NZ Herefords: 2006 Beef Expo Programme

At the 2006 Canterbury Royal Show where cattle entries where up over 400%, Hereford animals from all South Island provinces represented the breed well. Christchurch “Show Week” hosts both the NZ Racing Cup and the Canterbury Show.

For the next four years Canterbury will be host to the Royal Show. In 2006 and in true Canterbury fashion, a keen nor’ west wind kept things warm and dusty. The Canterbury A & P Association run a well organised show, and Hereford hospitality was at the fore with the Canterbury Hereford Club doing a superb job of manning a Hereford (and NZPBB) Hospitality tent for both exhibitors and guests.

The Hereford section was well supported with 28 entries and all animals justified their entry in the competition. As Senior Hereford Judge, Dean Hansen from the Hukaroa Stud of Te Kauwhata commented, “all entries were of a consistent standard, allowing for close ranking of animals and good discussion between myself and my Associate Judge”. Anna Smyth, from Na Pute Puti Hereford Stud, Wairoa was a capable Associate Judge, confident in her ring craft and judging decisions. Judge Hansen also commented that given the hard winter and spring conditions experienced in the South Island this year, the cattle shown were in commendable condition and he was pleased with the Champion lineup for Senior and Junior male and female
classes.

The judges pick for Supreme Champion Bull was Twynham Delta Y13 owned by Lloyd and Ruth Higgins,
of Tywnham Stud, Nelson. The big powerful and very docile three year old sire impressed the judges with his length, carcass features, even topline and his excellent soundness.

Twynham Delta Y13 was pushed hard for first place in the Supreme Champion competition by a very good Duncraigen entry in the yearling bull class, Duncraigen Xcellent 759.

This young bull, displaying plenty of future, was successful in winning all yearling bull classes, several yearling trophies and the Merial product prize. Xcellent was also a worthy winner in the performance plus category.
Of the females, an 11yr old very feminine, sound and free moving cow, Roselawn Cynthia 519 from the Duncraigen Stud of Wyndham dominated the class. Judge Dean Hansen spoke highly of the cow saying “at 11years of age, such an animal is a credit to her breeders and the breed”. The Duncraigen cow was well supported by a long line, clean young calf.

The Bayside Stud owned by the Hellyer family of Wyndham with a creditable number of Herefords at the Show, were successful in winning the pairs and group competition in addition to the junior heifer and bull classes. In all, a very successful show for the Bayside stud – winners of the RE Humphreys Memorial prize for the most points accumulated by one stud.

The Simmental Breed featured strongly in the Junior and Senior Meat and Wool Cup through the efforts of truly professional show master, Tony Thompson from the Hawkes Bay. In the RAS Interbreed National Beef Judges Course held in conjunction with the Show and under the tutorship of Mr. Bruce McKenzie from Maungahina Hereford Stud, Wairarapa, Hereford nominees; Mr. John McKerchar, a Senior Hereford Association Judge and Mr. Chris Gibbs successfully completed the 2006 Judges course.

Senior Hereford Judge: Dean Hansen, Te Kauwhata
Associate Hereford Judge: Anna Smyth, Hawkes Bay

Cow, with her own calf(s) at foot (3 years and over) :
1st B I & C A Robertson Roselawn Cynthia 519
2nd Lake Station Herefords Lake Polka S1
Heifer (2 years) - with or without her own calf at foot:
Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Lillie BTCR 042 1
Champion Hereford Senior Female:
B I & C A Robertson Roselawn Cynthia 519
J K Forrester Memorial Trophy
Champion Hereford Senior Female:
B I & C A Robertson Roselawn Cynthia 519
Reserve Champion Hereford Senior Female:
Lake Station Herefords Lake Polka S1
Performance Plus Class - cow or heifer 2 yrs and over with calf at foot:
1st B I & C A Robertson Roselawn Cynthia 519
2nd Lake Station Herefords Lake Polka S1
Heifer Junior Yearling:
1st Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055
2nd Richon Herefords Richon Amethyst
Ancare Genesis Pour On Champion Hereford Yearling Heifer:
Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055
Fraser Cooper Trophy for Junior Champion Hereford Female:
Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055
Reserve Champion Hereford Yearling Heifer:
Richon Herefords Richon Amethyst.
Performance Plus Class - Yearling Heifer:
Richon Herefords Richon Amethyst.
Bull 2 years and over:
1st L & R Higgins Twynham Delta Y13
2nd I C & C L Ford Woodburn Panther 0436
Bull Senior Yearling:
1st B I & C A Robertson Duncraigen Xcellent 759
Bull Junior Yearling:
1st Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055
2nd Lake Station Herefords Lake A133 2
3rd Richon Herefords Richon Extra

