30 | 9,500 hectares over six properties Their breeding programs focus on three signature cattle breeds: Meat Maker, Super Angus, and Cruizy Calves. Bernadette Cooney Commercial cattle breeders west of Carterton, McFadzean Cattle Company, remain committed to advancing its breeding programs through strategic investments in genetics. A large-scale livestock operation spanning 9,500 hectares over six properties, McFadzean’s have increased the number of in-calf cows calving this season, to 2000 Simmental Angus cross cattle. Their breeding programs focus on three signature cattle breeds: Meat Maker, Super Angus, and Cruizy Calves, each renowned for producing top-notch Weaner bulls and heifers. The company have made recent purchases to ensure their breeding stock remains at the forefront of the industry. Farm manager Johnie McFadzean says they invested in a two-year-old Simmental bull sire from Wairoa based, Kerrah Simmentals last year. “We paid $34,000 for him and he’s a well-muscled, deep bodied bull with great temperament,” says Johnie. “It was the top price Simmental in the country last year and he brings an excellent set of genetic traits.” Johnie plans to enter this new sire into the farms Meat Maker breeding program and expects him to have an impressive impact across the herd, particularly when crossed with the offspring of their other high performing sire, Kerrah Euro. “He seems to be going so well but he’s been a sire for quite a few years now, so this may be his second to last crop this season,” says Johnie. Key bulls, such as Te Mania 457, and Atahua 303, have also been pivotal to McFadzean’s success across their Super Angus and Cruizy Calve breeding stock. “We also purchased in 2023, Twin Oaks Power Trooper S55 for the Cruizy herd which we will have some sons in our sale this year. We also purchased two yearling bulls from Stokman Angus last year for the low birth-weight herds and they’ll calve this year so I’m pretty excited to see what they bring.” The company’s commitment to quality breeding is evident in their results, with Meat maker and Super Angus finishers, reporting 60% yield from bulls processed at just 20 months old. “That’s pretty impressive at such a young age. Finisher like Maurice Wolland reporting they are getting those results, so that’s extremely pleasing,” says Johnie. Beyond cattle, McFadzean’s sheep operations are thriving, with lambing rates reaching 146% across their Romney based flock of 28,000. The lambing season has been buoyed by mild weather and robust grass growth in the early Spring. “We also purchased in 2023, Twin Oaks Power Trooper S55 for the Cruizy herd which we will have some sons in our sale this year.” RURAL PEOPLE » McFadzean Cattle Co McFadzean Cattle are preparing for the Wairarapa Weaner Fair in March, where the company will showcase an annual line up of bull calves. “We’ll sell around 150-200 bull calves into the weaner fair in the second week of March.” After the Weaner Fair, the next major event for McFadzean Cattle is their upcoming 8th Annual Bull Sale, scheduled for Friday 12th September. Known for attracting buyers nationwide, this event offers close to 100 bulls, building on the success of previous years including the standout performance of their Meat Maker & Super Angus, which averaged $7,300 at last year’s sale, with the top lot fetching $16,000 sold to Grassendale Genetics. The Cruizy Calves Angus also performed well, averaging $3,200 with the highest sale reaching $11,000 sold to Bullock Hills & Mt Peel Station. Turanganui Romneys Mike Warren 027 446 5312 or 06 307 7841 Guy Warren 027 848 0164 William Warren 027 824 9327 Proud to supplier of sheep genetics to McFadzean Cattle Co SHEAR EXPERTISE LIMITED - Masterton - Paddy Mason - 06 377 0368 - 027 443 3106 Simon Dennes - 06 377 0334 - 027 443 3320
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