| 29 Commercially viable bulls stud’s focus Kincardine Angus bulls are “thick set, deep bodied, with as much muscle as we can get on them,” says owner Mike Smith. Sue Russell MEAT & WOOL » Kincardine Angus Hardiness is also important, given the stud’s location where temperatures can get rather extreme with cold harsh winters to hot dry summers. New Zealand’s bull-selling season is through May and June and Kincardine stud is one of the earlier sales. Mike says that, backed up with rigorous testing and data, he has every confidence in the bull presented for sale. Outside bloodlines are also introduced through AI programmes to add specific genetic traits to the resulting progeny and the stud carries its own bulls for mating; those proven to be worth their metal. Similarly, if a cow produces an under-performing calf, she will get the cut from the herd. Calves are weighed at the critical ages 200, 400 and 600 days. At the 400 days weigh in both heifers and bulls undergo an ultra-sound scan that enables us to measure eye muscle area, rib and rump fat scores and also determining the level of intramuscular fat in the animal’s carcase. Asked what sets Angus apart from other breeds Mike says what it comes down to is Angus cattle are reliable, resilient, efficient, and adaptable – all the attributes you might want in a balanced breeding system. Angus is a breed with a high maternal focus, fast-maturing and offering consistent-quality carcass characteristics. Proven strengths include excellence in fertility, hardiness, foraging ability and grass conversion efficiency. All this, while the end result is the pleasure of the finest steak at the restaurant. This year’s sale is scheduled for 25th May. When not working on the farm, Mike is also involved with governance, as a member of the Angus NZ Board. “I really enjoy getting around the table and discussing with team the challenges and opportunities facing the breed.” Gemma and Mike also own and operate three childcare centres in the Queenstown area and though this may seem quite a disconnected activity from stud life, in fact the farm provides the older children with an opportunity to visit and experience the real happenings on a real farm. “They come out and participate in tasks on farm. It’s a great thing to be able to give these children this opportunity and I really enjoy those visits, it’s the ultimate young farmer experience” Mike Smith, from Kincardine Angus stud, situated in what must be one of the most beautiful areas to farm in New Zealand, near Lake Hayes, Central Otago, says that the hard work and foresight of parents Alistair and Di Smith, provided the opportunity for he and wife Gemma to take over the stud, first established in 1969. Alistair’s perfectionist approach to an animal’s structure and eye for detail that go into establishing the cow herd laid the foundation for the stud to thrive in those early days and garner a fine reputation for sound dependable cattle. Bulls were sold all over the South Island and to Australia. “We are very thankful to be in the position to carry on and develop the stud from those beginnings. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to lead the stud forward after the initial foundations of my parents,” Mike says. Kincardine’s breeding programme is focussed on producing commercially viable bulls, ready, willing, and able to service the stud’s commercial farming clients cows. Underpinning this is a herd of top performing cows who exemplify exceptional fertility, soundness, longevity, performance, and temperament. It is these traits that are the performance fundamentals for bulls born and raised on the farm. The farm is 90ha’s and home to the stud cows, heifers, sale bulls and 300 crossbred ewes. When calves are born in September they are weighed and tagged. A DNA sample is also taken to verify both the sire and dam and provide accurate EBV’s (estimated breeding values). “With each animal that we sell we have a series of breeding values that are apportioned. We have a particular style of animal; thick set, deep bodied with as much muscle as we can get on them because muscle equals meat and weight.” Looking at durability, leg structure and the way the cattle walk, is a critical factor in bull selection. “If they can’t walk up and around hills then they are not fit for purpose. Our standards are set very high because we must be certain they will perform on duty in commercial farm situations and in a range of terrains.” And when the expectation is that bulls, once sold, will perform admirably for several seasons, mating cows on hill country, the doability and durability in its genetic makeup is vital. CATTLE • SHEEP • DEER • GOATS
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