| 43 MEAT & WOOL » Kane Farm Kane Farms’ annual on-farm sale of fifty yearling bulls will be held in October. It will include thirty-five Westholm Polled Herefords and fifteen Angus bulls. Dairy beef market clear focus for stud Richard Loader Predominantly focused on the dairy beef industry, Kane Farms’ annual on-farm sale of fifty yearling bulls will be held in October and will include thirty-five of its semen tested virgin Westholm Polled Herefords and fifteen Angus bulls. The well-regarded West Otago Hereford stud was established in 1964 by Murray Kane, following his purchase of 20 registered polled Hereford cows. There have now been in excess of fifty on farm bull sales, with a selection of both Angus and Hereford yearlings on offer. “Our focus is on breeding really high quality stock,” says Peter Kane, who farms in partnership with his parents Robert and Mary-Ann, and brother and sister-in-law Luke and Nicole. “Some of our genetics come from overseas, but we have a big focus on New Zealand genetics to achieve a close linkage with New Zealand EBVs. We have a clear direction in what we’re breeding for, we know where we’re going and it’s very streamlined. Our target market is predominantly the dairy market, including yearling beef heifers. We’re trying to complement the dairy cow with beef eye muscle and external fats to result in a Friesian Hereford cross calf that’s highly sought after by finishers.” Located south of Tapanui, at the foot of the Blue Mountains and beside the Pomahaka River, the Kane family farm embraces 1000 hectares of flat to rolling county, with a 700 cow dairy herd the mainstay of the farming business. The farm’s own yearling Herefords bulls are put in with the yearling heifers straight after AI. “We semen test all our bulls in the springtime before the sale so that only fertile bulls are sold. At less than a year old testicle size is highly important. High fertility is critical for the yearling market. Every year we produce about forty-five Hereford yearling bulls, fit and able to breed, of which about ten are put over our own dairy heifers and stud cows. Our breeding focus now is achieving a lower birth weight calf with high growth rates and carcass traits like IMF and external fat. We also place a lot of emphasis on breeding for a quiet temperament.” With regular buyers from around the Otago/ Southland region attending the yearling sale every year the team at Kane Farms typically achieves total clearance, with all buyers going home satisfied with their selections. “We have a base of repeat clients who buy bulls every year, but we will see a good number of buyers every second year. They come one year and buy yearling bulls, which they use over their cows, put them in a paddock over the summer or winter, and use them again as two year olds, before sending them for processing. Then they come back the following year for fresh yearling bulls.” In addition to the Hereford and Angus Stud and the dairy operation, Peter and his family rear 160 dairy replacement and close on 400 dairy beef calves selling three quarters as yearlings and finishing the remaining quarter. While Robert and Mary-Anne remain active on the farm, Peter and Luke have day-to-day management of the dairy, beef and stud operations. Pleased to support Kane Farms Alan Macdonald Jack Perniskie Erin Howes Tim Walsh Caleb Macdonald For more information check out our website www.kelsokontracting.co.nz Or call/email us, Hamish: 0274 306 869 Office: 03 204 8112, office@kkcl.nz • Stabilising • Rock Crushing • Stump Grinding & Mulching • Reefinator • Earthmoving & Excavation • Wood Chipping
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