Wednesday 4th November. An early start with a breakfast meeting with Hilton Collier, Agricultural consultant and a member of NAWAC (FAWC’s equivalent in NZ). Hilton works very closely with a number of dairy clients, and was able to give us a very clear picture of how the volatility in the global prices of milk products is affecting farm incomes, farm planning, and consequently in some cases cow welfare.
The sequence has been:
Stable milk pricing – low cost and balanced pastoral and climate based system – significant milk price increases – farmer reacts to the market and increases herd size, establishes dairy farms on marginal land, moves into higher input systems to achieve higher yields – what goes up usually in my experience comes down – lower milk prices - economic pressure on farming systems leading to cut in inputs, and an effort to return to the low cost and balanced pastoral and climate based system! Result; low farmer morale, surplus dairy cows on the market, dairy cow welfare compromised. This leads onto one of the questions in my study, should animal welfare be left to market forces?
This was followed by a steep and winding drive up to the peak of Te Mata mountain, (a more extreme version of Tro’r Gwcw!) an incredible vantage point with views to the north of the incredibly fertile Hawke’s Bay Region, with its vineyards and fruit growing farms, and the beaches of the east coast that are famous for their surfing. The adventurous can also para glide off the mountain. Our travelling companion Virginia, unfortunately knew of someone who had met an untimely end when the paraglider failed to function properly and the 399m decent to the floor of the valley below led to the inevitable…..after some careful consideration we kept our feet on the ground!
Virginia then took us to meet her brother Mark Williams, and his wife Vicky whose retirement home was on the edge of Manga Kuri Beach. (Black Dog Beach) Mark had been a recognised breeder of Perindale sheep in his day and explained how progeny and performance recording had been key management tools in New Zealand for the past twenty years. John’s son is a successful graphic designer, and had no desire to farm, and therefore the family business had been sold a few years previously, with Mark and Vicky moving a few miles down to the beach for what seems an idyllic retirement lifestyle. The day is made up of fishing, tending an awesome vegetable garden, walking the black Labrador and keeping the mind active by being a member of numerous committees and charitable trusts.
Next stop was the Silver Fern Farms processing plant at Takapau. We were met by Plant Manager Stu Cruden, whose son is seen as the possible successor to Dan Carter in the All Blacks rugby team. Cruden Junior was the player of the tournament at the World Under 20’s tournament last year, which was followed by thankfully a successful fight against testicular cancer. An incredible story of overcoming adversity and returning to peak form in the current season. Stu was a quality rugby player in the day’s of Shaw, Mexted, Mourie and Co!
Having got the rugby bit over which seems to be the topic of conversation at the beginning of every meeting, we were introduced to the plant. Established in 1981, the plant covers an area of 561 acres, annually processing two million sheep and 85000 bobby calves. Their key UK customers are Marks ans Spencer, Tesco, and Asda with the main drivers for their assurance schemes being driven by these companies.
I was impressed by the overview briefing and plant access that I was given, with permission to take photographs at all stages of production. Mike Perry, the technical compliance manager gave us a comprehensive tour of the slaughter line, followed by the slatted and covered lairage with a capacity of 10400 sheep, overseen by two NZFSA VA staff (Vets). The main differences I observed in contrast to UK plants was the spray washing and/or plunge dipping of all the lambs on arrival, and the presence of lambs having no form of identification.
Halal slaughter was practiced with the stun to stun procedure in place, with five Halal slaughtermen on site. Further processing was carried out on site with 95% of carcases exported in boned or cut form, either chilled or frozen. Mike was very excited about the imminent commissioning of a robotic primal cutting machine which would greatly increase the efficiency of the boning hall.
I left the plant with some key observations on animal identification, slaughter practice, lairage procedures and the influence of foreign retailers on NZ farm assurance practices.
The day was finished off with a dinner meeting with Professor David Mellor of Massey University. David is recognised as one of the most respected animal welfare scientists in the world and I was exhausted by the end of our four hour long discussion, but proud to receive an e mail from him next morning expressing his appreciation of our polite but no holds barred dialogue.
