| 29 The 5 Ms that matter with breed Sue Russell AGRI-TOURISM » Makoura Lodge / Westwood Shorthorns for family Boasting to be the most Western Shorthorn Stud in New Zealand, Anita Erskine says, in her mind, there is no better cattle than the Shorthorn, the oldest breed in New Zealand, first recorded to set foot on NZ soils in December 1814. Shorthorns were originally known as Durham cattle. Her enthusiasm for the breed and its capabilities is palpable when she shares a little of her farming journey. She also points out a quirky bit of geography possibly little understood. “All the railway south of Dunedin is actually further west than the West Coast above Fiordland, so we’re really a long way west down here in Tuatapere, Southland.” Anita also points out that there are not a lot of Shorthorn breeders left, with 64 members, but not all carrying registered herds. She is also very firm about what matters to her in the breed – calling it the Five M’s: Maturity, Mothering, Milking, Muscling and Marbling. On commercial standards its not a large herd, calving approximately 40 stud and 80 commercial cows & heifers, but Anita says the fact they take all calves through to either be replacement heifers or for fattening adds more income to the bottom-line. The breed also goes a long way back in Anita’s own family, with Grandpa Ben Erskine buying a whole mob of pure bred shorthorn cows in the early 1950s. “We’ve stuck to the breed ever since. It was in the 1990’s I decided it would be nice to have a Stud of my own.” So Anita bought cows from around New Zealand to establish Westwood Shorthorns. “It’s not a large Stud by any means but it does mean I can take one or two to shows if I want to. That’s always enjoyable and also to see what the other breeders are producing. You meet new people, friendships form, and if you don’t get out to these things its very easy just to always stay on the farm.” At the Gore A & P Show Anita showed a heifer calf which impressed the judges and took out the top award. That heifer calf also came second in Westwood shorthorn steers at 16 months old that hung up at 294kgs at the freezing works. the pair’s competition with another calf. At the Invercargill show that same heifer came in third in the all-breeds. “I was really pleased with her as her AI sire dates back to the 1990’s; back to the older genetics.” Anita is quite philosophical about how improving breeding worth needs to happen. “You can’t push one trait too much too quickly because some other desirable trait will suffer. For instance, if you push growth too hard you’ll lose the easy-doing ability.” And when looking at a new bull to potentially mate her cows to, Anita is careful to assess several qualities. She looks for ‘attitude. Is the bull quiet and relaxed? Then she looks at the feet and the jaw and she also assesses the overall frame size in relation to the lay of the land on her farm. Anita knows that beyond all the information at arm’s reach with respect to EBV’s its also important to step back and assess the animal from a physical standpoint. “EBV’s are just a tool, they are not everything.” Shorthorns traditionally are used to cross with other breeds and the Shorthorn Association, of which Anita is very involved, has engaged in a research programme to prove the breed’s value. “We’re doing a beef progeny trail. Four hundred cows have been AI’d to 8 different Shorthorn bulls, also an Angus and Hereford bull, to give a comparison.” All stud calves are weighted at birth, and depending on the season, if a bull calf is above a certain weight, it becomes a steer, as commercial buyers do not want heavy birth weights. This season Anita has sold more yearlings than ever before. She normally takes stock through to 18 months, but clients seem to want them as yearlings these days. “I advertise on the Shorthorn website, which lists all the pedigree and genetic information buyers need to make a purchase decision from.” Anita farms along side two siblings, Quinton & Eric, something she says might be considered unusual. “We all have our roles and get along well, with our specific responsibilities.” On top of the Shorthorns, Anita also has a Coloured Sheep stud, known for their distinctive and specific coloured patches Following a drought the farm has changed its practices somewhat. “Now we put the hoggets out for about four months grazing after winter. It allows us the ability to make balage earlier in the season, which gave us 0800 22 5899 03 225 8356 Otautau | 03 225 5899 Pukemaori admin@kingsrural.co.nz | kingsrural.co.nz STOCK / BULK • FERTILISER • GRAVEL CONTRACTING • TRANSPORTING RURAL TRANSPORT the ability to fatten most of our lambs. We sold ewe with lambs at foot also which freed up paddocks to make hay.” Anita is one of those farmers who believes in the farming sector. She wouldn’t want to be anywhere else and enjoys most every moment of every day as it comes. Like any farmers though she is frustrated at the endless paper work. Guests can enjoy meat from the farm and fresh vegetables and eggs from the garden and chicken run.
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