| 53 Dedicated to producing Hereford cattle To ensure the quality of its herd, the stud has implemented rigorous performance recording, including scanning for carcass traits in both heifers and bulls Karen Phelps MEAT & WOOL » Flagstaff Herefords Flagstaff Herefords at Mahitahi, South Westland, has recently concluded its annual on-farm sale. Led by Thomas Condon, the stud has been dedicated to producing Hereford cattle that consistently meets the commercial requirements of clients. This year’s sale featured a selection of top-quality bulls bred to embody the stud’s commitment to producing superior genetics. People primarily came to the 2023 sale from Canterbury, Central Otago and the West Coast and bidr gave people further afield access to the sale. “We’re very happy with where the cattle in the stud are at but we’re always trying to improve each year and breed even better cattle,” says Thomas. Established in 1976 by Thomas, the Flagstaff Stud has upheld a legacy of breeding Hereford cattle. From the early days the stud incorporated both polled and horned foundation females. The decision was made to focus on polled cattle in recent years and polled sires are only used now with a focus on top-end Hereford genetics. Thomas says that Flagstaff Herefords prides itself on producing sires that not only meet the market’s demand but also consistently yield exceptional results. The first emphasis is on fertility, easy calving and getting live calves on the ground. Flagstaff Herefords weaned 100% calves off the cows it wintered last year. This season it had four empty cows out of 150. The next focus is mothering and milk producing ability to grow calves to a good weight in the first year to maximise efficiency of cattle. “We’ve been selecting for increased IMF for years so that, now niche markets are demanding marbling, our sires can help our clients benefit from these premiums.” To ensure the quality of its herd, the stud has implemented rigorous performance recording, including scanning for carcass traits in both heifers and bulls for many years. This dedication to data-driven breeding practices allows Flagstaff Herefords to continuously improve and refine its genetic selection, explains Thomas. Flagstaff Herefords places great importance on temperament, adaptability and producing hardy and resilient cattle. Thomas says the stud’s stringent selection criteria ensure that only the most efficient and docile cattle make the cut, guaranteeing a low-maintenance herd.Additionally it prioritises attributes such as milk estimated breeding value (EBV), a strong jaw and muzzle, good udder and teat conformation, and desirable eye setting and full eye pigment in its breeding females. For sires the goal is temperament, balance, good capacity, neck extension and walking ability along with other key traits. Thomas’ children are carrying on the family tradition making them the fifth generation to pursue a farming life at Mahitahi. Daughter Catherine and her husband Simon have been finishing and breeding cattle at a nearby property. Son Tom operates Flagstaff Earthmoving, which is based on Thomas’ farm. Thomas’ partner Kate is also very involved on the farm working full time in the operation.
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