Rare Texas cattle in Raetihi

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 38, 12 March 1985, Page 18

Rare Texas cattle in Raetihi

Santa Gertrudis may sound like a Spanish Conquistador, but is actually the name of a breed of cattle, which originated in Texas. And a Raetihi farmer is one of only fourteen people in New Zealand breeding the animals. Harold Windle bought his first Santa Gertrudis eight years ago and has been breeding pure-breds for five years. The breed originated at King Ranch, Texas, near the Mexican border in 1920 and its popularity has been spreading ever since.

The breed was established by crossing a one-sixteenth Brahman and fifteen-six-teenths Shorthorn cow with a seven-eighth Brahman bull. The offspring inherited qualities from both parents and the breed is now known for its weight gain, size, lean meat, hardiness and adaptability. Harold currently has three Santa Gertrudis bulls and 1 30 cows on his Middle Road farm. He is a member of the New Zealand Breed Society

and the Australian Breed Society. The New Zealand society has annual meetings for members — this year to be held in Palmerston North. To gain additional knowledge of the breed, Harold visited a number of Santa Gertrudis fafms in Australia several years ago. The animals are bred for meat and because of their origins in the harsh countryside of the Texas/ Mexico border, they can survive under the roughest

conditions and are largely resistant to pests. After eight years, Harold is still enthusiastic about the breed. The reason so few other farmers in this country have followed his example, he feels, is because of the much higher initial cost outlay involved with breed-. ing Santa Gertrudis, whenf compared with the more common beef breeds in this country. However, in the long term, Harold feels that the cows from Texas are a better investment.