('COUNTRY CALENDAR' THEME) - The best of New Zealand's rural heartland... (COWS MOO) - They're farming in the clouds of Canterbury hill country. - Whatever animal it is, you might as well have the best ones you possibly can. - That means producing a top line of Angus bulls. - One of the first times we met, you told me that you thought we would breed well together. (LAUGHS) - Yeah. And as it turns out, I think I was right. (DOG BARKS) Captions by Jason Conran. Edited by Tom Clarke. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2024 (HORSE WHINNIES) - We're gonna move some sheep up the hill a bit. I'm pretty excited just to get out there. It's a bit chilly this morning, though, but, no, it'll be good. - Sisters Harriet and Georgie Laing are on the payroll this morning at their parents' farm, Springvale Station. Harriet's studying ag science at Lincoln, and Georgie's still at school. - On three, OK? - BOTH: One, two, three. - Thanks. - Doesn't really get much better, I don't think. Awesome being able to help Dad and things like that, cos neither Georgie or I really have, like, a team of dogs or anything. But if we're on horses, we're a bit more mobile. - They'll often ride out across this Canterbury hill country that runs up from Little River on Banks Peninsula. - There's a few fights, but usually it's OK. We tend to get along. - It's only on the rare occasion we fight. (SHEEP BLEAT) - Springvale covers 1000ha and is the breeding block for the family's highly prized Angus cattle and sheep studs. (DOG BARKS) Andrew Laing started work early today. He's in the yards in the middle of the farm, sorting a mob of pregnant ewes for his daughters to push home. - We'll get these drafted up in these yards, and then the girls will hopefully turn up, and they can take a day's shearing down for tomorrow. - Oh yeah, sheep are ready to go. - So we've gotta take these through... but we might have to come up and get another mob. I don't know yet. Ewes look good, eh? - Yeah, they're looking really good. - The girls are brilliant. They're blimmin' handy to have around. That's two extra labour units. How'd you get on, you guys? - Good. - I want you to take that mob. They've gotta get right down to the poplar holding paddock. - OK. - So if I give you a hand, just to go across that face, and then just take them straight along and all the way home. - Mm, yep. - All right? Oh well, I'll go and let them go. You guys carry on. - Yep. (RELAXING MUSIC) - I'm extremely proud of, you know, how great little stockwomen they are. You know, they're very competent in all facets with the stock, really. (WHISTLES TO ANIMALS) You know that they'll get whatever mob to where it needs to go. Just give 'em a hand to get past this tricky bit around the corner. And then, once they're on the track, they'll just carry on, and that's homeward bound, really. Some of my dogs will work for them, but only when I'm not here, so that's a bit hopeless when I'm around. Hank! (WHISTLES) (DOG BARKS) - Being on the farm is something that I can do with Dad. - That'll do, Maise! That'll do, Maise. - Especially now that I'm growing up, we're forming a really, really close friendship, and we've got a very strong bond that gets stronger and stronger the more we're out farming together. - (WHISTLES SHARPLY) It's a forgiving farm. It's kind, it's warm. It gives you a good feel. It doesn't let you down. You're in your own world. You just tick along. There's no one round, and it's a piece of paradise. Go, go. You have to pinch yourself a wee bit. It's a unique property. Get over here. Get up. Get in there. - Andrew and wife Anna secured Springvale five years ago. - Right, you all good to go? - Yeah, sounds good. - It was the last piece of the puzzle to give them breeding land on the hills and a finishing block closer to town. - We had our first taste of the Banks Peninsula a number of years ago. And then we went away, and nothing ever compared to the Banks Peninsula. We'd already looked at this property. And when the opportunity arose to have a go at it, couldn't believe it. You can see all the way to Timaru, or you can see all the way to Kaikoura. You're sort of in your own little world when you're up here. - They've always had a clear view of where life would take them, a vision that began when they first started seeing each other. - Did the checklist, yeah ` tall, straight teeth, walked straight. He'll do. Andrew already had the Texels when we met, and I already had the Angus cattle. When people were talking about mating, you know, we were literally talking about mating. (LAUGHS) We understood each other, I guess, and we saw