Awarima and Meldreth are farmed in conjunction by brothers Greg and Mike Anderson and their wives, Sandra and Danni. This arrangement was begun in 2002.

Awarima is a 1300ha hard hill country breeding unit which had been running extensive Merino flock, but now has Perendale flock and Angus-Hereford breeding cows. It has only 60ha of flats, 292ha of rolling to steep developed country, 100ha of steep matagouri blocks, 110ha of oversown tussock and 688ha of native pastures. This is divided into 27 paddocks at present and more fencing is a priority.

Meldreth is 200ha and is run as an intensive breeding and finishing farm, with 107ha of flats and 79ha of downs, divided into 45 paddocks.

Awarima has 40ha of irrigation from North Ophua River. At present water is spread using an old sidewinder, but in future they may go for K-line. It receives 650mm of rainfall annually and goes up to 1000 asl. Meldreth gets 750mm of rainfall. Both properties got over two feet of snow last June and were without power for 10 days.

Running the two properties together helps minimise the limitations both farms might have if they were separated, stand-alone businesses.

South Canterbury monitor farms
The Andersons are one year through a three-year term as Meat & Wool New Zealand monitor farmers in South Canterbury, which is a community-based programme facilitated by Nicky Hyslop from Macfarlane Rural Business.

Possible changes in farm policy are debated within the community group and the Andersons then have the final say on the direction. They also get analysis done by Nicky, using pasture cover measurements, rainfall figures, growth predictions, stock movements etc.

In the 15-year history of monitor farms, in general the experience for the farmers has been positive, because they try new things and get the input of the wisdom of the peer group, plus consultant.

After one year spent collecting information and discussing possibilities, Awarima and Meldreth are to make big changes during this season.

Livestock
In 2005 the combined properties wintered 3700 ewes, 1000 ewe hoggets, 800 wether hoggets, 95 breeding cows, 42 R1yr heifers and 41 R1yr steers.
In August 2006 the totals were 3326 breeding ewes, 900 ewe hoggets, 420 trade lambs, 60 rams, 83 breeding cows, three sire bulls, 42 each of R1yr steers and heifers and 37 R2yr steers and 36 R2yr heifers.

Perendales are bred on Awarima, and until now ewes had two lamb crops before being moved to Meldreth. Perendale rams from North Otago breeder David Ruddenklau were used for the first cycle and a terminal sire for the second. The four-year ewes were mated to a terminal sire on Meldruth. Sale lambs were moved to Meldreth after weaning for finishing to 17-18kg CW. Replacement lambs were retained on Awarima but moved down to Meldreth from October to February.

Lambing performance over recent years has been about 95% on Awarima and 120% on Meldreth. Lambing is on October 1.

Calving on Awarima has been averaging between 80% and 85%, with a goal to get that up to 95%. All calves are moved to Meldreth for finishing and the selling policy from there has been flexible, ranging from yearling to 18 months. Average weaning weight is from 160-190kg, and the target is 200kg. All replacements are purchased.

Development and changes in policy
Awarima has 40ha of irrigation on which grows winter feed followed by new grass.

Greg is concentrating on fencing and improving fertility on the hill blocks, to boost the Olsen P of 10 to an optimum 20-25. Opportunities exist to increase breeding performance, irrigation and flat land production on Awarima.

Meldreth has a low stocking rate and some potential to use more of the feed surpluses at the right times of the year. That would in turn lift overall pasture quality. The property has good soils and a moderate climate, but it is exposed to summer dry periods, without irrigation.

The community group recommended that Meldreth be separated more from Awarima to lift profitability. The small-framed Perendale ewes coming from Awarima are unlikely to reach targets of 140% lambing and 28kg LW weaning weight.

At present the low LW lambs weaned off Awarima is limiting the turnover of finished lambs on Meldreth and the ability to grow out replacement two-tooths to 55kg-plus. Among the policy options identified for Meldreth were winter lambs, trade cattle, hogget grazing, hogget lambing and dairy heifer grazing. Cattle controlling quality at times during the year will allow the lambs to do better and be finished more quickly.

Cattle fit the Meldreth feed curve well and have less risk than other opportunities.
Increasing the cattle to sheep ratio will ease the exposure to the lamb market.

In September 2006 it was decided that Meldreth would move to a high performance cull-for-age ewe purchase policy plus dairy heifer grazing. The 69 heifers were sourced and arrived in December. 400 Border-Romneys came in late December and 400 Coopworth-composite in mid-January. They will be mated to terminal sires – Poll Dorsets and Suffolks. The lowland farm still on 1000 trade lambs for finishing this season, however this will be phased out over the medium term.

Awarima will continue doing what it has always done as a breeding unit, but its older ewes will be sold annual draft, rather than go on to Meldreth. Lambs may go to Meldreth for finishing if the season allows. This has been a particularly good season and Meldreth is able to cope with its own stock, new dairy heifers, Awarima lambs and some trade lambs.

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