The price received for weaner cattle on Tiroa Station has soared under the tenure of manager Wayne Fraser.
Wayne Fraser has managed the Mangaokewa Road property near Benneydale on behalf of the Tiroa E Trust and Te Hape B trust for 14 years. Photo: Chris Gardner
Fraser has managed the Mangaokewa Road property near Benneydale on behalf of the Tiroa E Trust and Te Hape B trust for 14 years.
He has seen weaner cattle prices continue to rise since he switched to exclusively using bulls from Rock-End Herefords in the nearby Paraheka Valley, in what he calls the “back blocks” of Aria, put over their traditional Angus herd.
“We were getting $500 to $700 per head. Now we are getting more than $1000 per head. A strong market helps, but if you haven’t done your homework looking for those areas that can improve your bottom line you miss out.”
The station winters 36,000 stock units on 3170 hectares. When Fraser started at the station on a farm cadet scheme in 1983 the farm wintered 70 percent sheep and 30 percent Angus cattle. He’s changed that balance to 35 per cent Hereford-Angus-cross cattle and he is looking to increase that ratio to a 60-40 per cent sheep to cattle ratio.
“That means fewer sheep, improving the condition of the available grass feed, and more cattle bred from Hereford bulls over the Angus herd.”
About a quarter of the cattle on the station now have Hereford genetics.
Wayne puts the massive leap in profitability mostly down to the genetics from Rock–End’s Hereford bulls over the traditional Angus herd.
Tiroa Station winters 36,000 stock units on 3,170 hectares. Photo: Chris Gardner
“We get good muscle and bone structure in our weaners, and that has improved over time,” he said. “A big plus is good temperament.”
Words like “do-ability” and “constitution” spring to mind when describing the station’s moderate-framed, masculine-looking Hereford bulls. They arrive at Tiroa Station in prime condition, having been raised and grazed on the steep back blocks of the Aria hills.
“They come off quite hard country down there,” Fraser said. “It is very steep, compared with the station, which is a lot flatter than rolling country.”
He credited his six staff for their animal management skills on the mixture of flat to rolling land and hill country.
“We use the Hereford bulls to put across our older cows and tail off with the first-year calves.”
Bull ratio is one bull to 30 to the heifers and one bull to 40 to the older cows.
“Calving ease is an important thing for us. As soon as they hit the ground they are up and running. That is a big plus.”
While the Tiroa Station terrain is softer than the Rock-End Herefords farm at Aria, winters on the station are usually longer and harder.
“We are about a month to six weeks behind everyone else, and it does get cold up here,” Fraser said.
“The calves are all grass-fed, once weaned and they have settled down they head on to some decent quality pasture. Then in June and July they go behind a wire on winter crop swede and kale and become noticeably quiet with us shifting the wire daily.”
Tiroa’s sheep flock has a strong Romney base. Photo: Chris Gardner
All male perogy are sold either to neighbouring finishing blocks under the Tiroa Te Hape umbrella or sold to the store market.
Female progeny is retained and grown out, as replacements heifers and the surplus are retained and finished
Wayne is thankful to PGG Wrightson stock agent Bill Harrison for introducing him to Pete and Kirsty McCormick and helping improve farm profitability.
“Billy does a lot behind the scenes, and helps to promote the Hereford breed,” Fraser said. “He introduced us to Pete about 10 years ago and it just started from there. They have done the job for us and kept our quality up.”
Fraser likened farming to a fairground rollercoaster ride with its peaks and troughs, and said it is important to stay on the horse to avoid disaster.
“Like most farms, you have just got to ride the wave and not make too many changes.”
“Not so long-ago farmers were ditching breeding cows for finishing stock like bulls and steers because they were uneconomical. What they failed to see is all the good work a cow can do when we have a season when the grass is growing crazy, and the old cow will turn it into gold for your young stock. They never give the old cow credit for her true value with a good calve to boot.”
Wayne Fraser manages the Mangaokewa Road property near Benneydale. Photo: Chris Gardner
