Page 68 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

A hand on Hereford studs

either side of the Tasman Hill Country Catt le Otapawa Spark

AFTER GROWING UP WITH THE OKAHU Hereford Stud at is applied when economics allow. Fire and drought still remain a thriving in Stuart & Maria 027 8484 408 Otapawa Red Lord
Raetihi, Trish Forrest has swapped a view of Mt Ruapehu for a major threat, with significant fires in the district in 1939, 1967, 1985,
view of Mount Buffalo. 1997, 2006 and 2009, and an 18-month period either side of 1982 any environment Donald & Marlene 06 376 7250 TH Fronti er
Situated on the edge of Beechworth in Victoria, Australia, with no significant rain. “Sheep were fed grain and cattle were fed Proven Geneti cs Douglas & Dara 06 376 7765 MCM Bolt
Trish now lives 3Okm from the foot of Mount Buffalo at Rosstulla, crushed wheat and straw. In 1992, 50 cows and their calves and
which sits at 580m above sea level. 40 heifers were grazed away at Urana, and in 1997 we were eight Predictable Everyday is an Open Day Centennial L18
The 49ha farm is home to the Rosstulla Poll Hereford Stud, months without rain, causing much of the native timber to die.” Performance Okawa Rommel 7003
established in 1964 by her husband Rex, his late brother Barrie, In 2006, only 359mm of rain was recorded.
and their parents. Trish and Rex were married in 1982 and their “The timing of rain is crucial to seasonal growth due to the
daughter Narelle has now been home on the property for almost variation in temperatures. In early 2019 we were again drought
14 years and is set to continue the intergenerational enterprise. declared and while not as desperate as Northern Australia, we
They farm Rosstulla in conjunction with 356ha Sheepstation, have been forced to buy in an enormous amount of fodder in the
which is about 6km away. past 12 months to feed the entire cattle herd and sheep flock.”
Their 80-cow stud herd is run on a commercial basis along Trish does the bookwork for the Okahu Hereford Stud in
with 1500 fine wool Merino sheep. Trish, Rex and Narelle New Zealand, remotely from her home in Victoria, and returns
participate in the annual Stock and Land Beef Week Open Days to Raetihi every six months.
and offer bulls and some surplus females for private sale. “It’s nice to go home and touch base with New Zealand Hereford
“The on-property open day provides an opportunity to have breeders and to be there for Okahu’s annual sale,” she says.
a selection of blood lines on display and most importantly, the
chance to talk to other cattle enthusiasts about our breeding OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE
aims and philosophies,” Trish says. “With such harsh inland
conditions, we concentrate on temperament, milking and doing INTRODUCED NEW ZEALAND BLOOD
ability. The cattle are run with sheep on a set grazing system INTO OUR GENETICS AND CURRENTLY
and need to cope with very low levels of solar exposure in June MARKET OTAPAWA SPARK 3060 FOR THE
and July each year. Selling 15 to 20 bulls annually, we target ROBBIE FAMILY.
commercial breeders, hobby farmers and small studs.
“Over the years we have introduced New Zealand blood into
our genetics and currently market Otapawa Spark 3060 for the CLOCKWISE, BELOW: Narelle Forrest at the Benalla Show; The
back country of Rosstulla - a bit different from New Zealand’s
Robbie family.” Central Plateau; Beechworth has been home to the Rosstulla Poll
Otapawa Poll Herefordsapawa Poll Herefordsapawa Poll Herefords
Ot
Temperatures on Rosstulla range from about minus-4 Hereford Stud since 1964.
degrees Celsius to plus 45 degrees Celsius. With an 890mm Ot
rainfall, they average about one fall of snow a year. The growing
season is usually eight to 10 weeks a year in October/November,
although like everywhere else, there are exceptions, Trish says.
“Water at the homestead is from underground streams, while
at Sheepstation, we rely on spring-fed and/or catchment dams. On Farm Bull Sale 2nd June 2020
There is a 98-megalitre irrigation dam set up for keyline irrigation at
Sheepstation. Soil type is red shale at the homestead, and granite
on Sheepstation, which is realistically only light sheep country.”
With an ongoing concern for land preservation, small plots of
trees have been planted to establish windbreaks and shelter for
stock. Supplementary feed such as hay and grain is bought in from
surrounding districts to conserve pasture quality. Superphosphate

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otapawa@xtra.co.nz www.otapawa.co.nz

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