| 75 Diversity key for award winning farm Each season the farm leases out Jersey bulls as yearlings then as two year old’s, and nally sells them the following season as three year old’s. Russell Fredric MEAT & WOOL » The Pyramid Selecting for low methane stock • from page 74 “Ruminants make methane when they digest grass. Methane is a greenhouse gas and when animals breathe it’s broken down into carbon dioxide and it causes some heating through this process. Our goal is to try and break the link between the grass an animal eats and the methane it produces” A key project at Lanercost has been to mate low methane emitting rams to a portion of the ewe hoggets. “We have measured a number of traits in the low methane bred lambs as well as lambs from our normal ram supplier to help ensure that we don’t see a drop off in animal performance. So far, the two groups have performed the same for growth and survival as a lamb. “The lambs have been mated so we will see how they perform for reproduction at scanning time in the next couple of weeks. “This is an excellent result because we want to be sure that farmers don’t lose out on the aspects of their sheep that put money in the bank, like growth rate, if they also select for low methane.” The Dawkins family’s highly diversi ed business is a perfect example of appropriate land use that maximises pro tability, coupled with caring consideration for the environment. Their 602 hectare property, The Pyramid, lies within the boundaries of the Avon, Tummil and Waihopai rivers in the Waihopai Valley in Blenheim and incorporates sheep, beef, viticulture, apiaries and forestry. The generational property is owned and run by Chris and Julia Dawkins and their son and daughter -in-law Richard and Jess who have two pre-school children. It has been recognised with several signi cant awards, most recently the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards Supreme winner in 2019 and the 2021 Marlborough Sheep and Beef Farmer of the Year in 2021. The Pyramid was only the second farm in more than 20 years to win the Cawthron multi-industry awards. Chris was New Zealand Corriedale farmer of the year in 1992 and Richard says his father moving away from wool and focusing on meat production was a big call, “but one I am thankful he made given market returns currently.” Of the 602ha, plus a 40ha lease block, 400ha effective supports sheep and beef, 115ha is planted in grapes and 86ha in forestry. “Dad is a very passionate farm forester, starting in the ‘70’s. When he purchased the farm he identi ed 15% of the less productive, erosion-prone areas,” Richard says. These areas have a variety of commercial tree species, while shade and shelter plantings include poplars, oaks, acacias and natives that have been strategically planted and allowed to regenerate in an 8ha QEII covenanted area. The vineyard has 88ha in sauvignon blanc, with 50ha planted in 2016 and more recently an additional 38ha plus a 5ha block of pinot noir, a stage two planting in 2020 on quite heavy rolling clay country developed without terracing and with various orientations depending on the landscape. This block has sub-surface irrigation which utilises water more ef ciently with the added bene t of delivering water deeper and not watering weeds, consequently there is the possibility of eliminating herbicides in the future. Because it has no drip line for animals to get tangled in it makes it much easier for sheep grazing. The hot, dry climate means the property usually hits a soil moisture de cit in the third week of October. “Our whole livestock system is geared towards reducing stock numbers before the summer dry kicks in.” The sheep business supports 1300 Longdowns composite ewes, a Coopworth/Texel/East Friesian/ Finn cross which Richard describes as a highly fecund meat breed. “The name of the game here is we sell as many lambs prime off mum to the works in November so we aim for big birth weights, great milking ability and rapid live weight gains while on mum. In 2021 we sold 90% of the lambs prime off mum at an average weight of 41 kilos.” This converts on average to a carcass weight of 20.5 kilograms which last year averaged $190 each. Each season the farm leases out Jersey bulls as yearlings then as two year old’s, and nally sells them the following season as three year old’s. The cattle nicely complement the sheep for pasture management, consuming lower quality feed while also adding value. Richard says he and Jess are the fortunate benefactors of the hard work and vision of his forbears. “They’ve really set us up to run a highly productive and also sustainable business, so we are forever indebted really. [Dad] always said we need to put ourselves in a position to take advantage of opportunities.” • Concrete • Fertiliser Spreading - Farm Mapping - GPS Tracking - Variable Rate Spreading • Livestock Cartage • Grain Cartage • Shingle Supplies • Daily Freight Leeston: 03 3248 070 Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz a member of Law Link Gascoigne Wicks LAWYERS We’re here when you need a good lawyer We offer a full range of legal services across the top of the South Island and beyond... 79 High Street, Blenheim | Ph: 03 578 4229 E: enquiries@gwlaw.co.nz | www.gascoignewicks.co.nz George Westenra - georgewestenra@windowslive.com | 027 727 0727 GEORGE WESTENRA ANIMAL SCANNING SHEEP PREGNANCY SCANNING SERVICE
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