24 | Millstone reach major breeding milestone Vix Jatz yearling. Karen Phelps Millstone Red Devons has reached a major milestone in its breeding programme, with the majority of its herd now polled. Heughan Gordon, the stud’s owner and president of the Red Devon Cattle Breeders Association, says the achievement comes after six years of careful genetic selection. “This year all the calves are polled. It’s the first time I haven’t had a horned calf, and that’s a big achievement. We’ve been DNA testing all our bulls, primarily to confirm parentage but, more importantly, to identify polled versus horned genetics. This allows us to identify heterozygous and homozygous polled bulls which we can use strategically to make rapid gains in the herd. There are only a couple of horned cows left, and over time they will no longer be part of the herd.” This allows him to also use good horned genetics over polled cows while maintaining polled progeny. Heughan says that last year’s herd sires included four homozygous polled and one heterozygous polled. The stud continues to source genetics internationally from stock held in New Zealand despite challenges from biosecurity restrictions. “Red Devon is a breed with smaller numbers and there aren’t many large breeding herds in New Zealand. Most operations here are small lifestyle properties, so to make valuable genetic gains we need large herds actively recording performance. That means sourcing genetics offshore, but UK cattle face TB restrictions that limit export of semen, and mycoplasma bovis testing is also required. The infusion of Saler into UK Red Devons years ago also changes the genetic mix, so accessing traditionally pure stock is difficult,” explains Heughan. Millstone Red Devons introduced Australian bulls last year, with offspring from Vix Jatz and Gowan Ross Johan showing promising growth rates. “They’re yearlings now and I did their 400-day growth rates recently; some are 50kgs better than my own lines. I’ll end up with at least one good herd sire from each of those bulls.” A key component of Heughan’s business model involves selling Red Devon bulls to the dairy industry and receiving Red Devon Friesian cross calves in return. “Last year we sold the male calves at 110kg. Some of the heifers we kept have calved and are performing very well. They milk efficiently and when mated back to a beef sire, produce a meaty, predominantly black calf, which is appealing for sales lines,” he says. Founded in 2009 with approximately 30 heifers, the stud now comprises over 100 cows and winters 100 yearlings. All cattle are recorded on BREEDPLAN for birth weight and growth measurements at 200, 400 and RURAL PEOPLE » Millstone Red Devons 600 days. He sells a small number of bulls by private treaty each year between May and October or November. Heughan and his wife Carol farm Te Wai Station, a 480-hectare property in Waipukurau purchased in 2020. Their son Ben now works as stock manager. The farm also runs around 2,000 sheep, moving towards self-shedding Wiltshire and Wairere Nudie genetics. “We’re going down the self-shedding sheep path because of the extra work involved with woolly sheep,” explains Heughan. “All our hoggets that have just lambed are half Wiltshire and the lambs they’ve produced are by the Wairere Nudie rams. The first cross of Wiltshire has been quite pleasing. They seem to be more worm resistant than the stock we’ve had in the past and are already shedding belly wool and around the crutch.” “Last year we sold the male calves at 110kg.” 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 www.altitudeonline.co.nz | Taihape 06 388 0860 | Taupo 07 378 7150 Business Accounting • Estates & Trusts • Taxation For easy handling and less stress (just like the Devons) ....
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