32 | Out to increase genetic gain and profit Sam above Dunstan Creek. Tracey Edwardes MEAT & WOOL » Longacre Station Proudly supporting Long Acre Station Earnscleugh bulls are renowned for Our environment prevents our sale bulls being overgrown and this converts to very low breakdown rates. Earnscleugh provides Composite bulls for their hybrid vigour. This improves female fertility and weaning weights per cow Earnscleugh Station merino stud produces the following sires Utrafine Superfine Medium Mid micron Ram sale in January. Ram Sales are in January Email Alistair Campbell for details ecgenetics@farmside.co.nz Bull sale in June Contact Duncan Campbell or Keith Willson WANAKA SPRAYING 027 435 6289 “Your broadacre spraying specialists” Proudly supporting LONGACRE STATION LIMITED A global financial career came full circle for Tim Davis, on returning to the farm - with number-crunching wisdom. Longacre Station, established in 1960 by his grandfather, has joined the Informing NZ Beef Programme this year, to strategically increase genetic gain and profits. The 49-year-old worked for Westpac in Sydney in 2001 as a Forward Foreign Exchange Trader, then for ANB Amro, relocating amidst the financial crisis to Singapore, then Connecticut with RBS. “The banking heydays were good fun, with bonuses and a fast-paced life. When increased regulation took the fun away it was time for plan B - the home farm. So in 2012 we went from living an hour out of New York to an hour out of Cromwell.” Tim and his Irish wife Julieanne then moved to Wanaka. The 40 minute drive from the Lindis Valley farm is now used as ‘office time’ making phone calls. “It was easier for our children Hugh, Sam and Ellie to attend local schools and sports. Hugh now boards at Christ’s College.” Tim bounces innovative ideas off his Farm Manager of 30 years, Dave Trevathan. “He has looked after our 3340ha since my father retired in 2005. I’m the extra labour unit and oversee mainly organisational and strategic things. Dave has that stockman-ship eye, while I’m the numbers person. We also employ a stock manager and a Growing Future Farmers student. “We buy the best genetic bulls possible. Our composite cattle from Earnscleugh Station retain 70% hybrid vigour, essentially our free lunch, with greater performance and efficiency without the need for a cross-breeding programme. “We have 160 cows to a composite bull, while 60 heifers go to an Angus to make black calves which we sell as yearlings. Our composites have been low on intramuscular fat, so a high IMF Angus is a quick boost to these sale progeny as we slowly increase the breeding herd’s data.” He says many important traits aren’t visible, so genomic data will allow us to select for these. “At present we keep the best-looking heifers without knowing carcass or maternal traits. The Beef NZ Programme will allow us to select heifers with the best genes. We will aim to drop steer finishing time, while increasing carcass traits to improve system efficiency and returns. “At $50 to genetically test each calf, the upfront cost will be paid for with increased genetic gain and thus a more profitable herd down the track.” Always seeking opportunities, he focuses on efficiency, cost reduction, income growth and the cumulating financial effect of doing many small things well. A focus is on increasing wool under 13 micron in the merino flock for Italian contracts. “It’s exciting pushing boundaries to get finer genetics. There can be a $200/kg difference in half a micron. The finer sheep can be a little fragile, and with $200 lambs this season the gap in revenue with the base 16 micron flock is not as great. “We’re not looking to expand the farm though. Julieanne is in remission after her intensive breast cancer battle, so we’ll use more time making family memories.” He says in financial trading you take risks, make decisions, and live with them. “It’s similar with family and farm life - so don’t worry about something until it happens. “We buy the best genetic bulls possible. Our composite cattle from Earnscleugh Station retain 70% hybrid vigour, essentially our free lunch, with greater performance and efficiency without the need for a crossbreeding programme.”
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