been here and he’s been a great help on the farm.”
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