34 | Diversity of farms, Waimara’s annual bull sale is held in May in conjunction with Stoneburn Herefords. Waimara Angus cow and calf. Russell Fredric East Otago Contracting Ltd R E L I A B L E G E A R , Q U A L I T Y J O B For grass work enquiries contact Robbie: 0274 332 093 For ground work enquiries contact Gerard 0274 049 965 MEAT & WOOL » Waimara Angus Waimara Angus Stud has built its herd on a balance of traits that produce a highly functional, easy finishing animals that are great all rounders. The stud is part of a 1200 hectare Otago family sheep and beef business owned and run by the Law and Pont families. The 1200 hectares comprises a 540ha coastal lease block at Waikouaiti, a 55ha bull unit at Palmerston and 600ha, dubbed Sugarloaf, on the Rock and Pillar Range at Middlemarch, which is an hour’s drive from the home farm at Waikouaiti. The farms support a total of 200 registered stud cattle and 4800 sheep. Chris and Kate Pont live on the Waikouaiti Farm which was originally leased by Kate’s parents, Tom and Sally Law, who have moved to the Palmerston farm. Tom and Sally’s eldest son Andrew and daughter-in-law Jayne live and work at North Range Station, Lumsden. They have been buying Waimara bulls since 2013 and have achieved several placings at the Otago Southland Beef Carcass Competition. The Law’s middle daughter Becky and her husband Gene Runga live and work in Dunedin and are available to help during busy periods. Chris says Sugarloaf was an affordable block to purchase and was ideal for the stud’s cows. “We’d been leasing our whole life and that was the first farm we bought. Tom has been leasing his whole life so that would be close to 65 years.” It comprises 200ha of flats, 200ha of rolling country and 200ha of tussock hill and is run at a low stocking rate to keep it as hands-off as possible. “We treat Sugarloaf as a run block to a certain extent. It’s a good block, it’s a really good mixture of everything you need. You couldn’t have asked for a better farm really.” The Waikouaiti farm, Tumai Station, boundaries the coast and is on rolling contour with steep gullies while Chris describes the Palmerston farm as easy paddock country on which 200 stud ram lambs and 75 Angus bulls are finished. Chris says the diversity of the farms and the varying climate they are subject to means they fit well together. “We’ve only had one season when they were dry at the same time. We are prone to drought here, we’ve just come out of two years of pretty hard going and Middlemarch is either a wee bit dry before or after. They don’t get drought at the same time on both blocks, that’s the best thing about it.” The farms support 170 registered Angus cows, 20 to 30 commercial cows which are under an embryo programme, and 50 R1 heifers. Artificial insemination has been used extensively and while the herd initially comprised about 80% American genetics Chris and Tom have chosen to revert to New Zealand bloodlines, but not excluding overseas genetics in pedigrees if they have a proven track record in New Zealand. “Waimara Angus has also stopped using sires that we have not personally inspected ourselves. “We trust in breeding cattle based on pedigree and family lines for performance and soundness. Balance is in the forefront of all of our decisions.” Although Chris and Tom use estimated breeding values to inform their choices, they are not heavily reliant on them and aim for structural soundness, good temperament and a well-balanced, fit hill country animal that can winter off its back when things get tough. Waimara’s annual bull sale will be held in May in conjunction with Stoneburn Herefords. “We’ve only had one season when they were dry at the same time. We are prone to drought here, we’ve just come out of two years of pretty hard going and Middlemarch is either a wee bit dry before or after. They don’t get drought at the same time on both blocks, that’s the best thing about it.” For all enquiries call Phil 027 434 7599 PHIL CLELAND SHEARING For all your Livestock cartage requirements give us a call. PO BOX 128, BALCLUTHA 9240 PHONE 03-417 8485 · PHONE 0200-101 333 · FAX 03-417 8488 PHONE (03) 444-4737 · RD3 Ranfurly 9397 TRANSPORT (HYDE) Hagan Spraying Spraying Broadacre Agricultural Spraying Wayne Hagan 027 413 1343 | Chelle Hagan 027 332 7773 Spraying Total Vegetation Spider Spraying
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