Champion Hereford Senior Bull:
1st L & R Higgins Twynham Delta Y13
Reserve Champion Hereford Senior Bull:
1st I C & C L Ford Woodburn Panther 0436
PGG Wrightson Ltd Champion Hereford Yearling Bull - Merial Product Prize
B I & C A Robertson Duncraigen Xcellent 759
RAS Trophy -
NZ Hereford Cattle Breeders Assn.
Challenge Cup - Champion Yearling Bull:
B I & C A Robertson Duncraigen Xcellent 759
Canterbury Hereford Club Silver Salver - Champion Yearling Bull:
B I & C A Robertson Duncraigen Xcellent 759
Reserve Champion Hereford Yearling Bull:
Dorothy Hellyer - Bayside Pip BTCR 055
Suprpreme Champion HerReford:
L & R Higgins Twynham Delta Y13
RAS Award - Gold Medal:
L & R Higgins Twynham Delta Y13
RAS Trophy - NZ Hereford Cattle Breeders Assn Perpetual Cup
Supreme Champion:
L & R Higgins Twynham Delta Y13 .
Performance Plus Class - Yearling Bull:
1st B I & C A Robertson Duncraigen Xcellent 759
2nd Lake Station Herefords Lake A133
3rd Richon Herefords Richon Extra
NZ Hereford Cattle Breeders’ Assn Challenge Cup & Rosette -
Supreme Champion:
L & R Higgins Twynham Delta Y13
Two Yearlings, any sex, bred by exhibitor, judged as a pair:
1st Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055
2nd Richon Herefords Richon Extra 2
Group, Bull and two Females, any age.
Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055 1
Two animals by one sire or one dam
1st Dorothy Hellyer Bayside Pip BTCR 055
2nd Richon Herefords Richon Extra
RAS Trophy - R e Humphries Memorial Prize
- Most Points in Hereford Section
Hellyer family Bayside Stud, Wyndham

December is upon us and still no sign of summer. Here’s hoping a bit of heat to make the grass grow will soon be heading our way.

Following is an update to let you know what is on the horizon so you can plan for the upcoming Hereford events. Firstly the Northland National Hereford Herd Tour is fast approaching and it will certainly be well worth attending. I urge members to take this opportunity of going on a Herd Tour as it is always one of the highlights on the Hereford calendar. The chance to see good cattle, scenery as well as socialise should not be missed.

Beef Expo is also just around the corner and your Council is putting in a huge effort to make it the success it has been in the past for Herefords. In order for this to happen, Council requests the support of Expo vendors. There has been a lot of comment about the poor standard of animal photo- graphs submitted for the magazine Expo profiles. I urge vendors to lift the quality of these photographs as this Expo marketing initiative is sent out to 6500 people and first impressions are so important.

Also remember to have all the Hereford qualifying criteria up to date including scanning, health tests and weights submitted for group run analysis. As some of you may be aware, NZHA has had an offer to buy our Kimbolton Rd office from a local Feilding business.

Your council along with the Angus Council has had a serious look at various future options. It has always been our intention to house all our business interests under one roof and we are currently looking at several options, but I can assure all members that no decisions will be made without your input and consent. This does not mean we have to accept the current offer but it does give us some opportunities to explore.

2007 Council Elections are upon us, with nominations forms printed in this issue of Upfront. We have three long serving councillors who have chosen to retire at the next elections. With this in mind I ask members to consider putting their names forward as we need some fresh blood and ideas to assist Herefords in maintaining and growing their position as leaders in the beef industry. It is very easy to sit on the perimeter and fi re loose criticisms at a very small hard working group of people who do it for the love of the breed - it takes more courage to put your hat in the ring and be prepared to help. So please take a moment to consider if you may have skills to contribute to the NZHA Council.

