Page 23 - NZ Hereford Magazine 2023

they would have up to 20 cattle killed because of positive
tests. Even though possum control operations were highly
successful, it took years to clear the herd.
“We got down to almost clear, and almost clear and then …
we got down to the last cow in the last race and she came up
positive,” Jeremy recalls.
Losing so many animals to TB made it difficult to improve
their herd’s genetics because they couldn’t apply any
selection pressure.
“They’d test for TB and we’d have to kill them and lose
heifers and cows in calf, so
we had to keep a lot of old
“I do like the cows we didn’t really want.
Herefords, If it was in calf and didn’t
they’re quiet.” have TB, we had to keep it,” Hayley and Jeremy Pitts on Mt Gladstone Station.
Hayley says.
Jeremy Pitts In the end, blood-testing
every cattle beast on the
property revealed three
carrier cows that weren’t getting picked up in standard skin
tests. “As soon as we got rid of them we had a clear test and
away we went and have never looked back,” Jeremy says.
Over the years Jeremy has bought bulls from Grassmere,
Okawa, and Nithdale (Orari Gorge Herefords), and also now
Marlborough stud Matariki.
He says Merino sheep will always be their mainstay because
of the nature of the country, but the cattle are good at
utilising the lower country.
“It’s always been Herefords and Merinos from day one. I
enjoy the Merinos and I enjoy the Herefords.” Good temperament means there is stiff competition for Mt
Gladstone heifers at the annual calf sale.

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Year 2023 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 21