| 23 “Glenside Crumpy has done well for us, thanks to proven calving ease and all-round performance on the NZ beef and lamb progeny test – he is now quite a highly proven bull.” Proven consistency and performance The stud continues to go from strength to strength. Kim Newth RURAL PEOPLE » Kerrah Simmentals 19 21 Mahia Ave, Wairoa 06 838 6948 ken@eastlandbfs.co.nz www.eastlandbfs.co.nz We deliver anywhere Eastland Building & Farm Supplies P: 06 838 8282 M: 027 483 0644 | 027 230 8713 Delivering genetics that will perform in any farming operation, a Kerrah bull is always a good investment in the future. Kerrah Simmentals’ 9th annual on farm sale of Rising Two Year Bulls is coming up on Tuesday, 21st May at Tangiwai Station, with around 80 promising young bulls sure to attract plenty of interest. The Knauf family have developed the stud over many years with stud stock run under commercial conditions in challenging Wairoa hill country and with selection based around docility, structure and balanced breeding values. All bulls offered will be Neogen 100K tested, guaranteeing accurate parentage data and assurance of bulls being homozygous for the polled gene and free from the dilution gene. Homozygous polled bulls are an increasingly popular choice today for those wanting to avoid the hassle of de-horning. Kerrah was established in 2005 by Kevin and Colleen Knauf and Jon and Sam Knauf with the purchase of elite females from Ailsa, Rissington and Puriri herds, combined with top graded up cows from their commercial herd. The stud continues to go from strength to strength. “With breeding, it takes such a long time to get where you need to be,” Jon observes. “The homozygous poll genetics haven’t happened overnight; it has taken 10 or 15 years to be able to produce what we have now and we’re always looking for what will keep opening doors for us going forward.” Given the pressures on farm budgets, Jon says his family was surprised at the strength of last year’s Kerrah bull sale, which saw almost all their young R2 bulls sold (72 of 73 lots). The average price was $8233, while the top price bull – sired by Glenside Crumpy – sold for $18,000. “Glenside Crumpy has done well for us, thanks to proven calving ease and all-round performance on the NZ beef and lamb progeny test – he is now quite a highly proven bull.” What their buyers always appreciate is the consistent performance they get from quality Simmental genetics. A recent case study from Simmental NZ, highlights a Waikato sheep and beef breeding and finishing operation – Laurieston Farming – that has targeted improvement of their Simmental cattle through careful bull selection with bulls purchased annually from Kerrah Simmentals. The results are impressive: cattle of good temperament, great growth rates and replacement heifers also serving as strong maternal animals and great calvers. Notably, one of Kerrah’s polled sires – Kerrah D859 – has also been making his mark in Australia as well as with Gold Creek Simmentals, near Gisborne. For this year’s bull sale, Simmental NZ has switched to a new provider of EBV analysis, International Genetics Solutions (IGS), a multi-breed analysis provider whose partners include Simmental Australia and the American Simmental Association. “It’s all about getting better accuracy.” Sale day on the farm will involve family, friends and neighbours along with the staff team of Howie Maden, Hughie Stephens, Turei White and Losie Mulgrew. The sale catalogue is due out in the first week of May. Interested buyers can get in touch with Jon or contact stock agents Phil Transom at PGG Wrightson Fielding or Ross Mitchell at Fergus Rural Wairoa for details. Bulls can be viewed by appointment prior to the sale.
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