Simon and Wendy Collin, Hawkes Bay
Simon and Wendy Collin have a 295ha sheep and cattle farm on the north bank of the Ngaruroro River, in the Crownthorpe district of Hawkes Bay. This is a family farm which Simon has run for the past 10 years. All of the farm is flat or easy hill country, and 95% of it could be cultivated. The soils are clay based over river shingle. There is no irrigation on the property.
Simon and Wendy are stud cattle breeders, in the process of changing from Romagnola cattle to Charolais. Simon was president of the NZ Romagnola society for eight years and his stud grew to 40 registered cows, plus replacements and bulls. The base commercial herd was Angus, over which Romagnola sires were used. The Romagnolas performed very well for Simon, putting low birth weight calves on the ground which grew quickly and won carcase competitions. The best Romagnola bulls were shown at major pastoral shows from Hamilton down to Christchurch, and the best achievements were a Meat and Wool Cup at Hawkes Bay (2000) and at Palmerston North (2001). Bulls were also sold to commercial farmers, but the demand has dwindled in recent years and Simon and Wendy decided to switch to breeding Charolais cattle.
They now have 32 stud Charolais cows and they are breeding for the red factor, which is a dark coat colour instead of the normal white for Charolais. This is a recessive gene for colour which is also associated with good temperament and growth rate, along with the usual Charolais traits of muscling and soundness.
Red factor bulls will produce progeny with Hereford or Angus cows which are dark, uniform colours.
Simon says the Charolais breed has more widespread appeal among commercial farmers, being the number one European terminal sire breed for producing quality weaners. These are very popular at weaner fairs. The red factor adds attributes and will be highly sought after as terminal sires.
The stud sire is Mangahina S24, a second-generation red factor bull, and his calves are on the ground. Simon purchased cows from several leading Charolais herds in the country and is a member of Charolais Breeders NZ, a new breed society.
Simon operates a 28ha Technosystem and has done so for the past six years. He has been finishing dairy bulls from 350/400kg up to 530/550kg LW or heavier between early winter and the beginning of December. From this year on he prefers to use heifers and intends stocking 120 this winter and spring. The target killing weights will be 240-245kg CW at 18 months old. Heifers will be smaller, lighter on the ground and somewhat slower growing, but they will not present the risk to the Charolais stud cows which dairy bulls pose, if they should escape. He will be looking for heifers with an exotic base, or Hereford x Friesian, and will be purchasing in the saleyards during May and June.
The intensive beef system (IBS) contains coxfoot and clover pasture for greater durability and persistence in dry weather than ryegrass. Simon wants 2500-3000kg DM/ha of cover before stocking the IBS unit. He is one month behind at present and will probably spread 100kgN/ha to boost growth before winter. He starts on 60-day rotation through the IBS laneways and units, tightening up to 30-days or 22-days in spring. The IBS has water hydrants and portable troughs.
The base flock is 1250 aged Romney ewes, purchased each year as five-year-olds. Up to 60-70% of ewes are replaced each year, usually just for one more production season. Simon does not breed his own ewes or replacements. All older ewes are mated to black or white Suffolk terminal sires and produce about 105% lambing. Lambing is early (July) and the aim is to get drafted lambs in October and November at 16kg CW or better. Ewes may cost $75-80 to purchase, but they will produce a lamb worth $75 and then have a cull value of $55-60.
Simon is also bringing in 2000-3000 store lambs for finishing each summer/autumn. He uses summer fodder crops, including 10ha of kale. He has bought lambs from as far away as Otago when HB is having a good summer. This year he purchased locally, picking up small lots with weights under 30kg LW. One group were on kale for six out of eight weeks before slaughter and gained weight rapidly. The finishing lambs should be gone by July/August, so that the ewes and lambs can occupy the paddocks.
Simon and Wendy are stud cattle breeders, in the process of changing from Romagnola cattle to Charolais. Simon was president of the NZ Romagnola society for eight years and his stud grew to 40 registered cows, plus replacements and bulls. The base commercial herd was Angus, over which Romagnola sires were used. The Romagnolas performed very well for Simon, putting low birth weight calves on the ground which grew quickly and won carcase competitions. The best Romagnola bulls were shown at major pastoral shows from Hamilton down to Christchurch, and the best achievements were a Meat and Wool Cup at Hawkes Bay (2000) and at Palmerston North (2001). Bulls were also sold to commercial farmers, but the demand has dwindled in recent years and Simon and Wendy decided to switch to breeding Charolais cattle.
They now have 32 stud Charolais cows and they are breeding for the red factor, which is a dark coat colour instead of the normal white for Charolais. This is a recessive gene for colour which is also associated with good temperament and growth rate, along with the usual Charolais traits of muscling and soundness.
Red factor bulls will produce progeny with Hereford or Angus cows which are dark, uniform colours.
Simon says the Charolais breed has more widespread appeal among commercial farmers, being the number one European terminal sire breed for producing quality weaners. These are very popular at weaner fairs. The red factor adds attributes and will be highly sought after as terminal sires.
The stud sire is Mangahina S24, a second-generation red factor bull, and his calves are on the ground. Simon purchased cows from several leading Charolais herds in the country and is a member of Charolais Breeders NZ, a new breed society.
Simon operates a 28ha Technosystem and has done so for the past six years. He has been finishing dairy bulls from 350/400kg up to 530/550kg LW or heavier between early winter and the beginning of December. From this year on he prefers to use heifers and intends stocking 120 this winter and spring. The target killing weights will be 240-245kg CW at 18 months old. Heifers will be smaller, lighter on the ground and somewhat slower growing, but they will not present the risk to the Charolais stud cows which dairy bulls pose, if they should escape. He will be looking for heifers with an exotic base, or Hereford x Friesian, and will be purchasing in the saleyards during May and June.
The intensive beef system (IBS) contains coxfoot and clover pasture for greater durability and persistence in dry weather than ryegrass. Simon wants 2500-3000kg DM/ha of cover before stocking the IBS unit. He is one month behind at present and will probably spread 100kgN/ha to boost growth before winter. He starts on 60-day rotation through the IBS laneways and units, tightening up to 30-days or 22-days in spring. The IBS has water hydrants and portable troughs.
The base flock is 1250 aged Romney ewes, purchased each year as five-year-olds. Up to 60-70% of ewes are replaced each year, usually just for one more production season. Simon does not breed his own ewes or replacements. All older ewes are mated to black or white Suffolk terminal sires and produce about 105% lambing. Lambing is early (July) and the aim is to get drafted lambs in October and November at 16kg CW or better. Ewes may cost $75-80 to purchase, but they will produce a lamb worth $75 and then have a cull value of $55-60.
Simon is also bringing in 2000-3000 store lambs for finishing each summer/autumn. He uses summer fodder crops, including 10ha of kale. He has bought lambs from as far away as Otago when HB is having a good summer. This year he purchased locally, picking up small lots with weights under 30kg LW. One group were on kale for six out of eight weeks before slaughter and gained weight rapidly. The finishing lambs should be gone by July/August, so that the ewes and lambs can occupy the paddocks.