Page 93 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

Industry Focus
ORARI GORGE HEREFORDS

WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ

Formally known as Nithdale Herefords
Established 1947

Grazing efficiency

55 ANNUAL BULL SALE WEDNESDAY JUNE 5 2019 at 11.00am
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ORARI GORGE STATION, GERALDINE under the microscope

WORDS / PHOTOGRAPH NZHA / LINCOLN UNIVERSITY NEW ZEALAND
The main objectives of the herd have always been to focus SALE BULLS INCLUDE SONS OF
on breeding functional, structurally-sound cattle with good PICTURED: GPS collars have been fitted on 60 cows at three farms, including these two at Orari Gorge Herefords.
conformation to meet today’s market. Running more than 100 ORARI GORGE PATTON 150051
bulls in one management mob with regular weighing, muscle
“If farmers put 100 cows on a block, they want them to
scanning, body condition scoring and DNA testing our WHOLE ORARI GORGE OLIGARCH 140025 RESEARCH IS BEING DONE into how to identify cattle that are graze across the whole block, not sit at the bottom.”
more efficient grazers – with benefits for the environment as well
herd ensures highly accurate data.
ORARI GORGE OHAU 140143 as production. Similar projects overseas have shown the cows moving
NZHA has partnered with a Lincoln University research project
Our 250 stud cows are run with our 400 commercial cows focusing on identifying and then selecting cattle with foraging around to graze generally end up in better condition.
“The ones sitting at the bottom aren’t using energy but
on steep, high tussock country over 3000ft from weaning ORARI GORGE NAPIER 130133 behaviour suited to New Zealand hill and high country grasslands. they’re not consuming much either.”
to calving. Snow is a frequent problem, challenging the KOANUI BRITON 4260 The research is being led by professor Pablo Gregorini, The official research aim is to improve grassland health by
Hereford longevity and soundness. As early adopters of who joined Lincoln University in 2017 as professor of livestock using animals that utilise the whole landscape and improve the
BREEDPLAN EBV analysis, we have over 25 years of records to MONYMUSK GALLANT 10089 production. The project started in May and is running alongside plant diversity, resulting in reduced environmental impact.
“Animals that ‘eat the best and combine it with the rest’ –
show steady progress to benefi t all our clients from lowland KAIRURU IRONSIDE 11047 student Cristian Moreno’s three-year PhD study. animals that explore and use the whole landscape, reducing
GPS collars have been fitted to 60 cows at three farms –
to high country. Orari Gorge Herefords near Geraldine, Bluestone Herefords at grazing pressure on upland and protected areas, but mainly
Cave, and Mendip Hills in North Canterbury. They will be fitted reducing environmental impact by avoiding grazing, urinating
to 500 cows during the project. Gregorini says the overarching and defecating near waterways.”
goal is to create beef cattle herds that enhance pasture with About half of New Zealand beef and sheep farms are
no adverse effect on the environment or their performance. It established in hill and high country grasslands, accounting for
aims to find which cattle sit in the valley near waterways all day more than a thousand farms in the South Island and 4700 farms
versus the ones that cruise around, he says. in the North Island.

SOME OF THE BEST MARBLING IN THE COUNTRY VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME
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BALANCED TRAITS MAXIMUM PROFITABILITY
• FERTILITY • STRUCTURE • BREEDPLAN RECORDED • CARCASS SCANNED • TB STATUS C10 WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ
• SERVICE & SEMEN TESTED • BVD TESTED & VACCINATED • ALL BULLS HYPOTRICHOSIS FREE

Graham and Rosa Peacock | Tel 03 692 2853 | Email rosa@orarigorge.co.nz
Robert and Alex Peacock | Tel 03 692 2893 | Email robert@orarigorge.co.nz PICTURED: GPS halters on cows at Bluestone Herefords at Cave.
ORARI GORGE STATION, TRIPP SETTLEMENT ROAD, GERALDINE, SOUTH CANTERBURY 7991, NEW ZEALAND.
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