‘Sensational’ performance hailed

The growth rates of the weaner cattle and the ewe hoggets bounced back to high levels, and the ewes put on weight over the first cycle of mating because of the supplementary feeding with lucerne balage and grain. By early in August the hoggets averaged 42kg with the in-lamb ones at 48kg.

The cattle system is made up primarily of bull beef with a small herd of 33 Stabiliser breeding cows. This year they have 251 yearling bulls and 108 two-year bulls on. Highlander ewes are crossed with Primera sires for specialist lamb finishing, and this year Jim has run Romney sires across the two-tooths.

The drought definitely pushed back scanning percentages on the flock of 1885 ewes and 670 hoggets, he says.

“We used to be lambing in the 150s, but last season was 138. This spring it will be even less because of the drought.”

It’s been two tough flushings for the ewes, with a wet summer and autumn in 2012, then a dry 2013. Jim was “incredibly disappointed” with scanning this year. He usually expects scanning at the 180 level, but the B flock this year scanned at 151%, the mixed-age ewes scanned 142, and the two-tooths 147. The highlight was a scanning of 128 for the hoggets tupped on the chicory/plantain.

While the scanning levels dropped, the dry rate was low, which was a relief.

The ewes have good lambings, and are good mothers Jim says. “And the lambs we are killing have very good conformation.”

Of last year’s total lamb production of 2700, 1559 went to Progressive Meats, where the Spalls have been long-term suppliers, and 680 went into the hogget flock for replacements.

“We commit the greatest proportion of our lambs to them. I leave some flexibility in case I have to store lambs like the last season.”

Part of their success with finishing lambs is because they weigh every animal. “I am really strict about everything I send to them. Nothing goes unless I am happy.”

Varied career off-farm 

Nursing skills come in handy on a farm, says Christine Spall.

The former nurse, midwife and Plunket nurse helps out often at Poporangi Farm – including recently vaccinating 600 ewes.

As well as raising their four boys, Christine has had a varied career off the farm. She helped set up the Kereru Early Childhood Centre “Tots ‘n’ Dots” based in the Kereru Hall.

Until earlier this year she was a teacher aide at the school for a few mornings a week.

Christine and Jim are active members of the community and church. Christine co-ordinates the Kereru church services and Jim is the newly appointed Parish Clerk at St Andrew’s Hastings. Now Christine is doing some theological study by distance.

“I am not someone who wants to stay home and do the housework.”

Christine, who comes from the Riverina region of New South Wales, met Jim in 1981 when they were both on a Contiki tour in Franc. They married three years later. She takes an active interest in the farm, questioning Jim’s decisions. He says: “I don’t have completely free rein.”

One of those jobs farming women often pick up, the book work, is done by Jim, who enjoys it. He also employs a permanent part-timer on the farm, neighbour’s son Nick Kay. “It’s absolutely essential to have someone help,” he says.

Until this year they’ve been involved in a dairy equity partnership with sharemilkers on a Norsewood farm, but the partnership came to an end this year when the sharemilkers bought them out. They like the idea of equity partnerships to let people get a start in the industry.

With four sons – a physio, an engineer, an agriculture student, and a high school student – succession is a topic which exercises them.

“If one of our sons wants to farm here, how do we facilitate it, and be fair to the others to help them with a good start?”

Jim says he’s always wanted to be a farmer and “a man of independent means”. Farming is a calling, and has its privileges, he says. While it’s risky and tough at times, the rewards are personal freedom and ability to create something unique of your own.

“There are not many areas in life these days you can do that.”