Page 3 - Fossil Creek 2021 ebook

WELCOME TO FOSSIL CREEK

“Genetics load the gun – good farming pulls the trigger.”

We live in a crazy world out there, with simpletons and extremists dent, with deep bodies and solid backends, and plenty of opportu-
gaining all the headlines. The one thing we still have control over nity still to mature out well. We prefer a good shoulder set so that
is producing the finest livestock for our farming systems. There is all bulls end up being alert and with a good outlook.
strength in being able to say hand on heart that we are the most
efficient pastoral-based livestock system in the world, and that we Their genotype evenness is something that we are very proud of.
are using genetics and efficient feeding to continuously improve. Our multi-trait programme focus is obvious when you look at this
Stick to your guns, keep doing a bloody good job and collectively year’s figures and the direction of travel on our EBVs.
stand up for your rights as property owners and members of strong Calving ease remains a key trait – as you have heard us say many
rural communities. 100% worth fighting for. times before, there is no use breeding a top-end calf if it doesn’t
survive birth or have the ability to take advantage of good ma-
The Fossil Creek team have been unashamedly vocal about improv- ternal traits. We continue to strive for moderate to high growth
ing productivity and profitability in the industry and continue to across the board. Our ‘one strike and you are out’ policy on all R2
explore how we can contribute. Decades of stud breeders feeding heifers for a tight first calving pays dividends with good fertility
a wealth of valuable information into our genetic mothership has traits coupled with medium to high fats. We continue to focus on
put us in a great position to use this data to make smart and meas- carcase traits (without putting at risk our maternal traits) with our
urable decisions, and the science behind genomics gives us the trend on IMF particularly positive.
opportunity to boost this even further. Our focus on harvesting all
of this information has never been stronger and our commitment We believe that you will be able to identify a large selection of
to improving fertility and maternal traits in commercial cows is bulls that you like the optics of pre-sale, which puts you in a great
now higher than ever. The Fossil Creek Hill Country star sub-index position at auction time.
system is a prime example of giving our clients tools to make criti-
cal decisions unencumbered by the rhetoric and smoke and mirrors Please take up the opportunity to come and view all 2021 sale
which always surface around the country during bull sale season. bulls on our Bull Viewing Days (Thursday 20th May, Thursday 27th
Many of you may have read recently about the decision by a group May, Saturday 29th May 1-4pm) at the sale venue, 100 Paradise
of Angus studs to move their herd recording to Angus Australia. Gully Road, Ngapara.
This is simply like buying a Ford Ranger rather than a Toyota Hilux
and nothing for the industry to panic about. Fossil Creek Angus Pick up the phone any time to chew the fat, and also remember
will carefully assess our options and do whatever we feel is in the that Blair and Jane love the opportunity to show you the stud
best interest of our clients, not a knee jerk reactionary decision. cows and the latest batch of weaned calves up on the hill block,
Many of you are aware of our displeasure with governance issues anytime.
at Angus NZ but it is crucial that we continue to focus on making
substantial genetic gains and not making decisions based on inter- Kind regards,
nal politics or propaganda. The question we always ask ourselves is Neil and Rose & Blair and Jane
“what is going to be the best outcome for Fossil Creek clients and
their herds”.
neilandrose@fossilcreekangus.co.nz
The opportunities now made possible by quantum leaps in DNA newhavenfarms@netspeed.net.nz
and Genomic testing of beef cattle has not only opened the doors
to a revolution in the way the beef industry is structured but gives
commercial breeders a lot more transparency around their genetic
decisions, not just buying bulls because they are over-fed monsters
or have the best bar and BBQ after the sale!

It has been a pleasure for the four of us to put together this year’s
Fossil Creek catalogue. We are delighted with how even the bulls
are, both in the paddock and on paper.
They are all very quiet. Despite having been weaned onto tussock
and then wintered on the hill block , their muscle patterns are evi-
Fossil Creek Bull Sale 2021 3