Family affair for stockmen

A stockman through and through, he tried to get an ‘inside job’ once, doing a pre-apprenticeship in fitting and turning, but soon figured out working indoors wasn’t for him.

Winikerei’s father Avon started working at the Affco stockyards in 1982 after he quit farming; his mate Leo Muru got him in there. Eighteen months later – May 17, 1984 – Mike started in the yards and he’s been there ever since, a steadfast hand to greet the cattle.

Today it’s still a family affair. Winikerei runs the yards, but says over the last decade he couldn’t have done it without the help of his sons. He’s a proud father to five boys, four of whom have followed in their father and grandfather’s footsteps at Affco.

Mikaere (32) is the leading hand on the nightshift; Akeka (30) works with his dad in the yards while Huirama (26) is in charge of stunning. Teina (28) left for Australia in 2007 after a three-year stint at Affco.

Youngest son Nicholas (10) hasn’t ruled out a job with dad in the future.

Responsible for unloading, recording, penning, cleaning, kill sheets and scanning, Winikerei takes a simple approach.

“If you’re not happy with your job you shouldn’t be there. Affco has been good to me and my boys. Look at me, I’m still here 33 years later. I’d like to think my attitude has rubbed off on my boys too.”

Horotiu plant manager Trevor Bennett says Winikerei is a man of his word: he does what he says he is going to do and does it well.

“He takes a huge amount of pride in his work, and is one of the most dedicated team members we have.”

Winikerei has seen a fair bit of change over the last three decades, including a decline in stock numbers and a rise in plant efficiency.

“Back then processing seemed to be spread more evenly throughout the year and there was no nightshift.

“About 1000 stock were processed on one chain each day. Now about 600 come in a day and we split them through two chains, then the nightshift does another 250,” he says.

About half the number of men work in the yards, which are about two thirds the size they were when Winikerei started.

“The smaller area makes it easier for us to manage, and it’s better for the animals too. They can get sore feet on the concrete so smaller yards mean less walking and moving about.”

Onsite vets do physical checks to ensure stock are healthy and suitable for processing, and a scanner records NAIT information as the cattle make their way into the yards.

“We’re reliant on our export markets, and people all over the world want to be able to trace the meat on their table right back to the farm it came from,” says Winikerei.

Gentle, calm and confident, with a whistle here and a call there, he has the stock moving through the yards with ease. His philosophy on stock handling?

“Treat them how you would want to be treated if you were one of them.”

His priority is making sure the stock are well looked after while in his care.

“Animal welfare is a big part of what we do, and our focus is on processing as quickly as possible.

“Sometimes it’s tough knowing what’s next for the stock. You get the odd tickle on your arm and turn around to find a dairy cow giving your arm a friendly lick. Some of them come in with names next to their NAIT numbers. You can tell they’ve been well cared for.”