By Gerry Melican
Manager
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPERTY
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A truly picturesque holding, the Raihu Cattle Farm was established in 1960 in its current location behind St. Ignatius Secondary School. The initial labour in clearing the bush and the planting of the pastures was carried out by the school boys of that time.
It was seen as a project that could hold beef cattle which would assist in providing meat for the Aitape Diocese's 13 out-stations at that time, and later a training farm for local men/women in many areas of tropical agriculture, but mainly Livestock. Fr. Gerald Walsh OFM, was a pioneer Franciscan Missionary who planned and implemented the Raihu Cattle Farm's beginning including the Pastoral Centre with Fr. James O'Meara OFM, to the west boundary.
The Raihu Cattle Farm is situated approximately 6.5kms from Aitape township. It is established on 292.20 hectares of freehold mission lease. Another smaller holding of 10.967h.a is fenced on another location but also allocated for the Raihu Cattle Farm usage. So a total of 303.167 fenced hectares is currently under Aitape Diocesan mission lease and directly tied to the farms work. A total of 16 separate fenced paddocks are in existence within these two (2) properties with established pastures/ legumes in supply.
Water source is currently through a supply of streams and pools that exist in all paddocks. An artesian well, located centrally provides year round backup. This water source also has availabe, a water tower to gravity feed the main paddocks troughs through a polythene hose feeder line. The artesian supply is excellent.
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There are established stock yards and slaughtering pen on the property with a butchery shop fully supportive to accommodate the demands of meat. The neighbouring fenced property was originally set up in 1982 as a Weaner Holding and also has existing yards.
The herd consists of mainly Short Horn Brahman X Stock, with newly purchased sires from Trukai Industries in Erap, Morobe in July 2004. These genetically sired bulls will strongly increase the quantity of and types of animal on the ground. So the emphasis on breeding back to the Brahman lines enables the herd to be better suited to the surrounds and our needs here.
CATTLE
The total herd numbers as at 16/05/2005 is 180 herds including 82 - Breeding Dams 3yrs+; 26 - Maiden Heifers rising 2 yrs; 23 - Heifers rising 12 months+; 18 - Steers - 18 months+; 26 - Steers - calves; 4 - Adult - sire's and 1 - Yearling Bull.
Cattle appear to be in good condition and are yarded weekly for man handling treatment for mainly skin infections due to screen-fly. Stocks are weaned to the neighbouring holding when required, this property also houses stockyards and holding yards.
GOAT
There is also in existence at the smaller holding of 55 Breeding Goats which comprised of 24 - Breeding Nannies; 20 - Female Weaners; 9 - Castrates and 2 - Bucks.
These goats are well housed and are most adaptable to the harshest of environments. The particular breed was established as a possible avenue for breeding within the villages and a reliable protein source. As simple as they are to accomodate they easily amalgamate within the overall operations of the farm.
BROILER PROJECT
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The Broiler Project can accommodate 400 birds.
The project has commenced and has an excellent enclose to assist in rearing these meat birds to 8-9 weeks of age.
A generator/storage shed also is residing alongside to provide power for lighting as well as storage for stock-feed supplies.
FARM MACHINERY
1 x 1993 H275 Land Cruiser - operational
1 x 3930 Ford Tractor - fully functional
1 x 4,000 Ford Tractor - requiring repairs
Various Agricultural Implements.
The Raihu Cattle Farm is serviced by a main road which has a solid base, but requires repairs after particularly the wet-season. The roads also service property fences, except for paddocks 8 & 12. These access roads assist stock movements to Cattle Yards and Slaughter Pen.
There is an existing Teak Plantation on a small section of land roughly 2-3 h.a as you enter the property.
The prospects for advancing the property are only limited by the imagination. The demands for fresh beef, pork, chicken are endless in the region.
PIGERY POTENTIAL
Currently there is a piggery facility with newly established security enclosure. There are 5 farrow pens and free range area of roughly one hectare.
A water tanker has been located nearby at the broiler shed to feed both projects allowing good volume water to serve both projects.
FARM HOUSE & ASSOCIATED FACILITIES
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1 x Manager's House - Solar wired, built in 2003.
3 x Worker's House
1 x Worker's Compound
1 x Workshop facility with vehicle bays
1 x Machinery shed - implement shed
1 x Additional Poultry shed - 4 bays.
The picturesque property has much to offer an interested party whose forte is in the Livestock Agricultural Field.
The region is serviced by a shipping port thus providing incoming and outgoind demands.
The Raihu Cattle Farm is also currently the largest cattle holding within the entire province of Sandaun, Papua New Guinea. It has a truly unmatched history in providing quality beef as well as pork and chicken products to the local community and outling regions.
An opportunity not to be missed
Vision:
For this year and beyond I would hope and like to see that the Diocese seriously considers the need for the benefit of training people. That the Farm provides enough small animals for people to buy with their own money to take home and start up projects.
In this way our involvement's are measured or achieved. I am more convinced that people can develop small animal projects at their back yard at home if there is such source where they can obtain stock for themselves.
The coming year 2004, will be a year where the breeding dams and replacement heifers will be careful.
New sires introduced to implement new blood lines into the herds. Previous replacement bulls came from Wara Palpal, which always relieved their replacement sires from Raihu Farm.
So there is an essential need for new blood lines. The cattle yards/crush in particular is being rebuilt to enable demorning, castration, tagging and oral drenching to be carried out.
This cattle crush has not been in action for many many years! As such is an essential tool in manhandling the stock into a managable state.
The old rabbit enclosure is currently unhoused with the failed project which ran into various difficulties.
This rabbit enclosure is marked for a broiler operation with the current costing for both stockfeed and the freight off. Management is currently looking at an alternative source of supplier in JayaPura, Indonesia, as a more reliable and affordable alternative. Currently awaiting information from such source.
The piggery in the past 70s and 80s was a valuable money spinner for the farm, also currently and again for some years a number of pigs have been housed at the Raihu Farm.
This project likewise is marked for re-introducing. The demand for chicken, pork and beef is endless and a potential revenue currently untapped.
The setting up of a sound reliable water supply for the on-coming dry season will also be tackeled.
The water spring banis number will have a header tank and tower established to guarranttee a good supply feed to troughs around the farm banis. This location is and has always been the most constant and reliable location of water supply.
Much to do, with very little financial support. The potential of the Raihu Farm to be again a true pride and respected livestock/breeding holding, not only in the Aitape Diocese, but the whole of PNG is very real and totally achievable.