Productive Feed For Stonehenge
Stonehenge Station in the Maniototo basin, farmed by the Hore family for 100 years experiences extremes in temperatures, with an annual average rainfall of just 290mm to 360mm. Covering 7600 hectares, Stonehenge carries a Merino stud of 800 ewes, commercial Merino flock of 9600 ewes and 300 Hereford cows.
In such harsh conditions with a short growing season, Kaituna lucerne provides valuable supplementary and finishing feed, says Charlie Hore. Under K-line irrigation, Kaituna lucerne responds well to water. "It's very productive. We are very happy with it."
Four cuts of hay were made from a Kaituna lucerne paddock last year, with two cuts baled and the remainder made into wrapped baleage. "We find the hoggets do well on lucerne baleage in winter. In late summer, we put some of our late lambs onto it for finishing and it really pumps weight onto them.
"We are also adding lucerne to our permanent pasture mixes. It's something Styx Station (part of the Greenfield farming group) up the road have been doing with good results."
