Page 126 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

move the cattle on before the summer so they can focus on
finishing lambs.
The Steeles have 329 mixed-age cows, which go to the bull
on 20 December and in 2018 scanned 88%. The last group of
the 136 R2 heifers put to the bull scanned 97%.
“That’s exceptional for us. It has been a good season with
lots of grass and managed well,” Minna says.
“And the bulls did their job on top of that,” Phillip adds. “All
the stars lined up.”
Younger heifers (157 in 2018) aren’t mated (neither are ewe
hoggets).
“We can’t have everything as a priority mob. The climate is
so variable here we have to have something flexible to go on.”
The farm also has 122 R1 bulls and 12 sire bulls. Registered
bulls are bought from Kairuru, Mokairau and Hain Herefords.
“We buy from registered studs because they provide the
records (EBVs) we require. We buy from these particular studs
because we have confidence in the bulls they sell to provide the
improvement in our herd we’re looking for.”
Growth rate EBVs are important to the Steeles, as well as rib,
rump and eye muscle, but they also concentrate on low birth weight
EBVs. “Easy calving is the biggest thing. Calving ease is critical.”
Visual appearance is also important, such as white face and
eye pigment. Phillip also likes the white stripe down the back of
the neck and the white belly.
“We like the temperament of the Herefords too. They’re quiet,”
Minna says.
In 2018, as well as the Herefords, the 1200ha farm carried
deer and sheep. Only 50ha was deer fenced when Phillip first
returned home, but that has been expanded to 260ha. They
breed and finish red deer. As well as some surplus weaner
hinds, stags are finished to 95kg live weight and above. In 2017
they averaged 54kg carcass weight.

“WE LIKE THE TEMPERAMENT OF THE

HEREFORDS TOO. THEY’RE QUIET.”

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Ewes and lambs on Te Aroha
Station; Fertile river flats are also flood prone; Registered bulls
are bought from Kairuru, Mokairau and Hains; R2 bulls grazing Te
Aroha in early summer 2018.

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