58 | Dry conditions spark key changes Hugh and Lucy’s Koromiko 2288ha farm runs 11,500 stock units. Karen Phelps Canterbury farmers Hugh and Lucy DampierCrossley are making some key changes to their farming system to mitigate the increasing summer dry conditions. They will no longer farm Red deer, lessening pressure on feed during the summer period, and plant around 500ha of forestry on the harder hill country that was uneconomic to farm. They are also changing their sheep breed from Romney to Romtex to increase lamb weights at weaning. Last season all the two tooths went to Romtex rams and this year all the A ock maternal ewes went to a Romtex meaning within four years whole ock will have transitioned. “We’ve been disappointed with the weight of the straight Romney lambs at weaning time. A few farmers locally are raising Romtex and their fertility is right up there so we won’t lose anything in that respect but will get more weight on. Being summer dry we want to get as many lambs as we can on the truck at weaning time,” explains Hugh. A trading lamb component gives exibility; they don’t buy them in if the weather is too dry. They plant around 30ha of brassicas for summer feed, which is either used for fattening lambs or to tup ewes on. Hugh and Lucy’s Koromiko 2288ha farm runs 11,500 stock units comprising 35000 ewes, 1300 hoggets, 1700 half bred trade lambs, 500 crossbred trade lambs, 180 R2 fattening cattle, 120 heifers calves, 80 steer calves and 300 cows including 60 rst calvers. Steer calves go to Five Star with most gone by Christmas. They’ve been placing a big focus over the past decade on a regrassing programme of Cocksfoot and subterranean (sub) clover. Around 40-80ha has been regrassed each year, focusing rstly on the land they can get a tractor over. MEAT & WOOL » Koromiko • To page 59 CARRIERS OF LIVESTOCK, GENERAL FREIGHT, BULK & FERTILISER CHEVIOT TRANSPORT 2017 LTD 99 Ward Rd, Cheviot 7310 P: 03 319 8644 A/H: 0276 776 787 In a couple of years they plan to start on the harder hill country. “Cocksfoot and sub clover grows better in drought. Clover releases a lot of nitrogen back into the system to keep the cocksfoot palatable. These species also grow a lot of feed in our high demand period from mid August to Christmas,” explains Hugh. Using AI as a tool to accelerate genetic progress in the herd in recent years has been a game Spreadmark Certified Dan Thiele - 027 511 7656 - 03 319 2779 - cheviotlime@gmail.com CONTACT: Sam Holland HEMINGFORD Culverden, North Canterbury 021 181 4868 • 03 315 8689 E: vikiholland@amuri.net HEMINGFORD CHAROLAIS • ROMTEX • SUFTEX • TEXEL COMMERCIALLY FARMED TOUGH HILL COUNTRY GENETICS Charolais Bulls – Quiet & Grunty Romtex – Fertile Modern Maternal Suftex Texel – Multi-trait Dual Purpose Proud to support Koromiko Farm Ltd RAMS SOLD PRIVATELY ON FARM IN DECEMBER hemingfordgenetics
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