40 | Pleased with the pasture and stock Sue Russell Patearoa Station, a sprawling 7,800ha sheet and beef station, 27kms south-west of Ranfurly in Central Otago is home to Patearoa Romney Stud, owned and operated by Charlie Hore and Belinda Colling. The stud comprises 250 registered ewes and the station carries 900 half-bred ewes, 2950 merino ewes to the ram, 1640 merino hoggets, 400 half-bred ewe hoggets, 160 half-bred ram hoggets and 2900 wethers. Along with this, Patearoa is also home to 160 cows and 150 calves, there to fatten up and run over pasture in front of the sheep. “We’ve experienced a fairly dry summer, the back-end in particular and now we’re enjoying a very nice autumn, so I’m pleased with how the pasture and stock are maintaining at this time,” said Charlie, when Rural South spoke with him in May. With an eye to continuing to build natural worm resistance in the flock and worm tolerance, Charlie says they’re fairly selective when it comes to drenching. “We don’t want to build in more drench resistance in the flock so we’re pretty focussed on targeted drenching these days. Each season is different and worms are still fairly prevalent.” As a fine-wool breeder, Charlie says it’s a continuous balancing act to grow carcass for increasing meat yield while not allowing the wool micron to be impacted. It’s one of the aspects to the farming operation and to breeding that he’s particularly interested in. “We’re after a good white crimp wool. I sell my wool through Merino NZ under contract.” When it comes to the half-bred flock Charlie says the aim is to maintain the wool quality while breeding in desirable traits including better health than the merinos and better lambing. When Rural South spoke with Charlie again, the shearing season was looming. This takes several months, beginning with a pre-lamb shearing for the cross-bred ewes in July, followed by the half-bred and Merino ewes in August and hoggets in September. Charlie was brought up in the district, with the home-farm, Stonehenge Station where he was brought up, first established back in 1910. Brother Andrew runs Stonehenge, just up the road and the two trade rams for breeding purposes with each other. The Romney Stud was bought from Brad and Abby Dawson in 2013 and when the farms were split in 2018, Charlie and Belinda took over the stud. Stud rams are sold privately each year and each year Charlie retains approximately 80-90 romney ram lambs and 200 half-bred ram lambs to rejuvenate the flock with young genetics. One of the great things, Charlie says, about the Romney breed is the ability to convert feed into meat yield. MEAT & WOOL » Belinda Colling and Charles Hore This is one of the key reasons the rams are sought by commercial farmers to add hybrid vigour, particularly in terms of meat-yield. Charlie says he has a great deal of respect for the Romney breed and the contribution it makes to the national flock. “In cross-breeding it really comes into its own and has contributed significantly to the quality of the national flock. They are very good doers, suited well for our sorts of conditions.” Patearoa Station stretches from the Taieri River south of Patearoa, rising into the Rock and Pillar Range. Approximately 150ha is under irrigation. The rule of thumb is to implement farm management practices taking into account the Station can and does experience dry conditions. “We’re fairly prudent around where we graze our animals. All the ewes are on the top of the hill with the weathers leaving the irrigated land for the lambs to grow them out well and quickly.” A big thank you to everyone who supported us at our 2025 Bull Sale Breeding Bulls on East Otago Hill Country Suitable for any breed of Cattle 1473 Taieri Peak Rd, Stoneburn RD 3, Otago 9483 Andy Denham M: 027640 8167 | Campbell Denham M: 027 444 7412 We specialise in Civil Construction and Farm Services including: • Earthmoving • Irrigation Services • DamConstruction • Farming Infrastructure • Roading and access tracks • Landscaping 027 512 4677 Covering Maniototo, Manuherikia & Strath Taieri Livestock Cartage | Computerised Lime Super and Seed Sowing | Ready Mix Concrete Gravel, Sand and Cement Supplies | General Cartage Ranfurly Transport 034449738 John (Bulk) 0273519464 Richard 021542714 The stud comprises 250 registered ewes and the station carries 900 half-bred ewes, 2950 merino ewes to the ram, 1640 merino hoggets, 400 half-bred ewe hoggets, 160 half-bred ram hoggets and 2900 wethers. “We’ve experienced a fairly dry summer, the back-end in particular and now we’re enjoying a very nice autumn, so I’m pleased with how the pasture and stock are maintaining at this time.”
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