Millers Flat, New Zealand

Today we visited Limehills Hereford located in Millers Flat, they were founded in 1974 by Tom Pannett. They focus on producing big sound free moving cattle that have traditional Hereford traits of fertility and efficiency. Their cow herd consists of 280 cows on various sized paddocks in both high and low countries. We were split up into 5 different groups, then asked to pick the top 3 Hereford bulls. After viewing the bulls and each group choosing their top 3 the owner gave us his opinion of the top 3. Then following it up with a trivia game over New Zealand. 

Millers Flat, New Zealand

--

Kaila R. Williams

Oklahoma State University 

Bachelor of Science in Animal Science & Agricultural Communications

American Jr. Shorthorn Association, Vice President

(580) 736-2386

kaila.williams@okstate.edu

"If you know what you want, believe in it, and make it happen."

Good Shepard Gospel Church

--

Kaila R. Williams

Oklahoma State University 

Bachelor of Science in Animal Science & Agricultural Communications

American Jr. Shorthorn Association, Vice President

(580) 736-2386

kaila.williams@okstate.edu

"If you know what you want, believe in it, and make it happen."

Thursday, May 24

This morning, we traveled to Mount Linton Genetics where they have had about 5 inches of rain in the last 48 hours. Mount Linton is a very diverse operation running 105,000 stock units which makes them the largest farm in New Zealand by way of stock units their operation runs on 32,000 acres. They run about 55,000 head of sheep, 7,500 head of Angus cattle, 23 brood mares and progeny and 1 stallion. Their sheep flock consists of Romney and Texel ewes. They have both maternal and terminal rams. 

In the afternoon, we traveled to Westholm Polled Herefords and Blue Mountain Angus stud. They run a very diverse farminng operation that includes dairy cows, beef cattle, and cross bred ewes. Their goal is to breed stock that performs well and has high production on a grass based system. 

Tonight, we are all dividing up and staying with different farm host families. 

- Halie Schovanec

Breathtaking

Today, the group didn’t go to any farms or learn anything about agriculture; today, we were strictly tourists! We first took an hour or so boat ride, where we had to disembark and take a bus over the Milford pass. At the top of the hill, we saw snow, and it snows there 300 days of the year. We then got on another boat and sailed around Doubtful Sound, which is not a Sound but a Fiord and was inaccurately named. A Fiord is carved out by a glacier while a sound is formed by erosion. The Sound goes all the way from the inland at Manapouri to the Tasman Sea. On the cruise, we saw waterfalls, rainbows, beautiful lush mountains, and a beautiful sunset over the water.

      -- Kaila Williams, Haley Bokern, and Zane Hilbig

Day 8: Earnscleugh Station

Today we traveled to Earnscleugh Station in Central Otago, which is in the South Island. It is a 52,500 acre ranch that primarily focuses mainly on producing Merino sheep. These sheep are used for their wool. We were able to tour the area where they sheer their sheep. This wool is very valuable and used in fine clothing. The wool we felt was around 12 microns. After this we toured around the ranch and were able to look at their bulls. These bulls are used on mostly commercial ranches all over New Zealand. We were able to learn a lot and see a different type of sheep operation on this tour.

Saturday Morning

Saturday morning started with an alarm call from the hotel at 4:15 a.m. It was time to travel to the south island. The airport fed us breakfast and we loaded the plane. We watched the sunrise over the mountains as we landed in Christchurch. Then we were off to our next destination!

 Silverstream Charolais, which is right outside of Christchurch, is widely recognized for their Charolais genetics. They additionally have Hereford cattle, which they incorporated into their operation 8 years ago. They were established in 1968. Brent Fisher, the owner of the operation, shared they focus their genetic selection off their customer’s needs. He said they focus on the structure of their cattle so they can handle the rugged terrain. He shared his wife earned a Ph. D. in genetics. He credits her knowledge of wealth to their success with Charolais genetics. Silverstream Charolais fattens 1,000 head of cattle per year on grass and fodder beet. They slaughter these between 14-15 months at 650-pound carcass weight. 

During the winter, Brent shared they gain about two pounds a day, he added this is unheard of in New Zealand. During the spring, the cattle can gain four to five pounds a day, this is when the cattle gain most of their weight. 

Their family is very involved with cattle genetics around the world. Brent shared he had just returned from Australia where he was judging a cattle show. They also attend the National Western Stock Show. He added they source most of their genetics from their own herd and have brought in semen from France. 

The group was extremely impressed by the quality of cattle Silverstream Charolais had on display. They were stouter, heavier muscled and had a robust rib shape compared to Charolais in the U.S. You can tune into their 30^thannual bull sale on June 13 streamed on Facebook live, Silverstream Charolais.

