62 | Bulls must first cope with the terrain Selection of 2024 sale bulls at 18 months. Sue Russell Matt and Megan Humphreys represent the fifth generation of the family to operate Wilencote Polled Hereford Stud, a farming enterprise whose roots track back 104 years. Matt’s parents Peter and Susie have handed over the reins to the couple, part of a natural succession process that has seen Wilencote evolve into what it is today. There’s a sense of being ‘caretakers’ of the land when this long history is considered, something Matt and Megan appreciate and value. The farm is located 30 minutes from Gisborne and is a blend of medium to steep terrain. A historic homestead sits nestled in a valley surrounded by beautiful gardens and a stream. Asked how summer has been so far Matt says they have had a positive start to the season in terms of moisture. “Getting the rain periodically is great for the cows with plenty of grass around.” The farm is home to 250 Polled Hereford stud cows and a small number of sheep. Matt say the recent focus has been on infrastructure; subdividing bigger paddocks and upgrading the back cattle yards. “The last year has been a bit reactionary, dealing with damage from the cyclone. We were fortunate that through the cyclone we didn’t get a heap of rain, with 200ml falling on the farm.” Asked to describe the impact the cyclone brought Matt says most of the damage was around the stream. Landslips were relatively minor but as the winter went on, the land was certainly under stress. “My parents were in Putorino and we couldn’t get in touch so it was quite worrying there for a while. They have been very heavily impacted. Many farms found themselves isolated whereas we were not as heavily affected,” Megan says. Almost a year on from the cyclone its a case of having patience to give the land time to settle and regenerate. “We lost a few calvesdown the creek but the herd generally were fine and all bounced back well,” Matt says. Last year’s annual on-farm sale on 7 June went very well with almost a full clearance, and all being sold to farms on the East Coast. The breeding philosophy has alway been tuned to producing RURAL PEOPLE » Wilencote Polled Herefords sound, reliable, productive commercial bulls, fit for purpose. Some new buyers presented with interest at the sale, which is always encouraging. “Most of the hill country is quite steep so our bulls have to be able to cope with the terrain, get about well and perform.” Bulls sold come with a three year structural guarantee, though Matt points out that some clients have 8 year olds still performing well. “Longevity is a big thing. We have some clients who only use Hereford Bulls. Some look for the hybrid vigour that comes from crossing.” Genomic testing, which began in 2021, is progressively being undertaken through the whole herd and while there is no requirement to do this, the benefit comes from increasing the accuracy of an animals EBV’s to make more informed breeding decisions, earlier. Selecting the bulls to put up for sale is a slow careful process, looking for structural integrity and temperament. Megan takes care of a lot of the data recording. A passion to preserve and enhance the farm’s wetland space is something Megan in particular puts time and energy into. The wetland extends over 1.5ha. “I want to see the biodiversity encouraged which comes with looking after these special areas on the farm,” Megan explains. Wilencote has just received funding the Gisborne District Council Natural Heritage Fund to enable deer fencing to be established around the wetland. “We have just stared planting, with around 1000 trees going in late spring. We also have a tunnel house to speed up propogation from seeds gathered,” Megan says. Both Matt and Megan are committed to continuing to develop the farm. They are conscious of its proud history and the work of earlier generations. “I think leaving your mark on the farm is an awesome thing to achieve. We can still see the hard work of earlier generations and we’re determined to leave the farm in the best possible situation for the next generation,” says Matt. 0800 433 429 www.kirkpatrickfeedsupplies.co.nz Kirkpatrick Feed Supplies Kirkpatrick Feed Supplies produces a variety of quality forage options in compressed bales and large rounds. See our website for stockists.
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