Handy bulls and heifers draw interest at Jade Park Angus

A SUCCESSFUL open day in February during Beef Week, with strong interest from buyers from across the state, has the Jade Park Angus team looking forward to their Bull Sale on Tuesday, March 25. The stud's well researched infusion of New Zealand bulls in its AI and Embryo program, and its determination to consistently produce an easy going, well-structured bull with great temperament, means buyers can tap into the line without having to do all the extensive legwork themselves. Taimate Angus stud has produced some highly influential bulls in New Zealand including Taimate Lazarus, with which Jade Park had a lot of success last year. The current breed changer is Taimate Roy, who has already performed with the leading studs in Australia (and is having an impact in USA and Canada) and has 10 sons in this sale. Stud principal Andrew McLean said the open day attracted property owners and managers from the local region and as far away as Gippsland and the peaks of the High Country, including some with herds of up to 500 cows. He said the opportunity to visit the family-owned Hansonville operation, to ask questions and see the quality of the cattle in the yards, proved to be an inviting combination. "It's important to have bulls on display, but the heifers have drawn attention too," he said. "Breeding good females is what we aim for, but the by-product of that is some pretty handy bulls, and I've had lots of requests for videos from people who couldn't make it here on the day." All bulls and heifers have been videoed and will be on Auctions Plus and YouTube. Mr McLean said while they have their Autumn sale on the last Tuesday of March each year, they service the spring demand through private sales year-round. "Docility is a major factor - we bred a cracker of a bull last year whose calves are coming through and their level of docility is second to none," he said. "Turbo T104 sold $100,000 of semen with 1000 straws going to other studs. "We have Turbo’s natural brother in the sale, who has already drawn some attention - he was noted by our bull tester Chris Saunders to have kind eyes with presence. "Docility is becoming a very important trait to value; handling cattle doesn’t have to be a scary experience - the benefits of docility flow all the way to the consumer." Mr McLean said although there had been a recent dry spell, he was well prepared and confident about the year ahead. "It will rain - this is a fantastic area - the season will come” he said. "The demand will be there - it's very promising and encouraging across the agricultural sector - and I believe agriculture will become a very healthy and secure business going forward." The family will now prepare for the sale on March 25, creating content for their catalogue to provide quality information for their customers. It will be the first time Jade Park heifers - pregnancy tested in calf - will also be available at the Bull Sale - having been artificially inseminated to NZ Taimate Tama T83 and Jade Park Turbo T104. The heifers, alongside Jade Park's stand-out sires and draft bulls, will be on display for inspection on Sunday, March 9 before the sale on Tuesday, March 25.

Handy bulls and heifers draw interest at Jade Park Angus

Smiths' cherries record auction result

Insurers urge farmers to prepare as storm season hits

Late spring frost presents another challenge for grapegrowers

Flying Duck helps King Valley soar in regional wine challenge

Start of harvest brings fire warning

Rufous Whistler – arrival of a summer songbird

Bombers go back-to-back in A grade

“No stone unturned” – Police committed to the long-haul in manhunt

Start your engines, Wilby Drags are back

Most popular stories