Page 133 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2018

Our Breeders

Northland Hereford

Breeders Club 2017 Mini-Tour

WORDS LEEANNE McINNES PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED

PICTURED: The Wyborn stud comprises 45 breeding cows plus replacements and bull – 130 head in total.

ON SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2017, the Northland Hereford MARUA HEREFORDS
Breeders Club held its annual Hereford mini tour, this time The Marua stud was established by Ian and Leeanne McInnes
focused on studs in the Whangarei area. The three studs that in 1995 with four rising yearling heifers purchased from Brian
were available to view on the day are all situated within 15 and Jean Clements – Matapouri Polled Herefords. However,
kilometres of each other, which made for a relaxing, enjoyable purebred commercial Herefords had been farmed on the
day. property since about 1970, first by Ian’s uncle and then
subsequently by Ian’s father.
The farm is approximately 340 hectares, 100 hectares
WYBORN POLLED HEREFORDS effective, and consists predominantly of kikuyu pasture spread
The first stop of the day was to the Wyborn stud, owned by throughout native bush.
Penny and Brian Coutts, and located at Otonga. As at the end of March 2017 the stud was running 66
Brian and Penny established Wyborn Polled Herefords breeding cows, 10 rising two-year heifers, four bulls and
in 1995 with the purchase of heifer calves from the replacement stock totalling about 140 head. Approximately 25
Clements family’s Matapouri stud. Yearling heifers were yearling bulls are sold annually. The Marua stud aims to breed
subsequently purchased from the Midlands stud of John sound, functional cattle that will produce bulls suitable for the
Walter of Onewhero. dairy industry.
As at 1 January 2018, the stud comprised 45 breeding After spending some time viewing cattle on the home
cows plus replacements and bulls, giving a total of 130 property, the group drove further up the road where Marua
head, which are run on 75 hectares of steep country on the Herefords had another mob of cows and calves on show.
Otonga property. Following this, the group then moved on to the third and final
In addition, 350 head of fattening cattle are run on the stop on the tour, which was to the Matapouri Polled Herefords
remaining 149ha of flat to rolling pasture. A further 20ha stud owned by the Clements family.
remains in native bush. The annual rainfall in the area
averages 1650mm.
After enjoying a lovely morning tea put on by Penny and LEFT TO RIGHT: Wyborn Polled Herefords was established by Brian
and Penny Coutts in 1995; The Marua stud aims to breed sound,
Brian, the group moved on to the next stud, Marua Herefords. functional cattle that will produce bulls suitable for the dairy industry.

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