The culmination of 25 years of breeding was on show at the annual Bull Trial Sale for retiring Limousins stalwarts, Mangatawhiri’s Dorothy and Hein Kroef.
Dorothy has been involved in every trial for the last 25 years. Her bull won the inaugural trial, held in Te Rapa, outside Hamilton.
This year saw the last Mangatawhiri Limousin bull sold at the sale, to a relatively new breeder, LImax Enterprises.
Dorothy stepped in to host the 2018/9 Trial last October and it was a tribute to her farming that the bulls were extremely well presented.
There was almost a full clearance of the 11 bulls, with only one being passed in. Top price ($7,500) went to a very stylish black bull by Wulfs Amazing Bull.
Mangatara 762N was homo polled out of a first calving 2 YO heifer going back to Auto Dollar General and Ionesco.
He had the highest weigh gain in the trial and was judged 3rdby the independent judge. His performance figures are outstanding.
Erik and Lyn Van der Velden will be sending the bull up to Northland where he will be used by a partnership of Snake Gully (Natalie and David Roberts) and Murray Child.
The bull judged top in the trial, Ngarimu Normandy, now owned by new breeders, Bruce and Michelle Polley (Secret Falls) sold for $7200. Normandy was sired by Bull Trialist Kivlean Kamahi, out of Ngarimu Hermione.
The South Island Limousin Trial Sale delivered mixed results. The top priced bull, Loch Head Nebraska sold for $8200. His sire, Riverheights Gibson, and dam, Loch Head Ember both have robust NZ home grown genetics.
The inaugural Central North Island All Breeds Sale in Taupo at the end of May saw Limousin offered for sale alongside most other breeds. The new sale will need time to bed into the bull buyer market.
North Island Bull Trial Results
CNI Cup for Bull Trial Top Price: Mangatara 762N
Best Weight Gain: Mangatara 762N
Camveray Plaque for Best Judged Bull: Ngarimu Normandy
Best Scanned (Biggest EMA): Ngarimu Normandy