The New Zealand Hereford Association Member Newsletter - December 2007

Issue 91 Contents:

1. President’s Note
2. Kairuru Aberdeen
3. Prestigious Judging Position Awarded to Southland Breeder

 

1. President’s Note

Last month I was privileged to be able to attend the Royal Show in Christchurch. Apart from the weather, which was bitterly cold, the show was a spectacular event attended by over 60,000 visitors.

The champion Hereford was a worthy and popular choice exhibited by Rebecca McConochie on behalf of Lake Station. This yearling bull went on to become the Champion Beef Interbreed Junior bull.

Our Hereford judge, Robbie Burrows did a superb job, in both the Hereford and the all breed classes. Robbie loves judging. He is a joy to watch and listen to as he goes about his task and those of us who have seen him in action rank him as one of the best livestock judges in the country.

Another who has a huge impact in the cattle arena is Wayne McLaren. His kind and informed commentary on the loudspeaker was appreciated by all The Canterbury Hereford Club had a marquee where they hosted members and visitors. In the same marquee on the Wednesday evening Canterbury had an informal dinner.

The meal was superb and featured “dry aged” Hereford prime. There were many discerning meat eaters present and they were unanimous in their praise. Hereford Prime is considered the best branded beef on the market and I urge all members to use and promote with pride our own worthy product. It may be a little more expensive to buy but it is sensational eating quality makes it worth every cent.

In November New Zealand Hereford welcomed the registration of our 302nd herd. This is a growth of fifty breeding herds over the last year and places Hereford, by herd numbers, as the largest beef cattle association. Angus, however boast a few more registered cows. This growth can be attributed to a number of factors: The growth in demand for our bulls from the dairy industry, Hereford’s appeal because they look nice in the paddock, and they are recognised as having a quiet temperament making them safer to handle.

Hereford members are also considered a “good bunch” being friendly, welcoming and helpful to new members. In my position as your chairman I attend many combined beef industry meetings and from comments made it is apparent that others are envious of New Zealand Hereford’s position.

The value of fellowship and camaraderie is often overlooked. Hereford has two main events in our calendar. I strongly urge all members to participate in the Herd tour in Waikato (hosted by the South Auckland Club) and Beef Expo at the magnificent new Manfeild Park venue in Fielding.

The planning for both events has largely been finalised and visitors are assured of a great time. Beef Expo will co-inside with the official opening of the NZPBB building. The Hereford section of Beef Expo will have a number of new features including our “Super Sires”.

We are organising a breed dinner where we intend to celebrate our new members and honour the first Hereford Herd of Excellence. Watch this space for Beef Expo updates it will be an event worthy of our great breed. Merry Christmas and may the rain come. John Morrison President, NZHA.

2. Kairuru Aberdeen

New Zealand Hereford Kairuru Aberdeen 03 0047 is the sire of a young bull currently commanding plenty of attention in Canadian Hereford circles.

Harvie Traveler 69T, sired by Kairuru Aberdeen 03 0047, was awarded two of the most prestigious awards at the Agribition in Canada last month and a half share recently sold for what could be a record price for a bull calf in Canada.

Kairuru Aberdeen sire of the highly acclaimed 10 month
old Canadian Hereford sire Harvie Traveler 69T.
(Click name for EBV's)

Harvie Traveler 69T, sired by a NZ Hereford is
commanding plenty of attention in Canada.

Agribition judges awarded reserve grand champion title and champion senior calf to Traveler. The Agribition is Canada’a premier international agricultural show and marketplace with up to 4000 head of livestock exhibited.

Ian and Marlene Harvie of Harvie Ranching, Alberta Canada, visited NZ on a post World Hereford Conference tour in 2004. They spotted Kairuru Aberdeen 03 0047 as a calf while visiting the Kairuru Stud of Kevin and Jane McDonald, Reporoa and were so impressed by Aberdeen they asked the McDonalds if they could purchase semen from him.

But the success of the 10 month old bull calf Harvie Traveler doesn’t stop at the Agribition.