structural things the same, and had healthy discussions about what we did and didn't like, so, yeah. And that's always been the way. (GENTLE PIANO MUSIC) - They breed a style of Angus cattle that can survive the rigours of winter on this steep hill country. - This is the first time we've seen these cows since weaning. They've ticked along. They're in good order. They're happy to come in. Temperament's all fine. Maisie. Hank. That'll do, Hank. The ones that can survive in this are the ones that we want. The ones that can't, well, they're not much use to anyone, but they're definitely not any use to someone that wants to buy a bull from them. Woo, girls. Woo-woo-woo. - Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo. There's no way we could get a tractor up here or feed out or even grow any kind of green feed. We've gotta just manage them properly, and hopefully they will have enough constitution behind them so that they can carry themselves through the winter. - It's taken Andrew and Anna 20 years to build a reputation for resilience and temperament in their herd. And each year, their teamwork's put to the test as their young bulls are readied for sale. - There was a huge amount of nervousness. You don't really know what's gonna happen tomorrow. (WARM GUITAR MUSIC) - OK, boys. - At Irwell, near Leeston on the Canterbury Plains, the Laings are preparing their 2-year-old bulls at their finishing block. Weighing in at around 800 kilos, the bulls are getting a tidy-up ahead of tomorrow's sale. (BULL LOWS) - You wouldn't have dirty clothes in your shop and expect people to buy them. Just look nice so Dad can take pride in his work. - They're usually really well-behaved and quite calm, and they're just like big puppies, really. - Lot 13 is Harriet's pick of the bulls for the sale. But before he heads back to the paddock, there's one more job to be done. - Let's get up. Walk up. - These are good photos. - Yeah, that's a good photo. - Just wait there. Get that, Harriet. - For social media nowadays, a lot of people, they only share the good, and that's just not realistic. So you want wanna share a bit of everything so that people know that you're real. You're just real people. You're just real farmers. Like, Mum and Dad are just, you know, doing something they love. If you have a funny comment at the end or, like, make fun of Mum and Dad, it just makes them a bit more approachable. Should I call you George or Georgie? - Probably Georgie. (BOTH CHUCKLE) - 'Georgie's pick', exclamation mark. We're meant to post way more than what we do, but... - Wasn't it meant to be, like, a post a week? - Yeah. - But... - Dad wanted me to make a post a week, but... I've been a bit slack. Well, we've both being a bit slack. - Yeah. - That's a good photo. It'll always get checked through Mum and Dad. They get the final say. - Yeah, they're both perfectionists. - Oh yeah, they're perfectionists. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, definitely. Every little detail. (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC) - Staff constantly check on the bulls to make sure they're fit to be sold, and to ensure everything will run smoothly on sale day. - It's people's livelihood that's on the line here, so we do take a lot of pride in making sure we get it right. We do everything we possibly can to make sure these bulls are fit for purpose to go out into the world to make people money. Every bull needs to be tested and passed. Yeah, it's pretty much giving him his warrant of fitness, really, and make sure he's sound to go. (BULL LOWS) (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC CONTINUES) - By next morning, they're ready to welcome buyers, and Andrew's all set for the most important day on his farming calendar. - I'm not a person that's really out there in people's faces. I'd much prefer to sit back and watch, but it is one day that we actually need to stand up and, you know, be there and put your big boy pants on and get out and say, 'Yep, look, these are our bulls. This is what we're doing.' - While there was sort of no one pushing us on for the day-to-day, there was sort of no one holding us back as well, and I think that's... Yeah, we didn't have to answer to anyone. We look to each other ` 'What do you reckon? Let's go for it.' (CATTLE LOW) - We are extremely proud of what we've produced. I wouldn't change anything that we're doing. I still think we're very focused, very attention to detail. You've gotta have the right type ` and I like to see consistency in a line of bulls. - It's also a big day for Anna as she prepares to farewell their prized livestock. - My