Meet the Manawatū man who feeds exotic endangered animals

Zebras at Auckland Zoo eat hay supplied by Bruce Gordon Contracting. Photo supplied by Auckland Zoo

Manawatū agricultural contractor Mike Hancock is helping to feed some of the world's most stunning and endangered animals.

The 23-year-old is a joint operations manager for Bruce Gordon Contracting, north of Marton.

Earlier this year the company received a phone call from Auckland Zoo, almost 500 kilometres away.

The zoo was after a new supplier of hay and lucerne to feed its Asian elephants, zebras, rhinos, giraffes and nyalas.

"Typically we field calls from farmers or strawberry growers. Getting one from Auckland Zoo was very exciting," said Hancock, who's a member of Marton Young Farmers.

"Bruce Gordon had a chat with them and after a couple of phone calls and a few emails it was all go."

Marton Young Farmers member Mike Hancock. Photo / Supplied

Auckland Zoo is home to 135 species and more than 1400 animals.

Since April, on a bi-monthly basis, it's been delivering required quantities of feed sourced from Manawatū and Canterbury farms.

"We supply them with all their hay and lucerne for their elephants and ungulate species," said Mike.

"They chew through quite a bit, but they are great to deal with."

"We are really focused on the quality of our product," he said.

Auckland Zoo is home to some of the world's most endangered animals. Quality control and biosecurity is a top priority.

The deal isn't Bruce Gordon Contracting's first foray into the Auckland market.

The company supplies 54 truck and trailer loads of straw within a three-month period to strawberry growers and mushroom farms.

"We try to do three unit loads a week. We cart as much as we can ourselves, but we also use a local freight company to give us a hand," said Hancock.

"On a truck and trailer we can usually fit 750 conventional bales, 72-78 big square bales or 44-50 round bales."

Making hay and baleage is the "bread and butter" of Bruce Gordon Contracting.

The company produces between 6000-8000 round bales and 8000-12,000 square bales in a typical year.

Hancock started with the company as a casual driver and is in his second season as joint operations manager.

A young giraffe calf runs past hay at Auckland Zoo. Photo supplied by Auckland Zoo

"My role involves driving, speaking with clients, and sourcing work for our team of staff which can climb to 13 people during the peak."

"Bruce takes care of the majority of the admin, which is really good."

The NZ Young Farmers member has always had a passion for tractors and big machinery.

He got his learner licence and left school at 15, securing his first job on a sheep, beef and mixed cropping property near Marton.

"I bought a moped and rode that to and from work each day for six months until I got my restricted licence," he laughed.

Agricultural contracting has given Hancock the opportunity to travel.

He spent a season in Western Australia seeding crops.

"It was a real eye-opener. It was a great experience and excellent opportunity to learn how other farmers do things differently."

"Most of the paddocks over there are at least 200 hectares in size."

"It's massive compared to what we are used to here in New Zealand and it's all flat as well."

The sector is facing a shortage of drivers and Hancock is urging people to consider agricultural contracting as a career.

"It's a really cool sector to get into. It's a rewarding, attractive career choice and is a fantastic way to see different farms."

One of the most enjoyable parts of Hancock's job is working with local farmers who he describes as "really good buggers".

The company sends hay and baleage to farmers across the North Island, especially those in the Taranaki region and southern Hawke's Bay.