26 | Komako Angus breeding operation Dave & Nicole Stuart run a breeding operation with around 75% sheep, and 25% beef. With lambing percentages running between 145% to 150% it’s a win-win. Virginia Wright RURAL PEOPLE » Komako Angus Dave and Nicole Stuart have been farming in the Pohangina Valley for the last 10 years together with their children Jake (10yrs), Ted (6yrs), and Brooke(5yrs). Tucked under the Ruahine Ranges they run a breeding operation with around 75% sheep, and 25% beef on 760 hectares, of which 320 hectares is lease land, comprising of 90% hill country and 10% flat. Their altitude varies from 250 metres above sea-level to around 600 metres with a variety of soils to match. The stony river faces are the first to dry out in the summer, but hold warmth through the winter to offer early spring growth, these give way to loamy silt soils through to heavy greywhacke mudstone. The Stuart’s farming system takes all of this into account. “Its in our best interest to farm to the soil type and the nature of the hill country. This is predominantly why we run 75% sheep, because if we have too many cattle on the heavier soils it can create damage to the soil structure and pug damage,” says Dave. The land is made up from medium to steep hill country and is classed as hard hill country (class three). t 06 357 0640 www.nla.net.nz We focus on providing business advice and accounting solutions, so our clients can focus on what they do best! Let’s start talking Totally Vets is proud to support Dave and Nicole Stuart by providing all aspects of animal health care Awapuni 06 356 5011 Taumarunui 07 895 8899 Feilding 06 323 6161 admin@totallyvets.co.nz www.totallyvets.co.nz Stephen Harris Livestock Ltd is pleased to be associated with Komako Angus i i i l i i Local Agent: Stephen Harris 027 442 3546 www.stephenharrislivestock.co.nz The Stuarts breed moderate framed sure-footed Komako Angus cattle, capable of safely grazing their way around the steep faces and grooming the pasture for the fussier sheep. They calve down 180 cows on the stonier free-draining soil, then walk them out to the hills where they are spread out through the 3500 strong Romney ewe flock and their lambs. With lambing percentages running between 145% to 150% it’s a win-win for the Stuarts as far as grazing goes. “The cows do a great job of grooming the pastures, grazing any rough feed off in the winter, and setting up the pastures for the springtime.” says Dave Dave likens the Romney sheep to his Angus cattle, as a dual-purpose sheep, with good maternal traits, such as fertility, growth, mothering and survivability, with a good hardiness about them. For their sheep they use Ngaputahi genetics. Their Komako Angus Stud was registered in 2014, this is a much more complex undertaking, but the focus on maternal traits is the same. As far as Dave’s concerned, although there is of course good value in the carcass, the Angus breed is bred for the easy doing ability and it all starts with the cow. All the Komako Angus Stud progeny are tagged and weighed at birth. The bulls’ weights are taken again at 200 days, then again at 400 days. Measurements are also taken for their IMF (Intra Muscular Fat), EMA (Eye Muscle) and their scrotum size. “Everything’s taken into account, but before that, they come from a cow that has to have proven herself with mothering ability, calving ease and temperament. We’re very hard on temperament, we have a young family that farms alongside us, we really enjoy being on farm and being able to pick out our favorite cows, with some even coming for a scratch and of course they have to be structurally sound and sure on their feet. They live on the hill for 90% of their life, so we want to be breeding props not locks,” says Dave with a laugh. “Stocky but not too high, with weight in all the right places. Efficient and functional on our sort of land.” Most of the Komako Angus Stud’s clients are farming in similar hill country, and are typically buying Komako bulls to go over their maternal cow and heifers for their own replacements. The remainder are finished on farm or sold as terminals with the advantage of the Angus premium, and that’s exactly why the Stuarts breed them. “That’s their beauty, like the Romney they’re a dual-purpose breed with good maternal traits, but also have a high value carcass. That’s why we like them,” says Dave. And with all 30 of their yearly bulls selling at the last auction for an average of more than $5400 per animal, they’re obviously not alone in that.
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