| 33 Argyle Station extends over 15,000ha Mixed Aged Ewes heading out the back after shearing. Sue Russell Jeremy and Sally Gunton live on South Island’s sprawling Argyle Station, home to the Umbrella Range Mountains and also to the Umbrella Range Angus stud. Traversing flat land, rolling and lower hills to steep, Argyle Station extends over some 15,000ha of land. Stock numbers today include 1,500 breeding cows, 13,000 ewes, 4,000 hinds and 1,200 velvetting stags and its this mix of animals that has enabled the couple to develop a commercially high quality offering of Angus bulls to the market each year, as Jeremy explains. “Our aim is to produce bulls that will produce high quality progeny, working in tough commercial situations. So we challenge our stud animals to cope with tough conditions. The cows need to produce a strong calf, rear it well and perform themselves,” Jeremy says. He and Sally took over the day to day running of the stud in 2009. The priority ever since has been to produce a moderately sized fertile cow herd that is early maturing with natural thickness, plenty of bone, have a soft skin with good underlying carcass values. “Spreading the genetic base was an early priority to achieve the breeding goals and it is now exciting to be using more of our own genetics to achieve these goals.” The Angus herd is treated second-class to the other stock classes at Argyle Station, for good reason. “The cattle are there to do a job. They are required to prepare pastures for other stock classes while also providing an income stream off feed values that other stock classes struggle to perform on. We keep them in large mobs and are continually taking the bottom out to improve the overall performance and capability of the herd.” When Rural South spoke with Jeremy early February it had been a busy time on the farm, with lambs nearing finishing, cattle and deer heading to slaughter and the main shearing just completed. “We’re currently selling through Alliance. While all cattle and deer are finished on farm, approximately 30% of the lamb go out store. Our aim is to see our stock mature to selling age as quickly as possible and presenting in good condition.” An emphasis is ensuring all the classes of stock are fed properly throughout the year. Each class has different feed needs depending on the season and its this rhythm, driven by feed needs that determines where the stock are situated on the station. “In the spring time sheep and stags are our highest priorities. Over the summer it becomes finishing stock, cows and calves and then in the autumn it is about finishing deer and sheep. In winter there are the sheep and young stock to grow out.” On the topic of changing climate patterns Jeremy is circumspect, saying weather patterns are MEAT & WOOL » Gunton Farms Ltd continually shifting from year to year, however generally he says winters seem to be kinder. Assisting Sally and Jeremy are six full-time staff, enjoying an environment that Jeremy describes as a ‘pretty good playground’ to work and live in. When it comes to assessing the quality of the Angus stud Jeremy says it takes extended periods to see performance ability in challenging conditions. “On low quality feed and enduring harsh conditions, over a few months you do begin to see which animals are maintaining form.” The annual R2 bull sale will be held on-farm come June 5th. “We’re intending on putting up around 45-50 bulls and only the best ones make the final cut for sale.” To be chosen, a bull must be out of a high performing pedigree that has proven itself within our stud, have great structure and carcass values and be of a body type that we believe suits our program. Each bull is fertility, BVD and MBovis tested and structurally assessed prior to sale selection.” Follow them on Facebook for any updates at Umbrella Range Angus. Gunton Farms Ltd 5th June 2025 - 2:30pm
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