Case study

SAM GEMMELL

FARM MANAGER, MOKONUI STATION

 

LOCATION

  • Rere, East Coast

 

BACKGROUND

  • Farm runs 7500 stock units
  • 50:50 ratio of sheep/beef
  • Fully terminal herd made up of R2 heifers in calf, R1 heifers, MA cows, bulls and dairy grazers
  • Beef progeny sold as weaners

 

simmental farmging

SIMMENTAL
INVOLVEMENT

  • Sam made the decision to introduce a low birthweight Simmental over his heifers (in replacement of the Jersey bulls he was using prior).
  • He was already using Simmental Bulls over his mixed-age cows, after making the change from Charolais some years ago.

 

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RESULT

  • Successful first season with calving at 90% – a 5% improvement on last season.
  • Simmental bull calves are on track to wean at around 272kg on average – an increase of 15% on last season.
  • Simmental heifer calves are on track to wean at around 250kg – an increase of 20% on last season.
  • Higher weaning weights will translate into a higher sale price for Sam.
  • These results along with the favorable temperament of Simmental are prompting Sam to consider converting to a maternal herd.

 

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