Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
In terms of summer work, one of the key jobs was getting a water supply installed for stock on the farm's hill blocks.
It's ended up costing about $40,000 but it's worth it, he says, as up until now cattle have been drinking from natural water sources.
"We don't want them to be traipsing round in creeks and springs, so we devised this water system with PGG Wrightson in Rangiora and it's a big job, but we're nearly done."
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
When Cosmo was there Alistair jumped into a holding race with several stocky calves.
Many more are waiting in grassy pens that feed into the race.
Outside the enclosure, a mob of cattle chew and moo as they wait for their offspring to re-appear.
First, the calves need ear-tagging and for the boys, castrating. He does this with a rubber ring.
"You want to make sure you get both of the testicles in the ring, otherwise it's what they call a rig" he says.
"It means you're not steering them properly and they can still be fertile."
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Alistair's wife Genna prefers to stay on the platform above the race, than be in amongst the 140 kilo juveniles.
"I normally help but if you're standing behind a gate and they push on it they can crush you!"
The boisterous calves also get a vitimin bootser before being weighed and scanned with a wand.
"We aim for about 250 kilos at weaning so they've got about 100 to go" he says.
That's a lot of grass!
Here is a link to Alistair's Kiwi Farmer NZ YouTube channel.
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