I am starting to suspect that the itinerary my New Zealand friends have put together is designed to wear me down slowly, and into quiet submission. We shall see……!!!!!
The sequence has been:
Stable milk pricing – low cost and balanced pastoral and climate based system – significant milk price increases – farmer reacts to the market and increases herd size, establishes dairy farms on marginal land, moves into higher input systems to achieve higher yields – what goes up usually in my experience comes down – lower milk prices - economic pressure on farming systems leading to cut in inputs, and an effort to return to the low cost and balanced pastoral and climate based system! Result; low farmer morale, surplus dairy cows on the market, dairy cow welfare compromised. This leads onto one of the questions in my study, should animal welfare be left to market forces?
This was followed by a steep and winding drive up to the peak of Te Mata mountain, (a more extreme version of Tro’r Gwcw!) an incredible vantage point with views to the north of the incredibly fertile Hawke’s Bay Region, with its vineyards and fruit growing farms, and the beaches of the east coast that are famous for their surfing. The adventurous can also para glide off the mountain. Our travelling companion Virginia, unfortunately knew of someone who had met an untimely end when the paraglider failed to function properly and the 399m decent to the floor of the valley below led to the inevitable…..after some careful consideration we kept our feet on the ground!
Virginia then took us to meet her brother Mark Williams, and his wife Vicky whose retirement home was on the edge of Manga Kuri Beach. (Black Dog Beach) Mark had been a recognised breeder of Perindale sheep in his day and explained how progeny and performance recording had been key management tools in New Zealand for the past twenty years. John’s son is a successful graphic designer, and had no desire to farm, and therefore the family business had been sold a few years previously, with Mark and Vicky moving a few miles down to the beach for what seems an idyllic retirement lifestyle. The day is made up of fishing, tending an awesome vegetable garden, walking the black Labrador and keeping the mind active by being a member of numerous committees and charitable trusts.
Next stop was the Silver Fern Farms processing plant at Takapau. We were met by Plant Manager Stu Cruden, whose son is seen as the possible successor to Dan Carter in the All Blacks rugby team. Cruden Junior was the player of the tournament at the World Under 20’s tournament last year, which was followed by thankfully a successful fight against testicular cancer. An incredible story of overcoming adversity and returning to peak form in the current season. Stu was a quality rugby player in the day’s of Shaw, Mexted, Mourie and Co!
Having got the rugby bit over which seems to be the topic of conversation at the beginning of every meeting, we were introduced to the plant. Established in 1981, the plant covers an area of 561 acres, annually processing two million sheep and 85000 bobby calves. Their key UK customers are Marks ans Spencer, Tesco, and Asda with the main drivers for their assurance schemes being driven by these companies.
I was impressed by the overview briefing and plant access that I was given, with permission to take photographs at all stages of production. Mike Perry, the technical compliance manager gave us a comprehensive tour of the slaughter line, followed by the slatted and covered lairage with a capacity of 10400 sheep, overseen by two NZFSA VA staff (Vets). The main differences I observed in contrast to UK plants was the spray washing and/or plunge dipping of all the lambs on arrival, and the presence of lambs having no form of identification.
Halal slaughter was practiced with the stun to stun procedure in place, with five Halal slaughtermen on site. Further processing was carried out on site with 95% of carcases exported in boned or cut form, either chilled or frozen. Mike was very excited about the imminent commissioning of a robotic primal cutting machine which would greatly increase the efficiency of the boning hall.
I left the plant with some key observations on animal identification, slaughter practice, lairage procedures and the influence of foreign retailers on NZ farm assurance practices.
The day was finished off with a dinner meeting with Professor David Mellor of Massey University. David is recognised as one of the most respected animal welfare scientists in the world and I was exhausted by the end of our four hour long discussion, but proud to receive an e mail from him next morning expressing his appreciation of our polite but no holds barred dialogue.
I am starting to suspect that the itinerary my New Zealand friends have put together is designed to wear me down slowly, and into quiet submission. We shall see……!!!!!
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