38 | RURAL PEOPLE » Te Uranga B2 Inc Art of sheep & beef in the King Country Rod out mustering. Niveea Wade – Rods shepherd at docking time. Richard Loader “A lot of farms in the area are covered in totara all through their paddocks. Visitors often comment about how scenic the farms are with the trees, and they provide really good shelter for the stock.” Sitting at the base of Mount Hikurangi in the King Country, Te Uranga B2 is an 1130-hectare Maori incorporation owned sheep and beef farm just 12 minutes north of the quiet rural service town of Taumananui. For the last seven years experienced stockman Rod Walker has been the farm’s manager, responsible for day to day running on the of the property, care of the two staff members, and of course the regular reporting to a farm adviser and the farm committee. Rod says it is a beautiful farm, with totara trees that grow so prolifically that they can almost be considered weeds. He says it doesn’t take very long for little totara seedlings to pop up in areas of bush that have been fenced off and out of harm’s way. And they grow exceptionally fast. “A lot of farms in the area are covered in totara all through their paddocks. Visitors often comment about how scenic the farms are with the trees, and they provide really good shelter for the stock.” The farm lambs just under 5000 FE tolerant Romney ewes, along with 800 hoggets, with all finished except for a handful of lambs that are sold store before the end of the year. “We buy FE rams from Hildreth,” says Rod. “We get a little bit if Facial Eczema here but they have been bred for FE tolerance for many years so its incidence is limited. We also calve 300 angus cows and 75 two-year-old heifers. The progeny are all finished, with the steers sold as two year olds. We go to the Gisborne bull sales every year and usually buy in from Kaharau Angus and Tangiahau Angus studs, along with a local Taumarunui stud – Black Ridge Angus stud.” Until recently Te Uranga B2 had 37 hectares of plantation forestry as part of its operation. The trees were milled last year and the land will be replanted this winter. The farm committee is currently consulting with advisors, to determine how much additional area might need to be planted up to meet carbon sequestration targets. A further 704 hectares of plantation forestry bounds the farm, along with two neighbouring dairy farms also owned the incorporation. Helping Rod on the farm is a young shepherd, Jacob, who has six of his own dogs, and a general hand, Nivea, who has her own two dogs. All staff are encouraged to do ITO courses and while the Jacob has only been on the farm six months 22-year-old Nivea is in her fourth year on the farm and is up to ITO level 4. “I have loved developing staff. Nivea is a classic example. She came to us when she was very young and quite green. She has progressed so much. For a couple of years now she has been able to four-way draught on ear marks - which is something that a lot of experienced guys struggle to do. That all came about when I had a shoulder injury and got Nivea on the draughting gates. She cottoned on really quickly and since then we have kept her going. Jacob is really enthusiastic and there has been a big improvement in his dog handling skills, and within himself. It is really satisfying knowing that I have had a part to play in their career development.” Rod himself has been farming since leaving school at 16, almost four decades ago, and says he lives and breathes the life that he loves so much. “It is working with animals, being outdoors, and training dogs. It is the sort of thing you do as a kid, love it, and then get paid to do it.” Limited 168 Totara St, Manunui 3924 Ph 07 895 8492 • Mobile 027 418 670 Fax 07 895 7687 • ongaruetransport@xtra.co.nz t t, i il t t t . . Proud to be associated with Te Uranga B2 Inc t i t it I CTSHEARING ColinThirkell —Proudly supporting TeUrangaB2 ctshearing@hotmail.co.nz 027 446 1800 / 07 878 6765 Servicing TheWaikato&King Country
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