16 | Top bull’s progeny creating a stir Elgin Stud bull sale includes the first batch of offspring from top-selling two-year-old Angus bull Karahau Olympic Q327. Karen Phelps This year’s sale will be an especially exciting one for Elgin Stud’s bull buyers. It will include the first batch of offspring from top-selling two-year-old Angus bull Karahau Olympic Q327, which Elgin Angus owns with Tapiri Angus. At $106,000 Karahau Olympic holds the on-farm sale record across all beef breeds in New Zealand. “His progeny are a stand out with great bodies, put together well and an unbelievable nature – just like their sire. They have a powerful presence about them,” says Sam. Also featuring at this year’s sale – to be held 3pm 11 June on farm – are sons of Taimate (a thick set, big boned South Island bred bull with an impressive data set), KayJay Steakhouse, Rangatira 592 and Karahau 610. The sale will also be live-streamed on Bidr. With over 70 years of breeding behind it, Elgin Stud gives clients and bull buyers certainty in what they’re buying, says Sam. Sam and wife Sarah are the sixth generation on the 340ha farm in Elsthorpe and in their seventh year of ownership. The stud has a proud family tradition, started by Sam’s grandfather Jock in 1952 and carried on by Sam’s parents Mick and Barb. The farming enterprise also encompasses calving 140 cows and heifers and lambing 700 ewes. Sam also trades anywhere between 400-800 lambs per year along with growing 15-20ha of peas for McCain Foods. The family focuses on producing good functional cattle that are easy doing, produce plenty of meat and have a good temperament with a nice head and jaw. The female side is given just as much importance and Sam is particular about which females he chooses to keep. “The females are just as important as the males in the breeding. RURAL PEOPLE » Elgin Stud We look for a moderate frame that can rear a good calf and get back in calf. “The cows are definitely not pampered. They are run on the hills and get a bit of hay and baleage in winter and that’s about it. We want to produce hardy cattle that can be a natural forager,” explains Sam. Sam and Sarah are always looking to improve and do things better but at present recovery work after the cyclone is the priority. They have been busy clearing drains and silt from the flats. “The cyclone caused flooding with 60-80ha under two metres of water. RURAL ADVICE HERE TO HELP TIME ACCOUNTING MEANINGFUL INFORMATION HUMAN CONNECTION REAL REAL REAL LEADERS BM Accounting Ltd | Havelock North 06 876 7159 | Central Hawke's Bay 06 857 8901 | www.bm.co.nz BUSINESS ADVISORS AND ACCOUNTANTS Tony Mossman . Kate Laugesen . Alan Maxwell The silt has done the most damage and getting the land back into shape is taking a while. We removed some of the silt and are continually cropping and getting dry matter back into the soil again. “We are also trying to get drainage sorted. The yield was down with the peas this year and we still have paddocks we need to cultivate and re-sow. We are short of a bit of feed too and haven’t been able to trade as many lambs.” Sam and dad Mick are the main workers on the farm with Sarah helping out as well on her breaks from her teaching position. “She’s my head shepherd in the holidays and also does the data input for the stud,” says Sam. The long-term goal for the couple is to buy or lease more property in the area to grow the scope of their operation.
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