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Farm Report
Mangarata - Sheep and Beef
The Property
Mangarata is a 518ha farm that was purchased in January 2009.
At takeover the farm was stocked with a combination of ewes purchased from Mangarata and 1 year ewes from the sale yards. These were on sold earlier this year and replaced with stock from Glenburn.
Size: Total land area 518ha.Total eff:476ha
Soil: Mangarata is underlain by mudstone soil with approximately 80% of the farm being class 6 and 7. The farm also has 24ha of flats that are accessed off the road at the front of the property.
Class 2 27ha
Class 3 4ha
Class 4 6ha
Class 5 59ha
Class 6 302ha
Class 7 123ha
Rainfall: Approx 1050mm/annum
Fertility 09: pH P K S
5.7 18 15 9.5
Fertility 10: pH P K S
6.1 20 18 10
Fertiliser units applied:
At takeover, the farm was front loaded with 400kg/ha Super and 1 tonne lime/ha. The farm has been soil tested and a nutrient budget will be completed to determine maintenance requirements and other strategic applications. No fertiliser has been applied in 2010.
Pastures: Hill pastures consist of traditional grass species. Through an annual summer and winter cropping program, some of the more accessible hills will be cropped.
Drainage: The flats have been drained in the past however they may be close to the end of their useful life and are proving to be very wet over winter months. As required additional drainage will be carried out.
Yards and Shed: Mangarata has a 4 stand woolshed with covered yards currently under construction. The new woolshed will be capable of holding 600 ewes night pen with a further 900 under the covered yards.
New cattle yards were constructed mid last year and positioned around by the implement sheds.
Stocking rates as at 1st July
Stock |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Sheep su |
3333 |
3690 |
|
Cattle su |
1382 |
1214 |
|
Total su |
4715 |
4904 |
|
SU/ha |
9.9 |
10.4 |
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Farm Performance – 2008/2009 Actual, 2010 Actual (T = Target)
Stock |
2009 |
2010 |
|
| MA Ewes Docking % | 147% |
159% |
|
| Scanning % | 172% |
205% |
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| Dry % | 3% |
2% |
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| 2ths Docking % |
|
141% |
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| Scanning % |
|
196% |
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| Dry% |
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2% |
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| Hoggets Docking % |
|
100% |
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| Scanning % |
|
137% |
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| Dry % |
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| MA Cows Calving % | 95% |
84% |
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| Dry% | 8% |
8% |
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| R2 Heifers Calving % |
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87% |
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| Dry % | 8% |
8% |
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On Farm Management
Tools:
- Strategic consultant visits
- Monthly Stock Reconciliations
- Stock weighed regularly – growth rates recorded
- Crop yields measured pre winter
- GPS paddock areas
- Feed Budgeting (Farmax Pro)
Supplements:
- 10ha Hunter -
- 12ha Rape ( Goliath) – cross grazed with lambs over summer, then conserved for winter.
- 17ha new grass sown autumn 2010
- Baleage harvested if available otherwise purchased
- Strategic nitrogen use in spring and autumn
Page last updated on: 13-02-2012
