| 19 Record beef sale amid industry upswing The 2026 sale is on Monday 18th May on the stud’s 350-hectare property on Mangaone Valley Road between Pahiatua and Eketahuna. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » Kaimoa South Devons Kaimoa South Devon Stud is riding the wave of a strong upturn in the beef industry, with its 2025 on-farm sale achieving a record average price. Owner Mark Eagle is optimistic about the future, citing robust demand and encouraging returns for breeders. “With the good prices beef in general is at a high. What people are getting for weaners makes it more attractive to invest in good bulls and genetics. We are noticing more demand from our client base,” he explains. “This optimism was reflected in Kaimoa’s 2025 sale where it averaged $10,700 per bull up from $7,000 the previous year setting a new benchmark.” The 2026 sale on Monday 18th May 2026, held on the stud’s 350-hectare property on Mangaone Valley Road between Pahiatua and Eketahuna, is set to feature 20 rising two-year-old bulls. With the beef industry continuing to perform well Mark is certain this will likewise have a direct effect on breeder confidence for this year’s sale. Mark runs the stud alongside his wife Di and son Anthony and the family has continued to invest heavily in genetics, concentrating on improving carcass traits and overall herd quality. “It’s a stud that’s run under commercial conditions, and a bit like me, what you see is what you get,” he says with a smile. “So no surprises, our clients know exactly what they’re buying.” This approach is consistent with the stud’s philosophy of ensuring all animals are fed solely on grass and baleage rather than lollies or hard feed. “We breed a lot of our own animals. We know what is working for us in our commercial business in terms of genetics and breed accordingly. We are very much commercial based, which means our stock transfer well to our clients’ farms,” explains Mark. Operating across 1,450 hectares over three properties, Kaimoa has 460 breeding cows, including 130 stud cows. Mark says its bulls are particularly sought after for crossbreeding programmes. “Most buyers are looking for a South Devon to put over the likes of Angus cows to improve the hybrid vigour of the herd and get progeny that will grow out bigger,” says Mark. Kaimoa’s breeding programme has been enhanced with new sires sourced primarily from the United Kingdom, where the South Devon breed originates. “When sourcing genetics we are looking at conformation, EBVs, temperament, carcass traits and something that will enhance our breeding programme,” says Mark. In the 2026 sale a key feature of Kaimoa’s line-up will be the predominance of homozygous polled bulls, ensuring horn-free progeny even when bred over horned cows. Coupled with the breed’s docile temperament and superior carcass traits, the bulls remain highly attractive to commercial farmers seeking both performance and practicality, says Mark. With a positive industry backdrop and a continued committed to excellence in genetics and commercial performance, Mark says Kaimoa South Devon is well positioned to deliver the animals its clients need to improve their farming operations. Buyers attending the sale, due to be catalogued in March, can expect detailed information on each bull including scanning and semen test results, although Mark notes the animals will continue to develop significantly between catalogue publication and sale day. Transport Ltd We are proud to work with Kaimoa South Devons 4 Short Road, Pahiatua Phone: 06 376 8128 • Dean’s Mobile: 027 444 7413 Email: fitsy.trans@xtra.co.nz Dip.Ag., B.B.S., C.A. We give you time for the things you “We breed a lot of our own animals. We know what is working for us in our commercial business in terms of genetics and breed accordingly.”
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