Opportunity to view impressive Fossil Creek Angus bull lineup during May

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

A full transfer of herd ownership has occurred over the past decade to Blair and Jane Smith, who will be hosting the Fossil Creek Angus bull sale at their Newhaven farm in Five Forks again this year — presenting 80 R2 Angus bulls from their Fossil Creek stud 360 breeding cow herd

Neil and Rose Sanderson established the Fossil Creek Angus stud more than 25 years ago and say they are delighted to see the stud going from strength to strength and this next development is an exciting milestone.

‘‘The transfer of full herd ownership to Blair and Jane has been really beneficial in that one of New Zealand’s best multi-trait Angus herds has not only remained intact, but has in fact doubled in size over the past 10 years while being run in a genuine commercial hill block environment,’’ Neil says.

‘‘It’s an exciting time to be in the industry with so many powerful tools available for breeders to fine-tune their genetic gains through genomics and better analysis of EBVs rather than generic industry indexes,’’ Blair says.

‘‘This helps to fine-tune sourcing the best genetics for each individual client’s needs.

‘‘The feedback on calf growth rates and carcass performance that our bull clients are receiving from the finishers that purchase their calves is an important information loop for us as a stud.’’

‘‘Many of our clients have had to wean their calves early this year due to drought conditions yet have been impressed with the calf weights they have been able to achieve,’’ Jane adds.

‘‘It’s years like this one when good genetics show their true colours, even when feed quality and quantity is severely limited.’’

Blair and Jane’s hill block where the Fossil Creek Angus stud cows and young stock are run is 10km up in the Kakanui Range above the bull sale venue and the Smiths are hoping that people may take the time to see where the Fossil Creek young stock and breeding herd are run when they come to view the bulls.

‘‘At Fossil Creek Angus we are not about extremes in anything that can tip the balance of other traits and our lineup of sale bulls...