| 17 Raising dairy weaners ‘made sense’ Randall Johnston RURAL PEOPLE » David Turner South Taranaki sheep and beef farmer and dairy grazer David Eltham has taken on raising some dairy weaners this year, which is a new experience for him, but one that is working out very well so far. His operation is spread across two farms of flat to rolling land near Eltham (between Stratford and Hawera). David finishes about 1200 lambs a year. They lamb about 800 ewes and farm about 300 dairy heifers from May to May under contract. His wife Samantha works off farm as a Deceased Estate Manager for a firm of solicitors, while his daughter Sarah, 18, is at Victoria University and son George, 15, is showing a keen interest and ability in farming already. “We’re always looking at new ways of changing, modifying or adapting what we do to suit the circumstances. I think my neighbour’s weaners look amazingly healthy, so we are pleased with how it’s working out.” “It made sense because we didn’t replace some of our own beef cattle. We normally have about 100, but because they are expensive and we were a bit sick of the mess over winter they were making we took on these (dairy weaners) instead, on the same sort of system as the heifers. “We ended up taking half of a neighbour’s weaners and he kept the other half, so we will see what that leads to in the future. It’s been a bit dry here too over the last few months, so I’m now quite pleased that I didn’t replace my beef cattle.” David took the weaners on in December and they will remain with him until May. A previous regional Ballance Farm Environment Award winner, he still plants quite a large number of trees each year, in order to maintain a good ecological balance on farm. “I’m quite big on fencing off waterways where we can and put a lot of thought into the impact that everything that we do has on the land.” His interest also lays in the genetics of the sheep (his are Romney’s, sourced from Waiteika Romneys in Kawhia), more so than the heifer grazing – which more just helps to balance the books. David started buying off the Abbott Family while chasing facial eczema resistant traits about seven years ago, with great success ever since. He plants 12 to 15ha of chicory and that’s what he finishes his lambs on. The ewe lambs end up going on there from about March onwards. “We keep our chicory for two years which is probably a bit unusual, planting 5 or 7ha each year. So each year half of our chicory is last year’s and half of it is this year’s and every second year that gets re-grassed into permanent pasture again and we work our way around the farm. “We do this because chicory is quite expensive and takes a while to get established.” David puts his poll Dorset triplets on it in September and that gets them going strong as a great high protein feed. That land isn’t really getting used in July and August, but that’s the only real downside. David has just replaced his old cattle yards on the home farm and gone a bit higher and with much more modern design to help keep the animals in a bit better. “It just makes it so much easier handling cattle in a safer environment. I’m a one man band now. So I’ve had to change the configuration so that I can easily do it and manage on my own,” David explains. “It’s half steel, half timber so I did use a company called Te Pari (Oamaru-based) for the steel and a local contractor to help me get the posts in, but did the rest myself; the rails and the gates.” With the weaners looking healthy; that venture showing promise and some spruced up cattle yards to future proof the operation, things are looking positive for David and the family in 2024. Marriner Groundspread Ltd Operating since 1996 Supporting the local community Ph: (06) 765 4345 118 Warwick Road, Stratford 027 446 0443 19a King Edward St, Eltham o ce@gernhoefercontracting.co.nz At Lloyd Gernhoefer agricultural contracting, we o er you a wide range of Agricultural services. Call Lloyd now for your 2024 season requirements. South Taranaki sheep and beef farmer David Eltham has taken on raising dairy weaners this year. Fencing off and planting waterways is a strong focus for David and wife Samantha. Earthmoving contracting business based in Taranaki who strive for customer satisfaction and quality workmanship. Bulk Earthworks • Site Foundations • Demolition Cartage • Landscaping • Drainage Logging Tracks • Tree Works +64 27 307 2599 dentcontracting7@gmail.com Proudly Supporting David Turner Eltham
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=