He did, at one stage, come close to changing the course of family history when he chose to study science at university with the ambition of becoming a research scientist. One study break, however, his parents threw a spanner in the works by asking him to look after the family farm while they were away on holiday. Colin never returned to university and his career as a dairy farmer began. Today Colin has three dairy farms, milking a thousand cows a day. The farm which is visited on our tour comprises 280 hectares (692 acres) and milks 600 cows, producing 14,000 litres every day. Colin and wife Tania moved to the farm they are currently on about 11 years ago, converting it from a sheep and beef farm to dairy. |
People laughed when they were told that the Anderton’s intended to farm dairy cows on their property. ‘You’re mad’, they said. ‘Dairy farming on the Kaimai – those cows won’t like the cold up there’. The Anderton’s have proved the locals wrong. With a bit of thought, a good amount of Kiwi ingenuity and lots of hard yakka, Colin and Tania have built large covered sheds to keep their herd warm and, as well as improving milk production, having their cows in sheds during winter ensures paddocks are protected from being trodden and pasture ruined. Colin’s approach is uncommon in New Zealand as most dairy cows live out in the fields year-round. The idea was an adaptation of the methods used in Europe to house animals during cold periods, and Colin’s cows are thriving. Join No. 8 Farm Tours on a visit to the Anderton’s farm – they are looking forward to saying gidday. |