Business Rural Autumn 2021

38 | MEAT & WOOL » Taimate Angus Embryo work has been a major focus. “We take embryos out of our top cows and implant them in lesser cows. This means instead of my top cows having one calf a year each they could have 30-40 each. It really fast tracks genetic gain and clients have a much better group of animals to choose from. “We believe we are leading the charge in New Zealand with regards to the amount of embryo work we do. One hundred embryo calves were born in 2020 with the same coming in 2021.” He says that bull sales have continued to track exceptionally with the stud breaking all national records for sale average price in 2019 at just under $14,000. The stud also achieved an all time record price for a South Island bull selling a son of Taimate Lazarus for $85,000. Another son of Lazarus sold for $44,000 with an average price of $26,000 across nine of his sons sold that year. This year’s sale, due to be held on 21 June on farm, will see around 70 bulls offered for sale including progeny of Lazarus. The family farm, which has been run by the Hickmans for over 100 years, is owned by Paul and wife Nadine in partnership with his brother John and his wife Andrea. Paul and John’s parents retired to Blenheim after the earthquakes badly damaged their house, leaving Paul responsible for the day-to-day management of the farm and John predominantly takes charge of the farm’s 100ha of sauvignon blanc grapes, grown on contract for multiple companies. The 700ha farm is located on the east coast of the top of the South Island running along State Highway 1, five kilometres north of Ward, 40km south of Blenheim. The land is 25% flat, with the majority of the flats being in grapes, and 20% medium rolling with the balance hill country. Annual rainfall is a meagre 500 millilitres. The farm’s Angus stud winters around 700 cattle including 260 calving females. Around 260 weaner calves are run through winter and 70 two-year-old bulls are offered for sale each year. Paul says that Taimate Angus prefers to breed using New Zealand sires with careful use of overseas bloodlines ena- bling the stud to produce a traditional Angus bull - deep, thickset and well-muscled. All the cattle have to be naturally quiet and Taimate is widely regarded as having the quietest cattle around, he says. Despite getting rid of the ewes Paul will still buy in 2000-3000 lambs and run them from early au- tumn to late spring. It’s a flexible policy and weather dependent. “They are our release valve in a drought year – we either don’t buy them in or can drop them early if need be,” he says. With the next generation of Taimate kids now starting high school this has brought renewed impetus to the family business. “It is with them in the forefront of our minds that farming continues, sustainably and enjoyably with a passion for excellence.” “We believe we are leading the charge in New Zealand with regards to the amount of embryo work we do. One hundred embryo calves were born in 2020 with the same coming in 2021.” Embryo work a major focus for Marlborough breeders • from page 36 Taimate Angus stud achieved an all time record price for a South Island bull in 2019 selling a son of Taimate Lazarus (above) for $85,000. FARMLANDS BLENHEIM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT TAIMATE ANGUS STUD Farmlands Blenheim 15 Westwood Avenue, Springlands, (03) 579 3150 Blenheim.branch@farmlands.co.nz with the Farmlands Blenheim team today. FAR_098376