Area: 267 hectares (250 hectares effective)
Topography/Soils: predominantly easy rolling downs with a rendzina (limestone) based soil. This soil type has a natural pH around 6.5 and a high natural level of fertility. There are two other soil types on the property. An area of the back of the farm (12%) is a steepland hill based soil with a lower pH and lower natural fertility. This soil type shows a good response to higher levels of lime and fertiliser. A further 12% comprises easy rolling clay downs which are difficult to farm being wet in winter and hard,dry in summer. This is the most challenging part of the property to farm.
Rainfall: Average annual rainfall is 634mm however this can vary from 70% to 130%. Typically we are summer dry with foehn winds having a desiccating effect on the pastures. Right now we are experiencing a period of moisture stress which we would not normally have expected to come so early. This will present some challenges for us if it continues into December.
Pastures are predominantly based on Lucerne – a deep tap rooted legume that is able to draw moisture up from well down in the subsoil. This alleviates the summer dry, to some extent.
Stock wintered: Deer
500 red deer hinds (females)
480 mixed sex rising yearling grown out for venison, or herd replacement
25 rising 2 year stags for breeding and sire sales (limited number)
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1,005 deer.
We supply approximately 450 animals for venison each year with 66% being premium Cervena grade specification (animals less than 2 years of age). Fawning percentage is around 85 – 90% and we are striving to lift carcase weights from the current level of 55kg up to a greater weight of at least 60kg.
Sheep
650 ewes (females) – lambing 150 - 155% survival to sale
500 ewe hoggets (rising one year females) – lambing 70 – 80 % survival to sale
15 rams
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1,165 sheep
We are targeting an 18kg carcase weight from prime lambs. Most years all lambs are sold as prime. We also sell 170 rising two tooth ewes (17 month old females) annually after they have reared a lamb for us as a hogget.
Velvet from our yearling and rising 2 year stags , and wool from our sheep are secondary sources of income.
Topography/Soils: predominantly easy rolling downs with a rendzina (limestone) based soil. This soil type has a natural pH around 6.5 and a high natural level of fertility. There are two other soil types on the property. An area of the back of the farm (12%) is a steepland hill based soil with a lower pH and lower natural fertility. This soil type shows a good response to higher levels of lime and fertiliser. A further 12% comprises easy rolling clay downs which are difficult to farm being wet in winter and hard,dry in summer. This is the most challenging part of the property to farm.
Rainfall: Average annual rainfall is 634mm however this can vary from 70% to 130%. Typically we are summer dry with foehn winds having a desiccating effect on the pastures. Right now we are experiencing a period of moisture stress which we would not normally have expected to come so early. This will present some challenges for us if it continues into December.
Pastures are predominantly based on Lucerne – a deep tap rooted legume that is able to draw moisture up from well down in the subsoil. This alleviates the summer dry, to some extent.
Stock wintered: Deer
500 red deer hinds (females)
480 mixed sex rising yearling grown out for venison, or herd replacement
25 rising 2 year stags for breeding and sire sales (limited number)
-----------
1,005 deer.
We supply approximately 450 animals for venison each year with 66% being premium Cervena grade specification (animals less than 2 years of age). Fawning percentage is around 85 – 90% and we are striving to lift carcase weights from the current level of 55kg up to a greater weight of at least 60kg.
Sheep
650 ewes (females) – lambing 150 - 155% survival to sale
500 ewe hoggets (rising one year females) – lambing 70 – 80 % survival to sale
15 rams
----------
1,165 sheep
We are targeting an 18kg carcase weight from prime lambs. Most years all lambs are sold as prime. We also sell 170 rising two tooth ewes (17 month old females) annually after they have reared a lamb for us as a hogget.
Velvet from our yearling and rising 2 year stags , and wool from our sheep are secondary sources of income.