           After leaving Silverstream, we stopped for lunch at the Laboratory. While there we met Matt Beck and Dr. Pablo Gregorini. Matt obtained both his B.S. and M.S. from Oklahoma State. For his Masters, he studied underneath Dr. Ryan Reuter. His thesis was measuring gas emissions from grazing cattle. He is currently a PhD student at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand where he is studying underneath Dr. Gregorini. Matt and Dr. Gregorini took us to three research stations at Lincoln and told us some of the research they are doing. The stations we went to were their dairy farm, deer farm, and the Ashley Dene Research and Development Station. They are currently researching the effects of feed supplements on Nitrogen excretion in the urine of ruminants. It was interesting to see the difference between the U.S.’s research and New Zealand research. Dr. Gregorini said, “We have met the full efficiency of products for our farms. Now we have to start finding different ways to help our environment for future generations to come.” As the U.S. is more focused on efficiency and developing new products. 

-Kaila Williams, Kiera Leddy, Jake Gould, and Samantha Howe

Haldon Station and Lakes Tupako and Pukaki!

Today we visited Haldon Station in the Mackenzie basin of the South Island. They run merino sheep, red deer, and Hereford and Angus cattle. We visited with their manager Paddy Boyd who explained the operation and then took us on a tour of the station. The owners don't live on the property, so Paddy and his wife oversee most of the operation. We had the opportunity to see a lot of their deer, including their hinds and stags, which they raise for velvet and venison harvest.

Haldon Station was one of the first farms in New Zealand to develop a deer farming program that they began in the late 1970s by capturing deer from the wild. In the beginning, they just captured and sold deer quickly, but not they have built up an expansive breeding program that is completely sustained and bred as a closed herd. We also learned a lot about their environmental sustainability programs. They are located in a very dry and arid area for New Zealand but have implemented large irrigation and land management programs. Paddy explained that they have made significant improvements to their bailage growth and harvesting. From the visit, we learned about the challenges and rewards of being a farmer in high desert country. We also learned about changes that have taken place in New Zealand agriculture in the past 40 years since deer were domesticated. 

As we left Haldon Station, we stopped at the Tekapo Lake which sits in the valley of large snow-covered peaked mountains. We continued on to Lake Pukaki with another beautiful mountain back-drop, including Mount Hood. We are continuing on to Alexandria tonight before continuing our trip tomorrow into Queenstown.

- Hailey Traynham & Jordan Cowger

Te Mania Angus Stud

On Sunday, May 20, 2018, our study abroad group departed from Christchurch and drove to Te Mania Angus Stud ranch in Parnassus, North Canterbury. The Te Mania ranch prides itself on the depth of its breeding program and connection with clients. Our group was able to realize the dedication the family has toward developing personal relationships with its clients as they spent a lot of time chatting with us and fed us a home-cooked meal. We were shown their sale facility, which the group believed could rival any in the United States with its western theme. Students were amazed to learn bulls went for an average of $9,500 a head in last year's sales. 

The ranch also offers an amazing "insurance policy" on bulls sold, offering a guarantee for three years of structural soundness, fertility and capability of service. We were served coffee and morning tea upon arrival and were able to explore the sale ring and "Saloon." A tour of the ranch followed where students were able to see the bulls that will be sold in the upcoming months as well as the fodder beets that are fed as supplements to the cattle. As a group we were amazed by the views of the ranch. After taking a brief walk through the pasture, we were able to take pictures at the top of a hill with both the mountains and the beach serving as a backdrop. Driving through the property, our group was able to experience an ocean-front view featuring dolphins and seals. The tour focused on teaching our group about the importance of balancing phenotypically strong cattle with competitive genetics. All of us were extremely impressed of the high quality Angus cattle here in New Zealand and are eager to be able to return home and compare these cattle to our own.

Friday May 18

We began the morning visiting Arataki Honey. Arataki Honey is the number one bee keeping business in the Southern Hemisphere, with 20,000 beehives across New Zealand. The company was established in 1944 and is run in two parts. The Hawke's Bay Division produces and packs honey for the local and export market, provides local pollination services and is the site of the Arataki Honey Visitors Centre. The Rotorua Division specializes in live bee exports, queen bees, packing honey and providing pollination services. At the visitor center, we had the opportunity to taste several different types of honey as well as purchase some to bring home to our families. Students also got to look at 5 bee hives and try to spot the queen bee that had a special marking on her, however we were only able to find one.

- Brooke Dondero and Danielle Sellers

After leaving Arataki Honey we traveled to Dannevirke to Garth and Wesley Coleman's sheep and beef farm. Over their 750 acres of steep rolling hills they manage roughly 1700 ewes along with 500 ewe lamb replacements and more than 240 Fresian bulls. The Coleman's raise their sheep primarily for fiber purposes with the intent of being sold to be made into carpet or other tougher materials as their Merino cross wool is coarser in its fiber. Upon arrival we were provided a delicious lunch by the family which consisted of their homegrown lamb, chicken and fresh salads. We were also given warm apple crumble topped with New Zealand's famous Hokey Pokey ice cream. After lunch we climbed to the top of one of their paddocks where we took in quite the view of rolling hills and green grass. While on top of the hill we experienced heavy winds and it was a daunting task to get a group photo. Then the Coleman's rounded up some sheep using their trained dogs and herded them into the shed to be sheared. We watched Garth shear a sheep with the common tools used in New Zealand. When it's time to shear the sheep, sheep shearers work eight hour days and can shear up to 400 sheep a day. They are paid $1.50 per head and provided food and tea every two hours. We really appreciated the hospitality and knowledge we were provided at the Coleman's and will remember it as one of our favorite stops on the north island.

