We take pride in the health and welfare of our animals at Sarona Herefords. We take an average of blood tests of the herd yearly during pregnancy testing, which helps us know what they require and no guesswork when it comes to their health. It means we can provide the right support at the right time, year-round.
Our cows get a copper bolus pre-winter and, going into pre-calving they receive:
- Rotavec injection
- Covexin 10
- Lepto 4-way
- Vitamin B12 + selenium
- They get a pour-on lice drench, which is the only drench they receive a year.
Pre-mating cows receive an Ultravac BVD booster injection, while bulls get a Heprabovis injection. They also get a series of B12 injections throughout the year.
We are proud of our grass-fed system, which provides our herd with the most natural diet possible. This includes a mix of legumes, rye grass, cox foot, and growing summer crops like chicory and plantain, which we leave in when going back to a permanent pasture – providing a diverse diet throughout the year. The chicory crops have elevated mineral content (Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca, K) and help reduce facial eczema spores, which the young stock especially benefits from. It also has a high forage quality, for protein and digestibility.
We have also planted trees for shade to prevent heat stress during summer, further enhancing the welfare of our cattle.
Our Sire References
See the sires that have shaped our herd and breeding direction.
Our Bulls
On NZ Herefords, type “Sarona,” select calving year, and select male.
Our Beef
We’ll be updating this section with more details as they become available.