He is pleased with the quality of the 34 bulls for sale this year.
They are looking good, especially considering the last two summers have been pretty tough with conditions in Rangitikei very dry.
At Pine Park the focus is on breeding moderate framed, meaty, compact bulls.
Sherriff is a big believer in calving ease and does not try to breed a big cow.
“It’s a very important economic trait, getting a live calf on the ground.”
The aim is for good 200 to 400-day growth EBVs while getting as much intramuscular fat into the herd as possible without compromising other traits.
“We try to be at the high end of the market.”
At last year’s sale 33 bulls sold for an average of about $7500. That was a good result and Sherriff hopes for something similar this year.
Pine Park sales are well supported by a fairly regular clientele from around the lower North Island, which he views as an endorsement of the stud’s approach.
Angus is a proven dual-purpose animal, he said. They are good hill country foragers and very fertile. They have it over exotics in that respect, especially during tough years.
“At the end of the day they produce a high-quality product.”
His cattle have to compete with sheep on-farm for feed so they are proven foragers,
Pine Park is one of 62 studs around the country that has partnered with AngusPure and Sherriff is pleased with the arrangement.
He believes in what the programme is doing, given it’s based around the consumer and the eating quality of the meat.
Recently Pine Park paid $30,000 for a Waitangi Angus bull at the national Angus bull sale in Palmerston North.
Sherriff is happy with the purchase because it’s the type of bull that suits his operation, one showing good growth, calving ease and carcase data with plenty of IMF.
The Pine Park sale is on June 6 at 312 Tutaenui Road, Marton, at 11.30am.
