Page 127 - Hereford Magazine 2021

herd in 2008. The late Chris Le Cren was one of the first horned
breeders to use performance recording.
Since 2008, the majority of bulls have been bought from
Doc and Jan Sidey’s Jandoc herd at Hawarden, with bulls from
Locharburn and Waikaka studs also used – all pure horned
blood sires.
The Whalesback runs 300 deer, 6000 ewes and 1600 hoggets.
These were initially sired by home-bred English Leicester/
Merino-cross rams but recently the brothers have purchased
Romney/Merino rams. A lamb sale in late November takes care
of most Highfield lambs and allows the irrigation to be used
for most of the surplus Whalesback lambs.
Sulphur superphosphate is put on annually, with 200 tonnes
allowing most of the land area to be fertilised every second year.
Recent lime applications have been encouraging. As Hugh points Some of The Whalesback Station’s 450 mixed-aged cows.
out, the land responds well to fertiliser, but so do woody-type
weeds such as matagouri, and about 100ha is sprayed every year. achieving targets, and its standing in the local community. The
The Whalesback, like most hill country properties, runs a fifth generation is waiting in the wings. Hugh and Jane’s sons,
cattle herd for the express purpose of controlling excessive George and Simon, and Michael and Solveig’s sons, James
rank growth, when applicable, and keeping the country open and Tom, have sought outside work experience on properties
and accessible for sheep grazing. Few Canterbury stations prior known for their ability to give a balanced view of farming life.
to 1960 had large beef cattle herds, but owners soon realised A local 610ha property, Toppesfield, was bought in 2019 with
running a beef herd judiciously allowed them to run more sheep. the next generation in mind.
This family story involves a total team effort from the Like their Hereford cattle, the Northcotes have stood the test
Northcote family; it is a team noted for its consistency, of time and are well positioned for a long future.

Coping with the white stuff

The Whalesback Station is not a cruisy property to run and it The Whalesback was severely affected by the twin snowfalls of
can be challenging when Mother Nature intervenes. 1992 that hit many South Island communities. The first storm in
An astute real estate agent would describe the property mid-July required extensive snow raking (the term used in stock
as summer safe, but this would be overriding the fact it’s a rescue) of both sheep and cattle, but deaths were prevented in
station that endures the early onset of winter and the late many situations by the fact cows and ewes were still in the early
arrival of spring in most years. stages of pregnancy. In contrast, the snowstorm in late August,
The Whalesback is 27km north of Waiau in a valley created just six weeks later, brought much stronger winds, causing deep
by the Mason River, which runs in a northeast direction as you snowdrifts on the ridges. Cows and ewes were again under the
venture up the valley. That is the geological feature making pump, with the twin-bearing ewes especially vulnerable to milk
the property summer safe, with the mountains to the west fever and sleepy sickness. For those that survived, it took them
shielding most of the strong northwest winds. many months to recharge their batteries.
However, that same geographical setting allows the Under periods of snow raking, the task is to make tracks so
funnelling of the southwest winds that most North Canterbury stock can have a pathway through the snow. The helicopter is a
properties rely on for rainfall. The large area of the Amuri huge help to put stock rescuers up above the sheep. Snow raking
Basin to the south allows the cold southwest current to is a challenging time for families and communities; saving the
channel its way up the Mason River Valley. lives of snowbound livestock is satisfaction guaranteed.

Year 2021 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 125