NZ Herefords - Enjoying a Strong Year

Registered cow numbers are on the increase again. At the World Hereford Conference in 2004, NZ was the only country experiencing a ‘steady’ trend in registered cow numbers – a significant trend in today’s international Breed Society Hereford statistics. In 2005 NZ Herefords is pleased to report a small further increase in both registered animal and membership numbers. Currently 14,631 registered females from a membership base of 260 active Hereford breeders make up the activities of the NZ Hereford Association.

The 2005 National Hereford Show and Sale held in May – the first Hereford sale of the new bull selling season, saw record two year bull entries, despite new stringent entry criteria which stated all animals must have weight and carcase performance data submitted for Breedplan Estimated Breeding Value analysis, prior to being acceptance for Herefords National event. Seventy Hereford animals were up for auction, and were well supported by strong stud and commercial purchasing power. The National sale was solid throughout with passings minimal and two year bulls averaging $7765. Female and Yearling Bull entries sold particularly well, with sought after bloodlines featuring in their sales, averaging $5100 and $10,400 respectively.

The coveted Wrightson Champion of Champions title – a multi breed contest at the National was claimed by a NZ Hereford two- year old sire from the South Island Kotare Hereford Stud. NZ Herefords have also won this contest in 2002 and 2003.

The NZ Dairy Industry providing huge potential for the Hereford breed, as the preferred dairy beef sires for use by NZ Dairy farmers. The ‘white face advantage’ as marketed by the New Zealand Hereford Association, provides the Dairy industry with calves that consistently top calf sales throughout NZ.  Finishing farmers are prepared to pay a smart premium to obtain Hereford cross white face calves for rearing to 100 kilograms or finishing through to slaughter weights. NZ Herefords has semen marketing contracts with NZ’s two major Dairy Semen suppliers – LIC and Ambreeed. Both are involved in the collection and marketing of Hereford Association endorsed Dairy beef type Hereford sires. Focus is placed on low birthweight, ease of calving and most importantly short gestation length. NZ Hereford Association is currently embarking on a short gestation length research project.

2005 success also for Hereford Prime, NZ Beef  -NZ Herefords ‘Supreme Quality Branded Beef product’.  In the fiercely contested nationwide Steak of Origin competition endorsed by Beef and Lamb NZ, Hereford Prime has become the only NZ branded beef product to win through to all finals since the inception of the competition. “This achievement reflects the absolute guaranteed consistency of Hereford Prime beef, New Zealand’s highest specified beef product” comments Mr Laurie Paterson, Chairman of Hereford Prime, NZ. “The fact that three out of the four finalists in this year’s Best Branded/ Retail Beef section were of Hereford origin endorses the positive carcase attributes of the Hereford breed’ he adds.

Last year NZ Herefords introduced ‘NZ Hereford Selection Indexes’ a further extension of Estimated Breeding Values. Selection Indexes rank animals for a single production goal – profit. They take the hard work out of knowing how much emphasis to give each of the available growth, maternal, carcase and fertility EBV’s when selecting parent animals – an index is a composite EBV of traits best suited to a particular production system and targeted market. NZ Herefords has adopted three indexes – Export/ Maternal, Hereford Prime/ Maternal and Dairy/ Maternal Index.

These indexes are calculated for all Hereford animals on the NZ Hereford Association database and are derived using Breed Object/ Index software and Group Breedplan EBV’s. They target specific production systems, and relative weighting’s on a range of EBV traits within each system assist breeding and selection of animals to improve long-term productivity. Selection Indexes have been widely promoted by NZ Herefords and well accepted by the NZ commercial beef sector.

Continuing on from 2004, whereby six NZ Hereford Youth Ambassador, sponsored by Animal Health Company, Merial attended the World Hereford Conference in Australia, this being a hugely successful initiative. In 2005, ten newly selected Hereford Youth Ambassadors have recently attended a “Technical tour’. The tour was designed to update the participants on research that would directly benefit beef breeding programmes, farm management or Herefords in general.

It is a focus for the Association to foster Hereford Youth Breeders, as they are obviously the future of the breed. Youth criteria implies a 'young' 40 years of age or under Hereford Association member who is actively involved in running and breeding registered Herefords. They must illustrate a passion for farming, be progressive in their Hereford endeavors and have a vision for the future of NZ Herefords. The very positive response to Hereford Youth initiatives has been particularly encouraging for the breed.

A recent change in the NZ Hereford Association Executive has seen Mr David Morrow of Okawa Hereford Stud complete a very satisfactory term as President of the New Zealand Hereford Association. Mr Bruce Robertson of Duncraigen Hereford Stud has now commenced his two-year term as President. Some of you who attended the 2004 World Hereford Conference may have met Bruce who attended as a NZ Country Delegate. Mr John Morrison of Ardo Hereford Stud has come into the position of Vice President of the Association.