Earnscleugh Station - property details - Stud Merino and Cattle Breeders

Property Details

AREA
21,000 hectares or 52,500 acres.
Of that:    450 ha is irrigated.
             7500 ha aerial oversown or direct drilled.
               100 ha dryland arable pastures in lucerne or grasses.
The balance:
               Under 700 metres; native grasses and annuals.
                700 to 1200 metres: native grasses and silver tussock.
                Above 1200 metres; Snow grass, blue tussock, and alpine herbfield.

ALTITUDE
170 metres to 1850 metres.

CLIMATE.
A Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cold dry winters.
300 mm rainfall at the bottom and 1200 mm on the tops.

Earnscleugh Station Business Vision

To breed top producing stock which meet specialist niche markets while farming in an environmentally sustainable manner and to provide a satisfactory return on capital.

Earnscleugh Station Stock Objectives

To produce stock which are recognised to be in the top 10% of their class.
To have sustainable stock health practices which allow for minimum animal health inputs via stock being bred and managed for natural immunity to key animal health constraints.
To develop/explore opportunities for new niche markets.

Earnscleugh Station Other Objectives

To at all times consider rabbit control to be the top priority in all management decisions.
To have low wintering costs and avoid costly machinery inputs.
To further develop areas which provide a satisfactory return on investment and which do not compromise the objectives of minimum wintering costs and managing the land in a sustainable manner.
To look for alternative land uses that are compatible with existing land uses, management systems, and climatic limitations.

STOCK NUMBERS

SHEEP
Stud Ewes              1700
Superfine Ewes       7950
Ultrafine Ewes        4850
Hoggets                 7650
Wethers                  4850
Rams                       160
TOTAL      27160

CATTLE
Stud Cows               525
2 year heifers            140
1 year heifers            155
1 year bulls               170
Sires                           16
TOTAL          1006

SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT POLICIES.

Sunny and dark aspects fenced to stop sunny faces being over grazed.
Dry arid country either not grazed or lightly grazed during spring growth period to allow grasses to seed and to build up soil organic matter.
High altitude country monitored and enclosures erected to measure the effects of grazing and adjust stock numbers if necessary.
Photo points established on low and mid altitude country to observe changes in cover over time.
Block records retained on computer with stocking rates and movements, animal remedies, fertiliser, weed and pest control and rainfall recorded.