Product pride, quality genetics and careful husbandry lead to excellent stock for an enthusiastic market

Each year since the mid 1960s the Sue family has sold their Ruapehu district raised weaners, initially at Taihape and more recently at the Feilding saleyards. Fifty years ago brothers Ken and Cyril Sue extended their focus onto the farming trade, branching out from the family market gardening business established by their father Sue Joe after he arrived in New Zealand from China in the early 1930s.

Now into the third and fourth generations working in the business, between 850 and 900 of the Sue family’s weaners will be offered for sale later this month. Gareth Williams of PGG Wrightson is the livestock representative for the family and will coordinate the annual weaner fair. He says the quality of the stock always makes for strong attendance.

“We always see good competition among buyers at the fair. They comment on the quiet nature of the cattle, which can be credited to the handling and the land they are reared on.

“Bred on seven properties located around Ohakune, the Sue cattle are Angus Herefords, out of purebred Hereford cows, by Angus bulls. Renowned for performance, the Sue steers are likely to mostly sell locally, while the weaner heifers have historically been purchased as far afield as South Auckland.

“Sadly, Ken and Cyril both died in the last few years. However, the third generation of the Sue family is picking up and building on what was developed in the past. The family continues to focus on pride in their product, good quality genetics and careful husbandry of the land, which results in excellent stock that finds an enthusiastic market at this annual family weaner fair,” he says.

Last year, due to the COVID lockdown restrictions, the fair was postponed until the country was in level two, and the saleyards could open. This year the Sue family annual weaner fair is scheduled for 11:30am on Wednesday 21 April at Feilding saleyards.

Gareth Williams, Sheep & Beef Representative, Manawatu