We’re pleased to report that the last of the natural follow sires have now joined their respective joining mobs, marking the completion of the 2025 spring artificial insemination program at Te Mania Angus’ stud nucleus herd in Mortlake. A big thank you to the team, George, Tamas, Harry and Richie for helping it run smoothly.
Traditionally, within our stud breeding nucleus, each mob goes through a two-round AI program, followed by natural follow with paddock sires. This year, we’re trying a combination of practices within the same joining cycle to explore the optimal balance between genetic gain, increased round one conception rates, and labour utilisation.
Joining of stud cows at Merrang this year is run in the following six mobs:
Mob M1
- 290 first round first calvers (calf at foot was conceived in first round)
- Single round of fixed-time AI.
- Day one CIDR in and Bomerol
- Day seven CIDR out and PG
- Day ten (63 Hours after CIDR OUT) AI
- 12 Te Mania yearling paddock sires in 3-5 days after AI
Mob M2
- 180-second round, first calvers (calf at foot conceived in second round or later)
- Herddogg activity monitoring ear tags are applied, notifying the crew when an animal is on standing heat, at which point they are AI’d
- This research focused mob is designed to monitor ‘post-partum aneastrus’ (PPA) – the period of infertility between calving and the next heat. We’re analysing the variation within this group and potential scope for a PPA trait.
Mobs C1, 2 & 3
- Three mobs of collectively 800 mixed-age cows
- First round fixed-time AI program (see M1)
- Second round, CIDR only heat detection
- Day one CIDR with no injection
- Day seven CIDR out apply scratchE heat detectors
- Day 8-11 heat detection and AI
- Third round (and thereafter) naturally follow (day 12, depending on the number of returns)
Lates Mob
- 120 late calvers straight to two bulls
Sire Usage
A combination of home-bred and outcross sires is used within the AI and ET joining. Te Mania Angus utilises MateSel breeding software to optimise the progeny index outcome under specific inbreeding parameters (~0.4 inbreeding coefficient).
Sire candidates are selected based on type, composition and a range of genetic parameters, including our own Te Mania Angus index. The software pairs these candidates with all stud cows in random combinations 100’s of 1000’s of times before it determines which pairing results in the most desired outcome. This outcome is then scrutinised for pedigree and heifer joining suitability.
This year, the following 18 sires were used across the program:
| Society ID | Name | Source |
| VTMR1095 | TE MANIA RHYNIE R1095 | Homebred |
| VTM21S1456 | TE MANIA SUNBURY S1456 (APR) (AI) | Homebred |
| VTM22T463 | TE MANIA TANGO T463 (AI) PV | Homebred |
| VTM22T546 | TE MANIA TED T546 (AI) | Homebred |
| VTM22T868 | TE MANIA TONIC T868 | Homebred |
| VTM23U547 | TE MANIA ULTRA U547 | Homebred |
| VTM23U568 | TE MANIA UNGARIE U568 | Homebred |
| VTM24V243 | TE MANIA VANCLEEF V243 | Homebred |
| VTM24V650 | TE MANIA VANYA V650 | Homebred |
| VTM24V1050 | TE MANIA VELOCITOR V1050 | Homebred |
| BHR21S378 | DUNOON SUNSTONE | Outcross Domestic |
| THC23U15 | CLUDEN NEWRY UPPERCUT U15 | Outcross Domestic |
| TFA22T171 | LANDFALL PHEASANTRY T171 PV | Outcross Domestic |
| TFA23U227 | LANDFALL RIVERSIDE U227 | Outcross Domestic |
| USA19563587 | BALDRIDGE VERSATILE | Outcross OS |
| USA20349307 | G A R CONTENDER | Outcross OS |
| USA20488998 | HART NETWORK | Outcross OS |
| USA20199493 | QUAKER HILL BLACK BANDOLIER | Outcross OS |
LANDFALL UNDERWOOD
We are particularly excited to be bringing Landfall Underwood U227 into the program, purchased from their 2025 Spring Sale. Underwood brings plenty of length and muscle, combined with docility, very balanced figures and solid structure. When you throw in his pedigree, adding diversity to our program, it was the complete package and an excellent fit for our program and objectives.
ESTIMATED PROGENY MID-PARENT EBV
Whilst genomic and paddock sire joining will make an impact, the following highlights the average mid-parent EBV of 2026 progeny from this year’s joining program:
| CED | DTRS | GL | BW | WW | YW | FW | MCW | MILK | DTC | SC | DOC | NFI | CW | EMA | RIB | RUMP | RBY | IMF | FC | FA | RLSV | $A | $D | $GN | $VTM | |
| Prediction | 4.2 | 4.7 | -5.4 | 3.3 | 56.8 | 102 | 131 | 104 | 20.0 | -5.8 | 2.5 | 29 | 0.3 | 72.5 | 7.4 | -0.4 | -0.6 | -0.1 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | $249 | $200 | $339 | $245 |
| Breed Average | 2.2 | 3.0 | -4.5 | 3.9 | 52 | 93 | 120 | 102 | 17 | -4.8 | 2.2 | 21 | 0.23 | 68 | 6.5 | 0.0 | -0.2 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 0.83 | 0.96 | 1.02 | $205 | $169 | $270 | NA |
