A North Canterbury cattle stud has received the highest price paid for a Charolais bull in New Zealand in 16 years.
Hemingford Charolais Stud at Culverden fetched $27,000 for its bull Hemingford Maximus last month, the third highest price in the history of Charolais cattle in New Zealand.
The figure was last topped in 2002, for Greenwood Park Rangi in the North Island. Maximus was bought by John Henderson, of Auahi Charolais Stud in Otorohanga. His combination of excellent structure, quiet temperament, strong breed plan figures, including marbling in the top 10% of the breed, made Maximus worthy of his high price.
Hemingford stud had strong demand for Charolais bulls at its recent on-farm sale, selling 36 at an average of $7470. Sam and Viki Holland were happy with the sale result and said there was confidence back in the sheep and beef industry.
''Farmers are prepared to invest in quality genetics to increase their profitability, with a definite trend towards more crossbreeding and use of terminal sires,'' they said.
