6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Affleck Blackhills The beginning of a whole new chapter Yearling heifers. Karen Phelps The Affleck family near Waikaka have decided this coming spring will mark the beginning of a new chapter. Chris Affleck and wife Máiréad are preparing to place the family’s 360ha sheep, beef and dairy support property on the market. “With two children who are now 18 and 21, and neither of them looking to go into farming, it’s time for the next phase,” explains Chris. “By doing it early it allows us to make the decision on our terms.” The name Blackhills is believed to come either from the area’s dark fertile topsoil or from historic burning of tussock country. Chris grew up on the property that his parents Tom and Dorothy bought in 1969. He trained as an architectural draughtsperson in Wellington and then spent six years working in Edinburgh, where he met Máiréad. In 2005 they returned to the farm and today the couple own half the farm and lease the remaining portion from a family trust. The mixed operation runs sheep and beef alongside dairy heifer grazing contracts. Around 300 rising-two-year dairy heifers arrive as calves each December and remain on the property for 18 months until the following May. Breeding and finishing ewe numbers fluctuate between 1400 and 2200 depending on seasonal conditions and the property also lambs 400 hoggets and up to 100 beef cattle are fattened annually. Chris says the farm has continually evolved, particularly through changes to the sheep breeding programme. “We moved into a circular breeding pattern going from Romney to Perendale to Texel then back to Romney to utilise the main characteristics of these breeds using Romney as a base,” says Chris. “The efficiency and good mothering of Perendale and the carcass conformation and finer wool of the Texel.” More recently they have introduced Ultimate rams from Avalon Genetics. “For the last three years we have used these rams over the first cross Texels,” explains Chris. “The Ultimates don’t get tailed and Avalon Genetics has been focused on a shorter tail and Working with you for happy, healthy and productive animals in the south. 24/7 EMERGENCY CARE Stock Cartage, General Cartage & Fert Spreading admin@waikakatransport.com 032072885 Phone Jason - 0274 392 838 | A/H 03 207 2611 › Ploughing › Discing › Power Harrows › Roller Drill › Aerating › Baling › Direct Drilling › Individual Wrapping › Tube Wrapping › Mowing CLELAND CONTRACTING 2005 Ltd
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