Big shift of bulls

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33035, 30 September 1972, Page 16

Big shift of bulls

What is believed to have been the largest shift of bulls ever undertaken in the South Island for one organisation was due to be completed last evening. It was part of an operation by the Grazing and Export Meat Company, Ltd, and involved the movement of 104 bulls from the properties of 22 vendors to 17 properties where the company has cattle grazing.

It has been in progress for three days this week. The bulls of four breeds were picked up from properties from Parnassus in North Canterbury to Otautau in Southland and taken to properties from Cl ydevale, in Otago, to Blenheim. Five trucks, including two with trailers, belonging to two carriers, were used. At one stage, one of the vehicles was carrying 28 bulls; and some of the bulls, for which special watering arrangements had to be made, were on the move for two days and a half. Mr J. R. McKenzie, manager of the breeding division of the company, described the operation as quite a complex one. With 90 per cent backloading achieved, he said, the total distance travelled was only about 1800 miles.

The bulls had had to be delivered as per tag numbers, he said, and all deliveries had been made correctly.