Within the Hereford breed in Australasia, Gestation Length  has a recorded range of +8.4 days longer to -12.5 days shorter than the breed average.

This 22 day variation (a whole cycle) in Gestation Length, has the potential to have a massive impact on cattle management and profitability. 

Usually longer gestation length can mean larger calves at birth, and more calving troubles. The reverse of course exists with Short Gestation genetics. Gestation Length, Birth Weight, and Calving Ease tend to be closely correlated.

With a 22 day variation or 11 days (allowing half the genetic influence from the male), the Hereford breed could change the average Dairy Cow income, by as much as $138.60 per lactation (11 days x 1.8 kgs/day x $ 7 /kg payout).

Short Gestation genetics are financially substantial for the Dairy Industry.  Not only does short gestation help produce more days in milk, therefore more dollars, it is also a natural answer to reducing inductions, and allows cows to be re-mated earlier, and a longer growing period for the calves.

Shrimpton’s Hill Hereford’s Short Gestation breeding programme was established in 2001, selecting only for this single trait, specifically for the Dairy bull and semen markets. 

Today we are the breeders of  leading Herefords, both male and female in Australasia, for Short Gestation Length (SGL).

Recognising this LIC (Livestock Improvement Corporation), have entered into a breeding relationship with Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords, to supply semen for their domestic and international markets.

Our relationship with LIC, has meant our breeding programme has a far greater focus on gestation length, to the benefit of the Dairy Industry and especially now, with the latest induction protocol. 

We can now concentrate on the single trait, Gestation Length, but keeping a close eye on Birth Weight and Calving Ease without losing sight of the special traits our Hereford breed, brings to any market. 

SGL activity to date at LIC, delivers in excess of a million extra days in milk per season and in the current economic environment, SGL continues to be LIC’s strongest growing semen sales category. 

 Currently we have 7 sires stationed at LIC’s Newstead bull farm in the Waikato, on frozen and fresh semen duty and 2 bulls at Awahuri for the international market. LIC progeny test throughout New Zealand, a further 10 Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords yearling bulls annually.

Since the commencement of our breeding partnership with LIC, we have had some serious movement in genetic gain, with respect to gestation length. We have had several calves born up to a month early and the great majority of our embryo transplant (E.T.) calves arriving at least a cycle early. We are now in a position to be mating E.T. offspring with E.T. offspring, creating a SGL population at the outer limits of the bell curve.

Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords is the largest supplier of beef genetics to the New Zealand meat industry, siring well over 100,000 calves annually. While Gestation Length has been a major focus, we acknowledge the importance of other traits such as growth, meat yield and intra-muscular fat, relevant in enhancing the maximum potential of all progeny. 

While Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords continues to push the SGL envelope, we are getting great satisfaction from our breeding results, and adding value to our clients’ bottom line.