| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Aysgarth Angus “We’re pretty tough in our selection of heifers - their conformation has to be good and also that they need to be well fleshed.” Accidental purchase launches Aysgarth Angus Waimata 466 grazing happily with his girls. Kim Bowden Waikato Angus breeder Dianne Stockdale takes a back-to-basics approach, focusing on structural soundness and what she can see in front of her rather than chasing Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). From a 170-acre block beside Pirongia Forest Park, Dianne runs a pure New Zealand Angus stud, Aysgarth Angus. Dianne describes the elevated land as being “not good finishing country” - too cold and too elevated. Instead, Resurgam Angus takes their bulls through to finishing, with the animals presented at the annual Resurgam Angus sale under Dianne’s stud logo. She keeps 40 breeding cows and replacement heifers. “We’re pretty tough in our selection of heifers - their conformation has to be good and also that they need to be well fleshed,” she says. The stud began in the early 1990s with what Dianne calls an “accidental” purchase of seven Waihohonu heifers. “When I looked up, the auctioneer said, ‘They’re yours’. I wasn’t planning that at all,” she says. “It was pretty tough to come home and tell Steve I’ve just spent all our Christmas money.” Those heifers provided the foundation for a herd that has been built up over three decades. Unlike many breeders who have integrated fast-growing North American genetics, Dianne has remained fiercely NZ-made sourcing bulls from local studs like Resurgam, Kenhardt, and Waimata. “I wanted to stick with traditional Aberdeen Angus and use the bloodlines that were free of American influence,” she says. “We fell in love with the animals. Our females are very feminine, and our males are very masculine, and that’s how it should be. I’m really strong on structure.” This commitment often puts her at odds with the EBV system, which statistically rewards the rapid growth traits common in overseas lines. However, she was reassured by a recent visit by Ian Walsh of Falkirk Genetics, who she says “couldn’t believe” how structurally sound her females were. “He gave us a boost because the New Zealand genetics are getting stung by the EBV system,” she says. “Buyers out there now are focused on EBV and we’re being left right out but what we’ve got is a fine herd. We’re very proud of them.” Her concern is that a narrow focus on growth data compromises the “balance” of the animal. She draws a parallel with the dairy industry, where she feels a singular emphasis on milk production eventually weakened the cows’ physical frames. “I really think that the EBV focus can destroy the structural integrity of the national herd,” she says. “If you sort your structure out, everything else falls into place.” For Dianne, it all comes back to the type of animal she wants to see in the paddock. Her breeding decisions were influenced early on by a simple philosophy: “You breed animals that you like to look at”. She uses Angus ward tours to see how other breeders approach their herds. Her advice to the next generation is simple: get out on those Angus tours. She believes observing the physical variation between herds is the best way to develop the “eye” for an animal. In her view, the industry has lost something valuable by moving away from the old inspector system. “The old system of having inspectors help select the pedigree herd is a good concept,” she says. “New people who are setting out – they need to have somebody who can appraise the animals structurally.” Sean & Jodi Brosnahan Waitangihia Station 386 Wainui Road, Ohope 3121 m: 021 997 519 e: sean@resurgamangus.com QUALITY ANIMAL GENETICS Contact Ian Walsh - 07 877 8345 | 0274 809807 | e: falkirk1@xtra.co.nz | www.falkirkgenetics.co.nz Less Feed, Better Returns: The Proven Economics of Optimal Genetics IAN WALSH The Falkirk Index System revolutionises livestock evaluation using advanced ultrasound scanning technology, making it easier for farmers to assess and rank their animals based on retail meat value.
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