Innovative Farm Award finalist show case
Gallagher Animal Management
From the electric fence to cloud, Gallagher solutions empower customers to protect what matters most.
As proud sponsors of the Innovative Farming Award at the?Beef + Lamb New Zealand?Awards, set to take place at the end of September, we take a look at the finalists:
Mt Linton Station, IMF Sheep Genetics
A long-term focus on increasing intra-muscular fat (IMF) in Mt Linton’s Angus herd has been paying financial dividends, so the next logical step was to do the same in their sheep.
Always looking at ways to add value to the red meat they produce, three years ago the team at Mt Linton sourced genetics from a large-scale Australian sheep breeding operation which has been selecting and breeding high IMF sheep for many years.
Importing a mix of terminal and maternal IMF genetics, Mt Linton has been artificially inseminating 500 ewes annually.
Mt Linton’s ultimate goal is to create a niche product that will demand a higher price in the market place.
Maatua Hou Ltd
Creating a viable business on a small land holding while demonstrating an alternative calf rearing model that reduces bobby calf wastage is at the heart of Maatua Hou’s business.
领英推荐
Set up by four couples who saw an opportunity to think outside of the square, Maatua Hau owns a 34ha drystock block at Burnham, around 40kms outside of Christchurch.
They set up what they describe as an alternative calf-rearing model, one where the supplier cashflows calf rearing costs and profits are shared.
The key is to get the right genetics and this means encouraging dairy farmers to use superior beef genetics proven for use across dairy cows.
Sam and Sarah Johnston
Sam and Sarah don’t shirk away from a challenge. the couple, who farm on an 800ha sheep and beef property, actively seek out solutions to problems and demonstrate a willingness to try new tools, systems, and techniques that could ultimately benefit other farmers.
Dealing with challenges that are common to farmers throughout the country, the couple strives to fix the problem and will take a calculated risk to do so.
Over the years they have learned to embrace change and be at ease with the disruption facing the sector, looking for opportunities within it.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner on the 29th September and we wish all the finalists the best of luck!
Thanks for your support Gallagher Animal Management.