The Boehringer Ingelheim Benchmark awards have been highly regarded by NZ Herefords breeders and commercial buyers of registered bulls for many years. The awards highlight the very top performing females in the NZ Herefords gene pool, by recognizing those cows that get in calf every year and continue to produce quality calves year after year.
With the NZ Herefords Selection Indexes being updated in 2021, the 2022 Benchmark Awards have also been updated.
The first update of the awards is now all Benchmark Dams must have their first calf before 2 years and 3 months of age.
This reflects the practice of mating yearling heifers becoming the usual practice on the majority of commercial farms Hereford genetics are used on. This now means the 4 tiers of
Benchmark Dams can be described as the following;
• Benchmark Dam: meets the Benchmark criteria after 3 or 4 calves
• Silver Benchmark Dam: meets the Benchmark criteria after 5 or 6 calves
• Gold Benchmark Dam: meets the Benchmark criteria after 7 or more calves
• Platinum Benchmark Dam: Dam of 3 or more Benchmark Dams
Other improvements to the Benchmark awards include, all a cow’s calves requiring a birthweight to be recorded and the use of the new Hereford Prime and Beef Heifer Indexes in place of the old Hereford Prime and Export indexes.
Those breeders who have bred five or more benchmark dams.
Bulls that have sired three or more benchmark dams.
The dam of three benchmark dams. Can be any combination of gold, silver or standard.
All the Dams who have qualified under the new criteria are listed on the following pages. To find a full list of benchmark animals refer to the ‘Technical’ tab or click “online search’, on the NZ Herefords website.
Platinum Dams
The dam of three benchmark dams. Can be any combination of gold, silver or standard.
Gold Benchmark Dams
1. Seven or more calves with calving interval averaging no more than 373 days.
2. Other criteria as for benchmark dams.
Silver Benchmark Dams
1. First calf before two years and two months.
2. Other criteria as for benchmark dams.
Benchmark Sires
Sires having produced three or more benchmark dams.
Benchmark Dam Breeders
Breeders of five or more benchmark dams.