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Feeding Management
There are 12,000 acres of summer
grazing where the wethers are run for 91/2 months of the year before
being brought down to lower country for the June, July and August
period. After weaning in early February the ewes are also put on
the summer grazing until the beginning of May when they are brought
home for mating. All of the young stock are wintered on Swedes and
hay, ewes given a little hay prior to shearing to spell the lambing
blocks.
In total there are 5,000 acres of
oversown easy rolling country fenced into 12 blocks with 31 paddocks
in English grasses. All paddocks are sulphured every spring with
Sulphur Super.
Rabbit Control
Initially a killing programme with
strychnine got on top of the rabbits, seven rabbiters working on
the property in 1939. In the early 1970's removal of the natural
cover briar began in earnest. This combined with a continuing policy
of oversowing, topdressing, and stringent fencing followed by shooting
has resulted in present numbers being kept manageable and has improved
stock performance.
Irrigation
 With
the introduction of 250 hectares under sprinkler irrigation since
1985, stock carrying capacity has been increased, enabling calves
and lambs to be fattened (all surplus stock sold on the property)
and the assurance of winter feed.
Crutching
All sheep are crutched for the removal
of any stain or dags, and soxed to lessen any possible contamination
at shearing.
Length and strength testing
It has been proven over the past
eight seasons with a wide range of growing conditions experienced
that the sheep husbandry and feed management programme that has
been in place for many years a Stonehenge is well founded. No matter
what conditions prevail the good breeding and feeding ensure that
the micron and soundness is in no way affected. This is borne out
in the Length and Strength results.
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