The New Zealand Hereford Association Member Newsletter - June 2007

Issue 88 Contents:

1. Top Hereford Expo title secured by new breeder.
2. Consistency Comes up Trumps for Hereford Prime – AGAIN!
3. Presidents Note.
4. NZHA Says Thanks to Donna.
5. Council Communicaitons
6. Registry Report

 

1. Top Hereford Expo title secured by new breeder

Chris & Melissa Gibbs of Big River Herefords, Hamilton,
took top honours at the Meat & Wool Beef Expo, 2007,
with sire Big River Xavier 05 501.

A new breeder took out top Hereford honours at the Meat & Wool Beef Expo 2007. Chris and Melissa Gibbs of the Big River Stud near Hamilton were awarded the title by judge Jack Woodburn for the sire Big River Xavier 05 501 – catalogued as Lot 26.

By sire Kairuru Xavier 02 0011P and out of dam Harbour Hills Bella U674 (SBM)P the bull was one of two offered by the Gibbs. The second sire they exhibited was Big River Xavier 05 583, by the same sire as Lot 26 and out of dam Keelryn Irane 02 34 P.

Chris said after the win he and Melissa felt excited and very lucky to have taken top honours, especially as they are newer members to the breed. They established their herd in 2002. Another Hereford Expo honour, the title of Reserve Champion Hereford, went to the Duncraigen Stud of Bruce and Carolynn Robertson in Wyndham with Lot 21, Duncraigen Xtend 766.

Out of sire Platform Xavier 02 0541 P and dam Duncraigen Cynthia 40 (SBM) P the sire was one of a pair entered by the Duncraigen stable. They also won the points competition with the two sires. The points competition is awarded to the breeder with the best two animals exhibited at Expo. The second sire Duncraigen Xcellent 759 was cataloged as Lot 10 and was bred from sire Platform Xavier 02 0541 P and dam Duncraigen Milly 00496 P.

The four other top two-year-old sires were Lot 20, 3, 6, and 10. The top price of $12,000 was made by the Duncraigen sire Lot 10, its stablemate Lot 21 and Reserve Champion Hereford commanded the next best price tag of $11,000 – making for a successful outing for the Southland based Robertsons. The sale average was ahead of last year at $5306.

Last year’s average was $5180. A number of passings were noted. Heifer, Anric Mae 502 (Lot 31) was awarded the title Champion female, bred by Anne and Rick Middleton, principals of the Anric Stud at Warkworth. The heifer is by sire Waitaporiri Quester 03 0305 (ET) P and dam Anric Mae X202 P and sold for $3000 to the Hain Partnership, Gisborne.

Lorraine Peters of the Willowspring Stud near Otorohanga took out the Hereford Herdsperson of the Year title. She says it was a great feeling being presented the award, which takes into account presentation of handler and animal, neatness of the stall and an overall affinity with the animal and other exhibitors.

At the 2007 Beef Expo a large crowd gathered to watch the judging in Arena Manawatu with Jack Woodburn working with associate judge Sam Hain of Beanbah Herefords in Gisborne. The crowd stayed for the sale, but the support wasn’t evident in prices or buying power.

Marc Robertson exhibits Duncraigen Xtend,
the Hereford Reserve Champion at the 2007
Meat & Wool New Zealand Beef Expo.

2. Consistency Comes up Trumps for Hereford Prime – AGAIN!

New Zealand’s most consistent branded beef – Hereford Prime – was yet again among finalists in the 2007 Steak of Origin Challenge.

Hereford Prime has been in the finals of the ever growing competition from its inception, five years ago says Hereford Prime Marketing Manager Jane Allan. Hereford steaks were finalists in two of the four classes with David Morrow and Tony Marett of Ashburton, being placed third in the Best of Breed – British and Magills Meats of Te Awamutu placed second in the Best of Brand – Retailers, Wholesale and Food service category.

