NZ Dairy Summer 2022

| 11 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Alan & Sue Moore Shorthorns family’s breed of choice Richard Loader At 68 years young, people have told North Wairarapa dairy farmer and Shorthorn breeder Alan Moore that he could consider retirement, but he says the fact of the matter is that he enjoys the fruits of his labour every day of the week. “It’s my hobby. I like my cows – especially the Shorthorns. Our stud name is Waiwera Milking Shorthorns. We do a bit of showing at the local A&P shows and the dairy event in Feilding. My daughter is right into it and so is my granddaughter. It’s a great way to meet likeminded people.” Alan and Sue farm in Konini, a small rural community 12 kilometres south west of Pahiatua. They arrived on the farm in 2001, forming a company called Four Way Farms Ltd and went into equity partnership with friends, who they bought out two years later. Today, the dairy farm encompasses 200 hectares, along with 100 hectares of nearby run-off blocks that are used for wintering and three cuts of silage/ hay each year. Four Ways Farms also owns a 350 hectare sheep farm east of Pahiatua. Over the last couple of years Alan and Sue have been going through a structured succession planning process with their two daughters and their husbands. While Alan hopes the process will be completed by Christmas, he says it has not been without its challenges to get things right. “Up until June this year, Carla and Stephen were equity partners in the dairy farm,” says Alan. “As from the 1st of June they now own that farm and animals, and make all the day-to-day management decisions. Our other daughter and son-in-law, Lesley and Nick are on the sheep farm, and will take that over. We also have a son who is in Wellington, and we have set aside a piece of land for him.” Alan says the involvement of an accountant and a professional succession planner have been key to the success of the process, along with good communication and working through what each party considers fair. “Sue and I are really happy to know that two of our children will carry on farming where we have left off. If it wasn’t for my father I wouldn’t have got to where I am and I’m sure it was the same for his father. “Sue and I will remain on the farm and we are going to build a new house on it, which we hope to get started before Christmas. We’re both still actively involved in the farm on a daily basis. I don’t milk very often anymore, but I do AB with my daughter, a bit of fencing, tractor work, feeding out and generally help out as required.” With 100 registered pedigree shorthorns in the milking herd, Alan confesses that he has always had a fetish for the breed. “My father had them before me back in the old days. We breed for production and all the good conformation traits. “We had a bull in the breed scheme about ve years ago named Waiwera Turbo Charge. He had the highest Shorthorn BW in New Zealand of 110. He still has about 90 daughters in herds around the country.” Proudly supporting Alan & Sue Moore Milking Shorthorn calves at Alan and Sue Moore’s Wairarapa dairy farm. Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua B anch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 35 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 770 e. macdougalls.co. info@macdougalls.co. Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahia ua Branch 149 Main Street | 6 376 7770 e. ma dougalls.co.nz info@ma dougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Br nch 1 0 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahi tua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.c .nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fair ad | 06 357 7 23 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770 e. macdougalls.co.nz info@macdougalls.co.nz

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