32 | Taking Clearview to the next level This year, with new yards on the farm, they are hoping to take Clearview, which they started in 2016, to the next level. Karen Phelps Holding the rst sale for Clearview Simmentals last year was a great achievement for Shane and Kylie McDonald. “I’d grown up with my parents holding sales for their ‘Snowline Ayrshire and Friesian’ stud so having our own sale for our stud was pretty special,” says Shane. “It was well attended with an average price of $2650 and a top price of $3100 for 12-14 month old service bulls. It will be great to see satis ed buyers returning each year.” This year, with new yards on the farm, they are hoping to take Clearview, which they started in 2016, to the next level. “We’ve mainly focused on natural breeding as we’ve been building up the stud. But the new yards will enable us to gather more detailed data, to really target speci c traits,” says Shane. Shane grew up on a dairy farm in Stratford and worked on a dairy farm for several years. Kylie had owned her own drystock farm when the couple met. Together they went goat farming. When they sold the goats a couple of years ago they decided to focus on their stud. They also currently own a chicken farm, run by a manager, and have a small truck cartage business. Clearview Simmentals is run from a 36ha block at Lepperton. The basis of the stud came from Tony and Glenis Thompson’s Glen Anthony Stud. Shane says the Thompsons have been instrumental in the developments of Clearview: “We’ve learned a lot from them and they have been pretty inspirational RURAL PEOPLE » Shane McDonald Billy & team proudly support Shane McDonald NEW PLYMOUTH 36 Eliot Street / 06 759 0105 ELTHAM 11 Stanners St / 06 764 8305 www.schurrireland.co.nz Empowering your ideal future. Schurr & Ireland are proud to support Shane & Kylie McDonald. www.energyvets.co.nz enquiries@energyvets.co.nz ENERGY VETS TARANAKI LTD Inglewood Clinic (06) 756 7228 Waitara Clinic (06) 754 8791 101 Broadway PO Box 137, Stratford 4352 Phone: 06 765 8643 Email: admin@ eldtorque.co.nz Website: www. eldtorque.co.nz Proudly supporting Shane & Kylie McDonald Taranaki’s only authorised dealer for Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Valtra & Iseki around helping us get the stud to where we want it to be.” Clearview now comprises 45 breeding cows and 12 two-year-old heifers plus 20 bulls. The 2022 bull sale will be held in September when 20 bulls will be offered to the market. Last year all bulls weighed over 500 kilograms with a top weight of 565 kilograms at 14 months old, making them great bulls for the dairy industry, which currently forms the majority of Clearview’s clientele. “Dairy farmers sometimes think the bigger beef breeds aren’t good for a dairy/beef cross as they are afraid of calving issues. But our Simmentals are bred for easy calving and we’re having return clients as they’re nding calving not a problem plus they get good growth rates – at the top end of the weaner sales - and temperament.” The next focus for Clearview is to broaden its market to commercial beef farmers. Shane says more information and data will allow them to target this client. “The more detailed the data we’ve got, the better the decisions we can make. Commercial clients are also getting more reliant so data is very important to them so they can select the right terminal sires.” Shane and Kylie are passionate about the Simmental breed, which they say offers calving ease, good temperament and great growth rates. They invite and encourage people to get in touch if they are interested in the upcoming sale or just nding out more about the breed. “We are always happy to show people around the farm so they can learn more. Simmentals are quite magni cent animals.” Farm visits and all enquires welcome on 027 244 2404
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