18 | Around 85 yearling bulls will be offered Some of the newly purchased Simmental cows. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » McFadzean Cattle Co McFadzean Cattle Co is preparing for its annual spring bull sale after one of the most testing seasons the Wairarapa has faced with repeated flooding leaving a trail of damage across the district. Around 85 yearling bulls will be offered at this year’s sale. The stud has selected from around 100 Cruizy Calves bulls to narrow the catalogue to about 60 of the best performers as well as about 25 Meatmaker and Super Angus bulls. Known for their productivity and superior genetics, Johnie McFadzean says the bulls are prized at weaner fairs for their growth rates and finish. “This year’s line-up weaned really well across the board and had a pretty good start. The autumn was tough, over winter we flooded three times in a month and before that we were bone dry so they will be hardy by the time they get to sale. They are truly farmed under commercial conditions,” says Johnie. The Cruizy Calves line includes progeny from Stokman Angus sire 337, which has produced calves with exceptional growth, averaging 347kg at weaning. Also Te Mania sire, 18457, has consistently left outstanding progeny across the Cruizy, Meatmaker and Super Angus programmes. The Meatmaker black bulls have also continued to develop with the latest crop sired by home-bred bulls that have consistently lifted performance from year to year. “They have thrown really well and consistently and been improving all the time so that’s really exciting,” says Johnie. A major development this year has been the purchase of 45 registered Simmental females from the dispersal of Glenside Simmentals along with cattle from Kerrah Simmentals and Gold Creek Simmentals. It marks a new direction for McFadzean Cattle Co. “It was a bit of an opportunity and we felt like it will improve our sale and our herd as we will test them under our commercial conditions. It will give us more control of our breeding and locally there has been demand for straight Simmentals,” explains Johnie. Johnie and Laura, run Glenbrae Farm with the help of their farm team and overseeing the stud, which is part of the wider McFadzean operation that spans 9,500 hectares across six properties and includes sheep as well as cattle. The flooding has taken a significant toll on the region with severe flooding three times in five weeks. “The damage is excessive in the Wairarapa and on our farm we’ve had slips that have gone through fences, flood gates and tracks damaged. But on a positive note the sheep, beef and wool prices have been super strong and long may it continue. There was a whole generation coming through who had never seen good wool prices so it’s a positive for the next generation of farmers as well.” Last year’s sale averaged $6,200 across 76 bulls last year with Meatmaker and Super Angus averaging $6350 and the Cruizy Calves $6180. “It was a bit of an opportunity and we felt like it will improve our sale and our herd as we will test them under our commercial conditions. It will give us more control of our breeding and locally there has been demand for straight Simmentals.” 216 Wiltons Road, Carterton | www.mcfadzeancattlecompany.co.nz Johnie McFadzean 0274295777 Andrew Jennings PGG Wrightsons 0275946820 48 Years of Proven Performance • Top Quality Yearling Bulls MCFADZEAN CRUIZY CALVE MCFADZEAN SUPER ANGUS MCFADZEAN MEAT MAKER Superior weaning weight % Instant impact on calf size, growth & muscling Higher carcass yields High EMA scores Strong milking & maternal traits At least 7/8's Angus Moderate framed hill country cattle Excellent growth rates and superior muscling Positive fats & high IMF % Strong milking & maternal traits 100% Registered Angus Positive for calving ease Short gestation Positive fats & good growth Suited for heifer mating HILL COUNTRY CATTLE BRED TO LIFT YOUR CATTLE PERFORMANCE AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE ATAHUA 17-303 ALL BULLS HAVE PASSED SEMEN TESTING OPEN DAY 27TH AUGUST “WE WEIGHED OUR SPRING WEANERS IN FEBRUARY AND THE STEERS AVERAGED 329KG AND HEIFERS 308KG AND WE’VE BASICALLY JUMPED 100KG PER ANIMAL SINCE USING MCFADZEAN GENETICS”. WENDY & DEAN LUPTON Ninth Annual Yearling Bull Sale Friday 11th September 2026 at 1pm McFadzean Cruizy Calve 5005 Sire - Te Mania 18-457 CED +7.8 |CEM +5.3 |GEST -6.2|BW +2.6 | 600W +105 Accounting and Agri-Support from the world’s first Figured Elite Partner. www.sidekickrural.co.nz Farming is easier with a Sidekick. The 9th Annual Spring Sale will take place at Glenbrae Station on Friday 11th September from 1pm. Cattle will be available for inspection at Glenbrae Station prior with a brochure accessible on the McFadzean Cattle Co website.
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