Getting ready for annual bull sale

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 2, 4 June 1985, Page 9

Getting ready for annual bull sale

Pat O 'Neill and his son Kelly are already beginning to prepare for the annual sale of Hereford bulls on their Raetihi farm. The sale, which is on 10th June, involves much preparation. "A lady's hairdo is nothing compared to what we do to those bulls," says Mr O 'Neill. The 36 Herefords wil'l be shampooed, clipped and brushed to look their best for the sale. Mr O'Neill was brought up with Hereford cattle. His father, Alec O'Neill, established Herefords on his

Parapara farm in 1905 and in 1917 began breeding pedigree cattle. Pat established his herd on his Valley Road farm in 1951. He named them 'Okahu' after a bend in a river located part-way down the Paraparas. Mr O'Neill now has 120 stud cows and this year's will be his 15th annual sale. Several hundred people usually attend the sale, travelling from as far away as Northland and Invercargill. "Last year we had the highest average price for Herefords for a private sale in New Zealand," he says. His 30 bulls sold last year, averaged $2,800 each.

One of the reasons Mr O'Neill likes the Hereford breed is because of the animals' quiet temperament. They were originally draught animals in England and were known for their quietness. Until recently it was unusual for multiple births with Hereford cattle but Okahu animals are becoming well known for giving birth to twin cafves. In 1983 Okahu Rosa 131 give birth to twin calves and the following year gave birth to triplets. Several years ago Okahu Rosa 1 3 l's grandsire, Okahu Rollo 1, sired two sets of twins in one year. At the time Massey University thought this was a first for the breed. Through 'the use of ovum transplant, multiple Hereford births are now quite

common, but five calves produced in less than a year by natural mating is very unusual. Over the years Okahu cows have produced about 2% of twins. Hereford farmers have a breeders' association, which employs a full-time secretary in Feilding. The association was the first breed society to computerise its herd book. Mr O'Neill regularly shows his top animals, with notable success. His bulls have won breed championships and meat and wool cups at leading North Island shows. When not showing his own animals, Mr O'Neill often acts as a Hereford judge at shows throughout theNorth Island.