Guests at the awards evening, held in conjunction with the Meat & Wool Beef Expo in Palmerston North, were told when the competition began there were just 40 entries – this year a record of 240 were received. Meat & Wool New Zealand chef, Greg Heffernan said taste and tenderness is what gets people coming back to the best steaks and where the most points are awarded by judges in the competition. The other areas are; aroma, texture and juiciness.

Heffernan said when the competition began, the variance between the top 16 steaks was a lot wider than this year. “After five years of Steak of Origin the variance has diminished. “There was a level of tenderness that the steaks didn’t drop below, and farmers are producing what consumers want,” he says.

The judges this year were: TV’s ‘Game of Two Halves’ Martin Devlin, Commonwealth Bronze Medallist high jumper and New Zealand Beef and Lamb Sports Ambassador, Angela McKee, chef Greg Heffernan and Jason Strong of Catapult Genetics. The overall supreme steak was entered by Chris and Karren Biddles, Angus breeders from Te Kopuru and the sirloin steak was chosen from 16 finalists.

Chairman of Hereford Prime Laurie Paterson, left, President
of NZ Herefords Bruce Robertson, Hereford Prime Marketing Manager
Jane Allan and Councillor David Morrow with the prizes collected
at the 2007 Steak of Origin challenge. David entered his steak
in partnership with Tony Marrett.

3. Presidents Note

Winter is upon us and it is now time to reflect on the current round of bull sales.
Beef Expo was a major disappointment and there seemed to be little interest in the bulls on offer. However we seemed to still have a good crowd of breeders and onlookers.
Much needs to be done to restore Expo to its former glory and hopefully the current Think Tanks will produce some new innovations for the future. Just remember Angus were in a similar situation to us several years ago and have managed to turn their sale around.
To first make progress we must address our problems and if we are not prepared to accept that there are problems with our sale then it will be very hard to move forward.
The current run of on farm sales see bulls in steady demand and a premium seems to be being paid for the better carcassed easy doing type of bulls in comparison to their leggy cousins.
The East Coast sales appear to have been affected by the extreme dry conditions but have still achieved solid results.
We are still awaiting the southern Think Tank. Forty-four breeders attended the Hamilton based think tank and I would like to thank those who did attend and show interest in your associations welfare. Your ideas and enthusiasm was much appreciated and we look to forward an action plan from your ideas.
On a disappointing note many breeders did not attend even though they live in the near vicinity and this lack of support for a once in a four-year occasion certainly concerns council. It is of far more use being proactive and attending such events than grizzling in the background and ultimately contributing nothing to the welfare of N.Z.H.A.
Council looks forward to a good attendance at the Ashburton think tank and up coming Breedplan workshops.
Finally I hope the remainder of the bull sales meet with strong demand and hoping the rain man finally smiles on our East Coast breeders.
I would also like to thank all the breeders that hosted the recent group of overseas ambassadors, your hospitality was much appreciated.
I now sign off as your president and have enjoyed my time meeting so many breeders on their home patch and hope to keep in touch with you all in some shape or form in the future.

Yours in Herefords,
Bruce Robertson
President, NZHA

4 .NZHA Says Thanks to Donna

After seven years with the New Zealand Hereford Association Donna Abbiss was farewelled at the breed dinner in May. President Bruce Robertson highlighted DonnaÕs efficiency and strengths in marketing, promotion and going the extra mile for members and councillors. ÒIt was her expertise in marketing and promotions that helped take the NZHA to another level. The breedsÕ exceptional annual magazine and bi-monthly Upfront publications are the envy of all other breed societies and Donna never did any of these at anything less than 110%.Ó He said her ability to help breeders with their problems however big or small was always done without a fuss and she always worked to make sure we had satisfied members. ÒDonna was also held in the highest regard by our Australian cousins and she had a great rapport with the staff at ABRI. Her understanding of Breedplan and the associated technicalities that often arose were always taken care of.Ó ÒIt was the most fortunate decision NZHA has made in its recent history to employ Donna. She has been a most dedicated local, enthusiastic and efficient Hereford breed manager we could have wished to employ.Ó David Dodge from Merial NZ and Laurie Paterson, president of Hereford Prime and NZHA councillor also shared their appreciation.

