Page 127 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2018

WILLIAM MUIR

OTAMATEA HEREFORDS
WAIUKU

I am a fifth generation farmer from the Waiuku area, South
Auckland. I am married to Keely with three daughters. We are
owner/operators of a 215 acre, 320 cow, split calving dairy farm.
We also lower order sharemilk on another 300 cow split calving
operation in the area. We are also responsible for multiple local
lease blocks, totalling just under 1300 acres.
Otamatea Hereford Stud has 130 cows, 60 of those
registered. We are running a basic system, taking advantage
of the strength of each land class, rearing all calves born and
selling at appropriate times. About 50 Hereford bulls are sold
each year, at two-year, 18-month and yearlings, to local dairy
farmers through private sales to repeat and new clients.
Breeding and running beef cows is an enjoyable and fitting
addition to the business we have been operating for about 20
years now. Key characteristics we concentrate on are moderate
birth rate, moderate to strong growth rates, reasonable milk,
and good colour. The Hereford breed is the most popular in the
South Auckland/North Waikato areas and Tuakau saleyards has
one of the biggest yardings of feeder calves each year.
I have been on a couple of Hereford Youth Tours, one in
the South Island and another in the Masterton/Wairarapa area.
I learned a lot from being part of these, taking a keen interest
in successful operators and applying some of their techniques
and ideas in my own business. Currently I am a committee
member of the South Auckland Hereford club.
I am very much looking forward to the upcoming trip
to Rockhampton, Australia, and am very grateful for the
opportunity to go. Seeing large lines of cattle bred for purpose,
top Australian Herefords, and mixing with like-minded people,
are big attractions for me. Again, I will be keen to bring home
new ideas to keep beef farming relevant and profitable – and to
check out some large scale beef units.

The NZ Hereford Association sincerely

appreciates Boehringer Ingelheim’s

investment in our Hereford Youth and

Ambassadors programmes.

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