24 | Simmentals meet demand for carcass quality Karen Phelps GLENSIDE SIMMENTALS 31stAnnual BULLSALE On-Farm &On-Line withBidr Thursday, 26thMay@2:00pm High-Performance Terminal Sires + New Black Maternal Simmental Bulls All polled, All quiet, All ready to go • Catalogues out soon Garry & Julene McCorkindale 027 242 6735 1842ManukaGorgeHwy (S.H.8), Waitahuna glenside@rivernet.co.nz www.glenside.co.nz There are great opportunities for Simmental to be used to help Kiwi farmers to capitalise on the market demand for carcass quality, say South Otago breeders, Garry and Julene McCorkindale of Glenside Simmentals. “Premiums have been increasing to the point of an additional $1 per kilogram over the schedule rate,” says Garry who is also treasurer of Simmental New Zealand. “So it can be quite significant.” It’s a marked shift for the breed in New Zealand, which has traditionally been focused on lean meat production, growth, calving ease and temperament. It’s meant breeders such as Garry have had to pivot and use different genetics to increase carcass traits such as marbling, back fats and eye muscle area. It’s seen Garry head to North America, where Simmental has been bred for maternal and carcass traits for many years resulting in a whole new line of Simmental genetics coming into New Zealand to meet market conditions. Garry is one of the few breeders in New Zealand working on a Simmental maternal breed capable of competing with, and complementing, Angus and Hereford. He’s kept this maternal breed black in his herd, using genetics for the USA favoured by feed lotters, to enable easy identification. “As with any new breed it will take some time to establish. We’ve been doing it for around eight years and only have 20 black cows in the stud. It’s steady as she goes because it’s a new thing for this market. We sell a couple of black bulls each year and they sell well and have been going to other studs interested in doing the same thing we are. ”Although it’s too early to see results yet in terms of genetic traits for commercial farmers MEAT & WOOL » Glenside Simmentals Garry says that Simmental is one of the largest beef producers in the world and overseas are heavily weighted towards marbling and fat cover. “Simmental is the most populous bos taurus beef breed in the world. They are bred in over 50 countries and in every country they have been bred to suit the local climate and market conditions. New Zealand farmers follow market signals well. Simmentals are one of the few terminal sires that have the options of pivoting quickly to the new market conditions for carcass quality.” Garry is the fifth generation to farm the family land at Waitahuna near Lawrence. The 750ha sheep and beef unit winters around 4800 Romdale ewes, 1500 hoggets and stud Glenside Simmentals, which comprises 100 cows. The stud was started by Garry and father Trevor in the mid 80s and they built it up from scratch. Garry says that at the time Simmentals were making quite an impact in the New Zealand beef industry and Garry and Trevor were impressed by the results of putting a Simmental terminal sire over their commercial Hereford/Angus cross cattle, which prompted them to start their stud. 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of the Simmental breed entering New Zealand so it seems fitting it’s also marking a sea change in terms of how the breed is used in this country. For those interested in getting their hands on Glenside Simmentals genetics, an on- farm sale is held in May each year and also via a hybrid Bidr auction. People can view the catalogue at www. glenside.co.nz “As with any new breed it will take some time to establish. We’ve been doing it for around eight years and only have 20 black cows in the stud. It’s steady as she goes because it’s a new thing for this market. We sell a couple of black bulls each year and they sell well and have been going to other studs interested in doing the same thing we are.” Here for your farm, your pets, your family. We are your Vet Club. We are your Vets. www.cluthavets.co.nz 24hr Emergency: 03 418 1280 Animal Health Centre CLUTHA V E T S CLUTHA V E T S For all your precision planting and balage & hay requirements in the South Otago and West Otago areas. Jamie Benington | 027 485 9206 or 03 485 9208 | jamesandsally@xtra.co.nz JB Contracting Stock manager Daniel Wark (left) and Garry Corkindale.
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