Business Rural North Spring 2021

| 15 RURAL PEOPLE » Ashgrove Farms: James Parsons A case of grabbing the opportunity Ashgrove Farms Managing Director James Parsons is excited after having significantly expanded the operation. Karen Phelps A shgrove Ashgrove Farms has significantly expanded its operation with the purchase of Matauri Angus and shortly it will have its first Angus stud sale on October 4. The stud was taken over in July 2020 when owner Colin Maxwell decided to put it on the mar- ket. James Parsons from Ashgrove Farms admits it was a case of grabbing the opportunity. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to obtain a highly-regarded Angus stud. The stud’s breed- ing policy fitted in with our philosophy of breeding hardy, maternal hill country animals,” he says. The purchase of the stud has meant some big changes. Trade cattle have been eliminated from the farming system leaving 200 breeding cows. The farm’s commercial ewe flock has been reduced from 900 to 250. 120ha has been added to the farm giving a total of 600ha, 535ha effective. Staff has been increased by half a labour unit and the lambing date has been brought forward to make space for calving. There has also been a change to the farm ownership structure with managers Travis and Kirra Pymm becoming equity partners. They join James and wife Janine and James’ brother Chris and his wife Hayley in the business. Matauri Angus will continue to target well bal- anced, hardy maternal cows of medium size with good structure and that are easy-care. Other traits targeted include low birth weight, short gestation length and growth. The inaugural sale this year will offer around 16 yearling bulls suitable for heifer mating. Colin will have a two-year-old sale in Au- gust then in 2022 Ashgrove Farms will hold its first two-year-old sale in July. James says they will use AI with outside genetics on 20-40% of the herd as well as use genetics from the best of Matauri’s bulls. When choosing genetics they look for better than breed average EBVs and a well-balanced bull with good structure and phe- notype. They have access to semen from a Mount Possession bull, which they were under bidders on, that sold for $88,000. A similar breeding philosophy is targeted with the farm’s Ashgrove sheep stud. The annual Ashgrove ram sale will be held in November and offer around 100 Coopworth FE Gold and WormFEC rams. Additionally some Suftex rams will be on offer along with Romney and Romworth rams that are also WormFEC and Ramguard tested. Ashgrove is a founding flock in the elite FE Gold group of breeders and James says this means ram clients are guaranteed to be buying some of the best FE genetics available. Ashgrove has a history of 35 years of testing for FE and only using top sires. The Coopworth stud and commercial Coopworth mixed age ewes scan at around 200% and the flock lambing percentage is 160% ewes to ram. James says that growth rate and reproduction are the two most valuable traits impacting sheep farmers’ profitability and Ashgrove Coopworths are renowned for their reproductive performance and growth rates. Ashgrove Coopworths received national recognition as a finalist in the 2014 Sheep Industry Awards for growth rate and adult size among dual-purpose flocks. James says that there are definite synergies be- tween the cattle and sheep aspects of the business and the team is thriving on the challenge of adding Angus to the mix. Because the sheep and cattle are all run on some of the steepest and most chal- lenging country Northland has to offer the genetics are proven meaning the animals can thrive in any condition so they translate well to other farms when people purchase them. Office 09 433 1733 Eden 021 0842 6587 Warren 027 391 4777 vcon.office@gmail.com HAY · SILAGE • SPRAYING CULTIVATION • SEEDING • Livestock, Fertiliser, Metal & General Cartage • Portable water deliveries • Hay, Silage, Maize Harvesting & Cartage • Garage & Machinery Repairs • Hydralada Service Agent • Postal Centre, Hardware & Stock Food Store 1151 SH 14 • PO Box 7, Maungatapere 0152 Ph. (All Hrs) 09 434 6722 Ph/Fx. 09 434 6632 Freeph. 0508 434 672 www.maungataperetransport.co.nz Em. maungataperetransport@gmail.com James Parsons and wife Janine in front of the hills that the Ashgrove ewes lamb onto, weaning 160%.