| 45 Long association with Coopworth breed Neville acknowledges that, as he ages, he’s getting more and more ruthless about which animals he keeps and which he doesn’t. Sue Russell ON FARM » Moeraki Downs It has been a good 15 months since Rural South had the opportunity to catch up with owner/ operator of Moeraki Downs, Neville Caldwell. The generational farm is situated a stone’s throw almost from the famous Moeraki boulders on the North Otago coast. It’s home to stud ewes, a commercial flock and Angus cattle, reared for finishing and replacements. There’s been a long association with the Coopworth sheep breed, going back to the 1960’s, and Neville says there wasn’t much that his father didn’t know about the fine attributes of the breed. One 3 year old ram, no 1048, is in the top one percent for growth in the country, an achievement Neville is very proud of. Today, the flock is made up of Coopworth and Coopdale genetics and more recently Cooptex has been introduced. “I bought some texel ewe lambs and that’s how I’ve introduced them into the flock.” It’s tracking towards the end of the year when Neville is sharing how things have been going on the farm. He’s now the proud grandfather of a new granddaughter Phoebe. Son Nathan and partner Jess don’t live too far away, and Neville says its lovely to welcome the next generation to the farm. “Nathan manages a farm at Mohau, in Merino country and when I need a hand he’ll help out. For the most part I just manage this farm myself. It keeps me busy and I enjoy seeing how each generation performs.” Neville acknowledges that, as he ages, he’s getting more and more ruthless about which animals he keeps and which he doesn’t. Stud ewes are expected to lamb twins and those who don’t leave the flock, along with their progeny. Clients seeking the performance from Moeraki Down’s rams to boost their own genetics in the commercial situation come from throughout Otago and up into Canterbury, where rams are put to the ewes a good month earlier than they are in Neville’s area. Asked how kind the weather-gods have been Neville says the region has experienced a lot of wind, which isn’t the best for boosting pasture and crop growth. “You want the rain or the sun, but not the wind.” When Rural South spoke with Neville, lambing was through, with a handful of hogget lambs due any day. “I’m beginning to jump on the tractor now. With wintering all my ewe lambs on lucerne silage and swedes. When I put them on the swedes they probably lose a kilo but when they go on lucerne silage they soon pick up and thrive.” On the beef rearing side of the operation, this season his herd of Angus cows calved 60. “Again I’m pretty ruthless with the cows. If they produce a dead calf they go. The last two years I haven’t calved a single cow. I expect them to do everything themselves.” The market for lambs has increased in value giving Neville more confidence going ahead. Neville has recently sold some Cooperworth Texel rams. “The Texel are more of a meat breed while the Coopworth’s are brilliant mothers.” Neville says he gets great satisfaction from following the data recorded for each stud sheep. “I just enjoy seeing how they perform from birth through their lives. To see the potential come through.” Meanwhile there’s a new addition in the woolshed, now that little Phoebe is on the scene. “I got her a wee table and chair and a ho-ho bag for her. In case you’re wondering what a ho-ho bag is, its a small piece of alkathene with a small plastic bag tied at one end, used for hoing sheep and lambs.” • Eye muscled scanned + IMF scanned • High Fertility • High Growth • Only twin progeny kept • SIL recorded • High performing flock with low input • All ram lambs used and tested over flock Neville Caldwell 027 480 7656 2866 Herbert-Hampden Road IMPORTERS & DISTRIBUTORS OF FARM MACHINERY Ph: 03 688 2031 Email: sales@pwtractors.co.nz 70 Racecourse Rd, Washdyke, Timaru www.paulwilkinstractors.co.nz
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