The Silverstream herd is run on two properties.
The Greenpark property which is 506ha was purchased in 2002. It was a rundown block that was covered in gorse and had no good pastures. Over the last 18 years the property has been well laned with good subdivison and is now almost entirely irrigated.
The Charolais cows were initially used to break in the ground but it’s now reached a point where it is a terrific block for growing young stock and finishing lambs and cattle. We have transformed the property with the use of irrigation, new shelter belts and
great drainage. Most of the property is sown with Fescue and Ryegrass. When the block was purchased all those years ago we also purchased a ‘Great Plains’ drill. This drill has planted over 13,000 acres.
The hill block sits only 4km from the boundary of the flat property. This block is 537ha and rises to 450 metres above sea level.
We purchased this block in 2011. The hill provides such great balance for our flat property. Once the flat block had reached a point where it was too good for running cows, the hill block became an essential part of our farming operation.
This block is our wintering block for the cows, and our ewes run here all year round. In recent times we have set oursleves up to calve our 340 cows at the hill block before they head back to the flat for mating. Once the calves are weaned the cows are sent back to the hill block which is where they stay until calving time in September. The cows run on our north facing slopes during the winter months where they fend for themselves.
The hill block was also run down when we purchased it. This property had no stock water system and we put in over 16km of fencing.
The stock are walked between the two properties when required. This usually takes a couple of hours from boundary to boundary.
An additional 42ha with a house was purchased in May 2022.