| 17 Livestock genetics an enduring interest Russell Fredric Jacob Ladd has had a passion for livestock genetics for almost as long as he can remember. “Right from when I was nine years old, I started recording sheep. I recorded their lambings and growth rates and everything into my early 30’s,” Jacob says. Married to Olivia who works part time as a radiographer, the couple have been in a time of transition, as have their livestock. The couple, who have two pre-school children Zoe and Lachlan, owned a small farm at Fielding for 12 years, working on it around their day jobs before moving a year ago to Jacob’s parent’s sheep and beef farm they lease northeast of Stratford. They own the operating business and all the stock and will soon be moving into a new home on the farm, built by New Plymouth company Manor Build. Jacob’s parents continue to live in their own home on the farm and have retained 16 hectares of land to keep their hand in. Jacob loved growing up on the farm. “I had a rural upbringing so we wanted to be able to make the move to be able to farm full time, because it means that I can have the kids at home even when Liv’s at work and they can have the same upbringing that I had. I just loved the ability to be outside and the freedom and the things you learn.” The 291 hectare farm supports about 300 cattle, 900 breeding ewes and 300 replacements on medium to steep contour and receives an annual rainfall of about 1800mm. The cattle include 60 breeding cows, half of which are Speckle Park Hereford cross and half Angus. These are supplemented by 83 dairy grazers and Friesian bulls for fattening, plus young stock from the farm’s own cows. “The bulls and the young stock fluctuates to stick with that 300 head, roughly.” It is a time of transition in the genetics of the stock, especially with the cattle changing to recorded Angus just last year, with the aim of growing efficient hardy cattle that are best suited to the property, climate and conditions. RURAL PEOPLE » Finnis Farm “We do use them as a tool, they get fair pushed so we need them to be able to handle a setback and do some hard work, but to be able to bounce back to be a productive animal at the same time. “That’s what led us down the path of the Angus, they’ve got that underlying hardiness about them and that efficiency as well; a moderate size animal that’s going to produce a good calf that will grow into a good steer or prime heifer as well.” Along with calving ease, temperament is also a high priority because, as well as making the cattle easier to farm, this trait also creates a better product for the consumer, Jacob says. “Changing over to the Angus is an opportunity to use my passion around genetics on that side.” The sheep flock is also in a time of transition with the existing Romney’s being crossed with Wiltshire due to the abysmal coarse wool market. “At the end of the day it’s just economics. There’s no point producing a product that’s costing more than it’s worth in the current environment.” The first Angus calf born (top) since Jacob and Olivia became Angus breeders. Cows doing their work on the hills. They get pushed over winter and are expected to bounce back and rear a good calf. Zoe and Lachlan loving the farm life.
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