| 41 Maungahina Hereford Stud’s McKenzie family. RURAL PEOPLE » Maungahina Stud WE COVER ALL ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTION AI and ET services Import/Export of semen/embryos CONTACT US: 06 376 4955 @ breedingcentre@tvg.co.nz tararuabreedingcentre.nz PROUDLY SUPPORTING MAUNGAHINA STUD Tararua Breeding Centre Part of Totally Vets Ltd Cattle, sheep and goat reproductive specialists The commercial market is what we target. They are our bread and butter. If we sell to a bull stud that will be a bonus.” The other herd is where the lower birth weight bulls find themselves, and will make the cut to the yearling sale held every September. “For the yearling sale we are concentrating on the dairy industry and beef heifer mating. This year the sale will be held on the 23rd with about 35 Herefords on offer.” While genetics have been bought from Australia and some from North America, Maungahina predominantly buys New Zealand stud bulls. “We go out and buy the very best bull that suits our programme. Benefits of the Hereford breed are its quiet nature and I believe we’re seeing a swing to Hereford sires over Angus. “There are massive benefits of using a Hereford over a commercial Angus herd. As a first cross it delivers ten to fifteen percent hybrid vigour. You’re also getting fertility, milk and they are very good at converting grass to meat. They are very feed efficient cattle. There are so many benefits in your first cross. To put a Hereford over an Angus you’re instantly going to get growth, and that extra kilo.” Mark acknowledges that it has been very difficult times with legislation, the weather and interest rates. “It has been nervous times for us. Over the last three years we’ve lost six big stations to plantation forestry - six customers we no longer have.” “We’ve always been strong on structure, good bone and plenty of strength, grunt and meat. And we will never go away from that. We had 32 two-year-old Herefords on sale this June and had a great sale. We sold thirty of the bulls and averaged $9780, with a top price of $22,000, to commercial beef farmers.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=