'Pioneer' keen to push boundaries
When Gerald Hargreaves took over Kakahu from his father more than 40 years ago, he knew he wanted to change things. Kakahu was then 400ha of traditionally run country, with Romney sheep and a herd of 80 angus stud cows.
Hargreaves claims to have been something of a pioneer in those days. He was the first in New Zealand to use Gallagher's Insultimber, and his property became an experimental farm for Gallagher International. He went to eastern Australia in 1986 to lecture on intensive rotational grazing using the Gallagher electric fence system. A reasonably new concept then, it was a method of cutting back the need for winter-feed crops and of maximising the use of grass.
Gerald and Sue Hargreaves now run 5000 kelso composite ewes, and lamb 1800 hoggets on 1380ha. They have 350 stud angus cattle on the home property, and a further 100 at Clayton Station, near Fairlie.
They grow cereal crops on one of their new blocks, and they are developing irrigation with a techno-system in mind to create an intensive fattening system for steers and lambs.
He says Kakahu's angus stud has built a reputation for hardiness, longevity and fertility in its cattle. There was a clearance of all 83 bulls, with a top price of $36,000 at this year's on-farm sale.
