| 39 RURAL PEOPLE » Rockview Red Devons ‘Out of the box’ autumn in Northland Red Devon in their element chewing the long, rank kikuyu grass down as winter closes in. Kim Newth Good autumn rain came at the right time this year to get young stock up to speed after a slow start due to a poor spring, say Colleen and Ross Hunter, of Rockview Red Devons. The couple’s 62 hectare block at Arapohue near Dargaville supports a high performing Red Devon herd including 30 spring calvers and 20 rising twoyear-old heifers, along with 10 rising one-year-old bulls and a selection of handpicked herd sires. “We had no spring flush at all and the New Year calves were 20 kilograms behind where they usually are, but then we had a good run through autumn,” says Colleen. “The grass is still pumping at the moment to be honest. We weaned the calves as normal and they were right up to weight at weaning time. They’re absolutely flying along now.” At the time of writing, in mid-June, all the stock were behind a break. It enables the farm’s kikuyu grass pastures to be grazed efficiently and ensures germinated ryegrass and clover can come up through from underneath. The farm looks to be in a very good position for spring calving. Rockview Red Devons, which recently purchased 10 late calvers, now has three different breeding lines in the herd. It has advanced considerably over the past eight or nine years thanks to artificial insemination (AI). This season, Colleen and Ross are excited to have one of their old boys back home and preparing to make his mark. “We recently had an opportunity to buy back one of our bulls, Rockview Floyd 906. When we sold him as a young bull in 2020, we couldn’t use him as he was too closely bred. He’s left outstanding progeny over the years and he’s consistent – we have a good line of females we’d like to put him over. He’s come home as a big, mature bull, weighing over one tonne, but he’s a real gentle giant.” Rockview is already looking forward to the arrival of Floyd’s first calves - from their late calving mob - at the end of 2026. There is always strong demand for Rockview’s surplus 18 month old heifers, sold in-calf as starter herds in autumn. Colleen and Ross work hard to enhance the naturally docile temperament that Red Devons are known for. “Our progeny shift farms really well, as they’ve had some handling. Ross and I enjoy working with them in the yard. We know that we have level headed, balanced animals going out the gate.” Half of the Rockview herd last year were first and second calvers. It’s a young herd, but Colleen says they produce very consistent, quality calves. “I’m always assessing the herd and everyone has to perform. The herd is an absolute delight to farm with.” A big issue in the country is drench resistance. Colleen and Ross have recently decided to go completely drench free, while supporting immunity of young stock and older cows with periodic Multimin shots. They are also drawing on the expertise of Waikato naturopath Amber MacPhail. Colleen says Amber is in a league all on her own and describes the results as an absolute game changer at Rockview. · Ground Spreading · Bulk Cartage · Limestone Supply John Dreadon Contracting: Proudly supporting Rockview Red Devons Contact John 021 273 2571 jjdreadon@xtra.co.nz TOKATOKA LIME Co Ltd Suppliers of good quality agricultural lime Contact David Dreadon 09 439 2154 028 2581 0102 Phone Neil Langlands 07877 8801 or Dan Langlands 021 0425660 Floyd at 3 and a half months old with his dam, Glen Kowhai 533.
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