Page 59 - Hereford Magazine 2021

“It takes two years to get a change, and these changes are
incremental.”
Shorter gestation and lower birth weights are also topical.
“The guys in the beef industry are looking for lower birth
weights – easier calving. But there is still focus on getting the
growth rate. If it’s 75% accurate, it’s a good head start. If you
have no data to back it, it doesn’t work.”
Eight years ago, they began putting Speckle Parks over
their Hereford heifers as part of their commercial programme,
buying a bull from Maungahina Stud and embryos from
Premier in Auckland, as well as from Australia and Canada.
“From this, we ended up with F3-cross with the Speckle
Park,” Tim says.
They are now using them across their commercial Hereford
cows, and some are stud registered. The 2020 yearling sale where 67 bulls went under the hammer.
“Demand is creeping up on the Speckles, there’s no two
ways about that.”

A beer at the end of the day

Sale day is a highlight for the three families, a day of
camaraderie, getting good numbers through the pens, and
catching up with familiar faces.
The three families hold the same goals and values with their
Hereford cattle and that makes it all the more enjoyable for
everyone involved.
Combined sales can prove difficult, but the synergy here is
obvious. They all agree; everyone just mucks in and gets the
job done … and a satisfying beer at the end of the day is proof
they’ll be doing it again next year.
Hereford bulls waiting for their turn in the sale ring.
WAI HEREFORDS

EST 1972
O ering R2yr & Yearling bulls

for sale by Private Treaty

WAI STAR PROPECTUS WAI LUPO

Sire: CB 57U CAN DOO 102Y (IMP CAN) Sire: FCC TWENTY X 20X (IMP CAN)

Enquiries always welcome to:

KIM TOPLESS

P: 06 754 6684 M: 027 230 5635 E: kim.meryll.topless@gmail.com
208 Waiau Road, RD 43, Waitara 4383

Year 2021 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 57