30 | Polled genetics way forward for breed Karen Phelps Due to the drop in price of DNA testing and the rise in costs for a vet to de-horn an animal it has become more viable to target homozygous polled genetics, says Heughan Gordon, owner of Millstone Red Devons and president of Red Devon Cattle Breeders Association. He has committed to DNA testing his Red Devon herd to identify homozygous polled genetics so he can fast track this trait in his herd. Last year out of 30 bulls he tested only had four were horned and the rest were polled but only six homozygous polled. Of the ve herd stud sires he’s chosen to use this year four are homozygous polled and the fth one is heterozygous polled. The vast majority of his herd’s progeny are now polled simply by culling horned cattle and DNA testing. “I may still keep a really good horned cow but I will make sure it goes to a homozygous polled bull,” he says. Heughan believes it is the only way forward for the breed with the increasing demand for polled cattle. And demand for dairy bull Red Devons continues to exceed supply due to the good temperament, solid colour progeny and great meat the breed offers, he says. Heughan formed Millstone Red Devon stud in 2009 with the registration of approximately 30 heifers. Today the stud comprises over 100 cows and winters 100 yearlings (50 bulls and 50 heifers). He grows everything to two years of age with the majority heading to the dairy industry. The emphasis is on growth rate and structural soundness. All cattle are recorded on BREEDPLAN RURAL PEOPLE » Millstone Red Devons for birth weight, 200, 400 and 600-day weights. All females are spring calved and calve at two years of age and males are left entire. He sells a small number of bulls by private treaty between May and October/November each year. Heughan and wife Carol farm Te Wai Station at Waipukerau, a 480ha property they bought in 2020. The move was prompted by the need for more land so their son Ben, who is the farm’s stock manager, could come into the family farming business. They also have around 2000 sheep including two studs - poll dorset and south suffolk studs, which sell around 60 rams a year. There are 200 stud ewes (made up of half of each breed) that are farmed alongside a commercial ock of around 1500 ewes and 400 – 500 hoggets The breeding policy is changing from ve-year-old ewes to a mixed age ock as hoggets are retained and mated. Ewes are mated to Wairere Tufguy sires to lamb in September with hoggets to a Southdown ram to lamb October. The rst draft is in January target weight is 17kg plus. As their farm is part of the Tukipo sub-catchment, one of 17 in the Tukituki area, covering 22,000 hectares, the Gordons are working on developing 3-4ha of wetlands and riparian fencing. Heughan Gordon is DNA testing to identify homozygous polled genetics, so he can target this trait in his Red Devon herd. Selected for growth rate and calving ease, EBV’s available 30 recorded bulls for private sale Contact: HG & CL Gordon 368 Boyle Rd, Ashley Clinton, Waipukurau Ph: 027 874 6195 hcgordon@xtra.co.nz Millstone Red Devons
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