Willsden Farm
Te Pirita
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 499,180kg milk solids or 1,631kgMS 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
471kgMS per cow
419ha
CPWL supply water
50 bail rotary shed
6 staff
Management Team
Liam Alley
Farm Manager
Mark Santos
Assistant Farm Manager
Terry Kilday
General Manager
Camden Group
Camden Group
Travis Gordon
Business Manager
Camden Group
Camden Group