Dairy farming clients expect good, clean markings and cosmetics in their bulls and that’s an area the Blackwells are expected to put emphasis on when offering bulls for sale.
It’s a delicate balancing act they manage without compromising quality while offering bulls with a moderate EBV package and structural soundness.
The couple’s enterprise focuses on bull breeding and dairy support and winters 8500 stock units.
It’s a multi-faceted operation that includes Hereford, Angus, Murray Grey and Southdown studs, dairy heifer and cow grazing, supplement feed sale, Jersey bulls and a commercial Romney flock.
The 560-hectare property is in the heart of dairy country near Inglewood in Taranaki.
They have forged a niche catering for the needs of their dairy farming neighbours.
The Hereford herd has been Jacqueline’s passion since she founded it in 2002. She had been working off farm but was looking to make an on-farm investment and Herefords appealed.
She started with small numbers and a goal of reaching 100 registered cows – a target she has now achieved.
A few years ago Robin saw how much fun she was having so established a registered Angus herd.
Brought up in nearby Ratapiko, the daughter of a dairy farmer, she readily admits to never having any interest in milking cows.
She enjoyed working with animals and outdoors but was adamant she was never going to be putting cups on. Following a career off farm and after meeting Robin she has returned to the land and has found her place in drystock farming.
She gets a lot of satisfaction out of growing out the animals and seeing them reach their genetic potential and would like to incorporate a finishing platform and carry through the females that don’t make it as herd replacements.
“It’s about building the brand and adding value but it will need to be cost competitive with dairy grazing,” she says.
Replacement heifers are selected for a clean head, white shoulder, good markings, structural soundness, good feet and a moderate EBV package.
The selection process for herd replacements is a balancing act around the aesthetics of the animal, structural soundness and a moderate EBV package.
Moderate birth weights and growth rates, good milk figures and fertility are all part of the EBV package she is targeting in a moderate-sized female herd.
If a female fails to conceive, there are no second chances.
There are similar criteria for bull selection for use in the Hereford herd, focusing on calving ease and a moderate birth weight EBV. They also must look the part.
“We need to think about the calving experience for our clients. Will it be easy calving and have good growth rates?” she says.
The needs of their clients are at the forefront of the their minds so they also breed Angus and Murray Grey bulls and buy in weaner Jersey bulls, which they grow out and offer at their annual on farm sale.
She says the three registered beef herds are a big job in terms of admin work but their desire to offer their clients certainty and traceability is their motivation.
“Any performance recording we can do helps show we are delivering a really good product,” she says.
“We are here to help our beef and dairy clients add value to their business.”
The Hereford bulls offered at auction are chosen for their quiet temperament, cosmetics and structural soundness backed up with balanced EBVs.
Their dairy farming clients also demand their bulls are well grown, especially clients with Holstein-Friesian herds.
Their selection criteria are hitting the mark with some clients repeat buyers since the first sale 23 years ago.
The Blackwells not only host their own auction of genetics but they also host a charity auction following the bull sale. They choose a different charity each year and gather donated goods, which are put up for sale.
“We have done this for the past 11 years and past organisations to receive funds from the charity auction have included schools attended by clients’ children, the Cancer Society, the Rural Support Trust and the Taranaki rescue helicopter,” she says.
Running alongside the three beef herds are 950 dairy heifers grazed from May to May. They also supply the bulls to run with the dairy heifers.
They winter about 300 dairy cows.
Looking to the future, Jacqueline says they want to continue lifting the quality bar.
For her that means looking to lift weaning weights and improve the animal package they offer.
Another aspect to consider is adjusting policies so the farm can react more quickly to the extremes that have been experienced over the past couple of years.
She says it has been a long journey from 2002 to now, having reached her goal of 100 registered cows, but she’s also looking at the possibility of incorporating a finishing platform in the business.
They felt a few more opportunities are needed in the system and a finishing platform could be one option to add value and remove some of the intensity of the operation.
It would also make their business less vulnerable to the dairy payout and spread some risk.
Article courtesy of HerefordNZ
