Page 132 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

one in which the bull is used to produce female replacements. A The pictorial presentations, as seen on the previous page, are of
bull will generally have a different ranking in different production a very good bull and a lesser bull based on a production system
systems. The major breed societies in New Zealand have (Hereford Export Maternal index) producing replacement females
developed indexes and these can be found on their websites. and steers for the export trade.
Remember, a bull selection decision made today generally Now you’ve done the hard yards you can go along to the bull
won’t significantly influence the profitability of your business for sale feeling reasonably relaxed, as you have already made your
at least two years. genetic selections and need now only select the bulls on breeding
Genetic information can be presented as figures in a table soundness. At an auction, it pays to choose twice as many bulls as
or pictorially. Most people prefer it to be presented in the latter you need, because someone else may want a bull more desperately
format. This can also be accessed on breed society websites. than you do and blow you out during the auction process.

SUMMARY
• It’s time to check your bulls for this year’s mating – involving a • Go along to the bull sale knowing you have the genetic part
vet is a wise move. of the selection process sorted out.
• Contact your clients to see if they are satisfied with the • On sale day, you only need to inspect those bulls for breeding
product you are selling them. soundness that you have previously selected genetically on
• Determine what traits you need to improve to satisfy the paper.
needs of your clients. • Always sort out more bulls than you need, otherwise you may
• Based on these traits, determine the EBVs needed to miss out or end up buying the wrong bull(s).
achieve the changes.
• List these EBVs in order of financial importance or use the
appropriate index to rank bulls for a particular production
system.
• Select bulls (genetically) from a sale catalogue that satisfy
your needs.

HEREFORD STUD

- 115 YEARS OF BREEDING -

2 YEAR HEIFERS CALVE ON HILL COUNTRY BULLS 400KG AT UNDER 12 MONTHS OF AGE

th
• Calving ease and short gestation. 29 Annual Yearling Sale
• All cattle EMA & IMF scanned.
th
• Cattle must compete with 8,000 ewes Thursday 17 September 2020
on hard hill country. 130 yearling bulls specifi cally
• Top service and bull backup provided. bred for calving ease.

Mike & Cath Cranstone  814 Kauangaroa Road, RD7, Fordell, Wanganui 4577
Ph: 06 342 7721  Email: crannyandcath@outlook.com  www.ezicalve.co.nz
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