8 | RURAL PEOPLE » Torrisdale Murray Greys Bolshy bull behind stud’s start-up Barry Macdonald checks his Murray Grey Bulls. Torrisdale has two sales each year; bulls are offered in October and females in March. Russell Fredric Murray Grey cattle have nearly been part of Barry Macdonald’s DNA for several decades. The second generation owner of Torrisdale Murray Grey stud, has been breeding the cattle for more than 50 years. In hindsight, Barry has a bolshy bull to thank for the establishment of the stud. In the early 1970’s, Barry’s late father Lindsay, had an encounter with a usually docile Angus bull which had been used over the few dairy cows owned by Barry. The beast took exception to being loaded on a truck for his last ever journey and after the incident artificial insemination was considered. On the recommendation of a mercantile store manager, Lindsay subsequently chose a Murray Grey bull for that purpose, totally unconcerned about what the breed was as long as it didn’t attempt to kill him, Barry says. “We got our first crop of four or five Murray Grey cross calves the following year. That was our humble beginnings.” The Macdonald’s established a breeding-up programme based on graded Murray Grey and Angus cows. Through artificial insemination, Australian bloodlines were utilised, but progress in the early years was slow with more bull calves than heifers being born. By the early 1990’s cow numbers were sufficient to warrant the purchase of stud sires from leading local Murray Grey studs and by 2004 the 1000th registered Torrisdale Murray Grey calf was born. Barry’s farm covers 170 hectares in Central Southland with the stud operating under commercial conditions on 120ha, while 50ha is leased. The stud winters about 350 cattle comprising 160 breeding cows, 160 yearling bulls and heifers, plus herd sires and beef cattle. Torrisdale genetics are used across a wide variety of breeding programmes; Murray Grey studs, Murray Grey commercial and cross-bred herds and in the dairy industry. This means a variety of bulls and females are available, all meeting the commercial requirements of clients while maintaining the breeds’ attributes. Torrisdale has two sales each year; bulls are offered in October and females in March. These ‘hybrid’ sales are held both on-farm and online through bidr. “All cattle are fully performance recorded and in the lead up to the bull sale in October the bulls are carcass scanned, semen tested and have undergone all vaccination regimes. In the lead up to the female sale, all the young females are carcass scanned and pregnancy tested.” Murray Greys are great all round cattle with many desirable traits, Barry says. They are colour dominant which makes them easily identifiable in a herd. “They are easy doing, they have great maternal abilities, lower birth weight, moderate growth rates. Their great carcass quality is really where their forte is.” Confirming this assertion, Torrisdale has received two top awards and a second place in Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin competitions. Scanning shows evenness of fat cover, eye muscle area, intramuscular fat [IMF] and rib and rump properties. “If you have good IMF then hopefully that will indicate the taste and the tenderness of the product on the plate. It’s about presenting a quality product.” “They are easy doing, they have great maternal abilities ... Their great carcass quality is really where their forte is.” Hardegger Ag Ltd is a committed agricultural contracting business. We are based in the Isla Bank area with a focus on providing a quality service for our customers. The services we provide range from cultivation, baleage and the use of a 3km umbilical systemwith air compressor, stirrer and a positive attitude to spread your e luent. i a i i l l i i . i I l i i i li i . The services we provide range from l i i , l ili l i i , i i i i l . Contact Josh 027 236 2552 HardeggerAG Mobile: 021 362 766 Rabco Ag Ltd Tel: 03 225 8488 E-mail: admin@rabco.nz Web: www.rabbitt.co.nz Complete Silage, Baling, Cultivation, Effluent, Spraying & Excavator Contracting Service VETSOUTHARE PROUDTO SUPPORT TORRISDALE MURRAY GREYS BALCLUTHA | GORE | WINTON | INVERCARGILL | LUMSDEN | OTAUTAU | CLYDEVALE | TAPANUI 0800 VETSOUTH | vetsouth.co.nz
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