Landcorp genetics paying dividends

01-01-2010 | Andrew Stewart

There is nothing unusual about taking a drive with a farm manager during a field day. It is unusual to travel vast stretches of well-maintained metal roads showcasing land that disappears to the horizon.

As the dust rolled over the leading car on to the convoy of vehicles behind, the tour guide slowed to point out the boundary. The group of low lying hills he indicated was 20km away.

This is how it is on Lochinver Station. Vast.

It is easy to underestimate the scale, driving around the single biggest farm in the North Island.

The tour guide was Lochinver general manager Brian Gibson.

The field day at the station served two purposes: First, a rare insight into the running of this impressive, family owned business; secondly, to urge attending farmers to discuss the Landcorp genetics which are producing excellent results.

Landcorp Genetics marketing manager Chris Neill acted as the "good shepherd" on the day. The innovative format involved moving the groups around four speaking stations focused on different key points.

Gibson and AgResearch's Robyn Dynes focused on management and breeding.

Gibson joined the Lochinver team in 2005 and set about implementing the change away from the traditional Perendale-based flock. The ewe flock is achieving about 170% scanning, and about 140% STS.

He said the key to producing a consistent lambing percentage on tough country such as Lochinver was good flock management throughout the year.

The starting point should be at weaning, and every age class was monitored and weighed every two weeks from then. Any lower condition score sheep are drafted off at weaning, fed well, then reintroduced to the main flock before mating.

Feed requirement is dictated by demand of the animal; ewes with triplets get the most and those with singles the least.

Grass management is difficult during the colder months, with the temperature regularly plunging below -10°C. Grass stops growing in these temperatures, so crops play a vital part in the feeding programme. The autumn period is used to set up the needs for the colder months ahead. Once lambing begins in the first week of October the pasture, with applications of urea, will generally keep up with feed demand.

Stevenson Agriculture, which owns Lochinver, has also invested heavily in conservation and development. Areas surrounding waterways have been fenced off to preserve water quality.

A development programme has been implemented to 2015 which includes regrassing, cropping and the possibility of irrigating some of the flats.

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