Business Rural Autumn 2021

6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Fossil Creek Angus Joint venture with Fossil Creek Angus calves are mated and calved in genuine commercial conditions at 600 metres above sea level. Karen Phelps A n emphasis on profitability, both in the paddock and on the hook, means the Fossil Creek Angus team is incredibly focused on ensuring that all traits that add to the bottom line of clients’ beef herd returns are taken into account, not simple single ‘trendy traits’, say stud owners Blair and Jane Smith and Neil and Rose Sanderson. They say it is the impressive genetic gains in all profit-driving maternal traits that are rewarding Fossil Creek clients – calving outcomes, in-calf rates, weaner sales, weight gains and beef premiums. “Rome wasn’t built in a day and genetic progress in cattle needs to have a very clear focus due to the length of time it takes to see gains,” says Jane. “These are boosted through research and technology advances including the AI and embryo transplant programme that Fossil Creek operates alongside its condensed natural mating regime.” The Sanderson family established Fossil Creek Angus stud in North Canterbury in the late 1980s before moving to a similarly challenging climate at Ngapara, inland from Oamaru. In late 2014 the Sandersons approached the Smiths, who had been farming at Five Forks for seven years, about forming a joint venture. “They were impressed with our Newhaven Perendale sheep stud, our passion for genetics, run- ning a stud in a commercial environment and our skills at record keeping and performance record- ing,” says Blair. Forming a joint venture meant Neil and Rose could relinquish a lot of the physical work involved with cattle and focus mainly on the genetics. The venture also allowed the stud to grow and be moved to a high-altitude tussock block on the Smiths’ property at nearby Five Forks. “We all get on really well and are focused on achieving the best outcome for our clients,” says Blair. When the venture was formed, Fossil Creek had 200 cows but the stud has now almost doubled to 350 cows. The Smiths own a 70 per cent share- holding in the stud while the Sandersons own 30 per cent. Blair and Jane say that the stud Angus cows are a great match with their Perendales of which they farm 1000 commercial Perendale ewes, 1800 stud Perendale ewes, 900 replacement ewe hoggets and 550 ram hoggets. The 75 replacement heifers are also run on the tussock block. The Smiths’ Newhaven property is 1300ha. The Smiths first got involved with Angus cattle when they bought their hill block and an Angus- based breeding cow herd from Bruce and Fay McNab in 2008. “Bruce is a well-known cattle man and is still a mentor to us,” says Jane. While the Smiths and Sandersons operate a closed herd, with the exception of stud bull purchases, they AI a number of cows and carry out embryo transfers. They have a strict policy of put- ting bulls out for 45 days, which means 95 per cent “We love what we do and are proud of the fact that we breed Angus genetics in genuine commercial conditions that will shift well to anywhere throughout the country. Fossil Creek has a proven track record, and a strong focus on the future.” Harvie GreenWyatt is here to help you maintain and grow your agri business. Our rural business professionals understand the ups and downs of farming as we deliver the full spectrum of accounting business and planning disciplines. POSTS & POLES • OUTDOOR TIMBER FARM BUILDINGS • OUTDOOR FURNITURE WIRE, GATES & NETTING PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORTED NEWHAVEN FARM THROUGH THE GENERATIONS Give us a call on 0800 2 GOLDPINE Jump on to www.goldpine.co.nz Profile your farm with Business Rural