Data tech transforms decisions in North Otago

With 14 staff and 32,000 stock units, Carey Pawson-Edwards doesn’t have time for clunky admin.

He needs his data in the right place at the right time to make fast, informed decisions.

That’s why the FarmIQ integration with his Gallagher weighing system works so well, giving him the confidence and control to manage his animals with greater insights than ever before.

Pawson-Edwards is stock manager for the 6,000 hectare Caberfeidh Station, part of Lone Star Farms in North Otago. The operation winters a mix of sheep and beef, finishing up to 31,000 lambs and 1,000 cattle a year.

It’s a huge responsibility but he thrives on it.

“Farming wasn’t where I started, but once I got the bug, I never looked back,” he says.
“Now I’ve got a great team around me, and we’re focused on making the best possible decisions for production and profitability.”

Lone Star Farms has set itself an ambitious goal: 70 per cent of its production going into premium, value-added markets like Lumina Lamb, Handpicked Cattle, and Angus Pure.

Achieving this requires more than just good stockmanship. It relies on traceability, accurate data, and the ability to demonstrate performance from paddock to plate.

“It’s not just about turning out an animal, you’ve got to have the data to back it up. EID tags, liveweights, condition scores—all of that information proves the integrity of our product and unlocks extra value.”

Before Gallagher’s FarmIQ integration, managing data across Caberfeidh Station was complex. Multiple systems meant duplication of effort and a lot of manual work.

“Now it couldn’t be easier,” Carey says.
“You log in, connect, and the integration is live. From that point, you don’t touch it again. Every weighing session uploads to Gallagher’s cloud-based Animal Performance software, and within five to ten minutes, it’s in FarmIQ. It all happens in the background.”

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With data flowing automatically into FarmIQ, Carey and his team can make faster, sharper decisions. Daily gains, average liveweights, condition scores, and treatment records are all at their fingertips.

“Timing is everything,” he says.
“If we weren’t forecasting and monitoring, we’d miss opportunities. This way, we know exactly when lambs need to go, or when cattle are ready to move. That has a massive impact on production and profitability.”

The integration also supports on-farm management. If weight gains stall, Carey can quickly identify the cause—from illness to lack of feed—and act.

“It backs up what we see in the paddock. If something doesn’t look right, the data helps us confirm it and take action straight away.”

The Gallagher–FarmIQ integration is just the beginning. Pawson-Edwards sees potential for even more connectedness across systems.

“We’re already talking about what comes next, whether it’s data flowing back into Gallagher Animal Performance, or linking in with other platforms. Every step that reduces duplication and brings data together adds value for us as farmers.”

For now, he’s simply pleased with how seamless the integration has been.

“From setup to daily use, it’s simple and it works. You can’t ask for more than that.”