Te Pirita Enterprises is a contracting group of which Camden Group owns a portion. Their headquarters is situated on the northern end of Willsden Farm.
Services include:
Sharlands Road, Te Pirita
027 922 3843
Alto Holdings Ltd was set up in 2009 as a joint venture with Tony and Anna Wakelin. 50/50 sharemilking began in West Eyreton, with 1,050 cows on 340ha.
After 10 years of sharemilking, 2019 saw Camden Dairy Farms and Tony and Anna Wakelin co-purchase a 501ha dryland dairy farm in South Canterbury, renaming the company to Kohika Downs Ltd.
The property is self-contained with adjacent land leased for dairy support.
Kohika achieved their target of 420,722kgMS in their first season of 2019/20.
Back Line Road, Otaio
Established 2009
1,050 cows
401kgMS per cow
501ha
Dryland
80 bail rotary shed
6 staff
Highbury Farm was originally a dryland sheep farm.
Camden Group purchased the property in 2015 to run as the winter/silage support land for Chiswick, Prairie and Willsden farms.
An extra 80ha is also leased from Willsden Farm as the winter/silage support land for Camden Farm.
It was connected to the CPWL irrigation scheme in 2015 and the property was reconfigured to a dairy platform – removing 8km of mature pine shelter belts, relocating the house, garage and hay shed, installing new access lanes, installing irrigation and stockwater system and increasing base fertility.
The property is irrigated by 4 centre pivots for 222ha and set sprinklers in corners covering 25ha.
Sharlands Road, Te Pirita
Purchased 2015
Winter grazing
Support land
254ha
CPWL supply water
Burnham Farm was converted from a forestry block to pasture in 2005 and was operated as an irrigated sheep and beef finishing farm by the Selwyn Plantation Board.
Camden Group purchased the property in September 2010 to use as dairy grazing for Camden Group dry stock.
It has been redeveloped to dairy farm level by upgrading irrigation, stock water, fertility levels, re-pasturing and fencing.
The property is irrigated using three centre pivots for 270ha, 4 single span towable pivots covering 65ha and set sprinklers for 40ha.
The farm carries:
The farm also owns 160 carryover cows which are grazed and mated off-farm and sold to the Group farms if required.
Grange Road, Burnham
Purchased 2010
Dry stock grazing
388ha
CPWL supply water
3 staff
With the fourth season, production with 240ha effective is 400,553kg milk solids or 1,596kgMS per hectare.
Irrigation is delivered for 100ha by 515m centre pivot, 110ha by 3 rotorainers, 7ha using fixed sprinklers and 12ha is covered by the Prairie Farm pivot.
Sharlands Road, Te Pirita
Purchased 1999
930 cows
431gMS per cow
251ha
CPWL supply water
60 bail rotary shed
6 staff
Originally a traditional dryland sheep farm, Prairie Farm was purchased by Camden Group in November 2000.
Dairy conversion began straight away, with drilling of the first irrigation bore, removal of 5km of 8m pine hedges to allow for irrigation development. The whole farm was cultivated and re-sowed in new pasture in February 2001.
Milking began in August 2001 with 870 cows, and in 2005 expanded to 1,000 cows. Current production with 260ha effective is 435,739kg milk solids or 1,676 per hectare.
Irrigation is via 115ha by three rotorainers, 135ha by a 774 centre pivot, 12ha by a 315 wiper pivot, and fixed k-lines in two corners
Rakaia Terrace Road, Te Pirita
Established 2000
1,000 cows
436kgMS per cow
280ha
CPWL supply water
50 bail rotary shed
6 staff
Willsden Farm was purchased in November 1997, and an extra 120ha of neighbouring land was purchased in November 2000 to add to the farm.
It had been operating as a traditional dryland sheep farm before dairy conversion began in November 1998 with the drilling of the first irrigation bore and removal of 8km of 8m pine hedges to allow for irrigation development.
Milking began in August 1999 with 650 cows, and in 2001 this expanded to 1,050 cows. Current production with 306ha effective is 488,704kg milk solids or 1,597 per hectare.
125ha is irrigated by three rotorainers, 170ha by a 776m centre pivot, 80ha by a 620 wiper pivot, and 11ha by k-lines in two corners.
Currently 80ha of the 419ha property is leased to Highbury Farm as support land.
Ardlui Road, Te Pirita
Established 1997
1,050 cows
466kgMS per cow
419ha
CPWL supply water
50 bail rotary shed
6 staff
The 221ha Camden Farm was the first property purchased by the Group in February 1994, which had been operating as a traditional dry land beef farm.
Dairy conversion began as soon as the sale was completed. This involved upgrading the irrigation system, upgrading the stock water system, re-fencing and planting shelterbelts.
90ha is irrigated by 3 rotorainers, 180ha is irrigated by a 753m long centre pivot, 60ha by a 600m centre pivot, and 16ha by sprinklers in corners.
Milking began in August 1994 with 500 cows and was expanded to 700 cows by 1997. Current production with 214ha effective is 324,107kg milksolids or 1,467kgMS per hectare.
A new rotary shed replaced the 40-a-side herringbone shed for the 2020-2021 season, which – when combined with other development – meant the stock numbers could be increased.
Rakaia Selwyn Road, Bankside
Established 1994
800 cows
463kgMS per cow
221ha
Groundwater irrigation
54-bail rotary shed
5 staff