| 45 RURAL PEOPLE » Westgate Farm Business synchronised to meet demand Westgate Farm’s Sophia Hunt has changed her breeding programme to diversify into the dairy beef market. Kelly Deeks Bidding farewell to the bobby truck has given Sophia Hunt of Westgate Farm the opportunity to create a diversi ed business that is synchronised to meet market demand, and running like a well-oiled machine. Sophia has been back at home working the family farm at Orakau, Te Awamutu for four years. Westgate Farm has already been in the Hunt family for more than 100 years, and Sophia has a rm goal to keep it there at least until she is 72, when 150 years of Hunt family ownership will be marked. The immediate issue facing Sophia when she came home was getting rid of that bobby truck. “As a result, our breeding programme has changed,” she says. “I’ve bred what I consider my best cows with sexed Friesian genetics, and anything I don’t want a replacement from I’ve mated with a beefy, whether that is a Hereford, a Charolais, an Angus, or a Belgian Blue. With the Belgian Blue, Samen has bulls that produce low birth weight calves so they’re great over cross breds and ideal for rst time calvers. With their short-gestation, I can get all of those cows cycling back into the herd earlier and tighten the calving spread for the following season.” Early mating with a Friesian bull gets those calves on the ground early, and if Sophia wants to sell Friesian bull calves there is a market for them up until the end of July, then it goes quiet. “The Friesian bull market has a shorter window because the ones that are feeding them are wanting to take weaner calves. But I can keep selling bull beef until September or October.” Sophia will trial Angus across her R2s this year, and while many would shy away from the big beef breed over a rst time calver, Westgate Farm cows have a big average live weight of 650kgs, and Sophia’s stock agent Stephen Weck is working on identifying a low birth weight Angus for her to use. “I’m crossing my ngers, but our cows are not your typical New Zealand Friesians. Having fully grown heifers makes a huge difference.” Sophia attributes the size of her cows half to genetics, and half to feeding. The heifers born last year are already looking nice and grown and will be able to calve down at 20 months, rather than 24 months. “I can bring it forward a couple of months, get them in the vat sooner, and start improving on their genetic material sooner.” The Kiwi Blue bulls being produced are fetching good prices at the bull sales, some are getting $300 for a 10-day-old calf, where a Friesian bull calf can go for $120. Sophia says they are a docile breed and really nice to work with, and their muscular constitution provides an energy store for the animals to draw on during illness or drought. Sophia is excited and a bit anxious about making changes on her family farm, but feels well supported with stock agent Stephen Weck and also Samen helping to nd the bulls and buyers she needs to make it work. Proudly helping Sophia and Margie with their present and future Accounting needs. Michael Houghton - Director M: (027) 289 9857 E: michael@cap7.co.nz A C C O U N T I N G “I’ve bred what I consider my best cows with sexed Friesian genetics, and anything I don’t want a replacement from I’ve mated with a beefy, whether that is a Hereford, a Charolais, an Angus, or a Belgian Blue.” Stephen Weck Livestock is proud to be involved with Westgate Farm M 027 455 1106 E stephenweck@gmail.com
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