Page 58 - Hereford Magazine 2021

Tim and Helen with daughter Briearna with Poppy, and daughter Mikayla with Bexi.

+83. Bulls with these kinds of figures are hard to find.”
Irish Eyes sold for $17,000 to the Kane family in Tapanui.
“Irish Eyes has sired 40 calves this calving from a yearling
mating, mostly commercial heifers in Lees Valley with no
assistance, which has pleased the shepherd,” smiled Rob.
Three years ago, they bought a bull called Grassmere Gallant
244, known as Jeffery.
“He was the highest priced Hereford of that year and
appears to be breeding well with a nice group of yearling
heifers and bulls coming up to mating, nice and wide.”
Rob says whatever the breeding trend is at the time,
structure and temperament are still vitally important for
mobility and ease of handling.
“At one stage, breeders tried to breed taller cattle, now they
want them wider. Whether in the hill country or on the dairy Woodburn Herefords was established in North Canterbury in 1966.
farm, feet and legs are also very important.”
Rob says there is always a new aspect one of the families Marshmans Road, Sefton. Their traditional system runs
will think about that someone else hasn’t, and he always looks 100 Hereford stud cattle and calves, about 60 two-year-old
forward to sale day where it all comes together. commercial heifers, as well as lambing 1000 Romney ewes and
“Because I think our New Zealand Herefords are as good as 250 hoggets, both crossed with Snowline and Suftex.
any in the world.” Ian and Carol established Woodburn Herefords in 1966. Ian
The families have the same breeding philosophies and had a lot of faith in Herefords and was an early adopter of
support each other, Mary Ann says. She counts herself and Breedplan. Helen says she has enjoyed following that path.
Rob lucky to be in the position of working with the other “The breed has come a long way, and it’s been great to be
studs, sharing knowledge and ideas. able to go down the track we’ve wanted to, with big focus on
“We are very lucky. We are the seniors – they try to be the phenotype and introducing more genetics. The stronger
patient with us!” carcass is really getting into them now.”
She says importing semen from Australia has helped.
Love of Herefords started as a child “We’re on the second round of the Allendale Anzac K4,
breeding well balanced and meaty calves, with bull calves
Helen Molloy used to show her parents’ Hereford cattle as showing very positive breeding capabilities.”
a child and now enjoys farming them in partnership with Tim enjoys the “get up and go” mentality of Herefords, as
her husband, Tim. They run a 380ha block they leased well as their hardy nature. He says the science behind DNA
then bought from Helen’s parents, Ian and Carol Ford, on and DNA accuracy is growing in importance.

56 HEREFORD MAGAZINE Year 2021