- Hannah Lauffenburger and Colton Deckard

Morning At The Bay

Our morning started with a beautiful view at Hawke's Bay. We were supposed to visit the Marona Deer farm but sadly it got cancelled. Although we were disappointed this got cancelled getting some more rest and starting with a beautiful view was a great way to start the day. 

This morning we started our day by visiting the Kairuru Polled Hereford Stud, owned by Kevin and Jane McDonald.  Kairuru is a 450 acre farm with about 100 stud cows, as well as young stock and replacements, 30 two year old bulls.  Their main revenue comes from their annual bull sale held in June.  They have raised and sold multiple champion bulls in New Zealand, the U.S., Canada, and Australia.  We got to see their herd sire and yearling bulls, visited their sale facility, calf sale barn, and were welcomed into their home for morning tea and scones.  Kevin and Jane have three sons, Jeff, Scotty, and Graham.  Scotty and Graham have special needs, and we really enjoyed talking with them and learning about their passions for agriculture.  We appreciate the McDonald family for their hospitality and for welcoming us on their farm so we could learn about the Hereford and beef industries in New Zealand.

We wrapped up the afternoon with a tour at Foothill Orchard by manager Russell Barnes. This orchard grows a variety of produce ranging from stonefruit (plums, nectarines, and peaches) to apples and kiwis. Russell explained that by growing a variety of products, he lowers his risk of weather or disease ruining his entire growing season. Within the last year, the orchard began growing a new variety of kiwi. The orchard decided to make the switch to Gold Kiwi Fruit because a disease wiped out the last variety of kiwi. We are very grateful to Russell for meeting us at the hotel to give us a brief history of the Hawkes Bay region, giving us the opportunity to visit his orchard, and letting us take home some of the amazing fruit grown at Foothill Orchard!

Gallagher Group, Sharemilker, and Maori Cultural Experience

This morning we had the opportunity of traveling to Gallagher International for a tour. Their world headquarters are located in Hamilton, New Zealand. Upon arrival, we were split into three groups to tour the facility. 80% of all products made at the location are used for export. The location has been there since 1938. We appreciated Gallagher and their staff for talking the time to educated us about all of those products and how their electric fencing has evolved with time.

Following a brief lunch in Morrinsville, more commonly known as “Cow Town,” we proceeded to Tremeer: Preston Wills Limited Dairy. This dairy spans over 500 acres and serves as home to 700 dairy cows. Upon arriving at the dairy, we were able to catch a glimpse of a milk transfer truck, expected to obtain 19,000 liters from the dairy for today. Grant Wills and Chad Winke, a native of Iowa, delivered our tour of the large dairy in the midst of the prime milking time of 2:30 p.m. We were introduced to the several types of feed administered to their cattle, the milking parlor, and calving stalls. This particular operation functions as a sharemilking dairy, a practice unique to New Zealand.

In the evening we had the opportunity to have an insight look at the Maori culture by visiting the Tamaki village in Rotorua. The evening started by the Tamaki tribe picking us up at our hotel. We drove a short distance to their tribal land not far out of town. Once we got to the Tamaki’s village we were greeted by the Haka dance which is performed by the best warriors the tribe has to offer. They place a “tiki” in front of our chief to show that we came in peace and not for war. Once we got into the village we moved around different stations learning about the ins and outs of the Maori culture. This was all summed up with a “hangi” the traditional Maori meal that is cooked underground consisting of chicken, lamb, vegetables, and potatoes.

-Emilie James, Michael Scott, Courtney Mapes, McKenzie Carvalho, and Parker Smith

We Made It!

     After landing in Auckland at 6 am, we had a full day of exploring New Zealand's largest city. We spent the morning walking and hiking around Mount Eden to stretch out our legs after the 14 hour flight. We were able to see most of Auckland despite the cloudy skies. Then we drove over the Auckland Harbor Bridge which is the only connection between the Auckland shores without having to take a ferry.

     Our next stop was the New Zealand Labor Party memorial for Michael Joseph Savage, the party's first New Zealand Prime Minister. Then we headed to the Auckland Museum to learn more about New Zealand's history and have lunch. The museum had everything from Māori culture heritage to New Zealand war history. 

     In the evening we went up in the Sky Tower, New Zealand's highest building at 328 meters. We were thankful the cloudy skies cleared up so we could see the entire city. We had dinner at the bottom of the tower before exploring some more of downtown Auckland. We are excited to continue our journey into this beautiful country tomorrow!

- Jordan Cowger & Sam Howe

One more day!!

We leave for New Zealand in about 24 hours!! This group is extremely excited to get to experience such a unique country. Stay tuned for pictures and updates of our trip!!

#

--

Halie Schovanec

Oklahoma State Class of 2021

Agricultural Communications

halie.schovanec@okstate.edu

580.554.5261

New Zealand Trip

Looking forward to a great trip!

Welcome

Welcome to our blog! Check back here to view blog posts from Oklahoma State University Department of Animal Science students as they travel through New Zealand!