| 31 Group of yearling heifers. RURAL PEOPLE » Rauriki Charolais Charolais strength shaped by the hills Karen Phelps Bull Walk - Tuesday 12th of May 11:00am to 2:00pm Bull Sale - Tuesday 26th of May at 2:00pm The farm in Central Hawkes Bay where Rauriki Charolais Stud will have 25R2 Charolais bulls ready for their upcoming autumn sale on 26th May is run by Simon Collin, his wife Wendy,their son George, and George’s wife Brianna. The Autumn sale is primarily for the beef market which they’ve been supplying quality bulls to for well over 20 years. They run a 140 strong Charolais herd of registered cows on their 865 hectare hill country farm with terrain which is the making of their bulls, explains Simon. “It ranges from 420 metres to 720 metres with our only flat paddock being where the bull sale is held. It’s all either rolling or steep hill country so the cows are on a naturally harder environment and put under a lot more scrutiny in terms of their productive work. If they can’t handle the environment they are culled as the cows have a direct flow on effect into the bulls. They need to perform. The R2 beef bulls in the sale ring in May are of moderate weight, around 760-800 kg, as we believe these bulls must be functional and able to work in the same environment where they’ve been bred. For farmers breeding beef cattle in similar terrain it’s a given that the bulls which they are buying from Rauriki will thrive.” Traits the Collin family have been selecting from over the years,in blood lines they like, only add to what the bulls bring to the table, Simon explains. “One trait which we look for in our breeding program with the Charolais bulls is selecting positive fats from both the sire and dams, which will in turn add more of that carcass softness and quality in the bulls that we’re selling, rather than leaving their progeny relying solely on the maternal side,it’s more the quality of the eating experience that we’re targeting. At scanning we can identify the bulls and the heifers with the higher EMA, IMF, and positive fat covers.” In the spring Rauriki Charolais sell 10- 15 bulls to regular clients from the dairy market. The Rauriki stud has been using AI (Artificial Insemination) programs as well as some of their own stud-bred bulls paying careful attention to the traits they are after including good fertility, low birth weight, good calving ease, shorter gestation length, and polled bulls so that now between 80% and 90% of the calves are polled for the dairy market. And for the beef market,they breed cattle with a polled /scurred trai that are sound, functionable, with good temperament and positive growth traits, positive fats, showing good data,or in other words,“that basically show good Charolais traits.” In the past few years,the Collin family have also focused on their younger cattle and getting their yearling heifers up to a higher mating weight of 400 kg. Beef farmers have been trialing putting Charolais over heifers, and some of their dairy clients are selecting the right type of Charolais yearling bull to go over their yearling heifers with results so far looking positive. This year the Rauriki Charolais Stud will have 25 top-performing, sound, robust, easy to handle R2 bulls ready for sale on Tuesday 26th May 2026, with a bull walk open day at 18 Ahiweka Road to view the sale bulls on Tuesday 12th May. If this day doesn’t suit viewing is welcome by appointment,contact Simon 027 636 3243 or George 027 782 5237. Wednesday 3rd June@2:30pm on farmat Rata 2 YEARBULL SALE 2026 Typical Merchiston Sale bull Big strong cattle with performance RichardRowe 027 279 8841 WilliamRowe 021 242 8181 Email: mercang@farmside.co.nz *catalogue online at Angus NZ; Genetics; see sale catalogues. Selling 35Angus bulls
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