42 |
ON FARM » Kurt & Rachel Bartrum/Murray Hill Dairies
Business Rural
Farmstay ‘a Karen Phelps
Kurt and Rachel Bartrum with twins Henry and Poppy (13) and Billy (16).
Fernleigh Contracting
• Reversible plough • Simba discs • Terra discs • James Deep Ripper/Mole Plough • James Aerator • New Taege direct drill with tyre roller • Roller drill • 20ft heavy harrows • Balage, hay and pit silage machinery (round and square) • Flat to steep hill country spreading from Blenheim to Cheviot
Contact Paul Smith 0272 007 960 or 03 319 6007
When Kurt and Rachel Bartrum took on the job of managing a sheep-and-beef farm on the Inland Road near Kaikoura five years ago, they also saw an opportunity to showcase a real Kiwi farm experience to visitors passing through the area. “We could see the potential for a farmstay to add to the existing business and it also provided me with a role on the farm,” says Rachel. “Until then, I had been teaching and I was looking to do something on the farm that was a bit different. It works in so well. When things are quieter in the winter, it means I can also help out on the farm.” Getting used to sharing their home at Lynton Downs Farm with guests over the summer has been a big adjustment for the couple’s three children – Billy, 16, and twins Poppy and Henry, 13. But they have more than taken it in their stride. “They have learned a lot through meeting people from all different countries,” says Rachel. “Poppy is our top lamb feeder and enjoys introducing our guests to all the farm pets. It is a real family affair.” In total, the property covers 3555 hectares of mostly flat to rolling country, including 1000ha of effective pasture and 350ha in forestry. The balance is made up of high-country terrain and native bush. Lynton Downs is a romney breeding property, finishing 60 per cent of lambs weaned. The beef side of the operation involves selling steer calves at weaning and retaining heifers for winter. Shepherd Kerry Dillon is fulltime on the farm with Kurt. “Kerry and his wife, Gill, help us run the business, along with casual contractors,” says Rachel Lambing, tailing and shearing are busy times, and often shared with curious guests. “The boys might be working down the yard or shearing and we will let the guests know what’s going on. In light of health and safety, we will involve guests only in things that are safe. They cannot go on a quad bike, but they can jump in the
The boys might be working down the yard or shearing and we will let the guests know what’s going on. In light of health and safety, we will involve guests only in things that are safe. They cannot go on a quad bike but they can jump in the truck or walk down to observe what’s happening. truck or walk down to observe what’s happening. If they want to help, they can – provided it’s safe. People love being on a working farm– it’s very natural.” A self-contained apartment within the farm’s historic house serves as guest accommodation, along with a converted and refurbished shepherds’ cottage (‘The Quarters’) and two purpose-built, self-styled shepherds’ huts. The farmstay option has been running for just over a year, with the bulk of guests coming from overseas and staying an average of two to three nights. “It’s great –it has been going very well. We do also get New Zealanders travelling through and people coming across from Wellington. We’re already starting to get repeat customers from New Zealand and overseas.” The couple have also developed walks on the farm so people can get out and explore the farm, from flat rolling pasture to steep hill country. “There are some beautiful views of Kaikoura and the peninsula, and over the farm.”
High-protein pellet experiment shows Karen Pheps Farm ownership is not the be-all and end-all for Rick Munro, the manager of Murray Hill Dairies near Lumsden. “It’s very important to me to spend time with my kids – Zoe, aged seven, and George, six – and these farm-owners make that possible. “Before I started managing here, I was focused on the sharemilking path and owning my own land,” he says. But this is my dream job. It’s a great place to be.” Owned by Graham and Heather McCullough through the McCullough Family Trust, the 401-hectare effective/431ha total farm milks a crossbred herd of 1350 cows through a 54-bail rotary shed with Protrack, heat detection camera, automatic cup removers and weighbridge. The shed also includes a dual feed system,
For example contractors that come on the farm need to view the farm policy and they also need to show the farm their own health-and-safety policy as well as have an induction. On farm we have weekly health and safety meetings. which allows for more customised feeding of the herd. For the past two seasons Murray Hill Dairies has been using high-protein pallets to ascertain the benefits compared with a more grass-based system. The results have been good, says Rick. Fertility rates have improved and the farm’s six-week, incalf rate is now 76 per cent. Somatic cell counts have dropped dramatically, which Rick accredits to the use of the pallets, along
with a general tightening of farm procedures and policies. The somatic cell count now sits at an average of 100 or below – it had been nearly double this. At the start of the season two kilograms of the pellets were fed to the herd each day; this increased to three kilograms after calving through until Christmas where rations were dropped back to two kilograms of soya hull pellets and crushed barley. Around 300 grams of supplement is now being fed.
Proud to support Murray Hill
Northern southlands only Dairy farm specialist Electricians Phone 0800-LUMSDEN ANYTIME