Market brighter for non-dairy farms

The rolling hills of Dunloe, a 314ha Patoka-Dartmoor beef finishing farm which sold at auction last week for $4 million

A 314ha farm near Patoka sold for $4 million at auction recently, heightening market confidence in the Hawke's Bay rural market as other parts of the country start to feel the effects of the dairy price downturn.

Dunloe Farm is a beef-finishing unit and was the fifth farm sold by new rural real estate operation Colliers Rural and Agribusiness in the past two months, and went for $2 millon over its rateable valuation.

Colliers Rural and Agribusiness director Hadley Brown was pleased with the result, saying: "It was a very spirited auction, with the room full of qualified purchasers that had got themselves into a cash position."

Shearing legend David Fagan has retired from competition.

The property, including a four-bay implement shed, a four-stand woolshed and a homestead, was sold on behalf of long-term owners with a century of family history and was bought by near-neighbours, a Hawke's Bay farming family.

Quotable Value Napier valuer Bevan Pickett said "the general sentiment" of the rural market in Hawke's Bay this year had been positive.

Unseen calf nemesisCoccidiosis is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting calves in New Zealand.

It's also one of the most covert causes of slow growth, poor development and sometimes even death, because very few infections ever show clinical symptoms.

Recent research has shown how critical the first months of life are to the future productivity of a cow.

Transmission of coccidia occurs as a result of the ingestion of "eggs" (oocysts) from contaminated water, feed, bedding and pasture. Oocysts are extremely hardy and can survive in the environment, including calf pens, for long periods.

Clinical signs of coccidiosis are poor appetite and reduced feed intake, watery diarrhoea and blood and/or mucus in the faeces.

"Coccidiosis both pre- and post-weaning can dramatically reduce calves' ability to utilise feed effectively, resulting in poor weight gains and ultimately contributing to replacement heifer wastage," says Tim Horsbrugh, key account manager for Zoetis.

"The problem is 95 per cent of these infections result in no visible signs of illness, so farmers may not see 'sick' calves even though calves will not be growing as they should be."

There are options to manage the disease. For those rearing calves on a calf milk replacement (CMR), Horsbrugh says: "Select a CMR that has Deccox included, like Milligans Classic milk powder. CMRs containing Deccox will prevent coccidiosis during the pre-wean stage."

Milligans North Island regional manager Glen McKay says this spring it's even more economic to take this route.

Au revoir Shearing great David Fagan managed one last stand before departing the open championship scene last weekend - in France.

Fagan and son Jack reached the four-man final of the French Open Championship at Saissac dans l'Aude. It was won by Welsh shearer Ian Lloyd. Jack Fagan was second, French shearer Thimoleon Resneau third and David Fagan fourth.

David Fagan did, however, win the speed shear, in which he shore a lamb in 17.8 seconds, ahead of Resneau and son Jack.

Fagan had just completed a New Zealand team tour in Britain, culminating in a four-test series against Wales, with Hawke's Bay shearer Dion King.

New Zealand were beaten in the last test at the Corwen Shears, resulting in the series being drawn two-all, while Fagan was second in the Corwen Shears Open final, beaten by Welsh star Gareth Daniel.