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HistoryThe Hickman family has been at Taimate since 1905. They drew the original property when the Flaxbourne run was sub divided by government ballot. With acquisitions, the property has grown to approximately 550 Hectares/ 1350 Acres.
Jack and Tom Hickman founded the Taimate Angus Stud in 1956. The number of stud cattle has risen since then. With the recent addition of a neighbouring property, some two hundred plus cattle will soon be calving at Taimate, including yearling heifers.
The land and climateTaimate, comprising of 550 Hectares/ 1350 Acres. is an extremely dry costal property within a stones throw of the Lake Grassmere Saltworks. We specialize in dryland grass fed stud stock, with four sheep studs and the Angus Stud. We also run a commercial ewe flock.
There is no irrigation at Taimate. The animals must handle what the seasons give, with only grass and hay feeding. Most years from mid November until mid March the area is golden brown, hot and windswept, hence the Salt Lakes being just along the road.
To handle the climate the animals must be able to convert grass to meat quickly and hold condition throughout the tough long, dry months. We believe this is why the Taimate stock have been strongly regarded as excellent shifters to all parts of the country.
Approximately 60 hectares is planted in Lucerne and in 2006 eleven hectares of grapes were planted. The land is 25% flat, and 20% medium rolling with the balance hill.
Our annual rain fall is a meager 500ml (20 inches) but in the past decade we have been lucky if we have averaged 400ml (16 inches). The worst period of June 2002 until June 2003 saw only 200ml (8 inches) fall in an entire year!
Founding of the Taimate Angus StudJack and Tom Hickman founded the Taimate Stud on an extremely good stockman’s eye, based on constitution, reliability and survivability. Females MUST get in calf, no matter what the season, and produce an animal, bull or heifer, that shifts to all climates and situations.
Jack was never keen on North American bloodlines, and it was not until Ossie took over the management of the herd in the 1980’s that some North American bloodlines were introduced to a limited degree. The combination of the larger North American bloodlines over the more traditional N.Z. / Scottish females, has now given our herd larger framed cattle with thick set early finishing progeny.
Jack was admired for his stockmanship throughout the New Zealand Angus Society. He became president of New Zealand Angus and regularly produced show stoppers and sale toppers at National show and sale events.
Changes at Taimate over the yearsJack’s son Ossie took over the reins in the mid 1970’s. Over the years Ossie has introduced four sheep studs to the property. He has been widely regarded as one of the premium breeders of Coopworth rams, regularly topping ram fairs all over the country.
During his time Ossie has overseen the farm size at Taimate double. This is no mean feat when the period has been no doubt the hardest in history, with commodity prices seemingly always low, and with crippling ongoing droughts. Most of what Taimate has today can be attributed to Ossie’s stockmanship and fiscal skills.
Taimate todayToday Ossie’s fourth son Paul has taken over the day to day management of the farm and has largely been responsible for increasing numbers of stud cattle being run.
Ossie’s eldest son John also returned to the farm in 2006 to set up an eleven hectare vineyard. This has been a welcome addition to the farm. Although, as was discovered one Sunday morning, bulls and grapes cannot be grown in the same paddock!
Sixty hectares of Lucerne is currently being grown. It is a miracle plant in such a dry area. All commercial lambs are grown on Lucerne and sent directly to the works off mum. Some Lucerne hay and balege is made, then at the end of November most is shut up for seed production. The Lucerne seed is harvested in March/April. We aim to have up to one hundred hectares of Lucerne by 2012.
Unfortunately due to the decrease in sheep numbers, particularly in Marlborough, where approximately twenty thousand hectares of sheep country has converted to grapes, our two terminal sire sheep studs have been dispersed. It was an extremely difficult and gut wrenching decision, but progress must be made. A big positive is that we are now able to put more attention into the cattle stud. Our last summer for selling the terminal sire rams, Dorset Down and Poll Dorset will be summer 2009/2010.
Now with the fifth generation of family running around at Taimate, we are more than ever focused on the future. That is producing quality, consistent, reliable cattle for both ourselves and our clients.
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