Page 11 - Totaranui Angus Catalogue ebook

“Presentations demonstrated the importance of beef’s Guy Sargent also talked about how achievable the
eating qualities, what processors look for in a carcase, how premiums were but only through using the right genetics.
nutrition management can benefit a farmer’s programme One client who has been using performance genetics for a
and the important role that high performance genetics reasonable amount of time sent in a trial unit of cattle to be
play in the equation.” killed through the Handpicked programme. 100% of the
animals qualified leading to a premium over schedule for
AngusPure director Guy Sargent said he was enthusiastic the unit load of cattle of over $10 000! These cattle had the
about the roadshows as he felt there was a real need for right genetics and were farmed and presented well.
furthering education, especially in the area of genomics.
Dylan Miller of Alliance Group Dannevirke said to me
“These roadshows were designed to provide farmers with recently when Alliance started its yield grading programme
the tools they need in order to produce high quality Angus for lamb what they saw over a relatively short period of
beef and more of it” he said. time was the genetics used by farmers changed and now
some farmers are getting up to $13 a head above schedule
“Genetics is an essential link in generating quality beef and regularly for their lambs. Carcass yield through Alliance
combined with the right feed and management practices, for lamb increased about 5% as there was a shift in how
farmers can start shifting their beef from the commodity lambs were bred and presented. I expect that over time
self to the premium grade programmes.”
the same shift is going to happen with beef, if the right
incentives are there and now they are.
Attendance to the roadshows was strong with many
being surprised at what the premiums were for quality For Totaranui this is gratifying as John started down this
beef through Angus Pure’s relationship with Alliance’s route 30 years ago and it has been a hard row to hoe.
Handpicked programme, of up to $1 if the right boxes are Breeding carcass traits into our cattle has been challenging
ticked for colour, ph and marbling.
but rewarding. Look at the Totaranui EMAs and you will
see that almost all the cattle are well above average, let
This progress for premium beef is significant. Not only
does it benefit the finishers, obviously, but assuming alone IMF and carcass weights. Selecting for carcass trait
Angus Pure ear tags are used and store lines are well while keeping in mind other important traits has been the
marketed by stock agents, it will also create a premium challenge, refer to the article, Antagonistic Traits. Tally and
for store cattle bred with premium carcass genetics. This myself have carried this challenge on from John and Mary
will actually change the buying behaviour of stock agents Anne, it’s great to now see the real incentives are there for
who have buying orders for finishers hunting premiums commercial breeders to chase these genetics also.
out the other end. No longer will any black beast do, what For more information on killing through Angus Pure and
will be important is what genetics have been used and do the Hand Picked programme and Angus Pure Ear tags
they have a genetic disposition to finish early with a heavy (required to qualify), contact Guy Sargent at Angus Pure.
carcass and marble.

TOTARANUI 2YR OLD BULL SALE 9