| 47 MEAT & WOOL » Peter Adam Opportunities to grow and progress Karen Phelps Once people start working at Wilden Station they find it hard to leave. Farm manager Peter Adam has been working on the farm for 25 years. “It’s a good working environment and there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress,” he says. Staff member Paige McKenzie is a case in point. She has been working on the farm just over four years and, currently on maternity leave, is keen to come back so the farm has employed a short term contractor to fill the gap until she returns. Glen Miller has also been working at Wilden Station for around four years and Peter and Robyn Standish who manage the finishing block have been there for around ten years. “Long serving staff make my job easier and it’s great to see them develop and take the next step up. The longer they’re here the more they can learn and the more responsibility they can take,” says Peter. He says there has been a targeted effort to get staff involved in all aspects of the business. “This means they know why we are doing what we’re doing and this understanding helps drive better outcomes,” he says. The 1770 hectare property, purchased in 2000 by John Maisey as part of the Maisey Group of companies, has undergone significant evolution. Finishing all the stock on the farm has influenced Wilden Station’s breeding selections, especially in the cattle side of things with the 600-day growth mark becoming more important. “Before when we were only doing calves the 200400 day mark was important. So this has influenced our genetic selections to target good growth by 600 days.” The transformation became possible following the acquisition of a 242-hectare finishing farm in Waipahi approximately seven years ago, located 45 minutes from the home farm. This purchase enables the operation to finish all its own stock. The Waipahi block has undergone extensive improvements including a new water scheme and comprehensive re-grassing programme that moves away from red clover to shorter-term rotation grasses. John Maisey (owner) Glen Miller, Amber Maisey, Paige McKenzie. The cattle operation comprises mainly Angus and Angus-cross cows split into two groups. The breeding mob uses Angus bulls and the commercial mob is served by Simmental sires to capitalise on growth advantages. “It’s good to bring the Simmental into the mix and they do well in terms of growth and weights. Our two-year-olds are averaging 300kgs on the hook and this is largely due to the Simmental genetics,” explains Peter. Across the three properties, totalling over 2,000 hectares, the operation runs approximately 16,000 stock units comprising 7,900 ewes, 2,090 hoggets, 290 mixed-age cows and 60 rising two-year-old heifers. About 2,600 hoggets and 230 R2 cattle are finished at Waipahi in the winter/spring period. Romney genetics are mainly sourced from Rawahi Romneys with some from Grassendale Romneys. Texel genetics come from Waikaka Texel Stud and Suftex genetics from Fernvale Genetics. Fernvale Genetics, located in Moa Flat, West Otago is an elite ram breeding company that has seen 3 generations of the Brenssell family over the past 80 years develop the stud to its current status. The stud today has entrenched key breeding policies that are used to produce superior animals that will have the Genetic make up to enhance the commercial sheep farming operations they are transferred into. These key breeding policies include: • Only multiple born & reared animals sold or retained in stud. • Quality outside bloodlines used every third generation. • Commercial pressure though 45,000 stock units. • Two year ram performance guarantee. • All ewe hoggets put to ram 027 201 8181 fernvale@farmside.co.nz www.fernvale.co.nz Fernvale Genetics is part of a large 45,000 stock unit sheep and beef operation. Not only is the focus on the stud, but the commercial side of the sheep and beef operations have to be pro table. The combined farming operation includes 18,500 Beef stock units with 1,200 breeding cows. EST 2001 Current challenges include improving lambing percentages after three disappointing lambings. In response Peter is trying iodine injections for ewes after testing revealed marginal iodine levels in dead lambs. The operation’s commitment extends beyond the farm gate through involvement in the Pomahaka Water Care Group, a farmer-led initiative working to improve the health of the Pomahaka River catchment. Specialising in Crop Spraying We also have a unit that does Gorse and Broom Contact Paul Johnston on 027 446 8458 or email silver.birch@xtra.co.nz JOHNSTON SPRAYING
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=