Growing the Simmental gene pool

NEW AUSSIE TALENT: Genetics from Woonallee Secret Service, a Simmental bull from Furner in South Australia, will soon be circulating in the cow herd at Gold Creek Simmentals at Te Karaka. The stud jointly purchased him for $60,000. The bull was pictured with Tom Sanson and his dad Jim. Picture supplied

GOLD Creek Simmentals at Te Karaka purchased a $60,000 stud bull in Australia earlier this month, in partnership with Agri-Gene Australia.

They were top bidders for Woonallee Secret Service, the top-priced bull at Woonallee Simmentals elite production sale in Furner, South Australia.

The stud sold all 113 Simmental bulls they put up at an average of $15,009.

The bull will remain in Australia, with semen collected and imported for use here.

“His key traits include outcross pedigree, which is desperately needed in New Zealand to grow the Simmental gene pool,” said Gold Creek studmaster Tom Sanson.

“His other traits include homozygous polled, meaning all progeny will be polled, structurally sound, great data set which will integrate well with our stud.”

Gold Creek have been sourcing genetics from Woonallee since 2009.

“They are a very progressive stud, using sires from all over the world,” Mr Sanson said.

“The numbers and quality have improved year on year, so it makes it easy to go there and find new genetics.”