Page 52 - Hereford Magazine 2022

Ardo

Fargo

champion

bull

John and Will Morrison after Ardo Fargo’s win.

Words: Faye Lougher. Photos: Supplied.

rdo Fargo 9008 had been tagged as a bull to keep
an eye on even before he became last year’s
champion Hereford.
Ardo Fargo 9008, bred by Morrison Farming,
Awon the title at the NZ Herefords National Seed
Stock Sale in May 2021, before selling for $12,000 to Lake
Station Herefords.
“I had catalogued that ‘9008 is the best bull we have bred’,
and I stand by that comment,” breeder William Morrison says. “I
don’t like, and am not comfortable with, using subjective jargon
to talk about bulls, but the Aussie judge said he was a standout.”
Due to ongoing Covid restrictions the judging was Champion bull 2021 Ardo Fargo 9008.
conducted online by southern New South Wales seed stock
and commercial beef producer Marc Greening. He said the performing farm business supplying customers with animals
bulls were the type of bulls he looked for to breed from for his and products the market wants and needs.
client base and commercial operation. “Morrison Farming needs to support the people we employ
“When you look at Lot 4 [Ardo Fargo 9008], straight away and all of our families. My father, John, has been a big part of
you can see that carcass and that shape and that yield our success, and I’d like to thank my wife, Erica, who has been
potential. You can see him and his sons producing steers very supportive. She is a farm and environment consultant,
that will perfectly suit that grass fed steer market. Great owner of AgFirst Manawatu-Whanganui, and has considerable
muscle expression, wonderful straight top line and length of industry experience.”
body, and when you watch this bull parade out and pull up, Will says Mangara Station manager Daniel Clayton, who was
beautiful smooth shoulders and front end.” the inaugural Future Beef winner, is also a great asset. “We
Greening said the bull was hard to fault when he watched would not be where we are today without the hard work put
him on the video, and his data backed that up. in by everyone associated with Morrison Farming. It takes a
“A bull that really is an exciting prospect for the industry, whole community to make a successful faming business.”
and I commend the breeders for producing this style of animal, Morrison Farming is a family owned and operated sheep
which I would class as a modern beef sire. He’s certainly and beef farming agri-business. Will’s father John, and
something that would be hot property here in Australia.” grandfather Max, started Ardo stud in the 1960s, but the
Will says as a teenager, winning the champion bull trophy Morrison family has farmed at the main farm since 1864. Will’s
was something he aspired to. Now he’s achieved that, he’s brother Richard left the business after a restructure in 2020,
come to realise the most important thing is to have a well- and Will, John, and cousin Graham now run the farm.

50 HEREFORD MAGAZINE Year 2022