| 49 MEAT & WOOL » Blytheburn Farm The latest calving season went well. Quality Calves with strong attributes the key Bernadette Cooney Fast finishing calves with strong carcass attributes is a key commercial focus for North Canterbury’s Rockdale Charolais and Southdown stud at Blytheburn Farm - managed on the day to day by experienced stock manager William Inch. The 550-hectare operation has been running for six years, following years of successfully using Charolais bulls over its Angus base commercial herd. Blytheburn Farn has established itself as a quality supplier of bulls tailored for commercial beef and dairy farmers across Canterbury and the West Coast. Their herd of 160 cows, a quarter of which are Charolais, are mated naturally or artificially inseminated using premium New Zealand sourced genetics. Additionally, Angus heifers are mated to Hereford bulls, to optimise hybrid vigour and diversify genetic strengths within the herd. “We’re sticking with New Zealand genetics for now, but we’re always open to opportunities that align with our commercial objectives,” says Will. “The goal is simple—keep producing high-quality stock that perform well in real-world conditions.” “We’re seeing our Charolais cross calves proving their worth year after year,” says Will. “They’re fast-growing, well-muscled, with good temperament, ideal for both the dairy and beef finishing industries.” The latest calving season went well, and weaning is underway in early autumn. “The Charolais cross calves have grown really fast and they’re a really nice, fleshy calf, so we’re looking forward to seeing how they progress through.” The farm introduced a new own bull to their breeding schedule for the first time this year. “We’re pretty excited to see what the calves from him will be like and how commercially sound they will be,” says Will. As members of the New Zealand Charolais Association, Blytheburn Farm operates with a strong emphasis on performance evaluation, DNA testing all their calves and contributing to an Australasian wide breeder’s database. “First and foremost, our animals have to perform in a commercial environment,” says Will. “We test them rigorously to ensure they can handle real-world conditions before selecting on data.” The Charolais program focuses on optimising gestation length, birth weight, and finishing capabilities. This balance ensures calves are both easy to manage at birth and efficient in their growth to finishing weights. Alongside its Charolais stud, Blytheburn Farm operates a Southdown and South Dorset Down sheep stud. The Southdown rams are primarily bred for hogget mating, while the South Dorset Downs are used over mixed-age ewes. This combination provides versatile, high-yield genetics for commercial lamb producers. “Our lambing season has been strong, and we’re pleased with the ram lambs coming through,” says Will. “They’re scanning well, and we’ll be starting sales in the next couple of weeks.” The farm has also brought in 800 store lambs, capitalising on favourable growing conditions to finish them efficiently. Strong pasture and crop growth this season have ensured ample feed availability. Market conditions for beef and lamb are stronger, so looking ahead Blytheburn Farm’s primary goals include maximising calf and lamb production, refining breeding selections, and maintaining a focus on commercial viability. • LIVESTOCK CARTAGE • GENERAL FREIGHT • BULK & FERTILISER 99 Ward Rd, Cheviot 7310 03 319 8644 | 0276 776 787 P h . 0 2 1 2 5 1 7 7 4 2 Family orientated business, please ring Mike on: 021 251 7742 or 03 319 8778 | Email: morgan.shearing.ltd@gmail.com North Canterbury based, we supply top quality service experienced shearers and shed staff for fine wool and xbreds. As members of the New Zealand Charolais Association, Blytheburn Farm operates with a strong emphasis on performance evaluation, DNA testing all their calves and contributing to an Australasian wide breeder’s database.
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