Wednesday, 08 June 2022 06:55

$81,000 - no bull!

Written by  David Anderson
Kincardine Angus Stud's Mike Smith and Lot 2, which fetched $81,000 at the stud's recent on-farm bull sale, near Queenstown. Kincardine Angus Stud's Mike Smith and Lot 2, which fetched $81,000 at the stud's recent on-farm bull sale, near Queenstown.

Angus breeder Mike Smith, from Cone Peak Station on the north face of Remarkable Mountains in Queenstown, describes his recent Kincardine Angus on-farm sale as an "awesome occasion" after selling a bull for $81,000.

Smith told Rural News the May 25 sale was a great reward for all the hard work that had gone into the stud over the years. He was especially delighted for his parents, Alistair and Di Smith, who established Kincardine in 1969.

"Breeding cattle does not happen overnight. It shows how strong cow lines and the ability to introduce new blood into those old, proven genetics is a great way to move forward."

The sale was a day of celebration for the Smith family - not only marking the accumulation of more than 50 years of breeding for the Kincardine Stud but also the first on-farm bull sale for Mike and Gemma Smith.

Smith says the top selling bull - lot 2 - was a "real magic animal" and he had high hopes for a good price.

"I was hopeful he would go to a stud and perform somewhere else."

On the day, the Smiths sold 14 bulls for an average of $14,585. The top priced bull was bought by the Giddings family's Meadowslea Genetics, from Fairlie, who bought it via an online bid. This is the top price of the bull sale season, so far, and the second highest in South Island history.

The sale was a combination of both an on-farm and online auction. Smith says around 70 people joined them at the property for the sale, with another 50 attending online via the Bidr system.

Smith believes the sale was a great start for both the bull selling season and the Angus breed.

"It was awesome to have farmers and agents from all over the country visiting to view the bulls and have robust discussions on Angus cattle challenges and achievements," Smith told Rural News. "The breed is in an exciting phase, there are some great initiatives are being explored with key partners and a real focus on the future ahead with the challenge of reaching new heights for all things Angus."

Smith conceded there were a few beers had after the sale. "It was a joyous occasion. It's great to have a bunch of rural people on the farm to share some stories and it is wonderful for rural communities to have that kind of day out."

More like this

Objection!

OPINION: In 2021 a group of prominent academics got ’cancelled’ for daring to oppose changes to the school curriculum that put all mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), which can incorporate spiritual elements, on par with empirical science.

Seriously?

OPINION: Your old mate can't believe how that infamous environmental vandal and professional stirrer Mike Smith is now being beatified in some circles as an eco-warrior.

Bull sales continue in lockdowns

A hybrid auction platform launched during last year's Covid lockdown is allowing beef and dairy bull sales across the North Island to continue.

Bull sales going ahead

Beef and dairy bull sales across the North Island are able to continue thanks to an innovative hybrid auction platform released during the 2020 Covid lockdown.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter