Agriculture is full of paradigms and often we are a part of them and don't even know it. I learned a lot going through university and working as a beef specialist. I learned that there is no end of management schemes and supplementation programs that can be employed to keep cattle functioning within a ranching system. Even though systems can be built to function, they often leave little in the way of profit for the ranch. Part of the equation that I always felt everyone walked softly around was the subject of genetics suited to low input systems.

Everyone it seemed was afraid that some breed or breeders may be offended. I contest that the cattle are not at fault, it's the breeders; the ones that selected for the so called profitable traits under a high input management system.

We are a seed stock producer, however our philosophy is to select for the profitable traits under a low input management system. Our cattle work for us and so it's important that we have the right type of cows. We rely heavily on AI to get a good part of the herd bred before the bulls are turned out. Too often we have been disappointed with the outcomes from some of the North American trait leading sires. I always felt that Angus cattle in North America have gone too far from where they came. If only we could pull them back part way to their roots. Well wishes do come true... and fortunately there were breeders in New Zealand that had that vision and kept it clear without following the fads and trends that have come and gone in the breed.

The Angus Wai Group of New Zealand www.anguswaigroup.co.nz has kept a closed herd since 1967. During this time they have had a clear based objective for raising the efficiency in Angus cattle within a totally forage based system. After contacting with the Wai Group, I was given Bill Hodge's name from Sustainable Genetics www.sustainablegenetics.com in Franklin, Georgia. I knew from the first conversation that Bill and the Wai Group were on to a good thing and felt the opportunity for these genetics were also needed in Canada. Bill agreed; we are excited now to be part of this team.

Not only will we be breeding a significant part of our herd to Wai sires this year but we are also the contact for producers in Canada that are interested in AI-ing these sires to their own cows. So if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be glad to help you get involved with "genetics for sustainable production and maximum net profit".

• 4.0 Frame Score
• Explosive yearling growth without excessive mature weight and frame
• 2320 lbs out of the pasture
• Intensely linebred
• Used in the Glanworth Herd as a yearling then sold into the commercial industry. Retrieved by Willie Fallon as a massive, extremely sound four year old
• Hales from the most productive cow family at Pinebank
• Dam is Pinbank Waigroup 86/96, same dam as 152/04

   

14/02 Pictured as a 4 year old

14/02 Dam - Pinbank Waigroup 86/96

• Mature weight of 2630 lbs. on pasture
• 5.1 Frame Score
• 46 cm scrotal measurement
• 41/97 has an excellent temperament
• 41/97 is extremely sound on his feet and legs

   

Longevity, Fertility & Efficiency of Production

• 41/97 is 8 years old and still working in steep country
• Both 41/97's dam and grand dam had 11 calves and were 13 years old when retired from the Pinebank herd. This is a Pinebank policy.
• The Pinebank herd's breeding season is 42 days
• 41/97 is the 5th herd sire his dam has produced
• 41/97's grand dam is also produced 5 herd sires
• 41/97's daughters' average calf weight (at 200 days of age) expressed as a percentage of dam's weight is 61%

Sons and Daughters

     

     

Glanworth Waigroup 130-03

DOB: September 26, 2003

Semen cost - $35 / straw last semen available in North America - 10 straw minimum

In September 2004 Glanworth Waigroup 130-03 was identified and selected from a group of 60 yearling bulls using the following selection criteria:

• The bull selected must have the body type to sire progeny which will function efficiently in low input environments. i.e moderate framed; deep ribbed; wide rumped and very easy fleshing
• The bulls's pedigree verifies he is pure New Zealand bloodlines as many generations as one cares to go back
• Temperament - excellent
• His testicles looked very good
• His dam - Glanworth Waigroup 849 is a moderate framed, deep ribbed cow weighing around 11-1200 lbs with a small very well attached udder and short thick teats.
• His paternal sisters are also moderate in frame; very easy fleshing; very even in type and displaying natural thickness.
• 130's paternal grand dam - 950 is also a moderate framed deep ribbed cow with a small very well attached udder and short thick teats. Glanworth 950 is sired by Pinebank Waigroup 41/97.
• 130's sire - Glanworth 159 AB - was selected as a yearling to be used in the Glanworth program. He was his dam's first calf as a 2 yr heifer and rated the top in his year.
• Glantworth 130 stats are:
• Birth weights 70 lbs (ratio 94%)at birth
• His weaning weight ratio was 114%
• His yearling weight ratio was 111%
• His actual ultrasound scan reading for IMF - taken at exactly 1 year of age - was 5.0%(Choice-)*. Ratio 162%.
• His estimated rib eye/cwt ratio - on his yearling scan and weight - was 2.02
• His yearling scrotal measurement was 37 cms.

130 has only been raised on forage, weaned @ 200 days and never crept fed. At 13.5 months he bred 35 females for 8 weeks. During this period 130 gained weight. He is bred for:

• easy calving
• siring moderate framed, easy keeping, very thrifty progeny
• females will be fertile and function efficiently in low input environments
• his sons will produce excellent carcasses which will finish early, marble well and have good yield grades

Glanworth Waigroup 130-03 Dam:

Glanworth Waigroup 130-03 Offspring:

Glanworth Waigroup 130-03 Paternal Brother:

• 519/94 was the 19th calf reared by his dam! He was used as a yearling sire, sold as 1st choice run bull to a hill country herd and repurchased as a immaculately sound 7 year old.
• 519/94 is now deceased
• Limited semen available in Canada

Offspring:



    

The picture above is 152-04 taken at 14 months. His dam is the top Pinebank cow and in the New Zealand database there are few with his maternal reproductive regularity/calving interval. At 14 months he weighed 1071 lbs, 13.5 sq inches REA and 4.6% IMF - no supplements - only grazing. Below is a picture 152-04 as a calf with his dam.

'Pinebank 152/04 was selected as a yearling sire because of his low birth weight, high growth, excellent muscle expression, soundness and quiet temperament. He comes from a very good and high performing female line; birth wt: 35kg / 77 lb'

Bridget Fouhy
Waigroup Angus