Red cattle go under the hammer

RED BULLS: The district’s three Hereford studs will hold their own Bull Week next week. Hain Herefords and Romneys at Pehiri start the ball rolling on Tuesday with their crop of rising two-year-olds (pictured above), followed by Mokairau Herefords on Wednesday morning at Whangara and finally Wilencote Herefords at Ngatapa that afternoon (for the Mokairau Herefords and the Wilencote Herefords, check out the following pictures in this gallery). All the cattle look great and are ready for new homes. Pictures supplied

The three Tairāwhiti Hereford studs will put 82 rising two-year-olds up for auction next week as Eastland Herefords run a Bull Week of their own.

All three sales will be held on-farm.

The “red” cattlemen used to run their sales week together and have decided the time is right to do so again.

Last year’s bull sales, across all breeds, generated more than $5.512 million for the regional economy, which was up on the 2020 result.

The Hereford studs contributed $507,000 to that total.

This season, Hain Herefords and Romneys at Pehiri will start the ball rolling on Tuesday afternoon at 3pm.

Sam and Gemma Hain will have 25 young bulls for would-be buyers to choose from.

“They look great,” Sam said.

“As with everyone in the region, we have had a great grass growing season and the bulls have flourished.

“It has been challenging because of all the rain, but the grass growth has made up for that.

“Our genetics keep moving forward, along with the data, and that makes it easier for our clients to keep buying bulls.”

Sam said while space at the meat processing plants has been tight, the schedules remain some of the highest they have ever been, and look to be heading upwards.

“The beef industry is in great heart.

“Our family looks forward to Tuesday’s sale.”

Attention switches to Mokairau Herefords on Wednesday, and Peter and Christine Reeves and family will have 27 R2s on offer.

It will be the 68th sales season for Mokairau and their 36th on-farm sale.

“We select our cattle on structural soundness, fertility, feed conversion and other breed attributes like longevity, temperament, growth and eye appeal,” said studmaster Peter.

The stud uses BreedPlan EBVs, fertility and carcase data as an objective management process and guide to selection.

“We have been using DNA analysis for parent identification since 2006 to provide accurate parent information.”

Peter said the family enjoys and appreciates the relationships that have been generated from cattle breeding over many years.

They look forward to meeting existing clients and new ones next week.

Wilencote Polled Herefords at Ngatapa will continue a family tradition on Wednesday.

What began as a Humphreys & Son partnership between George and Fred in 1920 at Strathallan Station has, over 102 years, moved into a fourth and fifth generation, with Matt and Megan Humphreys now running the stud.

Matt is excited and feels proud to have the opportunity to carry on the stud.

In addition to day-to-day operations, the Humphreys have a number of projects in the pipeline.

They have been working away at implementing a new stud recording system, are rolling out DNA testing across the herd and have ambitious environmental goals, including natural bush regeneration and wetland enhancement projects.

They will have 30 R2s in their annual on-farm sale on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m pleased with the progress this year’s sale bulls have made,” Matt said.

“Spring and summer have provided good grass growing conditions and stock have done well accordingly.”

The stud stands behind their bulls and prides themselves on structural soundness.

Eastland Hereford breeders offer a three-year structural guarantee on all sale bulls.