TATC - Farming Operations

Farming Operations

Taratahi Dairy Unit

The Dairy Unit is situated on our main campus at Cornwall Road, Masterton.

The Dairy Unit milks 150 autumn calving cows and 480 spring calving cows through a 32 aside herringbone shed, which is specially designed for student training. The unit also rears 170 replacement heifers, and a further 150 bull calves through to weaning in a modern calf rearing operation.

Students learn a full range of dairy management skills covering, calf rearing, stock handling, pasture management, care of young stock and irrigation.

Dairy Unit 10 Day Report.

Mangarata

Mangarata is a 518 hectare breeding and finishing farm situated eight minutes north east of Masterton. Comprising a mix of rolling to medium hill country and generous flat land, the mix of topography allows for a broad range of on-farm learner experiences.
Mangarata runs 4800 stock units and has a mature breeding system in place, whereby we will be breeding our own replacement ewes. This will give students a fantastic opportunity to compare 2 different farming operations, because Glenside has a different management operation in place.

Glenside

Glenside is around 1200 ha and winters 9,400 stock units. Glenside is located in Gladstone, just 20 km south east of Masterton and 15 min from the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre.

The property is classified as intensive medium hill country and is in a summer dry environment. It has a variety of roles to play for Taratahi. Firstly, it supports the Taratahi dairy farm, providing grazing for replacement heifers and winter grazing for the cows. Glenside also provides the dairy farm with up to 70 ha of supplements.

The farm is also a high performance sheep, beef and deer breeding and finishing operation. If feed conditions allow, up to 3,000 trade lambs from Glenburn will be purchased and finished on crops over the summer months.