Latest generation at helm of Elgin Angus Stud

Sam and Sarah Duncan of Elgin Angus Stud.

It's been almost a year since Sam and Sarah Duncan took over Elgin Angus Stud and held their first on-farm bull sale — the 41st on-farm auction for the stud.

Last year the couple became the third generation of Duncans and the fifth generation of the same family to own the 330ha stud in Elsthorpe, which was established in 1952 by Sam's grandfather, Jock (J.L.) Duncan. His son Mick and his wife Barb took over the stud in the 1970s, and Sam worked alongside his father Mick for 16 years before taking over the reins.

Looking back, Sam said he was rapt with the outcome of his first sale.

"We offered a really even line of bulls — well-fleshed cattle with natural softness and quiet as quiet. We sold 26 under the hammer for an average of $7300."

But the experience was not without some anxious moments.

"It's always a bit nerve-wracking when you put two years of hard work up for sale and a large part of your annual income will be decided within an hour, based on how the clients view our product."

Which is why he had followed up with his clients during the year to see how the bulls were performing.

"Our clients are really important to us and I want to ensure that they are happy with what we've produced and if for some reason they're not, then if we can, we want to put it right."

But he was pleased to report that after talking with the buyers, the bulls had proven to be "just as easy to handle" as when they were at Elgin as "rising twos" (R2).

A member of the Hawke's Bay Angus Association, for their second annual sale on June 13 Elgin will be offering 28 R2 bulls for sale. Duncan said he was excited about what two new sires have produced for this year's sale. He bought a bull in conjunction with Brookwood Angus from Rangatira in Gisborne in 2015 and that sire had left left progeny which have "great carcasses with plenty of depth".

"We call the Rangatira bull Podge," said Duncan. "He has an unbelievable nature and is always on hand at the fence for a scratch. I'm seeing a similar temperament in his sons we have for sale in June."

The other new sire of the sale bulls is KayJay I66. Duncan said he had produced sons with "plenty of length" and "a tonne of grunt".

One of the Elgin stud breeding stalwarts is Kaharau 218. "He's a top producing bull and we've used him consistently as he's a hard bull to fault and always leaves top calves."
One development since the 2017 sale is the new sale ring which Duncan said would be completed in the next few weeks.

"We've replaced the outdoor sale ring and fairly old auctioneer's box with an enclosed shed as result of feedback from our auctioneer, our genetics rep and some of our clients.

The new ring will bring everyone in closer to the action and it'll allow for more engagement between the auctioneer, the bidders and the bulls. And on those sale days when the weather gods are against us, it won't matter too much," he laughed.

Elgin is hosting prospective buyers on Friday, May 25 from 9am as part of the Hawke's Bay Angus Herd Walk.

"The bull walk is a really good chance to come and have a look at what we've produced prior to sale day, but people are always welcome to call and organise viewings at any other time."

Elgin's on-farm auction will be at 3pm on Wednesday, June 13.

HAWKE'S BAY ANGUS HERD WALK

Thursday, May 24

* Waiterenui: 2pm-2.30pm, (Will and Viv McFarlane)
* Whenuapapa: 3pm-3.30pm, (Andrew and Deb Stewart)

Friday May 25

* Elgin: 9am-9.30am, (Sam and Sarah Duncan)
* Motere: 10.15am-10.45am, (Isaac Pharazyn)
* Waiwhero: 11am-11.30am, (Charles Pattison)
* Brookwood: 1.15pm-1.45pm, (Justin and Meg King)
* Dandalieth: 2.15pm-2.45pm, (Willie Philip)
* Mt Mable: 3.15pm-3.45pm, (Kevin and Megan Friel)