| 53 nzdairy New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards » Cawte Farms The path to maintaining family ownership hasn’t always been smooth. approach – something James initiated. “I went to high input as we were a basic system when I first started here. I enjoy that as I like looking at fat, healthy cows,” explains James. “We winter milk and autumn calve, predominantly the whole herd, so have to feed supplement during the winter months and also to achieve the production we are doing. In the heart of winter we feed 14-15kgs of supplement each day per cow when grass isn’t growing. We feed maize, PKE and food by-products including DSL from the breweries.” Further adding his own mark to the family legacy, James has diversified the business with just over four hectares of kiwifruit, helping to provide cashflow and protection against fluctuating commodity prices. The path to maintaining family ownership hasn’t always been smooth. In the 1990s, the farm faced potential sale when James’ father Barry and his first wife separated following the tragic death of their daughter. However following Barry’s remarriage to Catherine in 1999, family continuity was preserved. James is acutely aware of his role in maintaining the intergenerational chain. His sons Jack (6) and Charlie (4) represent the sixth generation with potential interest in the property. “I feel like another gatekeeper to pass onto the next generation,” says James. “The aim is to get the farm to a good place so it can survive the ups and downs and enjoying it along the way. We’re happy to have had the farm in the family for a long time and we’re keen to carry it on.”
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