Demand for our Go grazing contracts continues to see impressive growth with the flexibility and simplicity of the programme appealing to our farmer customers.

Livestock is principally an agency business, with revenue largely comprising commissions earned on the trading of livestock. Consequently, the key drivers of business performance are the volume and value of livestock traded.

In response to an identified need in the market, PGW Livestock developed the Go livestock grazing programme which assists farmers with their livestock businesses. PGW National Livestock Supply Chain Manager, Jamie Molloy said, “The scheme was designed to be easy for our customers to sign up with their PGW Livestock Agent. Under the scheme, PGW purchase and own the livestock and when they are ultimately sold the change in the value of the livestock is the farmer's grazing revenue, less the agreed fees.”

Go grazing contracts are an excellent example of how PGW can innovate and develop products that meet the needs of our customers. Farmers need to be agile as market prices and climatic conditions can change quickly. The timeline for the use of Go grazing contracts can be flexible and accommodating, and customers can use them to suit their farming operations. There has been impressive growth in Go since its launch in 2015 with Go-Lamb purchasing more than 1.17 million lambs and Go-Beef purchasing more than 180,000 cattle, and with the balance peaking at just under $50 million this year.

Customers in the Go programme, Roger and Susan Hayward, purchased Waipapa Station in 2016, a 900 ha North Island medium hill country station off the Raglan Harbour in Waikato, where they run the Twin Oaks Angus Stud and sheep farm. Previously the Haywards farmed near Fairlie in South Canterbury where they worked with PGW Livestock reps. PGW’s Livestock Representative, Richard Johnston, met Roger and Susan as he was the livestock rep for the former owner.

Early on during their relationship, Richard introduced Roger and Susan to PGW’s Go livestock grazing contracts. The Haywards are fully engaged in the grazing programme and Susan describes the programme as a “massive commitment from PGW. It is important for our cashflow as PGW purchase and own the trading livestock, there is no up-front capital required from us. Go offers us flexibility and the opportunity to graze the quantity we want.”

Roger said, “We benefit from Richard’s knowledge of the livestock market and he works closely with us for PGW to determine when and where the stock is purchased and sold, and whether stock is sold as store or prime. Since entering the Go-Lamb grazing contracts we have grazed approximately 40,000 lambs with PGW, with numbers peaking at 8,000-10,000 a season.”



Richard enjoys working with the Go programme as farmers recognise the value it brings to their business and says, “Once customers utilise Go they stay customers, as they appreciate the simplicity and convenience of the programme.”

In addition to grazing livestock, the Haywards run a first generation Angus stud with a modern approach to breeding Angus bulls with performance genetics. They are passionate about breeding and Twin Oaks is a highly regarded and innovative Angus stud farm.

During September 2019 Richard accompanied Roger and Susan to the Millah Murrah Angus sale in Bathurst, Australia where they intended to buy a stud bull. Although they did not come home with a bull, they were successful in securing the NZ semen rights of Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 which sold for A$160,000 and was an Australasian record for an Angus bull sold at auction.

Richard helps to run all sales for Roger and Susan which includes their spring yearling bull sale and their autumn two-year old bull sale. Roger, Susan, and Richard visit clients across the country before the sales to see how their progeny are breeding. Their South Island clients travel to the sales and the bulls are sold countrywide.

Working with PGW

Richard Johnston joined PGW 13 years ago and is a Livestock Representative based in Waikato. Richard is one of our more than 230 experienced PGW livestock representatives nationally. As the biggest player in New Zealand’s stud and livestock sector, PGW has more reach and greater influence. We run some of the country’s biggest sales events, bringing the largest possible pool of buyers and sellers together. Our representatives pride themselves on their strong adviser relationships with their customers.