| 13 Tararua South Devon stud breeders Mark, Di and Anthony Eagle are looking forward to hosting their 11th on-farm bull sale on the 23rd of May, when 20 R2 bulls will be offered to discerning buyers from around the country. Mark says the top bulls will reach 900 kilograms with all bulls providing the buyers with the advantage of being polled. “The South Devon breed has always been a horned and polled breed but we’ve put a real emphasis on animal welfare and focused on polled animals in our breeding programme, with DNA testing to prove homozygous polling.” Having used South Devon bulls, along with a mix of other bulls over their beef cows for a number of years, Mark was impressed by the nature and quietness of the progeny and established the Kaimoa South Devons stud in 2006. “A lot of people don’t realize that the South Devon is an English breed and not an exotic breed. At sales you often see South Devons put in with exotics. A South Devon can be used as a maternal or a terminal sire, where as most exotics are used because they are a terminal breed. In saying that, a South Devon over an Angus is a great cross because you will get better temperament and better size. We breed for carcass quality.” In addition to the bulls selected to take pride of place in the bullring, another forty or so will be nished at 15/18 months and sold to the works. “That means we haven’t got a whole lot of heavy cattle on farm over the winter. The surplus heifers are added to our commercial herd on another farm in Eketahuna. We also run between seven hundred to a thousand Romney-Texel ewes. All progeny are nished on farm.” Growing up on a dairy farm, Mark milked cows for 34 years before making the switch to beef and sheep. “I had more than done my apprenticeship milking cows. For longevity in farming, I think you can’t always continue to do one thing. It gets hard on the body when you’re milking every day. When I gave up milking dairy cows I still wanted to farm and that’s when we bought this farm ten years ago.” The 230-hectare farm that is home to the Kaimoa South Devons stud is 11 kilometres out of Pahiatua, along Mangaone Valley Road. “There’s a little bit of at and a little bit of steep country but the majority of it is rolling country and Breeding quality cattle a farm focus Kaimoa South Devon Stud was established in 2006. Breeders Mark, Di and Anthony Eagle are holding their 11th on-farm bull sale on May 23. Inset: Mark and Anthony Eagle with Mark’s grandaughter Evie. Richard Loader RURAL PEOPLE » Kaimoa South Devons Transport Ltd 4 Short Road, Pahiatua • Phone: 06 376 8128 • Fax: 06 376 6644 Dean’s Mobile: 027 444 7413 • Email: fitsy.trans@xtra.co.nz We are proud to work with Kaimoa South Devons part of a larger farming operation that is owned by myself, my wife Di and our son Anthony.” Re ecting on his farming life Mark says he has always enjoyed working with cattle, breeding good cattle and striving to take the whole operation forward. “Over a fourteen year timeframe I have run thirteen marathons competitively, primarily in Rotorua. Those marathons test you physically and you certainly learn a lot about your self mentally. Marathons are a bit like farming in that you are in it for the long haul.” KAIMOA SOUTH DEVONS ANNUAL BULL SALE 2022 Improve your herd and choose from 20 lots of exceptional, meaty, well-rounded bulls, in a sale that’s not to be missed. MONDAY MAY 23, 2022 V I EWING 11AM ONWARDS SALE STARTS 1. 30PM 1775 Mangaone Valley Road, R.D.4, Eketahuna Bid live online via CONTACT FOR MORE DETAILS: MARK EAGLE: 027 434 7152 OR 06 376 8256 ANTHONY EAGLE: 027 440 8356
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