Page 75 - Hereford Magazine 2022

Hereford bulls are bought from neighbouring Otamatea Herefords.

less desirable ones; this was the case in my dad’s and his dad’s
era too,” Tom says.
Also helping cash flow management is twice-yearly
calving, in March and August. Bothwell Farms raises about
100 Hereford-Friesian-cross calves annually with the help of
pedigree Hereford bulls, bought from neighbours Willy and
Keely Muir at Otamatea Herefords.
“Our children attend the local Otaua School together and
we have found working with Willy great. We get reliable well-
natured Herefords each year.”
The farm has had split calving for the past 20 years.
“We were one of the first in the district to do so and it is
a profitable model due to a premium paid for winter milk,
formerly by Fonterra and now OCD.”
Rather than wait around for a technician to turn up, Tom
does his own AI with semen provided from LIC or Ambreed.
“I buy Hereford [semen] straws, which go into lower breeding
worth cows. After the first three weeks I tail-off with the
Hereford bulls from Otamatea.
“The Hereford-cross calves we get are attractive as beef Laura and Tom with Kobe, 10, Bella and Nate, 9, Jace, 8, Chad, 5,
animals. They sell well and allow us to produce fewer bobby and Zoe, 3, outside their renovated villa.
calves.”
Bothwell Farms’ Hereford-Friesian-cross calves go to sale Their home is an Edwardian villa that had been abandoned
between six and 18 months as steers, depending on prices, and and served as a woolshed for many years, recently undergoing
are usually bought directly from the farm. its second incarnation as a family home. Succession planning
“The Hereford-cross calves come in twice yearly so we has been at the forefront for Bothwell Farms for the past
gain more value from each service bull we buy, giving us an decade and is a high priority on Tom and Laura’s list, with
additional income stream from our dairy cheque.” the hope they can retain Bothwell Farms through the next
The past 10 years have been a busy time for Tom and Laura. generation and beyond.
Not only did they progress through sharemilking to buy Syd Meanwhile, urban escapees have found the Goodwrights as
and Jenny out of the farm, but also their family has grown to well: their property is now surrounded by lifestylers, which
include six children. A journey to the top of the farm with Tom adds its own layer of complexity to rural life.
on the farm quad is accompanied by an eager squadron of kids
on trail bikes.

Year 2022 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 73