Caption: Donna Abbiss and President Bruce Robertson at the breed dinner in May. Donna was farewelled after seven years of dedicated service to the breed.

Donna Abbiss and President Bruce Robertson at
the breed dinner in May. Donna was
farewelled after seven years of dedicated service to the breed.

5 .Council Communicaitons

Members, Please read the following thoroughly. These are important matters, discussed at the NZ Hereford Council March meeting.

Scanning and Weighing:
Council noted that some breeders are taking 400-600day liveweight
measurements and ultra sound scanning on different days.
The Breedplan manual states the two measurements must be taken on the same day or as close as possible to the same day. If taken separately, they are inaccurate and incorrect.

Dress Ties:
New dress ties are now available for members. It features polled and horned Herefords, is available in red and blue – cost $35 each.

Transfers:
Members are urged to lodge transfers ASAP so they can be included
in the upcoming Herd Book.

Hereford Youth Trust Programme:
The 2007 Technical Tour was successful, based in Manawatu. There was a high caliber of participants and Council is considering taking a selection of previous attendees on a technical tour to Australia
in 2008. It’s now firmly established as an annual fixture and clubs should continually assess their membership for candidates and put forward their names. While the programme has a youth label, it is aimed at people who are considered future leaders of the breed.

Semen Marketing:
NZHA continues to have a good working relationship with both Ambreed and LIC and has helped with the selection of new sires, so both companies now have a full selection of HF bulls to service their programmes.

EZICALVE:
Background. As a result of an idea from the Think Tank session in 2003 the brand Ezicalve was registered and patented by NZHA. At the time it was felt that the brand could be used to promote Hereford
bulls that would give a safe calving when joined with yearling heifers of any breed.
At the March meeting council set criteria for Ezicalve and decided
to ask members for expressions of interest.

2008 World Hereford Conference – Scandinavia:
Joanne Prevett Travel is the official NZHA travel agent for the WHC. The conference itself is three days combined with pre and post tours – June 29,30 and July 1, 2008.
Contact Jo Anne Prevett Travel for WHC enquires:
Ph (07) 888 7185 or email: jo.prevett.travel@xtra.co.nz

BREEDPLAN workshops and manuals:
All breeding members have been sent a copy of the latest BreedplanREEDPLAN manual are urged to attend the up coming workshops around NZ.

NZHA Council Meeting – July
to be held Feilding, July 4 and 5

6. Registry Report

06: Year number for calves born in 2006

TRANSFER AUTHORISATION CERTIFICATES are available to download from www.herefords.co.nz. These can be completed, signed and sent to the Office for processing.
NOTE: Animals sold at the EXPO are the vendor’s responsibility to transfer.

HERD BOOK VOLUME 110 is due to be compiled, so please check your details carefully and update the Office of any amendments as soon as possible. Thank you to those who have done so already.

ADLs will be sent out in the near future. Please complete and return them promptly as they are used to generate female fees. Do not remove any female you wish to record progeny against for the 2007 birth year. Reinstatement fees are $35.00 each.

OUTLIERS Some of you may have received outlier reports with your latest group run Herd reports.
It is IMPORTANT that these outliers are verified with Hereford registry, to ensure the animal in question and its progeny are reinstated
into the Group run analysis. Please return the outlier forms with any alterations to the Office.

SALE RESULTS for individual animals can be added to your online
sale catalogue, and viewed in the “View completed sale catalogue”
page.

MALE STATUS I would like to suggest breeders might like to update the status of their males as well as the females in the BreedplanREEDPLAN system. Currently female status are kept accurate by the completion of ADLs (completed prior to female billing each year), but males are not fated.
There is not a printout for males, but breeders can ask the office for a list or access them on the Hereford website, then fate them accordingly.

This would make searching for “active sires” on the website, much more selective.

Linda Shailer, Registry

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