Dale Farm ‘please explain’
I read with interest an article in Southern Rural Life on February 12 about Pāmu planning to increase the mixed-age hind herd on southern farms.
Maybe Grant McNaughton could explain how Dale Farm, a 2500ha property in the Te Anau Basin, which started its deer conversion programme in 2000, and was planned to be a self-contained unit, finishing all of its fawns bred, and was carrying 2500 mixed-age hinds, 500 Angus cows and 5000 ewes in 2015, with fawning at 85-90%, calving 90-95% and lambing 150%, on a farm ideally situated and suited to deer, with fawning country and natural cover, complemented with ample flats for finishing, and two-thirds of the farm deer fenced, with upgraded deer shed, state-of-the-art handling facilities, three-way automatic weighing and drafting systems, is no longer carrying deer, a lot of the country cultivated out of native, now planted out in trees.
How has this happened? All the hundreds and thousands of dollars invested in a farm that was making money and with the end objective in sight, in the last 10 years been so badly mismanaged.
A sad sight indeed, it beggars belief.
I was the manager of Dale from 2002 to 2015 and I think the public deserve a please explain.
Kit Till, Manapōuri
REPLY:
Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding Dale Farm.
With the benefit of hindsight, many agricultural businesses and processors have reflected on their strategic direction and identified areas of missed opportunity.
Changing economic conditions, environmental considerations and strategic realignments influence land-use decisions for every farm business over the years. This was the case with Dale Farm, a 2549ha farm in the Upukerora ecological district with significant native wetland areas.
The introduction of stock exclusion rules for waterways, and associated freshwater farm plans, were the main driver for removing deer from that farm system. Double-deer fencing the extensive wetlands and waterways and building new stock water reticulation for compliance with the strict new policy would have been prohibitively expensive. Farming sheep and beef instead meant that capital fencing requirements were minimised and the focus could go on productivity gains. All hinds were removed from Dale by 2022.
Five hundred and fifty-four hectares of Dale Farm’s streams and wetlands is now in QEII covenants (up 363ha since 2015). Work with the Waiau Trust has been ongoing, fencing off all waterways against cattle, rather than deer. Two hundred and seventy-seven hectares of the farm is in woodlots on erodible land, with planting of both radiata and red beech.
The conversation around deer in the Te Anau basin is part of how, over the last 18 months, Pāmu has renewed our focus on long-term profitability and sustainability. We are rapidly restoring performance through laser focus on core principles across the business (animals, pasture, wastage and internal optimisation); robust farm specific systems; disciplined financial oversight; and clear regional strategies to optimise land use and livestock flows across all operations.
On some of our other farms, our plans to increase the mixed-age hind herd in the South is a logical step given the region’s suitability for deer farming, existing infrastructure and diversification of income across enterprises. We remain committed to ensuring our operations — whether in deer, cattle, sheep, or forestry — deliver strong returns while aligning with evolving industry, environmental and consumer expectations.
Pāmu Farms of New Zealand lower South Island general manager Grant McNaughton, of North Otago
