FOSSIL CREEK ANGUS

* NEXT BULL WALK THURSDAY 29th MAY 1-4pm *

We have bought 44 Fossil Creek Angus bulls over the last 13 years. Lambhill Station has a very rigid genetic selection policy and an emphasis on maternal traits eg positive fats, longevity, reproduction, moderate mature weights (aim for a 550kg LW cow at weaning time) and find the advice given and the follow-up service to be very useful. Yearlings are mated and cows must produce a calf every year to survive. Our country runs along the Taieri Gorge and is steep and inhospitable with a 550mm to 650 mm annual rainfall, no supplements are fed, but the genetics we are developing are well adapted to this and our calves are highly sought after by finishers. We have repeat buyers for our surplus in-calf heifers, cows and calves.

The Fossil Creek Angus bulls we have been bringing to the Cascade Valley in South Westland seem to tolerate the 3 metre rainfall, get the job done with the breeding cows and always produce sale topping weaners. Our surplus heifers in particular have regularly fetched significant premiums at calf sales.

We have now moved to finishing all our own bred cattle. The progeny of our Fossil Creek Angus finish early and when we are buying in calves we are very careful with our selection and are prepared to pay more for Fossil Creek Angus bloodlines. The follow-up service and knowledge about genetic selection and female performance has really helped develop our cowherd to thrive in the Omarama high country over the past 15 years of buying bulls from Fossil Creek.

We have been buying bulls from Fossil Creek for over 20 years. During that period we have also bought a few bulls from other studs but have found the Fossil Creek bulls to suit our environment best – are quiet and breed highly sought after progeny at sale. Fattening our own young stock for high value premiums is now a real option for us.

Since we have been buying Fossil Creek Angus bulls, our strike rate with SFF Eating Quality carcase specs has risen markedly. The bulls we buy have great temperaments and we have recently embarked on an AI programme with some Fossil Creek herdsires to improve our carcase quality and female genetic base even more. We are enjoying being at the cutting edge with our beef, sheep and deer breeding programmes.

Since buying Fossil Creek Angus bulls, our herd fertility has gone up. This year our 2 year first calving heifers scanned 100%. The temperaments are fantastic and we are delighted with our strike rate in Silver Fern Farms Premium Grade. Our next focus is marbling with Fossil Creek.