NZ RED DEVON CATTLE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION : Tinopai Breeder Profile

Welcome to Te-Maewa. Established in 1999 (in Feilding), with the purchase of 6 cows and a bull from the Rotokawa Stud and then two cows from the Pencarrow Stud. After the purchases of around another 30 Rotokawa cattle the new property at Pori, near Pahiatua was purchased in 2004.

The property comprises some 246 hectares, mainly free draining limestone and papa rock from 460 to 580metres above sea level. Average rainfall is 1.5 meters (60 inches) per year. It is good healthy country and very summer safe. However winters can be cruel, with very cold high wind speeds and frequent snow, and can last from June until November. As well as the Red Devons Te-Maewa operates a small Purebred Registered Suffolk Stud of 100 ewes, 520 Romney ewes and a few very rare Registered Wessex Saddle Back Pigs. The Red Devons have taken to this country like a duck to water.

Because of the increase in hectares in 2004, cattle from another 9 studs were added to the herd most coming from the northern end of the country. This ensured genetic diversity and with an on going artificial insemination program every year, the herd now has 8 different sire lines at its disposal.

The Stud, 100 purebred registered cows still mainly based on Rotokawa genetics, is run as a commercial operation, no pampering, indoor stalls or hard feed etc. The differences being, birth recording, registering, and performance recording with Breedplan are still undertaken. Cattle are run in management groups to ensure cow breeding values are assesed correctly. The less efficient cows are culled to the works every year, the motto being (Breed with the Best and Cull the Rest). Cows are retired for age at fourteen years if still in the herd. Herd T.B Status is C10.

All cows and hefiers are (date) pregnancy tested and split into calving mobs, to allow the cattle to be cycled around the farm utilising the very little tree shelter for when the calves are born. Normally there is only one or two empty cows, usually cows that have been held back from the bull for a (failed) A.I attempt, but all hefiers are always in calf, and most in the first cycle. Hefiers are now calved as two year olds with only occasional slight assistance given. Calving starts August thru September with other farms and breeds in the area not calving untill November.

Calving percentages of 100% have been achieved several years but is normally around 96-97% with very little other hassle. Calves are weighed, tagged and recorded in the paddock as soon as they are seen and at three or four days old are debudded if needed and shifted further afield with mum to more tree sheltered paddocks. The top weaning weights achieved to date for bull calves is 360kg @ 224 days and hefiers 316kg @ 258 days.

Winter supplements (hay and baleage) grown on the farm, is given to calving cows to enable the feeding of magnesium oxide at a rate of 1 standard bale to 10 cows per day , and older bulls on crop to give them roughage. All young stock fend for themselves mixed in amongst sheep.

Selection criteria for replacement cattle into the herd dose not take into account whether the animal is horned or polled. With yearly A.I. and some of the donor bulls from overseas being polled, in 2007 1/3rd of the calves born in the herd were polled. The cattle are handled, or yarded as little as possible but all visitors comment on how quiet and docile this herd is. (Like all Red Devons).

The breeding aims at Te-Maewa are to produce more Structurally Sound, Hardier, More Efficient, Easier Calving, Quicker Growing Cattle, with an emphasis on Bulls for Cross Breeding, with other beef breeds.

Visitors and/or enquiries are always welcome at Te-Maewa. All classes of stock are available for sale at most times of the year. Semen is available from the bull pictured.

Contact:
Graeme Dyke.
1065 Pori Road. R.D.6. Pahiatua
Phone: (06) 3763966 Fax; (06) 3763967

Te Maewa Red Devons