28 | Easy calving bulls bred to support profitability Kim Newth RURAL PEOPLE » John and Mary Allen Mahuta Hereford’s annual yearling bull sale last year achieved a record average price of $4500 and a top price of $14,000. Stud breeder John Allen says the quality of the bulls set to be presented at this year’s sale on 15th September is looking even better. Some 65 yearling bulls have made the cut for the catalogue that reflects John’s long passion for breeding bulls for heifer mating. “They are easy calving bulls that grow well and have good meat and good IMF,” he says. John and wife Mary run a herd of around 200 cows on a rolling hill country farm at Glen Murray in the Northern Waikato. Their stud operation has a clear breeding objective: to breed bulls that will increase farmers’ profits. The Hereford breed’s natural efficiency, fertility and usefulness as a cross breeding animal provide a solid foundation for that. The Mahuta Hereford herd has two distinct sections, with one breeding bulls for dairy heifers and the other for beef heifers and cows. Ease of calving is a key breeding objective with the stud aiming for a calving ease EBV for dairy heifers in the top 1% for Australasia, and in the top 15% for beef heifers. “Ease of calving means more live calves on the ground. Ease of calving means minimising damage to the others. For the dairy job, that means better milk production and an earlier return to fertility. For the beef job, it means less labour costs involved in assisting heifers. “Ease of calving, combined with quick growth and having good levels of fat for easy finishing, all flow through into increased profit for our clients.” Yearling bulls presented at the September 2023 sale will be semen tested as well as sire verified using DNA samples. That sampling will also be used to reinforce the accuracy of EBVs. “We have a number of loyal clients who return every year. Our bulls are now breeding successfully in other studs, such as Matariki [Kaikoura] and Koanui [Havelock North]. SILAGE - ROUND BALES • MCHALE V660 • MULTI-CUT BALER WITH VARIABLE CHAMBER HAY ROUNDS - ALSO MOWING, RAKING AND WRAPPING OF SILAGE AND HAY BULK FERTILISER - SPREADING OF LIME, FERT AND UREA GROUND WORK - CULTIVATION POWER HARROW • SEEDBOX DISCING ROLLER TILLING • DIRECT DRILLING • ROLLER DRILLING CONTACT: Nelson Beckett - 0274 878 018 or 07 826 6777 Beckett Contracting Your agricultural contracting solution Mahuta Polled Hereford Stud Easy Calving - Short Gestation Yearling Hereford Bulls on ANNUAL SALE Friday 15th September 1.00pmon the farm O ering 65 yearling bulls suitable for cow and heifer mating [including dairy heifers] Limehills Stardom 190158 John Allen 0274407504 | Stephen Hickey 0274443570 ll | i Given the consistency of the herd and the accuracy that is achieved with DNA sampling, clients can be pretty sure of what they are getting. We are also happy to show clients around prior to the sale if they want to get a close up look at the bulls.” Top bulls have been used to drive genetic gain in the Mahuta herd over the years. Today’s influential sires include Koanui Spy 8371, Limehills Starter 12 1078 and Limehills Gallant 160033. “Mahuta Ocean 8073 is another highlight. He’s led the BLG and LIC progeny trials from the start being close to best on short gestation, close to lowest birthweight and best for early growth. Mahuta Hereford Stud sale bulls. Some of his progeny will be in this sale.” It has been a very wet autumn in the Waikato region. John says plenty of good grass means young stock have been doing well but notes that managing winter feed on wet hills is challenging. Rain or shine, the annual yearling bull sale is shaping up to be a great day. As in past years, the sale catalogue will be available online from midAugust at www.mahutastud.co.nz and on the NZ Herefords website www.herefords.co.nz
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