heart's racing, actually. (LAUGHS) A wee bit sad in some ways too, because, you know, we've been involved with them right from conception. Hopefully they go on and find great homes and do their job that a bull should do as well. - With buyers coming from Invercargill and as far away as North Island's East Coast, auctioneer John McKone's confident the catalogue will go well today. - Andrew and Anna have put a lot of time and effort into technology ` genetics with DNA they've introduced to their herd probably a bit earlier than some of his peers in the business. And that's the way of the future, I think. There's a` You know, it's all about collecting data, and these guys are right on the end of that curve. Times aren't the best for anybody at the moment. Things are a bit tight, but people still need bulls. (CATTLE LOW) - It's my job to bring them in as calmly as possible, because if they don't come in calm, accidents happen in the yards. They're all stirry in the pen and just want to show off their temperament a bit. Come on, boys. - Over the years, they've perfected the ins and outs of running sale day. There's one tradition that stands out from the rest ` the girls gather to give Andrew moral support. - It's a nice moment for Georgie and I to be there and support Mum and Dad, to be able to say well done to Mum and Dad in private. - It'll be what it'll be now. - Mm-hm. It'll be good, darling. You'll be fine. - I think the strength of family is what drives the whole thing, yeah, because we do everything as a family. You've got the tools in the toolbox, Dad. - Yeah. Cheers. Love you two. - Good luck, darling. OK. - All right. (AUCTIONEER SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) (SLIDE GUITAR MUSIC) - Welcome, folks, to Sudeley once again for the sale for Andrew, Anna ` and the girls, of course. We've got a very good crowd. in, ladies and gentlemen. As I say, I do thank you for that and your continued support of the programme here that is just thriving year on, year out. - The buyers are eager to bid on this year's offering from Sudeley Genetics, and it doesn't take long for the bidding to pick up pace. - 15 and a half. Buying at 15,500. All done. Thank you. 15-5. 25. - Harriet's top pick takes centre stage... - One of the feature bulls here today. He's is a Viking son who's breeding very, very well up and down, one of the better sons of Reality that we've seen. 10,000 on him? Save me a lot of breath. 20,000. 22. Come on, get on him. 25... - ...and these seasoned buyers from Gisborne are keen to take him home. - The bid's at 40,000. 40,000. 43. 43,000 once. Last call on him at 43,000. Done. All over. To Kahurau. Thank you very much, Penny, heading north. - Once again, the Laings have set the season's standard. Today's sale topped all others in the South Island and is among the top five in the country. - 12,000. Anybody else want him? - It is a bit sad, but I love it. You put so much effort in, and, yeah, it's great to see them go out, and that's what we breed them for. (SHIMMERING PIANO MUSIC) - With the sale over, the Laing family's back in familiar territory on Banks Peninsula. And by July, winter has well and truly set in. - We're at what we call the peak yards here, which is approximately 2500ft, um, and the top of the place is about 3000ft. We're right bang smack in the middle of the Banks Peninsula here. We sort of cop all the lovely southerly weather that blows straight up from Antarctica. In the summer, it's probably` you wouldn't get a better place to be, really. The ewes have, um, come through the first part of the winter really well, I would say. They're probably in better condition than I expected, considering the season. Hopefully they'll get a favourable spring, and the lambs might be worth something and wool might be worth something. So you have to be optimistic these days. 2-2. - After scanning the mixed-aged ewes up on the tops, it's down below to work with the Romdale ewes and get a first look at lambing numbers. - 2-2. There's a lot of really important data that will get collected today. - Both Andrew and Anna are strong on genetics, and they use DNA data to fully record the history of their prized breeding mobs. The studs are a mix of Romdale, Texel and Suftex sheep. - 2-1. We identify each individual sheep. They ran into the weigh crate. It tells us who she is, what she's having, when she's having it so we can sort of start building a picture. 