20 | Genetics in high demand in NZ and Australia Sam, Joan, Neil and Roddy Kjestrup with Sam & Roddys children Sullivan, Polly & Zara. Russell Fredric RURAL PEOPLE » KayJay Angus Wairarapa cattle stud KayJay Angus has become renowned for producing exceptional stock whose genetics are in high demand in both New Zealand and Australia. The stud is located on a 590 hectare farm run by Roddy and Sam Kjestrup along with Roddy’s parents Neil and Joan Kjestrup. KayJay’s annual on-farm two-year-old bull sale in June is a big event for the Wainuioru community, this year attracting 200-plus potential buyers looking to secure moderate-framed cattle that will add great depth of body and back end muscling to their herd. While Roddy says the overall prices paid were “phenomenal”, it was the confidence among clients and their willingness to invest in KayJay genetics that was the biggest endorsement. The average price achieved across the 42 two year old’s sold was $16,300, with the top price of $46,000 paid by Turihau Angus of Gisborne, the oldest Angus cattle stud in Australasia. Roddy is equally optimistic about what he is seeing in the lead up to what will be KayJay’s largest team of sale bulls coming through to next year’s sale. “I think as long as clients are not only seeing the benefits on-farm but are also being rewarded for investing in these genetics themselves through demand and premiums in the marketplace, then they will continue to entrust and invest in our cattle.” Kayjay Angus’ genetics is now so well recognised, some of that demand is coming from Australia. Early this year KayJay sold the exclusive semen rights in Australia for rising two year-old Minister of KayJay U708 to Coffin Creek Angus of Mudgee, New South Wales, for $80,000. Coffin Creek owners Harry and Jack White purchased the semen rights for U708 after they inspected him and the KayJay herd in April this year. They described U708 as one of the most anticipated New Zealand sires for many years, a bull with a faultless progeny history, impeccable temperament, sound structure, a balanced data set, elite maternal and fertility traits and “whose pedigree contains a wonderful blend of Australian and New Zealand sires”. KayJay Angus also aims to offer its clients genetics that breed dams that survive and thrive in every farm’s environment and systems. “The key then is that female can go on and produce cattle that are of value at every age and stage in their lifetime”, highlighting the key synergy between selecting a sire to breed the right dam, Roddy says. “I think the two go together in terms of the type of animal you’re trying to breed to suit a certain end goal. For us it’s breeding that moderate frame, but with the right shape. If you can breed the right shape then a moderate, smaller animal will still weigh the same as a bigger framed animal.” Roddy defines the right shape as having depth of body and muscling from the heart room right through to the flank while being square over top. “The width right through the animal along the top and in the back end is key for us, but probably the depth is the point of difference with our cattle. We’ve got a really deep female and a lot of our clients understand the value of this when selecting future sires. Deeper stock weigh more at every stage of their lifetime.” KayJay’s annual sale is held on the Friday of Kings Birthday weekend each year and Roddy WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS Let’s talk. PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH KAYJAY ANGUS AS THE PREFERRED RAM SUPPLIER OF SUPERIOR TEXEL AND SUFTEX GENETICS SALE MOBS 2025/26 120+ TEXELS 100+ SUFTEX S T E WA R T C O WA N A N D Y P H I L L I P S 0 2 7 2 1 1 3 9 3 6 0 2 7 2 3 8 4 9 6 1 t e x e l s 4 u @ g m a i l . c o m h a l f y 4 9 0 @ g m a i l . c o m anticipates about 55 two year old bulls will be on offer next year, compared to the 42 sold this year. “It’s going to be quite a jump [in numbers] for us moving forward. We’ve waited until we feel we’ve had the depth in the programme to be able to bring that many two year-olds through to sale. “We’ve probably had the demand now for a few years where there’s been a lot more buyers than bulls. With the depth of quality in the team coming through, the time is right.”
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