We have been unsuccessful at this stage in fi nding a replacement for Donna as our Breed Executive and have re advertised her job with several leads to follow up. In the interim NZPBB will undertake most of the duties required. We have been so fortunate to have had Donna for the last seven years and I know she will be sorely missed. It is NZHA intention to have a send off for Donna at Beef Expo time.

More details later. Donna will however continue as magazine Editor, and be responsible for the production of the 2007 NZ Herefords magazine. Donna is your first point of contact, with Travis a NZPBB graphic designer assisting. It is the intention of Council to have North Island and South Island Breeder Think Tanks in 2007. This is an opportunity for members to have input into the direction you believe NZHA should be taking. These have been very worthwhile events in the past and I ask you to consider attending this. More details later.

Finally I take this opportunity of wishing you all a happy and prosperous Christmas and New Year.

4. Council Communications

2007 Breeder Think Tanks

It is planned to hold one Breeder Think Tank in each Island – likely venues to be Taupo and Hamner, to be held in mid April. This is to give members an opportunity to be involved in the future direction of the Association. More information will be available in the February newsletter.

Hereford Youth Trust Semen Auction – Herd Tour 2007

The Council would welcome the donation of packages of progressive Hereford semen in order to continue this highly successful semen auction initiative. Please consider your bank of Hereford semen for donations. As in 2006, there is to be a Regional Product auction as part of the Youth Trust auction. Each NZHA club has been asked to donate a product with possibly a regional theme for auctioning. All proceeds to go to the NZHA Youth Trust.

March 2007 NZHA Council meeting

To be held in Whangarei, prior to the Herd Tour. 17th -19th February 2007. NZPBB Board of Directors – Hereford Directors Malcolm McConochie and Peter Smyth as Directors with Bruce Robertson as Alternate Director.

Commercial Female Fees

As from 1st January 2007… Commercial Female fees will increase and
align to the sliding scale for Registered Female fees:
ie Commercial cow fee structure as follows:
$18.50 per cow for 1-50 cows in each herd
$18.00 per cow for 51-100 cows in each herd
$17.50 per cow for 101-150 cows in each herd
$17.00 per cow for 151-200 cows in each herd
$16.50 per cow for 201 plus

Animal Transfer fees

As from 1st January 2007, Transfer fees will be as follows:
Transfer of Registered cattle (bulls and females)
between registered herds - $20.00 fee per animal.
Family Transfer rate of $5.00 per animal.
Late transfer penalties remain at
30-60 days $10.00 penalty
61-90 days $20.00 penalty
Over 90 days requires Council approval and penalty to be applied.

BREEDPLAN Information

Treatment of Twins
In a Breedplan Analysis, twins are compared against other twins only.
Twins are excluded from the Calving Ease analysis. Dams of twins are
excluded from the Days to Calving analysis.
Sire Listings in Breeder Herd Reports
From the 2007 March Grouprun, sires will be sorted and reported in birth
year and animal ident order. These are sires that have had progeny in the
last five years.
Observed Paddock Matings
The NZHA encourages breeders to record observed paddock matings ‘O’ on their calf return forms. With additional information, Gestation Length
EBV’s will increase in accuracy and become more worthwhile.
In 2005, the Association only received 15 ‘O’ observed mating records
from 3 herds. Let’s build on this fi gure! Gestation Length is an important
trait for NZ Herefords.
Across Country Selection Indexes
Within Internet Solutions there is now a facility to report other country
Selection Indexes on NZHA animals and vice versa. It is thought the Trans
Tasman exchange of Hereford genetics will be enhanced by the ability to
demonstrate how overseas genetics will perform in domestic situations
through the use of Selection Index parameters.
Benchmark and Merit Sire Programmes
These programmes have been modifi ed to include Selection Index criteria.
Benchmark Dams must be in the top 20% of the breed for both Export and
Hereford Prime Indexes.
Merit Sire bulls must be in the top 20% of the breed for Dairy Index

