| 49 Tom put his ‘adding value through selecting EBV’s’ theory to the test last winter. MEAT & WOOL » Kakahu Angus 39 George Street, Timaru 7910 | PO Box 125, Timaru 7940 | Email: hcmail@hcpartners.co.nz Phone: 03 687 9222 | Website: www.hcpartners.co.nz Partners: Paul Wolffenbu�el | Jasveen Singh | Nick Krivan | Kalpesh Hari |Mark Evans Consultants: Craig Copland | Duncan Brand Are proud to provide accountancy, tax and business advice services for Kakahu Angus Proud to support Kakahu Angus Phone - 03 685 4880 Mobile - 027 280 4831 Rd 17, Fairlie 7987 PROUDLY SUPPORTING KAKAHU ANGUS When it comes to the transport of stud livestock you can’t go past Downlands Deer and Studstock. During the past 40 years, we have pioneered the way in studstock transportation with purpose built trucks, calm expert livestock handlers, efficient nationwide transport routing and now with visual tracking from pick up to delivery. Talk to Downlands Deer and Studstock today to ensure your livestock arrives in the best condition possible. YOU NEED THE BEST. TO LOOK AFTER THE BEST. Kakahu bulls sell for about breed average so their genetics don’t cost a lot more than anyone else’s. One key EBV that can add value to breeders’ bottom line is carcasse weight, selecting for carcasses that hang up heavier than those of other same liveweight animals. Tom put his ‘adding value through selecting EBV’s’ theory to the test last winter looking at the carcasse opportunity they offer their buyers, and came up with the following numbers “The average cow/calf herd is around 300 cows, and with a calving rate of around 94% which is about average for our clients, they have around 140 males and 140 females. Then looking at the steers alone going to the works at 18 months we aim for a 300kg carcasse weight. If the Schedule is $5.50 a kg that’s around $1650 each. Most farmers are doing around 54% on their dressing weight whereas we aim for a 58% dressout rate which is quite achievable, that’s 4% higher and at a $5.50 payout that’s $66 per head. Times that by 140 animals that’s $9240 extra for the year on doing nothing but having the genetics. Extrapolate that over your farming career of say 25 years times $9240 that’s $230,000 that you’ve made extra for doing absolutely nothing.” Two more EBV’s Tom believes repay having attention paid to them are feed efficiency whereby a lower EBV shows a cow that puts the same amount of weight on while eating less feed than another; and the mature cow weight. “Look at the mature cow weight when buying bulls. A smaller mature cow weight with high growth will more likely produce more efficient cattle than heavy cows on your hills. The key is high 400 day weight, low mature cow weight, and high carcasse weight. With those three combined with ease of calving you’ve got a very efficient animal.” It’s hard to argue with Tom’s maths, the EBV’s resulting from years of breeding that sit behind it, and Tom’s relentless pursuit of opportunities through genetics that can enhance the bottom line without costing a lot more money. In seven months time they expect to have their latest crop of 75 to 80 Kakahu Angus bulls for sale at their on-farm auction in June 2025.
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