| 79 Expects to offer a similar number this year At 88 Helen is somewhat of a legend in not just the farming community. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » Pyramid Downs Southland Hereford breeder Helen Miller is optimistic that the increase in meat prices might have a flow on effect for the 31st bull sale of her stud, Pyramid Downs, this year. “You’ve just got to hope don’t you,” she says with a laugh. Last year 30 two year old bulls were offered for sale with every one snapped up at auction and she expects to offer a similar number this year. It was a special sale for Helen with farming cousins from Scotland coming out to mark the occasion. “They had been to New Zealand years ago and wanted to come again so they chose to come at bull sale time. They found it very interesting. My father originally came from Scotland as a boy.” At 88 Helen is somewhat of a legend in not just the farming community. A couple of years ago television programme Seven Sharp came out to film a story on her. “The interviewers were townies and found it very interesting. I just dealt with it all [the attention] the way you do.” Helen who has been on her farm for 60 years had her first sale when an agent saw her exhibiting at the Wanaka A & P Show. He encouraged her to have her own sale noting how the bulls compared favourably with other exhibitor bulls. The 250-hectare Riversdale property officially became a recognised stud in 1979 when Helen joined NZ Hereford. The operation began in 1972 and has grown to encompass around 100 breeding cows plus heifers, alongside 800 Perendale ewes. The success stems from Helen’s commitment to breeding cattle that thrive in New Zealand conditions. Her philosophy centres on selecting animals that perform naturally on grass-based systems. The stud’s emphasis on Breedplan data, structural soundness, and cow efficiency has earned numerous accolades over the years. Helen knows what she likes when it comes to buying stud animals to enhance her genetics: “There are some studs I won’t buy from because they push their animals. If you drive into a stud breeder’s yard and see grain silos it’s an indication they have given their animals an extra boost. But you definitely don’t see a grain silo on this property. We want animals that produce without high inputs. “I have this spring just bought another stud bull. He was a Cape Thorne bull. The price was agreed between the farmer and I, no agent involved. I had been to Cape Thorne many years ago and I always try to do something a little different and this bull seemed to be a different bull from what other Southern breeders have. He had all the right features I look for.” Last year Helen spent the money she had earmarked for a new 4x4 on buying an adjacent 10 hectare block. That has now successfully been incorporated into her farm and now she’s bought the 4x4 as well. She remains pragmatic about the challenges of farming for 60 years. “When you’re 88 you’ve faced lots of problems. As someone said to me once ‘life’s just one darn thing after another’. But that’s not very ladylike,” she says with a laugh. This year the Pyramid Downs bull sale is scheduled for Wednesday October 14th at 11:30am. & Riversdale, Southland BROOKLANDS FARM INAUGURAL ON FARM RAM SALE Tuesday 1st December Inspections from 11am on sale day, sale begins at 1pm Prior inspections are welcome by arrangement Location: 26 McEvedys Road, Southbridge, Canterbury Poll Dorset Rams Poll Dorset x Texel Rams Suffolk x Texel Rams All rams are eye muscle scanned and fully recorded with SIL Also available for sale are Suffolk Rams presented by WJ & H Millar of Stony Gully Stud presented by AM & PT Mcllraith Contact: Rural Livestock: Brooklands Farm Sarah Ormandy 027 396 1517 & Tracy Mcllraith 027 200 0863 Anthony Cox, Genetics Specialist - 027 208 3071 Brent Mcaulay, Genetics Representative - 021 220 0850 James Kenny, Genetics Representative - 027 473 0865 Gary Batchelor, Livestock Agent - 027 489 3265 Hamish Millar 027 686 1242 & Will Millar 027 355 2827 Stony Gully PYRAMID DOWNS Polled Herefords 31ST ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE TO BE HELD ON THE PROPERTY AT PYRAMID, RIVERSDALE, SOUTHLAND. SALE DATE: WEDNESDAY 14th OCTOBER 2026 2 YEAR OLD POLLED HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE Contact Helen Miller: Ph 027 431 9759 356 Hardiman Road, RD7, Gore
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=