| 39 MEAT & WOOL » Hill Valley Simmentals Fell in love with the Simmental breed Hill Valley Kingston. Richard Loader Central Otago sheep and beef farmer Jimmy Hill had been buying Simmental bulls from Lone Pine in Raes Junction Valley to put over his own commercial herd of Herefords and fell in love with the Simmental breed and the high growth rate calves they produced. “The calves had good bone structure, good muscle and the growth rates were pretty special,” says Jimmy. “I was looking to add another string to the bow and mentioned to Dave from Lone Pine that if he was ever interested in selling the stud I would be interested in buying it.” Three years ago that wish came true when Dave offered Jimmy the Lone Pine Simmental stud, consisting of 90 mixed age cows, giving birth to the Hill Valley Simmental stud. This year, Jimmy has purchased a further 30 Simmental cows from the North Island, increasing his herd to120 cows and providing more selection choice when looking for bulls to enter into the on-farm bull sale. Next May will be the stud’s third on-farm sale with about 15 two-year-old bulls on offer. The bulls will be penned from 9.00am and the auction will commence at 11.00am, with the Bidr on-line system used in parallel to make the bulls available to farmers and buyers who can’t be on farm. “In our first sale people were keen to see what we were all about. Last year we had a good clearance, selling all bulls. We have a few buyers from the Wairarapa and some from Canterbury, but most of our buyers are Otago based. We aim to breed a good quiet animal, that has good growth rates, with a focus on IMF and bone structure. Really, a good bull for other commercial farmers to use as a terminal sire. In terms of being a stud breeder, I’m just new to Simmentals, but I’m keen to try different things to put a good terminal bull out to commercial farmers, and I’m learning a lot about the stud.” Passionate about the breed, Jimmy says Simmentals are often underrated but offer commercial cattle farmers so many opportunities when put over other breeds, particularly in regard to high growth rates. HUNTER CONTRACTING LTD CALL FOR YOUR BOOM SPRAYING NEEDS! Matt - 0221077815 | hunter.contracting20@gmail.com Hunter Contracting is based in the Teviot Valley, covering Central Otago. We provide top quality boom spraying service. We have a Tractor unit and Truck unit too! Lindisfarne Farms Ltd For all your baleage and harvesting needs - Servicing the Teviot Valley - Phone Daniel on 027 229 7258 Davidson Honda Alexandra 03 448 6374 SALES & SERVICE “The Simmental genetics will improve commercial farmers calves and if they are fattening them get them off farm quicker.” Jimmy and his wife Laurie farm 1900 hectares in Teviot, near Millers Flat, and along with the stud, the land is also home to 4000 romney ewes and their replacements, along with commercial Herefords. “We’re pretty lucky with a good balance of country including flat land of which 100 hectares is irrigated, some early middle country that is rolling and peaks at 600 metres above sea level, and some steeper country at 800 metres above sea level.” Along with his stud and the challenge of improving its genetics, enhancing the farm and making it more efficient, are the key farming drivers for Jimmy. “We also have two children, our son Regan 15 and daughter Bella 13, and they both love coming out on the farm with me and that makes it pretty special too.” “The calves had good bone structure, good muscle and the growth rates were pretty special.”
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