2-1. - We've only scanned about 500, but we've had no empties, so that's positive. (DOG BARKS) - Ideally we want all the ewes to just have twins. We know what she had last year, so as soon as I scan that ewe, I can see what she's had. And, you know, a lot of the ewes that scanned triplets last year scan them again this year, and it's just what it was. (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC) - After the bone-chilling start to the day, everyone's up for a warm cuppa, including Dan Broughton, who travels the country with his mobile scanning operation. - It's a pretty tough` tough season. I would say 80% of your stud ewes are probably in the first cycle ` 10 days ` handful in the middle and handful on the bottom end in that third cycle. - Mm. - That's good. - That's it's not too bad considering the season, really, is it? - No, pretty good, yeah. Mid-70s, 174. - Yeah. We don't want to go any more than that. - With the scanning done, Andrew's catching up with locals who are trying to find out why the water quality is declining at Little River's Lake Forsyth. Culturally significant to Ngai Tahu, the lake is bordered by 100 farms. The local iwi and farmers have formed a catchment group, Wairewa Mahinga Kai, to track potential sources of contamination. - Might have to swing that gate next time, Andrew, when we come back. - (CHUCKLES) - Today they're testing on Andrew's farm. Scientist Courtney Bosse is studying water quality around the district. - So this is the guy. This is the spot. - After a few years' worth of data collection, we'll be able to figure out where we actually do the interventions so we can actually pull together and help them get funds to, you know, figure out what that is and help them mitigate that issue. - Yeah. That's great. Smart. - Robin Wybrow is from the Wairewa Runanga. He's full of praise at the way group members are working together to protect the lake and its surrounding waterways. - When our eponymous ancestor, Mako, settled in this area, he claimed it by saying inland, a pillow for his head; and at the shore, a rest for his feet. Now that was a reference to all the food in the area. - Andrew, we're just going to do the pH first. - Yep. - So it's 7.6. - Is that good? - It is pretty good. So that means it's neutral. - Ben Mason is the farmers voice on the catchment group. - Farmers get blamed for a lot of stuff and told they've done a lot of stuff wrong. So there's no... to me, there's no real hard evidence to say that they are. So the idea of the catchment group and what we're doing now with water testing is finding out if there are issues, and then the land owners can get support to cure them. - We're just doing E coli. - We look at the catchment in a very holistic way. The whenua is part of us. We see it as a living entity and so do these boys. You know, they've been here for generations. They want their kids to be` continue to be here, and I want them to continue being here, because they're prepared to work together with us. And perhaps, you know, given the size of the catchment ` I think it's about 25,000ha ` we've got an opportunity to do something special, a signpost for the rest of the country. The better the water quality, the increase of the mana of the whole community. (DOG BARKS, WHISTLING) - Andrew and Anna's vision for their farming career has never wavered. They know this property can sustain their family into the future. The farm gate will always be open for Harriet and Georgie to join them, but for now, they're content to nurture their own legacy on this land. - There's an opportunity if they ever wanted to, but I do believe that farming, you do have to have the passion. You've gotta live it, breathe it, and you've still gotta remember it might mean huge amounts to me, but it is only a piece of land, and you know, it'll still be here long after I've gone. Whoever gets to carry on farming it, if they've got that passion and appreciation for it, to look after it and carry on, I think that's great. - I would love to farm here with Georgie and do it together and keep what Mum and Dad have worked so hard to achieve, and we'd just have to, yeah, give it a go. But I think it would be awesome to do it together. - I think we could if we had, um, just... - Put some boundaries in place. (LAUGHS) - Yeah, just some rules, I'd say. But, yeah, I think one day ` maybe. - Home is home. I think we both know that you can always come back here and it'll always be here. - Next time ` - Catching the uncatchable ` that's become my speciality. Good girl. - John is a very good killer. - the trapper... - There you go. - Look at that. North Island brown kiwi. - ...and the teacher. - We've got these amazing facilities where they get hands-on. - 42. - I reckon a bit heavier. - That's next time on Hyundai Country Calendar.