Three high-performing pasture farming families have won Halter free for a year.
The winners are Jon and Fiona Sherlock, sheep and beef farmers from Waingaro (Waikato), Shane and Bronya Wainwright, dairy farmers from Pareora (South Canterbury), and Cameron and Lizzy Te Brake, dairy farmers from Arohena (Waikato).
“We were blown away by the hundreds of applications from some top quality beef and dairy farmers eager to see how Halter could transform their operations,” Halter founder and CEO Craig Piggott said.
“We’re really excited to welcome these three families into their Halter journey. Ultimately, we chose them because of their innovative mindset and passion for embracing technology on their farms. We can’t wait to see how they will use our system to grow and harvest more grass, level up their reproduction outcomes, and have full oversight of their animals.”
The families will receive their collars and communication towers – valued at a total of about $300,000 – free of charge for 12 months.
The Sherlocks own Otorohaea, a 500-head, third generation 660 hectare steep to medium hill country sheep and beef farm that has been in the family since the 1940s.
“A key strategy we are implementing is to convert the better areas of our sheep country into beef cell grazing systems. By increasing our beef numbers relative to sheep, and implementing the tried and true technology of cell grazing on the hills, we will drive production and profit,” Jon Sherlock said.
The Te Brake family are in their fourth year of owning their 137ha 450-head dairy farm and 43ha support block.
“It’s hard to pinpoint which part of Halter we are most excited about. Cam’s really interested to see for himself the utilisation and pasture gains that he’s heard so much about,” Lizzy Te Brake said.
“The heat detection and animal health data, especially through the transition period and not having to do temporary electric fences daily, is going to be another extreme bonus.
I’m most excited about the time saved daily not sitting behind cows to and from the cowshed – especially on a cold, wet morning.”
The Wainwrights from Rosealan Farms are in their third year of farm ownership milking 580 cows on a 150ha dairy farm.
“I’m most excited about not having to get up every morning during mating to pick cows on heat before I do my AI run,” Shane Wainwright said.
“Having all my reels done without spending hours doing them will allow us to have more family time, and having Halter will be like having another set of eyes over the farm 24/7.”
