Similarly, we thoroughly research the background behind our Herd Sires and AI Sires to make sure that they fulfil the objectives of balanced trait selection to suit the environment where our genetics ultimately settle.
Neil Sanderson is a specialist Embryo Transplant veterinarian, and owner of one of New Zealand’s leading ET companies, Advanced Genetics Ltd. The company maintains an inventory of current Angus genetics from their herd and others. A full range of embryos can be sourced for domestic use as well as Export. Fossil Creek Angus genetics are currently found in Argentina, Uruguay, China, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Canada and the USA. There appears to be an increase in demand for sustainable grassfed beef genetics from countries such as New Zealand due to food safety, animal health and lower input considerations. The New Zealand Angus genepool can provide a sustainable source of efficient outcross bloodlines, especially important given the recent appearance of lethal genetic defects in certain heavily used USA sires.Neil is a past board member of the New Zealand Angus Association where his responsibility was the technical portfolio. Neil designed and implemented the Milestone Dam programme that recognises elite production females in the Breed. Currently he is involved as coordinator of a large female fertility research programme in New Zealand beef cattle working alongside a large pool of passionate scientists and management of industry good organisation, Beef and Lamb Genetics NZ Ltd.
Rose Sanderson is Fossil Creek Angus’ resident expert in everything that involves Beef genetics. Rose has an impressive history of experience in Beef genetics both here and in her homeland Australia, and has a unique skill in ensuring that all stock are challenged to perform in both physical conformation and breeding value indexes. Rose’s ability to be a tough judge of stock and her finely tuned stock handling skills have led to the Fossil Creek breeding herd being renowned throughout the country for no-nonsense robustness and easy to handle docility. Rose has a deep understanding of all Fossil Creek clientele requirements, no matter where they are in the country and she ensures that the line up of R2 Bulls each June mirrors these requirements for the ideal fit in each and every breeding herd.
Blair Smith has a strong passion for Beef and Sheep genetics – as proven through his leadership New Zealand’s largest registered Perendale sheep stud – Newhaven Perendales, part of their 8,000 stock unit Newhaven Farms sheep and beef operation. It is this challenging environment in the hills of the Kakanui Range that the Fossil Creek Stud Cows are run – with a constant challenge of extreme climatic conditions thrown at them, as the North Otago high altitude environment tends to do. Deeply involved in the agircultural industry and a robust knowledge of what it takes to make a commercial farming operation successful, Blair is relishing the challenges and breeding rewards of the Fossil Creek Angus Stud.
Jane Smith has a degree in soil, animal, plant science and commerce coupled with 15 years experience in the fertiliser consultancy industry and rural banking. Jane has previously been an independant director of the Red Meat Profit Partnership and a Crown appointed director of the New Zealand Veterinary Council and in 2016, became an invited member of the Global Farmer Roundtable. Jane is delighted to be involved in both the Fossil Creek Angus Stud and the Newhaven Perendale Sheep Stud (established by Jane’s parents David and Robyn Ruddenklau in 1972). She sees this as a huge reponsibility to provide vision for the industry -with the stud stock industry being the power house of the sheep and beef industry both now and even more so in the future as farmers are challenged to become more efficient and effective producers of quality red meat protein.