Breeding History of Transferable Females
When a female is sold as transferable, her full breeding history must be
disclosed prior to sale. (This includes information re donor dam ET programmes).
Beef Technologies Group
A multi breed Beef Technologies group has been established. Topics
for discussion will include National Breedplan Extension programme for
2007; BVD education; DNA; ID & Traceability Update; Acceleration of
the use of Gene Markers in the calculation of marker assisted EBVs; Beef
Classifi cation; Breedplan Accreditation.
Craig Martin, as Chairman of NZ Beef Technologies has précised the
following:

NZ BEEF TECNOLOGIES

It has been recognised for some while that a collaborative approach to
education and training with regard to technical issues relating to beef cattle
production exists. It had become increasingly appropriate that NZPBB
provide brokership on this issue not only to our shareholder membership
but to the wider beef industry.

Currently, the wider beef industry lacks a formalised, clearly identifi -
able, co-ordinated organisation to deliver a level of education and training
to assist profi table beef production.

Historically, breed societies have undertaken technical training in con-
junction with NZ & Australian genetic specialists with varying degrees of
success. Technology changes and evolves fast and our ability to keep up
has become diffi cult and consequently we have experienced a decline in
beef cattle technical extension programmes.

On 15th November this year, a meeting was held with representatives
of NZPBB and breed societies to discuss these issues and as a result NZ
Beef Technologies (NZBT) was formed. It was proposed that an executive
committee be formed with a consultative group attached to ensure as broad
as possible industry representation and recognition. The executive com-
mittee of NZBT is to be charged with the responsibility of formulating and
delivering the support and training programmes in addition to liaising with
all interest groups in the beef industry. The delivery of training, education
and support will need to be at a hands on level.

It is initially the goal of NZBT to deliver a well resourced, cost effective
technical support programme for commencement in the autumn of 2007. The commitment has been made for 2007 that a series of workshops be
put in place nationally aimed at maximising understanding and uptake of
genetic technologies, particularly Breedplan.

it will be the responsibility of NZBT to:
1. Seek the funding and resources required to deliver such programmes. 2. Develop a culture of collaborative inclusion and work with
a. NZPBB and Breed Societies
b. Funding agencies and broad industry groups (Meat & Wool NZ)
c. Industry groups (Beef Council, Dairy Groups)
d. Technical service providers (ABRI, Research agencies, genomics/
molecular service providers.
3. Organise workshops, fi eld days and network attendances.
4. Seize every opportunity to transfer information to assist with increas-
ing beef production and profi tability.
It is envisaged initially that secretarial, management and structural re-
sources will be provided by NZPBB. The longer term vision for NZBT will
only be limited by the limitations imposed by individual participants.
It is hoped that NZBT can establish a degree of autonomy and be ca-
pable of audible measurement of its effectiveness in its pursuit of adding
value to the NZ beef industry.

Beef expo 2007 - NZHA Conditions of Entry
As per 2006 conditions.
Performance data must enter the March 2007 Grouprun analysis. NO EXEMPTIONS permitted. Expo entry will be declined, where performance data on the above traits has not undergone group run analysis.
Performance Data required:
i). Vendors must submit the following performance data for grouprun analysis and EBV generation (included in a group run preceding the Expo event).
- Weights - a minimum of 400day and/or 600day weights
- Rib, Rump and EMA scanning information (excepting yearlings).
- Scrotal measurement
Information must be submitted for ALL expo animals.
ii). H, J, S, P codes must be recorded on the Expo entry form.
NZHA expo entry forms and NZHA conditions of entry –
sent to breeders in February 2007.
2006 Yearling entries – Date of birth must be after 01/06/06.
NZHA Draw procedure as per 2006.
No collection of Hereford Raw Data at Expo 2006. Breeders can however display data in stalls if desired.
No pre- entry inspection of Expo animals to take place.
Beef expo 2007 – Beef Committee Conditions of Entry
Compulsary BVD testing of animals.
Prior to entry at expo, all animals must be tested
ANTIGEN NEGATIVE.
Also must be BVD vaccinated twice prior to the Expo sale.