“We’re about 50% sheep, 35% cattle and 15% deer. In terms of profitability the deer lead the sheep and the sheep are well ahead of the cattle, though the cattle are not too bad this year either.”
The Turanganui Romney flock has lambed at more than 150% for the past six years, which is calculated as lambs sold or kept from all ewes mated. Also, supplying service bulls to the dairy industry bolsters beef returns from the 450-cow Hereford herd.
“It brings the value of the beef operation up quite markedly,” Paton says.
On the hill, 650ha in four main blocks and two smaller blocks is deer-fenced and there’s 95ha with high-wire on the flatter, lower country.
The area’s still a movement control area for TB so weaners and hinds are TB tested at pre-rut weaning. Normally, weaners intended for sale go out on the flats and-or lower country to put on as much weight as possible before sale. In theory, 210ha of the flats are irrigated but in practice low-flow restrictions mean the water’s rarely available in late summer and autumn.
Awakino’s dams trap silt from any deer wallows and a piped trough system is in the long-term plan.
