| 23 Murray Greys hitting the mark in Southland The Kings, who farm near Balfour in northern Southland, began farming Murray Greys more than a decade ago. Kim Newth Only the best beef makes it into the Alliance Pure South Handpicked programme. Southland sheep and beef farmers Elliot and Janine King are proud that their Murray Grey cattle consistently make the grade for the premium grass-fed beef brand. The Kings, who farm near Balfour in northern Southland, began farming Murray Greys more than a decade ago after buying a small group of in-calf heifers from the Torrisdale stud in Winton. The breed is renowned for their hardiness, quiet disposition and good calving ease, producing calves that are easy to rear and grow well. Adding to the appeal is the quality of their red meat. In Australia, DNA testing has identified genes for both tenderness and marbling and the NZ Murray Grey Cattle Society is also reporting what appears to be a high incidence of tenderness genes in Murray Greys here. It is consistent with the results Elliot and Janine are getting from their cattle. “There are quite specific criteria around carcass weight, colour and marbling that our Murray Greys have to meet for the Pure South Handpicked programme,” says Elliot. “To be fair, the only ones we’re supplying to be killed are the rising two-yearold heifers that we don’t require as replacements. It’s the poorer ones we’re killing but they still go so well and we get paid a premium for them.” Farmers in the programme must also meet robust farm assurance standards. Elliot and Janine have long been careful stewards of their land and stock. In 2010, they were the supreme winners at the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards and they are actively involved today with the Balfour Catchment Group in their area. Their 308-ha sheep and beef property called Pahiwi, on the lower flanks of the Hokonui Hills, has been in Elliot’s family for four generations. Elliot says they are calving 56 Murray Greys this year, with the first calf born in early August. “That was 16 days early, so that was a bit of a surprise but the calf looks great.” From midOctober, the couple sell bulls as yearlings through PGG Wrightson, mostly to dairy buyers with a few MEAT & WOOL » Elliot King also going to beef buyers to put over beef heifers. Elliot observes that dairy can be a tricky market compared to beef. “I’m really grateful to my dairy buyers, but with so much turnover in that industry you might only get each individual buyer for two or three years before there’s a changeover and a new contract milker or sharemilker coming in with Derek Eaton 027 437 5706 Proudly supporting Elliot King 2745 Waimea Highway, RIVERSDALE | Ph. 03 202 4044 | andrews.transport@hwr.co.nz • Livestock • Bulk and General Cartage • Fert. Cartage & Spreading We are a locally owned and operated company servicing and supporting the rural communities of the Waimea Valley and greater Northern Southland Area. For all your sheep shearing requirements within the Southland region, contact Andrew at: Hamish de Lautour 027 447 2815 | 06 261 3826 hamish@tewhangai.co.nz James Brennan 027 635 4567 manager@tewhangai.co.nz www.tewhangai.co.nz Pleased to supply high performing genetics to Elliot King TE WHANGAI ROMNEYS different ideas.” Along with the cattle, the family’s farm carries some 2800 ewes and 750 hoggets, predominantly hardy Romneys. The first wave of lambs born to older ewes started in early August, with the rest of the flock due to start on 5th September. Meanwhile, the couple’s daughters are now away studying in Christchurch, with Hayley, 21, in her last year of teacher training and Mya, 19, in her first year at Lincoln University studying animal science. Their son Oliver, 16, is at high school in Year 11. “Up until now it has worked out well as they’ve all been here for the holidays and able to help us with the big jobs like tailing and weaning!”
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