Tom Burge – Oaremead Farm
Changing the farming system, increasing outputs whilst decreasing inputs and improving overall farm productivity. Precision Grazing recent interview with client Tom Burge covers just how they did that, discussing the challenges, solutions, outcomes and future goals. Read or Listen to the full interview on precisiongrazing.com/tom-burge
Excerpts from Precision’s Grazing Case Study Interview:
Standing 1400ft up on the hill watching 700 sheep run into new paddock, heads down grazing within minutes is an impressive sight. Knowing that the whole move took less than 15 minutes, including fence down, sheep through, water trough moved, fence up meaning Tom can and head for home to have the rest of the day free to get on with other jobs is even more impressive!
““When I first did it my neighbours thought I was crazy, but the most rewarding thing is now seeing them do it.“”
To make it easy to divide into 1ha paddocks. 3 wire permanent electric fencing, using Kiwitech Arrow Posts was erected down the middle of each field with a 25mm water pipe laid on the surface underneath the fence with quick release hydrants every 200m.
I tend to run 1ha paddocks, having the permanent infrastructure just makes it so much easier for myself. I was convinced straight away and knew we had to get more land into the paddock grazing system.
Starting with a mob of 250 ewes and moving them every 2-3 days he soon saw the benefits of the new grass growth growing behind them. Tom has kept to the 1ha paddocks but has increased the size of his mobs, post weaning he will run 700 ewes in a flock which are moved more frequently, leaving longer rest periods.
Kiwitech Arrow Posts making a 3 wire permanent electric fence to subdivide larger fields
As well as the permanent electic fencing Tom started with just two 300m 3 wire Kiwitech temporary fences, moving them leap frog style to create paddocks for the ewes. This did make the job harder, as fencing had to be moved every couple days but it proved they system would work with minimal investment. Tom soon bought more equipment and now has 14x 300m 3 wire kits. One day a week is set aside to set up the next weeks fences, this is done with Josh, their cattle stockman which means they both know the coming weeks moves, giving Tom the confidence to leave the farm knowing there is a plan in place.
Seeing the new grass shoots growing, improving the grass quality, achieving higher yields and seeing ‘new’ old grass species come back to these permanent leys has really opened Toms eyes.
