16 | Expanding gene pool a game changer Bayview Unique K11 (pictured above), Polldale Neat N38 (below) are two of the three most recent bulls that Browns Shorthorns have purchased NZ Semen rights for, the third being Polldale Quantum Q17. Tracey Edwardes Expanding the gene pool of the country’s oldest cattle breed was a game changer for a seasoned Waikato farmer, thanks to some Trans Tasman team work. Hamish and Justine Brown of Brown’s Shorthorns, a combined 400h dairy block near Morrinsville and beef /dairy grazing at Waiterimu, fetched the highest price nationally, $18,000, for one of their Shorthorn bulls at last year’s auction. The bull, Brown’s Supreme was bought by Anita Erskine of Westwood Shorthorns, Tuatapere. The Browns have dairy farmed for the last 30 years, and have also been creating interest within their Shorthorn beef stud by bringing in new genetics from Australia. “In 2016 I met Peter Falls of Malton Shorthorn at The National Australian Shorthorn sale,” he says. Peter has 70 years association with the breed, and has 550 breeding cows over three properties in the NSW Riverina. “The combined purchase of Bayview Unique K11 with the Malton Shorthorn stud for $30,000 began our association and syndicate between us. We buy bulls together in Australia, they keep them there and use them in their stud, and we import the semen into NZ.” Hamish’s father Ian Brown, Wanganui, started the original Kahanui shorthorn stud in 1968 with the purchase of a two year old in calf heifer in 1968. Bulls of note used over the years were Glen Eagles Tradition, Erambie Ellington, Broome Quality, Super Dazzler, Marellan Vagabond and Webollabolla Theodore. Hamish started his own Brown’s Shorthorn stud herd in 2000 with an in-calf heifer out of his father’s herd. Since then, Hamish has obtained NZ semen rights for Waukuru Patent (America) and then Australian bulls Moombi Ooktali G34, Polldale Neat N38 and the current sire Polldale Quantum Q17. We have enjoyed an association with the Longview shorthorn stud in KeriKeri, purchasing bulls to use after AI. The Browns milk 600 X-Breed dairy cows in Morrinsville and have supplied the Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company for the last 16 years. In addition to this, they have 50-60 Shorthorn stud beef cows on the Waiterimu property, and sell around 15 bulls into the stud shorthorn, commercial beef and dairy industry. Any leftovers are used over the home dairy cows. Hamish is a trained Arti cial Insemination Technician, doing the AI himself via his own liquid nitrogen storage bank. “Especially with the dairy herd it’s the timing, I don’t have to wait in line, can get cows back grazing earlier, and can dabble in RURAL PEOPLE » Browns Shorthorns genetics with choice of the best. Employing three full time staff, Justine works the of ce, and the couple toggle between the dairy operation and their dry stock farm at Waiterimu, 50 “We strive to breed functional, mobile cattle with low birth weights and high growth rates, good feet, and in multi colours from mottled reds, to roan and white.” This year’s online bidr sale is expected to be in June. “We strive to breed functional, mobile cattle with low birth weights and high growth rates, good feet, and in multi colours from mottled reds, to roan and white.” Office: 07-824-3565 Operations Manager: 027-824-3565 Darren: 0274-894-496 Johnathan: 0272-219-804 Email: info@grainandfood.co.nz Web: www.grainandfood.co.nz AGRICULTURAL / HARVESTING / DRAINAGE & CARTAGE CONTRACTORS Big Enough to Tackle any Job; Small Enough to Care How It’s Done! Browns Shorthorns WHY NOT TRY OUR LATEST GENETICS? Sires by PolldaleNeat N38 andBayviewArcherM15 h.j.brown@xtra.co.nz
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