Country Life

Ravenswood Stud has a long history breeding the hardy English Leicester whose long curly wool has been likened to Bob Marley's dreadlocks. Fiona and John Robinson are continuing the tradition, finding a niche market for their flock's lustrous wool.

Calving's been keeping farmers busy over a mostly dull, wet and chilly week weather-wise as hares and rabbits pester growers around Pukekohe.

This week Country Life is in Hawkes Bay with New Zealand's largest herd of South African angora goats, discovering how the effects of drought continue to ripple on, and meeting a couple who've carried on a 130 year tradition breeding sheep also famous for their lustrous fleece.

Wilencote Polled Herefords introduced the hornless Hereford breed to New Zealand back in the 1920s and the Humphreys family still runs the stud today, with the fifth generation waiting in the wings. On a rainy day last month the stud celebrated its 100th birthday and farmers, friends, neighbours, stock agents and would-be buyers gathered in the family's bull yards to help them blow out the candles.

Maurice and Jenni Butler have just sold their precious Friesian herd. For the past 50 years Maurice has bred some of the top milk producing cows in the country. At 74 it is time to head in a new direction, but it's a very sad time saying goodbye to friends ... because that is what his cows are.

Te Mata Figs' Murray Douglas and Helen Walker were left with piles of fig waste once they'd made their fig molasses. The waste was initially given to cows as a feed but knowing its nutritional value they've found other uses for it.

Calving's started as winter arrives in the far north and stock are tucking in to winter crops around Canterbury

We're celebrating 100 years with Wilencote Polled Herefords near Gisborne, checking out new developments at Te Mata Figs, saying farewell to a dearly loved herd of Friesian cows and taking our usual look at farming conditions around the country.

Banks Peninsula horticulturist Cornelia Holten established the KoruKai Herb Farm at Pigeon Bay with support from her husband Kai in 2013. She grows about 80 varieties of herbs - 40 of which she uses to make herbal remedies, skin care and teas.

Whitford dairy farmer Donald Pearson bequeathed his dairy farm and all its cows to New Zealand Young Farmers. There are plans to build an education centre on the farm so that children from nearby Auckland can be introduced to agriculture and the career opportunities it offers.