In October, the Harvie’s offered a half share in Harvie Traveler at an internet auction. This sold for a whopping $C46,000 to a syndicate, and the price tag is believed to be one of the highest priced bull calves ever sold in Canada. The auction was watched on-line by Hereford breeders around the world.

The Harvie Ranching website says Traveler is one of the most exciting things to happen to the breed in a long time.

“At Agribition, people from all breeds were coming to have a look at him.”

Traveller has achieved a lot for a rising one-year-old and did it while winning the favour of Agribition judges who were asked to compare close to 100 other young bulls.

Kevin McDonald said interest in semen from Aberdeen has been high, particularly from Canadian and Australian breeders and there is potential for more following these recent successes.

Kevin says Aberdeen offers the traits Canadian breeders search for - easy fleshing with a soft and dark coloured coat combined with structural soundness.

Kairuru Aberdeen genetics are proving popular in Canadian farming circles with his semen recently siring a class winner at the Canadian Junior National Hereford Show and siring the highest marbling bull calf at the Agribition ever recorded.

Aberdeen also has ideal fleshing combined with a great temperament and sound feet. He’s also a very long bull and is easy doing. Aberdeen was sired by Leelands Transition T7 and is out of the dam Kairuru Plum T44. Aberdeen is a trait leader for 400 and 600 day weight and scrotal size.

One of the first NZ born Aberdeen sons, Kairuru Celtic Lad, was offered at the Kairuru sale last year and sold to fellow Hereford breeder Brian Clements of Northland for use in his Matapouri stud.

3. Prestigious Judging Position Awarded to Southland Breeder

Wyndham farmer Bruce Robertson is to be the first New Zealand Hereford breeder to judge cattle at the prestigious South African National Show.

The show, which occurs once very three years, takes place in April 2008 and Bruce will be attending as the Hereford judge.

It’s an honour for a New Zealander to be invited according to World Hereford Council secretary general Jan Wills of Waikato. She said the appointment is the first time a NZ Hereford judge has officiated at such an important event in South Africa.

“It is the main event on the 2008 show calendar,” Jan said.

The show is hosted by a different South African province each time and next year will be in the north-west province at Vryburg. Bruce said he is very honoured to have the role and felt it was also an honour for New Zealand Herefords.

“It’s not just an opportunity for me to judge them, but an opportunity for the South African breeders to get to know about us.”

He believes a judging role provides valuable insight in to the direction of the beef sector and is also a chance to have some input into the direction of the industry.

“I judge animals for their commercial value, not as stud animals. If they are not commercially viable they are not up to it.”

Jan says Vryburg is a large cattle area and known as the Texas of South Africa.

The north west of South Africa is a strong rural province with excellent grazing so the show committee is expecting large numbers of cattle to be exhibited. She says the invitation for Bruce to judge is thoroughly deserved.

“Bruce and his family are fully involved in the NZ show scene assisting with administration, exhibiting livestock and judging when ever needed,” she said.

Judging and stud stock have been part of Bruce’s farming career since he was a child. His father had stud sheep and beef and his first serious judging roles were undertaken in his teenage years. Bruce and wife Carolynn are principals of the Duncraigen Hereford Stud near Wyndham.

Together they farm 600ha of rolling to medium hill country carrying 8000su. This includes a herd of 60 registered Hereford cows alongside 5400 Romney ewes. There is also a registered flock of 140 Dorset Down ewes. In addition the Robertson’s also sell 400 rams annually.

Using New Zealand Hereford genetics the Robertson’s target market is the dairy and beef industry. Bruce said they have been concentrating on breeding easy doing Herefords with plenty of muscling and a balance of figures such as a low birthweight combined with good but not excessive growth rates.

Bruce is also immediate past president of the New Zealand Hereford Association and has served on the Council for the past 11 years. He began breeding Herefords in 1978 with his brother, before the two opted to establish their own studs in 1985.

Duncraigen Herefords, this year commanded the two top prices at the national Hereford show and sale held in conjunction with the Meat & Wool NZ Beef Expo. One of the bulls was also judged reserve Hereford champion at the event.

This is the premier sale for all NZs major beef breeds.