| 31 Umbrella Range MEAT & WOOL » Gunton Farms Photos: Cows and calves on the move. Stud sire N487; Finishing lambs on forage brassica with Umbrella Range in the background. “The cows endure 120 – 150 winter days on the farm. Easy doing means the animal can carry plenty of fat on its back so that when times get tough during winter she can maintain herself during that long period, without being skin and bone by the end of it. Our number one focus though is the cow herd and we have a maternal breeding policy for our stud.” That Jeremy and Sally are both deeply passionate about the stud and cattle in general really goes without saying. “It’s a born passion,” says Jeremy. “It is also the challenge of farming in a relatively tough environment and scale that adds a bit of spice to it.” Sally also grew up on a farm and, in between managing the couple’s young family, spends as much time as she can involved in farm business. The couple are both looking forward to hosting their on-farm bull sale on the 30th of May, and showcasing their latest offering of R2 bulls, many of whom have already been put to work as yearlings on the family’s commercial herd at Argyle Station. “We pride ourselves on the bulls that have great temperament, confirmation and constitution. They have been eye appraised by us, semen tested, structurally assessed, and they are from dam lines within our herd of proven ability. They are bulls that we believe will add maternal quality to the clients herd. As yearlings, a large number of the bulls on offer will have been put over our commercial heifers. They are just coming out of mating now and have to regain condition for the sale.” “We feel proud that the bulls can stand the test of time. It knocks them about but they have to get over that and bulk up to stack up against other studs.” Argyle Station is home to 55,000 stock units, 43% sheep, 26% cattle and 32% deer. “From a traditional store background we are aiming to be 100% breeding and finishing farm.” • Livestock • Bulk and General Cartage • Fert. Cartage & Spreading Riversdale & Balfour 2745 Waimea Highway, RIVERSDALE | Ph. 03 202 4044 We are a locally owned and operated company servicing and supporting the rural communities of the Waimea Valley and greater Northern Southland Area. andrews.transport@hwr.co.nz 30th May 2022 “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. That’s been achieved by buying bulls of that moderate breed type.”
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