Over 225 people took the opportunity to look over the 3,500ha Oneriri Station at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s recent Northland Showcase event.
Sitting on a peninsula overlooking Kaipara Harbour, Oneriri Station is one of the few remaining large scale Northland properties where, with a sheep to cattle ratio of 70:30, sheep remain the dominant stock class.
The property has been farmed by Europeans since 1866 with a succession of owners and managers contributing to its success. Today it is managed by Trevor Smyth who is helped by two senior shepherds and a fencer/machinery operator.
Sitting at the confluence of three salt rivers, Oneriri has 45km of coastline, all of which is fenced. It also features 800ha of established and over 200 ha recently planted native bush as well as small areas of exotics.
With a comprehensive pest-trapping operation in place, they aim to predator free in the near future.
At the field day, visitors saw how environmental protection and enhancement complements livestock productivity. All non-replacement lambs from the farm’s 9,200 Romney ewes are finished as are all non-replacement cattle from their 230 mixed-age Angus/Santa Gertrudis/Shorthorn cows.
To do this, they grow up to 250ha of fodder beet every year and over past 9 years achieved re-grassing of around 200ha every year.
Oneriri’s livestock policies were amongst the topics covered on the field day, including their use of Facial Eczema tolerant genetics, terminal sires and the strong relationships that are so critical to the Station’s success.
One of these relationships is the one they have with their AFFCO rep Brett Lines, who helps with their trading and processing decisions.
The day, which was facilitated by farm consultant Bob Thomson, gave visitors the opportunity to look over one of the Northland’s iconic sheep and beef properties to see how it has evolved over 150 years of farming.