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Hampton
Downs is a 360 Hectare property located on the eastern
bank of the Waikato River and is midway between
Auckland and Hamilton cities and just fifty minutes
from the airports of each.
It is of moderate hill to undulating topography,
but with some deeply incised gullies, and some river
flats.
Soil types vary and include river silts, peat flat,
volcanic ashes and decomposed residual soils.
The property ranges from 6 to 90 metres above sea
level and is exposed generally to a westerly to
south-westerly weather pattern, with occasional
sub-tropical cyclonic events coming from the north
east.
The area has an annual rainfall of 1350mm on average,
much of it through the winter. Summers can be very
dry. |
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Hampton
Downs
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The
property contains a protected 10 hectare stand of
indigenous native bush, one of the few remnant stands
of native bush in the lower Waikato. In 2000 access
was granted through the property for the Te Araroa
Walkway so that trampers could enjoy the three kilometre
river boundary. This section of the walkway is considered
the most picturesque of the Meremere to Rangiriri
trek, taking in the river and much of the lowland
bush.
A further 20 hectares has been planted in exotic
trees, in the form of shelter, shade, woodlots,
amenity trees and conservation plantings.
The property is still evolving as a productive unit
with more shelter and more shade being planted and
extensive pasture subdivision and pasture renovation
being undertaken.
The property runs about 250 breeding cows, 175 of
which are purebred registered Simmental, the balance
being of purebred and graded Aubrac and odds and
ends as may be used in embryo programmes.
The progeny of both herds are farmed through to
either sell as breeding seedstock, or they are finished
for slaughter.
The Simmental herd was first established in 1988
with the acquisition of a dozen in-calf cows, and
has expanded since with purchases from many herd
dispersals.
It is essentially a fulltime "Ma and Pa"
operation, with subcontractors being employed for
hay and silage making and for fertiliser application.
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The
"Pa" of the operation with Hampton
Downs Louie at the
Te Kauwhata Show.
Louie (our 2003 Beef Expo bull) was taken
out of the cows to be there. |
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The
"Ma" of the operation |
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we rope in the Whanau to help, daughter Daniela
with two year old polled Eldorado heifer with
a polled Paymaster heifer calf at foot |
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Daughter
Sarah with Partner, Pat, and granddaughter
Claudia. |
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