Page 50 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

Industry Focus

Herefords finish well on

Cambridge hill country

WORDS / PHOTOGRAPHS NATALIE CAMPBELL

PICTURED: From left: Magills procurement agent David Whelan, Hereford Prime supplier Jo Collins, and farming mentor Rex Kidd with some
of the Hereford heifers Jo has supplied to Magills for the Hereford Prime programme.

THE HILL COUNTRY OF TE MIRO near Cambridge is home to drafted off and sent to Magills as they become ready. The most
Jo and Paul Collins, who are finishing purebred Herefords for she has finished is 50 head.
Magills and Hereford Prime. “They seem to suit it here and grow well and I like their
Jo has developed the 30ha hill country property in the past nature. I would love to calve some, but the logistics on this
eight years and she admits it’s her passion more than Paul’s. property prevent it.”
It was a blank canvas when they made the decision to buy The steep terrain means the cattle need to be able to get
the block and while Jo isn’t from a farm, she has always enjoyed around and forage easily and Herefords tick those boxes.
the rural lifestyle and is an avid horse rider. The lie of the land dictates a lot in her farming system.
“One day Paul and I were looking at larger blocks and this Feeding out is difficult so it’s a year-round grass-only system.
one captured my imagination – this was an opportunity to do Jo says during winter she purposely runs the property
something I’ve always wanted to do,” Jo says. understocked, but has found the hills provide quite a bit of
It was going to be a hobby but it’s become much more. shelter during rough weather.
With the help of friend and farming mentor Rex Kidd, the Collins Jo says time on the hills for her is cathartic and while she
have developed a lot of infrastructure such as water reticulation, and husband Paul are kept busy with other businesses, she
stockyards, sheds, and doubled the amount of fencing. admits the farm is always calling.
Rex is employed part-time to help Jo, and coincidentally, the “I really enjoy the contact with the animals and the outdoors.”
Collins’ block was part of the property that Rex originally farmed, Supplying Hereford Prime-eligible cattle to Magills occurred
a connection that’s provided invaluable local knowledge. thanks to the friendship between Rex Kidd and Magills
“All I have learnt is from Rex – he’s shown me the way.” procurement agent David Whelan, who have known each other
Along with finishing cattle, Jo is running between 70 and for a number of years. The Hereford Prime programme also fits
90 breeding ewes and 35 heifers this year, with Jo making the with Jo’s desire to run Herefords.
move to reduce sheep numbers and lift cattle numbers. All “Once I had my first Herefords from Robert Port, I was
lambs are sold to the works at Christmas, off the ewe. She hooked,” she says.
works in with a neighbour who lets her use their woolshed for “They grow out really well without supplementary feed on
shearing the sheep. our south-facing hills. I’m really happy with them.”
Her first line of cattle were Herefords purchased from the Jo confesses to starting out finishing cattle with little
Port family of Bushy Downs Hereford Stud near Te Awamutu, knowledge of the end market so supplying the Hereford Prime
and she says she was hooked. She was familiar with the breed, programme has been a bonus. She says it’s a great brand
having friends who have also run them. and product and aligns nicely with her drive to give 100% to
Hereford heifers are her preference for finishing and she tries everything she does.
to buy them in weighing between 100 and 200kg. “I like the brand, product and taste and I like to do what I do
Jo’s goal is to finish about 30 head annually, and they are well,” she says.
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