Case study

SHANE AND KRISTY VINAC

FARM OWNERS, KAINGAROA SIMMENTALS

 

LOCATION

  • KAITAIA, NORTHLAND

 

BACKGROUND

  • Third generation farm, first acquired in 1923.
  • Mixture of flat, rolling & medium hill country.
  • Beef breeding/finishing operation, with small but growing Simmental stud.
  • Farm runs 220 commercial cows and 60 stud cows.

SIMMENTAL
INVOLVEMENT

  • Shane’s Father was using Charolais until a bull injured himself and needed replacing. Agent couldn’t source a Charolais so supplied a Simmental instead.
  • Simmental proved their worth quickly and the farm moved fully from Charolais to Simmental in 2005.
  • Currently finishes all heifers as 2-year-olds to benefit from premiums (in August).
  • Sells steers at varying times throughout the year (soon moving to finishing all steers and bulls before second winter).

 

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RESULT

  • With the Simmental bull in the mix, it quickly became obvious the progeny had higher growth rates than that of anything Charolais.
  • Temperament also improved significantly.
  • Records show Simmental progeny are consistently heavier at weaning, and finish stronger than Charloais progeny ever did, and Simmental Angus cross proving very strong.
  • Becoming passionate about the breed Shane and Kristy established their own stud in 2016 – Kaingaroa Simmentals.
  • The couple are continuing to grow their stud and improve genetics which is a great thing for the future of the Simmental breed.

 

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