Our Farm
Te Aunui is a working sheep, cattle and mixed cropping farm. We carry a flock of ewes and breed lambs from them, as well as buying in mobs of lambs during the summer months to fatten through the winter.
Every spring we buy in between fifty and a hundred calves and rear them on milk powder. These calves are carried right through to two and a half years of age. Up until now we have reared mainly Hereford/Friesian crosses, but we’re now trying a new breed called Gelbvieh.
As part of our pasture renewal programme we also grow malting barley (for making beer and animal feed) and every year we grow brassica crops for feeding the stock.
During your stay you’re most welcome to join us as we work our way through the farm day, feeding calves or moving our stock around the farm. We can also do the ‘Farm Tour’, which comprises a quad bike ride around the farm, getting a close look at the sheep and cattle, and, in the winter, often feeding them. You’ll also have the chance to look through the wool shed and sheep yards, and see how they work. For many of our guests it’s the first time they’ve seen a sheep being shorn.
You’ll also get the chance to meet our working dogs, aka ‘The Team’.
- Fluke
Fluke, the matriarch, is starting to show her age now, but she has been the mainstay of the team and carried the bulk of the workload for many years. She's a huntaway (which means she barks at the stock, and chases them away from you). She's still the leader and keeps the other dogs in line.
- Gem
Gem is a heading dog. Her job is to run silently to the 'head' (front) of a mob and pull them toward you by staring them out. Gem has been bred to work on much larger farms than ours, and finds the smaller paddocks a constant source of frustration. Gem is a very happy and friendly dog.
- Herman
Herman is still a youngster, but he's already showing outstanding intuitive ability to read and react to situations. He has exceptional 'noise', which at times he's inclined to apply somewhat too liberally and enthusiastically! He is gradually gaining experience, and shows promise for great things ahead.
- Peg
Peg is an absolute clown. She's a good example of the 'beardy' type of huntaway bred in New Zealand. These dogs can work in the heat of the day without tiring, and work at long distances with minimum instruction. Peg will keep going all day as long as she has constant access to water for a good swim!
- Jimmy
Probably the first 'person' you meet will be Jimmy, our fox terrier. He's our little watch dog and he goes with Marg everywhere on the farm. As a rule we don't encourage him to work stock; his job is to make sure he knows where all the rabbits are!
