Page 93 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

World Hereford 14 MARCH - 18 MARCH 2020
Conference 2020
Queenstown NZ

STONEBURN HEREFORD STUD –
PALMERSTON HOTELS

STUDS
Stoneburn Hereford Stud has become an integral part of the
Denham family business. 15 14 13
Andy Denham, along with daughter Liz and son Campbell, 12
runs a 1440ha sheep and beef farm on East Otago hill country 11
at Stoneburn, between Palmerston and Macraes Flat. Queenstown
Herefords suit their country; they are hardy cattle with a 1 Conference Venue
quiet temperament, which is important to the Denhams. 2 8 10
Andy has been breeding Herefords for 27 years, originally 3 6 7 9
breeding bulls for their commercial Hereford herd, but over the 4 5
years they have replaced the commercial herd with about 300
stud cows and 60 heifers. A big part of their operation is to breed
bulls for commercial beef breeders; many of their bull clients like
the fact that Denham’s bulls are bred on dry land hill country.
Every spring they select about 40 yearling bulls for the
annual on-farm sale in May. Approximately 25 will make the
sale and the rest are sold to regular dairy farming clients and
farmers who lease bulls. Andy says the main focus is to breed
good females with a good udder shape, who rear a good calf
unassisted and have a good temperament.
The stud has introduced new genetics using semen from
Australia and New Zealand in a synchronised AI breeding
programme, as well as regular trips to other studs looking for
suitable stud sire prospects.
Andy finds breeding Herefords is hugely satisfying and adds
another dimension to farming.
MERRYLEA HEREFORDS - CAVE

Merrylea is owned and run by James and Georgina McKerchar “We have a winter sale where we put 20 to 30 rising two-
with James’ father Eoin still actively involved. Eoin’s father Alister year-old bulls up for auction. In the spring we sell 70 to 80
established the Merrylea herd’s foundations in 1966. Now, yearling bulls to the dairy market and a line of our rising two-
Lachie, 8, and Olivia, 5, are the fourth generation at Merrylea. year-old bulls are also wintered for this market.”
The farm is 700 hectares of rolling and steeper hill country near He says their aim is to produce good, solid meaty cattle
the foothills at Cave in South Canterbury. The average rainfall is with a strong constitution that will thrive in all environments and
about 700mm, with parts of the property subject to summer dry. fatten quickly to kill out with carcass weights around 300kg.
As well as wintering 2000 ewes and 400 hoggets (mated) “When selecting replacement animals, phenotype and
and finishing the lambs, the McKerchars winter 260 cows, genotype are both taken into account. Quiet temperament
including heifers calving as two-year-olds. is also very important. We are striving to select animals with
“Our aim is to finish all cattle and our cull heifers are being balanced EBVs, as we believe an animal with balanced figures
fattened to supply Hereford Prime,” James says. will handle all environments.”

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