30 | Unique stud characteristics a focus at Tagging the 2021 commercial calves: Oscar, Tom, Guy and Anthony. Richard Loader WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU TRADE. 0800 RURALL (787 255) www.rurallivestock.co.nz Contact Paul Mavor 027 473 0100 or Anthony Cox 027 208 3071 to get the best outcome for your livestock trade or go to www.rurallivestock.co.nz Looking for stock? With over 40 agents throughout the South Island, Rural Livestock can help you source the stock you need. Talk to your local Rural Livestock agent and use our network to invest in the best. Finding that edge is key for any breeder of high quality stud animals and there is plenty of edge to love about the Gunton family’s Umbrella Range Angus stud, with thirty R2 bulls being prepared for the annual on-farm sale in May. Mark Gunton established the stud after purchasing the Merrydowns Angus herd of yearling heifers and cows in 2005, primarily to breed bulls to put over his commercial herd. Sprawling 15,300 hectares, Argyle Station encompasses the length of the Umbrella mountain range, where the stud is effectively run. As Argyle Angus had already been taken as a stud name, Umbrella Range Angus was a perfect alternative. Nestled near the old gold mining township of Waikaia, 40 minutes northwest of Gore, Argyle Station rises from 150m to 1500m above sea level, and encompasses 500 hectares of flat farmland leading to gentle rolling hills then steep high country. When Mark’s son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Sally, returned home in 2007, they started to grow and develop Umbrella Range Angus as a stud, producing bulls of a quality and type suitable to sell to other people as well as for their own use. “Over a long period of time we’ve incrementally moderated the size of the cows to better suit a hill country environment, and which requires slightly less maintenance over winter,” says Jeremy. “That’s been achieved by buying bulls of that moderate breed type. It has been an ongoing process, and you’re always tweaking it with new genetics. You definitely don’t want to make major change in one generation as that breeds inconsistency.” Since 2009 Jeremy has bought bulls from quality stud herds throughout the country, sourcing the best genetics to achieve his breeding goals. “We try not to go down one particular bloodline, otherwise you just follow that line, whereas we are passionate about developing our own unique stud characteristics,” says Sally. The couple’s breeding focus is an animal with fantastic temperament and great constitution, moderately framed, thick, easy doing cattle with strong carcass traits in respect to fat covers, IMF and yield. Jeremy adds that while most studs try to breed for similar traits and characteristics, from a cow genetic point of view Umbrella Range Angus cattle have survived, endured and performed in Argyle Station’s tough Southland commercial environment, and that provides the competitive edge. MEAT & WOOL » Umbrella Range Angus Stud proud to support Gunton Farms Ltd Aerial fertiliser spread MacKENZIE AVIATION Pilot Kent MacKenzie - 027 312 2824 P (03) 208 9193 M 0274 320 274 Tracmap GPS Guidance Performance & quality you can trust multi Award winning Proud to supply genetics to Argyle Station Since 1924 Waipounamu&Waimea ContractingLtd Waipounamu and Waimea Contracting specialise in all aspects of Haymaking, Baleage and Silage, Agricultural Services, Earthmoving & Drainage, General Cartage o ice@sansonag.co.nz 03 202 5737 A G R I C U L T U R A L , S I L A G E , B A L I N G & T O T A L F A R M S E R V I C E S
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