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Left – There are no stressed cows in this yard.
from P4 Three full-time staff are employed on the dairy farm, joined by the occasional backpacker – adding cultural diversity to the team. “They are usually hard workers, they want to earn some money for a few weeks then carry on with their travels.” While both Mark and Jenny grew up on farms, they were latecomers to the industry. Jenny was working as an accountant and Mark a writer/graphic artist, living on a 10 acre lifestyle block in Taranaki, when they were lured into taking up a 50:50 sharemilking position on another Ashburton Forks property in 1993. Mark had milked a few shorthorns through a twobail walk-through shed, raising calves and pigs with the milk, and some of these were shipped south, including the couple’s favourite cow Clementine. Retired from milking at 15 years of age, Clementine retained her position as
the boss of the herd, until arthritis got the better of her. She was put to rest two years later and buried on the property. Another cow has also earned a burial plot. Count Astra was bred on the West Coast, where the McDonald’s bought her at a clearing sale. “She was a very good cow – a great producer who produced mostly bull calves.” Astra was three-time champion shorthorn at the Christchurch A&P Show – but she was no fan of the ‘cow-walk’, once showing her displeasure by bunting the president of the Royal Agricultural Society as he attempted to tie the champion’s ribbon around her neck. The 230-strong herd which the aspiring sharemilkers purchased from the farm owner was predominately black and white. Over the years cow numbers increased to 540.
“The best selling the best”
DELIVERY SOUTH ISLAND WIDE
Open: Mon to Fri 9am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm 1004 Ferry Road, Ferrymead, Christchurch Ph 03 384 4089 or 0800 80 1004
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170415-TM-072
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