Mahuta Sale Report 2024

Mahuta Hereford 2024

It was a good day to see everyone who came to our annual yearling bull sale on 13th September 2024. There were 64 bulls offered and all sold with an average price of $3,803.

Transfers included Otopawa Hereford Stud lot 8 for $11,000 and lot 3 for $7,500; Lot 10 to Shadow  Downs Herefords for $7,200; Lot 6 to Tawanui Herefords $2,500; Lot 1 to Muzzal Herefords $4,000 and lot 18 for $3,000; Lot 44 to Hoobees Herefords for $4,200; Lot 50 to Maui Herefords for $3,900. 

Other prices over $5,000 included Onereri Station lot 41 for $6,200; P.J. Ward Family Trust lot 15 for $6,000; Harena Farms lot 9 for $5,000 and lot 39 for $5,200; Waytemore Farms lot 26 for $5,500 and lot 45 for $5,700.

Fresh Bulls in 2024

Limehills Throne 220672

This year, we have bought 2 herd sires and a package of semen. They have all been purchased with the aim of furthering our breeding aims. These are to breed cattle which will maximise profit for our clients.

The first is Limehills Throne 220672. He is a very attractive bull, as can be seen from the photo, with great rein of neck and presence and mobility. In addition, his figures are outstanding which are an indication of productive potential and therefore profit. He has top calving ease [top 5%], above average growth, superior scrotal circumference [top 5%]. This is an indication of fertility. On top of that, he has above average EMA [meat], top 1% fats and top 1% imf [indicative of carcass quality]. Unsurprisingly, his indexes for prime beef and for beef-heifer mating are in the top 1% for Australasia.

The second bull is Matariki Performer P24. He is a very upstanding bull with great head carriage and rein of neck accompanied by high calving ease for the heifer’s calf, high scrotal circumference ebv and high meat, fats and imf.

The third is semen from Koanui Lips T147. He is rated by Chris Chesterman as one of the best bulls they have bred and he has data to match. We are looking forward to using him in our programme.   

Mahuta Sale Report 2023

Matariki Night Rider

Mahuta Herefords held the annual yearling bull sale 2 months ago, on 15th September 2023. The sale was well attended with buyers and agents commented on the consistency of the offering.

There were 69 bulls offered and 66 of these were sold to average NZ$3,720.  The top price was lot 4 for Mahuta Skywalker 2034 who sold for NZ$23,500 to Koanui Herefords. He was a good bull with very good figures out of a first calving heifer by Mahuta Qualifier 0034.

Mahuta Skywalker 2034
Mahuta Skywalker 2034

Other bulls sold for transfer were lot 3 to Glenbrae Stud for NZ$10,000; lot 8 to Maranui Herefords for NZ$6,200; lot 16 to Circle D Ranch for NZ$6,300; lot 18 to Lowfield Herefords for NZ$5,000; lot 19 to Sarona Herefords for NZ$5,000; lot 50 to Otamatea Herefords for NZ$4,000; and lot 60 to Rosegowan Herefords for NZ$4,000.

The vendors were very happy with the result and a special thanks to the Chesterman family for purchasing lot 4. We also thank the determined underbidder – Grassmere Herefords.

Mahuta Naughty 7064
Mahuta Naughty 7064

Limehills Belter 210483
Limehills Belter 210483

Mahuta Ocean 8073

Mahuta Ocean 8073

Mahuta Ocean 8073 is doing extremely well in the dairy-beef progeny trial.

BLG and Lic are running a multi-breed progeny trial to attempt to identify the best bulls for dairy beef production. The first crop of calves have had data analyzed and Mahuta Ocean has come out as a leader for short gestation and early growth.

Of all the breeds [including Angus} there is only one bull with a shorter gestation and his progeny had the highest 200-day weight of any bull. These results are very important for dairy beef as short gestation means more days for cows in milk and early growth means earlier weaning which reduces costs.

More news will follow as data becomes available.

Mahuta Annual Yearling Bull Sale 2021

On September 17th, we will hold our 37th annual bull sale. We have 57 Hereford bulls for sale with some very low-birthweight bulls for dairy-heifer mating and some high growth bulls suitable for beef or dairy cows. The bulls come from a highly fertile herd with emphasis on soundness and performance. They are well-grown, semen-tested, tested negative and vaccinated for BVD. Updated  EBVs will be available on sale day.

Holding the sale during Covid lockdown will be a challenge but we have the advice that it can continue, provided that we all wear masks and observe social distancing. With this in mind, we will plan to hold the sale outside where more people can observe the bulls and maintain distance. Of course, if we are in level 2 (as we were last year), we can hold the sale as usual, under cover, signing in with the QR code or on paper.

There may be an issue for those wishing to cross regional boundaries if Auckland remains in level 4 lockdown. Possible options include requesting a permit from MBIE (I have an application form provided by Federated Farmers) or attending the sale online using BIDR. Stock agents will help to facilitate the sale. The steps to log on to BIDR can be found in the catalogue but if anyone needs help, they are welcome to contact us.

If you would like an advice about the bulls which are likely to be suitable for your requirements, please feel welcome to contact us.

There are likely to be constraints, if in level 3, on the food which we can provide but the advice is that food is all right so long as it comes pre-wrapped.

We appreciate your patience during these trying times and again wish you a successful season.

Welcome to the new Mahuta website!

Limehills Stardom 190158

We have our website revamped and updated so that our visitors get the latest news from our Mahuta farm.

We are pleased to welcome to our stud Limehills Stardom 190158 purchased at the Limehills sale 2021 for $36,000.00. He is very attractive and sound. He also has performance figures at the top of the breed for Australasia.

Limehills Stardom 190158
Limehills Stardom 190158