Business Rural Autumn 2021

| 7 RURAL PEOPLE » Fossil Creek Angus a focus on profitability, genetic gain of the cows calve in the first two cycles. “This keeps calving nice and compact,” explains Jane. The Smiths says that the joint venture works well because the four shareholders have a complimen- tary set of skills. Jane completes the administration, finances and a lot of the marketing while Rose Sanderson does the breeding records and perfor- mance recording data collection. Neil has more than 40 years experience in pedigree stud breeding while Blair and Jane get all the physical work done including jumping over tussocks to tag and weigh more than 300 stud calves each spring. The calves are weaned in March and stay at Newhaven with the bull calves only moving to Ngapara after the annual bull sale, which is held on the Sandersons’ property in June. The Smiths say the stud has a strong and un- compromising focus on fertility, high growth rates, structural soundness and phenotype. “We also want bulls that will adjust and perform in the environment they are moved to and breed early maturing daughters with the ability to calve year after year,” says Blair. The Smiths and Sandersons prefer to focus more on value than price when it comes to selling their Angus bulls. “We tend to stay away from marketing to other studs or gaining headlines for high priced sales, which is when prices get out of control and it is unfair to commercial breeders. We like our clients to take home a bull that is well suited to their own individual herd requirements,” explains Jane who says this is also the reason why they provide Abacus Bio’s specific sub indexes alongside the standard industry EBVs. Fossil Creek Angus also guarantees their breed- ing herd is free of the cattle disease Mycoplasma Bovis. Last year the stud took up the opportunity to be involved in the voluntary whole herd test- ing regime as part of the National Beef Survey programme. “As a stud we believe this is a proactive move to ensure that our closed herd system is water-tight. It is essential we can guarantee to our clients and the wider beef industry that our herd is Mycoplasma Bovis free as we have always taken all biosecurity very seriously in both our beef and our sheep,” says Blair. “We love what we do and are proud of the fact that we breed Angus genetics in genuine com- mercial conditions that will shift well to anywhere throughout the country,” adds Jane. “Fossil Creek has a proven track record, and a strong focus on the future.” PROVEN • EF F I C I ENT • PERFORMANCE • 70 POWERFUL R2 BULL S FOSSIL CREEK ANGUS 21st Annual R2 on-farm Bull Sale THURSDAY TH JUNE @ PM - NGAPARA, NORTH OTAGO Neil and Rose Sanderson (03) 432 4093 neilandrose@fossilcreekangus.co.nz Blair and Jane Smith (027) 432 4154 newhavenfarms@netspeed.net.nz PHOTOS: Freshly weaned Fossil Creek stud calves (top) on the hill block. The herd is born and bred in tussock country. Stud cows have a long winter up in the hills of North Otago with spring growth not kicking off until late October. The ‘Fossil Creek Four’ after a big day in the hill block yards – Rose and Neil Sanderson and Jane and Blair Smith.