Glenside Simmentals dispersed after 42 years breeding
The recent complete dispersal of Garry and Julene McCorkindale’s Glenside Simmental stud at Lawrence was a cracker of a sale, and the end of an era for the McCorkindales, but not the final act.
After 42 years breeding Simmentals, their farm has been sold with an end of March exit, so it was pleasing that the sale was well-supported by existing and new breeders and a full clearance was achieved, said PGG Wrightsons genetics agent Callum McDonald.
“This was a one off sale and the end of an era for the McCorkindales, so it was great for them to achieve a full clearance and at great prices,” Callum said.
All up 142 animals were sold at auction (with the other five sold after the sale), with 51 out of 51 mixed age cows sold for an average of $6276, 22/22 R2 in-calf heifers sold for an average of $7897, 29/29 heifer calves sold for an average of $5206, 30/30 bull calves for $3750 and 15 out of 18 R2 and sire bulls sold for an average of $8500.
Many lots sold to existing breeders, with a few new breeders present and a number into commercial crossbreeding operations, Callum said.
“They were very good prices and the clearance was pretty impressive – these opportunities don’t come along very often.”
Callum said everything is pretty positive at the moment across the beef industry with great weaner prices and a good feed situation across most of the country, which bodes well for the upcoming early winter bull sales.
“A strong beef market usually flows onto good bull prices and at the current levels a lot of farmers have not seen those prices before – it’s great to see them finally paid good dollars for their products.”
Garry and Julene are moving to a smaller block at Bannockburn, downsizing, not retiring, Garry said.
“We are slowing down and part of that is getting rid of the sheep!. All I have done for the past few weeks seems to be dagging sheep to sell – there will be no tears shed when the last of them get on the truck!”
“The dispersal sale involved us selling off all of our red SImmentals and it went extremely well, far exceeding our expectations.”
“It was a wee bit early for a couple of R2 sale bulls but everything else went really well – it was quite humbling really.”
“You spend 42 years building a brand, but it’s not until you go to sell it that you realise how well it is regarded!”
While all the reds have gone, Garry and Julene are taking 30 black SImmental cattle to their new 125ha property, and they are excited about the potential of the cattle.
“The black Simmental is really another breed – it’s become very popular in the US , as it’s a maternal breed, developed to cross over Angus cows.”
Garry said the blacks are easy calving with a smaller framesize and earlier maturing ability with a larger EMA and twice the marbling ability of the traditional red Simmentals.
Developed in the USA to fit the black criteria for the Certified Angus Beef programme, and with its black dominant gene, Garry says the numbers have grown to be as prominent as the Herefords in the US.
“I think they have a real niche to fill in New Zealand and we are just on the cusp of realising that.”